British Say “NO” to Euro Again On European Currency Anniversary

APPA NEWS, LONDON 01/01/09 - A new public opinion Poll published today by BBC has shown again the British People’s strong opposition to giving up British Pound Sterling in favour of the Euro, as the European currency completes today its 10th Anniversary.

The Poll follows the trend previously seen in past polls, giving a YES to British Pound by a significant margin, alongside controversial declarations made by José Manuel Durão Barroso, EU Commission President, who stated in December “the UK was closer than ever to joining the Euro” and “the people who matter in British politics“ were contemplating giving up the Pound”.

However, opposing views were expressed by Lord Mandelson, Business Secretary. Whilst joining the Euro is a long term goal for New Labour, said Lord Mandelson, such policy is not for now. But neither Mr Barroso nor Lord Mandelson are meeting the will of the British People, which has always shown a clear “NO” to joining the Euro. Even the best Poll ever in favour did not go further than a mere 31% in favour of the Euro, versus 56% saying NO to the European Union currency.

The issue of whether to join the Euro or not has always been a hot topic in British politics, but has gained a new breath of life recently as the Pound plummeted in value, reaching a point of nearly parity with the Euro, as a result of the credit crunch and subsequent financial collapse in the second half of 2008.

“THE PEOPLE WHO MATTER IN BRITISH POLITICS”

Mr Barroso’sstatement is relevant however, as it appears to argue that the people who matter are those who are in favour of joining the Euro, the rest - the majority of the British People, in fact - does not come into the equation, a position guaranteed to raise eyebrows for the anti-democratic tone, actually an accusation frequently thrown at the European Union political practices, as seen withthe Lisbon Treaty referendum, promised by New Labour, but was never delivered and very recently, the Irish nightmare as Ireland may face a second referendum about the Lisbon Treaty, as the first Irish “No” does not play along with the tune of Brussels Eurocrats.

But “NO” usually means… well… “NO“, so it becomes hard to figure out which part of the word “NO” is difficult to grasp, for either Brussels or the British New Labour Government.

“NO”!… A SOVEREIGNTY ISSUE

What seems clear and apparent though, is the “NO” concerns matters of self-governance and sovereignty for Brits in general, exposing a general feeling of loss of control of British Affairs, especially in times of financial hardship, as joining the Euro would mean losing the power to self regulate the British economy.

This is in fact a case in point in Lord Mandelson’s statement. If a move to join the Euro is “not for now”, presumably because it is more convenient to keep full control of the British currency according to the needs of British economy, as it may be concluded from Lord Mandelson’s declarations, then it makes sense to ask what would happen in the future, once the Pound is scrapped, should a serious crisis happen again.

It is a chief argument for the UKIP Party. Dr Whittaker, UKIP Party MEP poignantly noted the credit crunch had exposed a potential weakness in joining the Euro, because “while all [Euro zone] economies are suffering, some Euro Zone countries are now in an impossible position”. Because these countries joined the Euro, they effectively lost their power to ease the crisis, for example by lowering interest rates and devaluing currency, crisis counter-measures they cannot take because they are stuck with the Euro, under European Central Bank control.

The Conservative Party, in a statement apparently made to the “Daily Mail”, said the Tories under David Cameron’s leadership “would never join the Euro”. Tory sources insisted the party’s policy in regards to the Euro has not changed.

Palestine Re-Enacts Crucifixion In New Penal Code

APPA NEWS LONDON NEWSROOM, 26/12/08 - Alarming news arriving through several reliable sources in the United Kingdom and the Middle-East report Crucifixion has been re-enacted in Palestine.

According to the Jerusalem Post, in an article published by a local journalist, Hamas controlled Palestinian Authority last Tuesday [23/12/08] passed a new Penal Code which in effect re-enacts Sharia Islamic Law, including crucifixion and death penalty in some cases.

Palestine’s Legislative Council, where Islamic Hamas controls a majority, has been quick to deny any such claims, but the fact is that London based Al-Hayat News Paper has confirmed the report and some members of the Legislative Council have provided some clues in recent past.

The new Penal Code in effect establishes Koranic Punishments as prescribed in Sharia Law, which include amputation, application of lashes in various degrees of severity depending on the type of crimes committed, crucifixion and the death penalty. Blood revenge has also been contemplated in the new legislation.

The Free Republic news site, quoting Al Arabiya news and other sources such as the Palestinian Media Watch, reports that the new Penal Code has 14 chapters and 220 sections; and is divided in “Primary Punishments” and “Secondary Punishments”. Amputation of hands, crucifixion, lashes and death penalty all belong to “Primary Punishments”.

Legislation expects 40 lashes as a minimum applicable to any person caught drinking wine or storing wine or indeed producing wine and death penalty for actions committed against the interests of Palestine.

Moreover, the new Penal Code in its text - according to sources quoted above - states that “These punishments will not be canceled or pardoned …”.

Portugal’s Guantanamo Offer Echoes Across World Media

APPA NEWSROOM, LONDON, 13/12/08 -Portugal’s sudden offer to take some prisoners from Guantanamo Bay has taken media and diplomatic circles in Europe and across the Atlantic by storm, by taking a leadership in a matter that has been on the Euro-American agenda since Barack Obama was elected, though not with much in terms of European good-will to help resolving a problem European Union leaders are often keen to classify as an “American Problem”.

The issue, of course, departs from President Elect Barack Obama’s electoral promise to close down Guantanamo Bay Prison Camp - Cuba, but there is no easy solution. Guantanamo Bay houses about 250 prisoners, most of whom linked with the anti-terrorism investigations following the attack on New York twin towers and ensuing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The Portuguese Foreign Affairs Minister Luis Amado’s position however, has toppled upside down EU’s “cold feet” in regards to helping the United States, not just by taking the lead - offering to remove some prisoners from Guantanamo and transfer them to Portugal - but more significantly by pushing European Union leaders to follow suit, a move which clearly most European Union member countries appear to be reluctant to follow.

In a letter released just two days ago, the Portuguese Foreign Affairs Minister urged European Union governments to take action saying that “the time has come for the European Union to step forward”, adding that Portugal was ready to take part in an European resettlement program.

Mr Amado’s timing - we might add - was spot on, if we consider Obama’s Administration is due to take office in about one month’s time, incidentally a clear signal that Portugal is not doing a favour to the departing Bush Administration, but rather embracing efforts for a new World order, seeking fresh solutions for old problems.

At the core of the issue are 60 prisoners, already cleared by the Pentagon, but who cannot be returned back to their native countries for fears of persecution, torture and even death, placing Portugal at the forefront of Human Rights defence concerns.

 The first European country to take a positive lead in the issue, Portugal jumped to the front page of World media, being given coverage for an offer that has been understood as genuine, positive and the first friendly move to unfreeze relations between the United States and the European Union, paving the ground for Obama’s Administration and easing pressure in diplomatic relations across the Atlantic.

Human Rights organisations across the Globe have welcomed the Portuguese Leadership in this issue. The Centre for Constitutional Rights’s chief lawyer, Mr MacLean said: “This step is an important one to usher us into a new era”. And there is little doubt the Portuguese initiative has placed Portugal in the good auspices across the Arab world.

Portugal’s lead was this morning hailed across all major international media, including the BBC and the New York Times. The Arabic TV channel AL JAZEERA has also given the Portuguese initiative ample coverage, as well as The Guardian, Amnesty International, the International Human Rights Watch, among almost 500 other international media organisations.

Not surprisingly, the London Times has taken a different, more conservative view, playing down the Portuguese Leadership in this Human Rights important issue, preferring to focus on American pressure.

Duke of Braganza’s Speech Receives Standing Ovation

APPA NEWSROOM, LONDON 13/12/08 -Dom Duarte, Duke of Braganza’s address to an audience of more than 1000 people, to mark the 368th anniversary of the Restoration of Portugal’s independence, was widely acclaimed as the best ever, having received a standing ovation at the traditional annual Commemorative Gala Diner, which year on year marks the date Portugal’s independence was restored from Spanish rule [1580 - 1st Dec. 1640].

 In his address to the Portuguese, which coincided with severe economic difficulties, the Duke stressed that “it is in moments of trial and severe hardship that the soul of the People comes under test”, calling, according to the Head of the Royal House of Portugal, for initiative, solidarity, generosity and skill.

Highly critical, the speech also emphasizes the need for a new direction in Portuguese politics, encouraging a more environmentally friendly approach, a stop in consumerism, and proper investment in the Portuguese People and the Land, pointing out disastrous policies such as the loss of 444.790 acres of fertile land and the resulting potential for lack of sustainability, and food production autonomy.

For Dom Duarte, the State should call for a halt on hugely expensive public work projects and put in place a meticulous resources management policy, encouraging productivity and wealth generation, giving precedence to products made in Portugal, rather than imported goods and services. The Duke also pointed out that political parties must not serve as mere mechanisms of power struggle, but evolve as real citizenship academies, a criticism widely noted among Portuguese Public Opinion, following almost one year of public anger at the Portuguese political system for its inability to deliver, widening the gap between rich and poor.

Dom Duarte of Braganza finished his speech recalling the most celebrated historical statement of the Portuguese Monarchy - “The King is free and we are free” - in what was seen as a strong signal both of warning about the danger to Portuguese Democracy and independence, of the country’s current affairs, as well as of defiance, given the increasing criticism against the republican regime, among the Portuguese people.

 PORTUGUESE MONARCHIST INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE

SIGNALS SUPPORT BUT ALSO ADVISES CAUTIOUS RESTRAINT

The UK-based foundation Portuguese Monarchist Alliance [AIMP-PMIA], which is known for its policy of support for a neutral constitutional monarchy to replace an increasingly ailing Republic, welcomed the speech, but also cautioned against the dangers of interventive speeches being erroneously interpreted by Public Opinion as an anticipation of what a future Constitutional Monarchy would be in the future, should the Portuguese be able to opt for a change of regime in Portugal.

In a short statement issued to our News Room, AIMP-PMIAstrongly supported the Duke of Braganza’s stance, [sic] “especially given Portugal’s current state of affairs”, but also reminds the Portuguese that in a neutral Constitutional Monarchy, “the Crown must serve the purpose of stable continuity, rather than seek an active role in politics” and, “whilst it is normal and acceptable for the Heir to the Throne to speak-out, a commonplace in other European monarchies, once accession to the Throne happens, a reigning Sovereign must remain out of active politics, to avoid the danger of creating political cleavages as a result of potentially controversial statements and remarks”.

AIMP-PMIA’s statement issued to our newsroom can hardly be seen as pure coincidence. Unconfirmed rumours circulated that the Duke of Braganza’s recent praise of the Portuguese Communist Party as “very patriotic”during an interview to a Portuguese magazine, went down rather badly at the Portuguese Monarchist International Alliance, possibly taking into account the Party’s very dubious actions in 1975, shortly after the Portuguese Carnation Revolution, when the communists attempted a counter-revolution and nearly succeeded in placing Portugal under the former Soviet Union’s geo-political sphere of influence, causing total havoc in Portugal and arguably the most disastrous decolonisation process in European History, leaving Angola and Mozambique braced with civil war for almost 30 years.

APPA NEWS contacted AIMP-PMIA, but the association’s Board declined to comment.

Remembrance Day 2008 - Britain Pays Tribute To War Dead

APPA NEWS, LONDON-UK 08/11/08 - Sunday 9th of November, Britain stops in a national two minute silence tribute to remember all those who fell in the line of duty.

A sad day doubtless, but also a profound tribute to the huge sacrifice of the Armed Forces in previous wars and more poignantly perhaps, the recent conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, where so many have died and many more have returned home ill or disabled.

Across the entire country, multiple ceremonies will mark a solemn occasion of remembrance and gratitude, all of which will be presided by official ceremonies at the London Whitehall Cenotaph, presided by Her Majesty the Queen.

This year also marks the 90th Anniversary of World War I (1918 - 2008).

The two minute silence, which will take place at Big Ben’s 11th hour strike, is traditionally observed everywhere across Britain. Airports, train stations, shops, cafés, in the streets, churches and peoples’ homes… Silence! And remembrance! And deep gratitude! And heartfelt solidarity to their families, relatives and friends.

Remembrance Sunday, always in November, but also always somehow everyday in our collective memory.

In our hearts, lies a red poppy. Ultimate symbol of remembrance, a tradition inherited from a realisation atthe battlefields of Europe during the Napoleonic wars, the First World War and again the Second World War. When earth is revolved by the furious clash of battle, the red poppy is the only flower capable of surviving. And so, red poppies flourished in their millions in the fields of Europe, growing wildly around the fallen corpses of tens of thousands of soldiers. Blood red poppies, grow also in our mourning hearts, as we wear them in our lapels.

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