British gas increases unfair prices

Summary
An average increase of 18 per cent on the gas bill will affect nine million customers. British gas is announcing massive increases in its energy prices. Major reason is the increase of wholesale costs, which seems to affect all energy suppliers, as other companies have already, or will in the near future, announced price increases. Critisism comes from consumer organizations, stating that some households reach poverty, because 10 per cent of their income goes to their energy bill. Other criticism comes from environmental organizations who say that the price increases are an indication that companies have to change the way they produce their energy.

Reaction
I agree with the environmental organizations, seeing as the increases in price are indicating that there needs to be done something about the market. If you have to raise your price because of the costs of the energy production, why do you not invest money in alternative ways of producing energy. That way you will be cheaper than your competitors, which is good for both you and your customers, and it will probably gain onto the environment. It is time for some change, in stead of the short mindedness of energy companies wanting to protect their market.

Source: The Independent: British gas to push thousands into fuel poverty with huge price hike
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/british-gas-to-push-thousands-into-fuel-poverty-with-huge-price-hike-2309496.html

Jake Ormerod sentenced for 10 years

Summary
A 20 year old guy has been sentenced 10 years for sexually abusing underage girls. The perpetrator, Jake Ormerod, is believed to be a member of a gang of men who are held responsible for abusing many girls in Torbay. He got in contact with his victims through Facebook, a social networking site. Sources claim that there are at least 40 members of the gang, who abused girls as young as 11, connected to the gang. Most of the victims have ran away from home before they became a victim, implying that the prosecutor took advantage of their vulnerability.

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I find it disgusting to find out about such things. The amount of victims, their age, and that there seems to be a whole gang active throughout an area is repelling. Jake Ormerod is a terrible example of people taking advantage of vulnerable young girls. It must be a living hell for both them and their parents and families. It seems way to short for me to send him off for only 10 years. It is not even a real jail that he is going to.

Source: The Guardian: Jake Ormerod sentenced to 10 years in jail for sexually abusing girls
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/jul/08/jake-ormerod-10-years-jail-torbay

The world needs to invest in itself

Summary
A report by the United Nations department of economic and social affairs tells us that we need to invest drastically in order to stop climate change and famine. The amount of money is quite substantial. About three per cent of the world's GDP, which for 2010 is somewhere around 1.2 trillion pounds needs to be annually invested in entries like the development of countries, and the global transition of energy production for the next 40 years. We are told that the production  of food for instance, needs to be drastically increased in order to prevent starvation in many places throughout the world.

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I absolutely agree with this report, and explanation behind it. The number of people on this planet increase with such big numbers that we cannot deny the facts anymore. Many people starve to death without us doing anything that has real meaning. It is not cheap, but the really important things in life should not have a price tag.    I hope the United Nations will advance with this report to a plan to really change our world for the better.

Source; The Telegraph: 50 trillion pounds needs to be spent on going green if world is to avert "major planetary catastrophe"
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/climatechange/8621917/50-trillion-needs-to-be-spent-on-going-green-if-world-is-to-avert-major-planetary-catastrophe.html

Death of two soldiers in Afghanistan

Summary
While on foot patrol in Afghanistan, two English soldiers were killed by possibly a sharpshooter. During the morning the two soldiers were part of lager group of men, on patrol through one of the more dangerous parts of Helmand Province. It was not a secret they were in a dangerous place to patrol. A day before, another patrol had been victim by accurate small arms fire in the same area. Both soldiers are praised by their superiors for their bravery and commitment.

Reaction
Reacting on the death of soldiers is always a tricky one. Mainly because their seem to be two sides in the western world: the ones who praise the bravery of soldiers, and the ones who are against war. I seem to be in that last camp, and do not think they should have been there. Most of the people living there do not have anything to do with illegal activities, and suffer from the pressure the America, English and other armies press against the civilians over there.

Source: BBC News: Soldiers shot by insurgent 'sharpshooter' - inquest
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-14084662

Funeral and wedding prices going up

Summary
The price of funerals as well as weddings in the UK are said to rise in the future. It has been announced by the Church of England, that the price of funerals will increase from 102 pounds to 150 pounds, and the price of weddings from 284 pounds to 425 pounds. It has not been set though, a proposal is to be discussed at the church's General Synod in York. The reason behind this idea is to make the price the same across the country. Because of the economical dismay that is hitting the UK churches had to perpetually raise their prices in order to keep financially healthy.

Reaction
I understand that churches have to raise their prices in order to not go bankrupt. People need to cut money everywhere so why not when it comes to a wedding. The drop in funerals seems hard to believe, when you are religious I do not think you would settle for anything less than to be buried at a church, and this also goes for your family I might think. It seems like a good idea though to streamline prices so that everyone has to pay the same price, regardless of where you live.

Source: The Independent: Funeral prices to soar 50 per cent as church feels effect of downturn
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/funeral-prices-to-soar-50-per-cent-as-church-feels-effect-of-downturn-2309504.html

More homeless people because of Cameron?

Summary
The welfare policies conducted by conservative prime minister David Cameron, seem to risk making 40,000 families throughout the UK homeless. This warning comes from one of his most trusted ministers, Eric Pickles, secretary of communities, who states the information in a leaked letter to Cameron. The announced cap benefit at 500 pounds a week per family seems to cause divides in the government. The announced measure seems to not have any real value because the money saved by installing the cap, will be made worthless as there will be much more money needed to help all the families losing their homes and such.

Reaction
This government surprises me everyday again, alongside with their conservative allies throughout Europe. They are incredibly short minded in their ideas and regulations. Every time they come up with an idea, it is almost always focused on the people who cannot afford to pay anymore taxes or related fines, many of the laws seem to not even be possible half the time. The wealthier people in our society seem to always get lucky.

Source: The Observer: Eric Pickles warns David Cameron of rise in homeless families risk
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/jul/02/eric-pickles-david-cameron-40000-homeless

Imbalances in student admissions

Summary
A study by the Sutton Trust finds that four schools and one sixth-form college are responsible for more students being sent to Oxford and Cambridge than 2,000 schools combined throughout the UK. The study has even more remarkable but not really surprising results. There is a substantial difference between state and private schools. Students of private schools are twice as likely to enter one of England's top 30 universities, and seven times as likely to go to either Oxford or Cambridge. This comes in a period where Universities recently got allowed to charge fees higher than 6,000 pounds, and thus increasing the gap there already is.

Reaction
Schools should be accessible for everyone. Of course there are people smarter than others, and some others are not as smart as others, or vice verse, but at least everyone should get the same chance of showing that. We are moving back towards a society where the higher educated are not the smartest people, but just the wealthiest. This will decrease the change of moving up the social ladder, and therefor establishing once again class society. It should also be put onto the government who allows the universities to ask these high admissions.


Source: The Guardian: University admissions study reveals extent of Oxbridge divide
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/jul/08/university-admissions-study-oxbridge-divide