Members of the civil rights campaign group, the Real Fathers for Justice (Rffj), today held coordinated protests around the UK.

In Belfast where activists staged a demo last night then back this morning on the West link (the main route into the city from the M1), and in Middlesbrough, where demonstrators held a protest over the A66 into the city during rush hour.



The action is to highlight continuing failures in the family courts and the politician’s reluctance to deal with the problem.

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Criminals Tighten the noose

Jesus what a shite day I am having. Woke up this morning as bright as a button only to read to my dismay about the passing of the Digital Economy Bill. What is the Digital Economy Bill? The Digital Economy Act 2010 is an Act of Parliament which includes provisions about:

the online infringement of copyright, including copyright and performers’ rights and about penalties for infringement
the functions of Ofcom
internet domain registries
the functions of the Channel Four
the regulation of television and radio services
the regulation of the use of the electromagnetic spectrum
the Video Recordings Act 1984
public lending right in relation to electronic publications
the bill proposes adding a clause to the Communications Act 2003 with the effect that Internet Service Providers could be forced to disclose details of their customers who repeatedly infringe copyright, on production of sufficient evidence, to copyright groups or face a fine of £250,000 for non-compliance.
ISPs to be required to block access to sites that allow "substantial" infringement.

Right browsing through all that Jargon you may think that seems fair enough it is Government trying to protect company's and artists against piracy but this is actually more sinister. This Bill will allow the unelected secretary of state for business, currently Peter Mandelson, to order the blocking of “a location on the internet which the court is satisfied has been, is being or is likely to be used for or in connection with an activity that infringes copyright”.

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Gordon Brown launched Labour's manifesto today and was immediately accused of being a Blairite by some of the more blue-tinged press. My initial reaction, after getting over a front cover that looked like something from the 1950's Soviet Union, was that it was actually pretty good. Granted I haven't read all 76 pages, but the main points look like the work of a party that has finally realised that it needs to to reconnect with an electorate disillusioned with politicians and politics. Depending on the political outlook of the paper you read it'll either be be a disaster or the first significant step in the Labour Party retaining power. If I get a chance I'll get a post up about the approach the newspapers in the UK have taken to this year's election later in the week. If they continue as they have started this campaign, the press here will never be able to criticise their US counterparts on the grounds of blatant bias again.

Back to the manifesto. To start with, I prefer the Labour election slogan of 'A Future Fair For All' to the Conservative message of 'Vote For Change', which sounds like something rejected by the Obama campaign in 2008. Labour's slogan should appeal to their grass-roots socialist supporters while remaining popualist enough for ordinary voters. I know the slogans were unveiled a while ago but I just thought I'd throw that in!

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As you would expect R8YourPolitician has been watching UK Politics now for the last year and now that the election has finally came, what a let down.  After watching that massive 2 year campaign to see Obama get elected and observing the amazing political campaign leveraging of social networking, social media and engagment.  

Things looked very promising in the UK, election had to happen in 2010.  A chance for the electorate to stand up, be counted and vote.  Remember the promised Lisbon Treaty ReferendumS, remember that War based on lies of Weapons of mass destruction.  Who can forget in a western democratic capitalist free market country the government stepping in and nationalising Northern Rock, pumping billions of the country's money into banks, bailing them out because they failed.  We will not even mention the expenses and lobbying scandals. 

This article is not about the above its about the trend data that we can see on the public searching for these common terms, Parliament, House of Commons and Westminster.

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  Robinson Out

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Public Petitions Committee Official Report 9 February 2010

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Helping the emergency services to save the lives of at-risk rural patients

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