[JNV] Independence from the USA

[JNV]

Dear All

1) Independence... from the USA

Here's a poll from yesterday's Daily Telegraph that highlights the growth  
of understanding and realism in the British public. The growth of  
'independence of mind'!

2) This weeks listings of upcoming events around the country

Best wishes

Maya Evans
Milan Rai
JNV

***

NEWS: 'Britons see US as vulgar empire builder', by Ben Fenton
Daily Telegraph, 3 July 2006 (front page news)

<http://tinyurl.com/nu8ok>

Britons have never had such a low opinion of the leadership of the United  
States, a YouGov poll shows.

As Americans prepare to celebrate the 230th anniversary of their  
independence tomorrow, the poll found that only 12 per cent of Britons  
trust them to act wisely on the global stage. This is half the number who  
had faith in the Vietnam-scarred White House of 1975.

Most Britons see America as a cruel, vulgar, arrogant society, driven by  
class and racism, crime-ridden, obsessed with money and led by an  
incompetent hypocrite.

American troops are failing either to win "hearts and minds" in Iraq or  
bring democracy to that country.

More than two-thirds who offered an opinion said America is essentially an  
imperial power seeking world domination. And 81 per cent of those who took  
a view said President George W Bush hypocritically championed democracy as  
a cover for the pursuit of American self-interests.

***

COMMENT: 'Britain falls out of love with America- What Britons think of  
the US' by Professor Anthony King
Daily Telegraph, 3 July 2006

<http://tinyurl.com/plrq6>

(The full poll results are supposed to be embedded in this page, but  
aren't, at the time of writing)

YouGov asked respondents to assess the Bush administration's impact on the  
world beyond America's shores. Their assessment is overwhelmingly  
negative. Fewer than one quarter, 22 per cent, believe that the present  
American government's policies and actions make the world a better place  
to live in. Three times that proportion, 65 per cent, regard America's  
influence in the world today as predominantly malign.

As the figures in the chart also show, confidence in America's ability to  
handle problems outside its own borders has plummeted over the past three  
decades. The Gallup Poll in 1975 found that roughly a quarter of Britons,  
27 per cent, had considerable confidence in American leadership. That  
figure has now fallen by more than half to a mere 12 per cent.

President Bush's personal ratings in this country are horrendous. Almost  
no one holds him in high regard as a world leader. Fully 34 per cent think  
he is a "pretty poor" leader and even more, 43 per cent, reckon he is  
"terrible" in that role.

A majority of Britons regard the US President as not only incompetent but  
also as a complete hypocrite. As the findings in the chart indicate, 72  
per cent of YouGov's respondents reckon Mr Bush cares little for democracy  
and is merely using his pro-democracy rhetoric as a pretext for pursuing  
selfish American interests.

Even more of YouGov's respondents, 76 per cent, think that, even if the  
president really does want to promote the cause of freedom and democracy  
in the world, he is not going about it in the right way. Hardly anyone - a  
mere nine per cent - thinks Mr Bush is performing well, even in his own  
terms.

The view that America aspires to ultimate world domination is only a  
little less widespread. Despite America's anti-imperial past, well over  
half of YouGov's respondents, 58 per cent, reckon it is now fair to  
describe the US as "an essentially imperial power, one that wants to  
dominate the world by one means or another". Only 28 per cent dismiss such  
a view as unwarranted.

In regards of American troops in Iraq and whether they are doing a good or  
bad job of helping to bring democracy to Iraq 54% said the US were doing a  
"bad job" and only a quarter (24%) thought they were doing a good job.

Perhaps most worrying in political terms is the almost universal sense in  
this country that the US is determined to go its own way in the world,  
with an almost casual disregard for everybody else. Roughly three quarters  
of Britons think the US is "badly led" (73 per cent), "ignorant of the  
outside world" (73 per cent) and "doesn't care what the rest of the world  
thinks" (83 per cent).

A good general indication of feelings towards the USA can be gained  
through reviewing the results of phrases which best described the USA  
today. It's damning evidence concludes that Britons really have fallen out  
of love with the USA.

Caring       19%
Uncaring     60%

Cares what the rest of the world thinks         11%
Doesn't care what the rest of the world thinks  83%

Ignorant of the outside world                   73%
Knowledgeable about the outside world           15%

Dominated by big business                       90%
Not dominated by big business                    2%

YouGov elicited the views of 1,962 adults across Great Britain online  
between June 26 and 28. The data have been weighted to conform to the  
demographic profile of British adults as a whole. YouGov abides by the  
rules of the British Polling Council.

***

2) Events Listings

Sat 15 July LONDON International Day of Demonstrations against the authorities violating human rights. Following the deaths of three Guantanamo detainees, under suspicious circumstances, earlier this month a national coalition of Guantanamo campaigns in UK and
various other organisations have called for an international day of demonstrations against the American authorities violating human rights internationally. In London demonstrators will march to the American embassy and hand in a petition demanding the closure of Guantanamo and similar prisons across the world. Similar demonstrations are proposed in other cities of the world. 
The electronic petition is at:<http://www.gopetition.com/online/8909.html> For further details visit www.guantanamo.org.uk
 
Sat 22 July LONDON Political anti war group 'Solidarity Park' perform their latest collection of materials at a night of peace culture featuring many other anti war groups. 
starts 9:00pm at 'The Orange at the Fox' 3 mins from West Kensington Tube London 

Wed 9 Aug BRIGHTON Palestine Day of Action at EDO MBM, 4-6pm
EDO MBM have admitted that they profit from selling equipment for the illegal occupation of Palestine. This day is to remember the Palestinian victims of EDO MBM. Organised by 'Smash Edo' contact: 07891 405923 <smashedo@hotmail.com>

Sat 23 Sept MANCHESTER Organised by STW 'Time To Go' demonstration is timed for the start of the Labour Party Annual Conference which is being held in Manchester this year. Its focus is 'troops out of Iraq, don't attack Iran'.  It will coincide with a peace camp in the city organised by Military Families Against the War see <http://www.mfaw.org.uk/> STW are urging as many folk as possible to get involved, for details contact Telephone 020 7278 6694 or email office@stopwar.org.uk

Wed 18 Oct INTERNATIONAL ' Media Democracy Day' A day of action based on three themes: 
Education - understanding how the media shapes our world and our democracy. Protest - against a media system based on commercialization and exclusiveness. Change - calls for media reforms that respond to public interests, promote diversity, and ensure community representation and accountability. See <http://www.mediademocracyday.org/tiki-index.php> for more details