Will the Conservatives Follow Through on Climate Change and Energy Policies?

Climate and energy policy may not be the most talked about issue from candidates in the run up to the election; in the current economic climate the focus has been shifted elsewhere in the scramble for crosses on paper, but what might the future hold for environmental issues under a new government? This week we have seen the odds on a Tory government cut considerably, so what would a Tory government offer to those worried about climate policy?

 

Will the Catholic Church be allowed to move on?

The recent allegations of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church has turned into a public relations disaster for the Vatican who, under the leadership of a mild mannered Pope, has failed to take the necessary steps in response to these damning accusations. This failure in crisis management has also unearthed internal power struggles still raging after the Vatican elected Cardinal Ratzinger to the Papacy in 2005. The scandal has also brought to the surface some veiled, but albeit dangerous, sectarian attacks against the Catholic Church.

 

Blair returns: does the Labour Party miss him?

Last Tuesday Tony Blair returned to the Labour Party front-line when he gave a speech to his former sedgefield constituents. In his speech he praised Gordon Brown as the man who made the brave and correct decisions at the right time regarding the economy, “It required leadership. Gordon Brown supplied it”, and criticised the Conservatives for offering nothing more than change for change sake, describing the “time for change” mantra as “vacuous”.

 

One year on from G20, police behaviour still questioned

A large number of protestors on that day behaved badly, the smashing up of a branch of RBS is one notable reminder. What we have to remember is that the police on the front line that day are individuals who will react to aggression in the same way as the protestors did on that day, and in the same way that most people would – namely to meet aggression with aggression. The bigger picture at stake here,……

 

Rehabilitation must prevail over retribution

As horrible as the murder of James Bulger was in 1993.The need to uphold the anonymity of Jon Venables and Robert Thompson must be the priority of our Criminal Justice System if we are to avoid a descent into a MediEvil witch hunt ending in one, or both, of the murderers death. What this case does show is that a far more effective form of justice and punishment is rehabilitation, not retribution.

 

1989 wasn’t the ‘end of history’ for China.

Our theme of the month for February – China – has come to an end. Two key points of note should be highlighted following discussions amongst our contributors. Firstly, Ossie Froggatt-Smith pointed out how in 2009, China rose to the top of the IPO market. Chinese companies sold shares in its companies totalling some $50.4 billion in comparison to the $24 billion of shares sold by U.S companies. Ossie also argued that the potential opening up of the Shanghai…..

 

A difficult year for tigers?

2010, the Chinese year of the tiger, may be a difficult year for both the literal and metaphorical big cat. While wild tiger numbers have fallen to 3,200, China faces a year of possible difficulties. The fear of rampant inflation, continued conflict over Tibet and other areas of China’s relations with the wider world, and an increase in protectionism could all combine to trip up the Chinese behemoth.

 

UK market regulators should look to Shanghai

by Ossie Froggatt-Smith

This Valentines’ Day the Chinese year of the tiger begins. 2009, year of the ox, saw China rise to the top of the IPO market. Chinese companies going to market sold $50.4 billion worth of shares in 183 deals, 45 percent of global IPO volume compared to the US’ $24 billion from 54 companies. There is no bear in Chinese astrology.

 

The Jury shouldn’t be out on Obama.

One year into his Presidency it seems that the jury is already out on Obama. For an individual who was elected as a visionary and under the banner of ‘hope’ only time will tell whether ‘hope’ materialised into real ‘change’. Ignoring the reasons for his election, one year is too short a time to judge anyone’s tenure as an elected President.

 

Forget cynicism about Obama. Do not forget significant change

The opinion polls put Barack Obama as the least popular President in his first year since Eisenhower. Could it be that the corporate buy-out of American political institutions – poison from the interests of the oil industry, private healthcare firms and any other evil lobby that left-wingers could care to blame – has ensured that the sweeping change that Obama promised has been corrupted and prevented? In fact Obama has made a solid start and the best is yet to come.