Blog Entry 14

Osborne axes hated 3p fuel hike for rest of year

With the upcoming Olympics and the summer holidays on the doorstep, conservative George Osborne has announced that the price of fuel will be frozen for the rest of the year. The plan of freezing the fuel prizes will cost about 500 million Pounds, but can be paid as a result of departmental savings. The Conservative MPs said that motorists “across the country” will welcome George Osborne’s decision. Because of this plan, the fuel duty would be 10 pence a litre lower than it would be under the plans suggested by Labour. Osborne said: “We are on the side of working families and businesses and this will fuel our recovery at this very difficult economic time for the world. A duty increase at the same time as the Olympics would have cast a shadow over the UK.”

Freezing the fuel prizes is always a good thing to do, of course! But, as stated in the full article, the tax per litre of fuel is now 60 per cent, which I find incredible high! I did a little research on this, for I find this interesting, and it seems that the increase will come to force next year after all. Also, the price per barrel oil will increase significantly, so I guess the 3p duty will be paid in extra tax on the profits of companies. So, in my book, in the case of fuel prizes, it is always too good to be true. A truly benefit would be to cut the prizes with 3 pence instead of freezing them. They always find a way to make up for their losses. Just…don’t own a car.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/4396332/Joy-as-George-Osborne-scraps-hated-3p-fuel-hike-for-rest-of-year.html

Blog Entry 13

Pupil behaviour improving, suggests teacher survey

A survey of 1600 teachers from all around England, says that more teachers find the behaviour of pupils in England is getting better. Three in four teachers, that is 76%, rated behaviour as good or very good.  That is 6% more than 2008. Still, 6% find pupils’ behaviour poor to very poor. The survey was commissioned by the Department for Education. The teachers were increasingly satisfied with the behaviour at particular Primary Schools. In secondary schools 8% of teachers said behaviour was poor or very poor against a figure of 5% for primary teachers. Most teachers (85%) said that they feel well-equipped to handle unwanted behaviour. Most teachers say that they praise the pupils behaviour, but also use a reward system. Government advisor on behaviour Charlie Taylor said: "I am encouraged to see that teachers are feeling more in control of the classroom but more still needs to be done."We need to ensure trainee teachers are equipped with the right training in behaviour management."

I think those rates are quite good! It’s a good thing that the government wants more insight in pupils’ behaviour. I think this helps to improve schools and learning situation, as well as the work atmosphere for all those teachers. It kind of surprised me, for I thought schools in England were so strict! Of course, this is a prejudice, but it got me thinking. How would these rates compare with schools in the rest of Europe and Especially in Holland? I would like to know if it really does matter to wear a school uniform. Perhaps this survey doesn’t show in which schools pupils have to wear school uniforms, so, I’m not sure if that can be researched. But, it seems to go well in England.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-18591820

Blog Entry 12

Cow and woman found in Cambridgeshire Anglo-Saxon dig

An incredibly rare and interesting find is said to be genuinely bizarre. A group of students from Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Central Lancashire, found a woman, buried with a cow, while excavating an Anglo-Saxon cemetery in Cambridgeshire. They first though they had found a grave from a man with his horse, which is more common. Student Jake Nuttall said: "Male warriors might be buried with horses, but a woman and a cow is new to us." Co-director of the excavation, Dr Duncan Sayer, from the University of Central Lancashire, said: "This is the first animal to be discovered with a woman from this period - the late 5th Century - and it's really interesting that it's a cow, a symbol of economic and domestic wealth and power.” The grave was also full of goods, like hundreds of amber and decorated glass beads. "She also had a complete chatelaine [keychain] set, which is an iron girdle and a symbol of her high status," Dr Sayer said.

I never knew a cow could be so valuable! Of course, I can imagine why a cow would so valuable at the time. What I don’t get is if such things as cows, jewels etc. are so valuable, why then bury it? I’m sure those people who buried her could use these kinds of riches. OK, she was rich and important… have a nice funeral and some flowers, but to throw those riches away…like she can take it with her. Perhaps that could be the reason; a cow to travel over the plains of death and jewels to buy food in order to keep her cow alive.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-18580332

Blog Entry 11

Big Ben's tower renamed Elizabeth Tower in honour of Queen

The well-known Clock Tower, the carrier of the 'Big Ben', is now officially re-named after Queen Elisabeth. Its re-naming is in recognition of the Queen's 60 year reign. The idea was originally proposed by Conservative MP Tobias Elwood, circled around for while, and got backed by 40 MPs. The House of Commons said that it is "in recognition of Her Majesty's 60 years of unbroken public service on behalf of her country". The Prime Minister described the move as a ‘fitting tribute’ to the Queen.
It is not the first time in history a part of the Westminster Palace is named after a monarch. After it was rebuild in 1860, the, at the time called ‘Kings Tower’, was named after Queen Victoria. Queen Elisabeth is the only other monarch to complete 60 years on the throne.

So, that permanent isn’t the name ‘Big Ben’ after all. When I read the article, I thought that the opposition parties were quite fond of the idea of re-naming the tower. I mean, the Big Ben is more of a statement of the British architecture and heritage, therefore, well-known all around the world. Is it that easy to change the name so easily? However, I think this is a great gesture towards the Queen. I mean, it doesn’t happen every day that a monarch rules for 60 years. That is a hell of a period! I have to get used to the name ‘Elisabeth Tower’ though.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18592966
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Blog Entry 10

Tesco to target customers according to their wealth by using their Clubcard data to personalise its website

Britain’s biggest grocer, Tesco has announced it will use personal data from its costumers to boost its sales. Tesco will use the club cards of their costumers, which they have been using for years, to provide itself with financial data of the costumers. When you are a prosperous person, you might get tempted by a smoked salmon and the top wines. If you are more like a hard-up shopper, you might get adds with tins of baked beans and Tesco’s Value promotions. Tesco boss Phil Clarke said that it is just the same as in the 80’s. ‘Some customers you would know by name,’ he said. ‘Others you’d know well enough to give a friendly smile and ask ‘how are you today? ‘By doing that, you could earn the most important thing of all: customers’ loyalty.’  Tesco already tested it, which resulted in a 10 per cent sales growth.

Big brother alert! Seriously, who wants their supermarket to know how much money you can spend? And moreover, I like to mix my groceries a little. I mean, for a good red wine, I don’t mind spending a bit more money. But for a plain pasta, cheese or milk for example, I wouldn’t pay more for no reason, because I can’t taste the difference. Well, this is of course not the main reason why I don’t like the idea. The main reason is that most people don’t want to be stuck to one supermarket. I want the freedom to go anywhere I want. What if you don’t show up for weeks? Do you get special offers? Moreover, how easy is it these days, that even in the supermarket, they are able to ‘know you’, even if you’ve never seen the manager! So, byebye, 80’s argument!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2164660/Tesco-target-customers-according-wealth-using-Clubcard-data-personalise-website.html
 

Blog Entry 9

Lower benefits if you live up North: Ministers consider plan to pay less if your home is in a cheaper part of the country

 

People who live in the North could be paid lower benefits than people who live in the South. Places where the costs of living is much cheaper, such as Middleborough and Merseyside will get lower welfare payments than in much more pricier areas such as Oxford or Bath.  These plans are being considered by the Conservatives, although the plans were dropped at last minute from David Cameron's speech on welfare reform. This because the plan could bring damage to the political ground in the North, which means they will lose votes. The conservatives are still struggling to recover political ground in the North, since the great loss in 1980s.

I’m not sure if this is a good idea. Who keeps track of the inflation and makes sure the costs of living is equal to the welfare benefits? I think this proposal could upset people in the North. I mean, is it their fault that living up North is cheaper than in the south? Isn’t it due to all touristic activities in the South what makes living there so expensive? Perhaps the government could re-consider their plans. I think this will have a great impact on their political background, and therefore, the next elections. People who live in the North may feel subordinated.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2164548/Lower-benefits-live-North-Ministers-consider-plan-pay-home-cheaper-country.html

 

Blog Entry 8

How 900 stillbirths could be prevented

In the 10 per cent most deprived areas of the UK, twice as many babies (est. 900) as in the wealthiest are stillborn. This is stated in a research in the online journal BMJ Open. The only area that doesn’t show any differences is when labour has started and the mother is under the care of midwife or consultant. There are many factors that could lead to a stillbirth. The research showed that smoking and obesity are most common in deprived areas, but also a lack of attendance to regular antenatal check-ups. These can detect diseases, high blood-pressure etc. This makes the UK having the highest rate of stillbirths among 13 countries, including the US and European Nations. Dr Lucy Smith, one of the authors, said that they still need more data of stillbirths. “More than half the stillbirths have unexplained causes. These are women who apparently have a normal pregnancy. Deaths during labour have come down over the years, she said. "We know what should be happening during and after labour, but those during the pregnancy are really difficult to understand."

Wow! I did not know this was such a serious problem in the UK. I mean, read the exact rates, stated in the full article…quite shocking! Well, the UK may not have the best health care system in the world, but when it concerns births, it cannot be this ignorant. Maybe the UK’s government must pay more attention to the minorities in the UK. I don’t know, but how do these mothers feel. It must be terrible! Perhaps government should set up a campaign about the importance to go to regular antenatal check-ups. Perhaps this helps to get the attention of woman and makes them more aware of the hazards of for example smoking etc. during pregnancy.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jun/25/stillbirths-900-preventable-england