Only the best?
As I was preparing this post news came in of the stabbing and death of Sir David Amess as he was attending is Constituency Surgery. From everything that has been said about this Conservative Backbencher, he was one of the ‘good guys’. Supportive, caring and someone who served his constants, Like Joe Cox who was murdered in 2016 both colleagues and members of the public have commented on their dedication and professionalism.
This is beyond the colour of their politics, MP’s who actually serve their voters are put in that position by, yes, the voters. Hence their murders have no place in a democracy.
At the moment we know nothing of Amess’s killer or if his motivations were political. If they were, it seems that if the only way to make a political point is by murdering representatives of the people, then we are truly becoming a dysfunctional democracy.
Of course we can feel angry, annoyed or frustrated by Government decisions then we need to take actions other than intimidation and murder.
So, in the headlines this week.
Environmental Double-Standards.
After PM Boris Johnson gave a speech ahead of COP 21 about needing to ‘grow up’ and deal with Climate change we hear of a paper circulated within the Department for International Trade.
The need headline summarised…
Don’t let environment get in the way of trade deals, government tells its negotiators in leaked document.
The paper, drawn up by officials at the Department for International Trade, says environmental safeguards should not be treated as a red line when other countries do not want to include them in agreements.
Sky News and Independent
Placing responsibility on women and not society for violence and abuse towards women.
We read the headline ..
North Yorkshire police commissioner quits over Sarah Everard ‘victim blaming’ storm
Philip Allott tendered his resignation in an open letter to the chief executive of Selby District Council. He came under fire for comments he made on the Sarah Everard murder, adding he wanted to “restore confidence in the office”.
Mr Allott tendered his resignation in an open letter to the chief executive of Selby District Council and police area returning officer.
He had been accused of victim blaming after he said in a radio interview that women should be more "streetwise" about powers of arrest and that Ms Everard, whose family live in York, should not have "submitted" to arrest by her killer Wayne Couzens, a serving police officer
Evening Standard
Hypnotised to Fart
Nurse sued NHS claiming she’d been secretly hypnotised to fart against her will. She refused to cooperate with psychiatric help and was sacked in December 2019.
At an employment tribunal, the former staff nurse said she was suffering from unwelcome ‘gastrointestinal disturbances’ at work including flatulence.
She self-diagnosed herself as being the target of ‘ideomotor phenomenon’ – a little-known hypnotic concept which allegedly forces people to make movements unconsciously.
Bosses at London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust referred her to occupational health and repeatedly tried to get her to see a psychiatrist.
Three different doctors saw her, with two deeming she was unfit to work, but Miss Samson dismissed a diagnosis of psychosis as ‘incorrect’ and suggested she was ‘electro-magnetic radiation sensitive’.
She tried to sue the trust for unfair dismissal and disability discrimination but lost her case at Watford Employment Tribunal Centre.
The Metro
And finally a super bit of news.
Covid: Nurse wins award for sensory-friendly jab clinic
A nurse who created a Covid-19 vaccine clinic for people with learning disabilities and autism has received national recognition.
Rebecca Crossley devised the sensory-friendly space for patients who may find syringes, PPE and a busy, noisy clinic daunting.
The clinic, based in the Waveney area of Norfolk and north Suffolk, has a take-up rate of 99.9%.
The Royal College of Nursing award was "really important", said Ms Crossley.
"As soon as the pandemic hit, I thought 'this is going to be terrifying for people with learning disabilities and autism, and their family carers'," said Ms Crossley, a learning disability nurse at James Paget Hospital in Gorleston, Norfolk.
BBC News
Well that’s it for this week
Alan /|\