Politics

By Tomás McGoldrick, Ireland Correspondent  Last week saw the first state visit by an Irish President to Britain. For the first time since Ireland gained its independence in 1922 the relationship between the two countries is seen as strong enough for Michael D. Higgins to be able to visit his nearest neighbour in what Taoiseach Enda Kenny called ‘a golden age’ for Anglo Irish relations. There are close cultural and family links between the two countries. Britain has been the destination...

Adam Walker talks to Jenni Herd  Today, younger generations are being bombarded by negative press that offers little hope for their future. In the past decade the global media has broadcasted multiple conflicts, the threat of financial crisis against modern economies and the continuous message that our world is dying. Add to this the fact that young people are often misrepresented as hooded thugs, binge-drinking slackers or computer-obsessed antisocial regressives’ all of whom shun society and personal responsibility, and you...

By J T Coombes When the expenses scandal kicked off in 2009, by the very nature of the extent of the abuse it shocked society to its core. Eventually it led to sackings, resignations, apologies, some repayments and a few imprisonments. Today we are yet again assailed by the knowledge that financial abuse continues in the shape of Maria Miller, and that the sums involved are again vast. Not only that but again there is desperate resistance to admit blame and...

By Artur Salles Lisboa de Oliveira Petrobras has been a symbol of Brazilian pride since its foundation back in the fifties. The state-owned oil company attracts all sorts of investors ranging from small time backers pursuing gains by investing their savings for the education of their children to big time players interested in having a say in the decisions of the corporation. However, in the past few years the government has wilfully overlooked rising indebtedness and plunging shares which has created...

Economist Oliver McAninch finds out why the BBC could be responsible for global destruction. ‘Global warming is a load of old rubbish’ is something you’ve probably heard more than once in your local boozer.  ‘Climate has been changing for millions of years – it’s no different now’ was dismissively barked at me by Dave over a beer. Is my mate down the pub correct? When the world’s leading meteorological and environmental scientists, commissioned by the governments of 195 countries (essentially...

By Rob Telford, Green councillor for Ashley ward, Bristol The great democratic hope for General Election 2015 For decades, the UK has essentially been a two-party system, with third parties (whether Liberal/SDP/Lib Dem, SNP/Plaid, Green, BNP or UKIP) not being able to gain enough votes to overhaul the two largest parties (Labour and Conservative) at any General Election. At the same time, fewer and fewer people are choosing to cast their votes for the two largest parties. In 1951, 96.8...

By Alex Vasili   Residents of Balcombe Move to Make Community Self-sufficient in Energy The supporters of fracking make an argument that is difficult to refute. They say shale gas is essential to the UK's energy needs, that it will give us security from troublesome oil barons and gas czars, and that nothing else will do until we have nuclear power stations, and lots of them. So try this as a counter-strategy. Make your community self-sufficient through the clean, green power...

By Haridos Apostolides, US Correspondent Even delayed decisions are giving hope to same-sex couples On Saturday morning hundreds of same-sex couples marched down the aisle to county offices across Michigan in order to exchange vows, only to have that right halted mere hours later by an appeals court. Friday welcomed the northern territory into the growing gang of states which allow same-sex marriages after a voter-approved ban was struck down by Federal District Court Judge, Bernard A. Friedman, for its unconstitutional...

By Pieter Cranenbroek – International Politics Blogger The European elections won’t be held for another two months but the four biggest political parties in Britain are already warming up to it. After Nick Clegg challenged Nigel Farage to an old-fashioned duel, Ed Miliband and David Cameron have been dragged into the Europe debate as well. Let’s hope two things will have become clear to the British voter by the end of May: the European elections do matter and Britain, for Europe’s...