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What Can I Do About It?
Lots of things.
Blogging is passé. Even cats have blogs now. And theirs are more popular than yours. Go and do something else instead.
I had this blog once. It was pretty good, but not many people read it… ah yes, it's time to reflect (briefly) on the great project that was this blog.
The point of this blog was to explore answers to the question 'what can I do about it?' As in, what can I – a normal person with normal powers and influence – do about the issues affecting society and the people stuck in it. At the beginning it was partly a response to the Savile scandal, but not wholly about that.
While I might have had some aspirations at the start about influencing other people through this blog, what I came to realise was that the real (possibly only) impact was on me.
Sure, you can contribute to ongoing campaigns, and you can put things 'out there' which are counter-cultural, but mostly you're just sending stuff into a social media bubble of people who already agree with you.
Every guide to increasing your blogs readership tells you to post regularly. But the world is already far too full with information and commentary on information and commentary on the commentary – why put more stuff out there (is that dilution or radiation?) There's a lot to be said for just shutting up.
What sometimes happens is that a blogger's work fuels a story in the mainstream media. This is generally on the MSM's terms – the bloggers work fitted their agenda at that time. The MSM drops them as soon as they have stopped being useful and the blogger goes back to their social media bubble, albeit with a few more followers, but most of them will drift away over time.
I contacted the Yorkshire Evening Post after I'd published my first post about West Yorkshire Police's treatment of sex workers. The journalist said it was an interesting post but I'd only have a story for the YEP if one of the sex worker support agencies I was setting up interviews with criticised the police. As it happened there was some very forthright criticism of WYP. But at the same time I also picked up on how much the YEP was in WYP's pocket. They rely on them for their sensationalist, usually crime-focused headlines (and don't forget the videos on their website). That's the mainstream media – especially local media for you. The YEP had been very much part of the problem here – whilst failing to cast any sort of critical eye over WYP they've also demonised sex workers, perpetuated myths and spurred on unhelpful reactions from the community. As if they were going to pick up this story.
There's probably an analogy between the ineffectiveness of consumer activism – the idea you can change things by joining a few other well-meaning but misguided people in saying (it is mostly words) you're going to boycott Amazon and believing that it will make any difference, and the idea that the way to challenge a biased and hate-filled media is to throw a few words of love onto the lower-slopes of its odious mountain.
Citizen journalism, or more specifically doing the journalism that all journalists should be doing but only a small percentage do is a real challenge. You have no training, no credentials, some people (the BBC) refuse to acknowledge you exist, and you have lots of other things to do at the same time, like keep your paid job. But actually doing it teaches you a lot about yourself. You can blag it by phoning the press office (be courteous, don't forget you probably know more about the story than the guy from the YEP); your persistence will take you through any barrier; you can get West Yorkshire Police to talk to you even though they don't normally talk to anyone outside the circle; you can get your MP to give you a straight answer (sometimes); you can get the Police Crime Commissioner to respond to you (eventually); you can research well enough and be courteous and professional enough to get people to give you candid interviews that no one else has done. A pat on the back, well done. Now apply this to the other areas of your life! Don't forget though that only a few hundred people read that stuff. And you have no idea of any impact it might or might not have had on anyone except you.
Going out into the world and doing actual stuff has to be more effective than blogging, and that's what I've been doing a lot more of over the last couple of years.
Probably the greatest letter anyone has ever written was the one Kurt Vonnegut wrote to some high school students who'd written to ask if he would visit their school. Mr. Vonnegut urges them to practice their art – any art – not to become rich and famous, but to become and find out more about themselves as humans. I think blogging can be that, but if it ceases to be that then it is probably time to stop.
Written by jc 1 Comment Posted in About	Tagged with cheerio, the end
Why does no-one want to be an MP?
Emma Spriggs: Leeds Central Liberal Democrat candidate (and superwoman)
I recently published an article asking if Leeds Central Liberal Democrat candidate, Emma Spriggs, was some kind of superwoman. I asked this question because I'd spotted that Emma was simultaneously running for MP in Leeds Central and running to be a local councillor 300 miles away in Bucklebury, Reading. I eventually caught up with Emma to discuss her dual campaigning. What she told me came as a surprise and highlighted the difficulties 'ordinary' people have in making it into politics.
Emma will not be visiting Leeds to campaign for this general election despite being the candidate for the party who came second here in the 2010 General Election. Instead she is putting all her resources into standing against the Conservative seat-holders in Reading where she lives.
Emma has no connection to Leeds and acknowledges she is not the ideal candidate to stand in Leeds Central, but she is doing so because the Liberal Democrat party asked her to at short notice and she wanted to make sure that everyone in the area had the chance to vote Liberal Democrat (so for local Lib Dem voters – and there were nearly 8,000 in 2010 – Emma probably is a superwoman.)
Emma says the Lib Dems are not a wealthy party and so have to carefully identify their priorities. Even though they came second with 23% of the vote in Leeds Central in the 2010 General Election it is still a Labour safe seat and, under First Past The Post, they have less to gain from prioritising this seat. Emma was keen to stress that this was not ideal – her party would like to contest every seat with candidates who are able to run a strong campaign locally. Emma says other parties make these kinds of decisions too, but because of their resources it isn't as noticeable when Labour or the Conservatives do it.
The Yorkshire & Humber Liberal Democrats were the ones who asked Emma to stand here. They won't talk to me about the reasons, but one thing seems certain – there are not enough people in the area willing and able to go through the process of becoming an approved candidate and then taking on an election campaign.
I asked Emma why there weren't enough people wanting to become MPs. She thinks it is because the process to become an approved candidate is long and arduous, and then when you are approved it takes many months of canvassing, night after night, to fight an election. This puts a lot of people off, but many people with a family and a full time job simply cannot do it. It can be different for Labour or Conservative Party candidates because they have safe-seats. If you're high up in those parties you can be put into one of those seats and you're practically guaranteed to win (Boris Johnson is a current example of a Conservative MP dropped into a safe-seat) – the amount of canvassing you'll have to do is much lower compared to the minority party candidates who have to put their lives on hold to campaign.
Emma wants to see the processes change to help more people who have had lives outside politics get into politics. She thinks she is the sort of person that the public would like to see as an MP. She's not a career politician, instead she has run her own business for 20 years and has brought up two children. She has worked to support her community and says she knows what can make a difference to people's lives.
The First Past The Post system is another big factor according to Emma (I discussed the current voting system with all the Leeds Central candidates in this article). It stops the smaller parties developing and building up their base, and it discourages people from a safe-seat area from campaigning because they know the votes they'll win will count for little.
The Conservative candidate for Leeds Central, Nicola Wilson (also a business woman with two children) told me she had also found it a difficult journey into politics. She wants to see more 'ordinary' people like herself becoming MPs but thinks people are put off by the stigma associated with being a 'politician', the difficulties of combining campaigning with family and work, and the situation where you cannot win if you run against a safe-seat candidate.
Written by jc Leave a comment Posted in Electoral reform, Empowering people & communities, Gender equality, Parliamentary reform, Political and media reform, Socioeconomic equality	Tagged with ge2015, general election, leeds, MPs, ordinary people
What's the point in voting when Hilary Benn is bound to win?
Leeds Central MP candidates for the 2015 General Election. L to R: Michael Hayton (Green), Hilary Benn (Labour), Luke Senior (UKIP), Liz Kitching (TUSC), Emma Spriggs (Lib Dem), Nicola Wilson (Conservative)
Bookmaker William Hill is so confident of Hilary Benn winning the Leeds Central seat again that they are only offering odds of 1/100 on his victory – you would have to wager £1,000 just to win a tenner.
Where does that leave me on Election Day? Is it a choice between throwing one more voting slip onto Hilary's safe-seat mountain, or sending a message of consolation someone else's way in the hope they don't lose their deposit? Or perhaps it would be better not to vote at all – a record low turnout (which is on the cards thanks to single voter registration) could be the catalyst for electoral reform.
To help me with this conundrum I asked the electoral candidates for Parliament in Leeds Central what they thought the result would be, why they were standing, their thoughts on electoral reform, and what they see as the main issues in Beeston where I live…
First up was Michael Hayton from the Green Party. Michael is the first Green Party candidate to stand in the constituency since David Blackburn in the 1999 by-election.
Michael feels it's a stretch to say the Green Party might win here, but with big support from the student population and dissatisfaction among traditional Labour voters, he predicts the result could be a shock to Hilary Benn. His hope is that the Labour party will change their policies when they realise people are looking for real reform in politics – a vote for his party would help achieve this. Michael says people are telling him they want a change and don't think they'll get it by voting Labour, Conservative or Lib Dem – so it's a choice between Green and UKIP (Michael feels that a lot of people are thinking of voting UKIP as a protest rather than out of genuine identification with the UKIP manifesto).
Michael believes that Beeston and Holbeck is one of the areas hardest hit by the financial crisis and austerity. He says marginalisation spurred on by benefits changes and target-driven job centres has made life really difficult for many people and that the quality of some of the rental properties in Beeston is among the lowest in Leeds. He'd love to see more investment in the area because "it's so vibrant and there are some amazing communities here".
To Michael and the Green party, the current First Past The Post electoral system is not truly representative or democratic – he says we live in a 21st century society, ruled by a 19th century institution using 15th century procedures. Instead we ought to have fully proportional representation – we have the technology to deliver this. He also believes that young people are far more engaged and knowledgeable than most people realise and, in line with Green policy, the voting age should be lowered to 16.
Labour's Hilary Benn doesn't want to make any predictions about the election, but he hopes everyone will exercise their right to vote. In fact he says we have a moral duty to vote.
Hilary voted for the Alternative Vote system in the 2011 referendum and was sorry that it did not pass (AV is not to be confused with proportional representation – an explanation here) – he confirms that Labour have no plans for another referendum on the voting system, but they do pledge to lower the voting age to 16.
Luke Senior from UKIP isn't under any illusions about being able to defeat Hilary Benn but hopes to exceed the vote share achieved in the 2014 local election.
He believes all elections should be contested, and that UKIP are doing their best to present themselves as a viable alternative – something the Conservatives haven't been able to achieve here.
Luke thinks a lot of voter apathy is due to people not feeling they can make a difference, or not having found a party they believe can represent them. He says his party have great support in areas such as Beeston and senses an appetite for real change.
Luke identifies housing as a key issue in Beeston and believes current provision of social/affordable housing is inadequate – he would like to see empty properties put to use to ease the demand.
With regard to the ongoing debates about the Aspiring Communities development on Barkly Road and Asda on Old Lane, Luke feels that strong local opposition is not being listened to and issues are dragging on longer than they should. He wants to work with local people and councillors to implement the wishes of local people – if UKIP fail to deliver then they should be removed from office. Luke says UKIP want to stop the complacency of sitting councillors and MPs – if the electorate are dissatisfied, they should have the right to force a by-election.
Luke says that UKIP's long-term strategy is to gain representation on Leeds City Council, providing a springboard to success in the general elections of 2020 and beyond. UKIP lost by just 600 votes in the Heywood & Middleton (Greater Manchester) by-election last October, which, according to Luke, proves UKIP can succeed in Labour heartland.
UKIP support the introduction of proportional representation. They have no manifesto pledge to lower the voting age.
Liz Kitching of the Trade Unionist & Socialist Coalition (TUSC) thinks Hilary Benn is certain to win, but believes he will face a strong challenge from the Greens and TUSC. Liz is concerned that UKIP will gain, but is confident that the student population will not give them much support.
The main objective for TUSC in Leeds Central is to let people know there is an alternative to austerity and a world which continues to be at war. Liz says TUSC are supporting the fight of oppressed people, including those experiencing racism, on zero-hours contracts, or facing redundancy.
TUSC is an anti-war, anti-racist (Liz says the movement 'finished off' the BNP and weakened the EDL) and anti-austerity movement. Liz believes 'austerity' is a political choice, not an economic necessity, with the objective of taking wealth out of society and giving it to what is commonly referred to as 'the 1%'.
Liz sees the election as an opportunity to publicise the successes, such as equal pay, maternity leave and sick leave, of the trade union movement – these changes are made law in Parliament, but they came from the movement first.
Liz understands the position of people who say they support TUSC's policies but plan to vote Labour to get the Conservatives out, but says a vote for TUSC is especially important here because in her view Hilary Benn is a career politician and not a campaigner (TUSC are not opposing Labour MPs they see as supportive of their cause such as John McDonnell and Dianne Abbott).
Liz highlights that Hilary Benn voted in favour of the Iraq war and to say there is no more money for local services – she says he has a very different philosophy to his father (Tony Benn). She concedes Hilary Benn has been of help to some constituents, but argues there are many others he has failed to help. If TUSC were to win here they would open a dedicated office in the constituency offering support and legal advice to anyone who needs it.
On electoral reform, TUSC endorse a reduction in the voting age to 16, but Liz believes other reforms need more thought – she sees proportional representation as being good for left-wing politicians, but it can also let in the far-right (as has happened in Greece, Hungary and France).
Liz says TUSC's priority is "building confidence among communities to stand up for themselves" and sees the key issues in Beeston as housing and schooling. While new houses are being built, they are PFI houses and the 'affordable' rents are not affordable to all. Liz thinks we need a mass council house building programme on brown field sites and says TUSC would bring back the Fair Rent Act. On schooling, TUSC will campaign for local authority provided schooling for all, with no privatisation, and no testing of younger children.
Emma Spriggs of the Liberal Democrats says that although the party received 23% of the constituency vote in the 2010 general election, they have no realistic chance of beating Labour here, but like Hilary Benn, she feels it's vital for people to exercise their right to vote and participate in democracy – many people around the world don't have this choice.
Emma believes this year's election is all about the party who comes third, as they will likely make up the coalition – this further highlights the need for electoral reform. People end up voting tactically rather than for the party they really believe in.
Emma and the Lib Dems are passionate about changing the voting system, and despite their previous attempts at reform being thwarted, they want to renew this fight in the next Parliament – this includes lowering the voting age to 16.
The final candidate I spoke to was Nicola Wilson of the Conservative Party. Nicola is realistic about her chances of winning but, in common with her Labour and Lib Dem rivals, she firmly believes that everybody should vote. She thinks everyone should have the chance to vote for whichever party they want. She says her experiences growing up in Northern Ireland had helped her appreciate the importance of politics and democracy.
Nicola wants to see what happens in this election before seriously considering reform – neither electoral reform or lowering the voting age are in the Conservative manifesto. But she does think that we need to look at the political system because a lot of people don't feel politicians represent them and they want more 'ordinary' people like Nicola herself in Parliament (Nicola has two children and works full time running her business).
Nicola echoes Liz Kitching of TUSC's criticisms of Hilary Benn, describing him as the archetypal career politician – "if you want to know about politics ask him, if you want to know about real life ask me!" – and thinks 'ordinary' people don't stand for election due to the stigma associated with being a 'politician', the difficulties of combining campaigning with family and work, and the situation where you cannot win if you run against a safe-seat candidate.
For Nicola, the big issues in Beeston are jobs and role models for young people. She wants to help businesses grow so they can employ more people, and she wants to make sure work pays more than benefits. She also wants good role models for children to help them and the wider community.
…So, has talking to the candidates changed my mind about voting in Leeds Central when Hilary Benn is bound to win? I wasn't expecting it to – but it has. The non-Labour candidates are under no illusions about their chances of winning the seat, but they are all passionate about why they are standing and the changes they want to see. I don't agree with every candidate's policies of course, but I do respect them all for going out and campaigning in Leeds Central when they know they cannot win the seat. So while I might not have a super-vote, I'm convinced that my vote does matter to them – so I will use it.
But while my engagement has improved this year through talking to the candidates, I now feel even more strongly that we need to tackle the issues of safe-seats and First Past The Post.
It can't be right that it takes 120,000 votes on average to get a Lib Dem MP while it only takes 34,000 to get a Conservative or Labour MP. Many people in Scotland will vote Labour on May 7th, but there probably won't be any Scottish Labour MPs on May 8th.
Proportional representation helps smaller parties to develop and politics to broaden and strengthen. Under these circumstances more 'ordinary' people might be encouraged to run for election. They might still lose to Hilary Benn in Leeds Central, but the votes they do win will really count.
While the pros and cons of different voting systems are complex (something the big parties exploited in their bad-tempered and ill-informed public debate during the 2011 Alternative Vote referendum), we can at least be clear about the principle. Do we want Parliament to proportionately reflect public opinion, or do we want it to distort public opinion to the advantage of the Labour and Conservative Parties?
If the big parties really do love democracy then perhaps it is time they set it free.
Footnote: the interviews are presented in the order they took place.
Written by jc 2 Comments Posted in Electoral reform, Empowering people & communities, Political and media reform	Tagged with first past the post, general election, leeds, politics
Q: How do you sit on 2 different seats which are 300 miles apart at the same time?
Leeds Central Liberal Democrat candidate (and superwoman?) Emma Spriggs
The Leeds Central Liberal Democrat candidate, Emma Spriggs, might be some kind of superwoman…
Emma Spriggs is not only campaigning to be your MP in Leeds Central, but she is simultaneously campaigning to be a councillor in Bucklebury, Reading. That's over 300 miles away. The train from Reading to Leeds takes just under 4 hours, plus it takes another 30 minutes to get the bus to Beeston & Holbeck where I live. There is nothing illegal in standing for an MP and council post at the same time, but how is this feasible?
The Lib Dem Central Office confirmed this is true, and indeed you can see it's the same Emma Spriggs by comparing the home address on the Berkshire Council website (page 2 of the pdf) and Emma's page on the Liberal Democrat site.
The Lib Dem Central Office even has a standard line for callers with this question. I know this because I rang them twice and two different people gave me the same answer. They say it is "not unusual" and give the example of Boris Johnson who is the current London Mayor and is also standing for election as MP on 7th May in the Tory safe-seat of Uxbridge and South Ruislip. But Boris Johnson is not running simultaneous campaigns – he is already the Mayor. When I pointed this out the Lib Dem Central Office admitted it was not a fair comparison. They were unable to give an example of another MP running simultaneous campaigns many miles apart. Incidentally, while Boris Johnson claims he will be both MP and London Mayor until 2016 when his tenure as Mayor ends, David Lammy says this would be a conflict of interest and leave him as a lame-duck Mayor.
So what are Emma Spriggs' chances?
Bucklebury is a Tory safe-seat in J R R Tolkein country – the kind of place Bilbo Baggins lived. The Duchess of Cambridge's family have a home there, and Chris Tarrant lives there too. Tories Graham Pask and Quentin Webb are standing for re-election, and I guess they'll win again, with Emma taking the place of one of the losing Lib Dems (Benjamin Morgan, Philippa Harper) in the 2010 election.
Leeds Central is a very safe Labour seat, but the Lib Dems came closest in 2010 with 21% to Labour's 49%. Yes, everyone expects the Lib Dems to take a bashing because of the Coalition, but isn't the best way to deal with that to come out fighting with a dedicated campaign in Leeds Central?
The Lib Dem Central Office didn't want to speculate on how Emma would deliver two campaigns simultaneously, instead pointing me to Emma herself or the Leeds Lib Dems. Emma has not responded on two different email addresses, and the Leeds Lib Dems say they only really look after North East Leeds and don't know much about Leeds Central. They suggested I ring Emma, but they have no number for her, and there isn't one on her profile, so they suggested I try the Yorkshire & Humber Lib Dems – but they don't have a telephone number, and frankly, I think I've done enough.
So come on Emma, tell us what your priority is – Leeds Central MP or Bucklebury councillor? What are the top 3 issues in the area that you want to tackle? There is a serious question here of whether the Lib Dems are throwing the Leeds Central election – potential Lib Dem voters (of which there were 7,789 in 2010) really need to know if that's the case.
Written by jc 1 Comment Posted in Uncategorized	Tagged with bucklebury, emma spriggs, general election, leeds, leeds central, liberal democrats, voting
Historic Abuse in Children's Homes – The Management Context by Wally Harbert
cathy fox blog on child abuse
Wally Harbert writes from his personal experiences about the wider context in which child abuse was allowed to happen in the Social Services Sector. This is valuable not only so that we can understand how child abuse was allowed to happen, but also so that we can learn from this and prevent child abuse occurring in the future from the same reasons- IF we learn the lessons from the past.
This is even more valuable because it is available for the public to read and also for free, not stuck in academia or a report that needs to be paid for and thus the readership is limited. If we are to learn the lessons of the past, people must be able to access information to hold authorities to account. The sooner Wally and other knowledgeable professionals are able to give evidence to child sexual abuse inquiries, the better. An inquiry…
Written by jc Leave a comment Posted in Uncategorized
Unity, fear and hopes for a better society
Sarah Champion MP addresses attendees of the 3rd White Flowers Campaign vigil opposite Parliament
Ian Pace live tweeted yesterday's (14 January 2015) White Flowers campaign meeting in the House of Common's here. My summary of the meeting, plus the meeting I had afterwards with Hilary Benn MP is below.
Committee Room 14 – the largest committee room in Parliament – was packed with survivors, campaigners, whistle-blowers, charities and concerned members of the public for the White Flowers Campaign Group meeting aimed at kick-starting the Child Sexual Abuse Inquiry. A number of MPs were there as well, including John Mann, Simon Danczuk and Sarah Champion who all addressed the audience (it wasn't clear how many more were in the room, or how many had engaged outside the meeting).
Dr. Liz Davies (whistle-blower and reader in child protection) explained to the audience that the White Flowers name comes from the Belgian campaign which remembers the children who were abducted, abused and murdered by a paedophile ring involving members of the Belgian establishment. The idea has spread internationally (e.g. Australia).
The 3rd White Flowers Campaign Vigil, opposite Parliament. (http://bit.ly/1CamFuP)
The first White Flowers vigil was outside Elm Guest House; the second at Grosvenor Avenue, Islington honoured victims from Islington Children's homes. The third vigil took place before yesterday's campaign meeting in Parliament and was very well attended by survivors, campaigners, MPs and members of the public and press.
The campaign group meeting was chaired by Phil Frampton who is a survivor from Southport Barnados (his story is here). He opened by saying that survivors have been called treasure hunters, publicity seekers and now even conspiracy theorists. In Phil's experience, the only thing that stopped abuse from happening was people coming together and acting – unity is needed. This was the main theme of the meeting and something echoed by all the speakers. The meeting was the first time that MPs, survivors, whistle-blowers and charities had come together in a public meeting. The media were there too, and Phil said they were essential in getting messages to survivors and driving for the truth. But they mustn't exploit or exaggerate survivor stories to sell papers – this undermines the cause.
Phil said the group would not respond to the Inquiry until it was transparent and had a drive for justice, and when it safeguards and protects those coming forwards. The Inquiry is only one tool to do the job though. More whistle-blowers need to come forward, and journalists must be true to their profession and uncover the truth.
Actress Samantha Morton, a survivor herself, was unable to attend the meeting due to her filming schedule, but sent a message of support to the meeting. She said survivors must not be quiet. Abuse is happening right now to children – we must all come together for justice.
Nigel O'Mara spoke about the long-term effects of sexual abuse. It affected the individual deeply, but also those around them, and society as a whole. He had rebelled against his abusers and ended up being sent into care in the 1970's. He lost his chance of education and as a result ended up homeless and destitute, not emerging from prostitution and hard drug use until his mid-20's. Forty years on from his abuse he is still unable to find work – partly because of education – but mainly because he experiences difficulty in situations where people have power over him, such as in the workplace. Survivors can only ever learn to live with effects – there is no cure. He asked the Government to put proper support in place for survivors.
Chris Tuck, a survivor who runs the Survivors of Abuse Network, also spoke about the long term effects, which include PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Chris said we need a body that supports victim's needs and helps them through the criminal justice system. At the moment, no-one knows what is happening – this has a negative impact on survivors. Chris also called for mandatory reporting of abuse – something which has strong support across government, and proper sex and relationship education in schools so children understand what is a good and a bad relationship and learn to set boundaries. Chris said it was controversial, but we also need help and support for paedophiles.
Andy Kershaw – a survivor of Forde Park – shared some of his experiences, including how the authorities had consistently failed to deal with reports of abuse. Whistleblowing had built evidence against 190 people but only 4 were ever convicted. Andy reiterated the White Flowers Group's call for the cut-off date of the inquiry to be pushed back to 1945. Andy said the Group had confidence this was going to happen.
John Mann MP speaking to the press by the 3rd White Flowers vigil
John Mann MP spoke of the symbolism of holding the meeting in a parliament committee room. He said how in his Nottinghamshire constituency people had now come forward from every single care home to report abuse. But the police and social services need the resources to deal with this – at the moment they don't. He said that if those in the room couldn't be united then they would be handing power back to the abusers. We must stand together.
Liz Davies said we'd moved from whispering about abuse and cover-ups from dark corners during the early 1990's to shouting it out loud today. However, the stakes are very high for those trying to stop the organised abuse because it relates to so much power and money. Evidence of the abuse was being used to manipulate the abusers, so there were vested interests in seeing the abuse continue. We are challenging the establishment, so people are trying to undermine us, spread disinformation, attack us – academics are trying to justify paedophilia – but we will continue to fight them off every day. With the cross-party support we have we will move forwards. Personal testimony was so important when evidence is routinely 'destroyed' – not just the Dickens dossier, but on many investigations, including Liz's in the past.
Liz said she rejected the NSPCCs move to medicalise paedophilia, and said we need to reinstate the definition of 'organised sexual abuse' and the guidance to deal with it that this government had removed from the statute.
Ex-chief constable of the Lancashire Police Force, Pauline Clare, sent a message of support to the meeting say she understood how abuse has wrecked the lives of so many and it was time that abusers were brought to justice – stronger measures needed to be put in place now to protect children. She offered to work with the campaign group.
Whistle-blower Peter McKelvie recounted how, 21 years after his investigations were closed down, he went to MP Tom Watson who then raised his concerns about a paedophile ring going to the heart of government with Prime Minister David Cameron during Prime Minister's Questions. Peter said that, regardless of some people saying 'don't go to the police', things were changing and survivors should now go to the police with their evidence. This was a very contentious point for some members of the audience who spoke of their terrible experiences when doing this in the past – not being believed, or even being punished or prosecuted themselves as a result. Sarah Champion MP later said she was unimpressed with changes to policing following the Rotherham Inquiry, and others had expressed resourcing and capability concerns. Ann Coffey MP's report into child sexual exploitation in Greater Manchester documented many similar experiences of policing. There is clearly a long way to go to build up trust. Sarah Champion MP said she didn't want to politically point-score but the Coalition policy of police budget cuts and probation privatisation was the opposite of what we need.
Simon Danczuk MP, co-author of 'Smile for the Camera' which exposes the detail of the Cyril Smith scandal, said there were far too few meetings about child sexual abuse in parliament. MPs needed to connect with the mood of the nation on this. He said the factor that linked the scandals of the past to the slowness of progress today was 'fear'. Frontline child protection workers, social workers, nurses, all say they are scared to speak out – scared of losing their livelihoods, being blacklisted, being prosecuted under the Official Secrets Act. Fear protects the abusers. We must introduce practical measures such as mandatory reporting and properly protect and celebrate whistle-blowers. He said people wanting to whistle-blow had contacted him to ask 'who will protect and support me?' Although the law had been strengthened recently, Ministers were paying lip service and not driving home the culture change. We must stop gagging public servants. This is a sophisticated cover-up. People in the frontline must be empowered to come forward.
Andy (a survivor) then spoke about how the Australian Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Abuse was dealing with the issue in a much more robust way than our CSA inquiry was – it ensured that survivors were treated appropriately, and had the power to make people come forward. He also said that Ireland had set up an agency to support victims of the church – if Ireland can manage it then why can't a country as rich as ours do it? Andy said he saw widespread denial about what was going on in this country. This plays to the sublime arrogance of the paedophile.
Phil Framptom said that a demand had been sent to the Tony Blair Government in 2001 for a national inquiry, but all they got was the North Wales Children's Homes Inquiry which was limited by William Hague to looking at abuse that happened on the premises, missing out the abuse that occurred as children were trafficked around the country.
Alison Millar from Leigh Day Solicitors who represents CSA clients and has been very critical of the CSA Inquiry's process for involving survivors, highlighted the issue of civil redress where survivors pursue legal action against the institution that failed them. She said there was currently no legal power to compel institutions to apologise to victims. Later on, Tim Hulbert talked about how insurance companies pressure Local Authorities into not apologising to victims.
Ian McFadyen – survivor and campaigner – made a point echoed later by Stuart Syvret: the CSA Inquiry is not actually about child abuse. It's about the failure of government and institutions. Ian said many of the people in the room had been failed – for them the damage had been done and it was too late – but we can hold the people who failed us to account and make sure it doesn't happen in the future to our children.
Tim Hulbert, ex-Director of Bedfordshire Social Services, said that missing files were not important – the most important thing was whistle-blowers coming forward. Tim talked about the malignant influence of insurance companies who, in wanting to minimise their liabilities, instruct councils not to apologise to victims. They try to narrow terms of reference and insist that the names of those involved are not released. When he resisted this the insurer started talking to the Chief Executive and councillors. They implied the threat that the council would not be underwritten if they did not comply. A statutory inquiry would have the power to tackle this. (The Jillings Report was compromised by the Municipal Mutual Insurance Company). Tim urged whistle-blowers from the institutions who had failed children to come forward.
Phil Frampton said he'd asked Barnados why they wouldn't support victims in their quest for justice; their response was that their insurance companies wouldn't let them. Phil said a FOI had been submitted to find out which insurers were underwriting the CSA inquiry.
Whistle-blower and ex-Jersey senator, Stuart Syvret, recounted how he had been jailed twice for whistleblowing. Jersey was further down the line in this process and could pass on some valuable lessons to the new CSA Inquiry: What do we want the CSA inquiry to investigate? And what does success look like? Stuart echoed Ian McFadyen's point that this was not about child abuse but rather the abuse of power and the absence of real accountability of those in public office. He suggested a successful CSA Inquiry would result in properly enforced law, an independent prosecution service, and the removal of corruption from the police. He said it was the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta, but we still did not have the properly enforced rule of law.
I left the meeting at that point (missing the last few speakers) to meet my MP, Hilary Benn (who had signed the call for the inquiry) to discuss the White Flowers meeting and the CSA Inquiry. Hilary said he and Labour fully supported the Inquiry, but he voiced some scepticism about whether there was, or had been, a paedophile ring operating through parliament. Where was the evidence? Hilary said he'd only followed the mainstream news reports on the Inquiry and related events, so I showed him some of the recent evidence reported via Exaro provided by new witnesses coming forward, and summarised some of the things said in the White Flowers meeting, in particular by the whistle-blowers and by his peers Simon Danczuk and John Mann, the latter having recently handed further evidence to the police (and said it was inconceivable that police would not now arrest and interview some of the politicians he has named). We discussed Simon Danczuk's co-authored book which showed how, time and time again, the police knew what Cyril Smith was doing but were prevented from acting – things were never allowed to go through the proper CPS process – I'm not sure if Hilary had entirely appreciated this. Politicians – Hilary's peers – knew what was happening but put party success before justice and children's well-being, as in the case of David Steel. To countenance the idea that members of the establishment are above the law, Hilary Benn cited the example of the expenses scandal which led to MPs being jailed (Hilary was one of the tiny minority who emerged with a perfect record on expenses). My view was that this was only a handful, with relatively small sentences, and then only after huge and sustained public and media pressure. When it comes to the sexual exploitation and rape of children we only see entertainment figures being convicted, or revelations properly emerging after the criminal has died.
I would have liked to have seen Hilary Benn at the White Flowers meeting so he could hear the speakers himself, but he did meet me and genuinely debate the topic; some attendees MPs wouldn't meet them, and a lot of MPs refused to sign the call for the Inquiry. The CSA Inquiry will need to make some serious progress before Hilary Benn and other's faith in Government and the criminal justice system is shaken. Hopefully the White Flower's Campaign will be a catalyst for that progress and, in the long-term, we'll have a better society as a result.
Written by jc 5 Comments Posted in Accountability of public services, Child protection, Empowering people & communities, Government accountability, Parliamentary reform, Press reform	Tagged with accountability, child abuse, child protection, corruption, CSA Inquiry, government, Hilary Benn MP, insurance companies, justice, local authorities, society, white flowers campaign
We naturally want to make sense of horrible events as quickly as possible, but despite a clear narrative from politicians and the media there are lots of things I'm uncertain about at the end of today. One of the few questions I am sure about is whether there is any justification for the murdering, hostage-taking and spreading of fear in Paris today. The answer to that is, without a doubt, no.
Outside of that question lies a lot of uncertainty. I can't read French and so I can only understand the Charlie Hebdo magazine covers on a very basic level. Yes, I think freedom of speech is important, but how does Charlie Hebdo taking the piss out of all religions in their 'dumb and nasty' style help anyone? Je ne sais pas. It's being referred to as satire – is it like Private Eye? I understand Private Eye – it's written in English (the one language I'm proficient in) and I've read enough copies to know that they do proper investigations into areas the mainstream press often won't, that they uncover a lot of failings and wrong-doing by people in power, and that they've been sued countless times for trying to tell the truth. Is that what Charlie Hebdo does? Je ne sais pas. Or are Charlie Hebdo more like Richard Dawkins than Private Eye? Je ne sais pas.
When I saw the footage of a group of young Muslim people living in poverty on the outskirts of Paris saying 'we were offended by the Hebdo covers but we would never want to kill someone because of that' I thought, why is this magazine offending some of the poorest, most disenfranchised people in France – what does that achieve? Je ne sais pas. What recourse do those young Muslims have to lampoon the middle class liberals lampooning their God? Je ne sais pas.
All the talk is of intelligence failings and freedom of speech – we need to snoop more, read more emails, intercept more phone calls – we must re-publish the cartoons and continue to satirise and lampoon. But when do we talk about the conditions that can foster terrorism? Of how we allow multiple viewpoints to co-exist in a terror free world? Or even more straightforward questions like, if prison is a hotbed of radicalistion then why do we cut the budgets for prisons and allow them to become so overcrowded that no-one has any idea what is happening inside? When do we talk honestly about history?
Maybe none of that matters. Perhaps the politicians answers are the right ones… Je ne sais pas.
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Cardiff Business School has joined the leading global authority on business with a social or environmental mission to further enhance its research and work placement opportunities for staff and students.
Social Enterprise UK (SEUK) membership complements the School's ambitious public value strategy which outlines a commitment to providing social and economic development, and the work of the Responsible Innovation Network targeting societal challenges and responding to them through community partnerships.
Professor Martin Kitchener, Dean of Cardiff Business School, said: "We are delighted to become members of an organisation such as SEUK, which foregrounds its social responsibility through support for the social enterprise sector.
Membership is also set to generate live business research opportunities within the social enterprise sector for the School's staff and postgraduate students.
With over 80,000 social enterprises nationwide, Social Enterprise UK (SEUK) represents organisations of all shapes and sizes to promote, lobby and give social enterprises more visibility, traction and kudos.
Their latest work also recognises quarters, towns, cities and zones where social enterprise activity is thriving. Discussions are also underway for Cardiff to join this network of Social Enterprise Places.
In anticipation of things to come, Stuart spoke at a recent School event where the work of SEUK fed into a discussion on shaping and understanding public value.


To find St. Elizabeth Roman Catholic Church in this working class suburb south of Detroit, look toward the roofline, for the windmill. Not a big windmill, it is a spare steel structure maybe nine feet high, perched atop the rectory of the church and facing northeast into the winds that come off Lake Erie.
Yet the windmill, two solar panels on the roof, another atop the front porch and a solar water heating system above the garage are the pride of the Rev. Charles Morris, St. Elizabeth's priest.
Over the last five years, Father Morris has sharply reduced his small parish's energy use and emissions of carbon dioxide, the compound most scientists believe has led to global warming, and he has organized other congregations across Michigan to do the same.
"We're all part of God's creation," Father Morris said. "If someone like me doesn't speak about its care, who will? The changes we've made here, that's a form of preaching." Read the entire article.
An alternative view about global warming.


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Rerouted
Navigating a winding road to dental school
Not every dental student journeys to the profession in the express lane. Karl Veasey spent 10 years as a public school band director. Kristina Miller worked for a commercial real estate firm specializing in health care offices. Allison Hinsberger provided career services to nursing students through a workforce development agency in California.
A more direct route would have saved these students time and money in career preparation. But in their case, they say, the extra life experience provided them a necessary perspective and motivation for dental school.
Allison Hinsberger '18
Prior career: Career services for nursing students
"After spending time working, I think you have a better idea of what you want in a career," Hinsberger says. In her case, it meant interacting with people in a hands-on, task-oriented health care position without much time sitting in front of a computer — a rarity in today's working world.
"Working helped me to be receptive to constructive criticism, which is an important part of dental school," she says. "And working with clients who were struggling to find work during the recession made me realize the importance of empathy and active listening."
Pan Kaping '19
Prior career: Business management, dental assisting
According to Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service data, the percentage of first-year dental students in Texas age 30 or above has ranged between 4 and 7 percent over the past five years. Texas A&M College of Dentistry is on trend, with a 6 percent average of such students annually over the past decade.
While not a direct indicator of prior career experience, age does point to more than a few years of living and working before dental school.
"Finding the time to be well prepared is a challenge, but the successful applicant makes it work." —Dr. Barbara Miller
Dr. Kristina Miller '16
Prior career: Commercial real estate services for health care providers
A definition for "career change" can be tricky, so the Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn't attempt to estimate a worker's average number of career changes over a lifetime. Dr. Carolyn Booker, senior vice president for educational pathways at the American Dental Education Association, doesn't find career changes to dentistry more common than other switches, but she can understand the appeal.
"People are seeing the value of health care careers in general, and in researching these they come across dentistry as an attractive choice," she says. "In my experience it's most often just something 'that they always wanted to do' but for whatever reason they went along another path."
Marcus Montalvo '18
Prior career: Insurance sales, substitute teacher in public schools
Preceding a dental career with a bachelor's degree in, say, anthropology or music or political science definitely lengthens the academic journey. Application to dental school requires students to take upper-level biology courses similar to the first-year dental curriculum, knowledge that also affects an applicant's Dental Admission Test score.
Katie Michaels '18
Prior career: Counselor at pediatric inpatient psychiatric facility
Dr. Barbara Miller '83, executive director of recruitment and admissions, says, "It's important for applicants to be aware that the Admissions Committee favors students who have more than the minimum required hours of biology coursework, and nontraditional students are no exception."
Time also becomes a rare commodity for individuals working full time and taking classes when, in addition, they must shadow a dentist and immerse themselves in community service activities.
Talon Davis '18
Prior career: Double bass player, Fort Worth and Plano symphony orchestras
"Finding the time to be well prepared is a challenge, but the successful applicant makes it work," Miller says.
Practical advice on the end goal comes from one who succeeded in a major redirection: Dr. Joe Simmons '98, who switched to dentistry two decades ago after a 19-year career as a nautical archaeologist.
Karl Veasey '19
Prior career: Band director in public schools
"Dental school is expensive, and establishing a dental practice is very expensive, cautions Simmons, who is a clinical assistant professor and group leader for fourth-year students at the College of Dentistry.
"Carefully consider all expenditures, get outside opinions and listen to them, start saving early and often, and remember that no one ever got into financial trouble by keeping their expenses reasonably low."
Read this article in its entirety in the Summer/Fall 2016 Dental Journal.
— Carolyn Cox
Dentistry Insider is the home for Texas A&M College of Dentistry students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends to find updates on the latest events, achievements and professional activities from across our campus.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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What Were The Problems Between The Montagues and the Capulets?
You are here: Home1 / Welcome To The No Sweat Shakespeare Blog!2 / Shakespeare's Works3 / What Were The Problems Between The Montagues and the Capulets?
Written by Jessica VainerGuest author bio: Jessica Vainer is a freelance writer who has worked for a number of years as a magazine editor. Most of all she likes fantasy and detective stories. Her life position is that she believes that everything you do to other people comes back to you.
William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet play is one filled with conflict from the start to the end. Shakespeare describes a love story filled with family feud from the word go. This takes a toll on a young blossoming love between two lovers, Romeo and Juliet, who are in the center of the conflict between two families.
The family feud between the Montagues and Capulets is well laid out through the play. Juliet's family and that of Romeo have been in a long-running dispute, and in the famous balcony scene Juliet says that she is willing to deny her family name to marry her love, Romeo.
The Main Problems Between the Montagues and Capulets
Back in college, I can admit that I wasn't the biggest fan of William Shakespeare. Whenever I had an assignment based on his work, I would pay someone to write my paper. However, there was something about the Romeo and Juliet play that made me appreciate and start loving his work. After reading it, I never had to pay for an essay again.
From the story, here are the main conflicts between the Montague and Capulet families:
1. Tybalt and Romeo
Being a Capulet, Tybalt is very upset when Romeo, a Montague, crashes a Capulet party. This is the origin of the feud between these two, and it eventually leads to the death of Tybalt at the hands of Romeo, after he killed one of Romeo's close friends. In the first scene, Tybalt challenges Romeo to a duel which results in two deaths.
Before his death, Tybalt comes after Mercutio, a very close friend to Romeo. When Romeo arrives to stop the fight, Tybalt stabs Mercutio to death. This angers Romeo who goes after Tybalt and after a fight, stabs and kills him as well.
2. Montague and Capulet servants
The feud between these two families is so deep-rooted that the servants of the two houses have learned about it. The fight between the servants of the two houses quickly escalates when Benvolio and Tybalt get involved. This shows that hostility existed between these two families for a long time.
Once you decipher the play you can pay someone to write your paper. It will help you to understand the themes, with the main one being conflict and role played by characters in the play. So if you need help, why don't you order an essay from Edubirdie writing service? There's no shame in taking help from professional writers. For this play, the family dispute between Capulets and Montagues dominates all the themes. Easy, right?
3. Inner conflict for Juliet
In the Romeo and Juliet balcony scene, Juliet is heard expressing her inner conflict. The fact that her lover Romeo is a Montague forces her to have an inner conflict on whether or not to deny her family name to be with her lover. At this moment, she doesn't know what to do about the situation.
According to her family, she is supposed to hate all the Montagues, despite the fact that she doesn't know why she has to hate them. However, she has fallen deeply in love with Romeo, a Montague, who she is naturally supposed to hate. This makes her have an inner conflict on whether to love Romeo or not. She wishes circumstances were different for her.
4. The Capulet and Montague feud
The author of the play, William Shakespeare, does not highlight the cause of the feud between these two dignified families in Verona. It has been going on for quite some time since even the servants are part of it. The Montagues and Capulets cannot stand each other and are always on the verge of a fight.
The conflict between these two families is the main cause of all the conflicts within the play. The loathing between them has fueled the conflict between Romeo and Tybalt, the servants of both houses and Juliet's inner conflict about the identity of her lover.
The Effects of the Hostility between Capulets and Montagues
After the death of Romeo and Juliet, the two families decide to bury the hatchet and end the conflict between them. They both acknowledge the losses they have suffered as a reason for this dispute and decide to end it. Both families suffer devastating losses because of the feud. The most common effects of this conflict include these below.
The death of Tybalt at the hands of Romeo
Tybalt, a Capulet, is described as a high tempered person who readily walks into a fight. When he kills Romeo's friend, Romeo feels inclined to seek revenge. In the process, he ends up stabbing him and killing him too. The Capulets suffer the loss of Tybalt's life.
Death of Mercutio
Mercutio is not a part of the two houses, despite the fact that he was Romeo's friend. The conflict between them has nothing to do with him. However, he dies as a result of the feud.
This is the most significant effect of the conflict between these two families. The death of Romeo and Juliet marks the end of the conflict between these two families. Both families feel the pain of losing their own blood because of the conflict.
A new dawn of peace
Although the deaths of Romeo and Juliet are responsible for ending the long-standing conflict between these two families, the two lovers never get to enjoy being together. Their death is like a sacrifice that brings peace between the Capulets and the Montagues.
With a deep understanding of Shakespeare's play, you can even get paid to write essays for other students. However, you must be willing to spend time analyzing the characters and the themes in the play. You should be able to write summaries Romeo and Juliet essays and papers for academic purposes.
Authorship Debate
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blogger, guest. "What Were The Problems Between The Montagues and the Capulets?". No Sweat Shakespeare, https://www.nosweatshakespeare.com/blog/montagues-capulets-problems/. Accessed 19 January 2021.
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Famous Last Word From Shakespeare, by Character Romeo & Juliet Balcony Scene


Around a month ago, I was invited along with my fellow bloggers to Ms. Tingting Cojuangco's home. We had a lovely dinner and a nice conversation on the "Elegant Filipina".
For those who only see her on the glossy pages of magazines or on the society columns of newspapers, it's easy to dismiss Tingting Cojuangco as just one of the elites belonging to one of the most prominent political clans in the country.
Saw this beautiful photo of Ms. Tingting on her younger years, very elegant ever since!
But Margarita "Tingting" Delos Reyes Cojuangco, wife of current Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose "Peping" Cojuangco, has achieved so much in her storied life. She is proof that elegance knows no age and that living a life of substance is truly what completes a woman.
It's an overall thing, and something to do with etiquette. It's not only about what she wears, but how she carries her clothes. It is not just the physical appearance or what we see, but what she is in the inside.
"But how do you distinguish who is elegant and who is not?"
Consistency. Even when a woman is just at home, she still takes care of herself and makes sure she always looks nice even when no one sees her.
Ms. Tingting told us that the black off-shoulder is her favorite piece from Zara, and she has a lot of this in her closet. Also, when asked for her favorite brand, she replies with no hesitations, "None. I will try anything."
Tingting married Peping, President's Benigno Aquino's III uncle, when she was only 18. They have five daughters, Liaa Cojuangco-Bautista, Josephine Cojuangco, Mikaela "Mikee" Cojuangco-Jaworski, Margarita Demetria "Mai-Mai" Cojuangco-Zini, Regina Patricia "China" Cojuangco-Gonzalez.
She completed her college degree in three years, took her master's degree at the University of Santo Tomas and later took up her Masters in National Security Administration at National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP), and earned doctorates in criminology and Philippine history. Very impressive, and I think it's cool that we are both Thomasians!
Elegance is more than just physical appearance and "branded" clothes, to Ms. Tingting it's practically "in born" taught by mothers.
"There are lots of beautiful women, especially this generation, but elegance is a lifestyle that takes years to develop. Elegance is about being educated, being cultured. It is about being refined in your actions, how you talk, how you walk, how you live your life, not just when you are in public, but every single minute of your life," she explained.
With this, Ms. Tingting has found a new advocacy: "Tingting's List: The Elegant Filipina". This project aims to uplift the Filipina. The proceeds of the event will go to the Kabayan Weaving Arts and Crafts, Kabayan, Benguet Province and women scholars from Tanauan, Leyte who are training to become dressmakers under the Special Training for Employment Program (STEP).
"The Elegant Filipina list is mainly to teach," says Ms. Tingting.
I'd love to meet true elegant women and get inspired by their way of life, the way I was inspired that night with Ms. Tingting. Excited to find out who are these Filipinas on the list! The awarding event is scheduled on September 22, 2015 at the Diamond Hotel Ballroom.
"Tingling's List: The Elegant Filipina" is made possible by Diamond Hotel, DMCI (Vic Consunji), Berjaya Philippines, Globe Telecom, Century Tuna, Baguio Oil, Ralph's Wine and Spirits, Malaysia Airlines. Special thanks to Sheridan Hotels, Toni & Guy, Seven Fridays, Uratex Philippines, Eskaya, Florsheim, Wacoal, HyC 150, Carlo Rossi.


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Sabian Symbologist ~ Saijin
Bringing the Sabian Symbols to the Imagination!
Category Archives: Cancer
Cancer 5 ~ "What's the 'motto'? Be the change."
June 18, 2021 CancerAstrological degree symbolism, Dr. Marc Edmund Jones, Elsie Wheeler, Mandala, Sabian Assembly, Sabian Symbols, SabianGeometry, Saijin, Saijin's Septenary, Symbolism, SymbolsSaijin
"What's the 'motto'? Be the change."
The Span of Expansion
Dr. Marc Edmund Jones provides the official meaning of this Sabian symbol in his work, The Sabian Symbols in Astrology:
Cancer 5° An automobile wrecked by a train
This is a symbol of the irresistible power of completion inherent in the very make-up of man's world whenever a sequence of events once is set in motion, as is evident continually on the objective side of things. Implicit in the reversed symbolism is the concept of control, or the assurance that it is not necessary to continue any given action to the point of self-cancellation. The ultimate obligation of the individual is to himself, and not to the narrow and momentary direction of circumstances.
The keyword is DISPERSION
When positive, the degree is a special genius for a creative reorganization of all experience, and when negative, an insensitive recklessness.
The formula is: sustaining-critical-universal-specializing-physical-inspired.
Gorillaz, Rhinestone Eyes storyboard film https://youtu.be/yYDmaexVHic
"Our principles are the springs of our actions. Our actions, the springs of our happiness or misery. Too much care, therefore, cannot be taken in forming our principles." — Red Skelton
Interesting : This degree symbol is the opposite of the degree on Christmas Day, and therefore also included in the cross of the degree of Capricorn 5. Think about that. Hold that thought. Are you with me? Today is the upside-down cross of Christmas, the archetypal and symbolic birth of Christ.
This degree falls in the month of Ramadan
Interesting: The word Ramadan comes from the Arabic root ramiḍa or ar-ramaḍ, which means scorching heat or dryness. Ramadan … is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting (Sawm) to commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to Muhammad according to Islamic belief. This annual observance is regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam. The month lasts 29–30 days based on the visual sightings of the crescent moon, according to numerous biographical accounts compiled in the hadiths." Wikipedia: Ramadan
"So whoever of you lives to see (this month of Ramadan) should fast through it…" Surah Baqarah 2:184
Interesting: This degree and the two preceding, Cancer 3, 4 and 5, are also associated with the Feast Day of St. John the Baptist, on June 24th. One might also call to mind in this mix the Shakespearean play A Midsummer's Night Dream, as was suggested to me. Riveting! The all-night fires lit to bring in the Feast of St. John, on St. John's Eve, June 23rd, are protective in nature….
"When the sun sets on 23 June, Saint John's Eve, is the eve of celebration before the Feast Day of Saint John the Baptist. The Gospel of Luke (Luke 1:36, 56–57) states that John was born about six months before Jesus; therefore, the feast of John the Baptist was fixed on 24 June, six months before Christmas Eve. This feast day is one of the very few saints' days which commemorates the anniversary of the birth, rather than the death, of the saint being honored. The Feast of Saint John closely coincides with the June solstice, also referred to as Midsummer in the Northern hemisphere. The Christian holy day is fixed at 24 June; but in most countries festivities are mostly held the night before, on Saint John's Eve." Wikipedia: St John's Eve
Interesting: Summer Solstice is now five days old, a feminine number, a quintile…
A Collision – A transference of energy – Change of the Highest Degree
So there is quite a puzzle here. Sensitive ones will understand the intensity of such energy in collision. Yang Mills Theory is suggested for a mathematical study in the scientific understanding of the quantum nature of such collisions—a train and an auto—of rotation and collision—of transference—of the mysteries and the yet-unanswered questions…
May I suggest these five as a great starting point, https://youtu.be/j3fsPHnrgLg
That's what I poured into myself on Cancer 5–if collision can't be avoided, then get wrecked by the greater power of understanding. Where angels fear to tread….
"What's the 'motto'? Be the change." Saijin
Image: Photo credit: Red Skelton http://www.redskeltonentertainment.com/photos.html and Earth's Gold came from Star Colliding https://www.universetoday.com/103551/earths-gold-came-from-colliding-stars/
Cancer 30 ~ "Again! Now, in full glory!"
July 22, 2019 CancerSaijin
"Again! Now, in full glory!"
The Span of Ingenuousness
Phase 120
Cancer 30 A Daughter of the American Revolution
This is a symbol of the enduring background in human relations as essentially dependent on an established tradition, and of a willingness to maintain it through a sharp rejection of any modifying influence of unsympathetic times or events. The emphasis here on an outer conservatism carries with it an implicit warning against any mere resistance to change, and also stresses the need for a life which is exemplary through its faithfulness to standards of proved worth.
The keyword is INHERITANCE
When positive, the degree is an infectious pride in leadership through which a group is able to act as a unit, and when negative, the ultimate betrayal of selfhood by a false assumption of superiority.
The formula is: sustaining-critical-universal-generalizing-spiritual-inspired.
Eye of the Tiger https://youtu.be/btPJPFnesV4
Introducing a league of their own: Rewriting history with herstory…
The word 'history' comes from the Ancient Greek word ἱστορία or historia, which means 'knowledge that is obtained by inquiry'. Rewriting History, not from the view of the conqueror, but from the perspective of wholeness or completeness.
Let's do it! Erase and try again. Wipe that slate clean. Get rid of that old, one-sided story! Rewrite IT in the fullness of ITS glory.
Going Quantum!
Delayed Choice/Quantum Eraser ~ The Quantum Eraser of Time Itself: Choices made in the present moment affect not only the future, but also the past!
Wholeness: A circle.
Two circles overlapping at center-points = Pi ~ Dividing the circumference by the diameter.
Pi Approximation Day, after all, is 22 divided by 7 or July 22nd. Let's rewrite "his story" by bringing IT into balance with "her-story".
"Again! Now, in full glory!" Saijin
Cancer 29 "A fiat of perception."
"A fiat of perception."
Cancer 29° A Muse weighing twins
This is a symbol of man's continual if not always evident relationship with the over-reality in which he lives and moves and has his being, here given an emphasis on the side of inner reconciliations. Individual existence is always manifest as personality in the world of the senses and as reason in a realm of eternalities, and the effective union of these complementary functions is found in the immortal insights of a spiritual wholeness. A person knows himself now one way and now another, and thereby realizes his integrity in selfhood.
The keyword is VALUE
When positive, an effectiveness of judgment irrespective of momentary contradictions on every hand, and when negative, undisciplined perfectionism.
The formula is: sustaining-critical-universal-generalizing-spiritual-responsible.
You are the Eternal Universe by Alan Watts https://youtu.be/5FELdBsixGg
The Muses in Greek mythology, poetry and literature, are the goddesses of the inspiration of Literature, Science and the Arts. They were considered the Source of Knowledge, and related this orally for centuries in the ancient culture through Poetry, Lyrics and Myths.
A Fiat of Perception
An effectiveness of judgement irrespective of contradictions on every hand. A master can effectively reason in the presence of duality. An official order given by someone who has power: an order that must be followed.
The Muses Still Speak!
The Great Invocation by Alice Bailey
From the point of Light within the Mind of God, Let light stream forth into the minds of men. Let Light descend on Earth.
From the point of Love within the Heart of God, Let love stream forth into the hearts of men. May Christ return to Earth.
From the centre where the Will of God is known, Let purpose guide the little wills of men—The purpose which the Masters know and serve.
From the centre which we call the race of men, Let the Plan of Love and Light work out, And may it seal the door where evil dwells.
Let Light and Love and Power restore the Plan on Earth.
"Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire." St. Catherine of Sienne
"She wasn't doing a thing that I could see, except standing there leaning on the balcony railing, holding the universe together." JD Salinger, Catcher in the Rye
"A fiat of perception." Saijin
Art by Alphonze Mucha
Cancer 28 ~ "Activate the key within."
July 27, 2018 CancerAstrological degree symbolism, Dr. Marc Edmund Jones, Elsie Wheeler, Mandala, Sabian Assembly, Sabian Symbols, SabianGeometry, Saijin, Saijin's Septenary, Symbolism, SymbolsSaijin
"Activate the key within."
Cancer 28° A modern Pocahontas
This is a symbol of effective co-operation between various phases of human culture, such as those which have become crystallized in a faithfulness to the special values they have held intact and those which provide the new potentials of a genuine frontier spirit. These differences as brought to unity are a stimulus to a greater differentiation of the self in its own illimitable capacity for expanded relationships.
The keyword is COMPATIBILITY
When positive, the degree is high skill in bringing older or neglected reality to the service of fresher and more vital self-fulfillments, and when negative, an inability to make personal adjustments and a stupid exaltation of conservatism.
The formula is: sustaining-critical-universal-generalizing-spiritual-receptive.
Vanessa Williams ~ Paint with All the Colors of the Wind https://youtu.be/IsVqO83OYow
Unlocking the Civilization of Ancient Egypt
Just how special is a birthday—your birthday, let's say?
Champollion deciphers the Rosetta Stone this day in history:
The Moment of Deciphering – the Big Breakthrough! "He returned to the text in hieroglyphics on the Rosetta Stone, and found … a phase referring to "birthday celebrations." This clinched it. Overwhelmed by the power of his discovery, Jean François abandoned his room, and ran through the streets, to reach his brother, who worked nearby at the Institute de France. He raced into the room, shouting "Je tiens l'affaire!,"—"I got it!"
Source: The Unlocking of the Rosetta Stone on this day in history
"Activate the key within." Saijin
Cancer 27 ~ "What matters and what doesn't."
"What matters and what doesn't."
Cancer 27° A storm in a canyon
This is a symbol of a pyramiding reality on the side of external circumstances, or of violence and terror as divine in their capacity for lifting man out of his aplomb and demanding some manifestation of his inner ideals and enduring values. Here is the indomitable integrity of everything to be taken as of consequence in its own right, shown in the energy with which it preserves itself. Nature ever dramatizes man's unleashed powers, or his ability to rise in supremacy over each momentary crisis.
The keyword is INTENSIFICATION
When positive, the degree is an enlistment of every resource in life for a heightened expression of self, and when negative, fatuous enjoyment of turmoil.
The formula is: sustaining-critical-universal-generalizing-spiritual-sensitive.
Passenger – Life's for the Living http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nl2GwLtMX7s
Seeing is believing, and believing is seeing! The Universe is always ready, able and willing to respond.
Brocken Spectre Heart
"I was flying over Oregon when I looked out and saw this heart-shaped figure," he says. "It was one of those moments when the Universe aligns and takes your breath away." DeFreece suspects, probably correctly, that the shape of the clouds bent the usual circular glory into the heart-shaped apparition. Mystery solved? Not entirely. Glories are caused by sunlight reflected backwards from water droplets in clouds. Exactly how backscattering produces the colorful rings, however, is a mystery involving surface waves and multiple reflections within individual droplets. Each sighting is a lovely puzzle, so grab the window seat and keep an eye on the clouds below.
When there is a storm in the canyon, especially one where evacuation becomes necessary due to the increasing and unrelenting intensity of the storm–when hunkering down will no longer do–there's very precious time to gather the few things that you can take with you. This decision making under pressure becomes equal in intensity to the storm itself. What will I take? What will I leave behind? Knowing that total destruction may result, we now find ourselves grabbing this and clutching that. Here now, in our arms, are those things we truly value most!
I recall a true story about a woman whose house was on fire and ran out with her collection of wigs! The teller of the tale and I had a good chuckle, but inside ourselves, I suppose we were both wondering what we'd find in hand after the "storms" of our lives had passed by. Sobering thoughts… We need to be clear on…
"What matters and what doesn't." Saijin
Image credit: Tony DeFreece, July 13, 2014, Woodland, Oregon, USA
Cancer 26 ~ "There's no time like the present."
"There's no time like the present."
Cancer 26° Contentment and happiness in luxury, people reading on davenports
This is a symbol of a pure mastery of experience in its outer aspect, and of a full capitalization on the potentials of all being in a personal and ultimately immortal realization. The static symbolism is a warning against idle self-indulgence, and an emphasis on the fact that any lessening of practical responsibility is primarily a call to self-strengthening and a prelude to some greater outreaching.
The keyword is REPOSE
When positive, the degree is a relaxation valuable for the momentary sustainment of human aspiration whenever it is strained beyond its powers of self-regeneration, and when negative, the loss of all reality in a needless softness of living.
The formula is: sustaining-critical-universal-generalizing-spiritual-experimental.
Go the Distance ~ Michael Bolton https://youtu.be/vRAu4kvpmEs
Taking a well-deserved break
You deserve a break! Sit back, put your feet up, relax! Feel better?
Okay, soon you'll have to get back at it! But for now, just relax. You've earned it.
Remember the Library of Alexandria? Well, in Marc's personal reflections on the Sabian symbols in 1931—not 1953, which were the official Sabian symbols later written for the public—Marc described Cancer 26 this way: "The magnificent, luxurious library of some wealthy home is revealed; among the cushions several guests are reading." The keyword at that time was not Repose; it was Relaxation, and he interpreted it as a degree of whole souled participation in life, positively, and negatively as a surrender to trivitality. He said, "..the soul does not depend on these things, but reaches out to higher objects of interest."
When you go into a library, you will see signs or be reminded by the librarians to "Please be quiet." Why? Respect. Respect for what? For the fact that, these many people reading books are actually in many diverse worlds. You see their bodies only. If you could see what they see… If you could inhabit the many worlds inhabited within their minds through the pages of these books simultaneously, I dare say you would experience an adventure of quantum magnitude! So, please, whether trivial to you or not—please respect the mastery of experience of these resposed and relaxing ones! They are on a high adventure well-earned and of personal and ultimately immortal realization. Now, go choose a book and take a break. You deserve it!
"There's no time like the present." Saijin
Image credit: Read Me! http://colorfully.eu/your-time-is-now/
Cancer 25 ~ "Let the world keep on spinning."
"Let the world keep on spinning."
Cancer 25° A dark shadow or mantle thrown suddenly over the right shoulder
This is a symbol of the irrevocability of man's obligation to the reality of which he is a part, with the emphasis on his capacities of leadership as a revelation of racial stewardship on the more personal or spiritual side. Self-expression here is a release of his inner potentialities, and it becomes both an individual gratification and an expanding responsibility to all other individuals making up the social complex.
The keyword is DESTINY
When positive, the degree is some dramatic manifestation of genius vital to the general welfare of man, and when negative, a tendency to unwarranted presumption if not outright megalomania.
The formula is: sustaining-critical-universal-generalizing-social-inspired.
When life turns on a dime, have no fear! You can do it! …thanks to your sixth sense, that is! So, go with the flow!
Ahmad Wali – Dost http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0qAL_AZ9CE
They say that we find our destiny on the road we take to avoid it. In astrology chart reading, there is a point called the Vertex, also known as the point of destiny–a point that, when utilizing the Sabian symbol for that degree, can assist us in understanding more about those unavoidable turns that direct us to our destiny. If so, then maybe we won't have to be so surprised when we get thrown a curve ball by life, but instead, come to those moments with conscious participation rather than a desire for escape or avoidance. You can go through life kicking and screaming or you can go through life with your shoulders back and your chin up–either way, you're here which means you ARE going through life one way or the other. It's about knowledge and choice.
When things turn on a dime
Dimes are not only the smallest coin used in US currency, but also the thinnest, measuring only 17.91 mm or .705 inches in diameter and 1.35 mm or 0.053 inches in thickness. To "turn on a dime" then, is an expression of changing direction rapidly, but also in a very small space, i.e., a tight turning radius. By extension, anything that can "turn on a dime" makes a radical change in direction and very quickly.
Proprioception – the Sixth Sense
"Our bodies are incredibly good at moving, often without any conscious involvement. Just think: sitting down, standing up, picking up objects, throwing, catching, jumping, skipping, running… The reason we can make all of these movements without thinking (or falling over) is because of something called 'proprioception' – our body's sense of its own position, balance and movement. Proprioception provides us with 'body awareness' and is commonly referred to as our 'sixth sense'."
When life turns on a dime, whether by conscious choice or by outside circumstance, consider going with the flow until you have a grasp of the new energies you find yourself in. That which we resist persists. Knowledge of the new surroundings is critical, i.e., seek first to understand and then to be understood. To go with the flow is not advisement to go wherever the wind blows, but to take stock of the new environment, and to look before you leap.
When life turns on a dime, shout out, "Plot twist!"
"Let the world keep on spinning." Saijin
Photo credit: Sufi swirling dance, or dervish dance, from Turkey http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/lFpQQLMKAb0/hqdefault.jpg
Cancer 24 ~ "Looking back it started here."
"Looking back it started here."
Cancer 24° A woman and two men on a bit of sunlit land facing south
This is a symbol of the soul's necessary decisiveness in the basic allegiances of life, here emphasized in the terms of practical or everyday relations. There must be a mediation between the competing demands for immediate attention to various transient needs, and for some consistent or over-all goal which will bring an individual's efforts into a cohesive pattern. The inner capacities must be disciplined continually for the sake of a plethora of outer opportunities.
The keyword is INCEPTION
When positive, the degree is an unusual gift for organizing and exploiting the self's potentials, and when negative, a devastating sense of ineptitude and estrangement from reality.
The formula is: sustaining-critical-universal-generalizing-social-responsible.
Reba McEntire ~ Fancy https://youtu.be/zplc4Ienkws
As fancy is to beauty, the thorn is to the rose.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, first appeared in the 3rd century BC in Greek. It didn't appear in its current form in print until the 19th century, but in the meantime there were various written forms that expressed much the same thought. In 1588, the English dramatist John Lyly, in his Euphues and his England, wrote:
"…as neere is Fancie to Beautie, as the pricke to the Rose, as the stalke to the rynde, as the earth to the roote."
Transcendence is not Fantasy
Wholeness requires both dark and light, for without either, there would not be the possibility of the other to be manifest. According to Marc Edmund Jones, "Living is real when it embraces the totality of its contact and the whole in its uttermost ramification of awareness. An entering of the transcendent achieves this because all things in their transcendence are sublimated in the fulfillment of self."
Desideratum: Something that is wished for or considered desirable.
Aristotle explains, "We may assume the superiority [ceteris paribus] of all things being equal, of the demonstration which derives from fewer postulates or hypotheses—in short from fewer premises; for… given that all these are equally well known, where they are fewer, knowledge will be more speedily acquired, and that is a desideratum. The argument implied in our contention that demonstration from fewer assumptions is superior may be set out in universal form…"
Thus, in my reflections, I see the two men as the duality of that which the woman is able to now see in wholeness. She has this power to synthesize, the take duality and transcend it into a triad of awareness because in such an isolated situation–on a bit of land, in such close proximity and not scattered at a distance—as well as facing south, or towards the sun, astrologically speaking, she is able to keenly focus and assess with unsurpassable speed and accuracy. Here, wholeness is revealed fully to her view. Likewise, here on this degree of Inception, we have the potential to capture a more perfect view, from source to timeless opportunity.
"Looking back it started here." Saijin
Screencapture: Matrix Revolutions, ending https://youtu.be/ruSTiOmiyWw
Cancer 23 ~ "When push comes to shove, digest."
"When push comes to shove, digest."
Cancer 23° Meeting of a literary society
This is a symbol of man's resourcefulness in developing new areas of experience on the imaginative side, and of his genius for widening his interests and stimulating everybody to broader ideals and more rewarding goals in everyday living. The continual re-examination of a general intellectual and aesthetic inheritance becomes a heightening of personal identity, and the individual achieves a very genuine estimation of his fellows.
The keyword is CRITICISM
When positive, the degree is accomplishment through an exacting appreciation of common effort and a rigorous revelation of private acts and attitudes, and when negative, a substitution of idle discussion for actual participation in reality.
The formula is: sustaining-critical-universal-generalizing-social-receptive.
God speaks to Moses from the Burning Bush https://youtu.be/LZpYMr-Ed0Q
The Element and the Essence of Fire
By all means, bring it to the meeting, just be sure how you use it! Fire, the element, can burn to ashes; Fire, the essence, can inspire and lift up… Tricky stuff, fire…. Think of it this way:
To consume by destructive or constructive means. To digest the inspiration and essence for upliftment or to spew forth the flames to burn to ashes? Therein lies the choice.
A meeting is a gathering or assembly for a common purpose. Yet, the keyword is criticism. Criticism, like fire, can be either constructive or destructive. Before attending the meeting, we might want to consider the potential outcome of both types…
Consume: To destroy or expend by use; use up. To eat or drink up; devour. To destroy, as by decomposition or burning: Fire consumed the forest. To spend (money, time, etc.) wastefully. To absorb; engross: consumed with curiosity. To undergo destruction; waste away. To use or use up consumer goods.
Digest: To convert (food) in the alimentary canal into absorbable form for assimilation into the system. To obtain information, ideas, or principles from; assimilate mentally. To arrange methodically in the mind; think over: to digest a plan. To bear with patience; endure. To arrange in convenient or methodical order; reduce to a system; classify. To condense, abridge, or summarize.
A Sacred Meeting
"And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed." Exodus 3:2 KJV
Here's another example , this time of a meeting didn't go so well….
The Library of Alexandria Burns: The Library of Alexandria was one of the largest and most significant libraries of the ancient world. Famous for having been burned, thus resulting in the loss of many scrolls and books, it has become a symbol of "knowledge and culture destroyed." Although there is a tradition of the burning of the Library at Alexandria, the library may have suffered several fires or acts of destruction, of varying degrees, over many years. Different cultures may have blamed each other throughout history, or distanced their ancestors from responsibility, and therefore leaving conflicting and inconclusive fragments from ancient sources on the exact details of the destruction. Experts differ on when books in the actual library were destroyed. Manuscripts were probably burned in stages over eight centuries. Wikipedia
So, if you are called to a meeting, please make sure you inspire and lift up. Otherwise, if you get hot-tempered, hot-headed, ready to set a match to the place, please, bite your tongue, zip your lip, excuse yourself until you can regain composure. You aren't a child. Besides, adults don't let children play with matches. If this advice for good manners at meetings isn't followed, the Universe will conspired to make you eat your words—like a flame—at the right time in the future. Justice must be fulfilled.
"When push comes to shove, digest." Saijin
Image: Library of Alexandria Burns https://fathertheo.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/library-of-alexandria-burns.jpg?fromSearchAnonymo=1
Cancer 22 ~ "I came but to re-member."
"I came but to re-member."
Cancer 22° A woman awaiting a sailboat
This is a symbol of the creative poise and quiet range of perspective which give real power to the human soul, endowing it with its gift for sustained interest in the present situation and its constructive attitude towards each ramifying potentiality of things to be. Here man exalts his destiny as he is aware of the ships that may come in for him, and he learns that it is through the consummation of idea and not the pyramiding of facts that life achieves its more enduring reality.
The keyword is EQUANIMITY
When positive, the degree is a sure insight into the meaning of chance events and the current drift of circumstance, and when negative, senseless dependence on accidents of fortune.
The formula is: sustaining-critical-universal-generalizing-social-sensitive.
Eric Whitacre — Fly to Paradise http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hmS3TAuQH8
The Ugly Duckling (Danish: Den grimme ælling)
The Ugly Duckling is a literary fairy tale by Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen (1805 – 1875). The story tells of a homely little bird born in a barnyard who suffers abuse from the others around him until, much to his delight (and to the surprise of others), he matures into a beautiful swan, the most beautiful bird of all. The story is beloved around the world as a tale about personal transformation for the better. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ugly_Duckling
How did I get to this story of the ugly duckling from a woman awaiting a sailboat? One whose time seems to never come, answers/desires that seem never to manifest. Until they do. Patience is a virtue.
Time is too slow for those who wait,
too swift for those who fear,
too long for those who grieve,
too short for those who rejoice,
but for those who love, time is eternity.
Henry Van Dyke
"I came but to re-member." Saijin
Photo credit: Doug Crittendon http://www.flickr.com/photos/dc21xzoom/8795262484
Capricorn 28° "Sufficient unto themselves."
Capricorn 27° "Devotion to happiness."
Capricorn 26° "Welcome all who enter here."
Capricorn 25° "As you choose, so shall it be."
Capricorn 24° "Gaining control over self."
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For communication to be successful, it has to be provided through an appropriate channel, in an appropriate format and with appropriate content. This applies to all types of communication between the organisation and the customer, including advertising or promotional material, information on a website, any form of communication that is used for ordering, setting up an account, billing, customer support and complaints procedures.
Meeting the needs of all customers involves giving choice. Information provided through a range of channels (e.g. Post, telephone, text message, email and online) and in a range of formats (e.g. Electronic, print, large print, easy to read, braille) is more likely to cater for the needs and preferences of all customers.
A person with hearing loss may not be able to hear spoken or audible information.
Written or printed information may not be accessible to a customer with vision impairments.
Information which is overly technical or not stated in clear language may not be understandable by a customer with limited experience of using technology, low literacy or an intellectual disability.
Tv bill it's hard to work out how much it actually costs.
If it was more plain english.
ask you a number and it gets confusing. You have to remember a big long number.
Organisations can ensure that information in digital format, for example on a website or in an email, can be used and understood by all customers by following the recognised accessibility and usability guidelines. Given a well-designed, accessible website, individual customers can easily transform it to meet their needs by resizing the text, changing the colours, having it read out as speech or converting it to braille. This is much more difficult with printed information. However many organisations with large customer bases now offer to provide general and customers specific information such as bills in a range of formats.
Wherever possible, written information should be communicated using clear, concise, non-technical language, according to plain english guidelines. This approach uses short sentences and avoids jargon and complicated words or phrases.
Customer service representatives should be able to describe technical terms in a non-technical way.
Information should be provided through a range of channels (e.g. Post, telephone, text message, email and online) in order to cater for the needs and preferences of all customers.
This also applies to communications from the customer to the organisation, through forms or ordering facilities. For example, if a customer is unable to complete a printed form, they can be given the option to provide their details over the telephone.
If providing a range of alternative formats of all communication material is not feasible or will take time to organise, start by identifying the key communications (e.g. Order forms, bills) and provide those in as many formats as is deemed necessary.
Web-based information and interactive services should be made accessible and usable to all customers. By carefully following the guidelines the Web content accessibility guidelines (wcag) from the web accessibility initiative (wai),it is possible to make the contents of a website maximally accessible to almost all users, without compromising its design and functionality. The result will be a flexible format that individual customers can transform to meet their needs by resizing it, changing the colours, accessing it on different devices, having it read out as speech or converting it to braille.
No equivalent set of international guidelines exist for usability. However there are many resources on usability on the web including jacob nielson usability heuristics.
Information and communications provided through other digital channels, such as telephone and information kiosks, should be made universally accessible by following theIrish national it accessibility guidelines which includes specific guidance on telecoms and public access terminals.
Electronic forms of communication, such as the organisation's website (including all online ordering facilities) should be tested for accessibility and usability. This testing can take the form of an audit or user testing with a wide range of users. An audit can be conducted on all key sections of the website to ensure that they adhere to the relevant web accessibility guidelines and usability heuristics. The ceud provides guidelines on web accessibility auditing.
Provide printed information in a range of formats, such as standard print, large print, easy to read and braille according to the needs and requests of your customers. Information on accessible formats can be found in the NDA publication first steps in producing accessible publications.
The need to supply alternative formats can be minimized by choosing a standard format that is accessible without modification to the largest number of people, within the constraints of branding, marketing considerations and production costs.
Aim for clarity at all time when choosing a typeface or designing a layout. If in doubt, keep it simple.
For more detailed guidance, see the plain english and make it clear guidelines.
Providing a way for customers to state their preferred methods and formats for communication can alleviate the need for repeated requests for alternative formats and help to inform future universal design planning. This can be done during a sign up period or through a mechanism where customers can set their own preferences or provide feedback on how well communications meet their needs.
digital and online information can be tested for accessibility and usability by either auditing or user testing. An accessibility audit can be conducted on all key sections of a website to ensure that they adhere to the relevant web accessibility guidelines. The Centre for Excellence in Universal Design provides guidelines on web accessibility auditing which describe how to commission and what outputs to expect.