Month: July 2015
PSYCHOPATH ECONOMICS IN RAMSGATE
Why are so many people struggling with debt? Why do governments seem so keen on punishing their most vulnerable citizens? And why do we seem to be marching towards catastrophic climate change, with barely a murmur?
Writer and journalist Peter Batt will try to provide some answers in a presentation about his new book, Psychopath Economics, at the Evolution Cafe in King Street, Ramsgate, on July 30.
And, in doing so, he argues that to have any effect, the anti-austerity movement look to non-traditional forms of protest that both broaden its appeal and wield economic power.
Starting with an explanation of the book title itself, he will argue that today’s austerity drive has nothing to do with economics and everything to do with neutralising the state as a democratic alternative to corporate power.
In this way, he claims, austerity and free-trade agreements such as TTIP are being pursued to render our societies completely dependant on multinational corporations, which have long aspired to be the unrivalled providers for human need.
But Peter Batt also argues that ordinary people underestimate their own power, in large part because of prevailing belief systems that hide basic truths about our political and economic system.
These include common misconceptions about how money and debt are created in today’s economy, a process which directly leads to the unequal distribution of jobs, wealth and power.
Our political and economic system is psychopathic, and psychopathic power concedes nothing without a threat, and so grassroots campaigns must be imaginative, disruptive and explicitly wield economic leverage to degrade the elite’s financial and intellectual assets.
To this end, Psychopath Economics looks at the potential of tax strikes to make governments accountable to ordinary people once again. It also looks at the overwhelming moral and economic case for a widespread campaign of debt cancellation.
In addition, Peter Batt explores the power of anti-branding attacks (‘brandalism’) that directly degrade corporate marketing campaigns, and discusses the potential of peer-to-peer technologies, such as cryptocurrencies, as viable alternatives to today’s banking system.
The talk, Psychopath Economics – and how to defeat it, starts at 7pm on Thursday, July 30, at the Evolution Cafe, 40 King Street, Ramsgate.
FILM SCREENING: 5 BROKEN CAMERAS
The Tom Thumb Theatre is showing the remarkable film, 5 Broken Cameras, on Monday August 10 at 7.30 pm.
The film is compiled from footage shot by a Palestinian documenting events in his village on the West Bank, which is threatened with obliteration by the Israeli government.
Entry fee is £2.50 and this will be donated to Medical Aid for Palestinians.
For a review see…
Further information contact webb.eileen@yahoo.co.uk
SO WHAT WOULD JEREMY CORBYN DO FOR THANET?
Thanet Watch is holding a special WHY VOTE FOR JEREMY CORBYN? meeting in the Red Hall in Broadstairs on Saturday August 1st at 3pm.
The idea of the meeting is to explore why and how people might want to vote for Jeremy Corbyn in the coming Labour Party leadership election (it’s now possible to do this for just £3!)
A video is being made of Jeremy in which he answers questions specifically related to Thanet.
If you want to suggest a question, just email it to us by 9am Monday on inmeds@yahoo.co.uk
PROTEST AGAINST THANET’S NEW MP
WILL YOU VOTE FOR JEREMY CORBYN?
So what’s all this fuss about Jeremy Corbyn MP?
He’s opposed to austerity, he’d cancel Trident, his politics are green and he’s on the side of the poor.
And now, for only £3, you can now vote for him to be the leader of the Labour Party.
It’s a unique opportunity – but is it a good idea?
Come and find out more at a Thanet Watch meeting on Saturday 1st August at 3pm at the Red Hall, 11 Grosvenor Rd, Broadstairs. Tel 07989 070843 or 01843 604633
MUSIC AT BROADSTAIRS BANDSTAND
DEMO AGAINST THANET MP
A demonstration was held this morning against Thanet’s new MP, Craig Mackinlay.
The demo was triggered by Mackinlay’s support for the government’s policies on austerity, fracking and fox hunting.
Over 70 people chanted and protested outside the Conservative Party office in Broadstairs CT10 2AD (near Broadstairs railway station).
The protestors were addressed by the Green Party’s Ian Driver who attacked Mackinlay for his “hypocrisy.”
There will be a video report on the demonstration on this site soon.
PROTEST OUTSIDE PARLIAMENT
On budget day Jackie Walker from Broadstairs was outside parliament.
I was in London for (what I later found out) was an illegal protest in Parliament Square.
You have to understand, in the last 6 years or so there have been so many bans on what you can do outside Parliament it’s astounding they let people walk on that patch of grass at all. Apparently, I’m told by a reliable source, most MPs are very sensitive souls and they don’t like to see things getting all shouty – unless of course it’s at Prime Minister’s Question Time and the shouty people have been to public school.
Notwithstanding the wardens who now patrol Parliament Square in their Trumpton uniforms being jumpy and officious, the police seemed as chilled as the crowd and it was all pretty well tempered, the sun shining, banners unfurled and all that.
We heard speeches – though because of the restrictions it was hard to hear what was said above the traffic as no amplification or standing on steps above the crowd was allowed.
Jeremy Corbyn, the left’s candidate for Labour leader, was the sole MP who came out of the house to make his feelings known.
He spoke as news of the most major redistribution of wealth from poor to rich sent Tory backbenchers apoplectic with triumphalist joy.
George Osborne, of course, backed by his friends in the media, recast this decimation as “reforms” that would in fact help the 31% of children who live in poverty in Thanet and the 20% of people on welfare payments (mostly people in work) to get off their sofas and actually strive rather than skive.
Big business was also part of this neo-liberal jamboree, winning a reduction in corporation tax (yes, even though they already pay the lowest tax in any G20 country).
Even the housing crisis was addressed, with help for people with properties valued at £1m and over, feeling the stress of austerity, to leave their wealth intact to their loved ones …..even if their loved ones had never done a day’s work in their lives.
Given the assault on most people’s quality of life, the crowd remained pretty mellow as Natalie Bennett spoke about the injustice that was being sold to people as a fair deal for working people.
And it looked as if all would pass off quietly until the wardens, backed by police, removed a sound system playing John Lennon’s ‘Give Peace a Chance.’ You couldn’t make it up …really.
THANET PROTEST AGAINST THE BUDGET
the watch 