• Restart the BBC Hungarian Service
    Restriction of media freedom in Hungary has had serious, and still deteriorating, consequences for democratic order in Central Europe. Hungarian Government pressure has forced nearly all significant independent media outlets into closure or pro-government ownership. Journalists in public media organisations report overt direction of editorial policy, and even of article content, by the Orbán government. Interpretation is frequently presented as fact and outright fabrication is far from unknown. At the same time the influence of Russian propaganda in the country is growing especially (though not only) in coverage of international affairs. The Hungarian media now follows Moscow's line in describing as 'terrorists' the regular Ukranian armed forces fighting Russian-backed insurgents in Donetsk. The extensive anti-Soros campaign has made use of articles from Putin-allied Russian media.These are reproduced exactly in Hungarian translation without acknowledgement of source. The OSCE monitoring group report declared that the credibility of the April 2018 election was undermined because 'intimidating and xenophobic rhetoric, [and] media bias…constricted the space for genuine political debate'. In the years that immediately followed the fall of communism Hungary was widely perceived as the regional leader in 'westernisation'. Now it ranks bottom of Freedom House’s Democracy Index for Central Europe. That's bad enough but in 2017 F.H's press freedom audit delcared Hungary's media 'only partly free'. Its score was several points behind Mongolia's. Last year the European Parliament censured Hungary for a "serious deterioration" in the rule of law. The situation has only continued to worsen over subsequent months. The BBC Hungarian Service (est. 1940) was an information lifeline supplying factually reliable news to Hungary throughout the Cold War era. The service was disbanded in December 2005 on the basis that the post 1989 mandate to support fragile/ fledgling democracy in Central Europe had expired. That judgement now appears excessively optimistic. A radio service broadcasting objective information to the country from London would make a valuable contribution to regional stability. The BBC maintains limited services to Hungary’s neighbours Serbia and Ukraine. The Serbian Service was restarted only last year. Hungary’s need is no less pressing. BBC, will you help? References OSCE Monitoring Report on 2018 election https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/hungary/377410?download=true Freedom House statistics https://freedomhouse.org/report/nations-transit/nations-transit-2018 https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-press/2017/hungary This petition has a Hungarian sister website: https://www.peticiok.com/tamogassuk_a_bbc_magyar_adasanak_ujrainditasat
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    Created by Alexander Faludy
  • Make Badger Farm Road Junctions Safe & Accessible for ALL
    In the late 1970's Oliver's Battery community was divided by Badger Farm Road (now the A3090). A poorly designed underpass was built to connect the North and South of Oliver's Battery Road underneath Badger Farm Road. It makes it impossible for people in wheel chairs or mobility scooters to cross this junction as there are only steps to come up the southern end and no slope. It is very hard to use for young families with babies or toddlers in pushchairs or cyclists who for instance want to cycle to work to Winchester of from Winchester to IBM in Hursley . It forces them to risk crossing the road with fast traffic. This junction as well as the T-junction with the Ridgeway that lies in a bend are both very difficult and dangerous to cross even for cars that often build up long queues trying to to leave Oliver's Battery or Badger Farm. Serious road traffic accidents have become the norm in recent years. It is only a matter of time until someone might lose their life. With the lack of public transport facilities in Oliver's Battery its residents are isolated and makes them car dependent and many elderly people rely on the goodwill of their neighbours to drive them around. The best option with great benefits not only for the local communities but for much of Winchester would be to: - Fill up the underpass to create more space for a safe junction - Build a traffic light junction with priority for cyclists and public transport - Create a bus lane from the Sainsbury’s to the Pitt roundabout (westwards) - Build a cycle lane (or another bus lane) on the eastbound side of Badger Farm Road - Enable easy cycle routes: a) from Hursley via Oliver's Battery towards King's school, b) Along Badgers Farm Road to Sainsbury's, and c) towards Ridgeway/ St Cross and connecting Oliver's Battery with the new planned Leisure Centre at Bar End Benefits: - Safety for all types of traffic - End discrimination against people with restricted mobility - Promote active types of transport (Walking and Cycling) - Promote public transport by shortening travel times for buses during peak times (Who would like to get stuck in the car if you can get into to town faster in the bus?) - Save money that is wasted by keeping buses in congested road traffic Residents in Oliver's Battery and Badger farm are very concerned about these junctions and several attempts by the Parish council and local councillors to improve the situation over many years have been ignored. Some progress has been made only recently. Nobody can understand that even an attempt to reduce the speed limit on Badger Farm Road from 40 to 30 mph (that would cost almost nothing) was refused: The Police would not support it as they think that it will not be complied with by drivers. The main criteria the Police uses is that the existing mean speeds must be close to the proposed lower limit (mean speeds between the Sainsbury’s and Pitt roundabouts were recorded as between 34 and 36 mph, which was not considered to be close enough to 30 mph). People living here are very disappointed about the slow progress. Therefore, these urgently required modifications of Badger Farm Road must be part of the new the Winchester Movement Strategy.
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    Created by Max Priesemann Picture
  • BARLY BELONGS HERE
    Barly Koyangbwa is a great helper. Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Barly fled to the UK to seek refuge in 2013 after his family was targeted and members of his family were killed by the Kabila regime. Barly is a leading member of APARECO, the resistance movement against Kabila developed by Congolese refugees. He is named on the APARECO website as the representative in charge of mobilisations and strategy in Manchester, and as the Second Urban Representative of APARECO North West and most recently APARECO’s Executive appointed Barly as President of the Liverpool Branch. The Home Office accepts that those belonging to the categories of leader, office bearer and spokesperson for APARECO “are at real risk of persecution” and yet, on March 19th 2018 the Home Office refused Barly’s asylum claim. Please share and sign this. Read more here: http://rapar.org.uk/barlybelongshere
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    Created by Rachel Luke
  • PayPal should lift the ban on CBD Products!
    CBD is a legal product to sell and is an amazing health supplement! Despite this, PayPal have taken an anti-business stance that won't allow CBD product sales from certain businesses. PayPal states it "breaks the terms of its policies", however fails to show or explain where this is stated. Additionally you can use PayPal to buy CBD oil via a website owned by PayPal's parent company? A small farmer or oil producer can really benefit from the use of PayPal for their business, so you can't help but feel maybe they are being targeted and this is not right. I believe it's important for us all to do our part in stopping this from happening, please help by signing this petition and sharing with your friends. Thank you all!
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    Created by Lauren O'Malley
  • Demand that the BBC record Freddie Parrot-Face Davies reading the Rivers Of Blood speech.
    Because this recording will afford the Rivers Of Blood speech the gravitas it deserves.
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    Created by Michele Rashman
  • Dont broadcast the Rivers of Blood Speech
    Because it is racist and incindiary and not something that should be commemorated.
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    Created by Matthieu Lambert
  • Proposal to close most of the Minor Injury Units in Cornwall
    NHS Kernow, who operate Minor Injury Units (MIUs) in Cornwall, announced that they will be upgrading some units into Urgent Treatment Centres (UTCs); they are now evaluating which sites to upgrade but so far refused to comment on what will happen to MIUs not selected for upgrading. Should NHS Kernow decide to close the them, MIUs and community hospitals will decrease healthcare provision throughout Cornwall, leaving many outside reasonable travelling distance. This will cause serious delays in assessment and treatment. It will also cause further pressure on Treliske and Derriford Hospitals. There has been a lack of public consultation on these proposed changes. The MIUs provide a local service that we want, need and use. We asked what will happen to the MIUs at the CCG's last meeting, but they claimed they didn't receive our message. They have committed to answering at their next meeting at the beginning of June. We have until then to pile on the pressure and make sure they think hard about their answer, and the impact closure would have on our community. Please add your name!
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    Created by Felicity Owen
  • stop funding cuts to early years services in Dumfries and Galloway
    EYS D&G provide free baby massage and stay, play & learn sessions across Dumfries & Galloway for children 0-5 years. They also provide a 1-1 service working in the home with parents and children who are experiencing particular challenges. Parenting can be very overwhelming and isolating especially in a large rural area like D&G. These sessions provide parents with a safe place to relax, bond with their babies and meet other parents. The play sessions also help parents to understand the importance of playing and interacting with their children. There is a lack of provision in D&G for children 0-3 and these sessions provide a much needed life line for parents and children. Through many personal experiences and feedback we know that these sesssions have given confidence to parents and the impact this has on the development of the child is invaluable. People have made lifelong friends through these sessions and they NEED to remain funded. The benefit of this early years funding will help build a confident, happy support network and therefore a healthier and happier future for the children and families.
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    Created by Sharron McGarva
  • Cancel your plans to close our rural public toilets!
    With the increasing popularity of the North Coast 500 (NC500), promoted in part by Highland Council, we are seeing ever-growing numbers of visitors to the NW Highlands and these people also require access to facilities in order to avoid more cases of human waste being left by the roadside. As part of its budget proposals for 2018/2019 Highland Council are closing public toilets at the following locations in the county of Sutherland: Achmelvich, Kinlochbervie, Rhiconich, Scourie, Smoo Cave, Lairg, Kylesku, Talmine, and Tarbet. The total estimated savings come to just £67,000 per year yet we consider these to be essential services, both for local people and tourists & others visiting the area. Additionally, these closures will discriminate against the elderly, infirm, disabled, and those with long-term illnesses whose ability to do without a regular rest break is impaired. Highland Council's suggested alternatives, such as making use of facilities in nearby businesses and village halls, are both impractical and presumptuous. Do the decent thing, Highland Council: Scrap your plans to close these public toilets.
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    Created by Gary Sutherland
  • Anti-bullying classes at School
    Raising awareness of bullying is an important issue to many parents, carers, and young people who are victims of bullying. It is becoming more and more frequent at this school, to the point where children are having to be relocated at other schools. Bullying has a devastating affect on young people and their families. The rates of suicide and self harm in young people is on the rise due to suspected bullying, whether it be cyber bullying, physical and/or psychological. This matter is important to me as family members of mine have experienced bullying directly and I have witnessed the effects it has on them both physically and mentally. There were over 24,000 Childline counselling sessions with children about bullying in 2016/2017 and more than 16,000 young people are absent from school due to bullying, as stated by the NSPCC. This is happening in schools because young people are not being educated on how bullying others and making a person feel worthless effects the young person whom is being bullied. Children who are being bullied also don't know where to turn to or what to do, this may also apply to the children that are bullying others. I feel that making a point of having set times where children, parents, teachers, can learn about the full effects of bullying may just save some lives, this will allow children to attend their place of education without fear. School's have a duty of care to children, and, currently this duty is not being carried out. Children need to feel safe in their environment in order for them to grow and learn. It's about time the school acted on it's anti-bullying policy and protected the children that are under their care. I have attached the link to an Inquiry into bullying and harrasment in schools, it's worth a read to get a feel of how the young people in schools feel about this subject, and notice the age of the kids that are giving feedback. This needs to be stopped. http://www.parliament.scot/S5_Equal_Opps/General%20Documents/Children_in_Scotland_-_commissioned_by_EHRiC.pdf
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    Created by Jade Brown
  • Save Scottish Youth Theatre
    For over thirty years, Scottish Youth Theatre has provided encouragement, space, opportunity and support for young people to engage with the creative industries. It has helped countless thousands of young people in Scotland to build their confidence, meet new friends and develop their creative potential. And so much more. Sadly, on 7 March, Scottish Youth Theatre announces via a statement on its website that due to this cut in its core funding it would cease trading on 31 July 2018: http://scottishyouththeatre.org/article/public-statement-by-syt/?platform=hootsuite 2018 is Scotland’s national Year of Young People. But even if it wasn’t it would still be a travesty to cut the funding for Scotland’s national youth theatre. There can surely be no prism through which the decision to cut this funding makes sense or could be viewed as a good thing for Scotland’s youth, creative sector, artistic reputation nor our economy. Please sign and share this petition to show the Scottish Government the level of public support in opposition to the cut in funding for SYT. Thank you.
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    Created by Adam Lang
  • End the hunger strike of 45 immigrants detained indefinitely at Yarl's Wood
    It is inhumane to imprison people indefinitely, without being convicted of a crime, often with no legal representation. As one of the detainees has said "We want the Home Office to listen to us and stop the injustice of indefinite detention..It is the uncertainty that is most difficult, I can deal with imprisonment if I know my sentence. But here, there’s no criminal record, and no clarity about what's going to happen to me. It's a pain that we all bear on a daily basis." (Al Jazeera 28.2.18 - https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/02/women-detained-yarl-wood-hunger-strike-180228195926024.html)
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    Created by Ellie Wolf