This is a sad day for the people of the Netherlands.

The national Queen’s Day holiday in the Netherlands is normally a joyful affair, but not this year.

The royal procession in the city of Apeldoorn was disrupted, and all subsequent official celebrations cancelled after a car drove into watching crowds at speed, killing four people and injuring 13, five seriously.

It remains unclear if it was an attack on Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and his wife, Princess Maxima, who were aboard an open top bus. They could only watch in horror as the car ended its journey by crashing into a stone monument in front of their eyes.

“It’s a terrible shame what has happened. I was quite far away but I heard everything. We saw a car suddenly plunge into the parade, and that was all,” said an eyewitness.

First aid workers fought to save the lives of some who had been mown down. Police said the driver of the car was arrested and was taken to hospital.. Queen Beatrice has expressed her shock and shared sense of pain with the victims’ families

Hamas Tactics in Gaza

I was compelled to put this video on my blog because it shows the type of people we are dealing with when it comes to terrorism. Cowardly 'people' that use women and children as human shields.

The Islamification of Europe

When three young men, Chad Hurley, Steve Chen and Jawed Karim created YouTube they never envisioned it becoming a multi-million pound project within such a short time.

The YouTube community spend many, many hours creating videos so that people like you and me have access to information that otherwise we would never come accross, in fact, never even dream of in some cases.

Since Google bought out the original owners, all that has changed.

When it comes to showing people the truth, YouTube are one of the biggest hypocrites out there. Anyone who dares to show what is happening in the real world gets their videos taken down and either receives a warning or gets their whole channel suspended; sometimes indefinitely.

It appears that this video is considered to be in violation of terms (TOS) and the creator has been 'suspended'.

For that reason I am placing it here, on my blog.

Watch it, digest it and spread the word.

The New Asylum Package

I've decide this post will speak for itself and have added nothing. Make up your own mind on what it means to our already overcrowded island and the importance of leaving the European Union.

EP Civil Liberties Committee approves "asylum package"
Immigration - 28-04-2009 - 12:32

A package of measures to improve the way the EU asylum system works and strengthen asylum seekers' rights was approved by the European Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee on Monday. MEPs adopted amendments to enhance solidarity between Member States when managing asylum applications. The four co-decision reports that make up the package will come before the full Parliament next week in Strasbourg.

The first piece of legislation, which received support from the report by Antonio Masip Hidalgo (PES, ES) and was adopted by the committee by 33 votes to 1 with 1 abstention, is intended to beef up the right of asylum seekers to adequate reception conditions: it lays down standards that must be guaranteed in terms of housing, food, clothing, health care, financial benefits, freedom of movement and access to work. The text also includes provisions on the protection of vulnerable people, such as minors, unaccompanied minors, pregnant women and victims of torture and violence.

Rules on the use of detention

According to the draft legislation, the use of detention should be decided on a case-by-case basis, and asylum seekers should not be held in prisons but in specialised detention facilities. Legal guarantees against arbitrary detention must be introduced. The detention of unaccompanied minors must be banned.

Free legal assistance for asylum seekers

Only the judicial authorities should have the power to order detention, says the legislation. Administrative authorities can do so only in emergency cases and their decision must be confirmed by the judiciary within 72 hours. In the absence of a decision, the asylum seeker concerned must be freed immediately. Asylum seekers placed in detention must be informed in a language they understand, or that it is reasonable to assume they understand, and receive legal assistance and free representation if they wish it. They must also be able to receive medical care and appropriate psychological support.

MEPs believe that the administrative procedures for asylum applications must be carried out swiftly and that delays which are not the fault of the asylum seeker cannot justify an extension of the detention period.

In addition, they believe that access to work must be guaranteed within six months after a request for international protection has been lodged. Minors must have access to education within three months.

Vulnerable people

Member States are required to check, as soon as request for international protection is lodged, whether the applicant has special needs: vulnerable people, including minors, pregnant women and victims of torture and violence, or victims of female genital mutilation, must receive adequate attention, say MEPs. They add that torture victims must be directed quickly towards a care centre suited to their situation. Member States must also assist family unification and guardians must be designated to advise and protect unaccompanied minors.

Rehousing of asylum seekers

A second proposal in the asylum package seeks to improve the Dublin regulation of 2003. The purpose of this regulation was to ensure access to the asylum application procedure and guarantee swift processing of applications, while preventing multiple applications by one person in several different Member States. The proposals seeks to guarantee higher standards of protection for individuals and cope better with situations in which the reception capacity of asylum systems of the Member States are under particular pressure. It lays down deadlines to make the procedure for determining responsibility more efficient and quicker. It also includes provisions guaranteeing that all the needs of those applying for international protection are covered and that sufficient legal guarantees are laid down, such as the right of appeal against transfer decisions, including the right to legal aid, to representation and to family unification. It also reaffirms the principle that nobody may be placed in detention simply because they are applying for international protection.

The report by Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert (ALDE,NL), which was adopted unanimously, backs these principles. However, it proposes that solidarity between Member States be enhanced by means of compulsory instruments such as the formation of teams of national experts to assist Member States confronted with a large number of asylum applications, and the creation of a rehousing programme to enable beneficiaries of international protection to be received by a Member State other than the one that granted them this protection.

Improving the Eurodac fingerprint database

The Dublin system could not work without a system for identifying foreign nationals who have already lodged an asylum application in another Member State. This system is Eurodac, a digital set-up for comparing fingerprints, which has been in operation since 2003. The proposal in the asylum package seeks to improve the general functioning of the system, to clarify the different stages of its operation and to lay down rules on data protection. Member States will be required to delete data no longer needed for the purposes for which it was collected. The report by Nicolae Vlad Popa (EPP-ED, RO), adopted by 28 votes to 4 with 3 abstentions, supports this proposal with some technical improvements.

An office to help Member States

Lastly, the Civil Liberties Committee adopted, nem con with one abstention, a report by Jean Lambert (Greens/EFA, UK) approving the creation of a European Asylum Support Office. This body will provide expert assistance to help implement EU asylum policy and will boost cooperation between Member States and help those subject to particular pressures. MEPs want this office to develop, in conjunction with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and relevant NGOs, training programmes on asylum for members of national civil services. The office must also put in place an early warning system to enable Member States and the Commission to anticipate large-scale influxes of applicants for international protection as well as a system of mandatory solidarity for rehousing beneficiaries of international protection of any Member States whose national asylum system are overloaded.

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/018-54481-117-04-18-902-20090427IPR54480-27-04-2009-2009-false/default_en.htm

The True Face of Mutliculturism

I had this video sent to me today. I was so shocked at what I saw and believe me when I tell you, not much phases me. I want to share it with you to show what multicurism is really like.

Never mind what the people in power tell you. Evil scumbags like this don't belong in our society. They need to be sent back to their third world, 7th century countries.

Immigration and Disease

‘London suffering from shocking rise in rare 'Victorian' diseases.’

This was the headline in the Evening Standard on April 15th 2009. A stark reminder of how immigration is dragging us back to third world status.

In the past decade, while a third of Londoners moved out into rural locations, 1.8 million immigrants have poured into our capital. Politicians and the pc brigade tell us immigration is good for us, but looking at the statistics shows a different picture. Apart from the increase in crime, disease is a very big threat.

Rare infectious diseases that had been stamped out for decades have reappeared with a vengeance. The majority of cases occur in major cities, but London, the largest multicultural city in England, is suffering the most.

Tuberculosis, over 8,000 new cases are currently reported each year in the United Kingdom.

Typhoid, associated with poor sanitation and hygiene, has risen steadily since 2004, from 45 to 127 cases per year.

Whooping cough cases quadrupled in the five years to 2007, from 63 to 252.

Scarlet fever cases are up 153 per cent since 2005, with 501 infected in London last year.

Mumps is up from 125 in 2007 to 393 last year.

And of course we have AIDS. Africans in the UK are diagnosed with HIV at a far higher rate than any other ethnic group.

As if that isn’t enough to contend with, along trots swine flu. Pun definitely intended. It hasn’t actually reached the UK as of yet, but it won’t be long before we see the first casualties. It has already killed 81 people in Mexico and more than 1,300 patients are being treated for respiratory infections that showed signs of the new strain. America, New Zealand, Israel, France and Spain are reporting ‘likely’ cases and the UK is on red alert as a worldwide pandemic looms.

While we keep our borders open and allow all and sundry into the UK we will face more and more deadly diseases.

How long will it be before we have reports of Ebola or The Plague on our soil?

The Roman Catholic, the Protestant and the Muslim

Am American friend of mine sent me this story via email. It is a true story and the author, Rick Mathes, is a well-known leader in prison ministry.

The man who walks with God always gets to his destination. If you have a pulse you have a purpose.

The Muslim religion is the fastest growing religion per capita in the United States , especially in the minority races!!!

Last month I attended my annual training session that's required for maintaining my state prison security clearance.

During the training session there was a presentation by three speakers representing the Roman Catholic, Protestant and Muslim faiths, who explained each of their beliefs. I was particularly interested in what the Islamic Imam had to say..

The Imam gave a great presentation of the basics of Islam, complete with a video. After the presentations, time was provided for questions and answers.

When it was my turn, I directed my question to the Imam and asked: 'Please, correct me if I'm wrong, but I understand that most Imams and clerics of Islam have declared a holy jihad [Holy war] against the infidels of the world and, that by killing an infidel, (which is a command to all Muslims) they are assured of a place in heaven. If that's the case, can you give me the definition of an infidel?'

There was no disagreement with my statements and, without hesitation, he replied, 'Non-believers!'

I responded, 'So, let me make sure I have this straight. All followers of Allah have been commanded to kill everyone who is not of your faith so they can have a place in heaven. Is that correct?'

The expression on his face changed from one of authority and command to that of a little boy who had just been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

He sheepishly replied, 'Yes.'

I then stated, 'Well, sir, I have a real problem trying to imagine Pope John Paul commanding all Catholics to kill those of your faith or Dr. Stanley ordering all Protestants to do the same in order to guarantee them a place in heaven!'

The Imam was speechless!

I continued, 'I also have a problem with being your friend when you and your brother clerics are telling your followers to kill me! Let me ask you a question:

Would you rather have your Allah, who tells you to kill me in order for you to go to heaven, or my Jesus who tells me to love you because I am going to heaven and He wants you to be there with me?'

You could have heard a pin drop as the Imam hung his head in shame. Needless to say, the organizers and/or promoters of the Diversification training seminar were not happy with my way of dealing with the Islamic Imam, and exposing the truth about the Muslims' beliefs.

In twenty years there will be enough Muslim voters in the U.S. to elect the President!

I think everyone in the U.S. should be required to read this, but with ACLU, there is no way this will be widely publicized, unless each of us repeats the story!

So there you have it. This is not just confined to America. It will happen in Great Britain and the rest of the world unless we put a stop to it!

A DAY BY THE SEA

I thought I'd start the day off with some light entertainment. This is a short story I made up one night while I had nothing to do. I wanted to try and get the sights and sounds across as I see them. I hope you enjoy it.

A DAY BY THE SEA

As I walked alongside the fairground on my way to the beach I spotted the psychedelic, graffitied sign announcing that this was The Waltzer. In passing, a cloying stench of grease and oil spewed from its generator and its thick exhaust chugged erratically like an old tug boat fighting its way upstream. A kaleidoscope of lights flashed intermittently and the music, uneven in scale and tone, pounded out from the huge speakers strategically placed around the rumbling ride. Shrill screams rose above the music as the ride-master declared “The louder you scream, the faster we go”.

The aroma of freshly fried chips suddenly filled my nostrils with the accompanying acridity of vinegar and I thought back to a time in childhood when chips were served in layers of a previous week’s newspaper instead of today’s clinical, plastic trays. I nostalgically remembered the vinegar running down and between my fingers, the print dotting my hands with simulated bruises and the satisfaction, that I somehow felt, by eating ‘real’ potato chips as opposed to the mass produced, genetically modified, frozen variety of today.

Sweet superseded sour as I moved on and the doughnut stall came into view. The doughnuts hung against the side of the van windows looking like primitive necklaces. The sweet, white sugar-speckled, hollowed-middle cakes sparkled in the fading sunlight. A young couple picked up waffles and smothered them in fresh cream; strawberry jam for her, maple syrup for him. In a large silver drum, candyfloss was being spun like a fine spider’s web for a small girl who rapturously leaped up and down, clapping her hands in anticipation.

The sweet, sugary aroma of the fresh dough dissipated as I rounded the corner, to be overpowered by the pungent odour of the dead and drying out seaweed that lay outlining the flow of the previous incoming tide. Small clumps of it were dispersed as far as the eye could see. As I made my way onto the beach I kicked off my sandals in order to feel the soft cooling effect of the sand between my toes. It had been another tiresome and lonely day. I needed to be alone with my thoughts and work out what I was going to do.

I sat awhile. A soft warm breeze fluttered past and a fine scattering of sand was strewn toward the concrete jungle behind me. As I glanced downwards, a hermit crab, the cuckoo of the sea world, scurried past and headed for the nearest rock pool for safety. Seagulls screeched and circled above, then dived towards the rich pickings that had been left by today’s many visitors. Remnants of food, pop cans, cigarette butts, even a dirty nappy had been negligently discarded. In a few hours the sand tractor would arrive to sweep, clean, furrow and level the area and by morning the beach would once again appear virginal, untouched by man or beast.

The sea was eerily calm, the sky free from cloud and to the west the impressive orangey-red sphere of the sun continued it’s descent towards the sea. Vibrant rays of light reached out across the sky, angelic looking, and a walkway of light had been lay down invitingly. Just for me.
I walked towards it.

Rats, Maggots and Flies

As we approach summer I thought I’d have a moan at the councils decision to collect household waste on a fortnightly basis as opposed to weekly and to point out the problems I have encountered.

As much as I want to help the environment, I am finding the new system extremely inconvenient, time-consuming and costly, accompanied by the undesirable increase of flies, maggots, wasps and rodents.

I fastidiously follow council guidelines on bin care which is to double-wrap food waste, use a bin liner, clean the bin regularly, make sure the lid is down and to place the bin out of direct sunlight. After following these procedures my bin is still susceptible to maggots and flies, so I contacted my local councillor who informed me that I must clean my dustbin more often. Typical response from a typical labour councillor. This is just not possible as it is continuously having waste added to it.

Following the councillors response I decided a little research would be advisable and, on the council website, I found the following statements:

1) There is no proven research that links this type of collection with ill health in our modern society and furthermore, maggots in wheeled bins will not cause health problems.
2) Flies are all around and have potential to spread disease; no matter what type of refuse collection service is in operation.

In warm weather the transition from fly egg through maggot and pupae stage to adult fly is under ten days, therefore the recycling guideline statements are, in my opinion, contradictory and fortnightly collections are indeed hazardous to health.

Since the introduction of recycling two years ago, my property has suffered rat infestation twice, resulting in environmental services assistance. I was informed that the cause of the infestation was a compost bin on my garden so I no longer compost. Once again I had followed council guidelines such as only composting raw vegetables, egg shells, newspapers and certain garden waste but the rats had burrowed underneath the compost bin to retrieve the food. Chicken wire placed underneath the compost bin did not solve the problem as the rats chewed through it. There are alternatives but they come at a price.

The ‘Greencone’ is the cheapest option at £69.95. It is partially buried beneath the ground but is made of plastic which rats can chew through.

Another option is the ‘Human Liquid Activator’ (HLA) which uses a combination of human urine, water and liquid seaweed. Once again it is costly and rather difficult to implement if you are female.

My next concern, as a water meter user, is my dramatically increased water consumption due to the washing of recyclable containers. Whether tin, glass or plastic this has to be done to keep flies and wasps to a minimum.

Veolia Environmental Services, which operates on behalf of Amber Valley Borough Council, showed group turnover in 2007 of £1.114 billion. This represented a 59.7% increase on the previous year. Group operating profit was £105.4m, an increase of 75.6% on 2006. http://www.veoliaenvironmentalservices.co.uk/pages/pdfs/new/ves_annual_report07i.pdf

It’s worth mentioning that I had a chat with one of the men who delivers new dustbins and he told me that a certain Labour councillor pushed through the use of the Spanish owned Veolia thinking it would be cheaper. He has now found out that it is a hell of a lot more expensive.

At this point I would like to point out that every household pays council tax, part of which is used for the disposal of recyclables and household waste, and the householder once again is out of pocket while the powers that be are making more and more money.

In view of the huge profits being made from our recyclables, maybe we should all request a revised and reduced council tax. Will we get one?

I won’t be holding my breath!

Who are the real fascists?

During my usual daily trawl of YouTube videos, I came across this. I think this young guy sums things up nicely.

Starting Out

I have been an internet user for many years and have made many new friends, but only recently the world of blogging reared it’s head.

I remember thinking, “What the hell is a blog?”

After typing into my browser, ‘What is a blog?’ I found there are many different styles; personal, corporate, question and answer, video, photo, audio, genre… The possibilities are endless.

I decided I’d like to create one of my own. But where would I start and what would I say? I mean, what on Earth could I possible write about that would be of interest to anyone other than me?

I suppose my blog will be a mixture of styles, from the trials and tribulations of every day life right down to hard core politics.

I will be also adding posts from other sources that will not be my work. If I forget to add a link I'm sure you will let me know.

Well, that’s the hardest bit over I suppose, so now onto my first real blog...