I've been debating how to respond to the fact that Channel 4 is continuing to encourage prejudice against Gypsies, Roma and Travellers by screening the second series of Big Fat Gypsy Weddings this week, but actually my amazingly articulate friend Pip has done a much better job than I ever could - click the link and give it a read and you'll see what I mean.
Pipopotamus: An Open Letter to Channel 4
Saturday, 18 February 2012
Wednesday, 31 August 2011
Basildon Bailiffs Boast About Traveller Evictions
Constant & Co, the bailiffs appointed by Basildon Council to evict the families at Dale Farm will be a familiar sight to those who’ve watched My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding. One of the episodes of the Channel 4 series covered the eviction of the Hovefields Traveller site, also in the Basildon area. Viewers were shown footage of the bailiffs hauling an elderly and distressed woman out of their way like a sack of spuds and there were later reports that Travellers at the site were not permitted to retrieve belongings before the site was sealed off and residents moved on.
In July, Basildon Council, no doubt fearing a similar state of events at Dale Farm, where there are currently more than 100 children at risk of eviction, along with seriously ill elderly residents, attempted to source bespoke diversity training for Constant & Co. Whether they eventually found a willing provider, having been turned down by Traveller welfare groups such as Share remains uncertain.
What we can be certain of though, is that Constant & Co are using the negative publicity from programmes like BFGW to illustrate their experience in dealing with Traveller sites as part of their website and SEO (search engine optimisation) marketing. A look at their website shows that they list Travellers and squatters alongside each other on the same page. This, despite the fact that the Travellers at Dale Farm are not squatters and legally own their land.
What’s more, a look at the meta text from this webpage shows that amongst the search tags used by search engines like Google and Bing to index sites are terms including “travellers” and “gypsies” and a quick web search finds them advertising “gypsy evictions”.
Can you imagine the uproar if a company advertised “Black evictions” or used index terms like “gay” or “Pakistani” in the context of bailiff services? Perhaps they didn’t get that diversity training after all.
But more importantly, why is Basildon Council opting to use a company that they can’t even trust to do the job right without extra training, and that boasts of targeting a specific ethnic group in order to make a profit?
Perhaps Constant & Co provide exemplary client service? After all, their website boasts in its Local Authority section “Our early involvement in a consultancy role has assisted many councils.” So it appears that they are not only managing evictions, but also advising councils – possibly including Basildon for all we know – of how to get round those pesky human rights laws; to make it look like you’re giving alternative measures due care and consideration but still get that eviction in the end.
Funny – in the same week that Nadine Dorries and the Coalition Government announces that abortion providers can’t be trusted to provide pregnancy counselling due to vested interests, that they seem perfectly happy for bailiffs with a clear financial clash of priorities to advise councils on the welfare of hundreds, including children.
In July, Basildon Council, no doubt fearing a similar state of events at Dale Farm, where there are currently more than 100 children at risk of eviction, along with seriously ill elderly residents, attempted to source bespoke diversity training for Constant & Co. Whether they eventually found a willing provider, having been turned down by Traveller welfare groups such as Share remains uncertain.
What we can be certain of though, is that Constant & Co are using the negative publicity from programmes like BFGW to illustrate their experience in dealing with Traveller sites as part of their website and SEO (search engine optimisation) marketing. A look at their website shows that they list Travellers and squatters alongside each other on the same page. This, despite the fact that the Travellers at Dale Farm are not squatters and legally own their land.
What’s more, a look at the meta text from this webpage shows that amongst the search tags used by search engines like Google and Bing to index sites are terms including “travellers” and “gypsies” and a quick web search finds them advertising “gypsy evictions”.
Can you imagine the uproar if a company advertised “Black evictions” or used index terms like “gay” or “Pakistani” in the context of bailiff services? Perhaps they didn’t get that diversity training after all.
But more importantly, why is Basildon Council opting to use a company that they can’t even trust to do the job right without extra training, and that boasts of targeting a specific ethnic group in order to make a profit?
Perhaps Constant & Co provide exemplary client service? After all, their website boasts in its Local Authority section “Our early involvement in a consultancy role has assisted many councils.” So it appears that they are not only managing evictions, but also advising councils – possibly including Basildon for all we know – of how to get round those pesky human rights laws; to make it look like you’re giving alternative measures due care and consideration but still get that eviction in the end.
Funny – in the same week that Nadine Dorries and the Coalition Government announces that abortion providers can’t be trusted to provide pregnancy counselling due to vested interests, that they seem perfectly happy for bailiffs with a clear financial clash of priorities to advise councils on the welfare of hundreds, including children.
Sunday, 28 August 2011
Dale Farm: Five Facts
The Travellers at Dale Farm in Essex have been given notice to leave the site by 31st August by Basildon Council, who are otherwise threatening forcible eviction. As the biggest Traveller site in the UK, it's a fair bet that there will be significant media coverage and plenty of comment and opinion.
In the hope that coverage will at least start out as being accurate, here are Five Facts about Dale Farm. These aim to explain the background to the evictions as clearly and simply as possible so that reporters have an easy resource from which to start their stories and for commentators to hopefully get their facts straight before giving their opinions.
Dale Farm: Five Facts
- There are Irish Travellers and Romani at Dale Farm
The site is predominantly occupied by Irish Travellers (and this means people who are ethnically Irish Traveller, not literally people who were born in Ireland), but there are also some Romani families there too.
- Half of the site is a legal camp
Around half the Dale Farm site is owned by Travellers and it has planning permission for occupation as a Traveller site. The Travellers on this part of the site are entirely legal and are not the subject of the eviction process. - The other half is owned by Travellers
Although the other half of the Dale Farm site does not have planning permission, it was legally bought and is still owned by Travellers. So the eviction is taking place purely on the grounds of planning permission for residential use. It is not a case of Travellers occupying publicly owned land, or land owned by other people.
- The purchase and application for planning permission followed Government guidelines
When the law was changed, removing the statutory duty for local authorities to provide publicly funded stopping place for Travellers, the Travellers were advised to manage themselves by purchasing land privately and then applying for planning permission. This was what Travellers staying on the second site at Dale Farm did. But planning permission was denied.
- The site was previously used as a scrap and breaker’s yard
Although the site is ostensibly on greenbelt land, the previous use of the land was as a scrap and breaker’s yard, which was not owned by the Travellers. This site received multiple warnings from the Council over its use, but was still given permission to operate and was not threatened with eviction.
Sunday, 7 August 2011
Book Review: Wolfsangel by MD Lachlan
Wolfsangel merges the worlds of Norse mythology and werewolves. Werewolves may have had a bad press lately from non-teens following the Twilight saga, but thankfully this book is free of sparkling vampires, denim shorts-wearing teenwolves and drippy heroines.
What I really liked about this book was that the main storyline was very grounded in reality. The characters don’t have amazing magical abilities ‘just because’ and for every strength, the characters have a balancing weakness. The frailty of the human condition is very clearly and accurately expressed. When the plot demands certain distances are travelled, it takes time and effort. When conflict occurs, the winner doesn’t bound off into the sunset unscathed. This realism, combined with the northern backdrop makes for a story with a refreshingly bleak outlook. It’s clear all the way through that death is never far away, even for the incidental characters survival is an achievement rather than an assumption.
The characters are well-rounded and with the majority of the lead characters, you find yourself liking them in spite of yourself. You know you probably shouldn’t but they have a certain charm. The best parallel I can think of to explain this is in Romeo and Juliet, when you can see the stupid things that Romeo and Mercutio et al are doing and you want to scream at them not to because you know it will end disastrously but even when they go ahead you can’t help but hope that this time it will turn out differently and all be ok.
The other interesting point in this book is the exploration of how distinct the boundaries between dreams and reality are – what makes something real or imagined? And if something is imagined, does that mean it has no power in the real world? Rooted in Norse mythology, in the these questions are the domain of the trickster gods and in this respect there are parallels with Neil Gaiman’s American Gods in terms of plot if not setting and narrative. (I can't explain this more fully without big spoilers so you'll have to read it to see what I mean!)
The dreamlike feel increases as the novel progresses and is especially strong towards the end-that-is-not-an-end, laying the path for the sequel, Fenrir, perfectly.
You’ll like this book if:
- You want a grown up reversioning of the werewolf myth
- You like historical novels but aren’t sure if fantasy as a genre is too unrealistic
- You like Norse mythology
- You’re interested in books that explore human relationships, what makes us human and what limits a person can be pushed to
You won’t like this book if:
- You’re on Team Jacob
- You think norse-influenced books should always include orcs, wizards and shires
- You like your fantasy novels to resemble cowboy westerns with typical good guys and bad guys
Monday, 25 July 2011
In Support of @suey2y
Here is the letter I've just sent to my local MP in support of @suey2y from Twitter, who writes the excellent Diary of a Benefit Scrounger blog. Please read her latest post here: Open Letter to Iain Duncan Smith
None of us can predict what the future holds. The scenario Sue sets out could happen to you or I tomorrow, next week, next year. We need to preserve support for everyone who needs it. Please please write to your MP in support of Sue. You can find your local MP here: http://www.writetothem.com/
Dear David Davies,
I've just read a blog post by Sue Marsh - an open letter to Iain Duncan Smith about ESA and I am asking you please to read it yourself @suey2y's Open Letter to Iain Duncan Smith
I know the Coalition is committed to cutting the deficit, and to reducing the size of the state and it's interference in the lives of individuals. But sometimes individuals and families can't fix everything themselves.
Sue's situation isn't isolated. There are people up and down the country in similar straits, all in fear of what will happen to their families because their bodies have let them down.
You can argue about the number of addicts, alcoholics, obese or others whom you might term 'undeserving' and how you have to make the terms of welfare stricter to keep them from benefiting from the public purse. But to abandon families like Sue's - is that an acceptable price to pay in order to exclude a few junkies.
We don't want Britain to end up like Greece, but if the only alternative is to turn our backs on people in desperate need, then what are we fighting for?
I am asking you please to take this matter forward and to encourage Mr Duncan Smith and those in charge of the welfare system to work with Sue Marsh and the thousands like her to develop a system that addresses their needs, not one that abandons them after a year.
Yours sincerely
Kelly Rennie
None of us can predict what the future holds. The scenario Sue sets out could happen to you or I tomorrow, next week, next year. We need to preserve support for everyone who needs it. Please please write to your MP in support of Sue. You can find your local MP here: http://www.writetothem.com/
I've just read a blog post by Sue Marsh - an open letter to Iain Duncan Smith about ESA and I am asking you please to read it yourself @suey2y's Open Letter to Iain Duncan Smith
I know the Coalition is committed to cutting the deficit, and to reducing the size of the state and it's interference in the lives of individuals. But sometimes individuals and families can't fix everything themselves.
Sue's situation isn't isolated. There are people up and down the country in similar straits, all in fear of what will happen to their families because their bodies have let them down.
You can argue about the number of addicts, alcoholics, obese or others whom you might term 'undeserving' and how you have to make the terms of welfare stricter to keep them from benefiting from the public purse. But to abandon families like Sue's - is that an acceptable price to pay in order to exclude a few junkies.
We don't want Britain to end up like Greece, but if the only alternative is to turn our backs on people in desperate need, then what are we fighting for?
I am asking you please to take this matter forward and to encourage Mr Duncan Smith and those in charge of the welfare system to work with Sue Marsh and the thousands like her to develop a system that addresses their needs, not one that abandons them after a year.
Yours sincerely
Kelly Rennie
Sunday, 7 November 2010
Putting the Tea Back in Teatime
With the clocks about to go back for the winter and pumpkins being carved for Halloween, I couldn't help feeling that the timing of new cookbook Tea with Mrs Simkins couldn't be better. With over 230 pages of recipes for teatime cakes, scones and other treats, it evokes a feeling of time spent gazing contentedly into the flames of a roaring fire and chatting companionably over crumpets and muffins, even if many of us have only seen similar scenes in BBC Sunday afternoon serials rather than in our own living rooms!
The really interesting feature of this cookbook, written by a popular columnist for the weekly Blackmore Vale Magazine, is that it doesn't just give you a list of recipes. Instead it gives you a little history of exactly what teatime is, how it came about and how it differed depending on who was holding it. I never realised before that Afternoon Tea and High Tea were entirely different articles! There are also explanations and suggestions of what to serve at different types of teas, from a small child's birthday party, to a Christening party and even a relaxed Sunday afternoon in front of the tv tea! There are also notes on the different types of tea that can be drunk at teatime, to allow you to match your food to your brew - something we're more used to seeing in the wine world.
The recipes are divided into sections according to the type of food involved; sandwiches, savouries, cakes and buns and so on. Each chapter contains handy hints to help make cooking and preparation easier, in addition to enticing sounding recipes such as Chocolate Brownie Buns and Little Hot Chilli Pies, as well as old favourites like Cherry Cake and Seed Cake. There's also a useful chaper entitled 'Sundries' which explains how to make those essential accompaniments like Old Fashioned Lemonade and proper Strawberry Jam.
For me personally, the best part of the cookbook was the section on cakes. Although I can happily make muffins, jams, chutneys, pastry and even bread, every time I try to make a cut-and-come again cake, it always seems to go wrong. Either they don't rise enough and end up like bricks, or they rise but then sink disastrously the moment you take them out of the oven! This book was the answer to my baking embarassments! By following the top secret advice on the pages at the beginning of the cakes chapter, I successfully made this Dorset Apple Cake!
My only criticism of the book is that it could have been improved by a few pictures of the finished bakes, cakes and treats, as for the novice cook these are much more useful than written descriptions (one person's 'golden brown' might be another person's 'burnt'!)
Overall I think there is something in here for all ages and abilities and there are quite a few recipes suitable to do with children - something to keep them busy in school holidays! Although you might not refer to this book on a daily basis, it is great for dipping into for inspiration when you fancy something a bit special for a change, and would make a lovely Christmas present, especially for the traditional cook.
Tea with Mrs Simkins is available now from www.howto.co.uk priced at £12.99
WIN!!!
I have one copy of Tea with Mrs Simkins to give away. Just leave a comment on my blog by 9pm on 14th November to be in with a chance to win! (All commenters will go into a hat and I'll draw one out at random).
The really interesting feature of this cookbook, written by a popular columnist for the weekly Blackmore Vale Magazine, is that it doesn't just give you a list of recipes. Instead it gives you a little history of exactly what teatime is, how it came about and how it differed depending on who was holding it. I never realised before that Afternoon Tea and High Tea were entirely different articles! There are also explanations and suggestions of what to serve at different types of teas, from a small child's birthday party, to a Christening party and even a relaxed Sunday afternoon in front of the tv tea! There are also notes on the different types of tea that can be drunk at teatime, to allow you to match your food to your brew - something we're more used to seeing in the wine world.
The recipes are divided into sections according to the type of food involved; sandwiches, savouries, cakes and buns and so on. Each chapter contains handy hints to help make cooking and preparation easier, in addition to enticing sounding recipes such as Chocolate Brownie Buns and Little Hot Chilli Pies, as well as old favourites like Cherry Cake and Seed Cake. There's also a useful chaper entitled 'Sundries' which explains how to make those essential accompaniments like Old Fashioned Lemonade and proper Strawberry Jam.
For me personally, the best part of the cookbook was the section on cakes. Although I can happily make muffins, jams, chutneys, pastry and even bread, every time I try to make a cut-and-come again cake, it always seems to go wrong. Either they don't rise enough and end up like bricks, or they rise but then sink disastrously the moment you take them out of the oven! This book was the answer to my baking embarassments! By following the top secret advice on the pages at the beginning of the cakes chapter, I successfully made this Dorset Apple Cake!
My only criticism of the book is that it could have been improved by a few pictures of the finished bakes, cakes and treats, as for the novice cook these are much more useful than written descriptions (one person's 'golden brown' might be another person's 'burnt'!)
Overall I think there is something in here for all ages and abilities and there are quite a few recipes suitable to do with children - something to keep them busy in school holidays! Although you might not refer to this book on a daily basis, it is great for dipping into for inspiration when you fancy something a bit special for a change, and would make a lovely Christmas present, especially for the traditional cook.
Tea with Mrs Simkins is available now from www.howto.co.uk priced at £12.99
WIN!!!
I have one copy of Tea with Mrs Simkins to give away. Just leave a comment on my blog by 9pm on 14th November to be in with a chance to win! (All commenters will go into a hat and I'll draw one out at random).
Monday, 22 February 2010
National Bullying Helpline Scores Massive Own Goal
If you're from the UK, or maybe even further afield, the chances are you've heard about the allegations of bullying within the office of the British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown. According to extracts from a book by journalist Andrew Rawnsley, published in the Observer yesterday, Gordon Brown was known to shout and swear at staff, as well as taking his frustrations out on car upholstery by thumping the seat in front of his when travelling. When the allegations were published, Downing Street, led by Peter Mandelsohn swung into action to deny the claims. So far, little more than a run-of-the-mill political scandal.
But then Christine Pratt, a founder of the National Bullying Helpline, weighed into the argument, saying that three or four people from the Prime Minister's office had contacted her helpline to complain about bullying behaviour. Her so-called 'revelation' has opened a can of worms for her own organisation, as well as severely denting the reputation of the anti-bullying sector as a whole.
There have been investigations into exactly who the National Bullying Helpline is, what they do and who they are supported by already, you can see them here and here. What concerns me is that an organisation which is supposedly dedicated to supporting and protecting victims of bullying has effectively hung them out to dry, in favour of a bit of publicity for themselves. And breached those callers' confidentiality in the process. So let's look at what that sterling bit of PR has achieved shall we?
While bullying between children at school is now generally accepted as a damaging problem, many people are still reluctant to admit that it takes place in the adult world of work. It is commonly explained away as a mere 'personality clash', ignoring the devastating effects it can have on victim's earning potential, mental and even physical health. By throwing the charity into the middle of this spat, the National Bullying Helpine is undoing the years of work that have been put into persuading people to even consider that adult workplace bullying exists - they are discrediting it far more effectively than any underhanded, nefarious bullying boss could dream of doing.
As a victim of workplace bullying in the past myself, all I can hope is that Christine Pratt does the honourable thing and chooses to take her PR 'expertise' to bear on a more deserving task, working on the next BNP election campaign perhaps?
But then Christine Pratt, a founder of the National Bullying Helpline, weighed into the argument, saying that three or four people from the Prime Minister's office had contacted her helpline to complain about bullying behaviour. Her so-called 'revelation' has opened a can of worms for her own organisation, as well as severely denting the reputation of the anti-bullying sector as a whole.
There have been investigations into exactly who the National Bullying Helpline is, what they do and who they are supported by already, you can see them here and here. What concerns me is that an organisation which is supposedly dedicated to supporting and protecting victims of bullying has effectively hung them out to dry, in favour of a bit of publicity for themselves. And breached those callers' confidentiality in the process. So let's look at what that sterling bit of PR has achieved shall we?
- It takes a lot of courage for genuine victims of bullying to speak out. Confidentiality is the least they can expect in return. By trumpeting her 'sources' all over the national news, all Christine Pratt has done is to reinforce the fear that telling someone will only make things worse. Just what an anti-bullying charity should be working towards. Well done there.
- Other, reputable anti-bullying charities such as BullyingUK are having to spend precious time, money and resources explaining to angry members of the public that they haven't said these things and that Christine Pratt is nothing to do with them. They've even had to post a statement on their website and twitterfeed to deal with the deluge of angry emails and tweets.
While bullying between children at school is now generally accepted as a damaging problem, many people are still reluctant to admit that it takes place in the adult world of work. It is commonly explained away as a mere 'personality clash', ignoring the devastating effects it can have on victim's earning potential, mental and even physical health. By throwing the charity into the middle of this spat, the National Bullying Helpine is undoing the years of work that have been put into persuading people to even consider that adult workplace bullying exists - they are discrediting it far more effectively than any underhanded, nefarious bullying boss could dream of doing.
As a victim of workplace bullying in the past myself, all I can hope is that Christine Pratt does the honourable thing and chooses to take her PR 'expertise' to bear on a more deserving task, working on the next BNP election campaign perhaps?
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