tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6059328Fri, 06 Nov 2015 16:15:56 +0000democracyliberalismpoliticsrights/ethicselection2010ukmiddle easteconomyeuropefeminismmediaotherterrorismchristianityhomosexualityitalylawliterature/comicsracism/xenophobiareligionwaleshttp://paswonky.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Francesca E S Montemaggi)Blogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6059328.post-7520800317508007386Wed, 05 May 2010 14:21:00 +00002010-05-14T19:30:35.555+01:00election2010liberalismpoliticsracism/xenophobiarights/ethicsukCountries can control immigration as much as they can control an ash cloud. If the wind is in favour, meaning there aren’t any jobs, migrants will go somewhere else. I’m not sure this is an enviable position to be in. The level of immigration is generally an indicator of economic growth. Britain has been blessed with skilled immigrants, and this has been key to economic success; yet nobody has http://paswonky.blogspot.com/2010/05/election-2010-immigration.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Francesca E S Montemaggi)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6059328.post-7676388393974436626Wed, 05 May 2010 09:50:00 +00002010-05-14T19:30:35.557+01:00democracyelection2010liberalismpoliticsrights/ethicsukThe Tories’ love affair with the ruthless and obtuse right-wing press has led them to the crazy idea of dumping the Human Rights Act (1998). The Human Rights Act enabled law courts in the UK to ensure human rights are respected without having to go to the European Court of Human Rights. The Act was a fundamental step in constitutional reform in the UK protecting citizens’ rights and liberties http://paswonky.blogspot.com/2010/05/election-2010-human-rights.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Francesca E S Montemaggi)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6059328.post-6147433536586455419Tue, 04 May 2010 08:50:00 +00002010-05-14T19:30:35.558+01:00democracyelection2010europepoliticsukThere’s no point in being virtuous on your own. There's no point in wishing to be on our own. We’re connected to one another, across the globe, more than ever before and I raise my glass to that. The right-wing press mantra that ‘all legislation comes from Brussels’ fails to understand the reality of Europe and of member states. Alas, aside from the Lib Dems, both the Tories and Labour have sidedhttp://paswonky.blogspot.com/2010/05/election-2010-national-interest.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Francesca E S Montemaggi)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6059328.post-6456593758531107574Mon, 03 May 2010 10:08:00 +00002010-05-14T19:30:35.559+01:00economyelection2010politicsukThere appears to be a general election, so I thought I’d join the mountain of information, misinformation and propaganda clogging up the media. I find a lot to dislike in most policies from all parties. Mind you, policies are at best a suggestion, rather than a programme, bearing no resemblance to the ‘finished product’ of implementation. Ideology having been long defunct, it is rhetoric that http://paswonky.blogspot.com/2010/05/election-2010-greed.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Francesca E S Montemaggi)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6059328.post-9067680452701873126Tue, 23 Mar 2010 12:59:00 +00002013-11-25T12:14:20.445+00:00christianityhomosexualitylawliberalismmediareligionrights/ethicsRights and freedoms are not always straight forward, but the abuse of rights’ language really works me up. The latest example comes from Susanne Wilkinson who turned a gay couple away from her B&B on account of her religious beliefs. Here, freedom of religion is often appealed to with total disregard for what it actually stands for.Freedom of religionMrs Wilkinson has the sacrosanct right to http://paswonky.blogspot.com/2010/03/b-gay-couple-and-freedom-of-religion.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Francesca E S Montemaggi)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6059328.post-108143333709740760Thu, 08 Apr 2004 14:03:00 +00002008-03-09T11:02:25.514+00:00middle eastterrorismMo Mowlam has called on the British and American governments to open talks with Osama bin Laden and al Qaida around a negotiating table. Mo, your recipe for Northen Ireland doesn't apply everywhere. Osama is probably dead and Al Quaida is not the IRA (hierarchical organisation), but a loose network! No, you can't negotiate not even if you wanted (which wouldn't lead you anywhere, at least now). http://paswonky.blogspot.com/2004/04/ehm-no.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Francesca E S Montemaggi)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6059328.post-108082343857302732Thu, 01 Apr 2004 12:41:00 +00002008-11-26T00:00:21.330+00:00feminismitalyliberalismliterature/comicsmediaI was reading today on an Italian newspaper that a recent survey suggests that 93% of women don't like themselves. They see themselves ugly, fat and tired. They are also uncomfortable with their sexuality. The first thing that came to my mind was the mechanical bride by Marshall McLuhan.The Mechanical Bride refers to the sensation experienced by the sailor who's lost his way in the maelstrom. It http://paswonky.blogspot.com/2004/04/mechanical-bride.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Francesca E S Montemaggi)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6059328.post-107970014636176182Fri, 19 Mar 2004 12:41:00 +00002008-03-09T10:52:47.964+00:00democracymiddle eastpoliticsrights/ethicsThe war has been used by all sides to score political points with the terrorists being the only obvious winner. If you are in favour of the war, you cause terrorism and if you are against, you side with the terrorists. This is only facile criticism that lacks any understanding of the present situation.Around 90% of Spanish people were against the war, however Aznar's Government disregarded the http://paswonky.blogspot.com/2004/03/warbonkers.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Francesca E S Montemaggi)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6059328.post-107909313500258158Fri, 12 Mar 2004 12:04:00 +00002008-03-09T09:37:50.573+00:00democracyeuropeliberalismmiddle eastrights/ethicsterrorism198 dead and 1400 wounded. Aznar's Government is still trying to blame ETA because they know ETA, they can deal with it, but also because admitting that it was, at least partly, Al-Quaida means acknowledging that it was Spain's part in the war in Iraq that made it the victim. It follows that next in line are the UK and Italy and then Japan and Australia. It is no coincidence that clues lead to http://paswonky.blogspot.com/2004/03/todos-somos-madrilenos.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Francesca E S Montemaggi)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6059328.post-107669144099922029Fri, 13 Feb 2004 16:54:00 +00002008-03-09T10:39:28.749+00:00democracyeconomyotherWhy are we losing some £85bn a year in tax revenues? Why do some people escape taxes? Read my briefing on tax avoidanceOther updates: In Defense of Intelligencehttp://paswonky.blogspot.com/2004/02/like-death-taxes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Francesca E S Montemaggi)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6059328.post-107650875821983705Wed, 11 Feb 2004 14:04:00 +00002008-03-09T10:38:40.113+00:00feminismotherwalesThis entry is merely to show off. Last week, I wrote a briefing for Peter on domestic violence and my points were today taken up in Committee by Edwina Hart AM, Minister for Social Justice & Regeneration. Among the points raised, she will be looking at the introduction of referrals to Perpetrator Programmes :)and also Kirsty/Peter's suggestion of pet fosteringhttp://paswonky.blogspot.com/2004/02/input-on-policy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Francesca E S Montemaggi)0