Cambrian Snooz George Monbiot - Environmentalism and Social Justice public lecture p.4 DONATION the Snooze isn't dead, we just smell like that Indymedia Cymru oats Pao) Frday 2nd March 2007. YOUR “LOCAL” PAPER: THE TRUTH? The General Secretary of the National Union of Journalists has alleged that the owner of the Cambrian News, Richard Tindall, has instructed the editors of the approximately 120 titles owned by his company (including your very own Stoke-printed Cam- brian “News") NOT to cover anti-war stories. In a seminar ‘on responsible journalism held at the Morlan Centre last week, leader of the NUJ, Jeremy Deare, told that “journalism was to0 important to leave to jour- nalists” and that corporate ownership and con- trol of the media was no longer simply a matter of Rupert Murdoch's Sun winning elections for “New” Labour, or his TV channels spoon-feeding the ‘American public pro-Republican Propaganda. cont. p2 “Over a hundred” gathered ® in town to support national AeEMONStLAtiON scssoseronasdpope cys poser in omer Demonstration in Aber (see clowning above) ‘coincided with events in London (below) hhanded out information and principles of disarmament. gathered in Aberystwyth from sation on the issues. 12 noon on Saturday 24th Feb-_ Hearts were warmed by Cor ruary to say ‘NO! to the re- Gobaith singing songs of peace placement of Britain’s'Trident and justice while ActiVeg pro- nuclear missiles. vided teas, coffee and soup to ‘The demonstration, organised warm stomachs, by Aberystwyth Peace and Jus- The crowd included two tice Network, was timed to coin- former Ceredigion MPs, Simon cide with a march by 60,000 Thomas and Cynog Datis. people in London. Both demon- Current MP, Mark Williams strations also called for British said: troops to be withdrawn from “The growing consensus Iraq against Trident’s replacement In Aberystwyth a good natured is based on cost, a recognition gathering on Owain Glyndwr ofits irrelevance in dealing Square brought together anum- with today’s global challenges, ber of political religious and civil and the fact that replacement society groups. Demonstrators completely undermines th2 Friday 2nd March 2007 CAMBRIAN SNOOZE snooze er Dare eee CO Oar NY Prana} = AF A @ aa» be BCU a CEN politics to the politicians” » 979066248 The Treehouse Julian Shelley's Bookshop Siop Y Prom (near the Glen) catch one of our street vendors your"‘local’.. cont. rom front He said that the pernicious in- fluence of over-mighty media owners even extended into the field of local newspapers such as our beloved “News,” with the owner of the “News” having, apparently, repeatedly used his position to influence the output of his titles. Mr. Deare stated that he had been sent a copy of a letter sent to the editors of his titles by the owner of the “News,” Richard Tindall, in which Mr Tindall i structs them to ignore anti- war stories and that this was merely one example of how he has used his position to influ- ence coverage of the war in Iraq and related subjects. Issue VIII and back to the regular format. The Snooze is made by people like yourself, anyone can con- tribute their rants, art, stories, upcoming events, humour and everything you ever dreamed of offloading onto the suckers who'll read it... So come on, show us how it’s done! cont. from Trident/Troops Out demo. .. A timetabled withdrawal of troops from Iraqis the only way forward and sooner rather than later. Our partici- pation remains a fundamental part of the problem, not the solution. On both these matters the reluctance of Tony Blair to allow the House of Commons free votes, speaks volumes for this government’ disregard for Parliamentary accountability.” ‘The replacement of Trident is set to cost up to £100 billion pounds. In Ab- erystwyth, Rebel Clowns informed the public just how many schools and hospitals this amount of money could buy. The Clowns claimed that the re- placement of Trident was so ridicu- lous that the real clowns were obvi- ously the government! > cont. Electronic distribution also available. All submissions welcome, to this address: cambriansnooze@lists.riseup.netUWA Professor Ken Booth is one of one-hundred leading academics, poli- ticians, church leaders, actors, writers, scientists and military figures who have demanded a full democratic debate on ‘Trident replacement. Ceredigion AM Elin Jones said ‘Nuclear weapons... will not protect us from global warming or terrorist attacks. We will continue to oppose Trident? For further information and/or photographs contact: Kelvin Mason: 01970 610 185 (home) 01970 622 610 (work) BEOLe Rhwydwaith Heddwch a Chyfiawnder Aberystwyth: AGM: 7 Mawrth, 630 yh. yn Y Morlan, ystafell cyfarfod. Cyfarfod bob mis, nos Fercher cyntaf am 6.30 y.h. ilan y grsiau yn Y Gwesty Cambria. Edrychwch ar wwwaaberystwythpeace- andjusticenetwork.org.uk i weld cyfarfodydd a digwyddiadau Aberystwyth Peace and Justice Network meetings: AGM: 7 March 2007, 6.30pm at the Morlan meeting room Monthly meetings: First Wednesday of every month at 6.30pm upstairs at the Cambrian Check the website for meetings and events: wwwaberystwythpeaceand- justicenetwork.co.uk CAMBRIAN SNOOZE Friday 2nd March 2007 3 — local Demonstration Shows Growing Support for Campaign Against Oil Drilling On Saturday 17th Febru- other marine life.” ary around one hundred = Ms iersch was in London people came from all last week with Edwina Lloyd over Mid and West Wales of SOS and Mark Williams placards, dolphin MP to present a 2,400-signa- cut-outs and fish cos- ture petition at 10 Downing tumes to join the march Street. in Aberystwyth, ‘The government is in the process of selling licenses to explore for gas and oil in our coastal waters and most of Cardigan Bay - including the At the rally on Saturday, Mr. Special Area of Conservation Williams said: “Despite the (SAC), home tothe bay’sdol- requests I have made, the phins - are in this licensing Goverment are refusing to round. talk to the SOS campaign Spokesperson Leila Kiersch group” said: “It seems that they are We need to keep the pressure hoping we will just fade up on the Government. away... We have only started, Write letters of opposition to: We are getting growing sup- Alistair Darling, Minister for port from people all along the Trade and Industry, 1 Victoria coast and from people in the Street, London, SW1H OET tourist industry. This is not (Refer to the 24th oil and gas only a threat to dolphins and licensing round and the SAC)4 Friday 2nd March 2007 CAMBRIAN SNOOZE elites, enclosures and eco-fascists! George Monbiot pulls no punches in the fight for sustainability Tearing to shreds a popular history of iconic conserva- tionists, George Monbiot challenged environmentalists to embrace social justice or continue a tradition verging on eco-fascism. ‘The Sir D. O. Evans Lecture at UWA on Wednesday 21st of February was attended by more than two-hundred people, an exceptional turnout. And the audience weren't disappointed. From the enclosure of forests as hunting grounds for the medi- eval aristocracy, through the colonialism of English nature conservation in Africa, indicting specifically Joy Ad- amson (Born Free) and Dian Fossey (Gorillas in the Mist), to a contemporary elite’ potential monopolisation of the right to air travel, while preaching envi- (Coldplay's named and ronmentalism Chris shamed), George Monbiot was merciless in his critical review. Martin A tradition of elitist conserva- tionism verges on eco-fascism, excluding indigenous people from elite designated areas of ‘natural’ beauty or wildlife reserves, www.monbiot.com www.turnuptheheat.org This tradition is sold to a popu- lar audience via, for instance, natural history programmes that ‘air-brush’ humanity from the landscape. Following enthusiastic ap- plause for the lecture, UWA Vice Chancellor Noel allowed disappointingly few questions to be put to George Monbiot. ‘The first of these went straight to the heart of the matter, though: How do we regard nature, as valuable only when it’ useful to us or as having value in its own. right? Taking the question a stage further, are we apart from nature or a part of nature? George Monbiot acknowledged the complexity of issues such as intrinsic value and moral sig- nificance, _uncharacteristically admitted to not having all the answers, and highlighted the urgent debate that society still needs to have in this regard. Quizzed on measures to address climate change Monbiot was on much firmer ground, Drawing from his latest book, Heat he explained the fundamental dif- ference between carbon emis- sions trading (bad) and carbon rationing, so called ‘contrac- tion and convergence; (good). In summary, if we are to avoid climate change catastrophe we are all going to have to con- sume much less energy ~ 90% less by 2030! - and pay much more for privileges such as air travel. In the face of the other mem- orable question of the night, Noel Lloyd will certainly have wished he had cut the session even shorter. A student member of People and Planet questioned the university’: en- vironmental and ethical poli- cies. Almost inevitably, and to the Vice Chancellor's very evi- dent discomfort, the fact of the university pension fund’s in- vestment in the allegedly cor- rupt arms giant BAE Systems emerged. Watch this space for news of how UWA responds to the challenge of environmentalism and social justice...CAMBRIAN SNOOZE Friday 2nd March 2007 5 Reid Mas Critigol Critical Mass Ride | dygwyddiadau pythefnos Ynyhaf Summer tines ee ee masnach deg Mawrth 30 Kipvcome ‘Cotton on to Fairtrade’ Ebrill 27 27 April Mai 25 25 May Mehefin 29 29 June. Gorffenaf 27 27 July Awst 31 31 August Brecwast Masnach De: Medi 28 28 September. Hydref 26 26 October Cyfarfod yng Ngwesty Glengower meet at the Glengower Hote! M@HEB IEC Grwp Beic Aberystwyth eee acenineee Telfon Kelvin: 01970 622 610 orfneu 610 185. Cag upon aw tp Mix and Match or Mixes Messages? Professor Ken Booth, among others, isn't sure it helps either campaign, No Trident Replacement of Troops Out of Iraq, to bracket them together. It may diffuse both messages and inhibit people ‘who might support one or the other from cam- paigning and protesting. , \ But what do you think, is there a logical, maybe fairtrade for tnight unavoidable, connection between nuclear weap- ons and an aggressive foreign policy? Are they | Me TCO Mp teeeT Cy two sides of the militaristic coin? Were the Stop The War coalition right to mix the issues? Email The Snooze with your comment on this or anything else that fires you up. pore eC Bey seid cambriansnooze@lists.riseup.net Aberpalestine invites you to see chieslns Gwilym Morus as part of his Alternative Information music tour: Wales/Palestine. Aberystwyth, Wednesday, March 14th Morlan Centre; Door 8pm; £7 The group wil soe in Cardi and Caernarfon) Foc more details check the webite- http://www.gwilymmorus.com/ Gore C MECH UC Mag6 Friday 2nd March 2007 ~CAMBRIAN SNOOZE INDYMEDIA. ‘Ata long and productive meeting in Wrexham on Saturday, 3rd February 2007, activists from across the country met to set up the brand-new Cymru Indymedia Wales. The United Kollectives of Indymedia and the global IMC family has been delivering a genu- ine alternative to mainstream corporate news since the suc- cessful actions against the World Trade Organisation conference in Seattle in November 1999. As part of this, Cymru Indyme- dia Wales will provide an oppor- tunity for anyone to read, watch and listen to (and more impor- tantly write, publish, record and distribute) news stories and fea- tures on issues and events that matter to them, rather than to the homogenised and corporat- ised mainstream. Fed up with the local paper fail- ing to cover stories you think they should be covering? Sick of radio or TV news ignoring you, or the local news website being years out of date? Don't get mad, get involved! Don’t just whinge about the media, BE the media! To find out more, check out UK Indymedia online, or drop the Cymru-ime-Wales collective a line... http:/Mists.indymedia.org! mailman/listinfolimc-wales charity begins at home? Your Snooze correspondent ‘was putting up posters for Aberystwyth’s Chinese New Year festival recently. She was shocked to discover on her rounds that Oxfam, Tenovus, the Cancer Research Campaign and Barnardos all refuse to publicise community events in their windows - or indeed anywhere in their shops. It was explained that the Chi- nese New Year festival celebra- tions are not profit-making and involve local schools and community groups. But all these shops said that their ‘policy’ is only to publicise ‘rel- evant’ events. ‘This was a little ironic in the case of Oxfam, as their window display was on the theme of the Chinese New Year, When this was pointed out the volunteers told our correspondent that in fact ‘rel- evant’ means simply that they tells them to, Your correspon- dent suggested that this policy might be wrong and met with the pointed rebuke “Are you an Oxfam volunteer?” It is not a suprise when com- panies like Waterstones don't want to help the communities they take their profits from, But charities are supposed to be about helping people, rather than simply taking their money. On a happier note, several local shops were more than happy to put posters up. ‘The ‘Wool Shop, Maeth Y Meysydd, Davies the Watchmakers and ‘The Treehouse all obliged hap- pily. And lots of word-of- mouth publicity meant that the New Year procession and festi- val went with a bang, Next year, charity shop posters or not, itll be even bigger and better. Until then, best wishes from the Snooze for the Year of the Golden Fi put up whatever head office . Ydy'r ffaith bod y papur hwn yn unieithog yn poeni chi Mae’n poeni ni, hoffwvn fod yn agored i bawb. Gallwch helpu gyda cyie- ithu, fyddwn yn diolchgar iawn eysylitweh ni os gwelwch y dda 07906 624845 / cambriansnooze@lists.riseup.net Rydyn ni'n aros i siarad gyda CHI!LETS get together to create a sustainable community LETS stands for Local Exchange Trading System. Itis an international system for people to swap their skills, goods and services with others in their local- ity, avoiding the financial economy. Traditionally it’s similar to bartering, but whereas a barter system often involves two people directly exchanging products (I give you my spare potatoes, you give me some firewood), the LETS scheme enables exchang- es to take place between a much larger group of people and ‘payment is in non-currency ‘cheques. For example, Angharad needs Bethan to dog-sit for her once a month, Bethan likes to have a haircut once a month, but Angharad can't cut hair. Bethan is ‘paid’ for her dog-sitting with a ‘cheque’ in local currency (in the Aberystwyth area the currency is Rheidols).and deposits it with the local LETS group. She can then pay Ceri for a hair cut, and Ceri is able to ask Angharad for IT help. As with the traditional monetary economy, people are ‘paid’ for their time or goods. But the LETS system values everyone ina society and doesn't dis- advantage those without formal qualifications. It also keeps the skills and rewards from exchanges of labour within a local area - something the capitalist economy does not do. In addition, people get to know each other in the local area, and many LETS schemes arrange socials and events for mem- bers to get together. Interested? Want to know more? There are a range of LETS websites where you can find out more - see wwnw.gmlets.u-net.com/ or www.letslinkuk.net/ for more information. To get involved locally, why not join the local LETS group? AberLETS has been going for 12 years, and although membership numbers are currently on the low side, that could all change if you got in- volved! See wwwaberlets.org.uk/ for more informa- tion or phone 0709 222 5387. CAMBRIAN SNOOZE Friday 2nd March 2007 7 Cor Gobaith // Choir of Hope Does dim rhaid i chi fod a phrofiad blaenorol o ganu mewn cér, fe ddysgir ycaneuon gyda'r glust. Gall unrhyw un sydd & diddordeb gysylitu & Susie Ennals, ar 01970 612657 | 07966 020312 neu drwy susie@ennals.org.uk . Rydym yn cyfarfod bob nos Fercher 0 6 tan 8 (wythnos gyntaf bob mis am 8) yn Ysgol Gynradd Padarn Sant Ffordd Llanbadarn Aberystwyth. You do not need to have previous ex- perience of singing in a choir, as the songs are taught by ear. Anyone inter- ested can contact Susie Ennals, on 01970 612657 / 07966 020312 or at susie@ennals.org.uk. We meet each Wednesday from 6 to 8 (the first week of the month we meet at 8) at Padarn Primary School, Llan- badam Road, Aberystwyth THE LIVING ROOM: he new look Coopers’ ‘Arms plays host to a brand new weekly show- case of the very best in local talent. Featuring a diverse range of acts from performance poets, through singer-songuriters to regular appear- ances by such Aberystwyth luminaries as Ear- birth and the Brothers Gin, the Living Room is fronted by Stephanie Finnegan, Following her recent return to Aber, Steph realised that there was a wealth of talent in the area that was going unheard and unseen. Rather than simply joining the ranks of the “Aber-is-Rubbish” community, Ms. Finnegan (no mean musician herself) decided to do some- thing about it. The Living Room was born. In the few short months since its inception, it has gone from strength to strength, with the venue, upstairs at the Cwps, regularly packed out, Why not go along on any Wednesday and see for yourself? (But arrive early or you may not be able to get in.)the back page Friday 2nd March 2007 CAMBRIAN SNOOZE A forum of Ideas -Jasmijn De Boo: O/ From Animals Count Siaradwyr/ Speakers = > = s 3 So x ° NX = Vv Q Spring Awakening! Fforwm Syniadau Grivp Amnest yng Aberystwyth Divirod Riv lado Menywod Trais yn erbyn Menywod Ledled Byd Dr pnt sto wat od pn {Dien se Acriogulwe Mero yx ker ie aera apie ‘Am 7.30yh yn y Morlan ar 8 Mawsth, 2007 Grosso bawh Werdd/ Green Party Candidate Ceredigion ) (Ymgeisydd y Blai = Mark Walsh: (Llefarydd/ Spokesperson Activeg) Saturday 3rd March ‘An evening of debate and discussion With Food and Drink At Merched Y Wawr Vulcan Street, Aberystwyth From 7pm Hosted by Activeg Croeso i Bawb! All Welcome! Sadwrn 3 Mawrth Noswaith o ddadiau a thrafod gyda bwyd a diod Yn neuadd Merched y Wawr Stryd yr Efail, Aberystwyth o7yh Wedi" i gynnal gan Activeg -Abecystyth Amnesty International Group International Women’s Day Violence Against Women Worldwide [A peal of spstor wil ak ona rage of ening At 7.30 pm in Morlan on 8th March, 2007 Ailweteome