Storm clouds gather

The United Nations Climate Change summit in Bali packed up shop yesterday as news networks announced a positive deal had finally been reached. But with heavy criticism directed at the blocking delegations and some environmentalists labelling the deal a "suicide pact", are we really any closer to solving one of the biggest problems of our time?

It took a last-minute intervention from the United Nations Secretary General to salvage something significant from the two week-long meeting of 189 nations in Indonesia. Despite European Union efforts to secure a textual pledge of 25 to 40% reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 for developed nations, countries such as Japan, Canada and of course the United States ultimately frustrated the wording in the final document. Achieving any consensus at all seemed unlikely at one point, and it took an eleventh-hour intervention from the UN chief to break the impasse. Ban-Ki moon promptly flew in to deliver a surprisingly gentle rebuke given the circumstances:

"I come before you with great reluctance. Frankly I am disappointed. With a spirit of compromise and flexibility I think you have made much progress over the last week."

But it seemed to work. Finally the United States cast aside ruthless brinkmanship and agreed to consensus on the heavily watered down document which finally emerged from the negotiations. Perhaps the US delegation realized at the last just how much enmity their implacability would provoke around the world. Or perhaps they recognized just how much they had got away with, as the agreement itself obliges no nation to cut emissions and is certainly no successor to the Kyoto Protocol. Much similar to the recent meeting of Israeli and Palestinian leaders in Annapolis, the product of Bali 2007 is only a roadmap - these were talks about talks. The next climate change summit of substance will take place two years down the line, in Denmark in 2009.

Upon inspection, the main points of the Bali agreement seem positive. In it, nations acknowledge that planetary warming is "unequivocal" and that "deep cuts in global emissions will be required to achieve the ultimate objective" of the UN climate convention, namely "avoiding dangerous climate change". There are promises to review forestry policy, support poorer nations suffering from some of the most pronounced impacts of climate change and to remove obstacles to the development of cleaner energies.

But crucially, there are no binding targets on carbon emissions and while UK Environment Secretary Hilary Benn hailed the agreement as "a historic breakthrough", the masses of environmental campaigners camped outside the meetings had evidently hoped for so much more. Bill Hare of Greenpeace remarked, "I've never seen such a flip-flop in an environmental treaty context ever", and Hans Verolme of the WWF commented, "The [ US] administration was out on a wrecking mission." International development agency Christian Aid stated that it welcomed "the last minute agreement... It is dismayed, however, that crucial target figures for cutting carbon emissions in rich countries were removed from the final agreement." Former US Vice President Al Gore, recent recipient of the Nobel Peace prize, accused his own country of putting progress on climate change back by a decade.

Aware of the significance of climate change in the news this week, UK newspapers have run with some interesting accompanying stories. At the beginning of the week the government announced its plan for 7,000 wind turbines to be installed off the British coast by 2020, providing about one third of UK energy needs. But only days later Sir Bob Geldof was quoted in the press describing renewable energy sources as "Mickey Mouse" solutions to climate change, calling instead for a "scramble for more nuclear power." The Guardian ran critical reports on the big oil companies: Shell, who recently sold off most of its solar power, and BP, who has recently started buying into the dirtiest and most polluting form of oil production in the form of Canada's oil sands. This week also saw planned protests over the rising costs of fuel in the UK failing to garner as much support as similar protests in 2000. Prices of petrol in this country now cost upwards of one pound a litre in places, with as much as 65% of the cost going straight to government.

In many ways, climate change and all things green have been the story of the year: from the Live Earth concerts to the summer flooding, from the melting polar regions to the Bangladesh cyclone and from the Bali conference to the debate on renewables. Measuring our carbon footprint has become a whip with which we like to punish ourselves in the UK as we hear constant moralistic reminders to switch off the lights, offset flights and recycle as much as possible.

It is interesting to note that in the US, by contrast, the Bali climate change conference has hardly been covered by news networks, and the green issue as a whole trails in terms of importance in the upcoming presidential elections. It lags behind Iraq, illegal immigration (always a winner) and the economy, stupid. Other developed countries around the world obviously have far bigger fish to fry and those poorer nations for the moment, and quite rightly, would rather focus on survival and somehow improving living standards in a harsh world.

So it is that vast obstacles lie in the way of progress on climate change. The overriding consumerism juggernaut of free market capitalism has become more than a way of running our world, it has become an intoxicating and possibly fatal addiction which drives our policy and trade terms. Given this fact, few sane nations will willingly hobble themselves by being more prudent with resources in a rampantly competitive global economy.

All of which brings us to the crux of the matter. Approaches to global warming and climate change must be run in tandem with co-operative and binding agreements governing world trade and wider national and international cultures of prudence. Consumerism, unfettered spending and production will have to be tempered and nations will have to see the good of the greater whole above their own lofty ambitions. In short, things will have to be slowed down. History, however, shows us that nations have a poor record in acting together effectively when presented with a clear threat, preferring instead procrastination.

Out with the old?

A look at Australia, where despite a strong record in governance, Prime Minister of eleven years John Howard was voted out of office. His replacement is Labour Party leader Kevin Rudd, a former diplomat who has promised policy change on the environment and Iraq while pledging continued stability in the economy.

John Howard, such a familiar face and distinctive character among world leaders, has misjudged the Australian electorate for the final time and must now pack his bags for home. He lost not only the country, but also, rather pitifully, his own seat of Bennelong in Sydney in an election where his Liberal Party garnered only 36% of the votes to Labour’s 44%.

Hoping to seal his fifth consecutive election victory, Mr Howard was in fact trailing in a hard-fought election campaign when, at the last, fatal scandal engulfed his Liberal Party. In the days prior to voting, Liberal Party activists were discovered to have distributed leaflets in the marginal constituency of Lyndsay, Sydney, purportedly from an Islamic terrorist group thanking Mr Rudd’s Labour Party for its sympathy with the Bali bombers. Despite assertions from Mr Howard - “It was not authorised by the Liberal Party, it is no part of our campaign” - the move was perceived by many Australians as sleazy at a critical time in the election.

For the record, Mr Howard will be perceived as a strong Prime Minister who presided popularly over many notable successes. These include sustained economic growth, the phenomenal Sydney 2000 Olympics and the widely applauded intervention force sent to East Timor to stop widespread looting and violence by pro-Indonesian militias.

The former Prime Minister, famous for his love of cricket, endeared himself to many Australians with his common touch and conviction leadership. The man who stopped the Australian cricket team traveling to Zimbabwe, calling President Robert Mugabe “this grubby dictator,” openly weeped on television when speaking about the death of Australian TV personality and Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin earlier this year.

But John Howard’s vision was conservative, sometimes controversial and it is now clear that he outstayed his political welcome. Mr Howard had refused to sign up to the Kyoto Protocol, arguing as does the United States, that the economy should not be sacrificed when major polluters such as China and India are not subject to the treaty. Like his political contemporary Tony Blair, John Howard provided staunch allegiance to the Americans when they requested it on the Iraq incursion, now considered so disastrous and morally bankrupt. On aboriginal rights Mr Howard showed little enthusiasm during his years in office, stating that a full apology for past treatment by white settlers would “only reinforce a culture of victimhood and take us backwards.”

His successor, newly sworn-in Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, seems to have wasted no time in breaking from the old. He has promised to withdraw the Australian contingent of 550 combat troops from Iraq by the middle of next year. He has also promised an apology to Aboriginal groups, and within days of his appointment, Australia agreed to sign up to the Kyoto Protocol, leaving the Americans as the only developed nation outside of the pact.

Mr Rudd’s new cabinet includes Julia Gillard as first ever female deputy PM, and Penny Wong, Australia’s first Asian-born minister. Peter Garrett, former lead singer for rock group Midnight Oil becomes environment, heritage and arts minister. Mr Rudd has called this a rejuvenated government that will bring fresh ideas to the country.

In the wider world, the political landscape is on the brink of important change at the end of 2007. With conservative stalwarts such as John Howard and US President George W Bush ultimately rejected in the court of public opinion, people are now searching for new ideas on Iraq and climate change in particular. And whereas Tony Blair somehow managed to escape a very public downfall, his heir Gordon Brown may not. In many ways the British PM is seen as the architect of the Blair years, and currently finds himself knee deep in scandal with accusations of mismanagement seeming to stick. It entirely possible that Brown, like Howard and Bush, will be seen as a relic of the past and rejected by an electorate clamouring for a change in direction.

Week of Doom

This week really has been one to forget. Cold, rainy weather and ever darkening November nights have combined with some spectacularly depressing stories to leave an air of gloom hanging over the country.

On Tuesday, Chancellor Alistair Darling revealed to the House of Commons that two compact disks containing the personal details of 25 million UK citizens had been lost. The Child Benefit claimant’s data, which contained names, ages, addresses and bank account details, had been sent to the National Audit Office through the Revenues and Customs’ internal post system but had gone “missing.” The Chancellor himself blamed a junior officer for breaking security protocol and Prime Minister Gordon Brown apologised to the British public for the “inconvenience and worry” caused.

The Labour government, already under pressure over its handling of the recent collapse of bank Northern Rock, took another beating on Friday when it was revealed unencrypted discs containing similar data had been handed to and uploaded by accountancy firm KPMG. With the Information Commissioner now investigating whether any laws were broken, all week people across the UK have been expressing shock at the government’s perceived breach of trust. As speculation grows about the possibility of such valuable and personal information falling into the wrong hands, news networks have been offering advice on how to prevent identity and bank account fraud.

To compound the gloom in government, on Thursday evening five retired generals attacked Labour’s record on support and funding for the armed forces during a debate in the House of Lords. Among them was Admiral Lord Boyce, who stated that former Chancellor Gordon Brown had treated forces with “contempt” and “disinterest.” He further commented that the decision to give the jobs of both Secretary for Defence and Scottish Secretary to one person -Des Browne- was an “insult.”

While London Mayor Ken Livingstone made a visit to India, back home Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair survived a vote of no confidence in front of the Metropolitan Police Authority. The position of the UK’s most senior police officer has been under scrutiny since the mistaken shooting of Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes in the wake of the London terrorist bombings in July 2005. On 1st November, a court had ruled that health and safety laws were broken by the Met during the botched operation, and in this subsequent meeting before the MPA, seven of the 23-member panel voted to issue a motion of no confidence in the Met Chief. Sir Ian Blair can hold onto his position, but may be feeling a little shaken.

The already weakened farming community received more bad news with reports of multiple cases of bird flu confirmed in Suffolk. The deadly strain H5N1, thought capable of transmitting to humans, led to the culling of birds on four suspected farms within a close area. And on Thursday Health Secretary Hilary Benn, in a written statement to the Commons, revealed there had been a ‘probable’ new leak of foot and mouth disease from the Merial Animal Health facility at Pirbright in Surrey. A leaking pipe was believed to be the cause of the latest breach in bio-security but both Mr Benn and Farming Minister Lord Rooker issued assurances that the disease had not escaped into the environment, as happened so disastrously in August.

Peter Tobin, the man convicted of raping and murdering Polish student Angelika Kluk in 2006, was in court again this week, charged with the murder of 15 year old Vicky Hamilton. Newspapers followed with grim fascination the searches carried out on Mr Tobin’s former residence in Margate where detectives uncovered the makeshift graves of Vicky and the remains of another missing girl, Dinah McNichol. At a preliminary hearing at Linlithgow Sheriff Court, police were required to hold back crowds containing relatives of victims who spat and cursed at Tobin as he was rushed by the police into the courtroom. Before appearing in court for a second time, inmates of Saughton Prison in Edinburgh seized their opportunity to attack, leaving Tobin requiring hospital treatment.

On Wednesday night, England, currently ranked 12th in the FIFA Coca Cola World Rankings, crashed out of the qualifying stages of the Euro 2008 football tournament. After a poor performance and subsequent defeat to Croatia 3-2 in the new Wembley Stadium, England qualified third in their group, after requiring only a draw at home. Next morning, head coach Steve McClaren and assistant Terry Venables both had their contracts terminated by the Football Association executive board after a meeting in Soho Square. The England squad, populated by world class players of experience had shown little spirit throughout the qualifying campaign under coach Steve McLaren, a man oft-criticised as clueless and out of his depth. The sporting disaster led the FA executive to begin what they have called a “root-and-branch” examination of the entire England senior team set-up. But while English fans will have to choose another team to cheer about in Austria and Switzerland next year, the FA board itself may do well to avoid closer critical scrutiny.

The Fear Factor

Seeking to capitalise on Labour blunders and better poll ratings, Conservative leader David Cameron this week moved further into his social agenda pitch. Having dealt with immigration, he moved onto the subject of rape, again indicating disturbing statistics. But what is behind Cameron’s spectre of social meltdown, and is it just too much to believe?

Flushed with success after a positive reception to his speech on immigration, the Conservative leader this week spoke on another emotive social issue. At the Conservative Women’s Organisation, Mr Cameron indicated that on rape, England and Wales have the lowest conviction rates in leading European countries, 5.7%. He made a pledge for longer-term funding for rape crisis centres, also calling for a “widespread cultural change” in a society which in his view has become overly “sexualised” in the last decade.

Mr Cameron said: "Studies have shown that as many as one in two young men believe there are some circumstances when it's okay to force a woman to have sex. ...To my mind, this is an example of moral collapse." During the speech, he called for better sex education in schools and announced a Tory review of spending.

Hot on the heels of this speech, news broke of yet another Home Office blunder. This time it emerged through documents leaked to a newspaper that 5,000 illegal immigrants had been cleared to work in security (including at airports and ports) with the full knowledge of the Home Secretary. Jacqui Smith, who had reportedly known of the situation since July, held an emergency briefing in the Commons defending the decision not to publicise the information and denying charges of cover-up.

Countering loud Conservative criticism, she said her priority had been to establish the "full nature and scale" of the problem and to take action to deal with it, "rather than immediately to put incomplete and potentially misleading information into the public domain." In reply, Shadow Home Secretary David Davis scoffed, “The response from the Home Office so far has been blunder, panic and cover-up.”

So, as it turned out for Mr Cameron, the illegal immigrants fiasco ultimately deprived him of any forthcoming praise and debate on the issue of rape and sentencing. The loss, however, was somewhat alleviated by points scored against the Home Office, and presumably the Conservative marketing machine will soon hit upon another example of “moral collapse” to throw at Labour. Perhaps next they will look again at antisocial behaviour, or even put Ian Duncan-Smith and the newly-returned Jonathan Aitken to work digging up frightful government failures and Tory initiatives on the prisons system.

The current Conservative strategy reminds us, sadly, of what politics is all about. Mr Cameron, like any ruthless newspaper editor, realises that instilling fear with information bestows power and demands approval. Identifying wide ranging threats and promoting the view of a society in meltdown, he hopes, will lead people to gather under his banner and reject Gordon Brown’s Labour Party. But being in opposition is a far cry from being in office, and although some people may accept Cameron’s social commentary to a degree, others will view it is as political opportunism and panic-mongering.

Winning, the Rose way

A look at the story so far of the highest ranked European golfer to November, Englishman Justin Rose, and the lessons to be learned from his sporting triumphs.

This week in Valderrama, Spain, Justin Rose clinched a three way play-off to claim victory at the Volvo Masters and, more importantly, his first PGA Tour Order of Merit title. Rose, who has struggled with consistency in the past, seems to have finally found a winning formula and is now hotly tipped for a future victory in the majors.

Rose burst onto the scene back in 1998 at The Open where as a 17-year-old amateur he holed the 18th from the fairway on the final round to finish tied for fourth. Turning professional shortly afterwards, he struggled initially, missing more than 20 cuts before going on to become an established regular on the European Tour. His first victory in a professional event came at The Dunhill Championships in South Africa (the country of his birth) in 2002.

But life in the top flight is not easy. Despite being ranked 33 in the Official World Golf Rankings in 2003, 2004 was not a good year and Rose slipped out of the top 50 at the start of a run of bad form. For the next few years he seemed to come tantalisingly close to winning tournaments only to slip behind at the crucial moment. In 2005 he lead the Buick Championship after three rounds only to finish in third. Similarly, at the Canadian Open in September 2006, he went into the final round leading only to score a final round of 74 which moved him down the leaderboard.

However, the last 12 months has seen victory at the Australian Masters, a top five finish in the Masters at Augusta and of course the latest thrilling victory at Valderrama on Sunday which took Rose to ranked seventh in the Official World Golf Rankings. So, where has that crucial winning edge come from over the last 12 months, and how does Justin handle pressure at the top?

Ian Collins, Five Live Golf correspondent, attributes much of the new-found success to the team Justin has put in place this year. He split with previous management company IMG seeking a “personal touch in the handling of his affairs,” and replaced David Leadbetter with new coach Nick Bradley in a unique and exclusive one-on-one deal. Rose also married long time girlfriend Kate this year, and seems to have proved the old adage that marriage is good for you. So, it seems a calmer, happier and more settled competitor has emerged and we are beginning to see the results.

Team Rose aside, outstanding results have accompanied a crucial growth in mental belief and cumulative self-confidence - Justin Rose has trained himself to think properly. Speaking to the BBC about his fifth place finish at the Masters in 2007, he says:

“That is where my self-belief really started building. Although I finished fifth I felt like I finished a lot closer than maybe fifth represents. I got off to a terrible start in the final round but believed I could mount a comeback and I actually did do that. That was a really big learning experience for me. I felt comfortable being on the leader board, I enjoyed chasing down the stretch and living the dream, something I’d always dreamed about doing. To enjoy that experience and to trust myself and believe myself, that was a big week for me.”

Seeing obstacles as opportunities for growth and the value of dreaming positively plays a huge part in winning competitions, as we have seen this year in the case of Lewis Hamilton. But Rose has also made brave and conscious changes to his game at the time when it was most needed. On the secret of getting into the world’s top ten he says:

“I guess there has been a subtle change in my technique but really the key has been mentally, just simplifying my whole process and stripping it down and getting rid of the stuff I don’t need. Therefore when I come to a tournament I am in a very simple frame of mind. Therefore it is easy to repeat each week.
When you have got something easy to repeat, that is easy to trust under pressure and therefore my self-belief has been growing and growing.”

The future seems more exciting than ever for the 27-year-old as he sets his sights on the next logical step, winning a competition in America before looking for that first major victory. And on world number one, Tiger Woods, while Rose admits he would like to be the one snapping at his heels if the opportunity arose, he remains very much in the present and focussed:

“You have got to play your own game, and play the golf course and ultimately that is the only thing you can control. You can‘t think about what the other guys are doing. That is another thing I have done very well this year.”

Labouring hard

A few weeks ago Labour under Gordon Brown looked polished, efficient and scarcely troubled. Now, in the wake of cynical manoeuvring, revelations on bungled immigration figures, and a rejuvenated Conservative party, the government finds itself under considerable pressure. So, is it just politics as usual, or has David Cameron finally got something to work with?

Mr Brown's current headaches began around the time of the Conservative party conference. After apparently priming Britain for the polls, the Prime Minister suddenly found himself struggling as key Tories delivered charismatic performances and clever policy promise in Blackpool. The conference warm-up act, former Conservative leader William Hague, cannily picked apart Brown's own conference pitch to the people, labelling him "not a conviction politician but a calculation politician." This comment seemed to ring painfully true as observations made apparent Labour's shadowy reliance on electoral number crunchers.

Conservative leader David Cameron, himself under pressure as he took to the conference podium, used neither notes nor autocue to deliver a speech which impressed both conference and the wider press with its power and delivery. Shadow Chancellor George Osborne spoke out on inheritance tax at the event, pledging to raise the limits on Britain's "most hated tax", should the Conservatives gain office. Chancellor Alistair Darling's subsequent budget, aimed to steal the Tories' thunder, in fact earned him the unenviable nickname of "Mr Magpie" as he was accused of adopting as his own large parts of opposition policy. The Times of October 10th summed up the mood: "In an electioneering Autumn Budget that lacked only the election, the Chancellor adopted one Tory plan after another, including charging "nondomiciled" wealthy foreigners living in Britain and switching air travel duty from passengers to flights."

Struggling to put this and the election fiasco behind them, in mid-October Labour soon faced the imminent question over the EU Treaty and Gordon Brown's so-called red lines. With the premier flying off to Lisbon to battle our corner, the Tories at home screamed for the referendum as pledged in the Labour election manifesto. On 19 th October David Cameron told BBC Breakfast that Brown's red lines were "complete red herrings" and said: "This is, once again, Gordon Brown and his government treating the British people like fools."

However, all of these setbacks and the criticism made must now seem minor compared to the latest government embarrassment. Newsnight of 31 October reported on the confusion in which the government found itself after it was revealed sizeable and significant errors had been made in government immigration statistics. Having first stated that 2.7 million jobs had been created since 1997, with around 30% going to foreign workers (a total of 800,000), Labour then seemed to back pedal, stating there were in fact 1.1 million foreign workers, meaning a far higher percentage of British jobs filled by non-Britons. The programme asked incredulously, "Is this what Gordon Brown means by British jobs for British workers?"

The Telegraph reported on the written parliamentary answer on the botch-up delivered by Work and Pensions Secretary Peter Hain, who insisted ministers had used earlier figures “in good faith”: "I apologise for having to make this revision. I am sure you will understand these calculations are not straightforward." In reply, shadow Work and Pensions spokesman Chris Grayling described Mr Hain's admission as "extraordinary": "The fact that the Government did not know the true number of overseas workers who have come to the UK in the past 10 years is profoundly worrying, and confirms fears that ministers have simply lost control of our systems for migrant workers."

To compound Labour's woes, this unfortunate episode came only hours after David Cameron's first real speech of substance on immigration policy since he became leader. In the speech given to the Policy Exchange the opposition leader put much emphasis on the growing stress under which British transport, infrastructure and public services currently operate. Making pointed reference to the recent report predicting a boost in population (set to increase by 4.4 million to 65 million by 2016 and 71 million by 2031), Mr Cameron talked dispassionately and intelligently about growing numbers of households and the so-called atomization of society as people increasingly leave family and community behind.

Mr Cameron's pledges, among them to reduce the level of net immigration into Britain from non-EU states and introduce transitional immigration controls for new EU entrants, seemed to have hit home with potential voters, with subsequent polls revealing the Conservatives gaining ground on Labour.

But not just smart policy and timing explains the rise of Mr Cameron's star. The Tory leader has grown considerably in stature of late with ideas finally coming forth on crucial issues, as he weaves policy and values together in a way that resonates with increasing numbers of Britons. Also, his relationship with the Prime Minister has developed much to his advantage. Where Tony Blair treated the opposition leader with wry good humour and almost brotherly indulgence in the Commons, Brown appears a figure less fluent and less likeable, quicker to anger and much more averse to criticism. Cameron has found a way to bait the bear, and in spite of the new aggression and unpleasantness to be felt hanging in the air at Prime Minister's Questions, the Tories often emerge with the upper hand.

So, with Brown sometimes struggling to maintain his composure and a fast-learning and disruptive Cameron gathering increasing momentum, the Conservatives could be forgiven for thinking their long-awaited opportunity may not be long in the waiting.

Drawing a line underneath it

Focussing in on sport this week, with a couple of big matches, a few questionable decisions and a whole lot of implications for our national sporting culture.

The Liverpool-Everton derby yesterday was a memorable one. The first red card for Everton came for a tackle by Tony Hibbert, whose collision with Steven Gerrard brought the Liverpool midfielder tumbling down as he raced clear on goal. The second was given in second half injury time when Phil Neville momentarily seemed to forget he was not the goalkeeper, cynically palming away Lucas' strike from the top right-hand corner of the Everton goal.

Liverpool for their part escaped sendings off, albeit miraculously. Dirk Kuyt's flying two footed kick a la Eric Cantona aimed at Neville in the 64th minute was deemed deserving only of yellow. Even more outrageously, seconds before the final whistle Everton's unfortunate Jolean Lescott seemed to be judo-thrown by Jamie Carragher in the Liverpool box. No foul, no card this time and final whistle, 2-1 to Liverpool.

Premier League football matches now resemble unpleasant dogfights. Cheating as much as possible, accusing opponents of cheating in turn and treating match officials as contemptible is the order of the day. On various occasions in the match yesterday, the referee was pushed and intimidated by players who doubtlessly take their lead from characters such as John Terry. (In the recent Chelsea-Manchester United fixture, the England captain inexplicably avoided a massive post-match fine for grabbing the referee's arm which at the time contained a red card destined for John Obi Mikel.)

But as far away from the idea of 'sport' that football seems to be getting, such antics are not to be blamed for falling values. The real culprits are the football authorities and the sporting press. There seems to be no official willingness to bring footballers and managers to task for their deception, fakery and foul-mouthed intimidation tactics. It is commonplace for players to escape punishment for behaviour which in other sports would result in long bans and considerable financial penalties.

The press for their part largely lack integrity when it comes to constructive criticism on the way the game is conducted. Perhaps fearful of losing their jobs, acquiescent football commentators have been afraid to point out the ruthlessness of modern methods, washing their hands time and again of the frequent unpleasantness. While all of this goes on, the next generation watches, listens and takes note of the lesson: cheating is integral to sporting success.

London trains were packed even more than usual on Saturday night, as people streamed into the capital to watch England defend their title against the dangerous South Africans in the Rugby World Cup final. England, a side beleaguered and struggling with form in the build-up to the competition, had shown confidence, power and incredible intelligence to battle through to the final after initial defeat to their co-finalists in the group stages.

A competition which had shone with excitement, courage and upset sadly ended with defeat for Brian Ashton's men, with South Africa taking a 15-6 victory. The result, however, was controversial in light of some of the decisions made by match officials, and press coverage of the match so far has, in some quarters, fallen short of satisfactory.*

The cool goal kicking from Percy Montgomery, heroics from man-of-the-match Victor Matfield in the line out and unremitting pressure applied by the Springboks were all justly praised in the press. The BBC, Guardian and Sky sites, however, were notable in their thinness of coverage towards the key refereeing decisions which ultimately thwarted brave and brilliant English efforts.

The only try of the match seemed to have come just after the restart, with Matthew Tait picking up a bouncing pass in midfield and slicing through the Springbok defence. Tait, 21, offloaded in the tackle to the man brought in to replace the injured Josh Lewsy, Mark Cueto, who dramatically dived in at the corner flag for the score.

With questions over whether Cueto's foot had been in touch at the time of the try, Irish referee Alain Rolland called on the video referee to take an official second look. As the minutes ticked by in Paris, ITV replays clearly showed the offending foot over the touch line but, crucially, raised from the ground. In a decision hard to believe in a game so huge and so tightly fought, the try was disallowed by Referee Rolland and the Australian video official who had presumably seen footage similar to that broadcast all around the world.

After the match, Mark Cueto spoke about his disallowed effort: "From the front the grounding was fine, from the back you could clearly see my foot lifted up in the air before it went into touch. For me there was no question it was a try."

Cueto also commented on the curious penalties rather generously awarded to South Africa: "There was a couple of times that we got penalised for crossing [obstruction] and there were a couple of times when the South Africans did the same and didn't get penalised."

Sometimes it can be surprisingly different to watch something with your own eyes and then to read about it in the press as written by someone else. But one thing the press did get right was the fact that England can take much pride from their performance in the match, and in the tournament as whole. They have put the ghosts of failure well and truly behind them and risen to conquer some of the finest rugby teams in the world. It remains to be seen what reaction there may be, if any, to Referee Rolland’s performance.

* The Independent proves a notable exception. You can read the excellent match analysis at:

http://sport.independent.co.uk/rugby_union/world_cup_news/article3082034.ece

Moving On

Looking to South America this week, and some brave steps forward on the part of countries still struggling with the past.

The BBC reported on 11 October that a former Colombian justice minister had been sentenced to 24 years in prison for his part in the murder of presidential candidate Luis Carlos Galan in 1989. Alberto Santofimio, formerly a political rival of Galan, had been an associate of infamous narco trafficker and Medellin cartel boss, Pablo Escobar. Arrested previously in 1995 for taking drugs money, Mr Santofimio was accused of ordering the hit squad that publicly assassinated Mr Galan during a public meeting in the town of Soacha, Cundinamarca province.

In a country where speaking out against the cartels and mafia bosses often means death, Mr Galan had courageously campaigned on an anti-drugs, anti-corruption platform, promising extradition to the United States of those involved in the illicit trade. The assassination and the subsequent silence had come to symbolise the repression and fear running through Colombian public life, and the high cost of speaking out against the political underworld.

The trial was watched by Colombians in their millions, and the outcome may yet prove to be an important political milestone in a country where corruption and shady deals still rule the day. A widow and family may now claim some sense of justice, and crucially the state seems ever more willing to address long-buried sins.

The Times of 10 October reported that a Roman Catholic Priest from Argentina had been sentenced to life imprisonment for his part in kidnappings, torture and murder during the so-called ‘Dirty War.’ In the period of brutal military junta rule in the country from 1976 until 1983, it was alleged Christian Von Wernich, 69, had abused his position as chaplain to the Buenos Aires police force by extracting ‘confessions’ from government suspects before handing them over to be tortured and in some cases murdered.

Jorge Rafael Vileda’s military government took power in Argentina after the coup d’etat in 1976, brandishing extreme repression and brutality as a ‘solution’ to perceived political instability. The junta’s fear of militarised left wing and communist groups translated into the widespread and often indiscriminate kidnapping and murder of political activists, professors, students, musicians and their families and friends, with the number of murders estimated to be 30,000.

Long a source of pain for Argentineans, the Dirty War and recent history remains a national burden. Despite some successes in bringing perpetrators to trial, much controversy has surrounded the politicisation of reconciliation and uncertainty over whether to bring the military fully to account. Progress has been made however: in 2006, 24 March (the thirtieth anniversary of the coup) was declared a public holiday, the Day of Memory, Truth and Justice, where people gather to remember the dead and look to the future. And in commenting on the case of Christian Von Wernich, Jorge Bergoglio, the Archbishop of Buenos Aires praised this latest attempt to deal with the past:

“We believe the steps taken by the justice system in clarifying the facts should help renew every citizen’s effort toward reconciliation and serve as a wake-up call to put impunity, hatred and bitterness behind us.”

The Guardian reported this week on new measures proposed by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. In a move designed to boost the profile of indigenous rights, school textbooks will be changed in order to emphasize opposition to the present view that the Spanish conquest of South America was “doomed but heroic.” This news came as it was reported the president had renamed the cable car system which passes over capital city Caracas as Warairarepano, “which means big mountain in an indigenous coastal tongue.”

The same paper also reported on October 12th that former World Bank chief economist Joseph Stiglitz has endorsed President Chavez’s plan to establish a pan-regional bank, designed specifically for the purpose of serving Latin American economies. Mr Chavez argues that such an institution, now equipped with start-up capital from seven nations, would promote more regional independence and signify a move away from the previously costly loans extended by western nations.

Cuba part 4: an air of decay

Cuba. The images abound: sunshine and salsa, Castro and communism and revolution in the heart of the palm-fringed Caribbean. Perhaps more than any other country romantic preconceptions have become fixed for outsiders, and legend has come to surround this island. But it is precisely for this reason that visitors should endeavour to see the place for themselves, in order to gauge the reality and move beyond the myth.

After the breakdown of the Soviet system in 1991, Cuba entered what is known euphemistically as the Periodo Especial (Special Period), with financial support cut and political alliance dissolved. Without the support of its long-term benefactor and still the subject of US embargo, the nation found itself looking for other forms of vital foreign revenue. Opening up to tourism was the solution grudgingly formulated and Cuba, closed for many years to foreigners, once again became a world tourist destination.

Nowadays, those seeking a hassle-free beach holiday can find luxury purpose built resorts in Cuba which cater for the all-inclusive bucket-and-spade crowd. As in other parts of the Caribbean, these places have been kept carefully away from the local population and the grittiness of local life. One such resort, Cayo Coco, is located on an archipelago along the northeast coast of the island, linked to the mainland only by a causeway of some 27 miles. Consisting entirely of high class hotels, facilities and other tourist attractions, the place is totally sterile of Cuban influence, and since 2005 even has its own airport. Outsiders see neither hide nor hair of the culture in places such as these and risk no interaction with the locals. Consequently, they leave their exotic destination somewhat confused about where they have actually been.

More adventurous travellers risk visiting Cuba independently, hoping to catch a taste of a vanishing world and urged by tourist guides to ‘go now before it’s too late.’ Touching down at Jose Marti International airport, and the visitor steps immediately into a time warp. Hardly off the plane, the visitor is confronted by tobacco smoke, stifling humidity and groups of people milling around and socialising against the backdrop of garish red plastic and concrete polytechnic architecture. The airport is a vision from 1970s Africa. The hustling starts immediately as the travellers look for taxis and change dollars and euros into the convertible pesos, the obligatory currency for outsiders only available within Cuba.

People arriving in Havana for the first time may find the experience traumatic and expectations swiftly take a dive. The much touted atmosphere of grandeur, charm and decadence in reality translates into decay, dirt and shabbiness for visitor and resident alike. Buildings which must have been visions of opulence and grandeur in the thirties and forties now threaten to crumble and collapse upon their unfortunate occupants (something which in fact happens with sad regularity). The overall impression of the centro area of the city is that of a bombed-out shell. Many people sit on street corners or mill around aimlessly and only the most insensitive visitors would fail to pick up the lack of dynamism and optimism in this place.

The widespread presence of the hustlers, or jineteros (translated literally as ‘riders’) promote a skewed relationship between Cubans and visitors, with the former as unscrupulous financial opportunists and the latter as prey. The men will try to sell you things and take you places for a hefty fee, and the prostitutes who inhabit the discos and street corners seek to ensnare the foreign men with well-practiced routines.

Public transport is packed, stifling and incredibly outdated in design, yet there is no option for Cubans going about their everyday business. Taxis are prohibitively expensive and wages low, even for such venerable professions as doctors and lawyers. Motorways in the interior are largely devoid of cars and train networks have gone decades without refurbishment. The infrastructure and transport system of this country, much like the nominal leaders, seem a relic of the past, antiquated and obsolete and struggling to cope with the demands placed upon them.

Fidel for his part has never shied away from the social difficulties of his ideological social revolution. He readily admits in his radio addresses and speeches that times are hard and people must be strong. Often he refers to the sacrifices made by Jose Marti and the tyranny of the United States from which Cuba has remained free. In mitigation for hardship he offers citizens a Cuba with free healthcare, universal education and comparatively high levels of literacy, when studied against other Latin American or ‘third world‘ countries.

On the everyday level, each barrio (neighbourhood) has a Comite de la Defensa de la Revolucion (Committee for the Defence of the Revolution) in which citizens’ participation is strongly encouraged. All community affairs come under this political umbrella with the onus on the individual to work on local issues emphasizing unity and social cohesion. But what is trumpeted as grassroots revolutionary activism and the platform for citizens’ political involvement in reality equates to Big Brother. Should people fail to take active and zealous part in these ‘committees’, suspicion can be aroused and life can become much harder in terms of jobs and standing in the community.

Few Cubans will openly admit to it, but boredom and frustration can be felt in this place, particularly among the younger people. Citizens are very restricted in where they can go and need official permission to travel to other provinces if their job does not require it. This factor, coupled with the tourism apartheid in operation, means that those trying to meet outsiders or even just people from other areas of the country can find it difficult. In the face of this system of repression the tendency is to be lazy, and many Cubans in Havana and elsewhere can be seen simply idling day and night, seemingly out of work or unwilling to work.

Education of course is provided by the state and so the visitor comes across many university-trained engineers, architects and doctors. But with movement frozen, wages pitiful and a stifled economy, peoples’ aspirations have been choked of oxygen. Thus a highly trained workforce often forego the practicing of their professions in favour of hustling tourists or working hotels where dollars may be made.

Cuba asks stern questions of the traveller. What price ideology when set against basic standards of infrastructure, economic freedom and personal aspiration? What price freedom from tyranny when freedom means community informers and lack of basic goods? The stagnation and restriction in evidence leads to inevitable meditation upon the suitability of the system, and how well its leadership is serving its people. For the people of Cuba are its greatest resource, strong-willed, good humoured and hard working by nature. Cuba is more than merely a place for morbid tourist fascination, it is a place with tremendous yet latent national potential. At the time of Fidel’s passing we may feel admiration for the ideological stand to which he has devoted his life. But at the same time we must hope the people of Cuba can seize their opportunity and adapt their nation to a more open and forward looking model.

Freedom to Speak

Over the pond this week, and a collection of recent stories which raise questions over freedom of speech and intellectual right to reply.

Hitting the headlines on Monday, Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, who played guest at New York’s Columbia University SIPA-World Leaders Forum. The remarkable reception given to him by University President Lee Bollinger caused great stir among news networks. Mr Bollinger pre-empted his speaker, roundly criticising him with a long list of charges. The 2,136-word prelude cited Mr Ahemedinejad’s denial of the Holocaust and alleged sponsoring of terrorism, proxy war against US troops in Iraq and malevolent nuclear ambitions.

The New York Times provided a sample of the highlights:

“Let’s, then, be clear at the beginning, Mr. President you exhibit all the signs of a petty and cruel dictator”

…and…

“I am only a professor, who is also a university president, and today I feel all the weight of the modern civilized world yearning to express the revulsion at what you stand for. I only wish I could do better.”

No punches having been pulled by the hosts, Mr Ahmedinejad hit back with an understandably nonplussed yet measured response:

“In Iran, tradition requires when you invite a person to be a speaker, we actually respect our students enough to allow them to make their own judgment, and don’t think it’s necessary before the speech is even given to come in with a series of complaints to provide vaccination to the students and faculty.”

Before, during and after the address, news networks showed students angrily demonstrating against the speaker’s presence at the top US university. US tabloids also reacted with predictable fury to the visit, coming up with some truly memorable headlines. The New York Daily News’ header was, “The Evil has Landed,” whereas the Daily Post stuck more conservatively to “Madman.”

Little thought seems to have gone into the handling of the Iranian president in New York. Seeking to emphasize the importance of freedom of speech, Columbia shot themselves in the foot. Reports focused overwhelmingly not on the content of the forum, but on the frosty reception given. Certain US academics must have felt regret. Not so Mr Ahmedinejad, who must have been rubbing his hands in glee.

On the receiving end at another US institution, University of Florida student Andrew Meyer. The unfortunate 21-year old was tasered at a recent question and answer session given by former presidential candidate John Kerry.* The Daily Telegraph reported that after questioning Kerry over the controversial 2004 presidential election result, Meyer refused to relinquish the microphone after his allotted question time. He was consequently dragged to the rear of the debating hall and pinned down by several officers, managing to scream, ‘Don’t tase me, bro!’ before being zapped and taken into custody.

News networks showed the incredible scene widely, and the BBC website reported subsequently that an inquiry would be conducted into whether campus police had used the weapon appropriately given the circumstances.

The taser scene itself scene revives memories of a similarly controversial incident filmed in Russia in August 2000. Cameras captured the moment Nadya Tylik, mother of one of the victims of the Kursk submarine disaster, was apparently restrained and subdued by way of an injection in the neck. At the time, she was publicly and vocally attacking the Russian deputy Prime Minister over the slack official response.

Michael Moore, another man never afraid to speak his mind, has been in the news of late with his latest cinematic effort, Sicko, soon to be released in the UK. The documentary aims to provide a critical look at the American healthcare system by comparing it with other countries. Having already run a piece looking at Moore’s treatment of the Cuban healthcare system, Monday’s edition of the Guardian featured interviews with 16 NHS professionals who had seen the film, in order to gauge some British reaction.

Striking in the 16 interviews conducted was the number of people who considered Moore’s depiction of the NHS as one-sided and somewhat “rosy.” This from Karim Ahmed, an Accident and Emergency Registrar:

“…in terms of the health service it is obviously showing just the very best side of our NHS and the very worst parts of the US system.”

And this from Zhaleh Khaleeli, an NHS researcher:

“Moore is bringing a lot of issues to the attention of the American public that they probably would not think about much otherwise. But it doesn't translate that well over here. We're used to a bit more sophistication, we want both sides of the picture. As far as the NHS goes, you can see he is glossing over all sorts of problems.”

Could it seriously be the case that Michael Moore makes biased documentaries in order to push his left wing views? Certainly Debbie Melnyk and Rick Caine would say so. Their own soon to be released documentary, Manufacturing Dissent, focuses on the tactics used by Moore, suggesting he misleads and badgers interviewees and manipulates opinion with unbalanced evidence.


*You can see the full article on Andrew Meyer and the video of the taser incident at:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/09/18/wkerry118.xml
And you can get your “Don’t tase me, bro” T-shirts at:
http://threadpit.com/store/product.php?productid=236&item=236

Singing out and keeping shtum

Two stories this week which demonstrate agenda-making politics as one cause gets trumpeted and another is downplayed.

Negative stories dealing with Zimbabwe have been getting lots of airtime recently. Both ITV and Sky devoted the week to special reports from inside the country, focusing mainly on individuals' stories of day to day hardship and tales of torture and coercion. Shaky hidden cameras have shown us bare shelves inside supermarkets and the nervous testament of those unfortunate enough to have run foul of President Robert Mugabe's Green Bombers (his Zanu PF youth militia trained in intelligence, martial arts and 'Zimbabwean customs'). The rate of inflation is now cited as among the worst in the world, currently running close to 4000%. These days in Zimbabwe, we are told, money is not worth the paper it is printed upon.

The treatment meted out to Mugabe's leading political opponents has also been the focus of reports. Only recently, pictures of the MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai appearing beaten and battered garnered attention. Another outspoken critic of John Howard’s "grubby dictator", former Archbishop of Zimbabwe Pius Ncube, suffered a similarly public bashing it emerged this week. Pictures of a man alleged to be the Archbishop having sex with a married parishioner were taken by secret camera and aired on Zimbabwean television for several nights in a row. The planting of the camera was widely seen as a sting operation against one of Mugabe's most respected critics and resulted in the resignation of the archbishop before the Pope.

Less conspicuous in the media's glare this week was the shadowy military incursion made by Israel into Syria. According to the BBC website, and somewhat alarmingly, "Israel and Syria technically remain at war." The news that strikes had taken place was mentioned only quietly on a number of news channels and inside pages. It was confirmed by American sources that near the beginning of the month Israeli jets had entered Syrian airspace and hit military installations. BBC Newsnight discussed the both the Israeli news blackout and rumours that the material attacked, possibly nuclear in nature, was anything from North Korean to Iranian in provenance. Israeli opposition leader Binyamin Netanyahu reportedly congratulated Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on the raid, saying "When a prime minister does something that is important in my view and necessary to Israel's security... I give my backing."

It seems curious that this story did not garner more widespread interest, given the current situation in the Middle East. This week French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner spoke out about the growing threat of regional instability in the shape of Iran, saying "We have to prepare for the worst, and the worst is war." Seemingly in response to fighting talk from the West and the threat of US backed sanctions, Iran’s president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad responded: "Those [countries] who assume that decaying methods such as psychological war, political propaganda and the so-called economic sanctions would work and prevent Iran's fast drive toward progress are mistaken."

It is a truth well known that Israel is habitually treated with great indulgence by Western politicians and, by extension, its media. George Galloway aside, few public figures would dare to examine, let alone criticize what in other circumstances would be considered highly controversial and belligerent intervention. History and interests will continue to rule the day when swords get drawn in the Middle East and the media will fall in line, shouting when needed or being quiet as in this case.

Zimbabwe, on the other hand, represents a soft target and risk-free subject; carte blanche for an emotional, moralistic approach from editors and reporters. Mugabe’s tyranny may indeed merit press attention and worthy calls for action, but in the final analysis, the media must be seen to handle every story with equal courage. If not, political motivations and agenda-based reporting will continue to be perceived.

Cuba part three: The Personality Cults

Looking through the Museo de la Revolucion in downtown Havana, tourist and Cubans alike are to be found marvelling at the artefacts, documents and antique weapons of Castro’s 1950s revolution.

The famous yacht Granma, used to bring 81 revolutionaries across the turbulent Caribbean from Mexico, has been repaired and placed in a kind of exhibit-greenhouse across the way from the museum. Visitors struggling with the Caribbean heat can climb onto a plinth and squint through at the old boat under the watchful gaze of deadly earnest young soldiers. Parked around the hulking and encased vessel are tanks, planes and military vehicles of the era. A bright red truck stands out from the rest, with ‘Rapid Delivery’ painted in English on the side. The relic is riddled with bullet holes, leaving the visitor to wonder what in fact the truck delivered with so much haste.

Curios aside, the enduring image of this place is undoubtedly the man photographed at every stage of the revolution. Battling up jungle mountain paths lugging weapons and equipment, perched atop the advancing tanks, through thick and thin, Fidel’s determined countenance never appears anything but imperious. He towers over his warriors in each grainy still: a forceful young man in black and white, commanding, indomitable, bullet-proof and immune to defeat.

Romanticised image and idealised courage have been tools shrewdly employed by the state, of course, in the great tradition of communist propaganda. Fidel, like Stalin and Mao before him, is well-versed in the cult of personality and has elevated his companeros to hero status. Che Guevara, forever the symbol of rebellious resistance - Hasta la Victoria Siempre! - and his loyal comrade Camilo Cienfuegos, are forever enshrined and immortalized in a thousand street names, statues and iconic black and whites.

More recently Cuba added Vilma Espin Galois to the pantheon of patriotic heroes. The recently-deceased President of the Federation of Cuban Women was wife to Raul Castro and active participant in the 1950s revolutionary battles. Her death marked another milestone in the passing of the Cuban old guard and the perpetuation of the national myth.

Every town in Cuba paid tribute to Vilma midway through June 2007. She was eulogised as the creator of the ‘revolution within the revolution’: a campaigner for women’s rights and guiding figure for rights and dignity within Cuba. Having played her own part in the uncertain actions of the 1950s, she later went on to establish the ‘Circulos Infantiles’, a national system of crèches where women could leave their children in care in order to work.

Amidst genuine sadness and international tributes, inside the country the familiar party propaganda machine could be felt moving into high gear. Emotionally charged documentaries were aired and powerful interviews with the common people of Cuba filmed to emphasize sorrowful solidarity. Granma, Cuba’s state-run newspaper, was given over almost in its entirety to obituary and testament, and on camera representatives of the nation mournfully extolled Vilma’s saintly qualities. Behind the shots could always be seen hundreds upon hundreds of grief-stricken people, filing past as one to pay tribute and lay flowers.

Moments like this demonstrate how anachronistic Cuba has survived thus far in a world of consumerism and democracy. The leaders, be they dead or fast aging, have been carefully portrayed as benign and shining role models, impossibly heroic. Duty, sacrifice and solidarity have become the binding concrete of the nation state. But as admirable as these values may be, the overall sense is of a nation stuck socially and politically in another age. As such, it is a model surely doomed to a sad demise.

Down the Garden Path

The case of missing Madeleine McCann has taken another dramatic twist with the naming of her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, as formal suspects. The development has brought shock and confusion to press and public alike and now, whatever the outcome, a price will have to be paid.

Until 6 September the human interest story of the summer, so beloved by the tabloids, was getting less and less coverage. The three-year old who went missing from the family’s holiday villa in Portugal on 3 May was the subject of an unprecedented campaign created by her parents. Massive media interest and public sympathy as a result meant hundreds of thousands of pounds donated to the Find Madeleine (Leaving No Stone Unturned Ltd) fund. Car windows, local shops, national supermarkets, international airports and the mass media were enlisted at every opportunity, issuing appeals and using striking ‘Find Maddie’ posters. The new British Prime Minister and even Pope Benedict XVI publicly offered their consolation and messages of hope to the McCanns.

In many ways the story was made for the British press: small defenceless blonde child of hard-working respectable British parents goes missing in foreign location, with the shadowy suggestion of a paedophile attack. Horror and heartstrings sell papers, so we were bombarded with pictures of ‘Maddie’ and offers of thousands of pounds in reward for information.

Recent events, however, have changed the tone. The outpouring of sympathy and good will towards the McCanns is now suddenly replaced by a more circumspect approach. Kay Burley of Sky News quickly replaced her emotional and somewhat obnoxious ‘find missing Maddie’ epithet with a rather more foreboding ‘missing Madeleine McCann case.’

Since the 12-hour questioning of Kate McCann and subsequent announcement of both parents as ‘arguidos’ or formal suspects, the reaction of the media has changed from vote of sympathy to outright feeding frenzy. Massive mobs of reporters have camped outside the respective McCann residences in the resort town of Praia da Luz and the McCann’s home town of Rothley, Leicestershire. The McCanns, for their part have described the situation as “surreal, unbearable…an unending nightmare.”

To date Portuguese ‘sources’ have revealed that tests on DNA material allegedly found in the McCann hire-car have tested an 88% positive match for Madeleine. And amid repeated speculation, the BBC learned yesterday that the Portuguese police indeed got hold of a laptop belonging to Gerry McCann, and ‘a copy’ of Kate McCann’s diary. The Portuguese prosecutor based in Portimao has now handed a dossier of evidence to a judge who reportedly has 10 days to consider whether to bring a case.

The few confirmed developments have fuelled wild speculation in the press. Theories include the idea that the body was dumped by the parents after Madeleine was given an overdose of sleeping pills which killed her, accidentally or otherwise. Another postulation suggests that the Portuguese police bungled the forensic collection of the DNA material from the car, somehow cross-contaminating the vehicle from material they had collected previously. Some Portuguese newspapers have been reporting on the quality of parenting Madeleine may have received, alleging that Kate McCann seems ‘cold’ and that her diary contained passages where she described how ‘hyperactive’ her children were in the events leading up to the disappearance.

Few offices and pub conversations can have escaped the morbid fascination as we argue for and against the people in the middle of all of this. Jonathan Freedland described the widespread moral confusion in Wednesday’s Guardian:

“…the McCanns have now either suffered the cruellest fate imaginable - not only to have innocently lost their beloved daughter but also to have been publicly accused of a wicked crime - or they are guilty of the most elaborate and heinous confidence trick in history…”

It is now very hard to see anything positive coming from this case, however it may end. If the parents are found guilty, somehow our British values and trust itself will have taken a public battering. If they are found guilty unsatisfactorily, or it emerges the Portuguese police have bungled or -God forbid- framed the McCanns, how will Britain react to Portugal?

The proper job of the press, given the current situation, is to report only the facts and respect the McCanns as they approach what appears to be their most serious trial yet. We need balanced, non-hysterical reporting although what we will get may well be quite the opposite.

The Joys of Travelling by Train

Some good, some bad and some ugly this week from the world of train travel.

From Monday the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport called strikes on the London underground network which prompted bitter recrimination in the London press and from politicians. Gordon Brown labelled the strikes ''wholly unjustified'' and the shadow secretary for Transport Theresa Villiers remarked, "They are just trying to throw their weight around and London commuters are the people who will suffer." Letters poured into the News International-owned London Paper condemning the carnage, and mirroring the popular political point as stations were closed and thousands of Londoners jammed onto buses :

"Sack all those on strike. They don't deserve their jobs after not only the inconvenience but also the danger they've put people in – crushing, commuters and staff getting violent, I could go on and on. If I didn't go into work, I wouldn't get work in my industry again!" (Laura from Ealing)

"I understand the strikers' fears but we all risk losing our jobs in life. They shouldn't prevent millions of Londoners from doing theirs! Holding the capital at ransom is selfish and wrong. Let's hope they don't do it again next week!" (Alexa from Fulham)

However, it wasn't all one sided with some contributors citing as reasons both the mismanagement of Metronet and the rights of workers to protect their interests through action.
Metronet operated the bulk of the London underground lines until going into administration in July. Union members voted for strike action after failing to receive "unequivocal guarantees" over jobs, forced transfers and pension rights. In the words of one Transport for London employee, ''They are worried about their pensions. This has become political. So far they have only got the assurances from a man in a suit, nothing written down...it could mean the difference between getting a pension of £1000 and only £60-70 a week.''

The beginning of last week was transport chaos throughout the capital but happily negotiations have made some progress and strikes planned for next week have been cancelled. London awaits the outcome.

Grim findings for Network Rail, which will undergo a dramatic review of track maintenance procedures. This follows the findings of the investigation into the Grayrigg train derailment of February which killed one and resulted in another 20 injured. It was found that a broken set of points and missing spacer bars, not picked up on routine checks carried out by the company, were the culprits for sending Virgin Pendolino London-Glasgow off the track and down an embankment. Network Rail publicly admitted this week to "poorly planned and poorly managed" changes to local track inspections, track patrollers and supervisor's lack of co-ordination and lapsed safety certification for some track inspectors.

More travel misery also for 19 year old student Kathleen Jennings, taken to court for having been caught with her feet on the seat travelling on a Merseyrail train. The magistrate in question, having given the tearful Ms Jennings an absolute discharge, pointed out that perhaps a less draconian method could be employed to penalise offenders who put their foot in it. Her father, Tony, a former JCB driver, said of the affair: "It is ridiculous. They just pick on the easy targets. If it was a 6ft yob who had told them to eff off, they would not have been here today."

Ending on a lighter note, Paris has just become closer. The Eurostar, operating on its new high-speed line between Paris' Gare du Nord and the revamped London St Pancras, recorded a new fastest time of 2 hours, 3 minutes and 39 seconds. When the line is open to the public from November 14 it is expected that passengers will be able to travel from London to Lille in 1 hour 20, London to Brussels in 1 hour 51 and London to the City of Light in 2 hours 15. Richard Brown, CEO of Eurostar celebrated, "It's as quick and more frequent [as flying] and we will be matching airline prices." Good news if you live in London then, not so good for those hailing from more provincial parts.

Burning Ambitions

Towards the end of August large parts of Greece have been reduced to ash by raging forest fires, but not just the climate is to blame for the conflagration.

Extreme weather conditions are making the news like never before. Hurricane Dean, billed as potentially one of the largest and most destructive tropical storms in living memory, mercifully missed the Mexican tourist resorts of Cancun and Cozumel last week but still left a death toll of 13 in the Caribbean. The UK news agenda has been dominated by the floods this summer which have left around 3000 people homeless and caused millions in damage. Also this week we have seen painful memories and renewed accusations leveled at the US government at the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. The devastation in New Orleans left a staggering 1600 people dead in the USA in August 2006.

This week, attention has shifted to Greece where startling summer temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius combined with windy and drought conditions have fuelled widespread forest fires resulting in the deaths of 63 people. Press reports have focused on the popular fury which is directed firmly towards the government as a result of perceived failures in dealing with the crisis. But is it fair to squarely blame ministers, or is this just more evidence that our changing climate signifies a future more fraught?

The fires in Greece have raged over a devastatingly wide area. The Peloponnese Peninsula has been the main focus of the over 120 fire centres but also the eastern island of Evia has been particularly heavily hit. On the mainland, the capital itself has been beating back the flames along with areas surrounding ancient Olympia and towns towards the south. Flame fronts, driven by the wind and aided by tinderbox dry conditions are still proving incredibly difficult to put out and quickly become unmanageable for the teams still struggling to gain the upper hand.

The government, quickly overwhelmed by the scale of the disaster, within days requested aid from European Union countries. Fire fighting crews and planes capable of dropping vast amounts of water on the fires were brought in from EU and neighbouring countries. Emergency aid packages totaling some 72 million euros was made available to around 20,000 people this week, and yet scarcely had the money been distributed that 15 people were arrested on suspicion of making fraudulent claims for the aid money. Widespread criticism of the government’s handling of the crisis culminated in Wednesday’s protest in Athens attended by thousands of people, placing increasing pressure on the Prime Minister, Costas Karamanlis, who faces re-election next month.

Criticism is to be expected from people who have seen their entire communities devastated by fire. It is claimed the government response was far too slow in getting going and in many cases came too late for people who were literally driven from their homes by the encroaching inferno. The Greek government for its part claimed that the scale and sheer number of fires left it with few options. Furthermore it claimed there was the strong possibility of arson in many cases. In several news items the so called ‘culture of arson’ was discussed: ruthless property developers blamed for setting the fires in order to exploit the land set aside for conservation and parkland.

Something given little attention in press coverage this week is that the intentional clearing of land by fire is nothing new in Greece. Laws mean wooded lands may be legally protected whereas those areas without trees suffer fewer constraints. For years, unscrupulous individuals -not necessarily large-scale developers- have employed this method as a way of reclaiming land. Before this record-breaking summer, it was a common practice for those wishing to increase their holdings: set a fire, profess ignorance to the authorities and then develop once the land is cleared.

It may well prove that arsonists operating under the motivation of profit unwittingly threw the spark to the disaster waiting to happen, but authorities in Greece must now respond to a changing world living with the effects of global warming. As was painfully apparent with Hurricane Katrina in the States, the Greek contingency plan proved inadequate to deal with the extent and the nature of the August fires. In Greece it needs to be recognized that conditions are changing but also that the greed of individuals must in some way be dealt with. Complacence of both citizens and government towards the ambitions of those at the root of this problem must end in order to avoid another disaster on this scale. It remains to be seen whether politicians will pay the price in Greece and, more widely, whether nations can learn to adapt to ever more unsettled natural environments.

Hold the Front Page!

Recent tragedies have highlighted continuing problems in society, but the massive overreaction by the media will only confuse the situation and exacerbate the problem.

The cases of Madeleine McCann and this week Rhys Jones have been propelled into the public consciousness. The media-endorsed campaign to 'find Maddie' came complete with exhaustive coverage of every minute-by-minute development. Posters were installed in international airports and promises of massive awards pledged by rich persons of note. Yesterday we were witness to the undeniably moving but nevertheless spectacle-like quality of the Jones' family's appearance at Goodison Park before Everton's home game.

Also this week a number of figures have come out and criticised media coverage as excessive and damaging, not least Gerry McCann in his speech yesterday at the Edinburgh Television Festival. So, are we the subject to ever increasing sensationalization and what might be the effects of a media with an increasing tendency to emphasize emotion over hard facts and views over news?

Shock value and emotional appeals for action have come to dominate certain parts of the British media. One of Tony Blair's parting shots at his last Labour conference was aimed directly at the media, his now infamous 'feral beast' speech highlighting the falling standards and lack of reliability in the press. He discusses:

''...a media that increasingly and to a dangerous degree is driven by "impact". Impact is what matters. It is all that can distinguish, can rise above the clamour, can get noticed. Impact gives competitive edge. Of course the accuracy of a story counts. But it is secondary to impact. It is this necessary devotion to impact that is unravelling standards, driving them down, making the diversity of the media not the strength it should be but an impulsion towards sensation above all else. ''

Upon publicisation of the speech, inevitable criticisms from media outlets were levelled interestingly on Blair himself, not the overall subject of his speech.

Jeremy Paxman has also weighed in this week with criticisms of availability of stories over gravity of content and what he referred to as the ''media circus''. The coverage of Paris Hilton over the flooding in the UK was highlighted alongside the massive gathering in Portugal's Algarve over the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. Of that Paxman said: "everyone was there because everyone else was there", and, "at times like this, when the television hurricane hits a story, it too often sucks good sense and consideration out of the brains of those involved."

Which brings us back onto Gerry McCann himself, this week saying how unpleasant the massive media interest had become and how it was not necessary for the media to "bombard people on a daily basis with Madeleine's image".

In the light of such views Mr Blair, Paxman and McCann must be prepared to field some criticism regarding their own shrewd use of the press. However, the claims ring true and much is at stake. Editorial choices and the setting of the news agenda now broadly define daily life in the UK and furthermore is coming to have an increasing effect on our leaders. TV news editors work viewers into a frenzy and then demand politicians' or police action with immediate effect. Faced with the daunting prospect of going in the face of such popular outcry, leaders are bound to make snap decisions and implement scarcely-considered laws that will in the end affect all of us. An argument therefore must now be made for a full debate on the accountability of the press in public life.

Cuba part two: Revolution!

The story of the Cuban revolution is one you couldn't make up. Fidel Castro Ruz, a young student radical, organises his first strike against the corrupt pro-American regime of Batista on 23rd of July 1953 at the Moncada barracks near Santiago de Cuba. After the raid, which goes disastrously wrong, Castro escapes but is eventually captured and hauled before a military court where instead of meeting his end he delivers the now famous 'History will absolve me' speech:

'' I warn you, I am just beginning! If there is in your hearts a vestige of love for your country, love for humanity, love for justice, listen carefully... I know that the regime will try to suppress the truth by all possible means; I know that there will be a conspiracy to bury me in oblivion. But my voice will not be stifled – it will rise from my breast even when I feel most alone, and my heart will give it all the fire that callous cowards deny it... Condemn me. It does not matter. History will absolve me. ''

What should have been a routine trial and sentence of death is turned into a defining moment by the legally-trained Castro. Sentenced to prison for 15 years, Castro and his immediate entourage devoted themselves to planning further the revolution. Released after 2 years through political amnesty, Castro, fearing assassination flees to Mexico where he begins in earnest his preparations for war. Here he meets for the first time Ernesto 'Che' Guevara, and prepares to cross the Caribbean. A recreational yacht, the Granma, is used to take 81 revolutionaries over to Cuba from Tuxpan in Mexico.

Again disaster strikes at the landing. Che Guevara later referred to the revolutionaries' arrival as ''not as a landing, but a shipwreck.'' Attacked and dispersed, and sustaining heavy losses the remaining revolutionaries are forced to take to the Sierra Maestra mountains to seek shelter and regroup. There Castro begins to transmit radio messages to the population advocating the downfall of Batista and gathering supporters in preparation for the breakout. Finally, by 1 January 1959, Castro's guerrillas had won several important victories, overwhelming Batista's weakening troops and removing the dictator himself. From the point of defeat Castro managed yet another momentous reverse, this time leading to the formation of his new government: a government that this time, owed nothing to no-one.

Cuba, part one: Die Hard With A Vengeance

Fidel Castro, at almost 81 years of age, having been in charge of the Cuban state for almost 50 years (the world's longest serving political leader) is still breathing fire. Below is a translated extract from his radio discourse to the people of Cuba,17 June 2007. It is entitled ''No Tendran jamas a Cuba!'' (''They will never have Cuba!'')

'' In spite of everything, we will keep growing the necessary and possible means.
'Liberty costs a great deal and it is necessary to buy it at the price it costs or [if not,] resign oneself to living without it', said Marti [a revered figure of the 19th century Cuban wars for Independence].
'Whoever tries to appropriate Cuba will pick up the dust of its earth drenched in [their] blood, if they don't perish in the attempt', proclaimed Maceo [another revolutionary figure].
We are not the first revolutionaries to think this way! And we won't be the last!
A man can be bought, but never a people.
For many years I have survived, through luck, the killing machines of the [North American]empire. Soon it will be one year since I became ill, and when I was between life and death I expressed in the Proclamation of the 31st of July, 2006:
''I do not harbour the least doubt that our people and our revolution will fight until the last drop of blood.''
Do no doubt it, Mr Bush!
I assure you that you will never have Cuba! ''

So much for the notion of feeble old age. One can almost imagine Fidel, in an imaginary US invasion, strapped to a heavy machine gun opposite the beach head, blasting away at the terrified Marines until he was removed by a tactical Patriot missile strike.

Against all odds socialist Cuba has survived the nineties and trudges on in the new century, beleaguered yet seemingly resolute. Yet it is hard to countenance the project having functioned even half as long as it has done without the devastating force that is Fidel. He is the be-all and end-all of the continuing Cuban revolution. Forget Che Guevara, Camilo Cienfuegos, Raul Castro, and the Soviet Union: it was the charisma of one remarkable man that provided the dynamo for a society standing apart.

Impressions of Japan

The piece below was written after returning from a trip to Japan, December 2006.


''One of the things that most impressed me was the tremendous attention to detail the Japanese seem to have afforded everything. The everyday routine of life is made so much easier and pleasant in Japan, toilet seats being warm in winter for example! Gifts are delicately and beautifully wrapped, food is presented as a form of high art and people work tremendously hard to do a good job.

The innovation and drive for excellence impressed me greatly. Never have I seen such cities, such buildings and such incredible design. I took endless photos of cars. In the UK,we are just about beginning to grasp the ideas of economy, compactness and low emissions in vehicle design. The Japanese, however are ten years ahead. Vehicles over there look futuristic. In actual size they are very small but manage somehow to provide plenty of space for passengers whilst looking incredibly stylish.

When we went up to the viewing platform of the Tokyo Tower (one of the tallest free standing steel structures in the world) I was reminded of the manga cartoons I had seen: acres of flashing neon, skyscrapers like something from Star Wars, highways extending as far as the eye could see, nothing but lights and city. Whereas in other countries I have visited, where technology seems either aging or imported, Japan seems to have wanted to reinvent everything, going one step further in innovation, efficiency and design. Getting back to the UK almost seemed like stepping back a century in terms of technology and organisation.

Providing a contrast to all this human endeavour, is the wonderful beauty ofJapan’s natural environment. Although we were visiting in late December, winter had come late and the autumn colours were at their best. Driving up the valley towards the volcanic spring town ofHakone, the autumn colours and landscape were simply breathtaking. Early in the morning I went to do some exercise on our hotel roof and Mount Fuji could be seen, crowned with snow and with a dramatic walnut-whip swirl of cloud around its base. Japanese landscapes are wild and yet at the same time delicate and incredibly aesthetic.

Harmony between ones surroundings and a sense of perfection and wellbeing is emphasised in cookery and traditional architecture. Sashimi represents the freshest and best cuts of raw fish, presented with shavings of Japanese horseradish, Japanese delicate vegetables and fruits cut into perfect shapes of flowers: many courses, many flavours, freshnes sand beauty. Using chopsticks allows the person to select a single morsel and enjoy that particular flavour before the next.

Famous Japanese social etiquette was at first slightly daunting but rapidly became a pleasure. Bowing when receiving things or meeting people quickly becomes second nature and great importance is stressed on ones bearing and relationship towards people and environment. Although the young people we met seemed to be less inclined to cling to the old ways, Japan still emanates centuries old culture and tradition through everyday contact.

I became aware of the determination of the Japanese people to renew and reinvent themselves.Two significant places we visited were Hiroshima,where the first Atomic weapon was used, and Kobe, struck by the great earthquake in 1995. Visiting these modern and vibrant cities today, it is as if the Japanese used such terrible events almost as tools for regeneration, improvement and growth.

A supremely pragmatic and practical people, the Japanese, throughout history have learned quickly from the world around them and responded to challenges quickly and courageously.''

Champions League Night: The Wrong Reasons

Below is my response to the BBC's 606 debate on the trouble at yesterday's Champion's League Final in Athens.

You can find this story at:http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A23024198?s_fromedit=1

And my original comment at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/F7373856?thread=4186669&skip=180&show=20

''Mr Gaillard uses the issues of fake tickets and people jumping barriers to blame travelling Liverpool fans. In the first instance we cannot but condemn such alleged actions. Any fan entering with a fake ticket or forcibly entering the stadium has deprived someone else who has legitimately prepared for a match of a lifetime. However, this is irrelevant when dealing in terms of reality when it comes to English football fans and massive occasions such as this. Any stadium and host nation in this day and age which puts itself forward for big events MUST be 110% firm on organisation and security. Thought has to go into ticket checking systems upon entrance, adequate space to allow for bottlenecks and perhaps even a cordon several hundred metres from the perimeter of the stadium to allow an initial ticket check. It is clear the Greek authorities and Uefa did not afford sufficient planning and thought to this event. English fans love their football fiercely. Fact. They will do anything to support their team on a big occasion. Fact. Implement proper systems, have a suitable venue and a well-organised security force to deal with non-payers. ''

Aid to Africa or Another Nail in the Coffin?

Aid agencies typically assault our emotions in commercial breaks by showing African children crying and emaciated people wandering around hopelessly to the sound of a mournful classical soundtrack. And why not? I suppose the considerable public relations machines that foundations possess these days overexert themselves to provoke feelings of collective guilt, that citizens of richer western countries should have so much when others have so precious little. It's a similar psychological tactic to the one used in tabloid newspapers; basically shock tactics equals sales. Create a reaction by getting someone to think in a certain way and you've got them hooked.

Anyway that's the subject of another discussion. Africa is a continent shrouded in myth and stereotype. Ask people for three words associated with Africa and they will probably say something like famine, genocide and AIDS. How has this come about? Without doubt Africa has experienced a litany of woes since the years of Independence. But here I wish to make the point that Aid donors and Aid Agencies have, although well meaning, created more problems than solutions.

The problems arise when agencies begin campaigns by painting too simplistic and bleak a picture in order to secure funding from the public. The message sent out is that bombarding a particular crisis with money will lead to relief. The media finds itself working on behalf of agencies, seeking out the worst most horrifying stories on the ground.

Bonanzas of aid have been shown to undermine developing countries' self-reliance, encourage dependency and perpetuate damaging regimes and failing economic policies. When a country is flooded by cheap foodstuffs local producers' prices will inevitably be driven down. There is the danger of food aid being pilfered and sold on the black market as happened in Somalia in the 1990s, or even used as a weapon, withheld from certain parts of the population for political motives. It may even be sold to buy weapons.

Among other perverse incentives governments may learn how easily obtainable aid is and therefore make no effort to institutionalise tools leading to self-reliance and reform. Any strong economy must create an environment where people are free to be productive and what produces this is sound domestic policy.

Doug Banlow* points out that few programs have consumed as many resources with as few positive results as foreign aid to economically less-developed countries. With little evidence to suggest long-term aid promotes stability and growth, in many cases it has perpetuated the regimes of brutal dictatorships (see France's steadfast support of the Hutu regime during the genocide of 1994). In truth aid, in many instances, has amounted to little more than bribery to ensure hegemony in political and geographical spheres of influence.

Instead of dwelling on the disaster scenarios the media should be encouraged to take a more balanced view of individual crises and move away from the quick-fix aid solution. Contrary to what we may think, a quick donation may ease our conscience but will not solve a long-term problem. Aid needs to be targeted in crisis scenarios as much as possible and needs to be delivered in a measured way. Most importantly trade barriers to developing nations should be lowered and nations encouraged to learn to feed themselves rather than becoming accustomed to an aid-dependent economy.

Acknowledgements

''Can Aid Do more harm Than Good?'' Henri Astier
''The Selfish Altruist'' Tony Vaux
*''Help or Hindrance: Can Foreign Aid Prevent International Crises?'' Doug Banlow
''The State of Africa'' Martin Meredith

Australia's pride

Recently I was talking to an Australian friend about Aussie sport. Why have the Australians, a nation of a mere 21 million, come to dominate so many of the world's sporting endeavours? (I write this as the Australian cricket size bulldoze their way towards the final of the Cricket World Cup.)

My Aussie mate suggested two reasons. The first was to do with experiencing nationhood and the second with space, planning and investment.

A young country, Australia gained independence from Great Britain in stages, with 'constitutional independence' coming in 1901 and the Statute of Westminster (which formally ended most of the remaining constitutional links between the two countries) in 1931. Yet even after these formal events Australia remained very much a satellite of Britain, looking to her for rule.

The experience of war was the first time Australia gained an awareness of nationhood, suggested my friend. Thousands died first in Gallipolli then in the trenches for the empire during the Great War. The Second World War saw Australia itself threatened by Japanese aggression. Having seen the British Empire crumble under the might of the Japanese advance Australia in some part turned to America as a new ally and in itself found the resources and strength to successfully stave off the strikes looming to the north.

Thus was established the Australian spirit of indomitability and rugged confidence. This spirit continues today in sport and is why Australian stars have an unshakeable belief in themselves as equal to any challenge presented from those outside.

Australia has invested and grown its sporting talents. Nearly every town of a sizeable population has had investment either from government subsidies or corporate sponsorship in the form of pitches, pools and coaching. Over 25% of Australians above the age of 15 regularly participate in team sports. Wide open space and fine weather always lent itself generously to the cause of Australian sport.

Australian authorities have encouraged youngsters to compete, and coached talent to the highest level. In a media release of 8th May 2006 Senator Hon Rod Kemp, Minister for Arts and Sports states:

“Australia has an international sporting record that is the envy of most countries in the world. While we have a relatively small talent pool of high performance athletes, we are able to compete because our elite sport system is based on the delivery of high quality, innovative programmes that are both knowledge-based and built on the latest advances in sports science.”

A look at the aims of the Ministry for Arts and Sports have continuously meant Australians have excelled at Olympic Games, punching well above their weight:

''The Australian Government is also committed to delivering an effective national sports system that offers improved participation in sporting activities by Australians in general. Through the Australian Sports Commission, the Government is working towards:

*increasing the number of people participating in sport, in particular youth, Indigenous Australians, women and people with disabilities through a range of initiatives including Project Connect, Sports Leadership Grants for Women and the Targeted Sports Participation Growth Programme;
*increasing the number of school children participating in structured physical activity and sport; *boosting the active membership and reach of sporting organisations and local sporting clubs;
*building the awareness of the values of fair play, self improvement and sporting achievement.''

Sport is Australia and in many ways one of the glues that binds national pride together:

“Sport is an integral part of Australian life, and sports funding is an investment in the community in terms of national pride, improved health, economic activity and stronger communities.” (Senator Rod Kemp).