First reality. BBC Panorama has conducted an investigation which shows conclusively that China supplied the Sudanese government military hardware which has been used against civilians in Darfur. This is important evidence in the case against its leader who has now been charged with war crimes in his capacity as head of the military services as well as head of state. Because the weapons can be shown to have been made after sanctions were agreed at the United Nations this reflects badly on China.
The significance is that the programme showed that the weapons are being used in Darfur something which the Chinese argue has not been the situation. China has repeatedly blocked or weakened resolutions which could have helped to create a situation where UN intervention had a chance of success. While the programme concentrated on the involvement of China, Russia is also involved in providing weapons which enable the Sudanese to wield unacceptable force against negro Africans in the country.
The programme brought out the impact of Government action on individuals. A woman described how three of her seven children were cut down before her eyes and those of her other children and a young woman told of her rape. The majority were too afraid to be shown on camera and one fears for those who were. It was not just the horror of what had happened to individuals which affected me but the reality of the nature of what governments have to do to sustain and advance the position of the governed and how once official violence is unleashed it quickly gets out of hand and individuals develop the lust for blood, sex and wealth from the most vulnerable and usually the innocent.
Reality two. People are being murdered, raped, accidentally killed and maimed around me and all over England and the British Isle. My and our concern must be for them first. It is good we have media which investigates and reminds us of what is happening elsewhere on a large scale beyond the compression of most and the capacity of the all us to cope with.
Reality three. Last night I watched Martin Shaw as a senior Northumbrian policeman investigating a murder back in 1964 where the body is burnt beyond recognition and no one is report missing or to suggest who the individual is. The two hour fictional drama reveals how in the interests of the state, individuals are knowingly sacrificed. The basic storyline is that in order to penetrate the security of the IRA, the secret service "special branch" pretends that an Ira marksman and gun runner is a traitor providing them information when in fact it is a more senior member of the organisation and to establish his ongoing credibility they allow him to execute the gun runner and to also kill the only witness to what happened as well as being prepared for him to take the weapons back to Ireland which could have been used against British soldiers as well as others. The character played by Martin Shaw with the help of his assistant prevent the guns being handed over and the senior IRA officer is killed. Martin advises that he will make a full report on the role of the special branch officer, while in turn the special branch officer asks Martin how he will be able to sleep at night having prevented the plan from progressing. The programme reminds the difficult choices which governments and individuals on behalf of government have to take and how easy it is for principles and standards to be compromised.
Reality four and five are of different order. It has been a glorious warm and sunny day and I decided early on that irrespective of how the game progressed in the morning I was visit Durham Cricket Club for the after lunch session. I had a belief that Somerset were the kind of Cricket Club who would declare their second innings at a point where Durham had a good chance to win the game rather than play defensively. I remembered that when Durham first became a First class cricket county they plated Somerset at Darlington and set Durham the task of getting some 250 runs which in fact Durham were able to achieve within the overs remaining. Somerset had been criticised for making the task too easy and this was one of the first wins if not their first win. Today the task set was some 280 runs with 50 overs, a task similar to that which faced Durham in the recent Semi Final of the Friends Provident Trophy and where in fact the same thing happened as it did then and Durham lost two quick wickets. At least this time Durham had no need to face a win or lose position as a draw would keep them in the title race as they continue to have one game in hand on the three teams above them and on Yorkshire who have the same number of points. It was just as well that the weather was fine as you have to be an aficionado to appreciate the defensive game. A good approaching 100 partnership between captain Blenkenstien and opener De Venuto steadied the situation but their quick departure, followed by a fifth wicket opened her possibility of defeat again. Phil Mustard held himself back and with Ben Harmison saw the game through to 5.30 when Somerset agreed to the draw and an early long drive home. Had the umpire accepted their call for an LBW shortly before the half hour I am sure they would have pressed on in an effort to claim the additional ten points for the win and which would have deprived Durham of four of their eight points. Durham were lucky for Somerset appeared to be in control of this game from the start and puts Durham's ambitions of winning the championship title in perspective.
It was only later in the evening on arrival home that the result of the Yorkshire appeal against being ejected from the competition was made known. It was an amusing decision because it was agreed that the Committee had been too harsh in ejecting Yorkshire from the competition and instead they were deducted two points but allowed the result against Nottinghamshire to stand. This consequently also punished Nottinghamshire who had claimed the game just as Durham had asked for a bye. The decision means that Glamorgan one of the third best placed teams in the final league tables go through to meeting Durham at Riverside at a date to be determined. Presumably Nottinghamshire may appeal against this decision. I like this decision though. It is also interesting to read an apology issued by Yorkshire Cricket Club to Durham Members and although this is wholehearted it is about the original mistake and not what happened a week ago. I had written to Yorkshire Chairman Brian Close as well as Durham's Chairman which led to a personal letter from the Club's Chief Executive. Twenty four hours later the date of the revised game has not been publicised. I contacted the Rosebowl and established that all tickets and pre parking has been sold except for the semi finalists. It is going to be a hectic few days if the date of 21st suggested to Glamorgan is correct.
Reality Six. Before returning home I went to Sunderland City Centre to see what was the latest position on replacement spectacles at Specsavers who provided a current pair where one lens has been affected by my fall which I have only recently noticed. Sadly it is a sign of the times that the shop was fully shuttered so I had to find out find out the position through the internet. However the visit provided the opportunity to see some changes to the side of the city centre where there are the offices of solicitors and accountants and such like. I will need to bring my camera on another fine evening to be able to photograph when there are no crowds. I also called in at Morrison's for some fruit but could not resist two packs of Cinnamon Danish pastries originally 79 pence on offer for 39 when you will pay over a £1 when eating in café. A cup of tea and a single scone without cream or jam cost £2.20 at the cricket. It became a day of facing different levels of reality. More about that another time, perhaps.
The significance is that the programme showed that the weapons are being used in Darfur something which the Chinese argue has not been the situation. China has repeatedly blocked or weakened resolutions which could have helped to create a situation where UN intervention had a chance of success. While the programme concentrated on the involvement of China, Russia is also involved in providing weapons which enable the Sudanese to wield unacceptable force against negro Africans in the country.
The programme brought out the impact of Government action on individuals. A woman described how three of her seven children were cut down before her eyes and those of her other children and a young woman told of her rape. The majority were too afraid to be shown on camera and one fears for those who were. It was not just the horror of what had happened to individuals which affected me but the reality of the nature of what governments have to do to sustain and advance the position of the governed and how once official violence is unleashed it quickly gets out of hand and individuals develop the lust for blood, sex and wealth from the most vulnerable and usually the innocent.
Reality two. People are being murdered, raped, accidentally killed and maimed around me and all over England and the British Isle. My and our concern must be for them first. It is good we have media which investigates and reminds us of what is happening elsewhere on a large scale beyond the compression of most and the capacity of the all us to cope with.
Reality three. Last night I watched Martin Shaw as a senior Northumbrian policeman investigating a murder back in 1964 where the body is burnt beyond recognition and no one is report missing or to suggest who the individual is. The two hour fictional drama reveals how in the interests of the state, individuals are knowingly sacrificed. The basic storyline is that in order to penetrate the security of the IRA, the secret service "special branch" pretends that an Ira marksman and gun runner is a traitor providing them information when in fact it is a more senior member of the organisation and to establish his ongoing credibility they allow him to execute the gun runner and to also kill the only witness to what happened as well as being prepared for him to take the weapons back to Ireland which could have been used against British soldiers as well as others. The character played by Martin Shaw with the help of his assistant prevent the guns being handed over and the senior IRA officer is killed. Martin advises that he will make a full report on the role of the special branch officer, while in turn the special branch officer asks Martin how he will be able to sleep at night having prevented the plan from progressing. The programme reminds the difficult choices which governments and individuals on behalf of government have to take and how easy it is for principles and standards to be compromised.
Reality four and five are of different order. It has been a glorious warm and sunny day and I decided early on that irrespective of how the game progressed in the morning I was visit Durham Cricket Club for the after lunch session. I had a belief that Somerset were the kind of Cricket Club who would declare their second innings at a point where Durham had a good chance to win the game rather than play defensively. I remembered that when Durham first became a First class cricket county they plated Somerset at Darlington and set Durham the task of getting some 250 runs which in fact Durham were able to achieve within the overs remaining. Somerset had been criticised for making the task too easy and this was one of the first wins if not their first win. Today the task set was some 280 runs with 50 overs, a task similar to that which faced Durham in the recent Semi Final of the Friends Provident Trophy and where in fact the same thing happened as it did then and Durham lost two quick wickets. At least this time Durham had no need to face a win or lose position as a draw would keep them in the title race as they continue to have one game in hand on the three teams above them and on Yorkshire who have the same number of points. It was just as well that the weather was fine as you have to be an aficionado to appreciate the defensive game. A good approaching 100 partnership between captain Blenkenstien and opener De Venuto steadied the situation but their quick departure, followed by a fifth wicket opened her possibility of defeat again. Phil Mustard held himself back and with Ben Harmison saw the game through to 5.30 when Somerset agreed to the draw and an early long drive home. Had the umpire accepted their call for an LBW shortly before the half hour I am sure they would have pressed on in an effort to claim the additional ten points for the win and which would have deprived Durham of four of their eight points. Durham were lucky for Somerset appeared to be in control of this game from the start and puts Durham's ambitions of winning the championship title in perspective.
It was only later in the evening on arrival home that the result of the Yorkshire appeal against being ejected from the competition was made known. It was an amusing decision because it was agreed that the Committee had been too harsh in ejecting Yorkshire from the competition and instead they were deducted two points but allowed the result against Nottinghamshire to stand. This consequently also punished Nottinghamshire who had claimed the game just as Durham had asked for a bye. The decision means that Glamorgan one of the third best placed teams in the final league tables go through to meeting Durham at Riverside at a date to be determined. Presumably Nottinghamshire may appeal against this decision. I like this decision though. It is also interesting to read an apology issued by Yorkshire Cricket Club to Durham Members and although this is wholehearted it is about the original mistake and not what happened a week ago. I had written to Yorkshire Chairman Brian Close as well as Durham's Chairman which led to a personal letter from the Club's Chief Executive. Twenty four hours later the date of the revised game has not been publicised. I contacted the Rosebowl and established that all tickets and pre parking has been sold except for the semi finalists. It is going to be a hectic few days if the date of 21st suggested to Glamorgan is correct.
Reality Six. Before returning home I went to Sunderland City Centre to see what was the latest position on replacement spectacles at Specsavers who provided a current pair where one lens has been affected by my fall which I have only recently noticed. Sadly it is a sign of the times that the shop was fully shuttered so I had to find out find out the position through the internet. However the visit provided the opportunity to see some changes to the side of the city centre where there are the offices of solicitors and accountants and such like. I will need to bring my camera on another fine evening to be able to photograph when there are no crowds. I also called in at Morrison's for some fruit but could not resist two packs of Cinnamon Danish pastries originally 79 pence on offer for 39 when you will pay over a £1 when eating in café. A cup of tea and a single scone without cream or jam cost £2.20 at the cricket. It became a day of facing different levels of reality. More about that another time, perhaps.
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