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# slef-reflections on Government
* Europe
* Great Britain
* Kewstoke
* North Somerset
* West of England
* Links
* * *
## Great Britain
### Mr Slef Goes to Westminster
2007-10-15 (Permalink): This coming Thursday I will be at the Parliament and
the Internet conference at Westminster. It will discuss topics including:
* The impact of internet social networking on politics
* The challenge of next generation broadband
* The issue of 'bad' Internet traffic and P2P *
* The fostering and preserving consumer, citizen and business confidence in the on-line world *
* The regulation of premium rate services
* The future of voice over IP services
What messages on these or other hot topics would you like to send to our
lawmakers?
I think I'm most likely to attend the *'d sessions, but I should have friends
in others and there's often time to bend ears informally too. Discuss it on-
list, off-list, in forums I read, on my web site's comments form - just let me
know by Wednesday lunchtime, please.
Event backers: apComms, Microsoft, Symantec, Broadband Stakeholder Group,
EURIM, PITCOM, Internet Services Providers' Association, ITSPA. My trip is
sponsored by [Turo Technology LLP.](http://www.ttllp.co.uk/) [More event
information](http://www.parliamentandinternet.org.uk/)
mChicago (James Taylor) commented:
> "Mr Slef. I hope you enjoy your trip to Westminster, and I would like to
hope that you share my view on the effect of online world. I don't think
theres one category in particular this comes into, but the point is this:
>
> The online world is no different to that offline - activities and doing
things virtually are the same as doing them "in real life".
>
> One of the sectors you quoted was:
>
> * The impact of internet social networking on politics
>
> Over the past year, there have been events where (especially young people)
have done things online that they would not have dreamed about doing in any
other media.
>
> Racism, Sexism and verbal assault over IRC, MSN, blogs or even in games, is
the same as doing it over the phone or even in public.
>
> Copying online, is a simple as clicking - and because its all simple and
doesn't seem illegal, because no one would ever know, a lot of people don't
consider it to be illegal.
>
> I don't think that many people are aware, and can completely understand the
allure of the near anonymity that the internet offers. And I don't think
enough is being done to make people aware that their actions online are in
reality actions in real life.
>
> Yours faithfully James Taylor aka. mChicago"
Related: [the Earl of Erroll is unhappy with the Government's dismissale of
e-crime concerns [BBC].](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7069597.stm)
* Comment on this
### Never a frown with Gordon Brown?
Finally, Gordon Brown has eventually become the eleventh Prime Minister of
Queen Elizabeth II, as expected for most of his ten years as finance minister.
The opening of his first speech was drowned out on the BBC by helicopters, but
it continued with
> "This will be a new government with new priorities. [...] meeting the
concerns and aspirations of our whole country. [...] I want the best of
chances for everyone. That is my mission. If we can fulfil the potential and
realise the talents of all our people then I am absolutely sure that Britain
can be the great global success story of this century. [...] I will try to do
my utmost" [(full text from ePolitix)](http://www.epolitix.com/EN/News/200706
/d5a4aecb-ac40-4c43-975d-00bae02cbdb6.htm)
but there are lots of questions left open about what his utmost will be. From
whether we'll see more [co-operative](http://www.party.coop/) ministers,
through environmental and free-software-related policies, to just how the
"clunking fist" will deal with the "trojan tory" David Cameron leader of the
opposition, it's all unknown just now.
I think he's the first PM who could use [a Stranglers
track](http://www.iol.ie/~murphypj/ROCK/GOLDENBR.TXT) as his theme.
2007-06-27T14:18:00Z
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## Europe
### Is pro-corporation bias really normal for France?
2007-10-04 (Permalink): I was reviewing a French non-profit organisation (a
1901-law association) and I was surprised to see that physical people got one
vote, but corporations got two votes.
When I questioned the pro-corporation bias in the vote allocation, I was told
that it is totally usual for a French NPO. Is that true? Does the land of
égalité normally not have "one member one vote"?
It occurred to me that I've no idea - I've never thought to look at this
before and I've not found any good reference on it. Can some kind French
readers clue me in, please?
[Christian Perrier commented on his own
site](http://www.perrier.eu.org/weblog/2007/10/04#doublecorpvotesfr) that
"this is certainly not common".
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## West of England
### Is the Councils' Rubbish Consultation Biased Towards Burning and Bio-
digesters?
An email forwarded to me by a neighbour about [the Rubbish Or Resource
consultation](http://www.rubbishorresource.co.uk/2007/) says:
> "Did you know that the Councils in the area that used to be Avon want to
know what you think about how they should spend our money to deal with our
rubbish? They've got together and produced a plan for the West of England and
want your views by Friday March 23rd.
>
> North Somerset Friends of the Earth think this consultation is rubbish
because it's been badly publicised (did you know about it?) and it seems the
Councils have already made up their minds. Their plan accepts that the only
way to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill is to dispose of it by
burning it or digesting it biologically rather then by promoting the "3Rs",
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
>
> Their plan describes seven types of treatment facility and then prioritises
them with pyrolysis/gasification and burning (sorry "Energy from Waste") as
their favourites. Call that choice??!!"
[Read more at
GoWeston](http://www.goweston.com/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?288)
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## North Somerset
### Planning Farts
Two semi-related things. Firstly, I just got notice that North Somerset
Council are going to let North Somerset Housing pointlessly tarmac over a
square of grass near us. [Planning application
07/P/0464/F](http://212.158.113.30/MULTIWAM/findCaseFile.do?appNumber=07%2FP%2F0464%2FF)
claims to provide 3 additional car parking spaces, but it tarmacs 7m width of
grass while marking 6m width of current tarmac as no-parking: a net addition
of 1m! Not enough for even one additional car!
Now they've made this officially-acceptable reasoning, I reckon it will
feature in a planning application for building more houses on the village's
green spaces. How about: you can build a new house as long as you mark an
existing house as uninhabitable?
Secondly, Clevedon residents are [petitioning the Prime Minister to stop Tesco
expansion](http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/ClevedonTesco/) as [reported in the
Mercury.](http://www.thewestonmercury.co.uk/content/twm/news/story.aspx?brand=Westonmercury&category=news&tBrand=westonmercury&tCategory=znews&itemid=WeED18%20Apr%202007%2015%3A03%3A20%3A557)
Expanding the [Tescopoly](http://www.tescopoly.org.uk/) in Clevedon will harm
what already looks to me like an endangered town centre.
OK, it's not the PM's responsibility to stop one store expanding in one town,
but it is his government's planning policies which are aiding and abetting the
continued growth of unsustainable 'big box' stores. I can see Clevedon from my
office window. I'd need binoculars to spot Morrisons, but I think Tesco is
visible with the naked eye already from the top of Worlebury hill.
[Every Little Hurts](http://www.everylittlehurts.org.uk/) but they just keep
on rolling like Renard, not noticing the pain.
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## Kewstoke
Last Monday (5 Feb), I observed a meeting of [Kewstoke Parish
Council](http://www.kewstoke.org/parish.htm)
I mentioned the forthcoming [North Somerset Cycle
Forum](http://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/Transport/Travel/Cycling/cycleforum.htm)
but most of the public contributions were about [the Cygnet
Hospital](http://www.cygnethealth.co.uk/clinics/kewstoke.html). The hospital
was accused of breaking promises given last year to the village and the
police, namely:
* letting patients roam the village without supervision;
* chopping down screening trees they said would be left to grow and leaving dead wood on obstructive trees they said they'd cut; and
* now [seeking to take drug rehab patients](http://whitelabel.jobsin.co.uk/show_job.cgi?j=3785083&u=46539).
They also have faulty light timers, floodlighting neighbouring houses from 1am
to 6am every day. That's both antisocial and wasteful. A terrible way for
Cygnet to keep their neighbours awake. Is it any wonder that there's an
outcry?
Regardless of what I think about the above promises, Cygnet should do what
they said and not behave antisocially, or be punished. Fine them a century per
night per house for the lights and they'd soon fix them, I'm sure!
There was also some comeback on [the Kewstoke toll road
farce](http://mjr.towers.org.uk/blog/2007/environment#drivingtoll). The
district council's panel has asked the officers to reexamine the options,
after they noticed the creative accounting of including road maintenance
(which must be done whether or not the road has a toll) in the toll cost.
There was a reporter from the Mercury present, so maybe this will appear in
their edition later this week.
### Election Day
Like much of the UK, it's election day in Kewstoke. There's no vote for
[Kewstoke council](http://www.kewstoke.org/parish.htm) because there weren't
enough candidates to make a contest. 10 candidates for 11 posts, I think. I
was approached by a couple of people and asked to run (quite strongly in one
case) and I seriously considered it, but I only moved to this village six
months ago, I don't know how things work yet and there are many other things I
want to do in the next four years (the term of office AIUI).
I was also approached by one person at a recent meeting and told that I should
have stayed in Norfolk! Of course, that made me feel that I should run just to
mix them up, but no, I'll stick to my decision. That comment did tickle me, as
I only went to Norfolk to university - and stayed a bit too long. I'm not from
round there.
There is a vote today for [North Somerset
council](http://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/) and it's been interesting to compare
the campaigning: no doorstepping or hustings from anyone (unlike in King's
Lynn), three [Conservatives](http://www.weston-conservatives.co.uk/) leaflets,
three [Liberal Democrat](http://www.westonlibdems.org.uk/) leaflets but I
didn't even find a web page for the Labour candidate. It's also been
interesting to see the campaign coverage in the press: [Weston and Worle
News](http://www.westonandworlenews.co.uk/) have been quite good, while the
Mercury seems to prefer gibberish stories like [the EU makes our post
late.](http://www.thewestonmercury.co.uk/content/twm/news/story.aspx?brand=Westonmercury&category=news&tBrand=westonmercury&tCategory=znews&itemid=WeED30%20Apr%202007%2015%3A37%3A51%3A777)
I'll go along, vote and watch for the results, but I suspect this green
village of farms and tourism is safe Conservative Hold territory. Although
there's been some new building of a largish house estate in the ward, which I
suppose might change things.
How's election day going elsewhere? I see [Conservative Norwich City
Councillor Antony Little](http://antonylittle.blogspot.com/2007/05/vote-
conservative-today.html) has already posted the sort of partiality we all know
and love...
Update: As I predicted, this seat was a comfortable Con Hold. The surprise is
[the "Conservative
landslide"](http://www.thewestonmercury.co.uk/content/twm/news/story.aspx?brand=Westonmercury&category=news&tBrand=westonmercury&tCategory=znews&itemid=WeED04%20May%202007%2004%3A08%3A11%3A990)
(and maybe the Mercury being stung by criticism to be the first town news
service with the results). [Official results
map](http://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/election07/election-wards.asp)
Elsewhere, I see [Green and Conservative gains in
Norwich](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2007/councils/html/33ug.stm) and
[West Norfolk counting the next day and generally botching an online results
service](http://online.west-norfolk.gov.uk/elections/local.asp) as usual.
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### Links
* 2007-03-09:
[We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to promote the use of Open
Document Format within the UK
government.](http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/OpenDocument/)
Government documents must be available for tens if not hundreds of years. Currently much electronic documentation is stored in proprietary formats, such as Microsoft's .doc format. In order to allow future generations access to these documents it is imperative that they be in a fully documented standard. Open Document Format (ISO/IEC 26300:2006) is now the international document standard and as such should be supported by the Government.
[ The Weston Mercury - News: Council chief probe costs
£34k](http://www.thewestonmercury.co.uk/content/twm/news/story.aspx?brand=Westonmercury&category=news&tBrand=westonmercury&tCategory=znews&itemid=WeED26%20Feb%202007%2017%3A43%3A17%3A443)
This happened in North Somerset and I remember something similar happening in West Norfolk. When will councillors stop using expensive lawyers to defend themselves at the taxpayers' expense?
[opensource - epetition
response](http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page11080.asp)
Ambivalent reply from the PM's office.
[ Town and parish
councils](http://privatesectorhousing.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=300433)
Kewstoke is used as a case study, but the link goes nowhere now...
[The Irascible Professor-commentary of the day 02-08-07. Movie star
teachers.](http://irascibleprofessor.com/comments-02-08-07.htm)
I've given up watching hero-teacher films. It's really not like that. I guess the oppressive bureaucracy of state education, with pressure from executive teachers to fiddle the student numbers, wouldn't make a good film.
[The Irascible Professor-commentary of the day 03-06-07. Why I hope mhy
children won't become
educators.](http://irascibleprofessor.com/comments-03-06-07.htm)
Don't let your children grow up to become salesm^Wteachers.
[NO2ID:newsletter
66](http://www.no2id.net/news/newsletters/newsletter.php?issue=66)
"Saturday, 10th March - King's Lynn street stall to advertise forthcoming public meeting, from 10am. Volunteers needed! Contact kings.lynn@no2id.net or text/call James on 07778 966395."
[Tories want to free (software)
Whitehall](http://comments.gmane.org/gmane.org.fsf.uk/4704)
The shadow chancellor gets all over the BBC as a result of his party's latest conversion.
[Neighbourhood Fix-It](http://www.neighbourhoodfixit.com/)
Another better-than-local-councils system from MySociety.
[ Concerto for blunt instrument: Ode to the No Longer
Active](http://concertobi.blogspot.com/2006/05/ode-to-no-longer-active.html)
"We held a place for you // But you were busy // You've been so busy lately."
* 2007-05-23:
There's a [TV Show about Bolzano adopting Free
Software](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2kM6bTh_XY) with English subtitles
in-vision. It's quite good, emphasising the double win of more freedom and
fairer costs. Tip to [Graham](http://comments.gmane.org/gmane.org.fsf.uk/4776)
and you might want [ytplay](http://ecadre.wordpress.com/2006/12/01/playing-
youtube-videos-on-gnewsense-gnulinux/)
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