South Africa turns violent
South Africa and the neighbouring countries largely shaped by its policies have always been about hating others, writes Sean Jacobs. Colonialism and apartheid (the two systems that dominated its 400 year history) were built on such a consciousness. Pundits and observers of South Africa often generalise about its progressive politics. What they forget is that sections of South Africa's political class - a small minority - leads its population to adopt progressive laws and attitudes on sexuality, marriage, capital punishment and even immigration. In contrast, the population is generally conservative and socially right-wing. Openness and tolerance and a historical consciousness did not necessarily go along with opposing apartheid.
Sean Jacobs The Guardian
News in Pictures: Johannesburg riots 
By failing to condemn Robert Mugabe's murderous dictatorship, Thabo Mbeki has perpetuated the flood of Zimbabwean refugees who now comprise three fifths of South Africa's foreigners. The results include lynchings and looting that have left one Johannesburg district looking "like a war zone". For Mr Mbeki to announce the creation of a panel to study the causes of the lawlessness, as he has, is fiddling while Rome burns. Mr Mbeki has failed spectacularly to channel the proceeds of robust economic growth to the townships where xenophobia now threatens to take root. Even the state-backed low-cost housing programmes that have helped to lift a lucky minority out of poverty now appear part of the problem, not the solution: attacks on foreigners accused of gaining access to new homes at the expense of native South Africans may have triggered the current violence.
Leader The Times
Labour has destroyed hope
Why should anyone on the left seek the re-election of the most rightwing government Britain has had since the second world war, asks George Monbiot? For example, the proportion of the British population in prison has risen by a fifth since the Tories left office. Today Britain locks up 151 out of every 100,000 people. The Chinese judiciary, by contrast, which is notorious for its willingness to bang up anyone and everyone, jails 119 people per 100,000; Burma imprisons 120; Saudi Arabia 132. Above all, the Labour government has destroyed hope. It has put into practice Thatcher's dictum that "there is no alternative" to a market fundamentalism that subordinates human welfare to the demands of business. Save this government? I would sooner give money to the Malarial Mosquito Conservation Project.
George Monbiot The Guardian
Labour prepare to lose Crewe
The people of Crewe are not even bothering to be curious about Tory policies, they just want to wallop Labour, whatever the consequences, notes Polly Toynbee. A dam seems to have burst, releasing an accumulated sludge of repressed anti-politician rage. Why this 10p issue, over and over again? After all, the money is mostly restored, giving 22 million an unexpected bonus. Abolishing the 10p tax band doesn't symbolise Labour, who have redirected more money to poor pensioners and children than anyone since Lloyd George. Nor is it the worst thing Labour has done: we are still mired in the Iraq war, but nobody mentioned that. Yet that 10p is the dambuster, giving people permission to say, Right, if Labour isn't even for the poor, I have no reason left to restrain my indignation.
Polly Toynbee The Guardian
Abortion myths
Is there significant evidence that the foetus is now significantly more viable at up to 24 weeks than was the case in 1967 or 1990, when the law was last changed? "No" is the answer to that, says David Aaronovitch. Camera technology has certainly advanced, and we can capture the foetus in the womb, and from the images sentimentally imagine that we know its "thoughts" or "feelings", but the latest study has established that the survival rates for severely premature babies have not improved over the past 18 years. Hardly a single baby born at 22 weeks or under manages to leave hospital alive, and at 23 weeks 82 per cent fail to make it outside, the same percentage as in the mid-1990s.
David Aaronovitch The Times
For many women, abortion is no big deal
