Rhondda Records Home Page

THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR
WHICH DETERMINES YOUR CHILD'S FUTURE

Here's a thought - it's not how bright your child is,
or where they live, or how much help you give...
which decides how well your child does in school.

The single most important factor in your child's future is
the PUPIL-TEACHER RATIO in the classes your child attends.

The IDEAL ratio is 1 teacher to every 12 children;
EXACTLY the ratio which exists at Eton,
where parents have to pay a fortune.

So what happens in Wales when teacher-pupil ratios drop?
They close down the school !

Can't be right !

( Just a thought... )


********************


Primary school children in England
are subjected to a system uniquely
"preoccupied" with conformity.

By comparing England's curriculum and assessment policy
with those in 22 other countries,
including France, Norway, New Zealand and Japan,
the authors find a "unique" system
dominated by tests and league tables.

Kathy Hall and Kamil Ozerk:
"No other country appears to be so
preoccupied with national standards."

National Union of Teachers general secretary Steve Sinnott:
"Uniquely, England is a country where
testing is used to police schools
and control what is taught.

I call on the government to initiate
a full and independent review of the impact
of the current testing system on schools
and on children's learning and to be prepared
to dismantle a system which is long past its sell-by date."







England and Scotland fall...
and where is Wales ? Bottom !

The reading performance of children in England
has fallen from third to 19th in the world
in a major assessment.

NOW - WE LEARN that:
UK secondary school students have also
slipped down the international league table in maths.
Based on test results in 2006,
the UK has dropped right out of the top ten.


The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (Pirls),
undertaken every five years, involved children
aged about 10 in 40 countries.

Scotland also fell, from 14th to 26th.
Russia, which matched it last time,
was top of the overall achievement table.

Analysis of the England results said
children were spending more time on
computers and reading less for fun.

Wales? We did't participate in all the studies -
but, where we did, Welsh students came
bottom of the "home" nations. !



Britain tops the league table of
teenage mothers in western Europe,
despite its record number of school-age abortions.

A performance report on the Department of Health website
confirmed that progress towards their target
has been hit by "slippage".

The overall number of teenage pregnancies
has gone up to more than 47,000 a year.

Britain now has the highest teenage birth rate
- six times that of Holland, four times that of Italy
and three times higher than in France, said the report.



IF YOU WANT TO READ FREE BOOKS....
PRESS THE LINK BELOW.

The Universal Digital Library

Bridgend Council says it wants Porthcawl to
be the top seaside resort in the area.

It plans to regenerate an area
stretching from Cosy Corner and
the harbour in the south,
to Trecco Bay in the east.

The plan suggests new promenades at Sandy Bay
and Eastern Promenade, a revamp of the harbour
with a new indoor leisure and tourist attraction,
and an improved Sandy Bay beach.
The harbour would have a moveable gate to
ensure water is kept in the harbour.
The project also includes new sea defences for
approximately 440 existing properties as well
as new housing and community and youth facilities.


YOU CAN ACCESS THE PLANS NOW
- AND ADD YOUR VIEWS -
BY PRESSING THE LINK BELOW.

CONSULTATION : BRIDGEND C.C.

* * * * *



A WEBSITE has been launched
to encourage tourists to Rhondda Cynon Taf.

The site offers visitors advice on the county’s attractions,
places to stay, outdoor and sporting activities,
cultural life, history and heritage.

Tourism hotspots highlighted include:
Dare Valley Country Park, Rhondda Heritage Park,
Ynysangharad War Memorial Park and Cynon Valley Museum.

RCT council’s cabinet member for tourism,
Councillor Graham Thomas, says:
“We are working hard to establish RCT as a tourist destination
and a place where people will choose to take their holidays.

You can access the website at;

www.destination rct.co.uk

LATEST GOOD HEALTH NEWS !!!

All-Wales mental health course launched.

Charity Mind Cymru says it is recruiting to train
75 people across the country to become instructors,
who will then deliver the course in their areas.

Participants will learn how to recognise
common mental health problems,
including drugs, depression and self-harm.


*********************


HEALTHY SOUNDS - HEALTHY BODIES !

Healthy Sounds is launched by health minister Edwina Hart
and heritage minister Rhodri Glyn Thomas
at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant.

Edwina Hart:
"Research shows that many long-term patients,
especially those with dementia, respond well
to live music and it can substantially improve
their quality of life."

Organised by Ty Cerdd on behalf of the assembly government,
the scheme will see a number of live performances
by music groups in hospitals and healthcare facilities.

Rhodri Glyn Thomas:
"Everyone has been touched at sometime in their life
by the therapeutic effects of music."

The Welsh Assembly Government says it is
inviting local music groups into hospitals,
and over 130 music societies are keen to take part.

The "Healthy Sounds" scheme is given
£25,000 for the first year of the project,
then £50,000 each year it runs.

Keith Griffin, director of Ty Cerdd,
says hospitals are giving the scheme
a "very enthusiastic response" all over Wales.
He says Healthy Sounds "will complement and develop
the already valuable work that some hospitals
have done with their artists-in-residence."

Jim English, Cwm Taf NHS Trust;
"To see the relatives bring down the patients
in their wheelchairs and they sing along or sit there
with their eyes closed - to me it's a benefit."



*****************


Free car parking has started at about 120
of Wales' 130 NHS hospitals and units.
The remainder, where parking is run by private companies,
will now reduce costs from June until contracts expire.
The commitment to free hospital parking is part of
the Welsh assembly government coalition agreement
made by Labour and Plaid Cymru.

University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff,
Glan Clwyd in Denbighshire, Neath Port Talbot
and the West Wales General at Carmarthen
will have charges reduced gradually from June,
as they are run by private contractors.


More good news?!! Two "super" trusts in south Wales
are formed by merging North Glamorgan NHS Trust
with Pontypridd and Rhondda NHS Trust
to create the new Cwm Taf NHS Trust.

Cwm Taf NHS Trust will provide services to around 333,000 people,
primarily in Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taff.

The new merged trust will oversee two general hospitals -
Prince Charles in Merthyr and the Royal Glamorgan in Llantrisant -
along with seven community hospitals and other services.

Swansea and Bro Morgannwg NHS Trusts have also been merged,
The new Trust is called Bro Morgannwg NHS Trust.

Paul Williams, chief executive;
"It will strengthen hospital services in the region
and enhance teaching and research opportunities."

Also, children in Wales are now given
free toothpaste and brushes as part of
a campaign to improve their teeth.


*******************



SIXTY MINUTES, FIVE TIMES A WEEK, BUTT !!!

Josh Fowler, 6ft 10in, has been coaching basketball
at schools in the Rhondda, as part of the 5x60 project
run by the Sports Council for Wales
and funded by the Welsh Assembly Government.

The projects aims to encourage secondary school pupils
to do 60 minutes of exercise, five times a week.

Josh, 24, came to Wales to play for the Glamorgan Gladiators
and has been coaching children in his spare time.

"The kids seem to love it and every session I've done
they seem to be having a blast."


The children say they enjoyed learning skills from Josh
and, with around one in five 13-year-olds overweight,
they are aware of the importance of exercise.

James Messenger, 13, of Ferndale Community School:
"It's good to do exercise.
At our age it's quite easy to get obese with takeaways
and, when you go out, it's easy to pick up fast food
instead of healthy stuff like fruit."

Ryan Howells, 12:
"Josh is really tall and really good!
He's taught us new stuff and sometimes
comes to the tournaments with us and encourages us."

One of the main aims of the 5x60 project
is to encourage children to find exercise that suits them.

Julie Rotchell, of the Sports Council for Wales:
"We're looking to encourage those children
that aren't currently participating in
sporting activity to become involved.
We're encouraging them to become much more active
in their lifestyles and become active adults."
5x60 organisers wish all secondary schools
in Wales to take part by 2009.

Josh;
"The Rhondda is great and the people are very friendly.
It's been a great experience, probably the
most valuable experience of my life."



****************


Crisps, chocolate and sugary drinks are to be removed
from vending machines in NHS hospitals in Wales.

Health Minister Edwina Hart says Wales is
the first part of the UK to commit to such a move
to tackle obesity and diet-related disease.

It's part of the Labour-Plaid assembly coalition deal
to improve hospital food and nutrition.

Most junk food will be removed from machines
in the next six months.



FOR MORE HEALTH ARTICLES -
PRESS THE LINK BELOW

Health News Page

VIOLENCE ON TV;
"EDUCATION EDUCATION EDUCATION".


The Audience Council for Wales' review
points out how BBC Radio Wales and Radio Cymru
are not available on DAB to half the population
and an estimated 70% of Welsh-speakers can't get Radio Cymru.
A Plaid MP threatens to withhold his BBC licence fee
because there is "not enough BBC coverage of Wales".
Plaid AM Bethan Jenkins calls for the Welsh assembly
to be put in charge of broadcasting in Wales.
and prize-winning author Lionel Shriver
condemns British TV for patronising its audience.


* * *

Now, a new study shows that young boys (2-5)
watching violent television - even cartoons -
are more likely to be anti-social later in life.

"This new study provides further evidence of
how important and powerful television and media
are as young children develop," study author
Dr. Dimitri Christakis of Seattle Children's
Hospital Research Institute says.

The study finds that each hour of violent shows
viewed per day by boys ages 2 to 5
increases their anti-social behavior THREEFOLD
as reported by their parents five years later.

Behaviors that the study names as anti-social
include cheating, being mean to others,
no feelings of regret, disobedience at school,
and having trouble with teachers.

The TV programs that the study defines as aggressive
include football, and cartoons such as "The Power Rangers,"
"Star Wars," "Space Jam," and "Spiderman."
These programs are considered to be aggressive
due to the characters who fight one another,
flee from violent situations, and who cheer
when violence occurs.

Educational or nonviolent entertainment does not
significantly raise aggression levels.

"TV isn't inherently good or bad," Christakis says.
"Content matters."




ARE WE BUILDING A TV SERVICE......
OWNED BY THE COMMUNITY,
AND RUN FOR THE GOOD OF OUR CHILDREN ? ? ! ! !

Mencap Cymru stride on with their "Trek Patagonia"
- led by Iolo Williams.

Iolo is looking for adventurers to join him...
The 11 day event will take place
16th - 26th October 2008.

This gives plenty of time to enter
and raise the minimum sponsorship.
Each participant will need to raise the
minimum sponsorship of £3,500 -
which sounds a lot of money -
but Mencap have helped to support thousands of participants
to achieve this in the past, and will provide
lots of advice and support to ensure that
fundraising targets are met.

Flights, accommodation and food are all provided.
If you would like to trek Patagonia with Iolo
please contact Mencap Cymru, on 02920 768226,
email fundraising.wales@mencap.org.uk,
or visit the website,
www.mencap.org.uk/cymru







* * *

If you know of any old videos of Richard Burton,
or male voice choirs, etc., which have been made
available on DVD... please email Ron in Utah, at;

welshmormon@yahoo.com


*********!*********!*********!*********

Welsh Medieval Battlefields Campaign.

Objectives are to seek official recognition
and registration of Welsh Medieval Battlefields.
Aims then are to work for the Preservation,
Protection and Promotion of Welsh Battlefields
..... this could - and SHOULD - involve PENRHYS !!!

TO CONTACT - visit;

http://brwydr.blogspot.com/

OUR CHILDREN'S HEALTH: WHAT ARE WE DOING?

A study of sexually transmitted diseases in US teenagers
shows staggering results: it turns out that
at least one in four U.S. teenage girls has venereal disease.
That's about 3 million teenagers.

According to the study, the most common type of
sexually transmitted infection is a virus that
causes cervical cancer. The most vulnerable
groups are blacks (nearly half of them are infected).
The rate among white and Mexican-American teens is 20%.

18% of girls have cervical cancer;
4% percent have chlamydia;
2.5% have trichomoniasis
and 2% have herpes simplex virus.

The single most effective measure is screening;
but this is under-used, because most teens

don't think they're at risk.


************************


The harm caused by alcohol abuse is central to
a new 10-year substance misuse strategy in Wales.

It pinpoints those who drink to excess
and don't believe they have a problem,
and targets young and binge drinkers in particular.

Ministers are pushing for stricter rules on alcohol promotion,
an increase in tax on drink
and a reduction in the drink-drive limit.

The assembly government believes alcohol misuse
is far more widespread than that of illicit drugs
and can be particularly damaging -
leading to anti-social behaviour,
domestic violence, poor health
and family break-up.

"...we should place a greater emphasis on alcohol
and reducing the harm it causes".


Wales' Chief Medical Officer Tony Jewell
says the new strategy targets younger drinkers.

"There is growing evidence that young people in Wales
are starting to drink at an early age
and regularly binge-drink -
with consequent risk of injury,
road traffic crashes,
unsafe sex
and anti-social behaviour."

Support is also being given to other substance misusers;
more investment in youth work,
and an expansion of services,
such as helplines.




Tony Jewell, who provides independent advice to the assembly government,
says the population is living longer,
and that the overall health of people
living in Wales is "favourable".

But great concern remains for the health of children in Wales,
who drink more alcohol at an earlier age,
exercise less and have higher body mass index results
than the majority of countries in the western world.

Figures published earlier this week show that
more mothers in Wales (37%) smoke during their
pregnancy than in any other UK country.

Doctor Jewell:
"I am particularly concerned about the health of children in Wales,
notably the rising epidemic of obesity,
high smoking rates, and the growing culture of binge drinking."

Figures show the number of adult smokers falling,
yet there are still 6,000 premature deaths each year,
and children as young as 12 are taking up the habit.

Dr Jewell;
"The smoking ban is a major step forward,
but now we have to try and prevent young people
starting to smoke and build the campaign for
smoke-free homes - especially where there are
children exposed to second-hand smoke."

Reducing binge drinking is also a priority,
according to the report, which recommends
smoke-free homes for children and improving
health inequality in poorer communities,
such as the south Wales valleys,
which have the highest rates
of smoking, drinking and obesity.

One doctor believes it could be hard getting
the health message home to young people.

"Research (sic) has shown that young people in the
south Wales valleys do not really think
about the future," one Merthyr GP said.

Really?
So closing down the vallys' economy
and ignoring the future,
means the youngsters are to blame?
Typical doctor !


****************!*************!*****************


Here's a THOUGHT....
Children are NOT encouraged to
drink the necessary amount of water
a healthy child needs....
when they're in school.

And BULLYING ONLY MAKES IT WORSE !

To avoid having to visit the toilet at school,
many young people refuse to drink water,
exposing them to the risk of becoming dehydrated
or even developing bladder and bowel problems.

Just a thought.... ! ! !

************!************!***************


Patients detained under the mental health act
are often on mixed-sex wards where their safety
may be seriously jeopardised, a key report warns.
The Mental Health Act Commission also found
young people on adult wards,
a practice ministers had vowed to end.

Detaining women and youngsters on mixed-sex adult wards
is seen as likely to heighten their risk of sexual abuse.

Many of the 6,000 patients interviewed over two years
found their hospital stay frightening.

Paul Framer, Mind;
Hospitals should be therapeutic places of safety
but unfortunately for some people their hospital experience
only serves to hinder rather than help their recovery.

The Commission sayas basic rights to safety
and dignity are not always met.
It often found packed admission wards,
where bed occupancy was over 100%
and staffing levels inadequate.

Professor Chris Heginbotham,
Commission chief executive;
"Patients admitted to hospital under compulsory powers
should be able to expect that they will be cared for
in a safe and welcoming environment.
Sadly this is TOO OFTEN not the case.
Staff working on psychiatric wards do a difficult job,
and many of them do it very well.
But too often we are SHOCKED by
what we see happening to patients in hospital."

The commission expresses concern that vulnerable patients
including women and young people
are too often confined in mixed-sex, adult wards.

Jane Harris, Rethink;
"It is unacceptable that in 2008 people in need of treatment
are being forced to stay in dilapidated, overcrowded wards
where they are at risk of sexual assault."

Data released in 2006 found a high incidence of rape,
sexual assault and harassment in mental health units,
while a report out late last year finds children
are often fearful of sexual harassment
or aggression from adult patients.

There is currently no specific guidance on
keeping mental health patients in mixed-sex wards.

The government "promised" to end mixed-sex accommodation by 2002,
but that has still not been met,
and Health Minister Lord Darzi says the NHS
will have to be REBUILT if that aspiration is to be fulfilled.

It has also "promised" to end the practice of
keeping young people on adult mental health wards
"by the end of this year".

Jane Harris, Rethink;
"People with mental health problems are some of
the most emotionally vulnerable patients in our hospitals
and deserve the highest level of protection not the least."

She says it is disturbing that the report finds
wards are tougher and scarier than they were ten years ago,
despite the investment in mental health services.

"The money is clearly not enough
and doesn't seem to be getting through
to the areas where it is needed most.
It is unacceptable that in 2008
people in need of treatment are
being forced to stay in dilapidated,
overcrowded wards where they are at risk
of sexual assault, and where they are lucky
if they have a bed to sleep in."

Marjorie Wallace, Sane:
"With reports like these, how can we proceed
with implementing the new Mental Health Act
if we are unable to ensure that those detained..
...are treated and protected in humane conditions?"


*************


ASSEMBLY RULING ON CHILDREN
LETS DOWN "MOST VULNERABLE".

Sir Ronald Waterhouse, the man who presided over
the north Wales child abuse inquiry,
attacks Wales' failure to set up an independent body
to deal with young people's complaints.

Helen Mary Jones, chair of the children's committee,
says the most vulnerable are being let down.

Campaigners argue that local authorities
should not be responsible for investigating
complaints by children in their care.

That view is backed by Children's Commissioner for Wales,
Peter Clarke, and a Welsh Assembly committee.

Children's Committee Chair, Ms Jones;
"Of course it's not me and the committee
that they're letting down, it is the
most vulnerable children in this country.
They deserve better."

Sir Ronald sayss that under local counselling
and advocacy services, a child "would not
have confidence that what he or she says to
the advocate is going to be treated in confidence.
I simply don't know why they have done this
and I find it remarkable that there is no explanation
as to why they have rejected the proposal."

The charity Voices from Care;
"The advocacy board put forward...is a red herring
and falls way short of being an independent body,
as it will continue to allow local authorities
to fund the people who are meant to speak out
against them," says chief executive Deborah Jones.
"Only a truly independent and centrally funded advocacy unit
with its own commissioning powers will provide the safeguards
that could help prevent future exploitation
as evidenced in the north Wales child abuse inquiry."

"Children's Minister" (sic) Jane Hutt says
services provided by local authorities
can be just as independent.

TO READ MORE on children's health -
PLEASE GO TO THE HEALTH PAGE -
BY PRESSING THE LINK BELOW

YOUR HEALTH Page

‘University of war’s champagne turns sour.


One year on the half of the St Athan project not yet dumped is blasted -
Sceptical Citizens question ethics and job numbers!

On Thursday, January 17th 2008,
there was a demonstration at the Senedd, Cardiff,
to oppose the St Athan White Elephant.

The red choir was there to add its support
in harmony with other concerned citizens.
PCS members joined in the protest.

'Cluster bombs' were scattered by the grim reaper
to highlight the role of arms company Raytheon.

Thursday marked the anniversary of the announcement
that the Metrix consortium had successfully
bid for the contract to build a privately run
military academy in South Wales.

The announcement was celebrated by Rhodri Morgan
with a champagne-popping photo-opportunity
outside the Senedd in Cardiff.

The proposed military training academy at St Athan
will be built and run by an international consortium
including major multinational arms companies.
It will train not only British service personnel,
but those from any regime or private company
that can fork out the cash.

Anne Greagsby campaigning against the Academy
says; "What the government didn't tell
the people of Wales was that this project
would make the Welsh Assembly Government
a business partner of Raytheon - one of
the world's largest producers and dealers
of weapons of mass destruction.

Raytheon is a core member of the Metrix Consortium.
The Norwegian Government pension fund
has dropped a further three companies
involved in producing nuclear weapons
or cluster munitions;
in addition to Raytheon, Serco,
another Metrix partner, is dropped.
I call on the Welsh Assembly government
to have a full investigation of Raytheon's role
in producing cluster bombs and other weapons
of mass destruction. I challenge Rhodri Morgan
to tell us why he was so keen to work with Raytheon."

Other Metrix partners include EDS and QinetiQ.
EDS is the company responsible for messing up
the Child Support Agency and the Inland Revenue's
Tax Credits systems and for the disastrous
unworkable new MOD computerised payroll system.

Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, says:
"It is astounding that the MoD is prepared to
reward failure by handing over billions more pounds
of taxpayers' money to a consortium that has
failed to deliver what it said it would."

QinetiQ, the privatised and research and development
wing of the MOD, one of Britain's most blatant war profiteers,
was recently heavily criticised by the National Audit Office.

Already half the St Athan White Elephant
(package 2) has been dumped by the government
as too expensive. Politicians have been
promising thousands of jobs - for which there
is no firm basis in truth. PCS - the union that
represents many MOD staff who also oppose the
privatisation of military training - says the
predicted number of jobs in package one has
fallen from 1500 to 1100.

PCS met with Jill Evans recently to highlight
the blatant distortion being disseminated by a
number of Welsh MPs as to the number of new jobs
being created in South Wales as part of the St Athan deal.
PCS members explain that the thousands of new high
skill jobs promised by Welsh MPs are an
illusion
because existing civil servants are already employed in them.

The St Athan project does not offer the Wales that people want
- a nation that addresses honestly the issues
of global warming and the environment,
champions equity and human rights,
teaches our children that violence solves
nothing.
A nation that does not invest in the arms trade,
encourages valuable, long term employment
and delivers decent public services.

The champagne sprayed by Assembly Ministers
Morgan, Hutt and Davies to welcome the signing
of the contract to build the academy,
on January 17th one year ago... has turned sour.





For other developments,
PRESS THE "PEACE PAGE" LINK BELOW:

PEACE NEWS PAGE

* * *

BEG PARDON ?

Prime Minister of Italy, Romano Prodi:
"The pathways of our ancestors are a great heritage.
I'm pressing everyone
to get the great pilgrimage routes restored".

The idea is to re-establish footpaths and rights of way,
tidying up the landscape and ensuring that
pilgrims have access to inexpensive hostels.

Prodi:
"We don't need to change the Constitution
or make any major investments.
We just have to put our hearts into it."

NOW, PENRHYS PARTNERSHIP
- with guidance from Wayne Carter -
are re-invigorating the Penrhys pilgrimage.

See the PENRHYS PARTNERSHIP website,
for further GREAT NEWS !

Above, International teams help Palestinians to harvest olives.




For Rhondda Records, EVERY DAY is co-operation day !!!

To find out more... click on the link BELOW

International Co-operation

* * *

In the spirit of Co-operation,
we feature a struggle
taking place in Ireland....
If you think TARA is just a song...
THINK AGAIN ! It's a struggle against greed !


HARPERS OF IRELAND AT DÁIL TO SAVE TARA


On Saturday 22nd September 2007 at 3 p.m.
the harpers of Ireland gathered at Dáil Éireann
to demonstrate publicly the strength of their opposition
to the destruction of historic cultural sites at the Tara/Skryne Valley
as a result of the current route of the M3 motorway.


Tara was the gathering place for thousands of harpers
to 142 kings, and the harp was an integral part
of the ancient Irish parliament at Tara.
The harp has been used in the coat of arms of Ireland
since 1270 and is the symbol of the Irish State today.

It is an outrage that the Irish people should
be forced to choose between infrastructure and heritage.
As a country we are embarrassed internationally
by profit-driven, shortsighted planning as exemplified
by the fact that World Monument Fund has placed Tara
on its list of 100 most endangered sites worldwide.
Many can rightly point out that it would be an archaeological loss,
and a historical one. It is also a spiritual loss,
since even before the conversion by St Patrick
of Ireland’s High Kings it was a place where
the Irish sought to express their spirituality.
And significantly for us as a nation, it was
the place of birth of Christianity in Ireland.


Further information from www.myspace.com/TaraHarpers
Laoise Kelly Tel. 086 2603405 or laoise.kelly@face.ie
Anne-Marie O’Farrell 01-2966222 or 087-2348964
or amofharp@iol.ie




* * *




Tara Harper's PETITION

HARPERS FOR TARA


Dear Minister,

We, the undersigned HARPERS OF IRELAND,
strongly object to the continued destruction
of historic cultural sites at the Tara/Skryne valley
as a result of the current route of the M3 motorway.
If these sites are destroyed it will also have been
an intentional and willful destruction of the
home of the national symbol of Ireland.

Ireland is unique in having a musical instrument,
the harp, as its national emblem.
This indicates the primacy of the harp in Irish culture.
The sites currently under threat are inextricably linked
with the harping and bardic traditions for more than 2,500 years.

Tara was the gathering place for thousands of harpers
to 142 kings, and the harp was an integral part
of the ancient Irish parliament at Tara.
The harp has been used in the coat of arms of Ireland
since 1270 and is the symbol of the Irish State today.
It is found in the seals of the President,
Taoiseach, Tánaiste, Government Ministers,
on State currency and is the insignia of the Irish Law Courts.

Many of the undersigned harpers have represented Ireland
all over the world. We wish to continue to do so
with pride in a country, which provides necessary
transport infrastructure without destroying its
valuable and irreplaceable cultural heritage.

We ask you to act without delay in rerouting the M3 motorway
away from the Tara/Skryne valley using the shorter,
cheaper route that does not impact so disastrously
on our shared cultural heritage.

FOR JUST A hint
OF THE PRICELESS PAST NOW AT RISK..

VISIT:


http://www.kingollamhfodhla.com/



To find out more,
PASTE THE LINKS ABOVE INTO YOUR BROWSER.





* * *




TO WATCH a NEW VIDEO by MAIREID SULLIVAN....
PRESS THE FIRST LINK BELOW -


TO ACTIVELY PROTEST - PRESS THE LINK BELOW THAT !

TARA : MAIREID SULLIVAN's NEW film.

GLOBAL ARTS COLLECTIVE: PETITION.

AND - SINCE WE'RE HERE...

Welsh Red Kites Sent To Ireland !!!

After more than 200 years
red kites are now soaring gracefully
above the skies of County Wicklow -
after 30 young kites from Wales
were sent across the Celtic Sea.



* * *

British lawyers slam IPCC.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is in crisis.
More than one hundred lawyers
have resigned from its advisory body.

The Police Action Lawyers Group, (PALG)
which represents lawyers on the IPCC's advisory board,
has repeatedly warned the commission of problems.


"One common feature that seems to emerge is that
primary decision-making functions are apparently
being devolved to inexperienced and poorly
trained junior staff...
More generally, the performance of those responsible
for supervising, managing or conducting investigations
has given cause for serious concern ..."

"Follow-up on agreed action points has been pitifully poor ...
At times, the situation has been almost farcical:
key decisions on our agenda items have not been minuted
and, when eventually minuted, have not been actioned,
even after we have chased progress."




* * *



Ponty After Dark - targets "Likely Lads".


Anyone seen as being "likely to contribute
to alcohol-related crime or disorder"
can be targeted by new powers, say police.

Officers say it will be used in areas that have
the potential for drink-related trouble
because they have, for example, several pubs.

The officer will take the name and address
of the person issued with the notice,
and order them to leave the area for
a period of time - usually 12 to 24 hours.

HOW THE NOTICE WORKS
Served to individuals aged 16 or older.
Written notice includes the direction to leave,
the prohibited time period and the area covered.
A person who breaches or fails to comply with a notice
risks arrest or a fine of up to £2,500, if convicted.
The area the ban covers would usually apply to
a few streets, but not a whole town.

Area Chief Insp Nigel Lewis;
"We will take their names and addresses,
record their image on our 'headcam'
and issue them with a map to show exactly
the area they are excluded from.
We don't want to spoil anyone's fun,
but we must safeguard the majority of people
who are law-abiding and just want to have a good time."
They could be prosecuted, ultimately, he adds.

South Wales Police say incidents of serious crime
have fallen 75% since the strategy began in October.



* * *



Police offer a webchat link.


Police chiefs in the south Wales valleys
are offering webchats as a new way
to discuss issues with them.
The first online chat for residents in Rhondda Cynon Taf
will be on Monday evening with Chief Supt Jeff Farrar.

It is hoped people will raise issues about their communities with the force.

Chief Supt Farrar said it was an opportunity for people unable
or too uncomfortable to attend regular community meetings with police.

If successful, it could be tried in other parts of South Wales.

The force has launched a website, OurBobby.com
with information about neighbourhood policing.

Ch Supt Farrar:
"I know people have concerns that affect their everyday lives.

"These can be raised with their neighbourhood officers
at regular Pact meetings but this is an opportunity
for people who can't make it to those meetings
or don't feel comfortable in a public setting
to raise their issues with me directly."

Chief Supt Farrar will be joined between 7pm and 8pm
by Phil Bevan, who heads the area's Pact forum.

"It is an ideal opportunity to engage with new
members of the community and find out first hand
what is going on in their neighbourhoods," says Mr Bevan.

"We can tackle the more obvious crimes
but we can only work to solve the community based problems
if we are aware of what they are.

"Often issues such as youth annoyance or graffiti
make people continue to feel unsafe and intimidated
when really they are living in some of the safest places in the UK."


* * *

WHAT DO YOU THINK ?
Are you concerned to see Justice?

Would you like to raise questions about
TASAR use, or why our police are near the bottom of
the Government's "performance" leagues ?

REMEMBER.... THIS IS AN additional SERVICE ...
IN EMERGENCIES - DIAL 999

To access the Ourbobby.com website -
PRESS THE LINK BELOW

Ourbobby.com

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ABUSE OF ELDERLY "WIDESPREAD IN EUROPE"

Older people in Europe are vulnerable to
poor treatment, neglect and abuse, reveals
a survey by the European Commission.


"Each of us faces the possibility of becoming dependent
on the help of others when we get older,
and currently we cannot be sure
that we will be treated with dignity,"
says EU Social Affairs Commissioner Vladimir Spidla.

As Europeans live longer, the EU population
aged over 80
is due to increase three or four-fold to 12% by 2050.
More and more people will depend on the care of
relatives or professional carers and
be vulnerable to neglect or even abuse.


"Care" nurse guilty of killing patients

A nurse is found guilty of killing elderly patients
in his care by injecting them with insulin.
A jury took four days to find Norris, of Egilsay Terrace, Glasgow,
guilty of four counts of murder.
He is also accused of the attempted murder of another patient.

************

PURELY MEDICINAL?
The health risks of excessive drinking for the elderly
make uncomfortable reading, with a long list including
incontinence, coronary heart disease, strokes,
falls and accidents, depression, dementia and self-neglect.
Alcohol can even provoke Parkinson's disease among older people
and alcohol is implicated in one in three elderly suicides.


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


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a cry of pain against the Iraq war...
a tale of abuse in an old peoples' home...
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Special honour for 'Bevin Boys'


Thousands of conscripts who worked down coal mines
in World War II are to receive a special honour.
The "Bevin Boys" will be rewarded with a commemorative badge.

48,000 men were conscripted to British mines
to tackle coal shortages.
The scheme was named after Ernest Bevin,
Minister of Labour and National Service.



! ! !



TELL THEM WHAT YOU THINK !


Experts agree that jobs in this part of Wales
– like other parts of Europe - are under threat.
The threats come from competition elsewhere in the world,
from new technology, and from an ageing population.
But experts also agree that there are ways
that new jobs can be encouraged.
Encouraging new jobs to be created will
involve changing how people work.
Experts say that there needs to be greater
flexibility in the workforce and more
security for workers.
This combination