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Judge says environmental studies followed the law and that the government has the right to err on the side of caution
Staff Report
FRISCO — A 20-year ban on uranium mining on lands surrounding the Grand Canyon withstood a legal challenge from industry interests and local governments this week, as U.S. District Court Judge David Campbell ruled in favor of the federal government.
"The Court can find no legal principle that prevents DOI from acting in the face of uncertainty. Nor can the Court conclude that the Secretary abused his discretion or acted arbitrarily, capriciously, or in violation of law when he chose to err on the side of caution in protecting a national treasure – Grand Canyon National Park," Campbell wrote in his Sept. 30 ruling that dismissed the lawsuit.
Salazar announced his intent to withdraw the lands in 2009 and the decision was finalized in 2012 after extensive studies to assess the potential impacts to the environment. Overall, the reviews showed that there was low risk for serious contamination of water sources, but that the consequences could be serious.
A U.S. Geological Survey study found water from 15 springs and five wells in the region where dissolved uranium concentrations exceeded EPA maximu concentrations for drinking water. The agency was uncertain whether these concentrations resulted from mining, natural processes, or both.
The USGS also found that floods, flas floods, and debris flows caused by winter storms and intense summer thunderstorms transported substantial volumes of trace elements and radionuclides, and that fractures, faults, sinkholes, and breccia pipes occur throughout the area and are potential pathways for downward migration of contaminants.
Conservation groups and Arizona's Havasupai Tribe praised the decision.
"The Havasupai support the withdrawal of the lands from mining for the protection of our homes and our water. The ruling today by Judge Campbell recognizes the unique and important resources on the lands south of Grand Canyon that are our aboriginal homelands and within the watershed that feeds our springs and flows into our canyon home," said Havasupai Chairman Rex Tilousi.
The tribe and conservation helped to defend Interior's decision to protect Grand Canyon's springs and creeks, wildlife and vistas from new toxic uranium-mining pollution. The groups and tribe were represented by public-interest law firms Earthjustice and Western Mining Action Project.
"The lands surrounding Grand Canyon are full of natural beauty," said Ted Zukoski, an Earthjustice staff attorney who helped represent the groups in the lawsuit. "The life-giving waters and deer, elk, condors, and other wildlife found there deserve protection from the toxic pollution and industrialization threatened by large-scale uranium mining. That is why it was critical to defend these lands from this self-serving attack by the uranium industry."
The mining industry lawsuit asserted that the Interior Department's exhaustive, 700-page evaluation of environmental impacts was inadequate.
"The court's ruling affirms conclusions by five federal agencies, including scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey," said Grand Canyon Trust's Roger Clark. "Uranium mining poses unacceptable risks to Grand Canyon's water, wildlife, and people. It should be permanently banned from our region."
One of the great symbols of the American West, Grand Canyon was first protected as a national monument by Theodore Roosevelt in 1908, and is surrounded by millions of additional acres of public lands that include wilderness areas, two national monuments, lands designated to protect endangered species and cultural resources, and old-growth ponderosa pine forests.
The canyon area is also home to the Havasupai, Kaibab Band of Paiutes, Hualapai and Navajo tribes and has been designated a World Heritage site. The greater Grand Canyon region attracts about five million tourists and recreationists per year.
Interior's study of the mining time-out showed that, without the withdrawal, 26 new uranium mines and 700 uranium exploration projects would be developed, resulting in more than 1,300 acres of surface disturbance and the consumption of 316 million gallons of water.
Under the ban, existing mine operations are projected to have about one-tenth of the surface impacts and one-third the water usage over a 20-year period. If new uranium mining were allowed, uranium levels in some springs could rise to twice the level of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) drinking water standards and aquifers could be severely depleted, endangering public health and wildlife, and compromising the values of the tribes who consider the springs sacred.
The uranium mining companies have 60 days to appeal Judge Campbell's decision to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and are likely to do so, given their past statements.
"If the mining companies do appeal, we'll be there to defend the Secretary's – and Judge Campbell's – prudent decisions," said Zukoski.
Filed under: BLM, Environment, national parks, public lands | Tagged: Environment, Grand Canyon, Grand Canyon mining withdrawal, pollution, public lands, uranium mining | 1 Comment »
British mining company sues U.S. government over Grand Canyon uranium mining moratorium
Vane Minerals seeks $132 million in damages
By Summit Voice
FRISCO — The long-running battle over uranium mining near the Grand Canyon took another twist this week as a British company, VANE Minerals, sued the United States in Washington's U.S. Court of Claims over the decision to protect 1 million acres of public lands around Grand Canyon National Park from new uranium mining.
VANE's suit claims that uranium mining in Grand Canyon's watershed "would have no adverse impacts." The company is seeking up to $132 million from U.S. taxpayers. This is VANE's second attempt to bring such a suit against the U.S. Continue reading
Filed under: Environment, national parks, public lands | Tagged: Grand Canyon, Grand Canyon National Park, uranium mining, uranium mining moratorium, Uranium One, Vane Minerals | 9 Comments »
Colorado orders cleanup of 'zombie' uranium mines
Deadline set to remove mine waste, revegetate sites
By Summit Voice
SUMMIT COUNTY —A mining company with a long history on noncompliance with reclamation requirements has been ordered to clean up four semi-abandoned uranium mines in southwest Colorado.
An attempt by Gold Eagle Mining Inc, to delay closure of the mines for another five years was successfully challenged by a watchdog group. The mines, have been idle for three decades, despite a state law that requires uranium mines to be reclaimed and closed a maximum of 10 years after mining ceases.
Three of the mines are located in Slick Rock, directly adjacent to the Dolores River. A fourth mine is located on the slopes above the picturesque Paradox Valley. Multiple documents relating to the mines, including copies of inspection reports and warning letters from the state, are posted here.
None of the mines has an environmental protection plan in place, as required by a 2008 state law. Colorado State Rep. Don Coram, who represents the 58th District in the Colorado House, is president of Gold Eagle Mining Inc., which leases the mines from the Department of Energy and operates them under a permit from the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining & Safety. Continue reading
Filed under: Colorado, Environment | Tagged: Colorado, Dolores River, Environment, mine reclamation, Paradox Valley, uranium mining | 7 Comments »
Grand Canyon uranium mining ban withstands another test
Federal judge once again rejects mining industry challenge to withdrawal
By Summit Voice
SUMMIT COUNTY — A moratorium on uranium mining in the greater Grand Canyon region withstood another test this week, as U.S. District Judge David Campbell denied a uranium industry motion to reconsider his previous ruling to let the temporary ban stand.
Mining interests could still go to a federal appeals court, but for now, the withdrawal enacted last year by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar will stand.
"It's another good day for the Grand Canyon, and for rivers, wildlife, and communities across the West," said Ted Zukoski of Earthjustice, one the attorneys representing conservation groups and the Havasupai Tribe in the case. "The court has now twice rejected the uranium industry's attempt to cripple the Interior Department's ability to temporarily protect lands from destructive mining." Continue reading
Filed under: air quality, Environment, national parks, public lands | Tagged: Department of Interior, Earthjustice, Grand Canyon, Havasupai, Ken Salazar, National Mining Association, uranium, uranium mining | 1 Comment »
Colorado: Hearing on controversial uranium mill starts; conservation groups get formal party status
Hearing starts Oct. 15 for what would be the country's first new uranium mill in 30 years
By Summit Voice
SUMMIT COUNTY — After a start-stop permitting procedure for a proposed uranium mill in southwestern Colorado was marred by inadequate public hearings, state officials will once again take input in formal proceedings starting Oct. 15.
This time, a judge has given three conservation groups formal standing for the hearings, which means that environmental advocates will be able to introduce evidence, testify and cross-examine witnesses.
The Piñon Ridge mill is proposed for the Paradox Valley, in southwestern Colorado near the Dolores River. The three groups — Rocky Mountain Wild, Colorado Environmental Coalition and the Center for Biological Diversity — will join the towns of Telluride, Ophir, and San Miguel County in voicing concerns about the proposed mill's threats to air, water, wildlife and tourism. Continue reading
Filed under: biodiversity, Colorado, endangered species, energy, Environment | Tagged: Colorado, Environment, Pinon Ridge Uranium mill, radiation, Telluride, uranium mining, water quality | Leave a comment »
Colorado: South Park to seek federal aquifer protection
Sole source designation could help guard against mining impacts
By Bob Berwyn
FRISCO — South Park residents concerned about impacts of uranium mining and other forms of energy development are seeking federal protection for their water supplies under a sole source aquifer designation from the EPA.
The designation would require more in-depth review of any proposed activities that could affect water supplies. Of special concern is uranium mining near Hartsel, as well as potential development of oil and gas resources. The designation could also result in buffers and other protective measures.
Gaining the EPA designation is a multi-step process beginning Sept. 11 with a meeting of the local environmental advisory board. Citizens will offer a petition requesting the South Park county commissioners to sponsor a formal request for the designation to regional, state and federal authorities. Get an overview of the regional sole source aquifer program at this EPA website. Continue reading
Filed under: BLM, Colorado, energy, Environment, public lands, water | Tagged: Colorado, Energy development, groundwater, sole source aquifer protection, South Park, South Park aquifer, uranium mining | 3 Comments »
Colorado: Court upholds rules that protect water from uranium mining and protect right to public involvement
Canadian company tries to overturn state rules
By Summit Voice
SUMMIT COUNTY — Efforts by a Canadian mining company to bully Colorado came to naught last week, as Denver District Court Judge Christina Habas upheld state regulations that protect water from in situ leach uranium mining impacts.
In its lawsuit against the state, Powertech Uranium Corp. claimed that the Colorado exceeded its legal authority and that adoption of the rules was arbitrary and capricious.
By dismissing the lawsuit, the court also ensured that local communities will have a chance to be involved in the permitting of uranium mines.
"The Colorado uranium mining industry is wrong to keep fighting water quality protections and better public involvement," said Western Mining Action Project attorney Jeff Parsons, who represented local communities that intervened on the side of the State in defending the rules against the Powertech lawsuit. Continue reading
Filed under: Colorado, Environment | Tagged: Colorado, Environment, Powertech Uranium Corp, uranium mining, water quality | Leave a comment »


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Under the influence: 3. Role of parliamentary groupsBMJ 2014; 348 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.f7571 (Published 08 January 2014) Cite this as: BMJ 2014;348:f7571
On 14 July 2013, the chancellor, George Osborne, was among 100 MPs and members of the House of Lords who mingled with guests from the alcohol industry at the 20th annual dinner of the all party parliamentary beer group in Westminster.
Among the various awards handed out that night, there was one for Osborne, named Beer Drinker of the Year for his decision, announced in the spring Budget, not only to scrap the beer duty escalator put in place by the previous government but also to take a further 1 pence off beer duty.
"It is more than the cut in duty for beer," the chancellor told the guests at the dinner. "It is also a symbol that parliament cares about this industry . . . On behalf of all the members of parliament here to all the representatives of the industry, you can hopefully take what has happened this year as a recognition from all of us that we heard what you were saying and we listened and reacted."
Four days later, the Burton Mail printed a photograph of its local MP Andrew Griffiths, pictured side by side with the chancellor at the event, both men clutching pints of beer. As chair of the all party beer group, reported the newspaper, Griffiths too had been presented "with a prestigious award" by the Society of Independent Brewers "for his work for the brewery industry."1
The timing of the publication might have had a bitter resonance for anyone in the public health community who happened to see it. Only the day before, the government had finally announced in parliament that it was scrapping its plan to impose a minimum unit price on alcohol.
Special interest groups
There are 472 all party groups in parliament dedicated to a broad range of subjects, from accident prevention to zoos and aquariums, and hundreds more devoted to promoting the interests of nations and regions from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe.2 Recently, following concerns that these groups "may provide access to lobbyists," parliament's committee on standards proposed reforms to improve transparency. "Improper lobbying," commented Kevin Barron, chair of the committee, "is always a risk and we should be vigilant."3
With a membership of 300 MPs—46% of the total in the House of Commons—and about 100 members from the House of Lords, the beer group is believed to be the largest all party group in parliament and is supported financially by the drinks industry. There are also groups supporting the wine and spirit, Scotch whisky, and cider industries.
Surprisingly, perhaps, although at least 20 members of an all party group must be members of either the House of Commons or the Lords, any individual or organisation can be invited to join as an affiliated member, and whether they are charged a fee is left to the discretion of the group. The register of all party groups shows that in the 12 months from November 2012 to October 2013—during which the U turn over minimum unit pricing was being effected behind closed doors in Westminster—the beer group received a total of £40 209 (€48 200; $65 900) in corporate membership fees, comprised of £5375 each from Heineken, Greene King, Diageo, Molson Coors, Punch Taverns, and AB InBev and £2584 from an eighth pub and bar management company, Mitchells & Butlers.2
The beer group (whose symbol is the parliamentary portcullis logo amended with a foaming head and a handle to resemble a beer tankard) exists to "promote the wholesomeness and enjoyment of beer and the unique role of the pub in UK society [and] to promote understanding of the social responsibility exercised by the brewing and pub industries."
Constituency interests
Andrew Griffiths, the group's chair, is MP for Burton upon Trent, home to the UK operations of Molson Coors Brewing. He has spoken out in the media in defence of the industry, denying that it has broken responsibility deal pledges. "A vast amount of time and effort has been put in by brewers to make the responsibility deal . . . deliver the kind of changes the government wants to see," he told his local paper in July 2012.4
In March 2013, he rose in the House of Commons to thank the chancellor for his "momentous decision" to scrap the beer duty escalator. It was, he said, "a great budget for brewers, a great budget for beer, and a great budget for beer drinkers in Britain"; he was "delighted to support a coalition government who have done more for brewers and pubs than any other government for a generation."5
In an email to the BMJ he pointed out that "I am extremely supportive of minimum pricing and have said so publicly." So he has, chiefly on the ground that ending cheap supermarket promotion of strong beers and cider would "not only tackle the problems of binge drinking and preloading . . . but will support our community pubs and be good for the pub trade."
Griffiths said that in fact about 70 companies made contributions to the all party beer group, mainly to cover the cost of its secretary, and most were below the £1500 threshold for declaration. During last year, however, "we had an exceptional project, our beer tax fraud inquiry and report, which inflated income and expenditure by £21 000." One of the 10 alcohol organisations credited as having contributed towards the cost of the inquiry and its report was Molson Coors, the brewer based in Griffiths' constituency.6
The subject of the report, published in July 2012, was a proposal by HM Revenue and Customs to introduce "new regulatory burdens on brewers to help counter beer tax fraud." It came down against the HMRC's proposal to tackle fraud by introducing a duty stamp for beers, similar to that already in use for spirits.
SABMiller—which did not support the inquiry financially but has been an affiliated corporate member of the beer group—told the inquiry it feared such a move would have "massive cost and brand impact." The report duly concluded that the "superficially simple proposal of extending fiscal marking from spirits to beers is extremely problematic [and] would almost certainly cause detrimental change to the production and sale of UK beers."7
The beer group holds annual awards, and in May 2010 it was Eric Pickles, secretary of state for communities and local government, who gave the speech at the event. He told the industry representatives present that "we take your concerns about regulation very seriously. And we've listened. That's why we've got self-regulation, not central regulation."8
At their best, said Griffiths, all party groups "help ensure that parliamentarians are better informed—for example, by exposing the possible pitfalls for legislators. This emphatically does not mean that the participant MPs become poodles in the service of a particular vested interest, but in forming their views they have a greater understanding to guide them."
Griffiths pointed out that the alcohol misuse group, of which he is also a member, received administrative help from Alcohol Concern. There is, of course, a clear distinction: Alcohol Concern is a charity working to reduce alcohol harm; the beer group's commercial supporters are working to increase alcohol sales.
The beer group, added Griffiths, "prides itself on its transparency, and our administrator, openly funded by a large number of companies with competing interests, is at pains to ensure that our agenda is balanced and that the research we undertake looks at all points of view . . . We are dedicated to supporting the brewing and pub sector . . . but by no means mindlessly."
Hidden links
The industry support provided to the all party Scotch whisky and spirits group, which aims "to promote and facilitate communication and understanding between representatives from the Scotch whisky and spirits industry and MPs," is less transparent. Although it declares no financial or material support from the industry, the group's secretariat is in fact provided by the Scotch Whisky Association, which also hosts a webpage for the all party group, on which it provides no fewer than three public relations contacts, led by Campbell Evans, the association's government and communications director.9
The Policy, Parliament and Promotion section of the Scotch Whisky Association's website states it is "a regular visitor to Westminster and other government departments . . . It attends events, meets MPs, researchers and officials and issues briefings on relevant subjects to ensure the views of the Scotch whisky industry are understood."10
Its views on minimum unit pricing are clear: it believes it would be "illegal, will be ineffective in tackling misuse and will damage the Scotch whisky industry."10
According to Evans, the failure of the group to list his association's support on the register of all party groups is not a breach of the rules governing the operation of such groups because "the very limited support given to MPs in the running of the APG [all party group] falls below the level the parliament sets for the annual return registration."
Evans declined to answer other questions, including how many members the group had, how long his association had supported it, how many times in the past year representatives of the association had met with parliamentary members of the group, and if and when the subject of minimum unit pricing had been discussed with members in the past two years.
Following my request for clarification, Heather Wood, the registrar of members' financial interests, investigated the extent of the Scotch Whisky Association's support of the group and concluded it did indeed fall below the threshold for declaration—raising the point that anyone inspecting the register would remain ignorant of the industry's involvement with the group.
Wood was told by Jim Sheridan, the MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North and the group's chair, that since the general election "the SWA has devoted a maximum of six hours to these services in any one calendar year." The secretariat services provided by the association were limited to "preparing agendas for meetings (four this year) for distribution by others; posting advance notice of the group's meetings in the All-Party Whip; occasionally drafting letters; and the provision of a webpage on the SWA website which bears details of the group's officers and the dates of the meetings."
The total value of these services had amounted to less than £100 in each year, "plus the small nominal cost of a webpage." This £100 seems also to cover the cost of the services of the three public relations officers listed under the heading "Contact information."
The two other pro-alcohol industry groups in parliament are that for cider, which exists "to support the cause of cider . . . and to inform and educate people about its role and importance, especially in rural areas," and for wine and spirits, whose purpose is "to promote and inform on the economic and commercial benefits of the UK wine trade . . . and to introduce parliamentarians to members of the trade from their constituencies."
The Wine and Spirit Trade Association, which has been very active in the campaign against minimum unit pricing, "acts as the [wine and spirits] group's secretariat and also sources wines for the group's tastings and covers the cost of corkage and refreshments for receptions."2
Other than the 400 MPs and members of the House of Lords who are members of the beer group, the total number of parliamentarians who belong to these four cross-party groups, devoted to representing the interests of the beer, wine, spirits and cider industries, remains unclear. Such groups are not required by the rules to produce a full list of members, only the 20 members they must have to qualify for recognition as an all-party group.11
Griffiths volunteered his beer group's entire membership figure. Bridgewater MP Ian Liddell-Grainger, chair of the cider group, did not, referring only to the list of 20 qualifying names on the register. Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, MP for the Cotswolds and chair of the wine and spirit group, referred the query to the Wine and Spirit Trade Association. William Boyack, the association's media and public affairs manager, said membership of the all party group consisted "solely of the 20 qualifying MPs and peers listed on the register." However, "all MPs and peers are invited to group events." Likewise, Samantha Mair, media manager for the Scotch Whisky group's secretary, Brian Donohoe MP, referred to the published list of 20 qualifying MPs and peers and said the group's meetings were open for any parliamentarian to attend.
Griffiths, chair of the beer group, said that while the 20 members whose names appeared on the register "had consented to being identified … we don't make the full list [of 300 MPs and 100 Lords] public routinely, to protect them from unwanted correspondence." This practice, apparently common across all such groups, also makes it impossible to know exactly how many members of the House of Commons are affiliated to the groups supporting alcohol, or which members support more than one such group. However, taking only the number of members who belong to the beer group, it is possible to say that it is at least 46% of all MPs.
Such groups, says John Holmes of Sheffield University's alcohol research unit, "allow industry actors to . . . talk to lots of MPs in a way that just wouldn't be available to any public health group."
Neither is the industry short of direct access to all levels of government.
"The drinks industry is a major exporter and a major part of commerce, and all parts of commerce do have some access to civil servants and ministers," said Tim Ambler, the former chief executive of International Distillers and Vintners (now part of Diageo) and a senior fellow at the Adam Smith Institute.
"Certainly we talk to civil servants and we talk to MPs as an industry, as you would expect us to, not least because when the case is being overstated by the opposition one tries to balance things up a bit."
Daily contact
But the sheer scale of the industry's access to the corridors of power became apparent when the BMJ asked the British Beer and Pub Association—just one of a large number of representative groups and companies—how many meetings its representatives had had in the past year with members of the government or senior civil servants.
That, said David Wilson, the association's director of public affairs, was "difficult to calculate as we . . . will have daily contacts with officials and frequent meetings with ministers and their advisers across a range of government departments," including the Treasury, Home Office, Prime Minister's Office, Environment, Communities and Local Government, Business, Innovation and Skills, Foreign Office, Work and Pensions, Education and the Department of Health.
It's a similar story with the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, AB InBev, and Heineken.
"The WSTA meets with various government departments on behalf of our members," said Boyack before listing a similarly comprehensive list of government departments.
"As you might expect for a large company employing around 2300 people in the UK we have a regular dialogue with the UK government on a wide range of issues," said Jeremy Beadles, corporate relations director for Heineken UK. Again, Heineken was a regular visitor to the Treasury, Home Office, and Department of Health.
As the former chief executive of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, Beadles was a founder member of Andrew Lansley's Public Health Commission, the forerunner of the responsibility deal. When he left the association after six years to join Heineken in 2011, its chairman, Tim How, praised Beadle's "tremendous contribution. . . the association's standing with government and the media has never been higher."12 Heineken joined the responsibility deal in 2011.13
Emma Reynolds, corporate affairs director for AB InBev UK, said: "We engage and meet with government and other stakeholders on issues affecting our people, our consumers and our business on an open and transparent basis." She said she could not provide a list of meetings, "but this information will of course be available through the usual government channels."
Except it isn't. Although a series of freedom of information requests filed with the Treasury, Home Office, Department of Health and Department for Business, Innovation and Skills did provide evidence of the industry's widespread access to government, Ab InBev was not one of the names that came up—suggesting that further interactions between government and industry remain to be uncovered.
In January and February 2013, during the Home Office consultation on minimum unit pricing, Sajid Javid, economic secretary to the Treasury, had no fewer than seven meetings with industry groups. He met "to discuss the alcohol industry"—no further information, such as minutes of the meetings, has been made available—with Greene King, the British Beer and Pub Association, the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, Federation of Wholesale Distributors, Scotch Whisky Association, Association of Convenience Stores, and the National Association of Cider Makers.
The Treasury's information rights unit has twice stalled over a freedom of information request seeking the release of documents relating to these meetings. On 13 December, 34 working days after the initial request was made, it announced a week's delay because, "We have identified some further information and wish to obtain the views of the various bodies on disclosure." On 19 December it blamed "staff unavailability" for having to further delay its response to 10 January.
Like his boss, Chancellor George Osborne, in June 2013 Javid had a beer named in his honour. "In the last budget, I was delighted to not only abolish Labour's unpopular beer duty escalator but also cut beer duty for the first time in over half a century," the MP told his local newspaper after learning that Bird's Brewery in his Bromsgrove constituency had created Sajid's Choice, a 3.5% pale bitter. The beer, Javid added, would be served in the Strangers' Bar at the House of Commons.14
Osborne and Javid were not the only members of the Treasury team so honoured. In July 2013, Danny Alexander, the Liberal Democrat chief secretary to the Treasury, paid a visit to the Strangers' Bar to welcome the launch of a new beer by a company from his constituency, just two weeks before the government abandoned minimum unit pricing. The name, Ginger Rodent, was a reference to a remark made about red headed Alexander in parliament by Labour's Harriet Harman. She later apologised for the slur and was at the launch of the beer.
It was, commented brewery managing director Samantha Faircliff, "fantastic to see it served in parliament. Thanks to Danny for being supportive and helping to promote the brand."15
In addition to Javid's meetings, Treasury officials met with representatives of the alcohol industry on seven occasions between March 2012 and July 2013. "We do not," said a Treasury spokesman, "hold minutes for these meetings."
There is, says Nick Sheron, head of clinical hepatology at the University of Southampton, "a general view that Treasury policies have nothing to do with health, which is obviously completely wrong, because it controls the most important levers we have to deal with alcohol related harm. The Treasury has a really important public health function, and they should be discussing that function with public health experts, but I see no evidence that they do."
In his two years as cochair of the Responsibility Deal Alcohol Network, Sheron had just one meeting at the Treasury, to discuss the possibility of lower tax bands to encourage the production of lower strength wines and ciders. When he arrived, he found himself in the company of eight representatives of the drinks industry and, when the official they were meeting was late, "somebody suggested giving them a ring, at which point everybody got out their phones. All eight had this person's mobile number, which I thought was an extraordinary illustration of the level of connection between the industry and the Treasury."
Departing from the script
But it is not only the Treasury's door that is open to the alcohol industry. On 6 February 2013, the day that the consultation on minimum unit pricing closed, Anna Soubry, then parliamentary undersecretary of state for public health, met to discuss minimum unit pricing with seven representatives of the alcohol industry, including Heineken, the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, Scotch Whisky Association, National Association of Cider Makers, and the British Beer and Pub Association.
According to minutes of the meeting acquired through a freedom of information request, Soubry said that although she had been "convinced by the arguments put forward by a group of liver doctors she had met . . . she acknowledged that the primary responsibility for reducing [alcohol] consumption lay with the individual."
This was a reference to a meeting Soubry had held in December 2012, with representatives of the public health community. A briefing note for the meeting, seen by the BMJ, advises the new health minister to repeat that the government is committed to minimum pricing and say "we welcome views on what level will be appropriate and will consider that through the consultation."
But a summary of the meeting, prepared that evening for Chris Heffer, then head of drugs and alcohol at the Department of Health, suggests Soubry did not adhere rigidly to her script. She was "amusingly, but appropriately frank [and] said she was not convinced about MUP, but willing to be," it reported.
This was an odd position for a new public health minister to adopt in the face of the prime minister's public commitment to the policy. However, added the writer of the summary, later in the meeting, Soubry "said she wavers and at the end (more riskily) said, 'You have swung me the other way.'"
It is not clear why the writer of the email considered it "risky" for Soubry to adopt the declared government line, but other emails obtained by the BMJ reveal nervousness within the Department of Health and the Home Office concerning the level at which the minimum price for alcohol might be set.
The government's preference, set out in its consultation, was for 45 pence a unit. But "what to say," inquired one official the day before the meeting with the public health representatives, "if one of them asks for estimates of impact for a 50p MUP [?] I know [name redacted] said you would not agree this, but what would you say if there were a FOI [freedom of information] request?"
The meaning of this exchange is open to interpretation. But it could imply that, despite its ongoing consultation on the issue, the government had already decided that 45 pence was as high as it was prepared to go—5 pence less than the price preferred by the public health community. The clue to which department might be putting its foot down—and which, ultimately, might have been behind the death of the policy—came in the following email exchange, apparently between officials at the Department of Health and the Home Office in the run-up to the meeting, discussing what to do if the question of a 50p minimum price were raised:
"I don't think HMT [the Treasury] would like it would they?"
"True. I suppose we would have to stall if it comes up tomorrow. Not sure how we would say no in the end, though."
"Probably couldn't if it came to an FOI though we would have to clear any response across Government (and I wouldn't encourage it!)."
When Soubry met representatives of the alcohol industry two months later, they insisted they were "committed to tackling overconsumption" but "expressed deep concern" about minimum unit pricing. It was, they said, a "disproportionate response" that would cost consumers £1bn a year, have a "negative effect on the responsibility deal," and would hit Treasury revenues.
Industry, they added, "preferred a ban on below-cost sales"—and, within a few months, industry would get its way.
According to the Home Office, Soubry and Theresa May, the home secretary, had a subsequent meeting with representatives of the alcohol industry on 3 July, three weeks before May published her response to the consultation on minimum unit pricing.
According to a Home Office response to a freedom of information request, the purpose of the meeting was "to discuss the voluntary action that industry could take to help reduce problem drinking and the crime and health harms associated with it." The meeting was attended by the representatives of 18 organisations, including supermarkets Asda, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, and Tesco; drinks companies Diageo, AB InBev, and Heineken; and industry lobby groups the Scotch Whisky Association, the National Association of Cider Makers, and the Wine and Spirit Trade Association. The industry-funded Portman Group was also represented. According to the Home Office, "no minutes were circulated."
Failing responsibility deal
A few weeks after the industry had pleaded its case for the responsibility deal in its meeting with Soubry, something of a flaw in that deal was exposed at a meeting of the Alcohol Network in the Department of Health's headquarters. Mark Bellis, as a member of the Responsibility Deal Alcohol Network monitoring and evaluation subgroup, questioned whether the pledge made by the industry a year earlier to cut a billion units from the alcohol sold had really achieved anything.
In March 2012, health secretary Andrew Lansley had cited the pledge as an example of "what can be achieved for individuals and families when we work together with industry," adding it formed "a key part of the shared responsibility we will encourage as part of the alcohol strategy."16
Now, a year later, Bellis wasn't so sure.
"What people were looking for throughout the Responsibility Deal were win-wins, which don't damage industry's profits but reduce the massive negative consequences of alcohol use across the country," he says. "But when you consider that the biggest source of income for alcohol companies is people who drink more heavily, looking for win-wins in there is pretty difficult."
The billion unit pledge, he feared, was not a win-win. "Industry can stand up and say we are selling more low alcohol beer, and I'm not going to argue with that," he said. "The difficulty with this is that there is a very important distinction between selling more low alcohol product and selling more instead of selling more higher alcohol products. If it is not reducing the overall alcohol content of the 'national drink,' it isn't of public health relevance."
Bellis says he is not at liberty to reveal figures disclosed during responsibility deal meetings. "I'm in a position now where the faculty has resigned from the network and I can't comment on confidential data which was shown me as part of the process. What I can say is that the bottom line is that if the idea is to reduce the alcohol-by-volume of the 'national drink,' the trends are in the opposite direction."
During a presentation in April 2013 to the European Alcohol and Health Forum—the European equivalent of the UK's responsibility deal network—Scott Wilson, the director of corporate affairs at Molson Coors Europe, said it was too early "to build robust substitution data but the early indicators are that low strength will take the vast majority of its volume from higher strength drinks in the UK."17
Internal documents dating back to January 2012 show that just two months away from the launch of the billion unit pledge there was concern within the Department of Health that the responsibility deal was faltering. "It is becoming increasingly apparent," read a briefing note for Paul Burstow, then health minister and cochair of the deal's alcohol network, "that greater commitment is need[ed] from the major retailers if the next phase of collective pledges is to make a significant impact."
Burstow was being briefed for a meeting on 24 January 2012, with Henry Ashworth, chief executive of the industry funded Portman Group and his newly appointed cochair of the alcohol network, and prior to a full meeting of the group two days later.
Ashworth, noted the minister's briefing, had been appointed to the Portman Group in the autumn of 2011 after having worked for the government in the business department's better regulation executive and in the behavioural change unit at the Cabinet Office. Once again, the industry was able to take advantage of "revolving door" syndrome.
Ashworth, added the briefing, would be "an unknown quantity" for many in the alcohol network but had had "extensive contact with industry" from his time at the business department. He might "also be free of some of the baggage that has previously weighed down relationships with heath NGOs [non-governmental organisations] if he can persuade them that his leadership will act as a new broom."
Whatever the truth of the net value of the billion units pledge to public health, or the extent of Ashworth's role in keeping it flying after its launch two months later, by the time the government's consultation on its alcohol strategy closed in February 2013 it was already becoming apparent that the entire responsibility deal had served its purpose as one of the tactical bricks in the wall of social responsibility the industry had built to protect itself from the threat of regulatory interference.
Supermarkets add to pressure
The story of a private meeting between the secretary of state for health and the chief executive of Asda supermarket—held three months after the government's public consultation on minimum unit pricing for alcohol had supposedly closed—reveals not only the ease with which big players in the market can gain access to the highest levels of government but also the incestuous web of influence spun by the think tanks and lobbying companies paid to lobby on their behalf.
According to emails released to the BMJ under a freedom of information request, around April 2013 Asda contacted a special adviser in the Department of Health to seek a meeting with Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary. Among other issues, the company wished to discuss the "Alcohol Strategy, the status of the Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) proposal, and alternatives that will encourage responsible alcohol use without penalising poorer families."
Under the circumstances, it was a curious shopping list. So far as the outside world was concerned, the government had already committed to the principle of minimum pricing. Its consultation, which had run from the end of November 2012 to 6 February, had been concerned only with the level at which the price should be set.18
Along with many other companies with an interest in alcohol, Asda had responded to the government's consultation with a written submission expressing its opposition to the policy, which would "represent a significant additional burden on our customers at a time when they can least afford it."
There was also a reminder that, as Scotland's experience had shown, "minimum pricing could be tied up in the courts for years." Far better, said the firm, to rely on the responsibility deal and its commitment to remove a billion units of alcohol from the market. Better still, why not double that target?19
Now, two months after the consultation had closed, Asda's chief executive, Andy Clarke, saw fit to make his case against minimum pricing face to face with Jeremy Hunt.
More surprisingly, perhaps, Hunt saw fit to allow him to do so. The emails also reveal that a similar meeting was held with Tesco on 12 June.
On 2 May, Asda had a "pre-meeting" at the Department of Health with Sam Talbot Rice, a former director of research at the Centre for Policy Studies, the right wing think tank. Talbot Rice had been appointed as one of the secretary of state's special advisers shortly after Hunt had succeeded Andrew Lansley in September 2012. Representing Asda at the meeting were Paul Kelly, head of corporate affairs; Allan Edwards, head of public affairs; and Martin Le Jeune, a founding partner of the communications agency Open Road, which specialises in healthcare public affairs and communications and whose clients also include Coca-Cola, AstraZeneca, Sanofi Pasteur, and Bristol-Myers Squibb.20
Talbot Rice and Le Jeune had something in common. Le Jeune, a former civil servant in the Cabinet Office, had spent three years as director of public affairs at broadcasting company Sky before cofounding Open Road in 2007. But he was also a fellow of the Centre for Policy Studies, where Talbot Rice had previously worked.
Alumni of the centre were an influential force in at least two of the government departments most involved in the debate on minimum pricing. At the same time as Talbot Rice had been installed at the Department of Health, Stephen Parkinson, another former head of research at the centre, was appointed a special adviser by Teresa May at the Home Office.21
Following the "pre-meeting" with Talbot Rice, a meeting was scheduled between Hunt and Asda's Clarke and Kelly for 15 May. Liz Woodeson, director of health and wellbeing at the Department of Health, and Richard Cienciala, deputy director of obesity and food policy, would support Hunt.
On 10 May, Hunt received a written briefing ahead of the meeting, which noted that it had been called "to discuss the progress Asda has made to date on the Responsibility Deal and their future engagement." Hunt was given a list of "Suggested points to make" during the meeting. He should "recognise their leadership—in particular their individual pledge to remove alcohol from their foyer." No other store had followed Asda's example, which was "something they feel exposed by."
Then followed a list of other issues to be discussed only if raised by Asda, including the alcohol strategy and minimum unit pricing. "Thank Asda for strong support on alcohol," read the briefing note.
Next came a passage which seems to indicate that the government's consultation— supposedly solely about the level to set the minimum price—had been a sham.
"Asda are opposed to MUP," continued the briefing. Hunt's line should be "Government still considering the issue. Could be open to alternative proposals from industry. Welcome Asda's views on this."
Talbot Rice left the Department of Health in May 2013. In October the advisory committee on business appointments approved his application to return to working as an independent consultant for the Centre for Policy Studies22 23—an organisation that has attacked the policy of minimum unit pricing as "illogical, authoritarian nonsense . . . illiberal [and] unfair."24
Whisky Association lobbying on European strategy
A hectoring email sent to several government departments by Gavin Hewitt, the chief executive of the Scotch Whisky Association, reveals much about the nature of the relationship between the alcohol industry and the British government.
The BMJ has discovered that in October 2012 the health departments of Britain, Sweden and Ireland presented a joint paper about the future of the European Union's alcohol strategy to a meeting of policy makers in Brussels.
The three nations were calling for a renewed EU alcohol strategy that would "better support member states' alcohol policy objectives." The most effective policies, they said, were population level instruments such as taxation and minimum unit pricing, as had been envisaged in the World Health Organization paper Alcohol in the European Union: Consumption, Harm and Policy Approaches.25 In the light of David Cameron's U turn over minimum unit pricing in July 2013, the paper makes fascinating reading.
For Hewitt and the alcohol industry, however, the message was disturbing. In email correspondence acquired by the UK based Institute of Alcohol Studies and seen by the BMJ, Hewitt says his association is "disappointed to learn" that the Department of Health, in conjunction with its counterparts in Ireland and Sweden, has circulated the paper "calling for a radical revision of the EU alcohol strategy."
Although he does not say how, Hewitt reveals he has seen the paper, "which seeks support for . . . a range of whole population measures to tackle alcohol misuse," including "cross-border harmonisation of taxation and/or minimum pricing, restrictions on advertising and availability."
Hewitt points out that five EU states have raised legal objections to Scotland's proposal to introduce minimum unit pricing, which "thus has no place in policy options for the UK government in addressing alcohol harm."
He then expresses his hope that at the forthcoming meeting the UK government "will continue vigorously to promote a co-regulatory/self-regulatory approach and extol the benefits of innovative solutions, such as the Responsibility Deal, as effective alternative approaches to regulation in tackling alcohol-related harm."
He concludes with what amounts to an astonishingly high handed reprimand of the Department of Health by the drinks industry.
"We find promotion by the DoH of this . . . paper at odds with the UK's current alcohol strategy approach and contrary to the UK Government's strategy to promote export growth of alcoholic products, as recently promulgated by Defra [Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs] and BIS [Business, Innovation and Skills]," he writes.
"There are serious internal inconsistencies . . . I would appreciate clarification before the meeting in Brussels [of] whether this paper . . . has been seen or cleared with other Whitehall departments who have a clear policy interest in the UK positioning on the development of the EU alcohol strategy."
Hewitt's authoritarian tone doubtless owes much to his own high level career in government service. After three years at the Ministry of Transport, he joined the diplomatic service in 1970, working as part of the team negotiating the UK's entry into the European Community. Before becoming chief executive of the Scotch Whisky Association in 2003, he had served the British government as ambassador to Croatia, Finland, and Belgium.26
Katherine Brown, director of policy at the Institute of Alcohol Studies, said it was "outrageous to see drinks industry trade bodies throwing their weight around, at the heart of government, in an attempt to obstruct policies designed to save lives. It is for government officials to decide on UK alcohol policy priorities, not the Scotch Whisky Association."
It was, she added, "of great concern that the SWA would expect to achieve results through this unacceptable course of action, which clearly demonstrates their true motives for engagement with government—to protect their profits over and above protecting public health."
Hewitt stepped down as chief executive of the Scotch Whisky Association at the end of 2013. Since 2011 he had also been president of Brussels based industry group Spirits Europe.27 His successor as chief executive of the Scotch Whisky Association comes with equally impressive political credentials. From 2010 to 2013 David Frost, a former British ambassador to Denmark, was director for Europe, trade, and international affairs at the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills.
"My career to date working in economic, trade, and EU affairs in the UK and overseas has given me a wealth of experience of global commercial issues which will stand me in good stead in my new role in the Scotch Whisky industry," Frost said in September, when his appointment was announced.28
An email exchange obtained under a freedom of information application shows that Frost was no stranger to the drinks industry during his time at the Department for Business. On 5 September he received an invitation from Franz Humer, the chairman of Diageo, to attend the company's annual "business in the civil service" luncheon at Claridge's in London on 10 December. It is clear from the exchange that this was an event he had attended before. "I will actually have left the Civil Service by that point for a job in business," Frost replied. "I don't know whether that disqualifies me or makes it more relevant?"
The invitation stood, said Diageo, which also arranged to invite his successor.
Exemptions from freedom of information
The Freedom of Information Act provides government departments with a range of excuses for declining requests for documents. Some information can be withheld under section 40(2) of the act, which prevents a public body disclosing certain personal information in contravention of data protection principles.
This section and section 42, which relates to legal professional privilege, was invoked by the Department of Health to cloak some details surrounding a meeting in May 2013 between ASDA and Jeremy Hunt, the secretary of state for health, to discuss the government's responsibility deal.
The Section 42 exemption, said the department, was intended "to provide confidentiality between the Department and its professional legal advisers to ensure openness between them and safeguard access to fully informed, realistic and frank legal advice."
Although the request for the information was made in October, five months after the event, "we have concluded that it is still relevant to current decision-making and possible legal challenges. Therefore we believe there remains a substantial public interest in maintaining the confidentiality of this legally professionally privileged material."
A standard fallback defence against releasing information under a freedom of information request is cost. Section 12(1) of the act allows a body to refuse the request if complying with it would exceed "the appropriate limit of £600," which represents three and a half working days. Faced with a request for documents relating to multiple meetings, this section of the act opens up the possibility of a department choosing which to disclose.
For example, responding to a request for documents relating to 18 specific meetings between July 2011 and December 2012, the Department of Health singled out for exclusion all documents relating to eight one-to-one meetings held in 2012 between Andrew Lansley and eight of the biggest supermarkets.
Likewise, no information was forthcoming about what was discussed by Bill Morgan, a special adviser to Andrew Lansley, at two lunches in August 2011 with two lobbying companies Burkitt Communications, which specialises in "political and government relations [and] healthcare policy communications," and RLM Finsbury, which advises companies on "public policy and regulatory affairs" and prepares executives for appearances before parliamentary committees and EU hearings.
In December 2012 it was announced that Morgan was leaving the health department and returning to his former employer, lobbying firm MHP Communications, as a senior adviser.
"Bill is one of the smartest thinkers in health policy today," commented Mike Birtwistle, managing director of of MHP Health Mandate in a press release at the time. "He has been at the very heart of the NHS reforms and his strategic mind will help us help our clients on how best to influence change in the new NHS."
Cite this as: BMJ 2013;347:f7571
Competing interest; I have read and understood the BMJ policy on declaration of interests and have no relevant interests to declare.
Provenance and peer review: Commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

subset: commoncrawl


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Jun 5, 2014My husband and I have recently started watching this show and we are hooked. Thanks to Netflix we can fly through the episodes. The characters are great together and the story line is addictive. A+ for the writers and actors that make this show so fun to watch!… Full Review »
Mar 11, 2012This review is made after having watched the full season. Other reviewers here have posted there responses after only a few episodes; not an ideal way to review a season if you ask me. Season 3 of White Collar sticks to the formula that's made this show great but ditches the pointless cliffhangers that were apparent in the first two seasons. There's no equivalent to "the music box" this season. There is still a sub-plot that carries over episode-by-episode however it's far more pertinent to the basis of the show and to the individual cases each episode. The chemistry between the two lead actors hits an all-time high this season, with some scenes that would make you question whether this is an investigative detective show or a serious drama. Mozzy and El also shine throughout the season as they are given more important roles. While the show gives us "much of the same", that is also what always make the show great. Worth a full watch, all episodes, no question.… Full Review »
Oct 7, 2011Its a creative show. It would probably do better on a different network. The acting is good, and its a nice comparison to Burn Notice and Covert Affairs.… Full Review »


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6 Sensational Summer Adventures for Families
Great family adventures that you can enjoy in the summertime. By Kristi Marcelle
Looking for kid-friendly adventure this summer? Add some excitement to your family vacation with fresh ideas for summer-ready entertainment. Ride the rapids or ride your bike, swim with the sharks, surf the waves or take it easy on a lazy river. Outdoor adventures for kids abound during summer's endless days of sunshine.
Island Hop on a Ferry
Why: These ferry rides are short and sweet yet come with all the excitement of a boat ride.
Where: Sail from the tip of the peninsula in Door County, Wisconsin, across shipwrecked-strewn Death's Door Passage enroute to Washington Island where a 2-hour narrated tram tour awaits. For an urban experience, catch unparalleled views of the Statue of Liberty and New York City on the Staten Island Ferry. Over 60,000 commuters and tourists ride the ferry daily and this free activity is a must-do when in New York City with kids.
Get Lazy on a River
Why: It's perfect for a multi-generational vacation.
Where: Float through the Tonto National Forest on the Lower Salt River in Phoenix. It's tubing central in the summer with an opportunity to glimpse wild mustangs along the river bank. Other creatures lurk in the foliage along the Waikolohe Stream at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Oahu. Hidden statues of the mischievous menehune wait to be discovered as you float through lush Hawaiian landscape.
(MORE: Rest your weary head in a kid-friendly hotel in Phoenix.)
Swim with the Leopard Sharks
Why: The harmless leopard sharks congregate in San Diego during the summer months.
Where: The leopard sharks gather in front of the Marine Room restaurant at La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club in La Jolla Shores. Snorkel, kayak or swim with the sharks as they tumble in the waves and brush past your leg.
Watch Whales Catch Their Dinner
Humpback Whales Feeding in Alaska (Flickr: Peat Bakke)
Why: Humpback whales in Southeast Alaska are masters at group feeding. They blow a net of bubbles around a school of fish to disorient them and then surge up to the surface with open mouths to scoop up the bounty.
Where: Take a whale watching excursion near Juneau, Alaska and there's a good chance you'll see a bubble net feeding.
Ride the Rapids
Why: Everyone unplugs with no electronics available.
Where: The South Fork of the American River is beginner and family-friendly. O.A.R.S. offers one and two-day trips and with names like Troublemaker and Hospital Bar, the class lll rapids have the seven and older crowd screaming for more. Ready for a longer trip? Spend four days in Utah and Colorado rafting the Green River though sandstone canyons filled with petroglyphs, fossils and bighorn sheep.
(MORE: Find a great family-friendly Utah hotel near you.)
Pedal Through the National Parks
Why: Bike riding with kids is the ultimate family road trip.
Where: Yosemite National Park has over 12 miles of paved biking paths. Get off the bus, get a map, rent a bike and explore the floor of Yosemite Valley at your leisure. Want a more organized trip? Pedal past herds of bison on Austin Adventures' popular Wyoming family trip that explores Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons on a multi-sport adventure that includes hiking, biking and rafting.
Kristi Marcelle, a California-based freelance writer, contributed this to MiniTime.com.
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The Hearts and Stars Gala was a great event, and I am glad that Lisa is doing her part for this charitable organization as well as others. Lisa is a very generous person, and I am happy to see her giving back to the community. To call what Lisa is doing "cute" is to give it less credence than it deserves, but that's just me. Lea has the uncanny ability to make an "innocent comment" sound like a dig. Even when she claims something is a "joke" it is always so gratuitously hurtful (i.e. greencard) that it is impossible to join in her borderline sinister/hysterical laughter. The sheer number of insults disguised as jokes that she follows with "uproarious laughter" as someone recently commented, is off putting in every way. If you study Lea closely, you will see that at one point or another she mocks and belittles everyone (even those who she has now decided are weak enough to be allies). She plays all sides against the middle, and she does it rather brilliantly -- I'll give her that. As the season progresses you will see that her relationships are in a constant state of evolution; note that I am not one of the pawns in her elaborate socialite chess game. I am merely a mildly amused observer. Checkmate.
I was noticeably uneasy at the gala. The Rodolfo/Karent situation has escalated far beyond what is necessary and having to partake in an evening with them was quite uncomfortable. Because of this, I made every effort to avoid eye contact, physical proximity, and ultimately conflict with either one of them. It is unfortunate that Karent behaves in such an overzealous manner. Be it in her personal life with Rodolfo and the reptilian PDA with which she convinces everyone that they are a couple, or with friends like Thomas Kramer, who despite Karent's personal claim, acknowledges that he has been friends with the other ladies for decades. Her behavior always seems desperate and exaggerated, not unlike that of the protagonist in a real life telenovela. Frankly, I don't know this TK guy from a hole in the wall, and I can't say I care to; but apparently it is imperative to Karent that we all know that they are "dear friends," that he "wishes he could date her," and that there is a lot of photographic evidence regarding the same. OK, noted. LOUD AND CLEAR.
I went to visit Alexia the afternoon of the Venue event, because I knew she was a bit nervous about it. She had been out of the loop after Frankie's accident, and the prospect of a big event like this one was daunting. I wanted to show my support and reassure her, sinceI was certain the event would go off without a hitch. A peek into next week's episode confirms that Alexia's nervousness was not misplaced.


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City collects 889 taxi complaints in 2013
An average of just over two complaints daily came into City Hall about taxi services in Ottawa last year.
An average of just over two complaints daily came into City Hall about taxi services in Ottawa last year.
An autopsy was conducted Friday morning to determine how a man in his 20s was killed early on Thursday.
The Ottawa Catholic School Board has had a change of heart.
Cops believe a pair of violent robbers were after something specific when they forced their way into a Lees Ave. apartment earlier this month -- beating a man into a coma and threatening his girlfriend with a syringe.
Cops are looking for an intruder who sexually assaulted a Barrhaven woman at knifepoint in her home.
A cyclist died following a collision with a garbage truck on Clyde Ave. Thursday morning, Ottawa police say.
Police are asking for the public's help as they piece together how a 58-year-old man's brutally beaten and bloodied body ended up in an isolated area near the South Keys shopping mall early Thursday.
Has your child ever been bullied, ever been called names, hurtful words like faggot or gay, ugly, fat or short?
Desperately needy since his addict mother abandoned him as an infant, a man convicted of murder in the 2010 shooting death of a Barrhaven teen was looking for acceptance in all the wrong places, his defence lawyers argued Thursday.
Of all the lobbying that happens at City Hall, the zoning bylaw is the most common subject brought up with municipal officials.
The province's Special Investigations Unit has wrapped its investigation into the death of an Ottawa Police officer at the Elgin St. headquarters.
Bullets tore into a west end home where several children were playing on Wednesday night, but luckily no one was hurt.
Two teen girls and a teen boy have been charged in connection with two swarmings in the city's west end, Ottawa police say.
Someone appears to be able to listen to what is being said in the kitchen of the Barrhaven family who are at the centre of a major swatting investigation.
Mayor Jim Watson and MP John Baird are giving themselves 100 days to figure out what to do about the city's western LRT plans.
Stronger regulations and enhanced signage leading up to railway crossings could prevent the "staggering" number of accidents between trains and vehicles in Canada like the one in 2013 between an OC Transpo bus and a Via train that killed six people, says the chairwoman of Transportation Safety Board.
Isabelle Chene expects to be getting more bang for her buck this weekend when she takes advantage of local Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals to kickstart her Christmas shopping.
Sina Fattizzo recently moved to Kemptville and has no problem heading south on Hwy. 416 at the end of the workday.
Carleton University's Graduate Students' Association claims it has nothing to do with the "massive deficit and embarrassing financial situation" the undergraduate student association (CUSA) finds itself in.
The father of a Barrhaven teen at the centre of a massive swatting investigation is now being treated as a person of interest in this past week's cyber-attack campaign.


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Featured AffiliateCare2
Establishing marine protected areas to fight illegal fishing
November 25, 2014 09:10 AM - Kerry Klein, MONGABAY.COM
Do you know how that tuna sashimi got to your dinner plate? Probably not—and chances are, the restaurant that served it to you doesn't know, either. A new policy paper argues that illicit fishing practices are flying under the radar all around the world, and global society must combat them in order to keep seafood on the menu. According to the paper, published in Science, fishing practices that are illegal, unreported and unregulated (collectively referred to as IUU) are ubiquitous. They range from bottom trawlers scouring the seafloor—sometimes catching more illegal species than legal ones—to small boats simply not reporting their catch.
Climate change, species extinctions and tipping points
November 25, 2014 07:35 AM - North Carolina State University via EurekAlert.
Researchers from North Carolina State University have created a model that mimics how differently adapted populations may respond to rapid climate change. Their findings demonstrate that depending on a population's adaptive strategy, even tiny changes in climate variability can create a "tipping point" that sends the population into extinction.
Carlos Botero, postdoctoral fellow with the Initiative on Biological Complexity and the Southeast Climate Science Center at NC State and assistant professor of biology at Washington State University, wanted to find out how diverse populations of organisms might cope with quickly changing, less predictable climate variations.
Hope for the Monarch Butterfly
November 24, 2014 03:59 PM - Imogen Mathers, SciDevNet
When millions of monarch butterflies take to the sky and fly thousands of kilometres from the United States and southern Canada to Mexico, the view is breathtaking. But over the last few decades, their numbers have plummeted, and last year hit an all-time low. Illegal logging in Mexican forests, where the monarchs hibernate during winter, has traditionally been to blame. But large-scale logging by companies appears to have been halted. And now small-scale logging by local people for firewood and timber — a "growing concern in 2013" — has also stopped, according to a study published last month (27 October) in Biological Conservation.
World Bank warns effects of warming climate now unavoidable
November 24, 2014 11:29 AM - , ClickGreen
As the planet continues to warm, heat-waves and other extreme weather events that today occur once in hundreds of years, if ever, will become the "new climate normal," creating a world of increased risks and instability, a new World Bank study warns.
The consequences for development would be severe as crop yields decline, water resources shift, sea-levels rise, and the livelihoods of millions of people are put at risk, according to a new scientific report released today by the World Bank Group.
Good News for the Black-Footed Ferret
November 24, 2014 11:21 AM - Tex Dworkin, Care2
When you hear about an animal becoming extinct, most assume that the species is gone for good, never to be seen again. That's not the case for North America's rarest mammal, the black-footed ferret. 35 years after being declared extinct, the adorable critter is re-emerging in the western U.S. and Canadian prairie land.
If ladybugs move into your house this fall, make them welcome
November 21, 2014 09:49 AM - Rob Forman, Rutgers University
During the warm months of the year, ladybugs are like adorable, bright-colored lapel pins. They land on us, accessorize our clothing in brilliant red or orange with stylish black spots, and are delightful to have around. Several cultures even think of ladybugs as good luck charms for anything from marriage to childbirth to the weather to a good harvest. Then fall arrives and the ladybugs need to find warmth, which is most available inside people's homes – where they often descend in large numbers. Suddenly they're not as cute to many people as they seemed outdoors. But Jessica Ware, an insect expert and assistant professor of biology at Rutgers University-Newark, says having ladybugs indoors serves a very useful purpose, and humans should welcome their temporary houseguests.
310 Species Added to IUCN Red List
November 18, 2014 07:46 AM - Jeremy Hance, MONGABAY.COM
Today, 22,413 species are threatened with extinction, according to the most recent update of the IUCN Red List. This is a rise of 310 species from the last update in the summer. The update includes the Pacific bluefin tuna (moved from Least Concern to Vulnerable), the Chinese pufferfish (newly listed as Critically Endangered), and Chapman's pygmy chameleon (also newly listed as Critically Endangered).
Study Tracks Southern Beaufort Sea Polar Bear Population Decline
November 17, 2014 12:30 PM - USGS Newsroom
In a new polar bear study published today, scientists from the United States and Canada found that during the first decade of the 21st century, the number of polar bears in the southern Beaufort Sea experienced a sharp decline of approximately 40 percent. The scientists, led by researchers at the U.S. Geological Survey, found that survival of adult bears and cubs was especially low from 2004 to 2006, when most of the decline occurred.
New protection for migratory birds
November 14, 2014 01:53 PM - Editor, The Ecologist
Two new international agreements will help to save migratory birds from hunting, trapping and poisoning, and to protect their long-distance flyways. A key objective is to phase out lead shot within three years, and eliminate the toxic drug diclofenac.
Mongoose sentinels coordinate their duty
November 13, 2014 05:49 AM - Julie M Kern and Andrew N Radford, University of Bristol.
Just as soldiers on sentry duty constantly adjust their behaviour to match the current threat level, dwarf mongoose sentinels exhibit flexible decision-making in relation to predation risk, new research from the University of Bristol has shown.
Biologists Julie Kern and Dr Andy Radford found that decisions about when to go on duty, what position to adopt and how long to remain on post were all affected by information about the likelihood of danger. Sentinels altered their behaviour depending on both environmental conditions, such as wind speed and social signals, such as alarm calls.


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Blue Parrot
This fun, bright drink is as unexpected as the bird of its name at your wedding, but it can also serve a traditional role as your something blue.
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Blueprint Martini
A drink that can easily be dressed up or down, the Blueprint martini takes the crystal-clear, life-affirming qualities of vodka and adds what we choose to view as the antioxidant properties of the blueberry. The result: a late-night nectar that tastes good and at least sounds good for you -- whether it is or not.
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Homespun Lanterns
Lanterns made of vintage Mason jars clad in ribbons of whatever color you choose exude homespun charm. Use them to illuminate walkways or arrange on a table with place cards or cocktails. (Beware: Jars get very hot.) To prevent sticking, fill vessels with 1/8 inch of water before setting votive candles inside.
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Personalized Guestbook
A guest book is made for personal notes -- why not personalize the outside, too? Buy a cloth-covered unlined journal, or have one made with your own fabric.Read More
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Blue Seaters
Here's a seating directory that's a blue-ribbon winner. We chose envelopes in various hues, and then mixed and matched ink and ribbon colors. Inside are cards with calligraphed table numbers.Read More
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Nesting Instinct
Paper birds keep watch over egg-shape chocolates with these blue favors.How-To
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Precious Favors
Add sparkle to your reception tables by decorating each place setting with metallic nets filled with foil-wrapped chocolate dragees. The parcels are tied at either end with blue ribbon.Get More Blue Ideas
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Color Cues
A robin's egg, transferware china, and other objects offer color cues. A beribboned cornflower bag holds a favor.Ribbon Loop How-To
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Cake Toppers: Vintage Bride and Groom
Give a vintage bride and groom a new base, add a little blue paper, and call it your own. The most familiar topper becomes uniquely yours when embellished. We gave this classic couple a molded clay dais that was inspired by the intricate sugar-spun fretwork adorning toppers of earlier eras. (Vintage figurines have a lot of character, and they're easy to find at flea markets and online auctions.)See More Cake Topper Ideas
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A Sweet Idea
The simplest touch of blue can ward off bad luck: Made of white chocolate by Christopher Norman Chocolates, these nibbles are displayed in miniature striped blue-and-white paper cups and set out on white china. As an alternative to a dessert buffet, the caterer could set a plate of the chocolates at each reception table.
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Creative Send-Offs
Let guests fete the happy couple with a color-coordinated send-off. The supplies can be handed out before the ceremony or set out at the reception.How-To
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Monogram Floral Wreath
A wreath of blue hydrangeas framing one magnificent initial adorns a tree.Read More
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Amber Alert; Missing Kentucky Girl May be in Alabama
Updated: 03/03/2009 - The state of Alabama has just issued an Amber Alert for a missing child from Kentucky.
Updated: 03/03/2009 - The state of Alabama has just issued an Amber Alert for a missing child from Kentucky.
Updated: 03/02/2009 - The attorney general's office has appealed to the nation's highest court to carry out the execution of a condemned killer from Dale County who's been on Alabama's death row for more than 20 years.
Posted: 03/02/2009 - A weekend shooting critically injured a prep athlete in Lawrence County.
Posted: 03/02/2009 - The Alabama Veterans National Cemetery in Montevallo could be ready to accept burials in May, according to a senior engineer.
Posted: 03/01/2009 - Former lawyer Zach Scruggs arrested again
Posted: 03/01/2009 - An Albertville man has surrendered to face charges Monday in Guntersville in the death of his wife, who was shot at a car wash Friday afternoon.
Posted: 03/01/2009 - Cause of death in man found dead Friday still not revealed.
Posted: 02/28/2009 - The last anchor store in Birmingham's Century Plaza mall, Sears, is closing.
Posted: 02/27/2009 - An Alabama man who faced a five-year prison term after a judge misread sentencing guidelines has received a new ruling that allows him to avoid prison.
Posted: 02/27/2009 - A Jacksonville man has reached a plea agreement and is to spend three years in prison after a 1995 cold case killing was revived by investigators.
Posted: 02/27/2009 - Representative Terry Spicer (D-Elba) introduced legislation this week to allocate an additional $9 million dollars to help rebuild Enterprise City Schools.
Posted: 02/27/2009 - Gov. Bob Riley has awarded a $50,000 grant to help law enforcement agencies keep tabs on criminals in nine southeast Alabama counties.
Updated: 02/27/2009 - Governor Bob Riley on Friday launched a website that will help Alabamians learn more about the federal stimulus law and track how the stimulus dollars are spent in the state.
Updated: 02/27/2009 - Additional $25 per Week Included in Federal Economic Stimulus Law
Posted: 02/27/2009 - Federal authorities say 54-year-old Charles Thurman of Huntsville has been indicted for allegedly e-mailing the White House with a false claim that an individual had threatened to kill President Obama.
Posted: 02/27/2009 - A former bank official has been charged with bank fraud.
Posted: 02/27/2009 - A Mobile, Ala., man has been sentenced in federal court to 65 months in prison for online solicitation of a minor in 2005.
Updated: 02/27/2009 - A tornado moving through Birmingham's southern suburbs has downed power lines and trees and caused minor damage in Chelsea.
Posted: 02/27/2009 - A summary of action in the Alabama Legislature on Thursday, the eighth meeting day of the regular session:
Posted: 02/26/2009 - State officials say double-dipping needs to stop after a state representative was found guilty of fraud.
Posted: 02/26/2009 - Bond has been set at $1 million for 63-year-old Michael Roy Sharpe, an Albertville pediatrician charged with raping a patient under the age of 16.
Posted: 02/26/2009 - - The Alabama Supreme Court has set an execution date of June 11 for Jack Trawick, a convicted murderer known for his graphic writings about his crimes.
Posted: 02/26/2009 - The Jefferson County coroner's office has performed an autopsy on a 23-month-old girl who died shortly after being taken to Children's Hospital in Birmingham.
Posted: 02/26/2009 - During a news conference at the state capitol this morning, Governor Bob Riley outlined the details of a proposal he has submitted that is "a total and complete" overhaul of the state's ethics code.
Posted: 02/26/2009 - Investigators are trying to determine what sparked a mobile home fire that killed an elderly man in Opelika.


text:
Added Nov 1, 2011
by carolyn-s
Perth, Australia
Made using one of the variations of McCalls 2772… an old pattern, and the same one I used last year but I really really like this silhouette. This is based on the bikini design, with an added self-drafted skirt section. I like how the added skirt makes it look slightly old-fashioned, and the bright overly cheerful colour is just what I crave for this summer…
also on my blog here
sunflower yellow swimsuit fabric
Nov 4, 2011, 12.18 PMby picklelilly
Lovely colour and truly inspiring. Since we're in for a hard winter in my part of the world, I'll save this as a favourite to get me through,
Nov 5, 2011, 06.22 AMby carolyn-s
Thanks! I hope your winter is not too hard… :)
Nov 3, 2011, 02.34 AMby poppykettle
These togs are awesome. Love the colour!
thank you!
Nov 2, 2011, 08.24 PMby lizajane09
That is the happiest color ever. Perfect for a swim suit! Lovely.
Thank you Liza Jane!
Nov 2, 2011, 06.39 AMby Ralf Schmitz
oh so lovely! (both the swimsuit and the dog!!)
Nov 4, 2011, 02.09 AMby carolyn-s
Thank you so much! I agree, the pooch is pretty adorable :)
Nov 1, 2011, 11.43 PMby kerstika
I love it!! Great colour, great swimsuit and awesome dog! :)
thank you!
Nov 1, 2011, 11.16 PMby pambox
Brilliant swimsuit, brilliant photo.
Nov 1, 2011, 11.14 PMby mollykatherine
fabulous swimsuit and fabulous picture – the colours are fantastic!
Thank you so much!
Nov 1, 2011, 10.21 PMby urbandon
Wonderful. (Beautiful photo too)
Thanks Don!
Nov 1, 2011, 08.44 PMby nouvellegamine
Nov 1, 2011, 07.39 PMby madebymeg
Nov 1, 2011, 05.36 PMby Liora Litman-Cohen
this is a wonderfull swimming suit and a great picture!
Thank you Liora!
Nov 1, 2011, 04.51 PMby asperge11
love the color, you look great. i'm so jealous that its nearly summer for you; nearly winter here !
Thank you! Yup, we're ready for summer here :)
Nov 1, 2011, 01.45 PMby ArtNinja14
I LOVE IT! I want to get my mom to make me one
Nov 1, 2011, 11.43 AMby nocjestciemna
You look great! And the colour is so sunny, I miss the summer…
Thank you!
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Dietary Salt Reduction
Reducing dietary salt is recommended by the recent United Nations Summit to prevent non communicable diseases and the World Health Organization to improve population health. Excess dietary salt increases blood pressure causing approximately 30% of hypertension and is a probable pro carcinogen for gastric cancer and is also associated with kidney stones and osteoporosis.
Where assessed, the salt consumption is more than 5/g day, maximum quantity recommended by WHO. African descent people are particularly susceptible to the adverse blood pressure effects of excess salt. High levels of blood pressure is a contributory factor in at least 40% of all heart disease and stroke which represent 45 % of NCDs. Hypertension is a major health risk in the Americas where between 20-35% of the adult population has elevated blood pressure.
3rd Meeting of the Salt Smart Consortium. Brasilia, 28-29 Oct
3rd Meeting of Salt Smart Consortium was held in Brasilia (Brazil), on 28 and29 of October 2014. The objective was to advance in harmonization and to agree on regional targets for the salt/sodium content in key food categories. During the meeting was acknowledge the progress with dietary salt reduction in the Region.
:: Technical Advisory Group
- WHO/PAHO Regional Expert Group for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention through Population-Wide Dietary Salt Reduction Final Report. 2011
- Second Meeting of the Expert Group with Countries and Partners: Reviewing Advances and Planning the Second Phase (10/2011)
- First Meeting of PAHO Expert Group on Cardiovascular Disease Prevention through Dietary Salt Reduction (9/2009)
:: Communication Materials
:: Media Center: Salt Reduction
:: Policy Statement
- Policy Statement: Preventing Cardiovascular Disease in the Americas by Reducing Dietary Salt Intake Population-Wide
- Recomendação para as políticas nacionais: Prevenção das doenças cardiovasculares nas Américas através da redução do consumo de sal para a toda a população (In Portuguese)
- Salt Reduction - List of Endorsements
:: Technical Documents
- Targets and timelines for food categories in the Canadian and United States National Salt Reduction Initiatives
- Targets and timelines for food categories in common in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile and the National Salt Reduction Initiative
- Report for the technical meeting on setting targets and timelines to reduce the salt content of food


text:
Alghero Town Apartment Rental Photos and Description
Overlooking the marina and bay of Alghero, with aircon & WiFi
Super self catering 5th floor apartment, with stunning views of the marina and the bay of Alghero
The Lido beach is a short walk & the old town only 2mins away.
There is a well furnished open plan living/dining room with separate kitchen, double bedroom, 2nd bedroom with 2 single beds & 2 bathrooms, one with a bath the other has a shower. There is a lift and WiFi internet access is available..
Outside there is a very large terrace with BBQ, table and chairs and sun loungers to enjoy that view.
There is air conditioning in the living room and double bedroom.
- Suitability:
- children welcome
- non smoking only
- pets not allowed
- suitable for elderly or infirm
- wheelchair inaccessible


text:
Welcome to NZ Fishing World.
The home of fishing tips, expert advice, gear and boat reviews, bite times, and the best fishing spots in New Zealand!
Join the Club and receive eight issues of NZ Fishing World Magazine as well as access to exclusive content such as community forums, fishing competitions and special deals on fishing gear and services.
- Technique
Rookie salt fly tips
A saltwater foray into wand waiving and fluff chucking. Joel Wescot shares his first experience and some tips along the ...Hard
- Technique
So you want to be a Jig Star?
Aaron Levien covers the important elements of mechanical jigging for those who want to get into this technical style of ...Medium
- Technique
The great debate - part 2
An open-minded approach to one of modern fishing's hottest topics.Medium
Get informed before heading out. Fishing conditions, advice, biting times and weather.
Looking for a bargain? Check out these specials and more, from our Tackle Box.
WD Kingfish & Snapper Academy
Shimano Stradic C14
Shimano Curado test


text:
The Beacon
Oil Spill Quote of the Day
From today's Washington Post:
'"I actually have a document that shows that BP actually believes it could go upwards of 100,000 barrels per day," [Democratic Congressman from Massachusetts Edward] Markey said on NBC's "Meet the Press." "So, again, right from the beginning, BP was either lying or grossly incompetent. First they said it was only 1,000. Then they said it was 5,000 barrels. Now we're up to 100,000 barrels."'
Most Viewed
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- Ocean Roundup: Seals Can Pick up Pings from Acoustic Tags on Fish, Climate Change Making Crabs "Sluggish," and More Posted Fri, November 21, 2014
- Oceana's New Report Highlights Uses, Benefits of Global Fishing Watch Technology Posted Mon, November 17, 2014
- Video: Humpback Whales Cause Quite the Surprise As They Hunt for Herring Posted Wed, November 19, 2014


text:
The study was performed at the University of Illinois—Urbana campus.
Original Study
Cytokine concentration in stored canine erythrocyte concentrates
Article first published online: 3 APR 2014
DOI: 10.1111/vec.12160
© Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society 2014
Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care
Volume 24, Issue 3, pages 259–263, May/June 2014
Additional Information
How to Cite
Corsi, R., McMichael, M. A., Smith, S. A., O'Brien, M., Herring, J., Ngwenyama, T. R., Galligan, A., Beloshapka, A. N., Deng, P. and Swanson, K. S. (2014), Cytokine concentration in stored canine erythrocyte concentrates. Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, 24: 259–263. doi: 10.1111/vec.12160
The authors declare no conflicts of interests.
Presented in part at the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Congress, Seville, Spain, September 2011.
Publication History
- Issue published online: 24 JUN 2014
- Article first published online: 3 APR 2014
- Manuscript Accepted: 29 DEC 2013
- Manuscript Received: 7 JUN 2012
Funded by
- University of Illinois—Urbana campus
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I have now made several purchases. Some confusion on my part but the MJM magic team were courteous and replied quickly. Zero shipping cost still...Read More ->
Anyone can offer items for sale. When the experience of the purchase leaves both sides feeling great, you're on the path to great customer...Read More ->


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To access the full Church Times online archive please log in above with your Church Times user email & password
by Madeleine Davies
Posted: 11 Jul 2014 @ 12:13
WITHOUT a full public inquiry, the truth about institutional sex
abuse might not be revealed, the Bishop of Durham, the Rt Revd Paul
Butler, warned on Tuesday.
Bishop Butler, who chairs the Churches National Safeguarding
Committee, was speaking after the announcement on Monday by the
Home Secretary, Theresa May, of an independent inquiry into
"whether public bodies - andother non-state institutions - have
taken seriously their duty of careto protect children from sexual
More than a month ago, the Bishop said, the Archbishop of
Canterbury had written to Mrs May calling for a full public
"A full public inquiry is required, because under those terms
people have to take oaths, and swear to tell the truth," he said on
Tuesday. "My fear is that the whole story won't come out without
"We're absolutely clear that the Church of England and other
Churches need to be involved in this inquiry, as we already know
there are parts of our history that involve churchpeople having
committed abuse.
"So we have to be investigated just like anybody else, and there
will probably be some unpleasant and difficult stories to handle. I
accept that's part of the reality.
"We think there is a real problem around institutional abuse; so
schools, the civil service, the police, politicians, and the Church
need to try to get to the bottom of why people can get into
institutions and use those institutions as safe places to
"Victim survivors need justice, and they need their story to be
heard; and, as a nation, we need to help them to move on."
The Stop Church Child Abuse (SCCA) alliance has campaigned for
an inquiry since 2010. On Wednesday, Anne Lawrence, a barrister and
spokesperson for the alliance, said: "Only a full public inquiry,
which can compel evidence to be disclosed and witnesses to be
placed under oath, will get to the truth of what happened in
institutions in this country, including the church
It should hear from "victims and those who tried to get to the
truth over decades", she said. It would need to last for two to
three years, to "bring about the cultural changes needed in this
country if we are ever to make good on our promise to protect
Investigator: Baroness Butler-Sloss, who is to head the
Government's independent abuse inquiry
The inquiry announced by Mrs May will be conducted by a panel of
experts in the law and child protection. Its non-statutory footing
would mean that it could begin its work soon, she said; and,
because it would initially focus on a review of documents rather
than on inter-views with witnesses, it would be less likely to
prejudice criminal investigations.
She emphasised, however, that,if the inquiry panel chairman
should deem it to be necessary, then "the government is preparedto
convert it into a full public inquiry."
On Tuesday it was announced that the inquiry panel would be led
by Baroness Butler-Sloss, the former president of the family
division of the High Court. In 2010 she was appointed by the
diocese of Chichester to investigate its handling of allegations of
sex abuse, and she identified significant failings in safeguarding
procedures (News, 27 May
2011). In an addendum to her review, published in 2012,
she sought to correct inaccuracies, based on information given to
her by the Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Revd Nicholas Reade, and the
Bishop of Lewes, the Rt Revd Wallace Benn. "I very much regret that
I accepted the information I was given and
did not make further inquiries," she
wrote, adding that, had she been in possession of the new
information, she would not have made any changes to her conclusions
or recommendations (News, 9 March, 2012).
SCCA is campaigning for mandatory reporting of abuse by
professionals. It is supported in this by the Churches' Child
Protection Advisory Service (CCPAS), which on Monday urged Mrs May
to introduce this requirement into law as a matter of urgency. It
would be "an obvious and effective remedy against the scourge of
child sex abuse which is currently stalking our land".
Gresham CollegeFounded
Gresham Professor of Divinity
Gresham College has provided free
public lectures for over 400 years in the City of London and now
operates worldwide via the internet. Fo...
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