United in Diversity

A few months ago I started to write about Europe and the European Union. I struggled in some of my fact-finding so temporarily put it on the backburner. I return to it now looking at a much weaker European Union and a much altered view on the whole situation.

Anyone who knows about my views on Europe will not be surprised to learn that what I wrote before was a scathing diatribe on everything Europe, E.U., Eurozone and Euro.

Unfortunately, most of what I wrote is now very outdated; I think I may be coming to like the idea of a ‘United States of Europe’ (U.S.E.). However, I still proudly retain the flag of a vehement ‘E.U.sceptic’. The current model of the European Union is one which was based on the policy of slowly taking powers from member countries’ parliaments and centralising them in a European Parliament. Hardly democratic.

What the E.E.C.’s founders, the E.U.’s predecessor, wanted was to create what many had striven for over the centuries: a European Empire. “For the first time since the fall of the Roman Empire we have the opportunity to unite Europe.” Romano Prodi. This is what we are heading for with the E.U.. And Great Britain is being dragged along kicking and screaming. But why are we doing this?

We joined, we signed up later than some of the others, but we did join. Part of the problem Britain has in Europe is that we are not fully engaged in the decision making. We’re not the frontrunners pushing our agenda. Germany is, France is, so why don’t we? If we were fully involved we could sculpt Europe into something that would be more beneficial and pleasing for the public. The problem we have with being Eurosceptic is that it damages our chances of creating a Europe that does what we want.

I saw Dr. Kay Swinburne, MEP, speaking on Europe a few weeks ago and I can safely say that if our other MEPs are anywhere near as good as her, we are in safe hands in Europe. She said something that made me think and which I have unsuccessfully tried to find online so I could quote her exactly, but cannot. Her point was that the other European MEPs are fed up with Britain, ‘if you want to leave so much, leave!’ was the sentiment of what Dr. Swinburne said.

The European Union has a population of around 502 Million, compared with America’s 309 Million. Yet, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) does not reflect the difference in population; The GDP of the E.U. in 2010 was just over £10 Trillion whereas the GDP of the U.S. was £9 Trillion. (GB’s was around 1.5 in 2010) Surely a United States of Europe would be able to increase its GDP if there were more integration, more union? 

There are fears I have with having a closer union, such as the inability to have control over what happens, what would the role of The Monarchy be, could we hold politicians accountable? But we need to be involved with the European ideal or Great Britain will be left behind.

With globalisation, global institutions and some global governance, we are being forced into the background. If we want to survive on the world’s stage and not just be a ‘bit-player’ – who’d want to play ‘2^nd Servant’ when you could play Romeo? – We need to find a way to raise our voice. Perhaps a U.S.E. would be that megaphone Britain will need.

Further integration is always a point of contention within GB, we always consider ourselves ‘different’, ‘separate’ all because of a little bit of water – the English Channel – but are we so different? It would be incredibly difficult to do, the public would detest this being done but as Harold Macmillan said: “The countries of Europe, none of them anything but second-rate powers by themselves, can, if they get together, be a power in the world equal to… the superpowers.”

Prizes are steadily worsening again as I am an unemployed student once more. This week's prize? Answer to find out...

Figures taken from The World Bank's website

London's Burning, London's Burning! Fire, Fire! Fire, Fire!

As violence rolled across our Capital city, chilling words were uttered by an LBC listener from Sydney, “London, the world is watching.”

Groups of youths and adults rolled through London's streets for four nights, attacking shops and setting buildings and cars ablaze. The reason? An alleged drug dealer was shot by police. That's what purportedly started this horrific event. A man, Mark Duggan, was shot in Tottenham. The locals protested and marched on the local police station on Saturday night and the mayhem spread from there.

For Londoners, we suffered the worst of it on Monday 8th August, 2011, with police overwhelmed by the sheer number of ‘disaffected’ youths. Thankfully, the fourth night, 9th August, stayed mostly quiet in London, with minor disturbances reported in Canning Town, Crouch End, Highgate and Muswell Hill.

Saturday night alone, £100 million of damage was done. With the economy in as much trouble as it is, this is disastrous. Homes, family businesses and lives were destroyed. A furniture shop in Croydon, Reeves’ Corner, stood for over a century, it survived two world wars. And it was destroyed by its own community. These monsters destroyed the lives of those whom they live with with their brutality.

Now, let's get political: Should the Prime Minister, David Cameron, have returned sooner? That's debatable. What was there that he could have done to stop this? Very little, I would say. It was the job of the police to get the situation under control, which they eventually did. The furore of these monsters had to burn out, as did shops, cars and homes. Had Mr. Cameron returned earlier, it would have heightened the sense of emergency. As would calling in the army. As would declaring a 'state of emergency'.

The Chancellor’s return, however, did inject some much needed mirth, with many mockingly saying “Don’t worry, George Osborne’s coming back!”

What infuriates me, is the social workers, the youth workers, going on television, the radio, and saying that it’s because of government cuts, youth programmes being cancelled. My youth group was cut, all but closed, yet I wasn’t out there terrorising these people. Nor were any other of its members. They were the ones out there yesterday, today, cleaning up the streets after this travesty. These people may have hard lives, they may be bored on hot summer’s nights but that is no excuse.

In Croydon, Enfield, Lewisham and Southall, groups of residents banded together to protect their communities. They stood up to thugs and protected their homes and families. That is part of the beauty of London. That is what makes me proud to be British.

Carnage was wrought in: Bethnal Green, Birmingham, Bristol, Brixton, Bromley, Camden, Clapham, Croydon, Ealing, East Ham, Enfield, Hackney, Islington, Kensington High Street, Liverpool, Manchester, Notting Hill, Nottingham, Oxford Circus, Peckham, Poinders End, Salford, Sloane Square, Tottenham, Waltham Forest, West Bromwich and Woolwich. There may be more that I have missed, however, I hope not.

Minor trouble was reported and quickly stopped in Glasgow, I believe, but was quickly averted. The Scottish police said they were ready to help if their English counterparts needed it. Luckily, the trouble stayed, for the most part, in England and did not spread to other parts of the U.K..

My thoughts are with those areas outside of London still affected, those who woke up to chaos, those in anyway harmed by this carnage. And with our wonderful Policemen.

This week’s title, somewhat childish. Although, my six year old niece didn’t know it. Also a bit flippant. The prizes are getting better though.

Give Your First Dance To Me

When Earth was young and star and sun
Had scarcely just been born
I travelled far to see anew
what once was merely dream;
Over fjord and under icy pillar
when wat’ry breath were still but far off plan.
I walked with Deino, Swam with Nessie,
I charged at Hadean’s squeaky voice
scared ‘im off, and in came New Life,
and at the end of which came You

This poem completed is available here

I have no shame in this week's title/clue c: