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Best of the Web: Craig Murray begins 8-month prison sentence for thoughtcrime of 'jigsaw identification'


Wings Over Scotland
Fri, 30 Jul 2021 12:40 UTC
craig murray
Legal precedent will be set tomorrow as Craig Murray will be the first person to be imprisoned on the charge of jigsaw identification in the UK, and indeed in the entire world. Scotland's second most senior judge, Lady Dorrian, sentenced Murray to 8 months of incarceration following a contempt of court charge for 'jigsaw identification' relating to the trial against Alex Salmond.

In May Lady Dorrian said that in her view Murray had intended to release identities of Salmond's accusers. Mr Murray has always denied any intent to identify and that anybody was actually identified. Murray had not directly identified any of the accusers in the Salmond trial, but Dorrian argued identification may be possible if his reporting of the case was read in connection with other materials in the public domain.

No one aside from Murray was charged with jigsaw identification in connection with the Salmond case, despite the fact that 81% of respondents in a Panelbase survey who believed that they had learned identities, gave mainstream media as the source of their knowledge. Lady Dorrian specifically stated that bloggers and mainstream media should be treated differently, as mainstream media are self-regulated.


Comment: Right...


Murray is the first person to be imprisoned in the UK for a media contempt for over 50 years, and in Scotland for over 70 years.

Comment: The 'trial' and conviction of Murray is detailed here. This is his final blogpost before he enters prison, today, 30 July:
This blog will be going dark for a few months. The Queen kindly paid for my dinners for over twenty years while I was a British diplomat and Ambassador, and now she is going to be paying for my dinners again. That is very kind, I thought she had forgotten me.

The following is a statement from Nadira [Murray's wife]:
29.07.21
Today is the most heartbreaking day. My husband whose health has been found to not be suitable for prison must hand himself in for detention within hours following the UK Supreme Court's decision not to hear his appeal.

We were extremely hopeful that the Supreme Court would hear his case and had no doubt that this particular case should have been heard given how important and relevant it is in the context of Freedom of Speech in the UK. Instead, the Supreme Court declined to hear it.

Yet again my heart is deeply saddened to find that the UK, once a country which placed great importance on Human Rights issues, has failed to listen to my husband's case. Additionally, the Scottish Court outright dismissed Craig's poor health, having been made aware through the mandatory Social Work report and doctor's reports that his wellbeing would be at risk if forced to go to jail.

At first I tried to come to terms of him being jailed in the hope he would be granted dignified conditions in jail but I am saddened and shocked to learn he could be placed among criminals, with no ability to bring books or enable him to write, with no entertainment allowed. He is being treated like a criminal. This is not a just punishment, this is a deliberate attempt to break the spirit of anyone brave enough to make use of free speech.

Given a pen and paper what do you do? You write in your own voice speaking the truth. Having been with Craig for two decades he has always spent his time and energy highlighting injustices and standing up for what is right, carefully, considerately and consistently.

I was brought up during Soviet times, and post independence in my own country, Uzbekistan. I have witnessed and personally experienced myself what the price of freedom of speech truly is. Opponents were 'disappeared' or it was claimed they had 'taken their own life', or been locked away in asylums. I am filled with fear this pattern is now repeating itself in the UK. It is appalling to see Craig is going through the same treatment in the so-called 'human rights' respecting country UK.

This is an attack on Truthtellers. His writings are those of a highly qualified Journalist, Human Rights Activist, former Rector of Dundee University and former British Ambassador. To us, his family, this situation is devastating: I am now left with my 5 months old baby, yet to find a good way to explain Craig's jail sentence to his confused and anxious 12 year old son.

Of any readers concerned with the loss of freedom of speech and equality before the law I ask that you show active and outspoken solidarity with my partner.
A Craig Murray Justice Campaign has been formed which I hope you can support. Find them on twitter @cmurrayjustice . Their website will be up shortly and details will be posted on this site.
Murray's imprisonment could be punishment for his support of Julian Assange, but it may also be motivated by the power struggle in Scotland between the Scottish National Party - which has dithered on independence since the UK security services rigged the referendum in 2014 - and the 'old guard' represented by Alex Salmond, which is trying to rescue genuine nationalist independence from the jaws of mediocrity, Covid-1984 and perpetual corruption.

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Better Earth

'UK & New Zealand among top 5 nations most likely to survive collapse of civilization' say researchers - but are they right?

Alexa Phillips
Sky News
Fri, 30 Jul 2021 00:14 UTC
countryside
The UK and Ireland were among five countries identified by researchers as best placed to maintain civilisation within their own borders
Researchers say a worldwide breakdown could happen "within a few decades" and have identified five countries most likely to withstand future threats.

The UK and Ireland are among five nations most likely to survive a collapse of global civilisation, researchers have said.

A study has suggested a combination of ecological destruction, limited resources and population growth could trigger a worldwide breakdown "within a few decades", with climate change making things worse.

Comment: It's telling that much of what has been reported above will play a minor role in whether people will survive well or not. Because, whilst location, climate, soil fertility, and so on, are obviously important, and clearly cities are far from ideal during times of tumult, it's also true that those who have a network they can trust and work with, relevant skills, knowledge, and critical thinking abilities, will fare far better than those who have remained ignorant of reality and frittered away their time with idle distractions.

See also: And check out SOTT radio's:

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Info

Florida mayors defy DeSantis with mask, vaccine mandates

Adriana Gomez Licon and Mike Schneider
AP
Thu, 29 Jul 2021 00:01 UTC
Mayor Daniella Levine Cava
© AP Photo/Wilfredo LeeIn this Monday, April 5, 2021, file photo, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava holds up her mask as she speaks during a news conference, in Miami. As coronavirus cases continue to soar, two Florida mayors, including Levine Cava, are announcing mask and vaccine mandates and defying Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is firmly opposed to any pandemic restrictions.
As coronavirus cases continue to soar, two Florida mayors are announcing mask and vaccine mandates and defying the governor who is firmly opposed to any pandemic restrictions.

Masks will again be required at indoor county facilities in Florida's populous Miami-Dade following new federal guidance recommending that even people vaccinated against COVID-19 should wear facial coverings. And in Orange County, home to Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort, the mayor went a step further and announced all 4,200 nonunion county employees will be required to get their first coronavirus vaccine shot by the end of August, and the second shot by the end of September. Disney World announced on its website Wednesday evening that beginning July 30, face coverings will be required for all guests ages 2 and up while indoors and in Disney buses, monorail and Disney Skyliner, regardless of vaccination status. This includes upon entering and throughout all attractions. Face coverings remain optional in outdoor common areas.

"We want to keep our county and theme parks open for business," Mayor Jerry Demings said at a news conference Wednesday. "By instituting these measures, we want everyone to know, in Orange County, Florida, we take the coronavirus seriously."

Comment:


See also:

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Dollars

Money-laundering ring pushed $4billion through HSBC

Franz Wild and Ben Stockton
The Bureau of Investigative Journalism
Wed, 28 Jul 2021 00:01 UTC
money laundering HSBC
© Daniel Stolle
A vast money-laundering ring moved $4.2bn through a network of 60 HSBC accounts in Hong Kong starting only two years after the bank promised to clean up its act, an investigation by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism and the Guardian has revealed.

Insiders have raised questions over whether HSBC appropriately informed US monitors about the ring, which was uncovered by the bank during an internal review. The independent monitoring team was specifically installed by the US Department of Justice (DoJ) as part of a deal not to prosecute HSBC in 2012, when the bank admitted allowing Latin American drug cartels to launder hundreds of millions of dollars through its accounts.

HSBC discovered the Hong Kong ring in 2016 while trying to assess its exposure to the wealthy Gupta family, who have been embroiled in corruption scandal allegations in South Africa. The Guptas have denied any wrongdoing.
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Brick Wall

NSW Police requests 300 Defence Force personnel amid crackdown on Sydney lockdown rule breakers

Bryant Hevesi
Sky News
Thu, 29 Jul 2021 18:54 UTC
australia adf
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller on Thursday requested the support of 300 Australian Defence Force personnel to assist with their COVID-19 compliance operation.

The New South Wales Police Force has requested the support of 300 Australian Defence Force personnel to assist with their compliance operation during Greater Sydney's lockdown.

The formal request was made public hours after NSW Police were handed greater powers by the state government to crackdown on residents not complying with COVID-19 rules.

Comment: More from RT:
Sydney widens police powers, ordering residents to wear masks AT ALL TIMES outside home amid surge in cases

...

Those living in the eight areas, designated as "local government areas of concern," will have to wear a mask "at all times" on leaving their place of residence, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said on Thursday.

Freedom of movement is also severely restricted. Barring "exceptional circumstances," residents are banned from traveling more than five kilometers (three miles) from their home. Neither shopping nor working out count as exceptions.

As residents brace themselves for the crackdown, thousands of officers were deployed across the area to monitor compliance, according to Commissioner of the New South Wales Police Force Mick Fuller. "So, you can expect to see more police on the ground. You can expect to see more enforcement. We have been in this [situation] now for a number of weeks," Fuller said.

...

Unveiling the new policy, Police Minister David Elliott said that regional officials and police "detest[ed] the fact" they "had to" increase fines and wield more power.

"It is certainly not something that we want to do and it is, in fact, something that we cannot wait to shred," he said.

Nevertheless, he urged law-abiding citizens to continue reporting those in violation of the health orders to Crime Stoppers, adding that the police already had "tens of thousands of people reporting breaches."


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Cross

Catholic church spent millions meant for Canada residential school victims on lawyers & expenses - court documents seen by media


RT
Thu, 29 Jul 2021 14:27 UTC
kamloops indian residential school
© Cole BURSTON / AFPStaked red dresses are seen along the highway near the former Kamloops Indian Residential School w in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada, on June 3, 2021.
Millions of dollars that were supposed to go to Canadian residential school survivors as part of a 2005 settlement were reportedly spent by the Catholic Church on lawyers, fundraising, administration costs and unapproved loans.

At least 150,000 indigenous children were forced to attend some 140 residential schools across the country, which were funded by the federal government and run by churches. The children had been forcibly taken from their families in order to strip them of their cultural identity.

Under the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (IRSSA) between the Canadian federal government, indigenous representatives and the various church bodies that operated the schools, more than Can$3 billion (US$2.4 billion) has been paid to compensate survivors, as of March 2021.

Comment: See also:

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Eye 1

Sydney's lockdown to last MONTHS, apartment block under police guard after just six residents 'test positive'

Helen Sullivan
The Guardian
Tue, 27 Jul 2021 06:14 UTC
Aussie protesters
© AAP/Mick Tsikas/ReutersAnti-lockdown protesters clash with mounted police in Sydney, Australia, July 24, 2021
New South Wales reported a record high number of covid cases on Tuesday despite more than four weeks of lockdown for the Sydney region, with signs tough measures could extend until September.

"Vaccination is the key to our freedom. Getting jabs in arms is a key part of our strategy," said state premier Gladys Berejiklian.


Comment: Can't get much more Orwellian than that, and there's stiff competition, with New Zealand's Jacinda Ardern at the top of the leader board.


"I want August to be the month where everyone comes forward to get the jab. That is key to us being able to see what September looks like. I don't think anyone can deny that the vaccination rate is absolutely key to how we live life in NSW."


Comment: Numerous experts can refute the need to suffer an experimental vaccine for the relatively harmless coronavirus; moreover, anyone, regardless of whether they are an expert or not, can refuse to participate in this already provably dangerous medical trial.


The lockdown had been due to end on Saturday but with less than 13% of the state's population fully vaccinated, curbs in some form were expected to remain.


Comment: Meaning that the state will enforce lockdown until they've coerced enough citizens into being vaccinated.


Comment: See also: And check out SOTT radio's:


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Quenelle - Golden

Best of the Web: Investigation opened into giant Macron-Hitler billboard comparing France's Covid policy to Nazi regime


RT
Tue, 20 Jul 2021 17:17 UTC

Comment: Update 29 July 2021: It's actually the French president himself who is suing the poster's creator, who is a billboard business owner!

From Euronews:
Michel-Ange Flori, who owns about 400 billboards in the southern département of the Var, wrote on Twitter on Wednesday: "I have just learnt that I will be heard at the Toulon police station tomorrow following a complaint by the president of the Republic."

"So in Macronia you can make fun of the prophet's ass, that's satire, but to make the president look like a dictator is blasphemy," he added.



billboard macron hitler vaccines
© Twitter / @stephane_ulrich"Obey - get vaccinated"
The Toulon prosecutor's office has opened an investigation into a defamatory poster which conflates images of French President Emmanuel Macron and Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, amid criticism of ongoing Covid-19 restrictions.

A billboard seen on the outskirts of Toulon and La Seyne-sur-Mer, displaying an image of French President Emmanuel Macron dressed in a Nazi uniform and sporting Adolf Hitler's trademark toothbrush moustache, has caught the attention of the city's prosecutor, according to local media reports.

Comment: Let's take another close-up view of the poster:
macron hitler billboard
Is the comparison merited? In the meantime, the grounds for imposing mandatory vaccination are being prepared:
"We have entered a fourth wave of the virus," government spokesman Gabriel Attal said on Monday. Though the daily number of new cases remains around four times lower than in April, Attal said that the rate of increase is picking up.

"We are starting from the bottom but this wave can go up very quickly and it can go up very high," he said, noting that the current incidence rate of 86 cases per 100,000 people represents an increase of 125% over last week.

Attal spoke after France's Council of Ministers voted to adopt a bill extending the country's health pass and implementing mandatory vaccination for certain workers, for example those in the healthcare sector. The health pass, which records vaccination status or a recent negative test result, is currently needed to enter leisure venues with more than 60 people, and will be necessary from next month to enter bars and restaurants or travel on trains.

The measures, announced last week by President Emmanuel Macron, have proven unpopular. Protesters took to the streets of French cities last week to decry the "vaccine passports," with rioting and arson breaking out at some locations.

In his address last week announcing these measures, Macron said that if inoculation rates do not pick up, he will "ask the question of compulsory vaccination for all French people."


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2 + 2 = 4

DeSantis blasts CDC for K-12 mask recommendation: 'It isn't based in science'

Peter Hasson
Fox News
Tue, 27 Jul 2021 19:31 UTC
desantis florida
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' office sharply rebuked the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for urging that all children, regardless of vaccination status, be required to wear masks when school returns in the fall.

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky on Tuesday cited an increase in COVID-19 cases from the delta variant for the changes, which also recommend some vaccinated individuals to resume wearing masks in certain situations to protect against COVID-19.

"It isn't based in science. There is no indication that areas with mask mandates have performed any better than areas without mask mandates. In fact, this policy could actually backfire," DeSantis press secretary Christina Pushaw told Fox News.

"Mandating masks for vaccinated people erodes public trust and confidence in the effectiveness of the vaccines. To me it appears that the government wants to be perceived as 'doing something' during a seasonal infection surge, even if their policy does not necessarily make people safer."


Comment: DeSantis is right, as usual.


DeSantis has been a vocal opponent of requiring schoolchildren to wear masks. The governor on Monday reiterated his opposition to mask requirements for children during a roundtable with experts on Monday.

"I think our fear is is that seeing some of those rumblings, that there be an attempt from the federal level or even some of these organizations to try to push for mandatory masking of school children. And so our view is that this should absolutely not be imposed. It should not be mandated," the governor said.
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Stop

Texas governor issues executive order restricting transportation of migrants due to COVID-19


Breaking 911
Wed, 28 Jul 2021 00:00 UTC
Greg Abbott
© Gov. Greg Abbott's Office/WhatsApp-ImageTexas Governor Greg Abbott
Texas Governor Greg Abbott today issued an Executive Order restricting ground transportation of migrants who pose a risk of carrying COVID-19 into Texas communities. The Executive Order also directed the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to stop any vehicle upon reasonable suspicion of such violation and reroute such vehicles back to its point of origin or a port of entry. DPS also has the authority to impound a vehicle that violates the Executive Order.

Governor Abbott stated:
"The dramatic rise in unlawful border crossings has also led to a dramatic rise in COVID-19 cases among unlawful migrants who have made their way into our state, and we must do more to protect Texans from this virus and reduce the burden on our communities. This Executive Order will reduce the risk of COVID-19 exposure in our communities."

Comment: Governor Abbott also gives National Guard orders to assist local law enforcement with migrant arrests:
Governor Abbott on Tuesday sent his request for more "manpower" to mitigate border crossings in a letter to Maj. Gen. Tracy R. Norris of the Texas Military Department, according to The Texas Tribune.
"To respond to this disaster and secure the rule of law at our Southern border, more manpower is needed — in addition to the troopers from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and soldiers from the Texas National Guard I have already deployed there — and DPS needs help in arresting those who are violating state law," the letter stated, according to the news outlet. "I hereby order that the Texas National Guard assist DPS in enforcing Texas law by arresting lawbreakers at the border."
National guardsmen deployed under state orders are legally allowed to conduct law enforcement.

Abbott has repeatedly slammed President Biden for his handling of increased border crossings, with Tuesday's move marking his latest attempt to counteract it. Officials at the border have reportedly apprehended thousands of migrants attempting to enter the United States.
See also: Biden's border crisis gets worse; surge of illegal juveniles, fentanyl and migrant deaths

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