Stress drives teachers out of schools

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/apr/25/stress-drives-teachers-out-of-schools

Summary

Teaching is the most stressful job, according to research done by the Health and Safety Executive in 2000. Stress is caused by an immense workload, sometimes compromising 50 hours a week. Most of this work is centred on paperwork that is simply bureaucratic and does not contribute to the actual teaching part of the job. This stress can, in some occasion, lead to suicide (attempts), and while the number of incidents is small, it is relevant. Thousand of teachers are affected by this problem each year. Stress is the most likely cause to end their career.

Commentary

I do not find it surprising that teaching is such a high stress job. In itself, keeping a room full of students alert enough so they will actually learn something is very difficult. Add to that the loads of paperwork that need to be completed and it can quickly become more than a person can handle. The demand from the teachers seems to be higher than what they can deliver. I believe this is something the Health and Safety Executive should keep an eye on, along with the school themselves. Stressed teachers are not able to perform their job properly, after all, not to mention the toll this can take in their personal lives.

Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson 'to be arrested tomorrow' over claims he knew about phone hacking

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2012259/Former-News-World-editor-Andy-Coulson-arrested-phone-hacking-claims.html#ixzz1RSSPz3pC

Summary

Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson might be arrested in connection with the case on phone hacking done by the newspaper. There are allegations that he might have known about said phone hacking when he was at work there, and even worse, that he might have okayed the usage of police officers as paid informants. Coulson himself says he had no knowledge of such things taking place and that he finds the practice of hacking phones deplorable. As a witness in the trial of Tommy Sheridan, he is being further investigated by the police until his connection (or lack thereof) to the case becomes clear.

Comment

I always find this type of cases difficult to comment on. After a while, it seems to become a matter of everyone pointing fingers at each other, trying to save their own hide by dragging someone else down with them. This article in particular gives very little information over what Coulson’s involvement with the phone hacking might be. They are all conjectures, which might be valid, but also could quite possibly be nonsense. However, I suppose it is normal for big names that have any connection to these type of scandals to be dragged down into it, and if Coulson is truly innocent, he should be able to prove that.

England football team 'could be forced to wear EU flag'

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/8623800/England-football-team-could-be-forced-to-wear-EU-flag.html

Summary

The EU Parliament is drafting plans to have European sports team wear the EU flag on their uniforms, opposed to the emblems they wear now. If this plan is approved, British teams will also be subjected to this change. The voting will happen at the Council of Ministers, which means the United Kingdom could possibly be in the minority, as certain smaller countries would benefit from this. Those in favour of this motion say that playing sports under the European flag will bring a sense of unity and pride to ordinary people as well as athletes. Those who oppose the plan think that the EU has no business meddling in sports, which are in high regard in the UK.

Comment

I agree with those that say the EU should not be meddling with the uniforms of national teams. While we are all Europeans, stripping the uniforms of their national emblems would be like stripping them of their identity. There would be no fun in playing sports against a team bearing the same flag. I also doubt it would do much for the sense of unity in Europe, where almost every country is so proud of their nationality. This is wish for equality taken too far.

Plea to avert East Africa 'tragedy'

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3683088/Plea-to-avert-East-Africa-tragedy.html

Summary

More than ten million people are at risk in Africa, where they are facing the worst drought in 60 years. This drought is affecting large areas of Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia, with people having to trek for days in search of water. British aid agencies are scrambling to help. The Disasters Emergency will broadcast appeals on television in hope of gathering money and attention to the cause. The priority now is for immediate relief while a long term solution is sought. 38 million pounds have already been pledged, but more money is necessary for relief efforts to work.

Comment

I commend the aid agencies for doing what they can to facilitate relief efforts in this situation. However, I do worry that they will end up forgetting about the long term effects and solutions. As much as there is need for immediate help, the problem will still exist after the money and the volunteers are gone. The drought will not disappear of its own volition. Thus it is of utmost importance to formulate a long-term goal as soon as the situation becomes slightly less dire.

WE WANT BRITISH JOBS FOR BRITISH WORKERS

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/257242/We-want-British-jobs-for-British-workers-

Summary

1400 people lost their job when a British train manufacturer lost the bidding for a project to a German company, Siemens. This happened according to EU bidding rules, but many are critical of this decision. It means British jobs are being handled to overseas companies. According to Transport Secretary Hammond, however, the manufacturer already had plans to cut down these jobs. In the meantime, Siemens has vowed to use this new position to create new opportunities for British workers.

Comment

I can understand why these people are so upset. While I am not fond of a too nationalistic approach, I also find it reprehensible that so many people lost their jobs when this project regards trains being made for the UK. Perhaps the government could in the future divide the job between different companies, or at least discuss how this is going to affect the British workforce, find a way to safeguard their jobs. For example, if a foreign company is to win bidding on a project, they should have to take on as many British workers as possible.

London 2012 security won't be affected by budget cuts

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/london-2012-olympic-games/2011/07/05/london-2012-security-won-t-be-affected-by-budget-cuts-115875-23250349/#ixzz1RU5FUTzH

Summary

Despite budget cuts, officials involved with the planning of the London 2012 Olympics believe that they will be able to deliver a safe event for all present. With a security budget of £600 million, the Olympics will be policed as a severe threat level occasion. While the budget cuts do increase the difficulty of this operation, the bigger challenge does not make it something impossible to accomplish. From now to June 2012, many exercises will be held to test the security level, including a live event. Threats being tested are, for example, power failures in the Underground, serious crimes and protests.

Comment

If those involved in the security arrangements are so sure that they will be able to keep the Olympics safe, I can only hope they are right. It does make me wonder, though, how much they could be saying to safe face in the public. It cannot be easy to plan for such a huge event and have to deal with budget cuts on top of it. There is also great difficulty involved in foreseeing all the possible threats. The unthinkable can only happen. I hope they will not become cocky or too sure of their business, which would be possibly dangerous in the long run, as there are things you simply cannot test or prepare for.

British woman beheaded in Tenerife made desperate plea for help before attack

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/8514437/British-woman-beheaded-in-Tenerife-made-desperate-plea-for-help-before-attack.html

Summary

A 60 year old woman from Norwich was attacked and beheaded by a man at a supermarket in Tenerife. She first reported being harassed by the man to a security officer earlier on the same day, and stayed in the safety of his office until the threat seemed to pass. Upon leaving, however, she once again met her aggressor, who attacked her. The man was reportedly being treated for paranoid schizophrenia earlier in the year and was known by many in the neighbourhood for his violent outbursts. Friends and family of the victim are deeply shocked by this turn of events. The police do not know what might have sparked the attack.

Comment

This is an extremely sad thing to read on the news. At the same time, what caught my attention the most was the almost careless mention that the man had been in a psychiatric ward, with no real information on what he was exactly there for and of his case history. This is something people leap upon after such a violent occurrence. The words ‘paranoid schizophrenia’ have now become linked with murderous tendencies, causing people with that illness to receive even more of a stigma. Patients could easily become lumped together with the man who committed this murder, which would be unfair. I hope the investigation will shed further light on the man’s motives and the circumstances in which he acted.