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LAWYERS SEND COMPLAINT TO THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION ABOUT SUBSIDIES FOR NUCLEAR POWER

Julianbray@aol.com (Julian Bray, London UK) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 02:50:42 PST

You work this one out!

Apologies for the formatting our typographical software has taken issue with the source material simply run you mouse overe the blanked out portions to get the links...or call us for an e-mail version JB

Julian Bray Comments: I don't usually run someone elses news release but this one started to burn a hole in my doormat when it arrived and the more I read it. I thought that to put the counter story and present a balanced view point in this case would be a negative move.

Clearly if the complaint is upheld ( and we are dealing with the EC...then UK PLC has a big problem as well as Peterbrough City Council which aims to be the UK Centre and City of Carbon Excellence, frantically installing thousands of solar panels on all council owned property before the feed in perks evaporate... but without further ado here is the press release in full, no edits:

LAWYERS SEND COMPLAINT TO THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION ABOUT SUBSIDIES FOR NUCLEAR POWER

Plans for new nuclear power stations in the UK are threatened

A formal complaint about subsidies for nuclear power has been sent to the European Commission. If it is upheld, it unlikely that any new nuclear power stations will be built in the UK or elsewhere in the EU. The complaint may be followed by legal action in the courts or actions by politicians to reduce or remove subsidies for nuclear power.

The complaint has been prepared by lawyers for the Energy Fair group, with several other environmental groups and environmentalists.

One of the largest subsidies in the complaint is the cap on liabilities for nuclear accidents. “Like car drivers, the operators of nuclear plants should be properly insured” says Energy Fair. It has been calculated that, if nuclear operators were fully insured against the cost of nuclear disasters like those at Chernobyl and Fukushima, the price of nuclear electricity would rise by at least 14 Eurocents per kWh and perhaps as much as 2.36 Euros, depending on assumptions made. Even with the minimum increase, nuclear electricity would become quite uncompetitive.
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“Like car drivers, the operators of nuclear plants should be properly insured.”
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Other subsidies in the complaint are: that uranium is exempted from a tax on fuels used to generate electricity, and that the UK government is proposing to provide support for the disposal of nuclear waste, and to provide a subsidy in the form of a “feed-in tariff with contracts for difference”. Research by Energy Fair shows that there are several other subsidies for nuclear power in the UK and that proposals by the government would introduce more.

Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion and leader of the Green party of England and Wales, said: “The Government’s planned Electricity Market Reform is set to rig the energy market in favour of nuclear -- with the introduction of a carbon price floor likely to result in huge windfall handouts of around £50m a year to existing nuclear generators. Despite persistent denials by Ministers, it’s clear that this is a subsidy by another name, which makes a mockery of the Coalition pledge not to gift public money to this already established industry. If these subsidies are found to be unlawful, I trust the European Commission will take action and prevent the UK’s nuclear plans from seriously undermining the shift towards new green energy.”

Mike Childs, Head of Policy, Research and Science at Friends of the Earth, said: "The UK coalition government promised that nuclear power should not get any subsidies. That was a sensible decision that recognised that time-limited subsidies should only be given to new technologies, such as wind, solar, wave and tidal, to enable them to develop, become mature and be competitive. It's time for the nuclear subsidies to stop and this legal case is a useful contribution in achieving that aim."

Dr Dörte Fouquet, the lawyer who has been leading the preparation of the complaint, said: “The European Union has opted for opening up the energy market and is vigilant about creating a level playing field. In this regard, the Commission over the last years repeatedly underlined that distortion of the market is to a large extent caused by subsidies to the incumbents in the energy sector. This complaint aims to shed some light on the recent shift in the energy policy of the United Kingdom where strong signals point to yet another set of subsidies to the nuclear power plant operators.”

“There is no justification of any kind for subsidising nuclear power” says Dr Gerry Wolff of Energy Fair. “It is a mature technology that should be commercially viable without support. Renewables have clear advantages in cost, speed of construction, security of energy supplies, and effectiveness in cutting emissions of CO₂. There are more than enough to meet our needs now and for the foreseeable future, they provide diversity in energy supplies, and they have none of the headaches of nuclear power.”
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NOTES

1 Lawyer Dr Dörte Fouquet, with a lawyer colleague, has prepared the formal complaint to the European Commission on behalf of Energy Fair and other environmental groups and environmentalists (see note 3 below). Apart from her legal work, Dr Fouquet is Director of the European Renewable Energies Federation (EREF, www.eref-europe.org/).

2 In summary, the “grounds of complaint” are:

* That the so-called “carbon price floor”, introduced in the Finance Act 2011, is a de facto tax on fuels used for the generation of electricity and that the exemption of uranium from that tax is incompatible with EU state aid rules, Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

* That the cap on liabilities for nuclear accidents of the Paris/Brussels Conventions constitutes state aid in the sense of Article 107 of the TFEU. Since Article 351 of the TFEU requires EU Member States to adapt and align their pre-existing Treaty obligations to be compliant with EU law, since relevant UK laws have not been amended in the light of that requirement, and since the cap on liabilities has not been notified to the European Commission, it is, technically, illegal under EU law.

* That the proposed cap on liabilities of nuclear operators for the disposal of nuclear waste falls under the definition of state aid in Article 107(1) of the TFEU; that, unless or until it is notified to the Commission, it is illegal under EU law; and that, since the measure cannot be justified (Article 107(3) of the TFEU), it should not be approved by the Commission and should not enter into force.

* That the proposed “feed-in tariff with contracts for difference”, as applied to nuclear power, is, under Article 34 of the TFEU, a measure having an effect that is equivalent to “quantitative restrictions on imports” and is thus contrary to EU law.

3 This action by Energy Fair -- making a formal complaint to the European Commission about subsidies for nuclear power -- is endorsed by the following people and organisations: Tom Burke CBE (www.e3g.org/about/Tom-Burke/), Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (www.cnduk.org/), Eurosolar (www.eurosolar.de/en/), Jean Lambert MEP (www.jeanlambertmep.org.uk/), Caroline Lucas MP (www.carolinelucas.com/cl.html), Nuclear Free Local Authorities (nfznsc.gn.apc.org/), Michael Meacher MP (www.michaelmeacher.info/weblog/), People Against Wylfa B (PAWB, www.stop-wylfa.org/), Jonathon Porritt CBE (www.jonathonporritt.com/), Dr Jeremy Leggett and Solarcentury (www.solarcentury.co.uk/), Sortir du Nucléaire (www.sortirdunucleaire.org/), Keith Taylor MEP (www.keithtaylormep.org.uk/), and Urgewald (http://urgewald.org/).

4 Research by the Energy Fair group has identified 7 existing subsidies for nuclear power and at least 2 potential subsidies. They are summarised in “Forms of support for nuclear power” (PDF, www.mng.org.uk/ns) and described more fully in the following two documents, each with an executive summary:

* “Subsidies for nuclear power in the UK government’s proposals for electricity market reform” (PDF, www.mng.org.uk/emrdoc).

* “Nuclear Subsidies” (PDF, www.mng.org.uk/nsubsidies).

5 Calculations by the Insurance Forum, Leipzig, a company that specialises in actuarial calculations, shows that full insurance against nuclear disasters would increase the price of nuclear electricity by a range of values -- Euro 0.14 per kWh up to Euro 2.36 per kWh -- depending on assumptions made (see “Calculating a risk-appropriate insurance premium to cover third-party
liability risks that result from operation of nuclear power plants”, www.mng.org.uk/gh/private/20111006_NPP_Insurance_Study_Versicherungsforen.pdf). Without the other subsidies for nuclear power, it would be even more expensive.

Counting only the Three Mile Island disaster in 1979, Chernobyl in 1986 and Fukushima in 2011 -- and excluding the near-disasters at the Narora nuclear plant in India in 1993, the Davis-Besse plant in Ohio in 2002, and the Forsmark plant in Sweden in 2006 -- we are averaging one nuclear disaster every 11 years.

6 With regard to the “carbon price floor” (now part of the Finance Act 2011):

* In Parliament on the 9th of May 2011, the then Economic Secretary, Justine Greening MP, said: “The existing nuclear sector is likely to benefit by an average of £50 million per annum to 2030 due to higher wholesale electricity prices.”

* According to calculations by WWF and Greenpeace, the measure could result in windfall profits for existing nuclear generators of up to £3.43 billion between 2013 and 2026 (“Energy bills to rise as nuclear gets £3.43 billion for doing nothing”, WWF press release, 2011-02-14, www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?4629/Energy-bills-to-rise-as-nuclear-gets-343bn-for-doing-nothing).

7 Research by Energy Fair shows that renewables can, in general, be built much faster than nuclear power stations, they are cheaper than nuclear power, they provide greater security in energy supplies than nuclear power, they are substantially more effective in cutting emissions of CO₂, there are more than enough to meet our needs now and for the foreseeable future, they provide diversity in energy supplies, and they have none of the problems of nuclear power (see www.energyfair.org.uk/misallocation).

In terms of the fight against climate change, nuclear power diverts attention, effort, and large amounts of money away from renewables and the conservation of energy, where those resources would be better spent.

8 For further information, please contact Dr Gerry Wolff PhD CEng, Coordinator, Energy Fair, gerrywolff65@gmail.com, +44 (0) 1248 712962, +44 (0) 7746 290775, www.energyfair.org.uk, 18 Penlon, Menai Bridge, Anglesey, LL59 5LR, UK.

Contributor: Media, Aviation, Politics & Travel Expert, Broadcaster Julian Bray UK Landline: 01733 345581 Mobile: 07944 217476 ISDN2 downline +44(0)1733 555 319 (B'cast ISDN Remote Studio) G722/APT-X Dual Codecs Glensound C5

#Costa Concordia Wreck: Disabled and Special Assistance passengers were grouped together in the submerged deck 4 aft Restaurant area

Julianbray@aol.com (Julian Bray, London UK) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:48:05 PST

Julian Bray Reports Thursday January 19th 2012: Coastguards have confirmed they have 12-24 hours left to remove bodies from the stricken Costa Concordia as rough weather is closing in. It is also thought that the majority of disabled and special assistance passengers had gathered together in the Deck 4 aft restaurant, which is now largely underwater. Firefighters have however said they have no deadline and will maintain rescue operations.

Contributor: Media, Aviation, Politics & Travel Expert, Broadcaster Julian Bray UK Landline: 01733 345581 Mobile: 07944 217476 ISDN2 downline +44(0)1733 555 319 (B'cast ISDN Remote Studio) G722/APT-X Dual Codecs Glensound C5

Costa Concordia Wreck is Moving on rock ledge....all rescue operations suspended

Julianbray@aol.com (Julian Bray, London UK) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 01:14:10 PST

Julian Bray reports: Wednesday, January 18th 2012 08:30am Costa Concordia Wreck is moving on its rock ledge ....all rescue operations have been suspended. The wreck perched on an undersea rock ledge has shifted postion 'both vertically and horizontally', as a result all rescue operations have been suspended and rescue workers taken off the wreck. Dutch salvagers togther with insurance companies are seriously considering welding steel plates over the gashed hull, making the hull watertight then pumping out water and refloating the vessel.

They would not confirm if the ship would then be refurbished and re-enter service again with Costa or under another flag or brand within carnival group or simply sold on.

More realistically as modern 21st centry ships are built from pre-assembled modules ( rather like a lego system) sections of the ship would be taken apart and the sections removed by massive floating crane barges and submersible pontoons.

Sources also confirm that the 'oil leak' isn't fuel oil from a ruptured tank but fluids released from the kitchen area. The operation to pump out the fuel oil on board will take two weeks but the risks involved are substantial as the fuel tanks under normal conditions act as ballast, pumping them dry would natirally change the current centre of gravity and possibly cause the wreck to fall of the submerged rock ridge and sink to the bottom of the sea, totally submerging the vessel.

Although the Dutch salvagers claim they could still pump out the fuel oil. There is also growing unease over the application of the SOLAS (Saving Of Lives At Sea) regulations and the 2010 revision which confirm that only 75% of the passengers need be allocated a lifeboat seat, and that the remaining 25% would have to take to the inflatable containerised life rafts.

SOLAS regulated by the International Maritime Organisation ( set up following the RMS Titanic sinking 100 years ago) intended the regulations to be a minimum requirement but it has emerged that both shipbuilders and owners have taken this to mean it is the maximum requirement. clearly if the ship lists or capsizes, all the lifeboat seats would be effectively out of use. One side underwater and the other side locked into the launching gear and the lifeboat centre of gravity on the inward side of the lifeboat (ie down into the ship rather than away from the ship and unable to deploy.

Comment has also been made that many passenger could not return to their staterooms to collect lifevests and would be denied a lifevest. This is untrue. All cruise ships carry extra lifevests on the upper decks in large wardrobe like storage containers, so there is no need in a rapid emergency to return to a cabin, which under normal emergency conditions, would be closed to re-entry as all the cabins are inspected, confirmed clear and flourescent indicators manually attached to the stateroom door would also provide a visual check.

Repets also suggest that crew started passenger evacuation an hour before the captain gave the emergency signal seven shrit blasts and one long blast on the ships horn.

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Contributor: Media, Aviation, Politics & Travel Expert, Broadcaster Julian Bray UK Landline: 01733 345581 Mobile: 07944 217476 ISDN2 downline +44(0)1733 555 319 (B'cast ISDN2 Remote Studio) G722/APT-X Dual Codecs Glensound C5

#Costa Concordia Timeline blog and SOLAS 2010 exclusive

Julianbray@aol.com (Julian Bray, London UK) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:55:47 PST

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25 per cent of passengers and crew carried on cruise ships under IMO SOLAS 2010 regulations
will have to find a place in one of these containerised inflatable lift rafts ...

Julian Bray reports:

http://www.marketplace.org/topics/business/cruise-ship-industry-impacted-disaster

As a Cruise Industry Commentator Julian Bray has now within 24 hours completed a round of 32 radio interviews, including 19 BBC local radio stations in the UK, BBC Five Live (2), BBC Radio Four PM, BBCTV News Channel, CBC in Canada, BBC Boston USA and BBC World Service and USA Public Radio Networks.

Julian Bray exclusively pointing out that IMO SOLAS (Saving of Lives at Sea) 2010 regulations (introduced after the RMS Titanic disaster 100 years ago, and updated from time to time) only require that 75% of total passengers, and staff carried on board a cruise ship, are required by law, to have seat allocations in life boats and that the remaining 25% are only to be offered inflatable life raft places.

The regulation was designed as a minimum requirement but ship builders and owners over the last 100 years have taken this to mean a maximum requirement.

Julian Bray also earlier on in this investigation was alone in drawing investigators attention to the importance of recovering the 'black box' recorder. Transcripts of the bridge recordings have now been released by the Italian coastguard which suggest the Captain refused to return to the ship, and the crew in effect abandoned ship before the captain gave the order.

Monday 11 am RESCUE OPERATIONS SUSPENDED (Reuters / Italian Fire Service) AND RESCUE WORKERS TAKEN OFF BY HELICOPTER AS REPORTS SAY THE WRECK IS NOW SLIPPING AWAY.

News Conference held in Genoa by Costa Cruises, claims the disaster is the result of 'human error', evacuation procedures not followed says Owners. "Unapproved, unauthorised, deviation from ships programmed course" says Costa Cruises CEO (we say an attempt to shift blame for any corporate culture to the master of the vessel). P&O and Princess Cruises are other Carnival Brands.

Sunday 6:45 pm Voices heard from inside the #Costa Concordia wreck, possibility of more survivors being evacuated from staterooms, say rescue teams.

Sunday 5:15pm British couple report that seven short and one long blast on the ships whistle was given,which is the international emergency signal "Go to your Emergency Stations"

Sunday 5pm Salvage diver says scars on rock ledge may suggest #Costa Concordia wreck 'is sliding' and may fall off into 80 metres of deep water.

Sunday 3pm Two bodies [elderly males] recovered from #Costa Concordia submerged section says Italian Coastguard

Sunday 1pm Italian Captain has on video just claimed that cruise ship #Costa Concordia ship was "traversing sideways 300 metres from shore with this rock projection" and no rocks shown on his 'tourist' navigation systems.

Question: This was at night....something might have been lost in translation but the fact remains this ship was several nautical miles off its normal plotted course. Why? Possible UNCONFIRMED answer from local "Officers have a tradition of saluting former officer(s) who lives on the island and may have taken ship in too close."

Breaking news from Italian sources Cruise ship wreck is apparently perched on an uncharted rock shelf at 20 metres; but 80 metres of deep water below.... rock shelf not shown on his charts says Captain.

If weather breaks ie gets worse could dislodge ship from shelf and send it without warning plunging down to 80 metres depth.

Sunday 12 noon: All British Nationals safe. The Cabin Services Director Manrico Giampetroni has been found by rescue teams in a cabin on Deck 3 has susatined a broken leg and is being taken off by rescue helicopter, Manrico Giampetroni was plucked from the wreck tied to a helicopter winchman.

Oil reported to be leaking from aft tanks.

Survivor camera footage on Youube shows complete lack of orderly embarkation

Survivor confirms that stateroom TV was showing a looped safety video on all channels as soon as they stepped aboard and were admitted to staterooms after turnaround cleaning.

BLACK BOX RECOVERED Agency pictures confirm that the 'Black Box' command and control recorder, has been located and safely removed from the wreck

Sunday 7am Latest: A 35 strong firefighting team, has rescued a South Korean Couple 'who were banging on their cabin door' and led them to safety. Agency reports that a third survivor has now been located and landed ashore.

Reports are coming in from several agencies of 'sounds' being heard from a part of Deck 3 which is still high above the waterline; suggesting that other survivors are still alive, and awaiting rescue.

Aircraft style emergency floor level lighting strips in public corridors pointing to exit routes said to be still working.

Some 40 individuals remain unaccounted for. All staterooms above the waterline are being individually searched.

Search teams had to be withdrawn overnight.

Captain is alleged to have abandoned his cruise ship the Costa Concordia as early as 9.30pm on Friday 13th, leaving hundreds of passengers to their fate...

The Master (Captain) and First Officer have been arrested and face allegations of causing a wreck and multiple homicides.

US owned Carnival 'Masters Rules & Regulations' state:

"In the event the ship becomes endangered , all Employees are to do their utmost to protect the ship and its Guests. No Employee is to abandon or suggest abandoning the ship unless authorised to do so by the Master

Sunday 1am Latest: Italian firefighters have reached 2 persons inside the Costa Concordia, who are both "alive and well" and are making arrangements to lead them to safety.

Both the Master and First Officer have been detained by Italian Police for questioning and to have allegations of "abandoning the ship whilst passengers were still at risk and on board the striken vessel." put to them.

Julian Bray, Cruise Industry Expert, writer and broadcaster in the UK reports: On Friday January 13, 2012 at about 9pm local time, the cruise ship Costa Concordia (owned by the Carnival Group), initially thought to have straddled a sandbar off the Isola del Giglio, but in a statement from the cruise line, confirmed by close up pictures of the wreck confirms the ship had 'struck rocks' on its way from its first port of call, Civitavecchia (also known as the Port for Rome, Italy) at the start of a 7-day cruise. The pictures confirm the extent of the tear to the flat bottom hull and also showed a large rock embedded in the ruptured, tangled metalwork cladding. 12 hours later some 12 passengers/crew remain unaccounted for, but later reports on fatalities are unclear.

The Foreign Office in London has issued a telephone number for relatives seeking information to call: 0207 008 1500

The 'missing' number was later revised upwards to 70, but many survivors still in trauma from the ordeal, refused to give confirmatory information to officials. In a series of BBC radio and television broadcasts, I suggested this is truly 'a catastrophic disaster on many levels', the ship and her five sisters all need to be investigated. Reports suggest the ship was some seven nautical miles off its regular computer and satellite plotted course. The Italian Maritime Authority has already opened an investigation. Sea conditions were calm - but cold- and visibility good.
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Where are the automaticaly inflated liferafts?

The ship initially began to list some 20 degrees, the list prevented some of the covered motorised lifeboats (capacity 150 pax) being deployed. This however should not have impeded the deployment of automatic inflatable liferafts in drum like containers on the boat decks. A simple pull of a retaining line and the liferaft is launched.

Survivors talking about their ordeal, claimed that the mandatory lifeboat drill usually performed within two hours of leaving the embarkation port, had not been carried out, and as a result few of the passengers would know where to go or what to expect. Reports suggested that a power outage or power surge happened during Dinner, so it would appear the lifeboat drill had still not been carried out at that late hour. Admittedly the ship was in the process of listing before finally rolling over, but later webcam and agency pictures taken Saturday afternoon, show that a number of lifeboats had been launched and slid down the sloping hull like a ski ramp.

Amid panic, many passengers took to lifeboats and some jumped into the water to swim to shore, during which earlier reports suggested six to eight passengers drowned and a further 7 are said to be critically injured. Later reports revise the death toll as being 3.

Officials from the British Embassy are travelling to the wreck site, as some 24 British subjects are reported to be on the passenger manifest. Survivors talk of fire breaking out, electrical 'explosions' and a great deal of water being taken onboard, which suggests watertight door seal being ruptured as well as the hull being breached.

Other passengers and crew were safely evacuated by lifeboats, local boats and helicopters working in relays and taken to shelter on the island, where the local Mayor has appealed to 'anyone with a roof' to offer shelter to the rescued. Some of the crew remained aboard, but others are reported to have jumped into the sea. The shipping line, part of the Carnival Group initially insisted there was no danger of sinking. All cruise ships like aircraft carry a 'black box' usually located on the top open deck near the bow and investigators will want to run through the last moments of this once pround ship, now recorded on official records as a "WRECK" >>> more follows

Contributor: Media, Aviation, Politics & Travel Expert, Broadcaster Julian Bray UK Landline: 01733 345581 Mobile: 07944 217476 ISDN2 downline +44(0)1733 555 319 (B'cast ISDN Remote Studio) G722/APT-X Dual Codecs Glensound C5

#Costa Concordia 6 bodies found. Wreck slipping off ledge. Rescue Operations suspended. Wreck perched on 20 metre rock shelf - could plunge to 80 metres if weather deteriorates and moves the striken ship

Julianbray@aol.com (Julian Bray, London UK) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:13:23 PST

An earlier incident 100 years ago RMS Titanic

25 per cent of passengers and crew carried on cruise ships under IMO SOLAS 2010 regulations
will have to find a place in one of these inflatable lift rafts ...

Julian Bray reports:

http://www.marketplace.org/topics/business/cruise-ship-industry-impacted-disaster

As a Cruise Industry Commentator Julian Bray has now completed a round of 32 radio interviews,   including 19 BBC local radio stations in the UK, BBC Five Live (2), BBC Radio Four PM,  BBCTV News Channel, CBC in Canada, BBC Boston USA and BBC World Service and USA Public Radio Network. Julian Bray exclusively Pointing out that IMO SOLAS (Saving of Lives at Sea) 2010 regulations only require that 75% of total passengers and staff carried on board, are required to have seats in life boats and that the remaining 25% are to be offered inflatable life raft places. The regulation was designed as a minimum requirement but ship builders and owners have taken this to mean a maximum requirement. Julian Bray also earlier on in this investigation drew attention to the importance of recovering the black box recorder, transcripts of which have now been released by the coastguard.

Monday 11 am   RESCUE OPERATIONS SUSPENDED (Reuters / Italian Fire Service) AND RESCUE WORKERS TAKEN OFF BY HELICOPTER AS REPORTS SAY THE WRECK IS NOW SLIPPING AWAY.

News Conference held in Genoa by Costa Cruises, claims the disaster is the result of 'human error',  evacuation procedures not followed says Owners. "Unapproved, unauthorised, deviation from ships programmed course" says Costa Cruises CEO (we say an attempt to shift blame for any corporate culture to the master of the vessel). P&O and Princess Cruises are other Carnival Brands.

Sunday 6:45 pm Voices heard from inside the #Costa Concordia wreck, possibility of more survivors being evacuated from staterooms, say rescue teams.

Sunday 5:15pm British couple report that seven short and one long blast on the ships whistle was given,which is the international emergency signal "Go to your Emergency Stations"

Sunday 5pm Salvage diver says scars on rock ledge may suggest #Costa Concordia wreck 'is sliding' and may fall off into 80 metres of deep water.

Sunday 3pm Two bodies [elderly males] recovered from #Costa Concordia submerged section says Italian Coastguard

Sunday 1pm Italian Captain has on video just claimed that cruise ship #Costa Concordia ship was "traversing sideways 300 metres from shore with this rock projection" and no rocks shown on his 'tourist' navigation systems.

Question: This was at night....something might have been lost in translation but the fact remains this ship was several nautical miles off its normal plotted course. Why? Possible UNCONFIRMED answer from local "Officers have a tradition of saluting former officer(s) who lives on the island and may have taken ship in too close."

Breaking news from Italian sources Cruise ship wreck is apparently perched on an uncharted rock shelf at 20 metres; but 80 metres of deep water below.... rock shelf not shown on his charts says Captain.

If weather breaks ie gets worse could dislodge ship from shelf and send it without warning plunging down to 80 metres depth.    Check against source.

Contributor: Media, Aviation, Politics & Travel Expert, Broadcaster Julian Bray UK Landline: 01733 345581 Mobile: 07944 217476 ISDN2 downline +44(0)1733 555 319 (B'cast ISDN Remote Studio) G722/APT-X Dual Codecs Glensound C5

Costa Concordia Cruise Ship 'Hits UNCHARTED Rocks' and Rolls Over. 3 confirmed dead.

Julianbray@aol.com (Julian Bray, London UK) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 10:50:16 PST

Julian Bray Reports:

Sunday 12 noon: All British Nationals safe. The Cabin Services Director Manrico Giampetroni has been found by rescue teams in a cabin on Deck 3 has susatined a broken leg and is being taken off by rescue helicopter, Manrico Giampetroni was plucked from the wreck tied to a helicopter winchman.

Oil reported to be leaking from aft tanks.

Survivor camera footage on Youube shows complete lack of orderly embarkation

Survivor confirms that stateroom TV was showing a looped safety video on all channels as soon as they stepped aboard and were admitted to staterooms after turnaround cleaning.

BLACK BOX RECOVERED Agency pictures confirm that the 'Black Box' command and control recorder, has been located and safely removed from the wreck

Sunday 7am Latest: A 35 strong firefighting team, has rescued a South Korean Couple 'who were banging on their cabin door' and led them to safety. Agency reports that a third survivor has now been located and landed ashore.

Reports are coming in from several agencies of 'sounds' being heard from a part of Deck 3 which is still high above the waterline; suggesting that other survivors are still alive, and awaiting rescue.

Aircraft style emergency floor level lighting strips in public corridors pointing to exit routes said to be still working.

Some 40 individuals remain unaccounted for. All staterooms above the waterline are being individually searched.

Search teams had to be withdrawn overnight.

Captain is alleged to have abandoned his cruise ship the Costa Concordia as early as 9.30pm on Friday 13th, leaving hundreds of passengers to their fate...

The Master (Captain) and First Officer have been arrested and face allegations of causing a wreck and multiple homicides.

US owned Carnival 'Masters Rules & Regulations' state:

"In the event the ship becomes endangered , all Employees are to do their utmost to protect the ship and its Guests. No Employee is to abandon or suggest abandoning the ship unless authorised to do so by the Master"

Sunday 1am Latest: Italian firefighters have reached 2 persons inside the Costa Concordia, who are both "alive and well" and are making arrangements to lead them to safety.

Both the Master and First Officer have been detained by Italian Police for questioning and to have allegations of "abandoning the ship whilst passengers were still at risk and on board the striken vessel." put to them.

Julian Bray, Cruise Industry Expert, writer and broadcaster in the UK reports: On Friday January 13, 2012 at about 9pm local time, the cruise ship Costa Concordia (owned by the Carnival Group), initially thought to have straddled a sandbar off the Isola del Giglio, but in a statement from the cruise line, confirmed by close up pictures of the wreck confirms the ship had 'struck rocks' on its way from its first port of call, Civitavecchia (also known as the Port for Rome, Italy) at the start of a 7-day cruise. The pictures confirm the extent of the tear to the flat bottom hull and also showed a large rock embedded in the ruptured, tangled metalwork cladding. 12 hours later some 12 passengers/crew remain unaccounted for, but later reports on fatalities are unclear.

The Foreign Office in London has issued a telephone number for relatives seeking information to call: 0207 008 1500

The 'missing' number was later revised upwards to 70, but many survivors still in trauma from the ordeal, refused to give confirmatory information to officials. In a series of BBC radio and television broadcasts, I suggested this is truly 'a catastrophic disaster on many levels', the ship and her five sisters all need to be investigated. Reports suggest the ship was some seven nautical miles off its regular computer and satellite plotted course. The Italian Maritime Authority has already opened an investigation. Sea conditions were calm - but cold- and visibility good.

Where are the automaticaly inflated liferafts?

Ed Miliband - Labour Relaunch speech in full

Julianbray@aol.com (Julian Bray, London UK) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 04:19:06 PST

It’s great to see so many members of Citizens UK here.
Every day, you take action to change communities for the better, from the CitySafe initiative to campaigning for the Living Wage.

Thanks to you, the cleaners at the Queen Mary University are earning a Living Wage.
And they’re not the only ones.
From KPMG to the Olympic Delivery Authority – working men and women are now being paid enough to cover the essentials of life.

Citizens UK don’t just read about problems in society, you get organised and lead change.
You know that with a bit of optimism, coordination, and persistence, we can change the world around us, one fight at a time.

Those are your values, and they are mine as well.
A lot of people will hear me talk about values and say:
“Welcome to the real world: values cost money, but right now the government just doesn’t have money to spend.” >>>>>>

A lot of people say:
“These are tough times. It’s easy to talk about fairness, but how are you going to achieve it when there’s less money around?”
That’s the challenge for Labour.
And it’s a challenge for me as the leader of the party.
A challenge I relish.
Yes, we live in tough times.
Yes, in the years ahead there will be less money to spend.
But however tough the times are, I believe a simple truth:
Politics can always make a difference.
The Labour Party stands for fairness and fighting injustice.
Those commitments are more important now than ever.
But my argument starts by recognising that tough times will continue.
The government wanted to eliminate the deficit before the next election.
That was the foundation on which their entire programme was built.
But they didn’t understand that you can only eliminate the deficit if the economy is growing.
So they failed.

Last November was a defining moment.
George Osborne admitted that his plan to eliminate the deficit in one Parliament had crumbled.
He wanted to get us to borrow less.
But he bled so much demand out of the economy, that he will have to borrow more.
Much more.
Over five years, £158 billion more than he promised.
Not borrowing to get people back into work, but paying them to be out of work.
That’s the price of George Osborne’s failure.
Of course he’s got excuses.
He’ll blame the Eurozone.
But it’s not as if he wasn’t warned.
As Ed Balls said, if there’s a global hurricane brewing, you don’t rip out the foundations of your house.
But that’s what George Osborne has done.
We always said the deficit had to be reduced.
But in a steady and balanced way.
We warned that trying to cut spending and raise taxes too far and too fast would make it harder to get that deficit down.
The Government’s failure in eighteen short months has proved the point.
And the consequences of that will be with us for years to come.
The failure of George Osborne’s economic policy creates a different landscape for the 2015 General Election and whoever wins it.
Whoever is the next Prime Minister will still have a deficit to reduce, and will not have money to spend.
Whoever governs after 2015 will have to find more savings.
It means that the Blair/Brown approach will not be enough.
Those governments achieved great things.
Ask the parents who drop their kids off every day at the schools we transformed.
Ask the patients being treated in the new hospitals we built.
Ask people who see more police on their streets.
We should all be proud of that.
But we could only do it because the economy was growing.
Each time New Labour won an election, it won at a time when business was prospering.
When entrepreneurs could set up new firms and be confident of a return.
When companies knew that there were markets for their goods, and consumers ready to spend.
That growing economy meant that there were tax revenues to invest in our infrastructure, to help hardworking families, and to protect the most vulnerable in our country.
Next time we come back to power, it will be different.
We will be handed a deficit.
We will have to make difficult choices that all of us wish we did not have to make.
So we must rethink how we achieve fairness for Britain in a time when there is less money to spend.
There are some who say that fairness is a luxury we cannot afford in tough times.
That it is inevitable that this country must become:
More unfair.
More unequal.
More unjust.
That fairness is something for good times, and nothing more.
I believe that is profoundly wrong.
When there is less money to spend, the choices are starker.
So our values matter even more.
And if you don’t believe me, talk to the low paid working families who are losing the most, thanks to this Government’s priorities.
Talk to the school-leaver, joining a queue of one million young people looking for work.
It’s Labour’s responsibility to find a new approach for tough times.
So we will be a different party from the one we were in the past.
A changed Labour Party.
The ideas which won three elections between 1997 and 2005 won’t be the ideas which will win the election in 2015.
And not just out of necessity, because there’s less money around.
But because we have to recognise some of the things we didn’t achieve.
The last Labour government did more to tackle poverty than any in British history.
Yet, inequality between the very top and the very bottom still grew.
The last Labour Government saw many jobs created.
But too many people found themselves stuck in low skilled, low wage jobs which offered neither satisfaction, nor time to spend with the family.
New Labour’s answer, tax credits, made a real difference.
But they weren’t enough.
Sometimes in government it felt like, instead of building a new economy, we were spending money to patch up the failures of the economy we in-herited.
Fairness wasn’t hard-wired into our economy and society.
That, as well as the deficit, means Labour needs a new approach.
We have already set out what we would do to get the economy growing again immediately.
We would tax bank bonuses and use the money to get young people back to work.
In short, where the Government is stripping demand out of the economy, we would go less far and less fast.
We call for these things not because we aren’t interested in dealing with the deficit.
We call for them because we are.
The sooner growth and jobs return the easier it is to reduce the deficit we face.
That action to get growth moving must be combined with balanced cuts.
And to get Britain’s budget back into balance and the national debt back on a downward path, we will set out tough new fiscal rules.
But as I said earlier, the deficit will persist well into the next parliament, well beyond 2015.
So today I want to focus on that horizon.
I want to explain the principles which will guide the Labour Party under my leadership.
I want to set out a new approach.
To demonstrate once and for all that Labour is a party for all times, not only a party for good times.
So in the future, how we deliver when there is much less money available is going to have to be different to the approach taken by Labour in the past.
That means three new ways of delivering fairness in difficult times.
First, reforming our economy so we have long-term wealth creation with rewards fairly shared.
Second, acting against vested interests that squeeze the living standards of families.
And third, making choices that favour the hard-working majority.
So first, Britain needs a new era of long-term wealth creation.
Both to pay its way in the world and to create fairness in tough times.
Too often in the past we ended up with wealth creation which was built on unstable foundations.
With excessive rewards at the top and everybody else seeing their incomes squeezed.
The New Labour approach focused on how government could act to address the consequences of this failure.
But it didn’t focus enough on stopping it happening in the first place.
Not enough on dealing with the roots of our economy’s problems:
Poor quality jobs;
The over-reliance on finance;
And the squeeze on living standards.
The school-leaver in my constituency who years ago would have gone into mining or manufacturing but who now faces an insecure, low-paying job.
The young engineering graduate who is told she is better off designing derivatives than helping British firms design the aeroplanes of tomorrow.
And the workers wondering why their living standards are squeezed and their company is struggling, when the people at the top seem to be getting ever greater rewards.
So what is Labour’s new approach to addressing these problems when there is less money around?
To use the power of government in new ways.
To set new rules that promote the long-term and fair wealth creation we need.
To share a vision with British industry of how we pay our way in an ever more competitive world.
To nurture a growing, thriving economy which creates better jobs, new companies and innovative industries.
That means we have to end the situation where British employers want their companies to invest but can’t find the finance to do so.
That’s why we are looking at plans for a British Investment Bank so small businesses can invest and grow.
It means we have to end the situation where an industry knows it is in its long-term interest to invest in the skills of its workforce, but each firm doesn’t act because it isn’t in their short-term interest.
That’s why we will need new leadership from industry, undertaking their responsibilities to bring on the next generation.
And government must play its part.
That’s why we say that major government contracts should only go to those who offer apprenticeships.
It means we have to end the situation where the chief executive wants to make decisions which will benefit his company in five years, when some of his shareholders are only interested in results in the next two months.
That’s why Ed Balls will shortly be announcing our review of short-termism in British corporate life, like quarterly reporting.
All of this is an agenda for responsible business that our business leaders already champion.
It is the one they urge me to address as I go around the country talking with entrepreneurs, visiting factories.
It’s not anti-business it’s pro-business.
Government also has a particular responsibility when times are tough to ensure that rewards go to those who work hard and do the right thing.
That is why we have to take on irresponsibility wherever we find it.
At the top and at the bottom of society.
We have to end the situation where we have rewards for failure at the top — harming the company and its workforce.
That is why we need real change.
Like an employee on every remuneration committee so that top executives have to look an ordinary member of staff in the eye before they award themselves a pay rise.
We are determined to reform our welfare system too, so that it rewards those who do the right thing.
That’s why I’ve said that those on the waiting list for council accommodation should move up that list if they are contributing to their communities, being good neighbours, and seeking work.
We need an economy that builds long-term wealth creation, fairly shared.
But we also need to act on the vested interests that squeeze the living standards of vast numbers of people across the country.
Does anyone doubt that people are feeling squeezed?
The price of food is going up.
The price of gas and electricity is going up.
And the price of getting around, getting to work is going up.
And when there is little money to spend, fairness starts with how you are treated when you spend the money you have.
We need a big change in approach from government.
When big companies use their dominant position to charge too much, we mustn’t be afraid to intervene.
No company that is engaging in predatory behaviour should be too big to challenge.
Take train fares.
This month, some are going up by as much as 11%.
Next year and the year after, some are going to go up by as much as 13%.
And that at a time when so many peoples’ wages are falling.
Some train companies have jacked up prices so much that some season tickets are now a fifth of the average salary in this country.
So much that some parents are giving up jobs because they can’t afford a child minder and a season ticket.
And what are the Government doing about it?
Nothing.
They are afraid to take on the train companies.
In fact they are making it worse.
Just ask a commuter coming into London from Basildon or Basingstoke.
The Government are giving the train companies more freedom to rig the system of fares, so that the busiest routes get the biggest fare increases.
That’s got to change.
I’d make sure the rail companies followed a really simple rule.
The limit for fare increases should apply to every regulated train fare, not just the routes fewer people use.
And it’s not just transport we need change.
Take energy.
Everyone here today who has enjoyed Christmas and New Year with their family has had the central heating on.
But it’s expensive.
And we all know that particularly with the rising costs of energy, there are a growing number of people, many of them elderly, who find it difficult to afford.
We introduced the Winter Fuel Allowance for all pensioners, and we gave specific help to those who were struggling with fuel poverty.
Great Labour achievements.
But what’s going to happen in the future?
As energy gets more expensive, how can we offer the help people need when there is very little money to spend?
The Government has already cut the Winter Fuel Allowance so that it provides less support.
That cut may be something we cannot reverse.
With the economic outlook that we face, we’ll find it hard to do that.
But that doesn’t mean we give up.
Instead our new approach starts by looking at the root of the problem – the way our energy market is letting British consumers down.
We’ve got six main energy companies in Britain.
Competition should be good for consumers.
But the way that the current market works is disadvantaging them.
The tariffs are so complicated at the moment that 80% of people are overpaying for their gas and electricity.
Eighty per cent.
And we know who the most vulnerable are.
Those least able to find the cheapest deal, or to be online.
Often the elderly.
Offering different products is a good thing.
But if those products end up taking advantage of older people – that is wrong.
So I’ll give the energy companies a simple rule.
By all means put different products out there and for different kinds of consumers.
But we will ensure you give pensioners over seventy-five the lowest tariff on offer.
You make it happen, or we’ll put it into law.
There may be less money around.
But for those four million pensioners, Labour can still deliver fairness in these tough times.
So we need action against these vested interests.
But these new straitened times also mean that the next Labour govern-ment will have to have a clear sense of priorities.
In the past, the proceeds of a growing economy gave the last Labour government greater room for manoeuvre.
You could cut capital gains tax and reduce child poverty.
It was easier to avoid tough choices.
But that era is gone.
That doesn’t mean there won’t be political choices about the balance be-tween taxation and spending, and about where our priorities are.
But in these times, with less money, spending more on one thing means finding the money from somewhere else.
When someone wins, someone else loses.
And for Labour, that means there are no easy choices.
That’s why when we say invest money in our young people to make uni-versity more affordable, we also have to be clear that means not giving the banks the corporation tax cut this Government has planned.
Bringing the cap on university fees down to £6,000 would make a real dent in the awful levels of student debt this Government is going to im-pose on families.
Let me give you another example.
Everyone is now joining us talking about the squeezed middle and the next generation.
But it’s not enough just to talk about them.
If you want to make taxes fairer for those on middle and low incomes, your priority can’t be to scrap the 50p rate for those earning £150,000 or more.
In the years ahead, we will be focused on how we can make the right, tough, long-term decisions to help those on lower and middle incomes succeed.
Building long-term wealth creation, tackling vested interests, and being clear about our priorities – that is how we can deliver fairness even when there is less money around.
It’s my agenda for a fairer country and a more responsible capitalism.
The new approach – only Labour can deliver
When I talked about that in my conference speech, you might say I wasn’t overwhelmed with support from other political parties.
Some even said that I was anti-business.
But in the last few months something strange has happened.
Suddenly, the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister are falling over themselves to say that they too are burning with passion to take on “crony capitalism”.
A Prime Minister who six months ago was gagging to scrap the 50p tax rate now tells us he will keep it for a few more years.
And the same Prime Minister, who said I was anti-business when I called time on undeserved rewards at the top, now claims he’s desperate to stop them too.
I say to the Prime Minister, who are you trying to kid?
No-one is ever going to believe you’re the man to take on crony capital-ism.
No-one will believe this is what gets you out of bed in the morning.
But now that you have accepted that this is the battleground of politics, I say:
Bring it on.
Because my message today is not simply that Labour can deliver fairness when there is less money around.
But that only Labour can.
Because the core belief of this Prime Minister is that we can solve the problems Britain faces by government getting out of the way.
His answer to the problems thrown up by the economic crisis, is simply more of the same.
My answer is different.
Different to this Prime Minister.
And different too to the previous Labour Government.
My Labour Party is not going to bow to the outdated idea that says that government cannot help, that there are no choices to be made.
My Labour Party is going to show that we can deliver fairness even when there’s less money around.
And in the end, once the savings have been made and the deficit has been reduced, the question is this:
What is your vision for this country?
This Government doesn’t have one.
But we do.
Because we understand that a responsible economy is also a stronger, growing economy.
Our vision is for an economy based on sustainable wealth creation.
Where rewards are more fairly shared.
Where we take on the vested interests that squeeze people’s living standards.
Where we stand up for the hard-working majority with the choices we make.
That is the basis on which Labour will govern.
That is what Labour stands for.
That is where Labour stands.

End check against delivery

Contributor: Media, Aviation, Politics & Travel Expert, Broadcaster Julian Bray UK Landline: 01733 345581 Mobile: 07944 217476 ISDN2 downline +44(0)1733 555 319 (B'cast ISDN Remote Studio) G722/APT-X Dual Codecs Glensound C5

High Speed Rail? It's in the wrong place Minister!

Julianbray@aol.com (Julian Bray, London UK) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 12:38:30 PST

HS2 Tunnel

Julian Bray Reports: The newspapers over the weekend have been full of The Department for Transport (DfT) plans to construct a high-speed rail link (High Speed 2) from London through the Chilterns, to the West Midlands and then to the north of England. The Coalition Government is this week likely to approve the plans and light the blue and orange touchpaper....but we (Peterbrough Regional Advanced Train Society - PRATS) think the case for running the HS2 alongside the City of Peterborough has been overlooked if not totally misunderstood. After all, It is only half the width of a by-pass.... This is the route map http://highspeedrail.dft.gov.uk/in-your-area

We've taken several of the reports seemingly rejected by the Transport Minister and dusted them down for another look. The Government claims the new high speed line will produce significant economic benefits: travellers will gain from faster journey times; capacity will be freed up on existing routes including the east coast line; and the economies of the Midlands and the north of England will improve. >>>>

The total cost of the scheme has been estimated at around £34 billion. But some experts say the project will not be commercially viable. It will, all sides agree, require substantial taxpayer subsidies in a period when government and European debt has hit alarming levels and will be an example of perverse government central planning. Taxpayers will bear a high proportion of the financial risk.

High Speed 2 (HS2) is they say an example of a big government project – a political scheme rather
than a commercial one, designed to show off our national skills and provide employment.

The history of such initiatives, such as Concorde, the civil nuclear power programme, the Millennium Dome and, indeed, High Speed 1 (the Channel Tunnel Rail Link) provides the basis for this thinking. All these examples however suffered from cost overruns, delays, lower-than-expected revenues or outputs, or some combination of these problems. The list seems to be endless.

On the plus side, HS2 will provide thousands of jobs over several years and open up Birimingham as a gateway to..... London; but critics will say that as it goes into Euston, no through route is possible and all high speed passengers will come to a grinding halt and then have to face the London Underground if the want to link up with HS1, the Channel Tunnel and the continent.

Which of course was the original idea of having a through route. Get on in Birmingham and get off in Paris or Brussels

If the HS2 was routed along the existing east coast line and then linked up with HS1 it would not only benefit Peterborough as a major hub, but the extra costs involved using the existing east coast route would also provide cost savings as little in the way of additional cuttings and tunnels through the very centre or the spine of England would be needed and the adjacent land all along the east coast route is already under 'railway' control. The overall budget with economies of scale could then be stretched to eventually upgrade the entire east coast line, which is where we all came in...

Supply and logistics would also be substantially easier as much of the material and pre-fabricated metal and other major construction works can be delivered by sea along most of the East Coast route over fairly level terrain (unlike the Chilterns!) and in areas of much lower population densities and with minimal disruption, having grown up in Chorleywood and Amersham areas I can vouch for the difficult terrain and once tghe heavy construction starts middle England will be up in arms agbainst the intrusion in to the chocolate box style of village and life in the shires.

The populations along the length of the East Coast are used to heavy engineering and manufacturing industries. Very few of the substantial construction workforce required for the S2 project would ever be in a position to afford property within a hundred miles of the proposed HS2 route out of London. Something the politicians and thier experts seem to have completely overlooked.

The Shires will in fact have thousands of railway constriction workers swarming all over their villages, probably housed in teemprary camps or settlements. Market Towns and Hamlets throughout the construction period and for some time to follow, these locations along the route will of course dramatically change for ever. Simply cutting a swathe through central England will not only highlight the north /south divide but could well suceed in creating an east/ west divide as well! Truly a first for any administration. ...

HS2 track and tunnel

Politicians and government officials face both knowledge and incentive problems when planning and delivering these major projects. Transport planners cannot obtain accurate information about the preferences of travellers and the demand for services in the absence of genuine market prices and experience. They have no model to work on. It really has to be a 'finger in the air' type of rough calculation. Whe this was first mooted no one would have expected a major world financial upheaval, banks going to the wall, an eleventh hour bail out and indeed the coalition government is preparing us all for several more years ( more like decades... ) of deep austerity.

The rail and transport industries attract a high level of state intervention. Taxpayer subsidies to rail totalled approximately £7 billion in 2009/10, a figure comparable to the £6 billion collected in passenger revenues. Moreover, a high proportion of rail fares have been subject to price controls since privatisation, with increases until recently fares were kept well below rises in average incomes.

The tax system has also favoured rail vis-à-vis competing modes of transport – fares are exempt from VAT, for example, whereas tax is charged on road fuel at a rate of approximately 150% . In addition, planning policies have been traditionally designed to favour rail by preventing the spatial dispersal of economic activity and prohibiting substantial airport expansion. It should also be recognised, however, that state intervention has loaded extra costs on to the rail sector, for example by imposing an artificial structure with very high transaction costs on the industry.

In practice, an accurate assessment of the economic case for HS2 canonly be made once these

distortions (and many others) are removed. In the context of massive subsidies, regulated fares, unfair competition, discriminatory tax treatment and artificial industry structures there is a significant
danger that arguments for expenditure on new rail infrastructure are based on levels of passenger
demand that have been severely distorted by state intervention.

Indeed, it may be the case that existing subsidies are breeding future subsidies. But as we all know, logic in these cases flies out of the window. But if we could like the bankers, effect a last minute bailout, perhaps HS2 could be on our doorstep after all? Have a natter with your MP today!

Contributor: Media, Aviation, Politics & Travel Expert, Broadcaster Julian Bray UK Landline: 01733 345581 Mobile: 07944 217476 ISDN2 downline +44(0)1733 555 319 (B'cast ISDN Remote Studio) G722/APT-X Dual Codecs Glensound C5

Bob Holness - An Appreciation Born November 12 1928, died January 6 2012. One of the gentlemen of broadcasting.

Julianbray@aol.com (Julian Bray, London UK) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 00:54:44 PST

Bob Holness 1928 - 2012

Bob Holness - An Appreciation

Born November 12 1928, died January 6 2012. One of the Gentlemen of Broadcasting.

Julian Bray comments: I was sad to hear of the death of Bob Holness, 83, who achieved widespread fame and recognition following a long and successful earlier career in radio and television, his later fame came as the genial host of the Blockbusters TV game.

My own recollection of Bob is from a much earlier period when for a number of years Bob Holness, hosted BBC Radio 2 Late Night Extra (Producer Tony Luke) for some 8 years, and I as a junior freelance radio reporter would pop up from time to time lugging in my heavy UHER reel to reel recorder, with my latest on location taped report.

I would alternate with another BBC newbie John Simpson, who developed into the BBC's globe trotting world correspondent. Bob always struck me as being the perfect post war role model for a BBC broadcaster, genial, professional, gentle and immaculately dressed, even at midnight!

He would always find time to have a quick word and unusual in the frenetic world of broadcasting find time to thank each and every contributor or pick up on a conversation which had been left hanging days earlier. His recall was quite astounding.

Douglas Cameron (Left) and Bob Holness (right)

Our paths were later to cross when commercial radio started up, and he at the London Broadcasting Company (LBC London) was the co-host with Douglas Cameron of the earlhy morning show (Cameron best remembered for his choice of loud primary colour jackets and a tupperware bowl of cornflakes which he and Bob would rapidly share and consume at their newsroom desks during news breaks!) I had moved over to LBC, days before Marshall Stewart who had also decamped from the BBC Today programme.

Bob had one of the longest showbiz marriages, but suffered a series of a series of strokes over the last 20 years. He is survived by his wife Mary, their son and two daughters . Bob Holness Born November 12 1928, died January 6 2012. One of the Gentlemen of Broadcasting.

Contributor: Media, Aviation, Politics & Travel Expert, Broadcaster Julian Bray UK Landline: 01733 345581 Mobile: 07944 217476 ISDN2 downline +44(0)1733 555 319 (B'cast ISDN Remote Studio) G722/APT-X Dual Codecs Glensound C5

zero point zero

Julianbray@aol.com (Julian Bray, London UK) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 04:34:29 PST

The late John Vernon

"Zero point zero"

This classic line "Zero point zero" from the film Animal House delivered by the late great American actor and all round cinema bad man John Vernon is posted to encourage our Chancellor George Osborne before he delivers the Autumn Statement and just about sums up what we can expect. If George could take in some style points, so much the better, we can all get down to the pub. I had the pleasure of socially meeting and dining with John Vernon when he was filming Branigan in London during the 1070's, with John Wayne in the title role as a detective....

Contributor: Media, Aviation, Politics & Travel Expert, Broadcaster Julian Bray UK Landline: 01733 345581 Mobile: 07944 217476 ISDN2 downline +44(0)1733 555 319 (B'cast ISDN Remote Studio) G722/APT-X Dual Codecs Glensound C5

LEVESON INQUIRY : STREET OF SHAME CONFIRMED & I AGREE!

Julianbray@aol.com (Julian Bray, London UK) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 17:41:40 PST

I am a Life member of the National Union of Journalists (40 years man and boy!) and ironically on the day the Obituary for Johnny Longdon one of the early inspirational BBC pioneer audio boffins was published, ( He invented the self drive BBC desk!) and once borrowed Churchills hat for a few days and many other stories.

I was invited to comment live and give my professional view (Thursday 24th November) on the Leveson Inquiry, http://www.levesoninquiry.org.uk/ on the BBC Cambridgeshire Jeremy Sallis hosted BREAKFAST SHOW.

The magic of ISDN and the Glensound C5 ISDN mixer allows me
to broadcast directly from my home at full professional quality
into radio stations around the world.

Having closely researched my task, I began to feel really uneasy and wondered just how much our generation was involved in the general muckraking and everything that was being presented? Then up popped an e-mail from the http://www.gentlemenranters.com/ website which answered my question.

I invite you gentle reader, to follow the link as it speaks volumes on how the Gentlemen of Fleet Street (and there were many) view - or would have viewed - the world today. Lord Leveson might be well advised to have a look as well. He is only getting a small part of the self serving story. Here is the e-mail in full, holding nothing back!

Half a century in this business and (just watching the telly) I cannot remember our public image being so deservedly low.

I’d rather entertain people offering to tarmac my drive with overmatter from the M5 than this bunch of cowboys currently masquerading as reporters (and… editors).

AND – here’s the thing – it wasn’t my generation that has brought this about.

Shame on the lot of them.

BUT… we used to do things better.

http://www.gentlemenranters.com/

Boris could take a Health & Safety tip from NY Mayor Bloomberg

Julianbray@aol.com (Julian Bray, London UK) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 19:33:26 PST

Photo: RichGreenberg

My good friend Rich Greenberg from New York has just posted this picture which until very recently was the location of the 'Occupy Wall Street' camp, cleared by Mayor Bloomberg on 'Health and Safety' grounds. This should give an incentive to our London Mayor Boris Johnson, to not only clear the streets around St Pauls Cathedral in London but also for Basildon Council to tackle the renewed Dale Farm situation, as the caravans are massing again...

Contributor: Media, Aviation, Politics & Travel Expert, Broadcaster Julian Bray UK Landline: 01733 345581 Mobile: 07944 217476 ISDN2 downline +44(0)1733 555 319 (B'cast ISDN Remote Studio) G722/APT-X Dual Codecs Glensound C5

Stewart Jackson MP lights Blue #Borders Touch Paper.....

Julianbray@aol.com (Julian Bray, London UK) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 05:15:58 PST

With all the major security issues surrounding the Olympics and the Border Agency, it's good that Peterborough s MP Stewart Jackson has his finger firmly on the main self destruct off message button . Thanks to the excellent 'They Work for You' website....

Written Answers - Home Department: Illegal Immigrants (14 Nov 2011)
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2011-11-14a.80985.h&s=speaker%3A11759#g80985.q0

Stewart Jackson MP: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Iraqi nationals who have no legal basis to remain the UK have been removed to Iraq in each month since May 2010; and if she will make a statement.

Written Answers - Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Turkey: EU Enlargement (14 Nov 2011)
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2011-11-14a.80986.h&s=speaker%3A11759#g80986.q0

Stewart Jackson MP: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and
Commonwealth Affairs whether the issue of Turkish recognition of the Armenian Genocide of 1915 will be a consideration in the Government's policy in respect of the application by Turkey for membership of the EU; and if he will make a statement.

Contributor: Media, Aviation, Politics & Travel Expert, Broadcaster Julian Bray UK Landline: 01733 345581 Mobile: 07944 217476 ISDN2 downline +44(0)1733 555 319 (B'cast ISDN Remote Studio) G722/APT-X Dual Codecs Glensound C5

A little more for your Poppy Please

Julianbray@aol.com (Julian Bray, London UK) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 04:16:53 PST

Many of our ex-servicemen observed their own private two minutes silence at the eleventh hour on the eleventh day, some now too frail to stand out in the cold; but they still silently remembering their friends during the two minute silence. Some soldiers only aged 17 who fell in the Great War and another generation in the second World War.

Since that time, there have been more than 1,000 wars (since 1945) of all kinds, some justified, many not. Tomorrow Sunday, a Service of Remembrance will take place at the existing war memorial within the Cathedral precincts from 10:45am.

If you can attend then do so, but if not simply remember those who have protecteed our country and through injury or loss now need your financial support, contribute a little more for your Poppy.

In fact, if you see a collecting tin, just put whatever you can afford in that tin, as an additional thank you for all that our service men and women do. We shall remember them.

Ve warmly welcome Ed Balls to a secret location in Peterborough today! November 5th 2011

Julianbray@aol.com (Julian Bray, London UK) — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 04:13:27 PDT

ALLEZ DAS BALLS!! NOVEMBER 5th 2011

COURTESY GUIDO FAWKES www.order-order.com on his special day!

http://order-order.com/2011/11/02/any-excuse-to-run-this-picture/

Any Excuse to Run This Picture of Ed Balls

Balls has a favourite hand gesture to indicate growth flat-lining.
When he pulled it out today Dave quipped:

“You can go on making your questionable salute…”

What did he have in mind?

BOEING LIGHT That's the Dreamliner....heading for Japan

Julianbray@aol.com (Julian Bray, London UK) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 04:02:24 PDT

After a three year delay, Boeing’s lightweight 787 Dreamliner took off yesterday. Spectators flocked to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport to get a first look at the twin-engine, lightweight jetliner, which landed smoothly at 9:04 a.m.

ANA’s (All Nippon Airways) first Dreamliner touched down with aviation fans worldwide welcoming the plane that its American maker hopes will keep European rival Airbus out of its best market (Japan). Why? The U.S. aircraft giant has had to cede ground to its Airbus nearly everywhere else, including at home.

The twin-engine aircraft boasts the latest features aimed at giving passengers a more comfortable flight while delivering a 20 percent improvement in fuel efficiency. Most of the 787 is covered in carbon fibre, a high-tech plastic that is very strong but still lightweight. Military planes have used the material for years, but this is the first time so much has been used on an airliner.

According to reports, the Boeing Dreamliner 787 is said to be almost a make or break diversion for Boeing as Aerobus continues to encroach on all the American Boeing markets and is now taking parts of the US domestic market features the largest entryways, overhead bins and windows of any airplane flying. Blake Emery, Boeing’s Director of Differentiation Strategy, is reported as saying these upgrades “improve harmony inside the cabin.” The design puts equal emphasis on form and function.

The plane has a carbon fibre design making it more fuel efficient than traditional heavier planes. For the passengers, using the plane in-flight will be a much more intuitive experience, from storage-bin latches to the control of how much light seeps through the expanded windows. Other improvements include more pressurized cabin air, larger windows that can be electronically dimmed and hands-free toilets.

There’s good reason to celebrate, especially in the current economy; Boeing has a backlog of 821 orders — almost a 10th of those from Japan alone. The wings on the 787 were made in Japan by Mitsubishi Heavy, the first time that a foreign contractor has built the most complex component of an aircraft for Boeing. The Dreamliner may only be partly made in the USA (but at least those parts include the ideas and the technology).

Contributor: Media, Aviation, Politics & Travel Expert, Broadcaster Julian Bray UK Landline: 01733 345581 Mobile: 07944 217476 ISDN2 downline +44(0)1733 555 319 (B'cast ISDN Remote Studio) G722/APT-X Dual Codecs Glensound C5

Dr Liam Fox Resignation letter in full to David Cameron

Julianbray@aol.com (Julian Bray, London UK) — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 09:17:34 PDT

Dr Liam Fox Resignation letter in full to David Cameron

The cabinet investigation has not been going well for Dr Fox according to supporters and our information is that a Sunday newspaper has a number of new highly damaging allegations to put to him over his 'close' friendship with his Best Man. Meanwhile Mrs Fox is maintaining a dignified silence..this position might change. There is not expected to be a complete cabinet reshuffle but the new defence secretary will be announced later this afternoon ( Friday 14 October 2011).

Letter courtesy http://www.order-order.com/

Dr Liam Fox Resignation letter in full to David Cameron

Dear David,

As you know, I have always placed a great deal of importance on accountability

and responsibility. As I said in the House of Commons on Monday, I mistakenly

allowed the distinction between my personal interest and my Government

activities to become blurred. The consequences of this have become clearer in

recent days. I am very sorry for this.

I have also repeatedly said that the national interest must always come before

personal interest. I now have to hold myself to my own standard. I have

therefore decided, with great sadness, to resign from my post as Secretary of

State for Defence - a position which I have been immensely proud and honoured to

have held.

I am particularly proud to have overseen the long overdue reforms to the

Ministry of Defence and to our Armed Forces, which will shape them to meet the

challenges of the future and keep this country safe.

I am proud also to have played a part in helping to liberate the people of

Libya, and I regret that I will not see through to its conclusion Britain's role

in Afghanistan, where so much progress has been made.

Above all, I am honoured and humbled to have worked with the superb men and

women in our Armed Forces. Their bravery, dedication and professionalism are

second to none.

I appreciate all the support you have given me - and will continue to support

the vital work of this Government, above all in controlling the enormous budget

deficit we inherited, which is a threat not just to this country's economic

prosperity but also to its national security.

I look forward to continuing to represent my constituents in North Somerset.

Yours ever,

Liam

Add a comment to this post: http://order-order.com/2011/10/14/full-fox-letter/#respond

Contributor: Media, Aviation, Politics & Travel Expert, Broadcaster Julian Bray UK Landline: 01733 345581 Mobile: 07944 217476 ISDN2 downline +44(0)1733 555 319 (B'cast ISDN Remote Studio) G722/APT-X Dual Codecs Glensound C5

Fox Trots from Westminster - A PM writes.....

Julianbray@aol.com (Julian Bray, London UK) — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 08:45:39 PDT

Fox Trots from Westminster - A PM writes....

An icey blast through Westminster...
Dr Liam Fox falls on his sword and resigns,
as rumours circulate that Sunday Newspapers
have acres of new allegations to put to him...

Letter courtesy of http://www.order-order.com/ Guido Fawkes

Letter to Dr Liam Fox from David Cameron, Prime Minister
Friday 15:00hrs 14th October 2011

Dear Liam,

Thank you for your letter.

I understand your reasons for deciding to resign as Defence Secretary, although I am very sorry to see you go.

We have worked closely for these last six years, and you have been a key member of my team throughout that time.

You have done a superb job in the 17 months since the election, and as Shadow Defence Secretary before that.

You have overseen fundamental changes in the Ministry of Defence and in our Armed Forces, which will ensure that they are fully equipped to meet the challenges of the modern era.

On Libya, you played a key role in the campaign to stop people being massacred by the Gaddafi regime and instead win their freedom.

You can be proud of the difference you have made in your time in office, and in helping our party to return to Government.

I appreciate your commitment to the work of this Government, particularly highlighting the need to tackle the deficit, and the relationship between Britain’s economic strength and our national security.

You and Jesme have always been good friends, and I have truly valued your support over the years. I will continue to do so in the future.

Yours ever,

David

[David Cameron, British Prime Minister]

Add a comment to this post: http://order-order.com/2011/10/14/the-dear-liam-letter/#respond

Contributor: Media, Aviation, Politics & Travel Expert, Broadcaster Julian Bray UK Landline: 01733 345581 Mobile: 07944 217476 ISDN2 downline +44(0)1733 555 319 (B'cast ISDN Remote Studio) G722/APT-X Dual Codecs Glensound C5

The Kiwayu Safari Village resort, owned by a local family, where a british male tourist has been murdered and his wife abducted were on the first night of their secluded holiday.

Julianbray@aol.com (Julian Bray, London UK) — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 18:35:19 PDT

The Kiwayu Safari Village resort, owned by a local family, where a british male tourist has been murdered and his wife abducted were on the first night of their secluded holiday.

Kiwayu was at one time a favourite haunt of A-list celebrities, but this elite clientele relies on word-of-mouth recommendation and the A-listers have mostly moved on to other more secure fashionable resorts. Guests live in roundovals or bandas, small cottages. It is located on the Kiunga Marine Reserve, in a sheltered lagoon opposite the island of Kiwayu, north of Mombasa and Lamu, over 300 miles east of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. What is not generally appreciated is that it is a short boat ride from Somalia, known for its pirates and general lawlessness. The whole Kenyan shoeline and beaches from Mombasa right up to Somalia.

Julian Bray Travel Expert commented: "Having stayed in the region several times, I can confirm that guest security has always been a problem during the four decades I have visited the region, and commercial security guards from private contractors are usually employed. But recently in order to save money, many resorts now directly employ their own locally recruited security staff. Hotel receptionists usually strongly suggest guests keep within well guarded and patrolled hotel grounds and compounds and actively discourage guests from sunbathing, swimming and strolling on the unguarded public beaches beyond the compounds."

"The beach hotels are also home to packs of vervet monkies who often leap onto balconies and steal anything loose from bedrooms, if the windows and balcony doors in most hetels are left open. At Kiwayu you simply don't have the choice.

"The Kiwayu resort website featuring the resort stresses its seclusion, normally guests have to fly in a light aircraft to the nearby island of Lamu before transferring to the resort by sea. There are 18 roundovals or en-suite cottages all built with traditional materials by local craftsmen and are spread along the shoreline like a ribbon development facing the lagoon and silver sand beach.

"There is spasmodic mobile phone coverage at the resort, such coverage is said to be at the edge of cell reception from a mast located on the mainland, there is no broadcast television but movies/ TV shows are piped in from a dvd player system."

####

Contributor: Media, Aviation, Politics & Travel Expert, Broadcaster Julian Bray UK Landline: 01733 345581 Mobile: 07944 217476 ISDN2 downline +44(0)1733 555 319 (B'cast ISDN Remote Studio) G722/APT-X Dual Codecs Glensound C5

Heroic bid to avoid Bournemouth houses by RAF Red Arrows pilot ends in his death

Julianbray@aol.com (Julian Bray, London UK) — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 02:13:44 PDT

Royal Air Force Red Arrows (double click on picture to see full size)
Crown Copyright Image

Royal Air Force Flt Lt Jon Egging, 33, tragically died on Saturday August 21st 2011, following the completion of a classic RAF Red Arrow aerobatic display which ended at 1.38pm, during the Bournemouth Air Festival.

Flt Lt Jon Eggings flew operational sorties in Afghanistan and was a highly experienced aviator joining the Red Arrow team in late 2010. He had little or no chance of surviving the air crash as he fought to steer his striken jet away from a housing development. The Air Festival was set to be cancelled after torrential rain hit the area cancelling flying on the first day of the event.

A full military air crash investigation will now take place, but some people are questioning the decision to carry on with the festival in view of the abnormal weather conditions the previous day, and the possibility of wind shear. It is not yet known what caused the BEA Hawk trainer jet to malfunction, but clearly as the pilot had not ejected or bailed out, he considered that he could still pull the aircraft round and away from a residential development. He did avoid the houses and there was no 'collateral damage', sadly there was some form of contact with the ground or overhead cables and his body was flung from the aircraft and found by local residents in the River Stour.

The wreckage of 'Red 4' spread over a wide area, as it apparently hit the ground two or more times according to eyewitness reports and amateur video. The Red Arrows has been flying in various guises as a display team for nearly 50 years, in 1964 it became an all RAF affair. In 1966 the formation was increased to nine in order to complete the classic 'diamond nine' formation.

The team is regarded as one of the worlds best having completed more than 4,000 displays in some 53 counties. The Hawks fly at a speed of 345 miles per hour, and previous deaths suffered by the team in 1988 and multiple deaths in 1971 were during practice sessions.

The aircraft type will now be grounded until the results of the investigation are known. Flt Lt John Eggings leaves a widow Emma, who did see the final show at Bournemouth.

Contributor: Media, Aviation, Politics & Travel Expert, Broadcaster Julian Bray UK Landline: 01733 345581 Mobile: 07944 217476 ISDN2 downline +44(0)1733 555 319 (B'cast ISDN Remote Studio) G722/APT-X Dual Codecs Glensound C5

Holidays 4 U HOLIDAY COMPANY COLLAPSE PRACTICAL SURVIVAL ADVICE FROM JULIAN BRAY

Julianbray@aol.com (Julian Bray, London UK) — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 06:48:51 PDT

+++ STOP PRESS +++ @chrisITV Chris Choi reports: Our Turkish footage shows Holidays 4 UK/Aegean Flights customers facing demands to "pay up or pack up" hoteliers distrust the ATOL scheme +++ STOP PRESS +++

ALL FLIGHTS CANCELLED as holiday firm goes bust...

13,000 Brits technically stuck in Turkey after Holidays 4 U firm collapses may have to pay extra to local Turkish hoteliers to stay in holiday hotels warns Broadcaster and Travel Expert Julian Bray +++ NOW CONFIRMED AS FACT BY ITN /ITV NEWS 4TH AUGUST 2011 +++

IN ADMINISTRATION

Around 13,000 Britons are technically stranded overseas after a Sussex, UK - based holiday company Holidays 4 U collapsed into administration earlier today [Wednesday 3rd August 2011] The company, which also trades as Aegean Flights, specialised in budget or cheap charter flights and package holidays to Turkey. Trade has been hit say the liquidators Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC) by the economic downturn and general economic problems affecting the travel sector as a whole.

ALSO IN ADMINISTRATION

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said that all 13,000 holiday-makers "should be able to complete their holidays as planned and return to the UK" under ATOL protection. The CAA said that it will be arranging repatriation for all customers in line with the scheduled end of their holiday. However the CAA said that all package holiday bookings and flights are now cancelled and customers are advised not to go to the airport, as the flights will not be operated. The failed holiday firm is thought to have 18 employees and an annual turnover of around £35m.

Julian Bray Travel expert commented: "Although the Civil Aviation Authority will in ATOL protected holidays try to ensure all holidaymakers with ATOL protection are returned home, there may however be problems with local hoteliers who traditionally are paid out on hotel contracts at the end of the season; they may now immediately demand guests pay extra for their accommodation or asked to leave, days earlier before the scheduled ATOL rescue flight."

Julian Bray suggests that where more than £100 is paid by credit card (not a debit card) the holidaymaker ignores ATOL for the full holiday refund which may take upto 2 years to settle... and starts an immediate claim against the credit card company, under the terms of Section 75 of the UK Consumer Credit Act. In many cases, the CAA external claim handling company will advise holidaymakers to do the same, if they discover the payment has indeed been made by a credit card.

The CAA/ ATOL scheme will not pay out until the claim is proved and this can take anything up to 2 years in contesteed claims to complete. The Claims process for hoteliers involves a long paper trail and exchanges of steam age faxes rather than a slick online computer system. Importantly the traveller or family of holidaymakers should preserve all paperwork, invoices,and reciepts especially local receipts where extra costs have been incurred, all these if agreed within the scheme can eventually be claimed back, but it takes time and certainly there will be no payout in time for this years holiday season.

Flight only arrangements are NOT covered, but the traveller will still have a claim against the credit card company if the amount claimed is over £100 under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. ( To clairify the total invoice may be much more say £600 but if at least £100 is paid by credit card, then the entire invoice can be claimed against the credit card company!

Julian Bray added: " I am surprised the CAA spokesman who has been touring the TV and radio studios simply glossed over the very real practical difficulties facing some budget families on holiday in Turkey. The CAA subcontracts the whole claims process and has very little direct day to day input. We can only hope they did learn lessons from the shambles of the Goldtrail collapse, no one came out smelling of roses, certainly not the CAA or ABTA."

A similar situation happened when Goldtrail collapsed and refunds through the CAA system took up to 18 months - 2 years to process. Although the CAA on Twitter claimed today they settled all legitimate claims within the year.. jury still out on that..

In a statement the CAA claimed;"“There is never a good time for a travel firm to fail; unfortunately the height of summer is the worst possible time. However people who booked ATOL-protected holidays with Holidays 4 U who are currently abroad will hopefully be able to complete their holiday or claim a refund from the CAA."

The latest in a string of small to medium holiday companies has just gone bust according to the Holidays 4 U website. The parent company Holidays 4 UK Limited has appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers as administrator.

Ian Oakley-Smith, joint administrator and director at PwC said: "The company has suffered because of the difficulties faced by the travel industry during 2010 and 2011, as a result of the economic downturn. The director has determined that the business is no longer able to trade and placed the company into administration. The company will cease operating with immediate effect.

Mr Oakley-Smith continued: "Regrettably most staff have been made immediately redundant. We will be working closely with employees affected by this decision to ensure they receive the support they need during this difficult time to assist with their claims for redundancy and other compensatory payments."

HOLIDAY FIRM COLLAPSE

What should I do? Helpful advice from Aviation & Media Expert Julian Bray :

Already on holiday? Relax, enjoy your holiday. The ATOL bond through the CAA will get you home at the end of your holiday.

Resort Hotel now wants me to pay them direct for my stay....

Somethimes this happens as the hotelier will have to wait for any payment as a creditor to the failed company and most of the negotiations over many months in some cases are conducted by fax! CAUTION MANY LOCAL HOTELIERS SIMPLY DO NOT TRUST THE ATOL/CAA SCHEME!!

You have several options.

1. Pay up using your credit card and reclaim/sue later and also call Julian Bray on +44 1733 345581 or twitter @julianbray

2. Refuse to pay and be turned out of the accommodation, possibly days before the scheduled rescue flight.

3. Show your hotelier (if they are demanding the direct payment) this page as the Travel Industry is maintaining a register of hotels who for various reasons may be blacked and denied bulk booking contracts in future years . The Hotel concerned would certainly be a candidate for inclusion.

Everyone else read on:

NON AIR HOLIDAY ARRANGEMENTS such as hotels only, are not covered by ATOL scheme

Booked but yet to travel? The tickets you hold are worthless for travel, your holiday and associated air travel has been cancelled. Do not go to the Airport! If you booked directly with the failed holiday firm, you may be able to claim the cost back through the ATOL bond. See www.atol.org.uk for details.

Also see if your travel agent will change your arrangements and accept the ATOL promise ie refund when it eventually comes as part or full payment and if they will defer their charges, although they are not obliged to do so.

Not ATOL protected...accommodation only arrangements are not covered. If the transaction includes a bundled in flight then ATOL is invoked, and you are protected.

ATOL protected and yet to travel? Check your confirmation if you contracted directly with the failed holiday firm, you are entitled to make a claim. The process will take several months and may take as long as two years (exceptional cases)

I booked with a Travel Agent... Talk to them about a claim and possible alternative arrangements. As a member of ABTA - [Association of British Travel Agents] (however not all travel agents or resellers are!) remind the Agent they operate subject to the ABTA Code of Professional Conduct and therefore morally (if not legally) bound to assist you to either recover your money or find an alternative holiday or resolution.

Credit Cards? If you booked through an Agent using a credit card claim through the CAA.

If you paid FAILED HOLIDAY FIRM directly using a Credit card for at least £100 of the total holiday inclusive tour invoice you may be entitled to make a small courts claim under the UK Consumer Credit Act against the Credit Card company for the full amount. Talk to your credit card firm today!

If you used a Debit Card, Cash or Cheque then claim from the CAA.

I just booked a room, can I claim? Doubtful but talk to your credit card company, bank or travel insurer.

Can I claim through Travel Insurance. No the insurance will not cover Travel Company failures hence the ATOL bond.

Will insurance premiums be refunded? No, but could be transferred to any new replacement holiday contact the broker or insurance company.

Generally: Carefully preserve in a folder all paperwork in date order, as the failed company records will be impounded by the Administrator/Liquidator and may be difficult to find...

Julian Bray Travel and Media Helpline: 01733 345581

Contributor: Media, Aviation, Politics & Travel Expert, Broadcaster Julian Bray UK Landline: 01733 345581 Mobile: 07944 217476 ISDN2 downline +44(0)1733 555 319 (B'cast ISDN Remote Studio) G722/APT-X Dual Codecs Glensound C5

Select Committee, whips up support for the Murdochs??

Julianbray@aol.com (Julian Bray, London UK) — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 11:13:41 PDT

Hey Piers, Ye canna hack a Nokia if you throw it at someone first..

Media Commentator Julian Bray writes:

Cannot believe that I've sat through the entire Select Committee hearings today and I'll leave it to the Guardian to give you the detail and for my part I'll see if I can draw some kind of conclusions from all of this. Accept that my commercial background is Broadcasting, Journalism, Television Management and Management Consulting.

It is however hard to understand how the Select Committee of ill assorted MP's all with different size axes to grind, can with all honesty materially add to anything that the civil and criminal investigations currently underway will turn up.

The most staggering conclusion from todays round is that few of the MP's should ever be given a speaking part, the questioning ranged from blatent grandstanding to snide to considered and finally to plain stupid.

Perhaps we all expected these committees to be on a par with a court room or public enquiry, but here few if any lawyers are seen in to be in action and the standard of chairmanship ranged from weak to adequate. The hounding (and juvenile custard pie throwing ) of an 80 year old tycoon on worldwide television was hard to justify or take in. Even harder to understand on a World Service radio feed. The UK can and must do better than this.

Tom Watsons performance verged on bullying and made me wince. The earlier demonstration with posters should have at least put the authorities on alert and again calls into the question the whole idea of staging the Olympics whilst we are participating in two wars, going through dire economic times and possibly now facing a snap General election - before the games.

It was counter productive as I found myself unwittingly pulled into the Murdoch camp despite the robotic responses from Murdoch Junior, but it was the fascination with Murdoch Senior and his flat hand bang of the desk to get points home.

He does this in public and he also does it in the Board Room. Rupert clearly deeply upset that he has worked a lifetime for this to find that a one percent contribution to overall revenues by the News of the World could unleash a firestorm of adverse comment and publicity. Twittering throughout I found that my comment were not only being picked up by the rich and famous but I'm also in agreement with Sir Alan Sugar! Still I suppose it could be worse. Michael Winner? Perhaps a couple of notches up from that... all in all not a good day for democracy and for Westminster? Major questions remain to be asked, in fact far more than when we started this morning and its now 7pm Mrs Brooks is still politely answering questions... but the committee is still on the road to nowhere...

Contributor: Media, Aviation, Politics & Travel Expert, Broadcaster Julian Bray UK Landline: 01733 345581 Mobile: 07944 217476 ISDN2 downline +44(0)1733 555 319 (B'cast ISDN Remote Studio) G722/APT-X Dual Codecs Glensound C5

Londons Top Cop accepts twelve thousand pounds of hospitality - resigns

Julianbray@aol.com (Julian Bray, London UK) — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 08:48:13 PDT

Londons Top Cop accepts twelve thousand pounds of hospitality - resigns..

So if someone offered you twelve thousand pounds worth of lavish hospitality over several weeks at a leading country spa what would be your immediate reaction? Whats in it for them?

That in a nutshell is what the shock resignation of Londons Top Cop is all about. It has gone much further than Digger bashing, there are now only a few Murdochs left to sack or humiliate. But there are 200 innocent highly skilled journalists out of work and unlikely to find a niche in the PR business or any other business for that matter as they have all been unfairly branded as toxic.

STOP PRESS Rupert Murdoch has now promised to find all 200 innocent sacked journalists jobs somewhere in the News Corp. empire, but only if they are not part of the hacking debacle!

The rest of it is all about politicians getting multiple knives in before the judicial process can properly run its course, supporting the idea that a person is innocent until proven guilty. No one seems to have taken ino account that the LONDON OLYMPICS are just over a year away and we need a secure Top Cop in the job. Sadly the way this is going, we could well see a snap General Election called by September, but no one is really shaping up to be the new leader or strong enough to take this country forward to where it should be.

On top of all that we also have Northern Ireland kicking off again, baton rounds and water cannon being deployed nightly. Now would be a very good time to offer the six counties to its southern eurozone counterpart.

Coupled with increasing austerity measures, rapidly rising energy prices with tax escalators and what is delightfully called fuel poverty, if the UK freezes like it did last Winter, we can expect the elderly death toll to rise to astronomical or even biblical proportions.

The Unions are bracing for an Autumn of discontent so don't take a late holiday this year as Cameron and his sidekick Clegg could well call a snap general election in September ( Yes, i know I've already covered this point!) as the UK's social fabric starts to rapidly break down.

If you don't believe me, then just think of what happed during the Poll Tax Riots. Our current dire national financial position could be helped if the costly elderly population was culled, sadly astronomical increases in energy prices will see to that.... Merry Christmas Everybody!

Contributor: Media, Aviation, Politics & Travel Expert, Broadcaster Julian Bray UK Landline: 01733 345581 Mobile: 07944 217476 ISDN2 downline +44(0)1733 555 319 (B'cast ISDN Remote Studio) G722/APT-X Dual Codecs Glensound C5

Rupert Murdoch reinvents Goundhog Day....

Julianbray@aol.com (Julian Bray, London UK) — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 00:34:55 PDT

Rupert Murdoch reinvents Goundhog Day....
Julian Bray casts an expert if somewhat critical eye....

" Don't look Fred, they shredded container loads of News of the World e-mails
for animal bedding!" [Picture Montage by SPIZ]

Donning his battered crisis management hat, Julian Bray Media Commentator writes: So I hear that when it comes to blagging (no, not blogging) the Mirror is at the top of the list, then Associated Newspapers and News International way down the pile of shame... Says who? Political Blogger 'Guido Fawkes' and he has some very impressive authorities to back it up. But then where does this many headed hydra next go?

The PR/ crisis management strategy so far has been botched (yes, that is with the benefit of hindsight) on a scale not seen on these shores since the banks took all our money, went belly up then came back to the taxpayer to bail them out so they could carry on as usual....Not so long ago you say? True but isn't that just very British? We are never quite good enough in whatever we do.

We can't even schedule in a viable new aircraft carrier without a fifteen year interval, but still we take on a couple of wars, one totally dependent on air supremacy. The next major disaster will be the Olympics, it has all the makings.... trust me on this. We should also wave a battered flag for the failed World Cup bid (bungs all round).

But back to all things Wapping, fortress Wapping I seem to remember, with the staff being bussed in through picket lines in riot protected coaches. Boy, I bet Rupert wishes he still had those coaches for the current goings on! I say the PR strategy is flawed. The worlds TV cameras are parked day and night outside Wapping, but no one has bothered to clear the pile of rotting old pallets from the roof of the security entry check point ( Checkpoint Right Charlie!). "Hey Alf, the supervisor is on an inspection, what do I do with these old pallets? Stick 'em on the roof no one will ever know!"

For the latest update scan this QR with your i-phone

Well nearly right, no one expected this downtown docklands area to be red hot in media terms; as being part of the story is not how the media game is played. The several News choppers pick them up every day, a bright PR man would have had a banner stretched the length of that flat roof with an appropriate advertising message for ....The Times. This is world coverage you would literally die for...in PR terms.

When an aircraft crashes, the first thing airline head office would do is see that the tailfin company logo is painted out or a tarpaulin draped over it, then you worry about the rescue.... But what do the TV news bulletins pick out? The News of the World fascia plate in bold red and white alongside the other mastheads, (it's the one bottom right, if anyone with the paint and brush at Wapping is listening).

STOP PRESS: My God this blog is effective! No sooner had I published, the man with the screwdriver removed the News of the World masthead panel!

But the US news networks are not covering themselves with glory either, the raw fear of contagion is so very obvious. With US domestic politics on its own self destructive financial and senate voting rollercoaster, there is talk of the 'feds getting involved turning over a few more stones and seeing what crawls out underneath. It will only probably turn up Piers Morgan, but that's enough to be going on with. Politicians and policemen caught up in the net, social diaries and clandestine meetings and sleepovers laid bare. The mind boggles.

Dumped Prime Ministers making rare appearances in the House of Commons, Gordon Brown mustering all the venom he could, shamlessly playing to the gallery, as was the Speaker gushing hell, fire and a short measure of brimstone. I've not heard a sermon like it, well since the padre to the SAS, the Right Reverend Fraser McClusky, Former Moderator to the Church of Scotland gave an Easter address. He passed on a few years ago and is no doubt giving St Peter, both barrels on a daily basis.

But I digress, who on earth ordered the page ads. in rival newspapers enabling those newspapers to claim a free ride to the high moral ground (in the process donating the Murdoch revenue to worthy causes)? I'd be more impressed if they had refused to run such sugar coated twaddle.

I'm with the Mail on Sunday thinking, double the print run and drop the cover price to just a £1! But it's too easy to be wise after the event so where do they go? Bear in mind News Corporation, only gets around 17 per cent of its revenue from the UK newspaper operation - BSKY B is another proposition entirely and the real cash cow, or prize in all of this.

Immediately I'd send the US PR firm packing, hire an expereinced London City PR shop like Anthony Cardew at Cardew Group who knows the media inside out. Draw a line under all the hand wringing, put major promotional and talent resource into the other titles and just put the Sky bid ( for the remaining shares- News Corp already holds a majority anyway and helpfully the bid although cancelled has been put on the spike for a while).

I'd also round up the key ex NotW journalists and immediately put them all on new freelance contracts, working up a new middle of the road multimedia set of titles, this would enable them to maintain dignity and harmony within their own families and continuity in employment and possibly repair misplaced loyalty but at least the anger against the founder Rupert Murdoch by the 200 innocents displaced by all this, would be contained, if not vapourised. It would enable Rupert to live out the rest of his life in some tranquility, whilst boosting the News International revenues. (I'd also change the company name, the last thing you corporately want to be, is news!)

The Jury would however still be out on the younger Murdoch generation. Those already arrested will have to let the lagal process take its course and a spell in Open Prison possibly awaits, but politicians ever quick to jump on and off bandwagons can only hope some career journalists have only kept their contemperaneous note books for the statutory six years, then ritually incinerated them, otherwise expect in 10 months time, a whole series of very detailed accounts helpfully serialised in rivals newspapers, neatly creating an early general election as the current raft of politicans find they too are the news, toxic and not wanted on this particular voyage.......

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Rebekah Brooks Resignation - A Wrong Corporate Governance Move says Media Commentator

Julianbray@aol.com (Julian Bray, London UK) — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 04:27:22 PDT

Rebekah Brooks Resignation - A Wrong Corporate Governance Move says Media Commentator Julian Bray (01733 345581 ISDN 01733 555319)

"Media Commentator and early Wapping Veteran, Julian Bray who broke the 'Billy the Dust Bins' story 8 July 2011 (belatedly picked up by David Cameron during this weeks PMQ's :- " we got far more out of toffs dustbins that we ever did by hacking phones") on the day of the phone hacking story says: " I've carried below the statement made by James Murdoch to News International staff following the resignation of Rebekah Brooks over the News of the World phone hacking debacle."

"As an experienced City & Financial Services PR man - back in the 80's, I founded Leadenhall Associates and it was in the PRWEEK Top 150 chart within 18 months of the doors opening - my considered reaction is that I don't agree with her resignation being accepted.. She should have been suspended on full pay and moved to another NI centre with orders to assist the Board with any investigation.

"I say this, as in my experience, it makes any corporate governance remedy much harder to quickly and effectively introduce in all areas of the firm, if the gatekeeper of the 'secrets' file is no longer legally tied to the public company.

"You will also find buried deep in Murdochs Statement is the fact that "several other [well placed] executives have left the company." This neatly clears the way for the rapid launch of 'Sin on Sunday', sorry 'SUN on SUNDAY' to fill the vacuum left by the 'Screws' unless of course the Daily Mail hires the rump of the old NOTW team and beats them to it.

"In the several major entity corporate governance issues I have been involved with over last thrity years, I was always told that the independent non-executive directors should take over the investigation and hire in outside legal and communications talent as required.

"What we have here is the worst of all decisions. The ageing major shareholder and his son are taking over the investigation and the symbolic public flogging initially by way of full page ads in all newspapers and the public hanging by way of parliamentary committee. It all conveniently for the coalition governement lets the real political issues fall by the wayside and is the ideal vehicle to revive several political careers. For the word 'Hacking' simply substitute 'MPs' Expenses' it really is too easy."

STATEMENT BY JAMES MURDOCH

James Murdoch: "I am writing to update you on the actions we have been taking as a company to solve the problems at News International relating to the News of the World, in addition to continuing to co-operate fully and actively with the police and settling civil claims.

Earlier today [Friday 15th 2011], Rebekah Brooks resigned from her position as CEO. I understand her decision and I want to thank her for her 22 years of service to the company. She has been one of the outstanding editors of her generation and she can be proud of many accomplishments as an executive. We support her as she takes this step to clear her name.

We have created an independent management and standards committee and I want to emphasise its importance. The committee has direct governance and oversight from News Corporation board members and is codifying standards that will be clear and enforced.

We made the difficult and necessary decision to close the News of the World.

A number of other executives have now left the company.

News Corporation also withdrew its proposal to acquire the shares in BSkyB it does not own. This is a strong signal that our top priority in the UK is to address the issues facing News International.

Looking to the future, I am also pleased to tell you that Tom Mockridge will become CEO of News International. Tom is in London today and will start right away. Tom is a highly respected and accomplished media executive who has served as CEO of Sky Italia since its launch in 2003.

Tom, who has also been in charge of our European television business, started his career as a newspaper journalist in New Zealand and he has held a range of top roles in the newspaper industry. The creation of TG-24, Italy's only truly independent 24 hours news channel, is a credit to Tom's leadership and integrity.

This weekend, News International will run advertisements in all national newspapers. We will apologise to the nation for what has happened. We will follow this up in the future with communications about the actions we have taken to address the wrongdoing that occurred.

We are also sending letters to our commercial partners with an update on the actions we are taking.

Contributor: Media, Aviation, Politics & Travel Expert, Broadcaster Julian Bray SKYPE: Julian.Bray.UK UK Landline: 01733 345581 Mobile: 07944 217476ISDN2 downline +44(0)1733 555 319 (B'cast ISDN Remote Studio) G722/APT-X Dual Codecs Glensound C5