“Don’t Panic!”
Current Affairs Editor, Joe Harker
01/04/12
With petrol tanker drivers planning a strike, the Government recommended that people have some reserve fuel and stock up in case there is a shortage.
Image courtesy of the Daily Mirror
The worry was that drivers wouldn’t be able to get to work since petrol stations may be empty. Giving the message of, ‘Don’t panic’ is quite possibly the worst thing the Government could have done.
By telling people not to panic, everyone is now worried that they will be caught by fuel shortages caused by strikes. This led to a rush for the nearest petrol station and has (ironically) caused some petrol stations to run out of fuel. Those that haven’t may be the scenes of disturbances as motorists rush for the pumps.
Out of my three nearest petrol stations, the local Tesco has run out of diesel and is down to the last reserves of petrol, the local Morrisons has to be watched by police as long queues caused anger amongst an impatient crowd (it didn’t help that the petrol station is right next to the exit either) and another Morrisons has created a separate queue for those who just want to fill up.
A rushed employee told me, ‘It’s been the busiest day I can remember, we’ve had dozens in here stocking up in a hurry.’ But he couldn’t talk for very long as he had to get back to work.
The panic is unfounded at this moment, especially since the first agreed strike date was cancelled. This shambles is an embarrassment for the Government who encouraged motorists to fill up a jerry can and instead caused mass panic. Fire crews have also criticised this decision, citing the dangers of keeping petrol at home – or worse, illegally transporting jerry cans of fuel in your car.
To combat the strike that still may or may not happen (depending on on-going negotiations) the Territorial Army is being drafted in to replace the striking drivers. This is a sensible measure in an incident that has descended into a disaster. Even worse this has also pushed fuel prices up; and it could rise further as basic business principles indicate that a spike in demand is the perfect time for a price increase.
How to make thousands in your sleep
Current Affairs Editor, Joe Harker
A damning investigation into NHS pay revealed that an agency doctor, used to cover staff shortages, was paid £20,000 in a week. Admittedly, they did work 56 hours a week and are constantly on call, required to drop everything and go to work in an emergency.
Doctors do vital work, keeping us healthy and well to the best of their abilities. They study difficult subjects and put hours of hard work in every week, sometimes having to deal with ungrateful or drunken patients, or deliver the worst news possible. Doctors are good people doing hard work. Yet is it irresponsible to pay one £20,000 a week to work on average 8 hours a day?
With a new NHS budget going ahead, costs need to be cut to the tune of £20 billion by 2015, so this expense is a glaring gap in NHS finances. Understaffing has been a problem in the NHS since 2009 when an EU law declared that hospital staff could work a maximum of 48 hours a week. Individual doctors could choose to increase that limit to 56 hours a week but cannot go anywhere past that limit.
For most people, the ‘9 to 5’ are the normal hours for a day of work; 8 hours in a day working and NHS staff has to actively say they are willing to do that. The law was designed to protect the health and safety of workers, yet in professions such as healthcare having enough staff to do the job can mean the difference between life and death.
Working Sundays
New government plans to boost the economy involve increasing the hours shops are open on Sunday.
The plans will come into action on 22nd July, in time for the Olympics, and will continue for two months with an extension for permanent implementation planned if it is a success.
However, measuring this success may be difficult, with the influx of tourists and the vast amount of Olympic spectators coming to the UK sales revenues are sure to increase which could corrupt the data.
What do you think? Should shops be open longer on Sundays? Or are we losing our day of rest just to try and make more money?
Kony 2012:
What does this campaign really show us?
Editor in Chief, Ben Franks
13/03/12
“Whatever the view on Kony - if he is toppled another Kony will take his place,” a source told Pie Magazine UK last week.
For the most part this is true. Although taking down a leader can set the topple rolling, the Lord’s Resistance Army would only fall if there was no-one left to lead it. On top of these criticisms, even more have arose. The question of whether Kony has even been in Uganda for the last six years is one of them, yet Invisible Children’s funding continues to go largely towards that state.
What is no doubt good about this campaign is raising Western media’s interest in Africa, riding the tide of the Arab Spring. It’s also impressive to see so many young people jumping on board and spreading their word, showing each other that they care. The main issues come with naivety – are these young people researching what they’re actively supporting? I doubt, rather cynically, that many of them are.
The source we asked commented, “Attitudes and culture are so very different from our own western viewpoint [in Africa] that the starting point of any moral issue is totally different from where we might begin. For example, is it wrong to arm and therefore feed a child who might otherwise starve? Probably, but is it then right to pass judgement on the issues of a country that is not our own?”
International intervention is indeed another criticism of the campaign. Although there is large support for Invisible Children’s aims, when is it right for foreign powers to intervene? Who decides? There is no doubt some debate there. Another source retaliated to the above views telling Pie Magazine UK, “In any culture, arming a child is wrong. The ‘gun’ is the biggest symbol of violence that there is and to taint an innocence by giving a child one is, and always will be, morally wrong.”
Asking whether it would be better if the child were to starve is redundant. A source from a local organisation commented, “Invisible Children should be there to provide support and food for the children, rather than supplying funding to the Ugandan military.” Visible Children, the opposition to Kony 2012, wrote that the Ugandan army were found to have been “looting” and “raping” in some cases, making Invisible Children’s arming and support of them somewhat shady.
“Our response has to be what is in our heart - if we are moved by the plight of the children we have a responsibility to respond,” a source continued, however raised issues about focusing on our own domestic issues, “perhaps one should question whether we would do the same those on our own doorstep?”
If you were to Google ‘Kony 2012 Campaign’, you’d find two sides: a vast amount of viral sharing, support and awareness, and a large pool of controversy, criticism and research into Invisible Children’s rocky record. When a source offered a Christian perspective on the issue, she commented, “In terms of judgement on either side I would quote Jesus from John chapter 8: ‘Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.’ In terms of protecting children, I would go to Mark 10/Matthew 19 when Jesus asked for the children to be allowed through to see him - in this act he recognised the rights of the child and the importance of childhood.”
What we all really need to be doing is research. As a registered charity, Invisible Children’s work and finances are public. The source continued, “A mature society should make checks and have measures in place before deciding who to donate money too.”
Worryingly is the “propaganda-like” approach by Invisible Children in the Kony 2012 Campaign which is giving many young people only one side of the story. A student told us, “With all these films, status after status and posters, many of my friends are falling for it all far too easily. They’re not seeing the other side to the argument and are fully supporting it after viewing their viral video just once.”
Despite this, a Church of England source wrote, “There is A LOT of scepticism about this campaign, especially about Invisible Children’s accountability and transparency.” The source goes on to raise the other issues of the charity’s effectiveness in the nature of the culture of African countries. He writes to us, saying that a brutal regime dictates how people are kept in line and, very often, is ironically a violent way of peace-keeping, going on to state, “There is a long, deep history of territorial, cultural and religious tribalism in Uganda: a powerful mix. If you’ve ever heard of teens getting killed in postcode gang wars in London, the idea is similar but barely scratches the surface of what is, in Uganda, pretty much a violent form of caste system.”
“I wonder how many in Uganda are aware of the international outcry?” he asks. “How many have access to social media? Ugandans need support and encouragement to have their own form of ‘Arab Spring’ (which was, of course, coordinated via Twitter and Facebook), rather than the West acting as policeman. Long-term change will only come if the people themselves realise that they will no longer tolerate this caste inequality and rule by fear. If they had a Gandhi/Luther King, such a figure would unite them.”
Another issue to Invisible Children’s attempts to gather support from world leaders is their choice of an internet petition, whereby people can “sign” with a simple click. “[Salisbury] MP John Glen and others say they wouldn’t take as much notice of a 100,000-signature petition where people had to make one click to sign, as one person getting personally involved in the issue. In other words, if young people want to be involved, they should befriend Ugandans as well as clicking a link in support, and see where that leads.”
As much criticism as there may be with the Kony 2012 Campaign and Invisible Children’s own track record, this is no doubt a hot potato for media, politics and Africa. It is drawing our eye to issues and will hopefully open up all new interest. We’re working towards a better and more universal world. Some of us may not be doing it perfectly or morally correctly, but the world is trying. And we’re progressing.
With all its sorry points, I believe Kony 2012 is a good thing.
Our Eyes On:
The Kony 2012 Campaign
Editor in Chief Ben Franks and Advertising Director/Occasional Contributor Ashley Blackman
Most had never heard or knew of Joseph Kony until tonight.
After seeing a fair amount of posts on the Facebook feed, the first assumption was that it could be spam. Instead what we found was rather enlightening.
A 30 minute video on YouTube, that you can view here, detailed the heart-wrenching story of Kony’s war crimes and exploiting of young, innocent African children since 1982. It has received nearly 10 million views in two days.
Kony is the leader of the LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army) which appears, according to Invisible Children (the charity behind Kony 2012), to have no cause or objective. It seems to be a simple quest for power. Most people share consensus on Kony’s “evils”, but that does not mean the Kony 2012 campaign is quite as high and mighty as you may think.
“Visible Children” writer Grant Oyston highlights some of the flaws of the campaign, quoting evidence of their spending accountability and focus on military intervention. In his article, he says he has “no doubt” that the intentions of the people behind Kony 2012 are “good”, but he describes Invisible Children as an “activist group” rather than a “charity”.
Oyston notes the campaign’s reluctance to show bare facts and instead points out the obvious ‘propaganda-like’ approach to Invisible Children’s films. However, the argument against this is that the campaign’s aim is to do just that – increase awareness and persuade support. Perhaps donating is not quite as important as signing the pledge, raising the problem with world leaders and encouraging foreign intervention. After all, these are the focuses of the video and not the culmination of funds by the charity.
Where Oyston seems to have lost focus is that most people fall for this story not because of their naivety but because of its emotional stamp.
Kony’s actions are highlighted; his tactics to abduct and train children into his military: give the boys guns and make the girls sex slaves. He makes young people kill.
In the video, which is sweeping the globe, it tells the story of how one man came to notice the troubles in Uganda and became an activist in support of defending Ugandan children.
The man responsible for the video is Jason Russell, a film director, who found Kony’s evil through a young boy called Jacob, who is seen to plead death rather than be alive, saying, “What future do we have?”
Russell makes a promise to put a stop to it, and in 2003 set up the charity Invisible Children, whose main efforts ever since have been on bringing Kony to justice.
We’re told of how Jacob’s brother was brutally and grotesquely killed in front of his eyes when trying to escape Kony’s LRA.
The video then follows up with campaigns trying to raise awareness as to Kony’s evil – they want to make him famous and encourage the US Government’s involvement.
Although Invisible Children itself claimed it had personally stopped intervention and work in Uganda in 2006, Obama in 2011 announced he would respond to the cause by sending in specially trained American troops to help the Ugandan army bring Kony to justice.
Many people have already signed up to like the campaign on Facebook, sharing the video and encouraging others to do the same. It has swept the social networking world by storm. On 20 April 2012, many cities around the world are taking part in a “Black Out” night. The plan is that people will go to sleep and wake up finding thousands of Kony 2012 posters. The intention is to make him famous to bring him down.
You can choose to support the cause here!
The question of this intervention is controversial by many world powers. Do we have a right to intervene militarily? Should we morally always intervene? What should we learn from history? Are these Black Out nights justified vandalism? Is this really as one-sided as it first appears?
There have been many playing devil’s advocate, mainly because a lot of young people have succumbed to the impression of this piece of film.
The point is we do all care. We want change for the better. It’s just the question of whether you believe Russell is right or Oyston makes a good point. The choice is yours.
Email in your views here: editor@pie-magazine.co.uk
Anybody want a power station?
Current Affairs Editor, Joe Harker
26/02/12
Iconic landmarks sit in the heart of every capital city; Paris has the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe, Washington D.C. has the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial among many others, and London is awash with these memorable constructs: the London Eye, the Houses of Parliament, The O2 Arena to name a few.
However, one of these, Battersea Power Station, currently sitting around, is rather unloved. That may change however, as Battersea Power Station is going up for sale.
Since being shut down in 1983, Battersea has been something of a white elephant; all attempts to refurbish it and use the building have failed due to high costs. All manner of plans have been made from an Alton Towers theme park to a shopping centre called ‘The Power Station’ - but all of these plans have fallen through.
The current project had planned to turn the site into a biomass power station and an Eco-dome (see left), complete with over 3,000 new homes. However, the project has been hit by debt, with £502 million needing to be paid back. Another problem facing any redevelopment in the area is the transport links; an underground line would have to be built to the area to accommodate for the new housing plans. This would cost over £500 million itself and any company planning to develop there would have to contribute £200 million to the underground development itself.
I hope that somebody can transform this crumbling relic into something productive, there has been too much money wasted on various failed ventures just to let it rot. Hopefully it can be revived again, like the Millennium Dome was transformed into a success this has the potential and the backing, but big obstacles in the way of its regeneration.
UK: 8.7% Drop in University Applications
Joe Harker, Current Affairs Editor
30.01.12
University! A subject that is very important to me right now and no doubt important to some of you too. As you will know, the UK Government allowed Universities to raise the maximum amount of payable tuition fees to £9,000. With fees nearly tripling to pay for University it’s now become much more difficult from a financial perspective.
There’s not a lot of money going around right now so University is going to be a very difficult slog for all involved. It’s understandable that some students would seek a different option, therefore University applications have dropped.
The biggest drop in applications is in England, where 9.9% less students are applying to University compared to last year, whether they will find a different University abroad or attempt a different approach is yet to be seen. There are smaller drops in other areas of the UK with Wales seeing a fall of 1.9% Scotland having 1.5% less applications and 4% less Northern Irish students applying for University.
While students may be choosing not to apply for Universities in the UK, they are looking abroad for further options with a Dutch university that has fees equivalent to £1,500 showing huge increases in the number of British students.
What’s going to happen now that there is a very large drop in the number of University applicants? Several options available to me as a student applying to University have become apparent with studying abroad becoming a popular choice among cost cutting students, with the USA and Holland being two of the major favourites among students willing to go overseas for their education.
This data was provided by that well known bastion of user-friendly University application UCAS. Maybe the drop in applications isn’t because of higher fees; perhaps it’s because of having to jump through 300 different hoops just to make your application.
Murderer of Stephen Lawrence Launches Appeal
Gary Dobson, serving more than 15 years for the murder of Stephen Lawrence, has launched an appeal against his conviction. Dobson has based his appeal on a video that was used in his trial showing him making racist remarks, this video was apparently taken a year after Stephen Lawrence was murdered, making the video questionable as a piece of evidence.
Dobson still maintains that he is innocent and his family are supporting him, yet if his appeal is accepted it will not take place until at least May with a date further into the summer looking more likely.
2012
It’s Going to be Eventful
Current Affairs Editor, Joe Harker.
Ah, 2012, for many of us this year already held some significance - possibly because the world is supposed to end in it. I really do hope not because 2012 promises to be an interesting year of our lives. Let’s take a look at some of the big stories that will be coming our way in the next 12 months.
High Speed Rail Approved
It’s official, the high speed rail line between London and Birmingham has been approved. The project will cost an estimated £33 billion and be finished in the distant year of 2026, a further line that reaches Manchester and Leeds will be finished in 2033. I don’t wish to criticise attempts to update ageing British railways but it is a very long time. I’ll be 31 by the time the po first line is finished and 38 when the project is over.
This difference in time may be a potential difficulty because there is a great deal of opposition to this development - it cuts through nature preserves and Greenfield sites for a start; maintaining something as substantial as this through several governments will be a difficult task. Passing responsibility to new ministers will also be a difficulty, as will protecting the claims it will add £47 billion to the economy.
Support for this project comes as British railways are getting rather old and, despite the length of time it will take, the sooner you start, the sooner you finish.
London 2012 Olympics
They’re nearly here, the stadiums are nearing completion and tickets have been sold in droves. In fact demand was so high that the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, missed out on getting tickets.
We will probably never see the games return to London in our lifetimes so this is a moment to be enjoyed. Despite all the typical British worrying (It’ll be twice as late and ten times over budget) the Olympics seem to be on track for now. So look forward to cheering on your country and just enjoy yourself.
It’s an Election Year
This year, Sarkozy and Obama will be defending their positions of power as French and American Presidents respectively. Both have an approval rating lower than 50% at time of writing.
Obama has been languishing between a 40% and 45% approval rating for some time now; his highest popularity levels in recent times came with the death of Osama Bin Laden which gave Obama a quick boost. Unluckily for him, the polls dropped again and now less than half of the American population think he is suitable for the job.
Even worse for him, the Republicans seem to finally be choosing an opponent for him. One of Obama’s biggest advantages was that no clear opponent presented themselves for long. Mitt Romney has been consistent throughout but individuals such as Rick Perry and Herman Cain have reached higher popularity levels than Romney before crashing out. It now seems likely that the former Governor of Massachusetts will be going up against Obama.
He seems like a credible challenger to Obama and still has many months to wait for the current President to slip up. If the Democrats fiscal policies do not show results soon then it may be thank you and goodbye Barack.
In France, a recent poll suggested that if the French were to vote now, only 40% would choose Sarkozy. While his main opponent François Hollande, of the Socialist party, would win the Election. In an interesting twist, footballer Eric Cantona has announced his intention of running for President and is now attempting to get himself established as a potential candidate.
Another country that is getting ready for Presidential elections is Russia; with current President Dmitry Medvedev appearing to make way for his predecessor and political ally Vladimir Putin. Previously, Putin had been a very popular politician and many expected him to return to the Presidency. However, new opposition and protests have thrown this into doubt.
The Russian people may not want to see a man who has already been President for two terms (8 years) assume to position again. It is stated in the Russian Constitution that he could not serve three consecutive terms. Instead, between 2008 and 2012 he has been Russian Prime Minister, still able to exercise power in Russia. With Presidential terms in Russia now extended from 4 to 6 years Putin can legally be President of Russia for another 12 years if he wins the elections.
The Eurozone Crisis
It had been a difficult time for the European Union in 2011. There was plenty of money directed into bailout funds and new measures introduced that some countries found objectionable, such as when the UK used its veto to block the introduction of a tax that would hit the City of London hardest.
The Union of 27 countries has seen rough times of late and the path ahead seems just as treacherous. Spain is trying to cut its 23% unemployment rate, France is struggling to keep its AAA debt rating and Greece still has its monumental debt problems. The loss of Silvio Berlusconi will probably help Italian economic recovery. Gone is the party animal, replacing him is Mario Monti, an infinitely more sensible man with a history of economic credibility.
Looking to the most powerful leaders in Europe means looking at Sarkozy and German Chancellor Merkel, this partnership has steered the course of a currency over the past year but now the alliance may be in danger. As previously stated, Sarkozy is facing a difficult election this year. One he may not survive. Therefore, it would be interesting to wonder what Merkel will do if he is voted out.
Kim Jong-il Dead
North Korea in mourning?
Joe Harker, Current Affairs Editor
North Korea's long reigning dictator Kim Jong-il reportedly died at the age of 69 on Saturday 17th December from a heart attack caused by stress. Throughout the world he is known for his nuclear testing, large army building and starring role as the main villain in ‘Team America: World Police’.
His body was unveiled to the state on 20th December 2011.
Kim Jong-il assumed power in 1994 after the death of his father Kim Il-sung, the ‘Eternal Leader’ of North Korea. Kim Jong-il was portrayed as a hero to his people as it is said that his birth was marked by a double rainbow and the appearance of an exceptionally bright star in the sky.
His death has caused North Koreans to weep in the streets as the woman who announced the death on the news was wearing the traditional black of mourning and was close to tears.
Kim Jong-il has often been prone to eccentric behaviour such as when his love of the cinema drove him to kidnap South Korean film director Shin Sang-ok and his wife in 1978. For the next five years they were kept apart yet when they were re-united they were ordered to make films for Kim Jong-il. They made seven films in total before they escaped from North Korea. He also apparently had 20,000 movies in his collection (I didn’t know being a dictator allowed for that much free time) as well as owning one of the two properties in North Korea with internet access, one is his palace and the other is an internet café in the capital city.
North Korea has always been characterised by its highly secretive nature which has caused it trouble on the international stage as its million-strong main army and its eight million man reserve forces it as one of the most heavily militarised countries in the world. Its nuclear tests have also worried other countries, especially as it is very hostile with its neighbour, South Korea. For a country with such a large army and a developing nuclear capability to be so secretive worried many other nations.
In the end though, power will inevitably pass to his third son, Kim Jong-un, who has been prepared to take power for a while now. Though with 2011 being the year of toppling dictators North Korea will hope the transition between leaders is smooth while South Korea and Japan watch closely.
Highest unemployment in almost two decades
News flash, Editor in Chief Ben Franks
14 December 2011
PM Cameron under pressure for economic reform as Britain suffers from its highest unemployment rate in 17 years.
Before Thatcher, economists had always beheld an agreement on one thing: the biggest enemy to a Nation’s economy is unemployment. This age old nemesis of economic strength has returned as the number of people in the UK claiming jobless benefits rose by 3,000 just last month.
As David Cameron tries to combat the financial situation by “standing firm” against Europe – in fact isolating the UK from the Euro crisis – and by introducing huge public sector cuts, as Osborne juggles with the little money the government has. American paper, The Wall Street Journal, highlights “raising questions about the wisdom of his government's fierce austerity drive”. This news comes as President Obama tackles with the fast-approaching time his own government’s money pot runs dry.
In Britain the public sector alone, job cuts have seen around 276,000 people lose employment, according to the Financial Times. Despite private sector employment having risen by around 262,000, in the last quarter there was a mere 5,000 rise in the private sector and a damaging 67,000 jobs lost in the public sector.
Speculates of Britain’s relationship with Europe and general surveys have shown a cautious approach by the public sector to invest in employment, with worries about the global economy.
John Philpott, chief economist at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, told the Financial times that the fact these new statistics “might have been worse” is really the “best thing you can say”.
The ‘it could’ve been worse’ point of view is adopted by many economists. Economist Michael Saunders calls the drop in public sector employment “huge”.
However it is not only job-cuts in the private sector. Travel company, Thomas Cook, which has been a prominent business in Britain for many years, admitted it had to turn to cutting jobs. Many other private sector organisations have merely avoided taking on any new employment.
The current economic climate has made getting a job particularly difficult. Young people are especially suffering from being out of work, with a considerable fall in employment figures. The Financial Times reported, “the number of jobless aged between 16 and 24 pushed further past the 1m mark”, the highest it has been since records began, “and now stands at about 22 per cent – although this figure includes almost 300,000 people in full-time education looking for part-time work.” The fall of available part-time work has certainly caused a squeeze in student’s spending, who are among the largest demographic to contribute to the finance of many arts, gaming and sport businesses.
Self-employment figures have rose by 166,000 – the highest since 1992. While this may mean good for the surge of entrepreneurialism, small businesses have found it difficult to survive in the recession leading many economists to question the success of these self-employed.
All over the world there is a political war with numbers. Numbers which count money that’s never physically existed and our lifestyles, jobs and incomes are under threat. It seems we all want one thing, a way out of the crisis.
Business as Usual?
Current Affairs Editor, Joe Harker
4 Dec 2011, 17:13 GMT
Strike action on 30 November 2011 leaves markets divided and the Government & Unions in a turf-war. Harker reports.
In the day after the 30th November strikes when an estimated 2 million public sector workers protested at the changes to their pension plans, most of the staff at my College didn’t even mention the strikes. While the emergency services struggled to cope on a day where they could only answer to life threatening incidents, one of my teachers admitted that they took the opportunity to go Christmas shopping.
What did the strikes achieve then? Well for me I got a day off to deal with the ever rising pile of work I’d been neglecting and my parents (who both work in the Private sector) got a much more peaceful drive to their respective workplaces. Personally, the strikes were little more than a day off in the impact they had on my life but for the Unions and the Government they were a massive event that underlines more unhappiness with the current cost cutting Coalition Government.
New reforms to the pension system would mean that some workers would have to work for longer and pay more into their pension while receiving a career average salary after retiring, rather than receiving a pension equal to the salary they retire on. The Government’s current offer is that nobody within ten years of retiring will have to pay more into their pension and work for longer. However, the Unions do not want to accept this as negotiations took place on Tuesday, Thursday and more talks were scheduled on Friday.
Not everybody is supporting the strikers however; the Government certainly doesn’t and are worried that the strikes have cost the UK economy up to £500 million. This figure may be rather too high though. Many private sector workers are unhappy that their public sector counterparts get pensions while they don’t receive any, but some money is taken from their taxes to pay for public sector pensions - money that could have gone into their own pension fund.
I interviewed a local small business owner who also employs their partner yesterday and asked them what they thought about the strikers. They commented, ‘It’s ridiculous. It spits in the face of all of us working here because we make money, we contribute money to the economy and they don’t.
“They get a nice retirement plan while if my business goes down the pan tomorrow I’ve got nothing,” they went on to say, “That’s me and my family with nothing to put food on the table or pay the bills. I’ve got just as much a right to feel secure as they do but right now I’m worried. Business will pick up over Christmas but come spring and I’ll be struggling for a good few months.’
So not everyone agrees with the strikers, somebody caught between a rock and a hard place right now though is Labour party leader Ed Milliband. His party is funded by the Unions that are striking and it was their votes in the leadership election that gave him the top job over his brother, David. Now he walks a tightrope as he risks losing support from those opposed to the strike or he risks losing the support of his party funders and those that placed him in power.
I do hope that the Unions and Government can sort out a deal soon though because right now this is doing nobody a favour.
It's Been a Difficult Week
Reports by Joe Harker, 06/11/11 - 16:33 GMT
I thought things might have been looking quite good; The UK economy was growing (admittedly slowly) when everyone thought it would grind to a halt, Christmas speeds towards us at an ever increasing speed and Downton Abbey gets better each week. But this week just gone has had many downs and only a very few ups scattered about.
The G20 Summit
It’s that time again! Time for the most powerful people on the planet to meet up and agree they haven’t a clue what to do.
The big question was of course the world economy, with a focus on Greece and the Eurozone. With Greek PM George Papandreou narrowly winning a confidence vote it looks like his austerity measures will be put into practice with more help from the EU, who has turned to China for further help.
Greece has had its bank debts cut by 50% to alleviate some of the pressure yet the option to drop out, or be forced out of the Eurozone looks more and more likely as Germany and France struggle to keep their group together. Especially as it looks like French President Sarkozy will lose his next election.
Yet Papandreou may not stick around for long as he looks to find a replacement that can put a coalition of the Greek parties together. With all that going on, the UK has told the IMF (International Monetary Fund) it can provide £40 Billion. Yep, £40 Billion, it’s a lot of money to promise to give away. That sort of cash could seriously help the economy, provide funding for projects to create jobs, help set up a government run bank dedicated to helping small businesses.
So what did we learn from this G20 summit? Greece is falling apart internally, the Dynamic Duo that is Sarkozy and Merkel possibly won’t exist next year and telling China the EU desperately needs its help is probably not such a good idea.
Archbishop Williams finally speaks out
With a camp full of protesters right outside St Paul’s Cathedral and causing it to close its doors you’d think that the head of the Anglican Church, Archbishop Rowan Williams would have spoken out earlier. He has now come out and said he backs the protesters and would support a ‘Robin Hood Tax’ that takes money from bankers. This comes amid news that the protesters can stay outside St Paul’s until the New Year and not face legal action if they leave peacefully.
Labour Leader Ed Milliband has also spoken up saying it would be ‘Reckless’ to ignore the protesters, though from his position of opposition leader, it is in his best interests to say so. While the next General Election is a long way off, Milliband can use these protests to paint himself as a radical alternative to the Coalition by standing up for the protesters now.
‘Mission to Mars’ complete after 18 months
A Russian project to simulate a space mission to land on the surface of Mars has finally finished after a year and a half. The six ‘Astronauts’ spent 520 days in a windowless capsule designed to provide data on the psychological nature of long periods of isolation. The simulation had 250 days of journeying to Mars, a 30 day surface exploration phase where the astronauts could walk around in another isolated area, a sandy place designed to mimic the surface of Mars. Then they took part in a 240 day trip home.
This entire project, dubbed ‘The Mars 500 experiment’ was a success and provided plenty of data so that psychologists could learn the behaviour that developed from the same six people doing the same thing for 520 days with no way out. The crew were allowed to play video games to stave off boredom and ate canned food similar to that on offer at the International Space Station.
Terrible Crash on the M5 leaves 7 dead
A 34 vehicle pile up on the M5 left 7 dead and over 50 people wounded. The crash was believed to have been caused by a lack of visibility due to fog and smoke from a bonfire adjacent to the motorway. The death toll and large number of injuries puts it among the worst motorway crashes in the UK’s history.
The injured have now been taken to hospital and it is hoped that the road will be re-opened by 5:00pm on Sunday.
News Flash:
Another Damning Twist in the Trial
Joe Harker, 24/10/11
I’ve written about Dr Conrad Murray a couple of times here. First when his trial was coasting along, then when his defence took a major hit. Now, Murray has been accused of incompetence as the charge reads:
He never refused Michael Jacksons requests for the sedative Propofol.
Conrad Murray was accused of being more like an assistant to Jackson rather than a doctor. The prosecution says that as a doctor he should have refused to give Jackson excessive doses of Propofol even when asked.
What a good doctor would have done in that situation would be to refuse to give Jackson more drugs just because he asked for them. It is looking increasingly likely that Dr Murray’s carelessness and poor treatment of his patient will send him to jail.
Gaddafi Killed
Ben Franks, 20/10/11 - 19:11 GMT
Many Libyans would marvel at the success of the revolution with this final blow to Gaddafi loyalists. Acting Libyan Prime Minister, Mahmoud Jibril, announced to a news conference today, "We have been waiting for this moment for a long time. Muammar Gaddafi has been killed."
With this it is time for the people of Libya and the National Transition Council to work together for a better future. The NTC also has plans to announce the official liberation of Libya to the world following the news of Gaddafi’s death.
How Gaddafi died is not yet clear but revolutionaries stated they found the ex-leader hiding away in a hole and shot him dead when he tried to escape.
Al Jazeera television footage was the evidence to suggest proof of Gaddafi’s death, having captured images of him after he was killed.
This is a symbol of people’s overwhelming cry for change as the world heads ever closer to democracy and united peace. The world watches in the hope the NTC will bring a good and prosperous people’s Libya, rather than a state that doesn’t do this revolution justice.
Britain’s relations with the arab world have also been boosted due to Cameron’s insistence to aid in the revolution’s effort, even though it has cost the Defence budget when such money could’ve gone elsewhere. Britain’s involvement in Libya is still disputed but the success of this fight for freedom brought to a definitive end by Gaddafi’s death allows for a moment’s rest among those who previously had concerns.
Will this inspire other countries to break out of oppression? How will the UN respond to those countries? Is the commitment behind the Libyan revolution unfair? Where were we when the unrest in Egypt stormed our front pages?
The Fox Hounded Out of Government
Joe Harker, 18/10/11 - 13:33 GMT
Defence secretary Liam Fox has resigned from the British Government after pressure caused by his unprofessional relationship with his friend, Adam Werritty.
Werritty was Fox’s best man at his wedding and had accompanied him on several foreign trips despite lacking authorisation and having no part to play. Werritty’s travels were funded by private investors; the amount spent on Adam Werritty could be as high as £150,000 according to The Times.
This is another embarrassment to the Coalition. Earlier in the year Andy Coulson, the head of communications was arrested due to his connections to the News of the World phone hacking scandal.
This is exactly the kind of publicity that is not needed, especially for the man the public see as third best choice to be Prime Minister, after David Cameron and George Osbourne (poll courtesy of The Economist). Liam Fox was seen as a capable and decisive minister respected by military personnel and his peers alike. It is not entirely inconceivable that he could return to the Government in the future but for now he will have to stay away and let the whole matter die down.
Fox’s replacement comes in the form of Transport secretary Phillip Hammond, another respected minister. Let’s hope that he doesn’t make a mess of his new job and hits the ground running, especially with the condition in Syria getting worse. Hammond’s own replacement comes in the form of Justine Greening, Treasury secretary.
Liam Fox will leave the conflict in Libya and the ousting of Gadaffi as his legacy while Labour gets more ammunition to throw at the Coalition.
Dr Murray, I presume?
A quick addition to the article about the trial of Dr Conrad Murray - he has now dropped his claim that legendary singer Michael Jackson drank a lethal dose of the sedative Propofol while unattended.
Dr Murray only has one leg to stand on, if Jackson injected himself with Propofol then drank a different sedative.
By pleading not guilty and with his last leg wobbling, Conrad Murray is staring down the barrel of a guilty conviction and will likely be sent to jail. His defence is falling and the allegations of negligence still go unanswered.
News from the US:
Worries from Across the Pond
Article by Joe Harker, 04/10/11 – 22:19 GMT
As the rollercoaster of dismay and downturn that is the global economy heads towards another dip I’ve decided to ignore it for now – in the hope that it will somehow go away, although I can’t say the strategy seems to be working, I shall persist. Instead, I have distracted myself by looking over the Atlantic at the latest news from the United States of America.
War on Wealth: Protests Storm & Arrests Rise
700 people have been arrested on the Brooklyn Bridge in New York as they protested over the continued support of large corporations over American citizens. Many more still camp out near Wall Street. These protesters are part of the group ‘Occupy Wall Street’ that say they consist of unions, students, teachers, war veterans, families and the unemployed.
They want to crowd out Americas foremost financial centre with 20,000 peaceful protesters to prevent bankers from entering Wall Street. Their slogan is, ‘We are the 99%, and we will no longer be silent.’ The 99% they refer to are the citizens of the US, whom they believe are being ignored in favour of the ‘Wealthiest 1% who control over half the wealth in America’.
Is it right to protest? Is it fair to protest? When I see protesters in Britain taking to the streets I always believe that despite hard work and numbers, their efforts will eventually not succeed. They certainly have a right to protest at the allocation of wealth in America, and want to end the ‘relationship between the government and the banks’. The protesters want the police on their side and claim several officers they talked to expressed sympathy to their cause.
With many protesters still in New York this situation will not simply go away, even if the protesters move on their idea still stands.
Jackson's Doc is Looking Guilty, but is he?
Elsewhere, the trial of Dr Conrad Murray continues, convicted of the involuntary manslaughter of Michael Jackson two years ago – a charge Murray pleaded not guilty to.
His defence is Michael Jackson took a mixture of drugs himself, including sedatives, a painkiller and the drug believed to have killed Jackson; an anaesthetic called Propofol. Prosecutors have accused him of hiding drugs before calling Jackson an ambulance and neglecting to inform paramedics that he had administered Propofol.
If found guilty, Dr Murray will spend the next four years in prison and probably have his medical license revoked. It has not been revoked yet despite the charges; Murray is not allowed to administer anaesthetic but otherwise keeps his licence for the time being.
With such a high profile case the jury selection process was more difficult than normal, with 500 potential members having to go through a 30 page booklet full of questions about Michael Jackson. If they were deemed to be fans they cannot serve on the jury.
As it stands the mounting evidence against Murray suggests he will be found guilty. His alleged actions seem to point to him covering up the amount of drugs he gave to Jackson. His only way out now is to convince the jury Michael Jackson took the drugs himself.
US Governor Proposes US-Mexican War on Drugs
Meanwhile, Governor of Texas and a potential Republican Presidential Candidate, Rick Perry, has said if he was President of the United States he would send troops into Mexico to fight the war on drugs.
While current US policy supports the efforts of the Mexican government against drugs this is an entirely new step in proceedings. The US National Guard reinforces border patrols and the government assists in intelligence operations against drug suppliers.
Perry’s proposed deployment of troops would violate the agreement between Mexico and the US. Since the nineteenth century when Mexico was forced to give up its northern territories after losing a war to the USA in 1848 it has been very protective of its border and would likely resist such a move. Mr Perry may be saying this to assert his position as the Republicans candidate for the Presidency. If he shows he is prepared to be tough on crime and drug smuggling his popularity and credibility would increase, while Obama’s approval rating is falling and still sits below 50%.
Britain Opposes Proposed EU Tax
Article by Joe Harker, 2nd October 2011 - 16:00 GMT
Shares in UK banks fell yesterday as the government decided to resist a new EU proposal to impose a financial transaction tax on banks that operate in EU countries.
This tax would raise £50 billion a year for the European Union to spend and would be introduced in January 2014. For a country that has not joined the Euro and still has many people sceptic about the benefits provided by the Union, the UK may have good reason to worry about the new measure.
More specifically than the UK, the City of London would be hardest hit by this tax. Alongside New York, London is the world’s largest economic powerhouse. According to members of the Office of the City of London 80% of all European banking transactions that would be taxed take place in London. For one city to be taxed £40 billion a year because many banks are set up there seems quite wrong to me – let alone would send British bankers running for the hills.
The reason for this tax is that the EU wants banks to make their contribution towards economic recovery. While this looks like a good idea on paper the fact that most of the taxable transactions take place in one area damages the proposal in practice. The EU cannot pass the proposal without a positive vote from the UK. While several countries in the Union support the tax, the UK will understandably veto it.
Would a tax like this work if it was global? Since the UK and the USA hold the two most powerful economic cities, London and New York, most transactions pass through those countries. While the revenue is notably attractive in difficult economic times with governments looking for ways to raise money does the EU really have the authority to demand a tax on the banks? For an organisation that was started to set up a free trade economy across Europe it has become increasingly state-like; adopting a single currency across most of its members and passing laws and legislations on those countries.
The EU desperately needs money for its bailout packages as the economic situation in Greece worsens to the point of rioting over government austerity measures. Riots are being suppressed by the police so far but with debt levels rising by the day a default looks likely, barring that, the EU may vote to halve Greece’s debt to avoid a default.
Labour Pledge Tuition Fee Reduction, but Does It Really Mean Anything to Voters?
Article by Ben Franks, 26th Sept 2011 - 22:41 GMT
In a recent interview, Ed Miliband made a pledge to lower the cap on tuition fees from the Tory-LibDem total of £9,000 per year to £6,000 per year. Miliband argues this’ll help to rebuild the link to those put off by the cost of University but, in perspective, what is Miliband’s U-Turn pledge really showing us?
Essentially, Miliband’s announcement is a cheap shot at the Coalition’s politics. The Labour Party had been quiet opposition whilst they sorted out their leadership and dumped David Miliband from receiving what had looked like inevitable party power in early 2011. In a way it was right for the Labour Party to finally speak out against Tory-dominated government, but is the £3,000 per year reduction in the cap – which will cost the government an estimated £800m to implement the change – really going to change voter’s minds?
Despite cynicism over Miliband’s reasons to pledge the cap reduction, research has shown tuition fees under the totelarian figure of £7,000 per year will make a difference. Researchers say by lowering the figure – though still likely most students will never pay the fee off entirely – makes many people see finances as less of an obstacle in the path to University and higher education.
Ed Miliband himself has continued, through this pledge, his ‘for-the-students’ image. During his election campaign, he was the driving force behind persuading Labour MPs to vote against the rise in tuition fees; and the Labour leader contributed full-heartedly in criticism over the Liberal Democrats’ betrayal to their ‘no-tuition fees at all’ pledge. If Miliband does reach power, he will need to be sure to uphold his Party’s new pledge to reduce the cap on fees or trust in him and the Party will take another hit – one it most definitely could do without after the Blair & Iraq affair.
Also, though The Guardian calls Miliband’s pledge a “very welcome suggestion”, it is not a pledge that will do many favours for Labour in the next election; it’ll merely be a case of proving he can keep a promise. If Miliband’s policy was to be introduced now, it would have the timely effect of preventing higher education “pools”. For example, once Universities are settled in their new raised limit for tuition fees, it is likely the majority of Universities shall charge the full £9,000 (as many of them have announced they already do) and ask for AAB+ at GCE, making them a pool of “elite” generic Universities, leaving the under AAB students paying less fees for worse Universities – these pools would create a divide suggesting intelligence and academic performance should be related to your financial capability, a notion Miliband would surely be evident on removing.
Essentially for Miliband to win the votes of the new generation of young people, he’ll need to be firmer and a lot more risqué in his choice of policies ready for the next General Election. It is clear, justifiable or not, from the unrest and general disagreements among young people in this country that there is a strong will for change. Can Miliband convert the non-voters to Labour-voters?
Elsewhere in the Labour Party; MPs announced concessions for servicemen and servicewomen in the Armed Forces to join as a member of the Labour party – including veterans – will be subsidised to just £1 per annum. The decision to offer this unique subsidisation to join Labour was to eradicate the idea that Labour were the traditional Party of the NHS and Conservatives the traditional Party of the Armed Forces; a senior Labour source said they “needed to [aim to] be both” in order to be a “good Labour party”.
The Day the UK Stopped Working
Joe Harker
15/9/11, 18:56 GMT
30th November is the day, workers’ pensions are the reason and all across the nation is the location. The public sector unions have set this day as the moment they want the entire public sector of the UK to go on strike and join protests over pension payments.
The problem the public sector workers have is they’re being asked to pay more into their pensions in these difficult times; a line from the government which is not entirely unreasonable, except that some workers in the public sector will receive less when they pay more. Couple that with the probability that the retirement age may increase while they work due to an ageing population means the public sector workers are paying more (maybe for longer) to receive less (maybe for a shorter time).
Now this puts the coalition government and the Labour party in a difficult position, the coalition will look incompetent if the strikes go ahead as they will appear to lack control over the unions. The economy will suffer as public services close down for a day, leaving people such as teachers out of schools, nurses out of hospitals and firemen away from their jobs. Labour have to be careful too, as Ed Miliband has distanced himself and his party from the unions; they supply the Labour party with 90% of its funding and it was the union’s votes that appointed him head of the party over his brother David. He has a lot to thank them for but his current stance of asking them to talk to the government will only buy him time. If the strikes do go ahead he will have to either oppose his party’s greatest contributor or change his stance and appear to answer to them.
While I think pensions do have to be changed it is a bit of a shock to the system of the public sector. They are used to the government paying part of their pension but I ask: Is it really fair? The private sector doesn’t get this benefit; they have to set up their own pensions without government aid. This strike may mean that private sector workers will have to take days off work as their children are not in school or they cannot get to work without public transport. Is it right those who do not receive these privileges that are being lessened still have to suffer? No it is not.
So what happens next? Well the government will try to negotiate terms to avoid the strike but it may already be too late, the unions have sent notification to 9,000 employers informing them that 1.1 million employees will be preparing for the 30th November strike. Is this fair? Again, no it is not. What do you think about the strikes and their impact?
Gaddafi: Your End is Nigh
Joe Harker
23/08/11, 21:19 GMT
The Libyan Rebels are closing in on their target, Colonel Gaddafi. Yes, after months of fighting, airstrikes and shifts in the balance of power it seems like the end is in sight. So what happened?
Gaddafi’s best troops seem to have deserted him - experienced soldiers who have held back the Rebels for a long time – and, now they’re gone, Gaddafi’s defences have crumbled with Rebel forces entering the Libyan capital of Tripoli.
At the time of writing the Rebels hold most of the city including the newly renamed ‘Martyr Square’ and Gaddafi’s main compound. However, the Rixos Hotel, where foreign Journalists are staying, is still in the hands of Loyalist forces.
Could this be it then? The end of Gaddafi’s regime may be upon us - but let’s take a moment to think about the Rebels; more specifically what they will be like in power? Most world leaders have been so focused on removing Gaddafi little concern has been given to the potential new government of Libya. Because Libya will be an oil exporter, we Western countries will want to be friends with them to get a good deal. Countries may also want to make requests from the government. It’s no secret David Cameron wants the Lockerbie Bomber returned to British imprisonment - he was released years ago because doctors said he would die in three months after finding a cancerous growth, those doctors really dropped the ball on that one didn’t they?
If (more like when now) the Libyan Rebels take over, pockets of Pro-Gaddafi troops will probably still remain, and getting rid of this resistance will be a serious problem for the new administration. Also, what happens once the honeymoon is over? What I mean by this is once the Libyan people have celebrated their victory and are happy with their new government things will settle down. Once this happens the new government will have to improve the Libyan standards of living. If a rebellion occurs and nothing changes except the people in power what has been achieved for the people? Of course they will love their new leaders for a time, possibly seeing them as heroes of the rebellion and instruments of change. If they fail to provide this change then there could be further trouble: a country full of people who fought for change and now know they can win the fight against their government can be a dangerous thing.
Here’s hoping to a swift transition to lasting peace for Libya, as for Gaddafi, I doubt the trial he faces in The Hague if captured and handed over will be all too kind to him.
Rupert Murdoch and the aftermath of a scandal
Joe Harker
18/07/11, 09:31 GMT
Pie Magazine has more readers than the News of the World! Ok, ok, technically it is now impossible to compare them since the latter is no longer publishing anything but lets enjoy the moment. It’s been four days since the News of the World sent its last issue out and now Rupert Murdoch, Chief Executive of News International (who own News of the World) is faced with a multitude of problems that threaten the media empire he has built up for years.
Since it was revealed that the News of the World has been hacking phones it has had to offer cash settlements. Now it is revealed those among the victims of phone hacking are families of dead soldiers, victims of terror attacks and murdered girl Milly Dowler. This was the final straw as it was revealed that they had been reading and deleting messages on her phone, giving her parents false hope that she might still have been alive. From this rather abhorrent series of phone hacks came the end of the long running newspaper, as the story went out advertisers pulled out leaving the paper with a rock bottom reputation and the decision was taken to put an end to the paper.
Prime suspect Rebekah Brooks, then editor of the News of the World has admitted to paying the Police for their assistance in hacking the phones. This worries me, if you can’t trust the Police to refuse bribes and allow access to your phones then who can you trust. This awful series of events has led to a judge led enquiry where Murdoch, his son James (head of BSkyB, a company Rupert intended to buy), Brooks and Andy Coulson will all attend.
With one of his flagship brands gone, his planned takeover of James’ company BSkyB in ruins and the Government, public and other media companies all ganging up on them you might think things could not get worse. Not so, disasters for Murdoch are not limited to this side of the Atlantic, News International is now facing a second enquiry in the USA after suspicion that American citizens have also had their phones hacked. Maybe Murdoch is in more trouble than he thinks.
Austrian police allow man to wear ‘Pastafarian’ headwear for driving license.
Joe Harker.
18/07/11, 09:37 GMT
A funny story now to balance the mood, in Austria one Niko Alm has been permitted to wear a pasta strainer on the grounds that it is ‘religious headgear’ for Pastafarianism.
Pastafarianism is the belief that if you create even the most ridiculous of religions people will join it, founding it on the principles of worshiping at the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. I’m serious, they actually set this thing up and people worship the Flying Spaghetti Monster, though I’m sure most people worship it as a joke.
Alm (pictured left with his distinctive headgear) demanded that he be allowed to wear the strainer as a vital part of the religion. Confessional headgear such as a skullcap is allowed on license photos in Austria so long as the face is not obscured. Alm is now trying to get Pastafarianism recognised as a legitimate religion in Austria.
2012 Olympic Torch Unveiled!
Joe Harker, 13/06/11
As the 2012 Olympics draw ever closer there was one thing missing, aside from the unfinished stadiums, the famous Olympic Torch. Shown off today the best description is ‘A golden cheese grater’. Alright, alright it’s made of aluminium. With 8000 holes in it cut by lasers it could also be likened to a wastepaper bin.
I’ll admit I already don’t like the logo for London 2012, when I first saw it the colours were yellow and purple. Comedian Andy Parsons described it as ‘It looks like a four year old kid cutting paper shapes has mixed it up with some Sunny D and spat it out.’ I thought he had a point. So far the Olympics haven’t gone exactly to plan. Some didn’t like the logo, everyone worried about the cost and time of building the stadiums (cue the jokes that everything the British build is ten times over budget and takes twice as long) and then West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur had an argument over who gets the stadium even before its been completed. Now the torch looks like the Queens cheese grater and my sister can’t get tickets while Thomas Cook seems to have plenty going spare if you want to splash out on an all inclusive weekend trip.
Now I’m sure the torch will be fantastic, its lightness makes carrying it easy. It’s triangular at the top to represent the three times London will have hosted the games in 1908, then after World War Two in 1948 (it was going to be in 1944) and now in 2012. The rather grand gold colour has been justified by jeweller Gerald Ratner ‘This is the Olympics, the greatest show on earth. There’s too much blandness around anyway. Why does everything have to muted and grey?’
I suppose it looks alright…
Another Impossible Question...
Joe Harker, 13/06/11
Six exam mistakes, that might not sound like a lot but compare that to 90,000. Yes 90,000. That’s the amount of students affected. Five of the papers affected by these questions are AS papers (one being a Business Studies Unit 2 paper that I took in May) and one is a GCSE paper.
The list of those affected is:
• A GCSE Business paper.
• An AS Level Geography question wrongly directing the flow of a river in a diagram.
• An AS Level Computing question where a diagram was unfinished.
• An AS Level Maths question without the right information to finish it.
• An AS Level Business question where the values in the case study were not written down.
• An AS Level Biology multiple choice question where none of the options was the correct answer.
Full marks will be awarded for the impossible questions but the real problem is that most of the questions were near the start of the paper and students who were faced with the suspect questions spent so long trying to solve them a much higher amount of students didn’t finish their test.
Lots of students, especially those taking the maths exam (the question was worth 11% of the total mark) worry the exam boards mistake could cost them a place at University. Personally, I think that we students get a raw deal most of the time and this just makes it worse. We’re constantly hounded by teachers and examiners to ‘Do our best’ so we expect them to make an effort.
Many exams go off the ‘mark-a-minute’ formula and every minute wasted can change our mark and maybe our grades. Our futures can rely on these and the exam boards can’t spend a couple of minutes proof reading their own papers.
Students Protest at Barnsley College
Thomas West, 28/05/11
With cuts being made to many courses, ranging from A-Levels to all Vocational Studies and a 25% cut in staff, some of the students at Barnsley College have said “enough is enough” and are staging a demonstration outside of the Eastgate 6th Form in the college. With teachers receiving redundancy notices and the college itself in possible debt, due to government cut backs in education, students are beginning to feel defensive toward the teaching staff and the courses they belong to.
This is one of many similar demonstrations, now known as “walk outs” by those who organise them. The first few have been very hostile toward the Coalition, Nick Clegg especially so, and this event at Barnsley College will probably be no exception.
The cuts at the college include
• German A-Level
• Spanish A-Level
• Travel and Tourism
• Art
There may be more demos and strikes by students all over the country if the cuts go any deeper into their education.
The demo started peacefully but at about 2pm the police were called in, as the demo degenerated into a mini riot. Ten to fifteen police were on the ramp going toward the Old Mill Lane site as protesters tried to break into the building, whilst chanting about the proposed cuts. When the police arrived, however, things started to calm down, with very little violence at the scene itself.
These cuts aren’t doing the young people any good.
EMA: Not Quite Gone
Article by Joe Harker (03/04/11, 19:24 GMT)
Education Maintenance Allowance or, as you might know it: EMA, costs £560 million a year and can provide up to £30 a week including end of term bonuses at some Schools – which can total £100 per bonus.
This money is distributed (perhaps not always fairly) among students with low-income families or other factors such as being raised by a single parent.
While it is used for many vital things we all need to get through the expensive storm of Sixth-form or College, some students do decide to keep a bit of their EMA money on the side for themselves.
Due to the high cost of EMA and the financial crisis the government (in their infinite wisdom) chose to scrap it. It is very fortunate then, for us struggling students, that that is now not entirely the case. There are several glaring differences between the revised (some might say ruined) system to the EMA some students may now be entitled to receive.
Under the new system lots of changes will be implemented, I’ll run through them:
• £180 million will be set aside for students rather than the previous amount of £560.
• £15 million of that is to be used for £1,200 a year payments for the poorest students across England. Wales is not to receive the change, Scotland has already had a shake up and Northern Ireland is under review.
• Students currently on EMA will keep receiving it until the end of their course, so if you are in Year 12 then your payments continue until the end of Year 13. Bad luck for any of you in Year 11 who would have been eligible for EMA, you won’t get it in Year 12.
• The Schools and Colleges decide who gets the money, very much like a University hardship fund. Students that need money for equipment, transport and food and are deemed to need it will be given money.
• Students on £30 a week will now get £20 and those who receive £20 or less a week will have their status reviewed by the School they study at and will probably receive lower payments.
The problem with these changes is that in 2013 the compulsory leaving age at school is 17 and in 2015 it will become 18. That means in four years time every student will be staying on for College or Sixth-form and means many new students will require financial support. If the amount of government money allocated to student support doesn’t increase then soon there won’t be enough money to go around. This new measure will have to change and adapt around other policies.
Gaddafi's Closest Advisor Defects to UK
Breaking News Article by Ben Franks (30/03/11, 22:38 GMT)
Moussa Koussa, Libya’s Foreign Minister, has resigned and fled to the UK.
Although his reasons are still unclear – whether he merely wanted to escape the Gaddafi regime or wish to play a vital role in the opposition – Koussa arrived in London after travelling from Tunisia earlier today.
Koussa is one of Gaddafi’s closest advisors.
A government spokesman for the Libyan government has insisted, according to the BBC, Mr Koussa was travelling to Britain based on “diplomatic means”. However, BBC political correspondent Nick Robinson has countered these claims, stating that Koussa is trying to escape the regime.
This will most likely be a huge hit to Gaddafi who has lost much of his support since the Coalition forces began interfering in Libya by imposing their “no-fly zone”.
Meanwhile, a report showed the rebels in Libya are continuing their advance through the country but show no real leadership in their actions. Images shot by the press over in Libya illustrate rebels trying to teach new recruits how to use weaponry but a BBC reporter claimed this was “guess work” rather than “experience”.
The news of Koussa’s defection comes as William Hague recently announced the actions to expel five Libyan Diplomats from the UK (read more below).
It seems, though slowly, Gaddafi’s regime may be crumbling before us but at this point there is little more than speculation over where the situation in this war-stricken country will go.
UK Action: Hague Expels Libyan Diplomats
Article by Ben Franks (30/03/11, 16:47 GMT)
News today came as Foreign Minister William Hague announced to the House of Commons he has taken action to expel five Libyan diplomats, regarding them as “a possible threat to national security”.
The increasing action taken by both British and the rest of the coalition forces is on a steady increase as the week goes on.
President Obama brought up a new prospect of supplying the rebel forces with guns and arms; however this has been brought into question by the UN Security Council who has condemned any issuing of arms to Libya – including rebel forces. Prime Minister Cameron said the UN resolutions stated: “The legal position is clear that the arms embargo [ban] applies to the whole territory of Libya.”
However, Cameron had not dismissed the possibility of supplying rebels with weapons in “certain circumstances” in an effort to protect the lives of civilians. Hague contradicted him, arguing against any issuing of weapons on the grounds current tactics were sufficient in protecting civilian lives. He commented during his announcement current raid operations based on air strikes and securing the no-fly zone was the right extent of involvement in Libya.
When Hague justified his latest actions for the dismissal of the Libyan diplomats he stated "To underline our grave concern at the [Gaddafi] regime's behaviour, I can announce to the House that we have today taken steps to expel five diplomats at the Libyan embassy in London.”
The escalation of coalition’s involvement in Libya and new claims of where the rebels come from or who they could be linked to – some speculating Al Qaeda, like the US NATO Commander who recently identified links may “suggest” a relation to the terrorist organisation, though all rebel officials have denied these claims – are beginning to raise further questions of what is the correct level of involvement.
Meanwhile, rebels continue their advance – eyes fixed on Tripoli – and Gaddafi’s forces are still putting up a substantial fight. It looks as though the fighting in Libya is a long while from a true and peaceful resolution.
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Coalition Strikes Allow Rebel Forces to Lay Claim to Gaddafi Hometown
Article by Ben Franks (28/3/11, 16:02 GMT)
Guns were fired in celebration in the rebel stronghold of Benghazi after unconfirmed news spread that their side had captured the city of Sirte – Colonel Gaddafi’s birthplace.
However, as much as the rebels have been able to drive into Sirte without encountering any resistance, have they truly captured the city?
A BBC reporter, Kevin Connolly, stated this morning that: “There is no way to independently verify rebel claims they have taken Sirte because their advance is moving at such amazing speed - Sirte is seven hours' drive along the coastal road from Benghazi.”
As much as it seems the pro-Gaddafi forces have retreated back towards the capital, Tripoli, the rebels have merely reached the city of Sirte – rather than secured it.
Meanwhile, a government spokesman for Gaddafi’s regime described Coalition forces’ new raids as breaking the law set down by the UN Security Council. He has stated that they are going beyond the aims to protect the Libyan people to the extent of attacking and killing innocent civilians whilst “taking sides” with the rebels in Libya’s civil war.
At the same time, rebels are counting on further Coalition help as they vow to take the capital of Tripoli and push Gaddafi out once and for all.
The question that still divides people back in the UK is whether or not we should be involved in the struggle for Libya. For a start, our track record in interfering in the Middle East in recent years has been far from beneficial to political and populace support back here. However, many Conservative MPs argue that the Libyan situation is different, justifying that the involvement in Libya is different from Iraq and Afghanistan because there are “no boots on the ground”.
All the same, we should be asking the question of what our politicians perceive to be the benefit of getting involved. In other places, in the Middle East and Africa, there is civil fighting but we have turned our eye to it. What have we seen in Libya that makes this operation worthwhile – besides the obvious notion of ‘saving lives’?
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Joe Harker reports: International News
Articles by Joe Harker (19/03/11, 19:51 GMT)
Fukushima Nuclear Warning Raises to Level Five
The Nuclear Power Station at tsunami-hit Fukushima has had its warning level raised to five. The scale goes from one to seven; two of the worst nuclear disasters, Chernobyl and Three Mile Island in Ukraine and the United States respectively are both on this scale. Three Mile Island matches Fukushima at five while Chernobyl is at the top of the scale at seven.
Japan is trying to stop a radiation leak by flooding the nuclear reactors with sea water to cool them and stop a meltdown. If this works the reactors will cool down and the plant can be saved. The radiation leak from one of the reactors will not be stopped however, it has already spread across Japan and higher than normal levels of radiation have been detected in Tokyo, which is 140 miles from Fukushima. This radiation is not yet at harmful levels but the area surrounding Fukushima is currently being exposed to ten times the safe dose of radiation that a human can be exposed to per year. At least fifty technicians are on site at the nuclear plant battling to repair the cooling systems and are hoping to connect a new power line to four of the reactors though there could be up to one hundred taking part in the repairs.
7,300 are currently reported dead since the tsunami on 11th March with 11,000 more currently unaccounted for. Meanwhile 400,000 are now left homeless in the surrounding area.
Pro-Gaddafi forces assault Benghazi while a meeting takes place in Paris
Despite a ceasefire being called yesterday, tanks under the command of Colonel Gaddafi have entered Benghazi, the main base of the Libyan rebels. Tanks were reported to have crossed the bridge into the city at 8:30 GMT. An hour and a half earlier a fighter jet, which rebels claimed was theirs, was shot down by forces loyal to Gaddafi. At time of writing, rebels claim they have captured four tanks but have 26 dead and 40 wounded in a hospital in Benghazi.
Meanwhile, in Paris, French President Nicolas Sarkozy is holding an emergency summit with David Cameron and Hillary Clinton to arrange the plans for a no-fly zone after its UN Approval on 17th March. Cameron has said that RAF Planes are already at bases near Libya.
Britain and France are expected to play leading roles in the establishment and maintenance of the no-fly zone with Denmark and Canada providing more planes which will use bases in Spain, France and Italy. If Gaddafi loses his ability to use airstrikes and his tanks are destroyed by UN planes his armies may agree to the ceasefire that has been called.
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Another African Dictatorship under Pressure
Article by Joe Harker (21/02/11, 22:35 GMT Time)
As Egypt settles down to life after Mubarak another country in Africa protests against a long standing dictatorship; this time it is Libya who is in the spotlight. Unhappy after 40 years of rule by Colonel Muammar Gaddafi there have been protests in the capital city of Tripoli among others.
With the cities of Al-Bayda and Benghazi under the control of the protesters and, with almost all of the major tribal leaders in Libya have given their support to the protesters, the Gaddafi regime looks to be weakening. Libya’s ambassador to India has resigned his post while the ambassador to the Arab League, Abdel Moneim al-Honi, has decided to ‘Join the revolution’. The Libyan justice minister has also resigned due to the death toll of protesters, which now currently stands at 233 since Thursday 17th.
With protests in all major cities in Libya and Gaddafi rumoured to have fled the country is seems like another regime is about to topple. As soldiers are shot by their commanders for refusing to mow down protesters and more and more of Colonel Gaddafi’s ministers resign or change allegiance I have to wonder how long the current regime will last. Even if the protests are put down the people will not accept Gaddafi as leader anymore. A change is needed and soon if this country is to survive.
Is this the last African country that will have a revolution? Nobody knows but with two successful revolutions and a possible third on the way if the Libyan people are victorious, African Dictators seem to be falling like dominoes. The British, American and French governments are condemning the violent suppression of protestors with all non essential American diplomatic personnel being advised to leave the country. Libya’s old colonial rulers, Italy have sided with the current government with Foreign minister Franco Frattini saying ‘Would you imagine to have an Islamic Arab Emirate at the borders of Europe? This would be a very serious threat.’
What is your take on this story? Do you know anyone in Libya who is affected by this? Check the forums section Pie’s News Watch & the NEW ARTICLE FORUM if you want to offer an opinion or discuss further.
Goodbye Ark...
Written by David Thomas
On Saturday 22nd January 2011 I joined the queues of over 11,000 people in Portsmouth to say a fond farewell to Britain’s most well-known ship: HMS Ark Royal. The Ark has been in service for 26 years and was commissioned in 1985. Now, thanks to the Coalition’s defence review, the carrier has been decommissioned several years ahead of schedule and on Saturday and Sunday the Ark was open to the general public for free.
You could walk down the length of the Ark’s aircraft hanger, a space previously occupied by Harrier jump jets and Merlin helicopters. You could go into the operations room, the brain of the massive ship which is where all the intelligence gathered was collated into a strategy. Finally you could walk down the flight deck and take a look at the magnificent view from the stern of the ship, where the Royal navy’s ensign, the George cross with union jack inside it, fluttered in the wind. Unfortunately there were no harriers on board as they had left the carrier several weeks before on the 24th of November, as the government has scrapped those as well.
The atmosphere in the queues was mixed, some annoyance at the decommissioning of Britain’s last carrier, some happy to be a part of history and to be among the last visitors in the Ark’s uncertain future. All annoyances were washed away when the awe-inspiring ship came into view from behind the buildings. It is 210 metres long and is the biggest of the three Invincible class carriers. She was made bigger, heavier, had a steeper ski jump ramp and more crew provision. She was truly the greatest of this Country’s ships representing the last of our carrier’s until the new, bigger Queen Elizabeth comes into service in 2014/15. Her harriers represented the last Vertical take-off/Landing jets that the country had, the new carriers will have American made F-35’s but they are not expected until 2020! Therefore the new carriers will be without jets for at least 5 years.
Goodbye Ark Royal, you have served our country in both the Bosnian war and Iraq campaign for more than 25 years. Your farewell, though untimely, is thanks to the idiots in government but to the people of this country you will be missed hugely. God speed HMS Ark Royal: the last, the best and the iconic British carrier of the 20th and 21st century.
