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A selection from recent monthly Cuttings pages
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Big grocery chains face town by town check on trading
The big supermarket chains are to face a comprehensive, town by town, investigation into whether they force small retailers out of business. (Guardian, 24 Jan 2007)
Huge majority say civil liberty curbs a 'price worth paying' to fight terror
An overwhelming majority of people in Britain are willing to surrender civil liberties to help tackle the threat of terrorism, the nation's leading social research institute will disclose today. ! (Guardian, 24 Jan 2007)
Supermarkets 'fuelling binge drinking'
Supermarkets were accused yesterday of fuelling binge drinking by selling alcohol at below cost price. (Telegraph, 24 Jan 2007)
'Bomb the travellers' gaffe spurs camp visits
Senior councillors were sent for cultural awarness training after another councillor made a remark about suicide bombing a travellers' site.
South Cambridgeshire District Council said it had taken steps to strengthen its race equality policies as a result of councillor Deborah Roberts' comments in December 2004. ! (Telegraph, 24 Jan 2007)
They call this 'salvage' in the south-west
...The notion that goods that fall into the sea are fair game is especially prevalent in the south-west, where salvaging was a way of life in the 18th and 19th centuries. (Guardian, 24 Jan 2007)
The west persists in using race to decide who can cross its borders
One morning several years ago, an MP's secretary agreed to meet me off a train in rural Wales and take me to her boss for an interview. The train arrived on time and about 15 people got off, leaving just me standing there. A middle-aged woman remained looking straight through me for what seemed like an age before it occurred to her that the black man with whom she was sharing the platform might just be the Guardian journalist she was supposed to be meeting. She said she was expecting someone taller. (Guardian, 22 Jan 2007)
Non-whites 'more likely to be questioned at airports'
Non-white South Africans are at least 10 times more likely to be stopped for further questioning by immigration officers when entering Britain than their white countrymen, according to research published by the Home Office. (Guardian, 22 Jan 2007)
The economic roots of abolition
Plantation sugar production was becoming an incubus for British industrial capitalism long before 1807... (Guardian readers' letters, 22 Jan 2007)
Cost of abolishing the slave trade
Richard Gott is to be congratulated on packing so much useful information into a single article (Britain's vote to end the slave trade was a precursor to today's liberal imperialism, January 17). (Guardian readers' letters, 19 Jan 2007)
Britain's vote to end its slave trade was a precursor to today's liberal imperialism
In March, the British state will rightly celebrate the bicentenary of the end of Britain's part in the slave trade. Yet ordinary citizens, as well as schoolteachers and makers of television programmes who may find themselves caught up in the prolonged bout of self-congratulation imposed by government fiat (with the help of £16m from the Heritage Lottery Fund), will do well to reflect on aspects of this anniversary that are not so praiseworthy. (Guardian, 17 Jan 2007)
Rate of inflation at 10pc for some families
Inflation for some families could be running as high as 10 per cent, according to figures from the Government. (Telegraph, 15 Jan 2007)
Rainforest scheme 'ruins lives in Uganda'
Carbon credits are being bought by the UK and other European nations at the cost of human misery in the Third World, it was claimed yesterday. (Telegraph, 15 Jan 2007)
Social housing flotations rejected
Housing associations in England have been told they will not be allowed to seek stock market listings as a way of funding future investment. (Guardian, 15 Jan 2007)
Whitehall moves to create 'super-database'
A huge Whitehall 'super-database' of people's personal details could be created in what the government says is a bid to improve public services. (Telegraph, 15 Jan 2007)
Brown's manifesto for Britishness
Gordon Brown issues a stark warning today that the Union of England and Scotland is under threat 300 years after it created one of the world's most successful and enduring nations. (Telegraph, 13 Jan 2007) See We need a United Kingdom
Protesters bring Guantánamo to Grosvenor Square
Demonstrators recreate detention camp outside US embassy in London. (Guardian, 11 Jan 2007)
How the new CVA scoring works
The secondary school league tables for England include a new measure this year: "contextual value added". What is it and how does it work? (BBC, 11 Jan 2007)
Peace activists target Guantanamo
Anti-war activists are demonstrating near to the US prison in Guantanamo Bay in Cuba to demand its closure.
The 12 activists include an ex-detainee and relatives of another prisoner. The protest marks the fifth anniversary of the first "war on terror" detentions. (BBC, 11 Jan 2007)
Tigers 'threatened' by Burma's gold rush
Burma's dictators make millions from gold mining in the world's largest tiger reserve, it was claimed yesterday. (Telegraph, 11 Jan 2007)
Misbah's mother in custody offer
The mother of schoolgirl Misbah Rana has offered to drop her claim for full custody of her daughter provided she has regular contact with her. (BBC, 10 Jan 2007)
Lottery projects may lose cash as Olympic bill soars
The Treasury is poised to raid a multimillion-pound lottery fund supporting thousands of community projects to help pay for the soaring costs of the Olympics, the chairman of the body warns today. (Guardian, 10 Jan 2007)
Co-operative stores report 7.2% sales increase
A robust performance from its convenience stores helped the 1,700-strong Co-operative retail chain produce record figures over Christmas, pushing underlying sales ahead by 7.2% in the three weeks to January 6. Chief executive Guy McCracken said sales for the period were more than £197m, an increase of £12m on the previous year. (Guardian, 10 Jan 2007)
Many 'excluded from social care'
Elderly and disabled people are increasingly relying on family and friends to care for them, inspectors have warned. (BBC, 10 Jan 2007)
The US has carried out at least two air strikes in southern Somalia targeting Islamist fighters, who the US believes include members of an al-Qaeda cell. (BBC, 9 Jan 2007)
No proof organic is better, says Miliband
Shoppers should not necessarily regard organic food as better for consumers than products grown by conventional methods, David Miliband, the Environment Secretary, said yesterday.
...The Soil Association, the leading organic body, says sales of organic food increased by 30 per cent to £1.6 billion in Britain last year. It says that organic food is shown to contain higher levels of vitamins and minerals. (Telegraph, 8 Jan 2007)
Food firms take on official watchdog in battle of the labels
Food and drink giants will today launch the opening salvo in an unprecedented battle over nutritional information as they unveil details of a campaign to promote a scheme rejected by the government's food watchdog. (Guardian, 4 Jan 2007)
Schools ignoring birthday of two kingdoms
The 300th anniversary of the Act of Union between England and Scotland is being ignored in schools, say historians. (Telegraph, 4 Jan 2007)
Tradition can be found on the web
The easiest way to find a milkman is a website called www.findmeamilkman.net, which is operated by Dairy UK, the industry trade body.
Customers without access to the internet can ring Dairy UK on 0207 486 7244 and the organisation will be able to say who delivers in the area and provide a telephone number. (Telegraph, 4 Jan 2007)
Israeli 'traitor' vilified in press freed after two years in jail
An Israeli woman whose attempts to better understand Palestinians led to a campaign of vilification and charges of treason was released yesterday after serving more than two years in jail.
Tali Fahima, 30, said she had no regrets and insisted that she had done nothing to harm the state of Israel as she left prison to the cheers of a hundred supporters. (Guardian, 4 Jan 2007)
Cameron's 'buy British food' call
Clearer labelling is needed to help people to buy genuinely British food, Conservative leader David Cameron says. (BBC, 3 Jan 2007)
Newcomers may have impossible dream
Will Romania and Bulgaria turn into Spain now that they are in the European Union? That has been their dream of transformation as they have scraped over the hurdles to get into the club. (Times, 3 Jan 2007)
Jurors' verdict on their own judgment - we're clueless
...Australian researchers, granted rare access by law officers to jurors emerging from court, were startled to find that most juries were far from agreed on what verdict they had delivered, despite the requirement that it be unanimous. (Times, 3 Jan 2007)
20 more genocide suspects still living in UK
Up to 20 more people suspected of leading a genocide in Rwanda that claimed one million lives are at liberty in Britain, the Guardian has learned.
The revelation comes after four Rwandans appeared in a London court yesterday accused of orchestrating one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century.
...Britain acted over the four after repeated requests from Rwanda and growing anger in the capital, Kigali, that the UK was apparently willing to give refuge to alleged mass murderers. Charles Munyaneza, 48, Celestin Ugirashebuja, 53, Emmanuel Nteziryayo, 44, and Dr Vincent Brown, 45, were arrested on Thursday night at their homes around Britain. (Guardian, 30 Dec 2006)
Hundreds missing after ferry sinks off Java
Hundreds of passengers are feared drowned after a ferry sank in a storm off the Indonesian coast.
Naval officials said more than 500 people were missing after the ship sank last night about 24 miles off Mandalika island. (Telegraph, 30 Dec 2006)
How effective the role of civil society can be?
The United Nations once dealt only with governments. By now we know that peace and prosperity cannot be achieved without partnerships involving governments, international organisations, the business community and civil society. (Daily Star Bangladesh, 30 Dec 2006)
It's time to make companies more accountable
Over the past generation, millions of people have become the owners of our large companies. Nearly two-thirds of Britain's adult population directly and indirectly through the institutions managing pensions and life insurance policies own shares in our major companies. (Independent, 29 Dec 2006)
The jewel in the crown: The curse of Koh-i-Noor
Its 750-year history is peppered with tales of murder and treachery. Now, secret papers released yesterday have added another twist to the 186-carat gem's colourful history. (Independent, 29 Dec 2006)
Somali government seeks control
The Somali government is making moves to assert its authority over the capital Mogadishu, a day after its forces moved into the city. (BBC, 29 Dec 2006)
Best pupils to get extra lesson vouchers
The brightest 800,000 pupils in England are to have vouchers to spend on extra lessons as part of a national talent search that starts next week. ! (Telegraph, 28 Dec 2006)
Ethiopian troops told to leave
Somalia
The African Union has told Ethiopia to pull out thousands of its troops from
Somalia, where they are fighting alongside pro-government forces. (Telegraph,
27 Dec 2006)
Lessons in Indian history 'anti-
British, inaccurate and sexually explicit'
New lessons in Indian history announced today are anti-British and expose 12-
to 14-year-olds to the sexually explicit Kama Sutra, according to a curriculum
association. (Telegraph, 27 Dec 2006)
Thinktank calls for end to national exams for pupils aged 11 and 14
The national testing regime for pupils aged 11 and 14 in England should be scrapped, a thinktank with close links to Tony Blair's government says today.
In two reports, the Institute of Public Policy Research joins union calls for compulsory standard assessment tests (Sats) at the end of key stage two and three to be abolished and replaced largely by a system of continuing teacher assessment. But it also argues for new measures to make schools and teachers accountable.
The IPPR says too many schools are "teaching to the test" in an effort to boost their standing in league tables. (Guardian, 27 Dec 2006)
I'm jealous of Cuba
...American imperialist history started long before. It was inevitable that the original English settlers, not to mention the Dutch and the French who occupied the eastern seaboard of the US, would look west where there was more wealth. (Periodico, 22 Dec 2006)
The high road to decadence
The global culture we live in is a double-faced creature, part angel, part devil...
...The first group, embracing multiculturalism, have learned that a better understanding of other cultures, based on mutual knowledge of each other's languagess, can foster stronger business partnerships, richer cultural exchanges and lasting peace. The second, often found in the English-speaking world, are proud of their monolingualism, and have retreated into a fantasy world in which it seems everyone speaks their language. (Guardian, 20 Dec 2006)
A modern-day slavery is flourishing in Britain, and we just avert our eyes
We are dehumanising half a million irregular migrants - an army of cheap labour on which our lifestyles depend. (Guardian, 18 Dec 2006)
Two explosions in Nigeria's Delta
At least two explosions have hit separate oil facilities in Nigeria's restive Niger Delta region.
The militant group, Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) has claimed responsibility for what it called the car bomb attacks. (BBC, 18 Dec 2006) See Q&A Nigeria's oil violence
Migrants 'need more protection'
Migrant workers living overseas are being ignored when conflict breaks out, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has warned. (BBC, 18 Dec 2006)
EU will consign Romanian traditions to history
The deep howl brought neighbours scurrying into the Margarit family's back yard. Four men held down Ghita the pig, her trotters were tied up with wire, and George Margarit plunged a knife into her throat.
They have been informed in writing by the local mayor that when Romania joins the EU such practices will have to stop. (Telegraph, 18 Dec 2006)
Pack up Israel, Ahmadinejad tells West
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday met anti-Israel Jewish rabbis who took part in a controversial Holocaust conference and told Western powers to “pack up” Israel. “Big powers and Zionist leaders should pack up the Zionist regime because they lied to create this fake regime,” the state IRNA news agency quoted Ahmadinejad as saying. (The International News, 16 Dec 2006)
Cool response to British Gas price cuts
British Gas has promised to cut bills in the spring, but came under attack for holding back until after the winter, when demand peaks. (Telegraph, 16 Dec 2006)
Ruling puts restrictions on polytunnels
Farmers will need to get planning permission before creating polytunnels on their land following a high court ruling yesterday which producers claim will endanger the £200m soft fruit industry. (Guardian, 16 Dec 2006)
West could be sucked into new battleground
Watching Somalia right now is like standing on a beach, waiting for a category five hurricane to hit. The looming cataclysm threatens to spark a regional war, suck in east African and Arab actors, and create a dangerous new theatre in the polarising, global contest between western power and Islamist jihadism. Somalia has the potential to make Darfur look like a little local difficulty. (Guardian, 15 Dec 2006)
Holy man in child trafficking arrest
Cops have arrested a Kenyan evangelical pastor over allegations of child trafficking.
Peckham-based Gilbert Deya was arrested on Wednesday in relation to six accusations of kidnapping babies. (South London Press, 15 Dec 2006)
No release for Guantanamo detainees
The hard core of detainees held at America's Guantanamo Bay detention camp will continue to be held indefinitely even if there is insufficient evidence to bring them to trial, a senior Bush administration official has warned.
Of the 435 detainees currently being held at Guantanamo, only 10 have so far been charged with terrorism-related offences. (Telegraph, 15 Dec 2006)
For complete pages of community rights cuttings, since June 2001, select Cuttings: Current in the outer column.
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