Archive for February, 2007
Introducing “The 2020 Vision”
February 28th, 2007 by Roger Darlington
Former Cabinet Ministers Charles Clarke and Alan Milburn have today launched a new web site called The 2020 Vision intended to open a debate about the future policy direction of the British Labour Party, particularly in the context of an impending change of leadership in the Party as Tony Blair steps down in the summer. […]
Posted in British current affairs | Comments (1)
Forgotten world (68): Siberia
February 28th, 2007 by Roger Darlington
Of course, Russia is always in the news, but usually we hear only of events in the most western part of this huge country. Siberia – about which we hear nothing – actually makes up about 56% of Russia’s territory making it similar in size to Canada or the United States or China. Siberia’s population […]
Posted in World current affairs | Comments (1)
Forgotten world (67): Bulgaria
February 27th, 2007 by Roger Darlington
One of the last two entrants to the European Union, Bulgaria had a GDP per head in 2005 of only $3,480 compared to $9,240 for the eight post-Communist entrants in 2004 and an EU average of $29,330. It has a population of just 8M. Bulgarian is a Slavic language like Russian or Polish. However, some […]
Posted in World current affairs | Comments (0)
It’s Fairtrade Fortnight
February 26th, 2007 by Roger Darlington
Here in the UK, 26 February – 11 March 2007 has been designated Fairtrade Fortnight. Fairtrade sales increase by around 40% every year in the UK, giving hundreds of thousands of producers in developing countries the chance to build a better future and to compete in cut-throat global markets. But Fairtrade Foundation Executive Director Harriet […]
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Forgotten world (66): Romania
February 26th, 2007 by Roger Darlington
If NightHawk has a dominant theme, it is that we live in a wide and varied world and we should know more about other countries and other cultures and learn to respect them. Therefore, on 13 occasions now, I’ve had a week-long feature devoted to parts of the world that tend to be under-reported or […]
Posted in World current affairs | Comments (0)
How to remember things
February 24th, 2007 by Roger Darlington
As I’ve previously mentioned, I’m currently reading the book “Tricks Of The Mind” by the British magician Derren Brown. I repeat that this is a badly-written work – and I’ll review it when I’ve finished it – but it does contain some very interesting subjects and ideas. Brown devotes a chapter to memory tricks which […]
Posted in Miscellaneous | Comments (1)
What were you doing when you were 15?
February 24th, 2007 by Roger Darlington
I was a sensitive and insecure teenager at school in Manchester studying for a major set of public examinations. But Lucie Chevalier – who has recently died aged 82 – was a member of the resistance in German-occupied Belgium. Lest we forget, you can read her amazing story here.
Posted in History | Comments (0)
A world first for e-voting
February 24th, 2007 by Roger Darlington
The Baltic state of Estonia plans to become the world’s first country to allow voting in a national parliamentary election via the Internet. More information here. I recently covered Estonia in my on-going blog series entitled “Forgotten World” – see here.
Posted in World current affairs | Comments (0)
Five blogs that make me think
February 23rd, 2007 by Roger Darlington
An American blogger has come up with a meme called “Five blogs that make me think”. I only know this because one of the bloggers who’s picked up on the meme – an American teacher who has been a cyber-buddy for some time – has chosen NighHawk as one of her five. Thanks, Dana. It […]
Posted in Internet | Comments (4)
What my local MP is doing
February 23rd, 2007 by Roger Darlington
My local Labour Member of Parliament has revamped his web site and has a useful feature in the form of a map of the constituency with flags that can be clicked for information on his local activity. When I first moved to Brent North in 1984, this was a Conservative-held seat but Barry Gardiner – […]
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