Europe's 10bn-euro space vision

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7749761.stm

In short:

The European Space Agency (Esa) is going to open a research centre on the Harwell innovation campus in Oxfordshire, UK. This was announced after a meeting between science ministers in the Hague. In the research facility scientist will work on space robotics and climate change science. At this moment Britain is the only major ESA member state that doesn’t have its own technical centers. Senior Esa executive Daniel Sacotte has told the BBC that this agreement was a symbolic moment for the Esa: “It’s important. It shows renewed interest for Britain to be part of Esa, to be involved in space activity, and we welcome that. The agreement with Esa states that the UK will bear the cost of constructing the new research centre.

What does Rene thinks about this:

I think that this is a good step that has been taken by the Esa. Of course every country that has a big role in the Esa should have to give a contribution in the form of a research centre or another important facility. This will not only be good for the Esa as a whole, but also for the people in Britain, there will be more knowledge that can be exchanged with other countries and there will be more work available in this sector. Hopefully it will get there soon because these things can take a lot of time to be constructed.

The end of the internet

Police and teachers on BNP list

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7736794.stm

In short:

Serving and former police officers, teachers and soldiers are listed as members of the British National Party in a leaked document published online. On the list, which dates from 2007, are 10,000 people with their names, addresses, jobs and phone numbers. The leader of the BNP, Nick Griffin, accuses former members to have published the list. He stated that his party is going to use the Human Rights Act to try to protect the identities of its members, despite the party being against the European legislation. On the other hand, he was happy with the media interest, and that everyone could see that they also have average citizens as members.

What does René think about this:

When I read these kind of articles, I am happy that someone did publish ‘secret’ information of a party that is so extreme in its believes against foreigners. It is almost funny to read that they are going to make use of the Human Rights although they are against these kind of supranational agreements. Also the fact that he is happy with the media attention on the other hand, makes me think this guy is stupid. I am not familiar with the party that he is leading, but it makes me think of the party that the guy with the nice haircut is running over here in the Netherlands.

Prostitute users face clampdown

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7735908.stm

In short:

Paying for sex with prostitutes who are controlled by pimps is going to become a criminal offence in England and Wales according to Home Secretary Jacqui Smith. Customers who are aware of the fact that they are paying for sex with an illegally trafficked women, could face rape charges, also kerb crawlers could face prosecution. With this sanction the Home Secretary want to reduce demand for trafficked women. She told the BBC: "My proposal is that men should think twice about paying for sex. The reason they should do that is actually the majority of women don't want to be involved in prostitution."

What does René think about this:

This is of course a very noble plan of the Home Secretary, but I do have some troubles with the practical side of this plan. I agree with her that it is absolutely wrong to make use of women who are knowingly trafficked and really don’t want to be involved in prostitution, and are being forced by their pimps. But what I find difficult to imagine, is the way they are going to find out that customers know that they’ve paid to have sex with an illegally trafficked prostitute, how are they going to prove that.

The role of citizen journalism in modern democracy

In short
The relationship between citizens and journalism is getting more and more complex with so many communication tools and so many people who are willing to voice their opinion or send in their own footage. This means we that it is better to include the audience in the news making process. Nowadays, the BBC gets an enormous amount of footage of newsworthy events, and in cases like the Burmese demonstrations, where the BBC was not allowed to get into Burma, the BBC benefits from footage of citizens over there. At the same time journalist organizations like the BBC should be aware of the dangers that internet holds. Because of the speed internet brings, it is likely that the wrong information is accessible world-wide in no time, this is always a disaster for a well-respected journalistic company. The BBC will have to make sure that they make use of the user-generated-content and not ignore the ongoing revolution in technology, but it has to make sure that the traditional values will always remain the lode star of BBC journalism.

What does René think about this (speakers corner subject!)
As being a journalist myself I think the user generated content is a very bad thing to happen to journalism and journalists. I want the journalist organizations to reject all the footage they get from citizens, they know nothing about how you should create a journalistic valuable item. In the last years you could already see that the level of public issues in the news is declining. Skoeps.nl is a good example of the failure and the low-level-journalism that user generated has caused. The website, which got bankrupt not so long ago, had news items like: “car crashed tram on the Kinkerstraat, Amsterdam”, or, “St. Nicholas spotted in a carrier cycle”, this was total rubbish and it was no surprise that it got bankrupt. There are some cases where the user generated content seemed to be useful, but this does not weigh up to the terrible content you often experience on the net. Maybe it is best to let the internet be regulated by government, the world would be much safer and we get rid of this low-level user generated content.



Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2008/1/the_role_of_citizen_journalism.html

System 'worries' child safety MP

In short

Trying to keep families together at all costs where children are not safe should not be priority number one according to senior Labour MP Barry Sheerman. Top priority should be the safety of the children says the current chair of the Child and Family Select Committee. Mr. Sheerman says: “There is a great fashion in the United Kingdom, at all costs to keep the child with the natural family.” He said this in reaction to a recent conviction of two men for causing the death of a 17-month-old baby boy. The family was visited 60 times over eight months by social workers, police and health professionals.

What does René thinks about this

After having read this article a lot of question arose in my mind. The most important facts where you get no information about in this article is whether there are more cases like this, in this article you only get two cases like this which occurred during the last eight years. Aren’t there more figures and numbers which can show the results of the current system in the UK? I hope the senior MP didn’t conclude this message after only one case, there must be more, otherwise I think that one case can not represent the whole system in the UK.

source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/7723933.stm