Hi,
I thought you’d like to see my pic of the FSM demo I held in Parliament Square (London). I’ve also sent you a copy of the pamphlet I made.
Perhaps a little background is in order.
In 2005, the British Government passed a law called the “Serious Organised Crime And Police Act” (SOCPA). Buried deep within new regulations dealing with money laundering etc was an additional, entirely unrelated provision that made it illegal to protest anywhere within 1 kilometre of Parliament without getting express permission from the Police a week before the protest (yup - protesting is a serious organised crime!). The rules were designed to get rid of a guy called Brian Haw, who has been protesting about Iraq (first sanctions against, and now the war) for 5 years non-stop (it hasn’t worked - he’s still there!).
Since the law came into force on August 1st 2005, people have been arrested AND convicted under SOCPA for such heinous crimes as standing at the Cenotaph (the UK’s national war memorial) reading the names of British soldiers killed in Iraq.
Under the principal of “defiance through compliance”, the 3rd Wednesday of every month has seen a series of Mass Lone Demonstrations against SOCPA. The idea is this: what if loads of protesters all turned up at the same time all wanting individual permission from the police to demonstrate? As the police can only really turn down an application on the grounds of public safety or public order, that means if 100 people turn up and apply for permission, then the unfortunate police have to license and approve 100 lone demonstrations. So we all troop down to Charing Cross police station a week before and apply. Come the 3rd Wednesday, we all meet in Parliament Square to demonstrate about - well whatever you feel like.
Anyway.
Last month I read in the paper that since the Creationists have had an arse whipping over “intelligent design” in US schools, they’ve turned their attentions to the UK, on account of we don’t have rules about the separation of church and state.
In September a creationist group calling themselves “Truth in Science” sent a pack to every secondary school (read ‘high school’ if you’re in the US) promoting the teaching of intelligent design as a counterpoint to the proven science of evolution, and including lesson plans and materials for GCSE students (GCSEs are the UK’s centralised secondary education school exit exams).
As it is just as important for UK students to learn about the Flying Spaghetti Monster alongside the scientific theory of evolution and non-scientific metaphysical ideas such as “Intelligent Designâ€, I figured I’d use my Mass Lone Demo for this month to spread the truth of His Noodliness to the people in and around Parliament Square.
It worked really well - I made an anglicised version of the FSM leaflet to distribute and stood by the gates of Parliament in full pirate dress extolling the virtues of Flying Spaghetti Monsterism. Mostly I got just smiles, but there were enough “yars” from people to make me think there are a lot of closet pirates in London. I even got some people to stop and listen to my brief description of the history of the Flying Spaghetti Monsterism, how the FSM created the world and why they should become pirates as well.
Peace
Jo Selwood
Attached: leaflet.pdf
Link to propaganda materials
Hey, that’s an awesome idea! And congrats to you! Since everone now knows they aren’t alone, more pirates are sure to join you in the future. The Noodly One will surely lend his aid to such a noble goal.
RAmen.
FSM International! No one expects a spaghetti inquisition!
FSM be praised!
RAmen
Jo Selwood,
The world needs more people like you and your friends.
You guys rock! May FSM grant you fair seas and large bounty for your endeavours.
RAmen
Would you mind if I used a copy of your leaflet in Australia? I would include an aknowlegement of the author.
RAmen
Spread the word, my English brother.
Let the Almighty Noodly Appendage grace the Parliament and have mercy on their pasta-lacking souls.
Praised be He, whose Noodly Appendage has graced thee
RAmen
Good work Sister Jo. Be not afraid, for you are not alone in facing the horror that is Blair’s England. Your brethren in Sussex support your noble deeds.
RAmen
Well done sir! I have also seen this “Truth in Science” stuff and agree that our kids need to be told the truth which is of course about the great and almighty FSM. Let us all spread the word in Blighty.
Jo, you are an absolute star. If I ever get round to moving down to London, I’ll sign up right away (with my own, one-man protest, of course).
.
I hadn’t noticed this matter of Creationism wafting its poisonous spores into our schools. I still have a list of contacts of local schools from my last job. I wonder if they’d benefit from some counter-propaganda.
all hail his noodlyness, in all his spagetti glory, and spread the pasta word.
Henderob - Is there an official UK arm of the Church? If not, perhaps I feel a schism coming on. We could believe in all the same stuff except for a few minor details, like maybe our Beer Fountain delivers bitter to the worthy rather than lager? Obviously, there’d be decades of debate on whether bitter is a better representative of His Noodliness’ love for His people than lager, and in the end we’d not be speaking to each other (unless some mighty alliance of the unholy required it, or maybe just if we felt the need to ditch our long-held beliefs ’cause they weren’t selling well in the Third World….) but I believe that with our status as an island nation and long history of piracy, we could offer much to the battle against ignorance in our schools - as evidenced by Jo’s post.
My Noodle! Is ID really coming to UK schools by stealth? Alas it’s true, here we have an odious individual who (genuinely) is a millionaire, evangelical used-car salesman. His name is Reg Vardy and he has partnered with the government (who will drop their pants for anyone with some cash) to set-up Christian faith schools where ID is being stealthily introduced to the science curriculum. We need the strong logical arguments behind FSM to combat this evil!
most (pirates) or..yourselves. Don’t understand Christ, so you make your own idea based on proofs and facts, worldly stuff.
you have to make scrafices and give things up , part of being a christian.
and about the war protesting…how can people do that?! if they were not fighting , you might not even have the chance to go protest!
they signed up to fight, SO LET THEM!!
geeeeezzzzz
Oh great, more literate and well written criticism from the God-botherers.
You do know that ‘geeeeezzzz’ comes from the exclamation ‘Jesus’ and hence you have just blasphemed?
Sry - cheap shot. But you did set the tone
De-lurking for the first time to say arr! Great pirating, Jo!
great idear dude :) lol think i mite protest meself with some friends
p.s i think we should have a sub church for the midgit XD
Good for you Jo! Not only are you spreading the word of his Noodlyness, but you are also taking a stand against unjust legislation. The FSM would be proud. I’m sure there are lots of Pastafarians in London, and we deffinitly need a UK branch of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. And don’t let those creationists get ID into your schools. It’s not just about the seperation of church and state, it’s about not teaching bad science.
good man!!
Pamphlet is free to use for anyone. Help yourselves.
We really must form a FSM church in the UK - we’re obviously dotted around the place - I’m in Oxford, there’s some in Sussex, London.
As for the whole bitter thing - as His Noodliness is onmipotent, I presume the beer volcano would provide beer of your choice.
Peace
Cardinal Fang (aka Jo Selwood)
P.S. If you’re a Brit, more info on the Mass Lone Demos at www.markthomasinfo.com
@Cardinal Fang
Great! Printer warming up. Brand new 500 sheet pack of printing paper there. All set.
Print.
RAmen