It is strange how the oppression in Tibet by the Chinese does not attract the same sympathy for the Tibetans as the Palestinians get. The Socialist Workers Party (SWP), for example, had nothing on their web site on the subject - in fact, their silence is deafening.
If the Palestinians had support the kind of leadership shown by the Dalai Lama, the problem would have disappeared long ago, and to that extent, their continuing suffering is something they are bringing on themselves. But that seems to be the Moslem way.
The Guardian has published a couple more articles against HS2, one by specialist rail commentator Christian Wolmar, and another today by journalist Simon Jenkins. The main arguments in favour will doubtless be wheeled out by the commentators: the need for capacity and the disruption caused by upgrading existing routes. HST itself will severely disrupt services to Euston during the construction period. Capacity can be increased at a fraction of the cost by a variety of measures, provided that it is accepted that the additional traffic will run at existing speeds. It is not generally known that the Midland main line is, or was, four track all the way from London to Trent Junction, between Nottingham and Derby. This is because the additional tracks are separate, having been added for coal trains which trundled down to Brent sidings, on the edge of London, from a collection point at Toton in Nottinghamshire, where the Midland Railway build a huge marshalling yard. Beyond Derby, the main l...
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