After years of working in the sidelines, Gordon Brown finally ascended to the top job of UK politics 100 days this October 5. His has been a premiership long in the making that should now deliver on many fronts, not least internationally.
Brown created quite a name for himself in his previous job as Chancellor of the Exchequer. His economic policies defined a decade and he presided over the longest ever period of growth in the country. It would come as no surprise that now, as Prime Minister, Brown would take his past recipe for success and adopt an economist’s view of foreign affairs.
His biggest challenges lie, as they have for the past five years, in the Middle East. The thorny issue of Iraq demobilisation, along with the possibility of problems with Iran, wider action in Afghanistan and stalemate over the Palestinian question, have been and will remain a major focus of his policy. So far, Brown has said he is committed to gradually withdrawing from Iraq while maintaining and even expanding British presence in Afghanistan. Brown has also made it clear that he believes in economic sanctions and incentives to deal with potential terrorist breeding grounds.
His pragmatic approach will reach across the Atlantic. Brown’s meeting with US President George Bush was friendly, but lacked the unquestioning praise of his predecessor. Neither American nor European-centred, it seems Brown’s even-handedness will be the main characteristic of his international policy. Aid and trade should remain pivotal issues in his agenda, as Brown’s strong stance on poverty and development has led him to announce stronger backing of the UN Millennium Development Goals set by the G8 (in his UN speech on 31 July 2007) and he still pushes hard his Make Poverty History campaign.
One of his most unambiguous moves so far, however, has been towards Africa. Brown has declared that he will not attend the EU/AU summit to be held in Lisbon this coming December if Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe makes an appearance. This could definitely mean a return to the idea of “moral” foreign policy once unfurled by the Blair government.
It is widely recognised that foreign policy is central to the prime minister’s role (Jonathan Freedman, “Brown’s new world order”). If Brown wants to step away from his previous boss’s shadow, he will need to stand back from US-led unilateralism and embrace globalisation, international institutions and responsible diplomacy.
For more information:
“Gordon Brown’s foreign policy challenges” by David Held and David Mepham
http://www.opendemocracy.net/node/34314/print
“Brown’s new world order” by Jonathan Freedland
http://www.newstatesman.com/200705280014
Reflective report: As an assignment, I enjoyed writing this piece because it gave me a chance to look deeper at Gordon Brown’s foreign policy. Having lived in the United Kingdom during Tony Blair’s term, it was good to see what was really different between the two and if anything would really change.
I focused on his foreign policy because, as an international student, this is the area that interests me most about UK politics.To start off, I thought about what the most pressing issues in UK foreign politics were. It was immediately obvious that Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Middle East are at the forefront and I set about looking up the latest developments in the area, both by searching in the Internet and in the newspapers of the day.I also came across various academic articles that served as background information for my article and I published links to the ones I thought most relevant to my piece. I enjoyed reading David Held and David Mepham’s article on Gordon Brown’s foreign policy challenge, which explained briefly the areas I considered important for British policy from the start. Jonathan Freedland’s article for the New Statesman was more in-depth and very informative.
Since this was not written as a news story or outright op-ed piece, I went for a balanced approach that showcased what was going on at the time and some possible scenarios for the future. It turned out more as a commentary piece than anything else.
Saturday, 8 December 2007
A day in the life of an MP
Get up bright and early, get coffee, head to the office, decide whether or not there is going to be a change of government this year or when to pull troops out of war. This could be just another day in the life of Gordon Brown, MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath. Brown also happens to be Prime Minister, so maybe his days are a bit busier than that of an ordinary Member of Parliament. However, regular MPs also have their work cut out, whether they are backbenchers, Cabinet ministers, shadow ministers or committee members.
An MP represents his or her constituency, which is made up of approximately 67,000 electors on average. There are 646 constituencies across the United Kingdom, meaning there is the same number of MPs. An MP is elected by his constituents through a first-past-the-post type of election that requires him or her to command a simple majority. Although an MP usually represents a political party, they are supposed to answer to all their constituents despite party affiliations.
A day in the life of a regular MP would usually consist of attending Parliament sessions in the House of Commons, creating and voting on new or revised pieces of legislation and looking after the needs and complaints of his constituency. MPs also hold ‘surgeries’ in their constituencies where locals have the opportunity to discuss any topic that is of interest to them. These surgeries are usually held once a month, but they depend on the amount of work and responsibility the MP has within the House of Commons.
On a normal day during the Parliamentary session, MPs have the right to a number of actions in their effort to promote causes that affect their constituencies or even issues of national debate. Your MP might have the opportunity to have his or her question heard at Prime Minister’s Question Time or as the last business of the day during the Adjournment Debate. An active MP might also consider putting in an Early Day Motion to draw attention to a particular issue. If he or she is particularly adventurous and considers an issue to be important enough, they might pursue a Private Members’ Bill, even though very few of these measures are successful.
In Uxbridge, the local MP is John Randall. He is a Conservative who works hard for his constituents and has a special interest in the environment. He also holds a special position as opposition whip, so on voting days he can be seen gathering Conservative forces.
Being an MP requires a great deal of time, dedication and public service vocation. That is why a day in the life of an MP is never dull.
Reflective report: When we got this assignment, I started by doing some research about the local MP for Uxbridge, John Randall, a Conservative. It turned out he was elected opposition whip a few years ago, so that was an angle I wanted to explore in my questions. I wanted to ask him if he ever had to send for an MP before a vote in a dramatic fashion.This was a difficult piece to work on because MPs were difficult to get a hold of. I made several attempts to contact Randall, but his secretary refused to put him through. I emailed her the questions I had prepared, but again she said that there was nothing she could do to help. I tried talking to another MP from a nearby constituency (Nick Hurd, MP for Ruislip-Northwood) and got a more favourable response from his personal assistant. I did a quick background on Hurd, also a Conservative, who runs a campaign to stop further developments on certain areas of his constituency. Despite the efforts of his assistant, however, Hurd was not able to get the answers back to me.
I went on with the assignment and made it into a commentary piece, trying to spice it up a bit by starting with Gordon Brown, who not too many associate with the constituency of Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath in Scotland. I was asked to include some information on the local MP, just to make it more relevant for a local newspaper. I added this towards the end of the piece.
I tried to make the article easy to understand, avoiding words and phrases that would be consider too serious as this might deter people from reading all the way through.
An MP represents his or her constituency, which is made up of approximately 67,000 electors on average. There are 646 constituencies across the United Kingdom, meaning there is the same number of MPs. An MP is elected by his constituents through a first-past-the-post type of election that requires him or her to command a simple majority. Although an MP usually represents a political party, they are supposed to answer to all their constituents despite party affiliations.
A day in the life of a regular MP would usually consist of attending Parliament sessions in the House of Commons, creating and voting on new or revised pieces of legislation and looking after the needs and complaints of his constituency. MPs also hold ‘surgeries’ in their constituencies where locals have the opportunity to discuss any topic that is of interest to them. These surgeries are usually held once a month, but they depend on the amount of work and responsibility the MP has within the House of Commons.
On a normal day during the Parliamentary session, MPs have the right to a number of actions in their effort to promote causes that affect their constituencies or even issues of national debate. Your MP might have the opportunity to have his or her question heard at Prime Minister’s Question Time or as the last business of the day during the Adjournment Debate. An active MP might also consider putting in an Early Day Motion to draw attention to a particular issue. If he or she is particularly adventurous and considers an issue to be important enough, they might pursue a Private Members’ Bill, even though very few of these measures are successful.
In Uxbridge, the local MP is John Randall. He is a Conservative who works hard for his constituents and has a special interest in the environment. He also holds a special position as opposition whip, so on voting days he can be seen gathering Conservative forces.
Being an MP requires a great deal of time, dedication and public service vocation. That is why a day in the life of an MP is never dull.
Reflective report: When we got this assignment, I started by doing some research about the local MP for Uxbridge, John Randall, a Conservative. It turned out he was elected opposition whip a few years ago, so that was an angle I wanted to explore in my questions. I wanted to ask him if he ever had to send for an MP before a vote in a dramatic fashion.This was a difficult piece to work on because MPs were difficult to get a hold of. I made several attempts to contact Randall, but his secretary refused to put him through. I emailed her the questions I had prepared, but again she said that there was nothing she could do to help. I tried talking to another MP from a nearby constituency (Nick Hurd, MP for Ruislip-Northwood) and got a more favourable response from his personal assistant. I did a quick background on Hurd, also a Conservative, who runs a campaign to stop further developments on certain areas of his constituency. Despite the efforts of his assistant, however, Hurd was not able to get the answers back to me.
I went on with the assignment and made it into a commentary piece, trying to spice it up a bit by starting with Gordon Brown, who not too many associate with the constituency of Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath in Scotland. I was asked to include some information on the local MP, just to make it more relevant for a local newspaper. I added this towards the end of the piece.
I tried to make the article easy to understand, avoiding words and phrases that would be consider too serious as this might deter people from reading all the way through.
Visit Europe's youngest panda bear at Vienna Zoo
Wondering where Europe’s youngest panda bear is currently hiding? The little fur ball is right now in his mother’s arms, but away from visitor’s sight at the Tiergarten Schonbrun Vienna Zoo. The panda cub was born in late August, but zookeepers want to keep both isolated for a while longer as the cub gathers strength. Visitors can see them both through a specially placed camera in the pandas’ private enclosure.
The Vienna Zoo, the world’s oldest animal menagerie, is set on the grounds of the beautiful Schonbrun Palace, summer residence of the Viennese empress Maria Theresa.
Even in the wintertime, visitors to the zoo get to see a wide variety of animals out in the open: from polar bears to seals and penguins to deer, buffaloes and rhinos. In the rainforest house there is a feeling of walking through the jungle and animals, such as bats and birds, can be seen up close. There is also a beautiful aquarium and terrarium and a desert house that recreates the arid conditions of this extreme habitat.
Ramiro Pares, 27, visiting the zoo for the first time said: “it has been a great experience. The setting is idyllic and I like that there’s history behind the place. Many animals were out and about, despite the cold.”
The Tiergarten Zoo is a short underground ride from Vienna city centre and is open all year round. For more information, head to http://www.zoovienna.at/e/index.html
Reflective report: I decided to take advantage of a weekend break to Vienna and looked up the local zoo. Through the Internet, I found the Tiergarten Schonbrun Vienna Zoo had been in the news quite recently due to the birth of Europe’s first panda bear and thought that it would make a good idea for the animal story set as our weekly assignment. I was also intrigued by the fact that the zoo is set in the gardens of the Schobrun Palace and is recognised as the world’s oldest zoo.
It was a cold and wet day, but I still enjoyed walking around the place. The setting is really beautiful, with old-style European buildings and many animals walking about despite the weather. I looked for the panda bear, but only found the place where they had the video showing the pandas in their private enclosure. I was somewhat disappointed and, consequently, changed the focus of my story to something more like a quick guide for visitors to the zoo. Upon revision, I was told to change the angle again, which I have done in this version. I took several pictures of the zoo and palace grounds to complement the story. I also spoke to a visitor to the zoo, who was glad to give me a few simple quotes for my article.
This article is a light-hearted piece that should read easily off the page and include an eye-catching design with the pictures provided.
Man-hunt for robber in Kingsbury
Police are on the hunt for a black man who robbed a woman, 31, as she walked from Kingsbury Train Station at around 7pm on Wednesday 13th.
The man, still unidentified, was wearing a grey hooded top and reportedly attacked the woman, throwing her to the ground and taking her hand bag. He was then seen running towards Roe Green Park, Kingsbury.
Anyone with information should call Brent Police on 020 8733 3159 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
Reflective report: This news story was part of our emergency services assignment. I got it through a press release from Brent Police Press Office that was provided to Harrow Observer reporters. There were several stories, but I choose this one because I thought it was an unusual incident that would make an interesting news-in-brief. After revision, I was told to make it more urgent. I tried to do this by adding the element of “police hunt” and changing the language to make it sound more pressing. It would be interesting to follow up on the case to see whether or not the man was caught by police. In case he did get caught, I would continue to look into it and possibly report on the court proceedings (if any). It would also be interesting to do a background check of similar incidents in the area and, if they are common or on the rise, what police and the community plan to do about it. Also, if possible, I would contact the victim and get the story from her point of view. This would present a good picture opportunity.
The man, still unidentified, was wearing a grey hooded top and reportedly attacked the woman, throwing her to the ground and taking her hand bag. He was then seen running towards Roe Green Park, Kingsbury.
Anyone with information should call Brent Police on 020 8733 3159 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
Reflective report: This news story was part of our emergency services assignment. I got it through a press release from Brent Police Press Office that was provided to Harrow Observer reporters. There were several stories, but I choose this one because I thought it was an unusual incident that would make an interesting news-in-brief. After revision, I was told to make it more urgent. I tried to do this by adding the element of “police hunt” and changing the language to make it sound more pressing. It would be interesting to follow up on the case to see whether or not the man was caught by police. In case he did get caught, I would continue to look into it and possibly report on the court proceedings (if any). It would also be interesting to do a background check of similar incidents in the area and, if they are common or on the rise, what police and the community plan to do about it. Also, if possible, I would contact the victim and get the story from her point of view. This would present a good picture opportunity.
Suspicious fire in Kirkdale warehouse
Arsonists could be behind the fire that severely damaged a two storey warehouse building in Kirkdale, Sydenham, yesterday afternoon.
Flames consumed the empty and disused warehouse and it took six fire engines and around 30 firefighters to put out.
Robert McTaggart, Brigade spokesperson, said: “We are investigating the fire, but fortunately no victims were reported.”
London Fire Brigade is appealing to anyone with information to contact them on 020 7587 2000
Reflective report: As part of our emergency services assignment, I went with a colleague to the local fire Brigade in Uxbridge. Although the visit was interesting and enjoyable, we failed to get any current news stories as there had been no real emergency calls in the past few days.
I decided to look on the London Fire Brigade website for recent emergency calls around London and found a few. I called the press officer to ask about this particular one, as the fact that it was an empty and disused warehouse caught my attention. I spoke to Robert McTaggart, brigade spokesperson, who confirmed that the fire was under investigation and that there had not been any injuries. Neither McTaggart nor the website confirmed the name of the road and only said it took place in Kirkdale. This would be something to look at if doing a follow up of the story.
My original story was a little flat, as I was told after revision. I spiced it up, upon advice, by adding the possibility of an arson attack. The story could be followed up by a report on the course of the investigation into how the fire was started. If indeed arsonists had been involved, it would be interesting to talk to those involved and do a report about criminal and antisocial behaviour around the area.
Flames consumed the empty and disused warehouse and it took six fire engines and around 30 firefighters to put out.
Robert McTaggart, Brigade spokesperson, said: “We are investigating the fire, but fortunately no victims were reported.”
London Fire Brigade is appealing to anyone with information to contact them on 020 7587 2000
Reflective report: As part of our emergency services assignment, I went with a colleague to the local fire Brigade in Uxbridge. Although the visit was interesting and enjoyable, we failed to get any current news stories as there had been no real emergency calls in the past few days.
I decided to look on the London Fire Brigade website for recent emergency calls around London and found a few. I called the press officer to ask about this particular one, as the fact that it was an empty and disused warehouse caught my attention. I spoke to Robert McTaggart, brigade spokesperson, who confirmed that the fire was under investigation and that there had not been any injuries. Neither McTaggart nor the website confirmed the name of the road and only said it took place in Kirkdale. This would be something to look at if doing a follow up of the story.
My original story was a little flat, as I was told after revision. I spiced it up, upon advice, by adding the possibility of an arson attack. The story could be followed up by a report on the course of the investigation into how the fire was started. If indeed arsonists had been involved, it would be interesting to talk to those involved and do a report about criminal and antisocial behaviour around the area.
Tuesday, 13 November 2007
Caracas city guide for Realbuzz.com
I was asked to write a Caracas city guide for realbuzz.com, an online magazine that focuses on travel, sports, fitness and outdoors. I was a bit apprehensive at the thought of writing a tourist guide for Caracas, considering the state of political unrest and prevailing insecurity in the city at the moment. Thinking it over, though, there are plenty of nice things to do around Caracas. I guess being a native, I forget to look at it from a foreigner's point of view. In the end, this is what I came up with:
Caracas city guide by Isabel Garcia-Nevett
The capital of Venezuela is a huge, sprawling, metropolitan city. Although it is not exactly tourist-friendly, there are plenty of things to do for the inspired traveller. People are friendly, restaurants abound and the night-life is very active. The mountains surrounding the city are particularly good for unwinding and getting in touch with nature.
A word of caution: safety is a big issue in Caracas and it pays to be extra careful with your belongings and to avoid certain areas, such as city centre and Petare, especially at night.
Top five things to do in Caracas
Cerro Avila
The city sits within a valley surrounded by the Avila Mountain. Green and huge, this is what Caraquenos miss when they leave the city. There are two options for visiting this lovely place. For an active and healthy outing, there are beautiful walks to Sabas Nieves and El Picacho. A more leisurely way to go up the mountain to enjoy the views is on the cable-car or Teleferico. There are many restaurants at the top, from fondue places to Spanish tapas bars.
Areperas
The traditional areperas are perfect for a bite after a big night out or a hearty breakfast before going off on an expedition in the morning. Their main offerings are arepas: round, flattened portions of dough made with corn-flour with a wide variety of fillings, from the conventional ham and cheese to the more unusual octopus or quail eggs. There are other Venezuelan specialties to be found, such as cachapas (sweet corn pancakes) or chupe de gallina (milky chicken soup with potatoes, cheese and corn). The best areperas are scattered around Las Mercedes and Altamira, with special mention going out to Gran Horizonte (La Castellana) and La Casa del Llano (Las Mercedes).
El Hatillo
There are not too many places to walk around in Caracas, but El Hatillo is definitely one of them. This is a suburb to the south of Caracas, a little higher up the mountain. Parts of it still maintain a very cosy, colonial feel, with a lovely square and church. There are tons of small shops and art galleries around for a nice afternoon visit. Enjoy churros con chocolate in one of the tiny cafes.
Centro San Ignacio
Venezuelans love shopping centres and Centro San Ignacio is one of the most exclusive. It is worth a visit just for the lovely open-space architecture and hip surroundings. This is also one of the biggest night-life centres in Caracas, with some four big discos and around a dozen bars and restaurants open every night. The best mojitos in town can be found here at Roneria Santa Teresa.
Catch a baseball game
Venezuelans are big baseball fans and a trip to a game in the stadium at Universidad Central de Venezuela during the season (between October and January) is a fun experience, especially if you can catch a game between the local team, Los Leones de Caracas, and archrivals Navegantes del Magallanes. This is the Venezuelan equivalent to a Manchester v Liverpool match. There’s beer, food stands and hundreds of friendly locals going crazy over the fate of the lions (Los Leones).
Where to stay in Caracas
The best and swankiest hotels are in La Castellana, with JW Marriott and Embassy Suites standing out as the best. The traditional Hotel Tamanaco, in Las Mercedes, has had a recent face-lift and has the best views of the city in very atmospheric settings.
Where to eat and drink in Caracas
Venezuelans are famous for loving good food. The streets of Las Mercedes offer many excellent restaurants, such as Astrid y Gaston (from famed Peruvian restaurateur Gaston Acuna) and Bar Si, an elegant Thai and sushi joint. Meat is a big part of the local diet, with traditional grill restaurants serving huge cuts of beef with lots of delicious side dishes. Among the favourites are El Alazan in Altamira and Belle Vue in El Hatillo. In the biggest shopping centre, the Sambil, there are many good alternatives that offer great views of the city.
How to get around
The underground is probably the safest way to get around town, although it doesn’t cover the entire city. If using a taxi service, make sure it is from a registered company and discuss the price before setting off. Avoid buses, but if in need try using the Metrobus (part of the underground service).
When to go
Venezuela is right below the Equator and that means the weather is great all year round. The rainy season, between May and September, can be damp. Christmas is a big event in Venezuela, with lots of traditional foods and events, so it is a great time to visit the decked-out Caracas.
Caracas city guide by Isabel Garcia-Nevett
The capital of Venezuela is a huge, sprawling, metropolitan city. Although it is not exactly tourist-friendly, there are plenty of things to do for the inspired traveller. People are friendly, restaurants abound and the night-life is very active. The mountains surrounding the city are particularly good for unwinding and getting in touch with nature.
A word of caution: safety is a big issue in Caracas and it pays to be extra careful with your belongings and to avoid certain areas, such as city centre and Petare, especially at night.
Top five things to do in Caracas
Cerro Avila
The city sits within a valley surrounded by the Avila Mountain. Green and huge, this is what Caraquenos miss when they leave the city. There are two options for visiting this lovely place. For an active and healthy outing, there are beautiful walks to Sabas Nieves and El Picacho. A more leisurely way to go up the mountain to enjoy the views is on the cable-car or Teleferico. There are many restaurants at the top, from fondue places to Spanish tapas bars.
Areperas
The traditional areperas are perfect for a bite after a big night out or a hearty breakfast before going off on an expedition in the morning. Their main offerings are arepas: round, flattened portions of dough made with corn-flour with a wide variety of fillings, from the conventional ham and cheese to the more unusual octopus or quail eggs. There are other Venezuelan specialties to be found, such as cachapas (sweet corn pancakes) or chupe de gallina (milky chicken soup with potatoes, cheese and corn). The best areperas are scattered around Las Mercedes and Altamira, with special mention going out to Gran Horizonte (La Castellana) and La Casa del Llano (Las Mercedes).
El Hatillo
There are not too many places to walk around in Caracas, but El Hatillo is definitely one of them. This is a suburb to the south of Caracas, a little higher up the mountain. Parts of it still maintain a very cosy, colonial feel, with a lovely square and church. There are tons of small shops and art galleries around for a nice afternoon visit. Enjoy churros con chocolate in one of the tiny cafes.
Centro San Ignacio
Venezuelans love shopping centres and Centro San Ignacio is one of the most exclusive. It is worth a visit just for the lovely open-space architecture and hip surroundings. This is also one of the biggest night-life centres in Caracas, with some four big discos and around a dozen bars and restaurants open every night. The best mojitos in town can be found here at Roneria Santa Teresa.
Catch a baseball game
Venezuelans are big baseball fans and a trip to a game in the stadium at Universidad Central de Venezuela during the season (between October and January) is a fun experience, especially if you can catch a game between the local team, Los Leones de Caracas, and archrivals Navegantes del Magallanes. This is the Venezuelan equivalent to a Manchester v Liverpool match. There’s beer, food stands and hundreds of friendly locals going crazy over the fate of the lions (Los Leones).
Where to stay in Caracas
The best and swankiest hotels are in La Castellana, with JW Marriott and Embassy Suites standing out as the best. The traditional Hotel Tamanaco, in Las Mercedes, has had a recent face-lift and has the best views of the city in very atmospheric settings.
Where to eat and drink in Caracas
Venezuelans are famous for loving good food. The streets of Las Mercedes offer many excellent restaurants, such as Astrid y Gaston (from famed Peruvian restaurateur Gaston Acuna) and Bar Si, an elegant Thai and sushi joint. Meat is a big part of the local diet, with traditional grill restaurants serving huge cuts of beef with lots of delicious side dishes. Among the favourites are El Alazan in Altamira and Belle Vue in El Hatillo. In the biggest shopping centre, the Sambil, there are many good alternatives that offer great views of the city.
How to get around
The underground is probably the safest way to get around town, although it doesn’t cover the entire city. If using a taxi service, make sure it is from a registered company and discuss the price before setting off. Avoid buses, but if in need try using the Metrobus (part of the underground service).
When to go
Venezuela is right below the Equator and that means the weather is great all year round. The rainy season, between May and September, can be damp. Christmas is a big event in Venezuela, with lots of traditional foods and events, so it is a great time to visit the decked-out Caracas.
Tuesday, 6 November 2007
Celebrities are crazy people
Last week Naomi Campbell went to Venezuela to hang out with main man, Hugo Chavez. I was as perplexed as the next person, and more than a little outraged. I wondered if she even knew where Caracas was on a map (I wonder if she knows even now...). I don't even think it's her business to know. Then again, celebrities and artists are forever trying to get in touch with their "revolutionary" side, cue Kevin Spacey, Sean Penn and Danny Glover (who have also shaken their thing for the Venezuelan dictator). I could not help but agree with Anne Applebaum's excellent article, which I link here:
http://www.slate.com/id/2177484?Gt1=10636
I hope you enjoy it.
http://www.slate.com/id/2177484?Gt1=10636
I hope you enjoy it.
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