After exotic trips to foreign climes over the past few years venturing abroad to Wales and then Cornwall is the plan of action or more hopefully inaction for summer holidays in 2009. The trouble with holidays away from GB is that they usually involve an airport. Having said that, maytees' min's experience of Heathrow T5 today at the start of a Uni character building time in the Domincan republic was very positive.
Meanwhile her parents will be conveyed by Streetcar to the Snowdon National Park of which more in a while.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Sunday, August 16, 2009
The Observer by Matt Charman
The Travelex sponsorship of certain plays at the National Theatre surely puts the price of a good seat for a great play in a fantastic theatre complex within reach of anyone on the UK average wage? £10 buys any seat selected on the web. We chose two seats in the midlle of the front row of the Cottlesoe's stalls - £20 compared with the normal price of £62 was a good deal.
The play itself was was far more than just a good deal. Riveting, dramatic and educational stuff. The plot was about a west African country with a Zimbabwe style presidential election in progress. The observer was a woman from the UN group appointed to check on the fairness of the elections. Refreshingly for theatre many of the actors and audience were black. Especially clever was the way the African translator whose relationship with the white woman observer was one of the many intriguing subplots of the play, translated as members of the African electorate bewailed the murders and beatings that were besetting the vote. The presidential henchman and army general acted brilliantly as did the Chairwoman of the African Electoral committee. The latter was deposed when unlike in the real life scenario in Zimbabwe, the president eventually made his concession speech to his protagonist. The sense of fear and foreboding at a meeting at the interpreter's home township was palpable.
An eyeopener for a too comfortable middle class Englishman such as yours truly, was to see through the eyes of Anna Chancellor, who played the Observer's role with great aplomb, how one cannot simply assume that British standards of fairness and democracy should, let alone could, necessarily apply to other States at different stages of development. After all our parliament has been around for some 800 years and is stll far from perfect. Why should other nations be expected to evolve democratically more quickly?
The British Foreign Official (again brilliantly acted) who disclosed that the FO had kept tabs on Anna even to the extent of reading her emails to her husband back in London, showed how far we in Britain still have to go in evolving a fair democracy so are in no real position to preach to others.
The play itself was was far more than just a good deal. Riveting, dramatic and educational stuff. The plot was about a west African country with a Zimbabwe style presidential election in progress. The observer was a woman from the UN group appointed to check on the fairness of the elections. Refreshingly for theatre many of the actors and audience were black. Especially clever was the way the African translator whose relationship with the white woman observer was one of the many intriguing subplots of the play, translated as members of the African electorate bewailed the murders and beatings that were besetting the vote. The presidential henchman and army general acted brilliantly as did the Chairwoman of the African Electoral committee. The latter was deposed when unlike in the real life scenario in Zimbabwe, the president eventually made his concession speech to his protagonist. The sense of fear and foreboding at a meeting at the interpreter's home township was palpable.
An eyeopener for a too comfortable middle class Englishman such as yours truly, was to see through the eyes of Anna Chancellor, who played the Observer's role with great aplomb, how one cannot simply assume that British standards of fairness and democracy should, let alone could, necessarily apply to other States at different stages of development. After all our parliament has been around for some 800 years and is stll far from perfect. Why should other nations be expected to evolve democratically more quickly?
The British Foreign Official (again brilliantly acted) who disclosed that the FO had kept tabs on Anna even to the extent of reading her emails to her husband back in London, showed how far we in Britain still have to go in evolving a fair democracy so are in no real position to preach to others.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
European Legal Trials Tribulations and Salutations
Having experienced some European based laws in operation in the UK recently I can see why there is a groundswell of opinion in some parts of the UK which favours heading for the exit and regaining control of our own destiny.
My preference remains not to head for the exit. However comparing the old Common Law concept of "innocent until proven guilty" with the European imposed, "reverse burden of proof" in many employment disputes, which essentially judges EC employers guilty unless proven innocent, makes the Common Law far more respectful of personal freedoms, than EC laws.
Also the old UK adage of the "Law of Equity varying with the length of the Chancellor's foot" was gradually whittled down as being unfair and uncertain for defendants. EC Employment Laws however seem to be reintroducing this concept with what the Courts and Tribunals call "taking a purposive approach" to the legislation. In my view that is tantamount to politicising the laws too far. Also worse than the feet of Lord Chancellors of old is the fact that there usually are conflicting views of what the purpose of the EC employment law might be in any given situation. This conflict leads to defendants not knowing in advance exactly what employment strictures they are accused of breaking and is potentially a breach for individual employers of the Human Right to a fair trial.
On the other hand the old Common Law tradition of protagonists' lawyers refering to each other as "my learned friend" or if they are mere solicitors rather than barristers "my friend" happily still prevails.
My preference remains not to head for the exit. However comparing the old Common Law concept of "innocent until proven guilty" with the European imposed, "reverse burden of proof" in many employment disputes, which essentially judges EC employers guilty unless proven innocent, makes the Common Law far more respectful of personal freedoms, than EC laws.
Also the old UK adage of the "Law of Equity varying with the length of the Chancellor's foot" was gradually whittled down as being unfair and uncertain for defendants. EC Employment Laws however seem to be reintroducing this concept with what the Courts and Tribunals call "taking a purposive approach" to the legislation. In my view that is tantamount to politicising the laws too far. Also worse than the feet of Lord Chancellors of old is the fact that there usually are conflicting views of what the purpose of the EC employment law might be in any given situation. This conflict leads to defendants not knowing in advance exactly what employment strictures they are accused of breaking and is potentially a breach for individual employers of the Human Right to a fair trial.
On the other hand the old Common Law tradition of protagonists' lawyers refering to each other as "my learned friend" or if they are mere solicitors rather than barristers "my friend" happily still prevails.
Saturday, August 08, 2009
Cyberspace - The Russians, a Bishop, and Murdoch
Following my thought on Samuel Pepys and blogs, I notice a number of diverse reports on the use of the internet recently. Thus today's Independent newspaper front page news proclaims that:
A few days back the BBC reported:
And The Times (ironically) Online:
And even the Daily Telgraph:
These reports have at least one aspect in common, namely that they evidence the increasing ease of communicatiing and accessing information in C21 and the importance some attach to controlling or limiting this ease of communication or access. If true these reports would also indicate that:
The Russians prefer that the freedom of communication should be limited if otherwise a point of view unattractive to their prevailing political mood, will be aired. They seem to fear the weakening of their perceived control - why?
The Archbishop fears that the young will use the internet as a substitute for face to face communication rather than as a faciliator to such socialising as well as additional means of keeping in touch. The Archbishop is a great communicator but I wonder if Dom Bosco's attitude of being able to influence young people more by going where they are would be more effective? Today the young are often on Social websites.
Mr Murdoch fears that his newspapers will lose £ms by the dissemination of communication being too easy and too free.
The Americans fear that the unwinding of the world's military might will leave them more vulnerable.
Essentially all these reports indicate that the internet may be creating pressures for changes in the model of government, influence or control from that which has a few at the top the impact of whose decisions trickle down to the maasses at the bottom - ie a triangular shape - to one where those in the middle are increasing their own empowerments -ie more of a rectangular shape.
Russian hackers have been accused of being behind an enormous cyber attack which temporarily shut down two of the world's most popular social networking sites in order to silence a Georgian blogger who is critical of Moscow's policies in the Caucasus.
Twitter went offline for several hours on Thursday whilst Facebook and Livejournal suffered major slowdowns following a large distributed denial-of-service (DDOS) attack which flooded their networks. The attacks are believed to have been aimed at a 34-year-old Georgian economics lecturer who has written blogs critical of Russia's military presence in the area.
A few days back the BBC reported:
Social networking websites, texting and e-mails are undermining community life, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales has warned.
And The Times (ironically) Online:
Mr Murdoch said that newspapers would have to follow The Wall Street Journal and start charging for online content. Warning that “the current [business] model is malfunctioning” for newspapers, he said that News Corp is “leading the way in finding a model that maximises revenues and returns”.
And even the Daily Telgraph:
The mother of computer hacker Gary McKinnon made an impassioned appeal to US president Barack Obama today after her son failed in his latest High Court bid to avoid extradition to America.
The 43-year-old, who suffers from Asperger's Syndrome (AS), is wanted for trial on charges of hacking into US military networks.
These reports have at least one aspect in common, namely that they evidence the increasing ease of communicatiing and accessing information in C21 and the importance some attach to controlling or limiting this ease of communication or access. If true these reports would also indicate that:
The Russians prefer that the freedom of communication should be limited if otherwise a point of view unattractive to their prevailing political mood, will be aired. They seem to fear the weakening of their perceived control - why?
The Archbishop fears that the young will use the internet as a substitute for face to face communication rather than as a faciliator to such socialising as well as additional means of keeping in touch. The Archbishop is a great communicator but I wonder if Dom Bosco's attitude of being able to influence young people more by going where they are would be more effective? Today the young are often on Social websites.
Mr Murdoch fears that his newspapers will lose £ms by the dissemination of communication being too easy and too free.
The Americans fear that the unwinding of the world's military might will leave them more vulnerable.
Essentially all these reports indicate that the internet may be creating pressures for changes in the model of government, influence or control from that which has a few at the top the impact of whose decisions trickle down to the maasses at the bottom - ie a triangular shape - to one where those in the middle are increasing their own empowerments -ie more of a rectangular shape.
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Letters to the Editor
Pleased that the Tablet letters' editor indicates that the following offering might soon reach the light of day in that weekly mag:
"...Archbishop Peter Smith’s article “Voice that must be heard” was both informative and thought provoking. However, the threats to religious freedom come as much from legislation already passed as from the legislation currently before Parliament that he warns of. Thus in 1994 a Catholic School RE Teacher who had become pregnant as a result of a relationship with a local catholic priest was held to have lost her job unfairly on the grounds of sex discrimination. The catholic arguments were left to the school’s secular LEA to argue whereas the arguments should have been better put by lawyers more steeped in catholic ethos. A lesson for the English and Welsh catholic bishops therefore is that the threats to religious freedom which come from secular legislation both now and to come, need to be defended or indeed on occasion attacked, in the secular courts through lawyers who empathise with, if not, share the religious practices being threatened.
Sadly we are already witnessing the demise of catholic adoption agencies. Will catholic schools be next?..."
"...Archbishop Peter Smith’s article “Voice that must be heard” was both informative and thought provoking. However, the threats to religious freedom come as much from legislation already passed as from the legislation currently before Parliament that he warns of. Thus in 1994 a Catholic School RE Teacher who had become pregnant as a result of a relationship with a local catholic priest was held to have lost her job unfairly on the grounds of sex discrimination. The catholic arguments were left to the school’s secular LEA to argue whereas the arguments should have been better put by lawyers more steeped in catholic ethos. A lesson for the English and Welsh catholic bishops therefore is that the threats to religious freedom which come from secular legislation both now and to come, need to be defended or indeed on occasion attacked, in the secular courts through lawyers who empathise with, if not, share the religious practices being threatened.
Sadly we are already witnessing the demise of catholic adoption agencies. Will catholic schools be next?..."
Saturday, August 01, 2009
The Rituals of Ordinary Life - Thomas Merton
Thomas Merton I think it was, wrote of life's rituals, for example the ritual of preparing and enjoying his daily coffee. His was in a time before internet blogs and yet he was a prolific writer. His autobiography, the Seven Storey Mountain, might well have been written as a blog had he lived today.
Keeping a personal diary going involves some self discipline of collecting one's thoughts. The collected thoughts might well reflect the 'rich tapestry' of life but the daily events themselves often do not seem that significant. A drama or point of apparent huge concern does not neccessarily present itself as worthy of specific note each week. The great personal diarist, Samuel Pepys, opens his mammoth C17 diary which I regard as a precursor to today's blogs, with (courtesy Penguin Classics)
"January The Lords day. This morning we were lying lately in the garret) I rose. Put on my suit with great skirts, having not lately worn any other clothes but them. We went to Mr Gunnings Church at Exeter House, where he made a very good sermon..."
Apart from the facts that today is Saturday August 1st 2009 rather than a Sunday in January 1660 and that men's attire is different, the points he makes sound very familiar.
Some rituals over the past week reflecting those of the past few weeks are the walk along the short stretch of Thames riverpath on the NW side of Vauxhall Bridge to Pimlico Gardens on the way to the the office. The Thames at high tide especially in rain and wind is almost like a seascape. Like Thomas Merton daily coffee making is a ritual and not a habit. Quiet simple Mass on Monday nights; brief greetings from people in Wimbledon streets; mealtime conversations. Even the early morning commutes on SWTrains are rituals rather than chores although like beauty perhaps that is more a question of the mind of the commuter beholder. Likewise some of the difficulties encountered in life can at least after the event be enriching experiences although that is not to understate the huge burdens that beset so many - being human can be very hard.
On reflection however much of the ordinariness of everday life can be viewed and experienced as positviely challenging and fulfilling or negatively habitual and burdensome. Thomas Merton's approach to daily life as comprising many rituals if I have interpreted him correctly is really enriching.
Keeping a personal diary going involves some self discipline of collecting one's thoughts. The collected thoughts might well reflect the 'rich tapestry' of life but the daily events themselves often do not seem that significant. A drama or point of apparent huge concern does not neccessarily present itself as worthy of specific note each week. The great personal diarist, Samuel Pepys, opens his mammoth C17 diary which I regard as a precursor to today's blogs, with (courtesy Penguin Classics)
"January The Lords day. This morning we were lying lately in the garret) I rose. Put on my suit with great skirts, having not lately worn any other clothes but them. We went to Mr Gunnings Church at Exeter House, where he made a very good sermon..."
Apart from the facts that today is Saturday August 1st 2009 rather than a Sunday in January 1660 and that men's attire is different, the points he makes sound very familiar.
Some rituals over the past week reflecting those of the past few weeks are the walk along the short stretch of Thames riverpath on the NW side of Vauxhall Bridge to Pimlico Gardens on the way to the the office. The Thames at high tide especially in rain and wind is almost like a seascape. Like Thomas Merton daily coffee making is a ritual and not a habit. Quiet simple Mass on Monday nights; brief greetings from people in Wimbledon streets; mealtime conversations. Even the early morning commutes on SWTrains are rituals rather than chores although like beauty perhaps that is more a question of the mind of the commuter beholder. Likewise some of the difficulties encountered in life can at least after the event be enriching experiences although that is not to understate the huge burdens that beset so many - being human can be very hard.
On reflection however much of the ordinariness of everday life can be viewed and experienced as positviely challenging and fulfilling or negatively habitual and burdensome. Thomas Merton's approach to daily life as comprising many rituals if I have interpreted him correctly is really enriching.
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