The Slave Trade and the Burns Night Celebration Bind

Burns Night, celebrated by Scots in Scotland and around the world on or around January 25th, marks the annual commemoration of Scotland's national bard (poet) Robert Burns, who was born January 25th 1759.

Leading up to the annual celebration, media outlets will present the public with selective facts, eulogises, quizzes and even recipes encouraging all (even non-Scots) to pay tribute to Burns' legacy.

However, amongst the plethora of lauding there is little mention regarding Burns' plans and ticket purchase to emigrate to the slave plantations of Jamaica in order to make a fortune as a 'negro driver'.  Not only was such a degenerate ambition in stark contrast to the perception of Burns as a champion of freedom, but it is also the likely reason why this, make-or-break topic concerning his seeming approval of the slave trade, is so neatly avoided by mainstream media channels.  

The paradoxical twist that potentially lacerates this revered Caledonian is further explored in a rare and insightful article by Ian Allison of the International Business Times:

Paradoxical Bard

The End of the road for affordable housing? or a national crusade to transform generation rent into generation buy?

As the 2016 mayoral elections loom in May, both Labour's candidate Sadiq Khan and the Conservative's candidate Zac Goldsmith have identified housing as one of the key issues that need addressing if either are to win. Therefore it seems housing has been seen as the battle ground for votes. There has been much criticism of the Conservative Governments Housing Bill from Labour's Sadiq Khan  and also perhaps surprisingly Zac Goldsmith has also suggested it needs reforming. There is no doubt both parties are putting there own spin on this to suit there own agenda. However questions must be asked about the future of housing as it is such a pivotal issue regardless of politics.

1. Is it an attempt by the Conservatives to keep those communities impoverished?

2. Is it an attempt by the Conservatives to transform a generation of renters into a generation of buyers?

3. What will be the impact of such a Housing Bill?

4. Do Labour have a viable alternative?

Who wants to teach?

Time again successive governments have stated how education is important and how children are the future of our society. Though Governments state how they respect teaching some questions need to be asked:

1. Should there be more to reward the people who are in charge of teaching Britain's future? 

2. Why is there such a shortage in teaching?

3. Is this teaching shortage reflected in the private sector?

Read the full article here

Is parliament a safe haven from the law?

In the Houses of Parliament (aka the Palace of Westminster),  to uphold the law of the land the police have to seek the permission of the Black Rod, an unelected official whose role dates back 4 centuries. But who is the Black Rod and why does his office appear to be above the law?

Read the article here.

PSHE and SRE to be compulsory in all state schools.

 



MP's have banded together to put pressure on the educational secretary Nicky Morgan to make personal, social and health education (PSHE) and sex and relationship education (SRE) compulsory in all state schools. MPs argue PSHE provide pupils with the "knowledge and confidence to make decisions which will affect their wellbeing and relationships, both now and in the future”, statements like these are rarely going to attract opposition, such is there broadness and ambiguity. 

There are a few questions to ask here:
1. With an ever crowded curriculum will teachers even have the time to deliver a compulsory PSHE and SRE curriculum?
2. Will this apply to private schools? Why/ why not? 
3. What do teachers think about this, seeing as they will have to deliver this? 
4. Is this a genuine child centred proposal or a way for ministers to score political points of one another? 

Let's wait and see what the outcome of this is, as schools up and down the country wait for a robust response from the DFE. 

Which country had the best performing stock market in 2015 (Brace yourself you will be in for a shock)?

You may assume America, China, one of the well know European nations or perhaps even India. However you would be incorrect to assume any of these... Brace your self as The Reggae Boys surprise us all. What are we to conclude from these results?

2016 off with a bang!

Whilst mainstream media media has had our starry eyes fixated on flag carrying bandits in some far away desert....

Today's H-bomb test comes just a day after tabloid spin about World War 3 and within months of  reports of Kim Jong-un, North Korea's 'supreme leadership', saying he was "ready for war with U.S. Imperialists".

But how should Jong-un, ridiculed in the 2014 movie The Interview,  be perceived: as merely grandstanding, a masquerade figurehead, controlled opposition, scapegoat, or a real threat?