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20 Most Recent News Stories
Getting Rid of the Politics of Fear
Tue 1st Jul 2008
The politics of fear has been something that has been constantly present within the Middle East and rarely does the politics of bridge building get a chance whether it is through the press that hungrily looks for the 'negative angle' or whether it is through politicians who want to keep the status quo in place.
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Read "Getting Rid of the Politics of Fear" in full (632 words).
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Clegg Cares!
Tue 17th Jun 2008
Nick Clegg MP recently visited Enfield Citizens Advice Bureaux and discussed issues of debt affecting middle income families. Debt levels have been rising successively over the last 6 years and whilst the average level of debt in 2002 was about £8,000, it is not now unusual to find individuals with (on average), a £20K of debt. This does not include mortgage debts and payments to be made.
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Read "Clegg Cares!" in full (154 words).
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Linking American and British Muslim Women
Thu 10th Apr 2008
I have just spent 5 days on the road on a project that is being run by Faith Matters, an interfaith and conflict resolution organisation that I founded in 2005. Faith Matters also runs Faith and Finance social regeneration projects.
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Read "Linking American and British Muslim Women" in full (520 words).
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Post Office Closures will Have a Devastating Effect on Local Communities
Thu 28th Feb 2008
The recent announcements that seven local post offices will be closing in the restructuring of Post Offices throughout the Capital will have a devastating impact on local communities. Those that affect Haringey include Highgate High Street, 100 Alexandra Park Road (N10), Ferme Park Road (N4), Salisbury Road (N22), 89 Weston Park (N8), Page Green (N15) and 434 West Green Road (N15).
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Read "Post Office Closures will Have a Devastating Effect on Local Communities" in full (580 words).
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Responses to the Archbishop Do Not Look At the Facts on The Ground
Sun 10th Feb 2008
Within 48 hours of the Archbishop making comments around religious inclusion and Shariah, there were press calls, comments and rabid responses for his resignation. This strain of fear is disproportionate and based on conjecture, myths and in some instances, xenophobia. But before I lay out these facts, there is something that I must clear up. The vast amount of Shariah Law covers financial elements, marriage and divorce and other codes for living life. It is not primarily around punishment. However, I for one as a Muslim and as a liberal to my very core, see Islam through the prism of emancipation and knowledge sharing. This means having the chance to question, to debate, to discuss and therefore Shariah is a theoretical and practical framework which must be looked through within a modern context. This therefore means ardently protecting women's rights, respect for diversity in all of its forms (the first convert to Islam was a black man), providing the space for dissent, education for all and emancipation from debt by taking out interest in financial transactions. These are just some examples of what I regard Islam to be about. It should be a driver against poverty, against fear and xenophobia and it should be a driver against ignorance. I have to also add, that I cannot accept two legal systems as a citizen of the UK and the resulting confusion and isolation for Muslims if this were to happen would in the long term, provide a foundation to those who want to portray Muslims as the 'other' and therefore somehow different. We should not give them that chance.
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Read "Responses to the Archbishop Do Not Look At the Facts on The Ground" in full (876 words).
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London is a Liberal City, That is Why We Need a Liberal Democrat Mayor
Thu 13th Dec 2007
Who can forget the fiasco in which Ken Livingstone clambered to be taken back into the fold of New Labour when his principles and policy making resonated with the socialist guard which he accused Blair of sidelining to the touchlines of Labour's political field? Who can forget the rhetoric from Ken on how employment opportunities are better than they ever were, when the reality is that unemployment has grown in the last 6 years in the capital. Worryingly, Ken seems to have forgotten that London is not just about inner city boroughs and their problems, it is about those boroughs like Enfield who have similar concerns and issues and where inflows of migrant communities mean that the demographics of 'outer' boroughs are changing rapidly.
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Read "London is a Liberal City, That is Why We Need a Liberal Democrat Mayor" in full (484 words).
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For God's Sake Musharraf, Free Imran Khan and Other Political Dissenters That You Have Detained
Thu 22nd Nov 2007
The fiasco in Pakistan continues. The strongman 'El Presidente' Musharraf continues to lock up anyone who dissents and the very basis of democracy is now gravely injured and lying on the side of the road somewhere between Lahore and Islamabad. The Analogy of Rome burning whilst we are all asleep is a very apt one. Who can forget history when today's 'friend' becomes tomorrow's rogue state and rogue administration. Yet, our own Foreign Office has not been robust in making it clear that dissidents like Imran Khan and the thousands of others detained need to be released and the General must never enforce martial law under the complete lie of an Islamist threat. It is clear that the Islamist threat was a smoke and mirrors routine where all opposition could be suppressed to keep Musharraf in power. What a manipulation of the powers of the State that was.
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Read "For God's Sake Musharraf, Free Imran Khan and Other Political Dissenters That You Have Detained " in full (330 words).
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Remembering The Past For The Future
Sun 11th Nov 2007
At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, services right across the country took place to commemorate the fallen in the Great Wars and within others. It was a sombre occasion for many that brought home the horrors of war and the chance to reflect upon those not here since they truly had 'given their today's for our tomorrows.'
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Read "Remembering The Past For The Future" in full (306 words).
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Pakistan is Convulsing Through Dictatorial Measures
Mon 5th Nov 2007
The decision by General Musharraf to impose martial law has set back Pakistan in the eyes of other nations, especially when so many nations realise that military rule is not only socially counter-productive, it is also leads to economic disaster. Today, Pakistan is virtually overwhelmed by the economic powerhouse that India has become and frankly I cannot conceive that India would ever tear up their governance framework and turn to the imposition of martial law. In fact, India has moved on and does not spend the enormous sums of resources on being a counterweight to Pakistan and this position came about 5 / 6 years ago when India realised that constantly worrying about military conflict with Pakistan was actually damaging the nation. Since then, it has moved on, though Pakistan is still convulsing from one military dictatorship to another.
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Read "Pakistan is Convulsing Through Dictatorial Measures" in full (607 words).
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The Mayor's Strategy For Supporting English as a Second Language (ESOL Courses) in London is Bankrupt
Sat 27th Oct 2007
The Mayor recently announced a £15 million injection for 9 further education colleges in London that were facing sharp cuts in funding for English as a Second Language courses. The announcement in May 2007 shores up provision and does not provide extra ESOL spaces in these colleges even though need has dramatically increased due to the migration of communities like the Somali, Turkish Speaking and Eastern European groups.
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Read "The Mayor's Strategy For Supporting English as a Second Language (ESOL Courses) in London is Bankrupt " in full (318 words).
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The Chinese Community Marches in Soho!
Fri 19th Oct 2007
China Town was awash today with the young and the old, the angry and the sad, the shopkeepers and the restaurant owners. They were marching side by side and for the first time, Chinatown was awash with placards. 'Don't target the Chinese community', 'don't penalise migrant workers', said the voices of this normally silent community.
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Read "The Chinese Community Marches in Soho!" in full (618 words).
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Ken and His Posturing!!
Sat 6th Oct 2007
The Mayor of London is going to be making a trip to India very soon and no doubt his visit will be used as a posturing opportunity in a vain attempt to garner support from Asian communities in the UK as the London mayoral elections draw in. Interestingly when there is an election, Ken starts to travel to far flung places in a vain attempt to gather support though this is not a knock box against Ken since he has stood up on minority issues and has been vocal on them. What I object to is the use and abuse of the same communities that he states he supposedly stands up for. Come on Ken, don't do it and should you not be campaigning in London instead of enjoying the delights of India.
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Read "Ken and His Posturing!!" (133 words).
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Believe It or Not! We are Natural Allies
Thu 27th Sep 2007
So where has it all gone so terribly wrong? Why have two minorities that should be natural allies so fundamentally moved in different directions? What am I talking about? Muslims and the Lesbian/Bi/Gay and Trans communities.
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Read "Believe It or Not! We are Natural Allies" in full (441 words).
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A UNITED LONDON AGAINST FEAR
Tue 25th Sep 2007
The recent terrorist bombings in London and the terrorist events in the Capital in the last 2 years (since the 7th of July 2005), have made us all feel on edge in London. We have been and will be resilient against the terrorist and extremism threat. Whilst extremism is prevalent in all religions and in various guises, (obviously the most dangerous is violent extremism), the purveyors of hate and the 'anger message mongers' need to be targeted and ousted from communities.
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Read "A UNITED LONDON AGAINST FEAR" in full (490 words).
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The Real Undercurrent in London
Sun 23rd Sep 2007
I spent Friday afternoon walking the streets of Central London wondering how politicians can all be so blind to what is taking place in this great City. Do they choose to purposefully delete out what is taking place right under our noses? You might think that I have lost the plot and that too much Lib Demmery has meant that I am on the slippery slope to joining the ranks of the sentimentalists and idealists.
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Read "The Real Undercurrent in London" in full (539 words).
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The Real Undercurrent in London
Sun 23rd Sep 2007
I spent Friday afternoon walking the streets of Central London wondering how politicians can all be so blind to what is taking place in this great City. Do they choose to purposefully delete out what is taking place right under our noses? You might think that I have lost the plot and that too much Lib Demmery has meant that I am on the slippery slope to joining the ranks of the sentimentalists and idealists.
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Read "The Real Undercurrent in London" in full (539 words).
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Well Done Sir Menzies! What a Speech
Thu 20th Sep 2007
Sir Menzies - having sat behind you in Brighton today - I see why you stated that experience and age over rides youth. The press have suggested that the 'Young Turks' are waiting in the aisles, but with your gravitas, your delivery and the strong messages that you belted out, there are very few in the Party who can command an audience like you did today.
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Read "Well Done Sir Menzies! What a Speech" in full (201 words).
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Hustings No 1
Thu 20th Sep 2007
Well the hustings took place today and there were Lib Dems hanging off wall to wall to see the three candidates. As usual, names were traded on with a heavy sprinkle of jokes and at points there was a faulty analysis and reading of Party policies, (ladies and gentleman - please digest Party policy.)
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Read "Hustings No 1" in full (142 words).
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Come on! Don't get taken in by 'Big' Names, Look at the Experience in Front of You
Wed 19th Sep 2007
Tomorrow is the first hustings of the mayoral candidacy for the Party and the past few days have shown me that British politics is being corroded by a desire to see 'big names,' rather than individuals who have experience and Party know how as basic skills. Ken and Boris need to be 'matched' in name value, yet I hear very little about having the skills and political capital to do so being part of the equation here at conference!
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Read "Come on! Don't get taken in by 'Big' Names, Look at the Experience in Front of You" in full (245 words).
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