http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/may/30/humaneness-badger-cull-judged-noise?commentpage=2 Humaneness of badger cull to be judged on noise of dying animals. "Observation of a shot animal's behaviour and vocalisations is the only method available to determine the degree of pain that may be experienced during the dying process." Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The badger cull could begin any time from 1 June in parts of Gloucestershire and Somerset. There is no such thing as "humaneness" in killing badgers (or any other animal for that matter). Particularly when the "link" between bovine TB and badgers remains questionable in many scientific circles. In addition to this, many scientist and vets who do consider that there is a link, advocate a programme of vaccinations to address the problem rather than a wild-west shooting spree. Whichever camp you agree with, the wholesale killing of badgers ...
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http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/hungry-britain-more-than-500000-people-forced-to-use-food-banks-warns-oxfam-8636743.html More than half a million Britons are using food banks to stave off hunger and destitution A volunteer at a Trussell Trust food bank sorts donations to the charity Since the early part of 2012, I have been posting the occasional comment, in this and other media, on the subject of Foodbanks and the way in which they have become a growing feature of British society. Today, I return to that subject in the wake of new evidence which indicates that this scandalous phenomena continues to grow and is accelerating at at alarming rate. In December of 2012, it was predicted that this year, 2013, foodbanks would be feeding some 200,000 people, double the number of 2012. It is now May, less than six months into 2013, and the figure is more than 500,000, more than half a million people who are today reliant to some exten...
http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/10448604.Costs_soar_for_Weymouth_harbour_wall/ The cost of works will rise to more than £4.4 million and that is only the latest estimate. Repair work continues at Weymouth ferry berth three I have never been as optimistic about this repair project timescale and costs as Weymouth and Portland Borough Council seem to have been. Going back over some comments made by Condor Ferries since before the Olympic Games in 2012, it seems (reading between the lines), that they too did not share Weymouth's confidence that the repairs would be complete and operations from Weymouth would recommence in May of 2013. The date for the return of the ferry operator from Poole is now scheduled for July of this year, but it seems that even that date is questionable. The comment form Condor that "...The company is keen to return and will start sailings on July 17 – if the work is done." is a qualified one and does not seem particul...
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/05/28/linda-wootton-dies-after-being-judged-fit-for-work_n_3346582.html?utm_hp_ref=uk Transplant Patient Linda Wootton Dies After Being Judged 'Fit For Work' Linda Wootton This is the DWP response to an appeal against an assessment carried out by Atos on Linda Wootton, “We have decided that you are not entitled to Employment and Support Allowance because you have been found to be capable of work following your recent Work Capability Assessment.” At the time when the ruling to remove her benefits came, Mrs Wootton was in hospital, dying. Her husband Peter said "I sat there and listened to my wife drown in her own body fluids. It took half an hour for her to die – and that’s a woman who’s ‘fit for work’. The Department for Work and Pensions, the Secretary of State Iain Duncan-Smith, Atos and the ConDem coalition government are equally culpable in the creation and implementation of a system of "refo...
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/05/28/syria-arms-embargo-lifted-mps_n_3345281.html?utm_hp_ref=uk Any move to arm the Syrian opposition would dangerously escalate the violence in the region "Free Syrian Army" fighters In another example of extreme hypocrisy, the British, the French, the Americans all jump up and down screaming "Support the rebels, provide weapons, Assad must go", while the Israeli's lurk on the margins giving little prods to McCain and Kerry, awaiting the right moment to fully intervene and occupy more territory. S300 missile defence systems However, when another player in this tragedy announces that it will honour its current, legal contracts with a foreign government and supply a quantity of S300 missile defence systems, the "western powers" immediately scream "FOUL" and criticise the decision as inflaming the situation, as the White house announces that they are instructing the Pentagon to draw...
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israel-looking-to-mend-ties-with-un-rights-council-but-says-built-in-discrimination-must-end.premium-1.526488 Israel looking to mend ties with UN Rights Council, but says 'built-in discrimination' must end Benjamin Netanyahu and Deputy Defense Minister Zeev Elkin The nerve and hypocrisy of the Israeli's is breathtaking. They require that " fair play and international standards are applied towards Israel,” in order to resume ties with the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council. There is no reference to "fair play and international standards" for the people of the occupied territories. A Palestinian demonstrator talks to Israeli soldiers. Netanyahu and Zeev Elkin should remove the Israeli occupation force from Palestine, dismantle the illegal settlement in Palestine and end their occupation of East Jerusalem. Perhaps then the rest of us may then believe that the State of Is...
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/05/27/william-syria-arms-embargo_n_3343336.html?utm_hp_ref=uk The UK and France have led calls for the embargo to be relaxed. France's Foreign Minister Alain Juppe, left, Britain's Foreign Minister William Hague The British and the French have done more than enough damage in Syria already, dating back as far as 1917. Now this inept Foreign Secretary, in cahoots with French, is itching to get British weapons into the hands of one, or more, of the fragmented elements of the "rebels" fighting Bashar Al-Assad. As is invariably the case with British foreign policy in the Middle east, Britain, (Mr. Hague) has no idea who to give the weapons to or which section, or sections, of the "Opposition", Britain should support. British and French involvement in the Middle East generally is littered with bad judgement leading to bad decisions. The provision of weapons to any component of the Syrian opposition, would b...
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/shaun-tuck-merseyside-police-probe-1916890 Police probe footballer who encouraged riots and bomb attacks on mosques Shaun Tuck called for All the mosque’s in England to be bombed or gassed out and Muslim children to be beheaded Why are the police only "....considering taking criminal action against him under the Malicious Communications and Public Order Acts." ? If he were Muslim, he would be labeled as a radicalised Jihadist and already arrested under counter terrorism legislation. The double standards of the "authorities" is making a deteriorating situation even worse.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/05/26/snoopers-charter-revived_n_3338781.html?ir=UK+Politics 'Snooper's Charter' Will Be Revived in wake of Leigh Rigby murder. Drummer Leigh Rigby The horrible murder of Drummer Leigh Rigby has quite rightly provoked outrage and disgust across the country. Having said that however, it is difficult to understand the motivation for the hysterical media coverage, spearheaded by Sky News and BBC News 24, which has been a constant feature of their programmes over the past week. It is not as if there has been no other deaths of British soldiers over the past decades upon which the reporters could have lavished such hyperbole and repetitive rhetoric. The effects of an IED in Hellmand are equally if not more traumatic on the human body than are knives in Woolwich, but the...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22608104 Israeli court considers landmark property law cases The Cliff Hotel is on a hill in a strategic location in Abu Dis, on the outskirts of Jerusalem Israel legalising state theft of Palestinian lands. The United Nations and the "International Community" condemns the Israeli action, but does nothing. Israel's Absentee Property Law was passed in 1950. Again the Israeli's get away with it not because they have right on their side, but simply because they are Israeli's and get away with this and worse every day. The International guilty conscience prevents any real sanction against state theft, apartheid and terrorism. Israel conducts such actions every day and then wonders why ordinary people around the world, loathe and despise them.
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/cap-on-number-of-gp-visits-being-considered-by-tories-8632396.html A cap on the number of times patients can visit their GP in a year is being considered by the Conservative Party Cap on GP visits? Now you will have to plan when to feel ill over the coming year and mark it on your year planner. Rather like planning your holiday in fact, if you are still able to afford one that is. I wonder if Doctors will follow the example of the travel firms and offer discounts for early bookings? Like all things emanating from Cameron and the incompetent ConDem coalition, this latest proposal is sheer lunacy.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2013/may/26/payday-lenders-break-reform-pledges?guni=Keyword:news-grid%20main-1%20Main%20trailblock:Editable%20trailblock%20-%20news:Position4 Tory donor's bid to curb job security Adrian Beecroft Chair of Dawn Capital, whose portfolio includes Wonga.com Payday loan boss donates £530K to the Tory party. Cameron asks him to examine how employment law could be overhauled and Mr Beecroft has recommended ditching unfair dismissal rules. Payday loans This news comes at the same time as Citizens Advice report that "Payday lenders" have broken 12 of the 14 industry pledges in the industry charter which was launched 6 months ago. The problem with so called "self regulation" of this (or of any industry) is that it just doesn't work. Unless the "guidelines", "charters", "pledges" or any of the other promises made by the membe...