Flood in Wales

Title: Daring rescue as scores stranded in freak Welsh flooding
Subject: People rescued from flooded area in Wales
Web Address: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4363699/Daring-rescue-as-scores-stranded-in-freak-Welsh-flooding.html
Date: June 9
Author: Jack Losh

Summary:

Nearly ninety people have been rescued from homes and caravans this morning after freak flooding struck West Wales. Stranded holidaymakers have been helped in a large-scale rescue operation after water swept through caravan parks and villages near Aberystwyth. Residents remain trapped in buildings but emergency rescue teams have hit the area with inflatables and continue to evacuate people. One RNLI rescue crew even required airlifting themselves from the torrents of water after becoming stranded during rescue attempts. Local residents have resorted to sheltering in secure community buildings and local pubs. There are also some people who decided to stay and do not want to be rescued.

Reaction:

I already get grumpy if it rains a lot during my holiday, imagine what would happen if a flood like this struck your caravan park. It is a good thing Wales apparently has such a good rescue team, or things could have ended a lot worse. I think it is a little ironic that one of the crews had to be rescued themselves. However, the people who have been rescued are okay now and they probably have a pretty good time since they have been brought to local pubs. So this story has a pretty good ending. 

British Pensioners at Risk of Poverty

Title: More than 1 in 5 British pensioners at risk of poverty
Subject: Older British at risk of poverty
Web Address: http://www.independent.co.uk/money/pensions/more-than-1-in-5-british-pensioners-at-risk-of-poverty-7827985.html
Date: June 8
Author: Sarah Cassidy

Summary:

British pensioners are among Europe's poorest, with more than two million older people at risk of poverty. More than one in five of older British people were classed as being at risk of poverty in 2010. Charities said the figures should be a "wake-up call" and for a radical shake-up of the pension system. The at-risk rate has declined as average disposable incomes fell after the credit crunch of 2008. Britain had the 10th highest at-risk-of-poverty rate among the 27 EU states in 2010. The highest rates were 21.3 per cent in Latvia, the lowest rates were 9 per cent in the Czech Republic.

Reaction:

As a Dutch person this seems a little odd, Dutch pensioners have one of the lowest at-risk-of-poverty rate in the EU. I am used to rich pensioners who go on holidays all year round. But this seems like quite a serious problem. Most people work their entire life and they should not have to be poor once they finally get to retire. Especially now the risk rate has declined, that means that people who used to be in the poor-category now are not, even if their income did not change. However, the easy solution is changing the pension system. 

No more forced marriages for Cameron

Title: David Cameron in warning over forced marriages
Subject: New law will make forced marriages illegal
Web Address: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/david-cameron-in-warning-over-forced-marriages-7831253.html
Date: June 8
Author: David Hughes

Summary:

David Cameron said parents who force their children into an unwanted marriage will face "very tough punishments" under a new law. The Government is making forced marriage a criminal offence. Cameron said victims' lives were ruined by being taken away from the UK, often at a young age, and coerced into a marriage. Campaigners have warned that criminalising forced marriage altogether could deter victims from coming forward but the Government has announced an extra £500,000 of funding to help identify and support those affected. A special Forced Marriage Unit was involved in 594 cases from January to May this year.

Reaction:

It is always hard to decide when to draw the line between things that can be considered culture and the law. It is good that the Government is clear in its intentions. If some people will now decide not to force their children to get married that would be a good development. However, I think that people who really want to get their kids to marry a certain person they will find a way. A change in law might make some difference, but does not make the problem disappear altogether. It is a step in the good direction though. 

Sexual Health Data for the Police

Title: Police want to see teenage girls' sexual health data

Subject: Data base with information about sexual health is useful for the police

Web Address: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/police-want-to-see-teenage-girls-sexual-health-data-7814694.html
Date: June 4
Author: Kevin Rawlinson

Summary:

Police want information from sexual health screening databases to tackle child grooming gangs. But forces face a fight to convince doctors, who are worried both about patient confidentiality and deterring young people from getting tested. Doctors are willing to work with police on the plans to access a city-wide chlamydia and gonorrhea screening database for under-25s, with talks underway, if at an early stage. Officers said that experience shows high levels of testing for sexually transmitted infections in a particular area can suggest that a gang is grooming young people – mainly women – for sex. 

Reaction:

This is one of those typical cases where privacy and safety do not seem to go well together. There are always people who feel like privacy is a very important right and also people who are willing to give up their privacy in exchange for information, convenience or safety. Besides that it is not a good sign that there apparently are child-grooming gangs who are a real danger to young people. My opinion is that it can never hurt to test for a sexually transmitted disease and if it can help prevent crimes it is probably the way to go. 

Ouch, the doggie bit me!

Title: Toddler mauled by dogs at Jubilee party

Subject: Dogs attack two-year-old.

Web Address: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/9310087/Toddler-mauled-by-dogs-at-Jubilee-party.html
Date: June 4
Author: Unknown

Summary:

A two-year-old boy was in hospital yesterday with serious facial injuries after being attacked by dogs during a Jubilee party. Two dogs - reportedly Staffordshire bull terriers, mauled the lad, who has not yet been named. The boy was airlifted to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol with serious wounds to his face. A 49-year-old man also received a hand injury as he tried to pull the dogs of the toddler. Wiltshire Police said both dogs had been seized following the mauling. No one has been arrested in connection with the attack yet, the force added.

Reaction:

It is obviously horrible whenever young children are wounded and have to be taken to hospital. It is not yet clear who is the owner of the dogs and I am sure that person will be arrested when that happens. Since it is not clear why the dogs attacked we do not know who is guilty or responsible for it. Maybe the child provoked the dogs in some way or there was something else going on. It is also possible that the dogs were aggressive themselves in which case the owner should have kept them away from young children. 

Obese Teenager Loses Weight in Hospital

Title: Britain's fattest teenager who had to be cut out of her house loses three stone in a WEEK as she admits to secretly buying junk food online

Subject: Overweight girl loses weight now she is not allowed to buy food anymore

Web Address: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2153968/Teenage-girl-cut-house-loses-stone-WEEK.html
Date: June 3
Author: James Titcomb

Summary:

An overweight girl was cut out of her house last week; she weighed about 52 stones and was not able to stand up anymore. She has lost a lot of weight now she is in the hospital. She is on a strict diet, which the hospital and the girl’s mom oversee. Without her parents knowing the girl, named Georgia Davis, ordered food, which was brought to their house. She sneaked the food up to her room and that is probably why she has gotten this big. Davis still has to stay in the hospital, for at least another three months. After that she will be moved to an obesity clinic.

Reaction:

The kind of stories about obese people who have to be cut out of their houses always shock me. In this case I do sort of understand though, it is not like her parents gave her that much food, she ordered it secretly herself. The problem is that you cannot monitor a girl this forever, at one point she has to be able to control herself and eat healthy without people helping her.  I hope that they will teach her those kinds of things in the obesity clinic and I assume they will. 

Hero Policeman Saves the Day

Title: "Tremendous courage and bravery”: Hero policeman rugby tackles teenager with gun after she fires twice at him

Subject: Policeman takes gun from girl

Web Address: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/hero-policeman-rugby-tackles-teenager-856907

Date: June 1

Author: Steve White

Summary:

A girl shot at a policeman, but the officer responded by tackling her and taking control of the gun. Before he was able to do this she also fired two shots, which landed in the pond. The officer has been awarded a commendation for bravery by a judge.  The girl, named Karri May Wood, was restrained and placed in handcuffs at the end of the stand-off, which lasted 20 minutes. She cannot be released until doctors believe she is safe to return to society. Wood pleaded guilty to possessing a hunting knife and possessing a firearm.

Reaction:

It is great that this policeman handled things so good. It can be really hard to react quick and efficient in unexpected situations. However, I cannot help but feel like this is also just sort of his job. In the article the policeman is called “a hero” multiple times. To me it feels weird to call someone a hero just for doing his job. Is that not what we expect of police officers, to protect people from harm? Besides that side note I think the officer can be happy with himself and enjoy his commendation for bravery. 

Spinal Therapy Cured Paralysed Rats

Title: Paralysed rats walk again after spinal therapy

Subject: Science trial to cure spinal injuries

Web Address: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/9303251/Paralysed-rats-walk-again-after-spinal-therapy.html

Date: June 1

Author: Nick Collins

Summary:

Scientists have done a trial with rats with severe spinal injuries. Chemicals and electric currents helped them grow new nerves in their spine that bypassed their injury. This is good news for humans with spinal injuries such as people who are paralyzed. The study, published in the Science journal, is the first to demonstrate that a severely damaged spinal cord can adapt and recover enough to allow the brain to regain control of the legs. Five to six weeks later, the rats had improved so much that they could run, climb stairs and even move around obstacles. Dr Elizabeth Bradbury, said: "This is ground-breaking research. However, some questions remain before we know how useful this approach may be in humans.

Reaction:

I love these kinds of researches. It may seem harsh to some people to test on animals, but this proves once again that it can be very useful. It would be amazing if this technique could be used to make paralysed people able to walk again. Obviously one trial like this is not enough. There will have to be more trials similar to this one, on animals more similar to humans. However, one cannot help but look at the silver lining here: This might be a groundbreaking discovery in this field of research.