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Open Reach, the private company holding UK’s essential telecommunications service to ransom.

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Edited by Hede Maria Cavell, Saturday, 10 Jun 2023, 12:03

Having been fed up with talking to chat bots and a community forum  that is used by a company to exploit their customers  good will to resolve  technical issues, I embarked  on finding a human to talk to that could reassure me that if l switched companies l would  gain a human to talk to in relation to any  issues.

 Our Request.

To  switch to a broadband  and phone package that enables us to connect with the outside world.  Employs  humans that are able to use initiatives and not scripts to deal with customers issues .

Explained how imperative it was to have a smooth switch over due to not having a mobile phone signal where we live and having disabilities it was essential that we would need  the connection for health reasons as well as our work and studies. This was guaranteed by the agent and so we took the plunge.

 The day came and went and it is now two weeks later.

 For the first five days we were left with nothing , no phone no internet. On the fifth day we found ourselves with a dial tone. Our misfortune was to think that people could now phone us. To our horror we found out this was not the case. We were, and still are, unable to receive incoming calls. As a result of this, l am unable to have ring back appointments with healthcare professionals and important work calls and appointments are being missed. We have also ascertained that we no longer have a telephone number. This came to light when my partner tried to call home to check that l was ok.

Once again, we spoke to the provider  to try and rectify the situation, from a lay by two miles away from home, and we were informed that it is  only Open Reach, that can provide the connectivity  and not the service or product providers. This information is not that forth coming  when switching or buying new products. The service provider issued us with a mini hub  for the mean time. This buffers  due to the amount of network traffic from the surrounding area and so we have very limited accessibility .  

The UK is relying on one private network company to connect the whole of the UK. The theoretical assumption of Open Reach appears to be that where ever you are in the UK you are able to  get a mobile signal.

The reality is that this is not the case.  There needs to be an alternative operational network that accommodates the reality and not the theoretical landscape of the nation. One blanket model does not fit all.  

 What is the true ethos of  Open Reach ? What value if any,  do they  place on their residential customers life’s ? In what way is a private company providing a public  essential service to the individual ?

Open Reach, is a LTD   company they do  not sell products or provide a service to the public. What they do is to provide a service for the industry,  enabling them to sub contract work out ,  to try and  fulfil their commitments.  They are not a public  service, but a private company and as such, their business model is not one of ensuring the  basic essential network is in good order and the public have accessibility to suit their needs, they are there to negotiate lucrative contracts with the industry on the premise of being able to fulfil the commitment  to the  private sectors which include the service providers. As such they are able to use the theoretical framing and narrative of the digital roll out benefiting the whole nation.    

 Sadly, the companies selling the products and services, have  their hands  tied  in relation to connection issues.  Open Reach hides behind automation and as such, the companies that provide the products and services are left to flounder and bat off the continuous  stream of complaints.

All the  while Open Reach sit back and  accumulate  profits and profiteer from the public’s misery.  Open Reach appear  to be oblivious or totally nonchalant to the strain and pressure they put on the customer service teams  trying to resolve  the issues.  As a result of  Open Reach’s  elusiveness,  reviews, (the terminology used by the companies when an issue is raised) are constantly closed  without being rectified.

 For us, this has happened on a daily basis . Again, they seem not to understand that we cannot receive incoming calls and we can not get a mobile signal.

We have not seen nor have we been contacted by an engineer, we have not even been asked what would be a suitable time to contact us, and l am in fear of leaving our home just in case that valuable commodity that is an  engineer  arrives unexpectedly.

Missed university deadlines and work deadlines all feed into the stress and anxiety and exacerbate pre-existing health issues, we have no way of having a call back from health professionals and no longer having a telephone number does not help matters.

 The slogan  ,’ Connecting you to the world’ . (About us | Openreach) appears to be false advertising within the context of the residential customer.    They appear to preach an idealism that they cannot fulfil and yet the government  appear to turn a blind eye.  It appears that engineers are no longer are provided with all the relevant equipment to fix issues and therefore have to go make several trips to rectify the issues. I can’t help thinking this has to be a money saving exercise for the benefit of the investors.

 Why has the government allowed  Open Reach to have  the monopoly  of the UK’s essential communication network  ?

Who thought it was a good idea to give just one private company the monopoly of telecommunications being,  that it is an essential service for not only the business sector but for residential customers nationwide ?

  Unfortunately, we are not an isolated case and it appears that public frustration is growing. The excuses have worn thin and the reality is, Open Reach are unable to fulfil their obligations within a timely manner and the blame has to lie firmly at the feet of the person who gave just one company the contract to provide an essential service for the nation.  

 The question begs, why are the public paying  tax, for an essential service that is  not  nationalised and, is dependent on just one solitary private company whos’ profits for investors will naturally come first ?

 Openreach Reviews | Read Customer Service Reviews of www.openreach.co.uk (trustpilot.com)

Openreach kept us waiting nine months to install broadband | Money | The Guardian

Openreach is failing to connect me | Internet, phones & broadband | The Guardian

 

 Has anyone seen a real human engineer ?

Still waiting !!!!

  

 Happy to say we now fully up and running and the engineer that came to sort out the issue was brilliant.

I wish companies stop abusing technology when it comes to customer service issues. 

To think you can just flick a switch and all would be well is the stuff of fairy tales and  not reality ! 

 

 

 

 


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Student Finance - Age restriction. 'Inactive' 50- and 60-year-olds UK

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Why is it UK student finance will not fund people over 60 through maintenance grants to attain their degree PHD or Masters? 

It appears that the government have now realised how valuable people in their 50's and 60's are to the work force. But when it comes to funding, there is an outdated funding restriction for those 60 and over, which prevents them attaining higher educational qualifications unless they are privileged enough to have personal sufficient funds. 

 The people that apply for funding to study in their 60's may have had many societal and economic barriers to overcome which, some of today's society may have chosen to ignore, thus discriminating and stereotyping a group of the workforce.

 Within the context of the past, people with dyslexia and other neurodivergent issues along with physical disabilities were not afforded the same privileges such as being diagnosed or being granted any assistance at school. As such they were written off and stigmatised through societal divisions and perceptions. 

 Note :I recognise that this is still a huge barrier today and that the budget for educational needs is always the first to be cut.

 Most People in their 50 and 60's have been working since there were sixteen (not eighteen) and paying their National Insurance contributions since they were sixteen.  Work experience was also different, not so much health and safety but what was said on the tin, 'work experience'.

The class system - School-leavers dependant on Comprehensive, Secondary mainly went straight into work and onto to Youth Opportunities Schemes, going to college being the exception if affordable to your family. The main way into college from the Comprehensive or the Secondary school pupil was through the route of apprenticeships. Pupils from Grammer schools were expected to do better to attain the grades to attend college and university and the academic route.

  For people who worked on the ground floor the routes to climbing the ladder were less privileged but what they did have was the life experiences within the workplace, however when it came to promotion you may of had the skills but if you did not have the qualifications, you were stumped.  There was no 'fast track' and so many talented people were overlooked.

Some were luckily enough to be sponsored through work, to attain their qualifications but this was open to a very small minority.

 During the pandemic, many people in there 50's and 60's were made redundant, (along with the last in) and some were given the opportunity to retire. 

Many people have decided that they have had enough of the stress and anxiety of being treated like cannon fodder by companies and government including those in their 50 's and 60's, some wanted to take time out to reflect and decided what path is open to them while looking after and caring for families and propping up the voluntary sector.  

 The government now appear to view those in their 50's and 60's as ' economically inactive'! (ons.gov.uk) What hope do we have if the government have no regard or respect for people of a certain age?  

What is the message they are portraying to up and coming generations?

 In my opinion, this is how societal divisions are formed. What is conjured in your mind when the term 'Inactive' is used?

There are people who wish to still work in there 50's and 60's, however the workplace has not stood still and neither do we. Most people in their 50's and 60's are realistic as to what they can and can't do due to aging process, hence the adaptation of some to studying for a degree, Masters or PHD, so they are equipped to return to the workforce.

Unfortunately, this is where people in there 60's are penalized. Most people do not have huge pots of money to fund their studying.   Many people were deprived of some or all of their private work pensions through mismanagement of funds along with others that are under the pension age.

  Student finance will not assist funding the living costs over 60's to attain their qualifications and therefore are penalising and excluding a part of the workforce.

 Are those in their 50's and 60's, only there to be valued as cannon fodder within the workforce or should they be valued and given the chance to attain funding after their 60's to be able to contribute to society.

Sheerness Steel, Pensions? What pensions? Legal battle with steel firm | libcom.org

  Maxwell    Pensions Archive Trust - Maxwell Scandal

 BHS Sir Philip sold BHS to dodge pension cost, says regulator - BBC News

Early insights from the Over 50s Lifestyle Study, Great Britain - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk) 
Note; what questions were asked?
Were the historical contexts and insights to education and past societal issues taken into account when devising the survey? 


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RIP Queen Elizabeth ll.

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Sending my condolences to all the royal family at this time.

She was such a remarkable woman.

God save the King.

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UK Autumn 2022.

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 The Autumn is nearly upon us and along with that comes a new prime minister, and the start of a new academic year.
For me it has been a time of preparation, buying thermals, batteries for camping lights and charcoal for the BBQ, (just in case syndrome!) 
It used to be Christmas that was eagerly anticipated, now it is how will the new prime minister deal with the pressing issues of the day.
 
The energy crisis.
What has the Autumn got in store for small independent businesses? Please let there be good news, because if they are no more, all we will be left with, are the big conglomerates. 
Little human interaction and huge headaches and frustration.

 How does the new prime mister appear to view UK society?
Very little if her speech writers are to be believed. The use of the term 'handouts' again being rolled out to detriment of the population, (nothing like stigmatising and causing divisions throughout the population!) 
All of us in some way contribute by paying tax, be it by shopping, driving and socialising as well as working.  We all contribute in one way or another and some may need more assistance than others. Once again assumptions and presumptions, it appears to be easier to stigmatise and cause divisions than to be inclusive and mindful.

Strikes. 
The use of the term, 'militant' to describe desperate workers.
Free speech seems to be determined by your privilege and status, not for the likes of the working class that keep the country turning. What else is there to do when you are not being heard? 
It appears that if there is a difference of opinion instead of finding solutions it is easier to use old strategies and stigmatise then to try and seek new solutions and strategies.

 The terminology that has been used throughout the new prime ministers' campaign speeches unfortunately, does not inspire much confidence within me. 

Let's hope the terminology used is just down to the speech writers and that there will be a silver lining for all this Autumn.
 




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Comparing Countries.

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Why is it that we compare ourselves to other countries ?

Each country is unique, from the  demographics to societal culture and history.

How can we compare our working  and societal models to other countries ?  

What is it that we truly have in common with other countries ?  Answer; We are human .

We use broken work models such as target setting which have done nothing but cause panic and anxiety to those that are on the ground floor trying to do their best along with staff shortages.

 Education is now mainly sponsored by big companies .Academy sponsor list - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

How to Attract Sponsors and Partners to Your School | School Procurement | The Headteacher.

Who in the end is making a profit from that and how can education then be impartial?

These models do not work yet we still persist because it works in some  other western countries with different work ethics and values due to their own culture.


Is it time to take stock, stop comparing ourselves with other countries , review, educate ourselves about our society and our country and build strong foundations which are tailored to our country and not others. . 

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Bonuses' and the outsourced public services. (Uk.)

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Edited by Hede Maria Cavell, Tuesday, 9 Aug 2022, 10:35

Public services are in decline, there is no doubt of that. 

This has been quietly happing under our noses for several years but has come to the fore in more recent times as governments have become complacent with the thought that,  "society will not be  interested in  the selling off of public services." 

Who is it that awards the the bonuses and decides the going rate for public oops, private companies ?

It appears it is down  to the employer to decide how bonuses are paid, yet again we are told about the 'going rate' if that is the case, the ultimate employer would be the government. These are public services they are meant to  be there  to enhance the well being  of   the whole of society   not just a few. 


Tax payers money is literally being poured down the drain by those that society depend on .

Is that our fault ? 

What makes us put more trust in the men and women from privileged backgrounds rather than men and women who have worked their  way up and still live and have contact with 'ground floor'  society  ?

Is it a hang over from our  generational past?  

Bonus rights-specialist employment solicitors: Landau Law

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UK Public sector does it really exist ?

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I am at a loss when listening to minsters say that they will not get involved with negotiations with public sector workers grievances.

 Can someone explain what is their actual role as ministers ?  

It appears to  me, that due to many public sectors being outsourced to private companies, ministers  have no authority to intervene  so why are they in post ? 

Could it be seen as  another false economy that tax payers are paying for ?

 It appears minsters have given their powers away to private companies who are there to make profits for investors and are NOT there for the welfare of the public. 

Public sector ?  Could that name be construed  as false representation ?

Ministerial accountability | The Institute for Government Is this working within all government departments at present or are some, using the election of a new Prime Minister as a 'get out' clause for accountability to parliament and the electorate ? 





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Suggested use of agency workers to be used while people strike.

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Edited by Hede Maria Cavell, Tuesday, 12 Jul 2022, 12:28

I am wondering why the UK government now feel that the time maybe right to use agency workers to take over from those that wish to strike for increased pay.

The outcry when P and O sacked their workers and replaced them with agency workers seems to of ceased and it appears that the government, now feel that because people wish to strike for their pay increase  it is ok to put agency workers in their place !

What has happened to the concern of 'health and safety ?'

How is it that those with the big bonuses and pay checks are not being held accountable for these issues that are bringing the country to a halt?

Who decides the going rate for those at the top and why is it  their pay rate never decreases in accordance  with their lack of performance ? 

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UK. Do we, or do we not saddle future generations with family mortgage debt?

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 Finally, the conservatives appear to be trying address some issues that are genuinely affecting UK society.  The housing shortage, being one issue. The new idea and I stress idea is to saddle future generations with family debt of a mortgage.

It appears that if you have an axe to grind with family members this could be a good way of saddling them with debt. What happened to Rishi Sunaks’ comment regarding the economy and not wanting to push the children into debt ?  Rishi: It’s ‘un-conservative’ to load future generations with debt from Covid crisis | Politics | News | Express.co.uk

We can’t burden future generations with debt, warns Rishi Sunak | Evening Standard.

How will this affect families in the long run and how do they tackle the issue of inheritance tax?

Is this on the premise that the conservatives will be in power for generations to come and can reassure society that it, ‘will be a good thing to do?’ For whom?

The issue of ‘right to buy’ has been a disaster.  Offloading housing association and council houses to owners that have to folk out for all the repairs that have mounted up due to the lack of maintenance of the property.  As a result, some again return to unaffordable debt, thus forced into selling their dream due to not being able to afford the mortgage. And so, the cycle begins again and the only ones to profit are the housing  associations and councils who no longer have to worry about the maintenance of their properties.

Social housing is there for a reason, it is there to aid those in society that are unable to buy property and they should not be exploited by others.

If we wanted to respect others and diversity, we should stop selling off social housing and concentrate on repairing, building, and sourcing habitable housing that is already available.

This is such a social class issue within the UK if we are to move forward, we need to break down the myths and barriers surrounding housing and supply housing that is not party to being sold off by associations and governments when times are tough.

 As the government wish to relive the past, to tackle the housing crisis it might be an idea to start with the, ‘1919 Addisons’ Housing and Town Planning Act’, Council housing - UK Parliament detailing the reasons why social housing was introduced .

 


Permalink 2 comments (latest comment by Judith McLean, Saturday, 2 Jul 2022, 16:47)
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Open University. Making a positive change.

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Open Futures Sanctuary Scholarship

The Open University believes that accessible education is a powerful tool for social mobility, improving people’s lives, and building better communities.

The Open Futures Sanctuary Scholarship is offering the opportunity for 12 students to study up to 360 credits for free, plus a further 50 free places on one of our Access modules to help applicants develop the skills and confidence to progress into higher education.

Women with child

What is the Open Futures Sanctuary Scholarship?

The Open Futures Sanctuary Scholarship, launching for the first time in academic year 2022/23, will provide the opportunity for new, UK-resident students who have been displaced from their homeland or place of residence for political, economic, ethnic, environmental, or human rights pressures, to study for free.

12 scholarships will be available in 2022/23. A scholarship covers up to 360 credits of OU undergraduate credit-bearing study, paying for the full tuition cost of these credits, up to 120 credits each seasonal academic year and 360 credits in total.

The 50 OU Access Module Fee Waivers will cover the cost of one OU Access module starting in Autumn 2022.

Eligibility

To be eligible for either a scholarship or Access Module Fee Waiver, you’ll need to meet all the following criteria:

  • Be a forced migrant to the United Kingdom (a person displaced from their homeland or place of residence for political, economic, ethnic, environmental, or human rights pressures)
  • Have a personal annual income of not more than £25,000 or be in receipt of a qualifying benefit
  • Be ordinarily resident in the UK
  • Hold no existing higher education qualification attained in the UK
  • Be a new student to The Open University in the academic year 2022/23
  • Be intending to enrol for an undergraduate OU module commencing in the 2022/23 academic year. If you are applying for an Access Module Fee Waiver you must be intending to study an Access module
  • Be studying at a minimum intensity of 25% (30 credits) per academic year

What supporting evidence do I need?

You’ll need to provide evidence of your UK Home Office immigration status and annual personal income or qualifying benefit.

Why not ? What is there to lose ? 

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So what of the traffickers ? What is the EU doing ?

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Edited by Hede Maria Cavell, Thursday, 16 Jun 2022, 12:51

 The 'illegal asylum seekers', l find it fascinating that the UK government are using this approach thus the deflection is taken away from the main source, traffickers. Why? Is it to influence the British public into thinking that all those that have no other safe passage are not to be trusted.

 How about the boot being on the other foot ? What experience can you say you have had ? 

Lets take the chaos of the holiday situation and you were stuck at your holiday destination but you knew you had to be back because  your circumstances may result in you possibly losing your regular  income. How, for those that have been in that situation thought rationally ? If someone offered to assist you in getting back in time , how many of you would have grabbed that offer ? 

 Would it matter  if you went overland  with a person who you trusted  with the words, 'l can help you'  Who should be persecuted you or the profiteer? 

Sadly we cannot begin to understand the trauma  of those that are seeking refuge but this scenario might just give you a small insight,  as to how you may get swept up by those that wish to exploit people for their own gains. The injustice, that you feel, that others have put you in to make you feel so vulnerable. 

 You have the luxury of not being persecuted to the extremes of others.

So why are the government using this strategy ?

Europe appears to be setting its sights on the actual traffickers and not the venerable and have various approaches to targeting the main source. 

 Some in the UK  government appear to be naïve in its  approach to thinking that  by not targeting the main source (traffickers ) but those that are used as pawns  they will deter .

How many on the flight to Rwanda where the main source, traffickers ?

 Having an understanding of reality assists in knowing that traffickers will find alternative  methods and  ways to carry on with the exploitation of people.

Links attached to assist with this emotive topic. 

  Targeted: migrant smuggling kingpins with links to more than 180 investigations | Europol (europa.eu)

   Trafficking in Human Beings | Europol (europa.eu)



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The UK. reality.

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UK Government -EU and global society -  The assumption that the UK government feel  it is right  to blame others due to different 'interpretations'  do all countries add their own definitions to agreements, are their no fixed understanding of the agreements?  If the UK has not understood what is has signed  who's fault is that ?
Embarrassing ! If  the government disagreed why sign ? 

If Ukraine joins the EU what will be the outcome for  Britain ?

 Ukraine largest land mass outside Russia , (bread basket of Europe).  If Ukraine joins  EU who will more than likely get the contracts to re build and trade  with Ukraine ,EU countries or Britain ?
How will that be the assisting Britain's  businesses' and the economy ?
What will the economic  prospects be for future generations ?
 
Over riding International law.
Is it ok  to over ride international agreements, as it is easier than collaborating and being part of the global society to seek solutions ?

Evading all responsibility by using technology  .
 
 Are we creating a society of people that have little to  no social or communication skills due to the reliance and script of the computer. Sadly technology can be  exploited  to devoid human responses and emotions thus leading to many that cannot deal with  a 'live society' but only a 'virtual' . 

 It appears that we have a growing culture that  is reliant on computers to sort out all of life's problems and government policies that are, 'virtual  theories' and are not  fit for the reality of the 'real world'.
Humanity in the UK  is being slowly eroded. 
 Is this the kind  society we wish to live in ?
 
 
 
       
 
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Chancellors Announcement, (My thoughts).

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After yesterdays announcement by the chancellor, and listening to radio discussions this morning,  with all the negative analysis that is being raised, l thought l might point out what l think maybe some of the positives to some of the concerns l heard this morning.

Distribution.

Old IT systems and the algorithms not up to scratch to handle  such a huge population payment ,can cause  difficulties with reprogramming  thus blanket payment relieves pressures and quicker payments.

Means testing 

If you are going to means test the whole of the population, at its current rate many would have expired from the wait due to staff shortages and appeals !

 MP's and wealthier parts of society, versus their conscious.

 MP's and wealthier parts of the community have to decided wether or not they have a strong commitment to society, and constituents, through the  chancellor's words of 'donating' to charity.  (This  may assist  in weeding  out those that think more of  their pockets  than society!)

Rome was not built in a day but,  as a society when we shout loud enough we can be heard.

 Before l go, for those that feel l maybe a bit naïve  and this was a ploy to alleviate the hangover of the Sue Gray report, it might of been, but somewhere along the line someone took stock and did listen.

Have a great weekend !

 

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Technology. Human Behaviour

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Edited by Hede Maria Cavell, Monday, 27 Jun 2022, 14:27
 Technology  dictates how we are able to live our lives and when there is a crisis, scrupulous people  rely on technology to be able to avoid human interaction and responsibility at all costs.
How much do we exploit society through the use of technology ?  Mobile phones and computers sites used for personal vendettas to  business and governments that believe by hiding through computers and algorisms they are devoid of all responsibility.
Artificial Intelligence used for recruiting. Have we lost the function to judge people without searching for their information on social media sites ? How many talented people have been overlooked due to their alter ego's of the past ?   How have we got to a machine making judgements on who is suitable? Is it because we are unable to use our own intuition and judgements or is the natural emotional feeling of being either right or wrong something we can just not  endure?  
Catfishing (cybersmile.org)
Catfish scams: How to spot a catfish | Age UK
Girl, 16, with cancer told she must sit GCSE exams while having chemotherapy or she won't get grades (inews.co.uk)
A-levels and GCSEs: Boris Johnson blames 'mutant algorithm' for exam fiasco - BBC News
Families tell of agony over passport delays - BBC News

What is the purpose of technology? Is it for  exploitation, bullying and prejudging   purposes which  creates a society that can avoid all negative natural feelings and emotions ?  As a result it appears no one can take criticism or use common sense unless the computer informs them that it is ok. What can that do to societies mental health ?  My understanding of technology  and it's  creation was that it would be used as a tool to assist society ? Where did it change ? How is it that the computer now  dictates people's behaviour and how they interact (or not) with others in society ? There can be no diversity there when everyone is singing from the same computer script ! Very Stepford Wives !

It appears we are hiding behind technology to decide  the countries fate because as humans, we appear to struggle and fear the emotions of making mistakes  or being told that we maybe wrong, (failure is not an option!)  Our planet is deteriorating for the wants and needs of  gadgets to assist with  creating a personal  avoidance society fearful of any human interaction. As we see daily our society is full of stories of how people can use the excuse of computers to evade any form of common sense or responsibility;
 
How much does the human avoidance tactic impede on peoples mental health  ?
 Have we lost the ability to be able to challenge our natural negative feelings and emotions ?
 The reality is, society relies on a chip, a circuit  board,  and a programmer . 
Technology is a wonderful thing lets not use it as an excuse for human failings. 
  
New tech to help disabled people | Technology | The Guardian

 Technology and diabetes | Diabetes UK
Is it naïve to think that maybe some day, we will be able to revert to accepting our human selves and thus technology would be used as the tool and not the human proxy. 



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UK Inflation and the next generation.

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Edited by Hede Maria Cavell, Thursday, 19 May 2022, 16:42

Having listened to the governments'  concerns  surrounding  the impact of inflation on  future generations , l have to wonder, what impact do they  think it is having at present ,on the next generation?

 Obviously they are reviewing the situation through their eyes and not the children of the present, who just happen to be  the next generation.

 This begs the question, how do the government view the next generation ?

Is it through their own childhood experiences or is it a combination of their own and others?  

 It appears the governments view is one of ,' it is not essential  for children to have a warm home and a stability'.

Have we actually progressed to being able to provide the basics for the family or have we regressed ?

Sadly some MP's do not have any idea how versatile the public are compared to themselves.   Comments made by MP's to degrade others less fortunate than themselves in society show their lack of awareness. Could it be  they themselves have come from a privileged  background or have they  been able to have the 'breaks' to allow them to be in their position and,  believe everyone's circumstances are the same as theirs? Thus no concept of diversity ! Why become an MP if you only wish to condemn and not assist others ? What impact do those comments have on the next generation? 

We have had and still have a global downturn , however if the family unit is unable to cover its own costs how will it be able to spend and put money into  the economic system of the country ?

 The people can see through the governments justification and excuses at spending money on contracts such as Rwanda ,what actual return and  benefit will filter through to the tax payer  when there is such an economic downturn in this country ?

The government appears to see fit to change the criteria for those wishing to study at university and hike up the loan repayments, how can that be 'leveling up'  and creating a diverse workforce ? What does that say to our next generation, that is is better to seek those that have been trained and qualified in other countries , such as nurses etc than to invest in the next generation within this country?

Where is the  'big'  investment into this country, by this government that will benefit all and not just a few ?

 What do you really think children feel right now when their parents are full of anxiety and are  stuck at every turn ? How does that affect the whole families mental health ? Is that good for our country ?

 Do the government have no faith in this country or future generations ?

Do they think that future generations will be incompetent ?

Is this, what past generations thought of us?

If if so they were right to be worried because it appears its this generation that is unable to cope. 

Its a complex world , but why do we have to make it harder for ourselves ? 


Permalink 1 comment (latest comment by Gill Burrell, Thursday, 19 May 2022, 17:29)
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Scholarship Time. Open Futures Sanctuary Scholarship

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Edited by Hede Maria Cavell, Tuesday, 17 May 2022, 07:25

This is the time of year where we are all preping for exams. It can be an exciting and daunting time for all.

We are lucky and privileged  to be able to have this opportunity, however, for some who have dreams and aspirations of  moving on to higher education it  can be hindered  because of being  displaced . Forced to move  from  countries due to circumstances that are not within your own control, can be an anxious and frightening time.  All the dreams that one can have can be gone in a blink. We all are not keen on change but what if you had those aspirations of going to university to assist with making your country a better place through collaboration with others, to be able to study enabling you to  help and assist others, and it had all been taken away. 

What would your new prospects look like how would you feel ?  

 

Taking this into consideration the Open University have, have decided to give  twelve scholarship places within the Open Futures Sanctuary  Scholarship.  There are also fifty OU Access module fee waivers which covers the cost of one access module starting in 2022. It is open to all those that are ''UK residents and have been displaced from their country or homeland due to political, economic, environmental, and human rights issues.'' This is the opportunity to pick up the baton again and  regain your dreams.

If you wish to find out more information for yourself or for someone you know who would be interested then follow the link and pick up that baton.

Sanctuary Scholarship | Open University

Good luck to every student, where ever you maybe with your up and coming exams.

Permalink 1 comment (latest comment by Gill Burrell, Tuesday, 17 May 2022, 16:14)
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UK public being taken for fools.

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Edited by Hede Maria Cavell, Sunday, 8 May 2022, 13:35

Having read once again about the fiasco surrounding the Ukrainian refugee crisis, l am again left wondering, how the government appears to be getting away with patronizing the British people with words of, 'how welcoming and generous they are', without actually taking over the responsibility of doing the job they are paid by the public to do.

 Please read the following link :

'I stepped up, but now I feel stitched up': Britons forking out 'thousands' to help Ukrainian refugees get to the UK (msn.com)

When will the realisation that  privatising all of the governments responsibilities will not  necessarily be the way forward?

 Again l ask why are tax payers paying their salary, when they appear to out source all their responsibilities, and  introduce new laws that marginalise society, such as the Education bill, Borders and Immigration bill and the eradication of the  Electoral Commission. Who benefits from the changes ? Not the majority but the minority that wish to appease for their own gains.

 The government have ridden on the backs of the British public, to appear to be  sympathetic  with the global crisis, however it appears to be if they give arms to Ukraine, it will appease and redeem their mess of the resettlement scheme.

The reality  appears to be, government have outsourced and have put every kind of obstacle in the way  not  to support  the public or assist the  Ukrainian refugees.

The Great appears to have got up and gone out of Britain.

How much will it take before the public say enough ! 

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Freedom of Speech - Higher education Bill Caveat.

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Having looked at the higher education bill, l was concerned to see that there is a caveat surrounding free speech.

What is meant by ‘academic freedom’?

Academic freedom was established in law in 1988. Section 202 of the Education Reform Act 1988 gave academic staff the right “to question and test received wisdom, and to put forward new ideas and controversial or unpopular opinions, without placing themselves in jeopardy of losing their jobs or the privileges they may have at their institutions.”

Academic freedom is one of the public interest governance principles which all higher education providers registered with the Office for Students (the higher education regulator in England) must comply with.

The Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill would add the caveat that academic freedom exists only within an academic’s “field of expertise”.

Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill: Progress of the Bill -  House of Commons Library (parliament.uk)
I find the third paragraph very disturbing ,  How will this promote wider discussion  and debate for problem resolving if you are if you are limiting peoples freedom to just their field of expertise?.  Again we are seeing an elitist approach to stifling other social orders from being able to express their opinions within the academic setting  . Academic freedoms are being taken away and popped into neat boxes, however just as in the real word the academic world is flexible and fluid not staid. All education is cross curriculum and everyone is able to bring their expertise that is how a nation grows and this should definitely not be limited to one certain area.
How can you limit  the freedom of speech to just the 'field expertise ?'

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UK DVLA and Passport Office.

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Edited by Hede Maria Cavell, Thursday, 28 Apr 2022, 16:58

I cant help but think by the way this government appears to shirk all their public services  responsibilities, (DWP, Migration, NHS, Transport and so on), that the DVLA and passport office  have been primed to fail so that it can be used as an excuse to privatise them. 

Passports- could the issue be the production of the passports which are made in Poland and not in the UK be, part of the problem as they have to go through Brexit checks? UK post-Brexit blue passports made in Polish factory | News | The Times. Why are they made by a Franco/Dutch company and not a British company ? 

I find it very hypercritical of the government to ask for investment for this country  when they do not even invest in a British company to produce British passports here in the UK.

What the government say and do as we have seen with Afghan and Ukraine resettlement schemes and the privatisation of public services are two entirely different things. Words that they think will placate the people  and   the reality of recruiting   privatised companies to navigate their own system and the governments while making a profit for themselves and little investment for public services.

False economy, weak words, and profits for....? 

 Surely the misters and head of  government departments should be able to have foresight to look ahead and plan for eventualities ?

If they do not, then why are they in post  and what hope is there  for public services that includes all of society ? where does the privatisation stop ? Again we appear to be not closing the gap for society but making it larger. 

This again looks like a ploy to demonize civil servants for the governments  own mishaps and  mismanagement  with tax payers money.

 It appears that they are deflecting from their own incompetence by causing public divisions .   

You have to give them credit for being blatant with their plans ! 

British passports, made in the UK ? No don't be silly they are made in Poland  by a Franco/Dutch company.

It appears they got Brexit done and then gave the British passport production to an EU country . So much for investing  and believing in British Business, what a farce ! 


 

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How many of us know what, 'defensive medicine' is and how it can impact your health.

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How many have heard this term before ? 

How many of us know what it means ? 

Defensive medicine is relevant to us all. Yesterday l read the article which  explained the difficulties that one person had, to be listened to by   health professionals and dentists. Sadly due to the practice of defensive medicine, treatment became delayed which has had a profound affect on their health .

Dentists would not treat my toothache – now my health has been wrecked for ever | Health & wellbeing | The Guardian

How many  can associate with the trial of  not being listened to and to be taken seriously ?

How many times have you come away from your consultation and given up due to the response of the health practitioner  after having many tests  giving a  negative result but yet symptoms persist ?

Do you know your own body ? Can a Dr know your body from just seeing you for less then  minutes?, Are we seen as  all being  cloned and not individuals? Time consuming perhaps ?

Having read the article and others  sadly it appears the attitude and response to their plight is not uncommon but appears to be the, 'norm'. ,The blame game'.

How did we get to this situation ? 

Can it be that the health profession are so fearful of the public or is it the ego and fear of being wrong ?

Are we the public at fault for relying on the health service and worshipping it as an all encompassing hero and when not  lived up to the expectation we want MONEY ! Will that bring back the quality of life ? Is it the purpose of litigation to  humiliate or to prove a point that the patient was right and knew their own body? 

Defensive medicine: It is time to finally slow down an epidemic - PMC (nih.gov)

Who creates such fear and why?

How many conditions could be prevented and the quality of lives returned, if patients were listened to

and, health professionals  could set aside their fear of litigation?

Surely defensive medicine is costly and a false economy , it is just blighting the health of the nation and the health service because, the fear of 'what if ' is to great.

https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/41079/html/

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Where has all the money gone ? Refugees ?

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Edited by Hede Maria Cavell, Monday, 18 Apr 2022, 16:06

I have been listening to various talk shows over the weekend regarding the sending of refugees to Rwanda, and l really respect those that have rung in to verse their own comments as to why they feel that  the government  is right, because, 'our services are at breaking point  and they would be a burden'.

Although this narrative  seems to be a way of justifying this act, l would like to remind us all how the government have outsourced everything bar the kitchen sink.  Public services in this country have been slowly outsourced to various  private companies for many years, such as Atos, Serco Capita and many more. Private means exactly that. There are multiple companies that are all engaged in just one section such as claims and visa's . Hence fragmentation.   NHS, DWP, Transport , Housing to name but a few  all run by multiple companies. So how many companies does it take to change a government light bulb ? All these companies are  having to  cover their external costs and  have to make a profits for their shareholders. The government  pays  multiple companies to do the same  contracts. What is the tax payer getting in return ? 

How many times have you had an issue or you have become frustrated because of bad service, lack of care or cuts to your services. Whose fault is that ?

The refugee or the governments mishandling  ? Where does the actual burden lie?

  

Find out about the regulations that govern UK public procurement


Review services

If you have any concerns about procurement practices, including late payment, you can contact a review service

 

https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder

Find high value contracts in the public sector - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

What is the Find a Tender service?

The UK-wide noticing service for public procurement


Public procurement regulations

Find out about the regulations that govern UK public procurement


Review services

If you have any concerns about procurement practices, including late payment, you can contact a review service

(Links accessed 04/ 2022).

 

 

  

 





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Easter - Food for thought.

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How do we feel about Easter ?

After the events of this week regarding the UK parliament, my attentions turned to how many will be attending religious services and celebrations celebrating Easter,  along with many others.

  Is this a hypercritical  process , To absolve  all the decisions  and the  justifications  that  have  been made to favour one group over another ? 

 How do people justify this to their faith under what guise do they use?

Will it assist in giving them absolution  to carry on ? 

Do they 'cherry pick' the bits that help them  to justify their cause ?

Humanity ?

The true and unsightly part of  being human maybe ? 

Maybe we should more inquisitive when it comes to humanity so that we are able to understand  why.

 I hope that all have a peaceful  Easter. 





 

Permalink 1 comment (latest comment by Gill Burrell, Saturday, 16 Apr 2022, 12:25)
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Information Understanding History of UK Migration and UN. Does this government want to participate in a foreword thinking the Global world ?

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Edited by Hede Maria Cavell, Thursday, 14 Apr 2022, 11:31

Briefing Papers | Migration Watch UK

MW437 : The History of Immigration to the UK | Migration Watch UK

Migration | United Nations

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Human Rights Reform. UK . How will this affect you ?

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Just in case this may of got passed you all.

The Joint Committee on Human Rights has warned that Government proposals to reform the Human Rights Act risk weakening existing human rights protections (13/04/22)

Human Rights Act reforms would weaken human rights protections in the UK - Committees - UK Parliament

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Penal Colony .What is the UK government getting in return. Rwanda ?

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Edited by Hede Maria Cavell, Thursday, 14 Apr 2022, 11:27
When l mentioned in a previous blog, that  we seem to have regressed back to colonial times it appears that we have !
Boris does not speak for me !
 I welcome his  honesty in a roundabout way that his government failed to combat traffic smugglers. Do we get a refund from the private companies that have been unable to fore fill the brief given to them by the government ? What justification do the government have for spending this money and its failure ?
 
I have to ask,  what is it the  UK government will  be getting in return for   paying the Rwandan government to deal with our own issues,  due to the governments  incompetence in paying private security companies to do their job  ? Is it Rwanda's  resources and trade  that they are after?

Questions that spring to mind
.Who are you demonising ? The asylum seeker under the guise of the trafficker? An  immigrant  is not an illegal and does not exist. A trafficker is an illegal   
The Immigration Game? - Living Abroad
Migration | United Nations

 Culture; How ignorant are we? Do we know why men come to seek asylum first ? Family culture differs to ours and what makes us so superior ? Maybe we need to be educated about other cultures and educated properly regarding religious cultures  if we are to participate in the global world.
Security Model; 
 Tendered out to private companies, tax payers money. Government now wishes to use tax payers money to  create a new age penal colony.  Human Rights means nothing what an embarrassment ! 

Fear; Discriminate against people and parts of the global world  because ignorance is bliss and it suits certain parties narratives to achieve their goal.

Climate change ! What climate change ? Not according to the UK governments immigration department 

 And finally, what other cuts to  essential services such as library's, health and social care, NHS,  benefits  and cost of living rises are we having to forfeit   for this archaic scheme ? 

 Please follow the link to have an understanding of the forging relationship between Rwanda and the government. 
 Exports to Africa - Hansard - UK Parliament
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