February » 2011 » Scottish Socialist Youth

We've nuked ourselves 2053 times.

Check out this video by Japanese artist Isao Hashimoto – it’s a beautiful, time-lapse map of the 2053 confirmed nuclear explosions which have taken place between 1945 and 1998, beginning with the very first test and concluding with Pakistan’s nuclear tests in May of 1998.

"Transition to Freedom"? Egypt and Democracy

The mass uprising in Egypt has focused the world’s attention on the discontent within many Arab socieities. In a frenzy of political and media commentary on the growing wave of protests and mass insurrections, one of the buzzwords has been “democracy”: the Egyptian people want it, “Western” commentators want it; even the Egyptian generals seem to [...]

Bill Aitken – sexist shitebag.

If you’re a Tory, you’re pretty much already a contemptible little prick. If you’re a Scottish Tory, then you’re up there with Bond villains – you’ve basically chosen to become something EVERYONE AROUND YOU DESPISES. That might explain why Bill Aitken made comments earlier, that a woman who was raped might have been a prostitute. [...]

Where in the world is Aaron Porter?

Today, Glasgow students visited young Labour conference in order to tell Aaron Porter what a crap job he’s doing as NUS president. Having been sacrificed to us by his Labour bosses so they could clear the door of the clearly terrifying mob, Aaron was kettled by us. Much screaming of “I don’t expect to be [...]

Hosni Mubarak – denial is more than just a river in revolutionary Egypt…

After over two weeks of protests, streetfighting, strikes and riots in Egypt today was supposed to be Mubarak’s endgame. The military announced that “all your demands would be met” and the head of Mubarak’s party the NDP said that Mubarak should go. But in his Presidential address Mubarak stubbornly refused to face reality and resign, [...]

Where e'er ye be, a piss should be free

Today, dear readers, I would like to talk to you about a pressing need which is affecting millions of people all over the UK right now – the need to use the toilet. When we’re at home – and usually when we’re at work – using the toilet is a relatively uncomplicated process. When we’re [...]

In Praise of the Free Hetherington

Yesterday, I spent the evening in the company of a great bunch of people at the newly occupied Hetherington Research Club. It was absolutely brilliant! I was there for about 4 hours, and I wish I could have stayed longer. I got a quick tour of the building, from the kitchens in the basement, through [...]

Egyptian Riot Helmets: An Appreciation

Over here at the Free Hetherington we’ve got one decommissioned riot helmet from the polis, but one day we might have to follow the example of Egyptian protesters and make our own ingenious designs from whatever’s lying around. Here’s a few of the best; I look on them with envy. Yer man here is not [...]

Muslim Women Must Write Themselves: women and the multiculturalism debate

There’s an irony in the above title: I’m not a Muslim woman. I’m white, Western, and the lucky inheritor of an (ongoing) women’s movement. I’m also fully aware of the implications of claiming to speak ‘for’ this group, or any group of under-privileged individuals, from a such removed standpoint. But that’s the point: no one [...]

Viva la Hetherington Libra!

The occupation of the Hetherington Research Club at Glasgow University entered its third day today, and continues to go from strength to strength. The club is now a fully functioning social and educational space, with an ever-expanding schedule of meetings, film showings, discussion groups, workshops and more. Yesterday, the occupation was privileged to get a [...]