#salisbury — Public Fediverse posts

Vigil No. 142

Nearly 30 attend the latest vigil in Salisbury

August 2026

The vigils continue and the 142nd was held yesterday in the Market Place, Salisbury. Recognition was good with around 100 or so seeming to take some kind of note of our presence. It’s quite a while now since we have had any serious criticism of our action.

There may be signs that things are changing on the political front. The new prime minister seems aware of the damage done by Sir Keir Starmer’s almost blinkered approach to Israel. Starmer was determined he said to ‘root out anti-Semitism from the party’ and claimed he had done so in his final PMQ. ‘Rooting it out’ was a fine objective but giving Israel almost unqualified support despite their atrocious actions in Gaza, and now the West Bank, quite another. The violence has increased markedly in the last few months with the IDF or Israeli police doing very little to stop it. Leaders of the party are fully behind the actions. Thirteen new settlements have been approved and they are designed to make any hope of a coherent Palestinian state impossible.

Andy Burnham is facing demands at next month’s party conference to declare Israel’s actions in Gaza to be genocide which he is reported to be reluctant to do. At his inauguration it appeared he understood the immense harm done by the government’s one-sided support. We shall have to see if words are turned in action.

• Vigil No. 142
• Why we need to worry about Palantir
• Coercion by the Chinese of the Uyghur diaspora
• Zoom meeting on the Uyghur campaign
• Podcast Episode: Xinjiang Forced Labour Campaign

Roadshow offering taste of the Mediterranean coming to supermarket https://www.diningandcooking.com/2774428/roadshow-offering-taste-of-the-mediterranean-coming-to-supermarket/ #Mediterranean #MediterraneanFood #MediterraneanInspired #salisbury #Tesco #TescoClubcard

Roadshow offering taste of the Mediterranean coming to supermarket

A Mediterranean food roadshow is heading to Salisbury, promising a flavourful experience for shoppers. Tesco’s Taste the Med Roadshow will arrive at the Salisbury Extra store on Tuesda…
#dining #cooking #diet #food #MediterraneanFood #Mediterranean #mediterraneanfood #Mediterraneaninspired #salisbury #Tesco #TescoClubcard
https://www.diningandcooking.com/2774428/roadshow-offering-taste-of-the-mediterranean-coming-to-supermarket/

Another vigil and is the mood changing in the US?

Latest vigil – No 141 – is well attended

August 2026

Around 35 attended the latest vigil held in Salisbury’s market place and it is remarkable that they continue week after week. As we have said before, there is a mixture of people who come every week and those who turn up occasionally. Recognition is high and news of the terrible events in the region continue to appear on our screens and in the media.

The rising tide of settler violence achieved significant coverage last week even from the BBC which is extremely nervous of covering news from the area for familiar reasons. We noted a shift in attitudes in America in our last post and a forthright criticism by Mike Huckabee, the American ambassador, calling the settlers ‘Israeli terrorists’. This from a Zionist and Israeli apologist. What was important was not just the comment itself but that he felt able to make them.

Once again we note the absence of the Salisbury MP Mr John Glen who has never attended a vigil or ever mentioned them in his weekly column in the Salisbury Journal. 141 weeks of silence is a powerful message. He is a member of Conservative Friends of Israel along with around 140 other MPs.

Israeli support for violence and the lack of healthcare for Palestinians claimed

A distressing report in Haaretz discusses the attitude of many Israelis towards Palestinians and particularly their health care or rather lack of it. They report:

“The majority of Israel’s Jewish public supports the worsening conditions of Palestinian patients, caused by their inability to receive necessary treatments. This isn’t the finding of any pollster – no one includes in their surveys a question like, “Do you support the elimination of Palestinian public healthcare?

“Yet this conclusion is inevitable, considering the fact that Israel’s Ministry of Finance continues unimpeded to steal the Palestinian Authority’s income from taxes and customs. Those revenues are meant for medical treatments, medications, medical staff salaries and the maintenance and development of hospitals and clinics”.

The article describes the lack of condemnation by a wide range of Israeli organisations and the writer concludes:

“[…] With great pain, you have to conclude that, in the eyes of too many Jews in Israel, also the slow killing of Palestinians, simply because they are Palestinians, is a legitimate policy.”

Public opinion in Israel is important especially with elections imminent. The hard right politicians who support the destruction of Gaza, the increasing West Bank settler violence and the prevention of health care described in the article, are in the ascendant. If the article is right, it does not look as though there will be much in the way of pressure to change the political climate.

• Another vigil and is the mood changing in the US?
• Are American attitudes towards Israel changing?
• Latest Death Penalty Report
• Uyghur campaign: letter
• Uyghur campaign – day 11

Photo: Courtesy of Peter Gloyns

Thought of becoming a supporter?

https://www.fromoldbooks.org/OldEngland/pages/0932-Salisbury/

Salisbury, in Wiltshire, UK, showing the cathedral dominating the city skyline in 1840, taken from Charles Knight’s “Old England: A Pictorial Museum”, the book that inspired me to start scanning, back in the 1990s.

#Salisbury #Cathedral #SalisburyCathedral #vintageEngraving #vintageArt #fobo #OldEngland

Uyghur campaign: letter

Group members publish letter in local paper

August 2026

Two members of the local group have their letter published today (13th) on the Uyghur campaign in the Salisbury Journal:

“DURING  August, the local Amnesty group is taking part in the Uyghur Solidarity Month to highlight the dire human rights situation in that part of China.

“The UN Commissioner for Human Rights said there were credible allegations that the Chinese government had carried out arbitrary detention, torture, forced labour, family separation and severe restrictions on religious and cultural freedoms on a vast scale.   Reading a book in their language is punished and might result in execution.

“Despite these findings, the suffering of the Uyghur people continues while the world looks on. More than a million Uyghurs have been detained and countless families have been torn apart. 

“Survivors describe detention camps where torture, rape, forced labour and coercive birth control measures are carried out by the Chinese. Whether one views this issue through the lens of International law, religious freedom human rights or human dignity, the plight of these people deserves continued public attention. 

“Further background can be found on the Salisbury Amnesty site www.salisburyai.com

Lesley and Peter Curbishley”

The letter was modelled on one suggested by the campaign team which had to be shortened because of the paper’s word limit.

• Uyghur campaign: letter
• Uyghur campaign – day 11
• Risks of University Partnerships with Arms Firms and Israel
• Obituary: Daphne White
• Uyghurs: getting the word out

Israel ‘concealing evidence of genocide’

140th vigil well attended> Need to maintain the spotlight on genocide and war crimes

August 2026

Around 35 turned out this week (8th) and this number swelled at times to over 40 with people stopping for a while. The need is still there with killings going on despite the so-called ceasefire. There were scarcely credible reports of a more permanent ending which almost certainly will come to nought. Israel is reported to be engaged in a process of concealing evidence of the genocide.

Destroying the evidence

One event beginning to happen is Israel is now busy trying to clear away the evidence of genocide. Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor reports that around 10 million tonnes of material has been cleared away from Gaza. They report:

“The Israeli forces, along with Israeli civilian contractors, are conducting a wide and organised operation to process and clear the rubble from neighbourhoods and facilities they have destroyed in the Gaza Strip and relocate it from areas under their military control to outside the Strip.

“This is occurring without any official record of the quantities removed or independent oversight, and before international and local investigative committees have had the chance to survey, examine, and document the sites. This risks destroying crucial evidence of genocide and the remains of victims still unaccounted for under the rubble.

“These operations are not part of organised humanitarian efforts to rescue the missing, open roads, or prepare for reconstruction. Instead, Israel is acting unilaterally within closed areas under its military control by demolishing remaining buildings and then crushing, mixing, and transporting the rubble before forensic teams, evidence experts, and unexploded ordnance specialists can examine, document, and preserve the sites, along with the evidence and human remains […]”.

Since thousands of remains of Palestinians lie buried in this rubble, this represents a dreadful and unfeeling extension to the genocidal crimes Israel has already committed. The full story can be read here. A search of this topic was carried out and there is no sign of it being reported in any UK news outlet [accessed 9th].

Mass burial

Last week, a mass burial took place of 112 Palestinians, 40 of whom were children, killed in one of the deadliest strikes which took place since October 7th. An entire apartment block was demolished in November 2023 and 157 people are still missing. Their bodies could not be recovered until now.

No sign of the local MP Mr John Glen who despite the genocide and continuing killings is a ‘proud member’ of the Friends of Israel lobby group along with around 140 other MPs of all major parties.

Photo. Two members standing by a traffic island which attracted a good level of response from motorists. Photo courtesy of Peter Gloyns.

• Israel ‘concealing evidence of genocide’
• Reactions from an IDF soldier
• Reading books can get you killed
• Uyghur solidarity month
• Corruption and Arms Trade: The UK’s Enduring Dilemma

Sources: Euro-Med, Kuwait Times, Eupal, The Canary. No UK media could be found.

Thought of subscribing?

South Western #Railway and Network Rail Wessex will introduce a temporary timetable on the West of #England line from Monday 10 August because prolonged hot, dry weather has affected track stability between #Salisbury and #Exeter. Speed restrictions on a 60-mile section between Tisbury and Honiton mean fewer trains can operate safely. Services between #London Waterloo and Salisbury will continue every 30 minutes, with hourly trains to #Yeovil Junction and Exeter St Davids served every two hours. Journeys to and from Exeter will take up to 27 minutes longer, while most Yeovil services will also be slightly slower. The changes will remain in place until further notice. Engineers have strengthened the route since last year and continue to monitor vulnerable sites, while longer-term work is under way to improve resilience to extreme weather.
https://www.southwesternrailway.com/other/news-and-media/news/2026/july/wofe-timetable-changes

@Vibracobra23
c. 93 years later...

May 2023, Salisbury/Wiltshire

#Salisbury #SalisburyCathedral

Salisbury Cathedral, Wiltshire, c.1930 - RP Postcard

https://www.ebid.net/uk/for-sale/salisbury-cathedral-wiltshire-c-1930-rp-postcard-244791190.htm

#Salisbury #SalisburyCathedral

Good attendance at latest vigil

Nearly 40 showing continued concern

July 2026

Vigil number 138 held this Saturday with just under 40 who came to support. It is amazing that people continue to come and although there are the diehards, new faces come each time. Recognition by passers-by was strong as many at 10 a minute at one stage and over 100 overall. We meet every Saturday in the market square by the Library at 5 pm. All are welcome.

The situation remains grim with 1,123 killed in Gaza since the October ‘cease fire’: cease fire seeming to mean slightly less killing than before. We have already noted the new prime minister, Andy Burnham’s apology for the shameful response by Sir Keir Starmer at the beginning of the conflict which did so much damage to the party and to his reputation. Aseel Baidoun, Deputy Director of Advocacy and Communications at Medical Aid for Palestinians, said:

“Prime Minister Burnham enters Downing Street with an opportunity to chart a new course on the UK’s response to Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territory. His acknowledgement that the last administration ‘got it wrong’ on Gaza is a welcome first step. It must now be followed by urgent action to uphold international law and protect Palestinian lives.

“[…] The new Government must match its words with action by suspending arms transfers to Israel, ending trade with illegal settlements, suspending the UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement, and taking meaningful steps to ensure accountability for violations of international law.”

We noted in a recent post that the government is actively supporting arms sales with money, insurance and organisation at events such as Farnborough. The government has closed down its monitoring unit in the Foreign Office so will be even less aware of events on the ground.

Israel protest

One piece of good news is that Al Jazeera report that there have been demonstrations in Tel Aviv against settler violence which continues at pace. The UN’s OCHA reports that Fatalities linked to settler attacks in 2026 have already surpassed the total recorded during all of 2025, with 18 Palestinians killed as of 20 July compared with 17 throughout 2025.

About 90 Palestinians were displaced by demolitions and settler attacks during the reporting period, most following a large-scale demolition carried out by Israeli authorities in a Bedouin community in Qalqiliya governorate. Demolitions and settler attacks continued to affect Palestinian homes, water systems, schools and livelihood assets, further undermining access to essential services and community resilience.

We await to see if the new prime minister and new Foreign Secretary who replaces the largely ineffective Yvette Cooper, will bring changes to British policy concerning the region and our approach to the Israeli regime. No sign of the local MP, Mr John Glen who is a proud member of the Conservative Friends of Israel along with around 200 other MPs.

Sources include: UN, Lemkin Institute, Guardian, Al Jazeera, OCHA.

Photo courtesy of Peter Gloyns

Reflection of cathedral window in the infinity font
#FensterFreitag #Salisbury

BBC ‘bias’ in Gaza conflict

Report reveals in detail how the BBC has misreported the conflict

July 2026

The BBC is widely trusted. It promotes itself as an independent media organisation dedicated to giving fair balanced news and comments about what is happening in the world. A report by the Centre for Media Monitoring analysed the BBC’s output on the Gaza conflict and found it to be anything but balanced. Indeed it concluded that the ‘BBC is systematically biased against Palestinians in Gaza war coverage‘. They echo conclusions by Peter Oborne in his book Complicit [OR Books, 2025] who was extremely critical of their reporting of the conflict.

Not that these conclusions are new. Tom Mills in his book The BBC: Myth of a Public Service [Verso, 2016] concluded that it has ‘always sided with the elite‘. Despite the constant accusations by right-wing media interests for its left-wing bias, in fact he argues ‘its journalism has overwhelmingly reflected the ideas and interests of elite groups‘.

Gaza coverage

CfMM analysed thousands of BBC pieces as part of its research and came up with 4 main conclusions:

• Palestinian deaths are treated as less newsworthy. Despite there being 34 times more deaths among Palestinians, the BBC gave Israel deaths 33 times more coverage.
• BBC used emotive terms 4 times more for Israeli victims, applied ‘massacre’ 18 times more to Israeli casualties, and used ‘murder’ 220 times for Israelis in contrast to once for Palestinians. We have noted that the word ‘hostage’ was applied (correctly) for those seized by Hamas after the October 7th massacre, but the word ‘prisoner’ is used for those seized by Israel and held without trial and tortured. Prisoner implies some kind of due process has taken place which it hasn’t.
• BBC presenters shut down genocide claims in over 100 documented instances whilst making zero mention of Israeli leaders’ genocidal statements, including Netanyahu’s biblical Amalek reference. The moment an interviewee mentions the G word, a BBC person will immediately interrupt and say that there has been no conclusion to the claims despite the massive evidence to the contrary and blatant statements by Israeli politicians to that effect.
• The BBC interviewed significantly fewer Palestinians than Israelis (1,085 v 2,350) on TV and radio, while BBC presenters shared the Israeli perspective 11 times more frequently than the Palestinian perspective (2,340 v 217). The interviews themselves are often weak and unchallenging.

The full report is available here.

Reasons

We can only speculate on the reasons for the bias. One is the myth of BBC independence. This much touted merit is not always true. The Board is appointed by Government ministers and the organisation is under constant funding threats. The Charter is up for renewal soon in 2028.

A second aspect is the charge of anti-Semitism. Anti-Semitism is of course to be condemned but it has become a cover for any and all criticism of Israel. When Amnesty and Human Rights Watch published their reports on Israel’s Apartheid policy for example, the immediate and knee-jerk response was the charge of anti-Semitism and anti-Israel. It has led the BBC we would argue to an approach of extreme caution and nervousness.

The policy of balance is also a factor. Balance does not always mean equal. This arose with debates about climate change. A scientist would be interviewed with facts and data followed by a denialist such as Lord Lawson. They received equal coverage even though Lawson was not a scientist and seldom had any evidence to support his views. Viewers were left confused. Scientists gradually refused to be interviewed. The BBC has now stopped doing this (after many protests) although it should be stressed scientists are not always right and should be challenged: but challenged by someone competent.

The tragedy is that there are many Jewish people in the UK who are concerned about the extreme violence and genocide taking place in Gaza and the increasing tide of violence against Palestinians living on the West Bank. On a recent Any Answers programme, two Jewish men phoned in with their views. They did not fit the narrative as expected and the presenter was audibly disconcerted and tried vainly to counter their views. The grim future of Israel is discussed in the Jewish academic Omar Bartov’s book Israel: What Went Wrong? [Fern Press, 2026].

Does it matter?

It matters because the BBC is a trusted source much needed in these days of mis- and disinformation and torrid material being produced by X and other online outlets. Generally, they perform well despite attempts at coercion and control. One has only to spend 10 minutes watching GBNews to witness what low standards mean.

It matters because they have a role in shaping public opinion. People were rightly angry at the seizing of hostages by Hamas and the frequent bulletins about the negotiations to secure their release increased that anger. The almost complete absence of reporting by the BBC of the seizure by Israel of medical staff and their incarceration, torture and sometimes death in an underground prison weakens their claims to be impartial.

It matters because this public opinion shapes political opinion and policies. The almost total failure by the BBC to report the hundreds of RAF overflights for example means a large chunk of British society is unaware of this help and other more covert help by our government for the regime. It means the government can continue selling arms with impunity thus playing a part in increasing the destruction of Gaza. It means the incarceration of those who support the Palestinian cause is made that bit easier because they have been labelled the ‘bad guys’. It means politicians like David Lammy can make provably misleading statements about reducing arms sales without being challenged. [David Lammy left government as this post was being written].

It matters because the distortion of language: for example selective use of words like ‘massacre’ and ‘hostage’ as we have noted above, means trust in the BBC is eroded.

The BBC fails to mention when interviewing various members of parliament, whether they are members of one or other of the Friends of Israel groups nor asks how much they have received for visits to the country. It does not ask them leaving the viewer or listener left in the dark. [To be fair, neither does the BBC nor other broadcasters ask interviewees if they are a member of one or other of the think tanks with their undeclared funding].

The organisation needs to shake off its fear of being called anti-Semitic and provide proper and balanced reports.

• BBC ‘bias’ in Gaza conflict
• The vigils continue
• Britain’s support for the arms trade
• British woman tried on an American base
• Death penalty in Florida

Salisbury Cathedral from North Canonry Garden, Wiltshire, c.1920 - RP Postcard

https://www.ebid.net/uk/for-sale/salisbury-cathedral-from-north-canonry-garden-wiltshire-c-1920-rp-postcard-224518598.htm

#Salisbury #SalisburyCathedral

I’m not always a massive nerd, but this display of A/V equipment in Salisbury cathedral says otherwise.

#Candid #Camera #salisbury #NeverOffDuty

NEW Bridge to OLD Sarum

This wooden bridge to Old Sarum stretches lightly across the green hollow, as if inviting visitors to step from the present into the quiet remains of the past.

May 2023, Old Sarum/Salisbury/Wiltshire

#Salisbury #Wiltshire #OldSarum #EnglishHeritage #nature #landscape #tree #bridge #moat #bluesky #history

Close Gate, High Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire, c.1940 - British Art Co Postcard

https://www.ebid.net/uk/for-sale/close-gate-high-street-salisbury-wiltshire-c-1940-british-art-co-postcard-224479138.htm

#Salisbury #Art #MarjorieCBates

Death penalty report

Monthly report on the use of the penalty around the world

July 2026.

There is a lot of interest in this month’s report which covers the period mid-June to mid-July 2026 and is preprared by group member Lesley to whom we are grateful for the work in compiling it. There is more content in this report on conferences where the future of the penalty was discussed for example the Ninth World Congress Against the Death Penalty.

Reconstructed flint wall at Old Sarum

May 2023, Old Sarum/Salisbury/Wiltshire

#TextureTuesday #OldSarum #Salisbury #Wiltshire #EnglishHeritage #flint #flintstone #wall #Mauer

#uk #March_2018 #Salisbury #Novichok_assassination
Sky News: UK sanctions Russians developing chemical weapons used in Salisbury poisonings.

https://news.sky.com/story/ukraine-war-latest-live-putin-kyiv-zelenskyy-12541713

Fishers killed off Gaza coast

Israeli forces intensify killing of fishers off the coast of Gaza

Vigil No 135

Gaza is effectively surrounded and has no port or means of accessing neighbouring territory. It is an open air prison. With the tight restrictions of aid entering the territory and the annexation of nearly all the cultivable land by Israeli forces, one of the few means of livelihood is fishing. Gazans have been restricted to inshore fishing only, they cannot venture into the Mediterranean. Since October 2023, attacks on fishers have intensified with 238 killed since October 7th according to the Gaza Fishers Syndicate. Channel 5 News carried a report yesterday [we have been unable to locate a link]. It appears to add an element to the policy of starvation being meted onto the territory.

A UN report said :

‘This thematic note highlights the systematic attacks on fishers and fishing infrastructure in Gaza, which have had devastating consequences on local livelihoods and the fishing industry, driving expanding protection concerns and risk of famine for families across Gaza.

‘According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Israeli military restrictions on fishing activities in Gaza significantly intensified after 7 October 2023, and fishers reported that they have been repeatedly attacked, onshore and at sea, by the Israeli military. In parallel, the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) in Gaza has documented the destruction of key fishing infrastructure, including Gaza’s main port and several landing sites, along with extensive damage to landing sites and fishing vessels, rendering fishing operations off the coast of Gaza nearly impossible.

‘These attacks have resulted in the collapse of the fishing industry, which was once a main source of livelihoods and food for Gaza’s population. Combined with the destruction of agricultural land and other food production infrastructure, and severe restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid and commercial goods and supplies, the targeting of Gaza’s fishers and fishing infrastructure by the Israeli military has contributed directly to risk of famine and growing protection concerns for vulnerable persons, creating conditions which threaten the survival of Gaza’s population’ [UN, May 2025]

The vigils continue

Number 135 yesterday with over 30 present with occasional ‘drop-ins’ by passers by which is encouraging. Recognition was very high with probably over 100 taking some kind of notice of our presence. In view of the continuing violence in Lebanon and the killing which continues to take place in Gaza, it is still a necessary action. Over 73,000 have been killed according to AP and nearly 1,000 since the ‘ceasefire’.

Photo: Courtesy of Peter Gloyns

• Fishers killed off Gaza coast
• War crimes and atrocities in Sudan: report
• Disappointing debate about lobby influence
• Targeted policy to kill children
• Need for vigil continues

Salisbury Cathedral, Wiltshire, 1905 - FGO Stuart Postcard

https://www.ebid.net/uk/for-sale/salisbury-cathedral-wiltshire-1905-fgo-stuart-postcard-244636352.htm

#Salisbury #SalisburyCathedral

That cathedral again

A view through the nave towards the west portal of Salisbury Cathedral

May 2025 Salisbury, Wiltshire

#Salisbury #SalisburyCathedral #Cathedral #Kathedrale #FensterFreitag #Wiltshire #England #GB #UK #nave #WestPortal #Church #Kirche

A turbulent history has given way to an idyll here.

Old Sarum, Wiltshire

May 2023

#OldSarum #Wiltshire #Salisbury #History #Geschichte #Baum #tree #Landschaft #landscape #Natur #nature #England #UK #GB #Mauer #wall #EnglishHeritage

Hype for the Future 242E: Wicomico County, Maryland

https://novatopflex.wordpress.com/2026/06/30/hype-for-the-future-242e-wicomico-county-maryland/

Naked (t)

Lee turned twenty one today and was very excited. His buddies were taking him to a gentleman's club for his first time. He didn't sleep all night thinking about it. Turns out Lee's buddies don't spell well.

Salisbury, Massachusetts 2014
#Naked #Hogwash_Book_Eight #Salisbury #Massachusetts #Essex_County #Hogwash #Hog_Wash #photography
https://flic.kr/p/2rymqMT