What have we got in government in England today?

Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey of the Opposition Labour Party has today pointed out: "Since the last election we've had five Chancellors, four Foreign Secretaries, three Prime Ministers, two Defence Secretaries, but only one Armed Forces Minister". While there is unease as 63 Conservative MP’s in today’s House of Commons have given notice not to stand at the next election, as well as two if not three, by-elections being held next month, the country is at a crossroads contemplating the date of the next General Election. Polls have all come out with different scenarios, of the colour of the next government, whilst ordinary working people are reflecting what can happen between now and the General Election, for that matter, between now and the Local Government election to be held, in the first week of May 2024. According to a new poll survey, by Redfield Wilton Strategies, Reform UK, the Nigel Farage linked party is sparking nightmares as 1 in 5 of 2019 Tory voters now will turn to Reform. Just 44% say, they would vote Conservatives again. This will put Labour in clear lead with 20 points. But, is it all done and dusted? Not really? Election polls are accurate but can only reveal voter intentions on the day they were taken, they don’t predict the future? Election polls also comprise only a very small portion of the population surveyed. The public might say it’s time for a change, they prefer Labour to Conservatives. But public expectations’ of delivery of party manifesto are still to count. If Labour or the Conservatives are only able to limp into No.10, off the back of dissatisfaction with either, not much will be achieved? Both main parties and their leaders have at today’s date, a negative favourability rating, with Rishi Sunak not considered less able to do than Sir Keir Starmer? The question on voter minds is will things get better under Labour? Will things get better in the two wars, Ukraine and/or Gaza? Not until, there are changes in both wars, can anything change in Great Britain? Britain is a country that increasingly votes by age? The Labour Party will need to muster 2/3rds of the voters who are 65 and over to obtain a big majority. This a tall order in the present circumstances with electoral boundary changes that the Tories have “juggled” already in the pipeline? Likewise, will the Red Wall votes of North England be re-claimed by Sunak or by Starmer, even with Boris Johnson leading again the election campaign for the Tories as in 2019? Will Women voters consider voting for Sunak or Starmer in large numbers? Many, young women would rather prefer Labour to Conservative? Starmer to Sunak? These and many other questions will be troubling the minds of each party’s strategists in the run up to the next General election in Britain? Victor Cherubim

What is considered "Good Taste"?

Social symbols have for centuries been the ban of the elite society in UK. Nathalie Olah in her book "Bad Taste" elaborates her argument that "good taste" is a construct enforced by the elite to maintain the status quo. According to her book review,she is one of the sharpest social critics of the Post Crash (2008)Era. She lays bare the ways in which a cultural war has submerged Class War. Capitalism far from giving us what we want has conditioned us to accept a narrow view of what is possible,in favour of austerity. Her disilluionment is with neo-liberal economics; how money,power and social class shape our present lives, which appears to be a dissection of the culture we live in. Britain has over time been noted for its luxury beliefs which conferred social status on the Upper Class,while often inflicting costs on those beneath. Theories abound that while in the past people displayed their membership of the Upper Class with material "accoutrements," status symbols have today become more accessible to the masses and thus seem devalued. Society has thus decoupled social status from goods and reattached it to beliefs. What is Social Status? We are reminded by ettiquette experts that mobile phones at the dinner table are usually considered poor manners, that elbows on the table at dinner bothers the elder generation, not the Gen Z. However, new research has found that more than half of modern Brits think table manners are a thing of the past. Brits are becoming more casual when eating out.Likewise, loud chewing, or people who don't wait for everyone's food to arrive before start tucking into their own plate, are doing what is now acceptable. Brits who were surveyed have also admitted that they have recently been unhappy with their fellow diners' table mannerisms. There appears to be a dichotomy. Is the trend in Britain to search for a new idenity today?

Things change and ways of acceptance also change. We now have had to accept the first Asian, an Indian as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. It was only days ago that the Welsh voted for a coloured West Indian as the First Minister of Wales. We have a Muslim as the First Minister of Scotland and a Sinn Fein leader as the First Minister of Northern Ireland, a thought which would never had occurred a few years ago. Whilst these changes are noted, and changes are happening, we also notice a deep seated debate going on in the corridors of power,in Parliament and elsewhere. Some say there is a serious questioning of attitude, a challenge to zenophobia. Call it Muslimphobia,Anti-Semitism, race and colour prejudice. There is simultaneously a strong sense, an underlying fear or a diversity of views,opinions, which is threating the smooth functioning of liberal debate,named "freedom of expression"?The issue in my mind is an unease, which is challenging the lethargy of government or the lethargy of people governing us. My considered view is the Brits have had too much of cover up for far too long. There has been a malaise for too long. Severe illusionment coupled with a discernment or an interwoven feeling of what was once unquestioned belief? There seems to be a new grounding in how to repair and live in a broken world in Britain. This is understandable in a fast changing world and words cannot comprehend. Victor Cherubim

Living a life beyond our means?

We in Sri Lanka particularly and in some other poorer countries, have been weaned on a pattern of behaviour to live beyond our means. It has become commonplace as we get tempted by imitating our neighbours, by using Credit Cards, by “living on the never, never,” or if we live pay cheque to paycheque, we have no cash for unexpected expenses. Whenever, or wherever we used cash to make purchases, it was said to be harder to live beyond our means. Now, we are told never to carry cash, as we can use our phone wallets to pay for whatever we want? We are coerced, tempted to go abroad to pay off our personal debts. We notice the queues, of people, in their thousands, all from dawn, in all weather, standing outside the Colombo Batteramulla Passport Office, all wanting to leave for a life abroad. Is this a sham that having a Sri Lanka Passport, is a “passport” to obtaining a Work Visa to go to any country to work abroad? Are People are being fooled to pay SL Rupees 35,000/- to secure a Passport, or is it a way to fill the coffers of our Exchequer, a smart way to balance our mounting debt? Hardly, do the common man or woman know that Visa Offices of Western Embassies in Colombo have almost all “farmed” their Offices on Contract to Agencies which demand a minimum of Rs.100,000/- to fill in an Visa Application, without any guarantee of Visa and/or work assignment?Living a life beyond our means? < I can hardly complain, as when I was in my twenties, I too wanted “to fly the nest”, to shores abroad, in search of “adventure”? Many eons have passed since my leaving my native Ceylon. What is the state of affairs today? During our 2023/4 Budget speech, our President, acting as our nation’s Finance Minister, had this to open his Budget Speech: “The Buddha’s teachings has resonance about borrowing, as contained in the Samachchapala Sutra”, where borrowing should be for investment, and not for consumption. But what did we do? Borrow from other countries and spend on our consumption. We got lazy day by day. People got used to handouts from the government. We were not thinking about the future of the country. A selfish society which only thinks about what the country should give its citizens was created gradually. Regrettably we were feasting on borrowed money.” Having said his mind. Today, our President has tried everything possible to go the other way to close loopholes, to make new laws to create a bureaucracy of Administrative Laws which is directly or indirectly creating a field day for the legal profession to cream, or source money from most legal property transfers. Sale of land to foreigners is now sacrosanct after years of mismanagement. According to a recent Press Report in the Business Times and is reproduced below in full. What makes me worry is that whilst closing loopholes we may create a plethora of other problems for investment in Sri Lanka for the foreseeable future. Let us not jump from frying pan into the fire? We need forethought to solve our debt, not knee jerk action? Living within one's means is all about trying to marry up one's current needs with future goals. How we decide to choose between joy now or joy later. but, at the same time no amount of planning in advance can really avoid the obstacles. In a sense, or in essence it is being realistic about our spending now, for returns of satisfaction later that really matters? Victor Cherubim

How to escape the bureacracy and corruption on holiday in Sri Lanka

I can state that I had a time of my life, enjoying the unforgotten memory of remembering the places I lived when I was young, and enjoying the traditional charm and simple beauty of the people and countryside of Sri Lanka. The memories have remained the same. But, there has also been a cataclysmic abyss beyond recognition in today’s Sri Lanka. I may relate a poignant example of what has changed beyond fancy. All that remains of the memory of Cargills, the once department store at Fort, Colombo, is the façade of the building. It is a deep shame that the inside store is decrepit, a loss of its charm, with floors and shelves empty. What instead has happened is: Cargills is known island wide, as a much restored food store – a supermarket. Similarly, I can relate the many, many instances of lost nostalgia of Sri Lanka. Lost forever in Sri Lanka? I tried to follow my soul’s compass to assess the change that has taken place in fifty years. The people I met all over Colombo, in the buses, trains and countryside, including in Jaffna, all seem outwardly happy, but inwardly bereft of living a decent, honest, and unfearful life, in spite of the omnipotent presence of the security forces and Police now running around not only in three-wheelers from Police stations countrywide, but also in jeeps and Army trucks – a show of security presence. The face of the coastland in Colombo has changed beyond recognition. Instead of the old style Sinhala homes and houses, a cosmopolitan City has arisen, with the whole of south side beach coastline from Fort to Mt.Lavinia, now studded with high rise hotels and houses, In one way blighting nature’s landscape. A noticeable but prevalent unease in attitudes? Everywhere I found, a sullen calm of behaviour, rumblings not yet outspoken among the majority people of Jaffna particularly, but also in other towns of Sri Lanka, In Jaffna, it was generally about the behaviour among the hierarchy, of some of the religious orders. Whilst in Jaffna it was especially, ranging from the Catholic Bishop of Jaffna, to the ordinary Priests, for not taking corrective action against priest abuse. The accusation unproven is about a somewhat non-truthful, unbecoming imposture of chicanery, uncatholic, uncharacteristic cheating behaviour towards the majority Hindu population. Perhaps, as stated it is due to an unfaithfulness to the tenets of the religion. I was shown a side of the sham of their priestly order which ashamed me. Perhaps, money is the root of all evil, or was it the abuse of one woman by a Priest recently, resulting in suicide of the woman in the Peninsula. Someday soon it will and must be corrected by the hierarchy of the Church. It cannot be swept away. My reason for stating is what I ascertained from my stay, mostly mingled with the majority Hindu populace of Jaffna, who perhaps had reason to share this overbearing sentiment with me as an overseas stranger. There seems to be an unease of disquiet, which so it seems, may have over spilled during my visit, perhaps, to obtain redress of past grievances. On the other side of the coin, the opinion is that this is a sham spread to create a division among the religions in the Jaffna Peninsula, by unscrupulous and unknown persons “to divide and rule” . Fairness and justice seem to have gone out of the window in dealing with officialdom? There is an air of bureaucracy, injustice and cowardice, to say the least, an incompetence when dealing with government officials and officialdom especially in Kachcheri’s, Registrar General Offices, and Police stations all over Sri Lanka. The machinery of government is bureaucratic and broken in the extreme to say the least. Corruption, inefficiency and mismanagement reigns supreme, according to informed sources. Everywhere people are having a tired time, whether to apply for a Sri Lanka Passport, a Birth Certificate or to get a Land registered in government offices, or even to make a complaint of injustice and foul play at Police stations. There are queues of people waiting for hours on end, inside and outside these offices, just to get an application form, or to make a complaint let alone, get redress. Inefficiency reigns supreme, as able talented officers of government have left the shores of Sri Lanka after the debt crisis seeking employment abroad. What is lacking in almost every walk of life? The plight of ordinary Sri Lankans is unbearable, not mentioning existing “unknown power cuts” and known “Cost of Living “crisis?. Though Sri Lanka is not a Police State as yet, ordinary life is mirrored and monitored beyond normal security and can be “bought” only with a “Bakshi,” a ”Santhosam,” a hand-out. A “financial thanksgiving” is expected as a matter of course. This is perhaps, due to the inability to live within one’s means. Wages are inadequately poor, in comparison to other neighbouring nations and due to restrictions on debt curtailment. Corruption seems to be a debt bond. With loan finance among thriving finance companies, ranging from minimum of 20 to 26 percent and over, the poor remain for ever in cyclical debt. It appears the only way out of poverty is “Black Money”. The way corruption exists is unknown to many. Unbelievably sly but novel methods are used to cream the public of their hard earned money. A particular case in point, is how “Thee-wheel” auto or “Tuk-Tuk” drivers, who are simultaneously Police informants/intermediaries, and “transport essential persons” to ordinary citizens and tourists, have to be on the good books of the Local Police Stations. The forced provision of free handouts of drink, cigarettes and money, at the beck and call of Local off-duty Police officials at Police stations, is a well-established practice. The choice is “freedom” or be “forced reprimand,” or “harassment-booking” and penalty by Court Order. Seldom is it talked about that Auto drivers are called on their mobiles, to put the key-money into the Police Official’s Bank Account. If not done, the Auto driver is reminded, coerced, until this is done. By no means is every Auto Driver on the List of Callers – only trusted drivers are able to command this “special treatment “on being on Police Mobile Call Lists. In recent days, we are informed the Government has offered “a stimulus increment pay package,” (an increase to the paltry pay of Police officers). It is conditional on every incident of crime reportedly penalty awarded by Courts. Talk about the award on “Crime and Punishment,” people are condemned to bribery and corruption. Tourists please note: Porters at Colombo Bandaranaike Airport on duty by moving disabled, infirm passengers, called “Free wheelchair bound passengers” by Airlines, now demand, as a matter of course and right, a so called “Support Sir/Madam”, otherwise one is left waiting attention, irrespective of other circumstances, tiredness notwithstanding. My biggest fear throughout my holiday, how to avoid being cheated? My biggest fear throughout the whole holiday was, how “not being cheated”. It is not as if, I was price cheated, buying goods and services in shops, restaurants, or in hotels, but cheated, or robbed by ordinary but friendly people, using uncharacteristic methods to hoodwink tourists. I was worried of robberies in hotel rooms, in trains whilst travel, and other ways of loss of my money in transit. Luckily, I was covered by Travel Insurance. Tourists be aware of baggage loss in trains, particularly in the Jaffna bound trains at night, Both the “Yarl Devi” and “Uttara Devi” trains have Night Security Personnel. With it all, baggage is reported to be stolen at night near the “Murukandy” Station by gangs operating on the trains, with or without connivance. What happens to be the latest and safest way to hoodwink tourists? The latest modus operandi is using the charm offensive, by Tour Guides/others becoming overly friendly, extraordinarily helpful and making tourists lose their guard, being careless. I must unashamedly state that I was living in the shadow of being cheated and couldn’t do much but accept the folly of my ways to fall into this trap. There is no need teach Tourists to beware of friendly ways of being too trustworthy on holiday and being cheated. Thieving has become a way of living in “exorbitant cost of living” Sri Lanka, which most tourists are well acquainted. The advantage of a holiday in Sri Lanka? There are queues of people waiting for hours on end, inside and outside these offices, just to get an application form, or to make a complaint let alone, get redress. Inefficiency reigns supreme, as able talented officers of government have left the shores of Sri Lanka after the debt crisis seeking employment abroad. What is lacking in almost every walk of life? The plight of ordinary Sri Lankans is unbearable, not mentioning existing “unknown power cuts” and known “Cost of Living “crisis?. Though Sri Lanka is not a Police State as yet, ordinary life is mirrored and monitored beyond normal security and can be “bought” only with a “Bakshi,” a ”Santhosam,” a hand-out. A “financial thanksgiving” is expected as a matter of course. This is perhaps, due to the inability to live within one’s means. Wages are inadequately poor, in comparison to other neighbouring nations and due to restrictions on debt curtailment. Corruption seems to be a debt bond. With loan finance among thriving finance companies, ranging from minimum of 20 to 26 percent and over, the poor remain for ever in cyclical debt. It appears the only way out of poverty is “Black Money”. The way corruption exists is unknown to many. Unbelievably sly but novel methods are used to cream the public of their hard earned money. A particular case in point, is how “Thee-wheel” auto or “Tuk-Tuk” drivers, who are simultaneously Police informants/intermediaries, and “transport essential persons” to ordinary citizens and tourists, have to be on the good books of the Local Police Stations. The forced provision of free handouts of drink, cigarettes and money, at the beck and call of Local off-duty Police officials at Police stations, is a well-established practice. The choice is “freedom” or be “forced reprimand,” or “harassment-booking” and penalty by Court Order. Seldom is it talked about that Auto drivers are called on their mobiles, to put the key-money into the Police Official’s Bank Account. If not done, the Auto driver is reminded, coerced, until this is done. By no means is every Auto Driver on the List of Callers – only trusted drivers are able to command this “special treatment “on being on Police Mobile Call Lists. In recent days, we are informed the Government has offered “a stimulus increment pay package,” (an increase to the paltry pay of Police officers). It is conditional on every incident of crime reportedly penalty awarded by Courts. Talk about the award on “Crime and Punishment,” people are condemned to bribery and corruption. Tourists please note: Porters at Colombo Bandaranaike Airport on duty by moving disabled, infirm passengers, called “Free wheelchair bound passengers” by Airlines, now demand, as a matter of course and right, a so called “Support Sir/Madam”, otherwise one is left waiting attention, irrespective of other circumstances, tiredness notwithstanding. My biggest fear throughout my holiday, how to avoid being cheated? My biggest fear throughout the whole holiday was, how “not being cheated”. It is not as if, I was price cheated, buying goods and services in shops, restaurants, or in hotels, but cheated, or robbed by ordinary but friendly people, using uncharacteristic methods to hoodwink tourists. I was worried of robberies in hotel rooms, in trains whilst travel, and other ways of loss of my money in transit. Luckily, I was covered by Travel Insurance. Tourists be aware of baggage loss in trains, particularly in the Jaffna bound trains at night, Both the “Yarl Devi” and “Uttara Devi” trains have Night Security Personnel. With it all, baggage is reported to be stolen at night near the “Murukandy” Station by gangs operating on the trains, with or without connivance. What happens to be the latest and safest way to hoodwink tourists? The latest modus operandi is using the charm offensive, by Tour Guides/others becoming overly friendly, extraordinarily helpful and making tourists lose their guard, being careless. I must unashamedly state that I was living in the shadow of being cheated and couldn’t do much but accept the folly of my ways to fall into this trap. There is no need teach Tourists to beware of friendly ways of being too trustworthy on holiday and being cheated. Thieving has become a way of living in “exorbitant cost of living” Sri Lanka, which most tourists are well acquainted. The advantage of a holiday in Sri Lanka? Although redress and recompense may lack on holidsy.there sre ways of making the best use of one's holiday.as I did to my advantage and in a big way. I was on medical advice in UK.that no amount of Vitamin D deficiency can recompense. Western medicine without natural sunshine is ineffective for the elderly and the infirm. I was able to get natural sun exposure in abundance during my lengthy holiday in the sun in Sri Lanka.But I had a price to pay. Although redress and recompense may lack on holiday, there are ways of making the best out of one’s holiday, as I did to my advantage and in a big way. I was on medical advice in UK, that no amount of Vitamin B deficiency can recompense. Medicinal medicine, without natural sunshine, is ineffective for the elderly and the infirm. I got this in abundance during “my long holiday in the sun in Sri Lanka”. But, I had a price to pay. I enjoyed the Sun at the uncharacteristically empty beach surroundings off the coastal beach off The Mount Lavinia Hotel, Colombo and at the beaches in “Charty” at Karainagar, Jaffna. I managed with help of my friends a waist deep dip at the salubrious salt water at the sea and hot sands at the beach in Kankesanturai (KKS) and the day-out at Cashurina Beach some miles from Jaffna, in the Peninsula. Tourists are warned to never miss the sight and serenity of the “Old Dutch Fort Hammenheil” built around a small island between the islands of Karainagar and Karaitivu, Jaffna in Northern Sri Lanka. A small single room for occupation inside the Fort was commissioned by the Sri Lanka Navy, during the tenure of Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne. Today, the S.L.Navy provides a short boat ride and a Single Room to sleep the night at this quaint Dutch Fort and to experience the beauty of sunrise in the morning. The aches and pains of old age can never be mitigated by Western medicine without herbal Ayurveda treatment. This can be obtained at Kaithadi Free Herbal Hospital. Jaffna Peninsula with free herbal oils to apply as treatment. Returning back to UK (1 November 2023) with the thud and thundering sound of the landing gear of the Qatar aircraft touchdown, on a sultry sunny afternoon at London Heathrow, was a relief of sorts. The experience of a journey of a lifetime at my age, to my land of birth, with lessons learned, will remain embedded. I expect many more Elderly Sri Lankans will follow me, in months and years to come, and experience much pleasure/happiness from their visit. I expect the Government of Sri Lanka to give pride of place to accommodate and facilitate more of such visits by the Elderly Sri Lankans living abroad. Victor Cherubim Although redress and recompense may lack on holiday, there are ways of making the best out of one’s holiday, as I did to my advantage and in a big way. I was on medical advice in UK, that no amount of Vitamin B deficiency can recompense. Medicinal medicine, without natural sunshine, is ineffective for the elderly and the infirm. I got this in abundance during “my long holiday in the sun in Sri Lanka”. But, I had a price to pay. I enjoyed the Sun at the uncharacteristically empty beach surroundings off the coastal beach off The Mount Lavinia Hotel, Colombo and at the beaches in “Charty” at Karainagar, Jaffna. I managed with help of my friends a waist deep dip at the salubrious salt water at the sea and hot sands at the beach in Kankesanturai (KKS) and the day-out at Cashurina Beach some miles from Jaffna, in the Peninsula. Tourists are warned to never miss the sight and serenity of the “Old Dutch Fort Hammenheil” built around a small island between the islands of Karainagar and Karaitivu, Jaffna in Northern Sri Lanka. A small single room for occupation inside the Fort was commissioned by the Sri Lanka Navy, during the tenure of Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne. Today, the S.L.Navy provides a short boat ride and a Single Room to sleep the night at this quaint Dutch Fort and to experience the beauty of sunrise in the morning. The aches and pains of old age can never be mitigated by Western medicine without herbal Ayurveda treatment. This can be obtained at Kaithadi Free Herbal Hospital. Jaffna Peninsula with free herbal oils to apply as treatment. Returning back to UK (1 November 2023) with the thud and thundering sound of the landing gear of the Qatar aircraft touchdown, on a sultry sunny afternoon at London Heathrow, was a relief of sorts. The experience of a journey of a lifetime at my age, to my land of birth, with lessons learned, will remain embedded. I expect many more Elderly Sri Lankans will follow me, in months and years to come, and experience much pleasure/happiness from their visit. I expect the Government of Sri Lanka to give pride of place to accommodate and facilitate more of such visits by the Elderly Sri Lankans living abroad. Victor Cherubim Although redress and recompense may lack on holiday, there are ways of making the best out of one’s holiday, as I did to my advantage and in a big way. I was on medical advice in UK, that no amount of Vitamin B deficiency can recompense. Medicinal medicine, without natural sunshine, is ineffective for the elderly and the infirm. I got this in abundance during “my long holiday in the sun in Sri Lanka”. But, I had a price to pay. I enjoyed the Sun at the uncharacteristically empty beach surroundings off the coastal beach off The Mount Lavinia Hotel, Colombo and at the beaches in “Charty” at Karainagar, Jaffna. I managed with help of my friends a waist deep dip at the salubrious salt water at the sea and hot sands at the beach in Kankesanturai (KKS) and the day-out at Cashurina Beach some miles from Jaffna, in the Peninsula. Tourists are warned to never miss the sight and serenity of the “Old Dutch Fort Hammenheil” built around a small island between the islands of Karainagar and Karaitivu, Jaffna in Northern Sri Lanka. A small single room for occupation inside the Fort was commissioned by the Sri Lanka Navy, during the tenure of Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne. Today, the S.L.Navy provides a short boat ride and a Single Room to sleep the night at this quaint Dutch Fort and to experience the beauty of sunrise in the morning. The aches and pains of old age can never be mitigated by Western medicine without herbal Ayurveda treatment. This can be obtained at Kaithadi Free Herbal Hospital. Jaffna Peninsula with free herbal oils to apply as treatment. Returning back to UK (1 November 2023) with the thud and thundering sound of the landing gear of the Qatar aircraft touchdown, on a sultry sunny afternoon at London Heathrow, was a relief of sorts. The experience of a journey of a lifetime at my age, to my land of birth, with lessons learned, will remain embedded. I expect many more Elderly Sri Lankans will follow me, in months and years to come, and experience much pleasure/happiness from their visit. I expect the Government of Sri Lanka to give pride of place to accommodate and facilitate more of such visits by the Elderly Sri Lankans living abroad. Victor Cherubim

People smugglers and the law

 

Why do immigrants want to flock to Britain?

According to a recent UK Government’s announcement, a British Taskforce has already “uncovered” a case linking an Immigration law firm to one of the most wanted human traffickers to UK. It has now been referred to the Police. But, it is not all.

With Britain using every method possible to rout out immigrants, the numbers coming to its shores is increasing year by year, in fact week by week, day by day. The fascination for immigrants to arrive in Britain is the image of Britain as a safe country for asylum, an easy way of making a fast buck and move on, one way to get a dole for producing more children, but most of all to live an easy life, without much money on handouts.

Home Secretary, Suella Braverman has said: “Crooked immigration lawyers are to blame. Illegal Immigration must be rooted out and brought to justice. While the majority of lawyers act with integrity – we know that some are lying to help illegal migrants game the system. It is not right or fair on those who play by the rules. The British people want us to put an end to illegal migration – I am determined to crack down on these immoral lawyers.” Is it any wonder that only she could be the mouthpiece?

Law enforcement officers have suspected connivance with Asylum Law firms over time. The most recent focus follows the newspaper, Daily Mail’s investigation into clients “appearing” to be coached by professional advisers to lie to support asylum claims. Following the press report, the Lord Chancellor wrote to the UK Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) asking what action was being taken in response. Within a week three firms had been closed down and three Solicitors prevented from practising law.

                                                                     

Small boat crossings, annual

Although all chart data is current, as of 10/08/2023, there have been 15% fewer crossings in 2023 than by the same point in 2022.

2018

299

2019

1,843

2020

8,466

2021

28,526

2022

45,755

2022 to 10 August

18,641

2023

16,581

2018 to Present

101,470

Source: Migration Watch UKGet the dataEmbedDownload imageCreated with Datawrapper 

The exodus from Afghanistan and Syria among others countries, was after the Taliban uprising in August 2022, the earthquake in Kurdistan caused many from this region to come as legitimate refugee. However, many other illegal immigrants have also infiltrated into UK first as “stowaways” in vans and trucks crossing the French coast. Then the “people smugglers” packed them like sardines in “dinghies” or inflatable rubber boats. It is claimed that they could not come in such numbers, without being aided and abetted by unscrupulous “Pashtun and Patan” language speaking cohorts living in UK and coaching them. There is a suspicion that particularly Pakistani lawyer-sympathisers from neighbouring Afghanistan practicing in London, were closely connected with this racket of “people smugglers”. This trade has been “thriving on “Legal Aid” for these Solicitor practices, particularly in the migrant communities in London.                 

 As Legal Aid became curtailed over time, and the immigrants were literally flooding into UK seeking refugee status, a coterie of unscrupulous lawyers, Psychariatists, Language Interpreters and others came to the aid of the people smugglers and coached immigrants with “stories” of torture, sexual bias etc. – all for very lucrative fees. 

The rest is due to the delay and the “slow process” of law enforcement, called the due process of law and of the powers to be in the Court system, to go after these “People Smugglers”. Need I say, the legal eloquence and arguments of Specialist Barristers’ Chambers in London, has helped this trade enormously, todate.

The Law has caught up at long last

We note today much of the processing of Asylum applications is performed in France.  The Home Office wants them also processed in faraway places, but deportation flights to Rwanda, Africa, are blocked by Courts. The most recent proposal to vet applicants in Ascension Island, and also to house over 500 asylum claimants in the big Barge “Bibby Stockholm” moored in Portsmouth, is all in the name of saving on costs. But, the latest we hear is that some Asylum claimants are complaining “about living in a barge”. It is strange that the asylum seekers are claiming hotel accommodation, instead, as the is fear of water poison on board. As many of these immigrants cannot converse in English, there are many charities among others to appeal on their behalf?

The Home Office having exhausted its patience, has at last now come up with what seems as a feasible and practical solution.

Britain and Turkey, we are now informed, have agreed to join forces to smash the “smuggler gangs” transporting migrants in death trap rubber dinghies across the busy English Channel.

Turkey has been identified as a key hub for smuggler gangs, more so with many of the “rubber boats “used to cross the Channel manufactured there.

A landmark deal has been struck between London and Ankara, perhaps bypassing the Pashtun-Patan  Pashto speaking London Lawyers, at least for the present?

National Crime Agency officers will be deployed to Turkey to work alongside their Turkish counterparts on “joint operations” targeting criminal gangs and dinghy factories. Officers may go after the network supply chains and seize items such as engines and life jackets to stop, thus hinder their trade in human trafficking?

Who knows where all this expense will end?

Victor Cherubim 

Just do it or just AI it?

Over the weeks, if not months or years, frustrations of ordinary people due to inaction or the incompetence of Governments to address the real issues closer to life’s problems, have meant a proliferation of Citizen Protest Groups. They have sprung up like mushroom, with law enforcement virtually, unable to pick them. 

From protest like Extinction Rebellion, Just Stop Oil, even recently eco zealots like Greenpeace, have found the patience of the ordinary working people running thin? 

From ambushing former Chancellor. George Osborne’s wedding day, to storming major sporting events, including Grand National horse racing disruptions, Test Cricket matches, Wimbledon and other public entertainment events, have fuelled questions about whether public figures and gatherings are “fair game” for environmental and/or other fanatical spin-offs. 

Just Stop Oil recently claimed to have “shaped” Opposition Labour policy of “legitimisingthese stunts,” including a proposed ban on drilling for more oil and gas supplies in the North Sea. To add to these Labour has been accused of taking donations from Just Stop Oil bankroller, Dale Vince. 

When we heard of Greenpeace Women Director, Areeba Hamid, claim the scaling of Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak’s constituency residence at North Yorkshire in his absence on holiday in South California, as justified, it literally was a message to reckon?                                                                      

Why is it that migrants and blacks, as if any, are the chosen few to rely unacceptable messages? 

The easy “scapegoat culture” in Britain? 

Although tougher new laws already exist, in fact stringent law enforcement, was recently rushed through Parliament before the Summer Recess for the Police to stop Just Stop Oil protests, such as slow walks by protestors down major roads or disrupting big events. 

Was there already an expectation or “intelligence”, which law enforcement would have to turn a blind eye against the real Greenpeace activists protesting against Prime Minister’s Richmond rural Yorkshire constituency residence? Conservative MP’s allege that “heads will roll”?  Are we to expect more legislation on the way? Who knows? 

There is a scapegoat culture prevailing which is entrenched called “Institutional Racism”. The meaning of Intuitional Racism in today’s environment is a tolerance of attitudes and working practices which disadvantage minorities of all sorts. 

It does not mean every Police Officer is prejudiced or that no minority person receives a good service record. Instead, it is what causes “systemic injustice,” that something is ignored or tolerated and is often linked to a “stereotype” that feeds into a group of people,or a group practice?  It easily fits into a disadvantaged minority ethnic people?. 

How does AI fit in to this scenario? 

I can recall what I studied in my Diploma of Person Centred Counselling course some years ago at Poplar College under my Tutor, Ms. Shanti Burgess, an Australian. It comprises “suspicions and stereotyping” which AI can easily perform. This assumption then becomes reinforced, and taken as gospel. 

They are patterns of behaviour, which now can easily be classed or rather categorised by Artificial Intelligence. 

What makes me to be concerned in my old age, or what makes these assumptions dangerous is the way they create information which is similar to the way AI creates information. They are patterns which fall easily categorised and racial stereotyping become easily deployed. 

Coming back to the stunt by Greenpeace activists who scaled Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak’s country house, has further ignited a debate in UK that has already become overheated. 

I sometimes wonder, would this have happened, if Boris Johnson, was Prime Minister?

Who knows? 

Victor Cherubim   

 

Do we cause our weather, or does the weather control us?

Brits heading to Spain and the Mediterranean this week have been warned of extreme weather conditions as the country faces a blistering heatwave. Extreme weather warnings are in place as temperatures in some areas could soar as high as 44C.Red and amber alerts have been issued by the Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (AEMET), Spain’s weather agency.

The heatwave Cerberus named after the three headed monster from Dante’s Greek mythology, is thought to be caused by high pressure originating from the Sahara desert? It is expected to climb as high as 48 degrees in the islands of Sicily and Sardinia.

While we are told that the UK will escape the extreme temperatures with the odd rumble of thunder still possible, as daytime temperatures in London, are near average in the best of any sunshine. 

The baking temperatures on the Continent however, have raised concerns, health and welfare threats and for tourists packing for their summer holidays.

Previous studies have linked heat in Europe with Climate Change? Climate Change refers to the shifts in weather patterns mainly caused by human activities, cloud seeding with silver iodine, among others. But not every cloud could be seeded? 

Can we moderate our weather? 

                                             

        

Geoengineering is the term used to describe the manipulation of weather to combat the effects of global warming. Weather control in my opinion, is perhaps, largely fiction, although people are intentionally changing their weather. 

What we can do, is what some Governments like the Greek Government, is currently pursuing. It has introduced the mandatory work stoppage where there is weather stress from 12 – 5 p.m. High risk members of the public service will work from home. Is this an extended “Siesta”? 

What is happening in the U.S.? Another heatwave is currently sweeping the South Western US, with residents in Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and California under excessive warnings of temperature above 37degrees. Here wildfires are a permanent threat. Nine out of ten wild forest fires are caused by humans. Those preventable wild fires threaten lives, property and precious natural resources. Close attention has to be paid to weather and drought conditions, which can affect the flammability of vegetation. 

But fire is also vital for some wildlife habitat. The diversity of plants and animals, periodic low-intensity fires speed up the process of forest decomposition, for new plants to grow, improved habitat and food for animals. We must never forget that the habitat consists of man, animals and vegetation. 

However, what man has no control of are wild fires caused by lightning. We are told they account for 85 % of forest fire destruction? The other half is human caused? 

In some sense, we can say, that the weather modifies humans? 

In the chapter: “The Psychology of Weather” by Trevor Harley, part of the “Psychology of Everything” series, pleasant weather with higher temperature and higher barometric pressure results, in  better mood swings.

Simultaneously, in the film, “Do the right thing,” tempers fray as temperature climb. The movie depicts one day in a heatwave in Brooklyn, NY, hot heads become hotter. The heat of the day culminating in a riot provoked by seemingly not much at all, other than the weather. 

Several studies have found a relationship between high temperature and increased aggressive behaviour. In France and in the US recently this summer, we have seen crime of all sorts increases to anarchy, on hot summer days, particularly violent crime. Could“Aragalaya” (The Struggle -15 March to 14 November, 2022) in Sri Lanka caused by the intollerable debt bondage or exascabated by the excessive heat?.

                                                           

  It is neither clear nor conclusive, what the real reason for this relationship between human behaviour and the weather, Probably there are several reasons, with weather domineering?

Victor Cherubim