CBS Food Police Go After ‘Cereal Offenders,’ Fret Over Cartoon Characters ‘Targeting’ Kids
March 15, 2011 No Comment
On Tuesday's CBS Early Show, contributor Taryn Winter Brill touted a new University of Pennsylvania study on the influence of breakfast cereal cartoon characters on children: “Previous research has shown how these images influence children's selections, but now a new study reveals they also influence how the kids think the cereal actually tastes.” In the report that followed, Brill described how marketing campaigns “target” kids to sell unhealthy sugary cereals: “Breakfast cereal is a $10 billion a year business and competition is fierce…especially among children's cereal…. They target kids with cartoon characters, in commercials and on boxes, that practically reach from store shelves to grab your kid's attention.” The headline on screen during the segment read: “Cereal Offenders; Cartoon Images Affect Kids' Taste Perception.” During the report, a sound bite was featured of Kelly Brownell, Director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity, who declared: “The cereal manufacturers spend more than $150 million a year just targeting kids.” On its website , the Rudd Center emphasizes the importance of using broad public policy to force people to change their eating habits: Public policy, such as local, state or federal legislation, is an efficient way to help the greatest number of people make positive changes in their lives. Rather than focusing on changing people’s behavior one person at a time, effective public policy makes positive changes in the environments in which we live. Practicing more healthful behavior becomes the “optimal default” — that is, choosing a more healthful behavior becomes easier, if not automatic.
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Biz Stone to become ‘strategic adviser for social impact’ but will keep his job at Twitter Biz Stone, co-founder of Twitter, is to join the Huffington Post as the new media firm adds big names to its roster following its $315m (£196m) takeover by AOL. Stone, who will keep his job at Twitter, will act as “strategic adviser for social impact” and will work across the Huffington Post Media Group and the rest of AOL’s assets. The company said Stone would be working to develop a platform to help people share their work in their local community. He will also create a video series about people and companies at the “forefront of philanthropy and corporate responsibility”. The news comes days after AOL announced it will cut 900 jobs, 20% of its workforce, as it struggles to compete for advertising with Google and Facebook and continues to lose paying subscribers. The sackings include 200 US jobs in content production. Last month AOL announced a 26% drop in revenues as its dial-up internet access business continues to decline and ad sales failed to make up the difference. Advertising revenue fell 29% in the last reported quarter compared to a 30% rise at Google. Chief executive Tim Armstrong said 2011 would be “the year we stop working on the turnaround and start working on the comeback”. Armstrong has said his strategy is to concentrate on content and in February he made his boldest move to date buying the Huffington Post . Its founder Arianna Huffington now heads all of AOL’s editorial operations and has already moved to recruit bigger names. Eleven new recruits were announced this week including former New York Times and Los Angeles Times editor John Montorio, who will be culture and entertainment editor, and Howard Fineman, a former analyst for NBC and MSNBC, who will become editorial director of the group. Stone said: “The definition of success is changing as we begin to understand the value of helping others. Arianna and Tim share my vision for aligning corporate resources toward meaningful change.” He said his goal in teaming up with AOL was to “rally companies to think about new ways of doing business, share best practices, and strive for positive impact at all levels – from global to local.” Huffington said: “Since one of our key goals is to explore and spotlight innovative ways that our company – as well as others – can do good, I’m thrilled that Biz Stone will be our strategic partner in this important endeavour.” Biz Stone Huffington Post Digital media Twitter Internet Blogging AOL United States Arianna Huffington Dominic Rushe guardian.co.uk
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Social enterprises and local volunteers are helping Britain’s lidos fight off closure Rowena Hoseason was dismayed when she discovered Cornwall county council planned to axe its subsidy for Bude sea pool. “When the council withdrew funding for the sea pool, people here were horrified,” she says. The open-air pool built into the rocks at Summerleaze beach in Bude, Cornwall, is one of around 30 tidal pools remaining in the UK – but at 90m long, its size makes it particularly special. “It has been an important part of the community for 80 years,” Hoseason explains. Since the 1930s the pool has provided local people and tourists with a safer outdoor swimming location than the untamed Atlantic. The total cost of running the pool each year is £47,000, but last year Cornwall council announced plans to withdraw its funding in an emergency budget. Hoseason, who runs a publishing company in Bude with her husband, says she chose to move there from London 10 years ago specifically because of the pool. Between April and October she swims two or three times a week. “It’s gorgeous,” she says. Until a few years ago, 80-year-old Pat Walker swam there every day. “It’s a part of Bude,” she says. “It’s beautiful.” Bude sea pool’s situation echoes what has happened at many of Britain’s outdoor pools and lidos in recent years, when they have often seemed easy pickings for councils looking to cut costs. Historic lidos such as Saltdean near Brighton and Broomhill in Ipswich have not been able to rely on authority money for some time, and concerns have recently been raised about the future of the pools at Aldershot in Hampshire, Brynamman in Carmarthenshire and Droitwich Spa in Worcestershire. But rather than lose their pool, some supporters have formed trusts or social enterprises to take over their management. These organisations apply for grants and donations, but are also well-placed to exploit local knowledge to find innovative, site-specific funding solutions. As a result of vociferous campaigning , Bude has won a temporary reprieve. Cornwall county council agreed in February to fund the pool for a further year to enable the local community to take control. In Penzance, the Friends of the Jubilee Pool supporters group was instrumental in persuading the council to save and renovate the pool in the 1980s. But fears for its future have not yet been banished. Cornwall council wants to reduce the pool’s funding – by £40,000 in 2011 – and hand control to a community group by 2014. Supporters of Sandford Parks lido in Cheltenham formed a charitable trust that took over the pool in 1996. The pool’s grounds are used to put on films and plays alongside triathlons and other events. Part of the site is leased to a private gym, and the management works with volunteering charities and the Community Payback scheme to carry out maintenance. These community-run lidos, then, might be a working model for the government’s “big society”: by devolving control, authorities save on operating costs, while users have a say in how the facility is run. And the community as a whole is strengthened through the process of collaboration. Last week a working group met to plan a community takeover of Bude sea pool and six people put themselves forward as committee members. Hoseason, who will chair the group, says: “The first task is to decide which model of organisation is best. Then we can bring in the next layer of people. It would be more practical if the council carried on running it, but I suspect its long-term future will be much more secure if it’s in the hands of the locals.” Supporters are determined not to charge for entry, but have discussed options such as increasing charges at the nearby car park, putting donation boxes near the pool or in local shops, running an ice-cream kiosk and cloakroom service, and possibly leasing the site for a cafe. Fundraising concerts and beach parties have been suggested, and councils have also pledged financial support. “There is an acknowledgement that Bude does pull people down to this area,” says Hoseason. In Penzance, Martin Nixon, chair of
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Up to 181,000 migrants are living in Britain on visas that have expired over the last two years, the National Audit Office says There are as many as 181,000 migrants living in Britain on visas that have expired over the last two years, according to Whitehall’s spending watchdog. A National Audit Office (NAO) report published today says the United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) fails to carry out its own checks on whether overstayers have left the country and instead relies on employers to police their own staff. The NAO says that the new points-based immigration system has been a welcome simplification of the previous labyrinthine work visas system, but it cannot yet ensure proper controls over migration or meet Britain’s needs for skilled labour. The report says that while 80% of those who applied through “tier one”, the most highly skilled route, are working in appropriate jobs, most of the skilled migrants who came through “tier two” are not currently working in jobs in national shortage occupations. UKBA still lacks the ability to identify easily individuals whose visas have expired and does not do enough to check that migrants leave Britain if they have no right to remain, the report adds. One UKBA region has contacted applicants whose visas have not been renewed and encouraged about 2,000 to leave since 2009, but “while UKBA has some contact details for an estimated 181,000 failed applicants overall, it cannot be sure how many have left the UK,” the report says. The Whitehall auditors say that the points-based system is not yet delivering value for money. The report says that the development of the computer system at the heart of the programme has had a chequered history. An initial forecast of potential savings was downgraded from £224m to £65m. The supplier, Fujitsu, initially underestimated the complexity of the project, while UKBA paid the company £4m in 2007 to develop applications that were not used. The NAO says that further improvements are still needed. Margaret Hodge, chair of the Commons public accounts committee, said that part of the problem was that UKBA relied on employers to police their own employees. Damian Green, the immigration minister, said the report highlighted why the government was introducing radical reforms. “We are committed to reintroducing exit checks by 2015. Counting people in and out of the country will give us better control over those that overstay,” he said. Immigration and asylum Damian Green Alan Travis guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Up to 181,000 migrants are living in Britain on visas that have expired over the last two years, the National Audit Office says There are as many as 181,000 migrants living in Britain on visas that have expired over the last two years, according to Whitehall’s spending watchdog. A National Audit Office (NAO) report published today says the United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) fails to carry out its own checks on whether overstayers have left the country and instead relies on employers to police their own staff. The NAO says that the new points-based immigration system has been a welcome simplification of the previous labyrinthine work visas system, but it cannot yet ensure proper controls over migration or meet Britain’s needs for skilled labour. The report says that while 80% of those who applied through “tier one”, the most highly skilled route, are working in appropriate jobs, most of the skilled migrants who came through “tier two” are not currently working in jobs in national shortage occupations. UKBA still lacks the ability to identify easily individuals whose visas have expired and does not do enough to check that migrants leave Britain if they have no right to remain, the report adds. One UKBA region has contacted applicants whose visas have not been renewed and encouraged about 2,000 to leave since 2009, but “while UKBA has some contact details for an estimated 181,000 failed applicants overall, it cannot be sure how many have left the UK,” the report says. The Whitehall auditors say that the points-based system is not yet delivering value for money. The report says that the development of the computer system at the heart of the programme has had a chequered history. An initial forecast of potential savings was downgraded from £224m to £65m. The supplier, Fujitsu, initially underestimated the complexity of the project, while UKBA paid the company £4m in 2007 to develop applications that were not used. The NAO says that further improvements are still needed. Margaret Hodge, chair of the Commons public accounts committee, said that part of the problem was that UKBA relied on employers to police their own employees. Damian Green, the immigration minister, said the report highlighted why the government was introducing radical reforms. “We are committed to reintroducing exit checks by 2015. Counting people in and out of the country will give us better control over those that overstay,” he said. Immigration and asylum Damian Green Alan Travis guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Up to 181,000 migrants are living in Britain on visas that have expired over the last two years, the National Audit Office says There are as many as 181,000 migrants living in Britain on visas that have expired over the last two years, according to Whitehall’s spending watchdog. A National Audit Office (NAO) report published today says the United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) fails to carry out its own checks on whether overstayers have left the country and instead relies on employers to police their own staff. The NAO says that the new points-based immigration system has been a welcome simplification of the previous labyrinthine work visas system, but it cannot yet ensure proper controls over migration or meet Britain’s needs for skilled labour. The report says that while 80% of those who applied through “tier one”, the most highly skilled route, are working in appropriate jobs, most of the skilled migrants who came through “tier two” are not currently working in jobs in national shortage occupations. UKBA still lacks the ability to identify easily individuals whose visas have expired and does not do enough to check that migrants leave Britain if they have no right to remain, the report adds. One UKBA region has contacted applicants whose visas have not been renewed and encouraged about 2,000 to leave since 2009, but “while UKBA has some contact details for an estimated 181,000 failed applicants overall, it cannot be sure how many have left the UK,” the report says. The Whitehall auditors say that the points-based system is not yet delivering value for money. The report says that the development of the computer system at the heart of the programme has had a chequered history. An initial forecast of potential savings was downgraded from £224m to £65m. The supplier, Fujitsu, initially underestimated the complexity of the project, while UKBA paid the company £4m in 2007 to develop applications that were not used. The NAO says that further improvements are still needed. Margaret Hodge, chair of the Commons public accounts committee, said that part of the problem was that UKBA relied on employers to police their own employees. Damian Green, the immigration minister, said the report highlighted why the government was introducing radical reforms. “We are committed to reintroducing exit checks by 2015. Counting people in and out of the country will give us better control over those that overstay,” he said. Immigration and asylum Damian Green Alan Travis guardian.co.uk
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Bill introduces ‘public interest’ defence, aims to end ‘libel tourism’ and signals end to use of juries in most libel trials The government on Tuesday unveiled sweeping changes to the libel laws aimed at protecting freedom of speech and bringing an end to so-called “libel tourism” from abroad. Ken Clarke, the justice secretary, published a draft bill that includes a new “public interest” defence which can be used by defendants in defamation cases and a requirement that claims can demonstrate substantial harm before they can sue. The bill will also signal an end to the use of juries in libel trials apart from in exceptional circumstances, and aims to end libel tourism by making it tougher to bring overseas claims which have little connection to the UK in the English courts. Clarke, unveiling the draft bill on Tuesday alongside minister of state for justice Lord McNally, said the bill would “ensure that anyone who makes a statement of fact or expresses an honest opinion can do so with confidence”. “The right to speak freely and debate issues without fear of censure is a vital cornerstone of a democratic society,” he added. “In recent years, though, the increased threat of costly libel actions has begun to have a chilling effect on scientific and academic debate and investigative journalism.” The bill includes a new statutory defence of truth which will replace the current common law defence of justification. It also includes a statutory defence of honest opinion replacing the current common law defence of fair and honest comment. In a bid to stamp out libel tourism, a court will not accept jurisdiction unless satisfied that England and Wales is “clearly” the most appropriate place to bring the action against someone who does not live in the UK or an EU member state. The bill will also remove the presumption in favour of jury trial as part of a series of measures to cut costs and speed up court cases. The government has also begun a consultation on issues not covered by the draft bill, including responsibility for publication on the internet. It will ask whether the law should be changed to give greater protection to secondary publishers such as internet service providers and discussion forms. More details soon… •
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Bill introduces ‘public interest’ defence, aims to end ‘libel tourism’ and signals end to use of juries in most libel trials The government on Tuesday unveiled sweeping changes to the libel laws aimed at protecting freedom of speech and bringing an end to so-called “libel tourism” from abroad. Ken Clarke, the justice secretary, published a draft bill that includes a new “public interest” defence which can be used by defendants in defamation cases and a requirement that claims can demonstrate substantial harm before they can sue. The bill will also signal an end to the use of juries in libel trials apart from in exceptional circumstances, and aims to end libel tourism by making it tougher to bring overseas claims which have little connection to the UK in the English courts. Clarke, unveiling the draft bill on Tuesday alongside minister of state for justice Lord McNally, said the bill would “ensure that anyone who makes a statement of fact or expresses an honest opinion can do so with confidence”. “The right to speak freely and debate issues without fear of censure is a vital cornerstone of a democratic society,” he added. “In recent years, though, the increased threat of costly libel actions has begun to have a chilling effect on scientific and academic debate and investigative journalism.” The bill includes a new statutory defence of truth which will replace the current common law defence of justification. It also includes a statutory defence of honest opinion replacing the current common law defence of fair and honest comment. In a bid to stamp out libel tourism, a court will not accept jurisdiction unless satisfied that England and Wales is “clearly” the most appropriate place to bring the action against someone who does not live in the UK or an EU member state. The bill will also remove the presumption in favour of jury trial as part of a series of measures to cut costs and speed up court cases. The government has also begun a consultation on issues not covered by the draft bill, including responsibility for publication on the internet. It will ask whether the law should be changed to give greater protection to secondary publishers such as internet service providers and discussion forms. More details soon… •
Continue reading …Bill introduces ‘public interest’ defence, aims to end ‘libel tourism’ and signals end to use of juries in most libel trials The government on Tuesday unveiled sweeping changes to the libel laws aimed at protecting freedom of speech and bringing an end to so-called “libel tourism” from abroad. Ken Clarke, the justice secretary, published a draft bill that includes a new “public interest” defence which can be used by defendants in defamation cases and a requirement that claims can demonstrate substantial harm before they can sue. The bill will also signal an end to the use of juries in libel trials apart from in exceptional circumstances, and aims to end libel tourism by making it tougher to bring overseas claims which have little connection to the UK in the English courts. Clarke, unveiling the draft bill on Tuesday alongside minister of state for justice Lord McNally, said the bill would “ensure that anyone who makes a statement of fact or expresses an honest opinion can do so with confidence”. “The right to speak freely and debate issues without fear of censure is a vital cornerstone of a democratic society,” he added. “In recent years, though, the increased threat of costly libel actions has begun to have a chilling effect on scientific and academic debate and investigative journalism.” The bill includes a new statutory defence of truth which will replace the current common law defence of justification. It also includes a statutory defence of honest opinion replacing the current common law defence of fair and honest comment. In a bid to stamp out libel tourism, a court will not accept jurisdiction unless satisfied that England and Wales is “clearly” the most appropriate place to bring the action against someone who does not live in the UK or an EU member state. The bill will also remove the presumption in favour of jury trial as part of a series of measures to cut costs and speed up court cases. The government has also begun a consultation on issues not covered by the draft bill, including responsibility for publication on the internet. It will ask whether the law should be changed to give greater protection to secondary publishers such as internet service providers and discussion forms. More details soon… •
Continue reading …It didn’t take Beck long to inject himself in his usual vile way into a tragedy and make it actually worse. Speaking on his radio show Monday, Beck said, “I’m not saying God is, you know, causing earthquakes,” before quickly adding, “I’m not not saying that either.” He then said that whatever one called God, “there’s a message being sent. And that is, ‘Hey, you know that stuff we’re doing? Not really working out real well. Maybe we should stop doing some of it.’ I’m just saying.” If I believed in this sort of thing I might ask Beck if maybe the messages that he’s hearing from GOD about this natural disaster are being directed towards Conservatives because of the way “they have been doing things”? Cut out the crazy, please. That wouldn’t be GOD speaking of course, it would be humanity.
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