Black History Month in Trafford will this year highlight events marking the abolition of slavery 200 years ago. .
Celebrated in October, the Month generally turns the spotlight on contributions and achievements of black people. However, according to the organisers, this year the programme for the month will be built around searches for ancestors, dance and drama, arts, activities in schools and poetry.
Mandy Hughes from the organising committee said the celebration is not just about black people and urged that particularly this year, everyone should be involved.
She said ‘all [people] are invited to reflect on the slavery theme .’ “We will be reflecting on what it meant 200 years ago to people, both white and black,” she added. (contact Mandy at mandy.hughes@trafford.gov.uk)
Friday, June 22, 2007
The British Government Backs CARICOM/UN Slave Trade Memorial Project
The Untied Nations is fronting a scheme for a permanent memorial to victims of the transatlantic slave trade.
The project, a brainchild of member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) forms part of the UN’s programme to mark the bicentenary of the abolition of slavery. But only time will tell whether Ian McCarthy’s announcement that the Foreign Office had pledged £20,000 towards the permanent memorial, has come close to placating calls in the UK and in the Caribbean for some form of reparation.
However, McCarthy, Minister in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, said he was pleased that the UK has been able to work ‘so closely with CARICOM on UN activities marking the bicentenary.’ “It is entirely appropriate” he added “that we come together to commemorate it.” Have your say.
The project, a brainchild of member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) forms part of the UN’s programme to mark the bicentenary of the abolition of slavery. But only time will tell whether Ian McCarthy’s announcement that the Foreign Office had pledged £20,000 towards the permanent memorial, has come close to placating calls in the UK and in the Caribbean for some form of reparation.
However, McCarthy, Minister in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, said he was pleased that the UK has been able to work ‘so closely with CARICOM on UN activities marking the bicentenary.’ “It is entirely appropriate” he added “that we come together to commemorate it.” Have your say.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Take a Hurricane Seriously - Prepare for the before, during and after it Strikes
The start of every hurricane season refreshes memories of my worst hurricane experience. In all, I have witnessed three major storms but the one I will never forget is Hugo in 1989.
As a broadcaster, for years I had followed the progress of Atlantic hurricanes but nothing had prepared me for the onslaught of Hugo on Montserrat (16˚ 12’ North 62˚ 12 West).
Hugo touched down on the island 61 years after the hurricane of 1928. Before 1928, the island was also hit in 1924 and 1899. But memories of the impact and effects of these storms which came out in radio documentaries that I produced didn’t even come close to alerting me for the hammering the island came under from Hugo. For instance survivors of the three hurricanes spoke of escaping during the storm from one damaged house to another and about sheltering under boulders. Some even talked about calling out to neighbours in the height of the storm. My first hurricane experience was very different.
I followed Hugo as it progressed from a tropical depression to a storm to a hurricane and to a category 5 hurricane. By then it was on course for Montserrat with an ETA of 16 September. The day opened fine and bright. The radio station I managed and the other two radio stations and a television station on the island stepped up forecasts and alerts. I rushed to prepare the family. First a special trip to the supermarket and hardware. Back home, I secured windows etc. My wife was on holiday in the US. I had our two kids, a nephew and my mother-in-law to care for. I stocked our downstairs flat where the family had already decided we would ride out a hurricane. A few passing showers during the day would not have bothered anyone except that a hurricane was on the way. By evening the family moved into the flat and all was set when I left for work at the radio station. Ours was the last station on the air. I remember talking to a weather forecaster at VC international in Antigua at around midnight. I asked him; where is the hurricane? This was his chilling response: We are experiencing 75 M.P.H. winds here but in the next two hours you will have gusts of up to 200 M.P.H I recorded his report, went into the studio passed the tape to the presenter. “Put this on and let us get out of here,” I said, “this is not one for a blow by blow.’ Public electricity had been shut off for hours and outside was pitch black. We shut down the station, switched off our stand-by generator and headed home in different directions.
Hugo was already in the area. I met fallen trees on the way. After a few forced diversions I finally arrived home. I was then in my 30’s and this was going to be my first hurricane experience. Based on what I had learnt in the documentaries mentioned earlier, for me it was like come on, bring on the hurricane. I had no fear about our house standing up to anything it threw at us. I also thought it would take just a couple of hours at most to clear the island. Hour after hour came and went. Gust after gust of wind approached like a freight train and then hit our house like a bulldozer. Cracking aluminium windows on the leeward side I saw the rain. It came at the house flat and straight. The area appeared covered by a blue flame. The wind rumbled on forever (I reckon it must have been at least 15 hours) at a sustained 160 M.P.H. with gusts of up to over 200 M.P.H. It was well past midday Sunday when still in lashing rain the wind eased to tropical storm force.
Thank goodness the roof of my house had weathered the worst. But around us scores of roofs were simply ripped off. Nearby, a recently built church was demolished. Lush woods and grasses in Hills and mountains around us were reduced to cinders. Every family had a story to tell. Some spoke of how they had clung to life in cupboards, in bathrooms and even in kitchen units. I can think of a horse shoe nail which I wish I had kept. In the height of the storm an outside door to our downstairs flat blew open. Then is when I realized that my nails and tools were upstairs. My mother-in-law came to the rescue with a nail – a slim horse shoe nail. It helped me to secure the door and maybe spared us the worst. I can only say thank God for a horse shoe nail.
I also lived through Hurricane Luis, Category 4 and Georges, Category 3 in Antigua in 1995 and 1998. I won’t forget Georges because I walked in the calm of its eye and Hugo of course, for its brute force and destruction.
Take my advice, in 2007, if a hurricane threatens your area, stock up, bar up. Prepare for the before, during and after it strikes.
As a broadcaster, for years I had followed the progress of Atlantic hurricanes but nothing had prepared me for the onslaught of Hugo on Montserrat (16˚ 12’ North 62˚ 12 West).
Hugo touched down on the island 61 years after the hurricane of 1928. Before 1928, the island was also hit in 1924 and 1899. But memories of the impact and effects of these storms which came out in radio documentaries that I produced didn’t even come close to alerting me for the hammering the island came under from Hugo. For instance survivors of the three hurricanes spoke of escaping during the storm from one damaged house to another and about sheltering under boulders. Some even talked about calling out to neighbours in the height of the storm. My first hurricane experience was very different.
I followed Hugo as it progressed from a tropical depression to a storm to a hurricane and to a category 5 hurricane. By then it was on course for Montserrat with an ETA of 16 September. The day opened fine and bright. The radio station I managed and the other two radio stations and a television station on the island stepped up forecasts and alerts. I rushed to prepare the family. First a special trip to the supermarket and hardware. Back home, I secured windows etc. My wife was on holiday in the US. I had our two kids, a nephew and my mother-in-law to care for. I stocked our downstairs flat where the family had already decided we would ride out a hurricane. A few passing showers during the day would not have bothered anyone except that a hurricane was on the way. By evening the family moved into the flat and all was set when I left for work at the radio station. Ours was the last station on the air. I remember talking to a weather forecaster at VC international in Antigua at around midnight. I asked him; where is the hurricane? This was his chilling response: We are experiencing 75 M.P.H. winds here but in the next two hours you will have gusts of up to 200 M.P.H I recorded his report, went into the studio passed the tape to the presenter. “Put this on and let us get out of here,” I said, “this is not one for a blow by blow.’ Public electricity had been shut off for hours and outside was pitch black. We shut down the station, switched off our stand-by generator and headed home in different directions.
Hugo was already in the area. I met fallen trees on the way. After a few forced diversions I finally arrived home. I was then in my 30’s and this was going to be my first hurricane experience. Based on what I had learnt in the documentaries mentioned earlier, for me it was like come on, bring on the hurricane. I had no fear about our house standing up to anything it threw at us. I also thought it would take just a couple of hours at most to clear the island. Hour after hour came and went. Gust after gust of wind approached like a freight train and then hit our house like a bulldozer. Cracking aluminium windows on the leeward side I saw the rain. It came at the house flat and straight. The area appeared covered by a blue flame. The wind rumbled on forever (I reckon it must have been at least 15 hours) at a sustained 160 M.P.H. with gusts of up to over 200 M.P.H. It was well past midday Sunday when still in lashing rain the wind eased to tropical storm force.
Thank goodness the roof of my house had weathered the worst. But around us scores of roofs were simply ripped off. Nearby, a recently built church was demolished. Lush woods and grasses in Hills and mountains around us were reduced to cinders. Every family had a story to tell. Some spoke of how they had clung to life in cupboards, in bathrooms and even in kitchen units. I can think of a horse shoe nail which I wish I had kept. In the height of the storm an outside door to our downstairs flat blew open. Then is when I realized that my nails and tools were upstairs. My mother-in-law came to the rescue with a nail – a slim horse shoe nail. It helped me to secure the door and maybe spared us the worst. I can only say thank God for a horse shoe nail.
I also lived through Hurricane Luis, Category 4 and Georges, Category 3 in Antigua in 1995 and 1998. I won’t forget Georges because I walked in the calm of its eye and Hugo of course, for its brute force and destruction.
Take my advice, in 2007, if a hurricane threatens your area, stock up, bar up. Prepare for the before, during and after it strikes.
Friday, May 25, 2007
Avoid FAS - Don't Drink and Have Sex?
Don't drink and drive is a cliché that has been around for a while. Well how about this? 'When you are pregnant and you know it, don't drink.' And since the latest Department of Health (DoH) advice also recommends that women trying to conceive should avoid drinking, we could have another which says: 'Don't drink and have sex'
There are no real surprises in the DoH's decision to move the goal post. Government previously advised that pregnant and lactating women should limit alcohol intake to one to two units once or twice a week.
However, statistics show that up to 86% of UK women over 16 have been averaging around 7.5 units a week. There is no certainty that there is anybody who can put a figure on the number who drink while trying to conceive but the latest advice comes as figures reveal that 6,000 children a year are born with FAS - Foetal Alcohol Syndrome. And that could be caused by an intake of anything more than a pint of regular strength lager or a glass of red or white wine twice a week. A pint of lager or a glass of wine contains two units of alcohol.
Now according to the deputy chief medical officer the new position is intended to provide stronger and more consistent advice for the UK. The stronger advice says 'pregnant women and those trying to conceive should avoid drinking alcohol at all.' Could this be strong enough for women from managerial and professional households who statistics show are more likely to drink more than the unskilled? Maybe it is time to try - Don't drink and have sex; Don't have sex and drink or When you’re pregnant and you know it don’t drink.’
There are no real surprises in the DoH's decision to move the goal post. Government previously advised that pregnant and lactating women should limit alcohol intake to one to two units once or twice a week.
However, statistics show that up to 86% of UK women over 16 have been averaging around 7.5 units a week. There is no certainty that there is anybody who can put a figure on the number who drink while trying to conceive but the latest advice comes as figures reveal that 6,000 children a year are born with FAS - Foetal Alcohol Syndrome. And that could be caused by an intake of anything more than a pint of regular strength lager or a glass of red or white wine twice a week. A pint of lager or a glass of wine contains two units of alcohol.
Now according to the deputy chief medical officer the new position is intended to provide stronger and more consistent advice for the UK. The stronger advice says 'pregnant women and those trying to conceive should avoid drinking alcohol at all.' Could this be strong enough for women from managerial and professional households who statistics show are more likely to drink more than the unskilled? Maybe it is time to try - Don't drink and have sex; Don't have sex and drink or When you’re pregnant and you know it don’t drink.’
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Who Is Next In Line
Gordon Brown waited ten years for the keys to Number 10. Now that he is confirmed as heir apparent there are those who are tempted to look back at what might have been. But the question that needles some minds is who will get the new prime minister's promise to quit. Or were the Blair - Brown vows a one off. Could that be the question? But let's say it isn't. Then the big question could be; who is next in line? Let’s see; Reed and Prescott have already opted to quit rather than wait, Blears is still to show the kind of metal that would prove she could be an iron lady and poor McDonnell who pledged to give labour back its voice in politics will find it hard to ever again launch any serious challenge for the keys to Number 10.
I think Brown is therefore in the clear, at least for now. There is just nobody for him to promise to share the spoils of prime minister-ship with. And that could also mean the days of hand-me down prime ministers may be at an end.
So then back to the main question around town and on the air; was Blair wrong to keep his promise with Brown? Or was he right to break the full term promise he made with everybody else?
Think about that and see what you make of this. As Cameron prepares to go head to head with Brown he has run into a road block from within. Some Party faithful are just not taking kindly to what they see as his hot and cold antics regarding grammar schools. Cameron faces Tory revolt, is the headline I see.
I think Brown is therefore in the clear, at least for now. There is just nobody for him to promise to share the spoils of prime minister-ship with. And that could also mean the days of hand-me down prime ministers may be at an end.
So then back to the main question around town and on the air; was Blair wrong to keep his promise with Brown? Or was he right to break the full term promise he made with everybody else?
Think about that and see what you make of this. As Cameron prepares to go head to head with Brown he has run into a road block from within. Some Party faithful are just not taking kindly to what they see as his hot and cold antics regarding grammar schools. Cameron faces Tory revolt, is the headline I see.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Let's talk Cricket
England and the West Indies lock horns this week in what is going to be some test series. West Indies start with a new captain. England starts with a stand in captain, who continues to build up a healthy drop down the order, drop out the line-up record. He was dropped down for the Ashes tour, dropped out of the line up for all but a couple of world cup encounters and dropped down the order for the matches he played. Strauss will probably promote himself to open again at Lords but if he fails and Vaughn comes back for the second test, he could easily be, yes dropped out of the line up again. As for Flintoff, after his world cup exploits, it looks like the ankle problem may be back. West Indies must be licking their lips at the possibility of starting a series against an England line-up without Vaughn and Flintoff.
England look to be starting as favourites. In their favour is the fact that so far this century they have not lost a test at Lords. Impressive; is it not? But don’t ever right off the West Indies. Weather permitting; change could be on the way. Under Sarwan they say they are fired up to prove a point. Who knows at back of their minds maybe manager Findley’s mission for a 100% win this series. Or could it be they are bent on proving that whereas they have been loosing with king Laura (they have not as much as smelt victory in their last 15 tests) they can now win without him.
We must have the makings of a good, good series. Two below par teams fighting for survival. What could be better?
England look to be starting as favourites. In their favour is the fact that so far this century they have not lost a test at Lords. Impressive; is it not? But don’t ever right off the West Indies. Weather permitting; change could be on the way. Under Sarwan they say they are fired up to prove a point. Who knows at back of their minds maybe manager Findley’s mission for a 100% win this series. Or could it be they are bent on proving that whereas they have been loosing with king Laura (they have not as much as smelt victory in their last 15 tests) they can now win without him.
We must have the makings of a good, good series. Two below par teams fighting for survival. What could be better?
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