Britain is making up for The Torchrelay

London 2012 Olympics: Torch lands on British soil
by: Paul Kelso
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/9276109/London-2012-Olympics-Torch-lands-on-British-soil.html

On Friday night the aeroplane with the Olympic Flame has landed in Britain. The flame was lit a week  before at the openings ceremony in Athens. The transport was accompagnied by The Princess Royal, London mayor Boris Johnson, Sebastiaan Coe and David Beckham. Although Beckham's role has been discussed because of the shirt sales and filling stadium, his enormous celebrity must not be underestimated. "Sir Beckham",  is the only one who can let a whole school jump enthusiastically in the rain.

lord Coe,  a former Olympic athlete and chairman of the Olympic Committee said he hopes that the arrival of the Torch will be the real start for the Olympics. He has the experience that the Torchrelay has a great effect on the people and that it will connect them emotionally and prepare them for the Games.


Personal Opinion

It looks a bit extravagant that a Torch has been transported by an aeroplane accompagnied by celebrities and security. Therewith  the role of "Sir David" remains debatable.  On the other hand he is the person, who has the power to encourage the audience for the games.
I think the Torchrelay itself is an important happening, based on the ancient Greecs, who travelled  across the country to declare peace a month before the Olympic Games. The essential meaning of the Relay is also beautiful,  to unite the world and bring peace, goodwill and friendship. Who doesn't want that?

Increasing the alcohol price will save lives

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2144186/No-happy-hour-Minimum-alcohol-price-Scotland-set-50p-unit.html

Scots set to go on cross-border booze raids after Scottish government sets cheapest price of alcohol higher than England's in minimum price crackdown
By Claire Bates

The Scottish government will increase the alcohol price to 50 p per unit. This measure has to be taken due to the extreme alcohol consumption of many Scottish. The Scottish Health Secretary,  Nicola Stugeon said that there is a clear relationship  between the low alcohol prices and the alcohol abuse, which is shown in the  increasing number of  alcohol-related admissions in hospital and the crimes under influence of alcohol.

It is the second time that The Alcohol Minimum Pricing Billl is proposed in the Parliament. The first time the Labour Party was the only one that did  not support the Bill. The goverment has taken previous measures to decrease the alcohol abuse such as: to forbid irresponsible promotion , discount deals and verification of the age. This time they have to do something more structural

Personal Opinion

I am not sure if this "Bill" will help, it is the same with  people who smoke,  they  will do it anyway even if they have to pay more or ride miles for it. It is also the case in Sweden, where the alcohol is very expensive and the Swedish have become famous for their extreme alcohol consumption.
I am wondering why the Scottish drink so much? Is it only because of the "low" prices and habits,  or  are there different reasons like unemployment , mental issues etc.  It would be better to do something more about the causes and help the people than only combat the consequences.

Second chance to buy tickets for the Olympics

900.000 Olympic tickets go on sale this Friday

 The Independant        by Martin Zieger                                               8 May 2012
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/900000-olympic-tickets-to-go-on-sale-this-friday-7722471.html

On Friday the 11th of may there will be a second chance for people who couldn’t get tickets the first time because of a failure of the ticket system. The people will get the opportunity to buy tickets within 31 hours before it is accessible for others.  Every person can buy no more than 4 tickets.  

London 2012 chairman Sebastruan said that the organization has decided to give the buyers a second chance to make up the ticket problems they had before. To prevent new problems by an overloaded system,  tickets for different sports will be on sale every day. The final ticket sale willl be closer to the Games when there is more known about the venues.

Personal Opinion

I heard about the problems with the tickets from people who live in london, it was a complete mess the inhabitans couldn't buy any tickets, only for cycling or hockey. The man I spoke was very disappointed and  angry. I am wondering if he is  now one of the "lucky" ones, who gets another chance. It is also amazing that the sale of tickets for such a big event is so bad organised, that everyone experience such problems. Nevertheless,  it was a nice gesture from the organisation to give the disappointed buyers a new chance.

William angry about Diana's Panorama interview

William 'deeply upset' by Diana's Panorama interview

Telegraph                   5 May 2012
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/theroyalfamily/9247525/William-deeply-upset-by-Dianas-Panorama-interview.html

 Prince William was very confused by the Panorama interview.  According to Penny Junor in her new biography about Lady Diana. At that time Prince William was 12 years old . He was surprised and disappointed about his mothers openess regarding her mariage problems.

Before the interview , William's house master at Eton asked Diana to explain what the interview would be about, just to reassure William.   Diana said that there would not be anything controversial. Her son would be proud of his mother.

When the BBC broadcast the interview it appeared to be a complete revelation for an huge audience, in which Diana told about her husband's affaire with Camilla  Parker. The young William was very angry and felt betrayed by his mother. He couldn't understand why his mother said this on TV.

Penny Junor also says in her biography that Diana had taken her son from school for an official duty, which wasn't allowed because the first time that William would make a royal visit had to be with his father.


Personal opinion

I can understand William , who felt betrayed by his mother. How could she do this,  talk to the whole world about their marital problems.  I can also understand Lady Diana as she wanted to tell the truth about her husband's  hypocracy and the fact that he betrayed her with another woman.

Unfortunately,  at that time Diana was already public posession. As the people knew everything about her , she hardly had a private life. She was constantly followed by the press( paparazzi),  which finally led to her death. Perhaps she had no choice and wanted the public to know her last "secret", even with the consequence that her son would see it too.

Disgrace in The Catholic Church

Cardinal Brady'will not resign over 'abuse failure'

BBC news      2 May 2012

BBC article 17921673       

In response to the publications in the BBC's This World programme about the paedophile priest Brendan Smith , Cardinal Sean Brady has declared that he will not resign . He admitted that at the time he had taken part in an unhelpful culture of respect and secrecy in society and culture.

He said that he couldn't stop Brendan Smith because he didn't have the authority. He also blamed the others who actually had the power to stop the priest, but didn't do anything with the information Brady gave them.

The BBC investigation showed that Brady had distorted the facts and withheld the names and adresses of the victims.
Different victims of sexual abuse say that Brady should resign. He did nothing to protect the children, but he kept his mouth shut to save his own career.

Personal Opinion

Of course Brady has to resign. It is unbelievable that he withheld information and failed to help the victims and prevent others for being abused.  This information could have saved many children. Now their lives are ruined. You can't imagine that something like that would happen to your child.

Lately there has been so much negative publicity about the ( Catholic) church in relation to sexual abuse that I lost my faith in it. Every time I see pictures in the news paper or on TV,  it reminds me of these horrible things.
The first thing the church should do is to ban celibacy because it is unnatural and partly responsible for this extreem sexual behaviour.