The European Union may ask China to pressure Myanmar’s military junta to free opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who faces five more years in detention after being held for 13 of the past 19 years, an EU commissioner said.

Suu Kyi, 63, went on trial two days ago, accused by the government of violating a house-arrest order for sheltering an American for two days. She was detained after her National League for Democracy won a landslide election victory in 1990, only to be denied power by the military in the country, formerly known as Burma.

The 27-nation EU, which outlaws weapons sales to Myanmar, curbs financing for its state-run companies and won’t allow junta leaders to visit Europe, wants Asian powers such as China and India to pressure Myanmar’s ruling generals to free Suu Kyi. EU officials may ask their Chinese counterparts including Prime Minister Wen Jiabao to use their influence with Myanmar’s junta when they meet to discuss EU-China ties today in Prague.

“We have to reinforce the dialogue with Burma’s neighbors,” said Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the EU’s external relations commissioner who will participate in the summit. “It should at least be always a discussion point with China, with India and with others.” The EU is divided over whether to expand sanctions against Myanmar’s military regime.

How do you go green without going to the lengths of installing solar panels on your roof? If you are using Linux, or thinking of using it, you are already one step ahead of most people. Here are 10 solid ways to start thinking green in your home/IT department.

1. Reduced landfill
With Linux, you can keep using older hardware, even if you are using the latest version of your distribution. When you use Linux, you do not have to throw away the ugly packaging that typically comes with software. And there are no transportation costs for shipping distributions from the warehouse to your retail store.

According to a study by the Office of Government Commerce in 2004, Windows users are obliged to upgrade their computers twice as often as Linux users: “Industry observers quote a typical hardware refresh period for Microsoft Windows systems as three to four years; a major UK manufacturing organisation quotes its hardware refresh period for Linux systems as six to eight years.”

2. PowerTop
This little gem of an application can help you learn how to make your laptops and desktops more efficient.

When you run PowerTop, it examines your system and provides tips on how to improve your energy performance. When I run PowerTop on my laptop, I get this suggestion: “Disable ‘hal’ from polling your CD-ROM with: hal-disable-polling —device /dev/scd0 — ‘hal’ is the component that auto-opens a window if you plug in a CD but disables Sata power saving from kicking in.”

Some of PowerTop’s suggestions will even tell you how much wattage you can save by killing or reconfiguring services. Even though the main page for PowerTop states it is for machines with Intel processors, it will work on AMD-based machines as well.

3. Netbooks
Not only are netbooks here to stay, they are growing faster than many predicted. And a number of these netbooks are optimised for long battery life by minimising power usage.

The primary goals of the Moblin operating system, a project originally led by Intel, are low power and high battery life. Moblin is Linux-based and is only for netbooks.

Another feature that makes netbooks especially green is their no-moving-parts storage, which means they should have a longer lifespan than the standard notebook. So netbooks are one of the greener options available. And no matter how well Windows 7 is received, it cannot beat the cost of Linux on a netbook.

To find out more about using a low-power Linux PC check out GreenNet’s 8 watt PC running Ubuntu (popular distribution of Linux) or simply give us a call on 0845 055 4011.

Come to the City of London to help point them in the right direction. Wednesday 1 April 2009 is Financial Fools’ & Fossil Fools’ Day. People & Planet are calling a nationwide day of action to make the links between unaccountable financial power and its disasterous climate impacts. Focusing on RBS-NatWest, as part of the Ditch Dirty Development campaign, P&Pers will expose the bank’s foolish involvement in fossil fuel projects, and call for a just transition to renewable and sustainable energy sources. 1 April is a good time to mobilise for the AGM actions in London and Edinburgh.

RBS actions are part of broader activism on the G20. Organisations and networks across the UK and Europe including the Put People First coalition, Climate Camp and Rising Tide are all making links between the financial crisis and climate change.

Draft legislation allowing widespread sharing of personal data among government agencies, bypassing the Data Protection Act, has now been changed after a campaign by Privacy International and other groups.

A clause in the Coroners and Justice Bill would allow any Minister by order to take from anywhere any information gathered for one purpose, and use it for any other purpose. After the dangers of such a wide ranging power were pointed out the government has decided to abandon this clause. However Privacy International expect that this victory is temporary and that the government will seek to pursue the legislation in a different bill at a later stage.

The UK government has finally come to terms with the fact that spending over £600 million per year and being locked into proprietary software licences is a complete waste of the public’s money.

GreenNet has been backing open source since day one and operate all their servers on a distro of Linux called Debian, and most of their office PCs run another increasingly popular distro called Ubuntu/Kubuntu. See our Open Source vs. Proprietary Software page for more information and to see what all the fuss is about.

From the BBC News Website:

The UK government has said it will accelerate the use of open source software in public services.

Tom Watson MP, minister for digital engagement, said open source software would be on a level playing field with proprietary software such as Windows.

Open source software will be adopted “when it delivers best value for money”, the government said.

It added that public services should where possible avoid being “locked into proprietary software”.

Licences for the use of open source software are generally free of charge and embrace open standards, and the code that powers the programs can be modified without fear of trampling on intellectual property or copyright.

Read the complete article by clicking on the link below.

Or read this related article on ZDNet.co.uk (26th February 2009)

Tell the Deputy commander of the Israeli Ground Forces what you think of Israeli action in Gaza. Colonel Geva Rapp, head of the ground operations in Gaza Operation Cast Lead, is on a speaker tour in the UK.

Day & Date: Thursday 29th January
Time: 6:00pm (Talk starts at 6:30pm)
Venue: The Jewish London Student Centre in Euston, 163 Euston Road.

Sign the FFII’s on-line petition against software patents.

Israel admits breaking the ceasefire in November 2008 in an interview on Channel 4 news..

MediaLens has an analysis of bias in the UK media coverage of the Gaza conflict, with suggested actions.

Last week, Jeremy Greenstock, ex-UK ambassador to the UN, implied on the BBC that Hamas was being misrepresented and drew comparisons with Northern Ireland.

My colleagues have introduced Hamas to senior members of Sinn Fein…. This is a regime about which a lot of inaccurate statements are made, particularly by the Israeli and Washington governments. It is not beholden to Iran…. They are not trying to set up a Taliban-style government in Gaza…. They are not intent on the destruction of Israel. That is a rhetorical statement of resistance, not part of their programme.

[The Hamas charter which is often cited as calling for the destruction of Israel] was drawn up by a Hamas-linked imam some years ago and has never been adopted since Hamas was elected as the Palestinian Government in 2006 as part of their political programme…. The tragedy about what is happening is that the cessation of rocket fire on Israel would have been possible if Israel had lived up to its obligations under the June ceasefire to open the crossings, and now the opening of the crossing has to be part of the solution….

I’m afraid the timing of this is very much related to the need for Israeli politicians to defend their populations before elections. Hamas feels exactly the same – it has to keep its electorate with it, by showing it is a resistance movement. There were negotiations going on… before this started. They can [continue] although it is more difficult…. The rockets are being thrown by the Fatah militants, the Al-Aqsa brigades, by Islamic Jihad, by people who are not Hamas. None of this comes out in public. The truth is just not being told about the current situation.

This interview largely went largely unremarked in subsequent media.

Other articles and resources of interest (updated 21 Jan):

• Who will save the Palestinians? US Historian Mark LeVine explains Hamas tactics and looks to non-violent resistance as a key.

• War of Choice: How Israel Manufactured the Gaza Escalation by Steve Niva in Foreign Policy in Focus.

• B’Tselem and Israeli Campaign Against House Demolitions UK

• Gaza doctor’s loss grips Israelis

• Some of the most horrific stories concern Zeitoun (or Zaytun) to the south of Gaza City, where the Red Cross was denied access for four days and where the IDF placed a hundred civilians were into a house which was then shelled and a week later, according to ITN interviews, parents were shot in front of their children

• Other Channel 4 reports on the devastation by Jonathan Miller: at the end of the report of 21 Jan their correspondent visits Zeitoun two weeks after the massacre and 19 Jan

Viewers and listeners in the UK might be forgiven for thinking that Sderot and the Israeli settlements near Gaza were subject to daily bombardment during the June-December 2008 ceasefire.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s office (PMOH at pmo.gov.il) responds with a standard message referring to the “specter of incessant and indiscriminate rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip” and saying “a truce with Israel was abused by Hamas which persisted in attacking Israeli towns, while also conspiring to upgrade its terrorist capabilities”. However, a 5 November article by the Israeli Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center says (Section 12) says “Hamas, for its part, did not take part in rocket and mortar shell fire and sometimes prevented other organizations from attacking, although it did not confront them directly and massively or [sic] end their continued violations.”

The Israeli military’s own figures show that during the ceasefire, which they call a “lull in the fighting”, rockets and shells continued at only 1% of the previous rate (and of course there were no fatalities) until well after the IDF killed 6 members of Palestinian security forces on November 4. Hamas has always maintained that those that were fired were fired by Islamic Jihad – according to the Channel 4 report this is accepted by Israel. Whatever conditions of fear Israeli settlers may live in, it must be less than that of Gazans, for whom there has been shown to be no safe place and no escape.

The national demonstration on 24 January will begin at the BBC in Portland Place “as a response to the BBC’s largely one-sided coverage of the Gaza massacre, allowing Israeli spokespeople endless opportunities to propagate lies and deception without challenge.”

Local Street Demonstrations for Saturday 17 January

10,000 Israelis took to the streets of Tel Aviv on 3 January to demand an end to their government’s attacks. There will be another day of mourning and protest on Saturday 17 January. Gush Shalom also has some suggested media actions.

When the latest attack began on December 27th, demos took off around the country. Many British cities have seen big street demos already, but there’s another round this Saturday (17th).

London – the third Saturday city centre demo in a row – 2pm at Trafalgar Square.
http://www.stopwar.org.uk

• Nottingham – 10.30am, Forest Recreation Ground, marching to the
  Council House.
  www.nottmagainstwar.org.uk

• Birmingham – 12 noon, Victoria Square

• Sheffield – 12 noon, outside Sheffield Town Hall. www.sheffieldpsc.org.uk

• Liverpool – 1pm outside the bombed out church at the top of Bold St www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/liverpool

• Leeds – 12.30pm at Art Gallery for march through city centre. Bring shoes and placards. http://lcaw.co.uk

• Cardiff – 1pm, Nye Bevan Statue, Queen Street

• Exeter – 12.30pm outside Odeon Cinema, Sidwell Street

• Bath – 12.30pm, Abbey Courtyard, www.bathactivistnetwork.blogspot.com

• Newport – 1.30pm at the old Kwik Save Car Park in Pill, marching to John Frost Square http://southwalesanarchists.org

• Gaza Vigil At Parliament Square – Support the ongoing the 24hr vigil which has been going on since January 8th. Maria Gallastegui has been on hunger strike at the vigil since the 12th. www.vigilforgaza.net

• Daily demos outside the Israeli Embassy, 5-7pm. 2 Palace Green, London, W8.

• Brighton Gaza Vigil – daily, 1-2pm, 5-6pm, at the Clocktower

• Live video link with Gaza and public meeting – 7.30pm, 16th January, Community Base South Wing, 113 Queens Road, Brighton

Stop Airport Expansion… we’re in it for the long haul! Pelt Geoff Hoon with red sponges on Saturday.

Opposition is gathering momentum following the official decision on Thursday to “allow” a third runway at the world’s busiest airport, and with it an increase in air traffic that is incompatible with reducing climate change.

As well as legal challenges, protests will continue before any direct action is needed. Monday’s Climate Rush at Heathrow and Manchester saw a musical suffragette’s picnic, supported by Women’s Environmental Network and HACAN ClearSkies among others. (See Indymedia report and media links.)

Decision Day Flashmob

This Saturday 17th January, 12 noon (on the dot),
Heathrow Terminal 5 Departures (‘Security North’ section):

Reveal your red t-shirt and then pelt Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon with red sponges!

A Facebook group has been set up, and the Artport group is looking for people to paint themselves red and strip off.

No Purchase Necessary

Greenpeace has bought land needed for the proposals and welcomes beneficial owners in their star-studded campaign.

Emma Thompson said: “I don’t understand how any government remotely serious about committing to reversing climate change can even consider these ridiculous plans.”

Alistair McGowan said: If it gets to the bulldozer stage, we’ll be here getting in the way. (emphasis added!)

to Malawi to imprisonment and onward deportation to Zimbabwe. Well-known Zimbabwean activist, Luka Phiri, was detained while reporting at Becket House, London Bridge today, and given Removal Directions to Malawi on Thursday 15 January 2009.

Luka Phiri arrived in the UK on 5 April 2003 and claimed asylum. He was still bandaged from the torture inflicted on him in Zimbabwe. He was fleeing for his life, unable to renew his Zimbabwe passport speedily and forced into purchasing a Malawi passport to escape.

Luka Phiri produced documents to prove his Zimbabwean nationality including his original Zimbabwe metal national registration ID card; original Zimbabwe birth certificate; original school certificates; original MDC (Movement for Democratic Change) Zimbabwean card; original Zimbabwean court summons to answer charges under POSA+; original apprenticeship contracts only given to Zimbabwean citizens. His brothers and sisters provided certified copies of their Zimbabwean passports and National Registration cards (all are Zimbabwean citizens). All these documents show that Luka is, and remains, a Zimbabwean citizen.

Two different UK Immigration Judges found that Luka Phiri was Malawian because he travelled on a Malawian passport. No attention seems to have been given to his many other documents proving his Zimbabwean citizenship.

Well-known Zimbabwean activists in the UK have prepared supporting letters, statements and affidavits regarding Luka Phiri and his committed activism in the UK over the last five years. Luka has fought tirelessly to improve the situation of Zimbabweans in the UK and bring the abuses occurring in Zimbabwe to UK and international attention through TV, newspapers, talks and interviews.

When the news broke of Luka Phiri’s detention the phones started ringing. From all over the UK, Zimbabweans and UK supporters were ringing and emailing to protest about Luka’s detention.

Luka must be released now so that he can continue his work for Zimbabwe, to enable him and his fellow Zimbabweans eventually to return and help rebuild the new Zimbabwe.

Luka Phiri is a victim of the Zanu regime. Don’t send him to Malawi to imprisonment and onward deportation to Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe Association, Development House, 56-64 Leonard Street, London EC2A 4LT
Tel: 020 7549 0355; Fax: 020 7549 0356; zimbabweassociation@yahoo.co.uk
Contact: Sarah Harland, 07985037198
+ POSA = Public Order and Safety Act