humanity
Humanity topics include pieces on the real lives of politicians, legislators, activists, women in politics and the everyday voter.
A Face Saving Rewrite of Named Person
Parts 4 and parts 5 of the children and young person Act (Scotland)2014, that are currently revoked from law and commonly known as named person and child plans, are making their way back to the Scottish Parliament for approval. This will cost another million pounds to retrain all relevant staff on named person and child plans.
By Harmony Flower9 years ago in The Swamp
Speak No Evil; The Flaws of Society in Literature
Literature has shaped our society in more ways than one. Not only is it a reflection of our history and future, it is a commentary, albeit a dramatic one, of how flawed the human world can be, a wake-up call that demands people to rethink the world they live in.
By Varinder Singh9 years ago in The Swamp
Hungry And Homeless In America
The most recent statistics on the homeless show an unsettling truth that few of us want to hear. These alarming statistics hit awfully close to home—and to the fact that any one of us, due to an unanticipated medical challenge, sudden unemployment, housing loss, or other unanticipated life event—can easily wind up on the street.
By Marlene Affeld9 years ago in The Swamp
Head of Council Should Be Arrested for Grenfell Tower Fire
The leader of the Royal Borough of Chelsea and Kensington Council, Nick Paget-Brown, should be the first arrested for the Grenfell Tower fire and the local authorities immediate response. The responsibility for the Grenfell Tower fire is currently being batted around all the guilty parties. But the Conservative head of the local council Nick Paget-Brown has shown a complete lack of respect to all local residents. In his YouTube video entitled ‘Meet the New Leader’ which was uploaded 23rd May 2013, Councillor Paget-Brown sets out his vision for the future. He doesn’t once mention the safety or security of his council constituents, instead, he talks about cost cutting and cracking down on department spending. He speaks of remodelling and reshaping the post-war estates to make them ‘attractive’ places to live. In this 2013 video, on the Kensington & Chelsea YouTube channel, Paget-Brown talks of increasing the quality of the housing for residents but says nothing about increasing their quality of life.
By Johnny Vedmore9 years ago in The Swamp
The Queen's Official Birthday Message
To be honest, I'm not a royalist. If somebody was to tell me that one family was able to live in multiple palaces, whilst I, a lowly student, struggle to pay rent on a single room, the notion would usually make me nauseous, and it still does. But, my love of history and symbolic tradition gets in the way; unfortunately, I'm stuck being able to see what the royal family has to offer us, and it has endeared me to them in such a way that they are impossible to dislike. Even as people were stuck sleeping in a sports hall because of the devastating Grenfell Tower fire, the Queen's presence to survivors brought a calming and supporting effect, especially when compared to the ambivalence of our own dear Prime Minister. But that is not what I want to talk about, as instead, I want to turn our attention to a more celebratory affair; the Queen's birthday.
By Sarah French9 years ago in The Swamp
Political Correctness and I
Political correctness has become something of a taboo subject in the UK, with a general disdain towards the concept felt by most, coupled with the fear of being labelled a xenophobe, racist or misogynist. There seems to be an ever thinning line between what is acceptable and what isn’t.
By Jordan Catto9 years ago in The Swamp
Election Night 2017: Corbyn and the Robin of Hope
National voting has become a yearly endeavour in the United Kingdom. The election day rain filled the puddles that the democratic minded sploshed through on their way to the polling booths. The local church is being used to cast the votes for my part of Cardiff North. As you approach the building you can see the University Hospital of Wales just across the Motorway. I hope for every person who loves the NHS to be casting their ballot today, but I have as many doubts about this democratic process yielding a good outcome for the people. My polling station had an old gentleman greeting people in the doorway, making small talk with those locking up their bikes, which will soon help whisk them to a day of work. As always they can’t find my address straight away. The kind lady checks for me on the polling list repeating the name Vedmore verbally until her pen stops next to my details. As always I receive my ballot and I take it to the partitioned booth to stare at it intently. I know my choice like most folks, but I always take my time to read the ballot. I triple check where my pencil mark should go just incase I fuck it all up and vote for the Liberal Democrats. A mistake I had made two general election ago which led to the dreaded LibCon coalition less than a decade before.
By Johnny Vedmore9 years ago in The Swamp
Choose to Survive
Choosing to survive is a key thing in life; you've either got it or you haven't, from a small amount to a large amount, we as individuals become one big family. We help and support the people who need it the most; this is for our communities that have come together, over the past few months and recently.
By Lizzy Arrow9 years ago in The Swamp
Grenfell Tower, North Kensington - My Thoughts Are With Families and Victims
I woke up this morning to great sadness that the block of flats called Grenfell Tower in North Kensington had gone up in flames. Not only I was just saying that they seemed to have a sense of peace and quite about them, but I've had a feeling that something was bound to happen, wether it was a terror attack or something just so simple like this.
By Lizzy Arrow9 years ago in The Swamp
What Do I Think About the Situation?
You'll be surprised why it has taken me this long to comment on English politics, on this snap election/general election whatever you call it these days. To be honest my head has been all over the place and I wanted to see where it was going to go. May thought she was going to remain in power because she thought everyone was going to vote for her; may I point out how many u-turns she made, how many mistakes she made, how many people have left her party since the election, how many insults she gave to the whole country and most importantly just how dangerously out of control she's getting.
By Lizzy Arrow9 years ago in The Swamp
The War on One Word
The "N" word. Oh yes we are going there. Why? Because it seems the lessons throughout the years need repeating. The "N" word was created to make black people feel bad about being black. The derogatory term created by slave masters to make blacks feel inferior. Most people on this earth have heard many derogatory words hurled at them and they elicit truly visceral reactions. 2017 introduced us to the word triggered wherein people react so violently to words being spoken that it has become almost a joke. Everyone seems to have their feelings hurt about something so now everyone is "triggered".
By Janine Addison9 years ago in The Swamp
