Introduction to Journalism - Summary Introduction Exercise

UNISON PROPOSE NEW BUDGET IN PROTEST

Unison workers will make a stand in cities around the country on Friday.   

As a result of the proposals by the government to cut public sector spending, workers will don skeleton outfits in protest to emphasise their concern in London, Birmingham, Leeds, Taunton, Swansea, Newcastle and Nottingham. 

“The Chancellor’s knife is cutting deep. His drastic, hard and fast public spending cuts will cut vital local services back to the bone and throw tens of thousands on the dole,” said Heather Wakefield, Unison Head of Local Government.

There are great fears that the cuts will lead to high streets becoming like ghost towns, and that local economies will die.  Unison, the UK’s largest public sector union, has constructed their own budget that they feel of which the coalition should take note. The alternative ‘fairer budget’ is aimed at taxing the bankers (who they suggest caused the crisis) and higher earners (over £100,000), as well as addressing tax avoidance and tax havens.  Included in the Unison Save Our Services budget is a 50% taxation on those earning over £100,000, seeing a return of £4.7bn a year alone.  In Unison’s eyes the road to recovery will be much fairer, instead of those in the public sector paying the price.

At the same time, unnecessary spending within the public sector, notably the NHS, has been identified.  Unison states that £500m could be saved from hiring cleaners to eradicate healthcare acquired infections.

LONDON CAN SURF UNDERGROUND

BT is to bring Wi-Fi to Charing Cross Underground this week. 

As part of a six-month trial by London Underground and BT, commuters will be able to access the internet via BT Openzone in the Tube station.  The trial will test how successful the service is, part of which is to provide up-to-date service information for London Transport.

“We hope that our customers will find it useful to have access to the internet,” said Richard Parry, Strategy and Commercial Director for London Underground.

As the latest UK addition to the BT Openzone Wi-Fi hotspots; the ticket area and platforms on the Northern and Bakerloo lines will offer commuters the opportunity to surf the net.  This means that BT now has over 1.6 million wireless broadband hotspots.  To connect to the service, passengers will need to be carrying a Wi-Fi enabled device, such as a laptop or smartphone.  However, internet access is only free to those BT broadband customers on unlimited BT FON Wi-Fi minutes, or BT Openzone customers.  Mobile network users of O2, Tesco Mobile, Vodaphone and Orange, as well as other Wi-Fi enabled devices with Wi-Fi minutes in their contract are able to use the BT Openzone network.  It is also possible to buy vouchers online.

London Underground sees the trial as part of TfL’s innovation to find alternative ways to make information more accessible to customers.

IT’S A SLUG’S LIFE

Britain’s 'green fingers' need to take care when using slug pellets during this autumn and winter.  

The warning comes from the Environmental Agency, as they anticipate the increase in slug activity during wet weather.

“If conditions are such that you wouldn’t spray a pesticide, such as when heavy rain is forecast, then don’t apply a pellet,” stated Phil Shere from the Environment Agency.

The Metaldehyde Stewardship Group emphasised in their guidelines the importance of keeping metaldehyde out of water.  They advise on the effectiveness of applying slug pellets, that they need to be spread carefully and accurately, making sure that any applicators are cleaned away from any watercourse.  It is essential not to apply pellets within six metres of a watercourse, or when heavy rain is forecast.  Attention must be paid to the dosage given on the manufacturer’s label. 

Using a much better quality slug pellet is also recommended by the Environment Agency.  This is because the quality of a pellet affects its resistance to wet weather, as well as its success in slug deaths.  If a pellet breaks down quickly, it is more likely to leak metaldehyde into the soil; this in turn drains into a water course and increases the risk of contamination (as well as killing less slugs).

All UK growers and advisors have the responsibility to make sure slug pellets are used in the right way and only when needed, to ensure they do not contaminate the environment.