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The best opinion pieces from the websites of the national press
Former Daily Telegraph editor Charles Moore, used his column in the same paper to write about how Israel has disarmed itself in the battle for world opinion through its actions in Gaza. He argues this from the perspective of a 'friend of Israel' who believes that the IHH, the organisation that was behind the aid flotilla, has 'well attested links to terrorism'. Robert Fisk took an opposing view in The Independent, suggesting that, on the contrary, Israel is winning the 'PR war' and that 'Western journalists are writing like Israeli journalists, while many Israeli journalists are writing about the killings with the courage that Western journalists should demonstrate''. The Daily Mail looks to go beyond the politics surrounding the crisis and examines what life is like behind the blockade and how life continues in what some have described as 'the world's biggest prison'. Dan Thomas, writing in The Guardian, chose to focus on the undignified retirement of White House correspondent Helen Thomas, after a 67 year career. She had been interviewed on camera saying that 'Jews should get the hell out of Palestine' and 'go back to Germany and Poland'. The Independent had an interview and double spread on another resignation: Tim Franks. He was the BBC correspondent in Jerusalem and a practising Jew. The article asks if he can really have had a bias towards both Israel and Palestine that he has been accused of at various points in his three and a half year stint. His resignation comments made for sobering reading: "The Middle East has become occluded by prejudice... too many people have unshakeable views of others." His final dispatch can be found here.
The Best of the Blogs
The finest from the politcal blogosphere.
The left-leaning blog Left Foot Forward had an interesting opinion piece from the head of the Open Left project at the think tank Demos, examining the lively debate on immigration between the candidates at the first of the hustings in the Labour leadership contest. The New Statesman's rolling blog focuses on the recent poll that suggested that Britons relate Islam with extremism. It concludes "Fear that stems from ignorance at least leaves open the possibility of people changing their minds; although this poll shows that the EIF (the organisation behind the poll) has a struggle on its hands."The Spectator blog commented on the statement by Richard Holbrooke, the US diplomat in charge of Pakistan and Afghan affairs, who has made it clear that talks with the Taliban to end war in Afghanistan are on the cards. Foreign Policy Watch has a discussion of the current disarray amongst the Egyptian opposition parties and Hosni Mubarak's increasing grip on the country.
The Telegraph reviews Ayaan Hirsi Ali's book, A Personal Journey Through the Clash of Civilisations, concluding that its view of the Islamic world is 'simplistic'. The article wryly notes that "Any book that has the endorsement of Richard Dawkins on its front cover and Christopher Hitchens on the back will almost inevitably contain an anti-religious diatribe or an account of disenchantment with faith".
Around the world
The best opinion pieces from news sources around the world.
The Washington Post On Faith blog hosts an article that compares Comedy Central's treatment of the Prophet Mohammed and the reaction it provoked, with a planned series of 30 minute long episodes of a satirical show about Jesus Christ. The Huffington Post had a short video looking at life behind the blockade in Gaza. The Daily Star in Lebanon has a new take on the power balance in the Middle East, namely that the west is in decline and that the Iran-Turkey-Brazil summit in Istanbul is proof of the fact that it no longer 'dictates the narrative in the Middle East'.
The International News in Pakistan had an interesting take on terrorism within the country, rejecting the idea that its root is in Pushtun nationalism, and arguing that the way to tackle it is to strengthen NGOs in Pakistan. The Toronto Star in Canada ran an editorial on the biggest Canadian project in Afghanistan, a $50m dam that is 'under a cloud'. Twitter Top Trends
We bring you the top relevant Twitter trends of the week from the UK and elsewhere.
#cumbria The tragedy in Cumbria is understandably attracting a lot of comment, sadness and attention this week.
#voteforstudents Theworld of Twitter was in revolt at the coalition government's plan to introduce higher university fees.
#oilspill The oil spill on the US Gulf Coast is remains a global Twitter trend. David Cameron is considering attempting to intervene with US President Barack Obama over his angry rhetoric against BP.
#lead4women TA movement has started within the Labour party to try to ensure a 50:50 male/female divide in the Shadow Cabinet amongst other initiatives to ensure equality.
The best opinion pieces from the websites of the national press
Former Daily Telegraph editor Charles Moore, used his column in the same paper to write about how Israel has disarmed itself in the battle for world opinion through its actions in Gaza. He argues this from the perspective of a 'friend of Israel' who believes that the IHH, the organisation that was behind the aid flotilla, has 'well attested links to terrorism'. Robert Fisk took an opposing view in The Independent, suggesting that, on the contrary, Israel is winning the 'PR war' and that 'Western journalists are writing like Israeli journalists, while many Israeli journalists are writing about the killings with the courage that Western journalists should demonstrate''. The Daily Mail looks to go beyond the politics surrounding the crisis and examines what life is like behind the blockade and how life continues in what some have described as 'the world's biggest prison'. Dan Thomas, writing in The Guardian, chose to focus on the undignified retirement of White House correspondent Helen Thomas, after a 67 year career. She had been interviewed on camera saying that 'Jews should get the hell out of Palestine' and 'go back to Germany and Poland'. The Independent had an interview and double spread on another resignation: Tim Franks. He was the BBC correspondent in Jerusalem and a practising Jew. The article asks if he can really have had a bias towards both Israel and Palestine that he has been accused of at various points in his three and a half year stint. His resignation comments made for sobering reading: "The Middle East has become occluded by prejudice... too many people have unshakeable views of others." His final dispatch can be found here.
The Best of the Blogs
The finest from the politcal blogosphere.
The left-leaning blog Left Foot Forward had an interesting opinion piece from the head of the Open Left project at the think tank Demos, examining the lively debate on immigration between the candidates at the first of the hustings in the Labour leadership contest. The New Statesman's rolling blog focuses on the recent poll that suggested that Britons relate Islam with extremism. It concludes "Fear that stems from ignorance at least leaves open the possibility of people changing their minds; although this poll shows that the EIF (the organisation behind the poll) has a struggle on its hands."The Spectator blog commented on the statement by Richard Holbrooke, the US diplomat in charge of Pakistan and Afghan affairs, who has made it clear that talks with the Taliban to end war in Afghanistan are on the cards. Foreign Policy Watch has a discussion of the current disarray amongst the Egyptian opposition parties and Hosni Mubarak's increasing grip on the country.
The Telegraph reviews Ayaan Hirsi Ali's book, A Personal Journey Through the Clash of Civilisations, concluding that its view of the Islamic world is 'simplistic'. The article wryly notes that "Any book that has the endorsement of Richard Dawkins on its front cover and Christopher Hitchens on the back will almost inevitably contain an anti-religious diatribe or an account of disenchantment with faith".
Around the world
The best opinion pieces from news sources around the world.
The Washington Post On Faith blog hosts an article that compares Comedy Central's treatment of the Prophet Mohammed and the reaction it provoked, with a planned series of 30 minute long episodes of a satirical show about Jesus Christ. The Huffington Post had a short video looking at life behind the blockade in Gaza. The Daily Star in Lebanon has a new take on the power balance in the Middle East, namely that the west is in decline and that the Iran-Turkey-Brazil summit in Istanbul is proof of the fact that it no longer 'dictates the narrative in the Middle East'.
The International News in Pakistan had an interesting take on terrorism within the country, rejecting the idea that its root is in Pushtun nationalism, and arguing that the way to tackle it is to strengthen NGOs in Pakistan. The Toronto Star in Canada ran an editorial on the biggest Canadian project in Afghanistan, a $50m dam that is 'under a cloud'. Twitter Top Trends
We bring you the top relevant Twitter trends of the week from the UK and elsewhere.
#cumbria The tragedy in Cumbria is understandably attracting a lot of comment, sadness and attention this week.
#voteforstudents Theworld of Twitter was in revolt at the coalition government's plan to introduce higher university fees.
#oilspill The oil spill on the US Gulf Coast is remains a global Twitter trend. David Cameron is considering attempting to intervene with US President Barack Obama over his angry rhetoric against BP.
#lead4women TA movement has started within the Labour party to try to ensure a 50:50 male/female divide in the Shadow Cabinet amongst other initiatives to ensure equality.
CPA secretary General Dr wiliiam shija and the disability Mp from Tanzania Hon. AL SHAYMAAKnown as the "Zeru Zeru", or ghosts, Tanzania's albinos have put up with the name-calling and the stigmatisation of being "black in a white skin" for years. The unluckier ones have even been kicked out of their home by relatives who see their condition as a curse on the whole family.
Now albinos in the east African nation face an altogether more deadly threat. They have become the favoured prey of traditional healers, who kill them to harvest their body parts for get-rich-quick concoctions.
In the most gruesome of a spate of albino murders in the north-west region around Lake Victoria, one corpse was exhumed with all its limbs cut off. Others have been found minus tongues, genitals or breasts. 
The problem has reached such proportions that Tanzania's President, Jakaya Kikwete, used his monthly television address to announce a crackdown on the traditional healers as well as plans to register albinos to improve their safety. "These killings are shameful and distressing to our society," said Mr Kikwete in his Wednesday night speech to the nation. "I am told that people kill albinos and chop their body parts, including fingers, believing they can get rich."Operation Black Vote & Government Equalities Office BAME Women Councillor Shadowing Scheme
Political Scheme Makes History for BAME Women
Women from black and minority ethnic (BAME) communities who became local councillors thanks to a ground-breaking scheme will be honoured at a House of Commons reception on Monday (14 June).
Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone and Race Equalities Minister Andrew Stunell will meet women who took part in the scheme, which was launched last year by Operation Black Vote and the Government Equalities Office. It paired BAME women with local councillors to help demystify the role of councillors and encourage people from more diverse background to engage with their councils.
60 women took part in the scheme and 15 were so inspired that they stood for election in the 6 May poll, four of them winning seats. Many the women who took part in the scheme will be at the event, along with some of their councillor mentors.
Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone and Race Equalities Minister Andrew Stunell will give the keynote address, along with Operation Black Vote Director Simon Woolley. This will be followed by a photo opportunity and refreshments.
The event, hosted jointly by the Government Equalities Office and Operation Black Vote, will be held on Monday 14 June at the House of Commons, Terrace Room, Terrace Pavilion, Westminster. Arrivals are expected from 3.30pm to allow for the security clearance, and the event is due to end by 6pm.
Lynne Featherstone, Minister for Equalities said:
“BAME women make more than 5% of the population but less than 1% of councillors. Our democracy is supposed to be representative, rooted in the community. It won’t be representative until more women like these are at the heart of decision making at a local and national level. We need all sections of society represented in politics so we can get decisions that can have a real effect on everyone.
“These new Councillors do not just want change; they have put themselves forward to make change happen. They are role models for equality – bringing a voice to decision making that has been missing for too long.”
Francine Fernandes, OBV Head of Shadowing Schemes said: “The women have blazed a trail of political success. Within a very short period of time, they have moved from political bystanders to political leaders. Their collective journeys and achievements starkly demonstrate the wealth of talent within BAME communities and defy stereotypes about women, and particularly BAME women. OBV are particularly pleased that so many of the participants put themselves forward as candidates and are now local Cllrs. We celebrate their entrance into public life and commend the positive contributions which they are making to their local communities. “
Political Scheme Makes History for BAME Women
Women from black and minority ethnic (BAME) communities who became local councillors thanks to a ground-breaking scheme will be honoured at a House of Commons reception on Monday (14 June).
Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone and Race Equalities Minister Andrew Stunell will meet women who took part in the scheme, which was launched last year by Operation Black Vote and the Government Equalities Office. It paired BAME women with local councillors to help demystify the role of councillors and encourage people from more diverse background to engage with their councils.
60 women took part in the scheme and 15 were so inspired that they stood for election in the 6 May poll, four of them winning seats. Many the women who took part in the scheme will be at the event, along with some of their councillor mentors.
Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone and Race Equalities Minister Andrew Stunell will give the keynote address, along with Operation Black Vote Director Simon Woolley. This will be followed by a photo opportunity and refreshments.
The event, hosted jointly by the Government Equalities Office and Operation Black Vote, will be held on Monday 14 June at the House of Commons, Terrace Room, Terrace Pavilion, Westminster. Arrivals are expected from 3.30pm to allow for the security clearance, and the event is due to end by 6pm.
Lynne Featherstone, Minister for Equalities said:
“BAME women make more than 5% of the population but less than 1% of councillors. Our democracy is supposed to be representative, rooted in the community. It won’t be representative until more women like these are at the heart of decision making at a local and national level. We need all sections of society represented in politics so we can get decisions that can have a real effect on everyone.
“These new Councillors do not just want change; they have put themselves forward to make change happen. They are role models for equality – bringing a voice to decision making that has been missing for too long.”
Francine Fernandes, OBV Head of Shadowing Schemes said: “The women have blazed a trail of political success. Within a very short period of time, they have moved from political bystanders to political leaders. Their collective journeys and achievements starkly demonstrate the wealth of talent within BAME communities and defy stereotypes about women, and particularly BAME women. OBV are particularly pleased that so many of the participants put themselves forward as candidates and are now local Cllrs. We celebrate their entrance into public life and commend the positive contributions which they are making to their local communities. “
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