Tag Archives: #HeadlineTherapy

#HeadlineTherapy China approves ‘ethnic unity’ law requiring minorities to learn Mandarin

Thanks to Laura Bicker , China Correspondent and BBC Online News.

I was fascinated to learn that the Chinese Government , using a Government Structure which allows them to pass a Law making it compulsory for all school children to learn Mandarin. It was passed without any opposition through the National People’s Congress in Beijing which was inevitable as this structure is basically a rubber stamp.

To be honest all Governments work this way, if they have a Policy that they want to implement , it will go through in a way that means it will be passed. We all know that even in our Government, Bills have been pushed through, stopped and even Budgets allocated through Fast Track Systems which later seemed erroneous.

However, this particular Law , is to force everyone to learn and use Mandarin which is the language used by the dominant “Han” culture in China. “Han” Chinese make up more than 90% of the 1.4 billion of the population of China. Surprisingly, my experience is that they can try and make people learn something but there is no guarantee they will be able to and also if as they say knowing Mandarin( much like knowing English over here )will help them interact more in a Society dominated by “Han” Chinese what indeed is the problem? Well the problem might be Mandarin itself. Not an easy language to master I would think.

The UK’s crazy reform loving ” send them back where they came from” brigade believe that not speaking English is tantamount to not wanting to integrate. Those who have no interest in speaking English and wish to maintain their cultural heritage whatever it is” can go back home” . So I really see a double standard here.

The Chinese are saying that Mandarin is compulsory because it is necessary in a Country where 90% of the population speak and write it. Language and Culture can be maintained and survive where the will is there. Irish Gaelic has thrived , yet it is spoken alongside English and the same applies to the Welsh and there are probably many examples throughout the World of peoples keeping their languages and dialects alive through usage.

In our increasingly digital world and our need to predict people’s behaviour which has become part and parcel of the Silicon Valley Dream World; is it so strange that China would seek to achieve a 100% Mandarin fluent population , to make sure every Citizen can operate fully in their Country.

Will they really use heavy handed techniques to force high grades of achievement on the children who are struggling, will they blame their parents? Reality says I think that is highly unlikely, but there will be clever children who realise that learning a language does not stop them from knowing their culture or indeed knowing many languages. So in essence I don’t find this a scary, autocratic option , but actually quite rational. I wish them success .

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#HeadlineTherapy It’s time to Give Annibale Carracci Some of Rembrandt’s Spotlight.

Thanks to Annika Olsen of Artnet News Online for the Headline.

“The Three Carracci”, founders of an inspirational art school in Bologna Italy in the 16th Century. Annibale Carraci the elder of the three brothers was the driving force behind the school and also a very influential artist. His style championed “naturalism” and was influenced by Northern Italian Renaissance painters like Titian.

This style became popular in genre paintings in later periods and though Rembrandt and Carracci could never have met; being separated by land and time. Rembrandt owned some pieces of Carracci or at least attributed to Carracci and would have known his work. Rembrandt had many influences.

Sadly, as with everything, but more particularly progress in Art, the past is sometimes forgotten and Annibale Carraci’s work in developing his school as well as producing some very memorable “naturalistic” paintings along with developing the methods of producing them perhaps have been overlooked. His visceral style and techniques certainly persists in modern painting today and there is strong evidence that he influenced the great masters of Europe, maybe even Rembrandt.

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#HeadlineTherapy Epstein had two key aides -why do they still control his money and secrets?

Thanks to Chi Chi Izundu,Olivia Davies and Will Dahlgreen of BBC Online News for the Headline.

The article even uses the phrase that I’m very fond of promoting , follow the money , wherever it ends up is the motivator or motivation for criminal activity if such behaviour occurred.

What puzzles me is that the two key aides, Richard Kahan and Darren Indyke who incidentally have rarely been photographed in public have gone about their business as book-keepers to the wealthy receiving large amounts of funds from the Epstein Estate apparently to pay off some of the victims but also to take significant salaries in their role of administrators of the estate.

They are like faceless nameless bankers who facilitated transactions for Epstein’s business’s. The business’s were legitimate; they claim; on the whole, providing in some cases domestic staff for rich clients and each business paid their taxes as necessary which they accomodated. One small fly in the ointment may have been cashing cheques at various banks so as not to attract the suspicion of money laundering. So were they money laundering?

Well there you go , we all wonder how the rich do what they do, without aides they wouldn’t be able to do anything. Would they?

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#HeadlineTherapy Turkey’s Erdogan has tough, no-nonsense reputation- and his message on Iran war is clear.

Thanks to Alex Crawford from Sky News Online for the Headline

Two quotes from President Edrogan in this article struck me.

” I emphasise again that the war should be ended without spreading further in our region.”

and also that

” We do not accept the Middle East geography to be put on the operating table just like a century ago.”

President Edrogan has referred to the other Countries including Iran in the Middle East as “brotherly countries”, an expression to me that says Edrogan knows what is at stake should the disruption thrust upon the area continue and regretfully gets worse.

Erdogan has the best chance of ensuring the Iranians officially contain their revenge, but has no chance with the inevitable ire generated by the fanaticism of an extreme Iranian regime populated by tarantula like factions ready to spread their venom against those who they see as “infidels” but who are in fact innocent populations just wanting to live in harmony.

Land is to be lived in and what does it matter who owns it as long as it is looked after. I’m relieved that Turkey is in Nato, and that they are taking as many steps as possible to reduce tension and have been quite clear to the Americans that Turkish Air Space cannot be used to attack Iran.

I feel President Tayyip Erdogan is one hope that we have, hopefully there are others, but the biggest threat from Iran and America is unpredictability and that even strong Statesmanship cannot always cope with.

Peace without Terror

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#HeadlineTherapy Dancers loved practising in this Singapore walkway. Then the complaints came.

Thanks to Kelly Ng and BBC News Online for the Headline

Singapore is a land-scarce country with more than 8,300 people jostling for each (square?)kilometre. Dance studios are expensive , so budding dancers have got used to practising their moves on a public walk way in a train station which very innovatively has floor to ceiling mirrors that reflect the dancers and thus enable them to perfect their “moves”.

It isn’t really unreasonable for normal commuters to complain, to be honest , art is fine , but to have art thrust upon you when all you are trying to do is get through your day can be irritating. The Landowners have frosted the mirrors and so the dancers cannot practice and have had to find another quieter area, with the same big mirrors which unfortunately is less atmospheric.

However, the article is more about how Singapore sees itself, is it too organised?

Should it loosen the controls on use of public areas. I’m not so sure, when there is little space you have to consider everyone needs, obviously don’t waste space but at the same time ensure people’s welfare by having spaces that they can use and are beneficial to everyone, not just dancers.

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#HeadlineTherapy Labour whip restored to farm tax plan rebel MP

Thank to Richard Moss and Pamela Tickell of BBC Online News for the Headline

A Cumbrian MP , Markus Campbell-Savours was suspended from the Labour Party for opposing increases to inheritance tax on farmers . The Government at the time was pushing for a limit of Β£1million on inheritance tax but they have now had a rethink and have decided the threshold of Β£2.5 million will remain.

Campbell-Savours was caught up in the furore of the Government’s heavy handed approach of insisting that MP’s supported the changes despite farmers ( who make up a significant number of his consitituents) being against it.

He felt he had to vote against the Government, and his Party, and as a result he was suspended and became for the few months of his suspension effectively an Independent MP, without the backing of the Labour Party.

Much has changed within the Labour Party in the last few months, and I for one am relieved that the cult of “Peter Mandleson” has gone and hopefully there is more respect for people who actually do the “right ” thing for their constituents and also the modesty that was expressed by the MP who said that his suspension had not been a pleasant experience and one he does not want to make a habit of doing , though ,representing the wishes of his constituents is what he was there to do.

Such a refreshing bit of news about our Parliament , that there are still people who will stand up against policies they disagree with even at great personal cost.

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#HeadlineTherapy Norwegian influencer buys failed property development in Spain to build ‘self-sufficient’ eco-community

Thanks to Beatriz Olaizola of El Pais 50 Online for the Headline

So what happens to old property developments when they get old and die because they ran out of money, it happens quite a lot, the money flushes around and we wait while someone comes up with a bright idea to resurrect something from the rubble.

The Joya de Planes ( The Jewel of Planes) was one such project with plans for 450 houses beside a reservoir in the mountains of Alicante. Political skullduggery allowed this plot of land to be developed as it was previously owned by a Politician and despite many objections the approval for development was given and disruptive work continued until the property bubble burst in 2008 .The developer had no more funds to complete the work. Under new laws the land has now received protected status due to it’s high environmental value.

Enter in essence a new developer, a Norwegian and her Romanian Husband. They bought the land from a Bank and two private Citizens for an undisclosed sum. They do have plans which they are going to submit to develop an” eco-village”, including a school, shops and even a health centre which will need to be approval in this area of Environmental Interest.

The houses will mainly be attractive to foreigners and the development is likely to take the form of a sort of gated village, separate from the local residents who currently number 700 people. The development has received the support from the local mayor of Planes who also happens to be the deputy chief of the Infrastructure Department of the Regional Government of Valencia.

This project is mainly based on a Social Media Project run by the Norwegian lady who has gendered over 1 million hits and has started selling plots on the proposed development. Little has been agreed by the local villagers.

Surprisingly though the Mayor is already saying that any costs such as street lighting and road maintenance will have to be covered by the New Developers themselves as they local Government will not be able to afford it from their tax revenue.

The development of a Modern Eco -Village is a development by any other name and it remains to be seen what happens to the development and if it does indeed bring any benefits to the local area. Without sound financial backing , I’m not sure it’s going to work.

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#HeadlineTherapy Gas and oil prices soar and shares tumble on fears conflict could escalate

Thanks to Osmond Chia and Natalie Sherman from BBC Online News for the Headline.

The main talk around what is happening in the Middle East in our house centres around prices , that everything will go up and fuel and energy prices which have seemed to have steadied will now become unaffordable. Suddenly the prospect of not being able to do things that we now take for granted comes into play.

In truth , the advisors and analysts can produce as many graphs and detailed comments on the effect on inflation and interest rates as they like. The real effect is that we are being asked to not do things, not travel, not buy what we like from the shops, reduce our consumption, live like monks and not to rely on having any power ( energy wise or voting wise).

Waste is everywhere and certain governments just want to ensure that their War Machines and the Business’s behind them don’t collapse. Forget the little people.

It does feel incredibly unstable and for what reason? The Middle East is incredibly beautiful and it’s big enough land wise for it’s various populations, they need to learn to live together and Western Governments need to stop interfering with their infrastructure and their economies.

Also they need to stop encouraging us to buy Heat Pumps as they are not efficient and we really need to find ways of looking after our consumption of energy more rationally. I predict the traffic on the roads will reduce and having a car will become a luxury. The problem is that business’s and therefore choice will not survive.

The British Government have thought they can take the consumer for a ride , well there’s no more to give or take; with House Prices, Fuel Costs and Education loans, I think most working people are actually broke and looking at their standard of living dropping like a stone.

I saw on the news that President Trump has a rash on his neck, well if I’d got myself into the mess he’s made I think I’d develop a rash too.

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#HeadlineTherapy Bus drivers will ‘resume strike’ on Friday if ‘serious proposal isn’t met by Isle of Man Government.

Thanks to ITVX News online for the headline.

I’ve always been fond of buses and public transport generally , ever since being driven to work by a bus driver who had to deal with heavy snow, take a diversion and pick up passengers who otherwise would have been stranded. In my mind he was as heroic as Indiana Jones.

So I was saddened to read about the Vannin (in my mind Valiant) Bus Drivers on the Isle of Man having to resort to strike action to achieve equal rights for all drivers whether full-time, part-time or casual. When they are working, whatever hours they are doing they are all doing the same job and should be given the same reward.

The dispute relates to fair , consolidated and pensionable pay and requires fairness to be applied. I really don’t think that the Isle of Man Government and Bus Vannin Management have a leg to stand on.

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#HeadlineTherapy Waste firm starts turning used nappies into fuel.

Thanks to Hugh Casswell BBC News Online for the Headline

Using four chambers on a new machine that cost Β£1.5million to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.

The first chamber in the machine will crush the nappy and sanitary waste into a compactable form while the rest of the chambers use aerobic digestion, biology and drying to safely break down the waste and convert it into inert non-organic matter, which can then be burnt and used to create energy. The material that comes out of the process is a kind of floc which can be used as a coal replacement but with a much smaller carbon footprint and of course with no biological nasties.

It sounds a no brainer as the modern nappy and sanitary towel is something that is made not to break down for convenience sake of the user. However, the waste will remain present in landfill for up to 500 years.

It’s estimated that about 400,000 tonnes of nappies are sent to waste every year, heaven knows what the amount of sanitary products are , currently most will end up in landfill.

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