Saturday 21 November, 1981 - peace-demonstration in Amsterdam against cruise missiles and nuclear weapons
source: anp-archief.nl
video:
21 november Antikernwapendemonstratie (1981) from Vandaag Voorheen on Vimeo.
Showing posts with label current affairs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label current affairs. Show all posts
21.11.16
21/11/81: Peace demonstration in Amsterdam
Saturday 21 November, 1981 - peace-demonstration in Amsterdam against cruise missiles and nuclear weapons
source: anp-archief.nl
video:
21 november Antikernwapendemonstratie (1981) from Vandaag Voorheen on Vimeo.
28.4.16
28/4/81: Ronald Reagan's Address on the Program for Economic Recovery
On Tuesday 28 April 1981 President Ronald Reagan gave a speech to a joint session of Congress outlining his government's plans for economic recovery and US fiscal programmes.
"I believe it's essential that the Congress approve this package, which I believe will lift the crushing burden of inflation off of our citizens and restore the vitality to our economy and our industrial machine," he said. "The American people now want us to act and not in half measures. They demand and they've earned a full and comprehensive effort to clean up our economic mess."
see also: realclearpolitics
full text of speech here
Also on this day, actress and model Jessica Alba is born in Pomona, California.
13.4.16
12.4.16
12/04/81: Columbia Space Shuttle launched
On Sunday 12 April 1981 the Columbia Space Shuttle was launched into space for the first time. The shuttle program was officially referred to as the Space Transportation System (STS), giving this flight the name STS-1. Launching from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission had a two-person crew: commander, John Young, a veteran of Gemini and Apollo, and the pilot, Bob Crippen.
The Columbia shuttle was the first "re-usable" spacecraft which was to launch like a rocket and land like an aircraft. The two solid rocket boosters that helped push the shuttle into space would also be re-used, after being recovered from the ocean. Only the massive external fuel tank would burn up as it fell back to Earth.
The mission was a success and the shuttle returned safely to Earth on 14 April. The program would go on complete twenty-seven successful missions into space, although its twenty-eighth and final mission resulted in tragedy as it burned up on re-entry in February 2003, killing its seven crew members.
Twenty years previously, on April 12, 1961, the era of human spaceflight began when Russian Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to orbit the Earth in his Vostock I spacecraft. The flight lasted 108 minutes.
The Columbia shuttle was the first "re-usable" spacecraft which was to launch like a rocket and land like an aircraft. The two solid rocket boosters that helped push the shuttle into space would also be re-used, after being recovered from the ocean. Only the massive external fuel tank would burn up as it fell back to Earth.
The mission was a success and the shuttle returned safely to Earth on 14 April. The program would go on complete twenty-seven successful missions into space, although its twenty-eighth and final mission resulted in tragedy as it burned up on re-entry in February 2003, killing its seven crew members.
Twenty years previously, on April 12, 1961, the era of human spaceflight began when Russian Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to orbit the Earth in his Vostock I spacecraft. The flight lasted 108 minutes.
11.4.16
11/04/81: Brixton riots
On Saturday 11 April 1981 fierce fighting and rioting broke out in the London suburb of Brixton. At approx. 4:45pm two police officers searched and arrested a young black taxi driver, taking him away. Missiles were thrown at the police van as it left. This led to more police reinforcements and led to the worst day of the rioting. The rioters were mostly young black men but they were now joined by young whites. Looting began, police vans were overturned and bricks, bottles, and petrol bombs were thrown, setting fire to both police and private cars. There were also a number of attacks on retail and commercial premises and bars.
text source: blackpast.org
for various eye-witness accounts see: Remembering the riots (theguardian.com)
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| pic.: Peter Murphy |
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| pic: PA |
text source: blackpast.org
for various eye-witness accounts see: Remembering the riots (theguardian.com)
10.4.16
10/04/81: Michael Bailey stabbed in Brixton
On Friday 10 April 1981 at around 5 p.m. a young black man, Michael Bailey, was stabbed in a fight in the Brixton area of suburban London. While running for help he was stopped by police officers who were then accused by other residents of having stabbed Bailey themselves and furthermore hindering medical assistance.
The incident is said to have been the spark that started the ensuing 'Brixton Riots' over the following weekend.
Police harassment increased tension in Brixton when Operation Swamp ’81 was launched in early April 1981. Police used the hated “sus” laws, which allowed them to search anyone they suspected of having committed a crime. In just five days, police stopped and searched almost 950 people, arresting 150. Black people made up just 6 percent of London’s population in the late 1970s. But 44 percent of those arrested under sus were black. Unemployment in the area stood at 13 per cent overall, and 25 per cent among the West Indian community. Half of young black men were jobless.
sources: wikipedia, dailymail.co.uk
flyer pic: irr.org.uk
The incident is said to have been the spark that started the ensuing 'Brixton Riots' over the following weekend.
 |
| pic: guardian |
Police harassment increased tension in Brixton when Operation Swamp ’81 was launched in early April 1981. Police used the hated “sus” laws, which allowed them to search anyone they suspected of having committed a crime. In just five days, police stopped and searched almost 950 people, arresting 150. Black people made up just 6 percent of London’s population in the late 1970s. But 44 percent of those arrested under sus were black. Unemployment in the area stood at 13 per cent overall, and 25 per cent among the West Indian community. Half of young black men were jobless.
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| Flyer calling for an end to 'Sus' laws, 1981 |
sources: wikipedia, dailymail.co.uk
flyer pic: irr.org.uk
9.4.16
9/04/81: terrorist suspect arrested in Italy
On Thursday 9 April 1981 twenty-one year old Cristiano Fioravanti was arrested in Rome suspected of subversive activities and formation of an armed gang. The Italian had been hunted down by police suspected of terrorism as part of the extreme right-wing Nuclei Armati Rivoluzionari (NAR) group, together with his brother Valerio and Francesca Mambro, among others.
The group had been connected with the murder of left-wing activist Walter Rossi in 1977 and the bomb which exploded in the waiting room of Bologna railway station on 8 August 1980.
Fioravanti was later released without charge.
source and pic.: messaggero.it
3.4.16
3/4/81: BBC1 continuity before 9 O'Clock News
Friday 3 April 1981, 9 p.m.
BBC One continuity announcement just prior to the Nine O'Clock News. Call My Bluff was about to start on the BBC's second channel, while a new episode of Starsky and Hutch would be on after.
BBC One continuity announcement just prior to the Nine O'Clock News. Call My Bluff was about to start on the BBC's second channel, while a new episode of Starsky and Hutch would be on after.
Main news items: Ronald Reagan's recovery, West Yorkshire internal police enquiry, car bomb in N. Ireland, investigation into last year's North Sea Oil disaster and Prince Charles' visit to New Zealand.
The evening news was read by Richard Baker (b. 1925) who also introduced the first BBC television news broadcast on 5 July 1954. Baker retired as a newsreader in 1982.
see also: Richard Baker: The birth of TV news (BBC)
11.3.16
11/3/81: 'Today Tonight' : Slum army housing in Dublin
On Wednesday 11 March 1981, a report was shown on RTE Eire denouncing the slum housing conditions at the Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin, Rep. of Ireland. the report was by report by Forbes McFall.
Click picture below for link to full video report.
source. rte.ie/archives via twitter
10.3.16
10/3/81: UK Budget presented to Parliament; UK Top 40
On Tuesday 10 March 1981 a new UK budget was presented to Parliament by teh Chancellor of the Exchequer Geoffrey Howe.
This was Howe's second budget and the second of the Thatcher leadership and was presented at a time of significant economic hardship in the UK. Inflation was running at 15% and manufacturing output was down by 9% over the previous year with unemployment up by one million. In budget measures, the price of a pint of beer went up 4p, spirits went up 60p, wine up 12p, and 20 cigarettes up 13p. Petrol duty went by by up a significant 20p per gallon.
Geoffrey Howe would become Thatcher's longest serving cambinet minister, resigning in November 1990, just three weeks before Thatcher's own resignation. He died in 2015.
sources: guardian, wikipedia.
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| pic.: ssplprints.com |
Geoffrey Howe would become Thatcher's longest serving cambinet minister, resigning in November 1990, just three weeks before Thatcher's own resignation. He died in 2015.
sources: guardian, wikipedia.
Roxy Music go to no.1 in the UK with the John Lennon song Jealous Guy.
Duran Duran and New Order make their Top 40 debuts.
source: Official Charts archive
1.3.16
1/3/81: Second Irish hunger strike begins
On Sunday 1st March 1981 former IRA Commanding Officer Bobby Sands began a hunger strike in HM Prison Maze. It was the second strike of its kind after the one involving seven prisoners which had lasted 53 days in late 1980.
Although the British government had initially conceded to prisoners' demands, thus ending the strike, it became clear during the first months of 1981 that this was not the case and Sands began the new strike alone. He was joined by other prisoners at staggered intervals.
In a by-election held in April in the Northern Irish constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone Sands was elected member of the British Parliament although again the government stood fast against the prisoners' demands and the IRA, PM Margaret Thatcher refusing to give in to "criminals".
Bobby Sands died on 5 May 1981 after 66 days of the hunger strike.
source: CAIN (University of Ulster), Irish Times.
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| 1980 hunger strikers (pic. Irish Times) |
In a by-election held in April in the Northern Irish constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone Sands was elected member of the British Parliament although again the government stood fast against the prisoners' demands and the IRA, PM Margaret Thatcher refusing to give in to "criminals".
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| Bobby Sands pic. Irish Times |
source: CAIN (University of Ulster), Irish Times.
25.2.16
25/2/81: Royal engagement in the UK press
On Wednesday 25 February 1981 UK and other newspapers carried the news of the announcement of the Royal wedding engagement from the previous day.
source: Princess Diana Remembered - click for more newspaper features.
source: Princess Diana Remembered - click for more newspaper features.
24.2.16
24/2/81: Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer wedding announcement
On Tuesday 24 February 1981 the engagement of Prince Charles to Lady Diana was made official in an announcement by Buckingham Palace.
The Lord Chancellor Lord Maclean made the following statement :
"It is with greatest pleasure that the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh announce the betrothal of their beloved son the Prince of Wales to the Lady Diana Spencer, daughter of the Earl Spencer and the Honourable Mrs Shand Kydd."
Prince Charles quipped that he was "delighted and frankly amazed that Diana is prepared to take me on", quipped Prince Charles, 32, while Diana shyly stated, "with Prince Charles beside me I cannot go wrong." Diana was 19 years old at the time.
source: BBC On This Day (video: goentertain )
18.2.16
18/2/81: Margaret Thatcher gives in to miners
On 17 February 1981 the BBC announced that the Conservative Government led by Mrs Thatcher had withdrawn plans to close 23 coal mining pits in its first major u-turn since coming to power in 1979. The Secretary of State for Energy David Howell made the concessions at two hours of crisis talks in Whitehall involving union leaders and Department of Trade and Industry officials.
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| pic.: PA / guardian.com |
sources: BBC, guardian.
10.2.16
10/2/81: Las Vegas Hilton fire
On Tuesday 10 February a huge fire broke out in the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas, causing the death of eight people and injuring some 200 more.
23 year old hotel busboy Philip Bruce Cline was later charged for starting the fire and was given eight consecutive life sentences as well as being charged for arson. Interviewed in 2011 Cline said he still hopes the Pardons Board will give him a chance at freedom."I don't think I deserve to die in here, but I did what I did. I'm responsible for that," he said. (source)
The Hilton fire came three months after a fire in the MGM Hotel also in Las Vegas the previous November in which 87 people died. The Hilton was in fact being fitted with new anti-incendiary and safety equipment in the aftermath of the MGM tragedy.
Source: Clark County, NV website
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| pic: reviewjournal.com |
23 year old hotel busboy Philip Bruce Cline was later charged for starting the fire and was given eight consecutive life sentences as well as being charged for arson. Interviewed in 2011 Cline said he still hopes the Pardons Board will give him a chance at freedom."I don't think I deserve to die in here, but I did what I did. I'm responsible for that," he said. (source)
The Hilton fire came three months after a fire in the MGM Hotel also in Las Vegas the previous November in which 87 people died. The Hilton was in fact being fitted with new anti-incendiary and safety equipment in the aftermath of the MGM tragedy.
Source: Clark County, NV website
4.2.16
4/2/81: Congressman Jon C. Hinson arrested
On Wednesday 4 February Congressman Jon C. Hinson, a Republican of Mississippi, was arrested on a morals charge in a public men's room in the Longworth House Office Building.
Hinton (b. 1942) was charged for attempted sodomy, at the time a criminal act in the U.S., to which he pleaded not guilty in court. Hinson later received a 30-day jail sentence, which was suspended, and a year's probation, on condition that he continue counselling and treatment.
He resigned from his post in Congress in April, and became a gay rights activists throughout the following years. He died from respiratory failure in 1995.
source: nyt archive, wikipedia
3.2.16
3/2/81: Fuel prices continue to rise (cartoon)
On 3 February 1981 the German national daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung published this cartoon by Dutch illustrator Fritz Behrendt illustrating the consequences of the second oil shock from the seventies, which had led to an increase in the price of oil by a factor of 2.7 from mid-1978 to 1981.
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| pic: (c) Fritz Behrendt |
This second oil crisis resulted in a rise in energy costs for industrialised nations and higher prices at the pump.
Source: cvc.eu
2.2.16
2/2/81: "National service for jobless?" - The Guardian
On Monday 2 February 1981 UK national daily The Guardian ran an article on "a new move to persuade the Government to revive national community service for thousands of young unemployed".
The plan was being endorsed by both a Labour and a Tory MP as well as leading figures in social services and the Church. They all considered that it would be better to take everybody under the age of 18 out of the labour market and into a form of community service. The work involved would include helping old people, cleaning up council estates, helping the mentally handicapped, assisting staff in schools, museums and art galleries and national parks, and increasing council services which were being hit by the cuts under the new Thatcher Conservative government.
source: theguardian.com,
The plan was being endorsed by both a Labour and a Tory MP as well as leading figures in social services and the Church. They all considered that it would be better to take everybody under the age of 18 out of the labour market and into a form of community service. The work involved would include helping old people, cleaning up council estates, helping the mentally handicapped, assisting staff in schools, museums and art galleries and national parks, and increasing council services which were being hit by the cuts under the new Thatcher Conservative government.
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| pic: Neil Libbert / The Guardian |
source: theguardian.com,
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