Looking back on Covid

The photographic exhibition, Overheard in Lockdown, at the Temple in Wanstead Park, brings back memories of that period. The pictures, taken by photographer Russell Boyce, capture a number of people walking in the two-week period leading up to then Prime Minister Boris Johnson's announcement on 22 February 2021of a roadmap out of lockdown. Boyce has also captured snippets of conversation that accompany the pictures. It was a truly extraordinary time, with the whole country under lockdown. Remember, the first lockdown was declared in March 2020. This eased after three months but the longer lockdown started for Londoners in November that year, not even beginning to be lifted for another four months. Then release was slow, with all restrictions, not going till well into July. Covid dominated news bulletins, with infections and death numbers being reported on a daily basis. Wanstead Park and other open spaces offered a welcome respite, somewhere to go, exercise, get away and enjoy nature. There were less cars on the road, as life slowed for a while. The period of the pandemic altered life totally, people adjusted and most survived. There are lasting legacies, such as many people continuing to work from home, for at least part of the week. Hopefully, many more are continuing to come to the park and other places to enjoy nature. One of the most amazing things is how quickly things have got back to normal. Covid only occasionally gets a mention in the news now - though it is still very much around. People are still wary, with face masks popular in a lot of settings. There is also the loss of over 200,000 to the terrible disease, so many grieving lost loved ones. Also, the 100,000s with long Covid. A little more sensitivity from government on those suffering from these causes would be welcome - in place of a growing obsession with getting the half million or so who left the workforce during the period to get back to work The pandemic was a strange period, the like of which none of us would want to see again.It was though also a time to stop reflect and think about life - something well captured in Russell Boyce's pictures. * the exhibition continues for six weeks

Why no calls for peace in Ukraine?

Why does there seem to be no talk of peace in Ukraine? Where are the voices of the international peace movement? The thought occurs, as country after country pledges more weaponry to the Ukrainian side. Tanks have been the latest weapon, coming from Britain, Germany and the US. There is now talk of planes. The only interest seems to be in escalation of this conflict, rather than bringing a resolution. There has ofcourse been an unlawful invasion of Ukraine by Russia, which needs to be repelled, but the time must have come for finding a peaceful way to resolve the conflict, rather than normalise bloody war. The whole world needs peace, as soon as possible. Every day sees the creation of more and more bereaved families. The people of Ukraine have suffered incredibly, as their country has been invaded. Thousands have died. Hundreds of thousands have fled the country to escape the carnage. The failure to discuss anyway of bringing this catastrophe to an end is reminiscent of the way in which the Troubles were dealt with in the Irish context. In the early days of the troops going into the North in 1969, the talk was of a temporary deployment – they would be home by Christmas. But the mood rapidly changed, with actions like the use of internment and atrocities like Bloody Sunday, ensuring that the conflict escalated. The description of the Troubles itself tended to underplay what was for most of the following three decades, all out war. There were eight general elections between 1969 and 1998, never once did the war going on in a substantial part of the UK merit a serious debate. Even when the bombing campaigns, saw the whole of the UK effectively drawn into the struggle. The political parties adopted a bipartisan approach, so no difference of opinion over how the war was being undertaken. Sound familiar? Eventually, all sides were drawn together to talk peace. A number of theories abound as to why things changed in the 1990s – all sides had fought themselves to a standstill, it was costing too much, there were new enlightened leaders, the British army was required in other theatres of war – take your pick. But suddenly attitudes changed. There is ofcourse still a long way to go but the bombs and bullets stopped all of a sudden. There is also the strange irony that Brexit seems to have advanced the cause of uniting Ireland far more rapidly and with less bloodshed than 30 years of fighting ever did! So what of Ukraine today. Why the lack of discussion of a settlement, bringing peace? Do any of the parties in Russia, Ukraine or the West want peace? The Ukraine war moved from leading news bulletins with blanket coverage from the outset to providing the populace with intermittent updates. The war has been normalised, presented as inevitable and without end – similarities here to the way in which the conflict in the North was treated over all those decades. And it is not as if everyone is not being effected in one way or another by the Ukrainian war. Europe is the land mass mainly hit by the war. America, which provides much of the weaponry for the fighting, is largely insulated from the direct impacts. There is the flow of refugees, rightly, greeted with great generosity by the British public. A marked contrast, though, to others seeking refuge in the country, most notably those in the "small boats, crossing the channel, who are viewed as "a problem" by the British government. There are the rising energy prices. The spiralling cost of living in this and other countries. That great public enemy, inflation, would significantly come down if peace broke out in Ukraine. One of the big winners of the conflict is the international arms trade, which has seen its cash registers constantly ringing as the war goes on. Notably, former national security adviser, Lord Peter Ricketts recently declared that we "need to get our defence industry geared onto more like a war footing, so that we can produce the munitions that Ukraine needs." Good news for the military industrial complex. Will the cost doesn’t matter attitude, that seemed to dominate during the conflict in Ireland, apply to Ukraine? It remains a mystery as to why Britain is so heavily committed, providing the second highest level of support and armaments, after the US. Beyond a former PM, who thought it was his Churchillian moment and a country still deluded into believing it is a major power in the world, it is difficult to fathom why Britain is so to the fore in Ukraine. The Ukrainians need support in the defence of their country but peace has to be the ultimate goal We cannot simply go on with an unending war, as happened over all those years in the North of Ireland. The voices for peace need to be raised and heard. Constantly escalating this dangerous conflict could lead to an even bigger war and who knows where that could end? This year has to see this bloody war drawn to a close. The Russians need to leave Ukraine, then the country needs rebuilding - a massive task. Structures also need putting in place to stop such an attack occurring again in the future. Simply, warmongering and talking of escalation will only see things getting worse for all except the arms manufacturers. The bloodshed needs to stop, and the talking needs to start now to bring an end to the conflict. * published - Irish Post, 25/2/2023

The true role of the British Empire, partitioning & slavery need teaching in British schools

The recent suggestion of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak that children should learn maths until the age of 18 was widely derided. But perhaps the PM just got the wrong subject, maybe it should be history. Indeed, learning history really does need to be a lifelong process, not just ending at 18. Historical amnesia has been a long running ailment among British people, often having devastating consequences. The teaching of history has for many years centred on the rich and powerful, the kings and queens of England, rather than the plight of working people. It was Tudors and early Stuarts back in my own school days – then it didn’t even run as far as Cromwell and Ireland. Recently, reading accounts of life in the early part of the 20th century, it has been revealing to learn of the struggles of working people just to survive. The brutality meted out by a Liberal Government to the suffragettes and Irish nationalists - it was striking to realise how hidden this history has become. There was unrest before the First World War, then a potentially revolutionary situation after, with the impact of the overthrow of the Russian revolution, inspiring British, German and Irish workers among many others to look for major change. The antecedents of the armed rebellion in Ireland culminating in the Easter Rising in 1916, is probably to be found in the Dublin Lockout of 1913. The initial conflict only ended, with the partition of Ireland in 1922, then the civil war. If the history of this period were taught properly and absorbed, then maybe so many of the mistakes would not have been repeated during the renewed outbreak of violence, known as the Troubles, some half a century later. Everyone should know about the botched job made of Indian independence, the partitioning on religious lines of what became Pakistan and India. The clumsy way in which the process was administered by Earl Louis Mountbatten and his team, ensuring a bloodbath ensued. The problems caused by British partitioning across the world should be front and centre of any history syllabus taught in schools today. Then there is the legacy of the slave trade. Again, British complicity going back to Elizabethan times. The varnished version of history has tended to dwell on the role of abolitionists like William Wilberforce and how Britain was one of the first countries to officially abolish slavery. Less about how many of the rich and powerful today have a legacy built on the gains of slavery. Fortunately, the work of excellent historians like David Olusoga has begun to uncover these unpleasant truths for the wider population. It has though been the obfuscation of history down the years that has allowed the myths of Empire to become accepted narratives. The view is still widely held that the British Empire was a good thing, a civilising force for humanity. All was well when Britain ruled the waves. More recently this version of history had plucky Britain winning the Second World War, pretty much alone. The role of the US, Russia and countless others being relegated to the sidelines. Sadly, the failure to understand the past has contributed to the British identity crisis. This sees many believing Britain still is a major world power, rather than a small increasingly isolated island in the north of Europe. The world power status fiction is contributed to by such ideas as the special relationship with America. It is as though by hanging on the coat tails of the American empire, Britain can kid itself it still does rule the waves. Incidents like Suez in 1956 should have long ago banished any such delusions, when Britain was quickly slapped down and put in its place by the Americans, following its attempted invasion of Egypt. Unfortunately, many seem (and want) to believe this falsification of the past - it was something that the campaign to leave the EU was able to plug into. The truth that Britain was a declining country, whose power was magnified by it being part of the larger EU block, was lost. Now, Britain is paying a heavy price. Recent Conservative governments seem keen to promote these falsehoods, regarding the history of empire and Britain’s role in the world. This has seen the strange culture wars spreading across academia and beyond. One of the key players in this process, ofcourse, was Boris Johnson, who seems to believe himself to be the reincarnation of Winston Churchill - the epitome of the bulldog spirit. History is so important because it is only by understanding the past that the mistakes made then can be avoided in the future. The history of Britain and Ireland over the past century offers a perfect case study. History has been ignored time and time again, with suffering caused as a result to both countries. A proper teaching of history, beyond the lives of the rich and powerful would do much to ensure a better informed public, ready to accept its place in the world. A recognition of Britain’s true role in the past would merit more than a little contrition and possibly some reparations but it could also result in a country, less deluded and more at ease with itself in the long run.

Anyone fancy a Wanstead Beer Festival?

Beer festivals have grown in popularity and number across the country over recent years. There was a two-year absence over the pandemic but the festivals came roaring back last year. Many are run by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA). They offer a chance for people of all ages, shapes and sizes to come together, to enjoy a variety of beers. There is also often entertainment, with many bands taking part in the festivals. The biggest event held annually is the Great British Beer Festival, which draws thousands of people into Olympia over a five day period in August each year. Brewers from all over the country provide a broad range of beers, from heavy imperial stouts to the lighter blondes (closer to lager). There are also cider and perry bars, catering for other tastes. Wine and gin is also available. The serving of the different beers is a mass volunteer operation - often done by heroic Camra members. There are a variety of food outlets, providing anything from pasties and hot dogs to Indian Street food. A beer festival closer to home is the Epping & Ongar event in July. This has the added attraction of being held at the Epping Ongar Railway, so beers can be enjoyed whilst travelling on steam trains between Epping and Ongar. Every beer festival is different. Another July favourite is the Ealing Beer Festival, held in Walpole Park. A number of marquees are erected within the park. With the sun shining, it is a great place to have a beer. By contrast Norwich has an October beer festival in the historic St Andrews Halls in central Norwich. The old pictures of local notables look down from the walls on happy revellers. Another winter local festival is the Pigs Ear event held in the Round Chapel Hackney Chapel at the end of November. The Pigs Ear is organised by the East London Camra branch. It pretty much takes the whole year to organise but the result is an excellent occasion, with more than 3,000 attending over the five days last year. East London & City Camra branch, though, are old hands, the most recent event being its 38th. Another excellent event last year was the Wandsworth Common Halloween Beer & Cider Festival Festival, held at the historic Royal Victoria Patriotic Building. What Wandsworth showed though was how an event can be run in a relatively small space. It also had a personal favourite, the councillor beer (brewed especially for the event by the Sambrooks brewery). There is a Spring Wandsworth Beer Festival coming up at the end of next month – 31st March to 1st April. So, what about a Wanstead Beer Festival. There are a number of open spaces and large buildings that could host such an event. There are plenty of real ale fans in Wanstead, as witnessed by the variety of beers stocked in our local pubs. Our excellent transport links would make it easy for people coming in from outside to attend. Around the time of the Wanstead Fringe and Festival maybe? If there is sufficient interest then Wanstead can surely put itself on the Beer Festival map – over to you.

Honours even between West Ham & Chelsea as VAR takes centre stage

West Ham 1-1 Chelsea West Ham and Chelsea will both feel robbed by VAR in this keenly fought derby at the London Stadium. Ten minutes from time, a free kick swung over from the left by Emerson was met by Declan Rice, only to see Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga force the ball out. Tomas Soucek, though, was on hand to drive the loose ball into the net. The subsequent VAR investigation ruled that Rice had stepped (by inches) into an offside position as the ball came over. In the earlier fixture at Stamford Bridge, West Ham were denied a last minute Maxwel Cornet equaliser by the technology - a decision that has since been cited as one of the most glaring errors of the season. But this time Chelsea were equally aggrieved, when what looked like a penalty, late in the game, was denied by VAR. The shot from Conor Gallagher, seemed to be saved, with his hand, by Soucek, but no penalty was awarded. Up to the late fireworks, the game had been fairly even, though if Chelsea had not fallen foul of the offside rule twice, early on, they could have run out easy winners. Comfortable in possession, Chelsea constantly threatened to slice through the West Ham rearguard. The home side were restricted to playing their counter attacking game. Chelsea took the lead on the quarter hour, when an Enzo Fernandez cross from the left was cooly volleyed home by Joao Felix. West Ham were, then, unlucky when a Michail Antonio back heel, from a Said Benrahma cross, went straight to the keeper. The home side were, though, not to be denied, when minutes later, a cross from Vladimir Coufal was headed on by Jarrod Bowen for Emerson to finish at the back post West Ham keeper Lukasz Fabianski was then busy, pushing wide a shot from Noni Madueke, then dealing similarly, with a free kick. Kai Havertz then headed over a Ben Chilwell cross. All said and done, the draw was a fair result - all VAR considered. West Ham manager, David Moyes was pleased how his side clawed their way back into the game. "Chelsea were a lot better in the first half and it was important we didn't go further behind," said Moyes. "It was a good point." Chelsea manager, Graham Potter, felt the performance was a step forward. He explained how he is balancing getting players back from injury and fitting in new signings (a conundrum familiar to Moyes). The Chelsea manager felt Soucek did handle the ball, so there should have been a penalty.

Time to hear the voices of peace on Ukraine

Why does there seem to be no talk of peace in Ukraine? Where are the voices of the international peace movement? The thought occurs, as country after country pledge more weaponry to the Ukrainian side. Tanks have been the latest weapon, coming from Britain, Germany and the US. There seems to be only an interest in escalation of this conflict, rather than bringing a resolution. The whole world needs peace, as soon as possible. The people of Ukraine have suffered incredibly, as their country has been invaded. Thousands have died. Hundreds of thousands have fled the country to escape the carnage. There have been significant losses on the Russian side, as President Vladimir Putin pushes on with his reckless unlawful action. Every casualty in this war leaves a bereaved family somewhere. Europe is the land mass mainly hit by the war. America which provides much of the weaponry for the fighting is largely insulated from the direct impacts. Then there are the implications beyond the actual fighting. The rising energy prices. The spiralling cost of living in this and other countries. That great public enemy, inflation, would significantly come down if peace broke out in Ukraine. The Ukrainians need support in the defence of their country but peace has to be the ultimate goal We cannot simply go on with an unending war. One of the big winners of the conflict is the international arms trade, which has seen its cash registers constantly ringing as the war goes on. This year has to see this bloody war drawn to a close. The Russians need to leave Ukraine, then the country needs rebuilding - a massive task. Structures also need putting in place to stop such an attack occurring again in the future. The voices for peace need to be raised and heard. Constantly escalating this dangerous conflict could lead to an even bigger war and who knows where that could end?

James Connolly - Socialist, Nationalist and Internationalist by Liam McNulty

Socialist, nationalist and internationalist nicely summarises the life journey of James Connolly. Author, Liam McNulty does an excellent job of tracking that journey from Edinburgh to Ireland onto America before returning to Ireland and the final four years leading up to execution, as one of the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising. James Connolly was born in the Edinburgh slum of Cowgate in 1868. His Irish parents came from County Monaghan. Connolly’s life work as a socialist activist began in Edinburgh. He then went to Ireland in 1896, helping found the Irish Socialist Republican Party, with a view to transitioning nationalism into socialism. McNulty chronicles in detail Connolly's prolific work of activism, organising working people, writing and editing papers. He moves to America in 1905, where he learns valuable organising lessons from working with the unions. Returning to Ireland in 1910, McNulty describes Connolly as "a more rounded, more mature Labour movement leader, with a high profile as a socialist organiser and real experience of mass working-class struggle to his name." Connolly is always looking to unite the working class against capitalist oppressors. He is dismayed that religion seems to cause division, with working class protestants uniting under Edward Carson to oppose Home Rule. McNulty tries to tease out Connolly's at times ambiguous relationship with Catholicism and the Church. Himself an atheist but as a political strategist seeing the need to avoid conflict with the Church. The book goes into much detail regarding Connolly's role in various groups and publications - the list of acronyms is not a short one. Indeed, it can be argued that there is a little too much detail of different political sects, perhaps a little more on the personality of the man would have helped. That said, the detail does help explain how Connolly arrives at the Dublin GPO on Easter Sunday 1916. A socialist activist, Connolly figures along with union leader Jim Larkin as major players in the Dublin Lockout of 1913/14. A general strike in all but name, the dispute goes on for months - a real sign of how industrial action can bring united working class action. The unrest of the lockout is part of the revolutionary atmosphere of the pre-World War I years. Major industrial action, the suffragettes struggle and battle for Irish independence all combine to create a febrile atmosphere. McNulty brings this to life, placing Connolly as an important player in all of these struggles. The outbreak of war does impact Connolly's views significantly. He is said at first to back the Germans, as the best bet for Irish liberation, though privately, views British and German imperialism as equally bad. A true socialist, Connolly opposes war as pitting working class against working class in defence of the capitalist class interests. Latterly, though, there seems to be a conversion in some way to nationalism on the part of Connolly. He meets the Irish Republican Brotherhood leadership over a number of days in January 1916, after which he and the Irish Citizens Army are committed to revolt. McNulty teases this point out without ever really nailing why the methodical, analytical socialist decides to throw in his lot with the predominantly Catholic nationalists. At best, it seems to be a seize the moment action. The legacy of Connolly is briefly covered, without going too far down the road of what ifs. All in all, this is a thoroughly scholarly work that provides some fascinating insights into a true Irish socialist revolutionery. A bit hard going at times, the reader will feel far better informed on the important role Connolly and his comrades played in transforming Ireland during this unique period of history and the impact of his legacy later. Published by Merlin Press - £25

Service provision cannot be one cap fits all approach

The push to make everyone live increasing amounts of time online seems to be continuing apace. The online revolution has made doing many things much easier. Buying products that are delivered to the door, paying for goods and services and finding out what is available. But there is also a downside, which is the effort to force everyone online, whether they want to be there or not. Banking is something that is becoming more and more of an online activity. Branches are shutting all over the country, taking away that very personal contact. If things cannot be resolved on line, there are customer relations staff on the phone to help out. They will often be in call centres and it can take some time to get through. Supermarkets also seem keen for customers to buy online, with deliveries brought to the door. This was particularly useful during the times of Covid lockdowns. The supermarket also likes customers to use self service tills in shops, rather than going through the staffed checkouts. Though, interesting to see at Christmas some stores moving back more toward staffed checkouts. The underlying motive for these businesses is to cut staff in order to make more profit A different area is the public services. The NHS likes to operate bureaucratically online as much as possible. Many councils are seeking to put most of their services online. Many benefits are administered online This can cause a lot of frustration, when people are seeking to get basic services. Some people are not online and don't want to be. Should there not be provision made for such people, rather than seemingly just trying to force them online. When things go wrong, most people just want a human being to talk to, to sort it out. In an increasingly isolated and anonymous world, there can be real issues of anxiety, caused when things go wrong, a feeling of powerlessness, with no one on hand to help. The driving motivation on the part of providers is usually to make more profit or cut costs, which are often one in the same thing. In the case of public services, the move to automation in this way can also be seen as erecting barriers between service providers and the general public. A cause of real frustration and worse. Surely, it is time to recognise the very important role of human contact. The need to provide that connection as well as the online improvements. It should not be a one fits all solution because there are so many factors to cater for in the ever more complex modern world.