Monday 26 May 2014

The Pro-EU group won!

Nearly all the commentators are viewing the Euro election results the wrong way round. In the UK the electorate is split into two camps; approx 70% are broadly in favour of the EU and 30% are against it. The 30% voted almost exclusively for UKIP, hence it won the majority of the seats. It is the pro-EU vote that is split three ways - Con/Lib/Lab. Now if the pro-EU parties would stop fighting each other and field a single list of candidates then this new amalgamated party would be topping the poll.

Sunday 25 May 2014

Is Fairtrade Fair?

A recent government study has found that sales of Fairtrade-certified products from Uganda and Ethiopia are not benefiting poor farmworkers as profits fail to trickle down to much of the workforce, says a groundbreaking study.
The Fairtrade Foundation is committed to "better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world". But a UK government-sponsored study, which investigated the production of flowers, coffee and tea in Ethiopia and Uganda, found that "where Fairtrade flowers were grown, and where there were farmers' groups selling coffee and tea into Fairtrade certified markets, wages were very low".
Christopher Cramer, an economics professor at the University of London and one of the report's authors, said: "Wages in other comparable areas and among comparable employers producing the same crops but where there was no Fairtrade certification were usually higher and working conditions better. In our research sites, Fairtrade has not been an effective mechanism for improving the lives of wage workers, the poorest rural people."
Researchers who collected detailed information on more than 1,500 people said they also found evidence of the widespread use of children being paid to work on farms growing produce for Britain's leading ethical label.
Fairtrade, started in Britain 25 years ago by development and consumer groups including Oxfam and the Women's Institute, has grown into one of the world's most trusted ethical schemes, with 1.24 million farmers and workers around the world. Fairtrade products contribute to the funding of schools, health clinics, sanitation and other "social projects" in rural areas. To join the scheme, farmers must agree to meet social, labour and environmental standards. In Britain it is a £1.78bn enterprise backed by government, Comic Relief, churches and supermarkets.

So the question is what should we as consumers do ? Do we buy bother to buy Fairtrade or do we go with the alternatives?

Friday 23 May 2014

Nigel explained

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/politics/politics-headlines/nigel-farage-comic-creation-that-got-out-of-hand-2012112750746

Catholics and Blogging

Worth reading :  http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2014/05/22/archbishop-offers-10-commandments-for-catholics-online/

Local and European Elections

So far I have not seen any figures as to the percentage turnout. Lots of stuff about UKIP earthquakes but nothing as to how many voted.. My guess is that it was less than 40% which means that democracy is the loser. Nobody really believes anything any of the politicians says.
If any of the leaders of the main parties had any sense of decency and honour they would resign.

Monday 19 May 2014

UKIP and the Euro Elections

Despite all the gaffes that UKIP are making support for them seems to be growing. My own view is that this is due to:
1. Many people are fed up with and disillusioned with the mainstream parties.
2. They want to punish the main parties.
3. They feel that the Euro Parliament is a joke and so will use this vote as a protest vote.
4. On all major  things the mainstream parties are in broad agreement. HS2, immigration, membership of the EU, etc etc.
5. Political leadership in this country is the worst that I have know in the past 45 years that I have been able to vote.

Please think seriously about these elections and vote for whoever represents your own views.

Tuesday 13 May 2014

Downsizing event Audley Retirement are running near Maidstone.

If you are thinking of retiring and downsizing thsi may be of interest.

Downsizing event Audley Retirement are running near Maidstone.

Audley CEO Nick Sanderson and other experts from their specialist partners will give advice and sensitive guidance on downsizing, sorting possessions and selling properties. If you have any potential buyers among you readership, or readers looking to downsize, it’d be a great opportunity to get some expert information on an exclusive basis to feed back to them.

Details of the event are below:
Audley Mote House, Bearsted, Kent – 23rd May 10.30am – 12.30pm
Guest Speakers:
Nick Sanderson – Audley Retirement CEO
Amanda Fyfe – Senior Move Partnership
Peter Godman – Your Move Estate Agents
Russell Smith – Silverbridge
Kelly Duke – Specialist solicitor for the elderly

Following the talks there will be a complimentary afternoon tea, as well as tours of the villages and their properties. Audley properties also tend to have some quite interesting (religious) history, which might be appealing to you and your readership.

Numbers are limited, so if you are interested in attending or would like more information please contact Nimisha Cross at nimishac@audleyretirement.co.uk or on 01622 737 279

Audley Mote House at http://www.audleyretirement.co.uk/our-villages/mote-house-retirement-village-bearsted-kent