Shame shame shame

Remember this next time you say cut benefits or vote conservative. This kid was someone's son, he starved to death because his benefits were cut! This is the tip of the iceberg, the UK has gone back to Victorian times! What was the class struggle over the last 300  years for? Was it for the half a billion pound bonus set aside for RBS bankers, was it for the tax cuts given to the richest?
You can continue to blame the immigrants who put more into the economy than they take out or the benefit cheats who make up 0.01% of the welfare bill or you can open your fucking eyes and see what is really happening as the corporations dodge tax, the richest are given money, housing benefit is given to the royal landowners. I gave up years ago, because I see only greed and stupidity, and moved out, but this makes me ashamed of my country!

http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/11043378.Man_starved_after_benefits_were_cut/

The Butterfly

“Just living is not enough," said the butterfly, "one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.”

― Hans Christian Andersen, 

The Butterfly

by

Hans Christian Andersen

(1861)

HERE was once a butterfly who wished for a bride, and, as may be supposed, he wanted to choose a very pretty one from among the flowers.
He glanced, with a very critical eye, at all the flower-beds, and found that the flowers were seated quietly and demurely on their stalks, just as maidens should sit before they are engaged; but there was a great number of them, and it appeared as if his search would become very wearisome. The butterfly did not like to take too much trouble, so he flew off on a visit to the daisies. The French call this flower “Marguerite,” and they say that the little daisy can prophesy. Lovers pluck off the leaves, and as they pluck each leaf, they ask a question about their lovers; thus: “Does he or she love me?—Ardently? Distractedly? Very much? A little? Not at all?” and so on. Every one speaks these words in his own language. The butterfly came also to Marguerite to inquire, but he did not pluck off her leaves; he pressed a kiss on each of them, for he thought there was always more to be done by kindness.“Darling Marguerite daisy,” he said to her, “you are the wisest woman of all the flowers. Pray tell me which of the flowers I shall choose for my wife. Which will be my bride? When I know, I will fly directly to her, and propose.”But Marguerite did not answer him; she was offended that he should call her a woman when she was only a girl; and there is a great difference. He asked her a second time, and then a third; but she remained dumb, and answered not a word. Then he would wait no longer, but flew away, to commence his wooing at once. It was in the early spring, when the crocus and the snowdrop were in full bloom.“They are very pretty,” thought the butterfly; “charming little lasses; but they are rather formal.”Then, as the young lads often do, he looked out for the elder girls. He next flew to the anemones; these were rather sour to his taste. The violet, a little too sentimental. The lime-blossoms, too small, and besides, there was such a large family of them. The apple-blossoms, though they looked like roses, bloomed to-day, but might fall off to-morrow, with the first wind that blew; and he thought that a marriage with one of them might last too short a time. The pea-blossom pleased him most of all; she was white and red, graceful and slender, and belonged to those domestic maidens who have a pretty appearance, and can yet be useful in the kitchen. He was just about to make her an offer, when, close by the maiden, he saw a pod, with a withered flower hanging at the end.“Who is that?” he asked.“That is my sister,” replied the pea-blossom.“Oh, indeed; and you will be like her some day,” said he; and he flew away directly, for he felt quite shocked.A honeysuckle hung forth from the hedge, in full bloom; but there were so many girls like her, with long faces and sallow complexions. No; he did not like her. But which one did he like?Spring went by, and summer drew towards its close; autumn came; but he had not decided. The flowers now appeared in their most gorgeous robes, but all in vain; they had not the fresh, fragrant air of youth. For the heart asks for fragrance, even when it is no longer young; and there is very little of that to be found in the dahlias or the dry chrysanthemums; therefore the butterfly turned to the mint on the ground. You know, this plant has no blossom; but it is sweetness all over,—full of fragrance from head to foot, with the scent of a flower in every leaf.“I will take her,” said the butterfly; and he made her an offer. But the mint stood silent and stiff, as she listened to him. At last she said,—“Friendship, if you please; nothing more. I am old, and you are old, but we may live for each other just the same; as to marrying—no; don’t let us appear ridiculous at our age.”And so it happened that the butterfly got no wife at all. He had been too long choosing, which is always a bad plan. And the butterfly became what is called an old bachelor.It was late in the autumn, with rainy and cloudy weather. The cold wind blew over the bowed backs of the willows, so that they creaked again. It was not the weather for flying about in summer clothes; but fortunately the butterfly was not out in it. He had got a shelter by chance. It was in a room heated by a stove, and as warm as summer. He could exist here, he said, well enough.“But it is not enough merely to exist,” said he, “I need freedom, sunshine, and a little flower for a companion.”Then he flew against the window-pane, and was seen and admired by those in the room, who caught him, and stuck him on a pin, in a box of curiosities. They could not do more for him.“Now I am perched on a stalk, like the flowers,” said the butterfly. “It is not very pleasant, certainly; I should imagine it is something like being married; for here I am stuck fast.” And with this thought he consoled himself a little.“That seems very poor consolation,” said one of the plants in the room, that grew in a pot.“Ah,” thought the butterfly, “one can’t very well trust these plants in pots; they have too much to do with mankind"

adore

Valentine

End slavery in Hong Kong

Apology

So will Hong Kong chief Executive CY Leung apologise to abused maid and all Indonesian people for criminal act of one individual, which is the fault of no govt enforcement  of labour laws and police inaction, as they expect from Phillipines over hostage deaths, and continue to bully them with the threat of sanctions?

Can't see the wood for the trees

No shit Sherlock!
The answer is often the simplest one, staring you right in the face, so obvious yet the least expected.
How do Western nations, especially the UK and the US rid themselves of their crippling debt?
Austerity is right, but for who?
Herein lies the answer, why take the money from those that have the least, which by definition is doomed to failure?
Take from those with the most, with a broad synchronized swoop. At times of war, this was done, why not today? The world's richest companies and the vast majority of the earth's wealth is still in these countries. A concerted skimming off the top to repay the debt is actually the only feasible and logical answer. Shareholders would suffer, but that's life, better that than the malnutrition that stalks the low earners in our society.
Nationalisation of all utilities,communication, transportation, and other corporations deemed big and rich enough.
All those above multi-millionaire status would see taxes on their savings and assets go through the roof...how much does one person, their family and their children need in reality to ensure a 'comfortable'  future?
Restrictions would immediately kick in on immigration and residency; those that move their wealth out would no longer be able to either live or do business in that country, and punitive taxes would be made to those transferring liquid assets out of the country. 
If all the G7/20 nations agreed to these measures in tandem, then there would be nowhere for the rich to go, and nowhere for them to trade. Anywhere outside of this area would also introduce 'guest' taxes and the like.
These measures would not affect the aspiring entrepreneur,  nor affect the vast majority of the working and middle classes.
This is true austerity.
The money would then be used first to provide healthcare and housing for all, with heating costs controlled, transport run for the people, and communication seen as a human right. The national debts would dissappear, which although appearing insurmountable right now are not, look at Germany and Japan post-war.

Slavery and abuse in Hong Kong

This poor woman is someone's daughter, sister, mother! Hong Kong is incapable of protecting these women and obviously doesn't care. Nearly all domestic helpers pay exorbitant fees to agencies with the full knowledge of the Hong Kong government,  Indonesians pay up to 6 months salary and work 7 days a week for years. This is modern day slavery, Hong Kong doesn't care, The Indoesian and Phillipine people and governments should.

It's time for the Indonesian and Phillipine governments to put Hong Kong on a black list and stop sending helpers to Hong Kong. I hope this news gets massive coverage in Indonesia and their government takes a very strong stance.

Indonesian helper, 23, in critical condition after alleged beatings by Hong Kong employers

Monday, 13 January, 2014, 6:52pmNews›Hong KongDOMESTIC HELPERSJoanna ChiuHong Kong police have refused to pursue an investigation into the case of an Indonesian domestic helper who has been left in a critical condition after she was allegedly abused and beaten by her Hong Kong employers.Erwiana Sulistyaningsih is currently undergoing treatment at an Indonesian hospital after leaving Hong Kong following eight months of alleged abuse, said the Hong Kong branch of the Association of Indonesian Migrant Workers.A police spokeswoman said the case has not been turned over to an investigation officer. She said, “The helper’s employment agency made a report to police on January 12 but the agency did not provide evidence to confirm where her injuries came from. We can just hope to get more details." This has drawn shock and disappointment from the city’s lawmakers and human rights advocates.“Anytime someone is physically harmed there is no reason why police should not investigate,” lawmaker Charles Peter Mok said today.Fernando Cheung Chiu-hung, of the Labour Party, said: “If a person is killed and no one reports the murder, I wouldn’t think police would want to wait for someone to turn up to provide evidence before starting an investigation.”Sulistyaningsih had arrived in Hong Kong on May 13, 2013 to work for employers in Tseung Kwan O in the New Territories. She returned to Indonesia on the evening of January 10, requiring assistance from a friend to walk through Hong Kong airport because much of her body, including legs and feet, were covered in cuts and burns, according to Sringatin, spokeswoman for the Association of Indonesian Migrant Workers.Her employer had given her HK$100 and a t-shirt and asked her not to speak with any Indonesians before boarding the plane, said Sringatin. Sulistyaningsih had not sought help from airport customs officers, according to the Immigration Department. The 23-year-old is currently in a “critical condition” in Amal Sehat Islamic Hospital in the city of Sragen, Central Java Province of Indonesia, and it is unknown when she will be released from hospital, said Sam Aryadi, Vice Consul for Public Affairs for the Indonesian Consulate General of Hong Kong. Aryadi said the consulate is currently preparing a formal report for police.But advocates are calling on Hong Kong police to investigate the case immediately.“In such an extreme case of violent abuse, it would strike me as the police’s responsibility to investigate and gather evidence, not agencies to find evidence prior to the police making an investigation,” said Robert Godden, Asia-Pacific Campaign Coordinator at Amnesty International.Godden said there are elements in Sulistyaningsih’s case, such as the alleged HK$18,000 fees that she was required to pay to her employment agency, which should raise alarm about the possibility that her situation constituted a case of human trafficking. Human trafficking is defined by the United Nations as “use of force or other forms of coercion…for the purpose of exploitation.” Hong Kong should coordinate with Indonesian authorities to investigate more details of the case, said Godden.Sulistyaningsih’s employment agency, Chan’s Asia Recruitment Centre, which is based in Causeway Bay, did not respond to South China Morning Post’s requests for comment. Hong Kong law stipulates that agencies can charge helpers no more than HK$401, but Godden said it is common for agencies to charge as much as HK$21,000 and some would withhold helpers’ passports, employment contracts and bank cards until the debt has been repaid.Leo Tang Kin-wa, organizing secretary at the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions, raised concerns that Sulistyaningsih was scared to file a report to police because of Hong Kong’s mandatory “live-in” policy for domestic helpers.“Why did this case just come to public attention after the helper returned to Indonesia? It is because Hong Kong has failed to provide a safe environment for workers. She was forced to live with her employers, and there were no public-funded crisis shelters for helpers that she could have escaped to. It is very hard for helpers in Hong Kong to seek help.”Mok said that the government should “revisit” mandatory live-in rules to assess whether abolishing the rule would reduce the occurrences of abuse cases, and Cheung said the government should also consider removing the “two-week” rule.“If helpers want to quit abusive environments they would have to press charges within two weeks and afterward cannot work and have no ways to sustain themselves in Hong Kong,” Cheung said. "Many choose to return instead to their home countries, saddled with agency fee debt." Last September, the employers of Indonesian helper Kartika Puspitasari, described by the presiding judge as “cruel” and “vicious”, were found guilty of systematic abuse over the span of two years.Topics: Domestic HelpersSource URL (retrieved on Jan 14th 2014, 9:58am):http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1404697/indonesian-helper-23-critical-condition-after-alleged-beatings-hong

Sons

I did as much as could, but now sadly my role has been taken away from me. I hope, my boys you both have the inner calm and gentleness I have given you. You both have a fire inside you, a fire to be the best, you are both the best at everything you do, academically and otherwise. You are both gentleman with a high respect for your fellow men...and importantly women. Your lives have not been easy, and will not be, but you are good, very good sons to your mother as you should be. All that meet you, love you, you are both so very special,. I expect everything from you my sons, everything. The sky is not the limit, there is no limit. Know this; Your father thinks of you, every second, every minute, every hour of every day, and my love as I have told you both so many many times goes from here to the furthest furthest stars and back again.

Reiterate

Time to say again;
"With or without religion, good people can behave well and bad people can do evil; but for good people to do evil—that takes religion I am an atheist. That is not to say that I do not believe in the existence of gods, but rather I have never found a shred of evidence to prove even the basic existence of a god. I also don't believe that time travel to the past is possible, for the same reasons. If a god exists, why hasn't it provided clear evidence of his existence? Some people will say that is what 'faith' is. Is it likely that this supreme being would feel the need to play this cruel game on his creations? Why not just instill that faith and belief into our DNA. Following that logic, this god has also implanted doubt and the intelligence to question our surroundings through science, which has made us the superior beings on this planet. So any failings in our faith and belief are actually a product of god's intention,if he exists.

Simple smile

Hong Kong, 'Asia's heartless city'

In the face of a tragic humanitarian natural disaster, the Hong Kong government decides to press ahead with insane bullying pointless sanctions. The international perception of Hong Kong is changing very fast, and stupid lawmakers have no idea of the damage they are doing to Hong Kong's image.
 This has all come from Hong Kong demanding a government apology for the 2010 Manila bus massacre. When has any government in the world apologised for the actions of a single criminal act commited by a madman? Never! The US president does not apologise for high school or university shootings, the Chinese president does apologise for terrorist acts in Tiannemen Square.
The Hong Kong government have asked for more compensation, the Philippine government have offered ten times the compensation given to murdered policemen, which as the crime occurred in the Philippines is a fair amount. Any shortfall should be covered by the victims own insurance.
The threats and bullying and open racism now being thrown by the Hong Kong government is shameful and has no place in  modern civilised international diplomacy.
Shame on Hong Kong!

Wanted

Wanted;
Books for primary school children. Clothes for Primary school children (in reasonably good condition)

For Pitac Elememtary school, above Tibiao, Antique Province, Philippines.

I visited this school 3 weeks ago.(That's me in the photo)
This week, the eye of the Super Typhoon went directly overhead. I am not sure how it is now, but I met the teachers and students so I know it will carry on. It didn't lose electricity,  as it didn't have any in the first place. The school is high in the mountains, the parents are farmers of mainly rice. No cars can reach the school, it can only be reached by a 3 hour  walk(weather permitting)  or motorbike (but after the storm maybe not for some time)
I will return there at Christmas,  I don't want money, just books and clothes.
I will arrange to meet and collect mid December probably in MTR stations. This is a small shout out, I can probably only carry about 40kg, but if you have English books for kids, and clothes they will find a good home and be used to educate wonderful children.
Please pm me if you can help.

Change of direction?

You have no leverage anymore, you have punished me as much as is possible, and I am still here, as I always will be. You only hurt our boys.

Lest we forget

Poppy

The poppy was worn originally after 'The Great War' with the motto 'Lest we forget' with the proceeds going to those maimed by being frogmarched into the trenches with a gun pointed at their heads. Were they heroes? They died for their king, voluntarily or involuntarily. Of course the role of the armed forces changed forever after that, but is the poppy a symbol of national pride? No, it is a symbol of national shame, the shame of war, we desecrate those who died by saying it is our national pride to wear it.Should we wear it? Yes.Yes, to remember the futility of war, and the horrors that come with it. We should wear it with our our heads bowed in remberence of all those that gave their lives in those wars, with the hope that they fought to end war, to remind us that fighting a war should only be undertaken under extreme circumstances, and to thank those that went before us so that we wouldn't have to. But never as a symbol of national pride.

I dreamed...

Children are not pawns!

Here we are again;
 Using your children as bargaining chips has to be the most deplorable act possible, denying contact for 5 months AGAIN is spiteful. Once again dropping all forms of communication, but then once again to deny them the right to go their grandmother's 70th birthday party has to be the lowest of the low. I have kept my silence for these 5 months, especially on here. I knew there was no hope for us to be friends but hoped civility would eventually prevail. 15 minutes ago you told my mother that the kids, although they were excited about the party to meet their uncles and cousins and be with their grandfather and grandmother who they dearly love, would be spending the night at your cousin's who are having a meeting about their christmas party, and told their grandmother it is because your cousins are more important... curse you woman, how can you be so spiteful?One day, I promise you this; I have kept every single communication between us, and one day I will tell our beautiful boys the truth. I will not be alone in telling them the truth.

shine