This is Northumberland Calling 11.8.23
The JEDI doesn’t just mean Star Wars edition.
Hello America! This is Northumberland Calling
As regular readers of this will know, there is suspicion that the de-banking of Farage which led to the FCA being forced to consider what was going on within the banking industry was caused in part by Nat West’s commitment to B-Lab. The Free Speech Union has done a deep dive into B Lab, its efforts to legislate – The Better Business Act and the chilling effect it could have on free speech in the UK with its focus on JEDI (social Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) and its Mission Lock concept. B-Lab is a US import by the way and even more embedded there. The full briefing: https://freespeechunion.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Woke-Ltd_Final2.pdf
The Times picked up the story. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/diversity-group-that-featured-in-farage-debanking-wants-to-change-law-j39c7d23d or https://archive.is/j7yZR
The attempted censorship at Calderdale continues but WRN Calderdale & Bradford is continuing to press the matter after being told that it was ‘an internal HR matter’. Apparently the MP is now involved. It would appear that Calderdale Library may have forgotten its obligations under the 1964 Public Libraries Act to provide a comprehensive and efficient service. This is the letter the WRN posted about the matter:
https://twitter.com/WRNCalderBradf/status/1689716218389782528
And I did love the cartoon from Grizelda G.
It may seem a very localized issue but PEN America just put out a report on the chilling effects social media has on publishing. It recommends a recommitment to the Freedom to Read statement. Anyone who is interested in freedom of expression should read the full report as it does show the toxicity of publishing, particularly in the US and how good intentions can lead to authoritarian behaviour. Like PEN, I believe the answer to a bad book is a good book and I do understand that there is a conversation to be had about age appropriateness of books, particularly given the constraints on libraries’ budgets : https://pen.org/report/booklash/
And then read the actual Freedom to Read statement as it still resonates today. https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/freedomtoread/
British Badminton quietly followed British Rowing in creating a natal female only and open category. They released the info on the same day as British Rowing. https://www.badmintonengland.co.uk/about-us/equality-diversity/
From Hollywood to Holyrood Because of the Hollywood Writer’s strike, several US names have come over to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/hollywood-writers-strike-edinburgh-fringe-festival-2023-c00phlfj8 or https://archive.is/Rsx5K
Various politicians have been in conversation, including Joanna Cherry (yesterday, sold out, standing ovation at the end with some minor nuisances from the staff including unexplained smoke from the smoke machine). The Strand tried to cancel Cherry as being ‘unsafe’ but backed down when Cherry consulted her lawyers. She has made the various documents available on her website for other GC women in case other venues try the same trick. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/joanna-cherry-i-have-wept-in-my-office-due-to-toxic-snp-atmosphere-gfqcr85qt or https://archive.is/Pe93W
The Crookest Pub in Britain mysteriously burnt down. Arson is suspected, particularly as the new owners hired the digger to bulldoze the remains a week before the blaze happened. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/crooked-house-pub-fire-owners-arson-vt8lqnk70 or https://archive.is/7x5Vl
The staff at the Mary Rose museum posted a blog earlier this week on the queering of objects from the collection. It was Presentism run amok. Nit combs were cited as queer people have to come their hair. The intern is supposedly studying for their Masters in Public History. Philip Hensher did a great piece on it for Unherd. https://unherd.com/thepost/the-queering-of-the-mary-rose-insults-gay-history/ Also https://archive.is/AqW6h
Finally the recall training of my Springer continues. It is a very humbling experience to realise that you got it wrong and it was pure coincidence the other dogs rapidly returned. He is getting better and I can now recall him a variety of situations. Cat food pouches work as an ultimate treat.
So glad to hear there is progress being made in your Springer recall. If you come up with a cure for a mostly obedient 4 1/2 year old (a rescue from TiJuana)that can not resist the temptation of a squirrel streaking by on the rails of our boardwalk, please let me know.
Late in reading your stack today as was out in the Panhandle searching for sea turtle crawls, examining spent nest to see hatch rate, and searching for wayward babies looking for the ocean. Awesome morning.
I look forward to reading your links.
Also, Amazon informed me this morning that an author I follow is soon to have a book out. Congratulations.
Hello Northumberland! This is America returning Your call.
I savor Fridays because-a Your posts, Ma'am. Always a pleasure. But can only SMH. "JEDI"? These B corps are another stain of the Woke religion, as far as I can tell. Of course Coutts debanked Nigel Farage, in part, because of the B corps status. Only logical, from that B corps POV. From any rational POV? Despicable. I still can't get over it. And can only apologize, on behalf of America, for exporting more Woke garbage over to You all across the pond.
Thank You for the briefing by the Free Speech Union. Gotta love 'em. I downloaded it for later perusal. Also enjoyed the beginning of the article from PEN America. This from the Freedom to Read document:
"Every silencing of a heresy, every enforcement of an orthodoxy, diminishes the toughness and resilience of our society and leaves it the less able to deal with controversy and difference."
And here we are. And I wonder if this still applies?
"2. Publishers, librarians, and booksellers do not need to endorse every idea or presentation they make available. It would conflict with the public interest for them to establish their own political, moral, or aesthetic views as a standard for determining what should be published or circulated.
I quoted #3 also, but as I continued reading, I'd just hafta quote the Freedom to Read in it's entirety. TY for the link, Michelle.
I was glad to see Joanna Cherry get her day. She's great.
You're great, too, Michelle. Always a pleasure. Hope writing is going well, and Your training continues on the upswing. :-)