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Amazon destruction speeds up An area the size of Haiti has been lost to farming over 12 months New satellite information from Brazil has revealed a sharp increase in the rate of destruction of the Amazonian rainforest. (BBC, 30 Jun 2003) New rights for gay couples Gay and lesbian couples will be awarded the same legal rights as married couples under plans outlined by the government. (BBC, 30 Jun 2003) Prince Charles' income rises by 27% The personal income of the Prince of Wales rose by 27% over the last year to almost £10m, official figures showed on Monday. (BBC, 30 Jun 2003) Dame Shirley's 'influence over millions' The scandal ended Dame Shirley's political career An investigation by BBC Radio 4's Today programme has revealed documents which appear to show Dame Shirley Porter is continuing to exert influence over family assets of possibly millions of pounds, months after she claimed she was worth just £300,000. (BBC, 30 Jun 2003) Rage. Mistrust. Hatred. Fear. Uncle Sam's enemies within ... A few things have happened recently that show just how powerful -- and, perhaps, unstoppable -- is the march of the right-wing machine in the US. This month the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), a right-wing think tank umbilically tied to the Bush administration, declared open warfare on non-governmental organisations (NGOs) deemed too left-wing and set up an organisation called NGOWatch to monitor these liberal pressure groups. (Sunday Herald, 29 Jun 2003) UN urges wi-fi for all Wireless networks could help poorer regions catch up with the pace of technology change, says the UN. (BBC, 27 Jun 2003) Gujarat Hindus acquitted A court in the western Indian state of Gujarat has acquitted 21 Hindus accused of burning alive 12 Muslims in a bakery last year. (BBC, 27 Jun 2003) Surrey CCC given stand go-ahead SURREY County Cricket Club has been given the go-ahead to build a controversial £21million stand at the Oval. (South London Press, 27 Jun 2003) Jail for couple in £300,000 hospital fraud A jobless couple who conned a London hospital out of nearly £300,000 through bogus travel claims have been jailed for two years each. Inner London Crown Court heard that, at the height of a "reprehensible" fraud that lasted nearly three years, Jane McCormack, 28, and Jason Jenkins, 34, were pocketing almost £2,300 a week. (Ananova, 27 Jun 2003) Cross channel human traffickers jailed Members of a Chinese gang that smuggled illegal immigrants into Britain for a fee of £20,000 a person have been jailed for between six years and 18 months by a Dutch court. (Ananova, 27 Jun 2003) Rail firm stripped of its franchise Train operator Connex South Eastern has been stripped of its multi-billion pound franchise. (Ananova, 27 Jun 2003) Prince George's County library system has no plans to filter porn The Prince George's County Memorial Library System does not plan to install software anytime soon to stop public access to Internet pornography, despite a Supreme Court ruling Monday. (Midland Gazette Newspapers, 26 Jun 2003) Wal-Mart Wars WOULD YOU LIKE a Wal-Mart "supercenter" store to move into your community? Think of the low prices and the convenience of one-stop shopping! You just park once and get whatever you need -- groceries, drugs, plants, toys, dog food, even eyeglasses. (San Francisco Chronicle via Common Dreams, 26 Jun 2003) Council ‘cleared out the wrong flat’ A DISABLED man is suing Edinburgh City Council after his mother’s ashes were thrown away when council workers mistakenly cleared out his flat. Ivor Eckhardt, 53, returned home last May from holiday to find the locks on his flat in Granton, Edinburgh, had been changed. (Times, 26 Jun 2003) Stay of execution is granted for Lord Chancellor’s post MINISTERS bowed to cross-party criticism of Tony Blair’s plan to abolish the post of Lord Chancellor by accepting that it will be months before he can give up his seat on the Woolsack. (Times, 26 Jun 2003) Rethink on global trade Flattered as I am to be named three times in George Monbiot's regrettable conversion to the idea that more global trade will help the poor (Comment, June 24), I must put him right about the misconceptions he has about my book Localisation - a Global Manifesto. (Guardian, 26 Jun 2003) NepadWatch is Born A group of Africans, concerned with the march of their continent, and the 'darkness' surrounding the ongoing negotiations between Africa and foreign nations, particularly the most industrialized group of nations -G8-, have agreed that a mechanism should be rapidly put in place to monitor these evolutions. (allafrica.com, 24 Jun 2003) I was wrong about trade Our aim should not be to abolish the World Trade Organisation, but to transform it. (Guardian, 24 Jun 2003) Supreme Court backs library porn filters The U.S. Supreme Court has decided that filtering Internet content is a must in order for libraries to receive certain types of federal funding. Free speech crusaders cried as the top court handed down a 6-3 decision in favor of filtering on Monday. The court argued that the Internet changes too fast and has too much content to be monitored manually. Filters are required to keep children safe from porn and other such smut. (Register, 23 Jun 2003) No drink, no begging: the orderly lives of Japan's homeless If David Beckham had peered down from the 38th-floor window of his swanky Tokyo hotel this week, he might have wondered why the vast green park opposite was flecked with blue tarpaulins. (Guardian, 21 Jun 2003) What the world needs now Michael Meacher is convinced by George Monbiot's radical argument to reform trade and finance systems in The Age of Consent. "... The biggest single geopolitical issue today is the overweening power of the US in a unipolar world and the problem of how it should be handled by all other nations." (Guardian, 21 Jun 2003) 105 die in pipeline blast At least 105 villagers in rural Nigeria died when petrol from a vandalised pipeline exploded as they tried to collect it. Red Cross authorities said it wasn't clear what caused the blast which happened 30 miles north of the city of Umuahia. (Ananova, 21 Jun 2003) Bush to NGOs: Watch Your Mouths The Bush administration has found its next target for pre-emptive war, but it's not Iran, Syria or North Korea -- not yet, anyway. Before launching any new foreign adventures, the Bush gang has some homeland housekeeping to take care of: It is going to sweep up those pesky non-governmental organizations that are helping to turn world opinion against U.S. bombs and brands. (Toronto Globe & Mail via Common Dreams, 20 Jun 2003) Courts shake-up consultation starts next month Consultation on plans to replace law lords with a supreme court and to establish a judicial appointments commission to nominate judges will be launched on July 14. (Ananova, 20 Jun 2003) Elstein savages switch-over policy Former Channel Five chief executive David Elstein has attacked the government's digital switch-over strategy, claiming it could take 25 years and cost £25bn unless culture secretary Tessa Jowell changes her policy radically. (Guardian, 18 Jun 2003) Iraq's museums: what really happened What is the true extent of the losses to the Iraq Museum -170,000 objects or only 33? The arguments have raged these past two weeks as accusations of corruption, incompetence and cover-ups have flown around. (Guardian, 18 Jun 2003) Missing link Just over 10 years ago, thousands of social and environmental activists returned from the Rio earth summit angry at governments' collective failure to stop environmental degradation but clutching a straw offered by the UN. It was a radical global action plan, known as Agenda 21, a 900-page blueprint for saving the planet, eradicating poverty and introducing "sustainable development". Every country signed up to Agenda 21, but British local authorities quickly saw its potential. While under no legal obligation to adopt Agenda 21 principles, within two years more than 50 authorities had set up their own local LA21 plans, and by last year some 90% had a plan, even if not all had got to work on it. (Guardian, 18 Jun 2003) Government unsure of uses for analogue signal New broadcasting minister Lord McIntosh today admitted the government was unclear about the potential future uses of the analogue television signal. (Guardian, 17 Jun 2003) 'Stress code' for firms launched The code says companies should protect staff from excess stress Employers will have to protect their staff from stress - or risk legal action, a watchdog has warned. (BBC, 16 Jun 2003) Judges rule 'Paki' chant was criminal offence A fan who joined in a chant at a football match in which the word 'Paki' was used has been ordered to be convicted of a criminal offence. In what is believed to be the first case of its kind to reach the High Court, two senior judges ruled that Sean Ratcliffe, 21, from Cross Heath, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffs, was guilty of taking part in chanting of "a racialist nature" contrary to the 1991 Football (Offences) Act. (Ananova, 15 Jun 2003) Croatia asylum camp 'for UK refugees' An 'offshore' holding camp for asylum seekers applying to live in Britain has been built in Croatia, according to reports. (BBC, 15 Jun 2003) 'Xenophobic' refugee game withdrawn A computer game designed to show Swiss citizens how hard it is for refugees to win asylum in their country has been withdrawn from an official internet site after complaints that it encouraged xenophobia. (Telegraph, 15 Jun 2003) Millions wasted on faulty GCHQ signals system GCHQ has squandered millions of pounds on new technology that is failing to intercept terrorists' communications, according to a Government watchdog. (Telegraph, 15 Jun 2003) EU troops could be in the Congo for 'at least a year' A planned three-month "lightning mission" by a European Union combat force to the Congolese town of Bunia could last at least a year, a leading French officer has warned. (Telegraph, 15 Jun 2003) What the EU constitution says A treaty establishing an EU constitution has been drafted for the arrival of 10 new member states next year. (BBC, 14 Jun 2003) Stripping away a thousand years of history At a stroke, the Lord Chancellor has been shorn of his constitutional excrescences. It was always a constitutional anomaly to have a government minister who was also a judge and Speaker of the House of Lords: now, the judicial and legislative functions will be stripped away. Tony Blair has followed the logic of taking a politician out of the law lords by taking the law lords out of politics. In an unexpected move, the Government has promised to set up a Supreme Court in place of the Appellate Committee of the House of Lords. What remains of the Lord Chancellor is a "conventional Cabinet minister", as Downing Street said last night. It is implicit that the next Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs will be an MP - and someone who need not even be a lawyer. (Telegraph, 13 Jun 2003) Scientists develop GM 'protato' to feed India's poorest children The Indian government raised the global biotechnology stakes yesterday by saying it intended to feed "nutritionally enhanced" GM potatoes to poor children as early as next year. But objectors claimed that the plan, which relies on the potatoes being scientifically approved, was risky and naive, and would barely impact on malnutrition. (Guardian, 12 Jun 2003) DOpen borders: a future for Europe, migrants, and world economy The People Flow debate in openDemocracy underlines the fact that immigration is a peculiarly sensitive issue in European politics at the moment. (Opendemocracy.net, 12 Jun 2003) Union changes rules to fight racism A leading union has changed its rulebook so it can expel any members taking part in racist activities. The GMB has also decided to create race officers in all its branches, as part of a drive to encourage diversification. (Ananova, 10 Jun 2003) Nigeria And the Question of Leadership While the colonial masters preached against covetousness, their eyes were on Nigeria's huge natural resources. (Vanguard via allAfrica.com, 9 Jun 2003) Why Palestinians are the modern Sioux Baruch Kimmerling and Joel S. Migdal's The Palestinian People: A History charts an unequal struggle that has a depressing parallel. (Guardian, 8 Jun 2003) Blunkett: Public will back ID cards The bulk of the population would back the introduction of identity cards if reassured their privacy would not be violated, claims the Home Secretary. (Ananova, 8 Jun 2003) Daytripper: Discover London's hidden history For the past five years the black historian and writer S I Martin has been guiding walking tours through London pointing out the haunts of forgotten black British radicals, soldiers and artists who lived in the capital. (Independent, 8 Jun 2003) What are my chances of eating GM food abroad? In the US, it is hard to avoid genetically modified ingredients in a meal. Around 75 per cent of the soya crop planted in America last year was GM, while in Argentina the figure was 95 per cent - and because four-fifths of all processed foods contain either soya or maize, there is a strong probability you will have eaten the GM version. (Guardian, 8 Jun 2003) Blunkett sparks new justice row David Blunkett is set to spark a fresh battle with the judiciary and the police this week when he launches far-reaching proposals for reform of the criminal justice system. (Guardian, 8 Jun 2003) Max Nasatyr For those involved with the fight to save the Coin Street section of London's South Bank in the 1970s and 1980s, the architect and planner Max Nasatyr, who has died of a heart attack aged 68, will be remembered as a very important design adviser. (Guardian, 7 Jun 2003) Judges deny 'hijack charter' The three judges who last month quashed the convictions of nine Afghan men jailed for hijacking a plane from Kabul to Stansted insisted yesterday that their decision was "not a charter for future hijackers". (Guardian, 7 Jun 2003) French soldiers begin patrols in wartorn Congo Under the local authority's murderous glare, a contingent of 100 French special forces landed in the north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo's capital of Bunia yesterday to begin their intervention in the conflict that has claimed more lives than any other since the second world war. (Guardian, 7 Jun 2003) It's slavery that biggit this fine hoose Ali Smith applauds James Robertson's historical novel Joseph Knight, an inventive story that tackles the guilt in Scotland's imperialist past. (Guardian, 7 Jun 2003) Senators savage media rule changes US politicians severely criticised officials responsible for crafting the planned relaxation of the media ownership laws yesterday during a fractious Washington hearing. (Guardian, 6 Jun 2003) Treasury to review equity release schemes The government has expressed its concern over the growing popularity of home reversion equity release schemes, announcing that a consultation paper will be published this autumn examining the options for regulating the products. (Guardian, 6 Jun 2003) Carnival organisers lose backing One of the major financial backers of the Notting Hill Carnival has said it will no longer fund the group which has run the event for more than a decade. The Arts Council has decided to side-step the Notting Hill Carnival Trust, which co-ordinates and promotes the carnival, and give money straight to performers. (BBC, 5 Jun 2003) School pays pupils to attend lessons A school rated one of the worst in the country is paying pupils to attend lessons and offering bonuses to those who achieve top grades in GCSE exams. (Ananova, 5 Jun 2003) Police arrest 300 in bid to break Zimbabwe strike Zimbabwe authorities have arrested 300 people, including opposition MPs, in a bid to break a three-day general strike. (Ananova, 5 Jun 2003) Screw cap wine 'gets unfair bad image' Wine experts have raised their glasses to screw-cap bottles, but it may take longer for ordinary drinkers to do the same. (Ananova, 5 Jun 2003) Parents are spoiling children The UK's children are being spoilt by "pushover" parents who give in too easily when it comes to money, according to a survey out today. (Ananova, 4 Jun 2003) DFlax-and-earth houses enter testing stage Maori engineers are going back to the land in a $1 million project to build earth houses with flax reinforcing. (New Zealand Herald, 2 Jun 2003) Church schools resist admitting pupils in care GOVERNORS and parents at church schools are being divided by new government guidelines which stipulate that children in care should be put at the top of admission lists. (Times, 1 Jun 2003) Dixons prepares to log off Freeserve Dixons, the high street chain, is on the verge of severing all links with Freeserve, the internet service provider. (Telegraph, 1 Jun 2003) Union calls for right to expel racist members The Government has been urged to change the law to make it legal to expel members of racist parties from trade unions. (Ananova, 1 Jun 2003) |
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updated:
9 Apr
2004