Showing posts with label Bradford. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bradford. Show all posts
Thursday, 24 February 2011
Tiny tremors at NMeM
Problems are brewing at the National Media Museum. So far, only a few tiny tremors are perceptible, but if Bradford is to retain the jewel in its cinematic crown, vigilance is called for.
Wednesday, 19 January 2011
Executive members
Members of the Executive, which will consider the People's Coalition petition on Feb 11 are as follows:
Cllr Ian Greenwood (Chair) (01274 432084, ian.greenwood@bradford.gov.uk)
Cllr Ralph Berry (01274 770869, mobile 07976 382993, ralph.berry@bradford.gov.uk)
Cllr Paul Flowers (01274 575477, paul.flowers@bradford.gov.uk)
Cllr David Green (01274 773661, mobile 07876 038279, david.green@bradford.gov.uk)
Cllr Amir Hussain (01274 483778, mobile 07958 551756, amir.hussain@bradford.gov.uk)
Cllr Imran Hussain (01274 432085, mobile 07765 220894, cllr.imranhussain@bradford.gov.uk)
Cllr Ghanzanfer Khaliq (01274 660459, mobile 07889 967647, ghazanfer.khaliq@bradford.gov.uk)
Watch out for cuppa VAT rises
VAT went up to 20 per cent accompanied by rises all round. They should be going up by roughly 2.1p in the pound, so a formerly £1 cuppa should now be no more than £1.05, say. According to a BBC presenter, prices in the Corporation's own canteen have risen by 25 per cent for a cup of tea and 7.1 per cent for a bag of chips.
Please let us know of the most outrageous price rises, and not only for cafes either.
Please let us know of the most outrageous price rises, and not only for cafes either.
Plans to reopen mothballed Little Horton school dealt a severe blow (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
Plans to reopen mothballed Little Horton school dealt a severe blow (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus):
According to the report, "lead ha[s] been ripped from the building, pipes and roof slates ha[ve] been stolen and there was evidence that the outdoor toilets were being used for 'inappropriate liaisons'".
Of course, the report hints at the usual suspects. But why was this quite serviceable building mothballed in the first place.
Council leader, Ian Greenwood, who's the chair of governors for the school, has some questions to answer.
It’s not a hippy peacenik thang, it’s a rock hard revolutionary thang
A useful guide for how to behave during demonstrations can be viewed at http://libcom.org/organise/demonstrations/articles/guide-public-order-situations.php. Among the useful advice, we read:
• Don’t be tempted to stand around and fight – get to where you can cause disruption without the police around.Related articles
• Keep moving, as a group and individually. Fill gaps. Never stand still – chaos puts the police off.
• Nip police attempts to form lines or divide the crowd in the bud.
• Don’t be intimidated.
• Do everything in small teams, prepare in advance.
• Think defensively. Protect each other and escape routes.
• Always face outwards, ie. away from us and towards them.
• Link arms as often as possible, form barriers, use your body.
• Move quickly and calmly, never giving the police time to react.
Instituted by Christine Schofield when she worked for the nearby (and sadly neglected) Odeon, they have been widely copied, though never so successfully.
One of the innovative aspects of the shows has been the informal discussions after the Thursday showings, which the museum has facilitated with free coffee for all participants.
However, NMM is of course a branch of the Science Museum in London, and thus at risk from the Government's cuts. Hitherto, the pensioners' discussions have been facilitated by a member of staff, but someone has decided they can't afford this, so volunteers are being called for.
No probs, so far. Often, when the discussion has not been announced before the film show, members have gathered for a chat anyway, coffee or no coffee. The sort of people who attend are well able to handle themselves in this sort of discussion.
But, being part of what is effectively a Government department, nothing is ever as simple as that. Here's an extract from the official call for volunteers.
Volunteers should be able to research information to assist with the facilitation of the film discussion, keep the group focused and ensure group participation.
Recruit new people to join in the film discussion group, and promote film related events.
Requirements for role Commitment:
We envisage 4 volunteers working on a 4 week rota for this role, We would ask each volunteer to commit to approximately 3.5 hours every 4th week. 1 free ticket to see the film for facilitator. Regular meetings with line manager.
Report discussion group figures and group feedback.
Skills:
Applicants for this role should have the following skills:
• Professional outlook
• Enthusiasm for film
• Public speaking
• Friendly, approachable and helpful manner • Good time keeping
• Be flexible and motivated Training:
• To attend an induction course
• To attend all relevant Health and Safety training including passing NMSI E-learning H&S test
• To attend internal and external training as required
• To pass a 3 month trial period
Please note that we are unable to reimburse travel expenses.
No surprise with that last qualification then.
The whole thing seems to be bureaucracy gone mad. Some current attenders have pointed out that they are entirely entitled to gather together in the museum caff for a chat after the show without any of this Health & Safety malarkey.
Some media students from Bradford Uni are rumoured to be applying to be interviewed for the post. We don't fancy their chances if the attenders start flexing some Grey Power muscles.
Jan 22 Anti-cuts conference - venue
See map below for way to the Communal Building (marked in red).
Bradford People's Coalition Against the Cuts conference, Jan 22.
There will be workshops on:
- NHS "re-organisation"
- Legal Rights / Non Violent Direct Action
- Imaginative Campaigning / Publicity and Website
- Discussions around areas impacted on by the cuts
Where will it be? Venue isn't listed in emails, but the very successful (100-plus attendance) one in November was in Bradford University Stuydents' Union. More details, please, Coalitioners!
Who was the Tory Councillor who was texting?
Who was the Tory Councillor who was texting throughout yesterday's Bradford Council meeting? The Lord Mayor appealed to everyone to turn off their phones, but as was pointed out, vocally, from the public gallery, at least one member took no notice.
One law for the public and another for our "betters", eh?
One law for the public and another for our "betters", eh?
UncutUK actions on Jan 30
Expect some UncutUK anti-cuts actions in Bradford on Sunday January 30, which has been declared a national day of action. Previous Bradford actions have targeted Vodafone and Topshop and there have been a couple of arrests (one, a young anarchist accused of assaulting a police officer when all he'd done was to walk in to the Kirkgate mall carrying a black flag). In the event, no one was charged.
Go to http://www.ukuncut.org.uk/actions for details of actions already planned (which also include an action in Sheffield organised by Sheffield Anti-Cuts Allience. They will be meeting in Western park at 12:00 and moving to the town hall from there.
Brighton UncutUK are using Twitter for action training on January 23: go to www.twitter.com/brightonuncut for more info.
Image by Getty Images via @daylifeBut is it a good idea to keep the police informed about action plans? Wouldn't be better to spring guerrilla actions and catch them unawares?
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