Louise Nousratpour in Westminster
Tuesday January 17, 2012
The Morning Star
Disability campaigners and anti-cuts activists staged a noisy protest outside Parliament today calling on MPs and Lords to throw out Con-Dem ministers' attack on Britain's welfare state.
As the government faced a fresh rebellion in the House of Lords over its controversial Welfare Reform Bill, the protesters gathered outside chanting slogans and displaying banners that read: "No poor mothers = no poor children" and "Time limit on sickness benefits = assisted dying."
"We want the entire Bill dropped," said Kim Sparrow of the Single Mothers' Self-Defence campaign.
She warned that sole parents, such as herself, and children with disabilities would be badly hurt if the proposed benefit cuts went ahead.
"At a time of high unemployment this government wants mothers with children aged five and over to become jobseekers or lose all their benefits.
"And as soon as the child is one year old, mothers who may still be breast feeding or recovering from a traumatic birth will be forced to do work-related activities or lose their benefits.
"We are already at the bottom of the wage scale and these changes will plunge more of us into destitution."
Ms Sparrow was also outraged at plans to cap family benefits at £26,000 a year and abolish the social fund - used for family emergencies such as homelessness and domestic violence.
Hammersmith and Fulham Coalition Against Community Care Cuts chairman Kevin Caulfield, who is wheelchair-bound due to a long-term neurological condition, said the coalition is waging a "systematic attack" on disabled adults and children.
"You have to question ministers' morality when they even suggest cutting benefits for youngsters with disabilities," he said.
Mr Caulfield, who receives the disability living allowance while working, warned planned changes to the benefit could stop people like him from continuing to live a healthy and independent life.
The government wants to tighten the eligibility criteria by replacing the £69 a week benefit with the stingier personal independence payment.
"I use the extra money for the additional needs I have as a disabled person. If I didn't have these benefits, I wouldn't be able to go to work," Mr Caulfield warned.
Last week the Lords threw out some of the nastiest parts of the Bill, including restricting payments for young people with disabilities or illnesses.
But Con-Dem ministers have vowed to overturn the amendments when the Bill returns to the Commons.
Uni to probe anti-semitic student attack
Louise Nousratpour
Monday January 16, 2012
The Morning Star
The London School of Economics (LSE) was investigating allegations today that a Jewish student was punched in the face after he objected to a nazi-themed drinking game during a trip abroad.
The incident is said to have taken place on a skiing trip to Val d'Isere organised by the university's students' union last month.
LSE Students' Union Jewish Society (J-Soc) said that on one of the evenings students played a drinking game where cards were arranged in the shape of a swastika and players were required to "salute the Fuhrer."
When a Jewish student challenged those playing the game he was allegedly subject to anti-semitic bullying and physical assault, resulting in his nose being broken.
J-Soc president Jay Stoll criticised those who believed such games were in good humour.
"When a Jewish student is subject to violence and the nazi ideology glorified, it is no joke, but a spiteful, collective attack on a community.
"This incident highlights the worrying trends of contemporary anti-semitism, but beyond all else indicates a depressing lack of education from students of an esteemed institution."
LSE's student union newspaper the Beaver used its editorial on Sunday to condemn the alleged racist assault and warned of a "worrying resurgence" of casual anti-semitism within university campuses in recent years.
University of Huddersfield students were caught playing a "Hitler drinking game" back in 2010, while members of the Oxford University Conservative Association were accused of singing anti-semitic songs during one of their gatherings in November last year.
The LSE confirmed on Sunday that it was investigating the incident and would "take disciplinary action if the allegations are shown to be true."
louise@peoples-press.com
Monday January 16, 2012
The Morning Star
The London School of Economics (LSE) was investigating allegations today that a Jewish student was punched in the face after he objected to a nazi-themed drinking game during a trip abroad.
The incident is said to have taken place on a skiing trip to Val d'Isere organised by the university's students' union last month.
LSE Students' Union Jewish Society (J-Soc) said that on one of the evenings students played a drinking game where cards were arranged in the shape of a swastika and players were required to "salute the Fuhrer."
When a Jewish student challenged those playing the game he was allegedly subject to anti-semitic bullying and physical assault, resulting in his nose being broken.
J-Soc president Jay Stoll criticised those who believed such games were in good humour.
"When a Jewish student is subject to violence and the nazi ideology glorified, it is no joke, but a spiteful, collective attack on a community.
"This incident highlights the worrying trends of contemporary anti-semitism, but beyond all else indicates a depressing lack of education from students of an esteemed institution."
LSE's student union newspaper the Beaver used its editorial on Sunday to condemn the alleged racist assault and warned of a "worrying resurgence" of casual anti-semitism within university campuses in recent years.
University of Huddersfield students were caught playing a "Hitler drinking game" back in 2010, while members of the Oxford University Conservative Association were accused of singing anti-semitic songs during one of their gatherings in November last year.
The LSE confirmed on Sunday that it was investigating the incident and would "take disciplinary action if the allegations are shown to be true."
louise@peoples-press.com
Experts advise MPs to reject sex classes plan
Louise Nousratpour, Equalities Reporter
Monday January 16 2012
The Morning Star
Parliamentarians were today urged to reject an attempt by Tory MP Nadine Dorries this week to see sex education focus on advising girls to abstain from sexual activity.
A coalition of parents, abortion rights activists and secular groups will protest outside Parliament in London on Friday when Ms Dorries's Ten Minute Rule Bill receives its second reading.
Last year MPs voted for the Bill's proposals that girls between 13 and 16 should receive advice on the benefits of abstinence from sexual activity during sex and relationships education classes.
Campaigners warned at the time that the proposals were taking Britain closer to a US-style culture of religious virginity pledges and sexist attitudes to sexual responsibility.
Abortion Rights campaign co-ordinator Darinka Aleksic accused Ms Dorries today of pushing an anti-women agenda in Parliament under the cloak of female empowerment.
"Dorries conflates arguments about the sexualisation of childhood and the objectification of women with a moralising, shame-based approach to all female sexuality," said Ms Aleksic.
"A move to abstinence teaching will find huge support from the religious lobbying groups with whom Ms Dorries works so closely."
Ms Aleksic argued that abstinence-based sex education is not effective and will only lead to higher rates of sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancies.
She added: "Abortion Rights wholeheartedly opposes this Bill and we urge MPs of all parties to do the same."
Lisa Hallgarten of the Parents and Carers for Sex and Relationships Education warned: "If this Bill passes, then it is probable that many schools will only teach about abstinence before marriage in addition to basic sex education."
The protest on Friday is between 10.30am-12.30pm outside Parliament in St Margaret Street, London, SW1A 2AT.
Monday January 16 2012
The Morning Star
Parliamentarians were today urged to reject an attempt by Tory MP Nadine Dorries this week to see sex education focus on advising girls to abstain from sexual activity.
A coalition of parents, abortion rights activists and secular groups will protest outside Parliament in London on Friday when Ms Dorries's Ten Minute Rule Bill receives its second reading.
Last year MPs voted for the Bill's proposals that girls between 13 and 16 should receive advice on the benefits of abstinence from sexual activity during sex and relationships education classes.
Campaigners warned at the time that the proposals were taking Britain closer to a US-style culture of religious virginity pledges and sexist attitudes to sexual responsibility.
Abortion Rights campaign co-ordinator Darinka Aleksic accused Ms Dorries today of pushing an anti-women agenda in Parliament under the cloak of female empowerment.
"Dorries conflates arguments about the sexualisation of childhood and the objectification of women with a moralising, shame-based approach to all female sexuality," said Ms Aleksic.
"A move to abstinence teaching will find huge support from the religious lobbying groups with whom Ms Dorries works so closely."
Ms Aleksic argued that abstinence-based sex education is not effective and will only lead to higher rates of sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancies.
She added: "Abortion Rights wholeheartedly opposes this Bill and we urge MPs of all parties to do the same."
Lisa Hallgarten of the Parents and Carers for Sex and Relationships Education warned: "If this Bill passes, then it is probable that many schools will only teach about abstinence before marriage in addition to basic sex education."
The protest on Friday is between 10.30am-12.30pm outside Parliament in St Margaret Street, London, SW1A 2AT.
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