We do not ‘let’ nature run its course..

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-18350146

07-06-2012

Three escape as high winds batter Devon and Cornwall

A woman and her two children just barely escaped a horrible death. A 30ft tree was blown over by the storm with gusts of up to 60 mph and landed on top of their car. The entire South West had a lot to endure. 16 ft waves battered the coast and a Jersey yachtsmen had to be airlifted to safety. Flood alerts have been issued on the rivers and coastal areas of the South West. The expectations are that the storm will move slowly north-east and will leave England as far north as Northumberland. People towing caravans should be extra careful.

As such a storm shows, we do not stand a chance against nature. We can work hard to battle a crisis, plan festivities around a diamond jubilee, invite people over for a barbeque, organize the Olympics, nature does not care. It dam well does as it pleases. And when it pleases a storm there is nothing we can do but duck and cover. And isn`t that a nice thought! Every storm a humbling experience but also a liberating one because you know it is completely out of your hands. The forces of nature give us time to reflect on what ‘s important , the overwhelming show of force makes you forget why you were mad at your colleague or why you felt stressed and most importantly it makes us all equally breakable.

God Save the Queen

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18327711

05 June 2012

Diamond Jubilee: Flypast brings celebrations to an end ( original Title)

The final day of festivities surrounding her Diamond Jubilee the queen visited St. Pauls Cathedral to receive praise from the archbishop. Prince Philip remained absent due to a bladder infection. Also today a two minute thank you message was broadcast on national television. Lunch was enjoyed in Westminster hall and consisted of different courses prepared with ingredients from all over the UK. After lunch the queen was driven to Buckingham Palace in an open-topped coach. She was led by soldiers from the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, and the King's Troop and given a 60-gun salute along the way. Finally a flypast culminated the festivities.

This was shouted by the public as the queen entered St Pauls Cathedral. I think it lovely to see and hear the love for the Royal family. It was so very nice to see all the traditions the last couple of days, but also to see the human side of the Royal family. Charles calling the queen ‘mummy’, clips of their childhood, personal stories, all these things show that the Royal family has found a good balance between tradition and modernity. They have found a way to stay Royal but also be personal. Highborn but with the people so to say. This is something which I believe is crucial for the popularity of the Royal family.

Stealing history!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-18277120

Warrington IRA bomb memorial theft attempt man jailed  (original title)

A 25 year old male got a 18 week jail sentence for stealing a memorial to the Warrington IRA bombing of 1993 in which 2 children died and 54 people were injured. Two bombs exploded within a minute of each other in a busy shopping area. The day after the bombing the IRA admitted planting the bombs. The plaque was part of the River of life memorial and was designed as a symbol of continuing life. The memorial was under CCTV surveillance and had already been the target of thieves earlier this month.

A good thing this guy got caught. Thieves often do see the consequences of their actions. In this case stealing a plaque, for its material worth I presume, opens up old wounds and desecrates the memory of those who died in the bombing. I think that this man deserves to be made an example of.  Stealing heritage creates in replicable damage and should be punished severely.  The thief should learn to see the consequences of his actions and I believe his punishment should be one in which he pays back to the community which he has hurt.  

Salvation through donation?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18278253

Tax relief limit on charity to be axed in fresh U-turn  (original title)

 Budget plans are being revised. Following the pastry and caravan tax plans the charity tax has also been removed from the budget plans. The plan was to stop making charitable donations deductable from your taxable income. Charities panicked at this news out of fear for losing donations and protested the plans with success. The government will focus on bigger issues now and lets the debate on whether the charities would truly be damaged by the proposed tax  go for now calling it an unnecessary argument in these troubling times.

A planned cut on the tax deductable donations to charity has been cut itself. I think that it is a good thing for the government to investigate new ways of gathering income in these times of crisis. A government should work on having a small as deficit as possible. This new tax was a good idea as I think it would not hurt the charities as bad as they would make it seem. Perhaps a revised version would fit better, with exemptions for those charities that actually get more than 1% of their income from donations over 50.000 pound.

Give the rioters a job or an education

Neet figures: More young people without work - title - 24 may 2012

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-18190012

A very steep rise in the figures concerning jobs and education for young people. Neet stands for Not in Education, Employment or Training. Usually these figures go up and down throughout the year with a expected peak in the summer. For the first three months there was a rise of 29000 compared to 2011. And compared with 2008 its even 143000 youngsters higher.  An investment of 1bn Pound is made to get these alarming figures, which have been to high for to long, down.

Reaction

Perhaps it’s a bit harsh to say that all the young people without a job or education are rioters, and perhaps not all the rioters where without a job or education, but i do think that these circumstances are partly to blame for the mass riots last year. Without a job or a proper education the outlook on the future is grim. This negative outlook combined with boredom creates a powder cake which can explode with the smallest spark. My concern after reading this article is that 1bn Pound will not be enough! Or as the Americans say:  A day late and a dollar short!

On the move towards the 2012 Olympics

Olympic torch: Swimming star Sharron Davies joins relay (title - 24 May 2012)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18174230

Summary

An article covering the relay of the Olympic flame and its route through the UK. Sharron Davies will be one of the 119 bearers of today’s 99 mile route. Not only sports legends but also war veterans and other notables will carry the torch from Gloucester to Worcester. Part of the route will be travelled by train and different festivities such as a performance by a 1000- strong choir will take place along the route.  In total 8000 persons will carry the flame over a total of 8000 miles. The relay will take 70 days and will end with the opening of the Olympic games on 27 July.

Reaction

A nice tradition kept alive! What I think is admirable is that the flame is not only carried by former Olympians but also by other people who  contributed in one way or another to the well being of the country, making the Olympic games and its traditions something for everyone. The idea behind the games of connecting countries through sports in this way also works on a national level  unifying Britain through sports.

Rising from the ashes

 Pawnbroker targeted in riots is given hope of compensation for customers (title of article)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/may/09/jeweller-riots-hopes-customers-compensated

 (09-05-2012)

 Here we read the tragic story of a pawnshop owner who not only lost his store and livelihood but also all the pawned articles he had in his safe belonging to his customers. These where given to him as security on short term loans and where stolen after his shop burned down in last summer’s riots. Following police advice the shop owner did not tell his customers about the theft until well after the limit for claiming the stolen goods with their insurance had passed. Thankfully the mayor’s office stepped up after the shop owner had sought publicity and it looks like a couple more victims of the riots get a chance to move on with their lives.

Another sign that although the riots are over, the rubble is not yet gone. But thankfully this story seems to get a happy ending. It shows a willingness from the government to help the victims of the riots. This, together with the efforts made to punish rioters, shows me that Britain is also getting ready to move on past the riots.  The rubble is not yet gone but it is good to see that the cleanup is well on its way.