| Join Our List |
 |
|
Consumer Notice of the Month - Say No
to 0870 ! |
|
|
Alternative cheaper numbers for your
telephone calls
How much are you paying when you call your
bank? What about your internet or utility
provider? Chances are that you are using a 870, 0845
number - charging you extortionate rates just to receive
some customer service.
However, did you know that there exists
much cheaper geographical alternatives to those
numbers and that some of these numbers are
free?
Awarded, website of the day by BBC Radio 2, Say No
to 0870 lists all the various geographical and free
alternatives to tthe expensive 10 pence a minute
telephone calls that most of Britons make on a daily
basis. "Many people don't
realise that there are many phone providers offering
cheaper calls to standard telephone numbers (those
beginning with 01 or 02), which don't apply to 0844,
0845, 0870 or 0871 telephone
numbers."
Find your bank or provider and jot down the
alternative number to save you money on your telephone
bills!
|
|
Conscious
Living Contributors
Want to write a review for a book
you've read? Seen a film you think could raise
awareness? Have an issue you'd like
raised?
To contribute please contact
Editor |
| Film of the Month -
Documentaries that Changed the World |
|
John Pilger's DVD bonanza
John
Pilger puts together this DVD collection of
life-changing documentaries that have impacted the
history of this country and world, revealing the power
of positive journalism at its best.
Pilger covers issues of
Nicaragua, Cambodia,
the "war on terror" amongst others,
exploring how film-makers and reporters have sacrificed
all at times to bring the story to the
people. Pilger assesses how reports have raised
awareness and in times changed the very course of
history with their findings.
"Documentaries the US, UK and Australian government
would rather its people didn't see"
Pilger, in his element, again
reiterates how power is always with the people
and that changing the world begins at
home.
|
| |
|
Issue Focus - Iran |
|
|
Why are
we talking about it?
It is important to
make your own choices about who you decide to label as
your enemy. Discover more about a country under fire
from Western governments and media
Mini History
- 1979 - Islamic
Republic of Iran established
- 1980 - Iran/Iraq
War. This lasts eight years. US backs Iraq
with intelligence and economic aid.
- Iran-Contra fiasco:
It becomes clear that the US government has sold
weapons to Iran, despite it being its enemy. US
accused of funding both sides in the war to generate
profits. US uses cash from the Iran sale to
illegally fund the right-wing Contra rebels war
against the left-wing Standinista government in
Nicaragua.
- 1988 - 280 passengers and
airline staff are killed when the US
Vincennes accidently shoots it down, sparking
widespread anti-American sentiment.
- July 1988 - Iran and Iraq accept
ceasefire treaty
- 1990 - UK government involved in supergun
debacle, where custom officers in Middlesborough
discover weapons of mass destruction on its way from
the UK to Iraq to turn the tide of the Iraq/Iran
war.
- 1995 - US imposes oil and trade
sanctions on Iran over alleged sponsorship of
terrorism.
- Jan 2002 - President Bush labels
Iran, Iraq and North Korea as the world's
"axis of evil"
- Sep 2002 - Russian technicians help
Iran build first nuclear reactor despite Western
objections.
- 2003- US, UK, Poland, Australia and
Denmark invade Iraq on claims of seeking WMDs.
- 2005 - Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad, Tehran's extreme conservative
mayor, wins presidential elections
- 2006 - Ahmadinejad holds
controversial holocaust denial conference, fuelling
Western resentment
- March 2007 - Diplomatic stand-off
with Britain after Iran detains 15 British sailors and
marines patrolling water separating Iran and
Iraq.
- 2006 onwards: US and UK attempt to
build up national and international support for
anti-Iranian feeling through political addresses and
intense media coverage that Iran is "supporting
terrorism".
- Current: Iran has one of the youngest
populations in the world with nearly 3/4 of the population under
30. It is a nation undergoing
incredible change that even its own government is
having trouble keeping up with.
- JUST
IN - 31st July - US
arms its allies in the Middle East and increases
anti-Iranian sentiment. Read story
here
Remember, it is impossible to
breakdown centurys of history into a few bullets points.
Instead the history is given with emphasis upon Western
involvement - to show your involvement through your
representatives. If you want to know much more, explore!
Assess for yourself the situation from both Western and
home-based Iranian websites for a clearer picture of the
Whole.
- Explore Iran Chamber
Society - an Iranian nonprofit organisation
without any political, religious, governmental
alliance.
- For a chronology of US
involvement in Iran between 1980 and 2002 -
click
here
- Iran - The
Facts - from News
Internationalist
|
|
Environmental Focus - Animal
Experiments |
|
Sign the petition and make a
difference!
The laws
that regulate animal experiments in the EU are being
revised, and by acting now we can try to help change
them for the better.
Scientists from the RSPCA's research animals
department have already had significant input into the
revision process at various stages and on a range of
issues.
Make a difference
Now you too have a vital
opportunity to have your say in reducing the use and
suffering of animals used in research - so take action
now and sign the RSCPA
petition
Alternatively, write to your MP or even better your
MEP! Ask them to ensure that animal rights are
protected, just as yours are
|
|
Humanitarian Focus of the
Month - Seeds of Peace |
|
|
Emerging world leaders - Peace activists
in the Middle East
Founded in 1993, Seeds of Peace is
dedicated to empowering young leaders from regions of
conflict with the leadership skills required to advance
reconciliation and coexistence.
From 46 Israeli, Palestinian and
Egyptian teenagers in 1993, the
organization still focuses on the Middle East but has
expanded its programming to include young leaders from
South Asia, Cyprus and the Balkans. Its leadership
network now encompasses over 3,500 young people
from several conflict regions.
Seeds of Peace has focused primarily on bringing
Arab and Israeli teenagers together before fear,
mistrust and prejudice blind them from seeing the human
face of their enemy. Seeds of Peace goes beyond
international agreements and treaties. It reverses the
legacy of hatred by nurturing lasting friendships that
become the basis for mutual understanding and respect.
By training these young leaders in conflict resolution
skills, Seeds of Peace helps them become the seeds from
which an enduring peace will grow.
| |
| |
