Tolstoi & Esperanto

A little known fact is that Leo Tolstoy was a keen supporter of Esperanto. Unfortunately he appears not to have written in it, except for one lettre.

Tolstoy was also very keen on pacifism and vegetarienism, and believed that anyone who didn't agree with him should be killed. For this reason, he has had a great influence on Norse Deth Metal and Jamaican artists such as Bounty Killer.

Naomi Klein, mrs Thatcher & the miners

Naomi Klein, the Canadian anti-capitalist ("No Logo" etc.) has revealed in the Guardian the real purpose of the Falklands War of 1982. It was to provoke British miners into a strike and then close down the mines. After winning the 1983 election thanks to a "Falklands Factor".

Only a few problems:

The Tory vote fell in 1983. The Tories only won thanks to the split in the opposition. (The belief the Tory vote rose substantially is a frequent myth.)

Winning a war doesn't guarantee victory. In 1945, Churchill was given the "order of the boot".

The miners strike was mishandled by the extreme leftist leader Arthur Scargill. He was clearly beaten after 6 months, but only went back after 12. & his extremism alienated many floating voters.