1976_Child

I disagree. Why is it? The lad was tortured by a regime which wants to stay in power and maintain their privileges. Likewise the villagers/miners are subjected to a serious and deliberate degradation of their living standards and are also beaten up and murdered on occasion to keep from protesting. To know 'their place'. Thuggery in Congo linked directly to mining operations has been well documented by human rights advocacy groups such as Human Rights Watch. Go to Human Rights Watch's website: http://www.hrw.org You will see top and center a report about the evil in Syria. Now go to http://www.hrw.org/en/publications/reports?filter0=**ALL**&filter1=96 which a filtered list of all their reports on atrocities in DR Congo. Where is the difference? None, in my mind. These atrocities in Congo - and the wider war/displacement - is a direct consequence of the resource grab. Like I said earlier, any difference is only because people have been propagandized into believing that there is one. Because to acknowledge the Congolese atrocities is the first step in understanding that it is our lifestyles which ultimately precipitates it. So, being human and thoroughly brain-washed, we use the iPhone but shed all responsibility. On the other hand, there is a discernible brutal regime with which we have absolutely no connection, in Syria, so we are free from guilt to report it on the front pages of our newspapers and condemn it. So, you think I am being relativistic in my morality?

Nope. No tongue in cheek and thank you but actually I am quite bright. I may however have a broader understanding of just how the real world works. We in the west are shielded by decades of propaganda about free-markets and the 'trickle down effect' and just how swell international trade is. The facts however do not bare out. The consumerist lifestyles we lead - the chuck away society - is equatable to what happened to this boy. Millions - nay, billions! - suffer because of our crazed bug-eyed gluttony. All those nice new iPhones (and, yes I have one too)? Well they all contain a very rare element called Tantalum which comes from a mineral called Coltan. With out Tantalum any modern portable electronic devices simply doesn't work at the required scale. The 'Democratic' Republic of Congo is home to vast reserves of Coltan and almost half of all production of Tantalum comes from mines - owned by western companies - deep inside the Congolese jungles. Go to those mines and you will see the most depressing, sickening sites of abstract poverty amongst the children of the nearby villages. I could list hundreds of side effects of the mining operations - operations which have precisely zero regulatory oversight - but perhaps the most horrific is the polluted water sources that the villagers have to drink. All sorts of horrid chemicals find there way into the ground water. Now, you tell me. Is that just? Is it right that we rich westerners exploit these people and their natural resources in this way? Is it right that the global mining companies and traders such as the recently-floated Glencore (the shares of which will now be a component of all pension funds, now it is in the FTSE100) benefit so handsomely at the detriment of other human beings? No. I call it evil. It is completely equatable to what has happened to that Syrian lad. The only difference is that his death was out in the open and some journos were there to report it. The repressive regimes around the world which play butler to the mining companies do their thuggery well out of reach of the media. And all so we can be rich and comfortable and lead closeted lives. Oh, and have buoyant pension funds.

I've been outed. I started this thread to identify all non-Saints. Now we know who they are we will require them to have an avatar image with an appropriate insignia on it so that the Pure Saints can identify the unclean. We will also boycott their shops and businesses. And before the start of the new season we will ghetto them into their own non-pure board. After that, the final solution will be to delete them and all their posts from the database.

Not sure I shrugged my shoulders. In fact I said that it was not my opinion. I am horrified by this story. However, other than international pressure on the regime through diplomatic - and possibly economic - sanctions there is precious little we can do about it. There is absolutely no way that we can remove that regime by force. It would unleash Iran. And Iran is a massive supplier of gas.... to China. Who has a veto on the UN Security Council. Like I said, Libya was politically an easy ride. Gaddafy had no real support anywhere. Iran/Syria is a completely different kettle of fish. And never mind that Syria shares a pretty big border with a small country called Israel. The boy was tortured. Extremely sad. But other boys are tortured all over the world. Kids in the poorest parts of Asia and the Orient are paid 10p a day for a 14 hour shift to remove highly carcinogenic solder and rare-earth metals from discarded electronic goods that us rich western consumers chuck away just as soon as the newest version comes out. For many, the world is not a very pleasant place but everyone of us in the west is at fault. Our actions, more than anything else - our collective purchasing decisions - are just as 'evil' as the torturers who killed that little boy.

oi, looooooser! gimme your lunch money!

No, it is not. It is the resources that the country has. You may think this is semantics but it is critical to distinguish between money and resources. If it was all about money then it would have been cheaper for the US Taxpayer to just write a cheque to Halliburton et al rather than spend the gazillions of dollars to prosecute the war in Iraq. It is always about the resources, which no matter how ingenious one's central bank is simply can not be wished into existence.

Yep. Huhne is toast. Why is it that the super-rich like Huhne make such dirty, corrupt politicians?

If we bomb Syria then it is game over. Syria is the real tinderbox in the region. And it has precious little resources so not worth our while. In fact, if a kid has to be tortured to death to keep the status quo and the wider region peaceful and the oil flowing then c'est la vie. Naturally, I don't hold that opinion but it is what is called Real Politik. Real Politics. Libya was an easy target - militarily and politically. He had few friends but a whole bunch of delicious super-light sweet crude. The best oil in the world. 1.5 million barrels of the stuff each day. The poor kid came from a country which is the delinquent son of Iran and having nothing worth bothering about under its sand.

interesting theory... mmmm, the thot plickens !

damn. was sure he was coming our way.

I like a nice spanking every now and again. I've even been infracted and banned once. For me, freedom of expression is paramount. So screw off all ye olde mongrels and sodomites! I wear my infractions like medals. I am proud to be an infractor.

I've just watched tonight's Panorama film about abuse in a residential care home for adults with learning difficulties. I'm what could be mildly called 'cynical' about these sort of undercover reporting shows because often they are very selective in the footage they show. In this case, as I am sure others who have seen it will confirm, I am genuinely utterly shocked. What you will witness if you watch the film is genuine grade-A abuse. Even deliberate, cruel torture. The police must carry out a thorough investigation and throw the book at these so called 'carers' and I hope that, if convicted - which on that evidence they should be - they end up doing long stretches at HM's pleasure. Unbelievable that this could happen. The company which owns these for-profit 'hospitals' should never be allowed to operate in this country again and the executive board should likewise be held responsible.

do ewe?

Apostrophe, sweet heart. Apostrophe! "Cortese's record as chairman". It is the 'record as chairman' belonging to Cortese. God forbid we get more than one Cortese embodied in one chairman. Now that would be a record! (..I'm bored. No football. boring...)

never been to Cornwallshire. Frankly, anywhere that far west is not worth bothering about.

read it again...

These ****ing cock sucking **** ****ing ****** **** **** ****ing **** ****ers ****ing turd ****ing **** stain ****ing ****ing **** head ****** ****** ****ing ****ing ****s can go and suck my balls. Go get a proper job you ****ing waste of ****ing space(s).

7 goals? Fonte does better than that in one season FFS

I'd just like to say that more people have viewed this thread than have ever supported Poopey throughout history. Makes you proud, eh?!

As it is now summer and hence no major Saints news I hope the mods will keep this on the main board. Just wondering how many people who read/post on this board are not actually Saints fans. If you don't mind, spill the beans and tell us who you are and who you do follow. Ta

Reminds me of that feking daft strongbow advert with the men delivering the sofa. Now why the fek would the stupid granny phone the delivery men up to complain about the colour? Surely she would - a) have asked the delivery men to unwrap it while there and take the rubbish away and/or b) phone the feking customer services/shop. If I was a delivery man and had just lugged that fecking thing up that tower block and a stupid old granny complained I'd feking chuck her out the window. And her cat.

Not a big fan of cats. Try to kick them whenever I see them. Mind you, there is this one cute little kitten who follows me back from the corner shop in the evening after I've popped out for beer 'n' crisps. Very affectionate feline. More of a hound person myself. Hounds are cool, friendly, love you for who you are not what you are. And loyal. Very loyal. Cats just come over as shady.

I do like them Roysters! Very tasty. But not many in the bag... always feel a bit cheated.

having to reply to this thread

You need to give at least 2 months notice. They still need to give you only one month if they wish to move out but you are obliged by law as the landlord to give them a minimum of 2 clear months. However, you might indeed need to give them even more notice than that. They have been resident for more than 3 years now. Not sure when the point comes but am 98% certain that once someone has been resident and is not in arrears they are entitled to a lot more notice. Best to consult with a lawyer on this one. But I am 100% that you can't kick them out before 2 months. [EDIT: And also, they are still on an assured tenancy agreement - INCORRECT]. The law permits them to roll over after the initial period has elapsed. They/you are now on what is known as a Statutory Periodic Tenancy as they have been there after the end of the fixed period. Basically not sure what this actually means in practice but it certainly can only give them more rights not less. EDIT: Go to this link (pdf) http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/pdf/138286.pdf (chapter 6) You CERTAINLY have to give 2 months notice. Also, if they dig their heels in it could conceivably take up to 6+ months to go to court and get a possession order. What you absolutely can not do is just issue them their 2 months notice and then march straight in after 2 months. Because they have been there for 3 years now you would have to go through the courts. If you took some 'mates' around and forced entry you would be breaking the law. So don't do that!