About Me

Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom
HR Apprentice. Ex Media Studies student at Swansea University. This blog is a collection of links, articles, academic reference and random thoughts.

Saturday 6 October 2007

The Human Cost of the Coalition Forces in Iraq


I was shocked to read the high figures relating to the deaths of US soldiers inj Iraq and checked the British Army statistics to see how they compare-:


As at 22 September 2007, a total of 170 British Armed Forces personnel or MOD civilians have died serving in Iraq since the start of the campaign in March 2003.


Of these, 133 are classed as Killed in Action or Died of Wounds (109 are classed as Killed in Action and 24 are classed as Died of Wounds sustained from Action).


37 are known to have died either as a result of illness, non-combat injuries or accidents, or have not yet officially been assigned a cause of death pending the outcome of an investigation


For the period from 1 January 2006 to 31 August 2007:


Centrally available records show that:




  • 278 UK military and civilian personnel were admitted to UK Field Hospitals and categorised as Wounded in Action, including as a result of hostile action.
  • 1,908 UK military and civilian personnel were admitted to UK Field Hospitals for Disease or Non Battle Injuries.
  • 34 UK personnel were categorised as Very Seriously Injured from all causes excluding disease.
  • 59 UK military and civilian personnel were categorised as Seriously Injured from all causes excluding disease.
  • 1,155 UK military and civilian personnel were aeromedically evacuated from Iraq on medical grounds, whatever the reason.

Source -MOD


http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/FactSheets/OperationsFactsheets/OperationsInIraqBritishCasualties.htm


Fortunately the figures are nowhere near as high as the US army fatalities but every life lost is tragic waste. As no end appears to be in sight it is a sad fact that these statistics will increase.


Sunday 16 September 2007

Colin Mcrae 1968 -2007

Very sad to hear about the death of Colin Mcrae today.

A facility to leave condolences has been opened on his website

A legend and an inspiration. God bless

Colin Mcrae Official Website

Arctic Ice (Bulletin Repost)

MySpace.com: Read Bulletin

Thursday 13 September 2007

Make Poverty History

Ricky Gervais Clip 3

Add to My Profile | More Videos

Madonna and Britney face beheading

Myspace.com Blogs:anna7897 MySpace Blog

New 6.2 earthquake strikes Sumatra - CNN.com

BREAKING.......


New 6.2 earthquake strikes Sumatra - CNN.com

Indonesian earthquake

An earthquake which registered 8.2 on the Richter Scale hit the coast of Sumatra today and triggered a small tsunami. An official at Indonesia's meteorological agency said gauges measured a wave surge of one meter after the first quake. The agency said the big quake's epicentre was 159 km (99 miles) southwest of Bengkulu, a remote area of mountains and forests. It was followed by a series of powerful aftershocks, including a magnitude-6.6 quake that briefly triggered a second tsunami alert in Indonesia. Authorities from Malaysia and Sri Lanka issued independent warnings, as did India for the Andaman and Nicobar islands, and Australia for Christmas and Cocos Islands. Early reports suggest that 10 people are dead and 100 injured.

Wednesday 12 September 2007

2nd Earthquake hits Sumatra

BREAKING....Indonesia news....South Sumatra hit by 2nd eathquake measuring 6.1 on richter scale. This follows report that a small tsunami has hit the town of Pandang following an earlier earthquake.....MORE FOLLOWS....

There are no longer any tsunami warnings in force following 2nd earthquake

2nd Earthquake hits South Sumatra

BREAKING....Indonesia news....South Sumatra hit by 2nd eathquake measuring 6.1 on richter scale. This follows report that a small tsunami has hit the town of Pandang following an earlier earthquake.....MORE FOLLOWS

Myspace.com Blogs:anna7897 MySpace Blog

Myspace.com Blogs:anna7897 MySpace Blog

ITN news are reporting the following.

TSUNAMI WARNING INDONESIA



As far as I can understand a small tsunami has hit the Indonesian coast of PANDANG. I am trying to confirm this story and wil update ASAP.....



MORE FOLLOWS.......

Tuesday 11 September 2007

Anita Roddick 1942 -2007

In Memory of Anita Roddick who died yesterday from a brain haemorrhage.

She was a remarkable lady and a true inspiration for women. She was a pioneer in raising environmental awareness through her success as founder of The Body Shop. She paved the way for others to follow in her footsteps, as a business woman and social conscience campaigner.

Anita Roddick - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "Dame Anita Perella Roddick, DBE (23 October 1942 – 10 September 2007)["

Scotsman.com News - UK - Social workers scrutinise McCann twins as evidence dossier given to prosecutor

Scotsman.com News - UK - Social workers scrutinise McCann twins as evidence dossier given to prosecutor

'Police Match Madeleine DNA To Hire Car' - Links

'Police Match Madeleine DNA To Hire Car' |Sky News|Home

DNA sample in McCanns’ car ‘has 100% match to Madeleine’ - Times Online


Madeleine McCann: the key questions - Times Online

Monday 10 September 2007

Is TV dead?

This is an interesting debate, I wonder if broadcasting and media technology will advance and adapt to a new format? The following question asked by Mike Butcher of Media Bites is true and just about sums up the quality of content whch is being churned out on a regular basis

Fundamental thing about TV is attention. Ofcomm says that people are watching fewer DVDs. They are ad skipping. People are downloading off of BitTorrent. What does TV do about this? It's having to come up with stuff like Big Brother.


TV Un-festival: Is TV dead? The Podcast from Guardian Unlimited: Organ Grinder#more#more

Sunday 9 September 2007

Are the McCann's guilty?

I would be interested to know what people think about the Madeleine McCann investigation. I will be putting together an article to weigh up the evidence and theories surrounding the latest developments. If anyone would like to comment or contribute their thoughts or feelings I would be very grateful. You can remain anonymous if you prefer.

Daily Express: The World's Greatest Newspaper :: News / Showbiz :: Madeleine: 'We can prove parents did it'

McCanns arrive back in the UK

The parents of missing four year old Madeleine McCann have arrived back in the UK. Portuguese authorities have said that they may have to return to Portugal at any time. The investigative process could take up to one year before any charges are brought about.

Saturday 8 September 2007

McCann case - Both parents named as official suspects

In a bizarre twist both parents of missing four year old Madeleine McCann, have been declared as official suspects in the ongoing investigation into the diappearance of their daughter. The dramatic development has unfolded over the last 24 hours following a period of intense questioning of both Kate and Gerry McCann by Portuguese detectives. No charges have been brought and no arrests have been made however both parents will have to attend a court hearing within the next 48 hours in order for police to present their evidence. No bail conditions have been attached at present but it is unlikely that the McCanns will be able to leave Portugal in the near future. As a result of their status of arguida or official suspect the couple are banned from speaking to the media.

Gerry McCann left Portimao Police Station at approx 12.10 am accompanied by his solicitor Carlos Pinto de Abreu following 8 hours of intense questioning. As he stood for photographs looking pale and exhausted his solicitor read a brief statement firstly in Portuguese announcing his clients change in staus, from witness to arguido. Portuguese police are yet to make any further official statement, both parents deny any involvement into the diappearance of their daughter. This shocking revelation comes on day 127 following Madeleine's disappearance on May 3rd 2007.

Madeleine McCann - Brief Summary of Key Events

Four year old Madeleine McCann went missing from an apartment in Praia de Luz, Portugal on May 3rd 2007. She was on a family holiday with her parents Kate and Gerry and brother and sister, twins 2 years old Sean and Amelia. The children had been left alone in the apartment while their parents ate with friends at a nearby Tapas bar. Among them were Dr Russell O'Brien and his wife Jane Tanner, who have two young children; Matthew Oldfield, a doctor, and his wife Rachael; Dr Fiona Payne and her husband David, a senior research fellow at Leicester University, and Mrs Payne's mother, Dianne Webster

The alarm was raised when Kate McCann carried out a routine check on her children and discovered Madeleine was missing from her bed. An intense search was carried out and Portuguese police launched an investigation into the possible abduction of Madeleine.

On May 14th Police launched a search at the home of English man Robert Murat, just 100 yards from where Madeleine was snatched. Mr Murat was taken in for questioning, but was not formally arrested. He was later named as the only arguido or official suspect in the case but no charges have yet been brought against him.





The McCanns embarked on a media campaign which toured Europe highlighting the disappearance of Madeleine, even meeting with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican. Celebrities including J.K. Rowling and David Beckham made public appeals that helped the family raise more than £1 million.


Today a second arguida has been identified by the Portuguese police. The family of Kate McCann have reported that Kate is the second official suspect. She was questioned for 11 hours yesterday and a further 5 hours today before being released without charge. Gerry McCann is still being interviewed by police at Portimao police station.

Police Accused of trying to offer Kate McCann A Deal

The family and friends of Kate McCann have hit out at suggestions that Kate was someway involved in the disappearance of her daughter Madeleine. They have accused the Portuguese police of trying to offer a deal to Kate. Gerry McCann's sister, Philomena, told ITV news; "They tried to get her to confess to having accidentally killed Madeleine by offering her a deal through her lawyer - 'if you say you killed Madeleine by accident and then hid her and disposed of the body, then we can guarantee you a two-year jail sentence or even less,'

Gerry McCann also defended his wife before being interviewed by the Portuguese police this afternoon. On the Web site http://www.findmadeleine.com, Gerry McCann said any suggestion "that Kate is involved in Madeleine's disappearance is ludicrous." A former spokesman for the family, Clarence Mitchell also spoke to the Associated Press. The McCann's "continue to deny absolutely they had anything to do" with their daughter's disappearance, Mitchell said. He said Kate McCann had found the police questioning "gruelling and very intense", but she's remaining strong and determined to prove that they had nothing to do with their daughter's disappearance and they are innocent victims of the crime".

Friday 7 September 2007

Gerry McCann due at police station

Gerry McCann is due at Portimao Police station for questioning. Lawyers have confirmed that Kate Mccann has been officially made an arguida or formal suspect. It is understood that Kate is to be charged with the accidental death of Madeleine. Until now the only formal suspect has been Robert Murat who lives close to the apartment where Madeleine disappeared on the night of May 3rd. Due to the secrecy laws in Portugal the police have not been able to confirm or deny suggestions that Kate McCann may have had any involvement in the diappearance of Madeleine. Family friends are supporting Kate and continue to stress that she is innocent. Madeline's grandfather has stated to Sky News that the investigation is a farce and would be a joke if it wasn't so serious

Kate MCCANN may be formally charged

A family friend of Kate McCann has revealed to the Press association that she believes Kate might be formally charged with the death of her daughter Madeleine today. It is expected that her status of witness wil change to aguido or official suspect during the course of her interview today. Detectives have also revealed that traces of Madeleine's blood were also found in the boot of a hire car which the McCann's had hired 25 days after Madeleine disappeared. Family spokesman Justine McGuiness confirmed that Kate is horrified by the revelations. Gerry McCann is to be interviewed this afternoon

Kate McCann fears she may be official suspect

BREAKING.... A family friend of Kate McCann says that Kate is to be declared as an official suspect later on today....The Portuguese police are seeking to find the answer to a specific 22 questions. Reports are emerging that Kate McCann faces another morning being interviewed by Portuguese police. She left the police station at Portimao last night after an intense 11 hours of questioning. She was accompanied by her sister-in-law Trisha Cameron and her lawyer, Carlo Pinto de Brao, who made a brief statement to the waiting press. He confirmed that Kate McCann was still being treated as a witness. It is understood that Gerry McCann will also face a similar ordeal later this afternoon. THE POLICE IN Portugal have not revealed why the questioning is taken place but it is believed that it may be linked to the results of the forensic tests on samples taken from the couple's apartment which were received by the authorities yesterday. The family have revealed that they fear the couple are being treated as suspects however the Portuguese police have not confirmed this. The couple 's four year old Madeleine has been missing for four months

Satement from McCann Family

Kate and Gerry McCann have issued a statement hours before Kate McCann was taken in for questioning by the Portuguese police following the disappearance of her 4 year old daughter.

Here is the statement in full, as read by family spokeswoman Justine McGuinness:

Today Kate McCann has returned to Portimao to be questioned by Portuguese police, to assist them with their investigations.Kate and Gerry are happy to help the police in their investigations to find their daughter Madeleine, as they have been since she was taken.Kate continues to believe that Madeleine is still alive and to hope and pray that she will be returned soon.Kate is a loving, gentle mother, one of the victims in an extraordinary and terrible set of events.

Kate has asked me to read this message:

"I miss Madeleine so much. Gerry and I want to appeal again to the person or people who took her or know who took her to do the right thing.

"It's not too late. Please let her go or call the police.

"We came to Portugal an ordinary family of five.

"We just want to know what happened on the third of May and want to go home a family reunited."

Wednesday 5 September 2007

Ambition is Critical - Vote for Boo!!!!

Coca Cola have launched their Instant Pop Star Competition. I would like to use the power of MYSpace to give my daughter the best possible chance of winning. She doesn't have the X-Factor but she would win a once in a lifetime experience.



www.instantpopstar.co.uk



please visit the website and vote for

Laura Williams singing Heaven.



Help to support the Boo, its a good cause . Make a mummy happy!!!!


P.S Please ask all your friends to vote or just repost

Sunday 2 September 2007

Model Agency Scams

Model and Extras Agencies Scams
if you see an advertisment for "FREE PHOTOEST SHOT AND PHOTOGRAPH" it is more than likely to be a a scam run through companies which request a joining fee. Such an agency is coming to Swansea tomorrow so watch this space. I have investigated a company called Models Management UK and hope to speak to them in relation to previous documentaries which have been made by the BBC and ITV highlighting concerns

Wednesday 29 August 2007

McCann couple frustration at media

Recent speculation by the Portuguese media that the parents of four year old missing child, Madeleine McCann, have killed their daughter accidentally, and have been covering up ever since is reported to have frustrated the British couple. In a Sky news Interview this week Gerry McCann said “some of the speculation, especially in the Portuguese newspapers, has been extremely hurtful.” He has has described the allegations as "incredibly hurtful and incredibly untrue". In an interview with Jordi Gonzalez on Spanish television channel Telecinco, Gerry McCann stormed off the set after being questioned about the specks of blood which the police claim to have found in the apartment from which Madeleine disappeared. The specimens which are reported to be of significant interest are currently the subject of a DNA analysis. Mr Gonzalez also asked the couple whether were the last people to see Madeleine alive?. Mr McCann is reported to have replied: “That’s part of the investigation and we are not going to divulge any information about the investigation that might help the perpetrator of this crime to cover his tracks.” He then stood up and walked off camera, adding as he left the room: “All your questions are about the investigation and we cannot comment on the investigation.” Kate McCann defended her husbands’ actions and said “What’s in the papers, we know there’s so much that’s inaccurate and untrue. It’s awful what’s written, and we want to say something but we can’t.”

The family do have a right to defend themselves, as they have not been accused officially by any authoritative agency. If the investigation proves otherwise, then obviously it would become a different matter which should be dealt with in a British Court of Law to ensure a fair trial. The public also deserve to know the truth and if this involves asking some questions about the behaviour of the parents then so be it. They had left Madeleine and her twin brother and sister alone in their unlocked apartment, while they dined with friends at a Tapas bar some distance away, If they were a working class low income family the story may have been reported in an entirely different way.

I fear that the true story will never be told by those who were involved and Maddie will never see the justice she deserves. Unfortunately in this day and age the media is a very powerful tool, if you court the media to your advantage then you have to be prepared for questions which need answers. Obviously there is far more to this case than has been reported, due to laws and restrictions in place by legal requirements. The victim in this story however is Madeleine, and this is in danger of being overlooked as the media attention increases towards the effect on the McCann’s.

Monday 27 August 2007

Weird World::Weird Things-Articles, Pictures, Videos, Stories, Animals, Sex

Weird World::Weird Things-Articles, Pictures, Videos, Stories, Animals, Sex

Why on earth would anyone contemplate a career in Journalism in the 21st Century?

To contemplate a career in journalism in the 21st Century there are many factors to take into account. As in any career, there are positive and negative influences and these need careful exploration before an informed decision can be made. These pros and cons need to be carefully balanced before one can even begin to think about a career in this field. Research into what the job entails and what would be expected from a prospective trainee is vital to get a full perspective of all aspects.

The word journalism is defined in the Oxford English Dictionary as "a person who writes for newspapers or magazines, or, prepares news and features for radio or television." A survey for Journalist Forum (2002, Hold the Front Page) shows the number of journalists in the UK in 2002 as 70 000, predicted to rise to an estimated 90 000 by 2010. These statistics prove that journalism is certainly attracting new employees as the figure is increasing at a substantial rate. The job is so diverse; it is difficult to attach an actual job description because the nature of reporting news changes on a daily basis.

The 24 hour news network that we have in the UK means that the working environment has an unpredictable unstructured chaotic schedule. The hours are long and irregular for a career which demands a fast–moving turnover of stories which need constant updating. This in turn may affect your social life and family commitment s as more time is devoted into investigating and following up news events. Reporter Paul Jones for The Citizen newspaper describes his average day as “juggling 3 stories [...] making routine calls, driving 10 miles to knock on someone’s door to be told to go away - every day.” (www.bbc.co.uk)This would certainly demand a high level of patience.

According to the National Council for the Training of Journalists (2005) the salary for a top level reporter or editor can be as high as £100 000 per year although it is takes determination, persistence and an extremely thick skin to achieve this financial reward. An average trainee starts out, on, between eight and twelve thousand pounds per year rising to fifteen thousand with experience. As there are many freelance journalists, this may not be a fixed wage or regular salary so it could mean that mortgage and pension prospects are dramatically reduced due to the competition from others. Job security may not be guaranteed for many freelance journalists. This along with tight deadlines and an ever growing demand for next exclusive story, all add up to immense pressure facing the modern journalists in the UK today.

In addition to the intense pressure and competition, journalists face challenges in many aspects of their work. They may have to encounter high levels of traumatic or potentially explosive situations as was in the case of the Tsunami disaster in Indonesia on Boxing Day 2004. The personal tales of tragedy in that event had been unprecedented although the remarkable stories of survival and courage gave a balance to the terrible scene that journalists may have encountered. These situations may impact scars on reporters which could lead to future mental health problems. Journalists need to be mentally and physically fit to deal with the situation in an objective way. If a reporter becomes personally affected, judgement becomes clouded and a story may become one-sided and biased. The need to be able to separate the facts in that situation becomes harder, and the truth can sometimes become distorted.

In our current political climate there requires a diplomatic attitude to ensure that our news is fair and politically correct. The UK constitution is based on Freedom of Speech but in the case of government censorship, misrepresentations and moralities which have to be considered. As the government use the media to put their views across careful thought needs to go into the story, to present a balanced uptake.It has not been unheard of for the government distort the truth through the media for their own political gain. The use of the media as a propaganda weapon since before the First World War has been widely documented. Information broadcasted at times of conflict does not always reflect the truth as the intention is to make the enemy aware of the facts that the war cabinet wants them to believe.

The dangerous situations in which the bravery of journalists is tested to the limit can often be life-threatening. Statistics on the internet (International Federation of Journalists, 2005) state that since the commencement of the conflict in Iraq in 2003, 99 journalists and media workers have been killed.. Another 112 journalists are imprisoned across the world as a result of the nature of their job include 31 in China, 6 in Burma and even 1 – Judith Miller of the New York Times - in the United States of America for failing to reveal the identity of a CIA informant. In Afghanistan, where 9 journalists were killed in 2001, the Taliban began expelling foreign journalists and some showed extreme courage as they were being smuggled into the country dressed as women in order to report the situation.

The impact of news on our society can have dramatic effect on society and is one of the reasons why the career can be so appealing. When Michael Buerke and cameraman Mohammed Amin brought the plight of millions of starving Ethiopians in a famine of biblical proportions to British screens in 1984, the action taken by people who were inspired to change the situation was unprecedented. The news report was watched by millions and the horror of what was happening in Addis Ababa reached into people’s living rooms. Bob Geldof was also watching the report and was so moved by what he saw; he set up what became the biggest fund raising event of our time – Live Aid. Twenty years later the news report still touched lives as the Make Poverty History (2005) campaign was introduced.

The ability to highlight crises such as these and place them in the heart of society’s consciousness, is remarkable, and can surely one of the most rewarding aspects of a journalistic career. The chance to bring change, offer hope and make a difference to people’s lives is certainly an attractive incentive to any would be reporter. Journalists can connect to society and communities, and encourage debate, in order to bring reform or resistance in a socially responsible way. this can make up for the less rewarding down sides of the job, which according to a survey carried out by BBC Gloucester are the hours, traumatic situations and animosity from the public who see journalists as interfering or intruding on their privacy. The words such as “huge, horrendous hectic and intensive” were used to describe the negative aspects of their jobs. However the plus side was described as “fast-moving, exciting stimulating and diverse.” Highlights of the job were reported as “unique experiences, meeting interesting people and making a difference to people’s lives.”
In conclusion, although the job has many downfalls the chance to make people s awareness of social injustices and offering the hope of change, makes this career stand out over others. If you work hard, have determination and persistence your success in journalism will bring a personal sense of pride and achievement. The chance of seeing your name in print next to the story which you researched and wrote yourself may be the most attractive reason for contemplating a career in journalism.

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