BATTLE OF SOMME 100TH ANNIVERSARY

To begin with it has to be said that it is incredible when you see these endless graves; it was and still is not a lesson to mankind to stop war. How can politicians bow their heads to honour the dead, attend commemoration ceremonies, lay wreath and then plan war? How can they?

The battle of Somme began 1 July 1916 an offensive led by the Allies against the German troops. It was along the river Somme in northern France in the First World War. The plan was made by France's General Joffre and Britain's Field Marshall Haig as a joint offensive.

Although well planned but the reality was that the French army was almost destroyed defending Verdun. It left Lord Kitchener new volunteer armies to face the full horror of the fighting.

When the British soldiers emerged from the trenches they were in full view of the enemy's machine guns. Over 19 000 died on the first day alone.

The Germans retreated to the concrete pillbox emplacements of the Hindenburg Line from which they sent wave after wave poorly supported infantry.The Germans built this fortified defence system in the First World War after they could not capture Verdun. It stretched from Lens to Rheims and became to be known as the Hindenburg Line. In 1917 it helped the Germans to maintain a defensive front even their army was severely reduced.

In September General Haig launched a major assault with 32 tanks out front. The problem was that the tanks began to get grounded in the knee deep mud. Therefore there were not enough tanks to have a greater impact. It was the first time tanks were used.

When the conflict ended in November 15 the Allies gained 5 miles (8 km) at a cost of 615 000 lives and the Germans lost 420 000. A heart-breaking reminder and one would think it was a lesson for all times. 70 000 bodies were never found and identified and are remembered by a huge memorial.

To understand and see the full horror we have to remember in those days women had big families and were left to their devices to cope. At the  beginning of the 20th century people were very hard up, apart from the upper class who were very rich. How these women coped one does dare thinking about.

These young men lost their lives for Queen and country with great loyalty but did the Queen and country care about their families? On the contrary they were look down upon and despised because they were in rags, starved and with lice and flees living in worst housing possible. Even ended up in the poorhouse, which was even a bigger living nightmare, when they could not cope any more.

Looking back at all these impacts of war on the front as well as at home it should be a lesson to be learned when we commemorate all those fallen and maimed soldiers. It is not right to commemorate and honour all those hundred thousands who lost their lives so young and still start another war again.

Britain did not have to get involve in Iraq, Afghanistan and now in Syria. It created more enemies as it has proven. An army is there to protect its country and not to fight in foreign land. Blair and Bush are totally responsible for the existence of IS who grew so strong even the Al-Qaeda distance itself.

All those heads of states when they stand there and bow their heads to honour all those millions died in the First and Second World War have the power to create or avoid further wars. They should not be so insincere.

FISHING INDUSTRY

  FISHING HOOK

STONE AGE  

SUMMARY  The fishing industry is one of the food production from prehistoric time to todays highly sophisticated drawlers with sonar systems. 

It could have been before farming. Evidence proves man started to fish first by hand and mainly shellfish which was a large part of their diet.

Many earliest civilisations started to use hooks, traps and nets to catch fish as early as 6000 BC. Eventually boats were built around at the same time. 

14 TH CENTURY

PAINTING

By during the Middle Ages large fishing industries had developed round the coasts of Europe. Their main catch was Herrings.

In the 15th century Cod Fishing started off the Newfoundland Coast.

In the 17th century whaling began using spears and harpoons in the Atlantic and South Pacific. It developed into a huge industry. The demand for whale bones for Ladies' corsets and oil for the lamps grew rapidly.

In the 19th century steam and diesel powered boats took over sails and power winches replaced the hand-worked tackle.

Today the fishing industry is very sophisticated with the use of radar, underwater sonar, in-board refrigerating holds and computers which operate massive fishing vessels.

The highly developed technology has led to over fishing and loss of fish stocks. pollution also had an impact on it.

Governments concern around the world implemented measures to protect and conserve the resources. Laws had been introduced to limit the catches, size of boats and nets. Some waters had been closed to commercial fishing.

On one hand it had been a sensible measure but on the other hand fishermen have to throw dead fish back into the sea because it is over the limit. It also reduced the fishing industry drastically.

The dispute led to the Cod War between Britain and Iceland between 1972 to 1976.

In 1995 Brittany's Parliament was burned down by fishermen protesting against cheap fish import.

Confrontations broke out between Spain and Canada over the difference of catch quotas off the coast of Newfoundland. 

By now the British Fishing Industry, which was another big industry, is practically destroyed by too many restrictive EU rules allowing foreign fishing vessels trawling in British waters. This has nothing to do with preserving fish stock just dictatorship from Brussels.

BOMBED INTO SUBMISSION

The Allies bombing raids were a major break-through of defeating Hitler.

February 1942 RAF Air Commander Air Marshal Arthur Harris started an “area bombing” of Germany’s cities and industrial areas.

30/31 May, 1942 the first thousand bombers flew a raid on Cologne.

August, 1942 the US Army Air Force joined in with precision day raids.

1943 the RAF and USAAF bombed Hamburg, the Ruhr where Germany’s heavy industries were and the capital Berlin. The Luftwaffe’s fighters took heavy losses.

Under the armaments minister Albert Speer the production increased.

Long-rang escort fighters change the Allies bombing raids and succeeded in the destruction of Dresden in February 1945. The bombing raid caused a firestorm and till now it is not known how many people died but death-toll was massive. Mr Churchill declared Dresden a military-fee zone and refugees fled there thinking they are safe. Then he ordered one of the heaviest bombing raids.

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Allies’ losses were estimated around 100,000 British and US air crew died.

On 6 June, 1944, the Allies liberation began on Western Europe with the D-Day landing under the command of the American General Dwight Eisenhower. Over 156,000 Allied troops landed on the first day in Normandy.

Caen fell to the British and Canadian after a month of heavy fighting.

At the end July US troops broke through and went on to the east and south. Paris was liberated on 23 August and Brussels on 3 September.

Montgomery planned to break into Germany through Holland but was beating back and had to withdraw to Arnheim.

Hitler had a last offensive in December through the Ardennes but was beaten back. And in March 1945 the Allies crossed the Rhine.

The Western Allies stopped at the River Elbe because of the agreement at the Yalta Conference. It left the Russian to take Berlin on 2 May, 1945

Hitler committed suicide two days before. It is the official announcement but many rumours stated that he fled to Argentine. The Russians never gave his body, what was left of it because it was doused in petrol and set alight, to be examined.

On 4 May, 1945 German forces in the north-west Europe area surrendered to Montgomery.

Germany surrendered at Eisenhower’s headquarters in Reims, northern France.

SECOND WORLD WAR

Reading the history of the Second World War it shows how it can escalate into a world wide war, very quickly, by one country gets involved after another.

At the moment, are we at the same point again?

When the First World War finished in 1918 everybody was sure of an everlasting peace. The following 20 years several diplomatic crises should have warned and prevented of slipping into another World War.

Fascist Franco in Spain, Benito Mussolini in Italy and in Germany Adolf Hitler became Reich Chancellor in 1933.  Japan threatened the peace in Asia.

Hitler, Germany, began a rearmament and March 1936 he re-occupied the Rhineland despite the Treaty of Versailles. Two years later he annexed Austria. Annexed is just another word for occupied which does not make sound so sever.

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Hitler made Britain and France for Czechoslovakia to give up the German-speaking Sudentenland. In 1939 Hitler’s army marched into Czechoslovakia and occupied the rest of the country.

His action made Britain and France signed a guarantee to Poland. It did not stop Hitler and he invaded Poland on 1 September, 1939. Now Britain and France were forced to declare war. Poland was overrun and Warsaw declared capitulation on 27 September.

April 1940 Hitler invaded Denmark and Norway.

May 10 Winston Churchill became British Prime Minister. The Germans offensive in the West went through the Belgium Ardennes. At the same time they broke through the French line with tanks, assault troops and air support.

They were heading towards the Channel and splitting the Allies armies. At Dunkirk they had the British and French army cornered. 338,000 were rescued by any boat available and brought back to Britain. Although the Germans were already there to invade Britain and could have wiped out the British army Hitler would not give the command. The reason will never be known. Maybe the huge British Empire was even for Hitler too much.

The German army continued and on 22 June, 1940 France signed an armistice.

Britain faced Hitler alone with Italy entering the war and fought on the Hitler’s side.

In July Hitler commanded to draw up a plan of invading Britain. To achieve it he had to bomb Britain into submission first. The Luftwaffe under Reichsmarshall Herman Goering began its offensive on 13 August.

The Real Reality of War

on both sides

Nobody wins but the Fatcats (again)

and it is them who want war

Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding’s RAF fighter Command was down to its last reserve when the Germans stopped bombing airfields and attacked London on 7 September and other cities.  Ten days later Hitler postponed his invasion.

Hitler tried to bombard Britain into submission from September, 1940 to May 1941 but never achieved it.

Due to Britain’s colonies it was the greatest sea power and ruled the waves. Germany’s U-boats was the biggest thread.  By 1942 they were sinking 92 ships a month. After the British invented Sonar the table turned and Admiral Karl Doenitz’s U-boats experienced a heavy loss.  From 40,000 men only 10,000 survived.

HAILE SELASSIE EMPEROR OF ETHIOPIA AND RASTAFARIAN

           
      
HAILE SELASSIE

Haile .

In 1916 he became Prince Ras Tafari Makonnen and heir to the throne after leading a revolution against the ruler Lij Eysu.

In 1928 he was crowned King and in 1930 Emperor. His constitution limited the power of parliament. However, the constitution failed and Haile Selassie fled to Britain.

From 1935 till 1941 were the Abyssinian War and the occupation by the Italian troops.

In 1941 Haile Selassie regained power with the support of Britain.

In 1974 he was deposed by a committee of left-wing army officers because of social problems in the country which Haile Selassie lost control over.

The Rastafarian religion's belief is that Haile Selassie was the Messiah. Rastafarians are found in Black Africa, Jamaica, USA, Canada and Britain.

Rasta means pride and 'Lion of Judah' was one of Haile Selassie's titles. The lion is part of the emblem for Rastafarians and is symbolic for pride and courage. The thick dreadlocks represent the lion's mane therefore the lion is mentioned many times in songs and poems.

The Rastafarian came from Jamaica from illiterate, dispossessed lower classes in 1930. These people were very poor and had no hope to improve their living standard for themselves and their children. Marcus Garvey started preaching that black people should return to their native Africa. He is regarded as the founder of the Rastafarian's movement.

A major reason for the acceptance of the teaching, amongst other stricken groups, is the concentration on spiritual contentment, hope and deliverance from oppression. However, their belief has no set congregation, no paid clergy and no single clear doctrine of all their beliefs. Therefore, there are variations in beliefs and practice.

Nevertheless, there are six fundamental beliefs:

1) Haile Selassie is the returning Messiah and the living god. -- He was adopted by the Rastafarians as a god and they called him Jah. It is Selassie's name Ras (Prince) and Tafari where Selassie came from, the house of Tafari which gave the religion the name.

2) They also believe that black people are the reincarnation of the ancient Israelites who were exiled to Jamaica. -- To them the word 'Israelite' means the same an Ethiopian. They follow the ways of the Israelites. No cutting, or shaving and have mainly a vegetarian diet. They believe that they were punished by God for their sins into slavery and exiled to Jamaica. Now they believe that God has forgiven them and they should return to Ethiopia but are held back by treachery.

3) White people are inferior to black people. -- The is a teaching from Garvey and refers to his work 'African Fundamentalism'. The idea originated from the days of slaves and slaves trade. However, it meant that not all white people are evil and have to be judge individual.

4) Ethiopia is the land of their destiny, while Jamaica is an inferno of exploitation and repression. -- They believe that they belong to Ethiopia. Since the vast majority come from the deprived areas, they feel that Jamaica has nothing for them. Therefore, they don't want anything to do with Jamaica and only waiting for repatriation to their promised land.

5) The divine Emperor is making arrangements for all Rastafarians to return to Ethiopia. -- They spent their life waiting and hoping for the call to return. In 1966 when Selassi came to Jamaica it was believed that he came to finalize the repatriation. After nothing happened the younger Rastafarians realizing that it will not be and the new independent Jamaica is developing as the land of the Rastafarians.

6) Blacks shall one day rule the world. -- This idea comes from Daniel 2:31-42. They look back to ancient history to support their faith. They also looking back to the time before the European arrive in Africa, as a golden age. Rastafarians believe that whites destroy themselves through war.

Music was always part of the African culture and the Rastafarian movement. They could express their feelings and the dream of returning to Africa. A very famous singer Robert Nesta Marley born in 6 February 1945 brought to the world reggae music. He sang for about 10 years before he became world famous with his album 'Natty Dream' in 1975. His songs were about social injustice but also sang songs about the Rasta god Jah Rastafari. Unfortunately, he was only 36 years old when he died of cancer in 1981. Nowadays, he is regarded as a prophet by his followers.

BOB MARLEY

LADY HESTER STANHOPE

The incredible life of 
Lady Hester Stanhope
began when she was 
born in 1776
as the daughter of an 
earl.
Her uncle William Pitt 
became Prime Minster
in 1804.
She grew up surrounded
by great splendour at
their family seat at 
Chevening in Kent.
Later on, she went to 
live with her uncle at Walmer Castle.

When her uncle became Prime Minster, she moved with him to 10 Downing Street because he was a bachelor. She managed his household and hosted political dinners. Hester soon felt at home in the middle of high society and made soon a name for herself with her knowledge of politics and social topics.

Hester wasn't known for being an outstanding beauty yet her intelligence and quick wit made her attractive. Amongst her many suitors was the philanderer Lord Granville Leveson Gower who jilted her. It must have been very traumatic for her and her family because of the way of thinking and opinion of society in those days.

After the death of her uncle she had a number of disappointing love affairs and personal tragedies. One was Sir John Moore, British commander-in-chief in Iberia. He was killed at La Coruna in 1808. Then one of her brothers was killed in the same campaign.

Hester decided to sail from Portsmouth in 1819 for the Mediterranean. She was accompanied by her physician Dr Charles Meryon. In Gibraltar. There she met the good looking Michael Bruce who was a 20-year-old Scot. He was brought up in India and travelled through Europe on a Grand Tour. Hester soon was absolutely overwhelmed by him and they became lovers. Dr Meryon was not impressed by Bruce; he might have wanted her to be in love with himself. They travelled to Constantinople. Hester was carried from the harbour in a sedan chair. This instant made her fall in love with the Orient.

She stated: "If they were to give me £100,000 to live among the boot-wiping silly people of England, I would not do it. Here, if I sit under a tree and talk to a camel driver, at least I hear good sense."

Soon she went to Egypt and from there to the Holy Land. There she started to dress as the locals but as a man. She had worn a shirt, waistcoat and pantaloons. She tucked a pistol and a knife in her sash and worn a turban with wild flowers put there. She did look a bit unusual. She demanded the respect of the tribes of the lands, she travelled through. Hester was also known to be able to swear in three dialects at her mule-drivers.

Her knowledge of local customs and politics became very comprehensive. She was admired by local potentates and foreign emissaries. However, her life centred on her friendship with Emir Bashir. He was the leader of the Druze community in the Lebanese mountains above Sidon.

Emir Bashir was not a gentleman, by all means. He blinded his three nephews and strangled the prime minister. However, in Hester’s eyes he never did anything wrong. Even Dr Meryon remarked that these things hardly count in these countries.

While the gossip about her affair with Bruce was running wild in London; Hester planned her trip to Damascus. At that time the inhabitants were very hostile against Europeans. She rode into the city dressed in all her finery. She faced the locals and took Damascus by storm.

Hester's confidence grew and she went to the ancient city of Palmyra. It was once ruled by Zenobia, the legendary warrior queen. In a well organized ceremony and accompanied by a vast retinue, she rode down the main avenue to the sound of Bedouin drums. Afterwards, Hester stated that she was crowned Queen of the desert. However, it proved to be her last great show.

From there on she went from place to place, in Lebanon. She became more and more unsettled and also eccentric. Hester also became very unpredictable. Soon she broke off with Bruce and began an affair with her Arabic gardener. Continuous wars in the area and huge debts started to catch up with her because she led an extravagant lifestyle. Eventually, Dr Meryon also left her because of her non-stop dreams and exaggerations.

LADY HESTER STANHOPE'S
RESIDENCE

Hester became obsessed with astrology and alchemy but was a lonely figure in her 36-room stone palace, Dar-es-sitt. She died in 1839, wasting away and penniless.

However, Hester didn't leave it at that. In the Eighties a notice was sent by the Druze militia to London. It stated that they discovered a grave desecrated with the bones and skull scattered and had a rams-head walking stick nearby. It was still known, after almost 150 years, that the walking stick was buried with the English gentle-women.

The British Embassy was informed and in 2004 her ashes were scattered during a ceremony in the Lebanese mountains.

The ruins of her house became a tourists' attraction. Her memory lives on among local people. She has becoming a figure of myth and reality.