A lot of my recent LJ posts have been spent typing up the Music Questionaire results- it's not just copying and pasting, you know. More of these to come too. I hope you're enjoying them.

However I feel I should, at least, attempt to make some comment on some news items.

Firstly I hope to see some of you at the Day for Darfur demonstration on Sunday. (There now follows some gratuitous copy'n'pasting)

What: Demonstration outside the Sudanese Embassy in London.
When: Sunday 17th September, 11:00 am to 1:30 pm.
Where: 3 Cleveland Row, St. James’s, London, SW1A 1DD, UK.

Genocide Prevention Charity the Aegis Trust and Amnesty International UK are organising a demonstration outside the Sudanese Embassy in London to protest against the Governments continued opposition to UN deployment in Darfur.

The people of Darfur desperately need a UN force that can bring peace and stability to this troubled region of Sudan. The Government of Sudan has so far blocked efforts to put a UN peace keeping mission on the ground. This must stop.
Please come along. Their will be some coaches available for people attending from outside London. Please see below to book a place on a coach or for press information.

This demonstration will be followed by a March to Downing Street organised by the Darfur Union, we hope that you will be able to participate in this also.

I dare say a pub visit might be in order afterwards.
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Hezbollah accused of war crimes...
Well yes, surprised it took so long actually, but well done Amnesty all the same. How firing rockets indiscriminately into built up areas with no apparent object other than to kill as many people as possible is anything other than a "war crime" beats me. "Terrorism" would have been an accurate description too.

"Amnesty International's Secretary General, Irene Khan, said: "Civilians must not be made to pay the price for unlawful conduct on either side."
And the AI report also says-

"The fact that Israel in its attacks in Lebanon also committed violations of international humanitarian law amounting to war crimes, including indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks, is not an acceptable justification for Hizbullah violating the rules of war, whether as a deterrent or as a means of retaliation or retribution."

Read the full report here

Awkward reading for the Stop The War Coalition, who, as noted before, seem extremely selective in the wars they want to stop. You'll look in vain for mentions of Darfur too...
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Peter Hain launches bid for deputy leadership.

Peter Hain, the Northern Ireland secretary, became the first cabinet member to launch his campaign for Labour's deputy leadership yesterday, saying he would be able to bind the party together and promising a debate about the role of the private sector in delivering public services.
He said he would be a loyal deputy to Gordon Brown, and argued that he was uniquely placed to restore the shattered progressive consensus.

Good. I like Peter Hain. He gets my support.