It’s an outrageous prospect, but it’s true. This friday, the Ugandan parliament will meet to discuss how the country will ‘handle’ gay people and whether they should pass the Anti-Homosexuality Bill. The bill would see homosexuality punishable by death. 

According to the BBC, the bill proposes:

Life imprisonment for those convicted of a homosexual act.

The death sentence where the offender has HiV, is a “serial offender” or the other person is under 18.

Imprisonment for seven years for “attempted homosexuality.”

It claims to “protect the…traditional family values of the people of Uganda”.

Homosexuality is a massive taboo in much of Africa, where it is seen as a scourge on cultural, religious and social values.

Uganda has gone too far. Some blogs are asking for debate on the matter – surely there is no debate necessary. This is a sickening platitude and it should be faced with condemnation from the international community.

Gordon Rayner, chief reporter and Robert Winnett, deputy political editor at The Daily Telegraph

Gordon Rayner, chief reporter at The Daily Telegraph, and Robert Winnett, deputy political editor of the same newspaper, took to the stage to tell all.

Who dun it?

The expenses scandal wasn’t just served up on a plate to The Daily Telegraph – a quick kiss and tell.

It was a work of cutting edge journalism and one of which the media can be proud. But it wasn’t easy. Rayner and Winnett tell of the mounds of “raw data” they were faced with.

Having so much information to process was “daunting” and “time consuming” with many weeks of methodical combing – a massive task on a scale rarely seen today’s newsrooms.

Working through the nights, making discoveries, rooting out corruption – it sounded incredible.

To make it even more exciting, this was all happening in a secret bunker deep inside the Telegraph – a private room open only to about 8 or 9 insiders – a hot-bed of investigative journalism locked away from the rest of the world.

And it wasn’t just the outside world that was dangerous…Rayner and Winnett tipped us that a newspaper is widely known to be the worst place to keep a secret.

Journalists are a cynical bunch at the best of times – and these political hacks are just about as hard as they come. But Rayner, Winnett  and the rest of the Telegraph team were in for a shocker. As the stories emerged they couldn’t believe it – they “thought they’d seen it all”…the buzz was immense.

And the surprises just kept on coming with duck islands and moats appearing well into the investigation. The best thing about it, they said, was the range of revelations – from the funny to the criminal. Anything could happen.

“The first few weeks were pretty hairy”. They had warnings wherever they went – MPs swore and shouted. Even David Cameron was “very cross”.

But how did they come upon this story?

This was definitely one of ‘Fleet Street’s’ best kept secrets – The Daily Telegraph refused to speak of how they had come upon the story and, in the name of all good journalism, they have protected their source to this day.

And the source was no money-hungry rat. Rather, Telegraph journalists were approached by a middle man who did all of the negotiating for nothing. The source was horrified by what he was seeing and wanted to speak out. Only later was he encouraged to ask for compensation in order to protect against job loss.

And it was tense getting the story – it wasn’t always a sure deal. The Sun was prepared to pay £16,000 for 20 names, but it all fell through. Meanwhile The Times recoiled from the legal complications.

But Rayner and Winnett had the support of their relatively young, ambitious editor, not to mention the help of an older lawyer who threw all his energy into the project.

Suspicious to the last, the team were unsure if they were sitting on fake material. MPs were notified about the impending coverage and all waited with baited breath for a reaction. According to Rayner and Winnett, the key moment came when Jack Straw, the first to reply, confirmed the information to be true.

The rest – as we know too well – is history…

Current laws require venues have a license before hosting live music. The problem is that this law is being enforced to the nth degree. One school in Daventry was fined £20,000 for holding a musical without an entertainment licence, according to Guardian online.

Elsewhere, a charity concert for a teenager with cancer was prohibited after an organiser forgot to fill in the correct forms.

Young people and new bands trying to launch their music careers rely on small venues to air their stuff and get the practice and notice needed to move up. The current rules often make this impossible.

Well respected artists such as Sting are concerned about the damage being caused. He told the Guardian a review of licensing laws is vital:

“Small venues are disappearing because of short sighted licensing legislation, and that vital creative ground, which has served music so well over the years, will disappear forever. They cannot be replaced by X Factor, which merely clones existing entertainment stereotypes. We desperately need music pubs and music clubs, They are a vital part of our cultural landscape.

Government lethargy

According to the Government, 8,000 extra live music licenses have been issued since the introduction of the 2005 Licensing Act.

However, these licenses are often constrictive and moreover this figure doesn’t show how much live music is actually performed. British Market Research recently reported a 5% fall in licensed gigs at smaller venues.

Ministers have pledged to exempt pubs and bars of up to 100 people capacities from licensing laws – but nothing has been done. If too much time is wasted, the problem will not be resolved until the next general election, automatically pushing the issue to the back of the next government’s cupboard.

Saying that, not all ministers are apathetic. The culture, media and sport select committee recently reported concern over the stringent enforcement of the law.

Licensing minister Gerry Sutcliffe has offered his help in attempting to convince other minsters to moot the issue of exemption for smaller venues.

And Tim Clement-Jones, a Liberal Democrat peer, has drafted a private members bill that would exempt a range of venues up to 200 capacity: “It is extraordinary that no timetable has been given and the government has gone quiet”

Capitol Hill

An “historic” moment for millions of struggling and uninsured Americans came yesterday when a new health care bill was passed narrowly (220-215) in the House of Representatives. If passed, the bill will bring affordable healthcare to 96% of Americans, in particular, all those with pre-existing medical problems.

The government will become a competitive player, going up against private companies with its own health care plan; most employers will be obliged to provide workers with insurance; and private companies will be required to explain raises in premiums.

This is a huge step for the nation. In 2008, 47 million Americans were uninsured, with those losing their jobs or failing to keep up with insurance payments being hit worst.

It’s a well known statistic, but it hides many levels of a failed system. Every day, people with insurance all over the country (and not included in that figure), are impoverished and bankrupted after paying for healthcare over and above their minimal cover.

Hidden costs catch thousands out. Travis Roberts, a former student from Rhode Island, told the Today Programme that a heart operation he had when he was 23 cost him $7,000 despite being on his parents’ health insurance plan.

In her dying weeks, Obama’s own mother was on the phone to her insurance company from her sick bed, trying to get them to pay what they owed.

Law in the making

Obama says the bill, which is his finest victory yet, is a “once in a generation opportunity” for real change (Sky). Democrats are confident it could be passed as law when it heads to Senate before the end of the year.

Democratic Party representative John Dingell said: “[The bill] offers everyone, regardless of health or income, the peace of mind that comes from knowing they will have access to affordable healthcare when they need it.”

But despite its obvious benefits, the bill is highly controversial. Certain amendments were made at the last minute to placate anti-abortion legislators. If introduced the government health care plan will not cover abortion, unless in the case of rape, incest or threat to the mother’s life. Pro-abortion lobbyists say this is a huge blow.

And the new plan will be funded by a 5.4% tax on those earning $500,000 a year or more. Republicans see it as a state takeover of the healthcare system – Congresswoman Candice Miller even said “this is making me sick”. (Times Online)

With all eyes on Capitol Hill, let us hope the Senate will have different reaction.

Picture by Wallyg @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyg/3665189802/in/photostream/

Soldiers in Afghanistan

“We cannot, must not and will not walk away”. If corruption is a by-word for the Afghan government, then vagueness is a by-word for ours. Why must we not walk away? Britain needs more information and explanation if we are going to continue with a war that is fast appearing a catastrophe.   

The death toll for British soldiers in Afghanistan has hit 229 – this year has been worse than any for fatalities since the Falklands conflict of 1982. 

And as we know too well, five British servicemen were murdered this week by an Afghan policeman training in Helmand province, damaging the mission almost irreparably.

Not only are we faced with the prospect of more brutal killings, but the country we are fighting for is politically rotten. Respected military leaders, such as Major General Andrew Mackay have resigned. Kim Howells, a former Foreign Office minister, is calling for the return of most British troops.

Troops look out across the Afghan landscape

Uncertain future

 

Brown warned the Afghan President that British troops would not be put in harm’s way for a government mired in corruption. Does anyone really think a ticking off from Gordon is going to change it?

Will Karzai distance himself from his brother, and the warlords getting fat off humanitarian aid? Will he kick out his crooked colleagues, blast the opium trade on which terrorists thrive, and halt a political culture of bribery? I think not. (Corruption in Afghanistan)

If Karzai fails, which is most likely, what will we do?

And surely we need a contingency plan if Obama fails to send the 40,000 reinforcements requested by General Stanley McChrystal; if even more of our soldiers are murdered; if the Afghan police force is entirely infiltrated by the Taleban.

Captain Doug Beattle, a former British soldier who trained Afghan police for several years says “It is absolutely right to say the Afghan police are infiltrated by the Taleban at every level, from the very lowest to the very highest” (Williams, D, The Evening Standard. 05/11/09. p6).

We need to know

The British public will never throw their weight behind this treacherous war if they don’t get some answers. Do we

A veteran sings anti-war songs on the tube

even have a strategy?  How are things actually going in Pakistan? What about more equipment? Will America send more troops – if not – what are our alternatives? Who are our allies in this mess? What sort of dialogue has there been with Europe, China, Russia? If any…

There is a strong case for continuing. Britain’s biggest defensive threat may come from the hills of Afghanistan, but where is the hard-headed argument?

Gordon needs to start talking. No more vague speeches. WHY CAN’T we abandon what seems to be a lost cause? If we walk away we risk threatening Pakistan’s fragile situation. A country with so much to fight for, not to mention nuclear arms, would surely find itself in the grips of an extremist takeover.

Troops would have died, Nato’s authority would be lost, Osama bin Laden – or whichever maniac is in charge of Al Qaeda- would crow over his victory, winning fresh support from all sorts of corners.

Major General Patrick Cordingley, former Gulf War general, says extra troops will make little difference. He says only training Afghanis to take over their own security will win the day.

Conversation

Almost two thirds of us now believe the war is unwinnable and that troops should return home, according to the Times. Britain’s strategy relies heavily on America’s leadership, but we need our own tangible approach.

The training of Afghan security forces is vital. Jason Clarke, Padre of Grenadier Guards, told Sky that soldiers are “shocked and shaken” by what has happened this week, but they have a mission and are under no illusions as to what must be done.

Instead it is British civilians who are labouring under a lack of information and disillusion. We proved during World War II our willingness as a nation to pull together and put our heart into a cause – if it’s a just one. We are fighting, but on what terms? Will someone please explain!

Photo 1 of soldiers: Adie Webster: http://www.flickr.com/photos/webby962/2182821727/?addedcomment=1#comment72157622652562529

Photo 2 of soldiers: U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Adam Mancini  http://www.flickr.com/photos/soldiersmediacenter/

And even better, the Mayor of London was on his bike (wearing his helmet of course), and proudly displaying his back

Boris Johnson

pack. What every decent superhero needs. Franny, 37, is a climate change activist – and we can only hope she appreciated being rescued by someone on two wheels.

But getting back to the daring rescue: Franny was on her way home when the hoodies cornered her in an alley way, shoving her against a car. They were about to hit her with a metal bar when she called out for help to a passing cyclist.

Boris heard the cries and ran after the hoodies wielding the forgotten bar and shouting “OIKS!” after them. Franny, only slightly bruised, has lived to tell the tale (because Boris, like Batman, failed to mention it).

Gotham City

After a day of gruelling news – soldiers shot in Afghanistan, violent clashes in Tehran, political reputations crashing around us – this inspiring tale of bicycle chivalry is a breath of fresh London air. Unfortunately, there is a chilling undercurrent to this tale…as we all should know, with every Batman comes a Gotham City.

The hoodies who attacked Ms Armstrong were girls, all aged around 12. Disturbing to say the very least.

Have we not heard very recently about teenage girls getting involved in violent gangs? Police are discovering an increasing number of young women joining male groups, getting gang raped, and carrying weapons or drugs to up their status. Some are forming their own all-girl gangs – and these are no better.

Recently, a 17 year old gang leader was jailed for four and a half years, and another 16 year old for three, after their gang attacked a 16 year old girl at knife point, dragged her to an alley and beat her with a metal buckle. One girl in the gang even said she wished they had got a guy to rape her, according to the Times. The group has been sentenced by Snaresbrook Crown Court.

A meeting has been planned between the Metropolitan Police, the Home Office and the Greater London Authority to address the problem. Boris chairs the Metropolitan Police and leads the GLA. Franny couldn’t have chosen a better hero. He biked into the fray without fear. Let us hope he does the same now.

Picture: http://alcopop.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/boris-johnson-bike_667500n.jpg

The Daily Telegraph from above

Illegal downloaders buy the most music

This raises difficult questions about the future of illegal downloading. Should we cut off our nose to spite our face – illegal downloaders being the nose on which the face of the music industry clearly relies. Or should we follow the old adage – if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em?

Music consumption has been revolutionised by the internet. People expect easy access to tracks for a near-to-nothing price.

But rather than being internet pirates, most illegal downloaders are internet explorers – they use file sharing to find new music because that’s what they love. And they love it more than anyone else.

Artists used to give concerts to sell a new record. Now they rely on the spread of their records to sell concerts.

Music bloggers find the latest releases before they come out in stores

Music bloggers rely on being able to access the latest releases before they are available in store. Indeed, singers like Shakira claim illegal downloading has increased her fan base and makes her feel closer to her followers.

No to illegal downloaders

Until now, the argument for stopping people illegally downloading music from the internet has been strong.

The BPI – British Phonographic Industry – says illegal downloads cost the music industry around £200million a year, as reported by The Independent. And those just entering the industry can be badly affected as they have little revenue to fall back on from record sales.

Other high profile artists are split over the issue. Radiohead guitarist Ed O’Brian has criticised plans to crack down on illicit file sharing, while Lily Allen, Take That’s Gary Barlow and James Blunt have expressed their anger over the issue.

Preparations are currently being put in place by Lord Mandelson to hit illegal downloaders where it hurts – a “three strikes and you’re out” ruling which would cut off the internet connection of those stepping out of line.

And 61% of illegal downloaders surveyed said they would stop if this was put into practice. So would it be a good idea?

An illegal life-line

This new revelation certainly throws a spanner in the works. Illegal downloaders each spend an average of £77 a year on music – that’s almost DOUBLE the money spent by those who never do it (Demos). Many claim government clamp downs on illegal downloaders could spell death for the troubled music industry.

A compromise must be found. Music must remain a paid-for commodity or fresh talent will dry up and the industry will suffer further.

Universal Music , the world’s largest music company, and Virgin Media will soon launch a download subscription service which allows broadband customers to stream and download as many tracks from the Universal catalogue as they want for a small fee of about £15. And Virgin is already in talks with other big industry labels to include more artists in the index.

Perhaps this is the way forward? Small fees for free range. Whatever happens, it looks as though cutting off the most prolific music consumers – illegal downloaders – is not the answer.

Even policemen like autumn leaves!

Surely we can give the police force a bit of credit. They aren’t monumentally stupid (we hope). Putting aside time, resources and money to notify capable grown-ups about the perils of autumnal foliage seems like a magnificent waste of time.

Officers in the West Midlands say the patronising warning is “more suited to children.”

Cases like this seem to suggest we’re a nation of wimps. Students and staff at some UK universities are forbidden from using toasters. Christmas puddings this year will once more be free of traditional pennies. Children at British schools will be forced to wear safety goggles when playing conkers (that’s if they aren’t banned altogether). 

Time to play

Are we to be cushioned from all risk? Left to play games whilst wearing protective eye gear more suited to hardened labratory workers? 

The streets of London are stunning at the moment. Orange, brown and yellow leaves everywhere. All falling in droves. Anyone out on a crunchy afternoon walk must agree they are probably the one good thing about the approaching winter. Don’t let health and safety put a strangle-hold on fun. Autumn leaves are the least of our worries. Why not enjoy them.

Let's hope the postman enjoyed the leaves too!

DirectLife, a gadget brought to us by Philips, measures your activity levels and calculates how many calories you burn

in a day – all day.

As small as a postage stamp, DirectLife must be worn at ALL times – in a pocket or attached to a bracelet or necklace. It’s waterproof so calories you burn when washing your hair are tallied up too. The data is uploaded daily via USB and put into a centralised database for checking.

American companies have started using the nifty little device to monitor how fit their employees are, setting them off against performance benchmarks. British employers are set to follow suit early next year: terrifying.

Currently, 25,000 employees at 30 large firms in the USA are using DirectLife. It’s thought the move will cut healthcare costs of those not meeting a recommended daily level of exercise.

Why not!

With that in mind, perhaps it isn’t a bad idea? A few more lunges a day wouldn’t do us any harm here in Britain. Could this be a push in the right direction?

Obesity is a major problem in this country, with an increasing number of people suffering from heart disease, high blood pressure and liver failure. Those in positions of responsibility should be doing something to tackle this…

But where do we draw the line? Aren’t we already ruled by our blackberries, iPhones, on-tap internet, twitter, rolling

Do we need a push to get outside?

 news.

Being attached to another machine which analyses us 24/7 is creepy, at best. At worst, it is smacks strongly of an Orwellian state. One in which the calorie value of a sneeze is recorded, where lifts are a guilty pleasure, where eating a cheeky muffin is a thing of the past.

Working out for work is all very well – being encouraged to stay fit by your boss could have real benefits. But there has to be a switch off point. Exercise is medically proven to alleviate stress. And with all the stress flying around Britain’s beleaguered economy just now, there’s a danger the DirectLife (bad name) could turn one of our few personal outlets into yet another pressure.

A walk in the park

Freedom

 

When we do work out, however we do it, it’s rewarding because we do it off our own back. The best thing about running through a park is the freedom that comes with it.

Freedom to stop, or walk, do another half an hour, or bump into a mate and go for a pint. We feel elated afterwards because it was self-motivated. A personal hurdle to treasure on our own. Let’s hope this will never change.

Pic:http://www.chizzyandbryan.com/archives/Hyde%20Park.JPG