ModernityBlog

I had thought that my increasingly low opinion of the Stop the War Coalition could go no lower, but I was wrong.

For some inexplicable reason they are supporting Baroness Tonge:

“Jenny Tonge has been dismissed from her post as health spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats because she suggested that Israel investigate charges which have been made regarding Israeli aid workers in Haiti. Petition…”

I would have thought that the political activists within the StWC would have enough sense to walk away from the Offal libel, but apparently not. They are encouraging people to support Baroness Tonge by signing a petition, as shown below:

“We, the undersigned, object to the dismissal of Baroness Jenny Tonge from her post as health spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats simply because she suggested that Israel investigate charges made against it.

The party’s action is a serious threat to the principles for which our country is known — democracy and free speech. Even more specifically, it makes a mockery of your party’s claim to “give power back to people.” Instead of encouraging openness and the search for truth no matter how uncomfortable the accusation or who is accused, you are demonstrating to your constituents that the powerful and the “status quo” will be protected.

The comment for which you are punishing Jenny Tonge merely illustrated her commitment to your party’s founding principles. An independent investigation would be the most ethical response to serious charges that Israel is continuing to practice an illegal act (organ theft) that it has already admitted to committing in earlier years.

By firing Baroness Tonge instead of backing her call for an investigation, or at least supporting her decision to do so, you make evident that the party only believes in the search for truth when powerful allies are not involved.

Please demonstrate that the Liberal Democrats are indeed — as your Web site states — “brave enough to make a fresh start.” Reverse your decision and reinstate Jenny Tonge.”

So hang on, the StWC want an investigation to be held on some idiotic claims that Israelis came half way around world to steal organs and not to help Haitians, as most people think.

What next? Will they call for an investigation as to whether or not Jews caused the Black Death or poisoned wells too?

Will the StWC campaign for an investigation to the truth of ritual murder? I hope that the StWC read up on the Damascus Affair before commenting.

Here’s a tip, StWC walk away from this racist filth, walk away.

(Hat tip: Ana Spencer)

Update 1: Just in case, here’s a screen shot of it:

StWC support Offal libel

More slack blogging from me, but this awful story of Apple’s use of child labour in its products needs repeating:

“Apple said the child workers are now no longer being used, or are no longer under-age. “In each of the three facilities, we required a review of all employment records for the year as well as a complete analysis of the hiring process to clarify how under-age people had been able to gain employment,” Apple said, in an annual report on its suppliers.

Apple has been repeatedly criticised for using factories that abuse workers and where conditions are poor. Last week, it emerged that 62 workers at a factory that manufactures products for Apple and Nokia had been poisoned by n-hexane, a toxic chemical that can cause muscular degeneration and blur eyesight.

Apple has not commented on the problems at the plant, which is run by Wintek, in the Chinese city of Suzhou.

A spokesman for Wintek said that “almost all” of the affected workers were back at work, but that some remained in hospital. Wintek said n-hexane was commonly used in the technology industry, and that problems had arisen because some areas of the factory were not ventilated properly.“

China Labor Watch is always worth a read on these issues.

Phones review puts it more concisely:

“It has come to light that that iPhone you are carrying may well have been manufactured by the usage of child labour as apparently Apple has stated that 3 of their suppliers used eleven underage children to work on building the iPhone, Mac computer and iPod reports an article over on Bloomberg.

The word is an Apple investigation revealed that 3 companies had hired fifteen year old workers is countries which have a minimum working age of sixteen, although Apple has not revealed which companies and what countries where involved. Although Apple visited facilities in the US, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, the Czech Republic, South Korea and the Philippines.

In a 24 page report from Apple they did state however that the underage workers where no longer in active employment at the time of the Apple audit. Apple ceased doing business with at least one supplier who wasn’t named due to repeated violations and inadequate actions to get their house into order.

The Apple audit also uncovered 3 cases where suppliers falsified records to hide the usage of underage workers, and in excess of 60 companies worked their employees beyond the maximum 60 hour week, and 24 Apple partners where found to be paying less than the required minimum wage.”