Can The Police Ever Get It Right?

It seems the life of a british policeman is anything but smooth. Try as they may to uphold the law, for some people they always get it wrong. Labour MP John Mcdonnell has launched a scathing attack on police who were clearing ‘squats’ at three locations in London.

£20,000 Worth Of Damage By Squatters

For those not in the know, a ‘squat’ is an empty house that is invaded by young people who set up home there. These squatters often have little regard for the fact it belongs to someone else and are usually people on benefit. More often than not the place is trashed before they can be removed, and it is not surprising to find many drug addicts among them. 

Rolling A Joint?

It is often difficult for the owner to have the people evicted, for this usually requires a court order before the police can move in.

In Camberwell the police arrested 19 people for allegedly ‘stealing’ electricity, and in Hackney another was arrested for ‘suspected disorder’ during the anti-cut demonstrations. At a third address in Sipson another group were evicted without any arrests being made. 

Labour MP John Mcdonnell

According to our ‘Right Honourable’ friend (ha!) Mr. Macdonnell, the police were ‘heavy-handed’ in their dealings with the squatters because one required handcuffs while others had to be ‘forcibly detained’. I suppose he thinks the police should have ‘asked nicely’ if they would leave the premises: “Excuse me. Would you all be so kind as to vacate these premises as you have no legal right to be here? There are tea and biscuits waiting for you outside” I can just imagine what the squatters reply would have been and I cannot include it here!

I suppose Mr. Mcdonnell is of the opinion that the police should then have packed up and gone back to the station for tea.

Squatters

I am sorry Mr. Mcdonnell, but you do not live on this planet with the rest of us! I for one have seen how squatters behave when the police try to evict them, it is often a running battle, for they rarely ‘go quietly’.  As for your claim this was a ‘disproportionate use of power’ – I very much doubt it!

Unless you were actually there at all three locations Mr. Mcdonnell, I would stongly suggest you keep your big mouth shut and let the police do the job we pay them to do! There are other ways to get free publicity without slandering the police!

Roy.

World-Wide Electricity Crisis

At 01.00hrs this morning the switches were thrown to shut off the electricity generators prior to taking the nuclear reactor offline at Gundesheim power plant in Eastern Germany. Gundesheim was the last operational nuclear power plant in the world.

Nuclear Electricity Generation By Country – 2008

As a result of the Fukushima nuclear emergency following the earthquake and tsunami, public opinion and daily demonstrations across the globe finally forced nations to come together at the UN. This resulted in Resolution 1992 which demanded all nuclear power plants across the world be shut down within six months. The first country to complete the shutdown was France, followed by India, Pakistan, Brazil the United Kingdom and Spain.

The net result has been a massive 25% drop in power generation across the world. Consequently, cities have been forced to reduce underground rail and tram systems that rely on electricity by 40%, and electric powered train services across the world have been cut by 57%.

Abandoned Subway System:

All electronic or electric advertising signs have been switched off, and a limit of 10Kwh per household per month imposed which necessitated the removal of household appliances such as coffee makers, mixers, high wattage vacuüm cleaners and the like. Gone also is sphere lighting in our homes for we are allowed only one low energy lamp per room.

Production Ceases!

Many of the goods that people have come to rely on like cars, computers and other electronic gadgets are no longer being made because of the drain on power reserves during their manufacture.

In cities across the planet with well known features like Times Square in New York, Tokio centre in Japan and Piccadilly Circus in London have become dark and sombre places after all the electronic hoardings and advertisements were switched off and replaced by the occasional dim street lighting.

Los Angeles in California has become a virtual ghost town after all the lights went out and the casino’s were forced to close their doors in order to conserve energy. The world economy has been turned into chaos, and millions world-wide have lost their jobs due to factory closures caused by the number of ‘non-essential’ goods which may no longer be produced to prevent a final meltdown of the power generating system.

All this has been necessary to ensure sufficient power for essential services, but power cuts are still a daily occurrence in most of the developed world as we are starved of energy.

Anti-Nuclear Protesters

When instigating the plan, the United Nations Leader, Ban Ki-Moon, stated the will of the people could no longer be ignored. After the nuclear incidents at Three-Mile Island, Chernobyl and Fukushima, the people of the world became so incensed against the use of nuclear power and its dangers that the question could no longer be ignored.

Anti-Nuclear Demonstrations:

Nuclear Electricity Production – 2008

This is of course fiction, but gives a snapshot of life across the world should we give in to the demands of demonstrators currently voicing their grievances. Rallies in Germany and France last week have shown that many people want to see all nuclear electricity generating plants shut down, sooner rather than later! But those who make such demands do not think past their own ideology and imagine what life without nuclear energy would be like. They are lacking the essential foresight to imagine how we would satisfy our ever-increasing demands for power without it. To quote an old saying: ‘They can’t see the woods for the trees’!

There are currently more than 440 nuclear plants across the world providing in excess of 20% of our energy requirements. It does not seem much when you look at the figures for other sources like coal, but to close down all nuclear plants would be catastrophic for the world economy, business and the people. Some countries are already suffering power shortages as our appetite for energy expands. More and more gadgets in the home, increasing transport requirements and even the introduction of electric cars all take their toll on our energy supplies. We are at the moment locked into a vicious spiral that must burst apart at some time in the future.

The Nuclear Rector – How It Works:

In my opinion, we cannot do without nuclear power, and until some scientific breakthrough is made with something like cold fusion, we are stuck with it. Our efforts would be more usefully channeled into making it safer.

Fukushima – Lessons Learned?

The idea of building a six-reactor plant on the coast in a known earthquake and tsunami area to me was a big mistake, which has been born out by recent events.

Fukshima Accident Explained:

It would have been obvious to me that such things as reactor cooling systems, in their entirety, should have been better protected against the sea. It does not help to protect the reactor core, if the power generators for the cooling pumps are vulnerable. OK! This is all with hindsight, but these are the type of lessons that need to be learned, and measures taken to see it can never happen again. I am sure there are many other safety measures that can be taken to protect a reactor from ‘going critical’ even in an earthquake zone such as Japan.

Typical Nuclear Plant

Perhaps the United Nations should consider gathering the world’s foremost experts in this field and have them inspect every nuclear facility on the planet with a view to increasing safety.

Nuclear power is not a demon, it is a tool in the hands of man that can be controlled and used safely, providing all the necessary safety measures are in place and adhered to. It is only when mistakes are made that things can go wrong, and yes, ‘to err is human’, but with our increasing computer abilities it should not be too difficult to have electronic fool-proof safety measures backing up the operators. We already have plenty I know, but I am sure they could be improved.

2008 Energy Production

There is of course another alternative to placate the demonstrators, and that is a return to coal-fired power stations. But considering we turned to nuclear energy as a relatively clean method of generating power, this seems a retrograde step, and lets not forget the effect it has on our planets atmosphere.

Greenpeace Action Against Coal-Fired Plants:

Nuclear power generation has proven its value when it comes to our atmosphere. It has been calculated that the nuclear energy programme world-wide has prevented 38 billion tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere, as opposed to continuing with coal-fired power plants which would have added four times as much. It is also just one-twelfth of the total amount pumped into the air during 160 years of electricity generation using coal, gas and oil.

These people seem to be of the opinion that all our power requirements can be met using wind, solar panels and hydro energy, but the reality is, its impossible!

We Need To Keep The Electrons Flowing

Hydro-energy for example provides us with less than 18% of our needs, while wind energy only contributes approximately 3%. Not all countries have rivers, and how do you provide wind energy across Africa? Are we to cover every free acre of ground on the planet with wind farms? There is little doubt in my mind that we will have to make the best of nuclear power until a scientific breakthrough is made with some other form of energy production.

The Future Of Nuclear Power:

Complaining about it, and demonstrating against it will not solve our energy needs, we just need to use our brains and make it safer for all concerned.

Roy.

Britain’s Drunken Youth

Once again Britain is in the news for all the wrong reasons. A report out today by the think-tank Demos, shows that British girls are the biggest drinkers among females in the developed world, and for that you can read ‘on the planet’.

Early Start On The Road To Hell

A third of all 13-year-olds questioned by the survey team from YouGov stated they had been drunk at least twice, and one in three aged between 11 and 21 said they had drunk so much they had lost control and/or thrown up. As if that is not enough, half of all 15 year-olds said they had been drunk at least twice, which is double the average for other OECD countries where these statistics are gathered. Researchers reported that many drank to excess because (a) it made them feel good, and (b) they could forget all their troubles.

Binge-Drinking UK:

It has been known for many years that much of British youth are often obnoxious drunken louts, which is evident from the general attitude of foreigners who witness their antics when they go abroad on holiday. My wife and I live in Spain, and every year during the holiday season we see the same spectacle repeated over and over. Just one look at the faces of passers-by is enough to see their disapproval.

Good Night Out Last Night? – I Have No Idea!

Young girls dressed up like tarts (which seems to be the fashion at the moment) yelling their heads off, shouting insults at each other and passers-by with mouths full of foul language like no other. And as if that is not enough, they care not where they empty their stomachs of the excess of alcohol, and are as likely to urinate in the street too. Make no mistake, the young males are just as bad, but according to the report, they do not rank as high as their female counterparts.

One Careless Night Out Can Ruin Two Young LIves

The Demos report links the high consumption of alcohol among young women with the dramatic increase of teenage pregnancies during the last decade or so, another point where British scores are highest. It goes without saying that a drunken girl is more likely to have sex with some young stud feeling ‘hot under collar’ than a sober one. Some 11% said they had sex without a condom and the same number said they regretted it later. The number of young girls giving birth has rocketed in recent years, some as young as twelve or thirteen.

It does not surprise me that the report indicates most of the blame for this current behaviour can be laid at the feet of the previous Labour government. It was Labour who brought in the longer opening hours for pubs, bars and clubs, and admittedly, this would not have been a problem in any country other than Britain. But so fixated are the British youth on booze that all they see is the opportunity to stay out all night drinking.

A David Attenborough ‘Tongue-in -Cheek’ Look At Binge-Drinking:

A Regular Sight On A Saturday Night

More to the heart of the problem I believe is the steady erosion of family life in the UK, where parents have no idea what their children are doing, where they are, or who they  are with. The parents are usually sleeping blissfully, untroubled by their offsprings whereabouts when they stagger up the garden path at 3 o’clock in the morning, and make a dive for the toilet to throw-up.

The steady increase in the number of broken homes has also had its impact on teenage behaviour, as they often feel they have no-one to turn to when they are troubled. The survey shows that for many, drinking is an escape from all their problems.

Young people rarely have anyone to talk to about their troubles because the parents as a rule do not have the time, or the inclination to sit and talk to them, and for this reason they must find their own way, which sadly is often the road to ‘binge-drinking’.

The Labour tactic used to address the growing problem was government messages to ‘Drink Responsibly”, which naturally fell on deaf ears.

Parents And Binge Drinking:

In The Cold Grey Light Of Dawn!

The Demos report suggests that the government should do more to prevent people under the drinking age  from obtaining alcohol in any form. They suggest that TV and Internet advertising of alcohol should be banned, but to be honest, I do not see that solving the problem.

Social attitudes must change, and parents need to make more effort in becoming involved with their children by giving them better guidance as they start life’s perilous journey. But there again, considering the shortfalls of the present generation of parents, who will be fit to do this?

Roy.

Rebellion – The Spring Of Discontent

Ever since the world ushered in 2011, with the hopes of a fruitful year and a return to economic stability, it seems the pendulum has swung the other way. The prospect of global economic recovery seems as far away as ever, and the news has been dominated by country after country being racked by protests and regime changes, albeit mostly in the arab world.

A New Year With Renewed Hope

As we all know by now, Tunisia was the spark that ignited the trail of discontent across North Africa and on into the Middle East. Protesters in both Tunisia and Egypt have successfully rid themselves of an oppresive regime and may be turning to democracy, but we shall have to wait and see.

Further afield we have seen Libya, Syria, Yemen and The United Arab Emirates among others all suffering civilian unrest. In the case of Libya, outright war between the populace and the government is on-going with Syria heading in the same directiuon. The protesters all demand the same thing, release from an oppressive regime that has held power too long.

Libya: http://youtu.be/nqJgBhDkekc

It has always been the nature of dictators not to relinquish power once they have achieved it, a fact that still holds true today. Many who have, or perhaps will be toppled in the near future, have all held power for many decades and it often occurs that time makes such people lose contact with those they rule.

Libyan Protest

History teaches us that people will accept such a situation with passive acceptance – initially, but over time, especially if their living standards deteriorate, the discontent grows until it suddenly bursts forth in uncontrollable rage. Poor living standards are a great driver to action for those living in oppressed countries.

Desperate measures are taken by some rulers like Gaddafi of Libya and Assad of Syria, who attempt to quell the unrest by force of arms, but as we have seen in both these countries, it only makes the protesters more determined. Libya is now racked by civil war, and even with the help of a UN resolution and the actions of NATO, we are approaching a stalemate.

There are indications the war in Libya will take on a new twist that may well cause headaches at NATO Headquarters. The latest news quotes government sources as saying the eviction of the rebels from Misrata will be left to local tribes who have suffered loss of trade with the city since the uprising began. The army is said to be retreating from Misrata and negotiations will take place between tribal leaders and the rebels. If the tribes do in fact attack the rebel positions in the city it will be civilians against civilians, so where will that leave the coalition forces and the UN Mandate?

Syria Defiance

Meanwhile, Syria is seeing daily deaths among the protesters at the hands of the security forces. International involvement has only taken place in Libya, and it seems unlikely at this time that such action will be repeated in other countries.

Syria: http://youtu.be/qb7Irlq60Ew

Ivory Coast and Nigeria have also been trouble spots for the last few weeks but the reasons there are different.

The Ivorian Protagonists

In Ivory Coast the dispute arose from the failure of its President, Lauren Gbagbo to accept defeat when he lost the election. Fighting has been going on there for some time as forces loyal to Gbagbo sought to prevent the elected President Ouattara from taking office. Eventually Gbagbo was defeated, but now Ouattara is finding it hard to reign in his troops and stop fighting between Gbagbo supporters and his own. Once again, the UN has made pleas for calm which have fallen on deaf ears.

Ivory Coast: http://youtu.be/Y0Lpmdzt6mk

A similar situation is developing in Nigeria where the defeated presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhuri, refuses to accept his defeat against Goodluck Johnson in an election that was cleared by international observers as being fair. Should the violence continue, there is a chance the Muslim north of the country will be at war with the Christian south.

Sectarian Violence in Nigeria

The difference between this altercation and others seems to be religion, for like Muslims everywhere, they wish to dominate, and the north will not be satisfied until it rules the whole of the country purely for the purposes of turning it into a Muslim state. A story we have all heard before.

The UN is still confining itself to useless pleas for calm and a cessation of violence in the various nations currently in the news. This is standard practice for the international body that rarely sees fit to actually take action to prevent bloodshed and war.

Nigeria: http://youtu.be/QzFQ3zrW7QA

The United Nations was formed as a body with the ideal of ending war and insurrection in any country but has over the years been found wanting. The various nations have almost always found it impossible to come to a decision to end violence, for each country must first look to its own interests before embarking on any agreement to intervene in trouble spots around the world.

The Libyan conflict serves as a prime example, for many countries could not bring themselves to endorse Resolution 1973 until it was too late to be of any strategic use, perhaps because they did not wish to offend the Middle East nations for fear of jeopardising their oil imports. Now with Syria and Yemen they again cannot agree for the same reason, and content themselves with platitudes and pleas for a cessation of the violence, all of which go unheard.

A Sign Of UN Impotence At Ending Wars?

It is obvious these nations will not take any notice, for it has become a power struggle with the elite not wishing to relinquish their grip, and the protesters refusing to accept anything less.

Countries like Russia and China who hold veto powers, refuse to allow any UN action to stop the bloodshed for reasons of their own, which is most likely an attempt to gain influence in the area.

There is little doubt the UN, founded with such lofty ideals, is failing in its mandate in a disastrous fashion, for it was intended to end wars and provide a platform for the settlement of international disputes. Something it has never managed to do, and in my opinion, never will. Meanwhile, ordinary people die needlessly!

Roy.

Trouble at The Royal Wedding? – I’m Holding My Breath!

The Happy Couple

Eleven days to the Royal Wedding and I can’t help but wonder if it will really be a happy day. It should be for the couple about to get ‘spliced’, but it seems there are already groups planning to disrupt it with demonstrations.

So far only two groups have requested permission to hold a demonstration outside Westminster Abbey where the wedding will take place, one is the Muslims Against Crusades (MAC) and the other is a counter-demonstration by the English Defence League (EDL). According to reports both have been disallowed, although talks are on-going.

It really ‘gets my goat’ that Muslims would want to cause trouble on such a day of national celebration. Who the hell do these people think they are? This is the same group that were condemned for burning poppies, a symbol of national mourning for those who died in two world wars.

MAC Armistice Day Protest:

If I had my way they would all be rounded up and put on the first plane back to where they came from, regardless of their status and with no appeals.

These people came to our country, live off our taxes, and then have the sheer gall to demonstrate at a royal wedding. Try as I may, I cannot understand why they came here in the first place if they hate us so much. As I have always said about these people: If you don’t like it here, then sod off back to where you came from!

MAC In Action

The British are among the most tolerant people on the planet, as evidenced by all the crap we have taken from these immigrants over the years, but somewhere there has to be a limit!

It will not be enough for David Cameron to make good on his promise to reduce the influx of immigrants to ‘tens of thousands’, we also have to start deporting these troublemakers, and anyone else who refuses to accept our way of life.

The British people have for the most part, been silent about all the trouble caused by the Muslim trash that infest our cities and towns, but I see month on month the patience of many running out. We hear more and more often the normally unspoken views of good citizens when it comes to Muslims and immigration.

I am sure that if a referendum were to be held on the question of restricting Muslim immigration and deporting troublemakers and those who cannot respect our way of life, the answer would be an overwealming ‘Yes’ vote! But of course, that will not happen, for the government knows too well what the answer will be if they go to the people.

As the months and years go by I can see a steady trickle of voters sliding into the BNP camp, for although I do not agree with many of their policies, they may be the only ones who will do anything concrete about the situation.

Newsnight Interview with Tommy Robinson Of  The EDL:

The MAC Message

If you check out the web page for the MAC they are calling for all Muslims to disrupt the royal wedding. Why? To what purpose? According to them, the Royal Family “are the enemies of Allah!” It just strikes me that perhaps someone should ask Allah what he thinks! Its anybody’s guess what these twisted minds see as a reason to cause trouble on such a day.

I am sure there are many more good Muslims among us who, although they do not wish to celebrate the happy couples day, have no wish to cause trouble during the celebrations. To these people I say: You should do your civic duty and report those wishing to cause trouble to the police.

It is not enough to sit on the sidelines like the three wise monkeys and do nothing. You live in our country, and presumably, you have accepted the British people for what they are, and have learned to adapt and live among us which is fine and I salute you, but that is not enough! The troublemakers are within your own ranks and it is up to all Muslims to draw a line in the sand and say: No more!

An EDL Counter-Demonstration

There is no valid reason why Christians and Muslims cannot live side by side in peace, each respecting the others culture, but to do this we have to root out those who are bent on causing trouble just because they cannot accept life here for what it is.

If, as the Qur’an is said to state, all nations must be followers of Islam, why is it only during the last ten years that Muslims have started their crusade? Why didn’t they start it five hundred years ago? I would be interested to hear someone answer that question, if they can!

I for one hope the happy couple can enjoy their big day without any problems from the sidelines, although, like many others, I am holding my breath!

Roy.

When Disaster Strikes – Haiti Versus Japan

Whenever disaster strikes, a media frenzy ensues followed by countries scurrying to offer the most money for reconstruction and humanitarian aid.

It has almost gotten to the stage where it has become a game among the richest nations to see who can ‘pledge’ the most. The offers are well intended, but the country that is suffering rarely gets to see all the money that is initially promised. It is worthy to note that some South American states and Arab nations made no effort whatsoever to donate or assist in the disaster while even tiny countries like Andorra managed to raise funds.

This Guardian report shows the amount of donations by country:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2010/jan/14/haiti-quake-aid-pledges-country-donations

A Haitian Victim

This scenario was nowhere more evident than the earthquake that hit Haiti, where pledges were in excess of $14 billion for immediate aid on the ground, and cash donations to help in the recovery. Much of the money has still to materialise, and probably never will.

Many nations considered the cancelling of debts owed to them by the Haitian government to be a sufficient donation to rebuild the country, which sadly was of no use to the Haitian people at that time when thousands were dead, and with their capitol razed to the ground.

Haiti Earthquake:

Emergency Aid Team – Haiti

The response of individuals, charity organizations, and rescue teams was immediate and their contribution gratefully received, but alas, the flow of money from countries making huge pledges for clearing the rubble and rebuilding left much to be desired.

Now, some 20 months after the disaster, Haitians are not much better off than they were a year ago. Less than 5% of the rubble has been cleared, and tens of thousands still live in makeshift emergency camps.

Haiti – One Year On:

And now we have another world catastrophe on our hands in the form of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Once again a country needs the assistance and monetary help of others to overcome a disaster, although to a much lessor degree than Haiti.

Japan Tsunami:

Japan Earthquake Aftermath

Naturally, Haiti and Japan are poles apart when it comes to wealth, and I might add, importance. Haiti is an impoverished island in the Caribbean, while Japan is a major player on the world stage with an economy Haitians can only dream about. As always, a huge effort was made on the part of individuals, organizations, and in some cases governments, from across the world after the initial impact. Much was done to rescue people from the rubble left by the huge  wave that hit the coast.

Japan Relief Effort:

The United States military among others were mobilised to bring initial aid to the survivors in a coordinated effort with the Japanese. Most of the aid money pledged to the Japan disaster relief effort appears at the moment to be coming from private sources with celeb’s and sports stars etc. making donations.

It is true that as Japan is among the world’s most successful economies, there is no requirement for massive donations of cash to aid the recovery. For the most part, I think the nation has received what it needed most, and that was experts on the ground to help with the immediate aftermath.

Aid Teams In Japan

Like Haiti, Japan now has many thousands of its citizens living in emergency accommodation and like Haiti, a huge area of devastation must be cleared before new houses, shops and other businesses can be built. The one big question that comes to mind is , how will Japan cope in comparison to Haiti?

It’s my bet that all signs of this latest disaster will have long disappeared in Japan while the citizens of Haiti are still trying to clear the rubble of their country’s capitol. Personally, I doubt if they will be over their troubles in five years time, such is the shortness of memory of world governments as they move on to the next catastrophe.

It is clear that Japan’s infrastructure is far better able to cope with such an event than that of Haiti, but also, on the world scene Japan is of much more importance than poor impoverished Haiti, and this will be reflected in how quickly the two countries get back to normal.

All nations who have economic ties with Japan will certainly want to see the country back on it’s feet quickly so that business can get back to normal. As for Haiti, well that’s something else isn’t it?

Roy.

Related post:

https://floroy1942.wordpress.com/2010/07/18/haiti-what-happened-to-all-the-money/

Antibiotics losing their grip?

Disturbing news came to light this week that may worry many people. It would seem a new generation of ‘superbug’ has arrived on which the usual antibiotics are useless, and for many that could spell trouble.

The Wonder Drug

The ‘wonder drug’ has been around in many forms since the first commercially available antibiotic. It was invented by a German research team under Dr. Gerhard Dermagk in 1932, and marketed by the I.G. Farben conglomerate in Germany. Dr. Dermagk received the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1939 for his work.

Since that time, the drug has undergone many changes and is used to treat just about any kind of infection. Naturally enough, the bugs have also been around and we are now entering a period where these drugs are beginning to lose the battle.  

In my opinion the reason is quite simple really, these drugs have been over-prescribed during the last forty years. I know from my own experiences that in Britain for example, doctor’s have prescribed antibiotics for just about everything from the common cold to rickets.

Overprescribing Antibiotics:

http://youtu.be/ey_PLFQ_vYI

The NDM-1 Superbug

For this reason, it seems logical that over a period of time the bugs will mutate into a form that is immune to the drugs, and that is what is now happening. So in effect, we have created the problem ourselves by over indulgence in what was once a miracle cure.

We can be certain that unless a substitute for antibiotics or a new strain can be found, we are heading for a major problem in world health. In the EU alone 25,000 people die from ‘super bugs’ that are resistant to antibiotics, and the World Health Organization has described the problem as ‘critical’.

Defacating, Washing And Drinking In The Ganges

Many of the persistent bugs come from India and Pakistan, countries that are synonymous with poor sanitation standards, where tests have shown that water is contaminated.

We are now living in a world where people from all countries travel and mix freely, and this in turn will only exacerbate the situation by allowing the bugs to be introduced by carriers.

The Superbug:

http://youtu.be/VQhIz2LqrYA

There is little doubt this is a problem of global proportions that needs to be addressed quickly, otherwise there exists a strong possibility of epidemics breaking out all over the world with no known cure. Food for thought!

Roy.

Fukushima – A Disaster Waiting In The Wings?

Should we be concerned at the latest news of a hike in the severity level at the Fukushima nuclear generating plant to 7, bringing it on a par with Chernobyl?

Chernobyl Reactor Building

We can all remember what happened at the Russian plant, but the experts tell us there is no danger of a repeat. Now that is reassuring news, certainly to the Japanese, and probably for the rest of us too.

The whole episode however leaves me with some questions, most important of which is, why was a nuclear plant built on the coast in an earthquake/tsunami zone? Reactor One was opened in July 1967, and since then another five have been built on the same site.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/Noqk78bjE-Q

The Cause Of A Tsunami

It is safe to assume that we did not know as much in 1967 as we do now about earthquakes and the effects, but even so, it seems to me the Japanese were taking a big chance in building such a facility right on the sea shore.

I can well imagine their desire to have a ready supply of water for cooling the reactor, but then surely, better precautions should have been taken to protect the installation against the possibility of a tsunami.

The Tsunami Strikes

History has shown us on many occasions that earthquakes under the sea cause tsunami’s, so it should be obvious, even in 1967, that the site would be prone to just such an event.

I freely admit, I am no nuclear scientist or structural engineer, but it seems to me that building such a plant on the coast at Fukushima, knowing the possibilities, should have received more attention.

The main difference between Chernobyl and Fukushima is that in the former accident the reactor vessel ruptured, releasing large amounts of radioactivity into the atmosphere, whereas in the latter, this did not happen and the reactor vessel remained intact. Contrary to popular opinion, there is never a chance of a nuclear explosion at a nuclear power plant, even if meltdown does occur.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/Z69rtx3YlE0

Fukushima Reactor

Each reactor at the Fukushima plant has a secondary containment vessel which is designed to prevent the release of radioactive particles into the atmosphere even in the event of a reactor containment vessel breach. This was not the case at Chernobyl and indeed, very few Russian plants had such a safety facility (lessons learned).

Furthermore, The Chernobyl reactor was ‘fired up’ at the time of the accident while experiments were carried out on the power generators for the emergency cooling system. At Fukushima the reactor shut-down automatically when the earthquake was detected.

Typical Reactor Cooling System Generator

It would seem that the problems began at Fukushima when the various backup cooling pumps, that supply the core with water to keep it from overheating, lost power when the tsunami destroyed the generators supplying the pumps. It would appear that perhaps more protection should have been given to these vital components.

Fukushima Damage

The disaster at Fukushima, though of natural causes, does indicate that more attention must be given to the siting of nuclear power plants, especially in earthquake prone countries around the famous ‘Ring of Fire’ bordering the Pacific. It indicates that all nuclear plants should be inspected to see what improvements can be made to the operating systems when a natural disaster strikes, and most specifcally, protection of the cooling apparatus.

Anyone wishing for a simple straight-forward explanation of the events at Fukushima should visit the following site:

http://bravenewclimate.com/2011/03/13/fukushima-simple-explanation/

Its all well and good for armchair ‘experts’ to give their opinions, and as we all know hindsight is a wonderful thing, but I should hope that some valuable lessons have been learned from this disaster and steps are taken to see such an event is never repeated.

Fukushima Heros

In the meantime, we should not forget the brave men and women who have been working tirelessly to prevent a major disaster at Fukushima at the risk of their own well-being. I salute you!

One thing is sure, we are a long way from doing away with our nuclear power plants despite all the hype that has been generated, for until the scientists come up with something better we are stuck with it. At this moment in time we have no other way of keeping up with the ever increasing demands for power.

Roy. 

France, The Veil, And The Inevitable Legal Challenges

Now the face veil ban has become law in France I suppose we will see a legal battle between those for and those against. In the press many people have come out against it, but the argument remains in these troubled times, should anyone be allowed to roam the streets with their faces covered like a bank robber?

Self Explanatory

No! I am not suggesting Muslim women are bank robbers (although they could be couldn’t they?), but everyone has been cautious about Muslims ever since 9/11, and to see many walking around covered from head to foot makes some people nervous.

European Views:

http://www.youtube.com/embed/mcLw6I9G0sA

True For Some

Many of the complainants are saying the ban is because Muslim women are forced to wear the veil by their husbands, which may or may not be true, although the Quran does state that women should cover themselves so as not to tempt men. For me however, that is not the essential reason for the ban, it is more a question of simple security.

The idea of people hiding behind veils makes security-minded people wary, and its not surprising. There are mixed feelings among the people of many countries that house a large population of Muslim immigrants, but only France has taken the big step in openly banning the veil.

A Day Of Infamy

If Muslims want to blame someone for the ban they should look inward and point the finger at insurgent groups like al Quada and the Taliban. Before 9/11 no-one gave a damn about the veil, but since that day people in western countries are wary of Muslims, particularly those with covered faces.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/1L9eYiwMBMk

Its only natural that when you are threatened you become suspicious of everyday things, like the veil for instance.

I’ll bet practically everyone has kept their eye on an arab with a suitcase or bag at the airport or train station, just to make sure he doesn’t leave it behind when departing! Its all about self-preservation, which since 9/11 has become predominant.

I believe this is the main reason behind much of the anti-veil feeling that presides today. It has been proven time and again that arab men dress in the burka to evade justice, and women suicide bombers are by no means uncommon.

Muslim Women Go For A Swim

I guess we should now wait for the legal challenges to the ban, for there are sure to be many. The Human Rights and  Religious Freedom champions will once again be able to mount their shiny white stallions and come galloping to the rescue of the poor oppressed  Muslims in our society, and to hell with security. The whole darned thing is one big farce really, but to be honest, I do support the ban.

Pat Condell on the burka:

http://www.youtube.com/embed/TlkxlzTZc48

Roy.

Teens And ‘Teen Speak’

Most teens have no idea what an acronym is, but strangely, their language is full of them. So-called ‘teen speak’ has gained prominence over the last decade or so with initials such as LOL now used by many adults too. Things like B4, instead of ‘before’, or BRB meaning ‘be right back’ crop up in most texts, especially among teenagers who have developed their own language for chatting on the internet or when texting.

‘Teen Speak’ Translation

Many parents these days are feeling totally cut-off from their children, not being able to understand this new ‘lingo’. Some are worried because they not only have no idea who their child is talking to in a chatroom, but also what is being said. Acronyms like GNOC means nothing to them, but can have disastrous results for any child.  It means ‘Get Naked On Cam”! Another is (L)MIRL or (Lets) Meet In Real Life!

(L)MIRL?

For those who need to unravel this language the translation table should help. There are of course many more such acronyms, but a quick internet search could help the desperate.

Now the Oxford English Dictionary has incorporated its first ‘teen speak’ word, i.e. LOL into its pages. I wonder if this is a good thing or not. It will certainly encourage those in favour of this current idiom, and some will say it is a badge of approval but I think not. The young seem to be of the opinion that this sort of language is also satisfactory for everyday correspondence, when really nothing is further from the truth. You only have to scan newspaper comments columns to see that!

I can agree that this form of communication is quite useful when composing a text message, but outside of that I consider it dangerous.

Save Your Text Language For Texting And Chatting

Think of yourself as a businessman wanting to hire someone for the position of, shall we say, a bank manager. What would you think if the man’s curriculum was filled in using such acronyms as B4, W/E, M or F? No matter what his qualifications in accounting etc, would you consider him a potential candidate or an idiot? He would obviously not be someone with whom you would wish to correspond, and would have to consider the reaction of customers receiving letters from such a person.

No! There is a case for computer/text language, but that is where it should stay. The problem is that it has become so widespread, and now unfortunately acceptable, that it is creeping into our written language as well, and that is a bad thing.

As someone not into the trend you may well receive in the future a letter from a company that to you is completely unintelligible! – BH  (Bah! Humbug!)

Roy.

Human Shields In Misrata!

I guess it should come as no surprise that Libyan forces loyal to Gaddafi are now using human shields. After all, it has become a favourite tactic employed by Hamas, Hezbollah, The Taliban and many other arab insurgent groups. This does not make it any the less despicable.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/8X0f496F7U4

To Be Prosecuted For War Crimes?

To me it is the action of a coward and a war criminal, who should be caught and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Hopefully, this means that when the Libyan ‘show’ is over someone will be answering for these crimes. I certainly hope so.

According to NATO reports, tanks and heavy artillery are being hidden in civilian areas of the city with the express purpose of making them immune to NATO aircraft attack. Light attack vehicles, similar to those used by the rebels, are now using the roads and mingling with civilian traffic to prevent attack from ever-watchful NATO warplanes.

NATO Airstrike Against Gaddafi Forces

There can be little doubt this will blunt the effectiveness of air strikes, for no sensible pilot will drop a bomb, or fire a missile knowing innocent civilians will be killed, for that makes him not much better than those who perpetrate the crime, and it will not help NATO in  the propaganda war. 

http://www.youtube.com/embed/tXU2oFSOSM0

Meanwhile, the rebels are complaining they need more assistance from NATO if they are to make any further significant gains. I for one hope they realise the burden such a tactic has put on coalition pilots.

NATO’s Deputy Commander of Operations, Rear Admiral Russel Harding said in reply: “NATO forces have been particularly careful to avoid injury to civilians who are in close proximity to the fighting, often precisely because of the tactics of government forces,” He added: “Libyan government forces have increasingly shifted to non-conventional tactics, blending in with road traffic and using civilian life as a shield for their advance.”

The city of Misrata, under siege now for more than a month, is home to some half-a-million inhabitants, and large scale civilian deaths at the hands of NATO would no doubt be a boon to the ‘lefty’ propaganda machine as well as the Arab and African nations opposed to the intervention.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/pIlI5wMZsjc

Jordanian F16's

It is heartwarming to know that now at least Jordan has joined the coalition and sent aircraft to aid in the effort, if a little late. I must say though, both Syria and Saudi Arabia are noticeably absent, and silent. But there again, these nations are always reticent when it comes to assisting other arab countries, or even condemning acts of terrorism committed against the West. Saudi for example has the best armed forces among all the arab nations, they should have, for all their hardware has been obtained from the USA. I have often wondered why these Middle East countries are always content with the ‘Three Wise Monkeys’ approach to happenings around the world involving their arab brethren, especially terrorism.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/WxPOoykVqqc

A new twist to the tale has come from the French who say they are making arrangements for the eastern rebels to get supplies into Misrata by sea. Apart from basic requirements like food and water, it will also give them the opportunity to get arms and men into the city if they so wish. What this will do to the balance of power in the area is anybody’s guess.

To the observer, it is clear the Libyan crisis is a long way from being over, and it’s still not possible to predict what the outcome will be. Personally, I doubt that Gaddafi will be able to retain his position once this debacle is over, for apart from half the population of Libya hating him, he has become a pariah among world leaders, who I am sure will want no further dealings with him.

Roy.

Crackdown On Incapacity Benefits – About Damn Time!

At last we may have a government with the balls (Not Ed) to tackle a scandal that has been going on for years, that of false incapacity claimants. Currently the number of people claiming this benefit is approximately 3.2 million of the workforce (i.e. 1 in 10), and a high percentage of them are completely false or only partially true.

Benefit Fraud - What Benefit Fraud?

It seems that during the Labour years no-one was checking up on these people to find out their real situation. No surprise there!

http://www.youtube.com/embed/_QysHL-JOwQ

Illegal incapacity benefit payments are costing the honest citizens of our country billions every year. I ask you, what other country in the world has 10% of its workforce incapacitated? Its ridiculous!  

It seems that until now no-one was prepared to do much about it, so don’t whine because the Tory/Liberal Coalition is trying to do something about it. At least they have the guts to tackle this major drain on government resources, unlike their predecessors!

http://www.youtube.com/embed/XumYGoF4EOo

Shashi Bacheta, 52, And Jeffrey Cole, 58, Why Should They Enjoy A Life In The Sun At Your Expense?

With the entire benefits system in such a mess, it has been easy for people to bamboozle their way into a free and easy life where they do not have to lift a finger to help themselves. From incapacity benefits to children’s allowance, from unemployment benefit to housing allowance everybody is at it, and the system is so broken that just about anybody can get themselves a free ride through life.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/lrZAMnkfCh4

You Are Missing The Point!

Its no wonder the TUC had such a good turnout for their demonstration last week, these people have never had it so good and of course they don’t want things to change! At the odd times Labour has seen fit to carry out checks they have caught incapacity benefit cheats every time. The present government estimate is that there are at least half-a-million people drawing full benefit but are able to do at least some form of work. Now if that doesn’t get your attention nothing will! 

http://www.youtube.com/embed/fW1IbSewDnc

The government is attempting to reduce the number of claimants in a programme that will go on until 2014, and I say good luck to them. It is at least a decade overdue that these parasites were exposed and put to work.

Yes Well - Don't Forget The 'Parasites' YOU Support!

Why, as an honest person who pays their taxes regularly, should you foot the bill to provide these people with a lifestyle that in some cases is better than your own?

https://floroy1942.wordpress.com/2010/04/13/land-of-the-parasites/ 

It is time for the honest citizen to demonstrate in favour of the government crackdown on these lowlifes. Let your voices be heard and get these people earning an honest living like the rest of us!

http://www.youtube.com/embed/9oZ6SDliAQI

It just goes to show how easy it is for people to fool the system when we had such an unprincipled government like the last one.

Roy.