Leftwing Political Analysis – Page 4

UK: How a 14-Year Old “Sir Harry Parkes” Witnessed the First [1842] “British” Photograph Taken in China! (26.10.2026)

26/10/2026 Adrian (釋大道)

As with all things – the “devil is in the detail” – so-to-speak. It is ironic that the British government’s attitude toward the photographic technology invented by English scientist – Walter Talbot – made it so expensive that virtually no-one British could afford to use it either in (or outside) the UK! Instead, British citizens travelling abroad often had to use the French photographic technology developed by Louis Daguerre. We can see this contradiction in operation as Western photography unfolded in China during the early 1840s. It would seem that the British took the first photograph in China (of themselves) during 1842 – but no known example of this picture exists today. Of course, a copy might exist somewhere, as of yet undiscovered. Nevertheless, there is a diary extract recording this event written by a 14-year old Harry Parkes – who would go on to be a very important British diplomat.

UK: The Historical Background of Colonial-Era Western Photography in Beijing! (26.10.2026)

26/10/2026 Adrian (釋大道)

What is truly curious, however, is that more than 30 years have since passed, yet this particular panoramic scene remains in my possession alone; I have neither encountered nor discovered the existence of a second copy. Thus, for the time being, it can be said that the earliest images of the Inner City of Beijing—specifically the area around Tiananmen—(found in printed materials from the Republic of China era) exist only in my personal collection; no one else possesses them. In terms of historical narrative, this photograph—a view of Beijing’s Inner City forcibly captured by Anglo-French aggressors—represents an eternal source of pain for the Chinese people. It serves as stark, tangible proof that a nation left behind will inevitably fall victim to aggression.

People on the streets of Guangzhou, photographed by Jules Itier in 1844.

UK: Governor-General Qiyang (耆英) – [1844] First Photograph Taken in [Guangzhou] China! (26.10.2026)

26/10/2026 Adrian (釋大道)

When photographic technology first entered China during the mid-19th century (from Europe) – the circumstances that surrounded this event were far from pleasant. Photography historian and author of “Oriental Photography Notes” – Na Mo Ai (南无哀) – said, “The Opium War was the cue for Western photography to invade China”— In 1844, the French Labignie Mission visited China and forced the Qing government, which had suffered defeat in the First Opium War (agaunst England), to sign the (Unequal) “Sino-French Whampoa Treaty”. During the negotiations, the Mission’s “Customs Officer” (Jules Itier) summoned the Chinese Representative (who was in fact ethnic “Manchurian”) – Governor-General Qiyang (耆英) [1787-1858] of Liangguang (Minister of Commerce for the Five Ports) – where his presence was recorded at the meeting thruogh the taking of a “photograph”. The above front-face “portrait” of Qiyang is believed to be the first modern “photograph” taken on the Mainland of China.

Kate Stanforth said she wanted to deliver more in-person classes, but costs were prohibitive

UK: Kate Stanforth Academy of Arts – Funding for Popular Disabled Dance School Required! (25.10.2026)

25/10/2026 Adrian (釋大道)

She said she wanted to expand in-person opportunities, but accessible venues and the subsequent fees for travel and equipment are “incredibly expensive”.

Currently, she is trying to raise £20,000 to allow her to keep the academy running.

“We’re not struggling because there isn’t a need for what we do,” Stanforth said.

“We’re struggling because making dance genuinely accessible costs money, and those costs aren’t always recognised.”

While she is thrilled some of her dancers have moved onto professional opportunities, Stanforth said the classes were about more than that.

“We’ve also seen people find joy in movement again after believing that part of their life was over,” she said.

“I don’t want another generation of disabled dancers growing up believing their ambitions are unrealistic.”

UK: The History of “Changing the Clocks” [It’s About to Happen]! (23.10. 2026)

25/10/2026 Adrian (釋大道)

The campaign for British Summer Time came about at the beginning of the 20th century when parliament passed the Summer Time Act in 1916.

British builder William Willett led the movement, inspired by his love of the outdoors. He advocated for BST in his 1907 ‘Waste of Daylight’ pamphlet to increase opportunities for leisure and help reduce energy costs.

He suggested a plan which included 20-minute changes four Sundays in a row in April and September to minimise disruption to people’s biological clocks, arguing that they would “lose nothing and gain substantially”.

He died in 1915 before his vision would become a reality.

The following year, a simplified version of his proposal – a change of an hour – was introduced as the country suffered from huge coal shortages during the First World War.

It has undergone some changes: During the Second World War, Britain kept clocks one hour ahead of GMT through the winter and, from 1941, adopted British Double Summer Time, placing clocks two hours ahead of GMT during summer months. It was then returned to GMT at the end of summer 1945.

UK: Police “Mock” Death of Paul Hardcastle’s Son! (24.10.2026)

24/10/2026 Adrian (釋大道)

This is one of the protest tracks from my youth – as I was inspired by the Vietnamese people. Hardcastle’s track helped me understand the position from the American teenage victims of this hideous war. A private soldier served 12-months – but an officer served only 9-months (there were exceptions). This meant that US combat units were continuously changing and men that were just beginning to gain existence – left and returned home. New recruits – whom lacked experience – often died first. The North Vietnamese and South Vietnamese Viet Cong – led by Ho Chi Minh and General Giap – inflicted a psychological and physical military defeat upon the imperialist Americans. Around 6-million Vietnamese men, women, and children were killed, maimed or “disappeared” – compared to just 58 thousand dead US soldiers. Today, due to the use of the chemical Weapon – “Agent Orange” – Vietnamese people are continuously effected by genetic disorders and physical (psychological) disabilities. Agent Orange was both a “defoliant” (designed to kill and remove plants and vegetable matter) – whilst also turning a foetus gestating in a womb into a “cancer” that killed the mother and child. The reality was that many babies developed anyway – but with terrible malformations. This is how capitalism seeks to destroy Socialism.

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