UK., "radical reform" of welfare dependency..[ 1302 ]

Welfare system faces radical reform

London Evening Standard, Thu.,27.05.10 

 

Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smithto is to address the welfare system

The coalition Government will call for an end to a culture of welfare dependency under plans for a "radical reform" of the system.

Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith will stress the importance of tackling the root cause of poverty and of making work pay as he outlines his vision of bringing the welfare system into the 21st century.

He will argue that endemic poverty and intergenerational worklessness can only be tackled by a root and branch reform which ends the "absurd situation" where some of the poorest faced huge penalties for trying to get off benefits and into work.

The Government will today publish a new report showing that 1.4 million people in the UK have been on an out-of-work benefit for nine or more of the last 10 years and revealing that income inequality in the UK is now at its highest level since comparable statistics began in 1961.

Research will also show that social mobility in Britain is worse than in the USA, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Canada, Finland and Denmark, and a higher proportion of children grow up in workless households in the UK than in any other EU country.

A new Cabinet Committee is being set up, chaired by Mr Duncan Smith with cabinet colleagues from across Government, including the Treasury, Home Office, Health and Communities and Local Government, to tackle the underlying causes of poverty in Britain.

Mr Duncan Smith will say in a speech in London: "A system that was originally designed to help support the poorest in society is now trapping them in the very condition it was supposed to alleviate. Instead of helping, a deeply unfair benefits system too often writes people off.

"The proportion of people parked on inactive benefits has almost tripled in the past 30 years to 41% of the inactive working age population. That is a tragedy. We must be here to help people improve their lives - not just park them on long-term benefits.

"We must not underestimate the challenge ahead. One of the biggest problems is that for too many people work simply does not pay.

"For many people, the move from welfare into work means they face losing more than 95 pence for every additional £1 they earn. As a result, the poor are being taxed at an effective tax rate that far exceeds the wealthy. We have in effect taken away the reward and left people with the risk. That must and will change."

European economies and garden diplomacy...[ 1301 ]

Garden Diplomacy

The dry garden at Norwich Cathedral, which was designed by Graham Hardman, National Chairman of the Japanese Garden Society in the United Kingdom. (c Japanese Garden Society)

(Mainichi Japan) May 27, 2010

 With the confusion over the outcome of the British election and trouble affecting many European economies, diplomacy is certainly at a premium these days. While perhaps not on the national agenda, a small step in cultural diplomacy was achieved earlier this month.

On May 4, Queen Elizabeth traveled with Prince Philip to Norwich, 186 kilometers northeast of London, to open a new addition to the 900-year-old Cathedral there. The Cathedral and the people of Norwich can boast of a small, rather special Japanese karesansui dry garden arrangement. The Queen viewed the garden and met its designer. It is now certainly the only cathedral in Britain with a Japanese garden within its consecrated ground.

The Japanese dry rock garden offers all visitors a moment for contemplation and a space for physical, temporal and spiritual transitions as they traverse between the two historic sites.

The original request for the Japanese garden came from the Reverend Canon Jeremy Haselock, who has visited Japan many times. He drew on the strong parallels between the monastic experiences in the Benedictine order and Buddhism. The garden in a small but palpable way is an act of "garden diplomacy."

Japanese gardens have been a quiet part of cultural diplomacy for more than a century.

They were often important components of the international exhibitions that became popular in the late 19th century. There were notable Japanese gardens at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia and the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle.

Not to be outdone, the Japan-British Exhibition of 1910 in White City in the Shepherd's Bush district of London boasted two Japanese gardens, covering approximately 11 acres. The principal Japanese garden designer was the celebrated Izawa Hannosuke.

Perhaps the epitome of Japanese garden diplomacy is a magnificent garden created by Isamu Noguchi in the UNESCO building headquarters in Paris. UNESCO's Garden of Peace was a gift by the Japanese government in 1958. The garden is filled with 80 tons of stone selected by Noguchi and brought from Japan.

Directly behind the Peace Fountain is the Nagasaki Angel, suspended from the wall. This statue was originally part of the facade of Urakami Cathedral in Nagasaki. It survived the destruction of the cathedral by the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 1945, and was donated to UNESCO by the city of Nagasaki in 1978.

With all the talk of the importance of "soft power" (using attraction as power) in today's increasingly fractured political climate, isn't it time to re-examine garden diplomacy as a different and subtle alternative that encourages a much-needed sense of reflection and even pleasure in our daily lives?

(Profile)

Dr. Nicole Rousmaniere

Dr. Nicole Rousmaniere is founding director of the Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures. An American, she recently returned to London from Japan where she was Visiting Professor in the Department of Cultural Studies at the University of Tokyo.

Τhe unhealthiest drinks.... [ 1300 ]

Tasting 'America's unhealthiest drink'

Nothing can prepare you for the feeling of shooting 136 grams of fat – 68 grams of it saturated – into your arteries in one go.

Nick Allen in Los Angeles
Published: 11:00PM BST 26 May 2010

Nick Allen consumes a PB&C, unofficially nicknamed the 'heart attack in a glass' Photo: SPLASH

The monstrosity of a milkshake I was drinking has just been named the unhealthiest drink in America and that was confirmed to me with the very first slurp.

The heart stopping ensemble of ice cream, peanut butter and heavy cream oozed through the straw like tar and half way through I almost couldn't carry on.

Officially known as the "PB&C" - and unofficially nicknamed the "heart attack in a glass" – the shake is proving a surprise hit in normally health conscious Los Angeles.

However, it has become a taste sensation and those who normally stick rigorously to roller-blading, cycling and fruit are succumbing in droves.

Presented in a giant 24 ounce cup the whole gloopy, gooey mess contains 2,010 calories, the total recommended daily allowance for a woman and only slightly fewer calories than are suggested for men, and is the equivalent of eating 68 rashers of bacon.

There are also 153 grams of sugar, the same as 30 chocolate chip cookies, which deliver an immediate buzz.

The recipe is simple - take several very large dollops of chocolate ice cream, throw in a hefty wedge of peanut butter, and some heavy cream, and blend.

The astronomical calorie count comes partly from the use of "super premium" ice cream which is defined as having more than 12 per cent butter-fat content.

The PB&C was named the unhealthiest drink in the US by Men's Health magazine outstripping anything offered by McDonald' or other fast food chains.

Health experts recommend a maximum of 20 grams of saturated fat a day and celebrity chef Jamie Oliver said the milkshake had left him "speechless."

It is served at Cold Stone Creamery, a chain which has 400 outlets across America.

They boast: "You haven't had a real shake until you've tried ours."

At a branch near Venice Beach in Los Angeles owner Adrienne Fein said: "They're really popular. We sell lots to cyclists and runners who want to up their calorie content and also to tourists who want a treat.

"It's a milkshake so you know what you're getting. I drink a lot of milkshakes and it's not done me any harm."

After finishing my final gulp I'm inclined to agree. It is indeed a very, very guilty pleasure. The PB&C was absolutely delicious and, despite feeling slightly sick, I can’t wait for the next one

World War II, The evacuation of Dunkirk [ 1299 ]

Dunkirk evacuation in maps

BBC,Page last updated at 08:37 GMT, Wednesday, 26 May 2010 09:37 UK The evacuation from Dunkirk of nearly 340,000 troops under "Operation Dynamo" is one of the most momentous events of World War II. See how the story unfolded in maps from 27 May-4 June 1940. German forces advancing rapidly through Belgium and France forced the British and French troops back around Dunkirk. A brief halt by the Germans allowed evacuation of troops to begin under "Operation Dynamo". Evacuation of British troops started on 26 May. Passenger ferries led the rescue convoy from Southampton and Dover. Shelling by German troops forced the ships to take a longer route, to the beaches east of Dunkirk. Shallow water prevented the big ships getting close to shore so a convoy of little ships, including pleasure craft, tugs and fishing boats, sailed from the UK on 29 May. Low cloud and burning oil provided cover for troops to escape. The last British troops were brought out on 2 June. With German forces closing in, only one more night-time evacuation was possible. More than 26,000 French rearguard troops were rescued that night, bringing the total saved to 338,226.

German forces advancing rapidly through Belgium and France forced the British and French troops back around Dunkirk. A brief halt by the Germans allowed evacuation of troops to begin under "Operation Dynamo". Evacuation of British troops started on 26 May. Passenger ferries led the rescue convoy from Southampton and Dover. Shelling by German troops forced the ships to take a longer route, to the beaches east of Dunkirk.

German forces advancing rapidly through Belgium and France forced the British and French troops back around Dunkirk. A brief halt by the Germans allowed evacuation of troops to begin under "Operation Dynamo". Evacuation of British troops started on 26 May. Passenger ferries led the rescue convoy from Southampton and Dover. Shelling by German troops forced the ships to take a longer route, to the beaches east of Dunkirk. Shallow water prevented the big ships getting close to shore so a convoy of little ships, including pleasure craft, tugs and fishing boats, sailed from the UK on 29 May. Low cloud and burning oil provided cover for troops to escape.

German forces advancing rapidly through Belgium and France forced the British and French troops back around Dunkirk. A brief halt by the Germans allowed evacuation of troops to begin under "Operation Dynamo". Evacuation of British troops started on 26 May. Passenger ferries led the rescue convoy from Southampton and Dover. Shelling by German troops forced the ships to take a longer route, to the beaches east of Dunkirk. Shallow water prevented the big ships getting close to shore so a convoy of little ships, including pleasure craft, tugs and fishing boats, sailed from the UK on 29 May. Low cloud and burning oil provided cover for troops to escape. The last British troops were brought out on 2 June. With German forces closing in, only one more night-time evacuation was possible. More than 26,000 French rearguard troops were rescued that night, bringing the total saved to 338,226

Russian,Germany,, France, UK, USA, Japan new generation tanks.. [ 1298 ]

New Generation Tanks of  Russia, Germany, France, UK, USA , Japan 

1)The T-90S  (Russian )

Click this image to enlarge

The T-90S Russian battle tank embodies advanced scientific solutions and in terms of its combat and technical characteristics is not inferior to the best foreign tanks, rather, it outdoes them in some parameters.

2)Leopard 2 A6 (Germany):

The German Army is upgrading 225 2A5 tanks to 2A6 configuration, The first of a contracted number of 225 Leopard 2 A6 main battle tanks (first batch) is to handed over to the Army at a roll-out ceremony at Krauss-Maffei Wegmann in Munich on 7 March 2001. The new 120 mm L55 main armament and the new upgraded ammunition LKE 2 DM 53 developed in parallel by Rheinmetall will further enhance the enormous fire power of the Leopard 2.

The Leopard 2 A6 lethality effectiveness is especially due to the Rheinmetall W & M developed smoothbore gun system. Based on the military requirement for firepower enhancement. A 130 cm increase in barrel length plus other modifications resulted in a higher projectile velocity and increased KE-performance. The 120 mm L55 weapon is compatible with the current MBT-types in service throughout NATO, as they can easily be retrofitted. Other Improvements include an auxiliary engine, improved mine protection and an air-conditioning system

3)Leclerc MBT(France):

The only third generation tank. This tank is characterised by its very modern design, its agility (0 to 30 km/h in less than 6 s) and its upgradability. Its long NATO 120 mm gun (52 calibre), supplied with 120 mm NATO ammunition by an automatic loading system enables it to triumph even when fighting with numerical inferiority. Its light weight (56 tonnes) ensures easy projection. Thanks to its mobility, its fire power and its precise high-rate fire-on-the-move capability, including over all terrain and with rapid fire again capability, this vehicle gives a new tempo to manoeuvres. The Leclerc is equipped with a composite and modular protection to follow developments of threats and technologies. Each Leclerc is equipped with the Finders® battle management system enabling permanent communications concerning the tactical situation in the battlefield and the technical status of the tank's functions.

The Leclerc main battle tank is now in service in the French and Emirian armies and, today, 796 Leclerc main battle tanks have been ordered.

4)Challenger II(UK):

Challenger 2 is an advanced main battle tank built by the UK company, Vickers Defence Systems Ltd. The UK placed orders for 127 Challenger 2 tanks in 1991 and an additional 259 in 1994.Challenger 2 entered service with the British Army in June 1998 and the last of the 386 tanks was delivered in April 2002. Challenger 2 is equipped with an L30, 120 mm rifled tank gun from the Royal Ordnance division of BAE SYSTEMS. There is capacity for 50 120 mm projectiles, including armour piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot (APFSDS), high explosive squash head (HESH) or smoke rounds.

5)M1A1/2 Abrams(USA):

The M1A1/2 Abrams main battle tank is manufactured by General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS). 4,796 M1A1 tanks were built for the US Army. For the M1A2 Upgrade Program, 1079 M1 Abrams tanks are being upgraded to M1A2 configuration.In February 2001, GDLS were contracted to supply 240 M1A2 tanks with a system enhancement package (SEP). The M1A2 SEP contains an embedded version of the US Army's Force XXI command and control architecture.. The US Army has plans to procure 1150 M1A2 SEP tanks to be in service by 2004.The main armament is the 120 mm M256 smoothbore gun, developed by Rheinmetall GmbH of Germany. The M1A1 tank incorporates steel encased depleted uranium armour. Armour bulkheads separate the crew compartment from the fuel tanks.The tank is protected against nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) warfare.

6)Mitsubishi Type 90 MBT(Japan):

Development of the Type 90 tank was initiated in 1977, and it was accepted for service in 1990. The Type 90, equipped with 120mm gun, is a first-class tank that is equal to any tank made by leading nations of the world. The tank is equipped with a the same Rheinmetall 120-mm tank gun as the the German Leopard 2. The Type 90 tank carries a smoothbore barrel rather than a rifled barrel, and ammunition includes armor-piercing projectiles, antitank howitzer shells, and adhesive [high explosive plastic (HEP)] howitzer shells.