Left Wingers For #Brexit Need To Wake Up To What They're About To Do

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By Ragnar Weilandt, University of Warwick

If you listen to some left-wing voices – proponents of what is being called Lexit – the European Union is an undemocratic, neo-liberal empire. It is ruled by Angela Merkel and an army of cold-hearted, faceless bureaucrats in Brussels who spend their lives plotting to privatise British public services and deliberately making life in Southern Europe as miserable as possible.

Listening to both left-wing and right-wing arguments for Brexit can be rather confusing. Similar to Schrödinger’s immigrant who lazes around on benefits while simultaneously stealing jobs, the EU seems to be at the same time both communist and predatory capitalist. It has transformed Europe into a fortress while at the same time opening its borders to mass immigration. The EU’s rescue packages for Southern Europe have been too stingy while at the same constituting an outrageous burden to British taxpayers.

You do not have to be an idealist europhile to find these accusations a bit harsh. As a project that’s main purpose is the creation of a single market, the EU is indeed an economically liberal endeavour. Its key purpose is to replace those national laws which hamper trade with common European legislation.

Britain's Moment To Reflect: What Would Jo Cox Want Us To Think About?

PA/Yui Mok

By Scott Lucas, University of Birmingham

I only met Jo Cox once. Among her numerous interests, the MP chaired Britain’s All-Party Parliamentary Group on Syria and she had asked me to present an analysis of the need for safe zones to protect Syrian civilians.

She was gracious, charming and animated by energy and passion. Jaded by years of failure to get any effective action over Syria, I felt a flicker of hope when she explained what needed to be done. We parted with a promise for a discussion in the near future.

We could never quite arrange that further meeting, but I was fortunate to know much more about Jo. I worked with her staff on the Syria issue, and they never stopped talking about her devotion and unfailing optimism, even in the darkest of moments.

I discovered more about her compassion and dedication to better the situation of immigrants and refugees, beginning with her humanitarian work at Oxfam and continuing into her parliamentary service. Through social media, I followed Jo in her constituency in West Yorkshire, from visits to schools and community centres to her camping trip with a Brownie troop.

On Wednesday, I read of her pride in her husband and two children: in the campaign over Britain’s European Union membership, they had joined a Remain boat in a jovial response to the invasion of a Leave “flotilla” up the River Thames in London.

Now Jo Cox is dead, shot and stabbed outside her constituency surgery.

UK: Carry Jo Cox's Banner Of Love This Sunday

Image via Avaaz.org

Dear Avaazers in and around London, 

Only light can sweep away the darkness, only love can heal hate. As we mourn for and honour Jo Cox, we also have to go on -- to carry forward the banner of love and hope for a better world that she carried so gracefully. To unite, as her husband Brendan said, “to fight against the hatred that killed her.” 

And to do just that, on Sunday hundreds will be kissing against Brexit -- attempting to break a Guinness World Record for the largest kiss! The kissing chain will be continued in Rome, Paris and Berlin, sending a powerful message that we're taking back our politics from fear and lies with beautiful unity and humanity. And it starts in London. 

Dear Donald Trump And The Dividers: We Are Europe!

Image via Avaaz.org

Trump is coming to Britain! He’s launching his global crusade of hate here, just when the far-right is rising and the United Kingdom could leave Europe. Let’s tell him and his European counterparts to keep their hate out of Europe -- we’ll deliver it directly to Trump and his divisive allies, and launch a world-record EU kissing relay - to flood the media with images of love and unity, not division. 

>> Click here to join the movement now! <<

The Name's Bond, James Bond ... Or Should It Be Jane?

Gillian Anderson as Jane Bond. @GillianA/Twitter

By James Chapman, University of Leicester and Shelley Cobb, University of Southampton

Amid reports that Daniel Craig has hung up his Bond boots once and for all, speculation about who will take his place is rife. Will it be Idris Elba? Henry Cavill? Tom Hiddleston? While Hiddleston dismissed his chances, X-Files star Gillian Anderson threw her hat into the ring. It was liked almost 30,000 times – many people evidently think it’s time for James to become Jane. Two academics with opposing views make their cases.

Euro 2016 Could Turn EU Referendum Result Upside Down

A political football? Karen Katriyan

By Simon Chadwick, University of Salford

When historians look back at the fact that the Euro 2016 group phase ended the day before the UK’s Brexit vote on June 23, they will think it almost deliberately mischievous. These could turn out to be the finals where British teams entered as fully fledged members of the European Union and then departed in more ways than one.

The One About Harambe The Gorilla [Petitions]

Click here to read full article...

The following is the email I've received earlier on from Change.org regarding the recent incident in Cincinnati Zoo that ended with Harambe the gorilla being killed...

If you live in the US, feel free to click on the links provided and sign the petitions.

Thanks in advance

Loup Dargent

Uncertain, Nostalgic, Uncomfortable And Bewildered: A Portrait Of The Older #Brexit Backer

Hernán Piñera, CC BY-NC-SA

By Geoffrey Edwards, University of Cambridge

It has been suggested, as the EU referendum approaches, that younger voters are more likely to vote to remain than their older compatriots. A poll conducted in April showed 54% of over 55s back Brexit, while only 30% said they would vote to remain in the EU. It showed almost exactly the reverse among voters aged between 18 and 34. The 35-54-year olds were more evenly split, with 38% saying they’d vote to remain and 42% saying they’d leave.

Batman v Superman: G2A Proves Once Again That #Gamers Have Hearts!

This unique Batmobile PC casemod (a computer inside a customized case), was designed for the joint G2A MSI and Gaming for Good charity auction. (PRNewsFoto/G2A.COM)

G2A.COM is a multi-award-winning marketplace with over 30 000 digital gaming products. As part of its ongoing commitment to Virtual Reality research and development, G2A has worked with leading computer hardware manufacturer MSI to create an application using Virtual Reality technology to promote the 'Batman v. Superman' movie. It is called the 'Gotham VR' application and allows players to drive the Batman's motorcycle and see Gotham City.

'What Is Dead May Never Die': The Secrets Of Resurrection In The Bible And Game Of Thrones

Resurrection, by Andrea Mantegna, 15th Century. The Louvre

By Meredith J C Warren, University of Sheffield

Warning: this article contains spoilers for those not up to date with Game of Thrones series six.

Events in HBO’s Game of Thrones TV series have got people talking about what it means to return from the dead. But while resurrection appears to be a very real possibility for some of the religions of mythical Westeros – not least Jon Snow’s resurrector, the “red priestess”, Melisandre – what can the Bible add to the discussion?

Where No Mine Has Gone Before [Petition]

The world’s first deep sea mine project could go forward in Papua New Guinea, opening the floodgates to unknown risk of damage to our fragile ecosystem. But with domestic opposition surging and financing on the ropes, we can shut down the project before it begins and keep our oceans safe. 

>> Click here to sign and share everywhere <<

Is The EU Anywhere Near Getting Its Own Army?

British soldiers on exercises. Ben Birchall/PA Archive

By David J Galbreath, University of Bath and Simon J Smith, Staffordshire University

As part of a warning by a group of former military officers that the European Union undermines the UK’s military effectiveness, former General Sir Michael Rose expressed concern at the EU’s plan to set up its own army.

But in a speech on May 9 outlining why the UK would be more secure if it remained in the EU, the prime minister, David Cameron, said suggestions of an EU army were “fanciful” and that the UK would veto any suggestion of it.

As Cameron pointed out, there is a significant gap between the rhetoric and reality of the establishment of a fully functional European army.

The creation of a European army is a long way off and by no means inevitable. Even the most supportive nations, such as Germany, would acknowledge this reality.