"In Barcelona we have curbed the Airbnb rentals that drive up demand for a limited housing supply, and have repossessed unused housing owned by banks. The city of Berlin has pledged to freeze rents for five years in an effort to halt gentrification. New York City has promised to divest $5bn from fossil fuels and to sue oil companies for their contribution to global warming. These small victories show that alternatives to our dominant economic system are within reach – and that cities are a key part of this future."

read more:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/commentisfree/2020/mar/06/europe-cities-democracy-municipal-movement-grassroots-climate-crisis-xenophobia

January 7, 2020

OK, let's give World War Three a whirl, say weary Britons facing at least five more years of Boris

OK, let’s give World War Three a whirl, say weary Britons facing at least five more years of Boris Johnson - Newsthump satire

https://newsthump.com/2020/01/03/ok-lets-give-world-war-three-a-whirl-say-weary-britons-facing-at-least-five-more-years-of-boris-johnson/

January 6, 2020

How to eat a crisp sandwich - Brit standard daftness required.

The current global berserkery had me hankering after a bit of levity, this sort of works?

I always think the comments are as good as, if not better than, the article.

https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/dec/05/how-to-eat-a-crisp-sandwich

June 7, 2019

UK - Liverpool football fans depicted as pro-tRump crowds

https://www.indy100.com/article/trump-supporters-uk-visit-photos-liverpool-champions-league-crowds-8947361

Spoiler - news about fake news

June 4, 2019

The Queen of The United Kingdom - some clarification

She invited them – she should refuse to meet them – why would they tolerate insults to the Duchess - etc. (not quotes, nor identifying individual posters, just a contextual selection)

I think I could be forgiven for concluding that, maybe one or two, DUers appear to be under the misapprehension that QEII is an 'Absolute' Monarch, she is not. Please allow me to clear this up, she is a 'Constitutional' Monarch.

To take a line from the constitutional link above, this sums it up quite nicely –

"...Thomas Macaulay, has defined a constitutional monarch as "A sovereign who reigns but does not rule"."

The Queen does not get to make decisions as to who gets a 'State Visit', that falls to the UK Government. HMQ may be consulted but, ultimately, it's not her decision. She hosts the visit 'on behalf' of the UK (Gov), and is expected to do so in a diplomatic manner, whether she wishes to, or not.

In theory, yes, she could refuse to host foreign heads of state that she doesn't much care for, or even privately despises, but if she did, without very good reason, The United Kingdom would be the 'United Republic' by 2020?

In summary, she has little, if any, choice in the matter.

Also, I don't doubt Harry is incensed by Trump's remarks about Meghan, but his allegience to The Queen, and the diplomatic obligations of royalty, will far outweigh his urge to hang a Liverpool Kiss on the Orange Arsehole?

I Hope this clears up perceptions of monarchical power in UK.

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