Russia Helps Cuba With Car Industry!

Cuba: Russia Defies “Illegal” US Boycott with UAZ SUV Car Industry Initiative! (9.4.2025)

Last Friday, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Dmitry Chernyshenko, accompanied by Ambassador Viktor V. Koronelli , took part in the launching ceremony of the first UAZ vehicle assembled in Cuba .

🔩 Modern UAZ SUVs, well-known on the island and around the world for their durability and reliability , will be assembled in Havana from Russian car kits.

Memorial Stone for the Crew of the CSS HL Hunley!

CSA: Remembering the CSS HL Hunley – Confederate Submarine Recovered in 2000! (8.4.2025)

These were the last Confederate soldiers to be laid to rest in the US. They were buried in 2004 in Charleston – with over ten thousand people attending – many carrying Confederate flags. The official US government stance was one of indifference and perhaps embarrassment (the US was busy illegally invading Iraq and Afghanistan – falsely blaming both countries for the September 11th World Trade Centre Attacks). One of the submarine crew – “C Lumpkin” – was British (images of what the crew looked like have been created), whilst two others (of the eight-man crew) were also non-American (“Corporal Johan Frederik Carlsen” was Danish – whilst “Arnold Becker” was Germany). In other words, three of the eight were foreign – and I know that people came from Ireland (which was then under British control) and from Mainland Britain to join the Confederate Cause.

Sutton Cemetery - Qingming 2025!

UK: Qingming (清明) [2025] – “Sweeping & Cleaning the Grave” of the Chinese Ancestors! (5.4.2025)

At both times of the year the graves are repaired and made new – whilst one or two of the favourite things are provided – such as a glass of brandy and a cigarette. Some Chinese families – although not ours – make paper clothing which is burnt at the graveside in Autumn – alongside “Spirit Money” – or pretend banknotes, etc. Others take real food which is placed on a table in hygienic containers – offered as an oblation – and consumed later. Our two daughters used clothes and cleaning sprays to remove the dirt and shine the stone exterior of the graves. The bright flowers are then cut to fit into the holders. We often bring a flag of China and Buddhist pictures and statues. Today, I also carried a Ch’an Dao Martial Arts Association badge and a pair of Nunchaku. We lit six incense-sticks – three for each grave – and bowed-down three-tips (clapping the hands three-times). We have been performing these rituals since the early 1990s in the UK.

CSA Oliver Hardy - Confederate Army

CSA: Oliver Hardy’s “Confederate” History! (5.4.2025)

The comedy duo – “Laurel and Hardy” (Stan Laurel being from the UK) still make millions of people laugh all the time. It would seem that like many people living in the Southern States, the family of Oliver Hardy were originally from England. I find the Confederacy to be a complex period of US history – often misrepresented by prevailing narratives. It is as if the dominant narrative-writers want to hide something that was present in the South between 1861-1865 – but which is inconvenient to know today. My own view is that there was Revolutionary dialectics in operation that could have led the US in an entirely different direction. I find that this observation is just as unpopular with neo-Confederates as it is with the Federal government in Washington DC!

Labour Killing Disabled!

UK: £416.19 Victory for Disabled People – High Court Ruling Declared DWP’s Benefit Reforms Unfair & Illegal! (4.4.2025)

The DWP claimed the changes were designed to “support” disabled people into work. However, there was no evidence that the reforms would actually improve employment outcomes. In fact, internal assessments suggested the opposite: more disabled people facing tougher conditions, sanctions, and loss of income.

This contradiction was a central part of the court’s ruling. Public Law Project lawyer Aoife O’Reilly called the decision a “vindication,” noting that public consultations must reflect reality—not political spin.

Backlash and Response

Disability rights organizations, legal experts, and even civil service unions welcomed the court’s judgment. Groups such as Inclusion London and the UK DDPO CRPD Monitoring Coalition are now urging the government to drop the reforms and restart the process—with disabled people at the table.

Dead Confederate sharpshooters of Hood's Division among the rocks in Devil's Den in front of Little Round Top.

CSA: Remembering the Bravery of “Irish” Company “K” – 15th Alabama – Little Round-Top [2.7.1863] – Gettysburg! (3.4.2025)

The weather was hot – and the Confederates had to advance over open ground before storming an inclined slope (in the form of a steep hill) – with the intention of sweeping the Federals off its top and consolidating the victory. The previous day had seen the Confederates sweep the Federals out of West and Central Gettysburg – and into the hills to its East. Washington was just 80 miles to the South – and legend has it that Lincoln was packing his belongings to flee! I have audio-typed part of a chapter from Stephen Sears’ book – carefully reproducing the text from an Audible edition (in my native British English). This provides a general background to the battle – but does not mention the Irish specifically – other than one or two fighting for the Union. For the story of “Company K” of the 15th Alabama Regiment of the Confederate States of America (CSA) – we must turn to the excellent work of Phillip Thomas Tucker – who has produced an excellent book examining the contribution to the Confederate cause made by the Irish!

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