WTF, Sunday Trading Extension Blocked Without Public Consideration

This may be one of the few times where I find myself dare I say it, agreeing with the Conservatives on policy reform and oddly enough disagreeing with the opposition for lobbying the SNP to block the reform of trading hours on Sunday.

In this day in age should Sunday still be considered sacrosanct? Christian charities and the Church of England have resisted the move, claiming that Sunday is for families, whilst unions argue that it would erode worker’s rights.

I personally don’t see an issue with extending trading hours on Sundays. It would perhaps be a move away from draconian policy based on religious ideology. A deal could easily hammered out to ensure workers get regular days off. Just like all those who already do shift work or are on call.

Living in a semi-rural location myself, I find it incredibly frustrating that the world seems to shut down on a Sunday. There are reduced public transport services, in some cases no Sunday service at all.  

It’s obscenely old fashioned to have industry grind to a halt for no other reason apart from stubborn tradition. I am assuming anyone who couldn’t work Sundays for religious reasons would be allowed that freedom just as people of other faiths who observe a different Sabbath day should be allowed to maintain their individual beliefs.

Having extended trading hours on Sunday would mean more flexibility and individual freedom for the worker. I personally have never been fortunate enough to have had a job that paid time and a half on Sundays. But I am aware of some systems which have a policy of paying employees a weekend premium. Whereby from midnight on Friday till midnight on Sunday, employees are paid at a slightly higher rate. If a policy like that was rolled out nationwide, I am sure it would get much support from the public.

It is in my opinion the mistake of every government to wilfully presume it knows what is best for the people it governs whilst neglecting to consult directly with those same people. Why can’t the public decide what hours they want to work? It is pretty shameful that reality shows like the X-Factor offer more community engagement then Prime Ministers Question Time.

We have the technology to conduct live surveys and generate audience responses in real time. Why can’t we ask the public about how they feel about the matters that are important to them? I feel that in this instance the opposition was wrong to lobby the SNP to block this reform without giving it full public consideration.

I think all of us are sick of the stagnant politics of previous generations. The political bear baiting between parties only serves to side-line important issues and hinders any real long lasting progress. My personal experience of being homeless at the age of sixteen has led to my development of a long standing resentment towards the blasé “blairesque” Labour party who presided over a period of such great difficulty in my young life.

I am too young to recall the desperation of the Thatcher era, but over the past few years I have grown bitter towards our Conservative leaders. George Osborne has already sold off more state assets then his Thatcher era counterparts, with another four years to go virtually unopposed with their 36.9% “majority”. Iain Duncan Smith’s is quite rightly vilified in the disabled community, having been responsible for mindless cuts which have had an untold effect on the public health, literally costing human lives in the name of austerity.

I have always felt that any government that leans too far right or left is doomed to fail because it does not represent a balanced view of the peoples will. With that being said, the Left in Britain is rising for a reason. Jeremy Corbyn seems to be a truly righteous politician. This jaded political underdog has become the champion of the common man. People believe in him, I believe in him because he speaks his mind and for the most part listens to the public. Even though I disagree with how he has handled this Sunday trading reform, I still think many has-been and would-be politicians could learn a lot from him.

Passionate individuals like Corbyn capture the hearts and minds of people because they aren’t spewing the same cut and paste rhetoric that we are all sick and tired of. The same can be said for the colossal douchebag Donald Trump and his campaign bid to become the Republican candidate in November’s presidential election but alas that shall be a central topic for a future blog in the run up to the election, if he wins the nomination I will write a blog post critiquing him and consider the international ramifications if this egomaniacal turd rolled in glitter ever becomes president of the USA.

https://www.premier.org.uk/News/UK/Labour-unites-to-urge-SNP-to-block-Sunday-trading-extension

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJYCXjXiu9k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idKp6JHrRRE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGc2nN9OguQ

Bad Mothers?

There is an unlimited amount of ignorance on the internet. But have you ever come across something so stupid that you felt it will give you a heart attack or an aneurism if you don’t confront it.

The particular thing that ground my gears today was a YouTube video broadcast by Stefan Molyneux titled The Hidden Rape of Europe. I have seen many of Stefan’s broadcasts over the past year, and have appreciated his points of view, even if far removed from my own. Stefan has advertised his broadcasts as a daily dose of empiricism.

This broadcast was riddled with conjecture and had no sign of empirical evidence backing up any of the assertions being made by the guest speaker, Toni Bugle who was representing Mothers Against Radical Islam And Sharia.

At one point very early on, she states that a million girls have been raped by Muslims in the UK. There is no reference of where she obtained these statistics, or over how long of a period these rapes took place.

They make a bold assumption that the mainstream media is not broadcasting the full scale of the problem. I don’t know how a million rapes could be hidden from public knowledge. The most notorious case that has been well documented in the mainstream media is that of Rotherham. But to amount to the figure that this woman was claiming, we would need to have incidents like Rotherham in every city in England, Scotland and Wales.

It’s dangerous misinformation like this which propels racial stereotypes and obscene social bigotry. At one point she stated that there are parts of the UK which are unofficial no-go areas, simply because they are not “safe”. Which echoes shades of the story broadcast on Fox news about Birmingham being radicalized. She states that someone with her beliefs wouldn’t be safe in certain areas. I felt she was just projecting her own social insecurities on to others. People cannot tell your beliefs just by looking at you, so long as you’re not ranting and bothering people, I think you are pretty safe walking down any street in the UK.

I really took issue with Stefan saying Islam shouldn’t be referred to as a religion, just as communism shouldn’t be referred to as an economic platform because it’s really about “world domination”. Couldn’t the same argument be made against capitalism? Life, much like philosophy is all about perspective. It’s such a shame to see a talented philosopher with such a closed mind.

This video actually made me feel ashamed for being a subscriber to his channel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjsaHF2HtFU

https://twitter.com/Marias0015

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-28934963

Post Office Closure? Big Deal Or Who Gives A Fig?

Whilst it is always great to see political rivals put aside their party bias for the common good, I can’t help but feel like they only agree on the soft issues that everyone can easily agree on. Such is the case with the possible closure of the Post Office on the High Street in Aberystwyth.

In total 42 Post Offices have been identified as branches bleeding money and becoming dead weight for the company. Seeing as the Post Office was privatized not so long ago, it cannot afford to operate at a loss.

The premises in Aberystwyth has been in use as a Post Office since 1901. There is no denying the historical and social significance of the building, but what viable options are there to keep it as is, without propping up a private company with public finances?

The local authority could offer a huge rate relief which would make it finically viable for the business interests of the Post Office. But that rate relief would set a bad precedence, whereby any business with superficial historic significance could hold the public to ransom in the same way.

If it is such an important issue to local people, then they could take out home phone and broadband contracts with the Post Office, spend more money in there so it becomes less of a drain on their corporate interests.

I personally find it frustrating that people are rallying behind this banner of saving the post office, when nobody did a thing when it was privatized in the first place. If it was still owned by the state, then it could justifiably run at a loss because it’s a public service. But it’s not and we cannot change that without further cost to the tax-payer.

No one drew battle lines when the sorting office was closed. The location has been turned into Cross Fit and everyone seems happy with the situation. The Post Office, isn’t even talking about removing services, just franchising out, which makes perfect economic sense.

It works well in CK’s at the top of Penglais Hill, and on a national level. If it is franchised out to WHSmiths or the new Tesco, would people really care? Post Office services are becoming obsolete with each passing day. More and more of their services are accessible online, with private delivery firms operating far more efficiently and at a lower operating cost. At what point is it just blind sentiment preventing progress?

I wonder what the townsfolk of today would do if they were informed that a church was closing and being turned into a pub. They would probably be dead set against it, and we would not have the Academy.

Sometimes change is for the better, even though it can be hard letting go of the past, I feel it’s better to embrace the future. The building will always have historical significance, that doesn’t mean it has to remain a Post Office. It could end up being a nice new café, or a boutique clothing store. The possibilities are endless.

Although in this town, it will most likely end up being another Polly’s, a charity shop or a mobile phone shop.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/42-post-offices-could-closed-7205858

https://www.facebook.com/mark4ceredigion/photos/pcb.590103364479859/590103274479868/?type=3&theater

#liz4ceredigion

I would like to start this blog post off with a short poem that sums up what has been my growing distain for party politics.

I can’t help but feel bamboozled

By these bureaucratic twits

And the more I stop to think about it

The more it makes me sick

These fools who run our country

Really haven’t got a clue

About what life is really like

For voters

Like me

And you.

And

If you,

Like I

Would like some answers true

Then we have no choice

But to join this endless queue

All the time remembering

that politicians

Are known

 to tell some porkies

And more than just a few

Because these classless toff’s

Are truly out of touch

With

Voters

Like me

And

You.

Those of you who know me, know I’m not one to mince my words. I take my time to speak, and hope that I am heard. I have genuinely felt I have been at a political crossroads recently. The last general election was the first time in my adult life that I did not formally discount my ballot on polling day. That is because Mark Williams MP personally earnt my respect and admiration. I only joined the party, because of him. I can count on one solitary finger the politicians I respect, the rest I would give the finger too.

The general election was the first time I got up off the political fence, only to have to leap to my new party’s political defence. The election was akin to social bear baiting. It didn’t matter what party you chose, you were criticized and vilified for it regardless. Because of all the political bitch-fighting many of the key issues were overlooked and the Conservatives crept in with a 36.9% majority.

It has been almost a year since the election and I have seen this country take a disturbing turn down a dark road. With the recent terror attack in Paris, the whole world has ebbed ever closer to a xenophobic wet-dream. In a time of global fear and social panic we are now presented with this In/Out EU referendum. Which in my personal opinion is a colossal waste of tax payer money which could fund vital social resources. All of the main parties are launching expensive campaigns to remain in the EU apart from UKIP and a few Eurosceptic splinters from within each individual party.  I would hope that most of us see that leaving the EU would be a disastrous idea and would only serve to alienate us from international affairs. I hope that the projected polls for an almost even split divide in the EU referendum are just as accurate as the polls projecting an even split divide between Labour and Conservatives prior to the general election.

I think we should all take these stats and polls with a pitch of salt. They are aferall devices created to perpetuate the sale of newspapers and to create click-bait articles to line the pockets of the already wealthy elite. I wish instead of giving us a pointless referendum at our own expense, we should have a referendum on the renewal of Trident. Then perhaps we would see some lasting positive global change, which would ensure we and future generations sleep much sounder. We spend an unjustifiable amount of money building and maintaining these nuclear weapons of mass destruction which we all pray are never used. Meanwhile we are cutting vital services all in the name of stringent austerity measures.

Most recently I had found myself at odds with my own party, as I disagree with a policy being backed by my party. The policy would see the removal of the right of a parent to remove their child from sex education classes. My eldest child is almost seven, and to tell the truth I had never considered her sex education prior to this. Speaking as a parent, I feel that if I thought my child wasn’t emotionally developed enough to deal with the classes, that I should be able to safe guard my child in whatever way I saw fit. There is also the grounds for removal for religious reasons. I myself am not religious, but I empathize with parents who are. Should it be the states prerogative to encroach on the individual religious freedoms of its citizens? I don’t think so. Personally I think more consultations and participation between schools, parents and pupils would be the most effective means of resolving these sensitive issues, where every side could feel understood and appreciated.

This evening, I attended the campaign launch for Elizabeth Evans. To begin with I felt like a total outsider. Half the people there were over sixty-five, and I swear the other half were barely old enough to drive. It was certainly a shame that my generation were under represented at the event. Many of my peers feel disconnected with the political system, to readily believing the bull shit perpetuated by the media and the state. The lines between media and state blur so often, it is hard for average Joes like myself to distinguish the two at the best of times.

Mark Williams MP gave a rousing speech, which resonated with me. Not just because I respect the man, but because I believe what he was saying. When he spoke about the “unfinished business” of the Liberal Democrats.  Kirsty Williams the leader of Welsh Liberal Democrats was also present and gave another impressive speech. I’m not a political fan-boy, I didn’t recognize who she was until after she had spoken. She was stood behind me in the buffet line, and I had no idea who she was. After she spoke I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to speak with her for a few brief moments. She was very approachable, and down to earth. Here was me, a-nobody that was sleeping on building sites only a few short years ago, now talking with and exchanging ideas with the leader of a national political party.

I was tremendously surprised by how much I liked what our candidate for AM Elizabeth Evans was saying. She spoke plainly and touched on some of the important local issues, such as maintaining our NHS and protecting social resources like schools located in rural areas. I got a great sense of solidarity from the party, highlighting that each of us can make a big impact in small unique ways. It was just a shame the speeches weren’t recorded for podcast. It was a shame that more local people my age didn’t get to hear what was being said. Most of my friends, and myself included are sick of shabby politicians, saying shit they think we want to hear. It’s quite clear to me, that Mark, Kirsty and Elizabeth are anything but origami politicians that fold under pressure and for what it’s worth both Kirsty and Elizabeth have earnt my respect, and Elizabeth has most certainly won my vote.

I am not a mindless automaton, I even disagree with my own party on some key issues and favour the opposition on others. I wouldn’t just vote for or endorse someone out of a misguided sense of party loyalty. I think bias or blind party politics is part of the reason the world is falling apart before our eyes. I am voting for Elizabeth Evans for AM because I believe she can make a difference and would present herself as a universal conduit for the collective will of her constituents. I have seen Elin Jones AM over the years, and she used to be really great. PLAID promised a lot and delivered very little. They promised to support people in Wales with autism, but instead cut funding and access to public services. It was only because of Mark Williams MP and the Liberal Democrats that I was able to get the right support in place. Almost a year on and I am progressing through university, where I just received a triple 2.1 in my first semester. I wouldn’t be where I am right now if it wasn’t for that vital assistance I got when I was desperately in need.

During the last election, I got dragged into the political fray over a picture tweeted and retweeted by the PLIAD candidate Mike Parker. It was at a time when I was already in a very emotionally fragile state. Which most of you can relate to I’m sure. I had politely tweeted to Elin Jones AM and Mr. Parker to which he retorted with some literary quote of his own egotistical design. I’ll never forget it “glib incendiary”, what a pretentious sounding prick. The fracas on social media boiled down to me calling Elin Jones AM a condescending cow on twitter and she got pretty offended. It was slightly ironic, she, and her party publicly said that they would support autistic people in Wales, then got offended with how I (someone with a communication disorder) communicated with her.

I’d love to see Elizabeth dethrone the political queen bee of Ceredigion.

One can hope, and one can dream, of a Welsh government without queen Elin.

http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/liz4ceredigion

Lions and Tigers, Who Cares and Why?

Over the past few days I have noticed much controversy surrounding An Evening With Lions and Tigers with trainer Thomas Chipperfield on in Cardigan, Ceredigion Mid-Wales.

I am not an animal expert nor do I claim to be. I have not been to the show so cannot comment first hand to the treatment and well-being of the animals. That being said, looking at the petition for local MP Mark Williams to oppose the show is full of generalizations. It's gained over 2,700 signatures in two days. Many of the signatures are not from members of Mr Williams constituency, many of them are not even located in this country or continent.

Signatures coming from cities across the United States, Canada, Japan and all over the world. None of these people have any first hand experience with the trainer or the animals in question.

nazli siddiqui SAN ANTONIO, TX

This is barbaric.

明 百井 愛媛県, JAPAN

カーディガンでのショー「ライオンやトラとの夜のサーカスショーに反対！

署名にご協力お願いします。

Cynthia Sandoval SANTA FE, NM

Disgusting! I hate circuses but love the poor animals! They arent yours to enslave! How dare you keep them from their natural habitat, from being free! They for damn sure dont belong in a cage!

Valerie Quan DANVILLE, CA

I'm signing to protect wild animals from human abuse.

Monique Carlens LANAKEN, BELGIUM

Lion's are only beautiful to see in the wild, were they belong!

Teresa Campbell LAS CRUCES, NM

This is a travesty against these animals! It should be titled "An Evening with an Animal Abuser Who Makes Money Off of Animal Suffering"!

The people running this show have had so much abuse. I find it hard to observe and not interject with my opinion. I have seen one person comment via Aberystwyth Swap Shop that they had seen the film BLACKFISH which disgusted them towards all animals in parks and exhibitions. What does Blackfish and Seaworld Florida, USA have to do with Lions and Tigers here in Wales. It's generalizations like this which lead to misinformation and ignorant, intolerant attitudes.

There seems to be a sweeping generalization where all animals should be treated the same. When every animal just like every person is different. Individual circumstance needs to be addressed before speculation has people worked into a needless frenzy.

On 19^th august 2015 the Cambrian News published a story about two lions from Noah's Ark Zoo, Bristol being relocated to the Animalarium, Borth. There was no outrage then. No protest or petition. What is the difference between Zulu and Wilma (Borth Lions) and Assegai and Tsavo (Mr Chipperfield's Lions) I am sure that in both cases all the animals are well looked after. They are both businesses which adhere to relevant government regulation.

Yet from my perspective the local MP has been bullied into interfering in a private citizens livelihood, which I don't think is right. The petition claims that animal rights activist group Animal Defenders International (ADI) has documented the Chipperfield big cats exhibiting abnormal repetitive behaviour which indicates how their welfare is being compromised by their inadequate environment. Where is this documented, where is the proof to go alongside these claims?

Then Marc Abraham (possibly the ITV vet? Is referenced) describing it as "a sure sign their welfare is severely compromised".

I have contacted Mr Abraham for comment but have not heard back from him yet.

I love animals, I have rescued cats, dogs and injured birds over the years. It's the relentless militant animal rights activists that I find difficult to relate to. Where they force their agenda on other people which I think is fundamentally wrong. You can't go around hurling abuse at someone else then claim to have the moral high ground.

I myself refuse to use a Smart Phone. After watching the Documentary Blood Coltan which exposed me to the realities of conflict minerals. I don't go protesting outside Carphone Warehouse, or belittle people who buy all the apple products. I can't change the world, I can't change how people think or act. It's not mine or anyone else’s responsibility to do so. I can't change the system, but I don't have to take part in it. By not participating, at least I am not part of the problem effecting the poor people of the Congo. I wonder how many of the 2,700 people who signed the petition have done so on their smart phones. In which case they are part of the larger problem which is not only effecting people but landscapes in the Congo, which in turn effects the indigenous wild life of the region.

Is it my place to tell all these people how wrong and misguided they are by buying these status symbols. No. Just like it is not the place of animal rights activists to force their views down the throats of others. 

When Mr Chipperfield had a show booked in Wrexham July 2015 a petition was raised and signed by 54,197 people, resulting in the following show in Hereford being cancelled. Now this next petition for the show in Cardigan. At what point does the activism encroach upon Mr Chippperfield's human rights. Particularly regarding Protection From Discrimination. The man is criticized and vilified by strangers that don't even know him. How can anyone be so quick to condemn someone they have never met before?

I think activism is great, but I think in this respect the energy is misplaced. Instead of focusing on individuals like Mr Chipperfield, petitions should be raised to debate new legislation. At present animals are legally defined as personal property. That may not be morally right but it is the current legal standing. If laws were adapted to include living property then Animals could have more rights.

Early day motion 192

WILD ANIMALS IN CIRCUSES

a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses was included in the manifestos of the Conservative, Labour and Green parties at the recent general election, showing the unified support across the House on this animal protection issue; recalls that 94 per cent of respondents to a Defra public consultation supported a ban and the House of Commons voted unanimously in favour of such a ban in 2011; further notes that currently two circuses with fewer than 20 wild animals are touring England and Wales; notes that a deadline of December 2015 was included in the Government's draft Wild Animals in Circuses Bill; notes that the UK has fallen behind 31 countries which have introduced similar national measures; notes the work of Animal Defenders International highlighting circus suffering in the UK and currently assisting the Peruvian government to enforce a ban; and calls on the Government to bring forward this manifesto commitment at the earliest opportunity (source http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2015-16/192 )

Signed by 67 Members of parliament. One MP is quoted as saying how great it is that this act has gained so much cross party support. Of course something like this is assured to gain cross party support. No one wants to see animals being hurt. It's like passing a law to protect children. Of course everyone will support it. To do otherwise would have you portrayed as a monster in the media. 

Blood Coltan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=in0A8SFL3XM

(FULL DOCUMENTARY)
The mobile (cell) phone is a remarkable piece of engineering. But look inside. There's blood in this machine. There's blood in this device because your mobile contains tiny electronic circuits, and they couldn't work without mineral called COLTAN. It's mined in the eastern Congo. There is blood here, the blood of Congolese who are dying in a terrible conflict.

The West's demand for Coltan, used in mobile phones and computers, is funding the killings in Congo. Under the close watch of rebel militias, children as young as ten work the mines hunting for this black gold. 'Blood Coltan' exposes the web of powerful interests protecting this blood trade. Meet the powerful warlords who enslave local population and the European businessmen who continue importing Coltan, in defiance of the UN.

Year : 2007 / Duration : 52 min / Production : Tac Presse / Director : Patrick Forestier
NON COMMERCIAL USE OF UPLOAD

Reference Material

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100202100434/http:/defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/circus-wild-animals/consultation.pdf

http://www.ad-international.org/adi_home/

https://www.change.org/p/mark-williams-mp-oppose-the-current-an-evening-with-lions-and-tigers-show-in-cardigan?recruiter=377397988&utm_source=share_for_starters&utm_medium=copyLink

http://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/news/i/50191/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/10862398/Thomas-Chipperfield-Britains-last-lion-tamer.html

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/terrifying-moment-lion-lashes-out-6084563

http://www.ad-international.org/media_centre/go.php?id=3970&si=12

http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/stop-an-evening-with-lions-and-tigers-from-taking-place

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/325/200/002/petition-text-for-evening-with-lions-and-tigers-in-wrexham/

http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/your-rights/human-rights/what-are-human-rights%3F/the-human-rights-act/protection-from-discrimination

http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/your-rights/human-rights/what-are-human-rights%3F/the-human-rights-act/protection-of-property

https://www.animallaw.info/article/living-property-new-status-animals-within-legal-system

http://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/anim2&div=4&id=&page=

Ceredigion Election

#autism + politics

As someone recently diagnosed as being on the autistic spectrum scale, I find it difficult to not only communicate or articulate my thoughts to the outside world, but to understand other peoples words or actions as well.

The bitter events which have transpired over the past few days have left a very sour taste in my mouth.

This local election in Ceredigion has seen some underhanded tactics to secure potential votes. I was singled out on twitter having my tweets screen shot and reposted labelling me with having a a “shameful attitude” towards child abuse.

I was disgusted at this remark. Having personal experience of the matter. I will no longer be ashamed of my past. My “shameful attitude” was due to me not knowing who a political paedophile was even though they were active both politically and otherwise before I was born.

I admitted my ignorance on the matter. I tried to explain my point of view, where by the constant dragging up of historic cases can pose significant danger to vulnerable people.

In the post Saville age, where historic cases dominate the media, it's hard for many people to cope.

It has been positive for a lot of individuals, myself included. But I worry for the people who don't have the strength to open up about their experiences. The people who have repressed the traumatic events for so long, being constantly reminded of their emotional turmoil as it's bombarded at them on a daily basis through TV, newspapers, and social networks.

To have this stuff dragged up for political agenda is not okay. I opened up publicly, after hearing my response, the person who did this apologised. Then blocked me before giving me opportunity to accept their apology. For me with my autism, blocking on twitter is a bit of a “trigger” issue for me. Each tweet is designed to communicate with an open world. Unless your tweets are set to private. To single someone out and block them is pointless, as you can simply view on any alternate account. Twitter is designed to be a public forum. I was just going to accept their apology and ask them to remove the tweet labelling me as having shameful attitude towards child abuse. But they blocked me. So I snapped, went way over the top. Had their twitter account flooded with the same tweet. All from separate accounts, demonstrating how redundant blocking on twitter really is. I couldn't understand why someone would apologize and than block me.

Mike Parker the Plaid candidate follows this account on twitter. He has 2406 followers and follows 1206 people. I sent him a facebook msg last night which was read then marked as unread. 

If Mike Parker is to win the election and become my local representative, then I would be one of his constituents. I have trouble trying to express myself, twitter can compound the issue with the short character limitation.

After the election, if Mike Parker wins, will he continue to ignore his constituents, like myself because he doesn’t like or understand them. 1 out of every 100 people have a form of autism and have difficulties in social situations. Causing varying degrees of anxiety. When people hear of the 1% they think of bankers, people with money, the rich and privileged. But when you consider that figure of autism, 1 in every 100. That is the 1% that gets forgotten about.

Is the following still Plaid's position on autism as this was published 3 years ago and I know from personal experience that accessing support services in the local area is almost impossible. It took about 2 years if not more to get my formal diagnosis though, and that was only done with the epic support of Mark Williams and his staff.

On Autism Awareness Day (2nd of April 2012), Plaid Cymru has reiterated its commitment to supporting people with autism. Around one in every hundred people has autism in Wales, and this often misunderstood condition can hinder access to support.

Plaid Cymru’s Health spokesperson Elin Jones said:

“Autism affects hundreds of people in Wales. Often it is misunderstood, undiagnosed, and can leave those with the condition and their loved ones struggling to cope. When Plaid Cymru was in government, we implemented a number of initiatives to support those who have the condition such as establishing a support website, raising awareness and training for advocacy personnel, and support targeted at adults who have autism.

“Plaid Cymru believes that while early diagnosis and early intervention are hugely important, much can be done to support children and adults who have autism such as supporting them into employment and tackling discrimination. We will continue to call on governments at all level to help those with autism harness their talents and skills and be full members of society.

I am utterly shocked and dismayed at the cavalier attitudes of __________ and company. For example this back and forth relating to someone with PTSD. Someone using the name Dilys Davies using dangerous terminology and raising doubts as to whether the person suffers from PTSD. As she has treated many people for PTSD in her carer. I would be interested to know what her job title actually is. To be such an expert that she could diagnose/assess people via twitter. PTSD is a complex condition that affects people in varying ways. Just like all mental health conditions. Using the term TROLL can be dangerous. For prime example: A woman who "trolled" Madeleine McCann's family on Twitter killed herself days after she was challenged by reporters, an inquest concluded.

Brenda Leyland, 63, from Leicestershire, was found dead after she was confronted by Martin Brunt from Sky News over the abuse.

Perceptions on social media have contributed to a number of suicides, self harm. Because people aren't mindful of what they are saying, but most importantly whom they are saying it too. There is such a rancid stigma when it comes to mental health issues,

The BBC Panorama Special Suicide in the family was a huge wake up call. 24% of deaths for men aged 18-24 is suicide. That is almost 1 in 4 children who will grow up to end their own lives. In men over 40 suicide is a bigger killer then cancer. I have read the Plaid manifesto with only 2 little burbs on Mental Health on page 19. this is a far bigger issue and needs much more attention. Mental Health does not discriminate between, class, race, religion or political affiliation, and can effect anyone at any time for any number of reasons. ___________ and co complain about people not being genuine and open on twitter, yet hide their own names and faces. That makes them hypocrites and cowards, and I will expose this hypocrisy at every turn

My Reply From Mike Parker whom is perfectly reasonable. Hopes that we can both resolve it. Start by being much more mindful of mental health issues.

• Mike Parker
  

  
  

  
  

  Hi Jamie, thanks for your message. I'm really sorry for all that's happened, it sounds like you are a really strong person to be getting through all that has happened. As for the twitter blocking, I agree that it sounds as though a misunderstanding has gone on, I hope you both can resolve it. And yes, post election, whoever wins, let's hope that they get on with the job and get to making this country a fairer place to live. Thanks again, and all the best.
• 

  4/14, 9:07pm
  

  Jamie Matthew Dearden
  

  
  

  
  

  No worries, cheers for getting back to me. Yes it was a misunderstanding that blew out of portion. People who think they can say what ever they like behind a veil of anonymity on social networks. People who are to scared to put their own name and face behind their opinions. This person spouted political rhetoric assuming they were beyond reproach. It's incidents like this and the scandal you experienced yourself last week which puts people off getting involved in politics. Only 65.1% of people turned out to vote in the last election, that still leaves over 1/3 of population who don't care or are uninterested. I wanted to go an volunteer in the election this week, as after my Nan died, I was suddenly out of a job with no qualifications or references. I wanted to get some fresh work experience and push myself out of my comfort zone to socialize with people. Build my confidence back up, so I can re-enter the working world. But because of all this, the child abuse thing, my autistic public rant/meltdown, I felt I would just upset or disrupt things so have just shied away. I am very worried about mental health services in the local area, not only for myself but for all vulnerable people. If their are 75,900 people in Ceredigion, and 1 out of every 100 has autism then their are roughly 759 people in Ceredigion who are on the autistic spectrum scale. These are people that need adequate support services put in place. Also with suicides being such a problem, stats for young man soar so high you would be forgiven for mistaking it for a pandemic. 24% of deaths in men aged 18-24 is suicide, that’s almost 1 in every 4 young boys who will grow up to end their lives tragically young, unless something can be done to change it. Worryingly according to an Oncologist the biggest killer of men his age is suicide not cancer. If suicide is claiming and effecting this many lives, shouldn't more be done to combat it. I would love to know what plans Plaid have to improve services in the area. I know from expierence that Ceredigion is a problem zone for accessing any kind of mental health support services.
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End The War On Drugs Win The War On Crime

As Bob Dylan once sang, Times they are A changing. Just never as swiftly as one would hope. Drug Policy and Drug Reform remains a taboo subject for anyone whom is actually in a position to effect any real sense of change. Most senior members of parliament only voice concerns upon “soft issues”. Things most people can agree upon thus not losing any potential votes. So most people are afraid to voice their own opinions, in fear of offending and alienating votes they already have banked within their respective constituencies. Reformation is always a painful and arduous task. Look at the catholic reformation of 1560 and the 30 years war that followed. Such a divide amongst the people causes much friction. Which can burst into open flame. All out open rebellion if common ground cannot be reached by all sides. The UK itself has a murky history in relation to drug policy. The British role in the Opium Wars 1856-1860, which primary school aged children of the orient are thought at school. Yet is omitted from our own curriculum. Heroin was discovered in Scotland in 1874 by Charles Romley Alder Wright . Accidentally after trying to find a less addictive form of morphine. The illegal and unregulated production sale distribution and consumption of Heroin since then has lead to much social decay. Throughout different communities. Throughout different cities, countries even continents. The social pandemic of addiction has even spread across the class divide. Addiction does not discriminate.

 

Durham's Chief Constable Mike Barton said “It's time to end the war on drugs”. He made a comparison I had never really considered before. Comparing our current stance of prohibition to the prohibition era of 1920s America. It felt like a real shift in perspective. The war on drugs cannot be won. It just empowers and enriches criminal enterprises like that of said 1920s gangsters. Only in the modern era it's far more brutal. The gangsters of 1920s had a roguish appeal the press and public admired to a certain extant. They were just breaking a law that no one really believed in apart from the Woman's Temperance League. Who felt the consumption of alcohol was a moral issue. The 13 years of prohibition raised vast fortunes for the underworld.

 

When it ended they simply diversified like any other corporate enterprise would. They invested in Cuba, Las Vagas all around the world. Shipping and distributing drugs. The corruption evolved and spread. It hasn't gone away. It's only gotten worse. From the stereotypical Mafioso to violent cartels in South America. It's lead to murder and chaos, suffering and abuse on an almost unfathomable scale. At the moment these criminal organizations have sole control over an underworld economy. Many of which are cash rich individuals that are to afraid to put money into ligitmate banks, because they can't declare illicit income. That revenue sits outside the conventional economy. One of the major advantages of decriminalization, regulation and taxation would be stripping the power from these nefarious networks of individuals. End the war on drugs, and Win the war on crime.

 

The World Health Organization have stated that drug addiction is a Health issue. “Substance dependence cannot be understood without describing the social settings in which it develops. It adversely affects the phycial, psycholgical and social health of both the individual and the general public.” Substance abuse and dependence issues for each individual are different but they are not limited to illegal substances. Alcohol & Tabbaco both have addictive properties. But they are socially acceptable vices. We don't consider the masses of people who binge drink in the streets and fill our accident and emergency rooms which is a needless drain on already strained resources, as an issue of morality. How many people have died from alcohol related deaths. Either killing their livers slowly over a lifetime, or drinking so much it leads to an unforeseeable accident. Every time your drunk your judgement is impaired. You could decide to walk home and get hit by a car and die. How many deaths are there from Tabbaco. Lung conditions, cancer. A long list of things which could be argued should be a moral issue for intervention by the state. But that will never happen. The tax's levied from the sale of Alcohol & Tabbaco are fairly substantial. Why is it justifiable and socially acceptable for the sale consumption and taxation of these substances but not others. Where do we as a people decide to draw the line with what is morally appropriate and acceptable?

 

 

Professor David Nutt was employed by the state to give his professional opinion. When it wasn't the opinion the state wanted. He was fired. How was that morally justifiable. How can you fire someone for doing their job. Professor Nutt Has said “There is no such thing as a safe level of alcohol consumption”, “Drugs are taken for pleasure – realise this and we can start to reduce harm”. Those are some pragmatic scientific opinions. There are many avenues to explore with the concept of large scale reform. It would protect the public and create new streams of revenue for state coffers. Illegal street drugs are cut down each time they change hands. Mixed with all sorts just so they can make a marginal bit of extra profit. At the expense of the common users safety.

For instance, say there is a particularly weak/diluted strain of a particular substance. The user has a high tolerance with this weak product. Then something comes along that is a lot more potent. The user takes the same dosage as with the inferior one. Only this time over doses. If things were regulated events like that would not happen. It would protect people, even from their own ignorance. Take the high profile case of Philip Seymour Hoffman, a recovering addict who had been abstinent for many years suffered a relapse and according to Professor Nutt “Once people stop using, the tolerance that they develop during the period of drug/alcohol use wears off. A dose that would previously have been acceptable becomes lethal. Even though the users probably realise they are less tolerant, the compulsive nature of opioid, alcohol and cocaine use impairs their ability to stop. A few drinks or a single line or shot can lead to a lethal binge”. With drug reform there are no right answers. It's just important that we start asking the right questions and stop punishing and vilifying people like Professor Nutt and Chief Constable Barton for being brave enough to voice a view not shared by their respective counter parts. 

When you look at legal alternatives to illegal substances. Legal Highs, it becomes apparent how deadly these substances can be. The mortality rate soared up by 80% in 1 year. Mephedrone or Meow Meow was the 1^st of these designer drugs to hit mainstream press and be made illegal. But it hasn't stopped the illegal sale and consumption or death rate of this harmful substance. Think of how much it cost to create a new law, then putting it into legalisation. Furthermore you have the never ending cost of enforcing that law. Meanwhile the people producing this stuff need only alter the chemical compound, re-brand the product and they are back on sale until they have to do it again. “Not Fit For Human Consumption” clearly displayed on packaging for these substances, meaning that as they are never intended for human consumption they are not required by law to conform to the same tests or health and safety regulations as substances designed for human consumption, such as cough medicine. The research in the effects of these designer party drugs is being carried out, at public expense I assume.

Richard Nixon started the war on drugs. A man who is remembered for being one of the most shady head's of state the world had ever seen. He is pretty much a social reference to the epitome of greed and corruption. It's been 43 years since the war on drugs began. That's three decades longer then the prohibition era of the 1920s. How many battles have been fought? Lives ruined and lost? For what? Just to preserve a twisted sense of morality from a man who was fairly immoral himself.

 

The cultural media which has evolved since the James Cagney gangster movies of the 1930s to The Godfather, Scarface and any other cultural icons you can think of. They all glorify and romantasize the villain. Bare in mind, that life intimates art and vice versa. People emulate and hero worship the bad guys. Aspiring to the greed, and hunger for power.

It's not the media's fault. Much is the case that many of these stories are based on real events, like Goodfellas for instance. Art intimating life.

 

Yet at the same time media has also proven to break down social barriers, mainly through comedy. Like Futurama's regular parody of Nixon, Family Guy and so on. You look at productions like Cheech & Chong in the 70s, How High or the Harold and Kumar films in more recent years. The “stoner” comedy genre. Has made careers and large streams of revenues for both production companies and cast members. It's okay to make these kinda comedies, that's fine it's socially acceptable.

It's okay to joke about restrictive

and oppressive policies but openly debating

them is absolutely absurd.

Addiction is a complex issue and is not limited to substances. You can be addicted to a vast number of things. Gambling, for instance, destructive compulsion. People can even be addicted to adrenalin, they are just more commonly known as thrill seekers, sky divers. People who are just looking for something to fill a gap or void in their life. Something that brings them comfort or joy, a feeling of happiness. A state of calming bliss. People should be allowed to pursue their own interests so long as they are not at risk of harm to themselves or others. We cannot stop people abusing drugs. But we could minimize the risks. Look at Washington DC and their new stance on the Cannabis issue. Washington is arguably the capitol of the “free” world. They have created new industry’s of business at a time when the global economy is in recession. There is an industry which is growing, please excuse the pun. The money raised from these industry's is providing funding for the public sector. Putting more teachers in schools, police on the streets, doctors and nurses in hospitals. Not to mention funding drug treatment facilities. How is that not a better way of doing things. Rather then wasting resources investigating and prostituting users and addicts. Filling our over crowded jails with more often then not victims themselves. Prison can make drug use and drug addiction worse. People can become clean inside and relapse again after falling into the same habits, comfortable familiar lifestyles once released. All we are doing is treating the symptoms instead of tackling the disease of addiction.

 

 

Reference links

 

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/cocky-drug-dealers-jailed-after-posing-with-cannabis-and-bundles-of-cash-9318014.html

 

 

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/dec/03/drugs-pleasure-reduce-harm

 

 

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/sep/29/police-chiefs-warn-barton-careful-message-drugs