Syria.

Hey guys! Sorry for my absence, I have been rather busy of late and have done the unthinkable of neglecting my blog so I've attempted to correct that starting right away. 

The main headlines that have captured my attention are the terrible events happening in Syria. The civil war that started some two and a half years ago has claimed numerous lives (conservative estimates place the figure around 100,000) and displaced around 2 million people from their homes. The western media have suggested that western intervention is imminent as Assad launched his latest chemical attack in the eastern Ghouta region of Syria which killed 635 people. The attack was seen as the last straw for Britain, France and the US (the three countries who have been the most outspoken critics on the Syrian regime). The difficulty is now how to deal with the situation. No western governments in their right mind would want a long, drawn out affair involving ground troops, it would be political suicide. The most likely outcome would be air strikes against government targets but how effective this would be remains to be seen.

However, the case made by the western governments is unreliable for some and argued (rightly so in my opinion) that what the effect would be of air or missile strike. The use of force would not stop the Syrian regime using chemical attacks, in fact it cannot be ruled out that an attack of this nature would make the Syrian regime all the more dangerous as it fears itself of being backed into a corner.

Unfortunately, the nature of this war does not suggest that the outcome will be a quick one.

Sam

(If you would like to help you can donate to Oxfam to help the Syrian refugees. Any amount will be greatly appreciated.)
https://donate.oxfam.org.uk/emergency/syria

All Aboard!

Hello there decent folk, today I am talking about the death of the railways, ok that's a rather sensationalist comment but I'm sticking to it. Yes, as you all have probably heard rail fares are to increase as of January 2014 by an average of 4.1% (climbing up to 9% in certain parts of the country). It's not the first year that the rail prices have increased above the rate of inflation and as a result Britain is the most expensive rail travel country in Europe now (overtaking Switzerland in the process which has a much higher average salary).

The government claims the rise is necessary as "running the railways is very expensive... the taxpayer is paying a lot and the passenger has to make his contribution" claims Patrick McLoughlin. We have yet to see where the money will go, the government says it will be invested and everyone else will say bonuses. The fact that train travel will have increased by 40% in six years this January is far too alarming, this is way above the rate of inflation and travel costs are quickly consuming larger parts of peoples income where they have little other alternative.

The once heralded British Rail, which was nationalized by Atlee's Labour government in 1947 was a bold attempt to bring travel to the masses. In a project that was built by the people for the people has long since died as the privatization of Britain's industries began at the command of Thatcher. It's a shame that everybody is becoming priced out of one of Britain's greatest ever inventions. 

Sam

How Many Hours Do You Work Then?

And we're off!

So it turns out that McDonald's has joined Sports Direct in handing out the lucrative zero-hour contracts that has spread across the news. Now while neither company has any history of compassion towards their workers, it is still shocking that it is estimated that 90% of the people are employed on these contracts.

The revelation arguably came when Sports Direct was heralded as the new model business, profits increasing in this time of economic instability and paying out bonuses (up to £100,000 each) for the 2,000 shop floor staff. Only did people start to realise that the total staff for the company added up to around 20,000 and apparently they were not worthy of any such payout. 

Like anything we see two arguments for this. The conservative right resort to fear mongering claiming that a flexible market is why Britain hasn't crashed like the rest of southern Europe, who cares if your not entitled to holiday or sick pay or even any guaranteed hours from week to week, you should count your lucky stars you don't work in Greece! While the Left say it's awful and indefensible, the truth is that these contracts are not a new idea and had risen under New Labour when they clamoured after a new, cheap workforce but I suppose you could argue that Labour isn't 'Labour' any more, anyway that's a discussion for another day.

So I'll just leave you with a little exert from a Subway contract. Nice guys at that place. x

"The company has no duty to provide you with work."

And It Begins...

Sam. Twenty-something history graduate with a keen interest in politics, current events, history and literature. I'm a northerner from the seaside. I complain about it but I would never change it. I believe that the freedom of the press is one of the most valuable of possessions a society can have, despite my dislike of certain sections of the media. My blog will consist of news, current events and history. Here it is. You will enjoy it... hopefully.