Archive for December, 2007
It’s Just Plain Criminal … the Government’s Immigration Policy, that Is
Posted by David Conway in Social Cohesion on 11/12/2007
Yesterday at the Old Bailey, three young men, Sodrul Islam, Delwar Hussain and Mamoon Hussain, were convicted of the attempted murder of a thirty-one year old fourth man, John Payne. The attempted murder took place in April 2006 on the Clichy estate in Stepney in London’s Tower Hamlets.
continued on the Centre for Social Cohesion blog.
Safari So Goody?
Posted by Pete Quentin in European Union on 10/12/2007
Last weekend saw the EU-Africa summit held in Lisbon amid much controversy. Africa’s leaders came to Europe for a brief political safari, but one of the EU’s very own ‘Big Five’ game animals was to elude them. As promised Brown did not attend, apparently to avoid a “media circus” which would have distracted from attempts to negotiate trading relations, to the benefit of all EU and African nations. “Media Circus” avoided. Well, almost…
PISA – Show’s over: international study exposes government standards charade
Posted by Nick Cowen in Education on 05/12/2007
Final straw for government’s education record: world’s most comprehensive assessment of pupil knowledge and skills crushes UK government claims of rising school standards.
- 523 – 495 (28 point decline) from 2000 in reading amongst UK 15 yr olds: a decline from 23 points above the OECD average, to 3 points above average. This is a drop from 7th to 17th place in PISA’s international rankings
- 529 – 495 (34 point decline) from 2000 in maths amongst UK 15 yr olds: a decline from 29 points above average, to 3 points below average. This is a drop from 8th to 24th place in PISA’s international rankings
Actions Speak Louder than Words
Posted by David Conway in Social Cohesion on 04/12/2007
Slowly, slowly, I sense the beginnings of a great historic sea-change in public opinion at home and abroad concerning the wisdom of President Bush’s decision in 2003 to go to war in Iraq. Initially, his decision was greeted with very widespread condemnation both here and abroad, condemnation that grew louder as any suspected WMD failed to show up.
Recently, however, public outrage at that decision and at the US’s continued military presence in Iraq has begun to subside. It has subsided with the growing calm in that country the Petraeus surge has brought, combined with increasing hostility among Iraqis and their increasing success in defeating foreign Al Qaeda fighters in their country. Slowly, former outrage at Bush’s decision to go to war is giving way to a silent reassessment of the action.
continued on the Centre for Social Cohesion blog.
The Europeanisation of Education: Open Debate?
Posted by Pete Quentin in European Union on 03/12/2007
On Thursday 22nd November 2007 Civitas hosted a seminar with Global Vision and Chris Heaton-Harris MEP, on the impact the EU is having on education. A summary of the key points from the presentations and subsequent discussion are detailed below.