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| 16 Jan 2007 07:07:57 pm |
 *The Man the Government tried to Silence is ready to speak! |
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Craig Murray is the author of ‘Murder in Samarkand’.
The book is based on his time as the United Kingdom's Ambassador to Uzbekistan until he was removed from his post in October 2004 after exposing appalling human rights abuses by the US-funded regime of President Islam Karimov. In this candid and at times shocking memoir, he lays bare the dark and dirty underside of the War on Terror. In Uzbekistan, the land of Alexander the Great and Tamburlaine, lurks one of the most hideous tyrannies on earth - one founded on cotton slavery and brutal torture. As neighbouring 'liberated' Afghanistan produces record levels of heroin, the Uzbek rulers cash in on massive trafficking. They are even involved in trafficking their own women to prostitution in the West. But this did not prevent Karimov being viewed as a key US ally in the War on Terror.
When Craig Murray arrived in Uzbekistan, he was a young Ambassador with a brilliant career and a taste for whisky and women. But after hearing accounts of dissident prisoners being boiled to death and innocent people being raped and murdered by agents of the state, he started to question both his role and that of his country in so-called 'democratising' states. When Murray decided to go public with his shocking findings, Washington and 10 Downing Street reached the conclusion that he had to go. But Uzbekistan had changed the high-living diplomat and there was no way he was going to go quietly.
To find our more about Craig and his story go to www.craigmurray.co.uk.
*Also see the piece about making the book into a film on this Blog: Coming to a Cinema near You... Our Man in Tashkent.
Craig is available for speaking engagements through Select www.select-speakers.com or by contacting: carol@select-speakers.com |
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Category : General
| By : select |  Comments [113] |  Trackbacks [0] |
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| 16 Jan 2007 07:06:56 pm |
| Coming to a cinema near you ... Our Man in Tashkent |
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Extract from an article by Ewen MacAskill in The Guardian March 2006
One of the most embarrassing episodes for the Foreign Office in recent years is about to become even more embarrassing. British film-makers are planning to make a movie for release next year about the exploits of the renegade British ambassador, Craig Murray, with Steve Coogan in the running to play him.
The producer, Michael Winterbottom, who directed The Road to Guantánamo and A Cock and Bull Story, which starred Coogan, has bought the film rights to Mr Murray's Murder in Samarkand, an account of his two years as ambassador to Uzbekistan.
While Mr Murray, 47, was ambassador, he made many public statements condemning the regime of the Uzbekistan president, Islam Karimov, for its atrocious human rights record. At the time, the US government was seeking Mr Karimov's help, especially in using Uzbekistan as a base for US operations in Afghanistan after September 11.
Eva Yates, a spokeswoman for Revolution, said: "We have the rights and we are intending to make it. Because of the nature of the book, we are trying to be quite discreet in terms of research over there [in Uzbekistan]." She said the film was at an early stage and it had not been confirmed who was to play Mr Murray, though Coogan has a long-standing relationship with the company.
"I do not come across as a hero," said Mr Murray. "I am an ordinary, fallible guy who could not go along with what the government was doing. He [Coogan] likes the fact that the humour is self-deprecating."
He added: "There is a lot of satirical humour as well as total horror, really awful moments. We had a certain gallows humour in the embassy."
Asked about the sex content of the book, Mr Murray said: "There is part of me that is a bit fallible. During my couple of years in Uzbekistan, I went through a marriage break-up and started a relationship with a younger woman. The government has been trying to discredit me."
But he said this was only a small part of the book: "It is not a Jackie Collins bodice-ripper."
Craig Murray is available to speak at your next event just contact carol@select-speakers.com |
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Category : General
| By : select | Comments [116] | Trackbacks [0] |
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| 16 Jan 2007 04:56:28 pm |
| Penderyn Wins Again! |
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In the 2007 Whisky Bible (edited by the world renowned whisky taster Jim Murray) Penderyn’s Special WRU 125th Anniversary edition – 50% ABV and with a strong Madeira finishes – has scored 95 our of 100.
Although Penderyn has achieved quite a few placings at over 90 out of a 100 in the recent past, this is their best result yet. They are now hoping that this Special edition will win them a gold medal in the next International Wine and Spirits Awards in 2007. At only £125.00 retail (or £95.00 direct to Friends of Penderyn) this is obviously going to become a hot choice. For more information contact their Sales Manager keitht@welsh-whisky.co.uk.
As well as Penderyn Whisky the Welsh Whisky Company produces a range of other high quality spirits. The company is overseen and driven by the passion of Brian Morgan and his dedicated team. Brian is also Director of the Leadership, Enterprise and Economic Development at Cardiff Business School and an excellent speaker. He is obviously very happy to talk about starting Penderyn and talking about the company’s success and its future. For lots of information about the company and it’s unique development go to: www.welsh-whisky.co.uk. |
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Category : General
| By : select | Comments [115] | Trackbacks [0] |
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| 16 Jan 2007 04:54:53 pm |
| Welsh Government Corporate Health Standard Tobacco Criteria |
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Smoking is the greatest preventable cause of illness, disability and premature death in Wales. It is estimated there are around 106,000 smoking related deaths in the UK each year and that 6,000 of these are in Wales. This means that nearly one in every five deaths in Wales is attributable to smoking.
Smoking also damages the health of non-smokers. In 2004, the Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health (SCOTH) issued a further report that confirmed that exposure to second hand smoke causes lung cancer and heart disease in adult non-smokers.
The Welsh Government is introducing smoke-free legislation to ban smoking in enclosed public places on the 2nd April 2007, ahead of their colleagues in London. The introduction of this legislation will change the Welsh Government’s Corporate Health Standard in which smoking policies will now be of particular importance. All corporate policies will now have to state the rules and procedures for dealing with issues of smoking and environmental tobacco smoke in the workplace. The policy must protect all employees from environmental tobacco smoke at work, and provide support to those that wish to give up smoking.
To help companies meet these commitments we can help by providing half day workshops on ‘stopping smoking’. Tony Rae the Chairman of the British Council of Professional Hypnotists has a highly effective Stop Smoking course. The Success Rate is 80-85%. No one was born a smoker, and these seminars enable them to stop in just 2.5 hours. Those taking part feel more relaxed in a group than in a one-to-one situation with a stranger.
The average smoker spends around £3,000 per year if they smoke 40 per day. Think what they could do with that money, perhaps a great holiday, new clothes, change their car. That £3,000 is theirs to spend this year, next year and every year for the rest of their lives, and you will have helped them achieved that as well as complying with the new strict smoke-free laws.
For information on the smoke-free legislation contact www.smokingbanwales.co.uk and the All Wales Smoking Cessation Service on 0800 085 2219. Other informative websites on giving up smoking are www.stub.org.uk, www.ash.org.uk, www.iquit.co.uk, www.givingupsmoking.co.uk, and www.nosmokingday.org.uk.
Help for giving up smoking can be provided by Tony Rae. If you are interested please contact carol@select-speakers.com. |
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Category : General
| By : select | Comments [141] | Trackbacks [0] |
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| 16 Jan 2007 04:52:06 pm |
| Key Facts on the Smoke-Free Law* |
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New smoke-free legislation affecting smoking in enclosed public places is due to come into force in Wales on the 2nd April. Wales is leading the way in the implementation of this legislation, England will wait until July to implement the new Law.
The aim of the new law is to protect workers and general public from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke. It is estimated that second-hand smoke increases the risk of lung cancer by 24 per cent and heart disease by 25 per cent in adult non-smokers.
The new legislation covers all workplaces, including health care and educational establishments. It will also apply to factories, offices, restaurants, cinemas, leisure centres and shopping centres. Work vehicles and public transport vehicles such as buses and taxis will also be covered by the new legislation. So as an employer or business owner you need to be aware of this legislation and what it means if you get it wrong.
The manager or person in control of any no-smoking premises could be fined up to £1,000 for failing to display no-smoking signs in smoke-free premises and up to £2,500 for allowing others to smoke in no-smoking premises. Authorised officers of the local authorities will have powers to enter premises to establish that the smoke-free legislation is being enacted in accordance with the law. For more information go to www.smokingbanwales.co.uk.
If you want to give up smoking yourself or help your employees to quit we can help by organising a half day training clinic for you with Tony Rae. For more information contact: carol@select-speakers.com.
*See also the other article on this Blog about the Welsh Government scheme for Corporate Health Standards with its Tobacco criteria.
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Category : General
| By : select | Comments [123] | Trackbacks [0] |
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