2008 November 10

Happy Hour Drinking to be Banned

November 10, 2008 By laurendrum Leave a Comment

By Lauren Drummond

Happy hours, cheap drink promotions and price discounts in supermarkets are to be banned in an effort to combat alcohol fuelled violence in the city centres.

The legislation in England and Wales could introduce a minimum price on alcohol. MP’s will be said to taking inspiration from Scotland’s new licensing laws which include the power to fix alcohol prices and to stop promotions and happy hours, as Ministers in Edinburgh say they might seek to set a minimum price on drink.

Supermarkets selling alcohol at a loss is a huge contributing factor to England and Wales binge drinking problem, in 2007 alcohol was 69 per cent more affordable in Britain than in 1980, which in return is causing an increase of 25 per cent in violent crimes committed between 3am and 6am, with 45 per cent of victims of violence say their assailant was under the influence of alcohol.

Alcohol related admissions to hospitals for children under ten years old is particularly high in England. Government figures have revealed today that a child under ten is admitted every three days. Between 2002 and 2007 a total of 648 under-tens and more than 24,000 under 16’s were admitted into hospital with alcohol related problems.

Lib Dem culture spokesman Don Foster said the Government had “completely failed” to tackle Britain’s “growing alcohol problem”.

He has went on to urge ministers to conduct a review of the systems which should be preventing children getting their hands on alcohol, he commented “For so many children of such a young age to be hospitalised is scandalous”.

He has called for a complete change on Britain’s drinking culture to be changed to prevent a whole generation to be condemned to serious alcohol-related illnesses.

However many clubs and pubs are promoting cheaper drink offers than ever before which is fuelling Britain’s binge drinking culture. Last Wednesday evening Escapade a club in Newport south Wales, held an event that included a drinks promotion that just cost £5 for five hours of unlimited drinking. Hundreds of student customers attended the event, which will be repeating on the same night this week.

The manager of the club Mr Steven Dew has defended the night saying that it is not encouraging binge drinking and that the event will definitely not be the last.

Alcohol and drug support agency Prism condemned the promotion and urged local people to complain so the local authority could reconsider its licensing of such an event.

Director Melanie Perry said: “ He is clearly promoting excessive drinking through this practice”.

The possible solution to target Binge Drinking in England and Wales would be a legislation setting a minimum price on alcohol however this has already resulted in criticism from sensible drinkers saying that not everyone should be penalised in a attempt to deter “drunken louts”.

However there is evidence that these measures of banning happy hours, cheap drinks and discounts in supermarkets may not tackle Britain’s binge drinking culture with these measures taking place in Ireland already which have seemed to have little or no effect.

New call for Shetland Independence

November 10, 2008 By graemesg Leave a Comment

By Graeme Gardiner

Shetland is looking to independence in a bid to provide a more profitable economy for the islands and its arts.

The idea of devolution is not new for the island situated 60 miles north of John o’Groats. This time however the calls have more weight as they come from one of their most influential voices, the Convenor of Shetland Council, Mr Cluness.

He believes that in order for Shetland to prosper and to stop its declining population is to improve the economic stability of the island and its arts. A viable solution for this would be independence for the island, as this would allow tax rates to be altered to suit their needs.

Mr Cluness said: “What these islands need are viable, profitable economies and one way you can create that is through the ability to vary rates of taxes. In the 21st century there must be some way that the government could look at a different status for Shetland,”

The Shetland Islands, which consists of 100 islands of which 8 are occupied, is looking to close neighbour the Faroe Islands as an example. They have been home governed since becoming independent from Denmark in 1948 and have had a steady rise in population since then.

In June this year, its sole resident Stewart Hill declared a small Shetland Island independent. He lives on the 1.5 acre Forvik in a tent and has set up his own currency, stamp and flag. Mr Hill is exempt from all taxes and hopes that the other islanders will see what they could have and go for independence.

He said: “By declaring Forvik a crown dependency I am simply re-establishing the correct legal relationship between this part of Shetland and the crown. By doing so I will prove that Shetland as a whole can get the same benefits and more – simply by asserting rights that already exist.”

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: independence, shetland

News in Brief

November 10, 2008 By magskearns1 Leave a Comment

by Margaret Kearns and Alexandre Tregre

Scottish hospitals to fight MRSA with “fresh air machines”

Scottish hospitals are to trial the use of Air Disinfection machines aimed at combatting the spread of the superbug MRSA. The clean air machines, devised by Mid-States Technology, have already proved successful in Sunderland Royal Hospital and are destined for Edinburgh, Dumfries and Galloway.

Obama team to meet Bush today for transition talks

Obama takes his first steps into the Oval office today to meet with Bush at the White House for a discussion on the transition of power. Head of Obama’s team John Podesta indicated yesterday a strong urgency to make reversals on many of Bush’s executive decisions on oil and gas drilling and stem cell research, amongst others.

Government advice to women: stop taking the pill

The Scottish government are to commence a new strategy urging women to forsake the contraceptive pill in favour of longer lasting methods of birth control such as implants or injections. The move is set to combat the rising abortion rate in Scotland with £270,000 a year earmarked for spending on the initiative.

First Lockerbie payouts made to families in U.S.

$500m has been paid to the U.S. families who lost loved ones in 1988′s Lockerbie bombing. The compensation money came from a $1.5bn Libyan Government payout issued to the U.S. in August which also incorporates the victims of bomb attacks in Germany in 1986. The Libyan government denies responsibility in the attacks but has taken the step in order improve its diplomatic relationship with the U.S.

Sat Nav for the blind developed by Glasgwegian

A blind man has invented Loadstone, an innovative new satellite navigation system for the blind. Monty Lilburn, 33 developed the mapping software which can be downloaded to a mobile phone and delivers useful directions and information on bustops, road crossings, cash machines, journey times and train stations.

Scottish man clubbed to death in Barcelona

Lanarkshire man Derek Cowan was found, having been clubbed to death at his business partner’s Barcelona home. British police have revealed Cowan may have been involved in illegal share dealing. Spanish police investigating the murder have refused to comment on the link and are continuing the search for Navy officer William Madley who is was to have met with the victim on the day of his death.

Russian sub accident claims 20 lives, 21 more critically injured

The trail run of a new Russian submarine has ended in tragedy in the Sea of Japan after a fire safety system malfunctioned by emitting freon gas, killing 17 civilians and 3 seamen amongst the 208 on board. A further 21 people are critically injured in hospital. President Medvedev has called for a thorough investigation of the accident.

New Labour party leader attacks Salmond

After winning his new position as Labour party leader, Ian Gray launched a verbal attack on SNP First Minister Alex Salmond. Mr. Gray became the fifth Scottish Labour leader since the devolution began. Following his victory he gave a speech that projected unfortunate feelings toward Salmond claiming that, “we don’t need a First Minister who takes pride in putting people down.”

Doctors’ mistakes kill thousands

According to updated research it is suggested that doctors mistakes’ kill tens of thousands of patients at a cost of £300m a year in the United Kingdom. In Scotland alone such mistakes affect up to 50,000 patients. Unfortunately, up to 90% of medical errors are not accounted for. Such errors can include misdiagnoses and prescribing incorrect medications.

Weekend carnage on the roads as little boy dies in car smash

Four people have died on Scotland’s roads this past weekend including a seven year old boy from Peebles. Benjamin Paton and his dad Allan were involved in a road collision on the A9 near Perth which resulted in the death of the boy whose father was also seriously injured in the two car smash. The lives of three other men were also lost when a car left the road and two cars collided in Aberdeenshire and Ayrshire respectively.

Filed Under: Uncategorized, World In Depth Tagged With: Barcelona Murder, Contraceptive, Doctors, Labour party, Lockerbie, MRSA, Obama, Roads, Sat Nav, Submarine deaths

New Drug to Combat HeartDisease

November 10, 2008 By olivertcgy Leave a Comment

By Oliver Graham-Yooll

NHS rethinks guidelines as international drug trial shows statins to prevent heart disease.

The study that included 17, 800 men and women, who were described as having normal cholesterol levels, discovered that the drug rosuvastatin reduced the threat of heart attacks and strokes. Funded by AstraZeneca.

These results published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed that currently statins are only offered to patients at high risk of cardiovascular disease.

The report used patients that had normal cholesterol levels but increased levels of C-reactive protein, which is believed to be a marker of future cardiovascular problems.

Over a space of 2 years it was found that 20mg of rosuvastatin was found to cut Cholesterol by 50%, C-reactive protein by 37% and reducing the chances of heart disease by 44%.

Dr Terry McCormack, a GP in Whitby, North Yorkshire, and ex-chairman of the Primary Care Cardiovascular Society, said the results were “astonishing”

“These are people who have an intermediate risk and you wouldn’t normally prescribe statins for them in the UK,” he said.

The drugs already cost the NHS budget around £500 million pounds a year. With a change of guidelines to cover a wider range of society costs to the NHS could go into the billions.

As a preventative medicine the saving to the British economy may outweigh the cost.

Professor Roger Boyle, the government’s National Director for Heart Disease in England described the plans to increase the distribution.

He stated: “The number could at least double from roughly 3 million at the moment taking statin drugs to certainly 6 or 7 million people.”

Dr Stephen Fox, a GP from Leigh in Lancashire voiced doubts over possible side affects caused by statins in over 75 year olds.

He said: “At some point you have to ask where is the line going to be drawn – does absolutely everybody have to be on these?”

Filed Under: Science and Technology

No more subsidised housing for life

November 10, 2008 By lizziebeattie Leave a Comment

By Lizzie Beattie

Residents of affordable housing will no longer be guaranteed subsidised rent for life under new Whitehall plans to cut waiting lists.

People living in council houses were previously promised low rent for life, and in some cases could even pass the home on to their children. Under new proposals tenants would be subject to checks every three to four years. If their situations had improved in this time residents would be encouraged to move to the private sector. If they refused, they could face higher rents closer to market value.

There is also a suggestion that the right to a council home would be dependent on the tenant either having or actively seeking employment.

New Housing Minister Margaret Beckett is considering these proposals in an attempt lower the huge numbers of people on waiting lists for council homes. At present there are 1.6 million households on the waiting list for affordable housing and only 170 000 homes becoming available each year.

Currently, councils must find housing immediately for extreme cases such as pregnant women, people with dependent children, those aged 16-17 and those leaving the Armed Forces. The new plans will closely scrutinise these groups to cut out abuse such as parents claiming irreconcilable differences with their children to help them to obtain a council house.

The plans have come under sharp criticism from some sectors. Adan Sampson, Shelter’s chief executive said: “At a time when unemployment is rising sharply it would be perverse of the government to mount an attack on social housing.”

A government spokesman was quick to respond stating that Margaret Beckett was merely considering the evidence at present and that no decisions would be made until the new year.

Grant Shapps, the Shadow Housing Minister siad that the government had created their own crisis, stating:” The Conservative Party built an average 40 000 affordable homes while in office, but under Labour this dropped to 22 000.”

Filed Under: Life and Society Tagged With: Council housing

Irish Dancers are Champions in Scotland

November 10, 2008 By roisin17 Leave a Comment

By Roisin Brady

Dancers from the McLaughlin School, Glasgow.

Glasgow was taken over by trophies and treble reels this weekend, as the Scottish qualifiers for the World Irish Dancing Championship took place.

The preliminary competition was held at The Cooper Institute in Clarkston, beginning Friday and concluding with a final Winners Parade on Sunday evening.

Participants were competing to earn a place at next year’s World Championship, which will be held in Philadelphia. It will be the first time since the event began in 1970 that it will take place outside the UK. Glasgow hosted the Championship in April of last year.

The event also raised money for pupils of Holyrood Secondary School, who are travelling to Malawi next year to build classrooms and a teaching area for African children with special needs.

Filed Under: Entertainment, Sports Tagged With: Championship, Clarkston, Glasgow, Irish Dancing

Millions gather for Remembrance Day

November 10, 2008 By kathleen09 Leave a Comment

By Kathleen Oliver

Yesterday, Remembrance Day proceedings were held in cities across Britain. Millions of people gathered to remember service men and women who have laid down their lives in past and present wars.

The Queen led proceedings yesterday

In London, the Queen led proceedings at the Cenotaph where political leaders also gathered to reflect on Britain’s war dead. A two minute silence was held at 11am. Other members of the Royal Family laid wreaths.

In Edinburgh, at the cities Stone of Remembrance First Minister Alex Salmond laid a wreath and later attended a ceremony at St Giles’ Cathedral.

Since last year’s Remembrance Day Britain has lost forty four soldiers. It is also significant that this year, it is the 90th anniversary of the Armistice that ended World War One in 1918. The red poppies appear to be even more poignant this year.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Remembrance Sunday, The Queen

A Scottish Summer as the BAFTAS Come To Town

November 10, 2008 By roisin17 Leave a Comment

Robert Carlyle arrives at City Halls last night with his wife, Anastasia Shirley, for the Scottish Baftas

By Roisin Brady

Robert Carlyle’s new low budget film Summer won the top awards at the Scottish Baftas last night, held in Glasgow.

The film, directed by Kenny Glenaan, was awarded Best Feature and Best Director at the star-studded ceremony. Carlyle arrived with his wife, Anastasia Shirley, used his moment in the spotlight to deliver a damning message about the lack of funding being brought into the Scottish film industry.

Discussing his new film The Meat Trade, a rumoured sequel to Trainspotting, Carlyle said that production on the film had been halted, stating “It’s an all-round problem. There’s no money anywhere to make anything. It’s stupid at the moment to complain about it because everybody is in the s*** in various different ways.”

However, he also declared that Summer was a perfect example of the raw talent that could be showcased when money is invested.

Other winners on the night were Brian Cox who won Best Acting Performance for his role in The Escapist and Lorraine Kelly, who was voted Most Popular Scottish Presenter.

Kelly, who attended the ceremony with her daughter, was delighted with her prize. “People actually took the time and trouble to vote for me and if you look at the category, if you look at the people I was up against, they were all so brilliant.

“There are some legends in there, so that makes it even more special.”

The event was hosted by Radio One DJ Edith Bowman, who presented the awards in front of 800 people in Glasgow’s City Halls.

Filed Under: Entertainment, Uncategorized Tagged With: Baftas, Brian Cox, City Halls, Edith Bowman, Robert Carlyle, Scotland

Green’s plan to ruin Resorts Trump card

November 10, 2008 By graemesg Leave a Comment

By Graeme Gardiner

Donald Trump’s £1bn North East golf resort faces more opposition, despite plans being accepted by Scottish officials last week after a year of rejection.

Environmental activists are vowing to stand in the way of the course, in the Menie estate north of Aberdeen, ever being allowed to stage the British open. This would cost Trump millions of pounds in lost ticket revenue and stop him from achieving one of the greatest honours for a golf course.

Groups such as the ramblers association and the RSPB plan to meet up and discuss the different ways that they can go about opposing Trump’s plans. One possible tactic includes lobbying the owners of all the Major events to freeze Trump out of any future competitions.

The course has faced opposition from when Trump first proposed it two years ago and was originally rejected by the Aberdeenshire council on the grounds it would be damaging to the ecological grounds it is based on.

Martin Ford, the liberal democrat councillor who helped reject the original plans last year said: “This is a very, very bad precedent indeed and sends out a bad message about the protection in Scotland of our natural heritage sites.”

The Scottish Government decided to step in after the original rejection and last week gave Trump the go ahead. Scottish Prime Minister Alex Salmond publicly backed the course and stated:

“In tough economic times, substantial investment of this kind is at a premium. Six thousand jobs, including 1,400 which will be local and permanent, is a powerful argument,”

The resort will be comprised of two world class golf courses, a golf academy, 950 timeshare flats and 36 villas, the construction of all this is expected to generate 60,000 jobs and the course is said to generate an extra £63 million revenue for Aberdeen.

Filed Under: Life and Society Tagged With: golf, menie, trump

Deadly Toys In Scottish Shops

November 10, 2008 By olivertcgy Leave a Comment

By Oliver Graham-Yooll

Magnetic toys that have killed one child and left several injured have been found on sale in Scottish shops as Christmas gifts.

The plastic building blocks ‘Magnetix’ construction sets contain strong magnets, which when swallowed can connect in the stomach causing severe injures, Doctors have likened these injuries to those of knife wounds or gun shots.

The death of 20-month-old Kenny Sweeney was as a result of ingesting magnets that had fallen out of building blocks. The magnets connected inside his stomach causing his intestines to twist, which to septic shock.

His mother stated: “It does say there is a choking hazard on the toys.

“But they don’t say it causes serious injury or death, which is the kind of warning they need to have.”

The product was recalled from American stores following the death in 2006.

In spite of this, the toys have been found on sale in Scottish toyshops and available to be bought online.

This follows record numbers of toys being recalled over the summer, 18 million Batman, Polly Pocket and Doggy Daycare toys were taken off shelves due to containing hazardous magnets.

Since 2006 several injures across America have been reported caused by the magnets. Surgeons describe the injuries as “essentially a gunshot or stab wound”

The spokesman for Megabrand, the company that owned ‘Megnetix’, stated that:
“No global safety standard is as high as the Megabrands standard. Most companies just test products when they have been made but we are constantly testing them from the design onwards.”

In the UK the organisation that represents the major Toy companies called for toys containing magnets to carry clear warnings.

Despite many toys being banned from UK shelves, in the run up to Christmas it will still be possible to buy these hazardous toys online, which poses a continued threat.

Filed Under: Life and Society, Uncategorized

Policeman’s dad lay dead in hedges for 10 weeks

November 10, 2008 By lizziebeattie Leave a Comment

Lothian and Borders Police headquarters

By Lizzie Beattie

The father of an Edinburgh policeman lay dead in hedges ten feet away from his front door as police spent ten weeks searching for him.

Alan Goulden was last seen on August 30th walking his dog outside his Maybury flat. Police used search dogs, divers, horse patrol and sent missing persons posters all over Scotland. But he was found in bushes less than ten feet away from his front door on Friday 7th by a member of the public.

Police also spent several days searching the area around Alan’s Maybury flat after his disappearance, and neighbour Diane Falcnor said: “They flattened the hedges just around the corner. But the ones where they are today weren’t flattened.” She added, “You think if someone was missing this would be the first place they would look.”

Alan Goulden’s son is a detective inspector for Lothian and Borders police but Graham Goulden was forced to take a backseat in the investigation.

Police have now ordered an inquiry into the whole operation. Deputy Chief Constable Bill Skelly said: “It is hugely important for the family, the public and my own staff that a transparent and independent review be carried out.” Adding that an officer from Strathclyde police would conduct the inquiry.

Alan Goulden was diabetic, and had left home without his insulin on the day he dissappeared. At the time of going to press, police were treating his death as “unexplained.”

Filed Under: Courts and Crime Tagged With: Alan Goulden

UK Places Importance on Sustainability

November 10, 2008 By alextregre Leave a Comment

sustainable development

by: Alexandra Tregre

Recycle, conserve and sustain! These words have become all too familiar in the ever-developing United Kingdom where these countries strive to keep their environmental footprints to a minimum.

Statistics provided yesterday by league tables project that Bristol has become the new recycling capital of the UK. Bristol beat out the former recycling capital of Brighton and Hove which was rated highest for the quality of life, yet fell to second place in the recycling category due to a poorer performance on the environment.

Interestingly, data provides that there seems to be a north-south divide with regards to the quality of life. Southern cities prove to perform better in this category.

Scotland’s highest ranking city on the recycling index is Edinburgh. Edinburgh ranked sixth place as a sustainable city and beat out other popular cities in the United Kingdom such as Sheffield and London. Peter Madden, chief executive of the Forum for the Future, said Britain should be an ‘inspiration’ for other countries.

Although Edinburgh is ranked sixth in comparison to other cities in the United Kingdom, it is certain that this city will aspire to rank higher in the future, perhaps edging out rivals such as Bristol and Newcastle (ranked 4th this year). The Edinburgh Sustainable Development Partnership (ESDP) works as a voluntary and private sector organization that comes together to promote such sustainability in Edinburgh.

Sustainable development currently does not have a precise definition but tends to “seek a balance of economic, social and environmental concerns in order to ensure a quality of life both now and in the future,” according to the ESDP. Therefore, the main goals of this organization are based on raising an awareness and interest in the subject and to work with other organizations such as the Edinburgh Partnership Group to actually establish sustainable development in Edinburgh. Everyone, even you can help Edinburgh rise in the rankings for next year!

Filed Under: Life and Society Tagged With: Edinburgh, sustainability