- Education is a human right, not a privilege. - For more than 50 years after WW2 we had free education, so if we could afford it then we can afford now, when this country is in fact wealthier! - When countries like Germany, Brazil, Finland, Venezuela and Ecuador can afford free education, and when Scotland can do likewise, why can't the rest of the UK? - We have the highest tuition fees in Europe, but are also one of the richest countries in the world! This isn't right. - Tuition fees create and uphold social, racial and gender divides, so everyone should have access to free, quality education - Education and training benefit not only students and learners but also our entire society, because better educated and trained citizens can contribute more to our national economy and to the quality of life of all members of our society. - Tuition fee and maintenance loans burden students with years of debt but without significantly reducing the cost to the tax payer of funding higher education. - Tuition fees deter many people from taking full advantage of the long-term benefits of a higher education and/or training - Activists got Germany to abolish tuition fees and we won the fight against the student loan sell off in the UK. These are just two recent examples of how we can and have won what we've demanded. But how have we done this? Through a clear message and constant pressure through marches, direct action, campus mobilisation, opinion pieces and through petitions just like this(!) that show that people in this country don't want tuition fees and believe we can afford free education for all.

I am a retired midwife and promoting breastfeeding has been one of the passions during my career. Much evidence exists on the health and financial benefits of breastfeeding. In 2012, Unicef published "Preventing disease and saving resources: The potential contribution of increasing breastfeeding rates in the UK" which looked at how raising breastfeeding rates could save the NHS money through improving health outcomes. Although overall breastfeeding rates (at birth) nationally has increased between 2005-2010, breastfeeding drop-off rates at 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months continue to be high. Guidance recommends that for optimum health benefits, babies should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life (The Public Health England 2013 Report). The Equality Act (2010) says that 'A business cannot discriminate against mothers who are breastfeeding a child of any age.' Although Louise Burns was not asked to leave the premises, the fact she was asked to cover up made her feel uncomfortable and humiliated whilst discreetly doing what comes most naturally to her as a mother. Far too often, one hears of breastfeeding mothers being discriminated by ignorance, prejudice and practices out of step with what defines a progressive society. Any company that has such a policy should be targeted.

Stonehenge is a world heritage sight that still has much to tell us and requires protection. The landscape around it is full of archaeological remains. As an example, warm springs that were apparently used thousands of years ago were recently discovered within walking distance of the stones. Any attempt to build a tunnel underneath the site is bound to destroy part of this ancient landscape. This proposal jeopardises the entire site.

Penny Mordaunt MP made a speech riddled with innuendo in the House of Commons following a dare from friends in the Royal Navy. She said ‘c**k’ six times and ‘lay’ or ‘laid’ five times in a debate about the welfare of poultry. She is responsible for the Fire Services of England and is part of the Pension reform that is being pushed through Parliament. How can she be taken seriously when she uses valuable time to debate trivial subjects and say certain words as part of a bet. As as retired fire fighter I find this outrageous. To watch the video click below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvLcYUXBBuc For background on the story: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2855316/Did-really-far-risque-speech-MPs-Penny-Critics-accuse-Tory-trvialising-Parliament-innuendo-laden-address.html

Next week my constituency MP, Stephen Dorrell, will be starting a 21-hour-a-week post with KPMG as a health policy consultant on a massive salary. Stephen Dorrell has chaired the Commons Health Select Committee until this summer, a role requiring impartiality, yet he will now be helping KPMG bid for £1bn NHS contracts. This presents a serious conflict of interest and misuse of his privileged position on the select committee making him unfit to continue as an MP. Public trust in politicians is vital for a working democracy but is currently at an all time low. Dorrell's action in joining KPMG displays yet enough cynical lack of integrity amongst MPs. Civil Servants have to wait 2 years to take up such posts relating to their government work, so MPs should also follow this principle. If it is discovered that Stephen Dorrell was in discussion with KPMG whilst Chair of the select committee, it would discredit the role of select committees. See Mirror article here: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/1billion-nhs-sell-off-scandal-tory-4724959 And Daily Telegraph article: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/11264425/Stephen-Dorrell-MP-faces-calls-to-resign-over-conflict-of-interest.html

The multinationals and the elites et al are determined that this deal be done in secret and away from the spotlight - and we all know why. Bringing things into the open and under the full glare of publicity makes them justify why it is such a good deal as they claim (we all know it isn't) and it is the one thing that will kill this thing for good. That is why doing something like this is the one thing they hate and fear more than anything else - and why it is the best tactic. a few hundred signatures to start should do it, then more if possible. PLEASE make this a major 38 degrees sponsored campaign - not just one from me - co-opt/steal this idea and use it! publicity like this will kill TTIP for good - ALL parts of it.

Every year, drivers kill ponies in the New Forest through driving too fast, and too carelessly. We need to re-educate everyone who drives in the New Forest and introduce new measures to manage our speed. We lost the Brockenhurst white baby donkey, called Jo-Jo in last week of November 2014, who was killed at 6pm. His Mother had to be moved away as she was so distraught and has now been taken off the forest. But this is just one incident, there are so many losses like this which don't get reported. We need to remember the forest is a National Park with Ponies roaming free, many with young. Would you drive at 40mph knowing you could run over a child? Please support this campaign by signing and sharing. It is down to us as a community to change the mindset of how we drive in the Forest.

Stephen Dorrell, the veteran Conservative MP, has been accused of a conflict of interest after taking a job as an adviser with a private firm targeting a £1billion NHS contract. The MP for Charnwood, a cabinet minister in John Major’s government, announced last week that he would be stepping down at the General Election as he had accepted a job as a health policy consultant with accountancy firm KPMG, which he said would be “incompatible” with his role as an MP. However, it is claimed that he is starting his new three-days-a-week job on Monday, meaning that he will be in both positions for six months. KPMG are considering bidding for a £1 billion deal to manage the patient’s medical records. Mr Dorrell, who quit his post as chairman of the House of Commons Health Select Committee in June, faced calls to resign from one of the posts.

Most types of modern lighting emit Ultraviolet rays and Blue light which can be harmful to people who suffer from Light Sensitivity. https://www.anses.fr/en/content/lighting-systems-using-light-emitting-diodes-leds-health-issues-be-considered LED/CFL/Halogen Lighting can cause serious health consequences including the following: 1. Extreme eye pain for people who suffer from photo-sensitivity as these lights generate large spikes in the blue wavelengths. 2. Skin Cancer and other less threatening skin conditions such as burning sensation, rash, blisters. 3. Severe headaches (which aren’t migraines), nausea, inability to concentrate, unexplained exhaustion and other symptoms. According to French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) the intense wavelengths in the blue part of the spectrum of light emitted by LEDs, and the associated radiation intensity, raise the question of new health risks related to these sources of lighting. In this context, ANSES published a report on the health effects of LED-based lighting systems in October 2010, along with recommendations intended in particular to improve controls on marketing of these products. https://www.anses.fr/en/content/led-%E2%80%93-light-emitting-diodes The expert appraisal carried out by ANSES showed that the risks of greatest concern, both in terms of the associated hazards and the probability of occurrence in a context of generalised use of LEDs, are related to the photochemical effects of blue light and glare. They are caused by: spectral imbalance (significant proportion of blue light in white LEDs); high levels of radiance5 (high brightness density per surface unit emitted by these very small sources). The photochemical risk is associated with blue light and the level of risk depends on the cumulative dose of blue light to which an individual is exposed. It is generally the result of low-intensity, repeated exposure over long periods of time. There is significant evidence of this risk. Populations that are particularly sensitive to this risk or that are highly exposed to blue light have been identified and include children, people with certain eye diseases and certain professional groups exposed to high-intensity light. On the basis of these findings, ANSES considered it necessary to restrict sales of LED light systems to the general public to those systems that do not involve higher risks associated with blue light than conventional lighting. Furthermore, ANSES recommends revision of Standard NF EN 62 471 on the photobiological safety of lamps to adapt it to the specific characteristics of LEDs, to take into account sensitive populations and high exposure groups including certain professions such as lighting installers, entertainment industry workers. Letters of support from UK based medical experts are available here:- http://www.spectrumalliance.co.uk/support-from-medical-professionals A consortium of charities represented through the Spectrum Alliance believe that around 2 million people in the United Kingdom are negatively affected by modern lighting. http://www.spectrumalliance.co.uk/faq Whilst energy saving modern bulbs may help in the campaign to reduce CO2 emissions, there are other negative environmental consequences to consider. A study (Environmental Science and Technology, January 2011) has found that LEDs contain lead, arsenic and a dozen other potentially hazardous substances. http://eclipse.lupusuk.org.uk/guidetoartificiallighting.htm http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/122-a81/ LED Lighting and Retinal Damage in Rats There are numerous cases of people suffering from a range of medical problems related to exposure to all new light bulbs. Increasingly people are exposed to these bulbs in most homes and businesses. Due to increased exposure, the problem will persist unless steps are taken to reverse the widespread installation of modern lights across the UK. As there are serious health consequences for a number of people right throughout the UK and the rest of Europe, it is imperative that action is taken to scrap the ban on traditional lights and reverse the EU wide installation of dangerous modern lighting. If modern lighting is installed in all public buildings and street lights, many people risk suffering serious, long-term symptoms which may mean having to give up their place of work unless adjustments are made. Please sign this petition to request that the EU Commission and UK Department for Energy and Climate Change agree to the following:- 1. Overturn the absolute ban of all traditional incandescent light bulbs. 2. Order a review and research into the health/environmental impact arising from the use of modern lighting including LED, CFL & Halogen. 3. Suspend the mandated requirement to use modern lighting throughout the UK and EU.

Ashcroft provides essential care services for women who experience mental health difficulties. It is an almost unique service, being one of only two women-only specialist mental health units in the country and is a hugely valuable resource. Norfolk should be proud of its assets, not trying to save a few pounds forcing Ashcroft to close its doors. Find out more here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-30352968 Latest update: http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/update_more_than_2_900_people_sign_online_petition_to_save_the_ashcroft_residential_home_1_3876343

In many countries including the USA and Spain British pensioners enjoy annual increments to their pensions just as their counterparts in the UK. But if you are unlucky enough to live in a number of countries including Australia, Canada or Indonesia, your pension is frozen for life. A recent example in the press highlighted the plight of two sisters. They both retired in 1982 on the then full pension of GBP 28.50 a week. One now lives in the UK and enjoys a fully indexed pension of GBP 113.10 per week. The other sister went to Canada and receives the same GBP 28.50 a week that she received in 1982. There are many war veterans living overseas who are similarly suffering. They paid their contributions in full during their working lives and they fought for their country. But who is getting the benefits they earned now? Many politicians have promised their support in the past but when it comes to the crunch the victims of this injustice are out of sight and out of mind. The pensioners are not asking for charity; they are simply asking to be treated fairly and given the pensions that they paid for. Had they paid the contributions to a commercial institution and been similarly treated that company would no doubt be in serious trouble. But the government is above the law and continues to be more concerned about winning votes than righting a wrong that has been perpetuated by successive governments. The wicked irony is that the cost of rectifying the wrong would be a fraction of the billions they are now collecting in fines from the crimes committed by banks. Another irony is that the people who are suffering constitute no burden to the state while they are living overseas. But should they be forced through sheer poverty to return to the UK not only would their pensions be restored in full but they would have access to all the state benefits and could become a much greater burden on the government. It all defies logic but unless the public recognizes the unfairness and shouts loudly enough for MP's to hear, the 550,000 pensioners will gradually grow weaker and fade away. Does anybody care?

The Archers has been a part of the rhythm of my life for the last 40 years, the characters are more like friends than fictional constructs and the complete change in the tone of the story lines and the numerous cast changes has turned the series from a beloved friend into a monstrous carbuncle.