Southall

Salary required to sponsor spouse to UK

2011-12-21T21:01:00.002Z

How much do you need to earn before you are allowed to sponsor a spouse to the UK?

Part 8 of the Immigration Rules state that applicants who wish to bring their spouse to the UK to settle here must prove that he/she has sufficient financial resources so as not to become a burden on public funds.

This means that the sponsoring applicant who wish to obtain permission for a fiancés, spouses, civil partners, unmarried partners, or other dependant relatives to enter the UK, must prove that they will not need to resort to social security benefits.

The sponsor needs to be in full time work unless he/she earns loads of money.

Problems can occur if the sponsor is on a a low income and has no savings.

The minimum level income should be no less than that of the income support level for a couple. This is currently £105.95 (for both aged over 18).

Applicants can rely on funds provided by third party (family or friends) but will need to provide evidence that the support is not less reliable than income from employment.

At present, the annual income threshold in place is £5,500 after tax, excluding housing costs. This is the same as a salary of £13,700 before tax (includes housing costs).

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC)is recommending a minimum salary of between £18,600 and £25,700 before tax.

This is to prevent any sponsor, their spouse or their dependents from becoming a burden on the state.

Raising the threshold to £18,600 would cut settlement by 45 per cent, according to MAC estimates. Raising it £25,700, would reduce settlement by around 63 per cent.

Spouse visa age lowered from 21 to 18

2011-12-21T20:12:00.002Z

The Government last month announced that the spouse visa age will be lowered again from 21 to 18. This change took effect on 28 November 2011.

The law was amended on 27 November 2008 to raise the minimum age from 18 to 21 for both foreign spouses and their sponsors in the UK before the foreign spouse could be granted a visa to enter or remain as a spouse or partner.

The Supreme Court has ruled that, whilst the aim was to address forced marriages, increasing the minimum marriage visa age from 18 to 21 disproportionately interfered with Article 8 rights (the individual’s right to family life) of those who were in genuine marriages.

So the spouse visa age will be lowered again to a sensible 18 years of age.

See full text here

Do you want cheaper petrol?

2011-01-25T20:26:00.001Z

We are hitting £129.9 a litre in some areas now and soon we will be faced with paying £1.50 per litre. So Philip Hollsworth offered this good idea:

Please see what you think and pass it on if you agree with it.

This makes MUCH MORE SENSE than the 'don't buy petrol on a certain day campaign' that was going around last April or May! The oil companies just laughed at that because they knew we wouldn't continue to hurt ourselves by refusing to buy petrol. It was more of an inconvenience to us than it was a problem for them. BUT, whoever thought of this idea, has come up with a plan that can really work.

Please read it and join in!

Now that the oil companies and the OPEC nations have conditioned us to think that the cost of a litre is CHEAP, we need to take aggressive action to teach them that BUYERS - not sellers control the market place. With the price of petrol going up more each day, we consumers need to take action. The only way we are going to see the price of petrol come down is if we hit someone in the pocket by not purchasing their petrol! And we can do that WITHOUT hurting ourselves. Here's the idea:

For the rest of this year DON'T purchase ANY petrol from the two biggest oil companies (which now are one) i.e. ESSO and BP.

If they are not selling any petrol, they will be inclined to reduce their prices. If they reduce their prices, the other companies will have to follow suit. But to have an impact we need to reach literally millions of Esso and BP petrol buyers. It's really simple to do!!

Now, don't wimp out on me at this point... keep reading and I'll explain how simple it is to reach millions of people!!

I am sending this note to a lot of people. If all of you send it to at least ten more (30 x 10 = 300)....and those 300 send it to at least ten more (300 x 10 = 3,000) ... and so on. By the time the message reaches the sixth generation of people, we will have reached over THREE MILLION consumers! If those three million get excited and pass this on to ten friends each, then 30 million people will have been contacted! If it goes one level further, you guessed it.....

THREE HUNDRED MILLION PEOPLE!!!

Again, all YOU have to do is send this to 10 people. That's all (and not buy at ESSO/BP). How long would all that take? If each of us sends this email out to ten more people within one day of receipt, all 300 MILLION people could conceivably be contacted within the next 8 days!!! Acting together we can make a difference. If this makes sense to you, please pass this message on.

PLEASE HOLD OUT UNTIL THEY LOWER THEIR PRICES It's easy to make this happen. Just forward this email, and buy your petrol at Shell,Asda,Tesco, Sainsburys, Morrisons, Jet etc. i.e. Boycott BP and Esso

Peer Ali Ajmayri

2011-01-04T20:11:00.001Z

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Not bloody likely
Who is going to pay for his advertising?

Caravan Crookz Feat Ash King - Scooter Singh

2010-11-28T20:31:00.001Z

See Scooter Singh drive through Southall.

Economy cuts as Southall Post Office?

2010-09-01T18:27:00.005+01:00

The Post Office on Southall Broadways gives the impression that it is cutting costs.

It's a bad idea to walk into the main Post office on Southall Broadway, after a Bank Holiday, as it might be very busy.

Surely the rush would be over by the late afternoon. No so.

It has always had a single orderly queue but today it was very confusing.queues half way down. Not very surprising when you have a lot of Asians involved! There is the marked and official old queue and another dodgy one being created half way down. Which one do I follow? The other one if for express deliveries? No, it is for the car road tax people?

Surely, the people behind the counters realise there might be a problem?

Next person for desk 7, please.
"Oi, I am next. Don't you know there is a queue?"
"But I am in the queue."

What is the fuss/mess all about?

A few minutes later, a Post office person comes out to sort things out.
There are 8 possible counters but counter 6 is for special deliveries and road tax queries. See, it has notice on it, the official explains. It has its own queue but there are no signs to say so. People are supposed to work it for themselves or be good at mind reading.

You would expect this counter to be on one side but that would be asking too much. I can only guess that blocking service counters by a secondary queue is more sensible according to the Post Office think tank.

Only 2 stupid mistakes? No.

It was hot and humid inside. There were a lot of people aswell. There were a lot of fans in the post Office but no one bothered to turn one ON.

Can't be bothered to turn on the fans on a hot and humid day.
Can't be bothered to put up a sign to say there are 2 queues and why?

Very uncaring, stressful and time wasting experience.

Just like a car visit to Ealing Hospital.
Need to cough up a minimum of £3.50 for the privilege.

Charity Iftar Dinner for Pakistan flood relief

2010-08-25T16:34:00.009+01:00

The Hopes for Help Foundation charity holds fund raising dinner in support of the Pakistan flood victims in Southall.

The charity iftari dinner was held on Sunday 22nd March 2010 at 8pm in Chaudhry's TKC restaurant on Southall Broadway.

The entry donation was £25 per person which can provide a food package for a family. Dalawar Chaudhry contributed to the appeal which meant that the actual cost of the dinner would be virtually free.

A person who has been to the affected areas said that a family was lucky to have a tent with a single manji (bed) in it. Food was something else.

You would go out in the middle of the night to ensure that you have everything for breakfast. These people have nothing, have had nothing for weeks, so you can understand their despair and frustration and need to feed their family.

The cricket ball with which Amir Khan claimed 5 wickets to win the recent 3rd Test match against England was auctioned for £200.

A genuine BOOM cricket bat signed by Pakistani cricketers was auctioned for £300.

A photograph of Imran Khan claiming his 500th test wicket, which hung in Imran Khan's home, was also auctioned.

Pakistan is still ruled by illiterate feudal lords. They don't understand that it is their job to serve the people and the country. They are not prepared to get their hands diry to help the people.

Rather than complaining that some one is not doing their job properly, middle class individuals should stand up and offer their skills in their specific field, for the betterment of Pakistan.

Choose any route you like but do something.
We need to bring change in Pakistan.

I have never felt at ease at asking for money. But for the sake of the flood victims of Pakistan, I have no hesitation in getting my nose dirty, knowing that even £2 would mean a lot to some poor souls in Pakistan.

Jaane kab honge kum, iss duniya ke gham

2010-08-20T19:29:00.005+01:00

Jaane kab honge kum, iss duniya ke gham by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

For Pakistan flood victims - 1,600 killed and an estimated 20 million people affected by the worst floods in Pakistan's history.

Jaane kab honge kum = When will decrease
Iss duniya ke gham = the sorrows of this world

Kiya Jis ne gila.... Mili aur saza = one who complaint ..Got more punishment.

Fundraising dinner at Chaudhry’s TKC

2010-08-06T10:54:00.007+01:00

The charity Muslim Aid organised a fundraising dinner on in Southall in support of the flood victims of Pakistan.

The fundraising dinner was held on Thursday 5th August 2010 at 7pm at Chaudhry’s TKC restaurant on Southall Broadway.

Cricket players Azhar Mahmood, Saqlain Mushtaq, Abdur Razzaq and other members of the Pakistan Cricket team were expected to attend to show their support on the night but were unable to do so.

One reason was the surprise visit by Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari to the Pakistan cricket team. The other being that it was the eve of the 2nd Test match against England in Birmingham - a long way to travel on the eve of a match.

The host for the evening was barrister Rizwan Hussain of Islam Channel.

"For Muslims life is test.
The real test is on those who survived or were unaffected.
What do they do?"

£155 will feed a (large) family (including grandparents) for a month.

Over £26,000 was pleadge to be given or raised within 20 minutes, including
- £1,800 from the Central Jamia Mosque in Southall
- £2,500 from saracen solicitors
- £2,000 from a mosque in Tooting

In the auction, the motto was to think about bidding against yourself and think about what your bid could do for the flood victims and not about the item itself.

A Shahid Afridi's bat, to be signed, was auctioned for £400.
Amir Khan's signed boxing glove was auctioned for £651.

The Abubakr mosque, next door, has made and continues to make 100% effort in raising funds for the Pakistan flood victims but it will distribute the money collected using it's own people, as in previous cases.

As does Chaudhry's TKC.

Southall biofuel power station plans rejected

2010-06-30T22:25:00.001+01:00

Southall Broadway Forum meeting reveals that plans for a biofuel power station in Southall were rejected by the Government.

At the last Southall Broadway Forum meeting on Wednesday 30 June 20120 Councillor Zahida Abbas Noori revealed that she had received information that the plans for a biofuel power station in Southall were rejected by the Government.

Last September Ealing Council turned down the planning application from Blue NG for the power station due to air pollution and road safety concerns.

Blue NG appealed the decision and the secretary of state referred the application to a full enquiry. The two week hearing was conducted earlier this year.

It rejected the appeal.

“There is no mercy for the weak” - Ehud Barak

2010-06-02T21:52:00.001+01:00

Israel's leaders sent helicopters of armed commandos to raid a convoy of ships in international waters bringing medicine and humanitarian supplies to Gaza, killing nine of them and wounding at least 30 people.

Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said "We live in the Middle East, in a place where there is no mercy for the weak."

There is none shown to the Palestinians, especially the 1.5 million caged in Gaza.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel had "no other choice" but to stop the flotilla of ships which tried to break the Gaza blockade.

The Israeli blockade allows about 15,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid into Gaza every week. The UN says this is less than a quarter of what is needed.

A columnist in the Ha'aretz newspaper wrote to his fellow Israelis, "We are no longer defending Israel. We are now defending the siege” of Gaza.

The UN, EU, and nearly every other government and multilateral organization have called on Israel to lift the blockade.

It's time for Israel to comply with international law and end the siege of Gaza.

The Israeli blockade and the violence used to defend it, poisons the dream of two free and viable states, Israel and Palestine.

Councillor with the highest number of votes in Ealing

2010-05-12T13:13:00.004+01:00

Do you know which councillor in the London Borough of Ealing got the most votes?

It was a councilor from Southall.

Zahida Abbas Noori, the Labour Party Candidate in the Southall Broadway ward, got re-elected with 3947 votes.

Her labour colleagues, in the same Southall Broadway ward, were not far behind.

M.Shahid Kauser got 3788 votes.

Surinder Nath Varma got 3715 votes.

Bus lane in front of Southall train station

2010-02-27T20:58:00.003Z

One short and annoying bus lane in Southall is in front of the Southall train station.

There used to a sign indicationg the hours of operations but this has recently disappeared.

No sign on a bus lane means that is operational all the time and cannot be used by motorists.

The reality is that "the northbound bus lane on South Road, Southall" has been suspended by Ealing Council to improve traffic flow.

You would only have known about this if you attended the Southall broadway ward a week ago or read the recent council press release about easing congestion.

Al-Qaeda wants South Asia war, says US secretary Gates

2010-01-20T21:17:00.003Z

According to US Defence Secretary Robert Gates Al-Qaeda is trying to provoke war between India and Pakistan, to destabilise the whole of South Asia.

Mr Gates praised his hosts for the restraint shown by India in the aftermath of the Mumbai (Bombay) massacre in November 2008.

He went on to say "It is not unreasonable to assume Indian patience would be limited were there another attack."

A wise man would have urged restraint.
A war monger would not find war as "unreasonable".

Who wants to destablise the region?

How many deadly massacres have taken place in Pakistan?
Who is responsible?

Is Iraq any safer or better after years of US occupation? No.
Is Afghanistan any safer or better after years of US occupation? No.

This is because the occupation forces are NOT interested in reconcilation between the citizens of those countries but dividing them.

Lousy service at Southall Broadway Post Office

2010-01-18T21:21:00.004Z

The Post Office on Southall Broadway is big, widely used and usually provides efficient service.

But today, the service was atrocious.

Popped in around 1 pm to find the queues reaching the front door and came back.

Popped in around 3.20 pm to find the queues reaching the front door and came back.

Popped in around 4.08 pm to find the queues reaching the front door and joined it.

Only 3 to 4 of the 8 counters were open at any given time.

How long would it take to get served?
Over 32 minutes.

Why is it taking 32 minutes to reach a counter?

"Because 3 of the staff are sick (long term).
Even, I am not supposed to be here today!"

Can it get any worse?

And not a single bleeding "Customer feedback" form in sight.

John Sergeant opens CT Scanner and Digital Room at Ealing Hospital

2010-01-14T20:44:00.002Z

Ealing Hospital welcomed John Sergeant on Thursday 17 December to ‘officially’ open the CT Scanner and Digital Room at Ealing Hospital NHS Trust in Southall.

Mr Sergeant had an illustrious BBC career spanning three decades, as well as being ITN’s political editor prior to his retirement in 2003. Last year he was a Strictly Come Dancing! contestant.

Mr Sergeant was introduced to members of the radiology team and met some of the patients.

Dr Miranda Harvie, consultant radiologist and project lead for the CT build, showed Mr Sergeant the state-of-the-art scanning machine – only the second of its kind in a London hospital.

The scanner scans so fast that the whole abdomen is imaged in 8 seconds, obtaining 128 pictures per rotation and rotating 3 times per second.

Images are exquisitely detailed for high quality diagnostic imaging and use a lower radiation dose than similar machines. It is used throughout the day for the Emergency Department, and Inpatient and Outpatient scanning.

Such machines are complex and demand a high level of knowledge and skill to operate safely and competently.

Dr Harvie said: "It is wonderful to have the opportunity to show Mr Sergeant and other colleagues the excellent work of the team and the sophistication of our technology to support patient care. Radiology is a fascinating area to work in, as it is constantly evolving. We have seen a significant increase in throughput and efficiency with this new scanner."

Her colleague, Dr Akkib Rafique, also showed Mr Sergeant the digital x-ray room. The equipment can be operated remotely allowing the radiographer to be in the room with the patient at all times, which can be reassuring during such procedures.

The new CT scanning and digital x-ray facilities were a £1.5m investment.

Cold weather hampers life in Southall

2010-01-08T21:51:00.005Z

The cold weather has caused numerous problems to residents of Southall.

Some schools in southall were closed on Thursday and some on Friday. others schools were sending children home earlier.

It was so cold that some people had problems opening their car doors.

Even the bin lids were refusing to open to put rubbish in.

The pavement on most roads were covered with ice, such that many people resorted to walking on the roads, making life more difficult for drivers.

Even the roads around schools were not gritted.

The number of people out and about was significantly reduced, as was the number of people eating in the local restaurants.

Silly attitude from Ealing Council

2009-12-15T17:17:00.007Z

When you phone in to report that Ealing Council hired contractors have not done their job, the silly person at the other end may blame you for their incompetence.

I had like to report that the newspaper recycling service that operates every week failed to collect from my house today, aswell as last time.

Did they also forget to do your neighbours?
How the hell do I know?
They may not have left out anything today.

Where did you leave the item?
Near the front door, in the green box, clearly visible.

Oh, you need to order a special collection for that.
We expect you to leave the box near the front garden gate for normal collection.

It is a very small garden.
The front door is only 5 feet away from the garden gate.
It is placed where it is clearly visible.
There have been no problems before.

Placing it near the garden gate would make it difficult for the collection team to view as they don't waste time making careful observations.

Oh, alright, I will register it as a missed collection.

Thank you and good riddance.

The “tolerant and peaceful” Swiss ban minarets?

2009-11-30T18:15:00.000Z

The "tolerant and peaceful" Swiss has voted in a nationwide referendum to ban minarets?

More than 57.5% of "tolerant and peaceful" Swiss voters (and 22 out of 26 cantons - or provinces) voted in a nationwide referendum to ban minarets on Sunday.

There are 400,000 Muslims (5% of the population) and only four minarets in Switzerland.

The Swiss government had opposed the ban but has accepted the decision, and construction of new minarets would no longer be permitted.

Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf said the decision was "not a rejection of the Muslim community, religion or culture".

True. It was a rejection of tolerance and freedom of expression.

France's FM Bernard Kouchner said "I am a bit shocked by this decision. It is an expression of intolerance and I detest intolerance."

If so, why has France banned the headscarf in schools, colleges and government establishments?

Zurich city council said that it disapproved of the "negative and dangerous" controversial referendum poster, but had to accept it as part of political free speech.

The poster shows a woman dressed in a burka and lots of black minarets (resemble missiles) on a Swiss flag.

Mumbai suspect's lawyer is sacked

2009-11-30T17:23:00.000Z

The trial court judge has removed the main lawyer for the leading suspect in last November's deadly Mumbai attacks in the city.

The judge said Abbas Kazmi was "not co-operating" and delaying proceedings.

How?

The leading suspect, Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab, originally denied the charges against him but in July, he admitted his role and to be hanged.

There will be a total of 340 witnesses.
The defendant has pleaded guilty, so why does the prosecution need 340 witnesses?

The court wants Mr Kazmi to choose 71 out of 340 witnesses for cross-examination.

How the hell does he know what the witnesses are going to say?
To defend his client (his legal duty), he can only decide after the witness has given testimony.

Is Kazmi "not co-operating with the court in the interest of justice"?
Or is it

The judge "not co-operating in the interest of justice”.

The defendant has pleaded guilty and is to be hanged. No one will object. The punishment fits the crime. There is no need to call a single witness.

If you still want to present 340 witnesses, for some other reason, then they SHOULD be cross-examined, if the defence (NOT THE JUDGE) think it necessary.

Police 'arrest Mossad spy as he planted a bomb '

2009-11-29T17:51:00.001Z

A trainee Israeli spy was arrested by Tel Aviv police as he planted a fake bomb under a vehicle.

The country's commercial Channel 10 said it hoped Israel's secret service agency Mossad operatives were "more effective abroad".

What?
At planting bombs in other countries?
Isn’t that what terrorists and terrorist states do?

If not training for abroad, then inside the Israel.
But why?
To blame it on the Palestinians?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/8377746.stm

Christianity and BNP?

2009-10-25T17:40:00.002Z

Is being a Christian compaible with supporting the BNP?

If you wanted to know something about the core values of Christianity, then the person to ask should be a knowledgeable expert.

One such person is the former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey.

After watching BBC's Question Time, Lord Carey described the BNP’s policies as "despicable" and nothing to do with Christianity.

Lord Carey described Nick Griffin as a "squalid racist" who was trying to "hijack one of the world's great religions".

Being a Christian is not merely believing in Jesus. If your actions are not based on Christian values then you are NOT a Christian.

The UK is based on Christian values.
Being a Christian is not compatible with being a supporter of the BNP.

If you believe it is compatible then the only person you are deluding is

yourself.

Amir Khan visits Southall again

2009-10-23T17:05:00.004+01:00

Amir Khan visits Southall again, to lend support to Southalls attempt to base the Pakistan 2012 London Olympic team in Southall.

The President of the Pakistan Olympic association, Gen (Retd) Syed Arif Hasan visited Southall on Thursday to see if the local facilities were suitable to house the Pakistan Olympic team.

The Southall initiative is led by local business leader Dalawar Majid Chaudhry, who said "We have the capability, the community spirit and support, the vibrant cultural benefits and above all the cuisine, to host Team Pakistan."

Southall would be a "home away from home" for Team Pakistan.

In the evening a press conference was held at Chaudhry’s TKC restaurant. Those present to greet Gen (Retd) Syed Arif Hasan and his guide, an Olympic official, were Ealing Southall MP Virendra Sharma, local councillors, Ealing Council representatives and fans of Southall's adopted "Role Model".

Special guest of honour at the event was Southall’s "Role Model" boxer Amir Khan.

He dined at the restaurant before the conference. After the conference he signed autographs and was happy to be photographed with his fans.

Money for Food!

2009-10-05T13:45:00.002+01:00

"Money for food. Money for food. Money for food." is a constant mutterings of a begger on Southall Broadway.

You can hear him all day - 7 days a week.

Is he really begging for food?

One old lady, even when told to ignore him, felt sorry for him and gave him £5.
Lucky begger. He crossed the road to the other side of Southall Broadway and went straight into the bookies.

Money for Food. Money for Food. Money for Food.

is really

Money for Gambling. Money for Gambling. Money for Gambling.

A new bookie opened up, at the location of the old petrol station, on Southall Broadway. Another one wants to open up just opposite.

All the beggers on Southall Broadway are professionals. They work all day - 7 days a week. If you don't see them, they have merely moved elsewhere temporarily.

Professional beggers on Southall Broadway

2009-09-05T14:07:00.000+01:00

Beware of professional beggers on Southall Broadway.

All the beggers on Southall Broadway are professionals. They work all day - 7 days a week. If you don't see them, they have merely moved elsewhere temporarily.

The Bosnians are the worst. Remember the Bosnian conflict. All the women and children of one large clan/family have have begging ever since.

Normally you spot 5 or 6 of them at a time.

No able bodied Bosnian man can be seen begging. They know what they would get.

To get your sympathy, women carry children (not neccessarily theirs own).
To make sure you don't ignore them, they will approach ever one.

Police warning of reporting them to social services for putting children/babies at risk have little affect.

The local residents can spot these parasites a mile off.
Only visitors/shoppers fall for their scams.

Amir Khan Boxing shown Live at TKC Southall London

2009-07-18T23:00:00.000+01:00

Amir Khan fans get to see him fight live at Chaudhry's TKC Southall London

Southall fans see their "role model" Amir Khan fight Andreas Kotelnik and become the new WBA light-welterweight champion, at the MEN Arena in Manchester, on Saturday 18 July 2009.

Pakistan through to cricket Twenty20 Final

2009-06-18T21:18:00.003+01:00

The Pakistan cricket team have beaten South Africa in the Twenty20 Semi-Final.

You can hear the delight of Pakistan fans all around Southall Broadway.

Even Chaudhry's TKC Tiara bus is driving around with fans on board.

They fans had earlier been watching the match on big screens at Chaudhry's TKC,
the official caterers of the Pakistan Cricket team in the UK.

You can even buy Pakistan cricket kits from there.

Apology from Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP

2009-06-05T19:20:00.002+01:00

Residents of Southall have received letters from the Prime Minister Gordon Brown apologising on behalf of all political parties.

He knows that "people are angry about MPs' expenses."

They will be further incensed to recieve this letter.

Politicians have no morals when it comes to spending other peoples money.

It makes no differences if it's the government money or the Labour party money.

Ealing Council to gate more alleyways across the borough

2009-06-04T19:19:00.003+01:00

Hundreds of homes will be made more secure after Ealing Council agreed a £720,000 programme to gate alleyways across the borough.

135 more alleyways will be fitted with gates over the next two years to reduce the risk of burglary, flytipping and anti-social behaviour.

The council pays around £200 for each home secured by installing alley gates, reducing the risk of burglars breaking into homes unseen and can also help prevent drug dealing and anti-social behaviour.

That is over £5300 per alley way – is that value for money?

The two year programme will make over 2,500 households safer, this is in addition to the 1,380 households secured over 2008/09.

Susan Parsonage, Director of Safer Communities, said: "These gates help to secure vulnerable alleyways and can also act as a deterrent to anyone trying to use the alley for anything criminal."

"We are determined to make Ealing safer and this scheme has a great impact on reducing crime and also giving residents whose areas were previously blighted by anti-social behaviour greater peace of mind."

Archbishops advise against voting for the BNP

2009-05-24T13:57:00.003+01:00

Two Bishops advise people not to let their anger over the MP expenses scandal influence how the vote nex month.

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have urged voters not to vote for the BNP in next month's elections because of anger over the MP expenses scandal.

The Liberal Democrats leader, Nick Clegg, said:

"I don't think you beat the BNP by telling people how to vote."

Especially if it comes from politicians.

It is about time that senior members of the Church of England make a stand against the far right extremist like the BNP.

The BNP just peddle hate.

Mobile camera for Southall Broadway

2009-05-22T20:35:00.000+01:00

The Southall Broadway ward is getting a mobile camera to tackle anti-social behaviour.

Unfortunately, it won't be too mobile, as those attending the latest Southall Broadway ward forum meeting found out.

The camera has to fixed to a specific location and can only be moved 3 or 4 times per year due to cost restraints.

The ideal situation would have been to move it to different location every week.

Justice for Gurkhas - at last

2009-05-21T14:12:00.004+01:00

Gurkhas who have been willing to die for the United Kingdom have had their services properly recognised - at last.

"Generations of Gurkhas have served the United Kingdom with great courage, sacrifice and distinction" and yet those who retired before 1997 are not allowed to apply for settlement in the UK.

In September 2008, the Gurkhas were celebrating one of their most famous victories, in a legal battle, the High Court gave them the right to settle in the UK.

But the UK government was having none of it. It did everything in its power to deny the Gurkha the right to stay.

Thanks to actress Joanna Lumley, some MP's with guts and public opinion, the government has finally conceded.

Gurkhas who served for four years or more will be able to apply to settle in the UK.

Iraqi corruption is widespread

2009-05-20T16:33:00.000+01:00

It comes as no surprise that another report concludes that Iraqi government corruption is rife.

The worst offenders are - in no particular order - the ministries of defence, interior, finance, education and health.

"The report does not even scratch the surface of what goes on. Millions, billions of dollars are being stolen," says an Iraqi MP and member of the parliamentary anti-corruption committee.

"The problem is that senior officials are never punished in Iraq," she said.

Many Iraqis depend on free "government food rations" to survive. The ministry of trade is accused of making millions by selling the food aid to traders. These are openly on sale in the bustling Shorja market in Baghdad.

"Under Saddam things were bad, but now they are worse," said a former political exile and opponent of Saddam Hussain.

According to the anti-corruption group Transparency International, Iraq is one of the most corrupt places in the world, third only to Burma and Somalia.

Those who put together these anti-corruption reports, either have law suits filed against them by the acccused Iraqi ministry or get shot in the streets of Baghdad.

Completely new constitution.
Completly new administration.

What has changed for better?

Was it worth all the destruction and bloodshed?

Ealing Council website not available

2009-05-17T11:59:00.002+01:00

The Local Council website - London Borough of Ealing - has been out action for a few days.

The meeage visible for yesterday and today has been:

This website is temporarily unavailable.
We are working to fix this problem and restore a normal service as soon as possible.

Please only telephone the council if your enquiry is urgent.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Indian Table Tennis team on Southall Broadway

2009-05-10T19:05:00.004+01:00

The Indian Table Tennis team play a friendly match with the England Team in Southall.

The friendly match took place at the Dormers Wells Leisure Centre in Southall.

It was the first of 3 friendly matches taking place before the start of the 18th Commonwealth Table Tennis championships starting in Glasgow on May 19.

The result was a draw. The Mayor of Ealing and other dinitaries were present at the after match VIP ceremony.

After the match and ceremony, the Indian and England team dined at Chaudhry's TKC on Southall Broadway.

The Indian team was transported to Chaudhry’s TKC restaurant in the famous tiara bus.

Southall MP meets Cricketer Mohammed Asif

2009-05-04T21:03:00.000+01:00

Southall MP Virendra Sharma attends press conference for Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Asif.

It tool place at Chaudhry’s TKC restaurant in Southall.

The Ealing Southall MP, Virendra Sharma, missed the actual conferences but arrived in time to mingle with the guests and have a bite to eat.

Asif mingled with the audience, signing autographs and having his picture taken with enthusiastic fans, young and old alike. Mr Sharma was one of these individuals.

Cricketer Mohammad Asif visits Southall

2009-05-04T20:44:00.000+01:00

A press conference on behalf of Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Asif was held in Southall.

It was organised by Dalawar Chaudhry and the venue was his restaurant, Chaudhry’s TKC in Southall.

Asif has agreed to be a positive role model for the youth of Southall by providing his expertise to cricketing youngsters of Southall. How that will happen is in its early stages.

He mingled with the audience, signing autographs and having his picture taken with enthusiastic fans, young and old alike.

Cricket can overcome obstacles like nationalism and religion. Mr Brij-Mohan Gupta, Chairman of the Hindu Culture and Heritage Society UK, was one such guest.

His grandchildren had travelled 40 miles to see Mohammad Asif. He said that cricket loving fans don’t want politics in cricket; they merely want to see Mohammed Asif being allowed to play and be entertained.

'The Southall Story' is launched

2009-04-24T21:28:00.006+01:00

A series of exhibitions and events is launched in Southall to celebrate 30 years of 'The Southall Story'.

The event was launched on Friday April 24th at 7.30pm at the Dominion Centre by
musician Kuljit Bhamra, Film Director Shakila Taranum Maan and Pragna Patel (Southall Black Sisters).

Also present was was special guest star and original Southall resident - Film Director Gurinder Chadha.

It contains photographs, recordings, film documentaries, writings and invaluable archive material for the last 30 years of Southall.

The result of the events and exhibitions will be the publication of a book and DVD.

Another anti-terror operations fiasco

2009-04-22T18:42:00.004+01:00

Another major anti-terror operations fails to uncover even a minor crime, again.

The Prime minister is briefed on another major anti-terror operation. He wastes no time in announcing it to the world.

The only problem is.
There was no evidence at the start.
And there is no evidence NOW.

12 men, 10 with student visas were arrested in raids in Liverpool, Manchester and Clitheroe.

After 13 days in custody, no evidence of any wrongdoing was discovered and they were released without charge.

They are innocent of any crime.

Yet, eleven of the Pakistani students are now in UK Border Agency custody and face deportation because no evidence of any wrong doing has been found.

Pakistan's high commissioner to the UK said:
"They are youngsters from very poor families...they spent all their savings and came here with passports and visas to pursue their education and they should be allowed... to pursue their education," he said.

The annual Southall Vaisakhi procession 2009

2009-04-12T21:14:00.000+01:00

The annual Southall Vaisakhi procession was on Sunday 12th April 2009.

The Police estimated that around 30 - 50 thousand people would attend, parading through the streets of Southall.

Pakistan reinstates sacked judge

2009-03-16T22:01:00.002Z

The Pakistan government has said sacked Supreme Court chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry will be reinstated.

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said "I announce the restoration of all deposed judges including Mr Iftikhar Chaudhry."

The US envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan, Richard Holbrooke, said the US applauded "the statesmanlike act by President [Asif Ali] Zardari" to "defuse a dangerous confrontation".

Merely an "act by Gardari" to remain in power.

But still a hard fought victory for the people of Pakistan.

Why the Southall shoplets and bazaars?

2009-02-19T21:03:00.003Z

Why have so many Southall Broadway shops turned into smaller retail units, creating so-called 'bazaars' or 'Shopping centres'?

Since 2004 Southall has seen a growth in the 'splitting' of Southall shops into a number of smaller retail units, creating so-called 'bazaars' or 'Shopping centres'.

What is the reason behind it?

Today, established big business in Southall is saying that if they had to pay rent and business rates they would be out of business.

A typical single shop on Southall Broadway pays around £15,000 in business rates alone.

The freeholder (owner) of the shop has been splitting up the shops into smaller retail units to minimize his risk (not being able to let the whole shop).

The tenants can't afford to pay the business rate and the rent without sub-letting the front of the shops to offset their costs.

A few bazaars to create an atmosphere of 'Little Inda' or 'Little Punjab' is acceptable but there are too many of them already.

Southall Traders unhappy with parking issues

2009-02-19T20:10:00.002Z

Southall Broadway traders met on Wednesday morning at Chaudhry’s TKC to demand that Ealing Council do something about their parking problems.

At the last Southall Broadway Forum meeting, one attendee joked that visitors to Southall think they are no longer in England.

Not because Southall resembles "Little India" but because of the different parking restriction enforced here (up to 8pm and on sundays aswell).

Yesterday, the Southall business people repeated this as well as "Southall has been neglected."

Shortage of parking space is an old and known problem.

Instead of opening a McDonalds on Southall Broadway, Ealing Council could have solved the problem with a car park. The local traders are also extremely unhappy at the outrageous clamping practices at the McDonalds car park.

The Northcote Hotel was a large derelict property which could have been used as a car park. This was discussed with the Council. But while discussions were going on, unknown to council officials, the planing department approved it for residential use.

Another missed opportunity.

One of the reasons no progress has been made is that the head of the Ealing parking services keeps changing every year.

Ealing Council is asking people experiencing difficulty during the current credit crunch to get in touch with them, to see if they qualify for any assistance.

The business is feeling the credit crunch and their biggest problem is the parking restrictions that are deterring customers.

They want Ealing Council to support them, just like other Council support their businesses.

Freedom of Speech has NO Limits?

2009-02-13T21:45:00.004Z

You either believe in free speech or you don't, there is no half-way house.

That is the message we hear loud and clear from the so called "freedom lovers".

They point out that Mr Wilders is an elected MP from another EU country who should not be banned from entering the UK.

They totally ignore the fact that his own country is going to try him for inciting hatred.

Not long ago Mr Wilders himself asked the Dutch government to ban an imam entry to the Netherlands for the exact same reasons.

If Mr Wilders beleived in freedom of speech then why is he calling for a ban on the Koran?

The "freedom lovers" beleive that Mr Wilders should have have been allowed to make his case and anyone could then challenge his asertions.

Wrong.

Nobody is allowed to say whatever they want on TV. There are clear rules on what is acceptable. Those likely to abuse them are not given the opportunity.

All sensible websites like the BBC do not allow any one to say anything they like in their blogs. They moderate the blogs.

Why is that? Why is allowing a rebuttal NOT good enough for them?

Prevention is better than cure.

Does any one feel that their freedom is being under-mined by this?
No, only those whose opinions have been rejected by the vast majority of people in the U.K.

Being turned back at the airport Mr Wilders said: "I'm not doing anything wrong. I'm not protesting or running through the streets of London."

If he is not protesting then why did he fly over here after the British Government told he would not be allowed?

If he is not protesting then why is he making all this fuss?

Michael Portillo beleives that if Mr Wilders had been allowed in he would have arrived unnoticed. The ban has made him a "globally famous figure".

It takes guts to make the right decision.
The government had no choice but to act.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband said: "We have profound commitment to freedom of speech but there is no freedom to cry 'fire' in a crowded theatre and there is no freedom to stir up hate, religious and racial hatred, according to the laws of the land."

Southall Broadway Ward Forum

2009-02-06T21:20:00.004Z

The latest issues raised by the Southall Broadway residents, yesterday, at the Southall Broadway Ward Forum meeting.

The general consensus of the Southall Broadway Ward Forum meeting was that elected officials/leaders are not willing to stand up for the residents of Southall. The only time you see them is when they want your vote.

A prime example of that is that the roads around Southall Broadway are full of holes. As fast as Ealing Council is repairing them, (only recently), more holes keep appearing all the time. The quality of the work is also shoddy and roads have always been full of holes to this day.

Mr Asif Khwaja said that there is no community centre where young people can hang out. So, it is no surprise that they loiter about picking up bad habits. Sergeant Shahid Malik pointed out that the old B&Q store site nearly would be an ideal location for such a place.

Nothing being done to address the issue was due to "a problem of finance" according to Cllr Jagdish Gupta. "Where is the money being spent then?" was the attendees’ question.
"Ealing Broadway", where there are no such problems was the attendees’ response.

The £40K ward budget is not enough. The Regeneration budget is for cosmetic affects like nice paving and lighting only. Ealing Council is unlikely to spend any money to address the issue. The only other option left is to apply for Lottery money, according to Sergeant Shahid Malik.

Ealing Council has always wanted to promote Southall as a tourist attraction but has totally neglected the town. Planning for the next Olympics is happening now. Mr Dalawar Chaudhry has been talking to the "West London Alliance" about basing the India and Pakistan teams in West London.

What practice facilities can Southall offer them?
Southall Park?
Ealing Council needs to take an active part and invite the business to participate.

Traffic congestion

Another problem in Southall is the Beaconsfield Road junction, where it is extremely difficult and dangerous to turn right towards the Railway Station. People from the other side carry on driving even through red lights.

Some silly individuals use the left hand line to turn right, carving up every one else in the process as well as well as holding up the unsuspecting cars behind them. Others do u turns after going straight or turning left.

A long overdue simple request like allow people "time" to turn right has not been addressed because parties other than Ealing Council are involved, we are informed.

Parking Times

There is general confusion as to whether you can park in front of the Chaudhry’s TKC on Southall Broadway after 4 pm. The sign says that bays can be used for "pay & display" parking between 9.30 am and 4 pm.

Chaudhry’s TKC were reliably informed by Ealing Council officials that although the sign say no stopping between 4 pm and 7 pm, this was no longer the case and it was OK to park there.

But since the sign says no parking, wardens are booking unsuspecting motorist. More confusing signs further along the Broadway have been reported. The matter will be raised with Parking Services.

Southall Regeneration

Ms Carol Sams, a senior Economic Regeneration Manager, said that £1.9 was available for Southall regeneration over 3 years. £1 million of that will go towards providing nice street paving and lighting.

She said that due to insufficient public toilet facilities the Council is considering "Community toilets". This is where any business will be paid £600 pa if they allow the public to use their facilities. The other reason cited by Cllr Gupta was lack of any space to locate the toilet facilities which was strongly disputed.

Parking in Southall is a well known problem. The timing of the CPZ is not in line with the rest of London. Under used CPZ streets during the week and weekends will be considered for dual usage i.e. pay and display parking as well.

The car park of the Conservative club, next to the old Town Hall, is hardly used over the weekend. Ms Sams said that a trial is being run whereby 50 spaces are available to the public over the weekend, at a charge of £1 for the day, to be posted via the letter box. This is not widely publicised.

Crime

Sergeant Shahid Malik stated that having CCTV cameras on Southall Broadway has moved the problem of drugs, drinking and related crime onto the side streets. The attendees wanted more Police presence on the streets.

A lot of elderly people have been victims of cash point machine crime. No one is around when they look. But after they have entered their pin, the victim is distracted by a friendly face "Aunty Jee, ...". When the victim turns back to the Cash point machine, the transaction is over/cancelled and no card is being returned.

The friendly face advises them to join the queue (for 10 minutes) to report that the cash point machine has swallowed their card. By which time the friendly face has made several withdrawals using the victim’s card.

Several of the attendees had been victims of crime and were not happy the way the Police dealt with the matter. One such person was on his way to the bank when sauce was thrown on his jacket. A nice lady offered to assist but when the victim removed his jacket, the lady ran off with the jacket (containing the money).

After a long chase, luckily the jacket and money was recovered. The criminal was arrested by the Police in Acton, who wanted to know if the victim wanted to press charges. The victim said yes.

What he heard next was shocking. "Why do you want to press charges when the money has been recovered?" Is that the standard "Report all crime to the Police" policy?

The Green is a place where too many cars used to be parked on the pavements causing a nuisance and a danger to the public. Bollards were added to prevent such parking. But still there are too many people just loitering around. Although not covered by the Southall Broadway area, Sergeant Shahid Malik suggested that perhaps a dispersal order was required.

Other matters

Railings are to be placed near the junction of Hambrough Road and the Broadway for safety reasons. Officers will examine the area and then decide on the precise location. They will be placed where there is a lot of congestion on the pavement and there is danger of the public inadvertently walking onto the road.

Over 300 children attend the Abu Bakr Mosque on the Broadway. It has requested for some time now that a pelican crossing be placed near West End Road to protect the children and to make the drivers aware of the children. Cost of the scheme will be researched by the local councillors.

Tony Blair's advice to the Barack Obama?

2009-02-05T18:12:00.004Z

What was Tony Blairs advice to the US President Barack Obama at the US traditional National Prayer Breakfast?

"You don’t need cheerleaders but partners, not spectators but supporters."

He is just confirming, what the whole world already knows, that Tony Blair was a mere cheerleader and spectator in the western Foreign policy dictated by George Bush.

The other piece of advice was that doing nothing is the worst thing to do.

Nothing is the only contribution that Tony Blair has made in the Middle East peace process.

Mr Obama described Blair as "an example to so many people around the world".
It is indeed strange that "so many people around the world" regard Blair as George Bush’s poodle.

A very good example for those who want to be led like sheep.

Extreme snow causes Southall school closures

2009-02-03T16:58:00.006Z

Most of the schools in Southall were closed on Monday and Tuesday due to the the worst snowfall in 18 years.

The Southall & West London College on Beaconsfield Road was closed on Monday and Tueday.

Featherstone High School on Montague Waye on Monday and Tueday.

Hambrough Primary School on South Road wass closed on Monday and Tueday.

Villiers High School on Boyd Avenue was the odd one out. It was open on Monday and only sent year 7 to 9 home in the morning.

It was also open on Tuesday, although not many children turned up.

Villiers High School needs to improve its communication ability.
It is extremely difficult to phone in the morning and get through to the school.

Featherstone High School is the only enlightened school, which lets parents/students know via its website, whether it is open or closed.

Belgian hypocrisy about Hamas

2009-01-26T20:23:00.001Z

A senior European Union official touring war-torn Gaza (former Belgian foreign minister), Mr Michel, described Israel’s destruction of Gaza as “abominable, indescribable."

Yet, he insisted that “Hamas is a terrorist movement” and not a not a legitimate resistance movement because it killed 3 Israeli civilians.

Israel killed 1,300 Palestinians, including 400 children.
Is he going to classify Israel as a terrorist state for killing 400 children?
No. Why not?

Kill 3 civilians and you are terrorist organisations?
Kill 400 children and you are true democracy?
What hypocrisy.

Carry out “abominable, indescribable" destruction and you are a democracy?
I think not.

Mr Michel said people in the EU were sick of paying for the same infrastructure being destroyed over and over again in Israeli military action.

So why don’t they do something about the “Israeli military action”?

Israeli "state terror"

2009-01-25T18:45:00.003Z

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, of turkey, described Israeli actions in Gaza as "savagery", "a crime-against humanity" and "state terror," and warned Israel that it will "reap what it sows".

It is difficult for Israel to swallow from an ally that was the first mainly Muslim country to recognise Israel.

A senior Israeli diplomat told the BBC "There is a great deal of disappointment that there has not been one word of sympathy from Turkey about the Israelis."

How long will it take the Israelis to resume normal lives?
Not long.

What about the Palestinians?
Years, if the Israeli allow them or decades otherwise.

Sir John Holmes, who visited Gaza, was shocked by the "the systematic nature of the destruction".

Israel killed more than 1,300 and injured 5,000. “Too many innocent civilians, including hundreds of children" as the UK prime minister described it.

"We toured the part of Jabaliya …. an area that must cover at least a square mile, there are no houses left - no mosques, no factories and no orchards. The entire neighbourhood has been devastated."

"It would take three to five years to rebuild even under normal conditions - never mind with the continued Israeli blockade which stops all but humanitarian basics entering the strip."

If Israel gave a damn about any one else then it would not have conducted this murderous one sided massacre or continue its inhumane blockade which stops all but humanitarian basics entering the strip.

Effects of blockade are at:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7845428.stm

UN 'shocked' by Gaza destruction

2009-01-23T18:12:00.004Z

The UN's humanitarian chief, Sir John Holmes, visited Gaza on Thursday and said that he was shocked by "the systematic nature of the destruction".

Israel had prevented International aid agencies from entering Gaza since early November.

Vast amounts of building materials is needed immediately to rebuild hospitals, mosques, public buildings and homes.

He also said that the scale of destruction would have "disturbing" repercussions for the people of Gaza.

In one industrial area every building within a square kilometre had been levelled, by bulldozers and shells.

The full scale of the "systematic destruction" of Gaza is slowly emerging.

Who was it aimed at? Hamas or the innocent Palestinians?

Saudi Prince warns US over Middle East

2009-01-23T18:08:00.001Z

Saudi Arabia is regarded as pro western and one of four Arab countries that have formal ties to Israel.

Yet, even they regard ex-President George W Bush’s Middle Eastern policies as "sickening".

Prince Turki al-Faisal, a former Saudi intelligence chief and former ambassador to the US, UK and Ireland wrote in the Financial Times:

The US administration needs to takes "forceful steps to prevent any further suffering and slaughter of Palestinians" if it wants to be taken seriously.

He said that George Bush was leaving a "sickening legacy" in the region. One example of this was the "arrogant attitude about the butchery in Gaza".

President Barack Obama, apart from condemning Hamas for firing of rockets at Israel, should also condemn Israel’s atrocities against the Palestinians.

He should also "forcefully condemn the Israeli actions that led to this conflict, from settlement building in the West Bank to the blockade of Gaza and the targeted killings and arbitrary arrests of Palestinians."

School in Palestine!

2009-01-19T18:55:00.003Z

Knowledge is power!
Let's not be ignorant to these conflicts and to the loss of human dignity!

Schools In Palestine

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: students school)

We will not go down (Song for Gaza)

2009-01-19T18:40:00.003Z

This is a song of hope for the Palestinians in Gaza, composed and performed by Michael Heart.

WE WILL NOT GO DOWN (Song for Gaza)
(Composed by Michael Heart)
Copyright 2009

A blinding flash of white light
Lit up the sky over Gaza tonight
People running for cover
Not knowing whether they’re dead or alive

They came with their tanks and their planes
With ravaging fiery flames
And nothing remains
Just a voice rising up in the smoky haze

We will not go down
In the night, without a fight
You can burn up our mosques and our homes and our schools
But our spirit will never die
We will not go down
In Gaza tonight

Women and children alike
Murdered and massacred night after night
While the so-called leaders of countries afar
Debated on who’s wrong or right

But their powerless words were in vain
And the bombs fell down like acid rain
But through the tears and the blood and the pain
You can still hear that voice through the smoky haze

We will not go down
In the night, without a fight
You can burn up our mosques and our homes and our schools
But our spirit will never die
We will not go down
In Gaza tonight

UK makes £20m aid promise to Gaza

2009-01-18T20:07:00.003Z

The UK prime minister, Gordon Brown, said: "Too many innocent civilians, including hundreds of children, have been killed during the military offensive."

"This fragile ceasefire has got to be followed immediately - if it is to be sustainable - by humanitarian access, which we have asked for, by troop withdrawals, by an end to arms trafficking, by an opening-up of the crossings, by the end of rocket attacks."

Exactly what Hamas was asking for, before this devastation.

All this bloodshed could have been avoided, if the British Goverment had made this statement/demand a month earlier.

£20m aid promise will not diminish it's complicity in the pre-planned wholesale destruction of Gaza and its silence during it.

The world will not forget.

Jeremy Bowen : Words of Wisdom for Israel

2009-01-16T18:56:00.002Z

Jeremy Bowen, BBC Middle East Editor, writes in his diary on the conflict between Hamas and Israel, some words of wisdom for Israel and it's suppporters

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7826849.stm

Many Israelis feel that they are fighting for their existence, because they see Hamas, like Hezbollah in Lebanon, as spearheads of a much bigger threat, from Iran and Israel's other enemies in the Middle East.

That is why Israelis believe that their plight is unique, and their actions justified.

I don't know of one that has the same capacity to enrage people all over the world, even if they have never been to this small patch of the planet.

There is no doubt about the extreme suffering that Israel is inflicting on Palestinians in Gaza to protect, in its view, its own citizens. It is deepening the hatred for Israel that many people in Gaza felt anyway.

Israel has used what Prime Minister Ehud Olmert calls the iron fist many times before. And its citizens still feel insecure.

Will they feel any different when this latest episode is over?

Israeli troops shell the U.N. headquarters in Gaza

2009-01-16T18:11:00.004Z

On Thursday Israeli troops shelled the U.N. headquarters in Gaza setting the compound on fire, destroying tons of food and humanitarian supplies.

About 700 residents of nearby blocks of flats taking shelter in the compound were forced to flee.

The fires then threatened to engulf five fuel tankers. The trucks were quickly moved out of the area avoiding a massive explosion.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressed his "outrage" and demanded a full explanation from the Israeli government.

The Israeli defence minister told him that it was a grave mistake.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said the compound had been targeted because militants had opened fire from there. He blamed the militants.

Today, the senior UN official in Gaza, John Ging, described claims by the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that militants were using the compound to fire on Israeli troops as "total nonsense".

Had the fire set alight the five fuel tankers causing an explosion, would Israel have alleged that the compound was an ammunitions factory of the militants.

David Miliband:: Terrorism is a deadly tactic, not an institution or an ideology

2009-01-15T15:21:00.001Z

David Miliband the Foreign Secretary has said that the term "war on terror" was a mistakes because it "implied a belief that the correct response to the terrorist threat was primarily a military one."

He said by lumping all group into one "terrorist" pot, we have unified "groups with little in common."

"Terrorism is a deadly tactic, not an institution or an ideology."

"We must respond to terrorism by championing the rule of law, not subordinating it, for it is the cornerstone of the democratic society. We must uphold our commitments to human rights and civil liberties at home and abroad."

Finally got the courage to speak, when Bush is leaving Office and the next President, Barack Obama, does not hold the same blinkered views.

Unfortunately, it is 7 years too late.

The Palestinians of Gaza have been terrorised for 3 weeks.
Does he or the British government want to champion law and human rights or only subordinate them?

The Foreign Affairs spokesman for the Lib Dems said: "Mimicking President-elect Obama's lines days before his inauguration does not show leadership."

The Scottish National Party leader said: "This is rank hypocrisy. His government acted as a poodle to the Bush doctrine in Iraq and elsewhere."

"smart power" - Another American phrase:

2009-01-14T15:24:00.002Z

"war on terror" was a stupid simplistic rallying phrase to demonise the enemy. What is the next one?

What slogans will Barack Obama adopt while in office?

His team is formulating phrases that will define his presidency.

Hillary Clinton, his chief diplomat, came up with "smart power" before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The New York Times explained: "It means using all the levers of influence — diplomatic, economic, military, legal, political and cultural — to get what you want."

Describes the current US Foreign Policy of "do as we say" or prepare to be smart bombed into submission by our "Shock and Awe" strategy.

Israeli using phosphorus shells near civilian areas

2009-01-12T15:40:00.001Z

Human Rights Watch has accused the Israeli army of illegally firing phosphorus shells fired ear civilian areas.

White phosphorus sticks to human skin and will burn right through to the bone.

The Israeli military has used phosphorus shells during its bombardment of Lebanon in 2006.

The US military in Iraq admitted using white phosphorus as a weapon in the assault on Falluja in 2004 - after initial denials.

Gaza “Human shields”

2009-01-12T15:32:00.003Z

Israeli forces bombed a UN School last Tuesday killing about 40 Palestinian civilians sheltering at the Fakhura School in Jabaliya. An estimated 55 people were injured.

Israeli officials immediately accused Hamas of using civilians as "human shields".

The Israeli army stood by its earlier statements that mortars had been fired "from within" the school and named two Hamas militants among those killed at the school. It also alleged booby-trapped bombs in the school had triggered secondary explosions.

Two days after the incident, the Israeli army admitted in private that that the mortar fire came from outside the school compound.

On Sunday, Quoted in the Haaretz newspaper, the Israeli army said Hamas militants had fired from near the school and not from within it.

They said that it was a stray mortar that caused the carnage at Fakhura School.

The facts so far:

- Repeated Israeli claims that Hamas militants fired from the school is a lie.

- Claims of booby-trapped bombs in the school are another lie – it was hit by an Israeli mortar.

- How did the Israeli army conjure up 2 dead militants in the school and why?

The only reason the truth is slowly coming out is that gravity of the incident and UN calls for an independent investigation.

The initial "human shield" claim was made forcefully after the killings by the Israeli military, politicians and many supporters of Israel.

The people of Gaza are not only being bombed by Israel but also being used as "Human shields".

Amnesty International has accused Israel using Gaza civilians as "human shields".
Israeli troops are forcing Palestinian civilians to stay in their homes after taking them over as sniper positions or bases.

Who is whipping up war hysteria?

2009-01-06T21:15:00.003Z

When the Mumbai attack occurred on 26th November 2008, Indian officials were quick to accuse Pakistan of involvement in some manner.

Yet, they waited until this Monday to provide Islamabad with any evidence.

Then today, the next day, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh accuses Pakistan of involvement by saying that due to the "sophistication and military precision of the attack it must have had the support of some official agencies in Pakistan".

He goes on to say "Today, …Pakistan engages in whipping up war hysteria.”

Is this man seriously expecting Islamabad to fully co-operate by making these baseless public accusations”?

Who is whipping up the war hysteria?

Pakistan has not had the time to look at the evidence, if any, let alone evaluate it. They have said they will co-operate fully.

All it needs is for the “war mongers” to shut up, for a just a short time, while the evidence is examined.

It took the Indian government 6 minutes to accuse Pakistan, it took them 6 weeks to produce any evidence.

How long have they waited for a response?

Six minutes?

No sign of brain activity there.

Blood Testing Service at Ealing Hospital?

2009-01-06T15:44:00.004Z

People who turned up at Ealing Hospital in Southall for a routine blood test were left disappointed.

Those that turned early in the morning were told that the blood testing service located in the main outpatients department would not open until 12 noon. Some unfortunate people waited an hour, only to be told that it would open at 1 pm, if they were lucky, due to lack of staff.

Having paid the minimum £3.50 to park in the Ealing Hospital car park, would any reasonable person wait more than 2 hours just to find out if the blood testing service will be available?

A costly and stressful place - Ealing Hospital in Southall.

Petition to PM: Introduce sanctions against Israel

2009-01-05T21:27:00.003Z

Do somethings to stop Israel slaughtering the Palestinans.

We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Introduce sanctions against Israel.

Israeli must be punished for its failure to adhere to the Geneva convention concerning the collective punishment of the citizens of Gaza. Israeli tactics are cruel, malicious and demonstrate that Israel is not interested in the peace process or a Palestinian State. They are creating the ideal breeding ground for extremism, sabotaging peace efforts and squandering the good will they have been given.

Sign the petition here.

Analysis: Dangerous Israeli gamble

2009-01-05T19:45:00.004Z

Jeremy Bowen, the BBC's Middle East editor beleives that diplomats and leaders on all sides should have done better.

"Talk of a peace process sounds hollow on the streets of the West Bank.

For the last 18 months Israel and its allies have agreed to continue isolating Hamas and to allow only the most basic essentials into Gaza.

It was a policy which reflected their total rejection of Hamas's ideology and actions.

It was easier to stick to that policy than to make serious attempt to address the problems of Gaza, the Palestinians and Israel.

Diplomats and leaders on all sides should have done better. They might have avoided this war.

But that did not happen and it is too late now, at least until this round of bloodletting is over."

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7810888.stm

I would add that:

It was a US/UK/Israeli/Western policy which reflected their total rejection of the Palestinian people rights.

It is a policy that is unlikely to change because no one can stand up to the US.

Not a single country in the democratic world is prepared to improve or let let any one else improve the conditions of the Palestinians.

Not a single country in the democratic world feels anything for the suffering of the Palestinians.

Not a single country in the democratic world is prepared to push the Peace process along.

All they want is to appease the Zionists and Bush.

The voices of reason in the West and elsewhere can be easily ignored.

The recent condemnations of the Quartets inaction by leading charities of the world failed to shame any democratic world leader to act and the outcome was obivious.

Here are a few images of the best behaved soldiers in the World (or Middle East):

Worthless Lloyds TSB’s Asian Jewel Award

2009-01-03T19:33:00.000Z

In October 2008, Lloyds TSB instructed the Islamic Bank of Britain (IBB) to close the account of UK charity Interpal.

The letter clearly stated in no uncertain terms that:

"we do not wish you to transfer, receive, process or in any way deal with any funds, or in any way whatsoever¦ be involved with any type of banking arrangements for Interpal which either uses or involves any products or services provided by us."

Yet, the bank has been telling concerned customers that:

"We hope to reassure you about our commitment not only to our Muslim customers but to building relationships with the wider Muslim community. We can confirm that Lloyds TSB does not hold accounts for Interpal. Furthermore, we would not direct, nor would it be appropriate for us, to direct another institution on how to deal with its own customers.”

Who is threatening the IBB to close the interpal account? Little men from Mars or Lloyds TSB?

This inhumane and devious act forced British Asian millionaire, Imraan Ladak, to return the Lloyds TSB’s Asian Jewel Award he received in 2007.

He said: "I no longer trust that Lloyds TSB follow the equal opportunities and anti-racist principles the Asian Jewel Awards are based upon."

Interpal has been investigated by the Charity Commission 1996 and 2003 and was cleared on both occasions.
A number of organisations had to issue apologies after repeating the false allegations.

It is being investigated again – since 2006 and not a shread of evidence so far.

Interpal said "This is not only an attack on Interpal, a leading British charity, but on all other Muslim charities, all charities working in politically-sensitive regions, all customers of IBB and the Palestinian people, 80% of whom are completely dependent on international aid for survival."

"This comes as a result of pressures from foreign groups, which do not have the legality to interfere with either the British banking or charity sector, yet have managed to place IBB in a compromising situation. Additionally, this comes as Lloyds TSB recently benefited from a bailout of taxpayer’s money, without considering that Muslims are also among British taxpayers."

Being a Palestinian charity, it has to work in the open Gaza prison and avoiding contact with those in charge within Gaza – Hamas – is unavoidable. As such, any charity can be labelled a terrorist organisation without a shread of evidence.

Not only is the West stopping any food and material getting into Gaza, it is also preventing charities from operating within Gaza.

Any caring person would close their account with Lloyds TSB and let them know why.

Benazir Bhutto hysteria

2008-12-30T12:39:00.003Z

President Asif Ali Zardari, Co Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party said that consolidating and strengthening democracy will be a lasting respect and honour to the memory of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.

So what are you waiting for and why have you been stalling the process?

A recent survey by the International Republican Institute showed that 88 per cent of Pakistanis felt that their country was heading in the wrong direction.
I wonder why?

In his message read out at a memorial meeting, on the first death anniversary, in South West London, he called for unity in the rank and file of every Pakistani to achieve the objectives for which the former prime minister laid down her life.

So, why destroy the unity by introducing Bhutto’s faced on the national currency?
What exactly were her objectives?

She was a beacon of hope and expectation for the downtrodden and oppressed sections of the society, fighting for right of common man, his dignity and for democracy.

She will be remembered as a leader, who empowered the people, enhanced their status and her charismatic personality endeared her to everyone whom she met.

When did she do that?
She was a corrupt exiled leader, only allowed back into the country at the orders of the US? During her rule, her husband (the current President) was widely known as "Mr 10 Per Cent". In another words, he took 10 per cent of all deals.

Facts to note:

Benazir Bhutto was not a leader; she followed behind all others, especially the judiciary in challenging the dictator Musharraf.

The Pakistan Peoples Party was not the one who paid a heavy price for no-nonsense stand against non-democratic forces. The judges and lawyers did and paid a very heavy price.

What the Pakistan Peoples Party stands for, is any one guess.

The World is still waiting, waiting, waiting for a sign that Benazir’s party is heading towards democracy with the restoration of the Chief Justice of Pakistan.
Benazir is honoured like no other in Pakistani in history.

December 27 has been declared a one-off public holiday throughout the country to observe the 1st anniversary of martyrdom of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.

About 150,000 people travelled to Bhutto family mausoleum in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, in the southern province of Sindh.

Who is Benazir Bhutto, other than a politician, like all other politicians?

Let us see who should be honoured.

The most revered and respected Pakistani is the founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah. Do we remember him like Bhutto? No.

Pakistan is a Muslim country. The most famous shaheed in the Muslim world is Imam Hussain. Do we remember him the same manner? No.

The Most illustrious Muslim is the prophet Muhammad. Do we celebrate him in the same manner as Bhutto? No.

It just goes to proof, that the lunatics (in Pakistan) have taken over the asylum.

According to the Independent "vast portraits have come to adorn government buildings, bridges, billboards and supporters' cars across the country."

Now we have special Benazir Bhutto commemorative ten rupee coins.

It will be the first time when a face other than that of the country's founder, Mohammed Ali Jinnah, has appeared on local currency. Why?

Islamabad airport has been renamed Benazir Bhutto International Airport. Why?

Is the only way to honour Benazir to rubber stamp and rename everything in her name?
Is that empowering the people? Or brainwashing the people?

It is time to stop hiding behind Benazirs photo/image and stop making her into something she never was.

She is dead and that is the main reason, she is being honoured. Each of these acts of honouring her is a nail in the coffin of Pakistan and step away from democracy.
She stayed safely in the back row, while others were brave enough to stand in the front row.

Tories select candidate for Southall

2008-12-11T12:13:00.003Z

Gurcharan Singh is selected as the Conservative candidate for the Ealing Southall seat.

Councillor Singh was one of five councillors who defected from Labour to the Tories during the July 2007 by-election.

He represents the Lady Margaret ward and has been a councillor since 1982.

The former Mayor of Ealing is currently an advisor on "race relations" to the Conservative party leader David Cameron.

Some people will be surprised by councillor Gurcharan Singh's selection as he was a Labour councillor, only last year.

The general election is expected to take place next year.

Bush Sahib Bush Hain , Tou Musharraf Bhe Kam Nahii !

2008-12-03T22:13:00.000Z

Bush and Musharraf Conference in urdu

Musharraf Qawali - Chacha Wardi Landa Q Nai

2008-12-03T21:31:00.003Z

Very amusing video with a very serious message for General Musharraf - in Punjabi

Southall businessman calls for investment in Southall

2008-12-03T20:26:00.003Z

Southall businessman Dalawar Chaudhry calls for investment in Southall.

When Dalawar Chaudhry met the Prime Minister Gordon Brown at a function on Monday, he asked for investment in Southall.

He said that Southall does not have enough sports and other activities for young people.

Without immediate investment this could lead to unemployment or radicalisation.

He urged the government to invest.

Southall businessman condemns Mumbai terrorism

2008-12-03T19:47:00.004Z

Southall businessman Dalawar Chaudhry condemns the Mumbai atrocities.

When Dalawar Chaudhry met the Prime Minister Gordon Brown at a function on Monday, he expressed his sorrow about the huge loss of life in Mumbai.

He said that whenever there is a such a situation in the Indian sub-continent Southall has always set the precedent. The people have sat down, had dialogue and condemned each and every senseless attack.

He was distressed and saddened by the scale of this killings which had clalimed the lives of innocent Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Jews and Christians.

"Devout Muslim" drug peddler?

2008-12-02T18:41:00.004Z

It is strange how certain newspapers portray Muslims.

Muslims are like any one else. Good and bad.

The Ealing Times reports starts of with:

A DEVOUT Muslim has lost his appeal against a nine-year jail term for his part in an extensive cocaine smuggling ring.

"A DEVOUT Muslim" and peddling 3.8 kilograms of cocaine do not go hand in hand.

Either, he is a devout Muslim or a drug peddler, not both.

He had 20 glowing character references.
Were they present at the deal?

No. Then they can't be of any value, as he found out in court.

Nadim Qaiser Khan who lives in Headstone but worked in Southall was seen passing a drugs parcel worth £189,000 to an accomplice.

Lady Margaret ward forum date confusion

2008-12-01T23:37:00.002Z

Just when is the next Lady Margaret ward forum meeting?

The Ealing Gazette (online) says it will be held on "Thursday, December 4".

Ealing Councils own ward forum link says it is on "Tuesday 9th December".

Yet, Ealing Councils "Around Ealing" magazine says it is "Friday December 12".

Who am I to believe?

I wonder if any one will turn up in this confusion?
No wonder attendances are low.

Southall condemns the Mumbai terrorist attacks

2008-11-28T15:42:00.005Z

Residents of Southall condemns the Mumbai terrorist attacks that have claimed almost a 150 lives.

As one prominent Muslim imam said on his friday sermon, we condemn all terrorist attacks, like the one in Mumbai, whether they occur in India, Pakistan or Kashmir.

We condemn terrorism, whether it is carried out by individuals against the state or by individusls with the full blessing of the state.

It is sad so many innocent lives have been lost, but it is nothing new.

Power station in Southall?

2008-11-27T18:38:00.006Z

A local Southall councillor is opposed to the idea of a new power station in Southall.

Manjit Singh, ward councillor for Southall Broadway, is worried the planned Gasworks housing development and a new power station could result in overcrowding and may over burden the local infrastructure.

Energy provider Blue-NG is soon expected to submit plans for a £30 million power station at the old gas holder in The Straight.

Mr Manjit Singh, ward councillor for Southall Broadway, is opposed to idea of the power station and does not consider it to be a good idea for such a built-up residential area.

Would you live close to a power station?

Southall Businessman In 'Bogus Visa' Trial

2008-11-27T17:07:00.004Z

A businessman is on trial after being accused of supplying bogus information to support visa applications.

Joginder Singh Kaile, 48, a local businessman, promised to accommodate more than 60 nephews, nieces, cousins, uncles and aunts.

Joginder, of Western Road, Southall, is being tried at Isleworth Crown Court.

He was arrested in June 2007 and charged with 40 charges of breaching or attempting to facilitate a breach of immigration law by supplying false information to support visa applications for people from India, between December 2005 and August 2007.

That is over a period of 20 months. Yet that is equivalent of "two applications every week" according to prosecutor Anuja Dhir.

Something fishy somewhere.

Not as fishy as the following.

In October 1999, Indian Joginder Singh Kaile, 39, was jailed for six-and-a-half years after police uncovered a racket believed to have brought thousands of illegal immigrants into Britain.

He charged £7,000 per person upfront to fly them from India to Russia or Europe. They were then crammed into lorries or cars for the journey across Europe into Britain.

He then forced them to work in his sweatshops.
They had to pay extra for providing them with fake papers, cover stories or getting them jobs.

Many were found to be living in cramped conditions in a shed behind his house. They had to pay for the privilege.

The operation was run from his home in Southall. He lured the Indians with the promise of a better life in Britain through his company the Immigration Advisory Service.

The police described it as the biggest immigration racket they had come across.

Police believe that the scam, which ran from 1993, would have made him a millionaire, but they have not been able to track down his assets.

The last line is very deceptive.

He pleaded guilty to one charge of conspiracy to facilitate illegal immigration and one charge of deception at the Middlesex Guildhall Crown Court.

Southall MP condemns the Mumbai terrorist attacks

2008-11-27T16:52:00.002Z

Southall MP, Virendra Sharma, condemns the Mumbai terrorist attacks that have claimed more than a 100 lives.

He said: "It is an attack on democracy, tolerance and equality."

"It is sad so many innocent lives have been lost, but it is nothing new."

Summary post test2

2008-11-26T16:08:00.001Z

Your short introduction will be here ok

And the rest of your post here xxxxx
xxxxxxx
x
xx
x
x

Four Southall box junctions are illegal

2008-11-26T15:40:00.008Z

Ealing Council has finally accepted that 4 hotly disputed box junctions in Southall are illegal.

A lot more motorist fined for entering 4 box junctions in Southall are set to receive refunds after it emerges that the Council knew for a long time that they were illegal.

4 weeks ago, Ealing Council said it would no longer enforce 6 illegal box junctions and any one iissued with a ticket since October 30 would have the money refunded.

Ealing Council blamed the Department of Transport for taking nearly 8 months to reach a decision over the legality of these junctions.

It now emerges that an email was sent by the Department of Transport on 20th June stating that they would not authorise the use of box junctions in the 6 disputed locations, 4 of them being in Southall.

Now, Ealing Council will refund anyone issued with a ticket since 20th June 2008 to comply with the Department of Transports guidance.

Councillor Taylor said that the Council was unaware of the email. He is furious that the email was never brought to his attention and has ordered an immediate investigation on how this could have happened.

At the end of 2007, several drivers were successful at appeal hearings at the parking adjudicator. Some time after that the Council sought the guidance of the Department of Transport.

On October 29 2008, a bus company successfully appealed and was awarded £700 in costs. The lawyer for the council was still claiming the box junctions were legal.

This defeat and advice from the Department for Transport resulted in a change of Council policy. These junctions were no longer to be enforced and any one iissued with a ticket since October 30 was promised a refunded.

Cabinet Member for Customer and Community Services, Councillor Phil Taylor, said: "Following a meeting with the Department for Transport in June we understood that double width yellow boxes could be placed at the T-junctions, as long as there was sufficient traffic flow in the area."

"We provided additional data and fully expected the DfT to confirm they were happy. Now eight months after we originally approached them, they appear to be suggesting this is not the case, but have still failed to provide us with a report setting out their position, despite repeated requests."

"It is ridiculous that it has taken the Government department which sets the rules so many months to interpret its own manual and we still have not received a definitive response. This just underlines how unclear the regulations are. "

But they did reply on 20th June 2008 saying the box junctions were illegal.

No the Council will refund anyone issued with a ticket since 20th June to comply with the Department of Transports guidance.

In the last financial year, the single illegal box junction at South Road/St Joseph’s Drive in Southall generated the Council a cool £1 million.

According to Ealing Times, this year twice as many penalty tickets were being handed out on these illegal junctions. Over £3 million has been collected on these illegal box junctions in Southall and Ealing Broadway.

The South Road/St Joseph's Drive box junction generated more than £2.1m and the 3 near by junctions generated a further £1m.

PM orders acquisition of land for Baba Guru Nanak University

2008-11-14T22:27:00.001Z

Prime Minister of Pakistan Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani issues instructions for the acquisition of land for the Baba Guru Nanak University in Nankana Sahib.

He told as a delegation of Sikh pilgrims representing various Sikh organisations based in Pakistan, the United States, the United Kingdom, India, and the Indian Held Kashmir, the Pakistan government would protect the rights of minorities.

He said efforts were being made by the government to make the Sikh pilgrims feel at home during their visit to religious shrines in Pakistan.

The prime minister told the delegation that the demands of the Sikh pilgrims, like commencement of direct PIA flights between Birmingham and Lahore, and the issuance of double entry visa to the Yatrees by Pakistan’s diplomatic missions abroad, had already been implemented.

He said the government was paying special attention to preserving religious and cultural heritage of Sikhs. The prime minister said special allocations were being made for the renovation and maintenance of their sacred places in Pakistan.

Sardar Manmohan Singh Khalsa, a leader of Southall based World Muslim-Sikh Federation, emphasised the need for Sikh-Muslim unity in the region. He said India-Pakistan relations had no effects on the ties between the Sikh community and the people of Pakistan.

Sikh yatrees arrive in Pakistan

2008-11-09T21:55:00.003Z

Leaders of the Southal based World Muslim-Sikh Federation (WMSF) arrive in Lahore to celebrate the 540th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak.

As many as 169 Sikh yatrees from across the world arrived in lahore, Pakstan, on Sunday to celebrate the 540th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion.

The Pakistan Sikh Gurdawara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) received them at the Allama Iqbal International Airport.

Chairman of World Muslim-Sikh Federation (WMSF), Manmohan Singh Khalsa and President Nazar Khan Lodhi expressed their delight at the reception and respect they got after arriving in Pakistan.

"It is a sacred land, they commented, adding it seems as if we are among our own people."

Eid-ul-Fitr day shopping

2008-10-30T20:47:00.001Z

It is always bad to do some late Eid shopping on Eid day.

The reasons can be multiple.
Suppose you want to buy some mathai.
What can possibly go wrong.

The weather - it could be wet.
The queue outside the shop - it is more than likely to be blocking the pavement.
The people serving inside are fast as tortoises.
Some one might takes all their family to choose the mathai.
Some one may want some leisure advice to chooose something and do some sample tasting.
The person serving is oblivious to the people in the queue.
Some one may want his friends to do some queue jumping.
This may aggravate some other people.

What ever the case, it not going to take less than 30 minutes to get served.

Ealing Council's Illegal T Junctions

2008-06-16T21:34:00.001+01:00

A T Junctions at "The Broadway - Junction of Herbert Road" in Southall, which incorrectly marked - bigger than it should be - illegal.

You can see the pedestrians crossing the road, forcing the motorists stop earlier than neccessary.

But their actions don't count when you appeal to the money grabbing Ealing Council.

Plans to hold terror suspects for up to 42 days without charge

2008-06-08T21:43:00.001+01:00

Lord Goldsmith, the former Attorney General, wrote in the Sunday Telegraph that passing the anti-terror bill would help destroy the "very basis of free society that our ancestors fought so hard to create".

The Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, does not want to abandon his principles and wants dissenting MPs to compromise theirs.

Sir John Major urged the MPs not to abandon their principles and said that no such measure were contemplated when “Britain faced a more regular – and no less violent – assaults from the IRA.”

What do you make of the Prime Minister statement that “We have done everything in our power to protect the civil liberties of the individual”. Who is forcing him to erode them, apart from himself?

The Southall Muslim Community wants their MP Mr. Sharma to stand up and "protect the civil liberties of the individual”, when the Commons vote on extending the limit from 28 days to 42 days is on Wednesday.

Blood Transfusion or not?

2008-06-06T22:23:00.001+01:00

A Southall resident is critically injured in a hit-and-run car accident.

He needs a blood transfusion.

He cannot speak for himself but his wife insists that he would not want one because it is against Jehovah's Witnesses beliefs.

His sons do not share their beliefs.

Is it a "barbaric and senseless belief"?

Or is the true meaning lost in the literal interpretation?

Should the wife be prosecuted for upholding her husband's wishes?

Why do we want all others to understand our beliefs and rejects theirs?

Money well spent?

2008-06-02T21:04:00.001+01:00

Ealing Council went through a long process of planning to open a walk-in health centre on Southall Broadway.

Then it spent thousands of pounds per page on promoting it in newspapers. They even sent leaflets through each household in Southall, which most people bin or lose soon afterwards.

Nearly a year after the opening, you can search for the Broadway Health Centre on:

Ealing Council website
nhs uk choices website
yell site

and find almost nothing.

They could not even be bothered to register it on the nhs uk choices website.

Was the money well spent?

Southall - Ajtama Deeni - Ladies Religious Gathering

2008-05-28T22:39:00.000+01:00

Date: Sun 08 Jun 2008
Time: 2 pm

Guest and main speaker: Sahib Zadi Riffat Sayed Sahibah

Location: Southall, London Borough of Ealing.

Pure Gold?

2008-05-27T21:13:00.002+01:00

‘Pure Gold?’ is CAFOD's new photographic exhibition which reveals the truth behind the glamour of gold through striking images and accounts from three continents.

The exhibition opens in London on 21 May and then tours the UK.

Gold is the symbol of love, status, wealth and power. The sheer number of jewellers on Southall Broadway shows the addiction Asians have with gold.

Yet, for many communities in developing countries it symbolises environmental destruction and toxic pollution. One gold ring produces 18 tonnes of waste rock, which polutes water supplies with toxins.

See the reality in the Democratic Republic of Congo – where gold mining has contributed to a cycle of violence and poverty.

Hear the voices of communities in Honduras whose water supplies have been poisoned.

Meet the indigenous people fighting back in the Philippines after seeing their sacred mountain destroyed to make way for a gold mine.

Visit the exhibition and discover how you can help turn gold from a curse into a blessing for the countries where it is mined.

The London exhibition is running from May 21th to June 1st 2008.
The admission is free and the Oxo gallery is open daily 11am-6pm.
Find out more about the exhibition.

Southall - Jalsa - Seerat un Nabi

2008-05-25T12:44:00.000+01:00

Date: Sat 31 May 2008
Time: 7 pm

Jalsa - Seerat un Nabi and Ghiyarviah Sharif

Guest and main speaker: Hazrat Allama Muhammed Shahid Raza Naeemi

Location: Southall, London Borough of Ealing.

Restoration of Judiciary in Pakistan

2008-05-21T20:39:00.002+01:00

The chairperson of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, 19, son of former premier Benazir Bhutto said:

"The party's long struggle for democracy will continue with renewed vigour.My mother always said, democracy is the best revenge."

Musharraf the dictator suspended the constitution and dismissed the independent judiciary, so that no one would question his continued rule.

After a long delay, the PPP are prepared to restore the judges BUT only if their hands are tied and are unable to question the rubber stamped pardons given to the most corrupt and powerful people.

This is exactly what the dictator Musharraf did.

What is the difference between the dictator Musharraf and the PPP? Where did this “democracy is the best revenge” disappear to?

Just empty words.

Even Benazir Bhutto did not a free and independent judiciary as a high priority. The priority was getting back into power.

US detains 500 'enemy combatant' children

2008-05-20T21:13:00.001+01:00

500 teenagers – some aged under 16 – are being held by the US military on the on suspicion of being terrorists.

Most of the teenagers are being held in in Iraq as "unlawful enemy combatants".

A total of 2,500 youths under the age of 18 have been detained, since 2002, for periods up to a year or more in Americas anti-terrorism campaign. This was disclosed last week by the United States the U.N.’s Committee on the Rights of the Child.

The U.S. report said “The juveniles that the United States has detained have been captured engaging in anti-coalition activity, such as planting Improvised Explosive Devices, operating as lookouts for insurgents, or actively engaged in fighting against U.S. and Coalition forces.”

None of the released/detained detained teenagers have been brought in front of any kangaroo court.

Had there been a shred of evidence against them, none of the lucky 2000 would not have released.

The hospitality dished out by the Americans is only likely to push them towards “engaging in anti-coalition activity, such as planting Improvised Explosive Devices, operating as lookouts for insurgents, or actively engaged in fighting against U.S. and Coalition forces.”

Bush - the greatest threat to world peace

2008-05-19T20:59:00.002+01:00

“We believe that the surest way to defeat the enemies of hatred is to advance the cause of hope, the cause of freedom, liberty as the great alternative to tyranny and terror.” – George Bush

What about freedom for the Palestinians?
They face daily tyranny and terror.
They have been ignored for decades.

At his recent speech at the Knesset Mr Bush lavished praise on Israel and called it a "homeland for the chosen people".

Was it for decades of occupation of Palestinian land and ethnic cleansing?

Mr Bush warns that "the light of liberty" is at risk.
He seems content on extinguishing the "the light of liberty" for the Palestinians.

Is this the democracy that he wants to spread?

Few Palestinians, Arabs or Muslims regard Bush as an honest broker, and his latest visit to the region has just reconfirmed their worst fears.

To put it into perspective, even the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has gone on record to state that he was angry at comments made by Bush, which were a denial of voice to the Palestinian people.

Nearing the end of his term in office, Bush wants to leave behind some proof of his success and calls on other leaders to show leadership, yet he has shown none himself.

Opinion polls show that most Europeans believe the United States is a greater menace than Iran or North Korea.

The United States poses the greatest threat to world peace.

Girl of 8 used as 'suicide' bomber

2008-05-15T19:59:00.002+01:00

"Militants strapped explosives to a young girl and used her to blow up an army checkpoint in Iraq yesterday."

"They detonated the device by remote control as the child, thought to be as young as eight, walked towards a group of soldiers."

This is what the article in the Metro said.

Further down it states that the US Army gave the age of the girl as between 16 and 18.

Is there any truth in the Headline? No
Is there any truth in the first part of the story? No
Is there any truth in the rest of the story? No

"US: Bombers Didn't Have Down Syndrome.
http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=500&sid=1348577

It is just the normal sensational propganda crap to demonise the "enemy".

Fact: "British Army sent 15 soldiers under the age of 18 to fight in Iraq" http://www.wsws.org/articles/2007/mar2007/chld-m08.shtml

Complaints can be made to the Press Complaints Comission
http://www.pcc.org.uk/

Aaj Pakistan ki izzat heh

2007-11-07T21:17:00.001Z

The official Pakistan Government line is that
"Aaj Pakistan ki izzat heh"
"Today Pakistan is respected through out the world".

People (may) respect the country of Pakistan
but they have utter contempt for General Musharraf actions.

This single stupid act of his, shows his contempt for the people of Pakistan and democracy.

Nobody in their right mind can be proud of the actions of the Pakistan government or be deluded into thinking that Pakistan can retain any respect after this.

General Aslam Baig on Pakistan emergency Rule

2007-11-07T21:05:00.004Z

General Mirza Aslam Baig was Chief of Staff of the Pakistani army from 1988 to 1991. He took over the post after the death of General Zia-ul-Haq in an air crash.

He spoke to Geo TV today.
General (retired) Aslam Baig said that everything happening in Pakistan was carried out with the full approval of the US and was only done for the benefit of General Musharraf and Benazir Bhutto.

The so called emergency rule is in fact worse than martial law, as there is no appeal for any of its victim.

The outcome of the farcical democratic election will be far from free and fair. The result will be jobs for the boys in the establishment and a very weak opposition, the same as what happened in 2000.

The press and media will not have same freedom as they enjoyed before this dubious martial law.

George Bush on Pakistan Emergency Rule

2007-11-07T21:05:00.003Z

Today, George Bush's message to General Musharraf was clear
“Hold the elections as scheduled and take your uniform off”.

Conclusion:

Stay in power by all means - we love dictators whether in uniform or not.
The independent judiciary can pay the price for standing up for Pakistan and democracy.
The protesting lawyers can rot in prison for standing up for Pakistan and democracy.

A great democratic and freedom spreading solution.

Gen Musharraf imposes emergency rule

2007-11-07T20:26:00.002Z

The imposition of emergency rule in Pakistan by General Musharraf on Saturday and conduct of the country’s police forces have disgusted Pakistanis all over the world.

Gen Musharraf has clearly demonstrated in his own words that he “is committed to the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law and holds the superior judiciary in high esteem” by immediate sacking all senior high court judges who are prepared to uphold the law and placing them under house arrest.

He believes that relentlessly beating protesting lawyers (and judges) by the “completely demoralised” police force and putting these actions “beyond accountability” will have greatly restore the Pakistan police forces confidence.

Sadly, this barbaric attempt by a dictator to stay in power by suspending all accountability, propped up by foreign powers will only disgust decent people all over the world.

Most Pakistanis suspect the whole process has been engineered by the US. They forced Musharraf to allow Benazir Bhutto back into the country, offer her amnesty against corruption charges and negotiate some sort of handover with her.

The West is more interested in seeing Musharraf step down as head of the army but remain in control as President of the country. It is less interested in the destruction of existing democratic institutions and the suspension of the constitution, resulting in:

Immediate sacking of all senior high court judges who are prepared to uphold the law

Arrest, beating and imprisonment of lawyer who dare to protest

None of these vile acts are likely to be undone. This is the price Pakistan will have to pay to satisfy foreign powers for Musharrafs so called support on the war on terror, once again.

The chief justice of the Supreme Court Iftikhar Chaudhry and other judges have been sacked and are under house arrest

Cable operators have been stopped from transmitting TV news within the country

Radio stations have also been banned from broadcasting news

Newspapers may not print anything critical of the government

What message does raiding the offices of the country's leading rights organisation, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, and arresting/detaining them send out to the rest of the world?

As expected, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party appears not to have been targeted in the crackdown.

Ban the Hindu extremist group RSS

2007-11-07T20:12:00.001Z

A human rights National Conference was held on Saturday 27th October in Southall to alert the public on the activities of Hindu extremist groups like the RSS.

The objective was to “to help stop the persecution of Sikhs, Muslims, Christians and Daljits within India by Hindu extremists groups such as the RSS by signing a petition (to Prime Minister Gordon Brown) to ban the RSS in the United Kingdom”.

The conference was attended by Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Buddhist and Jain community leaders.

These included Lord Nazir Ahmed, Avtar Singh Sanghra(Babbar), Tarsem singh (British Sikh council), Gurcharan Singh (Dal Khalsa), Manmohan Singh Khalsa (World Muslim Sikh Federation), Nazar Lodhi (World Muslim Sikh Federation), Sonil (Buddhist community India), Dr Mokel Hazaraka (Assam watch) Hindu community leader and Adran Chada (British Muslim Youth Federation UK).

All the leaders collectively wanted a ban on the RSS and as there was no place for such an organisation in the UK which stood for human rights and tolerance for all communities.

They urged the public to sign the petition (to Prime Minister Gordon Brown) to outlaw and ban the RSS as a Terror Group in the United Kingdom.

The petition which started on July 12, 2007 will remain open for signatures until July 12, 2008. The total number of signatures required to get the RSS banned is 10,000.

The petition states that:

“The RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh), is a Hindu Extremist Organisation based within India but receives a large part of its funding from countries such as the UK.

RSS believes that only Hindus should reside within India, the minorities should either come into the Hindu fold or be wiped out. The organisation wish to create a Hindu Super State of Hindutva, Hindu, Hindi and Hindustan. There is no place for minorities.”

The RSS have actively been trying to distort and destroy Sikh history and practises by modifying the history and books.

A Sikh video documentary on Youtube, Tabhe Ros Jageo, documents what the RSS do. They claim all who reside in India are part of the Hindu ‘Family’.

The organisation had a major role in the genocide of Muslims in Gujarat, along with the destruction of the Babri masjid in Ayodha. The RSS also supported the Indian military attack on the Golden Temple and Sikh genocide in 1984.

The RSS takes its inspiration from Hitler and his Nazi party’s pure race ideology, a recent channel 4 documentary “The Indian miracle?” documents this.

We cannot have groups such as the RSS who spread hate and terror being funded from a nation such as the UK, which values Human Rights and Liberty.

Southall Broadway rats

2007-10-31T18:58:00.000Z

Ealing Council Leader Jason Stacey said:

“And in Southall, wheelie bins will be introduced to those roads where there was majority support for them and it was practical operationally. We believe that by taking rubbish off the streets these bins will really help to tackle the problem of rats in the area, especially around the town centre.”

Halloween parasites

2007-10-31T18:50:00.001Z

Halloween night brings out cute little children who put on fancy costumes and go out to have a bit of fun. They knock on their friends and neighbours doors to collect some sweets.

Unfortunately, in Southall, as in other towns, there are some parasites around as well, who have nothing better to do than throw eggs at peoples property for no reason and then run away.

This sort of incident is not just restricted to Halloween, it has happens at other times as well.