(Brit) SocialMedia: Alliance of Labour, UKIP and Occupy Members Attempt to Reform City of London

"Ahead of elections this month to the City of London Corporation, an unlikely political alliance is pressing for radical reform and greater accountability from an institution where many ancient traditions continue to hold sway"

From Guardian Feeds »

(Brit) SocialMedia: Brussels plot

SHAMEFUL MEPs are already plotting to torpedo the historic EU budget cut.

The Euro politicians want a secret ballot on the issue so they can vote for a rise anonymously and escape their national leaders’ fury.

Tories warned the sinister plot, unveiled yesterday by the MEPs’ German president Martin Schulz, would “almost certainly” succeed...

« Read the Rest @ The Sun »

History of Global Banking Crisis

Global Banking Crisis, 

A Brief History...

The current global banking crisis began with an escalation in foreclosure rates among homeowners during 2006–2007, leading to a critical juncture in August 2008.

The way that the nation's mortgage markets are structured mean that a decline in the housing market hits other things: home builders, real estate, home supply, retail outlets, money markets, hedge funds (held by large institutional investors), and foreign banks. All of which increase the risk of a nationwide recession.

By 2007-2008 we were in the worst financial emergency since 1930s Great Depression. Large fiscal institutions were threatened by financial breakdown; then bailed out by national governments. Causing a downturn in the world's stock markets.

The backwash resulted in troubles in the housing market - leading to foreclosures and evictions - with lengthened and increased unemployment.

"The crisis played a significant role in the failure of key businesses, declines in consumer wealth estimated in trillions of US dollars, and a downturn in economic activity leading to the 2008–2012 global recession and contributing to the European sovereign-debt crisis."

Financial crisis of 2007–2008 @ Wikipedia »

The global credit crisis nearly destroyed the world's banking systems.

"Could the current financial crisis have been predicted from historians knowledge of past down turns and depressions globally?

Dr David Chambers, University Lecturer in Finance and Deputy Director of the School’s Master of Finance programme, thinks so.

An analysis of what happened in the crash of the 1930s may prove a good way to predict how long it may take us to get out of the current financial difficulties.

Structural problems, Dr Chambers says, need to be faced up to before a recovery is likely, and there could well be a few false dawns along that road to recovery.

Lessons From History by Dr David Chambers

(Brit) SocialMedia: MoD Overspends Equipment Budget By £6.5bn

The Ministry of Defence has overspent its equipment budget by £6.5bn and some of its major orders are likely to be delivered 39 years late.

The 16 most costly projects should have taken 159 years to deliver between them and cost a total of £56.5bn ... But the National Audit Office (NAO), in its latest report into the MoD's spending, reveals they are now set to take a total of 195 years and cost £61.1bn.

« Read the Rest @ Sky News »

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This is typical of how British Government spends. Leaving a deficit which the poorest in society have to fund through benefit cuts.

The Olympics was a drain on resources and now the MoD overspend resources. Leaving us cash-strapped Britain.

Still proud to be British??

See also: « Why The Nuclear Deterrent Has Had Its Day »

Labour Calls for £7.20 an Hour 'Living Wage'

Reblogged from The Writing's on the Wall: i-Politics:


Ed and David Miliband have put their political rivalry aside to work on plans for millions of workers to be paid a “living wage” of at least £7.20 an hour - Read More @ Telegraph »

Placing the Mitre on Female Heads?

Women Bishops

Dr Rowen Williams

Dr Rowen Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Church of England, was urging the General Synod to resolve the issue over women bishops (36 years in the making).
The vote was taken on Friday in Parliament. It has initially been allowed - 123 in favour and 53 against (If the vote hadn't been passed it would have been shelved until 2015!).
When it comes to women in roles within the church, the men of god seem hell-bent on shooting themselves in the foot.
Anglicans (content with female priest) do not wish for them to pursue leadership positions.
While, in the past, the Anglo-Catholic's have gone as far as saying one may as well "ordain a pork-pie".

Speaking to the church's legislatory body, Rowen Williams said.

"...I, like most of you, long to see women bishops in the Church of England."

Even though he acknowledges that there were others "who continued to have theological reservations".
The descent in the church's ranks might produce the similar muddled get-out clauses that so often come when it tries to please everybody with its legislation. The understanding has been to legislate for full women bishops, but where there is parish objection to their roles, they are to step-aside and allow male bishops to take over. Thereby, avoiding a spit of the CofE. (It's this sort of muddled fudging that the liberal majority are used to seeing.)
However, their are concerns from senior women clergy (some prospective candidates for the roles of women bishops) who take offence at not merely been asked to step-aside but demanded by church law (due to clause 5(1)c).

Lay preacher Christina Rees

The high-flying crusader for women bishops, Christina Rees, objects to clause 5(1)c as it has "been rushed through". This discrimination of females and the further favouring of males over females bishops will cause fundamental problems if it is allowed to take place. as it is down-playing the roles of female bishops within the CofE.

Maybe Rowen William's words, when taking prior to the Friday vote about it, ring true.

"...it's important we look into the Abyss here."

But will the "Abyss" prove to be the gap between Liberal (left) and Conservatives (right) within the church, splitting their camps further?
However, with the measures being debated on Monday, only time will tell what women bishop’s full roles might be...

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UPDATE 09/07/2012:
Church of England seen delaying women bishop see article here from reuters.

Do you agree with women in positions of power in the CofE? Tell me your views.

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