01 April 2015

World Affairs for 2015 MARCH I

14th March 2015 (jandmayers twitter)

“Terry Pratchett, who died on the 12th March, was just 66 years old”

“He was an English author of fantasy novels and especially comical works”

“His best known work was his Discworld novel, the Colour of Magic, which was published in 1983”

“He sold 85 million books worldwide in 37 languages and was the UK’s bestselling author in the 1990’s”

“In December 2007 he announced he was suffering from the early onset of Alzheimer’s disease”

“He filmed a television programme chronicling his experience of the disease for the BBC”

“The world has now lost one of its brightest, sharpest minds. He died entirely naturally and unassisted”

“All who read him know Discworld was his vehicle to satirise this world, which he did so brilliantly”

“He did it with great skill, enormous humour and constant invention”

“He called his Alzheimer’s disease an “embuggerance” and faced it bravely and publically”

“Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive degenerative condition that involves the loss and dysfunction of the brain cells”

“Four years ago, Sir Terry featured in a film documentary about suicide”

“He accompanied a man with Motor Neurone Disease to the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland to see him take the lethal dose of barbiturates”

“He was asked why he made that film and he said it was because he was appalled at the state of the law”

“He said the Government here in the UK has always turned its back on it and he was ashamed”

“The British people had to drag themselves to Switzerland at considerable cost in order to get the services they were hoping for”

“Hilary Evans is director of Alzheimer’s Research UK for whom Terry Pratchett was a patron”

“She said Sir Terry’s legacy to Dementia Research is huge, both financially and is an enormous motivation to our supporters and scientists”

“When he announced the inaugural Terry Pratchett Research Fellowship in 2010…”

“…he insisted on a single word to be engraved on the trophy, “Strive””

“Our scientists continue to act upon this powerful call”

“They will push forward with the research that will eventually defeat this disease from which Sir Terry suffered”

“Sarah Wootton, chief executive of Dignity in Dying, called him a ‘committed campaigner’ for assisted dying”

“Terry Pritchett was often found saying, “It’s time we learned to be as good at dying as we are at living”

“His brave approach to confronting issues of death, including his own, was a heartfelt demonstration of dignity”

“It has been said he is a lovely man, kind and thoughtful and took people to his heart. It was a pleasure to know him”

“This man changed the way Dementia is seen and understood. He will be sorely missed”

“He is now in the greatest adventure of his life & can continue to write if he wishes, but in another dimension, with total clarity of mind”

14th March 2015 (ladylydialondon twitter)

“Terry Pratchett, who died on the 12th March, was just 66 years old”

“He was an English author of fantasy novels and especially comical works”

“His best known work was his Discworld novel, the Colour of Magic, which was published in 1983”

“He sold 85 million books worldwide in 37 languages and was the UK’s bestselling author in the 1990’s”

“In December 2007 he announced he was suffering from the early onset of Alzheimer’s disease”

“He filmed a television programme chronicling his experience of the disease for the BBC”

“The world has now lost one of its brightest, sharpest minds. He died entirely naturally and unassisted”

“All who read him know Discworld was his vehicle to satirise this world, which he did so brilliantly”

“He did it with great skill, enormous humour and constant invention”

“He called his Alzheimer’s disease an “embuggerance” and faced it bravely and publically”

“Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive degenerative condition that involves the loss and dysfunction of the brain cells”

“Four years ago, Sir Terry featured in a film documentary about suicide”

“He accompanied a man with Motor Neurone Disease to the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland to see him take the lethal dose of barbiturates”

“He was asked why he made that film and he said it was because he was appalled at the state of the law”

“He said the Government here in the UK has always turned its back on it and he was ashamed”

“The British people had to drag themselves to Switzerland at considerable cost in order to get the services they were hoping for”

“Hilary Evans is director of Alzheimer’s Research UK for whom Terry Pratchett was a patron”

“She said Sir Terry’s legacy to Dementia Research is huge, both financially and is an enormous motivation to our supporters and scientists”

“When he announced the inaugural Terry Pratchett Research Fellowship in 2010…”

“…he insisted on a single word to be engraved on the trophy, “Strive””

“Our scientists continue to act upon this powerful call”

“They will push forward with the research that will eventually defeat this disease from which Sir Terry suffered”

“Sarah Wootton, chief executive of Dignity in Dying, called him a ‘committed campaigner’ for assisted dying”

“Terry Pritchett was often found saying, “It’s time we learned to be as good at dying as we are at living”

“His brave approach to confronting issues of death, including his own, was a heartfelt demonstration of dignity”

“It has been said he is a lovely man, kind and thoughtful and took people to his heart. It was a pleasure to know him”

“This man changed the way Dementia is seen and understood. He will be sorely missed”

“He is now in the greatest adventure of his life & can continue to write if he wishes, but in another dimension, with total clarity of mind”

13th March 2015 (jandmayers twitter)

“The disgraceful failing situation of the UN Security Council to implement solutions to the Syrian conflict, is beyond belief”

“Humanitarian agencies have tried their best under extreme hardship and opposition from Bashar al-Assad”

“They still have been found wanting”

“The Syrian people have faced their worse year in the many killings that continue unabated day in and day out”

“Bashar al-Assad still holds the main position of power”

“The UN still believe they can bring in a political solution that will sort out this war”

“Bashar al-Assad will never surrender”

“His people are just pawns in his struggle to maintain his power with Russia being his main backup”

“The naiveté of the UN Security Council is mind-blowing and really they are not fit for purpose”

“They have achieved precious little in this four year war”

“Until a proper strategy to remove this President from power occurs, the country which is already destroyed, will take decades to climb back”

“It is now up to the international nations to bring about a consensus for military action, where new strategies are formed”

“A greater force will be able to push through an agenda to finally save the Syrian people”

“This nation has suffered enough, while the rest of the world continues to turn a blind eye”

“The dysfunctional UN Security Council should be ashamed of themselves for not dealing with these issues in a more effective way”

“There needs to be solutions for the sake of the Syrian people and not what is best for Bashar al-Assad!”

13th March 2015 (ladylydialondon twitter)

“The disgraceful failing situation of the UN Security Council to implement solutions to the Syrian conflict, is beyond belief”

“Humanitarian agencies have tried their best under extreme hardship and opposition from Bashar al-Assad”

“They still have been found wanting”

“The Syrian people have faced their worse year in the many killings that continue unabated day in and day out”

“Bashar al-Assad still holds the main position of power”

“The UN still believe they can bring in a political solution that will sort out this war”

“Bashar al-Assad will never surrender”

“His people are just pawns in his struggle to maintain his power with Russia being his main backup”

“The naiveté of the UN Security Council is mind-blowing and really they are not fit for purpose”

“They have achieved precious little in this four year war”

“Until a proper strategy to remove this President from power occurs, the country which is already destroyed, will take decades to climb back”

“It is now up to the international nations to bring about a consensus for military action, where new strategies are formed”

“A greater force will be able to push through an agenda to finally save the Syrian people”

“This nation has suffered enough, while the rest of the world continues to turn a blind eye”

“The dysfunctional UN Security Council should be ashamed of themselves for not dealing with these issues in a more effective way”

“There needs to be solutions for the sake of the Syrian people and not what is best for Bashar al-Assad!”

12th March 2015 (jandmayers twitter)

“It was after Jackson’s resignation that another low-key demonstration occurred, outside Ferguson’s police headquarters”

“It was when the crowds were starting to break up that shots were heard and two officers were seriously injured”

“The riots, which have continued, show the hugely long-term frustration over a system that is painfully slow to change”

“The people have had enough and every day they suffer injustice by the biased way the police deal with them”

“Ferguson has now finally been given enough rope to hang themselves”

“The injustice remains rife throughout America”

“Until integration and equality start to take hold then these problems will remain simmering and finally come to the boil”

“There is no getting away from it, America has never been white”

“It was the first nation American Indians, who are the true Americans here and the white man has all but tried to wipe them out”

“Now a role reversal is happening and it will be other coloured skinned people, who will take the place of the white man”

“They will have to revise their thinking. They will no longer be in the majority!”

“Lessons here need to be learnt and tolerance for all races is required now!”

12th March 2015 (ladylydialondon twitter)

“It was after Jackson’s resignation that another low-key demonstration occurred, outside Ferguson’s police headquarters”

“It was when the crowds were starting to break up that shots were heard and two officers were seriously injured”

“The riots, which have continued, show the hugely long-term frustration over a system that is painfully slow to change”

“The people have had enough and every day they suffer injustice by the biased way the police deal with them”

“Ferguson has now finally been given enough rope to hang themselves”

“The injustice remains rife throughout America”

“Until integration and equality start to take hold then these problems will remain simmering and finally come to the boil”

“There is no getting away from it, America has never been white”

“It was the first nation American Indians, who are the true Americans here and the white man has all but tried to wipe them out”

“Now a role reversal is happening and it will be other coloured skinned people, who will take the place of the white man”

“They will have to revise their thinking. They will no longer be in the majority!”

“Lessons here need to be learnt and tolerance for all races is required now!”

11th March 2015 (jandmayers twitter)

“Jeremy Clarkson has been suspended by the BBC following the throwing of a punch to the face of his producer due to lack of food on the set”

“The 54 year old has already had his final warning issued last year in May”

“The BBC then said he would be sacked if he made any more offensive remarks anywhere at any time”

“There have been many remarks made by Jeremy Clarkson, where he has continuously got away with it”

“For example there is his calling Mexicans lazy, feckless and their Mexican food is refried sick”

“This raised many complaints in Mexico and included newspapers and websites”

“Richard Hammond is a co-presenter for the programme of Top Gear”

“He said he doubted there would be many complaints against them as the Mexican Ambassador would be asleep”

“The BBC was forced to offer up an apology after British MPs described the comments as ignorant, derogatory and racist”

“Other derogatory comments by Clarkson were about Indians on their clothing, trains and food”

“The Indian High Commission formally complained to the BBC about his comments”

“Clarkson compared synchronised swimming to the deaths of twenty three Chinese cockle pickers in Morecombe Bay in 2004”

“Previously he had been in trouble comparing a Japanese car to people with growth on their faces”

“He called Gordon Brown a ‘one-eyed Scottish idiot’”

“Clarkson stated that striking workers should be shot and executed in front of their families”

“He had a longstanding feud with Piers Morgan and had a fight on a Concorde flight where he punched Morgan in the face”

“The BBC continues to employ presenters who thrive on notoriety”

“In the case of Clarkson, he has been embroiled in rows on everything from racism to safety rules and political correctness”

“The BBC is in an awful position as they hate him, but can’t afford not to have him on Top Gear, because of the money it brings in”

“Top Gear has made Clarkson a multimillionaire, where he has no scruples to say and do, as he pleases with no accountability”

“The BBC also had a situation with Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand”

“These two also had millions of fans, who were content to accept week-in-week-out obscenities and bad taste”

“They were paid a fortune for their outpourings by the BBC”

“These presenters have no self-control”

“They think they can say what they like to whom they like and if questioned turn to foulmouthed personal ridicule”

“Do we, as a society, have any boundaries or can anybody say anything on air?”

“It looks like the BBC currently represents the trendies, who are arrogant, smug, self-seeking and overpaid”

“They have no standards of decency and no moral values”

“All of which is paid for by the taxpayers of this country”

“It is time that the BBC started to clean up their act”

“They need to be replaced with another organisation that can represent the majority of decent people”

“No one or any organisation is too big that they cannot be replaced”

“Until decency and respect is brought back into society, we will continue to breed these verbal thugs”

“This then becomes the lesson we teach our youngsters”

“It is no wonder that young people do not have any role models they can look up to”

11th March 2015 (ladylydialondon twitter)

“An illegal market in children has developed in China in which babies are being sold online”

“The Chinese police say that there is an estimated 20,000 children abducted each year”

“Chinese state media suggests the true figure could be as high as 200,000 per year”

“A baby boy sells for $16,000. This is double the price for a girl”

“A few days before the Chinese New Year in February 2007, a man called Xiao Chaohua was with his young son playing on a nearby beach”

“They played sandcastles and paddled in the surf. They were so happy and his father took lots of pictures of his son”

“Later that day his son asked his father if he could buy his favourite snack from a grocery shop around the corner”

“His ten year sister was to accompany him. The children got separated and that was the last Xiao saw of his son”

“Xiao looked everywhere for his son, even the police said there is no point in looking as he had probably been snatched”

“Xiao decided, after many months looking for his son, to finally sell his shop and he bought a van”

“His wife works in a shoe factory and his daughter is looked after by grandparents”

“Xiao has travelled the length and breadth of China offering a reward for any information on his son”

“Posted pictures are all over the country and still there is no sign of his son”

“Years have now gone by and there still is no sign of his son”

“This family, as with so many others, is heartbroken”

“Once abducted children are sold for adoption and forced to work as beggars for criminal gangs, the vast majority are lost forever”

“Child trafficking first received wide publicity in China 12 years ago, when police discovered 28 babies in the back of a bus”

“They had been drugged to keep them quiet and put into nylon bags, where one died of suffocation”

“These traffickers were caught and sentenced to death”

“Traffickers have become more sophisticated now and are selling these babies online”

“Four criminal gangs working in this way were caught and this led to 1,094 arrests and the rescue of 382 babies”

“With approximately 200,000 children and babies being captured and sold, 382 babies is nothing!”

“The Chinese Government has a real problem and it is only by public outcry that more must be done to safeguard these vulnerable children”

“Are they listening and do they even care?”

10th March 2015 (jandmayers twitter)

“Hundreds of convicted sex offenders have gone missing from across the UK according to police records”

“Figures recently released from 39 forces, show that 394 sex offenders are currently wanted and their whereabouts are unknown”

“Registered sex offenders are required to inform the authorities of their addresses and if they move, so that they can be monitored”

“Among these recorded offenders some have been missing for more than a decade”

“One offender has been missing since 2000 and another since 2002 and many more besides”

“It is now time to engage in a new exclusive department, who have police authority to monitor and supervise sex offenders”

“Sara Payne’s daughter Sarah was abducted and killed in 2000 by a convicted paedophile”

“What redress did she have or even the family for the wilful neglect by authorities on this paedophile?”

“These paedophiles are a constant risk to society”

“Until a much tougher line is taken they will pose new threats to the innocent and vulnerable”

“A special electronic tagging inserted into the body, as is done with cats and dogs, is now necessary”

“Then the authorities can keep an eye on them”

“This information should be shared with Interpol, so that when they move out of the country they can equally be monitored”

“One cannot just expect paedophiles to voluntarily inform the police when they move”

“It is not in their nature, as skilled devious and manipulative creatures, to do so. Their sole purpose is to reoffend”

“It is primarily the authority’s responsibility to keep a watchful eye on them all the time”

“They cannot be trusted and to roam around free without monitoring is not acceptable anymore”

“The alarming amounts of paedophiles that are known are just the tip of the iceberg”

“Have the public not suffered enough with the likes of the Jimmy Savile case and Stuart Hall and many more?”

“They have devastated the lives of both girls and boys”

“We know already how devious they are and that nothing can alter this fact of their insatiable appetite to offend and injure another”

“It is because they do not accept any responsibilities or remorse for their actions that they need to be monitored at all times”

“It is already known that half of those registered sex offenders raped or sexually assaulted children”

“The public have the right to see that authorities make special efforts to protect the vulnerable from these predators”

“We cannot allow this laissez-faire attitude to continue”

“Otherwise the public will be left with no choice, but to take appropriate action into their own hands”

“There is no justification or argument that states that police resources are not there any longer – they simply have to be”

“See the results of a convicted rapist in India, who was taken out of prison by a mob, stripped, beaten and hanged for his crime”

“These feelings within the public are running high and the people will not be fobbed off with any excuses anymore”

“In this present climate of so much abuse now coming to light, when all was swept under the carpet for so long…”

“…the public will not let this situation rest and why should they?”

“They demand justice and it needs to be seen to protect society once and for all from these very sick individuals!”

10th March 2015 (ladylydialondon twitter)

“President Dilma Rousseff has signed a new law in Brazil to enforce tough new penalties for the killing of women and girls”

“Murders linked to domestic violence will now carry sentences of between twelve and thirty years”

“She is sending out a clear message to all women that the state will protect them”

“It is known that fifteen women are killed daily in Brazil”

“In other cases, such as in the killing of pregnant women, women who have just given birth, girls under fourteen or women over sixty…”

“…the law now provides even longer jail sentences”

“This new legislation alters the criminal code to describe femicide as…”

“…any crime that involves domestic violence, contempt or discrimination against women”

“Similar legislation has already been introduced in another Latin American country, El Salvador”

“This country has the highest murder rate of women in the world”

“President Rousseff has taken this legislation further on from her predecessor”

“He introduced a law known as “the Maria da Penha” law”

“This was done in tribute to Maria da Penha Maia, a woman whose ex-husband beat her for fourteen years”

“Twice he attempted to murder her and left her a paraplegic”

“She is a notable figure in the movement for women’s rights in Brazil”

“Maximum sentences are imposed with orders to remove abusers from the home”

“They are banned from the proximity of women and children who were attacked”

“Other legislation in place requires all public hospitals to provide treatment against sexually transmitted diseases…”

“…such as HIV/Aids for rape victims”

“This allows victims to be given emergency contraception and in the case of a pregnancy they have the right to an abortion”

“This is still illegal in Brazil in most cases”

“Women the world over have to join together to change the ideological climate that men constantly abuse women”

“Many men see it as their right to do so”

“Women are not considered part of society, but as a mere chattel that in some instances is lower than an animal”

“It is only when women join together worldwide that the message for change and women’s rights becomes more spoken about”

“All is far too slow and the rights of women have not penetrated many cultures”

“As we are well aware, in India rapes occur every 20 minutes and in the USA rapes are every 6.2 minutes”

“It is outrageous that more in the way of legislation is not taken up”

“Governments will only act when forced to do so, because the climate by the victims is no longer silent”

“It is the victims who must speak out”

“As in the case of Mala Yousafzai, the Pakistani school girl who was boarding her school bus”

“A gunman asked for her name and then pointed a pistol to her head and fired three shots”

“One bullet hit the left side of her forehead, travelled down under her skin through the length of her face and penetrated her shoulder”

“She was left unconscious and critical”

“Later her condition began to improve and she was transferred to a hospital in Great Britain for delicate reconstructive surgery”

“Her assassination sparked a national and international outcry and support for Mala”

“As a result this incident has ratified Pakistan’s first Right to Education Bill”

“Mala works now for the rights of education and for women!”

“Why does it need to take such violent happenings before Governments around the world wake up?”

“It is their own responsibility to protect half of their population”

9th March 2015 (jandmayers twitter)

“The Eurozone is not viable in its current form, which has been stated by one of the UK’s successful fund managers Neil Woodford”

“A good example of the Eurozone’s economic incompatibility can be found in the labour mobility”

“This represents one of the most marked differences between the US states and the Eurozone countries”

“If employment rises in Detroit because the demand for cars falls, workers can move to a state where demands for work are needed”

“This eases Detroit’s unemployment problems”

“America does this frequently”

“This is not true of Europe with their labour markets, which they are mainly due to culture and language”

“There is no common language in Europe and there would be friction if there was a common language”

“So if there was a shock demand in Detroit, it would not put the dollar at risk”

“Washington would transfer money to Motor City to allow for a rebalancing to occur”

“This does not happen in Europe for many countries have surrendered their economic self-determination”

“The Germans have ignored this pressing need for action in their shared currency”

“Everyone can see Germany’s role in this tale”

“Either agree to a fiscal integration, debt mutualisation and a genuine guarantee of the currency or…”

“…unlock the system and give the Eurozone countries back their self-determination and bring this project to its conclusion”

“No matter what the language is that is spoken…”

“…the investors can see the current crisis for what it really is, a vote of no confidence in the currency itself”

9th March 2015 (ladylydialondon twitter)

“The Eurozone is not viable in its current form, which has been stated by one of the UK’s successful fund managers Neil Woodford”

“A good example of the Eurozone’s economic incompatibility can be found in the labour mobility”

“This represents one of the most marked differences between the US states and the Eurozone countries”

“If employment rises in Detroit because the demand for cars falls, workers can move to a state where demands for work are needed”

“This eases Detroit’s unemployment problems”

“America does this frequently”

“This is not true of Europe with their labour markets, which they are mainly due to culture and language”

“There is no common language in Europe and there would be friction if there was a common language”

“So if there was a shock demand in Detroit, it would not put the dollar at risk”

“Washington would transfer money to Motor City to allow for a rebalancing to occur”

“This does not happen in Europe for many countries have surrendered their economic self-determination”

“The Germans have ignored this pressing need for action in their shared currency”

“Everyone can see Germany’s role in this tale”

“Either agree to a fiscal integration, debt mutualisation and a genuine guarantee of the currency or…”

“…unlock the system and give the Eurozone countries back their self-determination and bring this project to its conclusion”

“No matter what the language is that is spoken…”

“…the investors can see the current crisis for what it really is, a vote of no confidence in the currency itself”

8th March 2015 (jandmayers twitter)

“Sunday, 7th March 1965 was the date of the Selma Civil Rights March in Alabama”

“It is now its 50th anniversary and President Obama & his family were there to pay tribute to the heroes who took part on that Bloody Sunday”

“It was there that the Security Forces attacked black demonstrators in the city”

“They beat back demonstrators with tear gas, as they made their way over the crossing on that day”

“A crowd of 40,000 people watched Mr Obama and his family make that symbolic crossing on that part of the bridge”

“They were accompanied by those who had made that march in 1965”

“It was that march plus another from Selma to Montgomery two weeks later, which helped to carry the momentum”

“They gained approval of the Voting Rights Act by Congress later that year”

“Despite the progress, the fight against racism is not over”

“Once again another recent killing by a policeman on an unarmed black youth has occurred”

“President Obama reminded the crowds that there are laws across the country designed to make it harder for people to vote”

“These laws are being proposed & as so much blood sweat and tears have gone into getting these voting rights, right now it stands weakened”

“Its future is subjected to partisan rancour”

“The face of America is changing with more Latin American people coming in”

“The white Americans will find it difficult in the future to count on an all-white America”

“That is slowly changing and there is nothing they can do about it”

“It is high time that equality for all Americans is realised, so that the transition becomes less hostile to keep the status quo

“They must become more realistic as to what is actually happening”

“Republicans and Democrats need to embrace all races and to find solutions for the full integration that is so much needed right now”

“America cannot go on about Human Rights’ violations in other parts of the world when it cannot deal with its own ethics”

“These are becoming sorely lacking – hypocrisy continues to grow in America”

8th March 2015 (ladylydialondon twitter)

“A documentary highlighting China’s severe pollution problem has been removed from websites”

“The documentary called “Under the Dome” explains the social and health costs issues of pollution”

“It has already been watched by more than a 100 million people online”

“This has now sparked off huge debates”

“Premier Li Keqiang has called pollution a blight on their people’s lives”

“The newly appointed Environment Protection Minister has praised the documentary”

“It is the huge popular impact that this film has made, which has produced nervousness with the communist authorities”

“At the start of the documentary a six year old girl living in the coal mining province of Shanxi was interviewed”

“This is the most polluted place on earth”

“When asked, “Have you seen the stars?” The reply was, “No!”

“Have you seen a blue sky?”  The reply was, “Only little bits of blue.”

“Have you seen white clouds?”  Again the answer was, “No!”

“This film has already been watched more than 100 million times”

“It is high time the Chinese Government saved their citizens against the numerous diseases they are suffering with every day”

“Do they have a conscience?”  The answer has to be, “No, otherwise they would have done something about this decades ago”

“It is up to the people themselves, who have to fight for their lives if they wish to live any longer”

“Too many have died and are dying and nothing has changed!”

7th March 2015 (jandmayers twitter)

“The Pakistani authorities have renamed 107 schools after the victims of last year’s massacre by the Taliban on a school in Peshawar”

“Already more than 60 schools are now bearing the names of the victims of the attack”

“The parents of those victims have already given their approval”

“The Taliban gunmen killed more than 150 pupils and teachers at the school on 16th December 2014”

“The authorities have promised to crack down on these militants”

“Teachers are now being given firearm’s training and they will be able to carry weapons in class”

“The re-naming of the schools is meant as a memorial to all the victims”

“This sends out a message to the militants they cannot stop education”

“The children and teachers died because of wanting education and the terrorists don’t want them to have it!”

“In addition to the renaming of the schools, the central government is giving out the highest civil award for bravery to all the victims”

“This is sending out a clear message that these victims are martyrs to a cause they firmly believe in”

“They are prepared if necessary to die for it”

“The Government has paid out $20,000 to each of the victims’ families”

“It is a small but necessary gesture for the sacrifices these young souls made”

“They were after all the future of Pakistan and valuable to the community”

7th March 2015 (ladylydialondon twitter)

“The Pakistani authorities have renamed 107 schools after the victims of last year’s massacre by the Taliban on a school in Peshawar”

“Already more than 60 schools are now bearing the names of the victims of the attack”

“The parents of those victims have already given their approval”

“The Taliban gunmen killed more than 150 pupils and teachers at the school on 16th December 2014”

“The authorities have promised to crack down on these militants”

“Teachers are now being given firearm’s training and they will be able to carry weapons in class”

“The re-naming of the schools is meant as a memorial to all the victims”

“This sends out a message to the militants they cannot stop education”

“The children and teachers died because of wanting education and the terrorists don’t want them to have it!”

“In addition to the renaming of the schools, the central government is giving out the highest civil award for bravery to all the victims”

“This is sending out a clear message that these victims are martyrs to a cause they firmly believe in”

“They are prepared if necessary to die for it”

“The Government has paid out $20,000 to each of the victims’ families”

“It is a small but necessary gesture for the sacrifices these young souls made”

“They were after all the future of Pakistan and valuable to the community”

6th March 2015 (jandmayers twitter)

“The ancient Assyrian city of Nimrud has been vandalised by Islamic State militants”

“The ancient site was founded in the 13th Century BC and houses the royal tomb of Nimrud”

“The city was given the name of Nimrud in modern times after the Biblical Nimrod, a legendary hunting hero”

“This city was the capital of the Assyrian Empire for over 150 years”

“The city was known as Calah, which is in the Bible”

“The ruins of this magnificent city were found within 1 kilometre of the modern day Assyrian village of Noomanea, not far from Mosul”

“Archaeologists have revealed remarkable bas-reliefs, ivories and sculptures”

“The treasures of Nimrud were unearthed in excavations and some 613 pieces of gold jewellery and precious stones were collected”

“These treasures had been put away during the Iraq War in bank vaults to protect them”

“They have been stored safely for twelve years and have again been rediscovered”

“Nimrud’s various monuments face threats of demolition”

“IS have already destroyed other holy sites including the Mosque of the Prophet Jonah in Mosul”

“IS have announced their intentions to destroyed pre-Islamic artefacts, as they offend their religious views”

“They have already destroyed artefacts from Nimrud”

“This deliberate destruction of cultural heritage constitutes a war crime and cannot go unpunished”

“It is down to all religious leaders in the region to stand up”

“They must remind everyone that there is absolutely no political justification for the destruction of humanity’s cultural heritage”

“This destruction continues to demonstrate the kind of barbarians these people are!”

6th March 2015 (ladylydialondon twitter)

“The ancient Assyrian city of Nimrud has been vandalised by Islamic State militants”

“The ancient site was founded in the 13th Century BC and houses the royal tomb of Nimrud”

“The city was given the name of Nimrud in modern times after the Biblical Nimrod, a legendary hunting hero”

“This city was the capital of the Assyrian Empire for over 150 years”

“The city was known as Calah, which is in the Bible”

“The ruins of this magnificent city were found within 1 kilometre of the modern day Assyrian village of Noomanea, not far from Mosul”

“Archaeologists have revealed remarkable bas-reliefs, ivories and sculptures”

“The treasures of Nimrud were unearthed in excavations and some 613 pieces of gold jewellery and precious stones were collected”

“These treasures had been put away during the Iraq War in bank vaults to protect them”

“They have been stored safely for twelve years and have again been rediscovered”

“Nimrud’s various monuments face threats of demolition”

“IS have already destroyed other holy sites including the Mosque of the Prophet Jonah in Mosul”

“IS have announced their intentions to destroyed pre-Islamic artefacts, as they offend their religious views”

“They have already destroyed artefacts from Nimrud”

“This deliberate destruction of cultural heritage constitutes a war crime and cannot go unpunished”

“It is down to all religious leaders in the region to stand up”

“They must remind everyone that there is absolutely no political justification for the destruction of humanity’s cultural heritage”

“This destruction continues to demonstrate the kind of barbarians these people are!”

5th March 2015 (jandmayers twitter)

“The film “India’s Daughter” was due to be shown on Sunday, which is International Women’s Day, but has been banned on Indian television”

“The documentary by a British film maker on the 2012 gang rape and murder of a female student doctor in Delhi has kicked up a storm in India”

“The film seeks to explore the crime and the culture context and not how it was committed”

“The British producer Leslee Udwin gained extraordinary and rare access of any film maker to the inside of an Indian prison”

“She interviewed the rapist Mukesh Singh over three days with the permission of the jail authorities and the Ministry of Home Affairs”

“The film includes extensive interviews with the victim’s parents, families of the convicts and their lawyers”

“These are interspersed with the reconstruction of the incident”

“Mukesh Singh, who is facing the death penalty, expressed no remorse and blamed the victim for fighting back”

“He stated that when a girl is being raped, she should not fight back, but just be silent and allow the rape”

“Jyoti Singh was gang raped by five men, who put an iron rod up her and took out her entrails and then threw her off the bus”

“It is a miracle that she survived at all”

“After three days of agony the surgeons said there was no hope as too much damage had been done”

“In the time before she died, she was able to name her attackers”

“Only four men await their final appeal in facing the death penalty, the fifth criminal committed suicide in prison”

“A prison psychiatrist, who examines rapists, said India’s jails contained many men who have committed rape”

“Some of which committed more than 200 rapes in one lifetime, but they will only be convicted of about a dozen”

“A lawyer for one of the rapists, who himself said he would burn his own daughter alive if she brought shame upon herself by being raped”

“He also claimed that many MP’s had committed rape and murder, but had not yet faced any trial”

“He further stated that in order to change society, India’s leaders should start with their own necks”

“Several of India’s politicians criticised the Government of appearing more worried at the country’s reputation…”

“…than about the dangers women faced”

“Prime Minister Modi is trying hard to spruce up India’s global image as a favoured destination to invest and visit”

“India is hailed as the rape capital of the world”

“Nearly one in three rape victims in India are under the age of 18”

“One in ten is under the age of 14 and every 20 minutes in India a woman is raped”

“Yet India only ranks third for the number of rapes reported each year”

“What country is first?  The United States”

“In India a country of 1.2 billion people, 24,206 rapes were reported in 2011”

“That same year in the US a nation of 300 million, 83,425 rapes reported, so every 6.2 minutes a woman is raped”

“Jyoti Singh had just passed her exams and qualified to become a doctor”

“She wanted to open up a clinic in her parent’s district, where there was no medical facility”

“She studied hard during the day and to help get her through her education, she worked in a call centre at night”

“She only had four hours sleep, but she got through”

“On receiving her results she went out with a friend to a local cinema to celebrate and then her life was inextricably changed forever”

“What kind of a human race are we to allow this butchery of women to continue with precious little being done about it?”

“It is Universal crime against women and it is time justice was seen to be done!”

5th March 2015 (ladylydialondon twitter)

“The Duke of Cambridge has condemned the illegal wildlife trading”

“On his four day tour of China, he has been speaking out on the vicious forms of criminality that erodes the rule of law”

“It fuels conflict and may even fund terrorism”

“Prince William made this speech after visiting an Elephant sanctuary in the south western province of Yunnan”

“China is a huge consumer of ivory and Prince William is trying to raise awareness of this illegal trading”

“He is also President of the organisation United for Wildlife and is active in trying to save the Rhino as well”

“The greatest threat to Elephants worldwide today is not local farmers protecting their livelihoods”

“It is the ruthless organised poachers and traffickers”

“Prince William talked about how the world is hurtling towards Elephants becoming extinct in the wild”

“This would be an immeasurable loss to humanity”

“On this trip he was also able to feed a 13 year old female Asian Elephant, who was recovering from a leg wound caused by a trap”

“The more international condemnation that is given to the various countries whose demand for ivory is the greatest…”

“…then hopefully China will change”

“Instead of China having just a one year ban on ivory imports, they will extend it to a complete ban”

“Time & international condemnation & pressure against ivory poaching is the only way to give these wonderful mammals a chance to survive”

“We owe it to them to continue this fight!”

4th March 2015 (jandmayers twitter)

“The fight to preserve elephants and halt their demise carries on!”

“Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has set fire to 15 tonnes of elephant ivory as part of East Africa’s national efforts to curb poaching”

“The ivory had a black market value of $30m and is the largest consignment to be destroyed in Kenya”

“The tusks taken were due to the slaughter of these animals by criminals”

“Rhinos are also poached for their horns and used in Chinese medicine”

“Conservationists have warned that elephants will soon be wiped out in certain parts of Africa”

“There has been a 25 year enforced ban of the ivory trade, but emerging markets once again put African elephants under threat”

“President Kenyatta’s example of burning the ivory is to show that wildlife trophies must be put beyond economic use”

“Future generations need to see live elephants in the wild and where they can be appreciated for the magnificent beings they are”

“Elephants are a thing of beauty and majesty”

“We can all learn from these sensitive beings in how they conduct their lives and how we can be enlightened from their example”

“President Kenyatta is poised to destroy the countries stockpile of ivory during this year”

“The stockpile of ivory was acquired and confiscated from poachers, who had been apprehended and relieved of their valuable cargo”

“Kenya is committed to combating this menace until this vile economy is dismantled”

“Interpol has a new office in Kenya and this has proven to be a significant boost in this battle”

“Last month China imposed a one year ban on the import of ivory amid gross international pressure and criticism”

“The demand from Chinese consumers fuels the illegal poaching in Africa”

“Until extensive pressure continues on China, which is the major purchaser of ivory, nothing will really curb this destruction”

4th March 2015 (ladylydialondon twitter)

“The director of a Russian museum, which was originally a Stalin-era prison camp, has now been taken over by the Russian authorities”

“All references to Stalin’s dictatorship crimes have been removed”

“This Stalin camp or Perm-36 is the only one surviving with all its buildings dating back to the Stalin terror”

“The non-governmental group, who have been running the museum, are being replaced by government officials”

“In its day millions of Soviet citizens were sent to labour camps in the notorious Gulag System…”

“…or shot, during Stalin’s hard-line communist rule”

“The worst of these repressions took place in 1930s”

“Portraits of Stalin were removed after the scales of his crimes were revealed”

“The memorial of the camp won’t disappear, but the new people taking it over will change its content”

“It will become a museum about a camp system and not about political prisoners”

“They don’t talk about the repression or about Stalin”

“During the life of this camp, there were up to 3,000 political prisoners under Stalin’s rule, about 1,000 under Leonid Brezhnev in 1970s”

“Many of the prisoners were Ukraine nationals and Baltic republics”

“These nationalists are vilified in today’s state media”

“The camp was finally closed in 1988 and became a museum in 1996”

“The museum’s changeover is less about the rehabilitation of Stalin, more in connection with the political situation in the country today”

“In the days of the cold war and before, if Russian citizens wanted to visit another town or city they would need to apply for a permit”

“If the reason for wanting to travel did not stand up to scrutiny then permission to travel was denied!”

“Russia is slowly returning to this era”

“Know there are more Russians with money living in London and the UK than anywhere else in the world”

“The freedom we all take for granted is what they are after, so they can conduct their businesses without Russia’s prying eyes”

“The world is now seeing another creation of a Stalin-type state, where enormous power is in the hands of one man”

“Under President Putin, there is no need now for repression as they are either shot or in jail”

“The Russian people have become obedient”

“The political system is returning to totalitarianism and the West wants to do business with this country?”

“Understand there are more citizens trying to leave Russia then running to get in”

“We can all understand why!”

3rd March 2015 (jandmayers twitter)

“Pakistan is now taking the disease of Polio very seriously indeed. They have literally declared “war” on this disease”

“The Government have conducted their first-ever mass arrest on parents, who refused to have their children vaccinated against Polio”

“The authorities in the town of Peshawar in the north-east of Pakistan have detained 471 people”

“They are charged with “endangering public security””

“The Government now recognises they will only be free once the country has eradicated Polio”

“Therefore a robust vaccination plan is in operation”

“Anyone now who refuses to have their child vaccinated will be sent to jail”

“Pakistan accounts for the vast majority of Polio cases globally and is one of only three countries where it remains endemic”

“In 2014 the number of Polio cases in the country reached a 14 year high with 306 confirmed cases of Polio”

“Nine new cases have been detected already this year”

“The WHO (World Health Organisation) recommended that all international travellers from Pakistan are administered Polio drops”

“This will take place at airports to prevent the disease spreading”

“Crass stupidity by the Taliban, who claim that the Polio vaccination drive is a front for espionage or even the sterilisation of Muslims”

“They are responsible for Polio vaccination workers being shot dead in the city of Quetta”

“It is the responsibility of the Government to push ahead with this worthwhile programme and release the country finally of this disease”

“As always it is the children and the vulnerable of society who are the worst hit of all”

“At last Pakistan is seeing sense in helping its people”

3rd March 2015 (ladylydialondon twitter)

“Out of the tragedy of the Ebola virus something constructive will finally come out of it”

“The IMF has pledged $187m of financial aid to support Sierra Leone’s struggling economy”

“A sum of $80m will be given immediately to help this country end the Ebola outbreak and recover from its devastating effects”

“There will be a long term programme to deal with fighting this disease from every angle”

“Nearly 10,000 people have already died as a result of this disease, the vast majority in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone”

“There is still a struggle to battle this epidemic and so continuous hard work, not only to contain it but to help eradicate it, is ongoing”

“World leaders together with the Presidents of all three of the worst hit nations are in Brussels”

“They are to discuss ways of rebuilding their economies”

“They will also deal with the long term issues regarding this disease”

“Although there have been nearly 10,000 deaths there were 23,913 confirmed cases”

“The survival rate is increasing, as early detection goes a long way in safeguarding against future cases materialising”

“Their struggle is a long and arduous one, but help now is finally being given on a massive scale – thank God!”

2nd March 2015 (jandmayers twitter)

“Plans to generate electricity from the world’s first series of tidal lagoons has been unveiled in the UK”

“The six lagoons, four in Wales and one each in Somerset and Cumbria will capture incoming and outgoing tides behind giant sea walls”

“The tides will use the weight of the water to power turbines and provide electricity”

“The £1bn Swansea scheme is able to produce energy for 155,000 homes and is already in the planning scheme”

“The cost of generating the power will be high indeed, but as time goes by the lagoons will be able to produce electricity much more cheaply”

“It is expected that six lagoons could generate 8% of the UK’s electricity for an investment of £30bn”

“The Government is in negotiation how much it can charge for the power. A price of £90-95 per MWh of power already looks favourable”

“The lagoons are designed to last 120 years and are a much lower risk than nuclear”

“The UK has some of the biggest tidal ranges in the world and it would be useful to harness this clean energy for us and for the environment”

2nd March 2015 (ladylydialondon twitter)

“Prime Minister Netanyahu’s modus operandi is to get another term in office”

“With Israeli elections just around the corner he wishes to portray himself as a State leader”

“He thinks he can gain much support from the US and its many Jewish friends”

“He hopes by getting their approval he will be able to win hands down”

“His power crazy ideas are causing a strong detrimental effect, not only in Israel but in Washington as well”

“They are sick to death of his constant moaning and rhetoric regarding Iran’s nuclear fuel programme”

“These are just smokescreens for the bigger picture of where he wants to be”

“This is to be a power force and take centre stage in Israeli politics”

“The tide of opinion is now turning, as I have already predicted some time ago”

“America, in spite of Congress, will start to remove itself from Israel and especially Netanyahu”

“The US will secure its plan of action to commit their support in Iran’s peaceful nuclear programme”

“They will increase helpful relationships with their one time enemy”

“Good negotiations have already taken place and a working framework is already on the table”

“Their strengthened ties for peace are beginning to transform the Middle East”

“A better understanding between the two countries is being established”

“It has already been stated that Netanyahu’s visit to Congress has been “destructive to the fabric” of US-Israel relationship”

“It will certainly distance Israel from its allies and in the end will finally benefit Iran”

“Netanyahu will be frozen out”

“The US will play lip service to him up to a point, but he has already overstepped his position some time ago”

“Many in Congress and Washington will be glad to see the back of him!”

“The outgoing Namibian President Pohamba has won the world’s most valuable individual award, the Mo Ibrahim prize for African leadership”

“The sum of $5m award is given each year to an elected leader who governs well, raises living standards and then finally leaves office”

“Hifikepunye Pohamba, who fought for his country’s independence, has served two terms as Namibian President and now steps down”

“Mr Pohamba was named recipient of the 2014 Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership in a ceremony in Nairobi, Kenya”

“Mo Ibrahim is a British-Sudanese mobile communications entrepreneur and philanthropist, who made billions by investing in Africa”

“He launched the prize to encourage African leaders to leave power peacefully”

“The $5m prize is spread over 10 years and is followed by $200,000 a year for life”

“It is so good to hear of a success story for Africa”

“This is proof that there are good leaders, who wish to promote the lives of their people”

“The prize is just a good will gesture”

“It is the person, who has the goodness already in their heart, that does perform and govern well!”

1st March 2015 (jandmayers twitter)

“Yet another Putin assassination – is this man unstoppable?  Will no one bring him to justice?”

“The climate of fear brought on by Putin towards all his adversaries will not stop them going forwards”

“It will not stop them trying to bring about justice and economic stability for all”

“To make a place where ideologies can be voiced without the fear of constant reprisals”

“None has the right to quash another group of people, who wish freedom from oppression and fear”

“Putin will see the backlash of his actions, not only from his own countrymen, but within his own protective guard”

“The world is coming to despise Putin as they did Hitler, both are power crazy at whatever costs”

“Both will suffer death in a gruesome way, where no mercy is shown as no mercies to his victims were shown”

“The rule of law will be exercised”

“Both man’s and God’s for these extortionate acts of violence, which has Putin’s signature on it and no one else’s”

“The world and the Russian people are not blind to Putin’s lies”

“He has not been believed for years, it is only fear that holds people back”

“When that fear dissipates and changes to anger & when the people have nothing to lose, the next uprising will occur & devastate his regime”

“It is only a question of time”

“Mr Boris Nemtsov will be hailed as a martyr of the cause and Putin will be damned as the butcher of Russia”

“The eyes of Nemtsov will be constantly bearing down on Putin’s soul until his dying day”

1st March 2015 (ladylydialondon twitter)

“Yet another Putin assassination – is this man unstoppable?  Will no one bring him to justice?”

“The climate of fear brought on by Putin towards all his adversaries will not stop them going forwards”

“It will not stop them trying to bring about justice and economic stability for all”

“To make a place where ideologies can be voiced without the fear of constant reprisals”

“None has the right to quash another group of people, who wish freedom from oppression and fear”

“Putin will see the backlash of his actions, not only from his own countrymen, but within his own protective guard”

“The world is coming to despise Putin as they did Hitler, both are power crazy at whatever costs”

“Both will suffer death in a gruesome way, where no mercy is shown as no mercies to his victims were shown”

“The rule of law will be exercised”

“Both man’s and God’s for these extortionate acts of violence, which has Putin’s signature on it and no one else’s”

“The world and the Russian people are not blind to Putin’s lies”

“He has not been believed for years, it is only fear that holds people back”

“When that fear dissipates and changes to anger & when the people have nothing to lose, the next uprising will occur & devastate his regime”

“It is only a question of time”

“Mr Boris Nemtsov will be hailed as a martyr of the cause and Putin will be damned as the butcher of Russia”

“The eyes of Nemtsov will be constantly bearing down on Putin’s soul until his dying day”

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