In all our sanctuaries we sit at risk

Category: Community

  • A Statement of Principle in time for Christmas

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    I suspect that many of us see “principle” as something we can just hive off and leave in airy-fairy land while we hurry out to do our Christmas shopping.  So I’ll say straightaway that, on the contrary,  true and meaningful principle may in the end be the only fact that counts, far more significant and…

  • Freedom of the Press does not mean Free Speech

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    With Leveson now published, and much debate on the subject being reported, I think it is worth pointing out  that the Internet is not the only elephant in the room in these discussions. So long as newspapers are owned by super-rich oligarchs, ex-pornographers and the like, and mirror or reflect in any way the views…

  • The Resignation of Denis MacShane

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    Denis MacShane was Minister for Europe under Tony Blair.  He brought a wider and more cultured vision and experience to that role than many politicians and activists  ever get near, at least in this country. For instance, he  translated into English a Brecht poem for “Poems on the Underground”.  He also responded positively to a…

  • Where is the Church ? I don’t see it anywhere.

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    The Anglican Church is having trouble deciding whether to introduce women bishops. Within the Church, there have been agitation, discussion and arguments over the move for ages. It is possible that, outside the Church, very few people would have any interest whatsoever, in either the arguments or in the development. By which I do not…

  • After Rain

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    sculpture by Dorothy Love at www.dorothylove.co.uk… continue reading

  • The “Poems for…” project – a new collection has been uploaded , crossing new frontiers

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    A new collection of mainly bilingual poems has been uploaded on the Poems for… website. It consists of sixty poems, most of them bilingual. Eventually this sixty will join and become one with the collection of forty five poems  launched a few years ago, called “Poems for… One World.” The new collection has taken three…

  • Riding the Hyphen – but to what effect ?

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    I run a small charity called Hyphen-21 and January can be an anxious month, with accounts and reports needed by the Charity Commissioners no later than the 31st. But I actually enjoyed writing the report this year. It clarified a few ideas and its overview brought out some pattern and coherence to what usually just…

  • Talking of Art – why write poetry ?

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    Someone asked me recently for my thoughts on why  I still seem to write poetry, despite everything. This was my reply : …I think a lot of your day can flood out your sense of self. Writing a poem is a way of restoring your own distinctness and boundaries. The world can silence you. The…