Blog 14: London 2012: Mass gathering risks disease spreading

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-16545017

The news story is about the fact that events such as the London 2012 Olympics form a hotbed for diseases. Due to people from all over the world visiting such an event diseases can spread quickly and will travel along with the visitors back to their country of origin. The Lancet Infectious Disease journal is responsible for highlighting this risk. Diseases often spread on big events like this and have happened before, such as the influenza outbreak during World Youth Day in 2008 in Australia. Prof Brian McCloskey, of the Health Protection Agency's preparations for London 2012, said: "The history of the Olympic Games suggests infection doesn't happen often.

I am not sure what to think of this article. On one hand I agree with the risk of events like that, it seems logical. Lots of people packed together from all over the world, only one has to have a disease and it will be able to spread across the globe. On the other hand, it has barely happened in the past as Mr. McCloskey also said. Lots of big, and maybe even bigger events, have come and gone and only on one occasion has the spreading of a disease reached the news. I think they should definitely take it into account that it could happen but I doubt it will be on a massive scale.

Blog 13: New yacht for Queen's jubilee, suggests Michael Gove

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16574257

A proposal by Education Secretary Michael Gove is taken into consideration. The proposal entails a new yacht for the Queen’s jubilee this year. Her previous yacht, the Britannia, has served the Queen for over 44 years but it now undergoing repairs in a dry dock. Mr. Gove suggests that this year’s jubilee should go beyond all previous jubilees and that the Queen should be rewarded with a “lasting Legacy”. Labour Party deputy chairman Tom Watson and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg both did not agree with the proposal by Mr. Gove. They think in these hard times where budget cuts are made everywhere the taxpayer should not have to pay up for a £60m yacht.

I completely agree with Party deputy chairman Tom Watson and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg. These days we find ourselves in an economic crisis, every country is struggling with the budgets and budget cuts are made everywhere. This is not the time to reward the monarch with something like a luxurious yacht. I am sure she deserved it in terms of contribution to the nation but giving away a £60m yacht, which is even funded by the taxpayers, is too much in my opinion.

Blog 12: Rubbish bin fines to be scrapped under new plans

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16564592

The government is going to publish plans which would make it harder for councils to punish households for breaking minor bin collection rules. This means that for example households will not be fined immediately for a minor mistake concerning the trash cans.  These mistakes could be using the wrong sacks for recycling or overfilling wheelie bins for example. Now a lot of households still get fines ranging from £75 to £110 for minor errors. With the new rules these fines will get lowered too. Persistent offenders will still be punished but minor offenders may get less trouble this way.

I must say that I totally agree with these plans, I actually think they should do the same in The Netherlands. A small error is quickly made and putting things in the wrong kind of sack for example is not something that I think is punishable with an insane amount. These are after all mostly human errors and one usually does not even notice such an error until they get fined for it. I also agree that major and/or persistent offenders should still get punished. I only think that households should be fined less for minor mistakes that are made. Give people a warning and give them a chance to learn the correct way.

Blog 11: Scotland tobacco display ban to be delayed

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-16561067

In Scotland the display ban on tobacco in large stores has been delayed. The original plan was that all tobacco in supermarkets for example would not be displayed anymore in view. The stores are still able to sell the tobacco but now have to put the tobacco ‘under the counter’. This means the tobacco cannot be seen in the store itself. This action was taken to cut back on child smoking. The ban has been delayed because of a legal challenge by Imperial Tobacco. They claim there is no direct evidence that this will reduce the number or child smokers.

I must say that I support the idea of a display ban in stores. I do not think that this will necessarily help avoid child smoking but it will definitely make it less attractive. When you cannot see where they really sell it some kids might be able to avoid the temptation of smoking too. I still think that if someone wants to smoke they will still do it but a display ban will help to make smoking less ‘cool’ among kids because one cannot show off by buying a pack of smokes now.