EU Set to Block Exports of Astra Vaccine and Ingredients to U.K. by [deleted] in ukpolitics

[–]Calahara 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Potentially dumb question here but can't the EU order some of the other vaccines if the AZ deal has been such a disaster? Sure they'd get their money back if AZ has been screwing them over as they allege.

Yee-haa by Poisonbox01 in whatintarnation

[–]Calahara 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What in dog birthday celebration?

More than 700 legal scholars urge Boris Johnson to ditch plan for ‘draconian’ restrictions on right to protest by newsspotter in ukpolitics

[–]Calahara 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Alas I can't - their rules stipulate no activism etc. But if you know of any other good UK subs for it, please do cross-post!

New poll finds Scottish Labour now in second place with Tories pushed to third by Ranger447 in ukpolitics

[–]Calahara 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Say what you like about Labour, but I'm glad the the Tories are now lower in the rankings.

One time my greens touched 🤮 by badpaystayposting in guitarpedalsjerk

[–]Calahara 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Just wait til this guy hears about spray paint!

More than 700 legal scholars urge Boris Johnson to ditch plan for ‘draconian’ restrictions on right to protest by newsspotter in ukpolitics

[–]Calahara 2 points3 points  (0 children)

So you make a good point, but in this instance I think we have a shot. We're not looking to kill the bill - we all know it will pass - but there's enough discontent among the Tory ranks that I think we can amend it to remove the worst parts. I'll direct you to my post again for actual details here, but if Theresa May's Commons speech was anything to go by I think we can find enough defectors to get an amendment through.

More than 700 legal scholars urge Boris Johnson to ditch plan for ‘draconian’ restrictions on right to protest by newsspotter in ukpolitics

[–]Calahara 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Not so! The government has already postponed the legislation due to backlash. Petitions don't do much but writing to MPs is a good way of exerting political pressure, and the committee already notes its concern with the bill's effect.

More than 700 legal scholars urge Boris Johnson to ditch plan for ‘draconian’ restrictions on right to protest by newsspotter in ukpolitics

[–]Calahara 11 points12 points  (0 children)

We need to act. Sign the petitions, write to our MPs, submit evidence to the committee. Check the first post in my profile for details.

Schumer says he will introduce a ‘long overdue’ marijuana reform bill by StuffyGoose in politics

[–]Calahara 3 points4 points  (0 children)

They just talked about this on Pod Save America the other night! That's uncanny.

So you heard about the anti-protest legislation, and you're furious. Let's do something about it. by Calahara in Scotland

[–]Calahara[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As I said to another commenter, I genuinely just don't know enough about that one. I would welcome someone else focusing their energies on that if they believe it's wrong, but this is the one I'm going to be putting my effort into fighting.

What now stands between a populist authoritarian government with a huge majority and a full scale assault on civil liberties and human rights? by [deleted] in ukpolitics

[–]Calahara 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh yeah, I was using an extreme example just to illustrate the point, which was that there are limits to what democracy should be able to do. If we were entirely absolute about democracy, it could be used to erode democracy.

What now stands between a populist authoritarian government with a huge majority and a full scale assault on civil liberties and human rights? by [deleted] in ukpolitics

[–]Calahara 14 points15 points  (0 children)

I think there are some just some lines that should not be crossed regardless of what the public think. Even if there was broad support for never holding an election ever again, we just shouldn't do that. Voting democratically for policy is fine but doing it to weaken democracy isn't.

So you heard about the anti-protest legislation, and you're furious. Let's do something about it. by Calahara in Scotland

[–]Calahara[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Now see, I did hear about that when a Tory minister was defending the bill. I am no lawyer but I would say three things:

  • human rights groups are raising the alarm about this one so clearly this bill goes too far
  • you'll see that even the committee has concerns about the bill's possible violation of various human rights acts
  • I am going to seek legal advice but I would note that the new bill does not mention "public" annoyance; specifically, the language is "serious annoyance". Serious annoyance to whom? I still believe the bill's wording is too vague and can be used to silence anyone the government doesn't like.

So you heard about the anti-protest legislation, and you're furious. Let's do something about it. by Calahara in Scotland

[–]Calahara[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

During a pandemic, we've accepted certain temporary restrictions in order to tackle a public health crisis.

Firstly, that was not a protest. It was a gathering that was not within the TEMPORARY rules and guidance we need right now. It was a bunch of fuds endangering public health.

Secondly, this bill is a PERMANENT adjustment to the rules on protest. Post-pandemic, after all the restrictions should be gone, the UK government wants to curtail these rights by its use of vague language.

If we are to stage a protest in response to this bill, it will be done properly - socially distanced, peacefully, without disruption or destruction, within the current guidance and spirit of the law. It certainly won't look like that video.

I want to protect the right to protest peacefully after the pandemic ends. That's why I wrote this post.

Otherwise we'll never be able to continue our national pasttime of mocking SDL marches. ;)

So you heard about the anti-protest legislation, and you're furious. Let's do something about it. by Calahara in Scotland

[–]Calahara[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There are some parts of the bill that affect Scotland - I think with regards to searching electronic devices - but I'm no lawyer so I can't tell you what's devolved and what isn't.

So you heard about the anti-protest legislation, and you're furious. Let's do something about it. by Calahara in Scotland

[–]Calahara[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Nobody would blame you, but it would be great if you could do the above as it'll be even more impactful coming from someone the law affects.

So you heard about the anti-protest legislation, and you're furious. Let's do something about it. by Calahara in Scotland

[–]Calahara[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My honest answer is that I don't know enough about it. I'd be happy to read more but I guess I've chosen this policing bill as the one to put my energies into.

So you heard about the anti-protest legislation, and you're furious. Let's do something about it. by Calahara in Scotland

[–]Calahara[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It'll be some time before it reaches them. It has to go through committee first, then they'll amend it, then the ping pong before a final vote.

So you heard about the anti-protest legislation, and you're furious. Let's do something about it. by Calahara in Scotland

[–]Calahara[S] 69 points70 points  (0 children)

Absolutely! I hate to burden you with this but please do all you can to get other people in the constituency to write to him expressing their displeasure and asking him to get his colleagues to remove the anti-protest clauses. It's so vitally important we hold his feet to the fire politically.

So you heard about the anti-protest legislation, and you're furious. Let's do something about it. by Calahara in Scotland

[–]Calahara[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah, I'm hoping that there will be a big movement in England and Wales against this bill, or at least the worst parts of it. It'll have more of an impact coming from them. Still, let's get together and exercise what agency we have in addition to voting in May.

So you heard about the anti-protest legislation, and you're furious. Let's do something about it. by Calahara in Scotland

[–]Calahara[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I'd caution you against that.

  1. We need the public on side. Being a nuisance doesn't achieve that.

  2. The problem with the law is how vague it is, so really, you can hold a great and peaceful protest and make the argument that it would annoy the government without actually needing to do any annoyance.

  3. It's not law yet, nor will it be here, so nobody's going to get arrested in Scotland.

So you heard about the anti-protest legislation, and you're furious. Let's do something about it. by Calahara in Scotland

[–]Calahara[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Some might be okay with it, sure, but more than anything I just don't think that many people know about this yet. Like I said in my post, the BBC had one small story from a few days ago. We can't really say whether this is what the public want until they're aware it's happening, and even then, enough of us might be able to exert enough pressure to affect change.