Thousands demonstrate against austerity in London

A march in London against austerity and for a socialist alternative congregated at Portland Place today at midday.

Several thousand rallied and set off at around 1pm down Regent Street and on to Parliament Square.

The march represented a wide cross section of British society including Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and Jews.

The cry that often could be heard on this intentionally anti-austerity march was “Free Palestine” and indeed there were many Palestinian flags on display.

Zarah Sultana MP spoke at the Parliament Square rally, lending support to a 15% rise in nurses wages.

The march passed off peacefully and in good humour.

Musical Beauty

 Feel like the world needs more of this song at the minute:

Wellbeing and fighting genuine obesity is an important thing, but it's worth remembering that beauty comes in so many forms.

International female clothing laws

This international women's day the Swiss have banned the burka, this caused a lot of trouble in France when it was instigated.

Banning a burka is a bit like banning a mini skirt, it reveals nothing but intolerance.

Whatever your feelings about revealing or covering up your body enforcing it on someone else without a really good reason is foolish.

As Aung San Suu Kyi has found herself yet again facing the gun in what should be a democracy I will add this: in some parts of the world flip-flops are banned on building sites.

There is a reason for regulating attire on a building site, there is little for wandering about wherever you may find yourself.