| The secret scandal of the refugee beggars
As individuals one can't help feeling extremely sorry for the plights of these people. But the fact of the matter is that they are economic refugees, drawn to this already overcrowded country of Britain through its (in this context) unenviable reputation as a liberal and caring society. What on earth is an epileptic Eritrean doing here? What on earth are the thousands of Romas, West Africans and others actually doing here in the first place. It's time for a very serious re-think of our immigration and asylum laws. The short answer is to put them straight back on the transport they arrived in, or if that's not possible, get them back to their country of origin one way or another ASAP - otherwise, we'll continue to grow our population by a city the size of Aberdeen every 6 months: and that's just not on, because we can't afford it.
The asylum alternatives: proposals for reform
Measures to deal with human rights abuses and persecution in countries of origin are vital. We must recognise that it is not Britain or Europe, but poor countries, which receive the vast majority of the world's displaced people, and that they need concrete assistance." Neil Gerrard, Labour MP for Walthamstow, Chair, All Party Parliamentary Group on Refugees 'Pragmatically, asylum policy cannot be too far ahead of the public's attitudes. However, the current balance between control and integration, emphasizing the former at the expense of the latter, is counter-productive. In reality, very many applicants will in any case stay, and this should be accepted. Energy and resources spent on locating and expelling unsuccessful applicants, for example, or on selective incarceration, could be better used improving applicants' social and economic integration: eg.
University Presses Take Their Stand
While those points express skepticism, another part of the paper suggests a broadening of the open access concept. "Open access need not be limited to journals," the presses state. And while applying the model to monographs would create another set of issues for university presses (the paper notes that only 17-20 percent of publishing costs for monographs are on manufacturing), there might also be models that mix print and online, open access and fees, the paper suggests. It adds that it would be "unwise not to explore the implications of open access for all fields of knowledge lest an unfortunate new ‘digital divide’ should arise between fields and between different types of publishing." Underlying the specific issues raised, the paper says that university presses could function in open access in the "gift economy" model (in which they aren’t expected to generate revenue streams that would disappear), but that policy makers need to recognize the extent to which this represents a shift from the current model, which even if it includes subsidies, is a market economy.
Big tour hopefuls ease into action
AFTER journeys lasting up to three days, cyclists from the Tour Down Under's top team were eager to stretch their legs when they arrived in Adelaide yesterday. Denmark's CSC, last year's top ProTour team, were without Australian lead man Stuart O'Grady on their ride from the city to Outer Harbor and back, via Glenelg. O'Grady, who has been riding in the national road cycling championships in Ballarat, took a day off to spend time with his family. He will arrive in Adelaide this morning. Spanish team Caisse D'Epargne also arrived yesterday and rode to Outer Harbor via West Beach and back, led by lead rider Luis Leon Sanchez. CSC's Kurt Asle Arvesen said he was relieved to be on his bike after a marathon journey from Norway to Adelaide.
Eric Halvorson's Blog
Today, in our 5 o'clock newscast we offered some ideas for enjoying a "green" Christmas. In that case, the Natural Resources Defense Council offered ideas comparable to others I heard earlier in the day from the Sierra Club. A spokesman for the club says, between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, we generate an extra five million tons of garbage - and a lot of it is probably wrapping paper that can't be recycled. That's why the NRDC and the Sierra Club encourage alternatives to wrapping paper. For certain people, old maps would be a great idea. (My dad, for example, would probably enjoy the map as much as the gift inside it.) A member of the Sierra Club says you might try something like butcher paper and have kids draw something on the paper. Club members also suggest making the wrapping part of the gift - such as in a scarf or a decorative box that can be re-used in some way.
The most influential Britons in America: 30-21
American Idol, which Lythgoe produces, is the most popular show on American TV. A former dancer-choreographer from the Wirral, Lythgoe's British television career included directing the Muppets' dance routines and, as a BBC light entertainment executive, producing Bobby Davro.
Lythgo hit a rather bigger time when he moved to Los Angeles as the British invaded the US schedules with reality television. Lythgoe's current girlfriend is Priscilla Presley. 25. JOE WRIGHT
Film director .
Man of the Year
Q The United States is not that helpless. It could have stopped the bombardment of Lebanon. We have that much control with the Israelis. MR. SNOW: I don't think so, Helen. Q We have gone for collective punishment against all of Lebanon and Palestine. MR. SNOW: What's interesting, Helen -- Q And this is what's happening, and that's the perception of the United States. MR. SNOW: Well, thank you for the Hezbollah view,... Posted by Michael Goldfarb at 06:31 PM | Permalink | E-mail the author | E-mail article .
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