Eurosceptic votes may harm economy

AFTER months of campaigning the results are in for the European Union and the electorate has sent a clear message, that they can’t decide what they want. The much hyped success of the Eurosceptic parties in the European elections may have wider implications on the economy as investors start to lose faith.

European Central Bank President Mario Draghi warned on Monday that they need to be “particularly watchful for at the moment [there] is the potential for a negative spiral to take hold between low inflation, falling inflation expectations and credit, in particular in stressed countries.”

While Mr Draghi was expressing his views the rest of Europe was watching the results of the elections come in. An overall increase in the number of Eurosceptic parties, on both the right and the left, has led to a lack of confidence in the Euro from external investors as the stability of the bloc is called into question.

Mr Drahgi faces an uphill struggle in his aim to achieve his “goal, which is to return inflation towards 2% in the medium-term, in line with our mandate.” With investors watching an increasing number of parties in the EU wanting to see the bloc have less power over the internal affairs of the individual countries than it makes the future of the eurozone look tenuous.

As ‘animal spirits’ diminishes then no amount of monetary policy initiatives will help to increase investment to the levels necessary to raise aggregate demand, and therefore the level of output needed to increase prices.

Mr Drahgi summed up the issues facing the ECB in its struggle: Essentially, we are confronting three issues that might warrant a response. “First, the common effect of exogenous factors, including the exchange rate, on euro area inflation. Second, the asymmetric effect of endogenous developments, such as tight access to credit for parts and sectors of the euro area. And third, the risk that those effects combine to generate a more persistent regime of excessively low inflation.”

The outgoing European Parliament President Martin Schulz gave a voice to the concerns of investors when he said: “"It is a bad day for the European Union when a party with such a racist, xenophobic and anti-Semite program gets 24-25 percent of the vote in France. "But these voters aren't extremists, they have lost trust, they have lost hope." If the rise in euro-scepticism demonstrates the loss of faith from voters then a drop in investment will surely prove the same for foreign investors. 
It is perhaps an irony that it has been the state of the economy which many commentators have blamed for the rise of Euro-scepticism as national parties use unemployment levels and free movement between some EU countries as a rallying point for a fearful electorate.

Pro-Europe parties still hold a majority, however, while the mechanism of the EU Parliament will help to keep dissenting voices from causing too much disruption.

In finance though it is not always about the reality of the situation as much as it is about the perception. With candidates across Europe echoing the words of United Kingdom Independence Party Leader Nigel Farage: "The whole European project has been a lie. I don't just want Britain to leave the European Union, I want Europe to leave the European Union," the future of a strong trading alliance looks risky. With stronger markets emerging elsewhere investors may just decide to hedge their bets on a more stable opportunity. If this happens then Mr Draghi’s concerns about the potential for deflation may become a dangerous reality.

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Shootings in US and Belgium raise question of perception

TWO separate shooting incidents thousands of miles apart on Saturday has shed a harsh light on differing attitudes towards gun crime between Europe and America.

When a gunman opened fire at Jewish Museum in Brussels the first thought was that this must be an act of terrorism. The drive by shooting in California, which left six people dead, was seen as just another unfortunate addition to the ever increasing statistics of gun crime in America.

The difference between the two is not just the prevalence of violent crimes between the two regions but also the perception among the public of what these crimes mean. In Europe shootings are shocking incidents outside the norm and beyond the comprehension of the majority who have never seen a firearm in real life. In America they are seen by some as just the price of doing business. In 2012 the total number of homicides involving firearms in America was 8,855, of which 6.371 were with handguns. While figures for the whole of the European Union are harder to collate, due to the cross border nature of the crime, it is approximately 1228 for the same time.

Proponents of gun ownership often cite the higher number of gun related incidents of homicide some European countries which do not allow handgun ownership compared to those which do, while failing to ignore comparable studies of incidents of serious and organised crime, in comparison to unpremeditated attacks by average people. An often quoted study published by the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy uses the rate of violent crime involving firearms in Russia as a primary basis for the claim that gun control raises the incidents of murder involving firearms. The study has been widely criticised, however for its use of skewed data, including outliers as part of a distortion of averages, and unconfirmed facts based on anecdotal evidence.

Both sides of the debate are able to produce numerous statistics to support their claims. It is the perception of the public and the reaction to gun crimes which has more of an impact on how the stories are reported, however. Part of this public feeling is based not on the number of incidents of individual gun crimes but on the scale of them.

Speaking at the annual meeting of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) in October the US Attorney General Eric Holder highlighted the rapid growth of mass shooting in America. His speech, delivered on the same day as 12-year-old Jose Reyes killed two people and wounded two more at a middle school in Sparks Nevada, warned that the average number of mass shootings had risen sharply since 2000, from an average of five per year between 2000 and 2008 and 12 in 2013.

Although picked up rapidly the prevalence of these stories means that they are just as quickly dropped in favour of other news by media outlets. A mass shooting in Europe, however, leads to questions rather than soundbites because it is not such a regular occurrence. The legality or illegality of the weapons used plays actually very little importance in the effect of the story, it is how they are dealt with. When guns are treated as part of daily life then the use of them must also be treated as such. For some the mass shootings which have left so many men, women and children dead over the years are the price you pay for the freedom to own a deadly weapon.

Boiling mass murder down to simple facts and figures fails to take into account that the emotions involved and the impact which perception of gun crime has upon the national consciousness. The old saying “guns don’t kill people, people do” is used by the gun lobby as a reason why people should be allowed to carry guns, without seeing the irony that if the people did not think that firing a gun was their civil right then they would not have so much drive to do so.

ICC fails to have the teeth to deal with war crimes

THE International Criminal Court has sentenced the Congolese Warlord Germain Katanga to 12 years imprisonment for his part in atrocities in the country,

The 36-year-old former leader of the Patriotic Resistance Force in Ituri (FRPI) was surrendered to the ICC by Congolese authorities in October 2007 and has been fighting against the allegations since.

In passing sentence Presiding Judge Bruno Cotto delivered the news of the Chamber’s deliberations. In a statement released by the Chamber Judge Cotto stressed that the: “crimes committed on 24 February 2003 in Bogoro were committed with particular cruelty, resulted in numerous civilian victims, and that the scars of the fighting can still be seen today.”

It is only the second conviction obtained by the ICC since it was formed in 1998 and was seen by many a test of its effectiveness as an international force.

Katanga’s 12-year-sentence on one count of crimes against humanity (murder) and four counts of war crimes (murder, attacking a civilian population, destruction of property and pillaging) has caused outrage in the city of Bunia, in the Ituri region of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

@lucmalembe2013: “ICC sentence about ex militia leader, Germain Katanga is perceived in Bunia as an insult to the victims.”

In a dissenting opinion, Judge Christine Van Den Wyngaert, called his trial “unfair” after he was tried as an accessory, rather than as originally charged as playing a key role, in the massacre at Bogoro, which left at least 200 civilians dead and numerous young girls sexually enslaved.

“In determining the sentence, that account had to be taken of Germain Katanga's conduct after the events and, in particular, his active participation in the demobilisation process implemented in Ituri for the benefit of the child soldiers and, to a certain extent, of his personal situation,” Judge Cotto claimed in the ICC statement.

Following Katanga’s initial conviction a spokesman for the United Nations Secretary General said: “The Secretary-General reaffirms the strong commitment of the United Nations to support the independent work of the Court as the centerpiece of the international criminal justice system.”

Meanwhile a statement from the United States Department of State claimed: “Strong and effective national courts also have a vital role to play in ending impunity in DRC. We continue to support the Congolese government’s efforts to hold perpetrators accountable through its domestic institutions, including through the creation of the proposed mixed chambers.”

By giving such a short imprisonment and failing to impose any fines or liabilities against the Katanga the ICC’s ability to take strong action against war crimes must surely now be called into question. With time served Katanga may now be out in six years and allowed to resume his previous activities if further action is not taken against him.

Not so much "earthquake" as political tremor

WITH the majority of councils declared a clearer picture has emerged about the new political landscape of Britain
Social media site Twitter was buzzing through the day with news that the United Kingdom Independence Party had made gains in its number of seats across the country. Some news outlets have claimed that UKIP's success has been an "earthquake" in British politics.
Despite the hype however the party's performance has not been the triumph which it has been claimed. While UKIP leader Nigel Farage has been reported as saying that "British politics will never be the same," and are "serious players", the party has failed to take overall control of any of the councils announced. In terms of percentage of the national share of the vote it is also likely to see some sobering news, with projected figures lower than the 23 percentage it achieved in council elections last year.
It had gained 134 seats, at time of writing, to give it an overall total of 155, however, this is still someway behind the clear winners Labour which gained 298 seats giving it 1870.
UKIP's gains may have harmed the Conservative position as they saw 134 seats move away from them, leaving them with 1194. It was Nick Clegg's Liberal Democrat party which suffered the greatest defeat of the day, losing control of 237 seats.
@Otto_English tweeted: "1200 seats declared so far and UKIP have won just over 80. Political earthquake? More like a passing bus. #Elections2014"
Meanwhile supporters of the Green Party, which gained 15 seats, bringing it up to 51, have accused the media of "pandering" to UKIP and ignoring its status as a "national party".
@psyeclipse: "BBC blatantly ignoring Green Party (even though we've just made gains in Bristol). All UKIP. All facism."

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Protest pushes Britain to the right

DESPITE predictions that support for the United Kingdom Independence Party would focus on Europe it has surged ahead in local elections.
Early results have shown the far right anti Europe party gaining 86 seats across the country in the local elections.
The group, which has faced sustained allegations of racism and homophobia, has already claimed that the results are proving "they are here to stay as a political force".
The Conservative Party has fared the worst against UKIP, having already lost 96 seats with more results being announced as the day progresses. Ed Miliband has come under attack from members of his own party as Labour fares little better. Labour MP Graham Stringer has called his party's performance "unforgivably unprofessional" following a number of high profile gaffes by Mr Milliband. The Liberal Democrats have been hardest hit in the local elections. Businesz Secretary Vince Cable admitted that he believed the junior coalition partner would take a "kicking".
Nigel Farage's UKIP had been expected to potentially win the majority of seats in the European Union Elections, however, some analysts had hoped that they would not be as strong in local elections as people focused on policies over personalities.
Twitter has been buzzing as the results have trickled through with some blaming the media for providing overexposure to the anti-immigration party, which had also campaigned on a platform of introducing  a flat tax rate and changing housing allocation policies.
@Janzek "#UKIP #Elections2014 shows what frightening things achieved when media gives 1 individual ridiculously disproportionate amount of coverage."
@kristinabambina: "The amount of seats UKIP has won is pretty terrifying. Has anyone actually read their policies? #essex #Elections2014"
The party's tax plan would see a significant rise for many in the lower pay bands who have supported them.
UKIP's push may have changed the political landscape as more professional parties fear it has gone beyond a protest vote. The swing to the right may be a warning shot across the bows, however, it is not the final volley in the battle for the 2015 General Election. As yet the party has not taken control of any individual council and is still lagging behind the key parties. Based on the figures so far it is unlikely to have a significant impact in obtaining MP's next year, despite its verbosity this morning.


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Far right politics could make EU uncomfortably close

WITH voting having already taken place in the UK and Netherlands and set to continue across Europe until Sunday there is already growing concern that the balance of power will shift to the right.
In Britain the anti-Europe United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) looks almost certain to take the majority of seats. Meanwhile in the Netherlands the far right Freedom Party (PVV) is so certain of victory that leader Geert Wilders is already acting as though his party has won.
Both parties have campaigned on a strong anti immigrant platform playing to the fears of an electorate still recovering from the financial crisis which rocked the world. Claims that immigration has harmed local nationals chances of finding work have played well with many in their respective countries.
In France the National Front Party proclaim “Yes to France, No to Brussels”, while in Hungary the Jobbik party achieved 20 per cent of the vote in April’s parliamentary elections, despite battling accusations of anti-semitism and racism against the ethnic Roma population.
In Britain UKIP’s lead in the EU elections doesn’t necessarily translate into either the local or general elections according to the most recent polling data. It is in Europe that it poses the most serious threat though. A European Parliament controlled by the far right, as seems increasingly likely, is not a parliament which is likely to look favourably on unified interests.
The swing to the right has been partially influenced by high unemployment across Europe and a scapegoat approach by the far right. It is more likely, however, that apathy in the system amongst voters will lead to their victory. Parties, such a UKIP, PVV, Greece’s Golden Dawn et al, have mobilised their voters through impressive rants and strong slogans. A carefully oiled campaign has all but ensured their success over more centrist main stream parties, which have relied on explaining policies and presenting a professional political demeanour.
Behind their smiles and rousing speeches though these parties share a commonality, a lack of sustainable policies. Other than blaming Europe and immigrants for the woes of their respective countries there has been very little substance shown in any arguments. While this may shatter the chances of the far right against more experienced parties across Europe in internal elections it may be just what the voters are looking for in the EU ones.
Many have seen the elections as a form of protest to demonstrate their feelings ahead of parliamentary elections. What they may not be aware of is that according to the Lisbon Treaty the results of the election must be taken into account when picking the next EU President. With the EU Parliament likely to swing to the right the future of Europe those voters who were so keen to leave may not be as free and fair as they have been promised.

 

Have a voice, vote

POLLING booths have opened and the ballots started to be cast in the European Union elections and British local elections. The weeks of campaigning have drawn to a close and now the political parties can just wait until the votes are counted. Time will tell if their campaign slogans have swayed an increasingly divided electorate.
It is not the voters who have already made their minds up which will decide the result, however. It is those still not certain that they will vote at all. Data from previous elections has already demonstrated that the majority of the population does not take part in the democratic process for these elections, whether from apathy or as a form of protest. The issue for analysts is trying to determine which of these factors is the strongest. A spoiled ballot gives a clearer indication of a protest than not turning up.
Estimates place the number of countries which deny a free and fair democratic process to all its people conservatively at about 45. Millions of people denied an opportunity to have their say in how they are governed. Across the world conflicts are raging, with hundreds of thousands dying each year, just for the right to have a free election.
The local elections are an important event which allow people to have their say in what happens where they live. It isn't about vague obscurities, they help determine what happens with the refuse collection, the potholes in the street, how the pavements are maintained and numerous other factors which impact on day to day lives.
The EU elections are a more contentious issue which can seem divorced from most people's needs. Rightly or wrongly though Europe has a strong influence on what happens in the UK. If people want the right to complain about, or support, what the EU does in regards to Britain then this is their chance to do so.
Polling stations are located across the country. They are designed to be as easy to get to as possible. They opened at 7am and the hardworking people manning them keep them open until 10pm and are there to help if anyone is unsure how they vote. It only takes a minute to cast a ballot and yet it is such an important thing to do. Not voting doesn't change anything. If you want elected officials to listen then you have to speak.

This is an opinion piece written by Daniel Gibson and in no way endorses any individual party, just the process.

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Lost spirit in politics

WITH polling stations across the country gearing up for a lacklustre turnout tomorrow there is concern that Britain is losing its political spirit.
Thursday's local and European Union elections are expected to be a defining moment for the three main parties, ahead of next year's General Election, as they battle the political encroachment of Nigel Farage's United Kingdom Independence Party.
Apart from a drop to 24.02 per cent in 1999 overall voter turnout to the EU elections has remained relatively stable at the mid to high 30 per cent mark for the last 25 years. Despite being lower than many EU countries the stability of the figure has been used to demonstrate that it is a national malaise about the particular elections, rather than in politics in general. For Britain the EU elections have been seen as something unnecessary and tedious.
As Europe take a more prominent place in the public consciousness, and with local elections taking place on a national level, this may be about to change. A low turnout tomorrow could be indicative of a larger problem with British politics according to some spectators.
For the last decade there has been a gradual rise in the number of spoiled ballot papers being submitted as people use the opportunity to protest against the political establishment. Between EU elections in 2004 and 2009 the number of invalid votes jumped from 1.76 per cent to 3.18 per cent.
The rise of the right wing UKIP has highlighted the growing discontent the public have with their political peers. Part of the driving force of the party's surge to the lead has been an increasing concern about the immigration issue, in large part created by UKIP's own members.
It's growth, however, is being seen by some in the political system as just another sign that the EU elections are used as an outlet for protest, stating that it is the local elections which will give a clearer image of the state of British politics. With UKIP, on 17 per cent, lagging behind the Conservatives and Labour according to the latest ComRes survey they seem unlikely to create a significant shift in the political landscape.
Tomorrow may demonstrate a lack of faith in the system by voters, however, based on the evidence it is unlikely to generate any surprises for the future of the British political spirit.

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Time please for EU elections

DRIVING through the small village of Walton in Somerset the placards for the United Kingdom Independence Party are the only ones to be seen.
Somerset provides a snapshot of the dissatisfaction voters are feeling with the main parties. Following the devastating floods which hit the county during the winter residents protested about the lack of action the government had taken to prevent the chaos.
As politicians enter the final day of campaigning ahead of local and European elections polls have shown UKIP looking set to win tomorrow's elections.
Despite a number of high profile scandals, accusations of racism and yesterday's carnival debacle the inexperienced party's lead seems undiminished.
For a party to come from relative obscurity, and with little in the way of workable policies, would have seemed unlikely only a matter of years ago. Some commentators have referenced discontent among the electorate as the primary cause of the party's dominance. Looking at the comparison in data between people's choice for the EU elections and the General Election in 2015 it seems clear that it may only win as a protest against the other parties.
A lack of serious opposition from Labour and the Conservatives seems likely to have shifted the balance of power though. From the electorates perspective only Nick Clegg's Liberal Democrat party has really taken on Nigel Farage's UKIP, splitting the choice into a clear pro or anti Europe stance.
Already the main parties have geared up for the election in 2015, leaving the battlefield of the local and EU elections relatively unopposed. While Nigel Farage has become a near permanent fixture on the news, Prime Minister David Cameron and Labour leader Ed Miliband have remained relatively quiet.
Political parties know that they have to marshal resources where they are going to be most effective. Based on current trends it seems as though they are happy to leave Europe to the right wing party and focus on ensuring that it does not gain any more power within the country.
With Europe becoming an ever more contentious issue among voters a decision on Britain's future in the Union will be a key area of debate in 2015. By ignoring tomorrow's elections the main parties could be playing a dangerous game handing a win to UKIP for the future of Britain.

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Wikileaks threatens to put information ahead of lives

DESPITE warnings that it may put lives at risk the website Wikileaks has confirmed that it intends to go ahead with the release of further details of American spying.

Following reports that the United States National Security Agency has been recording and archiving the majority of every mobile phone call made in the Bahamas the website has said that it will reveal details of a second country which is facing the same level of surveillance.

News agencies had already said they would not release the name of the second country fearing that to do so would lead to potential increases in violence which could lead to loss of life.   

Wikileaks has never shied from publishing controversial or potentially harmful information, arguing that it is doing so to ensure freedom of information. In the past, releases about military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan have been held accountable for increases in hostilities, allegedly leading to a rise in the number of deaths.

If Wikileaks follows through on its threat then it could mean that it has access to documents taken by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, who led journalists originally to the news that the US was conducting a massive surveillance operation against a number of countries, including allies Britain and Germany.

According to news website ‘The Intercept’, which was set up in February by a group of journalists including Glenn Greenwald, the release of the information had previously been halted due to “credible concerns that doing so could lead to an increase in violence.”

Wikileaks announcement has led to a discussion on social media site Twitter between the group and Greenwald, who was one of the first to break the news of Snowden’s files. Greenwald highlighted that the website has withheld information in the past when it considered that there may be a risk to life: @ggreenwald “@wikileaks also withheld info when they were convinced it could harm innocents - we were very convinced this 1 (one) would"

The story has also highlighted the potential harm which can be caused by some ‘netizens’ who claim that the internet should be completely open with free speech to all. Unlike professional news organisations they can publish stories without thought to the context, or the potential ramifications which the information could lead to.

Several Non-Governmental Organisations, including Reporters Without Borders, have previously raised concerns that information released by Wikileaks could prove dangerous. In response to allegations by the site that it was taking part in censorship Reporters Without Borders published the following comment: Should we be blamed for pointing out that the information provided by Wikileaks could be used by the Taliban and could serve as grounds for reprisals? Is it contrary to a humanitarian organisation’s vocation to draw attention to the possible impact on human lives of high-risk information? Is it wrong to point out that Wikileaks’ recent actions could backfire not only on itself but also on the independent researchers and journalists who cover these subjects online?

This latest release could prove once again that Wikileak’s self defined agenda to provide completely free access to information fails to take into account the human cost which such action can lead to.

Hamza found guilty in New York

TERROR supporter and hate preacher Abu Hamza has been found guilty by a court in New York today.

The jury of eight men and four women were unanimous in its verdict of guilty on 11 terror charges, despite Hamza’s last ditch defence of claiming that he was aiding British Security Services, and that he should be seen in the same light as Nelson Mandela.

While he has yet to be sentenced the verdict marks a key moment in the on-going fight against the Islamic extremism. Hamza was best known in the United Kingdom for his hate filled rants as he tried to radicalise British Muslims by promising them glory in war which he had constructed in his own mind.

The hook handed terrorist supporter was condemned by people of all faiths, including a large proportion of the British Islamic community, for his praise of the 9/11 hijackers on the anniversary of the devastating attack, which left 2,977 innocent men women and children dead as planes hit the World Trade Centre in New York and the Pentagon.

As Manhattan United States Attorney Preet Bharara told reporters: "The defendant stands convicted, not for what he said, but for what he did. Abu Hamza was not just a preacher of faith, but a trainer of terrorists," adding, "Once again our civilian system of justice has proven itself up to the task of trying an accused terrorist and arriving at a fair and just and swift result."

Perhaps most crucially Mr Bharara stressed that it was a ‘civilian trial’. This was not a campaign against a self proclaimed fighter; it was a carefully constructed court case against a man accused of providing aid to terror groups.

The stage was set in the opening comments made by Assistant US Attorney Edward Kim at the start of the prosecution’s case when he asserted that Hamza had turned the London Finsbury Park Mosque into “the base of operations for the global export of violence and terror.”

“Abu Hamza was not just a preacher of religion,” stated Mr Kim, adding. “He was a trainer of terrorists and he used the cover of religion so he could hide in plain sight in London.”

Despite the best efforts of his defence council Joshua Dratel to portray him as a misunderstood and courageous man, fighting to find a safe ground for Muslims around the world the jury has spoken. Twelve men and women have found him guilty in a court of law, now it is down to the judges to decide his fate. What seems certain, however, is that he will be treated as a standard criminal rather than the hero he has attempted to portray himself as being.

Ed's soundbite could leave a lasting scar

ED MILLIBAND’S announcement that a Labour government would revise the current minimum wage runs the risk of being a soundbite that leaves a nasty scar.

The Labour leader did not give details about the exact figure his party would set for a new minimum wage; however, he did say that it would be linked to “average earnings”.

Speaking to party activists in the West Midlands Mr Milliband said: "The minimum wage will rise by more than average earnings in the economy as a whole as part of a five-year ambition to restore the link between doing a hard day's work and building a decent life for your family."

According to statistics produced by the OECD based on Purchasing Power Parity, when the price levels between countries is expressed in a common currency, the United Kingdom ranks below France, Australia and Ireland in terms of minimum wage.

Mr Milliband’s statement comes as voters in Switzerland rejected calls to raise the national minimum wage to approximately £15 per hour, which would have made it the highest in the world, amid claims that it would drive up production costs and increase unemployment,

While British Prime Minister David Cameron and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg have also stated that they would look at raising that minimum wage, should they be elected in the 2015 general election, business leaders have expressed concerns about its impact on the economy as a whole.

Based upon economic models rise in minimum wages above the equilibrium level determined by markets could lead to an increase in unemployment and living costs. As the minimum wage rises above the level at which it becomes competitive for firms to produce goods then it seems almost certain that companies will look to recoup the additional costs through layoffs according to sceptics.

The same arguments were proposed when the minimum wage was first introduced with little effect on the labour market. Opponents of the move have claimed that this is because the wage at the time was lower than the level of equilibrium for markets, whereas proposals to raise the minimum wage now could lead to this being pushed up.

What seems more likely, however, is that an increase in the minimum wage would lead to equivalent rises in production costs across the board. Thereby absorbing the extra costs for most companies, while negating the purpose of the rise as living costs increase overall.

If Mr Milliband is serious about creating a minimum wage rising by more than average earnings then he must be careful to ensure that the relevant apparatus is implemented to ensure that it does not lead to an increase in inflation and negate any benefit it may have had.

Lord Butler missed the fiscal problem

THE differences in priorities for the United Kingdom coalition government has brought to the fore the problems with having two opposing forces in power together. Since its formation the Conservative/Liberal Democrat government has faced a string of criticisms over inabilities to create cohesive strategies and policies on a range of topics.

The most recent judgement on the possible ineffectiveness of the coalition government has perhaps been its harshest though. In a statement to the House former Cabinet secretary Lord Butler of Brockwell condemned the government for the failure of the parties to work together and warned that it was “looking divided and weak, more concerned with washing their dirty linen in public than with running the country.” He continued by stating that “the country would have been better served by bringing this Parliament to an end now so that a new Government could be elected with a fresh mandate.”

While the Tories and Liberal Democrats have had a number of notable disagreements, particularly over free school meals and knife crime in recent weeks, it is not just its differences in beliefs which are causing problems though. With recent polling figures showing that neither Labour or Conservatives have enough public support for an all out majority should an election be called tomorrow, and the Liberal Democrats sliding to fourth place behind the right wing United Kingdom Independence Party, Britain’s political landscape is undergoing radical changes.

Gone are the days of the clear two party system, with coalition governments looking to become more common in the future as the UK follows in the steps of other European countries. Meanwhile party-centered politics have started to move towards a centre ground with little differences apparent between the three old guard parties at times. It is perhaps for this reason that groups such as UKIP are able to gain ground as the electorate attempts to find some means of expressing its views.

Overall, however, it is the difference in economic ideals which remains the greatest obstacle. At the heart of government policy is the question of affordability. Fiscal policy is a contentious matter, increasingly so when there are two parties with differing agendas attempting to agree on it.

In the financial year 2012- 2013 the total government spending was £683 billion, of which the two areas of which health and social protection received just short of half with a combined £337 billion. The allocation of these funds to maximise their efficiency has been the subject of much debate between Conservative and Liberal Democrat politicians,  as was made clear in the recent storm between Education Secretary Michael Gove and School’s Minister David Laws over the financing of free school meals..

Lord Butler may be right in his statement that by calling a snap election now would avoid the two leading parties from spending the next twelve months electioneering and thereby allow the crucial work of government to continue, What he fails to take into account though is that without a coordinated financial approach from all parties the divisions are likely to reappear in the future, election or not.

The slow road to recovery

FOLLOWING the announcement by Bank of England Governor, Mark Carney, earlier this week that interest rates were likely to remain low “for some time” the debate has intensified as to how strong is the British economy?

Some analysts had previously claimed that the Bank may be forced to raise interest rates in the face of signs that the British economy is starting to recover following the 2008 crash.

"Securing the recovery is like making it through the qualifying rounds of the World Cup - it's a real achievement, but not the end goal. The prize in the economy is sustained and prolonged growth," Mr Carney was reported as saying.

One of the problems facing the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee, which decides on the rate of interest, is how to ensure that the increase in the economy is maintained rather than reduced.

While the signs may be positive it is not all good news for the economy. Although stating that the economy is back to 2007 levels may sound good as a politician’s soundbite it fails to take into account the way in which the global financial system has changed.

As minutes from the Monetary Policy Committee demonstrate it is not just the British economy which needs to be considered before making changes to the interest rates:

“There had been further signs of a strengthening recovery in the advanced economies, with modest positive news on euro-area activity and more evidence of continuing expansion in the United States. But weaker data from China had highlighted the continuing downside risks to global activity from the emerging economies.”

 

The growth also does not taken into account the rise in cost of living which has affected so many people, particularly those on a lower rate on income who could be most affected by a rise in interest rates. An average increase in the cost of living by approximately three per cent year on year means that while it may show signs of strength there is still a long way to go for the economy before it is stable.

 

While this may be good news for many it might not be what the Treasury wants to hear. Politicians, as well as the public, it is often forgotten that it can take a couple of years for monetary policies to demonstrate an impact. As Mr Carney has already said, any change is going to need to be “gradual” if it isn’t going to damage the confidence of investors, and the financial system as a whole, thereby destroying what has taken so many years to rebuild.

Europe needs to look to future before it runs out of fuel over Russia

EUROPE faces a looming energy crisis as reserves of fossils fuels reach a critical point. According to research conducted by the Global Sustainability Institute at Anglia Ruskin University the UK has less than five years worth of coal and three years of gas remaining from its domestic supply. The situation is even worse for France and Italy which could run out of fossil fuels within a year.

The United Kingdom is already reaching its highest levels of dependence since 1976. The news is likely to push this figure up as officials attempt to maintain what little resources the country still has. Based the data, however, large areas of Europe will be entirely reliant on foreign sources of fuel within the next five years.

With Russia’s supplies looking set to last for the next 50 years it may be the best source of supply to keep the lights on. While the West pushes for increased sanctions against Russian officials in response to the crisis in Ukraine it seems likely that they will come to nothing. President Putin’s government looks set to hold all the cards in the on-going gamesmanship between nations as Europe looks towards them for their energy needs.

Europe’s dependency on Russian gas and coal is already on a dramatic rise, with its own domestic supply about to run out this rise will only continues. As much as Europe may wish to provide support for Ukraine and demonstrate its condemnation of Russian aggression it may find that its own domestic needs start to take precedence.

Britain is already looking to other sources to prevent Russia having a stranglehold on the country. Having witnessed its gas supply declining over a sustained period it is sourcing the majority of its foreign supply from Norway. If Europe wants to ensure that it is not held over the proverbial fuel barrel then it must also start to find alternative suppliers for its coal supply.

Meanwhile the British government is placing its hope in renewable energy. A spokesman from the Department of Energy and Climate Change stated: “The UK is one of the most energy secure countries in the world thanks to the combination of our own reserves, our diverse sources of imported energy and our focus on increasing clean, home-grown energy in the UK - which includes nuclear, renewables and carbon capture and storage. 

 "As well as attracting record investment into our energy security since 2010, the UK is leading globally on energy security, particularly through the G7 which has agreed to take global action to improve energy security, and in getting a deal in the EU to cut carbon emissions by 40% by 2030."

Based on figures from the same department, however, renewable energy only accounted for 15.5 per cent of overall energy consumption by quarter two in 2013. Despite being a 60 per cent rise from 2012 if Britain is rely on its renewable energy to cover its imminent shortfall then it has a long way to go.

 

A likely source, to ensure security within Europe, could be Germany, which according to statistics has approximately 250 years worth of coal left, five times as much as Russia. With Britain becoming increasing Eurosceptic, however, it must now be looking at the long term consequences of distancing itself from its European neighbours.

 

Syria's stalemate exposes divisions in international community

DESPITE the best intentions of the Western governments the Syrian stalemate looks set to continue.

Foreign Ministers from Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the UK and the US met today in London in another attempt to find a solution to the civil war in Syria.

"We are of course united in our disgust and anger at what's happening in Syria and the ruthless utter disregard for human life, “ said British Foreign Minister William Hague, adding "We've also agreed unanimously to take further steps to... do everything we can to hold the Assad regime accountable for the terror it is perpetrating."

With the continuing tensions between the West and Russia over the developing situation in Ukraine, however, it seems unlikely that they will be able to reach any lasting resolution to the ongoing crisis.

With Russia’s support necessary for any effective international resolution agreement to bring  a lasting peace between the Syrian government and pro-democracy militia current events make it seem unlikely.

Russian Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov called the “Friends of Syria’s” approach “prejudiced and destructive”.

"Unlike some of our Western partners, meeting in London, we work with all Syrian sides, not just with one as if supporting it against the other," Mr Bogdanov told reporters from Russian news agency Interfax.

Without a unified international presence and strong stance by the United Nations it is unlikely that anything will change in the Syrian dynamic.

Retaking Homs has been hailed by supporters of Syrian President Assad ahead of elections in June as a sign that the regime is winning in the three year civil war which has left 150,000 dead.

The relinquishing of Homs is symbolic only though. The rebels have been given an opportunity to regroup their forces, placing them in a stronger position to continue to fight against Assad’s regime, without their most battle hardened fighters confined in the besieged city.

So long as Russia and the West resume old cold war animosities the chances of anything other than a stalemate are limited.

Bashar Al-Assad is guaranteed to win the Presidential elections in June but if the rest of the country does not recognise them then they will have no effect.

"Out of today's meeting, every facet of what can be done is going to be ramped up - every facet. That includes political effort. It includes aid to the opposition. It includes economic efforts, sanctions,” claimed US Secretary of State john Kerry. With Syria already aware that they are facing sanctions, in excess of those it already has in place, these are likely to have little effect though.

Without a combined effort and the international community putting aside its own agenda Syria’s civil war will continue ad infinitum.

Mine disaster highlights unrest in Turkey

AS RESCUE crews race to find survivors of the an explosion in a Turkish coal mine, which has already killed at least 245 workers, recriminations and analysis has already started.

Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz has confirmed that 787 people were inside the mine in Soma, located approximately 155 miles south of Istanbul, as workers were in the process of changing shifts at the time of the explosion. So far more than 360 have been rescued.

With rescuers attempting to locate further survivors buried in excess of 400 metres below the surface protestors have already started calling for the government to resign over the incident.

According to reports from Turkey’s Labour and Social Security Ministry the mine was given a clean safety inspection in March, having already been inspected four previous times since 2012, despite calls by opposition parties for further investigation following a number of smaller scale incidents sites around the coal mining region of Soma.

Several unions have already announced planned strike action if the government does not take immediate action, while demonstrators have gathered outside the headquarters of the mine.

Union organiser Ercan Akkaya was reported by NBC news as saying: “This was not an accident, it happened because not enough is ever done to protect workers.”

Protesters have broken out across Turkey after it was revealed that the mine had passed its safety tests despite a number of incidents involving loss of life already taking place. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was pelted with rocks while speaking to the press, while protesters should “murdered” and called for his resignation.

Police fired tear gas and used water cannons against protestors outside the headquarters of the ruling AKP party. While another group in Istanbul’s Kadikoy district lit candles and shouted: “We will burn the murderers with the same coals that swallowed the miners.”

The explosion is just the latest in a string of safety concerns facing the country, despite revised workplace safety regulations being announced two years ago. Statistics have demonstrated that Turkey is the most dangerous country in the world for miners per ton of coal production. More than 3,000 people have been killed in Turkish mine accidents since 1941 with a report by Economy Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV) in 2010 stating: “While the number of deaths per million ton of coal production is 7.22 in Turkey, it stood at 1.27 in China and 0.02 in the United States in the same year.”

The latest incident is likely to increase pressure on Prime Minister Erdogan’s embattled AKP party, which is already facing allegations of abuse of power and censorship of freedom speech, ahead of Turkey’s Presidential elections in August. What seems certain, though, is that while the search for survivors continues calls for the Prime Minister’s resignation will increase.

Stephen Sutton "hero of facebook"

In a sad twist to a heartwarming story 19-year-old cancer sufferer Stephen Sutton passed away this morning in hospital. Stephen garnered the praise of the nation as he documented his life with cancer and strived to complete everything on his self made bucket list.
In his final post on his Facebook page he told followers how he had been readmitted to hospital due to breathing difficulties. Writing on the page he told how there was no immediate panic and how he was still fighting on.
"The whole thing is very inconvenient aha. I had a few cool things planned today, and then tomorrow was due to appear of BBC breakfast news," he wrote on Sunday.
On Tuesday his family posted to the page to say that his condition. had worsened and he was unable to update people himself.
Stephen made the news as his courageous exploits raised more that £3 million for cancer charity and gained support from celebrities.
Letting people know this morning his mother wrote: " My heart is bursting with pride for my courageous, selfless, inspirational son who passed away peacefully in his sleep this morning."
Prime Minister David Cameron expressed his sorrow and praised his determination. Many others on social media have passed on their respects to family and told of how his never ending determination to live his life gave so much hope to so many.

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The threat from UKIP falters as inexperience shows through

WITH little more than a week until voters cast their ballots in European and local elections new polls show a shift in the views of the British electorate.
Two seperate polls have placed the Conservative party ahead of opposition Labour for the first time in two years. ICM has placed the Tories ahead with 33 per cent of the vote, compared to Labour's 31 per cent. Meanwhile a second poll commissioned by Lord Ashcroft has Labour lagging two points behind its Conservative opponents on 32 per cent.
It is the place of the Liberal Democrats and the United Kingdom Independence Party which has been most notable, however. Nick Clegg's Liberal Democrat party has seen its place as Britains' third party threatened by the right wing UKIP, under the leadership of Nigel Farage. In three out of four key polls the Liberal Democrats have failed to break the two digit mark while UKIP have accrued between 14 and 15 per cent of the vote.
Despite appearing flustered on the BBC Sunday Politics programme over his party's manifesto promises Mr Farage has dominated the news in recent weeks with his anti-European rhetoric. A recent poll ahead of the European elections put UKIP ahead with 31 per cent of the vote.
While UKIPs rise has concerned some political commentators its inexperience and right wing views may not translate as well in local, and particularly general, elections as they do for those in Europe, seen by many in Britain as an opportunity for a protest vote without affecting the country.
The apparent inability of some members of the party to engage in the political process and face opposition comments has highlighted the lack of ability the party actually holds in more mainstream politics.
Emphasis has been placed on the lack of political sense by some members of UKIP, which claims in its manifesto that it wants to see more front line policing and prioritises fighting crime, after one of its councillors called the police on blogger Michael Abberton for posts he made on social media. Officers informed Mr Abberton that they had to respond to the complaint despite no laws being broken and requested that he remove the tweets, something he was unable to do after they have been reposted by numerous others.
The posts allegedly relate to Mr Abberton posting a political swipe at UKIP in which he highlighted potential reasons to vote for them including its pledges to raising income tax for 88 per cent of the poorest in society and scrapping paid maternity leave.
Recently Mr Farage has attempted to reinvigorate the party's reputation as a political force by refuting accusations of insitutional racism within its ranks. UKIP, which campaigns on an anti EU, anti-immigrant agenda has been wracked by racist comments from its members and allegations of xenophobia over its attitudes to anyone entering Britain. These claims have been further supported by the departure of one of its youth members Sanya-Jeet Thandi today.
Ms Thandi has been used by UKIP as a figurehead in its campaign to appear inclusive. Leaving the party today, however, she stated of concerns over its "aggressive anti-immigrant rhetoric."
Writing in the Guardian newspaper Ms Thandi stated: "The direction in which the party is going is terrifying. UKIP had descended into a form of racist populism that I cannot bring myself to vote for."
In a further damaging statement Ms Thandi urged UKIP supporters to not vote in the upcoming European elections.
Despite recent populist polling figures it appears as though reality is catching up with Mr Farage's party. As the cracks appear it seems more likely that once people have used it to highlight their discontent with the establishment it will sink into obscurity once more.

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Tackling Boko Haram

A GLIMMER of hope has been shone on the fate of more than 200 missing Nigerian schoolgirls following the release of a video this morning. The video, which was obtained by the French News Agency AFP, shows about 130 of the girls wearing full length abayas and apparently praying. Speaking for 17 minutes the leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, claims that the girls, the majority of whom were Christian, have converted to Islam.
The plight of these girls has gripped the world. In a rare break from tradition the American First Lady, Michelle Obama, took the weekly Presidential address to appeal for help. The hashtag bringbackourgirls has become an international phenomena, with British Prime Minister David Cameron promoting it on national television.
The video released by Boko Haram, whose name means "Western education is forbidden" has helped to galvanize the campaign. Already teams from the UK and USA are on the ground helping with the search for the girls, who were kidnapped on April 14th, and an Israeli counter-terrorism unit is reportedly on its way.
A number of observers have warned, however, that this international agenda has detracted from the larger scale threat posed by the group. Since January Boko Haram has been responsible for more than 1500 deaths in the area. In February they were reportedly responsible for the deaths of a 59 boys in a school in the northeast Nigerian town of Bama.
The French government has offered to host a summit with Nigeria and its neighbours to combat the threat which Boko Haram poses to the stability of the region. Speaking during a visit to the Azeri capital Baku on Saturday French President Hollande said: "With Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathon,  I have proposed to hold a meeting with the countries bordering Nigeria."
Nigerian Interior Minister Abba Moro has dismissed the terrorist group's video demands for a prisoner exchange, stating that it was "absurd" for them to set demands.
With the world now watching a meaningful solution to tackling Boko Haram is firmly on the agenda. By releasing the video, however, it appears as though they are prepared to use emotional blackmail to distract from their attempts to destabilise the region.
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More haste less speed for Ukrainian referendum

AS TENSIONS continue to run high following yesterday's referendums in Eastern Ukraine international observers have warned of the potential for civil war in the country.
With reports this morning of Ukrainian military forces preparing to resume operations in the city of Slavyansk this may not be so far fetched. Governments across Europe have joined with America to condemn the referrendum as illegal and pledged to support authorities in Kiev. Even the pro-seperatists greatest ally, the government of Russian President Vladimir Putin, called for the vote to be postponed to allow the situation to de-escalate.
While the West has continued to threaten further sanctions against Russia it is possible that it may have been the only one suggesting a sensible solution.
The issue is not that regions of Eastern Ukraine may split away from the country, nor even that they may wish to join Russia. The crucial factor is the speed at which they are doing it.
In the United Kingdom the thorny issue of Scottish independence is set to be resolved on September 18th. Groups on both sides of the debate have had months to put forward their opinions.Even the most ardent Scottish nationalists accept that there are complex issues involved in creating a seperate country. The economic implications alone are enough to baffle some of the most educated in the debate and need careful analysis.
In Donetsk, and other Eastern regions, there has not been time for the electorate to fully understand what a call for independence may mean. There has not even been enough time to ensure that the system for voting was set up to be impartial and effective.
Yesterday's referendum highlighted how disorganised the pro-seperatist movement is. Queues outside hastily contructed polling stations feared that they would not have an opportunity to submit their ballot. Security was compromised as results were intercepted and released before voting had been completed. This is completely aside from the obvious implications of bias, which have been so roundly condemned by the West.
What was needed was time. If, as in Scotland, a true referendum had been arranged for a suitable time in the future the West would have little defence to condemn the decison. Even the counting was conducted at speed, with results released showing 89.07 per cent of the turnout voting in favour of leaving Ukraine.
The pro-seperatists aknowledge that the vote will not be recognised by the international community so its purpose is still in question. With a little more time they may have been able to make a case, and in so doing garnered much needed support outside their own borders and diminished the threat of armed conflict.

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Ukrainian referendum takes deadly turn

As Eastern Ukrainians in the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk vote on their future the world watches on and tensions run high. Reports are already coming in of clashes in Krasnoarmeysk leaving one dead and others injured as National Guardsmen open fire.

According to reports from journalists on the ground the bloodshed took place after guardsmen shut down voting in the referendum which could see the region split from Ukraine. The shooting has already started to raise questions about how much control the Ukrainian government in Kiev has over the pro-Ukrainian forces in the region.

Monika Kalinowska,@mkalinowskaa, who was visiting the area, reported on Twitter that she had witnessed the shootings from the Guardsmen. “Before the shooting took place in Krasnoarmeysk people were negotiating with the ‘national guards in the adm building,” she tweeted prior, adding “they have told people that they are here peacefully and were asking for cigarettes, next thing we know they are starting shooting.”

With the voting stations now closed and the counting started there are hopes in the region that the situation will start to calm tonight ahead of tomorrow’s announcement, however, with Ukrainian officials reasserting their stance that the referendums are illegal these hopes seem slim.

“This is a step into the abyss for the regions,” warned Ukrainian acting President Oleksandr Turchynov yesterday (Saturday).

Meanwhile the escalation of fighting in the region comes as reports state that 400 Blackwater Mercenaries arrived in the area to support pro-Ukrainian forces. Blackwater has been surrounded by controversy following accusations of killing civilians while deployed in Iraq.  Western governments’, including America, Britain, France and Germany, have condemned the referendums as illegal and threatened harsh sanctions against Russia if they are allowed to be recognised.

Not everyone in the international community is taking the same stance. Venezuelan authorities have already warned that they will not back any efforts in Ukraine. In a statement released to the media officials from the Foreign Ministry said that they would “not recognise as legal a government that emerged as a result of a state coup. In view of the regrettable developments of events in Ukraine, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela confirms that it rejects violent processes that, with the support of the United States and NATO, led to the overthrow of the government, jeopardising the peace and the unity of the Ukrainian people as well as the stability of the entire Eurasian region.”

Until the votes are counted and the results announced tomorrow (Monday) both sides of the debate will be left powerless to do anything more than take part in a war of words. For the people on the ground the situation may take a far more deadly turn.

The rise of the right

AS EUROPE gears up for the May 22^nd European Elections the rise of right wing politics has become increasingly noticeable. This is not isolated to the European Union though.

In America the Tea Party Movement has made inroads into mainstream politics. The United Australia Party may not be seeing the gains of some right wing parties, however, it is starting to have an impact on the political establishment. Despite, or possibly because of, being led by a comedian Beppo Grillo’s Five Star Movement in Italy has surged forward, challenging the old guard of the Democratic Party and Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia. Nowhere seems immune from the politics of fear these groups play upon.

It was only a few short years ago that groups such as the American Tea Party Movement, a group which United Kingdom Independence Leader, Nigel Farage, has revelled in being compared to, were seen as fringe and dismissible. In the current political environment they are starting to pose a problem for the main political parties.

In America and Britain it seems unlikely that the establishment could be overturned by these groups. In 2015 UKIP may gain a couple of seats, this would be a far cry from the number they would need to put them in a position of serious power though. The threat they pose is by splitting the vote of the more moderate parties and diverting the debate away from areas where it needs to be focused.

For countries such as Italy and Germany, where coalition governments are more frequent than in the US and Britain, these parties can have a genuine influence on the way the country is run. For groups such as Tea Party or UKIP, however, they are fighting against an entrenched establishment where it is a near certainty that one of two parties will be in power.

This has not stopped them from shouting their causes from the rooftops, however. It is perhaps even more of incentive to create ever more outrageous and right wing agendas for these groups than ones which know they may have a chance of power, and therefore would have to meet their manifesto pledges.

UKIP has claimed that they will fight back against unlimited immigration from the European Union, while failing to address how they will do this, or exactly how far reaching the levels of immigration will be. In its EU election manifesto for example UKIP claims that the Office of National Statistics estimates from 2010 that the UK population will rise by 3 million by 2020 through immigration. The ONS actually forecasts a growth of 4.9million, of which 56 per cent would be from ‘natural increase’.

Additional figures provided by UKIP also fail to take into account the rate of emigration from Britain by naturalised citizens. The same story is repeated in America with the Tea Party Movement. Statistics are taken out of context, or fabricated. Both groups use volume and self proclaimed righteous anger ahead of genuine debate and solution.

In part this rise of the right wing has come about from the groups themselves. An increase in communications technology has made it easier for them to reach the electorate, and by repeating the same phrases enough they have instilled them into the minds of people as fact.

An increasing level of fear and disillusionment in the system has given them the crack to force themselves into. Membership of the more mainstream political parties has diminished over the years, with approximately only 1 per cent of the UK belonging to a party,  as people lose faith in the process. Fear of terrorism and crime is also on the increase, which gives certain right wing elements the fuel they need to feed the fire of xenophobic attitudes.

On May 22^nd the British electorate, and others across Europe, will have their say for who represents them in the European Union. For right wing groups the world over it will be seen as a test of whether volume and propaganda has swayed the people over debate and solutions.

The fall of a superpower

Has America’s role as the global moderator of all that is right been compromised beyond repair? That is the question which must surely be asked in the wake of recent events involving the world’s foremost superpower.

Rather than demonstrating its power America’s announcement on Tuesday that it would send a team to help find more than 200 missing Nigerian schoolgirls proved that it no longer has the teeth to act when needed.

The world has known since April 14th that the terrorist group Boko Haram kidnapped the girls from their school. The group, whose name translates loosely as “Western education is a sin”, was known to have been trading the girls into marriage and shipping them across the border. Yet the world, and in particular America, sat back and did nothing.

Nigeria’s own government, ostensibly fearful of reprisal from this increasingly powerful group, did little to take action, preferring to hope that the loss of so many young women would go unnoticed. They are fighting a rear guard action against extremism though. They are under constant fear of what the next atrocity will be. If allowing more than 200 young girls to be taken could be seen as a price to keep things from escalating then apparently it was a price they were willing to pay.

The West, however, is under no such constraints. America has time and again pledged its strength to root out extremism and fight for a moral cause. Why is it therefore that it did nothing until its hand was forced by a statement released by the group?

The same story has been repeated time and again. With Syria President Obama clearly stated that chemical weapons were a red line which could not be crossed. To do so would bring the wrath of the world down upon the Syrian government like so much biblical thunder. Chemical weapons have been used though and America and the West have done nothing. Refugees flood across the borders and many more are trapped inside besieged cities, waiting for the next dose of chemicals to fall upon them, and the West does nothing.

In Ukraine America made it clear that they would support the newly formed government and would take strong action if Russia was seen to be instigating aggression. Pro-separatist groups roam the streets, many equipped with Russian weaponry. Reports come in on a near daily basis of supposed Russian interference in the region. Crimea fell with Russian support and its people left Ukraine. Yet the West does nothing more than threaten sanctions which have already been demonstrated beyond a doubt not to work.

America, Britain, France, Germany et al cannot wage war on every country which they deem to have gone against their moral principles. The West cannot be the world’s police force. Imposing a different culture and identity on a people through force has already been proven to fail in Afghanistan and Iraq. To keep pretending, however, that the world has not changed, that the threat of force without the will to back it up and that the ability to do so even exists undermines any hope that a more rational approach to tackling increasing global unrest can ever be found.

A political presence

The United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) has had to cancel its Freepost service after receiving faeces to their offices. While I disagree with UKIP on almost every topic this was never going to be the way to make a political statement.

We are fortunate in Britain that we are able to have freedom of speech, to hold widely differing views and to argue those views. We live in a democracy where we can choose our elected representatives based on what they stand for, something denied to millions of people around the world. It is this which gives us the ability to participate in such childish pranks but it is also this we gives us a moral duty to not do so.

In our political system if you disagree with someone’s point of view then you are free to debate it with them. Changing minds through discourse, that is surely the basic premise of any free thinking political system. Sadly, however, we as a populace seem to have forgotten how to hold an argument, how to hold a view for that matter. We seem to be only interested in meeting the intellect of the lowest common denominator. We have dumbed down our society so much that we have forgotten the very principles upon which it was founded.

We have forgotten that millions of men and women have fought and died to preserve our right to free speech and freedom of political protest. We have forgotten that our leaders used to be intelligent men, and rightly so. We valued honour and intellect. We may have disagreed with someone’s views but we had the character to respect their right to have them. All of that seems to have been lost somewhere along the way.

Instead we now have celebrities telling us that the system is broken and we should stop voting. We should stop voting? We should sacrifice the right which so many people would still die to just have a glimpse at, which so many already have, as a form of protest. If the system is broken then the way in which we change it is by voting, by choosing better leaders.

Nigel Farage’s greatest selling point is his “voice of the common man” approach. People like him because he makes them feel on the same level. Surely our leaders should be the best and the brightest. They should be men and women of conscience and intellect, they should be brighter than the majority and we should feel that we can respect them.

As it stands at the moment we have very few such politicians in place. This is not the fault of the system though, this is the fault of us the electorate. We voted these people in. We chose them, we gave up on wanting the best.

If you want to prove that UKIP is wrong, something which does not take the best and the brightest by any means, then join in the debate. Show how flawed their ideals are, show why they are wrong, show that you have a better plan, don’t act in a way which would have your peers in primary school look down at you for immaturity.

World Press Freedom

Last Saturday (May 3rd 2014) World Press Freedom Day, defined by the United Nations as “celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom; assess the state of press freedom throughout the world; defend the media from attacks on their independence; pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.” (http://www.un.org/en/events/pressfreedomday).

It has seemed from following the news over the last year that freedom of the press has become an ever diminishing commodity. This has perhaps been shown in stark reality by the United Kingdom dropping four places in the Press Freedom Index to 33^rd out of 180 countries (http://www.un.org/en/events/pressfreedomday).

It is all too easy for proponents of press freedom to condemn countries such as Egypt, where three Aljazeera journalists have just had their appeal rejected for a second time today. The fight for press freedom can be lost in the battle against countries and governments. For the average man in the street it is only the figures which count, if that. Sixteen journalists killed this year alone, a further 168 imprisoned.

The fight for press freedom is not a battleground against countries though. Nor is it a crusade against governments. Press Freedom is something which lies in our hearts and our minds. The greatest threat to Press Freedom is through our own media.

We live in a world where the news which is published is the news which will sell. Media is a business after all, there is no profit in running stories which will not entice readers. It is readers which pay the bills at the end of the day.

In recent weeks more than 200 Nigerian schoolgirls were kidnapped, little is known about their fate. This story and countless others have been buried at best, ignored at worst. They make readers feel uncomfortable over their breakfasts. It is far easier to run front pages of the faces of evil, of those we know and can feel superior to. I speak of course of Max Clifford and his ilk.

It is this process of censorship through economics which is killing press freedom. It is a slow decline as we seek the news which will sell the papers as opposed to the news which matters which is the greatest threat.

Freedom of the press must mean the freedom to be the voice which tells those who do not know the thinks which they should know. Instead it has become a timid whisper, fearful of disturbing advertisers and consumers.

Where once journalists where inviolable lest the wrath of the press reign down upon those who had harmed them, a romantic but not entirely forgotten ideal, now they are treated as targets and hostages. The world has changed but not so much that this has happened without the input of the media itself.

The presses self-censorship and scandal has weakened it. It is now looking only to survive through funding, where once people trusted the media now they look on it with scorn. This is the heart of our loss of freedom, our failure to stand for the lost ideals of journalism and freedom.