OT. The futures Bright, the Futures Brexit!!!

[AdiSalisbury]

I must take a pride in taking part in a protest/rally despite the fact that Margaret Thatcher at that time had placed a total ban on all protests/rallies unless they could be shown as scientific and educational which of course we did. It was a great day out which was attended by 100000. Any idea what the the protest/rally was about?

Nope, what was it? The right to protest? Or the reinstatement of Cloughie to Rams manager?

I don't have anything against it in principle, the right to protest is part of our democracy that I believe important. But when you see the same mummy's boy protesting every week with his collection of protest boards / banners, it's hard to take "his" cause seriously. A few thousand protesters is run of the mill, and has lost it's effect. A million might get some notice, or a large protest outside of London where it will get coverage would probably have more effect. But the weekly march outside Westminster is practically a tourist attraction. A bit like these online petitions that keep going around.

[RedBasie]

Nope, what was it? The right to protest? Or the reinstatement of Cloughie to Rams manager?

I don't have anything against it in principle, the right to protest is part of our democracy that I believe important. But when you see the same mummy's boy protesting every week with his collection of protest boards / banners, it's hard to take "his" cause seriously. A few thousand protesters is run of the mill, and has lost it's effect. A million might get some notice, or a large protest outside of London where it will get coverage would probably have more effect. But the weekly march outside Westminster is practically a tourist attraction. A bit like these online petitions that keep going around.

It was the third of a series of Save The Whale rallies, which did lead to a world wide moratorium of the hunting of certain types of whale. Only the Japanese did not cooperate by insisting on a thousand a year quota for scientific research. However due to harassment of their whaling fleet by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and a recent court ruling that a thousand a year is excessive I'm not sure what their future plans are.

[AdiSalisbury]

It was the third of a series of Save The Whale rallies, which did lead to a world wide moratorium of the hunting of certain types of whale. Only the Japanese did not cooperate by insisting on a thousand a year quota for scientific research. However due to harassment of their whaling fleet by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and a recent court ruling that a thousand a year is excessive I'm not sure what their future plans are.

A good cause and positive result. Would it have had the same effect now though? There have been regular protests against badger culls in recent times, that have had no effect at all.

[Ram59]

We're coming up to Easter, when the students and teachers have their annual protest march. Any ideas what it might be for this year?

[Andy_Faber]

We're coming up to Easter, when the students and teachers have their annual protest march. Any ideas what it might be for this year?

'Students Against Pocahontas As A Rag Week Fancy Dress Character' (is a TRUE one, I kid you not)

[ramAnag]

Absolutely my point Andy - and yes I'm certainly old enough to remember - in the days of the IRA I certainly felt we were 'under attack' and again twelve years ago I felt much the same. Although last week's incident must feel much the same for the individuals who were injured and killed these 'twisted individual' attacks do seem different and oddly there was very little in the way of 'support' being offered by the Americans when the Irish were responsible.

I thought teachers and students had annual Easter conferences not marches Ram59.

[AdiSalisbury]

... oddly there was very little in the way of 'support' being offered by the Americans when the Irish were responsible.

They were very supportive, where else would the IRA get funding?

Personally, I find the IRA a lot more frightening, mostly due to the (for want of a better term) professionalism of their attacks.

[roger_ramjet]

So the deed is done. I presume the flag is at half mast at Mangara Towers. Let us hope now that the hard line starts to soften once the process begins. At least we can see some humour in pissing off the scotch: fun to hear that SNP guy whingeing in parliament this morning! "Wah wah, the Scotch voted against brexit and noone did what the Scotch told them to" - well, thats what you call democracy not Scotch fascism!!

[roger_ramjet]

Almost fallen off the front page. To restore it to all its glory, here is an interesting observation on Brexit which I think somes it up rather nicely:

"Letters have a chequered history. Henry VIII’s letter to the Pope asking for a divorce precipitated the break with Rome, while Neville Chamberlain’s 1939 letter to Hitler became just one more badge of his ineffectiveness in Europe. The contents of Theresa May’s six-page EU divorce notification, which arrived in Brussels last Thursday, might be remembered as anything from a hopelessly optimistic act of self-harm to the dawn of a new age of opportunity for the UK. Either way, it was a historic moment."

What I also find interesting to note is that in the Great Repeal Bill, Theresa May is given Henry VIII powers - ie it gives powers to the prime minister enabling her to change many laws without parliament’s consent. Thus perhaps she can now wield more executive authority than any other PM in living memory - possibly only matched by those given to Churchill when he last tried to sort Europe out.

So she is now in a trump like position with his executive orders. Maybe she can rebuild the wall to Scotland!

[Andy_Faber]

Almost fallen off the front page. To restore it to all its glory, here is an interesting observation on Brexit which I think somes it up rather nicely:

"Letters have a chequered history. Henry VIII’s letter to the Pope asking for a divorce precipitated the break with Rome, while Neville Chamberlain’s 1939 letter to Hitler became just one more badge of his ineffectiveness in Europe. The contents of Theresa May’s six-page EU divorce notification, which arrived in Brussels last Thursday, might be remembered as anything from a hopelessly optimistic act of self-harm to the dawn of a new age of opportunity for the UK. Either way, it was a historic moment."

What I also find interesting to note is that in the Great Repeal Bill, Theresa May is given Henry VIII powers - ie it gives powers to the prime minister enabling her to change many laws without parliament’s consent. Thus perhaps she can now wield more executive authority than any other PM in living memory - possibly only matched by those given to Churchill when he last tried to sort Europe out.

So she is now in a trump like position with his executive orders. Maybe she can rebuild the wall to Scotland!

I was disappointed that my suggestion to an editor friend to use the strapline 'The Dear Jean Letter' on the momentous day last week was ignored. Mind you, he edits a music magazine so I can understand