It’s a tradition with me personally to play this track first thing on the morning of 1^st January, whatever year.

I cant say why specifically – other than I just love it – it is just a classic track from U2, even though it does not relate to anything apart from the Polish solidarity movement that was founded on 17^th September 1980 at the Lenin Shipyard under the leadership of Lech Walesa. 

It was the first trade union in a Warsaw Pact country that was not controlled by a communist party.  Its membership peaked at 10 million members at its September 1981 Congress, which constituted one third of the total working-age population of Poland.

What we can hope for in 2019 is fighting your campaigns; and a lot more respect for the way in which animals are treated.

As Dr. Brian May says – “look forward with the belief that everything that has been achieved can be surpassed in the future”.

This was a good year for animal rights – here are 11 of the biggest wins: 

https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/animal-rights-cruelty-free-peta-vegan-2018-meat-fur-a8704406.html

Fight the good fight !

Regards Mark – and Enjoy the music !

London fireworks – link from Diana (Germany):