BNP Legal Injunction

It has been announced this afternoon that the BNP faces a legal injunction over its membership and employment policies. The Equality and Human Rights Commission has received numerous complaints from the public and believes that the party's policy of excluding non-white people from membership (and employment) is in breach of the Race Relations Act. The Commission has written to party leader, and recently elected M.E.P., Nick Griffin, issuing an ultimatum that demands changes to these policies by 20th July or else the BNP will face a legal injunction that will force them to adopt inclusive policies.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission is charged by law with protecting the British public from discrimination as well as enforcing equality and human rights law in the UK. The Race Relations Act legislates against discrimination on racial grounds, which it defines as 'colour, race, nationality or ethnic or national origins'.

The BNP repeatedly claim that they are not a racist organisation and that they seek to champion Britain and the British people. However, their membership rules are clearly racially discriminatory and, because Britain is a multi-cultural society that incorporates people of differing ethnic ancestry, by excluding non-whites from membership, the BNP actively excludes British people from membership: people that have not only been born British, but whose parents, grandparents and sometimes even great-grandparents have also been born British.

Order! Order!

So, yesterday, Parliament chose a new Speaker of the House. John Bercow was elected yesterday by democratic process and already some of his peers are throwing their toys out of the pram and whispering about a challenge. Don't they get it? The public aren't interested in their bitching and whining! This guy was elected by them just as they were elected by the public. They have to respect the democratic process or risk looking like stirrers, at best, or at worst, like spoiled children!

The fact is that Mr Bercow was elected because he appeals to members from across the political spectrum. Such a person is exactly the right choice for the Speaker of the House, who must be able to set aside political allegiance. Congratulations to Mr Bercow. I wish him a successful tenure as the Speaker.

Photo credit: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/

Big Mac, Large Fries and a dip in the harbour for Ronald

Shore leave hijinks in Chile resulted in a hefty fine for two Royal Navy sailors when they took the concept of a takeaway 'Big Mac' a little too literally. The pair absconded from a local McDonald's restaurant in the Chilean port of Valparaiso with a life size Ronald McDonald statue. The 'McThieves' were ordered to pay £350 damages by the Valparaiso court while poor Ronald ended up face down in the harbour. The two men have formerly apologised to McDonald's while a BBC source in Chile (is that a Chile Source?) emphasised the good humour of the locals, saying that "Most Chileans have laughed at the pair's antics."

Seeing Stars

Belgian teenager, Kimberley Vlaeminck, is in the news today after having a tattoo featuring 56 stars... on her face! The eighteen year old claims that she requested just three stars and fell asleep during the process, only to wake up when the tattooist had moved onto one of the stars on her nose. According to The Sun Online, the tattoo artist, Rouslan Toumaniantz, has defended his work, stating that Kimberley was awake throughout and checked his progress several times. It seems that there was only an issue when Kimberley's Dad found out. Kimberley claims that she is now so ashamed of her appearance that she can't bring herself to look in the mirror and is suing that tattooist for compensation to cover the cost of laser treatment to remove the stars.

When I heard about this story on Sky News this morning a few thoughts occurred. Firstly, while I understand her desire to get a tattoo, I'm not sure why she would have one on her face. I assume that at the age of eighteen it's down to youthful exuberance and a lack of foresight of how this might impact on her future potential. Like it or not, people make judgements based on appearance. Having a tattoo on your face is a very strong and essentially permanent statement that many people will judge negatively. Indeed, many employers ask that tattoos be hidden from sight: an impossibility for Kimberley. Basically, this was a daft thing to do, whether it was three stars or 56!

I'm also not convinced about the truth of her story, although I'm very open to being proven wrong. If Kimberley is telling the truth, I wonder what motive the tattooist had for doing it. He must've known that his reputation, and consequently his business, would be at risk, so why would he continue without her consent. For the sake of art? I understand that there are many tattooists that consider themselves artists using the human body as their canvas. However, I find it unlikely in this case as the tattoo is relatively plain. Also, Kimberley's reaction doesn't quite add up: if you were the victim of such an action, how would you react? I doubt you would happily leave the shop and go home quietly! My reaction would have been to call my parents there and then... maybe even get the police involved. A far more likely scenario is that Kimberley entered into this lunacy voluntarily and then told a porky pie to deflect her Dad's anger. If that's true, I hope she comes forward before Mr Toumaniantz's business is irreparably damaged: costing someone their livelihood so that you can avoid punishment is mean and immoral.

However, as I said, I am open to the possibility that Kimberley is being truthful and I hope that I'm able to keep track of the case as it develops. The most interesting aspect of this story will be how it comes to be resolved. I wonder what a court will make of it? In the meantime I'm sure there will be some further debate on tattoos in general as increasing numbers of people - including women - have a procedure that some people believe is a disfigurement. Personally I think Kimberley's tattoo looks really cool - but I would never in a million years have had it done myself and believe that if she did want something so extreme she should have thought long and hard about it!

Photo credit: thesun.co.uk

Over the Hill

I'm not getting older... at least not for another couple of weeks! Instead, I sat my Open University exam this morning. After three hours of none stop writing that is akin to torture, it's all over - at least for another year. I think I managed to pull a reasonable result out of the exam. I felt confident of the material that I covered and managed to write cohesive arguments in the alloted time. 70% in the exam would get me a grade 2 pass, which would be acceptable. I would be a bit disappointed in myself with a lower result in either the exam or the overall grade. A grade two pass would keep me on track for an upper second-class honours degree... if by some miracle I can get a distinction in my remaining two course, I might even fluke a first class honours! But that's still a long way off... 2011 at least!

Wise Words

A political analysis of the council and European elections is well overdue. But before I move on to that (probably tomorrow) I wanted to quote some wise words from an US valedictorian, Jem Lugo, who was prevented from sharing the following speech with her graduating class due to a short-sighted principle. I found this story on Peter David's blog (please check out some of his other posts as he often has something interesting to say and usually expresses it in a very witty manner!)

QUOTE:

Springstead High School’s class of 2009. Look around you. This is it.

No more essays, no more FCAT, no more required reading. We survived 13 grueling years of school, all for this moment, where we get to wear gowns that kind of remind me of a silk version of a Snuggie, and these hats that make every single one of us look absolutely ridiculous. Hate to break it to you, but no one looks good in these hats. Even you, Ben Noury.

So, I was stuck with this arduous task of extra writing to create this speech, and I decided to make this different. I’m not gonna get up here and start spouting these crazy incomprehensible seven syllable words I probably can’t even pronounce. Why would I want to do that? Last time I checked, we’re done with school. We don’t want to THINK anymore. I would never, ever put you all through that pain. Another thing, nobody in speeches ever tells you what you actually need to know in life. They stand up here and gush about these lofty, inspirational concepts that are supposed to make you feel all warm and gooey inside. You know, I could stand up here and tell you all that I have a dream for this class, that among us are future doctors, lawyers, maybe even the next president, and you guys need to go out there and seize the day! Carpe diem! But really, what good would that do you? How much help will my words be when you wake up tomorrow, and realize that it truly is over? The babied path that’s been set out for you since you were born has ended. You’ve left the womb, the cord’s been cut, congratulations, welcome to your life. Your choices actually matter now, and your future is finally in your own hands. Sure, telling you to seize the day sounds impressive, but how are you going to know how to seize it?

Instead, I’m going to remind you of some basic concepts you can actually apply to your life. Crazy, right?

First off, get money. You can’t do anything without money. Do something with your life where you’re able to have a steady, reliable, source of income. Gamers, I’m sorry, but farming for gold in World of Warcraft is not considered a RELIABLE, or socially-acceptable source of income.

Second, after you have your money, be sure to pay your taxes. I hear the IRS can get pretty nasty with tax avoiders.

Also, don’t get arrested. Sure, the jail lifestyle might seem like a luxury nowadays, but in 20 years, when you’re going for that top-notch CEO position, that misdemeanor you got for stealing a street sign with your friends might just come back and bite you in the butt.

Moreover, take some time in your life to stand up for something. Whether it’s a stance for pro-choice, religious debate, vegetarianism, or even something as simple as cleaner bathrooms, just make sure your voice is heard. It feels good to stick it to The Man every once in awhile.

And though you will be earning your steady income with your job, make sure not to waste your entire life working. You’re making this money for a reason. Use it to have some fun. Go out and party. Use all of your vacation days. Use it to travel. Explore the world. Free yourself from the monotony of the workforce. I promise you, having fun will keep you sane.

Be sure to have that one person or thing that makes you smile whenever you see it. I’m not going to put on an act and tell you you’re future’s going to be peachy. No, life is gonna suck sometimes. Believe me, you’re gonna need that one thing in your life that can always brighten your day, whether it’s a significant other, a dog, a lava lamp, or the blankie you’ve had since you were a baby. Hey, whatever it takes to smile.

A few other basics to remember. Always say please and thank you; it’s always appreciated. Wash your hands when you leave the bathroom; you’d be surprised how many people don’t. Listen to your gut instinct and your conscience. When there’s a choice between the little angel on one side, and the little devil on the other, please listen to the angel. Respect your elders, because one day, you’ll be old too. Plus, they might leave you something in their will. Don’t treat Spelling and Grammar check as a God. It definitely misses things. If you ever achieve any sort of fame or acclaim in your life, don’t mess it up. Think Michael Phelps and Britney Spears. And if your mother would not approve of your actions, then you probably shouldn’t be doing it. Don’t believe everything you hear or read, and definitely don’t click on every link someone sends you. Some of us have learned that the hard way. Countless times, I’ve been duped into clicking links that sent me to the music video of “Never Gonna Give You Up.” I’m not sure if I’ll ever properly get that song out of my head.

But, the most important thing that I can tell you tonight is to remember where you came from. You were an eagle once. We’ve been through four long years here. Some of us have loved it, some of us have hated it, but we all had to endure it, and for all of us, it’s finally over. What’s Springstead going to be like without us? The academic world is going to be missing some of its top performers, and the sports are going to be hurting without some of their best players. Mr. Pennington is not going to know what to do without his core group of seniors that are graduating. No one’s going to be rampaging through the hallways, brandishing signs with their name. Frankly, Springstead’s going to be a lonely place without us. We’ve survived a lot. Making it out of Spring Hill alive is a feat in itself. Some of us even resorted to hanging out at a busy intersection to pass the time. We’ve gone from going to see A Christmas Carol every year with our elementary school, admiring over the actors, to actually being an actor in the production of A Christmas Carol, being the ones asked for their autograph by the younger kids. We’ve gone from getting our star pulled for bad behavior, to being relocated to STAR for bad behavior. From girls wearing bell bottom jeans to guys wearing girl’s jeans. From listening to N’Sync and the Backstreet Boys, to listening to Lil’ Wayne and Flo’Rida. From wasting all of our time creating a Neopet, to wasting all of our time talking to people on Myspace and Facebook. From collecting and playing Pokemon, to, well, collecting and playing Pokemon. Some things never die. Unfortunately for us, it looks as if High School Musical and Hannah Montana will never die either. You either love it, or you hate, but either way, we survived it.

Four years ago, we showed up for high school, short and innocent, totally baffled by why there were classrooms with the same numbers, and amazed that the water fountains were gold. Then in our junior year, after we had become more knowledgeable and grown taller (well, some of us), those numbers we came to learn so well were completely rearranged, forcing us to be just as lost as the incoming freshmen. The construction period was intense. We were squeezed through tiny aisles created by temporary walls, never making it to class on time. The outdoor lunch tables that some had religiously sat at were removed, and we were relocated to a grander, spacious cafeteria with plasma TV screens that never played anything but ESPN. Those of us lucky enough to get a lunch leave pass during our junior year had no idea that we’d be the last class to have that privilege. Sure enough, everyday you could find at least fifteen people meeting up at PJ’s for lunch. Oh, and you can’t forget the new parking lot rules, that you were trapped in the parking lot until all of the buses left, for fear of being hit by a parked school bus. We all know the countless deaths caused by those kinds of accidents, God rest their souls.

When it all comes down to it, we’re made for bigger things than this. We’re going to get out of here, and we’re going to live our lives, no doubt about that. Just remember to keep in touch. You’ll regret it if you don’t. As I said, there are hard times ahead. There are times where you’ll just sit there and think to yourself, “Man, I lost the game.” Times like that when you’re going to need a friend. Don’t throw away the friendships you’ve made here. One of these people might be able to get you a job someday, or might be able to lend you a helping hand. Life is all about connections.

Now I’ve been talking long enough. We’re all dying to just get this over with. So I’m going to resort to a cliché ending, and quote one of the most influential men of all time, Freddie Mercury. “Just gotta get out, just gotta get right out of here.” Congratulations class of 2009, we did it!

Dig Out Your Soul

More than six months ago I managed to get four tickets for myself and some friends to see Oasis in Heaton Park. We went on Thursday night and, despite a few problems, had a great time!

Firstly, the music was fantastic. Oasis are very much on form. They played some of their best hits and sounded better than any recording. They were funny and really connected with the crowd to create a really good atmosphere. Their warm-ups were good too. On Thursday we missed out on The Enemy due to illness in the band, but we had the Reverand and the Makers instead, which was an excellent treat. Anyone who isn't familiar with their music should check out 'Heavyweight Champion of the World' or 'He Said He Loved Me' which are both excellent examples of their unique music and witty lyrical style. Kasabian were also excellent. I'm not a fan so hardly knew any of their tracks but I enjoyed their performance very much and will certainly check out their music.

Couple of problems though. The first, a few people will already be aware of, which was a series of power outtages that interrupted the performance twice. The concert had an 11pm curfew which they breached by over 30 minutes. It wasn't too much of a problem for those of us there that didn't have a bus to catch, but for the residents - most of whom are elderly - it must have been a hell. It surely didn't help that the general behaviour of some of the attendees of the concert was pretty poor. Despite police notices that searches for drugs and weapons would be carried out, there was a lot of 'soft' drugs being used and my group also saw two people snorting coke. There were a lot of people at the concert that also managed to get blind drunk. All this means more noise and disruption for residents as people were leaving the gig. It's a real shame because this can only jeopardise any future similar events at the park, which bring millions into the local economy of Manchester and Bury.

There was also a second problem, for which only the event organisers can be held accountable. The way that a municipal park works as a concert venue is as follows: the stage is erected and an area around it is then fenced off. The park remains open to the public but the concert 'arena' can only be accessed by ticket holders. For these concerts the event organisers have sold 70,000 tickets for each of the the three nights. However, the area that's been fenced off is far too small to comfortably accomodate this volume of people. The Milton Keynes Bowl has recently had its capacity increased from 65,000 to 75,000 and is much larger than the area designated for this concert. Take That at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground has sold 50,000 per night. Although the area in Heaton Park is larger than the cricket ground, it's not that much bigger. In the Heaton Park arena there are no designated walkways around the food or drink stands which inevitably means that people resulting in a lot of pushing and shoving and an almost constant crush. I'd be interested to know how decisions were made about the number of available tickets!

So overall, great music, but some disappointing aspects to this concert. I can't wait to find out what my sister in law makes of it - it's her birthday today and she is attending the concert tonight with her partner and my nephew!

"My Vote Doesn't Count": Bollocks!

Today is polling day in local elections all around the UK and in European Parliamentary elections across Europe. If you choose not to go to the polls your vote definitely doesn't count. If you want to make yourself heard in a crowded room all you have to do is open your mouth and speak: so get up and speak already! Mark your ballot any way you choose (because even a spoiled ballot is louder than silence) but for goodness sake, vote!

What Hazel Did Next

Hazel: picking up the pieces of her political career. (photo credit: dailymail.co.uk)

Hazel Blears has resigned from the cabinet. Unfortunately, the residents of Salford are still stuck with her. She claims that she is 'returning to her roots' out of a desire to renew her personal committment to the people of Salford. Rubbish! She's jumped before she was pushed in the impending cabinet reshuffle. The timing of her announcement and that fact that it has come from her and not Number 10 suggests that she is playing a rather skilful political game. Allow me to elaborate.

Hazel must've realised well before now that her position on the cabinet was under threat and she must, by now, also realise that her popularity in Salford is ebbing away. In the last election in 2005, Hazel won with over 50% of the vote. However, the Lib Dems' candidate, Norman Owen, has been making up ground on her with every passing election. Now that Labour is polling lower than the Lib Dems nationally, she must anticipate that the Lib Dems will be nipping at her heels - especially in the event of a snap election! With all this in mind, I believe she has taken the decision to resign in order to distance herself from an obviously failing government with the hope that it will stall her similarly failing popularity here in Salford. She has nothing to lose and everything to gain. If Gordon Brown is deposed (as the media seems is certain will happen very soon after the European Elections) taking an anti-Brown stance now will increase her chances of being re-selected in a new Labour cabinet. Particularly if she can does manage to boost her popularity. If she is not re-selected for the cabinet, it still isn't a disaster for her: You can bet she will come out fighting to keep her parliamentary seat. She's a smooth talker and an experienced politician - she knows the words that will sooth and charm you and she'll tell you whatever you want to hear to try and sway your support to her.

Don't be fooled: this resignation is more about her political career than the people of Salford!

The fact is that Labour (and the Conservatives) and so completely out of touch with the public that they wouldn't know honesty if it crept up and gave them a big sloppy kiss! Nationally, Labour got it wrong on expenses, they got it wrong on Gurkhas, they got it wrong on fuel duty and locally they got it 110% wrong on the congestion charge, ice rink, propaganda wagon etc etc etc. The Conservatives are no better choice - they only know how to oppose and have no new ideas of their own (no good ones anyway). A vote for Labour or a vote for the Tories is a vote for the status quo. Vote Lib Dem if you want change for the better!

Sam Puttick

How much tragedy can one family bear? Clearly, only so much.

After just eighteen months of a normal healthy life, Sam Puttick was seriously injured in a near fatal car accident. He spent nine months in hospital before he was able to return home but would, sadly, be paralysed from the neck down for the rest of his life, requiring 24 hour care. His parents, Neil and Kazumi, spent every moment from then on doing everything they could to give Sam the very best life they could. On Friday 29th May 2009, Sam Puttick, aged just five years old, died from Meningitis at his home in Wiltshire. Shortly thereafter, striken with grief and unable to face a world without their little boy, Sam's Mum and Dad made the 140 mile trip to Beachy Head where they threw themselves off a 400ft cliff with the body of their beloved son in a backpack.

When I was nineteen my brother, David, died very suddenly. He was born with Spinabifida and Hydrocephalus. He was paralysed from the waist down and suffered brain damage as a result of the excess fluid on his brain. My Mum and Dad did their very best to give him a superior quality of life, nurturing his incredible gifts and overcoming his disability one day at a time. He was a wonderful person: musically talented, happy, funny, loving (and perhaps just a little too overprotective of his 'baby' sister!) My childhood is defined by hundreds of wonderful memories of the best family life anyone could hope for. My life since he passed away has been redefined by those same memories and by the gaping hole that his absence leaves in its wake.

For our family, life went on: Mum and Dad have literally travelled around the world (they are touring India at the moment) and we have continued to share many happy memories. But when one person is at the heart of your entire life and the centre of your whole world, it can be unbearable to think of anything beyond the immense weight of your sorrow. In just five short years Neil and Kazumi Puttick enjoyed the joy of raising a child. They almost lost their son to an accident, were given a second chance which they grabbed with both hands, only to then lose him again a few years later. Clearly, this was more tragedy than they were able to face.

This post is dedicated to all the very special people that make life worth experiencing - no matter how long or short that experience, or their contribution to it, is.

David, you made my life richer and happier than it could have ever been without you. I miss you every day. Your girl forever. xxx