SPRINGBOK CYBER NEWSLETTER
October 2008 edition
Over the past few months we have received three independent reports about the escalating number of South Africans - mainly Whites, but not exclusively - who are trying to escape from the country.
One such report stated openly: "The number of White South Africans who give emigration as the reason for selling their home has shot up in recent months as high crime levels and political and economic uncertainty spur the flight of Whites from the Rainbow Nation [sic]. A survey by South Africa's First National Bank (FNB) showed the proportion of homeowners who said they were putting their homes on the market because they were emigrating had doubled between the last quarter of 2007 and the second quarter of 2008, from 9 percent to 18 percent. Foreign embassies in South Africa report a jump in emigration applications from mainly White South Africans in recent months, amid growing disillusionment over high levels of violent crime and the populist slide within the ruling African National Congress (ANC). A power crisis that has made blackouts a feature of life in a country that prides itself on having first-world infrastructure, and a recent outbreak of xenophobic violence have also added to a sense of doom and gloom fuelling emigration. In South Africa, 50 people are murdered every day and over 130 rape cases reported. South Africa's Institute for Race Relations estimates that around 800,000 Whites emigrated in the decade from 1995 to 2005."
Another more personal report which we received stated: "One of my Afrikaans friends who is planning to leave South Africa told me the following story. She and her husband want to go to Australia or New Zealand. Recently at Midrand (between Johannesburg and Pretoria), there was an exhibition of companies who can assist people to leave the country to go to New Zealand. Various companies like removals companies and agents who can help you to leave the country exhibited at this show. My friend and her husband attended and she said there were thousands of people attending. She told me that almost all of them were White. She saw the odd Coloured (no Blacks) here and there, but the overwhelming majority of people leaving were White. She said there were thousands of people attending the show. Some weeks prior to that, at the same place, they had a show for people wanting to go to Australia. She attended that too and the place was even MORE PACKED. She said you could hardly move and queues were so long that you could easily stand for an hour or two just to get a chance to speak to one of the representatives of the companies at the show."
One report which we received stated that the estimated White population in South Africa now stands at 4.5 million, and another places it as low as 4.3 million. It should be remembered that in 1990, prior to de Klerk's treason and sell-out, the White population was estimated to be 6 million. In other words the White South African population has shrunk by at least ONE QUARTER since the ANC regime came to power - or more accurately since the NP government surrendered to them.
But this reduction in population can't be explained by emigration alone. The catastrophic murder rate of Whites on the platteland and in deprived urban areas should also be taken into account - something which can only really be described as genocide. In addition the rates of suicide among Whites (who have become devastated by the loss of their beloved country) and road and other accidental deaths (caused mainly by the collapse of the South African national infrastructure) have also sky-rocketed since the ANC were handed power.
In spite of the phenomenal reduction in the numbers of Whites still residing in South Africa there are still over 4 million remaining in the country however. Yes, they have been foolish not to get out before now (though to be fair, many have been unable to do so because of age, lack of finances or personal circumstances), and to be sure the majority were probably idiotic enough to vote "Yes" in the 1983 and 1992 constitutional referenda - but they are still our kith and kin, and we must still do our utmost to help them.
One of the main aims and objectives of patriotic expatriate organisations such as the Springbok Club is of course to help such unfortunates. We try our best to provide an overseas infrastructure where expatriate South Africans can liaise and socialise together, and to assist those still living within the disintegrating country to escape by whatever means they can. Alas, however, our attempts in this noble aim are constantly hamstrung by the severe lack of financial resources. We know that many - probably most - of our supporters are not in a position to assist us financially, but others around the world are no doubt able to give. With your support our endeavours to help our kith and kin - both those already forced into exile, and those aiming to leave - can only improve.
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SPRINGBOK CLUB/ELC LONDON BRANCH EVENT
The London Branch of the SC/ELC staged a most pleasant and successful gathering last month, at which the guest of honour was Mr. James Constantine. Mr. Constantine, an established Cape Town businessman who escaped from South Africa a couple of years ago, gave a most informative and eye-opening key-note talk in which he told about the harassment and victimisation which he suffered in the "new" South Africa which forced him to leave. Our thanks are extended not only to Mr. Constantine, but also to Peter King, John Pope-de Locksley and Jon Morris for helping to organise this successful event.
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OCTOBER SPRINGBOK CLUB/ELC MEETING
The Springbok Club/ELC will be staging an extremely fascinating meeting later this month, at which the guest speaker will be a very prominent visiting overseas supporter of our movement. This event will take place at a very convenient venue in central London on Monday 20th October, with proceedings commencing at 19.00 hrs, and will take the form of a buffet (with the usual nominal charges applying - £6.00 per head for Full Members of the SC/ELC, £8.00 per head for Associate Members and £10.00 per head for non-members).
All members of the SC/ELC will be contacted with precise details of this event during the next few days, but if any other supporters would like to attend then please 'phone 07711188430 or e-mail springbok@falklands.org
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SPRINGBOK CLUB/ELC NEWS
Mr. Allan Robertson has recently resigned from the Springbok Club/ELC Executive Committee. The loyalty of Mr. Robertson (whose direct links to southern Africa have always been minimal) towards the movement has seemingly been waning for some time now, and his role in the crisis engulfing our fraternal organisation, the London Swinton Circle, certainly made his position untenable. A replacement for Mr. Robertson on the SC/ELC Executive Committee will be made shortly.
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FUTURE SPRINGBOK CLUB/ELC EVENTS
The Springbok Club/ELC will be holding its annual UDI Day celebrations on Monday 17th November, at which the guest speaker will be a renowned international security consultant. Fuller details will be given in next month's SCN.
In December the Springbok Cub/ELC will be marking the Day of the Vow with a special event featuring a display by a Victorian-era military re-enactment society. More details will be given in future editions of the SCN.
The Springbok Club/ELC's 2009 AGM will take place in January 2009.
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: 07711188430.
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NEW BRITAIN NEWS
New Britain's second annual Goldsmith Lecture, at which the guest speakers were Mr. Stuart Wheeler and Lord Pearson of Rannoch, proved to be a very good success, with most interesting and informative talks being given by both speakers.
New Britain will be staging its traditional commemorations of Trafalgar Day on Tuesday 21st October. As in previous years, with the approval of the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's Cathedral, the National Chairman of New Britain, Mr. Dennis Delderfield, will attend the official Royal Naval service at the tomb of Admiral Viscount Nelson, where he will lay a wreath. Later the same day New Britain will be staging a special Trafalgar Day dinner at the historic Trafalgar Tavern in Greenwich. For more details please contact Dennis Delderfield at: CLDT@btinternet.com or 'phone 020-72472524.
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WORLD CUP WILLIES
The following extremely revealing reports have appeared in recent editions of "Preparing South Africa for the World" - the official newsletters of the 2010 Soccer World Cup organising committee :-
"Media: Alarming drop in South Africa's media image - South Africa's approval rating in international media has fallen to its worst levels since January 2007. That's according to new research by Media Tenor which notes that concerns over the country's ability to host the 2010 World Cup has impacted on the levels of negativity. Over the past couple of weeks, FIFA's confirmation that that it does have contingency plans in the event that South Africa is unable to fulfil its 2010 obligations, coupled with the announcement that Nelson Mandela Bay [sic] has been scrapped as a venue for the Confederations Cup and the crisis in Zimbabwe have added to concerns about the South Africa's preparations. More than 3,500 reports in 96 opinion-leading media from 15 countries were analysed between January 2007 and May 2008."
"South African soccer icon and former Manchester United and Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Gary Bailey has said the major hurdle to South Africa hosting a successful 2010 World Cup was not infrastructure or stadiums, or even Eskom's shaky power supply, but almost exclusively crime. Bailey, who is a respected figure in South African soccer and a Supersport TV presenter, said: 'We will have world-class stadiums, the right transport infrastructure and I'm sure the issue of power and electricity won't be a problem despite the cut-outs we've suffered in the last couple of years. But crime is a different matter. It's a major problem and we can't ignore it. We have to tackle it right now, not three months before the World Cup. Otherwise, fans from around the world aren't going to come to South Africa, which would be a tragedy.'"
"Security: Corrupt cops could target 2010 tourists - Some members of South Africa's poorly paid police force are vulnerable to corruption and could target tourists during the 2010 World Cup for bribes, the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) warned. According to a report on the IoL site, President Thabo Mbeki's government has intensified efforts to combat crime ahead of the tournament, and official figures show murders, rapes and other violent crimes have dropped in the past year, although they remain high. But these gains could be eroded by corruption among police, who are not only lowly paid but also highly stressed in a country with one of the highest crime rates in the world, said Andrew Faull, an ISS researcher who specialises in police corruption. 'With 2010 around the corner, some senior metro police managers have expressed concern over a potential escalation in incidents of petty bribery - such as paying money to escape a traffic fine - hitting tourists.'"
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ENCOURAGING NEWS FROM SEAL ALERT-SA
Seal Alert-SA Press Release:-
Please write to Prime Minister Nahas Angula of Namibia and urge him to please announce publicly an end to his country's cruel baby seal clubbing policy: nangula@opm.gov.na
Thank you! It just gets better and better: 23rd July, EU officially announces all seal species trade ban!
The 23rd July, is indeed an historic day in the history books for Seal Alert-SA, a one-man seal protection organization that is backed by other like-minded individuals or partners in over 80 countries around the world.
Seal Alert-SA efforts have ensured the protection of 15 million seals in 17 seal species around the globe who are cruelly killed in sealing - once the EU seal ban takes effect.
On the 23rd July 2008, Commissioner Stavros Dimas announced EU's proposal to ban all seal species hunted cruelly around the world. See EU website, for press release: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/biodiversity/animal_welfare/seals/seal_hunting.htm
Francois Hugo of Seal Alert-SA is deeply thankful to EU Commission and Europeans for announcing that this trade ban will now include, 30 species of seals found in the oceans of the globe. Seal hunting occurs year round, but the hunting season varies on the region and the species targeted. Canada, Greenland, and Namibia [South-West Africa] account for about 60% of the 900,000 seals hunted each year. Other countries which hunt seals include Iceland, Norway, Russia, and the United States, and in the European Union Sweden, Finland, and the United Kingdom.
The regulations to ban seal trade will now include 17 species which are hunted with an estimated population of 15 million seals, and which finally includes Cape Fur Seals.
On 23rd July 2008 French movie star Brigitte Bardot, who joins Seal Alert-SA in celebrating, told Associated Press that, "She is happy the proposal includes sea lions, which are killed in Namibia [South-West Africa]. French President Nicolas Sarkozy has assured Bardot that "everything would be done" during the French presidency of the European Union to adopt a law banning imports of seal products in the EU".
Seal Alert-SA would also like to thank De Beers Diamonds for its invaluable support to help bring about this ban, Namibia's largest employer and contributor to Namibia's economy.
What makes this monumental for Seal Alert-SA is that the original written declaration adopted by 473 MEPs throughout Europe on 15 September 2006 originally only included a ban on imports of 2 seals, Harp and Hooded Seals. Seal Alert-SA fought hard, even though this declaration had been adopted, to include all of some 30 species of seal around the world.
To this end, I thank the originator of the written declaration, Caroline Lucas MEP, for agreeing when she wrote to Seal Alert-SA, "We are delighted that the written declaration has been officially adopted by the European Parliament to ban Harp and Hooded Seals. The EU Commission is now charged with drafting legislation that implements the ban. So, although it is not possible to amend the text of the written declaration now that it has been adopted, we can press the European Commission to review the scope of the ban and include Cape Fur Seals, and all species of seals around the world hunted. We are horrified that the Namibian authorities are culling 85,000 seal pups this year - an act of unjustified cruelty. The culls in Canada and Russia have been much publicised, but until this week we were unaware of the plight of the Cape Fur Seals. We agree any European ban must include all seal products and will do all that we can to help bring an end to the unnecessary and inhumane slaughter of seal pups in Namibia".
A year ago to the day, on the 23rd July 2007, the Prime Minister of Namibia [South-West Africa] Nahas Angula could have avoided this EU 27-member country ban by simply agreeing to end its cruel baby seal clubbing policy at our meeting in Namibia [South-West Africa].
The EU now joins the US, which banned Cape Fur Seals imports in 1972 due to its cruelty in clubbing to death seal pups as per the Fishery Sealing Regulations, which contradict the basic Animal Protection Act legislation.
Namibian [South-West African] sealers are presently herding together, separating nursing pup from its mother, and clubbing 80,000 baby seals to death.
Yet still it's a great day for 15 million seals, 30 species of seal - Cape Fur Seals in particular - and Seal Alert-SA.
Please continue to sign our online petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/DPCFS/petition.html
For the Seals
Francois Hugo, Seal Alert-SA
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INTRODUCING EU REPORTER
For those who may have missed our special circulation of a few days ago, we would like to draw everyone's attention to an excellent new publication which reports on EU and European matters in general, completely independent of EU funding - EU Reporter. Its web-site can be accessed at :-
http://www.eureporter.co.uk/
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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!
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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 really want to be able to produce the next edition of S.A.Patriot-in-Exile, No.37, as soon as possible, but in order to do this we must clear our existing stock of back-issues first. 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.]
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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.
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"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
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"BETRAYAL IN HIGH PLACES" by James Mackay.
271 pages, some illustrations. Soft-back £5.00 including p&p. (r.r.p. £10.00)
The compelling story of what really happened in a defeated Japan following the end of World War II. Merchant seaman James Mackay, whilst travelling in the east, started to hear stories of massacres and other atrocities committed by Japanese forces, not just against enemy troops, but against innocent civilian populations. His subsequent investigations revealed reluctance amongst Allied governments to discuss these incidents that seemed to amount almost to a cover-up. Why would the Allies want to overlook the crimes of a former enemy, especially when the leadership of another former enemy was being liquidated at Nuremburg? Using his own research, as well as material prepared by Australian Army war crimes investigator Capt. J.G. Goodwin, Mackay exposes the cover-up and names the guilty. Not only were the Japanese keen to sweep the past under the carpet, but the US government of the time also had its own reasons for preserving the political and industrial elite in Japan. A provocative book, which calls into question the morality of US policy towards Japan after WWII.
Payment can be made by credit or debit card. To order on line, log onto www.paypal.com and enter postmaster@gcartwright.demon.co.uk as payment destination.
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"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
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"PALM WINE AND LEOPARD'S WHISKERS" edited by Ronnie Anderson.
Reminiscences of Eastern Nigeria - "The nuts and bolts of African history..." Professor Tony Kirk-Greene CMG, MBE, Emeritus Professor of African Affairs at Oxford University. A unique selection of Nigerian stories, studies/articles on arts, crafts, education riots, oil discovery, court and community development, medical section, Royal visits, Leopard murders, electoral matters, land disputes, an extraordinary spectrum of Nigerian life in post-war era up to Independence. Photographs, sketches and maps.
A small stock of this book, which makes an ideal gift, are still available from : Yesterdays Books, 6 Cecil Avenue, Bournemouth, BH8 9EH, UK at £15.00 - plus £3.50 or £6.50 (airmail) for postage and packing.
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"WINSTON CHURCHILL BY HIS PERSONAL SECRETARY" recollections of the great man by a woman who worked for him, Elizabeth Nel
Elizabeth Nel served as Winston Churchill’s personal secretary during World War II. The vivid and human details of her experiences, of her impressions and memories of the irascible and loveable war hero, take up the story of Churchill’s life at No. 10 where the BBC’s impressive drama, 'The Gathering Storm', leaves off — when Churchill took over the reins of Government at the outset of the war. Finally, the author, Elizabeth Nel, at 90 years of age and just before she died, looks back across the years.
Available from: www.diadembooks.com/churchill.htm
[You may like to see details with photos regarding the launch of this book, which can be viewed at http://www.diadembooks.com/celiamurray.htm]
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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
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"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.
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"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
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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
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WHERE ARE THEY NOW ?
No.119 : Ms. JENNY HUMPHRIES of Port Shepstone
Jenny Humphries was a breath-taking beauty from Port Shepstone on the Natal south coast, who trained to be a nurse at Addington Hospital in Durban during the mid-1970s. It was at this time that she met and formed a close relationship with a visiting British patriot, and indeed visited the UK the following year where the affair flourished. She decided to return to South Africa to complete her nursing qualifications however, where she unfortunately became involved with a trainee gynaecologist by the name of Martin who she evidently married. It is not known, however, whether this marriage lasted. She also had an equally beautiful sister named Helen who was a skilled pottery expert. A supporter would be very keen to learn whatever happened to these two gifted sisters.
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RECOMMENDED WEB-SITE OF THE MONTH
It is customary at this time of year to publicise one of the famous Lewes Bonfire Societies. One leading society which we haven't included previously is the Commercial Square B.S. Their excellent web-site can be accessed at :-
http://www.c-s-b-s.co.uk/
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
A PRAYER OR A DARE
Sir,
Thanks for sending me the "Thought from Susan Gordon". Prayer is good - but what is the SAS for? A quick raid and the whole of the criminal gang in Zimbabwe could be taken out. Ditto Iran.
Yours etc.,
David, Reading, Berkshire, U.K.
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PURRFECT EVIDENCE
Sir,
Re. the kittens (see July 2008 SCN) - I've always believed that those who are cruel to animals treat humans badly as well. Muslim and Third World countries generally are my evidence.
Yours etc.,
Mike Turner, London, U.K.
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NATAL FEVER
We recently received a report about the arrest of an "anti-crime activist" following a protest demonstration outside Pinetown Magistrate's Court in Natal on 20th March 2008, as a result of the appearance there of five Black suspects charged with the rape of a young White woman from Kloof, Jessica Foord. The person arrested is however well-known to us - Gordon "Gherkin" Parkin from Malvern, Queensburgh, Natal.
Gordon Parkin was involved on the fringe of patriotic activity in the greater Durban area during the 1970s and 1980s. An amiable and seemingly sincere person on the surface, he was also alas chronically unreliable. Although he was always quick to criticise others for "doing things wrong", he would never return 'phone calls, would not contribute financially to the local patriotic movement (in spite of owning a highly profitable plumbing business) and would rarely turn up to meetings when promised. Indeed he never even turned up to a joint-birthday party staged in his honour, or to a bonfire celebration to which his young daughters had been specially invited (no, we're not making this up!).
But perhaps we're being slightly unkind towards Mr. Parkin, for he was not alone in this chronic apathy - not by any means alone. Several other prominent Durban-based businessmen who also claimed to hold patriotic conservative sentiments, such as Brian Hurt and Johann Keyser, were always good at pontificating, but were nowhere to be seen when action was called for - and never willing to put their hands in their pockets when needed. Had these 'armchair politicians' (and doubtlessly there were many others around the country) been willing to sponsor, say, S.A.Patriot magazine so that it could appear more regularly, or to give financial backing to grass-roots conservative organisations such as the Patriotic Forum, the BBB, the White Workers' Union and Action White Natal, then maybe - just maybe - the Conservative Party of South Africa would have been able to triumph at the 1987 or 1989 General Elections.
Had this come about then the whole future course of events in South Africa would have been radically different. There would have been no sellout to the ANC, and law and order would not have broken down to the extent which we see today. More specifically, however, Jessica Foord would not have had to endure the terror of being gang-raped, and - dare we say it - Mr. Parkin himself would not have faced arrest.
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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!
Sunday, 12 October 2008
Tuesday, 23 September 2008
September 2008 Edition.
SPRINGBOK CYBER NEWSLETTER
September 2008 edition
Our movement, although of course primarily concerned with Southern African affairs (and particularly with the Southern African expatriate community around the globe) even so takes - indeed must take - a great interest in events which occur in the United States of America. It was after all John Vorster who once stated that as the US President was the leader of the free world then he was our leader also. Furthermore it must also be remembered that although not a member of the Commonwealth nor recognising the Queen as head of state, the United States is still an integral and vital part of the English-speaking world, with those of British ethnic descent still comprising a large majority of the population (with an even higher percentage when those of kindred north-western European ethnic stock are also taken into account). For these reasons we therefore believe that we have every right to comment about the forthcoming US Presidential election, and to lobby for our choice.
Ever since our movement was founded we have always tended to side with the Republican (GOP) candidate, and this year is no exception. The 2008 poll, however, is undoubtedly more vital than ever, for three very essential reasons. Firstly John McCain, with his proven track record both in the theatre of war and in congress, is superbly qualified to become leader of the free world. We identified him as the best and most likely next President as far back as mid-2007, and nothing has made us change our minds since. Like George W. Bush he is a strong Anglophile, and has been a steadfast supporter of the War against Terror - indeed he was one of the earliest advocates of the highly effective Surge in Iraq. He is therefore a man who we can all have full confidence in to defend the West in these current most dangerous times. Secondly his opponent, Barack Hussein Obama, is probably the most disturbing potential President imaginable. His "exotic" origins (rumoured to be even more "exotic" than he admits) must surely make him uniquely unqualified to become leader of the Western World. To be put bluntly, the idea of Obama becoming US President is too ghastly to contemplate, and could herald the end of Western civilisation as we know it. Thirdly all the opinion polls indicate that the election outcome is going to be very tight. Although it would seem inconceivable that any American citizen of European descent would ever wish to vote for the son of a Kenyan goat-herdsman educated at an Indonesian madrassa as their country's leader, there alas appear to be millions of White American's who are so infected by liberal race-guilt that they seem to have a national death-wish. Add to this the current economic crisis effecting the United States - which is widely, and perhaps not entirely without foundation, blamed upon the current GOP administration - and it can be seen that the result in November is no longer by any means certain.
We know that many who supported other candidates in the GOP primaries still regard John McCain with some suspicion and believe that he is not conservative enough for their liking. We know also that others are unconvinced by his choice of VP running-mate, Sarah Palin, particularly because of her apparent support for the teaching of the antediluvian theory of creationism in schools. We would ask all these doubters to put such minor disagreements behind them in November however. It will be a straight-forward choice between a genuine American hero and patriot and somebody embodying a completely alien culture. It will not only be the United States as a nation which will be at stake. It will be the entire Western World.
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SPRINGBOK CLUB/ELC LONDON BRANCH EVENT
The London Branch of the SC/ELC will be staging an informal get-together at a venue in the Stepney area of east London during the evening of Monday 29th September. At this event the branch will be welcoming a special guest, a prominent South African historical expert who escaped the country in 2006 and has been living in Britain for the past few months, who will be telling something about the true situation in South Africa and why he was forced to leave. For more details about this event either e-mail springbok@falklands.org or 'phone 07711188430.
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SPRINGBOK CLUB/ELC NEWS
Sadly Mr. Paul Armstrong has been forced to resign from the Executive Committee of the Springbok Club/ELC because of ill-health, but we are delighted to be able to announce that Mrs. Susan Gordon has been appointed to take his place on ExCo. We therefore congratulate Mrs. Gordon (who was born in Kenya and lived her early life in Rhodesia) upon this appointment, and are certain that her proven enthusiasm and commitment to the movement will add extra impetus to the future deliberations of the Committee.
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FUTURE SPRINGBOK CLUB/ELC EVENTS
In October the Springbok Club/ELC will be staging a joint meeting with the re-constituted London Swinton Circle under the banner of the Patriotic Forum, at which a most prominent personality will be guest speaker. More precise details will be given in next month's SCN.
In November the Springbok Club/ELC will be holding its annual UDI Day celebrations, at which a prominent ex-Rhodesian will be guest of honour. As a result of the request in recent editions of the SCN for views about whether these UDI Day events should revert to taking the form of a sit-down dinner, several supporters have confirmed that they thought this would be a good idea. Unfortunately, however, there doesn't appear to be sufficient time to organise such formalities this year, so next November's celebrations will therefore still take the form of a buffet - but we are confident that we'll be able to organise a more formal dinner once again in 2009.
In December the Springbok Cub/ELC will be marking the Day of the Vow with a special event featuring a display by a Victorian-era military re-enactment society. More details will be given in future editions of the SCN.
The Springbok Club/ELC's 2009 AGM will take place in January 2009.
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: 07711188430.
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LONDON SWINTON CIRCLE CRISIS
Although the crisis in the London Swinton Circle (as reported in last month's SCN) still hasn't been resolved, we have been very heartened to learn of the extent and depth of support which the Chairman of the LSC has been receiving. Furthermore, it has also been interesting to learn that one prominent member of the LSC had previously resigned from the organisation for precisely the same reason which prompted the Chairman to make his stand - namely the unwelcome presence of certain disruptive elements with known affiliations to extremist parties at LSC meetings. An Emergency General Meeting of the organisation is still planned to be held during the next few months, at which, inter alia, the position of the erstwhile Organiser of the organisation will be discussed in light of his apparent willingness to allow extremists to attend meetings and his subsequent convening of an unconstitutional and invalid kangaroo court. In the meantime all activities of the LSC have been suspended, and all unilateral communications from the appeasement faction emanating from a P.O.Box in South-East London should be ignored.
Regrettably we have been informed that Dr. J.E. Hazlett Lynch went ahead and addressed a small meeting staged by the pro-extremist breakaway faction of the LSC in spite of the fact that he was advised earlier that the meeting which he was to address had been postponed until after the crisis within the organisation was resolved. This sad decision by Dr. Lynch will undoubtedly reflect very badly against him personally and the organisation which he represents, "West Tyrone Voice", in the days ahead. We are however uncertain about precisely what "West Tyrone Voice" stands for, and would be very interested to learn more details about this organisation.
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NEW BRITAIN NEWS
The Essex Branch of New Britain staged a very successful meeting at Ingatestone earlier this month, at which the guest speaker was Sir Teddy Taylor. The branch is planning two more meetings in the near future, and more details can be obtained by 'phoning: 020-72472524.
New Britain's second annual Goldsmith Lecture, at which the guest speakers will be Mr. Stuart Wheeler and Lord Pearson of Rannoch, proved to be a great success, with expert addresses being delivered by both guest speakers.
New Britain will be staging its traditional commemorations of Trafalgar Day on Tuesday 21st October. As in previous years, with the approval of the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's Cathedral, the National Chairman of New Britain, Mr. Dennis Delderfield, will attend the official Royal Naval service at the tomb of Admiral Viscount Nelson, where he will lay a wreath. Later the same day New Britain will be staging a special Trafalgar Day dinner at the historic Trafalgar Tavern in Greenwich. Further details will be given in next month's SCN.
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WORLD CUP WILLIES
The following most revealing reports have appeared in recent editions of "Preparing South Africa for the World" - the official newsletters of the 2010 Soccer World Cup organising committee :-
"Bafana Bafana's 2010 dream appears to be in tatters following its latest hit-and-miss affair, a goalless draw against Sierra Leone. The result is likely to see the 2010 World Cup hosts starting the tournament without having qualified for the African Cup of Nations in Angola. The team needs to win both its remaining matches against Nigeria and Guinea to stand a chance of reaching the next round of the continental showpiece. Former national coach Carlos Queiroz who outlined an eight-year plan aimed towards the World Cup back in 2002, says it is tragic to see how the squad has floundered 'I hope passionately that a miracle materialises in 2010 and Bafana are somehow able to come out of the World Cup with their heads held high.'"
"Tensions are running high at the Mbombela 2010 stadium in Nelspruit where angry workers allegedly burnt a truck, motor bikes and a mobile office on the construction site. More than 500 workers were dismissed on Tuesday following an unprotected strike over night shift wages and bonus disputes. Police reinforcements were reportedly called in by a security company to bring the situation under control."
"FIFA President Sepp Blatter has again stirred a hornet's nest by saying that South Africa could still lose the rights to host the 2010 World Cup in the event of a catastrophe. However, Local Organising Committee CEO Danny Jordaan downplayed the concerns. 'I have spoken to Blatter and he reaffirmed that only God can prevent SA staging the World Cup in 2010,' Jordaan said. 'Blatter has gone out of his way to bring the 2010 World Cup to South Africa. It makes no sense for him to say he has another plan. Obviously FIFA must have a plan if we suffered a major natural catastrophe, but that is all.' Nevertheless, there are growing fears that Zimbabwe's economic and political crisis could impact negatively on the event. This is the warning of analysts who believe the problems could spill into South Africa and the rest of the region, and thus make the situation volatile ahead of the global football fiesta. Zimbabwe Exiles Forum (ZEF) director Gabriel Shumba said the prevailing situation did not augur well for the hosting of a successful event. 'The possibility of a civil war is very high (in Zimbabwe), which can only mean that the Zimbabwe issue will in practice impact massively on the region as a threat to regional peace,' he said. There have also been reports that the US could be a part of FIFA's contingency plan for the 2010 World Cup, should South Africa be declared unable to host the event. According to a Boston.com report, a decision confirming South Africa as the first African country to play host to the World Cup will only be made following the Confederations Cup, next June. It said stadium construction delays and security fears have raised concerns that South Africa might not be capable of hosting the event. 'The World Cup is a logistical challenge and South Africa wants to shows the world it is able to do it,' Blatter was quoted as saying."
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GRAEME HICK - AN APPRECIATION
It was of course with great sadness and respect that we learnt of the retirement from first-class cricket as from the end of this season of Graeme Hick at the age of 42. We had hoped that he would have been able to emanate the great Wilfred Rhodes by playing well past his 50th birthday!
Graeme Hick was born in Salisbury, Rhodesia, in 1966, but brought up in the Rhodesian Midlands (the Que-Que/Gwelo area) where he learnt his cricketing expertise. Indeed one of our supporters has proudly boasted that he once netted with him at this time! His career records are fantastically impressive - 65 Tests and 120 One Day Internationals for England, and a total of 526 first-class matches (mainly with Worcestershire) with a batting average of 52.23 and a highest score of 405 not out.
Perhaps Graeme Hick's most important act, however, was to turn his back on the possibilities of easier international representation for the repressive Mugabe regime of "Zimbabwe", but rather to seek the harder path to stardom in his ancestral homeland by representing England. It is just a pity that other gifted Rhodesian cricketers didn't try to follow this same honourable path after the ZANU-PF terrorists came to power in the land of their birth.
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ZIMBABWE CONSERVATION TASK FORCE NEWS - IMIRE SAFARI RANCH INVADED
We have recently received the following report from Johnny Rodrigues of the ZCTF, who can be contacted at: galorand@mweb.co.zw :-
"Many of you will be familiar with the Imire Safari Ranch from the ZCTF reports about the orphaned baby rhino, Tatenda, the warthog, Hogwash, the hyena, Tsotsi and the elephant who thinks she is a buffalo, Nzou.
"Many years ago Imire Safari Ranch was designated by the National Parks Board and the Government of Zimbabwe as a black rhino breeding area, and for this reason it is one of the few places in Zimbabwe that still has wildlife. John and Judy Travers have devoted the best part of their lives to caring for the animals living there, and have played a very important role in the preservation of the endangered black rhino.
"On Sunday 29th June 2008 a group of "war veterans" went to Imire and demanded that John Travers shoot 3 impala for them to eat. When John refused they stated that they would burn the place down. They were extremely aggressive, and John eventually had no option but to shoot the impala. The invaders left with the impala, saying that Imire was at the top of their list and they were going to take it. The next morning John reported the incident to the police, who responded by initiating investigations.
"On Wednesday 2nd July a group of about 16 "war veterans" arrived at Imire and told the Travers's to vacate the property by the next morning, Thursday 3rd July. They were threatened with their lives if they didn't comply. It has been alleged that an army general is leading these eviction thugs.
"It is a foregone conclusion that if the invaders succeed in evicting the Travers's all the animals will be slaughtered within a very short space of time. We have reported the matter to the National Parks Board who have confirmed that Imire is designated as a black rhino breeding area and is therefore not part of the land redistribution programme. They say that the invaders have obviously taken the law into their own hands and they will give the matter their urgent attention.
"We are extremely concerned about all the animals at Imire, but in particular Tatenda, Hogwash, Tsotsi and Nzou, who we have come to know so well. We will circulate an update as soon as we have more news."
The ZCTF web-sites can be accessed at : www.zctf.mweb.co.zw and www.zimbabwe-art.com
[In last month's edition of he SCN we advocated that Francois Hugo of Seal Alert-SA should receive some form of international honour and recognition. We believe that exactly the same is true of Johnny Rodrigues of the ZCTF.]
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CAN YOU HELP?
Lynn Searle has contacted us to ask whether anyone knows the current whereabouts of Mr. Virgilio Zucca, who was formerly living in the UK but who subsequently returned to South Africa. Anyone who can help Lynn in this regard should contact her at: lynnsearle@dreamriver.co.uk
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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!
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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 really want to be able to produce the next edition of S.A.Patriot-in-Exile, No.37, very soon, but in order to do this we must clear as much of our existing stock of back-issues as possible first. 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.]
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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.
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"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
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"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.
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"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
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"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.
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"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
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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
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"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.
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"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
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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
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WHERE ARE THEY NOW ?
No.118 : HARRY & HUGH GARSIDE of Durban
Harry and Hugh Garside were identical twins from North Wales, where they both played professional soccer for Caernarvon Town FC. They both subsequently emigrated to South Africa and settled in Durban, where they continued playing soccer - albeit on an amateur level - for Durban Collegians during the 1980s. They were both friendly and fun-loving characters, and much liked by all who knew them, especially at the Durban Collegians Club. It would be very interesting to learn what has become of them.
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RECOMMENDED WEB-SITE OF THE MONTH
Many readers will probably remember us advertising last June's "Salute to Israel" parade through London in the May 2008 edition of the SCN. Those who were not able to attend this event, however, might be very interested to view a video which was taken of the culmination of the parade in Trafalgar Square, which can be viewed via the Anglican Friends of Israel web-site at :-
http://www.anglicanfriendsofisrael.com
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY
Sir,
Sorry to get technical, but it was Herbert Morrison, not Ernest Bevin, who made those apposite remarks that to give African colonies independence "was like giving a 12-year-old kid a machine gun and a bank account." [SCN, April 2008].
The visit of Griffin [the leader of the so-called "British National Party"] to Libya was in the late '80s or early '90s, I think.
I suppose you've heard about Peter Hain being interviewed by the police?
Yours etc.,
Mike Turner, London, U.K.
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WISE WORDS
Sir,
I wonder whether you saw to-day's Daily Telegraph [9th July]? I thought I would forward you my comment to Simon Heffer (see Daily Telegraph page 20). I wrote directly to him as the paper printed a letter from me only two weeks ago, and this wouldn't have stood a chance, for that reason if for no other!
"Dear Mr Heffer,
"Your comment on Ian Smith was most encouraging (Daily Telegraph, July 9th). Even The Daily Telegraph hardly tolerates mention of that great man. I knew him too, although not as well as you did, and only at the end of his life. I also knew Rhodesia and South Africa from 1976. The USA with its race guilt - Red Indians ordered onto Reservations in 1876 and still there - did for both countries in the end. Canada quietly created an apartheid "homeland" for Eskimos in the frozen wilderness of the Northwest Territories about 10 years ago, but world opinion passed on that one. Lesotho, in the news today, was an apartheid creation of London, which was somehow acceptable. Poor Bophuthatswana, which got independence from Pretoria, had to be dismantled at the behest of Mandela."
Yours etc.,
James Lewis, London, U.K.
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THE ONCE AND FUTURE
Sir,
I see there is a new series of books being published. Some sort of light-hearted humour stuff, but set in the "British Space Empire of the 25th Century". Whilst this may be a plot device, it struck a chord with me for two reasons.
1. Too often the idea of British rule is made to seem as something that only exists in the past. Whilst we remember and cherish the past our primary aim must be the future.
2. The British in popular culture, with perhaps the exception of something like James Bond, are often portrayed as only existing in costume dramas set in the past. It is important that British appear in the future within popular culture to emphasise that we have a future.
I very much doubt this book was published with any ulterior patriotic motive, but I think it is good that the idea of a future British Empire, even if treated in such a flippant way, is promoted within popular culture. And who knows, perhaps it will spark the imagination of some of its readers...
http://www.spacecaptainsmith.com/index.php
Yours etc.,
D.W.N., London, U.K.
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OBITUARY
CHARLIE DEMPSEY
Charlie Dempsey was New Zealand's long-serving president of the Oceania Football Confederation, having held that office from 1982 to 2000. Charlie Dempsey's greatest act, however, was by voting against South Africa but in favour Germany to stage the 2006 Soccer World Cup finals - in spite of intense pressure being exerted against him to vote the other way by third-world nations, and even from his own confederation. He was a brave man indeed to stand up to such pressure, and as a result the 2006 World Cup proved to be a smooth and trouble-free success. Alas, of course, his vote only gave four years grace before the crime-infected "new" South Africa was handed the competition finals. At the time of writing it is still uncertain whether FIFA will ignominiously be forced to change the national venue at short notice, or whether they will pig-headedly proceed towards the disaster which finals staged in the "new" South Africa will undoubtedly prove to be. Whatever the outcome Charlie Dempsey's foresight will unquestionably be proved correct, and his name should always be remembered as a brave man who tried to prevent a sporting catastrophe.
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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!
September 2008 edition
Our movement, although of course primarily concerned with Southern African affairs (and particularly with the Southern African expatriate community around the globe) even so takes - indeed must take - a great interest in events which occur in the United States of America. It was after all John Vorster who once stated that as the US President was the leader of the free world then he was our leader also. Furthermore it must also be remembered that although not a member of the Commonwealth nor recognising the Queen as head of state, the United States is still an integral and vital part of the English-speaking world, with those of British ethnic descent still comprising a large majority of the population (with an even higher percentage when those of kindred north-western European ethnic stock are also taken into account). For these reasons we therefore believe that we have every right to comment about the forthcoming US Presidential election, and to lobby for our choice.
Ever since our movement was founded we have always tended to side with the Republican (GOP) candidate, and this year is no exception. The 2008 poll, however, is undoubtedly more vital than ever, for three very essential reasons. Firstly John McCain, with his proven track record both in the theatre of war and in congress, is superbly qualified to become leader of the free world. We identified him as the best and most likely next President as far back as mid-2007, and nothing has made us change our minds since. Like George W. Bush he is a strong Anglophile, and has been a steadfast supporter of the War against Terror - indeed he was one of the earliest advocates of the highly effective Surge in Iraq. He is therefore a man who we can all have full confidence in to defend the West in these current most dangerous times. Secondly his opponent, Barack Hussein Obama, is probably the most disturbing potential President imaginable. His "exotic" origins (rumoured to be even more "exotic" than he admits) must surely make him uniquely unqualified to become leader of the Western World. To be put bluntly, the idea of Obama becoming US President is too ghastly to contemplate, and could herald the end of Western civilisation as we know it. Thirdly all the opinion polls indicate that the election outcome is going to be very tight. Although it would seem inconceivable that any American citizen of European descent would ever wish to vote for the son of a Kenyan goat-herdsman educated at an Indonesian madrassa as their country's leader, there alas appear to be millions of White American's who are so infected by liberal race-guilt that they seem to have a national death-wish. Add to this the current economic crisis effecting the United States - which is widely, and perhaps not entirely without foundation, blamed upon the current GOP administration - and it can be seen that the result in November is no longer by any means certain.
We know that many who supported other candidates in the GOP primaries still regard John McCain with some suspicion and believe that he is not conservative enough for their liking. We know also that others are unconvinced by his choice of VP running-mate, Sarah Palin, particularly because of her apparent support for the teaching of the antediluvian theory of creationism in schools. We would ask all these doubters to put such minor disagreements behind them in November however. It will be a straight-forward choice between a genuine American hero and patriot and somebody embodying a completely alien culture. It will not only be the United States as a nation which will be at stake. It will be the entire Western World.
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SPRINGBOK CLUB/ELC LONDON BRANCH EVENT
The London Branch of the SC/ELC will be staging an informal get-together at a venue in the Stepney area of east London during the evening of Monday 29th September. At this event the branch will be welcoming a special guest, a prominent South African historical expert who escaped the country in 2006 and has been living in Britain for the past few months, who will be telling something about the true situation in South Africa and why he was forced to leave. For more details about this event either e-mail springbok@falklands.org or 'phone 07711188430.
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SPRINGBOK CLUB/ELC NEWS
Sadly Mr. Paul Armstrong has been forced to resign from the Executive Committee of the Springbok Club/ELC because of ill-health, but we are delighted to be able to announce that Mrs. Susan Gordon has been appointed to take his place on ExCo. We therefore congratulate Mrs. Gordon (who was born in Kenya and lived her early life in Rhodesia) upon this appointment, and are certain that her proven enthusiasm and commitment to the movement will add extra impetus to the future deliberations of the Committee.
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FUTURE SPRINGBOK CLUB/ELC EVENTS
In October the Springbok Club/ELC will be staging a joint meeting with the re-constituted London Swinton Circle under the banner of the Patriotic Forum, at which a most prominent personality will be guest speaker. More precise details will be given in next month's SCN.
In November the Springbok Club/ELC will be holding its annual UDI Day celebrations, at which a prominent ex-Rhodesian will be guest of honour. As a result of the request in recent editions of the SCN for views about whether these UDI Day events should revert to taking the form of a sit-down dinner, several supporters have confirmed that they thought this would be a good idea. Unfortunately, however, there doesn't appear to be sufficient time to organise such formalities this year, so next November's celebrations will therefore still take the form of a buffet - but we are confident that we'll be able to organise a more formal dinner once again in 2009.
In December the Springbok Cub/ELC will be marking the Day of the Vow with a special event featuring a display by a Victorian-era military re-enactment society. More details will be given in future editions of the SCN.
The Springbok Club/ELC's 2009 AGM will take place in January 2009.
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: 07711188430.
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LONDON SWINTON CIRCLE CRISIS
Although the crisis in the London Swinton Circle (as reported in last month's SCN) still hasn't been resolved, we have been very heartened to learn of the extent and depth of support which the Chairman of the LSC has been receiving. Furthermore, it has also been interesting to learn that one prominent member of the LSC had previously resigned from the organisation for precisely the same reason which prompted the Chairman to make his stand - namely the unwelcome presence of certain disruptive elements with known affiliations to extremist parties at LSC meetings. An Emergency General Meeting of the organisation is still planned to be held during the next few months, at which, inter alia, the position of the erstwhile Organiser of the organisation will be discussed in light of his apparent willingness to allow extremists to attend meetings and his subsequent convening of an unconstitutional and invalid kangaroo court. In the meantime all activities of the LSC have been suspended, and all unilateral communications from the appeasement faction emanating from a P.O.Box in South-East London should be ignored.
Regrettably we have been informed that Dr. J.E. Hazlett Lynch went ahead and addressed a small meeting staged by the pro-extremist breakaway faction of the LSC in spite of the fact that he was advised earlier that the meeting which he was to address had been postponed until after the crisis within the organisation was resolved. This sad decision by Dr. Lynch will undoubtedly reflect very badly against him personally and the organisation which he represents, "West Tyrone Voice", in the days ahead. We are however uncertain about precisely what "West Tyrone Voice" stands for, and would be very interested to learn more details about this organisation.
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NEW BRITAIN NEWS
The Essex Branch of New Britain staged a very successful meeting at Ingatestone earlier this month, at which the guest speaker was Sir Teddy Taylor. The branch is planning two more meetings in the near future, and more details can be obtained by 'phoning: 020-72472524.
New Britain's second annual Goldsmith Lecture, at which the guest speakers will be Mr. Stuart Wheeler and Lord Pearson of Rannoch, proved to be a great success, with expert addresses being delivered by both guest speakers.
New Britain will be staging its traditional commemorations of Trafalgar Day on Tuesday 21st October. As in previous years, with the approval of the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's Cathedral, the National Chairman of New Britain, Mr. Dennis Delderfield, will attend the official Royal Naval service at the tomb of Admiral Viscount Nelson, where he will lay a wreath. Later the same day New Britain will be staging a special Trafalgar Day dinner at the historic Trafalgar Tavern in Greenwich. Further details will be given in next month's SCN.
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WORLD CUP WILLIES
The following most revealing reports have appeared in recent editions of "Preparing South Africa for the World" - the official newsletters of the 2010 Soccer World Cup organising committee :-
"Bafana Bafana's 2010 dream appears to be in tatters following its latest hit-and-miss affair, a goalless draw against Sierra Leone. The result is likely to see the 2010 World Cup hosts starting the tournament without having qualified for the African Cup of Nations in Angola. The team needs to win both its remaining matches against Nigeria and Guinea to stand a chance of reaching the next round of the continental showpiece. Former national coach Carlos Queiroz who outlined an eight-year plan aimed towards the World Cup back in 2002, says it is tragic to see how the squad has floundered 'I hope passionately that a miracle materialises in 2010 and Bafana are somehow able to come out of the World Cup with their heads held high.'"
"Tensions are running high at the Mbombela 2010 stadium in Nelspruit where angry workers allegedly burnt a truck, motor bikes and a mobile office on the construction site. More than 500 workers were dismissed on Tuesday following an unprotected strike over night shift wages and bonus disputes. Police reinforcements were reportedly called in by a security company to bring the situation under control."
"FIFA President Sepp Blatter has again stirred a hornet's nest by saying that South Africa could still lose the rights to host the 2010 World Cup in the event of a catastrophe. However, Local Organising Committee CEO Danny Jordaan downplayed the concerns. 'I have spoken to Blatter and he reaffirmed that only God can prevent SA staging the World Cup in 2010,' Jordaan said. 'Blatter has gone out of his way to bring the 2010 World Cup to South Africa. It makes no sense for him to say he has another plan. Obviously FIFA must have a plan if we suffered a major natural catastrophe, but that is all.' Nevertheless, there are growing fears that Zimbabwe's economic and political crisis could impact negatively on the event. This is the warning of analysts who believe the problems could spill into South Africa and the rest of the region, and thus make the situation volatile ahead of the global football fiesta. Zimbabwe Exiles Forum (ZEF) director Gabriel Shumba said the prevailing situation did not augur well for the hosting of a successful event. 'The possibility of a civil war is very high (in Zimbabwe), which can only mean that the Zimbabwe issue will in practice impact massively on the region as a threat to regional peace,' he said. There have also been reports that the US could be a part of FIFA's contingency plan for the 2010 World Cup, should South Africa be declared unable to host the event. According to a Boston.com report, a decision confirming South Africa as the first African country to play host to the World Cup will only be made following the Confederations Cup, next June. It said stadium construction delays and security fears have raised concerns that South Africa might not be capable of hosting the event. 'The World Cup is a logistical challenge and South Africa wants to shows the world it is able to do it,' Blatter was quoted as saying."
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GRAEME HICK - AN APPRECIATION
It was of course with great sadness and respect that we learnt of the retirement from first-class cricket as from the end of this season of Graeme Hick at the age of 42. We had hoped that he would have been able to emanate the great Wilfred Rhodes by playing well past his 50th birthday!
Graeme Hick was born in Salisbury, Rhodesia, in 1966, but brought up in the Rhodesian Midlands (the Que-Que/Gwelo area) where he learnt his cricketing expertise. Indeed one of our supporters has proudly boasted that he once netted with him at this time! His career records are fantastically impressive - 65 Tests and 120 One Day Internationals for England, and a total of 526 first-class matches (mainly with Worcestershire) with a batting average of 52.23 and a highest score of 405 not out.
Perhaps Graeme Hick's most important act, however, was to turn his back on the possibilities of easier international representation for the repressive Mugabe regime of "Zimbabwe", but rather to seek the harder path to stardom in his ancestral homeland by representing England. It is just a pity that other gifted Rhodesian cricketers didn't try to follow this same honourable path after the ZANU-PF terrorists came to power in the land of their birth.
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ZIMBABWE CONSERVATION TASK FORCE NEWS - IMIRE SAFARI RANCH INVADED
We have recently received the following report from Johnny Rodrigues of the ZCTF, who can be contacted at: galorand@mweb.co.zw :-
"Many of you will be familiar with the Imire Safari Ranch from the ZCTF reports about the orphaned baby rhino, Tatenda, the warthog, Hogwash, the hyena, Tsotsi and the elephant who thinks she is a buffalo, Nzou.
"Many years ago Imire Safari Ranch was designated by the National Parks Board and the Government of Zimbabwe as a black rhino breeding area, and for this reason it is one of the few places in Zimbabwe that still has wildlife. John and Judy Travers have devoted the best part of their lives to caring for the animals living there, and have played a very important role in the preservation of the endangered black rhino.
"On Sunday 29th June 2008 a group of "war veterans" went to Imire and demanded that John Travers shoot 3 impala for them to eat. When John refused they stated that they would burn the place down. They were extremely aggressive, and John eventually had no option but to shoot the impala. The invaders left with the impala, saying that Imire was at the top of their list and they were going to take it. The next morning John reported the incident to the police, who responded by initiating investigations.
"On Wednesday 2nd July a group of about 16 "war veterans" arrived at Imire and told the Travers's to vacate the property by the next morning, Thursday 3rd July. They were threatened with their lives if they didn't comply. It has been alleged that an army general is leading these eviction thugs.
"It is a foregone conclusion that if the invaders succeed in evicting the Travers's all the animals will be slaughtered within a very short space of time. We have reported the matter to the National Parks Board who have confirmed that Imire is designated as a black rhino breeding area and is therefore not part of the land redistribution programme. They say that the invaders have obviously taken the law into their own hands and they will give the matter their urgent attention.
"We are extremely concerned about all the animals at Imire, but in particular Tatenda, Hogwash, Tsotsi and Nzou, who we have come to know so well. We will circulate an update as soon as we have more news."
The ZCTF web-sites can be accessed at : www.zctf.mweb.co.zw and www.zimbabwe-art.com
[In last month's edition of he SCN we advocated that Francois Hugo of Seal Alert-SA should receive some form of international honour and recognition. We believe that exactly the same is true of Johnny Rodrigues of the ZCTF.]
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CAN YOU HELP?
Lynn Searle has contacted us to ask whether anyone knows the current whereabouts of Mr. Virgilio Zucca, who was formerly living in the UK but who subsequently returned to South Africa. Anyone who can help Lynn in this regard should contact her at: lynnsearle@dreamriver.co.uk
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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!
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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 really want to be able to produce the next edition of S.A.Patriot-in-Exile, No.37, very soon, but in order to do this we must clear as much of our existing stock of back-issues as possible first. 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.]
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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.
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"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
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"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.
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"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
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"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.
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"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
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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
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"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.
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"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
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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
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WHERE ARE THEY NOW ?
No.118 : HARRY & HUGH GARSIDE of Durban
Harry and Hugh Garside were identical twins from North Wales, where they both played professional soccer for Caernarvon Town FC. They both subsequently emigrated to South Africa and settled in Durban, where they continued playing soccer - albeit on an amateur level - for Durban Collegians during the 1980s. They were both friendly and fun-loving characters, and much liked by all who knew them, especially at the Durban Collegians Club. It would be very interesting to learn what has become of them.
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RECOMMENDED WEB-SITE OF THE MONTH
Many readers will probably remember us advertising last June's "Salute to Israel" parade through London in the May 2008 edition of the SCN. Those who were not able to attend this event, however, might be very interested to view a video which was taken of the culmination of the parade in Trafalgar Square, which can be viewed via the Anglican Friends of Israel web-site at :-
http://www.anglicanfriendsofisrael.com
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY
Sir,
Sorry to get technical, but it was Herbert Morrison, not Ernest Bevin, who made those apposite remarks that to give African colonies independence "was like giving a 12-year-old kid a machine gun and a bank account." [SCN, April 2008].
The visit of Griffin [the leader of the so-called "British National Party"] to Libya was in the late '80s or early '90s, I think.
I suppose you've heard about Peter Hain being interviewed by the police?
Yours etc.,
Mike Turner, London, U.K.
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WISE WORDS
Sir,
I wonder whether you saw to-day's Daily Telegraph [9th July]? I thought I would forward you my comment to Simon Heffer (see Daily Telegraph page 20). I wrote directly to him as the paper printed a letter from me only two weeks ago, and this wouldn't have stood a chance, for that reason if for no other!
"Dear Mr Heffer,
"Your comment on Ian Smith was most encouraging (Daily Telegraph, July 9th). Even The Daily Telegraph hardly tolerates mention of that great man. I knew him too, although not as well as you did, and only at the end of his life. I also knew Rhodesia and South Africa from 1976. The USA with its race guilt - Red Indians ordered onto Reservations in 1876 and still there - did for both countries in the end. Canada quietly created an apartheid "homeland" for Eskimos in the frozen wilderness of the Northwest Territories about 10 years ago, but world opinion passed on that one. Lesotho, in the news today, was an apartheid creation of London, which was somehow acceptable. Poor Bophuthatswana, which got independence from Pretoria, had to be dismantled at the behest of Mandela."
Yours etc.,
James Lewis, London, U.K.
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THE ONCE AND FUTURE
Sir,
I see there is a new series of books being published. Some sort of light-hearted humour stuff, but set in the "British Space Empire of the 25th Century". Whilst this may be a plot device, it struck a chord with me for two reasons.
1. Too often the idea of British rule is made to seem as something that only exists in the past. Whilst we remember and cherish the past our primary aim must be the future.
2. The British in popular culture, with perhaps the exception of something like James Bond, are often portrayed as only existing in costume dramas set in the past. It is important that British appear in the future within popular culture to emphasise that we have a future.
I very much doubt this book was published with any ulterior patriotic motive, but I think it is good that the idea of a future British Empire, even if treated in such a flippant way, is promoted within popular culture. And who knows, perhaps it will spark the imagination of some of its readers...
http://www.spacecaptainsmith.com/index.php
Yours etc.,
D.W.N., London, U.K.
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OBITUARY
CHARLIE DEMPSEY
Charlie Dempsey was New Zealand's long-serving president of the Oceania Football Confederation, having held that office from 1982 to 2000. Charlie Dempsey's greatest act, however, was by voting against South Africa but in favour Germany to stage the 2006 Soccer World Cup finals - in spite of intense pressure being exerted against him to vote the other way by third-world nations, and even from his own confederation. He was a brave man indeed to stand up to such pressure, and as a result the 2006 World Cup proved to be a smooth and trouble-free success. Alas, of course, his vote only gave four years grace before the crime-infected "new" South Africa was handed the competition finals. At the time of writing it is still uncertain whether FIFA will ignominiously be forced to change the national venue at short notice, or whether they will pig-headedly proceed towards the disaster which finals staged in the "new" South Africa will undoubtedly prove to be. Whatever the outcome Charlie Dempsey's foresight will unquestionably be proved correct, and his name should always be remembered as a brave man who tried to prevent a sporting catastrophe.
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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!
Saturday, 30 August 2008
August 2008 Edition.
SPRINGBOK CYBER NEWSLETTER
August 2008 edition
With the 2008 Beijing Olympics now over it is very interesting to look at the medal tally - for there we will see that the "new" South Africa finished up with a grand total of one medal (a silver, for what it's worth). This put South Africa level with such other sporting super-powers as the Sudan and Vietnam, and below such other sporting giants as Bahrain and Kyrgyzstan.
At much the same time, of course, South Africa is being humbled in the Tri-nation rugby tournament and is being whipped by England in the One-Day International Cricket series. In the days of civilised rule of course, even during the era of sanctions, South Africa consistently produced world class sportsmen and sportswomen in practically every sporting discipline, with the Springbok rugby and cricket sides being consistently recognised as among the best in the world. Even during the early few years of ANC rule South African sportsmen and sportswomen (who of course had matured during the days before the ANC terrorists came to power) more than held their own in Olympic competitions - particularly in swimming, lawn tennis and the vertical jumps.
But what is the reason for this so dramatic decline? Many argue that it is all the fault of the iniquitous "quota system", but there are undoubtedly other far more fundamental reasons than this. South Africa is already universally recognised as being the crime capital of the world, but it is not just a matter of crime - the whole infrastructure of the state is collapsing. How can any country expect to produce sporting superstars when even to attend an evening's training session means taking one's life in one's hands? Add to this, of course, the fact that an escalating number of top South Africans (of all races) are now leaving the disintegrating country as fast as they can.
Although there are still many ostriches with their heads in the sand who simply refuse to accept the fact, South Africa has long since ceased to be a first-world country, and has become yet another third-world disaster - indeed South Africa would now seem to be heading rapidly towards becoming a Zimbabwe writ large. The rapid decline of Olympic success is yet another clear example of this.
But talking of Zimbabwe, a further quick look at the Olympic medal tally produces a big surprise, for this basket-case of all basket-cases finished up with four medals (one gold and three silvers). A closer analysis, however, reveals that they were all won by one person - the US-based swimmer Kirsty Coventry. In last month's SCN we observed that it would probably be best for a post-ZANU-PF government to change Zimbabwe's name, and a couple of suggestions were made. Perhaps now the most obvious choice would be to rename the country Coventry!
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SPRINGBOK CLUB/ELC LONDON BRANCH EVENT
The London Branch of the SC/ELC staged a trip to see the finish of this year's Doggett's Coat and Badge Race on the Thames last month, which proved to be a most enjoyable branch activity. There was a surprisingly good turnout for this trip, particularly as it took place during a weekday afternoon, and all were able to witness a strong victory by Paul Markley of Greenwich in this historic rowing event. Afterwards the SC/ELC contingent adjourned to a hostelry in Victoria to continue a most convivial afternoon.
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SPRINGBOK CLUB RHODES & FOUNDERS CELEBRATION BUFFET
The Springbok Club held a most pleasant and successful - albeit slightly delayed - Rhodes and Founders celebration buffet earlier this month, at which the guest speaker was Capt. Kevin Pope. Capt.Pope, who is currently serving with the Royal Regiment of Scotland in Belfast, is a Rhodesian born and bred, and a few years ago returned to the by then Zimbabwe in order to attempt to continue his family tradition of commercial farming in the country. Tragically, however, both his own new farm and the neighbouring farm of his father were burnt down by gangs of marauding ZANU-PF thugs, which caused him to return to active service in the British army. In a most well-received illustrated speech Capt. Pope detailed something about his family history, his service with the British army, and his own most harrowing experiences in Zimbabwe - as well as telling something of his hopes and predictions for the future. The function room was packed for this event, which bodes extremely well for the future of the Springbok Club, and all present were full of praise for the superbly delivered and most informative illustrated talk which Capt.Pope gave - as well as for the succulent array of buffet snacks which were provided at this function!
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FUTURE SPRINGBOK CLUB/ELC EVENTS
Unfortunately, due the knock-on effects of the crisis in the London Swinton Circle (of which more later), it has been felt best to postpone the Springbok Club/ELC's proposed trip to Carmarthen in order to lay a wreath at the monument to Sir Thomas Picton in September. Instead the London Branch of the SC/ELC is planning to hold an informal gathering later during September at which it is hoped to welcome a notable guest who will give a brief talk on his specialist subjects of historical interest. More precise details will be given in September's SCN.
In October it is hoped to stage a joint meeting with the by then re-constituted London Swinton Circle at which a most prominent personality will be guest speaker.
In November the Springbok Club/ELC will be holding its annual UDI Day celebrations, at which a prominent ex-Rhodesian will be guest of honour. 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 certain 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 either by e-mailing: springbok@falklands.org or by 'phoning: 07711188430.
In December the Springbok Cub/ELC will be marking the Day of the Vow with a special event featuring a display by a Victorian-era military re-enactment society. More details will be given in future editions of the SCN.
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: 07711188430.
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LONDON SWINTON CIRCLE IN CRISIS
The last meeting of the London Swinton Circle featured a most inspiring and encouraging address given by Commander John Muxworthy RN, the Chief Executive Officer of the United Kingdom National Defence Association. We would like thank Commander Muxworthy for giving us such an informative and motivating speech, and wish both him and the UKNDA every success for the future.
Sadly, however, this meeting was marred considerably by the gate-crashing and attempted disruption of proceedings by a small group of known members of a neo-fascist political party, who were neither invited nor welcome. The Chairman of the LSC obviously had to ask these undesirable elements to leave, naturally assuming that the LSC Organiser (the only other current Committee member present) would fully back him up in the enforcement the LSC Constitution in this regard. Unfortunately, however, the LSC Organiser simply ran away, and even more reprehensibly unilaterally started the meeting whilst the uninvited extremists were still present. Although, undoubtedly as a result of the original confrontation, the unsavoury elements did not cause any real problems during the meeting itself, one of them did ask a very antagonistic question of Cdr. Muxworthy from the floor which ran counter to the policies and ideology of the LSC. We would therefore like to apologise to Cdr. Muxworthy for any embarrassment which this unfortunate question may have caused, and to assure him that the questioner was neither a member of the LSC nor welcome at the meeting. Even worse developments were then alas to occur, for the Organiser of the LSC subsequently unilaterally convened what can only be described as a kangaroo court in order to try to dismiss the Chairman! This kangaroo court had absolutely no constitutional validity whatsoever, not only because according to the constitution of the LSC [Clause 5(b)] "All Officers [i.e. including the Chairman] .... shall be ex-officio members of all committees and sub-committees", but furthermore because the Chairman was given absolutely no opportunity to defend himself - nor was even informed of what the alleged "charges" against him were! As a result, and after consulting with other leading members of the LSC, the Chairman has decided to suspend all activities of the LSC until further notice (NB this DOES include the planned meeting of September 3rd to be addressed by Dr. Hazlett Lynch), and to call an Extraordinary General Meeting of the LSC within the next few months, at which, inter alia, the actions of the kangaroo court and what disciplinary actions should be taken against those who convened it will be discussed. Needless to say, future developments will be reported in subsequent editions of the SCN.
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NEW BRITAIN NEWS
On Saturday 26th July Mr. Dennis Delderfield, the National Chairman of New Britain, paid a visit to Plymouth to take part in his now annual challenge bowls match against the Lord Mayor of Plymouth to celebrate the anniversary of Sir Francis Drake's defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588. This year's match once again resulted in a draw.
On Saturday 6th September the Essex Branch of New Britain will be staging a meeting at the Ingatestone Community Association Hall, High Street, Ingatestone, Essex. The guest speaker at this meeting, which will commence at 15.00 hrs, will be Sir Teddy Taylor.
During the evening of Wednesday 10th September New Britain will be staging its annual Gibraltar Day event, which will take place at St.Catherine Cree Hall, Leadenhall Street, London EC3 (nearest tube stations: Bank and Aldgate). All present will be invited to sign a message of friendship to be sent to the Chief Minister of Gibraltar.
New Britain's annual Goldsmith Lecture will be held on Thursday 18th September at the Lecture Hall, University College London, Malet Place, London WC1E 6BT, commencing at 19.00 hrs. The guest speakers will be Mr. Stuart Wheeler (who recently succeeded in getting a judicial review against the Government over the question of a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty) and Lord Pearson of Rannoch. Tickets are priced £5.00, and can be obtained from New Britain, 10 College East, Gunthorpe Street, London EC1 7RL. For more information, or to order a ticket, please 'phone 020-72472524.
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WORLD CUP WILLIES
The following recent two most revealing reports appeared in "Preparing South Africa for the World" - the official newsletter of 2010 Soccer World Cup organising committee :-
"Further outbreaks of violence against foreigners in South Africa could lead FIFA to move the 2010 World Cup elsewhere, the United Nations adviser on sport said. According to a Mail & Guardian Online report, Willi Lemke, the UN Special Advisor on Sport, said the violence has put an enormous strain on the tournament. He said he hoped the incidents were a lone outbreak of violence. 'But if the scenes repeat themselves, FIFA will rethink its decision in favour of South Africa and, if necessary, pull the plug,' Lemke said."
"Organised crime will increase in South Africa ahead of the 2010 World Cup because of the country's lax border controls. City Press reports that the Scorpions' head of crime analysis, Nhlanhla Ngidi, speaking at a conference on border control in Africa held in Johannesburg, said syndicates were likely to use the influx of travellers into the country ahead of the tournament to get inside South Africa's borders. Already there were signs that organised crime was 'pervasive' and targeting South Africa. The tournament 'will attract even more organised crime groups' specialising in drugs, human trafficking, counterfeit medicines and cyber-crime, he said."
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FALKLANDS NEWS
It is not true that it is "international practice for the flag of origin of the combatants to fly at cemeteries where soldiers are buried" as claimed by the Argentine Vice-President when requesting that the Argentine flag should be flown at Darwin Cemetery on the Falkland Islands where many Argentine dead from the Falklands War are buried.
There are scores, if not hundreds, of British military cemeteries on foreign soil, but only one of them permanently flies the British flag. That is the huge cemetery at Thiepval in France. This is a joint British/French battle monument and cemetery. It flies both the British and French flags. It is also a cemetery on the territory of an ally, France - and what a nation does on its own territory is entirely its own business. The French are obviously happy with the British flag there. The analogy to this in Britain is the American cemetery near Cambridge, which flies the US flag - again this is the cemetery of an ally, and the British are happy to have the American flag there. The Union Flag at the British cemetery in the Falklands is obviously entirely proper too. It is on British territory - and a nation does what it likes on its own territory. The Islanders are, of course, happy to have the British flag there flying over their fallen liberators.
The equivalent in Britain to the Argentine cemetery at Darwin is the huge German cemetery at Cannock Chase in Staffordshire. There have been sixty years of peace since the Second World War, yet despite this there has never been a German flag there.
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REQUEST FOR HELP IN CONDUCTING A SURVEY OF EXPAT SOUTH AFRICANS
We have recently received the following request from Dr. Robert Crawford, a Research Fellow at King's College London :-
"I am currently undertaking a survey of South Africans who currently or have previously lived in London. Would it be possible for you to forward the following web-site on to your supporters - the survey only takes 5-10 minutes.
"The web survey can be accessed at: http://www.monash.ac.za/research/lure_of_london/
"Please feel free to pass this address on to any other family, friends, and acquaintances.
"Yours sincerely,
"Dr. Robert Crawford."
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CAPE FUR SEALS FINALLY GET THEIR NEW NATIONAL LEGISLATED ACT
We have also recently received the following most encouraging message from Francois Hugo of Seal Alert-SA :-
"Nine years ago I was officially told in writing by the South African government that it is a criminal offence to rescue seals under the Seal Protection Act of 1973, and the government was not prepared to consider seal rescue at that time. To continue to do so daily, in the will to save over 5000 seal lives, would lead to police arrest, criminal convictions, fines and eventually incarceration for up to two years I was told.
"For over 26 years no-one had tried or succeeded in saving these dying seal lives.
"I was told that if you rock the boat South Africa will resume commercial sealing, killing tens of thousands of baby seal lives.
"Standing very alone, knowing that for thousands of seals their very life or death stood before me, I decided to hell with the legislation. If I can't rescue seals under the Seal Protection Act of 1973 then I will just force them to write a new one, in which it will not be a criminal offence to rescue seals or protect them.
"So I started Seal Alert-SA, whose first act of defiance was to paint the side of my boat into a large schoolroom black-board, upon which every day I would write public seal messages to the government about the seals I was rescuing, for all to see.
"To confront the issue, to force change, I set up seal rescue in the busiest government-controlled commercial fishing harbour in South Africa - illegally and criminally, of course! That really pissed them off. Not in a once-off media campaign with a whole bunch of international volunteers, but daily single-handed. I proceeded to rescue, save, disentangle and protect these amazing sea-creatures, right in front of their faces. They threw the book at me, discrediting me publicly, ruining me financially, intimidating me, arresting me, threatening me and making life hard, and succeeding in turning an entire very rough fishing community against me.
"Those were the days. Great days, great seal days.
"Eventually every fish that got stolen from a fisherman by a seal, became my seals. Every fisherman bitten, was bitten by my seals. Every seal that got shot, became my seal. Every poor catch a fishermen had, become because of my seals. Slowly these seals became my seals, and I became their saviour and their protector.
"Until a fisherman one day complained, 'Seals now have more rights than I do'.
"One reporter once wrote, 'At the going out of the tide, he will save them'.
"Well after thousands of letters, reports and e-mails, hundreds of newspaper, radio and television interviews spanning across the globe, backed by a pioneering and loyal group of seal supporters from around the world in over 80 countries - including you. 13 lever-arch files with the Public Protector's 5-year investigation; two State Presidents, two Environmental Ministers, two Deputy Director-Generals and two Public Protectors - it finally happened.
"Some have stated that this is the most progressive legislation to protect seals in the world, but I seriously have my doubts on this. Until seals are back on their rightful extinct islands the battle for their survival, their freedom, is far from over - but at least it begins with solid national legislated foundations within which to work to address specific issues.
"On the 7 December 2007 the Cape Fur Seals of South Africa finally got their new Act.
"With any luck, and continued support, this Act will serve the foundations for decades to come, to increase the protection of these seals.
"Namibia [South-West Africa] is next in my seal sights now.
"For all you have done, my biggest Thank You.
"For the Seals,
"Francois Hugo, Seal Alert-SA, www.sealalert.org"
[It is not often that we receive any good news from the "new" South Africa, but this recent report certainly shows that there is hope - even under the Mbeki regime. Surely Francois Hugo deserves some form of international honour and recognition?]
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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!
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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 really want to be able to produce the next edition of S.A.Patriot-in-Exile, No.37, very soon, but in order to do this we must clear as much of our existing stock of back-issues as possible first. 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.]
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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
----------------------------
"BETRAYAL IN HIGH PLACES" by James Mackay.
271 pages, some illustrations. Soft-back £5.00 including p&p. (r.r.p. £10.00)
The compelling story of what really happened in a defeated Japan following the end of World War II. Merchant seaman James Mackay, whilst travelling in the east, started to hear stories of massacres and other atrocities committed by Japanese forces, not just against enemy troops, but against innocent civilian populations. His subsequent investigations revealed reluctance amongst Allied governments to discuss these incidents that seemed to amount almost to a cover-up. Why would the Allies want to overlook the crimes of a former enemy, especially when the leadership of another former enemy was being liquidated at Nuremburg? Using his own research, as well as material prepared by Australian Army war crimes investigator Capt. J.G. Goodwin, Mackay exposes the cover-up and names the guilty. Not only were the Japanese keen to sweep the past under the carpet, but the US government of the time also had its own reasons for preserving the political and industrial elite in Japan. A provocative book, which calls into question the morality of US policy towards Japan after WWII.
Payment can be made by credit or debit card. To order on line, log onto 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
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"PALM WINE AND LEOPARD'S WHISKERS" edited by Ronnie Anderson.
Reminiscences of Eastern Nigeria - "The nuts and bolts of African history..." Professor Tony Kirk-Greene CMG, MBE, Emeritus Professor of African Affairs at Oxford University. A unique selection of Nigerian stories, studies/articles on arts, crafts, education riots, oil discovery, court and community development, medical section, Royal visits, Leopard murders, electoral matters, land disputes, an extraordinary spectrum of Nigerian life in post-war era up to Independence. Photographs, sketches and maps.
A small stock of this book, which makes an ideal gift, are still available from : Yesterdays Books, 6 Cecil Avenue, Bournemouth, BH8 9EH, UK at £15.00 - plus £3.50 or £6.50 (airmail) for postage and packing.
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"WINSTON CHURCHILL BY HIS PERSONAL SECRETARY" recollections of the great man by a woman who worked for him, Elizabeth Nel
Elizabeth Nel served as Winston Churchill’s personal secretary during World War II. The vivid and human details of her experiences, of her impressions and memories of the irascible and loveable war hero, take up the story of Churchill’s life at No. 10 where the BBC’s impressive drama, 'The Gathering Storm', leaves off — when Churchill took over the reins of Government at the outset of the war. Finally, the author, Elizabeth Nel, at 90 years of age and just before she died, looks back across the years.
Available from: www.diadembooks.com/churchill.htm
[You may like to see details with photos regarding the launch of this book, which can be viewed at http://www.diadembooks.com/celiamurray.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
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"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.
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"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
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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
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WHERE ARE THEY NOW ?
No.117 : Mr. VIC ROBINSON of Natal
Vic Robinson was a keen and reliable member of the Conservative Party in Durban during the mid-1980s. He could always be relied upon to help man party tables at election times, invariably turning up wearing his South African army beret from World War II, in which conflict he served with pride and distinction. In the late 1980s he retired and moved to the small little dorp of Rosetta just outside Mooi River, so it is uncertain therefore whether he is still alive. He was the father of Charlie Robinson who featured in the "Where are they now?" column of the SCN's September 2000 edition, though unfortunately we never received any response as a result of this request. We would therefore be very keen to learn what became of both Vic and Charlie.
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RECOMMENDED WEB-SITE OF THE MONTH
In spite of the problems which befell last month's London Swinton Circle meeting, the speech given by Cdr. John Muxworthy proved highly informative and inspiring, and the UK National Defence Association is most certainly an organisation well worthy of support. Their excellent web-site can be accessed at :-
http://www.uknda.org
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
UP AND UNDER
Sir,
Yes, I saw the letter of mine in the April edition of the SCN, well done. This country is a balls-up at the moment, as I'm sure you've noticed. And they are starting load-shedding again!
Go well.
Yours etc.,
Glenn MacAskill, Transvaal, South Africa
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BACK TO BLACK
Sir,
This last week I have noticed that Sunnyside was unusually quiet. At first I thought it was because of the winter. (During winter, these Black animals of Africa tend to go into some sort of hibernation.)
Then I heard about the xenophobia. 30-40% of Sunnyside's population is foreign. They must be keeping a low profile to avoid trouble.
(Personally I have sympathy for neither the locals nor the foreigners; if Blacks are killing Blacks who am I to judge?)
Yours etc.,
HRK, Pretoria, Transvaal, South Africa
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LIBERAL DEATH-WISH
Sir,
The politically baffling question for me today - the Liberals are trying to strip Mugabe of his honorary title. How on earth was it given to an instigator of mass Matabele murder in the first place, irrespective of the fact that previously he had been a communist and a terrorist?
Yours etc.,
Susan Gordon, London, U.K.
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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!
August 2008 edition
With the 2008 Beijing Olympics now over it is very interesting to look at the medal tally - for there we will see that the "new" South Africa finished up with a grand total of one medal (a silver, for what it's worth). This put South Africa level with such other sporting super-powers as the Sudan and Vietnam, and below such other sporting giants as Bahrain and Kyrgyzstan.
At much the same time, of course, South Africa is being humbled in the Tri-nation rugby tournament and is being whipped by England in the One-Day International Cricket series. In the days of civilised rule of course, even during the era of sanctions, South Africa consistently produced world class sportsmen and sportswomen in practically every sporting discipline, with the Springbok rugby and cricket sides being consistently recognised as among the best in the world. Even during the early few years of ANC rule South African sportsmen and sportswomen (who of course had matured during the days before the ANC terrorists came to power) more than held their own in Olympic competitions - particularly in swimming, lawn tennis and the vertical jumps.
But what is the reason for this so dramatic decline? Many argue that it is all the fault of the iniquitous "quota system", but there are undoubtedly other far more fundamental reasons than this. South Africa is already universally recognised as being the crime capital of the world, but it is not just a matter of crime - the whole infrastructure of the state is collapsing. How can any country expect to produce sporting superstars when even to attend an evening's training session means taking one's life in one's hands? Add to this, of course, the fact that an escalating number of top South Africans (of all races) are now leaving the disintegrating country as fast as they can.
Although there are still many ostriches with their heads in the sand who simply refuse to accept the fact, South Africa has long since ceased to be a first-world country, and has become yet another third-world disaster - indeed South Africa would now seem to be heading rapidly towards becoming a Zimbabwe writ large. The rapid decline of Olympic success is yet another clear example of this.
But talking of Zimbabwe, a further quick look at the Olympic medal tally produces a big surprise, for this basket-case of all basket-cases finished up with four medals (one gold and three silvers). A closer analysis, however, reveals that they were all won by one person - the US-based swimmer Kirsty Coventry. In last month's SCN we observed that it would probably be best for a post-ZANU-PF government to change Zimbabwe's name, and a couple of suggestions were made. Perhaps now the most obvious choice would be to rename the country Coventry!
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SPRINGBOK CLUB/ELC LONDON BRANCH EVENT
The London Branch of the SC/ELC staged a trip to see the finish of this year's Doggett's Coat and Badge Race on the Thames last month, which proved to be a most enjoyable branch activity. There was a surprisingly good turnout for this trip, particularly as it took place during a weekday afternoon, and all were able to witness a strong victory by Paul Markley of Greenwich in this historic rowing event. Afterwards the SC/ELC contingent adjourned to a hostelry in Victoria to continue a most convivial afternoon.
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SPRINGBOK CLUB RHODES & FOUNDERS CELEBRATION BUFFET
The Springbok Club held a most pleasant and successful - albeit slightly delayed - Rhodes and Founders celebration buffet earlier this month, at which the guest speaker was Capt. Kevin Pope. Capt.Pope, who is currently serving with the Royal Regiment of Scotland in Belfast, is a Rhodesian born and bred, and a few years ago returned to the by then Zimbabwe in order to attempt to continue his family tradition of commercial farming in the country. Tragically, however, both his own new farm and the neighbouring farm of his father were burnt down by gangs of marauding ZANU-PF thugs, which caused him to return to active service in the British army. In a most well-received illustrated speech Capt. Pope detailed something about his family history, his service with the British army, and his own most harrowing experiences in Zimbabwe - as well as telling something of his hopes and predictions for the future. The function room was packed for this event, which bodes extremely well for the future of the Springbok Club, and all present were full of praise for the superbly delivered and most informative illustrated talk which Capt.Pope gave - as well as for the succulent array of buffet snacks which were provided at this function!
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FUTURE SPRINGBOK CLUB/ELC EVENTS
Unfortunately, due the knock-on effects of the crisis in the London Swinton Circle (of which more later), it has been felt best to postpone the Springbok Club/ELC's proposed trip to Carmarthen in order to lay a wreath at the monument to Sir Thomas Picton in September. Instead the London Branch of the SC/ELC is planning to hold an informal gathering later during September at which it is hoped to welcome a notable guest who will give a brief talk on his specialist subjects of historical interest. More precise details will be given in September's SCN.
In October it is hoped to stage a joint meeting with the by then re-constituted London Swinton Circle at which a most prominent personality will be guest speaker.
In November the Springbok Club/ELC will be holding its annual UDI Day celebrations, at which a prominent ex-Rhodesian will be guest of honour. 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 certain 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 either by e-mailing: springbok@falklands.org or by 'phoning: 07711188430.
In December the Springbok Cub/ELC will be marking the Day of the Vow with a special event featuring a display by a Victorian-era military re-enactment society. More details will be given in future editions of the SCN.
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: 07711188430.
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LONDON SWINTON CIRCLE IN CRISIS
The last meeting of the London Swinton Circle featured a most inspiring and encouraging address given by Commander John Muxworthy RN, the Chief Executive Officer of the United Kingdom National Defence Association. We would like thank Commander Muxworthy for giving us such an informative and motivating speech, and wish both him and the UKNDA every success for the future.
Sadly, however, this meeting was marred considerably by the gate-crashing and attempted disruption of proceedings by a small group of known members of a neo-fascist political party, who were neither invited nor welcome. The Chairman of the LSC obviously had to ask these undesirable elements to leave, naturally assuming that the LSC Organiser (the only other current Committee member present) would fully back him up in the enforcement the LSC Constitution in this regard. Unfortunately, however, the LSC Organiser simply ran away, and even more reprehensibly unilaterally started the meeting whilst the uninvited extremists were still present. Although, undoubtedly as a result of the original confrontation, the unsavoury elements did not cause any real problems during the meeting itself, one of them did ask a very antagonistic question of Cdr. Muxworthy from the floor which ran counter to the policies and ideology of the LSC. We would therefore like to apologise to Cdr. Muxworthy for any embarrassment which this unfortunate question may have caused, and to assure him that the questioner was neither a member of the LSC nor welcome at the meeting. Even worse developments were then alas to occur, for the Organiser of the LSC subsequently unilaterally convened what can only be described as a kangaroo court in order to try to dismiss the Chairman! This kangaroo court had absolutely no constitutional validity whatsoever, not only because according to the constitution of the LSC [Clause 5(b)] "All Officers [i.e. including the Chairman] .... shall be ex-officio members of all committees and sub-committees", but furthermore because the Chairman was given absolutely no opportunity to defend himself - nor was even informed of what the alleged "charges" against him were! As a result, and after consulting with other leading members of the LSC, the Chairman has decided to suspend all activities of the LSC until further notice (NB this DOES include the planned meeting of September 3rd to be addressed by Dr. Hazlett Lynch), and to call an Extraordinary General Meeting of the LSC within the next few months, at which, inter alia, the actions of the kangaroo court and what disciplinary actions should be taken against those who convened it will be discussed. Needless to say, future developments will be reported in subsequent editions of the SCN.
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NEW BRITAIN NEWS
On Saturday 26th July Mr. Dennis Delderfield, the National Chairman of New Britain, paid a visit to Plymouth to take part in his now annual challenge bowls match against the Lord Mayor of Plymouth to celebrate the anniversary of Sir Francis Drake's defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588. This year's match once again resulted in a draw.
On Saturday 6th September the Essex Branch of New Britain will be staging a meeting at the Ingatestone Community Association Hall, High Street, Ingatestone, Essex. The guest speaker at this meeting, which will commence at 15.00 hrs, will be Sir Teddy Taylor.
During the evening of Wednesday 10th September New Britain will be staging its annual Gibraltar Day event, which will take place at St.Catherine Cree Hall, Leadenhall Street, London EC3 (nearest tube stations: Bank and Aldgate). All present will be invited to sign a message of friendship to be sent to the Chief Minister of Gibraltar.
New Britain's annual Goldsmith Lecture will be held on Thursday 18th September at the Lecture Hall, University College London, Malet Place, London WC1E 6BT, commencing at 19.00 hrs. The guest speakers will be Mr. Stuart Wheeler (who recently succeeded in getting a judicial review against the Government over the question of a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty) and Lord Pearson of Rannoch. Tickets are priced £5.00, and can be obtained from New Britain, 10 College East, Gunthorpe Street, London EC1 7RL. For more information, or to order a ticket, please 'phone 020-72472524.
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WORLD CUP WILLIES
The following recent two most revealing reports appeared in "Preparing South Africa for the World" - the official newsletter of 2010 Soccer World Cup organising committee :-
"Further outbreaks of violence against foreigners in South Africa could lead FIFA to move the 2010 World Cup elsewhere, the United Nations adviser on sport said. According to a Mail & Guardian Online report, Willi Lemke, the UN Special Advisor on Sport, said the violence has put an enormous strain on the tournament. He said he hoped the incidents were a lone outbreak of violence. 'But if the scenes repeat themselves, FIFA will rethink its decision in favour of South Africa and, if necessary, pull the plug,' Lemke said."
"Organised crime will increase in South Africa ahead of the 2010 World Cup because of the country's lax border controls. City Press reports that the Scorpions' head of crime analysis, Nhlanhla Ngidi, speaking at a conference on border control in Africa held in Johannesburg, said syndicates were likely to use the influx of travellers into the country ahead of the tournament to get inside South Africa's borders. Already there were signs that organised crime was 'pervasive' and targeting South Africa. The tournament 'will attract even more organised crime groups' specialising in drugs, human trafficking, counterfeit medicines and cyber-crime, he said."
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FALKLANDS NEWS
It is not true that it is "international practice for the flag of origin of the combatants to fly at cemeteries where soldiers are buried" as claimed by the Argentine Vice-President when requesting that the Argentine flag should be flown at Darwin Cemetery on the Falkland Islands where many Argentine dead from the Falklands War are buried.
There are scores, if not hundreds, of British military cemeteries on foreign soil, but only one of them permanently flies the British flag. That is the huge cemetery at Thiepval in France. This is a joint British/French battle monument and cemetery. It flies both the British and French flags. It is also a cemetery on the territory of an ally, France - and what a nation does on its own territory is entirely its own business. The French are obviously happy with the British flag there. The analogy to this in Britain is the American cemetery near Cambridge, which flies the US flag - again this is the cemetery of an ally, and the British are happy to have the American flag there. The Union Flag at the British cemetery in the Falklands is obviously entirely proper too. It is on British territory - and a nation does what it likes on its own territory. The Islanders are, of course, happy to have the British flag there flying over their fallen liberators.
The equivalent in Britain to the Argentine cemetery at Darwin is the huge German cemetery at Cannock Chase in Staffordshire. There have been sixty years of peace since the Second World War, yet despite this there has never been a German flag there.
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REQUEST FOR HELP IN CONDUCTING A SURVEY OF EXPAT SOUTH AFRICANS
We have recently received the following request from Dr. Robert Crawford, a Research Fellow at King's College London :-
"I am currently undertaking a survey of South Africans who currently or have previously lived in London. Would it be possible for you to forward the following web-site on to your supporters - the survey only takes 5-10 minutes.
"The web survey can be accessed at: http://www.monash.ac.za/research/lure_of_london/
"Please feel free to pass this address on to any other family, friends, and acquaintances.
"Yours sincerely,
"Dr. Robert Crawford."
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CAPE FUR SEALS FINALLY GET THEIR NEW NATIONAL LEGISLATED ACT
We have also recently received the following most encouraging message from Francois Hugo of Seal Alert-SA :-
"Nine years ago I was officially told in writing by the South African government that it is a criminal offence to rescue seals under the Seal Protection Act of 1973, and the government was not prepared to consider seal rescue at that time. To continue to do so daily, in the will to save over 5000 seal lives, would lead to police arrest, criminal convictions, fines and eventually incarceration for up to two years I was told.
"For over 26 years no-one had tried or succeeded in saving these dying seal lives.
"I was told that if you rock the boat South Africa will resume commercial sealing, killing tens of thousands of baby seal lives.
"Standing very alone, knowing that for thousands of seals their very life or death stood before me, I decided to hell with the legislation. If I can't rescue seals under the Seal Protection Act of 1973 then I will just force them to write a new one, in which it will not be a criminal offence to rescue seals or protect them.
"So I started Seal Alert-SA, whose first act of defiance was to paint the side of my boat into a large schoolroom black-board, upon which every day I would write public seal messages to the government about the seals I was rescuing, for all to see.
"To confront the issue, to force change, I set up seal rescue in the busiest government-controlled commercial fishing harbour in South Africa - illegally and criminally, of course! That really pissed them off. Not in a once-off media campaign with a whole bunch of international volunteers, but daily single-handed. I proceeded to rescue, save, disentangle and protect these amazing sea-creatures, right in front of their faces. They threw the book at me, discrediting me publicly, ruining me financially, intimidating me, arresting me, threatening me and making life hard, and succeeding in turning an entire very rough fishing community against me.
"Those were the days. Great days, great seal days.
"Eventually every fish that got stolen from a fisherman by a seal, became my seals. Every fisherman bitten, was bitten by my seals. Every seal that got shot, became my seal. Every poor catch a fishermen had, become because of my seals. Slowly these seals became my seals, and I became their saviour and their protector.
"Until a fisherman one day complained, 'Seals now have more rights than I do'.
"One reporter once wrote, 'At the going out of the tide, he will save them'.
"Well after thousands of letters, reports and e-mails, hundreds of newspaper, radio and television interviews spanning across the globe, backed by a pioneering and loyal group of seal supporters from around the world in over 80 countries - including you. 13 lever-arch files with the Public Protector's 5-year investigation; two State Presidents, two Environmental Ministers, two Deputy Director-Generals and two Public Protectors - it finally happened.
"Some have stated that this is the most progressive legislation to protect seals in the world, but I seriously have my doubts on this. Until seals are back on their rightful extinct islands the battle for their survival, their freedom, is far from over - but at least it begins with solid national legislated foundations within which to work to address specific issues.
"On the 7 December 2007 the Cape Fur Seals of South Africa finally got their new Act.
"With any luck, and continued support, this Act will serve the foundations for decades to come, to increase the protection of these seals.
"Namibia [South-West Africa] is next in my seal sights now.
"For all you have done, my biggest Thank You.
"For the Seals,
"Francois Hugo, Seal Alert-SA, www.sealalert.org"
[It is not often that we receive any good news from the "new" South Africa, but this recent report certainly shows that there is hope - even under the Mbeki regime. Surely Francois Hugo deserves some form of international honour and recognition?]
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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 really want to be able to produce the next edition of S.A.Patriot-in-Exile, No.37, very soon, but in order to do this we must clear as much of our existing stock of back-issues as possible first. 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.]
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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
----------------------------
"BETRAYAL IN HIGH PLACES" by James Mackay.
271 pages, some illustrations. Soft-back £5.00 including p&p. (r.r.p. £10.00)
The compelling story of what really happened in a defeated Japan following the end of World War II. Merchant seaman James Mackay, whilst travelling in the east, started to hear stories of massacres and other atrocities committed by Japanese forces, not just against enemy troops, but against innocent civilian populations. His subsequent investigations revealed reluctance amongst Allied governments to discuss these incidents that seemed to amount almost to a cover-up. Why would the Allies want to overlook the crimes of a former enemy, especially when the leadership of another former enemy was being liquidated at Nuremburg? Using his own research, as well as material prepared by Australian Army war crimes investigator Capt. J.G. Goodwin, Mackay exposes the cover-up and names the guilty. Not only were the Japanese keen to sweep the past under the carpet, but the US government of the time also had its own reasons for preserving the political and industrial elite in Japan. A provocative book, which calls into question the morality of US policy towards Japan after WWII.
Payment can be made by credit or debit card. To order on line, log onto www.paypal.com and enter postmaster@gcartwright.demon.co.uk as payment destination.
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"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
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"PALM WINE AND LEOPARD'S WHISKERS" edited by Ronnie Anderson.
Reminiscences of Eastern Nigeria - "The nuts and bolts of African history..." Professor Tony Kirk-Greene CMG, MBE, Emeritus Professor of African Affairs at Oxford University. A unique selection of Nigerian stories, studies/articles on arts, crafts, education riots, oil discovery, court and community development, medical section, Royal visits, Leopard murders, electoral matters, land disputes, an extraordinary spectrum of Nigerian life in post-war era up to Independence. Photographs, sketches and maps.
A small stock of this book, which makes an ideal gift, are still available from : Yesterdays Books, 6 Cecil Avenue, Bournemouth, BH8 9EH, UK at £15.00 - plus £3.50 or £6.50 (airmail) for postage and packing.
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"WINSTON CHURCHILL BY HIS PERSONAL SECRETARY" recollections of the great man by a woman who worked for him, Elizabeth Nel
Elizabeth Nel served as Winston Churchill’s personal secretary during World War II. The vivid and human details of her experiences, of her impressions and memories of the irascible and loveable war hero, take up the story of Churchill’s life at No. 10 where the BBC’s impressive drama, 'The Gathering Storm', leaves off — when Churchill took over the reins of Government at the outset of the war. Finally, the author, Elizabeth Nel, at 90 years of age and just before she died, looks back across the years.
Available from: www.diadembooks.com/churchill.htm
[You may like to see details with photos regarding the launch of this book, which can be viewed at http://www.diadembooks.com/celiamurray.htm]
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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
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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
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WHERE ARE THEY NOW ?
No.117 : Mr. VIC ROBINSON of Natal
Vic Robinson was a keen and reliable member of the Conservative Party in Durban during the mid-1980s. He could always be relied upon to help man party tables at election times, invariably turning up wearing his South African army beret from World War II, in which conflict he served with pride and distinction. In the late 1980s he retired and moved to the small little dorp of Rosetta just outside Mooi River, so it is uncertain therefore whether he is still alive. He was the father of Charlie Robinson who featured in the "Where are they now?" column of the SCN's September 2000 edition, though unfortunately we never received any response as a result of this request. We would therefore be very keen to learn what became of both Vic and Charlie.
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RECOMMENDED WEB-SITE OF THE MONTH
In spite of the problems which befell last month's London Swinton Circle meeting, the speech given by Cdr. John Muxworthy proved highly informative and inspiring, and the UK National Defence Association is most certainly an organisation well worthy of support. Their excellent web-site can be accessed at :-
http://www.uknda.org
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
UP AND UNDER
Sir,
Yes, I saw the letter of mine in the April edition of the SCN, well done. This country is a balls-up at the moment, as I'm sure you've noticed. And they are starting load-shedding again!
Go well.
Yours etc.,
Glenn MacAskill, Transvaal, South Africa
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BACK TO BLACK
Sir,
This last week I have noticed that Sunnyside was unusually quiet. At first I thought it was because of the winter. (During winter, these Black animals of Africa tend to go into some sort of hibernation.)
Then I heard about the xenophobia. 30-40% of Sunnyside's population is foreign. They must be keeping a low profile to avoid trouble.
(Personally I have sympathy for neither the locals nor the foreigners; if Blacks are killing Blacks who am I to judge?)
Yours etc.,
HRK, Pretoria, Transvaal, South Africa
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LIBERAL DEATH-WISH
Sir,
The politically baffling question for me today - the Liberals are trying to strip Mugabe of his honorary title. How on earth was it given to an instigator of mass Matabele murder in the first place, irrespective of the fact that previously he had been a communist and a terrorist?
Yours etc.,
Susan Gordon, London, U.K.
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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!
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.]
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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.
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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."
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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"
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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!
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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.]
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.]
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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!
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.]
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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.
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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."
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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"
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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!
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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.]
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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.
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"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.
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"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
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"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.
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"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
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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
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"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.
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"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
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.]
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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.
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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.
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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?
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