Fundamentalists in MS Pulling Out All The Stops to Outlaw Birth Control
September 13, 2011 No CommentDon’t kid yourself that this is “just” Mississippi. The Christian right is going after birth control in every state: Mississippi voters will be allowed to decide on a ballot measure that defines “personhood” from the moment of fertilization, the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled last week. The measure could potentially outlaw abortions, birth control, in vitro fertilization and stem cell research across the state. Measure 26, which will bypass the legislature and go straight to a popular ballot vote, redefines the term “person” as it appears throughout Mississippi’s Bill of Rights to include “all human beings from the moment of fertilization, cloning or the functional equivalent thereof.” The American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi, Planned Parenthood and the Center for Reproductive Rights filed a lawsuit against the proposal earlier this year, not based on its content or constitutionality, but because Mississippi state law says a ballot initiative cannot be used to change the Bill of Rights. The Mississippi Supreme Court rejected the lawsuit in a 7-2 ruling, saying that it had no power to review any ballot initiative before the actual vote takes place. Let’s look at some of the interesting legal ramifications. If you go through in vitro fertilization, and it doesn’t work, you’d have to report that as a death. Same thing would go for very early miscarriages. How do we know you didn’t try to abort your pregnancy? Women would have to prove they didn’t murder their blastocyst/zygote/embryo/fetus. Your blastocyst/zygote/embryo/fetus would have the right to inherit, naturally, so if you have a miscarriage, that could certainly tie up some estates — not to mention that Social Security would be paying survivors benefit if you’re pregnant and your spouse dies. Could be a little more costly! And if people get illegal abortions, as people will when you make them impossible to get, that means the woman and her doctor can be charged with homicide. Of course, having a drink or a smoke during pregnancy is contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Geez, I just thought of something else — if you have sex while you’re pregnant, is that child sexual abuse? The mind reels at the possibilities!
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News Corp boss to face fresh questions about whether he knew News of the World hacking went further than one reporter James Murdoch is to be recalled to give evidence to MPs on the Commons culture, media and sport select committee following a vote on Tuesday. Murdoch, who oversees News International as deputy chief operating officer of News Corporation, will face fresh questions about whether he knew that phone-hacking at the News of the World went wider than one “rogue reporter”. The date of his appearance has not yet been finalised, but it is understood that he could appear in November. Murdoch insists he was not told about the existence of an email sent by a News of the World reporter marked “for Neville”, which is understood to have been a reference to Neville Thurlbeck, who was the paper’s chief reporter. That suggested phone hacking was not the work of a single reporter, as the company claimed until recently. Colin Myler, the former editor of the paper, and Tom Crone, its head of legal, told MPs last week that they told Murdoch about the email and said that is why he approved an out-of-court settlement of £700,000 including costs to Gordon Taylor, the former chief executive of the PFA. Murdoch told MPs in July that he did not know about the email and was not shown it or informed of its existence. In a statment last week he reiterated that was the case. A News Corp spokeswoman said: “We await details of the commitee’s request, however James Murdoch is happy to appear in front of the committee again to answer any further questions members might have.” •
Continue reading …Boundary changes: Labour and Lib Dems set for big losses, first analysis shows
September 13, 2011 No Comment
Guardian analysis looks at how the 2010 election could have panned out under England’s proposed new boundaries • Get the data • Full list of new constituencies The Conservatives could have been within striking distance of an overall majority had the 2010 general election been held under England’s new boundaries, early Guardian analysis suggests. The Labour party could have netted 14 fewer seats, the Liberal Democrats 10 fewer, while the Conservatives, who dominate England, might have lost just six seats. The UK’s only Green MP, Caroline Lucas, would not have been able to win her seat, according to the preliminary figures. The initial analysis, carried out by the Guardian data team, is based on figures released by the boundary commission, showing the makeup of each of England’s 502 new constituencies – breaking down exactly which previous constituencies voters came from. Using these figures and the results of the 2010 general election, the exercise modelled the effects of a uniform swing from the old boundaries to new. In reality, the effect on MPs’ seats is more complex to measure as voters are not spread evenly across constituencies: some areas within may heavily favour one party, others its main rival. The new boundaries reduce the total number of constituencies in England by 31, to 502. Assuming, until Scotland and Wales’ boundary commissions report in the next few months, that MPs in those countries remain unchanged, the Conservatives would have been just 10 seats short of an overall majority, versus 19 at present. Any prospects of a Labour-led “rainbow coalition” would have been still more remote, with the parties having 24 fewer seats between them. These early results corroborate fears from rival parties that Conservatives would be the major beneficiaries of boundary reform. At present, the Conservative parties tend to have larger majorities than Labour or Liberal Democrat MPs, providing a greater degree of protection against such changes. The Conservative party has a far larger share of its MPs in England than either the Labour or the Lib Democrats. 297 of the 306 Tory MPs have English constituencies, versus 191 of Labour’s 258 MPs and 43 of the Liberal Democrats’ total of 57. Consequently, the latter two parties are at significantly greater risk of losing still more seats to nationalist rivals in the wake of the yet-to-be-announced boundary changes in Scotland and Wales. The full data – and our workings – are below. What do you think? Data summary Download the data • DATA: download the full spreadsheet More open data Data journalism and data visualisations from the Guardian World government data • Search the world’s government data with our gateway Development and aid data • Search the world’s global development data with our gateway Can you do something with this data? • Flickr Please post your visualisations and mash-ups on our Flickr group • Contact us at data@guardian.co.uk • Get the A-Z of data • More at the Datastore directory • Follow us on Twitter • Like us on Facebook Boundary changes House of Commons Electoral reform Labour Conservatives Liberal Democrats Green party Simon Rogers James Ball guardian.co.uk
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Councillors back scheme to scuttle Royal Navy’s decommissioned flagship six miles off Devon to create reef An ambitious scheme to scuttle the decommissioned aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal off Devon to create an artificial diving reef has won the backing of councillors. Members of Torbay council’s harbour committee voted unanimously to support the proposal to sink the Royal Navy’s former flagship six miles off the English Riviera. There are still many hurdles for the charity behind the scheme to overcome, not least buying the vessel, which was taken out of service as part of defence cuts. But the harbour committee’s unanimous backing of a proposal to lease part of the seabed from the Crown Estate to create a final resting place for the Ark is seen as a major step forward by the many champions of the plan in Devon. Other schemes that have been floated for the ship have included turning it into a museum or a helipad or simply selling it for scrap. In Torbay the idea of buying the vessel and turning it into an artificial reef was hatched over drinks at a sailing club and quickly turned into a solid plan. A charity called Wreck the World has been formed and it has put in a bid of £3.5m for the Ark. One of the charity’s founders, Michael Byfield, said: “It’s been a steep learning curve and there are still lots of obstacles but we feel we are getting somewhere.” Wreck the World believes that divers would be attracted to Torbay from around the world if the scheme came to fruition, bringing in an estimated £10m a year to the local economy. Byfield said he believed it would be best to scuttle the ship so that the top of it came to rest five to 10 metres below the surface, making it accessible to many more divers than if it was sunk deeper. He would prefer to see the Ark settle upright on the seabed, allowing less confident divers to explore areas such as the bridge while more experienced ones could venture down to the deck and hull. Naturally, measures will have to be taken to ensure it would not pose a risk to any other shipping. Detailed environmental surveys would be carried out to check that the wreck would enhance rather than harm marine life. “It’s good to think that if we can do this, Ark Royal would still be a guardian of our waters,” said Byfield. “She is such an iconic vessel, it would be wrong to see her just cut up for scrap or suffer some other undignified fate.” If the charity fails to buy the Ark, it will attempt to find another suitable ship to scuttle. And if the scheme works in Torbay, Byfield said he would be keen to try to launch other similar projects around the globe. A report about the plan considered by the harbour committee pointed out that the sinking of the frigate HMS Scylla in Whitsand Bay off Plymouth had “generated a boost to the local economy of Plymouth and the surrounding area”. The report said there was “strong evidence” that there would be “new and appreciable economic benefits” to Torbay if the Ark Royal scheme was realised. Councillor Vic Ellery, chair of the harbour committee, said he was “very excited” by the plan, which will now go before the full council. Diving Marine life Military Steven Morris guardian.co.uk
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London Underground drivers get one-off payment and extra money for late and long shifts during Olympic Games Tube passengers are set to escape the threat of strike action during next year’s Olympics after London Underground (LU) bosses reached a deal with train drivers. Under the terms of the deal, negotiated with unions led by Aslef and the RMT, all tube drivers will receive a one-off payment of £500 and will be paid more during the Games if they work shifts that finish after 1.30am or last more than eight hours. LU’s managing director, Mike Brown, said the agreement was a “good deal” for drivers and thousands of Olympic spectators. “LU is committed to ensuring that the train service we provide contributes to the successful operation of the Games and I am pleased that we and the unions have been able to engage in constructive dialogue to reach this agreement,” he said. The deal covers the period from 27 July to 9 September. LU, part of the mayor’s Transport for London authority, did not confirm whether the deal contained a no-strike agreement, under which unions would agree that all disputes that arise during the Olympics are referred to the Acas conciliation service. Network Rail, the owner of Britain’s tracks and stations, included such a clause in its Olympics pay deal, which included a one-off payment and effectively saw off the threat of strikes during the Games. LU said talks over a wider pay deal were continuing. An Olympics deal with drivers was considered vital by LU and the mayor’s office because it is one of the staff groups that has enough industrial muscle to bring one of the capital’s main transport arteries to a halt. London Rail transport Transport Trade unions Olympic Games 2012 Dan Milmo guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …London Underground drivers get one-off payment and extra money for late and long shifts during Olympic Games Tube passengers are set to escape the threat of strike action during next year’s Olympics after London Underground (LU) bosses reached a deal with train drivers. Under the terms of the deal, negotiated with unions led by Aslef and the RMT, all tube drivers will receive a one-off payment of £500 and will be paid more during the Games if they work shifts that finish after 1.30am or last more than eight hours. LU’s managing director, Mike Brown, said the agreement was a “good deal” for drivers and thousands of Olympic spectators. “LU is committed to ensuring that the train service we provide contributes to the successful operation of the Games and I am pleased that we and the unions have been able to engage in constructive dialogue to reach this agreement,” he said. The deal covers the period from 27 July to 9 September. LU, part of the mayor’s Transport for London authority, did not confirm whether the deal contained a no-strike agreement, under which unions would agree that all disputes that arise during the Olympics are referred to the Acas conciliation service. Network Rail, the owner of Britain’s tracks and stations, included such a clause in its Olympics pay deal, which included a one-off payment and effectively saw off the threat of strikes during the Games. LU said talks over a wider pay deal were continuing. An Olympics deal with drivers was considered vital by LU and the mayor’s office because it is one of the staff groups that has enough industrial muscle to bring one of the capital’s main transport arteries to a halt. London Rail transport Transport Trade unions Olympic Games 2012 Dan Milmo guardian.co.uk
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Foundation trust gets warning notice after critical report into Furness general hospital’s maternity services The hospital trust at the centre of a police investigation into baby deaths has been issued with a warning notice by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) watchdog to improve within two months or be closed down. The University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS foundation trust runs Furness general hospital in Cumbria, where nine-day-old Joshua Titcombe died in November 2008. Cumbria police are investigating the deaths of other babies as well as Joshua’s. The CQC issued a highly critical report on the hospital’s maternity services on Friday. It also handed the trust a warning notice detailing the improvements to be made and setting a deadline. An inquest in June ruled that Joshua died of natural causes but that midwives repeatedly missed opportunities to spot and treat a serious infection. The Cumbria coroner, Ian Smith, said staff had not listened to the baby’s parents and had failed to record proper notes and to spot that the baby was becoming seriously ill. Despite concerns being raised by his parents, midwives did not call in a doctor for some time, the hearing was told. It also heard that Joshua would have had at least an 80% chance of recovery if antibiotics had been given at birth. Joshua’s father, James Titcombe, said at the time that the inquest had been “thorough” and it would help the family move on. The trust admitted Joshua had been “let down”. Police said in a statement on Friday: “Cumbria police is continuing an investigation into a number of deaths that occurred after mothers and infants received care at the maternity unit in Furness general hospital. The investigation began following the death of Joshua Titcombe and detectives have now widened their investigation to include a number of other deaths. “The enquiries are detailed and complex so it is too early to determine exactly which of these cases, or how many others, the investigation may include as it progresses.” The cases being investigated by police are understood to include those of Niran Aukhaj and her baby, who both died in April 2008; Nittaya Hendrickson and her baby Chester, who both died in July 2008; and baby Alex Brady, who died in September 2008. Hendrickson, originally from Thailand, was admitted to the hospital on 31 July 2008 and her baby was induced. Minutes after her waters broke, she had a fit. Doctors were called but she had another fit and died shortly afterwards. An inquest ruled that she died of natural causes. It was discovered that baby Chester had suffered severe brain damage due to a lack of oxygen during the birth. Hendrickson’s husband, Carl, 44, from Ulverston, said: “Our family has been absolutely devastated by the death of Nittaya and Chester. My son Conrad has lost a wonderful mother. They were so close and he is so like her, it is as if she has poured herself into him. “Relations with Nittaya’s family in Thailand have also been damaged. Her family can’t accept her death without knowing the full facts and I still can’t give them the answers they need. I have been saying there were serious issues at the maternity unit of Furness general hospital for over three years. Although the media coverage is upsetting for me and Conrad, I do feel vindicated.” The trust said there had been “vast improvements” since 2008 and action plans had been submitted to the CQC. But during unannounced inspections in July this year the commission identified “major concerns” with staffing levels, risk management and outdated facilities at the hospital. NHS Health Helen Carter guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Foundation trust gets warning notice after critical report into Furness general hospital’s maternity services The hospital trust at the centre of a police investigation into baby deaths has been issued with a warning notice by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) watchdog to improve within two months or be closed down. The University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS foundation trust runs Furness general hospital in Cumbria, where nine-day-old Joshua Titcombe died in November 2008. Cumbria police are investigating the deaths of other babies as well as Joshua’s. The CQC issued a highly critical report on the hospital’s maternity services on Friday. It also handed the trust a warning notice detailing the improvements to be made and setting a deadline. An inquest in June ruled that Joshua died of natural causes but that midwives repeatedly missed opportunities to spot and treat a serious infection. The Cumbria coroner, Ian Smith, said staff had not listened to the baby’s parents and had failed to record proper notes and to spot that the baby was becoming seriously ill. Despite concerns being raised by his parents, midwives did not call in a doctor for some time, the hearing was told. It also heard that Joshua would have had at least an 80% chance of recovery if antibiotics had been given at birth. Joshua’s father, James Titcombe, said at the time that the inquest had been “thorough” and it would help the family move on. The trust admitted Joshua had been “let down”. Police said in a statement on Friday: “Cumbria police is continuing an investigation into a number of deaths that occurred after mothers and infants received care at the maternity unit in Furness general hospital. The investigation began following the death of Joshua Titcombe and detectives have now widened their investigation to include a number of other deaths. “The enquiries are detailed and complex so it is too early to determine exactly which of these cases, or how many others, the investigation may include as it progresses.” The cases being investigated by police are understood to include those of Niran Aukhaj and her baby, who both died in April 2008; Nittaya Hendrickson and her baby Chester, who both died in July 2008; and baby Alex Brady, who died in September 2008. Hendrickson, originally from Thailand, was admitted to the hospital on 31 July 2008 and her baby was induced. Minutes after her waters broke, she had a fit. Doctors were called but she had another fit and died shortly afterwards. An inquest ruled that she died of natural causes. It was discovered that baby Chester had suffered severe brain damage due to a lack of oxygen during the birth. Hendrickson’s husband, Carl, 44, from Ulverston, said: “Our family has been absolutely devastated by the death of Nittaya and Chester. My son Conrad has lost a wonderful mother. They were so close and he is so like her, it is as if she has poured herself into him. “Relations with Nittaya’s family in Thailand have also been damaged. Her family can’t accept her death without knowing the full facts and I still can’t give them the answers they need. I have been saying there were serious issues at the maternity unit of Furness general hospital for over three years. Although the media coverage is upsetting for me and Conrad, I do feel vindicated.” The trust said there had been “vast improvements” since 2008 and action plans had been submitted to the CQC. But during unannounced inspections in July this year the commission identified “major concerns” with staffing levels, risk management and outdated facilities at the hospital. NHS Health Helen Carter guardian.co.uk
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Former bishop of Derry Edward Daly says allowing the clergy to marry would solve some of the church’s problems A high-profile Irish bishop who tended some of the dead and wounded of Bloody Sunday has called for an end to celibacy in the clergy. Edward Daly, who was bishop of Derry for nearly 20 years, said allowing the clergy to marry would solve some of the church’s problems. He is the most senior figure in Irish Catholicism to challenge the ban. The number of Catholic priests in Ireland is in sharp decline as older clergy die out and very few young men choose to take up a celibate life. In some parishes the church has transferred priests from Poland and the developing world to fill the gap. “There will always be a place in the church for a celibate priesthood, but there should also be a place for a married priesthood in the church,” he said on BBC Radio Ulster. “I think priests should have the freedom to marry if they wish. It may create a whole new set of problems but I think it’s something that should be considered. I’m worried about the decreasing number of priests and the number of older priests. I think it’s an issue that needs to be addressed, and addressed urgently.” Daly accepted he might be out of step with current Vatican thinking but said he was “not engaged in a popularity contest”. He said that during his time as a bishop he found it “heartbreaking” that so many priests or prospective priests were forced to resign or were unable to get ordained because of the celibacy issue. Many young men who had once considered joining the priesthood turned away because of the rule, the cleric said. Daly, now 77, became a recognised figure around the world in 1972 when he was seen waving a bloodied white hankerchief in front of British paratroopers in Derry during Bloody Sunday. The sight of the then priest during the shooting of 13 civilians in the city became one of the most enduring images of the Northern Ireland Troubles. During the 25-year conflict Daly was a fierce critic of the IRA’s armed campaign and a supporter of the peace process. Catholicism Religion Ireland Henry McDonald guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Phone hacking: mother of 7/7 victim to sue News of the World publisher
September 13, 2011 No Comment
High court judge to take Sheila Henry’s case as one of the lead actions over phone hacking at the former tabloid Sheila Henry, the mother of 7/7 victim Christian Small, has launched a legal action against the publisher of the News of the World after she was told by Scotland Yard detectives that her son’s phone was targeted by the private investigator who worked for the paper. In the high court this morning Mr Justice Vos, the judge hearing civil actions against the publisher of the News of the World, said that he would take the mother’s case as one of the lead actions against the Sunday tabloid. It is believed that this is because she was a victim of crime. Vos was hearing the latest procedural action as the civil cases against News Group Newspapers slowly develop. Others bringing actions include celebrities such as actor Steve Coogan and football agent Sky Andrew. Police are understood to have told Ms Henry that her son’s phone was targeted by the News of the World’s private investigator Glenn Mulcaire in the aftermath of the 7/7 bombings in 2005. It is understood that she had left messages trying to find out her son’s location on the day in which 52 people died. Christian Small was 28 when he died on his way into work, when his Piccadilly line train was bombed between King’s Cross and Russell Square stations. An obituary written by the BBC records that family members tried to contact him by phone that day, and his sister Tameka was joined by his friends and his parents in pinning up posters around London. However, it was subsquently confirmed that he had died in the bomb blast. The News of the World only appears to have written about Small once, briefly describing him as one of the missing, in a piece headlined “New pictures of the missing 7/7: Gallery of despair” which appeared on page 4 of the tabloid on 10 July. Vos wants a range of “lead actions” to be the first considered by the courts, including actions from celebrities and politicians. •
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