The Independent

The independent; “BNP and EDL accused of attempt to fuel racial hatred after Woolwich terror attack”.

Summary:

After the Woolwich killing the Islamophobic hate crimes are increasing. There have been 9 attacks on mosques, assaults, racial abuse and anti-Muslim graffiti. The British National Party (BNP) leader said that; “…the killers should be wrapped in “pig skin” and shot again”.  The English Defence League says; “…the killing shows Britain is “at war with Islamic extremism”. The police already arrested some people for making racist tweets. The heads of nearly 100 mosques said they shared the “absolute horror” felt by the rest of British society at the crime committed. But they ask the people, not to be taken in by the mindless rantings of extremists on both sides. A spokes man for the hate crime hotline Measuring Anti-Muslim Attacks said: “Reported incidents were running at a level we simply haven’t seen before”. Muslims are really in fear. Far-right websites are linking the murder to population growth among the ethnic minorities. The BNP and EDL are trying to politically recover, by using Woolwich. Their activities do often stir up local violence. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg expressed fears that the Woolwich atrocity could lead to long-lasting damage to community relations.

207 words.

My opinion:

I think it is terrible what happened at Woolwich. And it is scary to know Muslim extremists are behind this murder. They don’t care about their own lives and they can kill as easy as that. But not all Muslims are extremists. Generalizing people is a very bad thing. But I can imagine that people get scared and think that all men who look like a Muslim, with weird beards are dangerous. It doesn’t make any sense, because you don’t know. But the assaults that those extremists are capable of are terrible. I also can imagine that some people start a party against Muslim extremists, but they are often very narrow-minded. For example, if I look at what the BNP leader said (which you can find in the summary), I think that’s very narrow-minded. Why would you solve violence with violence? I don’t think that will ever work. I think the heads of those mosques are right. They say; “The hate fuelled individuals behind such attacks wish to polarise and tear apart our great country for their own sick ends. They should be isolated and subject to the full force of the law.” It is a difficult problem to solve, but turning our back on all Muslims will not be the answer.

216 words

Bibliografie

Oliver Wright, N. M. (2013, May 25). The Independent. Opgeroepen op May 25, 2013, van The Independent: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/bnp-and-edl-accused-of-attempt-to-fuel-racial-hatred-after-woolwich-terror-attack-8631612.html

The Ba'

Documentary about the Orkney Islands. The Ba’

Summary:

This Documentary is about a tradition in Kirkwall, on one of the Orkney Islands. It is called, the Ba’. There are 300-350 men participating in this game. The men in Kirkwall say it’s the forerunner of all ballgames, but in this game there are no rules. People believe that when the Ba’ (the ball) gets to a certain point, the people; farmers or fishermen will have a good year. The Uppies and the Doonies play this game against each other. It is a common thing that men break something. Most injuries are chest injuries. A man in this documentary says that, he thinks it started in the 13^th century. But they know for sure it was going on in the 1850-1890’s. The goal of the game is to get on to the shoulders of your teammate and stick the Ba’ in the air. That’s when you win. The one who gets the Ba’ is aloud to keep it.  People are so excited about the event, some people get nightmares about losing the Ba’. But it brings all the generations together so it has a social function. The Ba’ starts on new years day at one o’clock.

203 words

My opinion:

I saw this documentary on 30 december 2012. I thought it was funny the people on the Island have such different traditions than they have on the main land. When I still lived at my parents’ house, we went to Ameland every vacation. There they also have this really weird tradition called “Sunnekloas”. This is not a ball game, but there are also only men participating in this game. That’s why I remembered this documentary, because I could compare it to the Netherlands and the islands of the Netherlands. I think it is funny to see, that these island people really live in their own world. This Ba’ thing is a really big event for them and it is really important. Everybody believes that it could help them to have a good year, if they just can get the Ba’ in their hands. People are looking forward to this event the whole year. I think that it’s great to have such solidarity in the community of an island. But I wouldn’t want my son or father or boyfriend participate in the Ba’. It is a really rough game, and you can actually break bones in it. But I think they wouldn’t participate at all, because we are too down to earth in this part of the country.

220 words.

Bibliografie

Samsom, F. M. (30, December 2012). Uitzendinggemist.net. Opgeroepen op May 25, 2013, van Uitzendinggemist.net: http://www.uitzendinggemist.net/aflevering/174632/The_Ba.html

The Daily Mail

The Daily mail: A busy day for Harry! Prince joins his brother to open a Help for Heroes Recovery centre, before he heads to meet the Queen at the Chelsea Flower Show

Summary:

This article is about Harry and William opening a new “Help for Heroes Recovery centre”, Tedworth House in Tidworth, Wiltshire. It is one of four new centres funded by charity. It will provide on-going support and world-class facilities for the hundreds of men and women injured in the line or duty each year. It will accommodate 50 residents, four families and more than 150-day visitors and is designed to support those wounded while serving their country they rebuild every aspect of their life. Harry and William leave on a hand bike to launch the 2013 Hero Ride. The ride will see cyclist from all corners of the country ride into central London on June 2 to raise funds for Help for Heroes’ work.

124 words

My opinion:

I think it is great the two brothers show their sympathy and interest on these kind of things. But I think it is a bit overdone to spend a whole page of a newspaper on opening a recovery centre, because the Princes were there. But I think it is a good initiative to build these centres, to help those people who served the country. They risk their lives to protect the country, so it is to be expected that the government should express their desire of solidarity. Besides that I think the wristband idea, is also a smart idea to raise money. So I like the idea of raising money for a special cause and opening these recovery centres. But the princes aren’t a special value in this case.

129 words

Bibliografie

English, R. (2013, May 20). Mail online. Opgeroepen op May 20, 2013, van Daily mail: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2327479/Prince-Harry-joins-William-open-Help-Heroes-Recovery-centre-heads-Chelsea-Flower-Show.html

Documentary on Hadrian’s Wall

Documentary on Hadrian’s Wall

Summary:

This documentary is about the history of the Hadrian’s Wall, which can be found in the northern part of England. Hadrian’s wall is 74 miles long, 15 feet high and 10 feet wide. It is a Roman barrier, which was built 2000 years ago and still stands. The Romans ruled Europe for half a millennium.  170 A.D. Hadrian had an empire that stretched out from the north of Africa in the south, until the north of England in the north. He came to Britain in 122 A.D. His soldiers built the wall for him, from the North Sea until the Irish Sea. It was the most imposing roman frontier. The infrastructure was high developed. The tools they worked with haven’t changed. We still work with the same tools. Not all the Romans were from Rome so it was a multi ethnic melting pot, where different cultures were brought together.

154 words.

My opinion:

The documentary was 48 minutes, but I only watched the first 20 minutes. I’m always interested in the history of a country, especially if you can still see parts of ruins. I think it is interesting to hear how intelligent and high developed the Romans were in that time. And it is amazing how they built a 74 miles long wall out of rocks. It was said that they had to shape the stones, which took them 20 minutes per stone. And they used 80 million stones to get the wall ready. So that must have been an awful lot of work. The tools they used look like the tools we use now a days. So they invented tools that work, because we still use them. In the documentary they talk about under floor central heating. Underneath the floor they threw hot water that warmed up the rooms. How clever is that? I think it is brilliant. I’ve been to Hadrian’s wall myself, and I think it’s worthwhile to see it for yourself one day.

179 words. 

Bibliografie

documentary, B. e. (2013, January 29). YouTube. Opgeroepen op May 20, 2013, van Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNoa9hwbW9M

The Sun: "New kids’ organ scandal hits the NHS"

New kids’ organ scandal hits the NHS.

Summary:

A Sun investigation reveals that the TOP NHS trust kept hundreds of body parts without telling relatives. The organs have been stored up for 20 years. Guy’s and St. Thomas’ hospitals are contacting families across the UK to inform them. The organs were taken from the bodies for tests by the forensic medicine department at King’s college. But when the department was shut down in 2000 the organs were handed to hospitals which stored them, without informing relatives. It is the first time a hospital is exposed for keeping body parts without permission. Thousands of organs were found including hundreds of baby parts. Relatives are angry. One man says: “The hospital has robbed the dead of their dignity.

126 words

My opinion:

It is ridiculous how hospital and the forensic medicine department have treated the organs. This sounds a bit weird maybe, but I think it is their duty to handle these cases in a secure way. It is as if they have no respect for the feelings of the relatives and the dead. And these are just two hospitals in London, what if all hospitals in the country have storages of organs? I would want the police to investigate this very thoroughly, because I wouldn’t want them to cut in my body when I’m dead and especially not to store my remains.

108 words

Bibliografie

Mills, T. M. (2013, May 6). The Sun. Opgeroepen op May 6, 2013, van www.thesun.co.uk: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4916633/NHS-organs-scandal.html