The London Peace Pagoda - Official BMA-UK Delegation! (27.05.2023)
A Delegation (consisting of Gee Wyles, Mei-An Wyles, Kai-Lin Wyles, Adrian Chan-Wyles and Dogs 'Basal' and 'Niko') representing the Buddhist-Marxism Alliance (UK) paid an Official visit to the London Peace Pagoda - situated in Northern segment of Battersea Park (Wandsworth). This structure has existed since 1984 and was designed and constructed by a Japanese Buddhist monastic. The idea was agreed at the time by the 'Greater London Council' - an organisation in the UK that used to stand as a 'left-wing' beacon of political resistance to the right-wing (and socially destructive) policies of the Conservative Party - Headed at the time by the fascistic 'Margaret Thatcher'! Due to this 'resistance' - and the 'Socialist' trajectory the GLC represented - the Thatcher government ensured its abolition in 1986 (followed by the abolition in the UK of what had been universally 'free' Further and Higher education in 1988)! The 1980s also saw the beginning of the end for the National Health Service (NHS) - with Thatcher inverted its functioning principle of putting 'care' before 'profit'! Following the Thatcher reforms - the NHS switched from 'care' to 'cost' - with whole rafts of treatments being cut - alongside the specialist staff that used to administer these treatments! Today, the NHS is a hollow shell of what it once was (a process of disempowerment of the masses even pursued by the so-called 'New' Labour government of 1997-2010)! Out of respect for the memory of the GLC, the Welfare State, Social Services and the NHS - the Delegation of the BMA-UK was instructed to 'fly the flags' of various 'Socialist' and 'Progressive' countries!
With the data we have provided above - the casual visitor should be able to a) locate Battersea Park in the Wandsworth area of South London (which is on train, bus and tube lines) - bearing in-mind that in London today many ordinary people prefer to ride bicycles (as there is a 'Public' bike scheme in operation). The Government of the Laos Buddhist-Socialist Republic has ENDORSED this BMA-UK initiative - as have Diane Wyles (74) and Peter Wyles (80) [photograph above] - both elderly 'Social Activists' and 'Revolutionaries' of considerable note! The structure itself is very similar to the grand Buddhist temples found throughout Asia - regardless of Buddhist School. Furthermore, as the Peace Pagoda resides in a Public Park - UK law allows for dogs to be present on and around the structure (which is kept meticulously 'clean' by the public workers of Wandsworth Council). This is an advantage as many temples in the West (which are situated upon or within private property) often 'refuse' entry to any animal or pet (usually for hygiene purposes). This is often because resident Buddhist monastics have to follow a very strict daily regimen and are unable to carryout the various duties required for the casual caring of animals 'in-doors'. This is not always the case in Asia - where quite often animals wander in and out of temples as they will. This is true of dogs, cats, birds, elephants, spiders, snakes and even wild cats! Within Sri Lanka, for instance, this Buddhist State respects the fact that the Hindus hold the 'cow' in great respect - and so cows can be seen serenely walking (and resting) everywhere - including temples! Whereas Western temples tend to have 'carpet' and sealed interiors to keep warm - their Asian counter-parts are often in hot climates, are made of cool stone and are open air structures!