SUBROSA

Our 'Modern' Army

noreply@blogger.com (subrosa) — Mon, 20 May 2013 08:11:00 +0000

A couple of friends emailed me this morning asking my opinion of the Telegraph's article 'Army launches recruitment drive for 10,000 new young soldiers ahead of redundancies'. (I don't subscribe to the Telegraph but was able to access it on my iPad, so if you have a tablet you can read it by downloading the Telegraph app).

One of my friends was outraged at what he considered was an insult to those soldiers who would soon be leaving the Army; some involuntarily.

Next month there will be another round of 5,000 redundancies and starting today the MoD will appeal, in a television campaign, for fresh applicants, aimed at the 16 - 24 age group.

Maybe this is why the MoD is starting a recruitment drive.

Critics argue that the Army is losing valuable expertise as it sheds trained soldiers in favour of young recruits, many of whom will be starting on just over £14,000 a year. I concur, because much of the skill training within HM Forces is expensive but, on the positive side, many skilled soldiers who have been made redundant will be employable in civilian life, even in the current employment market. Sadly, also there will be a good percentage who will be suffering war-weariness and all the health problems associated with numerous deployments in recent years.

The MoD defended its position by stating that around 11,000 leave the Army naturally every year so it has to constantly recruit.

Ministers are trying to reduce the size of the Army from 102,000 to 82,000 as part of deep cuts to the defence budget. It was initially proposed that numbers would be bolstered by more reservists from the Territorial Army, but it seems that employers aren't at all happy at the prospect of losing an employee for months rather than weeks. Also, as in any organisation, it's so much cheaper to have youngsters rather than older, more qualified and experienced personnel. Thankfully there are those who recognise their plight and make strenuous efforts to help.

The future of our Army is now becoming evident. A basically trained young force with depleted senior ranks. In a few year's time our Army will be but a shell of what it has been in my lifetime.

What does concern me is that army recruiting has now been outsourced to the private company Capita yet there is no indication that the MoD has made its recruitment department redundant as yet.

Who would have thought that the recruitment of our military was profit-making?

Sunday Morning Music

noreply@blogger.com (subrosa) — Sun, 19 May 2013 08:04:00 +0000

Apogee's choice this week.

Paul Shane

noreply@blogger.com (subrosa) — Sat, 18 May 2013 08:21:00 +0000

Gone are the days when the BBC provided quality family entertainment.

RIP Paul Shane.

A Bad Day For Scotland

noreply@blogger.com (subrosa) — Fri, 17 May 2013 08:20:00 +0000

I'm ashamed of some of my countrymen - or, to be more precise, those who were part of the disgraceful 'protest' against Nigel Farage's presence in Edinburgh yesterday.

What did they think they would achieve by yelling "scum, scum, scum"? Who were these people? Some newspapers report they were organised through social media. I suggest they come from the same mould as rent-a mob or rent-a-thug. Everyone is entitled to protest but as has been proven again and again, it's the dignified protestors who are respected.

According to the Guardian they were 'students, anti-racist campaigners and activists in the radical left pro-Scottish independence movement'.

I shouldn't think many who support the Yes campaign will be proud of how these people behaved yesterday. Opinions can be expressed without the use of derogatory language.

If only they realised - although I doubt they have enough sense - that their actions did nothing for the independence cause but handed the No campaign a free gift.

As for Nigel Farage, he won't be too concerned. It was good publicity for his party, although dreadful PR for Scotland.

Recycling

noreply@blogger.com (subrosa) — Thu, 16 May 2013 08:32:00 +0000

There are several videos showing the conversion of plastic to oil and, although this one is rather light on the finer technical detail, I think it's one of the better ones. As a particular supermarket says 'every little helps'.

The machine, produced in various sizes, for both industrial and home uses, can easily transform a kilogram of plastic waste into a liter of oil, using about 1 kW·h of electricity but without emitting CO2 in the process. The machine uses a temperature controlling electric heater instead of flames, processing anything from polyethylene or polystyrene to polypropylene (numbers 2-4).

Comment: 1 kg of plastic produces one liter of oil, which costs $1.50. This process uses only about 1 kW·h of electricity, which costs less than 20 cents!

For Once I Support The MoD

noreply@blogger.com (subrosa) — Wed, 15 May 2013 08:35:00 +0000

Try as I may I can't download a BBC video and then embed it here so please view it here.

It never ceases to amaze me how hypocritical politicians are and what short-term memories they seem to possess.

I'm aware the MoD is a monstrous government department - the building itself and the anonymity of the endless corridors conveys inefficiency somehow - but how do politicians expect accurate levels of spending on military equipment over the next decade when officials have little or no idea of what war will be our leaders' next choice?

The cost of the Afghanistan war had reached £17.4 billion six months ago and that sum excludes military salaries. Our exit strategy has yet to be finalised because Pakistani leaders can't decide if or when they will open their borders to allow our troops a way out. One thing is certain, the military will have to leave a great amount of equipment behind, the cost of which will run into another few £billions.

Then there is the £70m we will be contributing a year to help pay for the Afghan National Security Forces plus an aid programme in excess of £70m a year for Afghanistan, according to the Prime Minister.

Surely Margaret Hodge is aware, after her party send our troops to war in Iraq, that the only figures the MoD can project for equipment are those plucked out of thin air?

Of course it will be much easier to give accurate forecasts for salaries and that figure should be reducing year on year as they continue to sack personnel. This country will suffer for this short-termism because the proposal to rebuild our military by using TA members is backfiring. But that's another story.

A Bygone Era

noreply@blogger.com (subrosa) — Tue, 14 May 2013 08:25:00 +0000

Most of my generation were brought up to respect our personal material items because after the war our parents had little, if any, spare money to buy them.

Some people were more 'lucky' than others and came from wealthier households, but that didn't mean they did not cherish their belongings in the same way as those with fewer.

Can you imagine even having the same car for 82 years though?

Let me introduce you to an American, Mr Allen Swift. Mr Swift received the 1928 Rolls-Royce Piccadilly-P1 Roadster (pictured with it above), from his father, brand new, as a graduation gift in 1928.

He drove it up until his death last year - at the age of 102.

He was the oldest living owner of a car that was purchased new and it was donated to a museum after his death.

It has 1,070,000 miles on the clock, still runs like a Swiss watch, dead silent at any speed and is in perfect cosmetic condition. That's approximately 13,048 miles a year (1087 a month).

That's British engineering of a bygone era. I don't think they make them like this anymore. As well as losing much of our renowned engineers we have also lost the ability to produce quality. Is it because we no longer respect quality or is it because people today don't recognise it?

Scotland's Double-Edged Sword

noreply@blogger.com (subrosa) — Mon, 13 May 2013 08:11:00 +0000

The furore UKIP's success in the English council elections has shown a few of the true colours of Westminster politicians.

David Cameron is floundering, not in a pond, but in an ocean of resentment against his weaknesses regarding the EU and immigration. Until the recent election he was confident that the people - particularly his tory colleagues and supporters - would accept his proposition of an in/out referendum on the EU in 2017, adding the aside that of course it was dependent upon the Tories winning the next general election. Pie in the sky really, because the chances of the Tories winning an outright majority is perhaps 50/50.

This past week quite a few of Cameron's senior colleagues have said they would vote Out in a referendum but say they will abstain from the vote this coming week, should the Speaker accept the amendment. Abstaining is at times a cowardly act, but then politicians think first about their careers and the good of the country appears to matter little.

The mantra that 'we're in a coalition and therefore all have to agree about EU matters', is no longer believed. Most Tories think the LibDems have far too much say in government and the PM doesn't have the capabilities of standing up to Clegg & Co; thus the LibDems have had a very easy ride for doing nothing more than disagreeing with the Tories. Most people know that Nick Clegg will never consent to any form of withdrawal from the EU because his pension relies upon the organisation staying intact.

Then comes the elephant in the room - immigration. Due to mass immigration in the past 10 - 15 years, parts of England are unrecognisable. Integration for many, if they wish to integrate, is nigh impossible because services are completely overstretched and cultural differences make community balanced. In some parts of England it was reported UKIP's successes were more to do with the UK government's immigration policy than the EU. Perhaps that's why UKIP hasn't achieved a foot hold in Scotland.

Immigrants aren't to blame for the problems. Back in the early 80s Margaret Thatcher did away with what was then known as Customs and Excise, (the Customs policed our borders and coastline and the Excise checked all goods entering and leaving the country). It worked reasonably well although there were faults then. A major one was that individual entries to the country were not documented, but Customs officers were assured that once the wonders of IT were installed, it would be simple to record every arrival and departure. Today that still doesn't happen because since the old C & E was 'reorganised', few, if any, of those who had the skills which made our Customs successful, are around and our borders are now policed poorly.

How would an independent Scotland handle immigration? The SNP seldom talks about it, except to say that 'immigration will be encouraged' and perhaps that's understandable, because Scotland would possibly have to pool border security. London would surely insist that that Scotland would not become a 'back door' for illegal migration into England. As Scotland has very limited policing of our vast coastline these days, how an assurance could be given would be debatable.

While a 'new' Scotland would want to encourage immigrants, the numbers must be controlled to ensure that integration occurs and ghettos don't pop up all over cities. One manner is which to control those arriving would be to use a system such as Australia, Canada and the US have been using for some years - a points system.

However, unless England introduces such a system it would be pointless Scotland insisting upon it, because how would it be policed? People don't seem to have any desire to have border controls at Berwick-upon-Tweed or Gretna.

But there are plenty more issues for those supporting the cause of Scottish independence to discuss before immigration. In Scotland we have never had the problem of mass immigration flooding our services, yet we still, in a very small scale, provide every health leaflet in numerous languages and costly interpreters in courts to translate for some who have been here years yet have no grasp of the language.

Is it any wonder the Yes campaign are quite happy to discuss pensions, benefits and other matters when so many in Scotland think an 'open door' policy would be acceptable? Many countries have had great economic success due to the zeal of immigrants (not least Scots), but a balance has to made as to the number and skill set of immigrants to a new Scotland. A double-edged sword indeed.

Sunday Morning Music

noreply@blogger.com (subrosa) — Sun, 12 May 2013 08:14:00 +0000

Some of you may know that I'm a fan of Jonathan and Charlotte, the two teenagers who were finalists on last year's BGT.

They've been very busy this past year and another of his fans recorded this during a cruise when the two were the top entertainment.

Una furtiva lagrima is Jonathan's mother's favourite song, so this is for all mothers who are celebrating Mother's Day today.

Don't forget the lad is only 18 and apologies for the quality of the video but it was recorded on a mobile phone. Video cameras weren't allowed in the concert hall but the Fantoines did their best.

Take Your Pick

noreply@blogger.com (subrosa) — Sat, 11 May 2013 08:22:00 +0000

I've been knocked off my feet for the past 36 hours by a lurgy, so apologies for the hastily composed links this morning.

Better Together?

The Splitting Up Of British India

Bring Cameron his booze, fags and easy women

Hitler and the Mr Men

How Your Tax Money Funds Media Groupthink

Some Thoughts About Policy For The Aftermath Of the Climate Wars

Scotland The Brave ... Or Brave New Scotland? Guest Post

noreply@blogger.com (subrosa) — Fri, 10 May 2013 08:04:00 +0000

click to enlarge

A guest post by Sheila.

In October 2010, Kenneth Roy of the Scottish Review (possibly the only real journalist left in Scotland) began a long running series on the surveillance nightmare that is Big Brother Scotland and I began to collate his articles and other related coverage on this forum thread.

Earlier this month, the Scottish Nazi Party published the draft Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill which will give this Blairite, surveillance-in-the-guise-of-child-protection, e-government agenda statutory weight.

The Scottish Review articles caused quite a stushie - Scottish Government web pages were suddenly marked “archived” - yet nobody in the MSM recycled Kenneth’s lengthy series of articles ( strange as this is a pretty regular occurrence). Predictably, MSM coverage of the draft legislation (from the telly to the local rag) has headlined as increased free nursery provision, the main agenda kept very much in the shadows...

EVERY child is to have their “wellbeing” (as defined by ever-expanding “SHANARRI” indicators) recorded by a state-employed “named person” (who cannot be their parent). Those found to be at risk of not achieving their state defined ,Curriculum for Excellence, outcomes (see the outside of the wheel) will be selected for the appropriate early intervention.

click to enlarge

Despite the demise of eCare (at great public expense) due to some adverse publicity, these vast data sets are still to be shared “electronically within and across agency boundaries”.

What of the Data Protection Act? Well the ICO has got rid of that that little “barrier” with this update on Information Sharing Between Services in Respect of Children and Young People.

Silly me! I only learned very recently that “the DPA is not a barrier, it is an enabler” and that "The drive behind it was to free up the market and to be able to use data which is personal in a protected way to enable that data to be shared.” Please note English readers, both these quotes are from the UK ICO. The Scottish Information Commissioner only deals with FOI requests.

The content of the ICO’s update fits neatly with this recent study :

“The Children and Young Person Bill will negate any requirement for consent prior to information sharing about a risk to a child’s well-being.”

“The study found little awareness of the likely duties to be imposed on Local authorities and Health Boards by the Children and Young Persons Bill due in 2015. All public bodies will be required to share any information that they have, which may indicate a risk to a child’s well-being. In effect this introduces a threshold where information must be shared far below that which is currently regarded as Child Protection.”

“The GIRFEC focus on early and effective intervention requires information to be shared with a child’s Named Person at the first sign of risk to well-being far in advance of Child Protection measures. Alerts relating to child protection could be expanded to meet the requirements of the Children and Young Persons Bill and the scope altered to include well-being concerns.”

Clear Enough? There isn't a child in Scotland who won't have multiple “risks” to their wellbeing as defined by the SHANARRI indicators

As the Assistant Commissioner for Scotland (UK ICO) also states in his update that “obtaining consent can be difficult and it should only be sought when the individual has real choice over the matter,” not only will information be shared routinely without consent but parents need not even be asked for it.

Even without the blatant social engineering and unacceptable data rape, this is a very dangerous game to be playing. Who will have access to this data, legitimately or otherwise? What types are most likely to target it ? And how can it possibly be secure?

From the ridiculous sounding notion that the NHS Highland needs to know about every guinea pig , to the positively sinister parental capacity to provide well-being assessments being carried out by midwives in Lanarkshire, this has to be stopped. Now.

I’m generally not a fan of online petitions but they can be a useful tool.This one calls upon every Member of the Scottish Parliament to ‘get it right’ and reject Girfec surveillance and a named person for every child in Scotland.

More signatures means more clout to shame MSPs into reading beyond the briefing papers they are spoonfed.

More importantly, via the social media, this petition is publicising the Girfec agenda and its implications far and wide.

Pedestrian Crossing In China

noreply@blogger.com (subrosa) — Thu, 09 May 2013 08:51:00 +0000

Not a pelican in sight!

The EU Behemoth

noreply@blogger.com (subrosa) — Wed, 08 May 2013 08:35:00 +0000

I dislike the EU as many of you know. The original plan of a trading organisation was fine, but over the years it's spiralled into an economic and political monstrosity, clawing the democracy from its member states into its greedy fold.

At the weekend I heard an MP say that Britain needs the EU because 90% of British business is done within Europe, but what he omitted to mention was that Europe sells more to us than we sell to them.

David Cameron and his pro-EU cohorts insist that EU law is good for all, yet it doesn't seem good enough for the EU itself. Scotland's policing services have recently become one massive service which, in time, will be shown to be an administrative nightmare. Public services are well known for their inability to join the dots regarding information sharing and the bigger they become the worse it gets. The NHS is a perfect example of how millions have been spent on useless IT programmes.

Since 1979 the UK has paid in about £228 billion to the EU. It has received back in benefits just £143 billion. Thus Britain's subsidy to the European project has been £85 billion. We currently pay £13 million per day to the behemoth, yet it's reported more and more food banks are popping up all over the country.

Richard North gave a talk to the Campaign for an Independent Britain at the weekend. Along with many others he distrusts David Cameron's latest promise of an EU referendum after the 2015 election. 'An exit plan is needed' in Richard's opinion and of course he's correct.

In order to muddy the waters Barroso is quoted as saying ' Political science fiction to become reality'. He also remarked 'Europe will be open and democratic or it will fail.' Note the use of the future tense. It seems the EC will set out its views on EU treaty change by early next year in order for them to be debated before the European elections next May.

David Cameron has ample time to organise a referendum before the 2015 Westminster elections and a promise of one before the European elections could save his political skin. Will he be brave enough? Naw.

Banking In An Independent Scotland

noreply@blogger.com (subrosa) — Tue, 07 May 2013 08:17:00 +0000

The news that Sainsbury is to take full control of the joint banking venture it established with the Bank of Scotland 16 years ago brought to mind a conversation I had with a friend recently.

She's a widow and lives in an attractive bungalow. Her husband and herself worked hard all their working lives to provide for a comfortable retirement, but sadly he died just five years after he finally called it a day in his industry. They had no children but for 15 years they were the (unpaid) carers for the husband's father and also my friend's mother. It wasn't an easy task juggling the care schedule, travelling at all hours between two homes miles apart and working long hours in their respective jobs.

We seldom discuss personal finances, but the other day she asked me if I knew anything about how Scottish banks - the likes of RBS - would survive should we become independent. She is a supporter of Scottish independence and like me, feels that with effort, an independent Scotland would thrive.

Her one concern is her savings and he announced she was moving her money from the RBS to an 'English' bank this week. We then had a lengthy discussion about her reasons and the main one was that she was unsure her money would be safe for the first few years of independence if it was left under Scottish jurisdiction.

Her decision made me wonder how many other people will move their money out of Scotland in an attempt to ensure it holds its value. I was able to say that at the present rate of interest any invested savings are depreciating and I didn't consider an English bank would provide better than a Scottish one.

She wasn't convinced and is sticking to her decision. The talk about monetary union with the Bank of England was also part of her decision.

The Yes campaign haven't lost a vote (yet), but they really need to start addressing the people who have put a little aside to help in their later years.

Poll Result 'Should School Holidays Be Reduced'

noreply@blogger.com (subrosa) — Mon, 06 May 2013 08:17:00 +0000

The result of the 'Should School Holidays Be Reduced' poll doesn't show any real enthusiasm for fewer school holidays, with only slightly over half deciding it would be a good idea.

Is that because our children are now grown up and school holidays don't affect us (unless we're caring for grandchildren during holidays)? Maybe there are other reasons.

Thanks to all 157 of you who voted.

Sunday Morning Music

noreply@blogger.com (subrosa) — Sun, 05 May 2013 08:15:00 +0000

The mellow sound of the bassoon this morning. Enjoy.

Take Your Pick

noreply@blogger.com (subrosa) — Sat, 04 May 2013 08:44:00 +0000

There is a link somewhere in here

Amazing diagram shows who really runs the World

Afghanistan's Multibillion Dollar Heroin Trade

DWP Unit Stole Seligman's Test

Latin Monetary Union

Linwood no more. From Hillman Imp to Tescotown

An Answer To Bureaucracy

noreply@blogger.com (subrosa) — Fri, 03 May 2013 08:19:00 +0000

Click to enlarge

I'm sure the sender felt so much better once this dropped into the postbox.

Dirty Tricks

noreply@blogger.com (subrosa) — Thu, 02 May 2013 08:35:00 +0000

England goes to the polls today to elect local councillors.

Surely that shouldn't interest people in Scotland? Of course it should. The last couple of weeks have shown the levels political parties will go to smear their competition. The plan has worked beautifully - for UKIP.

UKIP has been on the receiving end of Tory dirty tricks and Nigel Farage has coped reasonably well with his critics. He's revelled in the publicity the Tory party has created. The above image goes to show just how far the Tory party will stoop to smear a UKIP candidate. Surely everyone knows that a Nazi salute is given with the right hand? To suggest this is anything other than a man in a pub stretching over to get his girlfriend's phone is ludicrous.

The SNP have had years of being oppressed by the other main parties but have survived due to tenacity and policies that the public generally accept. They're used to dirty tricks and realise people now treat mudslingers with the disdain they deserve.

UKIP's main policy is for the UK to leave the EU. They're the only party in the UK which stands on that ticket. I will be interested to see the outcome of today's elections because, although some may vote UKIP in general protest, the majority will vote for them because they believe the EU damages the UK and the rest of Europe.

Too Heavy A Price

noreply@blogger.com (subrosa) — Wed, 01 May 2013 12:24:00 +0000

Eighteen hours of the past twenty four must have been hell for the families of those serving in southern Afghanistan.

Yesterday, around noon, the media reported there had been three fatalities in the region, but no further details were provided by the NATO PR machine.

As the south is mainly patrolled by British troops - and most military families know the battalions and squadrons out there - it was expected those killed would be British. In fact they served with the Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

The MoD did not confirm the loss until after 5am this morning. Can you imagine the fear which ran through families' minds from noon yesterday for 18 hours? When such an incident happens the communication network shuts down and families in the UK are unable to contact their loved ones. They just have to sit and wait, fervently hoping nobody knocks on their door, until a further announcement is made. Their hopelessness is palpable. I suspect many mothers whose sons are deployed in Helmand right now, had little or no sleep. Sadly three may not sleep well for many years.

In the Mastiff thee were two crew and eight troops. Nothing has been reported about the other casualties but I suspect all were seriously injured. Five Afghanis were also killed in the attack, while in another attack in the south of the country - a roadside bomb in the Shah Wali Kot district of Kandahar province - killed three civilians and wounded five.

We are losers in this war. We've lost 444 of our armed forces now and will possibly lose more as the Taliban up their strategies in the knowledge that our troops are pulling out next year. Meantime our government will continue to send more troops.

Once the troops leave Afghanistan will return to its wretched state. Supposedly we went in an attempt to stabilise the country but that has failed. We have paid too heavy a price.

Murder In The Name Of Profit

noreply@blogger.com (subrosa) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 08:16:00 +0000

Photo courtesy of the Guardian

I can hardly bring myself to watch the television pictures of the devastated Rana Plaza building in Savar, a suburb of the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka. Several thousand people were buried alive when it collapsed and the rescue services are unable to cope. At least 3,000 people were believed to have been in the building at the time.

The deadly incident has already been called the worst industrial accident in the country's history and it serves as a reminder that nothing has changed when it comes to the inhumane conditions under which clothes are made in Bangladesh for European and American tactile companies and clothing chains.

Nothing has changed about the culture of corruption that is rampant there either; the abundance of illegally procured construction permits and the lax attitudes factory owners take towards safety standards. There were five garment factories in the building as well as the offices of Brac Bank. The bank manager decided to close the bank on Wednesday because of the severity of the cracks in the walls and his actions saved his 11 employees' lives.

Factories in Bangladesh have been under enormous pressure for weeks from their foreign customers because, until recently, strikes and protests had been disrupting much of the public sector. Trucks loaded with goods destined for Europe and the US were stuck at the port of Chittagong and many buyers started avoiding Bangladesh altogether. Tesco publicly considered shifting production to Turkey or even Africa. All this contributed to manufacturers being desperate to make up for lost time.

Some of the clothes made in the five factories were produced for the German market, but they also supplied the Irish-based Primark.

How often have we heard companies like Primark say that their suppliers are held to a code of conduct: 'A safe and hygienic working environment shall be provided. Adequate steps shall be taken to prevent accidents..' (taken from their website). Most of us know these codes aren't worth the paper they're written on but we still buy their clothing. I've bought from Primark in the past but found the quality was extremely poor. I like a jumper to be wearable after more than one wash.

It was competition from the likes of India and Pakistan which decimated our clothing industry. Price is the bottom line for buyers and it doesn't concern them one bit and of course price has overtaken quality in our now throw-away society.

Some months ago Mary Portas fronted a television programme which involved selecting and training young people in the art of machine sewing. Combined with the novelty effect and superb marketing she successfully sold her knickers to top stores. The knickers weren't cheap - £10 a pair if I recall - but people bought them because her advertising slogan was 'They're British Made'.

If the authorities in places such as India and Pakistan refuse to get their act together regarding safety for their people, then surely it's time for UK buyers to consider manufacturing again in this country.

If the clothing industry can only be improved if it pays decent wages and introduces a new kind of regulation involving independent, unannounced inspections of factories funded jointly by supplier, contractors and trade unions. If buyers were made responsible for human rights abuses in their supply chain, it wouldn't take them long to come to their senses and who knows, they may even decide to return some manufacturing to their home countries.

Savar may be the worst incident in history but it's by no means unique. In 2005 the town's Spectrum Sweater building collapsed, killing 64 people. That building too had illegally been raised from four floors to nine.

The buyers must take some responsibility towards using such suppliers and aiding murder in the name of profit.

Note: Since writing this post Bangladesh's first internet newspaper has reported that 'UK's Primark to pay Savar victims'. Too little too late?

That's Globalisation

noreply@blogger.com (subrosa) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 08:41:00 +0000

Recently I had a post about GM food and the reluctance of the EU to allow consumers to make informed choices by labelling foods if they are GM.

In the US companies are seeking government approval to 'grow' controversial salmon. This will be the first ever genetically engineered animal intended for human consumption. The fish has been modified to grow twice as fast as normal salmon and is produced by inserting a growth hormone gene and another gene taken from the eel-like ocean pout. The salmon would be sterile and raised in vast tanks on land rather than in sea cages. Experts, trying to combat world hunger, are calling on the British government to back the use of GM farm animals on the dinner table here.

The push into GM meat could see the production of hens that have only female chicks and cattle made disease resistant using genes from baboons.Scientists at the Roslin Institute - where Dolly the sheep was cloned - insist fears surrounding 'Frankenstein' foods can be overcome and want the Government to support the spread of GM into farm animals.

I'm in agreement with Dr Helen Wallace of GeneWatch, who warned "GM fish escapes could pose a serious threat to wild salmon populations". She also stated that "An EU move to allow the use of GM animals and insects modified to help destroy crop pests amounts to engineering whole ecosystems and no one knows the consequences of this."

Closer to home the new EU seed law is causing concern. It proposes to ban old and rare varieties farmers varieties of traditional seeds. That may not be of immediate interest to many, but think about the consequences. Seeds have been exchanged amongst the farming communities for generations and now the EU want every seed to be tested to see if they meet various criteria. The criteria have been designed around modern hybrid varieties suitable for industrial agriculture and in general only industrial hybrid seed will pass the tests. Many of the valuable old varieties, currently in use by millions of home gardeners and small farmers, will be unregisterable and therefore outlawed.

So the introduction of GE fish and now the proposal to wipe out valuable old seed varieties, will give more control of what we eat to the 'big boys'. The seed industry is big business and it seems they will succeed is wiping out their much smaller competitor. That's globalisation.

Sunday Morning Music

noreply@blogger.com (subrosa) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 08:49:00 +0000

Bus stop Dancing Queen. Wouldn't the world be a better place if we all started off our day like this?

Take Your Pick

noreply@blogger.com (subrosa) — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 08:08:00 +0000

An inquiry into the organisation known as Common Purpose (e-petition)

Government is bad for your health and worse for your liberty

Scots are abandoning their religion

Worst justification ever

With friends like these...

And Then It's Underway...

Cyprus Leaks

Benefits for Pensioners

noreply@blogger.com (subrosa) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 08:50:00 +0000

Far too often I hear the left wing of politics complain about benefits - or the lack of them.

Certainly there are flaws in the investigation system handled by ATOS and I appreciate that we should support people who are unable to work, owing to some form of disability, but what about the whingers who moan about the pension those of us who are retired receive from the Treasury?

The first part of my answer is rhetorical. Don't they understand that the Treasury is stocked by the taxes of working people?

Shortly I will be 67 and have received the state pension since I became 60. As I paid the 'full stamp' throughout my long working life, I receive a little more than the basic state pension. However, the 'little more' is just that and certainly has no relation, in percentage rates, to the pension women who paid the 'married woman's stamp' receive. My attitude is it's a case of 'you win some and lose some' in this instance.

But let's not forget about Gordon Brown's pensions grab. When I was saving towards my retirement I thought I would be financially secure enough to pay my bills and have the proverbial sunshine holiday once a year. Sadly, Gordon Brown's theft destroyed my careful plans and there was nothing I could do about it.

What other benefits do pensioners receive? Much is said about the free TV licence for the over 75s, but that cost is a drop in the ocean. I've told, reliably, that it's not worth the effort applying for it because the paperwork is excessive.

Next come free prescriptions - indeed, as we grow older many of us require more medical care and as a result often prescribed medication. The route the English NHS is on may result in all of us having to pay a basic fee to see a GP and also prescriptions. Personally I don't think that's a bad idea, but the healthcare system is in such a mess that small changes will be insignificant in the great scheme of things. The UK should have introduced a system like Germany or Switzerland many years ago. These insurance systems ensure everyone has access to healthcare but, as with BUPA and the like, the more expensive the policy, the more 'enhanced' the treatment. In my years within these systems I never felt, because I paid a basic rate, that my treatment was inferior to someone with a more 'exclusive' insurance.

Then there is the 'Christmas bonus' - the Labour party's attempt to buy the grey vote. This money is quite unnecessary, although welcome and helps with the ever increasing winter fuel bills. It's unnecessary because, for pensioners who struggle to pay for heat and food in our cold winters, there are supposedly safety nets. Of course few work and once again, older people find applying for 'charity' humiliating.

Bus passes. What can I say? I don't possess one but should I be unable to drive one day, I could well find one very useful. A big part of being older is managing to keep a social life and for many a bus pass is invaluable but it could be means tested.

Governments say that means testing is expensive, but these days they hold so much information on each and every one of us, that it shouldn't be difficult to assess entitlement.

The general opinion from younger generations is that pensioners have a comfortable life. Many do and many aren't so fortunate, but what should be remembered is that far more of today's over 60s/65s contributed taxes throughout their long working lives. Most started work at 15 or 16 because universities were outwith families' income and further education was gained in evenings and often at the student's expense. We tried to expand/improve our skills because there was a possibility that we could earn more money.

Out of all the 'benefits' pensioners receive perhaps only the 'Christmas bonus' should be revised, but I doubt if any politician would be brave enough. Otherwise, leave our 'benefits' alone. A large section of older people quietly continue to contribute to society either through volunteering or caring for family or others.