America Will Send An Indian Astronaut To International Space Station By Year-End: US Envoy

US Envoyto India said the NISAR project, a joint Earth-observing mission between US space agency NASA and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), is also likely to be launched by the end of the year.

PTI
Updated on: 22 May 2024 

Spacewalk on the International Space Station File Photo


America will send an Indian astronaut to the International Space Station by the end of the year, US envoy to India Eric Garcetti said on Wednesday.

He said the NISAR project, a joint Earth-observing mission between US space agency NASA and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), is also likely to be launched by the end of the year.

“We are going to put an Indian astronaut into the International Space Station this year.

“We promised when PM (Narendra) Modi came (to the US in 2023) that by the end of this year, we will do this and our mission is still on track to be able to go in space this year,” he said.

The US ambassador was speaking on the sidelines of an event to mark the 248th Independence Day of the United States.

He said both India and the US should look at coordinating research and critical emerging technology so that they can increasingly leverage each other’s strengths.

The diplomat said India landed ‘Chandrayaan 3’ on the Moon last year at a fraction of the cost that the US incurred on a similar lunar mission.

“The US has some capacities that India still doesn't have today. When the two are combined, both countries have those capacities,” he said.

On the civilian nuclear energy arena, Garcetti said post elections, the Indian government can address outstanding liability issues and move forward “arm in arm and hand in hand”.

Two sites in India – Mithi Virdhi in Gujarat and Kovadda in Andhra Pradesh – have been earmarked for US companies to build nuclear reactors.

However, the companies have raised concerns over the Civil Liability Nuclear Damage Act 2010, which provides for prompt compensation to the victims for damage caused by a nuclear incident through a no-fault liability regime.

 

Ancient Mycenaean armor tested by Marines and pronounced suitable for extended combat

by Public Library of Science

Artistic photo showing the replica of the Dendra armor used in the study.

 Photo credit: Andreas Flouris and Marija Marković. Permission required for reproduction. 

Credit: Flouris et al., 2024, PLOS ONE, CC-BY 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

A famous Mycenaean suit of armor was not just ceremonial, but suitable for extended combat, according to a study published May 22 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Andreas Flouris of the University of Thessaly, Greece and colleagues.

One of the oldest known suits of European armor is a 3,500-year-old suit found near the village of Dendra, a few kilometers away from ancient Mycenae.

Since its discovery in 1960, it has been unclear if this was a ceremonial suit or if it was suitable for battle. This question has important implications for understanding warfare in Late Bronze Age Europe, but no historical accounts describe the use of this style of armor. In this study, researchers combine historical and experimental evidence to investigate the combat suitability of the Dendra armor.

The authors recruited 13 volunteers from the Marines of the Hellenic Armed Forces, equipped them with replicas of the Dendra armor and Bronze Age weapons, and ran them through an 11-hour simulated Bronze Age combat protocol. This combat simulation was developed based on historical accounts from Homer's Iliad along with additional physiological and environmental evidence to create an approximation of typical diet, activities, and maneuvers of the Mycenaean military.

Top: Geomorphology of the area surrounding Troy in the later phases of the Late Bronze 

Age (labels indicate the locations of the two army encampments and the geographic 

features of the area). The map was created using Azgaar's Fantasy Map Generator, a free

 web application, under a CC BY license, with permission from Max Haniyeu, original 

copyright 2017–2021. Bottom: Volunteer marine soldiers in simulated combat wearing the

 Dendra armour replica during the empirical study (right) and an artistic photo shoot (left). Photo credit: Andreas Flouris and Marija Marković. Permission required for reproduction. Credit: Flouris et al., 2024, PLOS ONE, CC-BY 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

The experiment found that the replicated Dendra armor did not limit a warrior's fighting ability or cause severe strain on the wearer.

These results suggest that the Dendra armor was battle-worthy, implying that the Mycenaean's powerful impact in Mediterranean history was due partly to their armor technology.

Man wearing replica armor and hitting a sheild with a spear/staff. Credit: Andreas Flouris

 and Marija Marković.

To supplement these results, the authors developed a freely-available software which enables simulation of combat conditions to test the hypothetical efficacy of the armor in more varied scenarios. Further research into Mycenaean combat technology will continue to illuminate details of the Late Bronze Age and the transition into the Iron Age.

More information: Analysis of Greek prehistoric combat in full body armour based on physiological principles: A series of studies using thematic analysis, human experiments, and numerical simulations, PLoS ONE (2024). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301494

Journal information: PLoS ONE 

Provided by Public Library of Science 

2,700-year-old leather armor proves technology transfer happened in antiquity

Ancient people hunted now extinct elephants at Tagua Tagua Lake in Chile 12,000 years ago, study finds

by Public Library of Science

Photographs from TT-3. A. Combustion feature spatially associated with gomphothere cervical vertebrae and skull fragments (excavation unit C5); B. Sacral and caudal vertebrae, vertebral discs, and unfused coxal portions (excavation unit F5). Note the distance between the first sacral vertebra and its vertebral disc; C. End scraper (TT3-U1-N18) in situ (excavation unit 1); D. Core debitage (TT3-G5-N18-12) in situ spatially associated with gomphothere remains (excavation unit G5). Credit: Labarca et al., 2024, PLOS ONE, CC-BY 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Thousands of years ago, early hunter-gatherers returned regularly to Tagua Tagua Lake in Chile to hunt ancient elephants and take advantage of other local resources, according to a study published May 22 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Rafael Labarca of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile and colleagues.

Multiple archaeological sites are known from the region of Tagua Tagua Lake in central Chile, representing some of the earliest known human settlements in the Americas. In this study, Labarca and colleagues report the recent discovery of a new site called Taguatagua 3, an ancient hunter-gatherer camp dating to the Late Pleistocene, between 12,440–12,550 years old.

Notably, this site features the fossil remains of a gomphothere, an extinct relative of elephants. Signs of butchery on the bones, along with stone tools and other evidence, indicate that Taguatagua 3 represents a temporary camp established around the task of processing the large carcass.

Other activities were also carried out during the camp's brief period of use, including processing of other foods as indicated by additional charred remains of plants and small animals such as frogs and birds. Fossil cactus seeds and bird eggshell suggest that this camp was occupied specifically during the dry season.

Numerous such sites of similar age are now known from this region, implying that Tagua Tagua Lake was a recurring hunting and scavenging ground for people during the Late Pleistocene due to abundant and predictable local resources.

The authors suggest that this area was a key location along the routes taken by mobile communities of the time and that temporary camps might have hosted regular meetings between these mobile bands. Further investigation of this rich archaeological region will continue to provide insights into the mobility and subsistence strategies of early humans in South America.

The authors add, "Taguatagua 3 helps us to understand better how the early humans adapted to fast changing environments in central Chile during the late Pleistocene times."

More information: Taguatagua 3: A new late Pleistocene settlement in a highly suitable lacustrine habitat in central Chile (34°S), PLoS ONE (2024). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302465

Journal information: PLoS ONE 

Provided by Public Library of Science 

Late Pleistocene human mandibles from the Niah Caves may hint at ancient diets

UK Labour reaffirms backing of ICC as Israeli leaders face arrest warrants

UK Shadow Foreign Secretary confirms the opposition party’s stance on the court’s efforts, stating it is the ‘cornerstone’ of international law.

The New Arab Staff & Agencies
22 May, 2024


Shadow Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, stands in front of the Martyrs Monument and the Al Amin Mosque in Martyrs Square in downtown Beirut during a visit to Lebanon [Photo by Oliver Marsden/ Middle East Images/ Middle East Images via AFP]

The UK’s Labour Party has reaffirmed its backing of the International Criminal Court (ICC), after its chief prosecutor Karim Khan announced a request for arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas leaders for alleged war crimes.

The Labour Party's shadow secretary, David Lammy, defended the world court and argued the importance of the ICC’s independence.

This comes after a spokesperson for British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak declared that the ICC prosecutor's decision to request an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was "unhelpful".

"This action is not helpful in relation to reaching a pause in the fighting, getting hostages out or getting humanitarian aid in," the spokesperson said, referring to the decision made by the prosecutor of the ICC.

The spokesperson also claimed the ICC did not have the jurisdiction to request the arrest warrants.

Following the UK government’s response, Lammy spoke to members of the British parliament on Monday to emphasise that international laws must be abided by.

"Labour has been clear throughout this conflict that international law must be upheld," Lammy said.

"The independence of international courts must be respected."

RELATED
ICJP files Gaza war crimes complaint against British officials
MENA
The New Arab Staff

He added that "arrest warrants are not a conviction or determination of guilt, but they do reflect the evidence and judgement of the prosecutor about the grounds for individual criminal responsibility".

In a direct jab to his political opponents, Lammy also posed the following question: "Does the Conservative party, the party of Churchill...believe in international rule of law or not?"

The British deputy foreign minister Andrew Mitchell later told parliament that the ICC's decision would not have an immediate impact on the government's approval of licences so companies can sell weapons to Israel.

"The fact that the prosecutor has applied for arrest warrants to be issued does not directly impact, for example, on UK licensing decisions but we will continue to monitor developments," Mitchell said.

Labour has stepped up its criticism within the past month against the Conservative government on its response to the war on Gaza.

The opposition group pushed for the Tories to publish legal advice on Israel’s military conduct in the besieged territory, while urging government ministers to halt weapons supply to Israel if legal experts found there were international law violations in Gaza.

RELATED
Poll shows most British people in favour of Gaza ceasefire
World
The New Arab Staff

However, Labour has faced criticism following Labour leader Keir Starmer’s stance, who had asserted Israel's "right to defend itself" and refusal to back an immediate ceasefire, causing many members to resign.

A group of councillors have since resigned from the party after 7 October over Starmer's position, while eight shadow ministers and two parliamentary secretaries quit the party in November after 56 MPs backed the motion of Scottish National Party (SNP) calling for a ceasefire.

Israel's war on Gaza has killed at least 35,7000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip since 7 October, and wounded at least 79,990 others.

The bombing campaign has devastated entire parts of the enclave, and plunged the Strip into a deep humanitarian crisis.

France stands by decision not to recognize Palestinian state

EU countries are divided on whether to recognize a Palestinian state or not

The formal recognition of a Palestinian state has been the long-term objective of Western countries supporting a two-state solution. | Lionel Bonaventure/Getty Images

MAY 22, 2024 

BY CLEA CAULCUTT AND HANS VON DER BURCHARD

WEIMAR, Germany — French Foreign Minister Stephane Séjourné said recognizing a Palestinian state is not “taboo,” but that the timing was not right to do so.

Speaking at a press conference in Weimar, Séjourné said “the impact of recognizing a Palestinian state now would not have much impact” given the diplomatic deadlock between Israel and Palestinian leaders.

“The logic is that the peace process leads to the state recognition… not that recognition is a diplomatic end in itself,” he said, alongside his Polish and German counterparts.

The comments come after Ireland, Norway and Sweden announced earlier Wednesday they would recognize a Palestinian state, sparking fury in Israel.

The French minister was in Weimar for three-way talks with Poland and Germany focused on defense, industrial defense policy, Ukraine and EU diplomacy.

The formal recognition of a Palestinian state has been the long-term objective of Western countries supporting a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinian territories. But with Israel’s war against Hamas grinding on, some countries are moving towards state recognition as a political gesture.

The recognition has also highlighted EU divisions over its approach to the conflict in the Middle East.

At the press conference, Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, whose country is not in favor of recognition, said the focus should be “on political solutions” and “concrete talks.”

“The hostages that are held must be liberated, humanitarian aid must enter Gaza. Without that it is not real to imagine a diplomatic solution for the Palestinians,” she said.

Meta allowed AI-generated anti-Muslim ads during India election

May 22, 2024 

In this photo illustration, Meta logo is being displayed on a mobile phone screen in front of computer screen with the logo of Meta in Ankara, Turkiye 

 [Ahmet Serdar Eser – Anadolu Agency]


Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, approved AI-manipulated political advertisements inciting violence and spreading disinformation during India’s election, according to a report shared with the Guardian.

The investigation by India Civil Watch International (ICWI) and corporate watchdog Ekō revealed that the tech giant allowed inflammatory ads targeting Muslims. These ads, submitted to test Meta’s detection systems, included slurs such as “let’s burn this vermin” and “Hindu blood is spilling, these invaders must be burned,” alongside false claims about political leaders.

One ad falsely accused an opposition leader of wanting to “erase Hindus from India” and called for their execution. The report revealed that Meta’s system was unable to block a series of inflammatory ads, which were designed to mimic real-life scenarios and uploaded by ICWI and Eko.

Of the 22 ads submitted in multiple languages, 14 were approved by Meta. After minor tweaks, a further three were also approved. Eventually, all approved ads were immediately removed by ICWI and Ekō. Meta’s systems failed to detect the AI-manipulated images, despite the company’s pledge to prevent such content during the election.

READ: Malaysia outraged at Meta takedown of media’s Facebook posts on PM’s Hamas meeting

Ekō campaigner Maen Hammad accused Meta of profiting from hate speech. “Supremacists, racists and autocrats know they can use hyper-targeted ads to spread vile hate speech… and Meta will gladly take their money, no questions asked,” he said.

The report also found that the approved ads violated India’s election rules, which ban election-related content 48 hours before polling begins.

A Meta spokesperson insisted that ads must comply with laws and community standards, stating that ads about elections or politics “must go through the authorisation process required on our platforms and are responsible for complying with all applicable laws.”

The company has been criticised previously for failing to stop the spread of Islamophobic hate speech, calls to violence, and anti-Muslim conspiracy theories on its platforms in India. In some instances, these posts have led to real-life riots and lynchings.

India at Cannes: Tortuous investigation exposes violence against women, low-castes and Muslims

Issued on: 22/05/2024 - 

Video by:Juliette MONTILLY

Indian filmmaker Sandhya Suri’s film ‘Santosh’, showing in the ‘Un Certain Regard’ section, follows a newly widowed woman who inherits her husband’s job as a police constable. When a low-caste girl is found raped and murdered, the young policewoman finds herself pulled into the tortuous investigation alongside a charismatic feminist inspector. In Cannes, Sandhya Suri talks to FRANCE 24 about compassionate appointment, violence against women and Bollywood.

“We won’t be intimidated,” say London students protesting Gaza genocide

Omar Karmi The Electronic Intifada 22 May 2024

The SOAS encampment is small but in it for the long haul. Omar Karmi

On a late-morning sunny May day in central London, students at the Gaza encampment in the grounds of the School of Oriental and African Studies were slowly stirring.

Occupying a small green space between university buildings across from the main entrance, the SOAS encampment comprises some 20 tents.

It’s small but remarkably organized.

At the front is an information desk with leaflets for passersby on the Palestinian struggle, on students’ demands, a schedule of upcoming speakers at the encampment, and so on.

Inside the camp, there are workshops for the students themselves on anything from Palestinian history and anti-colonial studies to self-defense and yoga, as well as specific areas set aside for studying and cooking.

The students there are determined to be in it for the long haul.

“This [encampment] is just one tactic,” said Brandao, a liberal arts undergraduate, who, like everyone else interviewed for this article, only gave a first name.

He was keen to emphasize that while the students protesting had specific demands from the SOAS administration to “stop profiting from the oppression of the Palestinian people,” the first priority was to keep the focus on what is happening in Gaza specifically and Palestine more generally.

“This is ultimately about ending the genocide, about Palestinian liberation and opposition to all the means by which the continued denial of Palestinian rights has been allowed to continue.”
Awakening moment

The UK student encampment movement started in late April and spread quickly to over 25 universities, from Aberdeen in the north to Sussex in the south.

“Inspired,” in the words of Brandao, by the US student movement, the UK’s encampments have been equally vocal but seen little by way of a police crackdown.

One source in London’s Metropolitan Police told The Electronic Intifada that while there was political pressure at the top to crack down on the encampments, the issue was widely seen in police circles as one for university administrations to deal with.

“Our role is to keep the peace, not inflame tensions,” the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.

From government ministers, however, there has been a greater echo of the official US response, most notably by invoking anti-Semitism. The first reaction by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was to call in vice-chancellors of British universities to tell them to take “personal responsibility” for the safety of Jewish students.

And on 21 May, Michael Gove, a government minister and a “proud” Zionist, told a Jewish community center in North London that university protests against Israel’s genocide in Gaza were “anti-Semitism repurposed for the Instagram age.”

“The encampments which have sprung up in recent weeks across universities have been alive with anti-Israel rhetoric and agitation,” said Gove, who has been repeatedly criticized for holding Islamophobic views.

Brandao dismissed such comments as fear mongering by the government and typical of the “false conflation” of anti-Semitism with anti-Zionism.

“We are inspired by our Jewish comrades,” he said.

Another student, Seb, a history undergraduate, said the movement was all-inclusive and an “awakening moment” for large parts of a British population watching a genocide unfold in Gaza.

“Palestine used to be a predominantly Muslim issue in the UK,” she said. “Now all walks of life are represented, and people are beginning to realize, and object to, the UK’s complicity with Israeli crimes.”
Agitators

Generally, said Brandao, the public reception to the encampment at SOAS had been “incredible.”

While he was speaking, a woman approached the information desk to ask if students needed water or other supplies, an offer that was politely declined.

Inside the encampment, meanwhile, A.B., a physical therapist who volunteers their time, led an exercise workshop for the students focused on “nervous system control and strength building,” offering training on how to maintain physical and mental discipline if confronted with agitators or riot police in demonstrations.

There have been some isolated skirmishes at university encampments in the UK, notably at Oxford University, but nothing on the scale seen in the US.



Instead, Britain’s GB News, a Fox-like media outlet, treated viewers to footage of Suella Braverman, Britain’s erstwhile home secretary, being roundly ignored by Cambridge University students at their encampment.


Remarkably, Braverman – who, while she was in office, described mass protests in London calling for a ceasefire as “hate marches” and wanted them banned – tried to present her visit as a free speech issue, a position for which she was later taken to task by another Cambridge student.
A dfferent movement

Braverman’s abject display was symptomatic of a generation gap that Ibrahim, a SOAS alumnus born in London but whose family is originally from Gaza, said made the current student movement different.

On the one hand, is a political class of “mediocrities,” well-versed in sound bites, but unable to handle substantial challenges and with little knowledge outside their own political interests.

On the other, is a young generation facing broad existential threats, from climate change to growing economic inequality, that has been forced to tackle such issues head on, both intellectually and practically, and which sees Palestine as symptomatic of an “old and corrupt colonial” order.

“This [movement] is run by youth, who saw the war crimes committed in Afghanistan and Iraq, who grew up with the Islamophobia of the ‘War on Terror’,” Ibrahim, who said he had lost 31 distant relatives during the genocide in Gaza, told The Electronic Intifada.

Students, he said, were determined to instill substantial change, reflected in the demands of the university administration.

These fall into several categories, including that universities divulge their financial investments, largely drawn from student fees, divest from any companies – including Barclays Bank, Microsoft, Accenture, among several others listed in leaflets handed out at the encampment – that are “complicit in Israel’s denial of Palestinian rights,” and boycott Israeli academic institutions, like Haifa University with which SOAS has a partnership, and which cooperates with the Israeli state in the violation of Palestinian rights.

There have been some small successes. Cambridge University has agreed to negotiate with students over their demands, while the University of York has announced it would divest from arms companies.

These fall far short, however, and students at the SOAS encampment said they were prepared for the long haul.

“We are not intimidated,” said Brandao. “And we are not seeking permission.”

Seb echoed the sentiment and said students were prepared to continue regardless of how they are portrayed.

“There is no such thing as ‘acceptable’ protest,” she said. “Disruption is part of protest.”

Ibrahim, meanwhile, said he was confident that an inflection point had been reached from which there was no turning back.

Recalling remarks in November by Jonathan Greenblatt, head of the pro-Israel Anti-Discrimination League in the US, he fully agreed – “I can’t believe I am agreeing with this man” – that supporters of Israel was facing a “major” generational problem.

“Zionism will never recover from this moment. It has lost our generation. It will lose the next generation. And the old generation will die.”

Omar Karmi is associate editor of The Electronic Intifada and a former Jerusalem

 and Washington, DC, correspondent for The National newspaper.

Asylum housing tycoon is among the UK’s wealthiest – here’s what conditions are like inside the properties his company runs

Napier Barracks asylum accommodation, run by Clearsprings. 

Stephen Bell / Alamy Stock Photo

 THE CONVERSATION 
Published: May 22, 2024

The Sunday Times rich list is a stark symbol of the growing inequality in the UK. As many people face worsening living conditions, a small few are becoming ever richer. Among them for the first time this year is Graham King, an Essex businessman who has accumulated a £750 million fortune, partly through taxpayer-funded government contracts.

King’s business empire includes Clearsprings Ready Homes, which has provided asylum accommodation to the Home Office since 2000. Clearsprings currently receives a whopping £3.5 million a day for asylum housing and transportation, even though the company has long been accused of providing substandard and unsafe accommodation.

The Guardian reported in 2019 that hundreds of asylum seekers were crammed into Clearsprings accommodation which was overrun by cockroaches, rats and mice. Lawyers described the sites as “depraved” and likely unfit for human habitation. One said the conditions appeared to breach environmental health laws as well as statutory rules on overcrowding.

Two years later, the Guardian exposed similarly squalid conditions in Clearsprings-managed asylum flats and hotels. They described cramped rooms with damp and mould, rodents and cockroaches, broken appliances, intermittent power and hot water, and water leaking through the walls and ceilings. At the time, Clearsprings said: “Clearsprings Ready Homes works closely with its delivery partners to ensure that safe, habitable and correctly equipped accommodation is provided. Whenever issues are raised, or defects are identified, Ready Homes will undertake a full investigation and ensure that those issues are addressed.”

Clearsprings also runs the notorious Napier Barracks, a former military barracks in Kent that began housing asylum seekers in 2020. The site has faced concerns over unsanitary and overcrowded conditions, and reports of intimidation and mistreatment of residents. There have also been many incidents of self-harm and suicide attempts.

The independent immigration watchdog found multiple problems at Napier, including a “decrepit” isolation block unfit for habitation. The watchdog concluded that the site was unsuitable for long-term use. The conditions were so bad that former Conservative immigration minister Caroline Nokes accused the government of using such barracks to make the UK “as difficult and inhospitable as possible” for asylum seekers.

The high court found in 2021 that the conditions at Napier were inadequate and put people at risk of fire and contracting COVID, and that the Home Office employed unlawful practices in housing asylum seekers there. The court heard from public health experts who described a lack of ventilation, run-down buildings, fire risks and filthy conditions.

Despite these findings, the site continues to be used to house asylum seekers. A re-inspection in March 2022 found improvements, but still highlighted the “the poor condition” of the dormitories.

Read more: Deaths and abuse in UK immigration detention – my research shows extent of mental health problem

Clearsprings also runs Wethersfield asylum centre, which opened in July 2023 on the site of a former RAF airfield in Essex. The site has been criticised for detention-like settings, lack of privacy, inadequate healthcare and causing mental distress. The site also poses risks of unexploded ordnance, radiological contamination, inadequate storage of hazardous substances and contamination from poisonous gases.

There have been multiple incidents of self-harm and suicide attempts at Wethersfield. In February, the immigration watchdog warned of immediate risk of criminality, arson and violence.

Last month, 70 asylum seekers were moved out of Wethersfield due to safety concerns.

The Conversation has approached Clearsprings for comment on these issues, but it did not provide a response.

The privatisation of asylum accommodation

These problems are serious, but not unique to Clearsprings. Allegations of unsafe conditions are evident across asylum accommodation sites. They are also not new. Concerns of poor standards of dwellings were also made when local authorities were responsible for housing asylum seekers. But the seriousness of concerns appear to have worsened since asylum housing was subcontracted out to private companies.

Before 2012, asylum accommodation was managed by local authorities and housing associations. When Theresa May as home secretary announced her intention to create a “hostile environment for illegal migration”, the Home Office outsourced numerous immigration functions, including accommodation. They enlisted just three contractors to house people: Clearel (a joint venture between Clearsprings and Reliance) and the security giants G4S and Serco.

These often-criticised security companies also run immigration detention centres and deportations. It was in the course of a botched G4S deportation in 2010 that Jimmy Mubenga’s death occurred: he died of a cardiac arrest after being restrained on the plane deporting him.

In the 12 years since asylum accommodation was privatised, there have been numerous reports by parliament, the National Audit Office, non-governmental organisations and researchers into asylum accommodation failings.

Recurring problems include poor performance, delays and spiralling costs by subcontractors, substandard levels of housing and squalid and unsanitary conditions.

RAF Wethersfield is one of the Clearsprings accommodations that has come under scrutiny.

  Joe Giddens/Shutterstock

Moreover, privatisation has led to a lack of accountability. Private contractors are not answerable to local authorities, and there has been a lack of transparency from the Home Office and inaction over complaints.

Worryingly, these companies receive few repercussions for their failings. They rarely receive fines and almost never have their contracts terminated. Indeed, the same handful of companies – including Clearsprings and Serco – tend to be repeatedly awarded huge Home Office contracts, even when they have a poor delivery record. Clearsprings’ current contract lasts until 2029.

Profiting from human misery

As the growing fortune of a so-called “asylum housing tycoon” shows, asylum accommodation has proved to be a goldmine for companies and their owners. And yet, the conditions for people living in this accommodation are appallingly substandard, driving some residents to the point of suicide.

Clearsprings Ready Homes’ operating profit has skyrocketed from under £800,000 in 2020 to £28 million by 2022 and £62.5 million the following year.

This level of profit made in part from unsafe and squalid asylum accommodation raises moral questions about the design of the UK’s asylum system and the spending of UK taxpayer money.

We are seeing political neglect and shrinking accountability towards people seeking safety on the UK’s shores. The asylum system is increasingly geared towards making money rather than ensuring people’s protection or dignity. Housing is more than basic shelter. We need to treat people on the move as fellow human beings, not business opportunities.

Author

r

Melanie Griffiths
Associate Professor, School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham

UK

LABOUR HUB EDITORS

CADFA – direct solidarity with Palestine

MAY 22, 2024

As the Israeli genocidal bombardment of Gaza and its increased murderous belligerence towards Palestinians in the West Bank show no sign of coming to an end, people-to-people solidarity with the Palestinian people becomes all the more important. Here we look at CADFA.

CADFA – the Camden Abu Dis Friendship Association – works in the UK to promote awareness about the human rights situation in Palestine. The link began in 2003 when people from the London Borough of Camden made links with people in Abu Dis, a town in a Jerusalem suburb. At that time, the Israeli Separation Wall was being built across Abu Dis itself: in 2004, the International Court of Justice found this to be a serious human rights violations and in breach of international humanitarian law.

CADFA was formed to promote human rights and respect for international humanitarian law, linking people directly in order to build awareness and understanding. It works to bring Palestinian voices to the attention of people in the UK through publications, public events, creative projects and exchange visits. It has worked with schools across England and Wales, bringing speakers, visitors and organising  Zoom links with Palestine.

Through the  Building Hope project, CADFA works with groups across England and Wales to increase the  number of group visits from Palestine to the UK, including students, women, youth and others. Alongside partners in many places across the country, from Cornwall to Cardiff and Newcastle to Diss, CADFA ran two Palestinian women’s visits to the UK in March and July 2023.

The latest youth visit, one of dozens organised by CADFA, was originally scheduled for October 2023, but had to be postponed twice due to the latest phase in Israel’s war on the Palestinian people. In the end, the visit – a group of ten young Palestinians aged 13 to 16 – took place in February and March. Activities included meetings with young people including in schools and youth clubs, sightseeing and other fun activities and meetings with local people.

The group’s evaluation of the event says: “The young Palestinians were really heartened by the love and solidarity they found around them.” The next youth visit is planned for late September. Financial contributions are welcome.

CADFA is also involved in local activities in the Borough of Camden. Their blog recently reported: “As Camden Council have been shocking and cowardly for many months, avoiding their constituents, refusing deputations, closing the public gallery, actually cancelling a full council meeting to avoid a demonstration, we held our own ceasefire Council in Judd St. We elected our own Mayor, had a Nakbah Day deputation from Palestine live on Zoom and debated the motion that Camden Council should have been prepared to look at. It passed overwhelmingly and now we will send it to the Council to show them what is needed!” A short film of the event can be seen here.

CADFA holds regular weekly meetings which always include Palestinian speakers. They are open to people from outside the Borough on Zoom. A Palestine Festival is planned for Saturday July 14th at Calthorpe Community Garden.

Images: c/o CADFA.