Metropolitan police 'buried' report in 2004 warning of race scandal

Metropolitan police 'buried' report in 2004 warning of race scandal

Scotland Yard veterans claim spiralling crisis triggered by recording of racial abuse was 'accident waiting to happen'

Vikram Dodd

• guardian.co.uk, Friday 6 April 2012 21.07 BST
• Article history

The Metropolitan Police has been criticised by former senior officers following the suspension of eight officers over allegations of racism. Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA

A secret Metropolitan police report warned police chiefs that they needed to take tougher action to stop officers discriminating against black people, and that a failure to do so would threaten a breakdown in community confidence.

The report, obtained by the Guardian, warned top officers that innocent African-Caribbean people were being stopped too often by officers, who wrongly "racially stereotyped" them as criminals.

The report was by Brian Paddick, the Liberal Democrat candidate for London mayor, who was then a Met commander. He says his bosses ignored the warnings made in 2004 and buried the report.

For the past week allegations of racism in the ranks have dogged Scotland Yard's leadership. The Met has been dealing with a growing racism scandal, which was triggered when the Guardian revealed an audio recording of an officer racially abusing a man in east London.

On Thursday the Met said 20 police officers and one staff member were under investigation for alleged racist incidents, and that eight police officers and a civilian worker had been suspended. The allegations include assault, abuse and bullying.

Senior figures with close knowledge of the Met say it was a scandal waiting to happen. Tarique Ghaffur, a former assistant commissioner at Scotland Yard, said: "The leadership took their eye off the ball on racism for some time."

Ghaffur left his post after a race row that engulfed the top of the Met in 2008, suing the force for discrimination but later withdrawing his claim as part of a settlement.

He added: "Racism became more covert, but it is a minority of officers. Bernard Hogan-Howe [the Met commissioner] will take a strong view on this and be proactive, and needs to be." David Michael, a former detective chief inspector and founding member of the National Black Police Association, said the force should use outside help to address police racism.

The sense that this week's crisis has been waiting to happen is strengthened by revelations about Paddick's eight-year-old report. It shows that top officers were warned to be more vigorous in tackling prejudice in the ranks, and told that a failure to do so would cause alienation. The report, written for senior colleagues, was marked "Confidential, not to be circulated or copied", and urged a radical overhaul of stop and search.

The report says officers were racially stereotyping African-Caribbean people as criminals, and thus disproportionately subjecting them to stop and search. It says officers were exercising the power without having the legal requirement of having reasonable suspicion that the person stopped was involved in crime: "Many police officers make the illegitimate step in their minds from 'black people are disproportionately involved in crime' to 'the black person I am about to stop and search is likely to be a criminal' without consideration of the other factors necessary to establish sufficient 'reasonable grounds'.

"This completely understandable mistake amounts to racially stereotyping black people as criminals and this will be portrayed by some of our critics as deliberate police racism of the 'racial hatred' variety."

African-Caribbean people are more likely to be victims rather than perpetrators of crime, the report adds. "In fact, a small minority of black people are committing a large number of criminal offences whilst the vast majority of black people are law-abiding (and there are sound socio-economic reasons why that small minority are drawn into crime). With black people also disproportionately represented amongst victims of crime, a young black person stopped and searched at random is statistically more likely to have been a victim of crime than be a currently active criminal."

The report's warning that a failure to change could lead to alienation was prescient given the fact that inquiries into last summer's riots cite anger at police stop and search as a factor.

Paddick said if stop and search continued to be used excessively against ethnic minority communities, "the 'outcome' is continued and accelerating discontent amongst minority communities and the danger of alienating significant sections of society".

Hogan-Howe said in January that he wanted the arrest rate from all stop and searches to increase from 6% – the lowest for an urban force – to 20%. Paddick said yesterday: "For years the Met leadership have been refusing to admit it. In 2004 it was obvious we had a problem with racism, but nothing was done about it. If the Met had addressed stop and search, the chances of the riots happening would have been lessened."

His report dismisses police reasons for the excessive stopping of black people. One defence says black people are more likely to be stopped because they are more likely than white people to be out on the streets.

"That there are large numbers of a particular race and age group on the street at a particular time is no justification in itself for disproportionality. White old age pensioners are not disproportionately represented amongst those stopped and searched on summer evenings between 6pm and 8pm in traditional English seaside resorts even though they make up the majority of the street population."

Paddick's report summarises the arguments of more liberal thinkers in the police, but he and other reformist colleagues over the years have been frustrated by a lack of change.

The Met said it could not comment on the Paddick report, and added: "The Metropolitan police service however has a history of welcoming internal and external discussion papers on stop and search, from academics, research bodies and serving officers, in order to inform the debate on stop and search. In consequence, the MPS is constantly adapting and evolving its stop-and-search policies; public accountability, scrutiny and feedback play a vital role in shaping the use of stop and search in London."

The Met is being threatened with two legal challenges over allegations that it discriminates in its use of section 60 stop and search, which does not require reasonable suspicion.

One challenge is being considered by the Equality and Human Rights Commission, which believes the Met's use of section 60 is unlawful.

Tolerance is not acceptance

Peter Purves Smith

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Purves_Smith 

Today there have been quite a few articles about racism and discrimination in the English press, which got me thinking.

About the racism, sexism and discrimination I have noticed; and experienced myself here in the Netherlands; things that seem to be unnoticed by many.

Quite surprising I thought given the tolerance this country is so known for, I mentioned this to Richie.

He reminded me that tolerance does not mean acceptance, it’s just tolerating not embracing differences.

 Not welcoming or assimilating them, just tolerating, that explains things I should have known.

  
There are many people here from North Africa, who has been here years, but who are never accepted, or even really tolerated.

That is the elephant in the room that no one wants to notice, that is the racism that is ‘’hidden’’ here in the Netherlands.

Nasa scientist: climate change is a moral issue on par with slavery

Top of Form

Severin Carrell

guardian.co.uk

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/apr/06/nasa-scientist-climate-change 

Prof Jim Hansen: 'We’re handing future generations a climate system which is potentially out of their control'.

Averting the worst consequences of human-induced climate change is a "great moral issue" on a par with slavery, according to the leading Nasa climate scientist Prof Jim Hansen.

He argues that storing up expensive and destructive consequences for society in future is an "injustice of one generation to others".

Hansen, who will next Tuesday be awarded the prestigious Edinburgh Medal for his contribution to science, will also in his acceptance speech call for a worldwide tax on all carbon emissions.

In his lecture, Hansen will argue that the challenge facing future generations from climate change is so urgent that a flat-rate global tax is needed to force immediate cuts in fossil fuel use. Ahead of receiving the award – which has previously been given to Sir David Attenborough, the ecologist James Lovelock, and the economist Amartya Sen – Hansen told the Guardian that the latest climate models had shown the planet was on the brink of an emergency. He said humanity faces repeated natural disasters from extreme weather events which would affect large areas of the planet.

"The situation we're creating for young people and future generations is that we're handing them a climate system which is potentially out of their control," he said. "We're in an emergency: you can see what's on the horizon over the next few decades with the effects it will have on ecosystems, sea level and species extinction."

Now 70, Hansen is regarded as one of the most influential figures in climate science; the creator of one of the first global climate models, his pioneering role in warning about global warming is frequently cited by climate campaigners such as former US vice president Al Gore and in earlier science prizes, including the $1m Dan David prize. He has been arrested more than once for his role in protests against coal energy.

Hansen will argue in his lecture that current generations have an over-riding moral duty to their children and grandchildren to take immediate action. Describing this as an issue of inter-generational justice on a par with ending slavery, Hansen said: "Our parents didn't know that they were causing a problem for future generations but we can only pretend we don't know because the science is now crystal clear.

"We understand the carbon cycle: the CO2 we put in the air will stay in surface reservoirs and won't go back into the solid earth for millennia. What the Earth's history tells us is that there's a limit on how much we can put in the air without guaranteeing disastrous consequences for future generations. We cannot pretend that we did not know."

Hansen said his proposal for a global carbon tax was based on the latest analysis of CO2 levels in the atmosphere and their impact on global temperatures and weather patterns. He has co-authored a scientific paper with 17 other experts, including climate scientists, biologists and economists, which calls for an immediate 6% annual cut in CO2 emissions, and a substantial growth in global forest cover, to avoid catastrophic climate change by the end of the century.

The paper, which has passed peer review and is in the final stages of publication by the US journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, argues that a global levy on fossil fuels is the strongest tool for forcing energy firms and consumers to switch quickly to zero carbon and green energy sources. In larger countries, that would include nuclear power.

Under this proposal, the carbon levy would increase year on year, with the tax income paid directly back to the public as a dividend, shared equally, rather than put into government coffers. Because the tax would greatly increase the cost of fossil fuel energy, consumers relying on green or low carbon sources of power would benefit the most as this dividend would come on top of cheaper fuel bills. It would promote a dramatic increase in the investment and development of low-carbon energy sources and technologies.

The very rich and most profligate energy users, people with several homes, or private jets and fuel-hungry cars, would also be forced into dramatically changing their energy use. In the new paper, Hansen, director of Nasa's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, and his colleagues warn that failing to cut CO2 emissions by 6% now will mean that by 2022, the annual cuts would need to reach a more drastic level of 15% a year.

Had similar action been taken in 2005, when the Kyoto protocol on climate change came into force, the CO2 emission reductions would have been at a more manageable 3% a year. The target was to return CO2 levels in the atmosphere to 350 parts per million, down from its current level of 392ppm. The paper, the "Scientific case for avoiding dangerous climate change to protect young people and nature", also argues that the challenge is growing because of the accelerating rush to find new, harder–to-reach sources of oil, gas and coal in the deep ocean, the Arctic and from shale gas reserves.

Hansen said current attempts to limit carbon emissions, particularly the European Union's emissions trading mechanism introduced under the Kyoto protocol which restricts how much CO2 an industry can emit before it has to pay a fee for higher emissions, were "completely ineffectual". Under the global carbon tax proposal, the mechanisms for controlling fossil fuel use would be taken out of the hands of individual states influenced by energy companies, and politicians anxious about winning elections.

"It can't be fixed by individual specific changes; it has to be an across-the-board rising fee on carbon emissions," said Hansen. "We can't simply say that there's a climate problem, and leave it to the politicians. They're so clearly under the influence of the fossil fuel industry that they're coming up with cockamamie solutions which aren't solutions. That is the bottom line."

Clarify Situation regarding the Seetech Software

Peter Purves Smith

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Purves_Smith

It’s good I have been busy for for one week trying to get help to clarify the situation regarding the Seetech software.

It was important, that the Rehabilitation clinic would write new reports, to get me the exact specifications for the computer system I need.

Finally I got the answer I was waiting for, the Rehabilitation clinic are going to come and talk to me and reassess my MS progression and my situation now.

Then they will write another report with the advice about the specifications of the system I do need for maintaining my quality of my life.

Glad I kept pushing and did not allow myelf to get fobbed off with a system that was not the specification I needed.

 Good to know that I will be able to stay in communication with friends, family and write my blog, it makes happy, it gives me a better perspective.

Met police officers on restricted duty over alleged racist remarks

Lizzy Davies

guardian.co.uk

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/apr/05/met-officers-restricted-alleged-racist 

The Met faces another troubled chapter.

Three police officers in east London have been placed on restricted duties for allegedly making racist comments, Scotland Yard has said, two days after the Metropolitan police commissioner urged his staff to report inappropriate behaviour by colleagues and declared he would "not stand for any racism or racists".

In a development likely to deepen the row over allegations of racism within its ranks, Scotland Yard said on Thursday that after "careful consideration" it had decided to voluntarily refer the alleged incidents to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) on Wednesday night. The IPCC confirmed that an investigation was under way following the referral.

The three uniformed officers – two PCs and an acting police sergeant based in Newham – are alleged to have made the remarks this year between 6 January and 15 March. Scotland Yard said the comments had been brought to the attention of the Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) on 19 March, two weeks before the emergence of separate allegations of racism in the wake of the riots. It added that none of the three officers were involved in the latter allegations.

In a statement, Commander Peter Spindler of the DPS said: "These are serious allegations that are being thoroughly investigated so that robust action can be taken if proven. The commissioner has already stated there is no place for racist behaviour in the MPS and we will work with the IPCC to identify any wrongdoing."

The past week has brought the issue of alleged racism within Scotland Yard into the spotlight after the Guardian released an audio recording in which a police officer could be heard using offensive racist slurs against a 21-year-old black man arrested after the riots last year.

The officer, PC Alex MacFarlane, has been suspended and senior lawyers at the Crown Prosecution Service are reviewing the case.

The sense of crisis deepened on Monday after it emerged that one of the officers present when the racist remarks were made, PC Joe Harrington, had allegedly assaulted another black teenager hours later. Harrington, who was the subject of an investigation, has been placed on restricted duties. The Met is considering what, if any, disciplinary action to take against him.

In reaction to the controversy, the Metropolitan police commissioner, Bernard Hogan-Howe, gave a personal address to his staff on Tuesday, saying he had been shocked by the allegations and would not put up with racism within the force.

He added: "We have a duty to challenge or report any behaviour by colleagues which is less than the high standard demanded by the service and Londoners themselves," he said. "You cannot avoid that duty. Nor can I."

still waiting

Peter Purves Smith

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Purves_Smith 

Today I am feeling tired, we didn’t get to sleep until too late last night, and awake tooearly, for an appointment which did no happen.

 Because I have been busy for most of the day trying to get help to clarify the situation regarding the Seetech software, I did not write lots like I intended to do.

This meant I concentrated on getting clarity, whether the Rehabilitation clinic would write new reports, to get me the exact specifications for the computer system I need.

No answers yet, hopefully tomorrow, I shall wait.

Van Jones on Trayvon Martin, Racial Violence and Why Obama Ignored Race Issues for Two Years

Van Jones on Trayvon Martin, Racial Violence and Why Obama Ignored Race Issues for Two Years

http://www.democracynow.org/2012/4/3/van_jones_on_trayvon_martin_racial

As thousands of people across the country call for justice in the case of Trayvon Martin, we’re joined by Van Jones, longtime anti-police brutality activist and co-founder of ColorOfChange.org, which aims to strengthen Black America’s political voice. He describes fearing for his own safety while wearing a hoodie and discusses the state of race relations under President Obama. "This kind of hits close to home for me. I’m an African-American father. I’ve got two little black boys," Jones says. "How am I going to protect these young guys? I mean, do you have to dress your kid in a tuxedo now to send them down the street?" Jones says the moral voice of the black community on race went silent after Obama was attacked for his response to the 2009 unlawful arrest of Harvard University Professor Henry Louis "Skip" Gates, Jr., and hopes the Trayvon Martin case "opens the door for the kind of grown folks’ conversation we thought he was going to be able to lead when he was a candidate—well, that he did lead when he was a candidate, that hopefully we can see now going forward."

"Rebuild the Dream": Ex-Obama Adviser Van Jones on Life Inside White House, Right-Wing Smear Attack

http://www.democracynow.org/2012/4/3/rebuild_the_dream_ex_obama_adviser

Forced out of his job as White House special adviser on green jobs by a right-wing smear campaign, Jones has just become the first former Obama official to release a book. It’s called "Rebuild the Dream," and its release comes on the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination. Obama appointed Jones as an adviser in 2009, but he resigned his post after he came under an attack spearheaded by then-Fox News host Glenn Beck. He writes about the experience in his new book and describes his unusual history as both a White House insider and an outside agitator for grassroots change. "I'm probably the only person in American life who was a grassroots outsider, who became a White House insider — I was there for six months — and then I became a grassroots outsider again," Jones says. "What I saw when I was there, and after, is this massive misunderstanding between the insiders in that building, the insiders in D.C., and the outsiders that help to elect those folks, and huge missed opportunities for positive change." Jones also outlines strategies for the future.

"Two Sources of Power": Van Jones on Need for Obama Re-election, Building Occupy-Like Mass Movements

http://www.democracynow.org/2012/4/3/two_sources_of_power_van_jones

We speak with former White House adviser Van Jones about what role the Occupy movement can and should play in re-electing President Obama. He says one reason he launched his Rebuild the Dream campaign last summer was to recognize economic issues not being effectively addressed by progressives. "We were very good on issues around environment, race, gender, immigration, sexuality ... But there is a hole in the donut on the economy, and the Tea Party was just driving through that hole in the donut every day." Responding to concerns that he and others may "co-opt" the Occupy agenda, he says the movement speaks for itself, and argues his campaign can allow "the entire 99 percent" to join the conversation that Occupy began. [Transcript to come. Check back soon.]

Met police commissioner urges staff to report racist behavior

  

· 

•  Paul Lewis
• guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 3 April 2012 18.05 BST
• http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/apr/03/met-police-commissioner-report-racist-behaviour

Bernard Hogan-Howe's message on racism. Source: Metropolitan Police Link to this video

The Metropolitan police commissioner, Bernard Hogan-Howe, has urged his staff to report inappropriate behaviour by colleagues in the wake of the Guardian's investigation into alleged racism in the force.

In a personal address to Scotland Yard's 48,000 staff, Hogan-Howe said he had been "shocked" by the revelations and added: "I will not stand for any racism or racists."

"We have a duty to challenge or report any behaviour by colleagues which is less than the high standard demanded by the service and Londoners themselves," he said. "You cannot avoid that duty. Nor can I."

The message was released as the Crown Prosecution Service announced it would conduct a second urgent review, amid growing controversy over the advice its lawyers have given about the possibility of prosecuting police officers.

The commissioner said: "What we have heard over the last few days is of course completely at odds with all the close work that goes on with communities across London every day. We work hard to forge strong relationships with people who can advise us and rightly hold us to account."

On Friday, the Guardian released an audio recording from a mobile phone in which a police officer could be heard using offensive racist slurs against a black man arrested after the riots.

The CPS initially decided not to bring charges against the officer who made the remarks, PC Alex MacFarlane. Senior lawyers at the CPS are now reviewing the case and MacFarlane has been suspended.

The controversy deepened on Monday after the Guardian revealed that one of the officers present when the racist remarks were made, PC Joe Harrington, allegedly assaulted another black man, aged 15, hours later. Harrington, who was subject of an investigation, has been placed on restricted duties and the Met is considering what, if any, disciplinary action to take against him.

The CPS announced on Tuesday it would appoint a senior lawyer to review advice given to the Independent Police Complaints Commission that there was no realistic prospect of convicting Harrington for assault.

"I have now directed that a review of this case be conducted as a matter of urgency," said Grace Ononiwu, deputy chief crown prosecutor for the CPS London. "The CPS is now in the process of obtaining all the evidence in this case, including some that was not previously considered. A senior lawyer with no previous involvement will complete this review as soon as is practicable."

The CPS now has two urgent reviews underway into advice given by Carl Kelvin, a lawyer at the CPS police complaints department. In both cases Kelvin advised the IPCC against prosecuting Newham police officers accused of racially abusing or assaulting young black men on 11 August 2011 – the day after the London riots ended.

Hogan-Howe, who is Britain's most senior police officer, is known to have told colleagues he was appalled after listening to the recording over the weekend.

His broadcast urging staff to report bad behaviour by colleagues was made available to the Met's 35,000 police officers and community support officers and 13,000 civilian staff."Today I want to speak to you about one subject," he said. "I'm sure that you've all been as shocked as I have been about the recent reports of apparent racist remarks and alleged assault by some officers in Newham in August of last year. Even so, I wanted to take this opportunity to clearly and categorically reiterate that there is no place for racism in the Met."

He added: "I know that the Met has changed greatly over the years, and most of you have directly been involved in improving our relationship with all Londoners and those who visit us. Unfortunately just one alleged incident like this can be very damaging to public confidence.

"This is a great organisation – one we should all be proud to work for. Without pre-judging this case, in any instance of wrongdoing it is a small few who tarnish the vast majority."

The statement continued: "What we have heard over the last few days is of course completely at odds with all the close work that goes on with communities across London every day. We work hard to forge strong relationships with people who can advise us and rightly hold us to account.

"I want us all to go out there and remind those communities of our commitment to fairness and professionalism. I will not stand for any racism or racists in the Met."

Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis PPMS

 http://www.mssociety.org.uk/what-is-ms/types-of-ms/primary-progressive-ppms

Primary progressive MS affects about 10 to 15 per cent of people diagnosed with MS.
It has this name because from the first (primary) symptoms it is progressive. Symptoms gradually get worse over time, rather than appearing as sudden attacks (relapses).
In primary progressive MS, early symptoms are often subtle problems with walking, which develop – often slowly – over time. 
Whatever symptoms someone experiences, the way they progress can vary – from person to person and over time. So, although in the long-term symptoms might get gradually worse, there can be long periods of time when they seem to be staying level, with no noticeable changes. 
This type of MS is usually diagnosed in people in their forties or fifties – older than the average age for relapsing remitting MS – but it can be diagnosed earlier or later than this.
Equal numbers of men and women have primary progressive MS. This is different to relapsing remitting MS, where more women than men have the condition.
People with primary progressive MS can experience many of the same symptoms as those with relapsing remitting MS.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of any form of MS can take a long time. As primary progressive MS is most often diagnosed in people in their forties and fifties, when people are more likely to have other conditions which could cause mobility and walking difficulties, it can also make it harder to reach a diagnosis.

Managing PPMS

Managing symptoms

There are many treatments and ways of managing symptoms which can also help manage secondary progressive MS.
Frustratingly, there isn’t yet a successful treatment that affects the course of progressive MS.
Research continues in this vital area. See the research section of the site for more information
  

Judgment over extradition case is victory for open justice

• http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2012/apr/03/groundbreaking-judgment-extradition-open-justice 

• Rob Evans
• guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 3 April 2012 10.34 BST
• Article history

Lord Neuberger, master of the rolls, ordered the release of documents sought by the Guardian.

Three senior judges have issued a groundbreaking judgment that strengthens the media's right to see documents used in criminal cases.

In a landmark case, Lord Neuberger, the master of the rolls, and two appeal court judges, Lord Justices Toulson and Hooper, ordered the release of documents sought by the Guardian in an extradition hearing. The US government and a magistrate had opposed disclosure of the documents.

Toulson said the decision "breaks new ground in the application of the principle of open justice". The courts should "assist rather than impede" the media when reporters sought copies of documents used in criminal cases, he said in the ruling.

The Guardian has been seeking access to documents used to justify the extradition of two Britons, Jeffrey Tesler and Wojciech Chodan, to the US. After they were sent to Texas, the pair pleaded guilty to taking part in a decade-long conspiracy to channel bribes worth $180m to Nigerian officials and politicians.

Gavin Millar, QC for the newspaper, argued that the documents would help explain why the pair were being extradited, at a time when there has been a series of controversies over the extradition of Britons to the US.

Millar said barristers in complex cases were increasingly giving written submissions to judges, to save time and costs. This meant barristers were no longer reading out the material in open court, which made it more difficult for journalists to follow cases unless barristers agreed to disclose copies of the documents.

David Perry, the QC for the US government, said the media had an established right to see documents in civil cases, but there was no such right in criminal hearings.

Toulson said the time had come for courts to acknowledge that in some cases it was necessary to give the public access to documents referred to in open court.

Toulson wrote: "In a case where documents have been placed before a judge and referred to in the course of proceedings, in my judgment the default position should be that access should be permitted on the open justice principle; and where access is sought for a proper journalistic purpose, the case for allowing it will be particularly strong."

He added: "The Guardian has a serious journalistic purpose in seeking access to the documents. It wants to be able to refer to them for the purpose of stimulating informed debate about the way in which the justice system deals with suspected international corruption and the system for extradition of British subjects to the USA."

He said the open justice principle enabled the public to "understand and scrutinise the justice system of which the courts are the administrators".

Alan Rusbridger, editor-in-chief of Guardian News & Media, said: "This is a very significant judgment in favour of open justice and should greatly strengthen the hand of journalists in being able to see documents used in criminal cases."

Toulson praised a "helpful and interesting" submission from Article 19, the human rights campaign that promotes free expression around the world. Article 19 compared Britain's access regimes with those in other countries in its submission to the court in support of the Guardian.

David Banisar, Article 19's senior legal counsel, said the judgment showed the courts were catching up with the rest of society, such as government and parliament, in opening themselves up to the public to be scrutinised and held accountable.

Quality of life when handicapped is crucial

Peter Purves Smith

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Purves_Smith 

I am quite worried and upset that I can’t get the possibility of being able to operate my IPaq with the Seetech eye controlled software because this was rejected without any consultation by RTD Het Dorp.

The gadget gives me a tiny bit of independence, which lets me turn on the lights, TV, monitor who is at and open the front door, use the phone, and operate bed, DVD machine.

When I got it in November 2010, it become quickly obvious that my hands were starting to get weaker and it would not be long before I would not be able to use it.

 At the time I thought that when I could no longer use my hands that a good alternative would be available for me to be able to still use my IPaq.

Now I can no longer lift my hands enough to use it or press, Richie helps me by operating the IPaq, which is not giving me any independency.

That can surely not be the idea, one of the things, I would like to be able to do, is add phone numbers and make calls to friends with Seetech software.

I think it’s vital that this be put in an advice; I find it odd that it was not sent to Agis.

Together with a speech therapist’s report, which I hope will be also useful to me; I could do with advice on how to optimize my vocal capabilities.

I have requested that the advice to Agis gets rewritten to include update of the progression of my MS, because I think it’s important.

I think it would be good to emphases how quickly I have become so severely handicapped, and how scary that is for me.

RTD Het Dorp, maybe technology geniuses, but just like many top doctors do not seem to have any empathy with their customers.

Which is why it’s important for me to work with a good sympathetic advisor, who would be capable of empathy with my situation.

This would be good and help me to learn how to operate the software with my eye movements, as quickly as possible.

Which is important for me so I can maintain some quality of life to keep me going, and prevent deep depression.

I am confident that the Rehabilitation Clinic will try to do everything they can.

Plans for greater email and web monitoring powers spark privacy fears.

• The Guardian
• http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/02/email-web-monitoring-powers-privacy 
• Hélène Mulholland and Robert Booth
• guardian.co.uk, Monday 2 April 2012 12.18 BST
• Article history

David Davis MP has criticised plans for extra powers to monitor emails and internet use as unnecessary.

David Davis, the former Conservative shadow home secretary, has warned that government plans to allow police and security services to extend their monitoring of the public's email and social media communications are unnecessary and will generate huge public resentment.

Davis spoke out after proposals emerged for a system to allow security officials to scrutinise who is talking to whom, and exactly when the conversations are taking place, but not the content of the message.

The coalition plans are likely to feature in the Queen's speech on 9 May and rely on internet service providers (ISPs) gathering the information and allowing government intelligence operatives to scrutinise it.

Labour tried to introduce a similar system using a central database tracking all phone, text, email and internet use but that was dropped in 2009. It followed concerns raised by ISPs and mobile phone operators over the project's feasibility, and anxieties over who would foot the bill.

Civil liberties campaigners have strongly criticised the revival of the plan because of the risk it could breach the privacy of individuals. One liberal commentator warned that many Lib Dems would be infuriated by the proposals.

Davis, the Conservative MP for Haltemprice and Howden, who famously quit his seat to trigger a byelection over the Labour government's 42-day terror detention plan in 2008, said legislation was unnecessary. Current surveillance arrangements under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act and the unwarranted checks on "who calls who" were already "too loose".

"I'm afraid what this does is makes it 60m times worse," Davis told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.

The government had vowed to "end the storage of internet and email records without good reason" – a commitment enshrined in the coalition agreement in a section on civil liberties that says the British state "has become too authoritarian".

Davis said: "What is proposed is completely unfettered access to every single communication you make. This argument it doesn't cover content – it doesn't cover content for telephone calls, but your web address is content. If you access a [website], that is content.

"I'm afraid it is a very, very big widening of powers, which I'm afraid will be very much resented by many, many citizens who do not like the idea."

A similar attempt in Germany two years ago led to 35,000 complaints to the supreme court, which subsequently struck it down, he said, warning: "I suspect the same thing will happen here."

He added: "It's going to cause enormous resentment. Already thousands of people on the web are objecting to it. It was dropped by the last government … if it was so important, they should have kept going last time."

Anthony Glees, director of the Centre for Security and Intelligence Studies at the University of Buckingham, pointed to the recent killings in Toulouse, France as grounds upon which to support the measures, saying it needed to be done "because it can be done".

He told Today the measures were important in the year of the Olympic Games and the Queen's diamond jubilee. Terrorists could be monitored and attacks dealt with, he said, accusing critics such as Davis of getting a "bit obsessed" with privacy, which he said "militates in favour of the people who want to take the liberties of the rest of us".

Davis pointed out that if the legislative plans were going to be in the Queen's speech next month, they could only be implemented in late 2013 at the earliest.

The Home Office confirmed over the weekend that the plans would be brought forward "as soon as parliamentary time allows".

Its spokesman said: "It is vital that police and security services are able to obtain communications data in certain circumstances to investigate serious crime and terrorism and to protect the public.

"We need to take action to maintain the continued availability of communications data as technology changes. Communications data includes time, duration and dialling numbers of a phone call, or an email address. It does not include the content of any phone call or email and it is not the intention of government to make changes to the existing legal basis for the interception of communications."

The editor of the magazine the Liberal, Benjamin Ramm, said Liberal Democrats would be "furious" over the plans, "especially as they campaigned tirelessly against New Labour's authoritarianism".

"It is difficult to believe, even after so many broken election pledges, that the party would violate one of its fundamental philosophical tenets. What is the purpose of a Liberal party if it's not going to be liberal?" said Ramm, whose publication is not affiliated to the Lib Dem party.

Lord Carlile, a Lib Dem peer and a former independent reviewer of terrorism legislation for the government, said he expected parliament to demand strict safeguards on any new powers.

"There is nothing new about this," he told Today. "The previous government intended to take similar steps and they were heavily criticised by the coalition parties.

"But having come into government, the coalition parties have realised this kind of material has potential for saving lives, preventing serious crime and helping people to avoid becoming victims of serious crime.

"We are talking about the updating of existing practices."

Lord Carlile said he would expect parliament to demand the setting up of an independent board to monitor activity.

Isabella Sankey, director of policy at the campaign group Liberty, said: "Whoever is in government, the grand snooping ambitions of security agencies don't change.

"The coalition agreement explicitly promised to 'end unnecessary data retention' and restore our civil liberties. At the very least we need less secret briefing and more public consultation if this promise is to be abandoned."

Tan Le: My immigration story

Save the Rhino Avaaz.org - The World in Action

 Dear friends,
The rhino is being hunted to the brink of extinction , driven by growing horn demand in Asia. But EU pressure on China and Vietnam can force international action to save the rhino -- sign our petition today to ensure the EU acts!


Sign the petition

The rhino is being hunted into extinction and could disappear forever unless we act now . Shocking new statistics show 440 rhinos were brutally killed last year in South Africa alone -- a massive increase on five years ago when just 13 had their horns hacked off. European nations could lead the world to a new plan to save these amazing creatures but they need to hear from us first!

Fueling this devastation is a huge spike in demand for rhino horns, used for bogus cancer cures, hangover remedies and good luck charms in China and Vietnam. Protests from South Africa have so far been ignored by the authorities, but Europe has the power to change this by calling for a ban on all rhino trade -- from anywhere, to anywhere -- when countries meet at the next crucial international wildlife trade summit in July.

The situation is so dire that the threat has even spread into British zoos who are on red-alert for rhino killing gangs! Let’s raise a giant outcry and urge Europe to push for new protections to save rhinos from extinction. When we reach 100,000 signers, our call will be delivered in Brussels, the decision-making heart of Europe, with a crash of cardboard rhinos. Every 50,000 signatures will add a rhino to the crash -- bringing the size of our movement right to the door of EU delegates as they decide their position. Sign the petition below then forward this email widely :

http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_rhinos/?vl

So far this year one rhino has been killed every day in South Africa , home to at least 80% of the world’s remaining wild rhinos. Horns now have a street value of over $65,000 a kilo -- more expensive than gold or platinum. The South African Environment Minister has pledged to take action by putting 150 extra wardens and even an electric fence along the Mozambique border to try and stem the attacks -- but the scale of the threat is so severe that global action is required.

Unless we act today we may lose this magnificent and ancient animal species permanently. Some Chinese are loudly lobbying for the trade in horn to be relaxed, but banning the trade in all rhinos will silence them . With the EU’s leadership, we can bring these international gangsters to justice, put the poachers in prison, and push for public awareness programmes in key Asian countries -- and end this horn horror show for good.

In the next few weeks, the EU will be setting its agenda for the next big global meeting in just a few months -- our best chance of turning the tide against the slaughter. We know that rhinos will be on their agenda, but only our pressure can ensure they challenge the problem at its source. Let’s build a giant outcry and deliver it in a spectacular fashion -- sign now and together we can stop the slaughter across Africa:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_rhinos/?vl

In 2010, Avaaz’s actions helped to stop the elephant ivory trade from exploding. In 2012, we can do the same for the rhino. When we speak out together, we can change the world -- last year was the worst year ever for the rhino, but this can be the year when we win.

 With hope,
 Iain, Sam, Maria Paz, Emma, Ricken and the whole Avaaz team

 More Information:
 Few Rhinos Survive Outside Protected Areas (WWF)
http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/finder/rhinoceros/rhinos.html

 South Africa record for rhino poaching deaths (BBC)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15571678

 'Cure for cancer' rumour killed off Vietnam's rhinos (The Guardian)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/nov/25/cure-cancer-rhino-horn-vietnam

 British Zoos on Alert as Rhino Poaching Hits the UK (International Business Times)
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/289792/20120130/british-zoos-uk-alert-rhino-poaching-hits.htm

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Avaaz.org is a 13-million-person global campaign network that works to ensure that the views and values of the world's people shape global decision-making. ("Avaaz" means "voice" or "song" in many languages.) Avaaz members live in every nation of the world; our team is spread across 13 countries on 4 continents and operates in 14 languages. Learn about some of Avaaz's biggest campaigns here , or follow us on Facebook or Twitter .
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