Monday 21 July 2008

July 2008 Edition.

SPRINGBOK CYBER NEWSLETTER

July 2008 edition

As "Zimbabwe" descends further and further into disintegration and chaos under the ZANU-PF regime (inflation now standing at 2.2 MILLION % per annum!) it can only be a matter of time before Mugabe and his terrorist cronies fall from power.

But what of the future for that beleaguered land? It would be wrong to assume that any successor government would automatically be better - after all elsewhere in Black Africa (in both Uganda and Zambia to name but two examples) the removal of tyrannical regimes has only ushered in equally corrupt and repressive administrations. Zimbabwe's future government - be it MDC or whatever - will therefore immediately be judged by the outside world by two symbolic criteria :-

1) The national flag which they adopt for the state. The present green, yellow, red and black hotchpotch will always be associated in peoples' minds with the hated Mugabe regime - particularly the red Marxist five-pointed star. At MDC rallies it has been quite common to see the Marxist star covered over with the MDC's own open-hand symbol, but this still means that the striped colour-scheme of the flag remains the same - the identical colour-scheme to the ZANU-PF party political flag. Only a complete and radical re-design of the national flag will signify to the world that the tyranny of Mugabe is a thing of the past.

2) The very name of the country. The term "Zimbabwe" should more accurately only refer to a pile of ruins in the south-east corner of the country - a very apt title for the country after 28 years of ZANU-PF maladministration! Of course it would undoubtedly be too much to hope that the name of Rhodesia could be restored for the country (certainly not in the short-term future) and the previous name of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia is altogether too much of a mouthful. The mystical name of Monomatapa has however been suggested as an alternative, and this could well prove to be a compromise acceptable to all.

Mugabe frequently states at his rallies that "Zimbabwe will never be a colony again". Certainly the present weak-willed British political classes don't seem to possess the necessary senses of daring and destiny to enact any form of military intervention to rescue that sorry land between the Limpopo and the Zambezi from Mugabe's despotic rule - but would a return to benevolent British colonial administration be such a bad thing? Most inhabitants of the country of all races now look back on the days of Rhodesia with fondness and happy memories when compared to the hunger, violence and denial of freedom which has typified the country since 1980. "Zimbabwe" may never be a colony again, but possibly - just possibly - a colony named Rhodesia may one day arise again.

------------------------------------------------------------------

SPRINGBOK CLUB/ELC LONDON BRANCH EVENT

The London Branch of the Springbok Club/ELC will be staging a trip to see the finish of this year's Doggett's Coat and Badge Race on the Thames on Tuesday 22nd July. This historic race will start at 13.00 hrs, and is anticipated to finish at Chelsea at approximately 13.25 hrs. All those who wish to join the SC/ELC party are therefore asked to assemble on the Thames Embankment in front of the Chelsea Hospital near to Cadogan Pier between 12.30 hrs and 13.00 hrs. As this event will take place on the same day as the next London Swinton Circle meeting (see "London Swinton Circle News" column) this therefore provides an ideal opportunity for a special day out in London for supporters from elsewhere in the country, who will therefore be able to attend both activities in the one day.

------------------------------------------------------------------

FUTURE SPRINGBOK CLUB/ELC EVENTS

The Springbok Club/ELC's annual Rhodes & Founders Day celebration buffet will be held rather belatedly in August this year. This event will provisionally take place on Friday 22nd August in central London, and the guest speaker will be a prominent ex-Rhodesian now serving in the British army, who will give a first-hand account about present conditions in Zimbabwe, and his predictions and hopes for the future. Full details regarding this meeting will be given in next month's SCN.

In September the Springbok Club/ELC will be staging a trip to Carmarthen in order to lay a wreath at the monument to Sir Thomas Picton ("Wellington's Welsh General") on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of this great man's birth. This will be the first of what is hoped to be an annual SC/ELC event honouring great Imperial heroes who have statues and monuments in their honour around the UK. All those who are interested in participating in this forthcoming trip to Carmarthen should e-mail us at: springbok@falklands.org or 'phone: 07711-188430.

In November the Springbok Club/ELC will be holding its annual UDI Day celebrations, at which a prominent Rhodesian soldier who fought in the Bush War against Terrorism is anticipated to be guest speaker. A number of supporters have however requested that we stage a special dinner for this event again, rather than just a buffet format. We abandoned the formal dinner structure a couple of years ago following some unfortunate problems which were basically caused by lower than anticipated patronage. We have therefore decided only to go ahead with a formal dinner again if we are able to guarantee a sufficient number of attendees in advance. If you would be interested in attending a dinner in November in the central London area then please let us know as soon as possible by e-mailing: springbok@falklands.org or 'phoning: 07711-188430.

The Springbok Club/ELC is provisionally planning to organise a trip to Gibraltar in February of next year (precise dates are still to be finalised) in order to witness the Freedom of the Rock being granted to the Royal Marines. If any supporter is keen to join us for this visit then please e-mail us at: springbok@falklands.org or 'phone: 07711-188430.

------------------------------------------------------------------

SPRINGBBOK CLUB/ELC BRANCH NEWS

A member of the ExCo of the SC/ELC will be visiting Belfast during early August, when it is hoped that the Northern Ireland Branch of the organisation can be re-constituted. If anyone is interested in attending an informal get-together for this purpose, or becoming actively involved in any other new or existing branches, then please 'phone 07711-188430 for more details.

------------------------------------------------------------

LONDON SWINTON CIRCLE NEWS

Details of the next most important London Swinton Circle meeting are as follows :-

Date : Tuesday 22nd July 2008

Time : 19.00 hrs

Venue : The Counting House (the upstairs function room), 50 Cornhill, London EC3 (nearest underground station: Bank - leave via Exit 5)

Guest speakers : Commander John Muxworthy RN (Chief Executive Officer of the United Kingdom National Defence Association) and Col. Bob Stewart DSO (of Balkans War fame).

On 3rd September the London Swinton Circle will be welcoming Dr. J. Hazlett Lynch, the Director of the pro-British anti-terrorist organisation West Tyrone Voice as guest speaker. Further details will be given in next month's edition of the SCN.

------------------------------------------------------------------

NEW BRITAIN NEWS

On Tuesday 1st July New Britain staged a special event in order to celebrate Canada Day at St. Alfege Church in Greenwich. A wreath was laid on the grave of Gen. James Wolfe in the church and the Canadian National Anthem was then sung, following which everyone present signed a message of friendship which was sent to the Canadian Prime Minister.

On Saturday 12th July the National Chairman of New Britain, Mr. Dennis Delderfield, paid a visit to Belfast in order to join the celebrations for the 318th anniversary of the victory of King William III at the Battle of the Boyne. He laid a wreath in honour of Ulster's dead at the war memorial in front of Belfast City Hall, and then witnessed and supported the annual Belfast parade of the Loyal Orange Order. After this he met a number of prominent Ulster politicians, including Mr. Peter Robinson MP, the First Minister of Northern Ireland.

On Saturday 26th July Mr. Delderfield will be visiting Plymouth to partake in his now annual challenge bowls match against the Lord Mayor of Plymouth in order to celebrate the anniversary of Sir Francis Drake's defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588. This event will take place at Plymouth Hoe Bowls Club, commencing at 11.00 hrs.

New Britain's annual Goldsmith Lecture has now been fixed, and will be held on Thursday 18th September. Fuller details will be given in future issues of the SCN.

------------------------------------------------------------------

WORLD CUP WILLIES

The latest report which we've received from Jan Geelvink concerning preparations for the 2010 Soccer World Cup Finals in South Africa makes very interesting reading. The following revelations about the sudden resignation of South Africa's national coach (manager) seems particularly significant :-

"Carlos Parreira's decision to quit as national coach came as a bolt from the blue and stunned the 2010 World Cup hosts. The Brazilian, who took up his position last January, was mandated to restructure a squad which had lost its way under 13 previous coaches in as many years. Citing personal reasons, Parreira on Monday announced that he had decided to quit and return home. This after his wife, Leila, told Friday's Brazilian daily Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper that 'he has already made the decision'. FIFA President Sepp Blatter acknowledged his resignation and called on the SA Football Association (SAFA) to build on the progress that the Brazilian has made.

"SAFA have finally confirmed the appointment of Joel Santana as the new coach. The worst kept secret in local soccer was confirmed in a press release from the mother body yesterday, prompted by the widespread acceptance in the local media that Santana was the preferred candidate. 'Kick Off' reports that SAFA CEO Raymond Hack will leave for Brazil this weekend to finalise the contract and other legal requirements, including the application of the South African work permit. The new 'Bafana' coach is expected in the country on May 9. Parreira will stay on as technical advisor and has welcomed the appointment of 'Natalino'.

"Former 'Bafana' coach Clive Barker believes SAFA has lost credibility by rushing into signing Santana as a replacement for Parreira. He feels a more open and transparent selection process should have taken place and that local coaches should have been given the opportunity to lead the national team in view of the 2010 World Cup being the first on African soil. By simply replacing one Brazilian coach with another, especially with Santana lacking international experience, is not far off from a job-for-pals scandal, according to Barker. 'If Parreira recommends somebody, that does not mean they must just go and hire the guy. It is a slap in the face for the local coaching fraternity,' he added."

[Clive Barker was well known to us when we were still based in South Africa. A short, friendly and jovial Briton, he was a leading figure in the Durban amateur soccer scene. Unfortunately he blotted his copybook somewhat within the community by regularly campaigning for no-hope left-wing PFP candidates in the Umlazi (Durban South) Constituency. After the advent of terrorist rule in South Africa he remained in the country and was appointed coach (manager) of the South African national soccer team - even guiding them to triumph in the African Nations Cup competition! He was then suddenly and inexplicably sacked by 'Bafana' (whatever that word means) officials. By all accounts, in spite of being stabbed in the back so terribly, he has chosen to remain in the 'new' South Africa. Some people apparently never learn! Ed.]

------------------------------------------------------------------

FALKLANDS NEWS

The Mail on Sunday recently picked up on the very amusing story that there had been several mentions of in the Argentine press of a school encyclopaedia being published in Argentina using the name Falklands, not "Malvinas", for the Islands, and having the letters GB next to them on a map. The Mail on Sunday described the annoyance this had allegedly caused to Argentine veterans of the 1982 war, and their calls for the encyclopaedia to be destroyed. It says veterans are not happy just with the correction slips the publishers have been forced to put into the encyclopaedia.

------------------------------------------------------------------

REVEALING ARTICLE BY MELANIE PHILLIPS

Our friends from the Anglicans Friends of Israel organisation have recently forwarded us the following most revealing article written by Melanie Phillips in The Spectator of 1st May, regarding the journalist Johann Hari of The Independent. It should be noted that it was this same Johann Hari who penned a number of smear articles attacking the Springbok Club and London Swinton Circle in the past, and who has made a number of damaging and unsubstantiated allegations against, inter alia, the historian Andrew Roberts and the late Bill Binding. A catalogue of shame indeed :-

"I really can’t bring myself to wade into those sewers known as the Guardian and Independent, but Tom Gross, who has a strong stomach, provides samples here of the poisonous effluent they are pumping out about Israel — thanks in part to the usual suspects whose Jewishness is not so much ancestry as pathology. Vile beyond measure — and beyond all reason.

"The Independent’s Johann Hari, who figures prominently in this catalogue of shame, recently won the Orwell Prize for journalism. Tom Gross notes that Hari cited a fabricated quote by the Israel-hating Israeli academic Ilan Pappe. This was actually the second time he had done so, despite the fact that the first occasion 18 months ago provoked the (himself controversial) Israeli ‘New Historian’ Benny Morris to write this letter to the paper denouncing the quote as a fabrication. And here is another informed critique of Hari’s piece. Maybe someone should ask the organisers of the Orwell Prize (which I myself have won in the past) how they reached their decision."

------------------------------------------------------------------

CAT PROTECTION PETITION

A few weeks ago we circulated the following request from Natashja Singleton of the Cats9lives organisation :-

"Hi Everyone,

"I started up this petition and please send it along to your friends and whoever. Please take a moment to add your name to the list.

"http://www.petitiononline.com/kittens9/petition.html

"A cruel fate is bestowed upon kittens in South Africa, which makes me ashamed to call myself an South African.

"What some people do to make money is, they take kittens, they hold the kittens in the air by either their necks or legs, and they sell the kittens for a lot of money. If the people (walking by or seeing this) does not buy the kitten then this person kills the kitten in front of them (mostly by breaking their little necks)

"The SPCA has been phoned on many occasions and they simply stated that they can not do anything about this matter (to the persons responsible). The public have been warned NOT to buy these kittens because if we do then we will start up a new market and inspire more people to do this kind of sickness because they see its working (to make money, out of people who can't stand to see these kittens be killed).

"I am starting up this petition so that the SPCA will have more power to do something about this (by taking up the government and demand actions to be done.) Will this help? I do not know, but it is worth a try.

"Help us, help those Kittens from such a cruel fate.

"Kind Regards

"Natashja Singleton for Cats9Lives

"http://www.cats9lives.co.za/"

As a result of this circular we have received the following two most observant replies :-

"These are not people. They are Black, mostly illegal immigrant savages keeping kittens and puppies in disease-ridden, flea and lice-infected cardboard boxes. Most of the animals are so disease-infected, they can never be cured, even if the SPCA or you or I give them the best possible medical care.

"The answer is to remove the sellers out of Africa. We do not need such monsters in Africa. Give them the death penalty. Do Africa a favour!

"Wolf Benjamin"

and

"Yes, I am a cat lover, have two of them. Most shocking this kitten story, I'm sickened. What else do you expect from a race of savage Af's. When the food runs out like in Zim they will eat each other. That's why me and my cats live in England for the last 8 years. I hope you get millions of signatures for the lives of kittens to be protected.

"Guy"

------------------------------------------------------------------

MAKE YOUR OWN BILTONG AT THE FRACTION OF THE COST ....

Biltongmakers.Com has, for the last 10 years, put a smile on many a South African face. No longer do they have to pay exorbitant prices for biltong that in most cases is not even to their liking!

Now you can make your own Biltong at a fraction of the price you pay right now and ...... you can make it the way YOU like it!

Please visit www.biltongmakers.com and see all they have available.

You will never be without some REAL South African Biltong again!

------------------------------------------------------------------

FLAGS etc.

The Springbok Club/ELC now retails Union Flag lapel badges and key-rings, price £2.00 each (plus 20% p&p).

Payments should be made to "The Springbok Club" and sent to: BCM SAPAT, London WC1N 3XX, UK.

Copies of S.A.Patriot-in-Exile (editions 30 to 36) are still available price R5.00 or 50p each, as well as batches of 50 copies (including copies of the original S.A.Patriot) price R80.00 or £8.00 (plus 20% for p&p.)

Payments should be made to "Patriotic Press" and sent to: BCM SAPAT, London WC1N 3XX, UK.

[We hope to be able to produce the next edition of S.A.Patriot-in-Exile, No.37, very shortly. We would, however, like to clear as much of our existing stock of back-issues as possible prior to publication. Supporters can help us in two ways in this regard, either by making donations which will enable us to distribute more copies, and/or by providing address details of people who might be interesting in receiving copies.]

------------------------------------------------------------------

BOOK OFFERS

"WAY OUT OF LINE" by Trisha Jackson

A novel which tells the story of the profound impact that an innocent youthful love affair has on the lives of two young lovers. The plot moves from a cult and a maximum security prison in the US to the savannah grasslands of Mozambique and Zimbabwe - this makes for adventure, suspense and melodrama. Packed with conflict and sexual tension, anyone who loves romance, passion and excitement should enjoy reading this story.

Trisha Jackson was born and grew up in Rhodesia. She immigrated to the USA with her husband and three children in 1990. She and her husband live in a unique, rural community in the Tonto National Forest in the eastern mountains of Arizona.

Copies of "Way Out of Line" can be ordered from Amazon.com.

----------------------------

"GOVERNMENT BY DECEPTION" by Jan Lamprecht

Details the disasters of Mugabe's Zimbabwe, and illustrates the similarities between Mugabe's rule and that of Mandela/Mbeki in South Africa. It can be ordered on-line at: www.AfricanCrisis.org

----------------------------

"OF RICE AND MEN", by Jimmy Walker

111 pages. Illustrated. With excellent cartoons by Fusilier Norman Lambert, produced whilst in captivity. Soft-back £5.00 (cover price £10.00)

An irreverent, left of centre, look at life as a POW by Jimmy Walker, who was captured by the Japanese following the fall of Singapore in 1942. Jimmy takes us through incarceration at the notorious Changi jail, forced labour on the railroad, and deportation to Japan, where the Japanese exploited the mining skills of the boys from Northumberland. Norman Lambert’s sketches are both amusing and frightening at the same time. Through the bitterness and resentment, and physical trauma of captivity shines the humour and the indomitable spirit of the British soldier. An enjoyable and educational read, with a surprise ending.

Prices include p&p. Payment can be made by credit or debit card. To order on line, log on to www.paypal.com and enter postmaster@gcartwright.demon.co.uk as payment destination.

----------------------------

"THE BLIGHT OF BLAIRISM" by Francis Bennion

A devastating indictment of the "new" Labour administration. For more details about the book visit: www.francisbennion.com

----------------------------

"THE THOUSAND STEPS" by Dr Helen Anderson

Dr Anderson spent what she describes as "26 privileged years in Africa, privileged because life was never dull and medical practice never ceased to be truly exciting and fulfilling." It is a personal account of practice, both in Entebbe, Uganda, and the Sudan, Congo and Botswana. She describes her fascinating experiences. She married in Gulu, Uganda, where she ran the local Hospital, dealing with surgical cases never before described in textbooks. She also describes her time in Serowe, Botswana, and the problems with the resident ghost in the Residency.
The book is copiously and superbly illustrated with numerous colour photographs. Available at £20.00 direct from the author at Lake Hawea, R.D.2., Wanaka, 9382, New Zealand, by cheque or money order.

----------------------------

"THE RAPE OF ZIMBABWE" by Ricky Wilson - which tells it like it was (and is)!

Rhodesia was once a prosperous and thriving country, and the story of the author's enterprising and entrepreneurial spirit in that land, followed by his desperate escape from the country when, as Zimbabwe, it became ruled by a tyrant, imparts a realistic perspective of the present desperate plight of many exiles from a country that was once a paradise and the breadbasket for so much of Africa.

You can order this book via http://www.diadembooks.com/zimbabwe.htm

----------------------------

Glenn MacAskill and Michael Bowery of Crest Publishing have written three books each. Glenn MacAskill is ex-BSAP Special Branch and still working (as Mugabe has denied him any pension) and Michael Bowery is ex-South African Special Forces. Due to the difficulties confronting White writers in the "new" South Africa they launched Crest Publishing to self-publish their own books, and have been doing this since October 2006. Michael Bowery is author of: "Canham's Run", "The Sligo Piper" and "Kill the President", whilst Glenn MacAskill is author of: "King's Gold", "Crime Lords" and "Of Royal Blood". Special discounts to ex-servicemen, Rhodies and Springboks!

For more information, or to make an order, please contact Crest Publishing at: P.O.Box, 97910, Petervale, Transvaal, 2151, South Africa, e-mail: crestbooks@mweb.co.za, or visit the Crest Publishing web-site at: www.crestpublishing.co.za

----------------------------

"THE SAINTS" - DVD versions of the book about the history of the RLI

Now available from Msasa Enterprises. Contact: msasasa@iafrica.com or UK tel.: 07732 685400.

----------------------------

"LETTERS FROM AFRICA" by Mandy Retzlaff

A collection of short stories documenting Mandy Retzlaff's extraordinary life in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Her letters are full of hope, despair, extreme courage and a remarkable sense of humour needed to face the everyday difficulties of living in a politically and economically unstable Africa.

For more details visit Mandy's web-site at: www.mandyretzlaff.com

------------------------------------------------------------------

SOUTHERN AFRICAN AND OTHER MEMORABILIA FOR SALE

Robert Shipley has many items of memorabilia of special interest to Southern African and other patriots for sale, including :-

An old brochure of Worcester in South Africa for £10.00

and

A State President's Guard Plaque 1980/81, Lt.Grobler, for £15.00

(postage and packaging included).

For more information or to make orders please 'phone 07527277406, or e-mail: robertshipley1729@yahoo.co.uk

------------------------------------------------------------------

WHERE ARE THEY NOW ?

No.116 : Ms. SANDY HANSEN of Durban

Sandy Hansen was a Durban-based beauty of Norwegian ancestry. She was an active and much loved member of the Durban "in" set during the mid 1980s. A number of old friends would be very interested to learn what became of her.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

RECOMMENDED WEB-SITE OF THE MONTH

Robin J. Elliott from Canada has written to tell us about a contribution which he made to Soldier of Fortune magazine exposing the truth about the situation in South Africa. This magazine is distributed world-wide, and Robin challenged the editor of Soldier of Fortune to reveal to the world what is really happening in the "new" South Africa - and he did! Here's the article :-

http://www.dollarmakers.com/sof

------------------------------------------------------------------

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

LIKE THE ROMAN

Sir,

I've just read the following article from Reuters :-

"Almost two out of three Britons fear race tensions could spill over into violence and half the population want immigrants to be encouraged to leave, a new poll shows.

"In a country where the last serious race riots erupted seven years ago between White and Asian youths, the head of Britain's equality watchdog called the poll findings 'alarming'.

"'What worries me is if that friction starts to catch fire - if people genuinely believe it's going to catch fire - then we're in trouble,' Equality and Human Rights Commission head Trevor Phillips said.

"Of the 1000 people sounded out by Mori pollsters for the BBC, 60% said Britain had too many immigrants.

"A quarter of those polled said their area did not feel like Britain any more because of immigration.

"Just 20% admitted to being racially prejudiced.

"Immigration is a sensitive political issue in Britain where hundreds of thousands of people have come to work in recent years, many from eastern European countries joining the European Union.

"The main political parties agree immigration has boosted Britain's economy but critics argue that migration has undercut British-born workers and strained public services.

"The threat from radical Islam, rammed home by the 2005 London bombings that killed 52 people, sparked a debate about just how successful Britain has been as a multicultural society and provoked calls for greater integration of ethnic minorities.

"The BBC poll marked the 40th anniversary of an infamous 'rivers of blood' speech by Conservative politician Enoch Powell who expressed fears about levels of immigration and how the indigenous population felt 'a sense of alarm and resentment'.

"'As I look ahead, I am filled with foreboding, like the Roman, I seem to see the River Tiber foaming with much blood,' he said."

Well, Britain should have listened to Enoch Powell - and Rhodesians - at the time, then this problem would never have arisen.

Yours etc.,

Mike Graeme, Sussex, U.K.

---------------------------------------

SOUTH AFRICAN OBSERVER

Sir,

It was poignant to read in the August 2007 edition of your newsletter about a troublesome Mr. Francis Andrew who lives in Jordan. It was a well known fact that the long defunct anti-Semitic periodical "South African Observer" received massive financial backing from a source in Jordan which enabled this obscure but objectionable publication to appear regularly each month.

Yours etc.,

O. van der Westhuizen, Natal, South Africa.

[The HNP originally marketed S.A.Observer as they wanted to feature an English-language magazine among the materials they retailed in order to prove that their Afrikaans-first policy did not imply antipathy towards British South Africans. Its anti-Semitic content was however evidently always a great embarrassment to them. Once S.A.Patriot - with its clear pro-Israel stance - was launched in 1980 they therefore dropped the poisonous S.A.Observer and started marketing S.A.Patriot instead. Ed.]

---------------------------------------

YORKSHIRE GRIT

Sir,

During the course of scouting for various locations to hold the Zimbabwe Debates across Yorkshire and other parts of the United Kingdom I have come up against some pretty difficult individuals, but let me also say I have met some great Zimbabweans too who have risked life and limb for a country a love dearly.

As of yesterday, that is Monday 5th May 2008 (UK bank holiday) I received a telephone call out of the blue on my mobile. The caller claimed to be from the 'Afro-Caribbean Society' in Leeds, and after getting a grilling and the normal abuse the short story is that they believe what is currently happening in Zimbabwe is all acceptable and should have been done a long time ago.

After giving it some thought I have today decided to ask the caller to arrange for their society, supporters, or group of friends, to set up a venue, date and time for a Zimbabwe Debate to take place in Leeds. I cannot leave certain untruths unchallenged regarding Zimbabwe, and it's history.

As always I will have my work cut out, and would like to take this opportunity to invite any members from ZANU-PF, MDC or the CIO to put their case forward in an open forum. Once I have received the details of the event I shall take the liberty to let the local media know too.

Yours etc.,

Albert Weidemann, Yorkshire, U.K.

-------------------------------------

BLACK HOLES

Sir,

Did you know that sub-Saharan Africa has received about £400 billion in aid since the independence process began? It is estimated that about £90 billion of it resides in private bank accounts around the world.

At least once a month I get donation requests from UK charities requesting money for the next African basket-case cause. Has the Springbok Club considered an information campaign discouraging well-meaning British citizens from throwing their money down the drain on these useless projects?

Yours etc.,

ABD, Hertfordshire, U.K.

------------------------------------------------------------------

LOONEY CORNER

We have come across deranged 'conspiracy theory' cranks in the past who have unbelievably tried to claim that the 9/11 Islamic terrorist attacks upon New York and Washington never happened, but never previously have we heard such barking-mad lunacy as that emanating from someone going under the name of Pieter de Villiers. This strange character recently wrote to us not only claiming that "there are [sic] strong proof that the 911 atrocity was staged by the CIA", but then inexplicably stated that "You will notice that over the years the American puppet Government's foreign policy has always remained the same before and after the elections, the reason being that Rockefeller and al [sic] the other fellers [sic] does not [sic] give a damn which candidate wins, because they control the money. The US so called 'Government' are just executing the orders from their bosses. By the way did you know that The US president knew about the attack on Pearl Harbour where 3000 Us soldiers and seemen [sic] were killed. That gave them a reason to enter the Second World War, the same as the 911 atrocity."

No form of evidence whatsoever is offered by Mr. de Villiers to confirm these outrageous and hysterical claims - just wild and unsubstantiated make-believe theories. How on earth do we ever get into contact with such characters?

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Finally, if you would prefer to be deleted from our SCN circulation list then simply e-mail us with the word "unsubscribe". Alternatively, if you liked this SCN and think more of your friends would like to receive copies then please let us know their e-mail addresses!

See you again next month!