WHAT
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UK General Election
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Brexit
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NHS Hacking
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The Queen's Speech
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DUP Negotiations
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Contest
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The UK general election: what the heck went on?
We've gotten to know some pretty awesome people at theCramm. Spoiler alert: one of them wrote a guide on the UK election. Check it out to get in the know.
WHAT HAPPENED?
The UK General Election of 2017 (which sounds really grand and pompous, but actually ended up in an enormously embarrassing mess) came out with some surprising results. In short, we ended up with what's called a 'hung parliament'.
A 'hung parliament' is when no party gets enough seats to technically 'win' the election.
HOW?
There are two things you can choose to believe about how these results came about:
1) All the parties were just too AWESOME to choose one!
2) Um, all the parties were just too RUBBISH to choose one!
I know which one I've got my money on.
You could choose to be hopeful and optimistic about these results, believing that something good will come out of this, or you could feel worried and confused about the political chaos that our country is dealing with right now. Again, I know which best describes my feelings.
SO WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
There are many options for what could happen now. Our government is currently completely out of action, as no one is rightfully in power.
Theresa May, our former prime minister and current leader of the Conservative Party, has lost her winning majority and probably wishes she'd never suggested a 'snap election' in the first place. It was expected that she would win with flying colours and confirm that she was a strong leader to take us through Brexit, but she failed to reach the minimum amount of seats to be re-elected.
Jeremy Corbyn of the Labour Party won the votes of a lot of young people, coming a close second in the polls. He is calling for Mrs May to step down and resign.
Realistically, the chances of becoming prime minister for these two party leaders are high. They are the still the main candidates.
They now have the options of either going to our monarch, The Queen, and getting permission to form a minority government or..... Hey, wait! What exactly is a 'minority government'?
A 'minority government' is where the party in power has the most seats, but less than half of the total. It means that the government is also made up of MPs from other parties, meaning they also get a say in running the nation.
Other options include a coalition between parties or one main party attempting to go it alone. We'll have to wait and see what will happen. One thing's for sure though, the future of our country looks pretty perilous.
The UK General Election of 2017 (which sounds really grand and pompous, but actually ended up in an enormously embarrassing mess) came out with some surprising results. In short, we ended up with what's called a 'hung parliament'.
A 'hung parliament' is when no party gets enough seats to technically 'win' the election.
HOW?
There are two things you can choose to believe about how these results came about:
1) All the parties were just too AWESOME to choose one!
2) Um, all the parties were just too RUBBISH to choose one!
I know which one I've got my money on.
You could choose to be hopeful and optimistic about these results, believing that something good will come out of this, or you could feel worried and confused about the political chaos that our country is dealing with right now. Again, I know which best describes my feelings.
SO WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
There are many options for what could happen now. Our government is currently completely out of action, as no one is rightfully in power.
Theresa May, our former prime minister and current leader of the Conservative Party, has lost her winning majority and probably wishes she'd never suggested a 'snap election' in the first place. It was expected that she would win with flying colours and confirm that she was a strong leader to take us through Brexit, but she failed to reach the minimum amount of seats to be re-elected.
Jeremy Corbyn of the Labour Party won the votes of a lot of young people, coming a close second in the polls. He is calling for Mrs May to step down and resign.
Realistically, the chances of becoming prime minister for these two party leaders are high. They are the still the main candidates.
They now have the options of either going to our monarch, The Queen, and getting permission to form a minority government or..... Hey, wait! What exactly is a 'minority government'?
A 'minority government' is where the party in power has the most seats, but less than half of the total. It means that the government is also made up of MPs from other parties, meaning they also get a say in running the nation.
Other options include a coalition between parties or one main party attempting to go it alone. We'll have to wait and see what will happen. One thing's for sure though, the future of our country looks pretty perilous.
Psst... shoutout alert. Gracie is a 13 year old blogger who hangs out at a Light in the Darkness. She also helps a tonnnnnn with our research. Thaaaaaaaaaank you.
Everything you need to know about Brexit
The Brexit vote left a lottttt of peeps scratching their heads. Biiiiiiiiiiiiiig thank you to Gracie for letting us in on all the deets.
LET'S GO BACK....
Okay, last year (2016) our former prime minister, David Cameron, decided to hold a referendum on whether we, in the UK, should leave the European Union. This was soon named 'Brexit.' Think of it as a ship-name for Britain and Exit.
LET'S GO (FURTHER) BACK...
There had been massive debates over the 'pros' and 'cons' of the European Union for years. It all sort of came to a head in 2016, with many people wanting us to leave the EU behind and go it alone. Da da da! Anyway, even though Cameron backed Remain (in the EU) himself, he was under immense pressure from fellow politicians and members of the British public to hold this referendum... and he had to agree.
THE RESULTS?
A whole lotta people were mighty surprised when they woke up on the 24th of June to find out that we had voted for Brexit. Yay.
*Note my lack of exclamation marks.
THE GOOD AND THE BAD
Brexit affects different people in different ways, both positively and negatively. It's really difficult to know what side to be on, especially when you care about all the citizens of our country equally.
For example, our young people won't be able to study abroad so easily if we leave the EU. It won't be great for UK citizens living permeantly in other parts of Europe, either. But then there was one poster - made by supporters of Vote Leave - that stated that we pay the EU 50 million pounds a day. Their suggestion was to spend it on the NHS (National Health System) which is currently suffering from lack of funds.
FAST FORWARD....
Right, we've time-traveled back to the future again. It's almost a whole year later and we're not exactly much further down the line. Well, Cameron's stepped down and Theresa May has taken his place as prime minister and leader of the Conservative Party. She was all set to go through the Brexit negotiations and emerge triumphant, when something threw it all off course.
Mrs May wanted to 'confirm' her strong leadership and the fact that she had the clear majority and backing from the public. So what did she do? She held a 'snap election', several years before it was due to take place. And guess what?! She lost....badly. Oops. Please read my guide on the UK general election here.
So Brexit's on hold....again. Our government is completely out of action and there's nothing anyone can do until it gets itself back together again.
THE REACTION?
David Cameron, who's been keeping quiet (ish) over the past year, has now spoken up with a bit of advice for his successor, Mrs May. Aw, how nice. He says that she'll have to "consult more widely" and "listen to other parties" now that she has lost the election and her power.
Peeps are also saying that there will be pressure for a 'softer' Brexit, now that Mrs May has lost her precious majority. A 'soft' Brexit is where we keep friendly relationships (and the odd trade deal!) with the EU. Whereas a 'hard' Brexit is complete independence (even with trade).
I think everyone's just sick and tired of all this messing about. The general opinion seems to be *sigh* "Let's just get it over with." *sigh*
Okay, last year (2016) our former prime minister, David Cameron, decided to hold a referendum on whether we, in the UK, should leave the European Union. This was soon named 'Brexit.' Think of it as a ship-name for Britain and Exit.
LET'S GO (FURTHER) BACK...
There had been massive debates over the 'pros' and 'cons' of the European Union for years. It all sort of came to a head in 2016, with many people wanting us to leave the EU behind and go it alone. Da da da! Anyway, even though Cameron backed Remain (in the EU) himself, he was under immense pressure from fellow politicians and members of the British public to hold this referendum... and he had to agree.
THE RESULTS?
A whole lotta people were mighty surprised when they woke up on the 24th of June to find out that we had voted for Brexit. Yay.
*Note my lack of exclamation marks.
THE GOOD AND THE BAD
Brexit affects different people in different ways, both positively and negatively. It's really difficult to know what side to be on, especially when you care about all the citizens of our country equally.
For example, our young people won't be able to study abroad so easily if we leave the EU. It won't be great for UK citizens living permeantly in other parts of Europe, either. But then there was one poster - made by supporters of Vote Leave - that stated that we pay the EU 50 million pounds a day. Their suggestion was to spend it on the NHS (National Health System) which is currently suffering from lack of funds.
FAST FORWARD....
Right, we've time-traveled back to the future again. It's almost a whole year later and we're not exactly much further down the line. Well, Cameron's stepped down and Theresa May has taken his place as prime minister and leader of the Conservative Party. She was all set to go through the Brexit negotiations and emerge triumphant, when something threw it all off course.
Mrs May wanted to 'confirm' her strong leadership and the fact that she had the clear majority and backing from the public. So what did she do? She held a 'snap election', several years before it was due to take place. And guess what?! She lost....badly. Oops. Please read my guide on the UK general election here.
So Brexit's on hold....again. Our government is completely out of action and there's nothing anyone can do until it gets itself back together again.
THE REACTION?
David Cameron, who's been keeping quiet (ish) over the past year, has now spoken up with a bit of advice for his successor, Mrs May. Aw, how nice. He says that she'll have to "consult more widely" and "listen to other parties" now that she has lost the election and her power.
Peeps are also saying that there will be pressure for a 'softer' Brexit, now that Mrs May has lost her precious majority. A 'soft' Brexit is where we keep friendly relationships (and the odd trade deal!) with the EU. Whereas a 'hard' Brexit is complete independence (even with trade).
I think everyone's just sick and tired of all this messing about. The general opinion seems to be *sigh* "Let's just get it over with." *sigh*
Psst... shoutout alert. Gracie is a 13 year old blogger who hangs out at a Light in the Darkness. She also helps a tonnnnnn with our research. Thaaaaaaaaaank you.
the NHS Hacking (aka WannaCry): the story
The NHS Hacking was pretty darn confuuuuuusing. Thanks to Gracie, it won't be anymore. Hip hip hooray.
REWIND TO LAST MONTH....
It's May and it's springtime. The sun is shining, flowers are blooming... and major computer systems all over the world are failing....big time. Especially the UK health system (the NHS). The affects are massive and many essential organisations are totally unable to function properly. We are in chaos.
So, what could possibly have caused this turmoil? Hackers, that's what.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Hackers created a sort of computer virus called WannaCry, which swept across the globe, locking computers and then demanding a ransom. Threats were made to destroy all files if the money was not paid. Uh oh! This crippled the NHS, messing up their whole database.
FAST FORWARD TO THE PRESENT DAY....
Okay, in the past few hours information on the suspected culprits has been released. It is said that these hackers are based in North Korea and form a cybercrime (online crime) group called Lazarus.
The group have a whole lotta history when it comes to serious international crimes. In 2014, they are believed to have hacked Sony Pictures, just days before a movie about the leader of N. Korea was due for release. Hmmmm, weird or what?!
They've also been suspected to have robbed banks in the past: a few years ago North Korean hackers were linked to the robbery of $81 million dollars from a bank in Bangladesh.
So yeah, things aren't looking too great for these guys. Oh, except for the fact that they've made off with an absolute ton of dosh in the past month or so.
BUT WHY?
It's difficult to guess the motives of some hackers. Sometimes they use their techno-whizz super skills to protest against something they feel is wrong. Sometimes they are attempting to steal information for their own country, like modern-day espionage. But the reasons that these hackers have is relatively obvious: money. It has been suggested that, because they live in a harsh, communist nation, they are desperate for funds.
But that wouldn't explain their motives for hacking Sony Pictures, does it? Perhaps they are loyal to their leader and didn't want him to be portrayed negatively? Or maybe he paid them to do it? Perhaps it wasn't even them?
I know this guide has posed a lot of questions, but I hope it has been able to explain a few too. Thanks for reading!
It's May and it's springtime. The sun is shining, flowers are blooming... and major computer systems all over the world are failing....big time. Especially the UK health system (the NHS). The affects are massive and many essential organisations are totally unable to function properly. We are in chaos.
So, what could possibly have caused this turmoil? Hackers, that's what.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Hackers created a sort of computer virus called WannaCry, which swept across the globe, locking computers and then demanding a ransom. Threats were made to destroy all files if the money was not paid. Uh oh! This crippled the NHS, messing up their whole database.
FAST FORWARD TO THE PRESENT DAY....
Okay, in the past few hours information on the suspected culprits has been released. It is said that these hackers are based in North Korea and form a cybercrime (online crime) group called Lazarus.
The group have a whole lotta history when it comes to serious international crimes. In 2014, they are believed to have hacked Sony Pictures, just days before a movie about the leader of N. Korea was due for release. Hmmmm, weird or what?!
They've also been suspected to have robbed banks in the past: a few years ago North Korean hackers were linked to the robbery of $81 million dollars from a bank in Bangladesh.
So yeah, things aren't looking too great for these guys. Oh, except for the fact that they've made off with an absolute ton of dosh in the past month or so.
BUT WHY?
It's difficult to guess the motives of some hackers. Sometimes they use their techno-whizz super skills to protest against something they feel is wrong. Sometimes they are attempting to steal information for their own country, like modern-day espionage. But the reasons that these hackers have is relatively obvious: money. It has been suggested that, because they live in a harsh, communist nation, they are desperate for funds.
But that wouldn't explain their motives for hacking Sony Pictures, does it? Perhaps they are loyal to their leader and didn't want him to be portrayed negatively? Or maybe he paid them to do it? Perhaps it wasn't even them?
I know this guide has posed a lot of questions, but I hope it has been able to explain a few too. Thanks for reading!
Psst... shoutout alert. Gracie is a 13 year old blogger who hangs out at a Light in the Darkness. She also helps a tonnnnnn with our research. Thaaaaaaaaaank you.
The Queen of England just gave a biiiiiig speech
Here's the scoop (courtesy of Gracie, ofc).
WHAT?
The Queen's Speech takes place every single year, and is where our monarch (Queen Elizabeth II) reads a speech written by the Prime Minister about the government's plans for the upcoming year (aka all the laws they want to pass)
THE ACTION.
There is a huge, grand ceremony where the Queen dons her ceremonial garb and is escorted to the Palace of Westminster by the entire royal cavalry, which is made up of over one hundred and twenty horsemen. So yeah, preeetttyyyy posh.
WHAT'S DIFFERENT THIS YEAR?
A lot. Okay, you know the whole hung parliament business? Well, it's mucked stuff up a ton. Now there's no official prime minister to write the Queen's Speech for her. But never fear, Mrs May has a plan! Although she isn't technically in power, she is desperately attempting to scrape together a minority government.
Note: a minority government is where the party who won the majority in the election (though not enough to win) have the most seats in parliament, but less than half of the total. This means that government is also made up of MPs from other parties, who then get a say in running the country.
So, Mrs May is trying to form a minority government by making deals with like-minded parties. Mainly the right-wing DUP, though it hasn't gone that well.
The thing is, due to all the political chaos of the General Election results, the ceremony had to planned pretty quickly. The Queen was unable to attend the rehearsal and most of the grandiose finery was forgotten about.
So today the Queen is arriving by car, with not a horseman in sight. She'll be dressed in a simple 'day dress' and hat (no crown ). And the ceremony will be a lot less formal and traditional, thought still pretty royal. Boo hoo.
Oh, and the whole thing has been extended to two years worth of plans (instead of the usual one year). This is because everyone thinks we'll be waaayyyy too busy with Brexit next year. Yay.
WHAT WAS EXPECTED?
Everyone is expecting the Queen to talk about upcoming Brexit negotiations, along with other issues such as immigration and economy.
WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED?
Yup, basically that. The Queen's Speech covered the PM's thoughts on Brexit, education, terrorism, climate change, the economy, conflicts, cyber safety and much more. But Brexit definitely dominated the whole thing.
She talked about making Brexit the priority over the next couple of years, remaining in a friendly relationship with the EU and securing more international trade deals. She talked about equal education opportunities for every young person, meaning upping funding for many schools.
She also said about conquering terrorism and stopping it from spreading online, as well as targeting IS in the Middle East. She confirmed the fact that we will be staying a part of the Paris Climate Change Deal (phew), but talked about the importance of creating more sustainable jobs to the boost the economy.
The main non-Brexit laws were these:
There was much from the Conservative manifesto that she didn't mention though. This includes one of Theresa May's signature promises: the creating of more grammar schools. She also failed to even touch on the scrapping of free school lunches and a possible note on fox-hunting, both major parts of her original manifesto.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Now it's crunch time. The whole of parliament has to vote for or against Mrs May and her proposals that she put forward in the Queen's Speech. Her future is now in the hands of her party. If she loses she will be called upon to resign. If she wins she will go on to form a minority government and be in (relative) power (don't forget the whole 'minority government' thing) It is expected that she will win, but not certain.
Even if she does, it's not definite that she'll be able to pass all those laws, as the other MPs from other parties may disagree.
Anyway, the vote takes place on 28th and 29th June 2017.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is expected to tear Mrs May's speech apart and replace it with his own views and plans if he were in power.
If Mrs May's speech fails, he will have the chance to attempt to form a minority government. Or there could be another election. We'll have to wait and see
The Queen's Speech takes place every single year, and is where our monarch (Queen Elizabeth II) reads a speech written by the Prime Minister about the government's plans for the upcoming year (aka all the laws they want to pass)
THE ACTION.
There is a huge, grand ceremony where the Queen dons her ceremonial garb and is escorted to the Palace of Westminster by the entire royal cavalry, which is made up of over one hundred and twenty horsemen. So yeah, preeetttyyyy posh.
WHAT'S DIFFERENT THIS YEAR?
A lot. Okay, you know the whole hung parliament business? Well, it's mucked stuff up a ton. Now there's no official prime minister to write the Queen's Speech for her. But never fear, Mrs May has a plan! Although she isn't technically in power, she is desperately attempting to scrape together a minority government.
Note: a minority government is where the party who won the majority in the election (though not enough to win) have the most seats in parliament, but less than half of the total. This means that government is also made up of MPs from other parties, who then get a say in running the country.
So, Mrs May is trying to form a minority government by making deals with like-minded parties. Mainly the right-wing DUP, though it hasn't gone that well.
The thing is, due to all the political chaos of the General Election results, the ceremony had to planned pretty quickly. The Queen was unable to attend the rehearsal and most of the grandiose finery was forgotten about.
So today the Queen is arriving by car, with not a horseman in sight. She'll be dressed in a simple 'day dress' and hat (no crown ). And the ceremony will be a lot less formal and traditional, thought still pretty royal. Boo hoo.
Oh, and the whole thing has been extended to two years worth of plans (instead of the usual one year). This is because everyone thinks we'll be waaayyyy too busy with Brexit next year. Yay.
WHAT WAS EXPECTED?
Everyone is expecting the Queen to talk about upcoming Brexit negotiations, along with other issues such as immigration and economy.
WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED?
Yup, basically that. The Queen's Speech covered the PM's thoughts on Brexit, education, terrorism, climate change, the economy, conflicts, cyber safety and much more. But Brexit definitely dominated the whole thing.
She talked about making Brexit the priority over the next couple of years, remaining in a friendly relationship with the EU and securing more international trade deals. She talked about equal education opportunities for every young person, meaning upping funding for many schools.
She also said about conquering terrorism and stopping it from spreading online, as well as targeting IS in the Middle East. She confirmed the fact that we will be staying a part of the Paris Climate Change Deal (phew), but talked about the importance of creating more sustainable jobs to the boost the economy.
The main non-Brexit laws were these:
- a Domestic Violence and Abuse Bill, establishing a Domestic Violence and Abuse Commissioner to stand up for victims and survivors and monitor the response of the authorities
- a Tenant's Fees Bill, banning landlords from charging "letting fees"
- a High-Speed Two Bill to authorise the second leg of the rail link from Birmingham to Crewe
- A Data Protection Bill to strengthen individuals' rights and introduce a "right to be forgotten".
- An Armed Forces Bill allowing people to serve on a part-time and flexible basis
There was much from the Conservative manifesto that she didn't mention though. This includes one of Theresa May's signature promises: the creating of more grammar schools. She also failed to even touch on the scrapping of free school lunches and a possible note on fox-hunting, both major parts of her original manifesto.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Now it's crunch time. The whole of parliament has to vote for or against Mrs May and her proposals that she put forward in the Queen's Speech. Her future is now in the hands of her party. If she loses she will be called upon to resign. If she wins she will go on to form a minority government and be in (relative) power (don't forget the whole 'minority government' thing) It is expected that she will win, but not certain.
Even if she does, it's not definite that she'll be able to pass all those laws, as the other MPs from other parties may disagree.
Anyway, the vote takes place on 28th and 29th June 2017.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is expected to tear Mrs May's speech apart and replace it with his own views and plans if he were in power.
If Mrs May's speech fails, he will have the chance to attempt to form a minority government. Or there could be another election. We'll have to wait and see
Psst... shoutout alert. Gracie is a 13 year old blogger who hangs out at a Light in the Darkness. She also helps a tonnnnnn with our research. Thaaaaaaaaaank you.
Theresa May is putting her negotiation pants on
Get in the know below.
LET'S GO BACK....
A few weeks ago, the UK held its 2017 General Election. This wasn't supposed to have been held until several years in the future. Theresa May, our Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party, called for this 'snap election' as she wanted to confirm her strong leadership before entering into a year of intense Brexit negotiations. In short, she lost and we ended up with a 'hung parliament'. To read more on this, please read my guide on the UK General Election.
ANYWAY....
Theresa May is now desperate to get back in control of the country, but she has only one choice: form a minority government, where her party has the most seats (aka power), but still less than half of the total, meaning other MPs get a say in what happens too.
The best thing that Mrs May can do is find other like-minded parties who are willing to support her policies and ideas. She has been undergoing talks with the DUP (democratic unionist party), a hard right-wing party from Northern Ireland, for the past few weeks.
SO...?
Basically, the talks have resulted in the Prime Minister securing her parliamentary majority with £1 billion's worth of promises to the DUP, in exchange for two years worth of back-up for the Conservatives. That means that, throughout the next couple of years, the DUP will be given £1 billion of funding for their Party, while the Conservatives will get support in topics like Brexit, immigration, and the economy.
WHAT ARE THE CRITICS SAYING?
You can imagine. Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Labour Party and Mrs May's greatest rival, has described this deal as 'shabby and reckless' while the Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones said it was a 'straight bung'. Whoops.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
It appears that Parliament is due to start running smoothly again, but there's still one obstacle in the way. Theresa May has announced all her plans for the next two years in what's called the Queen's Speech. You can read more about that in my guide the Queen's Speech. Anyhow, the whole of Parliament now has to vote for or against Theresa May and her plans. This is the biggest moment of her career. If she wins, she will be able to go forward with this minority government. But if she loses, she will be called upon to resign and someone else will get their turn. The vote takes place between Wednesday 28th and Thursday 29th June. Stay tuned....
A few weeks ago, the UK held its 2017 General Election. This wasn't supposed to have been held until several years in the future. Theresa May, our Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party, called for this 'snap election' as she wanted to confirm her strong leadership before entering into a year of intense Brexit negotiations. In short, she lost and we ended up with a 'hung parliament'. To read more on this, please read my guide on the UK General Election.
ANYWAY....
Theresa May is now desperate to get back in control of the country, but she has only one choice: form a minority government, where her party has the most seats (aka power), but still less than half of the total, meaning other MPs get a say in what happens too.
The best thing that Mrs May can do is find other like-minded parties who are willing to support her policies and ideas. She has been undergoing talks with the DUP (democratic unionist party), a hard right-wing party from Northern Ireland, for the past few weeks.
SO...?
Basically, the talks have resulted in the Prime Minister securing her parliamentary majority with £1 billion's worth of promises to the DUP, in exchange for two years worth of back-up for the Conservatives. That means that, throughout the next couple of years, the DUP will be given £1 billion of funding for their Party, while the Conservatives will get support in topics like Brexit, immigration, and the economy.
WHAT ARE THE CRITICS SAYING?
You can imagine. Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Labour Party and Mrs May's greatest rival, has described this deal as 'shabby and reckless' while the Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones said it was a 'straight bung'. Whoops.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
It appears that Parliament is due to start running smoothly again, but there's still one obstacle in the way. Theresa May has announced all her plans for the next two years in what's called the Queen's Speech. You can read more about that in my guide the Queen's Speech. Anyhow, the whole of Parliament now has to vote for or against Theresa May and her plans. This is the biggest moment of her career. If she wins, she will be able to go forward with this minority government. But if she loses, she will be called upon to resign and someone else will get their turn. The vote takes place between Wednesday 28th and Thursday 29th June. Stay tuned....
Psst... shoutout alert. Gracie is a 13 year old blogger who hangs out at a Light in the Darkness. She also helps a tonnnnnn with our research. Thaaaaaaaaaank you.
The UK is gettin' their fight on
Thanks to Gracie, you can read up on all that.
LET'S GO...
Contest is the UK's counter-terrorism system. The program is made up of four strands: Prevent, Prepare, Protect, and Pursue.
Let's take this first part for example: Prevent. How do you think this works? This part is enforced in all the places you are in on a daily basis, and you don't even know it! Prevent is all around you, in your school, in your place of worship, in your local hospital, everywhere.
It is designed to support people who are at risk of becoming extremists or carrying out terrorist activities. That's why public services have such a huge role to play. They have to report anyone that they're concerned about to the authorities immediately.
SO WHAT'S THE PROB?
The education system has a big part to play in this scheme and so, of course, do teachers. But some of them are pretty worried. They're worried about the discrimination against Muslims that seems to lie hidden in this system, waiting to leap out at some point.
They feel as though the Prevent strand of Contest could be used primarily against Muslims, which is wrong, especially to be used against young people,
If someone asked you, who's more likely to be a terrorist? And then showed you photos of two teens your own age, one clearly Muslim and the other of another background, who would you choose? Would your answer be prejudiced, even if you weren't a racist person?
THE CONCLUSION
This is a complex topic and one that we have to hope that the government sort out. There is one thing we can do though, and that's try to be fair and just when judging someone. We have to see past race, background and religion and learn to judge a person by their true character and personality.
Psst... shoutout alert. Gracie is a 13 year old blogger who hangs out at a Light in the Darkness. She also helps a tonnnnnn with our research. Thaaaaaaaaaank you.
WHO
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Jo Cox
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Charlie Gard
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Martha Rick
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All about Jo Cox
The other day was the anniversary of Jo Cox's death. Read up on her to get in the know.
WHO?
Jo Cox should be remembered as an individual who wanted to make a difference, someone who worked tirelessly to create a fairer, kinder and more tolerant world.
She was the Labour Party MP for Batley and Spen in Yorkshire from 2015-2016. She was a passionate polictian, one who cared about every one of the people in her constituency.
Before she entered the world of politics, she was a humanitarian aid worker in many countries throughout the world, she also spent years of her life campaigning for countless charities. On top of that, she was a loving and much-loved mother, wife, sister, daughter, friend and colleague.
She made a huge difference to many people's lives, from refugees to the elderly to children to people with disabilities. Perhaps this is why she is remembered and honoured with such sadness today.
Jo Cox was tragically murdered on the 16th June 2016, at a constituency meeting. Her killer was later caught and is currently serving a life sentence in jail.
The past few days have been spent remembering the compassionate deeds that were fulfilled in this short life. Jo was just completely human.
IN HER OWN WORDS....
Here we have some quotes from Jo herself:
"One of the reasons I'm entering politics is that only 23% of the house of commons is female. If women don't make that 50/50 then the people making decisions for our communities are never going to be reflective of our needs."
"Our communities have been deeply enhanced by immigration and, whilst we celebrate our diversity, the thing that surprises me time and time again is that we have far more in common and far more unites us than divides us."
- An extract from her maiden speech
"These children have been exposed to things no child should ever witness and I know I personally would risk life and limb to get my two precious babies out of that hell hole." - On refugees and immigration.
"Every decade or so the world is tested with a crisis so grave that it breaks the mould. It's how history judges us. The second world war, the genocide in Rwanda, the slaughter in Bosnia. I believe that Syria is our generation's test."
Jo Cox should be remembered as an individual who wanted to make a difference, someone who worked tirelessly to create a fairer, kinder and more tolerant world.
She was the Labour Party MP for Batley and Spen in Yorkshire from 2015-2016. She was a passionate polictian, one who cared about every one of the people in her constituency.
Before she entered the world of politics, she was a humanitarian aid worker in many countries throughout the world, she also spent years of her life campaigning for countless charities. On top of that, she was a loving and much-loved mother, wife, sister, daughter, friend and colleague.
She made a huge difference to many people's lives, from refugees to the elderly to children to people with disabilities. Perhaps this is why she is remembered and honoured with such sadness today.
Jo Cox was tragically murdered on the 16th June 2016, at a constituency meeting. Her killer was later caught and is currently serving a life sentence in jail.
The past few days have been spent remembering the compassionate deeds that were fulfilled in this short life. Jo was just completely human.
IN HER OWN WORDS....
Here we have some quotes from Jo herself:
"One of the reasons I'm entering politics is that only 23% of the house of commons is female. If women don't make that 50/50 then the people making decisions for our communities are never going to be reflective of our needs."
"Our communities have been deeply enhanced by immigration and, whilst we celebrate our diversity, the thing that surprises me time and time again is that we have far more in common and far more unites us than divides us."
- An extract from her maiden speech
"These children have been exposed to things no child should ever witness and I know I personally would risk life and limb to get my two precious babies out of that hell hole." - On refugees and immigration.
"Every decade or so the world is tested with a crisis so grave that it breaks the mould. It's how history judges us. The second world war, the genocide in Rwanda, the slaughter in Bosnia. I believe that Syria is our generation's test."
Psst... shoutout alert. Gracie is a 13 year old blogger who hangs out at a Light in the Darkness. She also helps a tonnnnnn with our research. Thaaaaaaaaaank you.
Everything you need to know about Charlie Gard
The whoooooole world is pitching in to help.
WHO?
Charlie Gard is ten months old and he has a rare genetic disorder called mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome. Yup, a bit of a mouthful. The bad news is that this is serious for the little fella, he will sadly pass away if he doesn't get specialist treatment soon. The good news is that he's got the whole world on his side.
Charlie can't get the treatment here in the UK, but when his heart-broken parents tried to get permission from the European supreme court to take their son to America for medical care, they said he should be allowed to 'die in dignity' here. Even the doctors said it was the right thing to do.
Charlie's parents never stopped campaigning though, going to courts and hearings, even raisings 1.3 million quid for their cause.
AND.....?
It seems the whole world is now on little Charlie's side! His name is the No.10 most tweeted hashtag in the past few hours. The Pope and even Donald Trump have stepped in to show their support for him. This could be a life-changing experience for little Charlie (literally)
WHO'S RIGHT AND WHO'S WRONG?
Without knowing all the complications of his condition, it's hard for me to say. But I'm human (aren't we all?) and I feel like Charlie deserves another chance to live a life and know how much he's loved. By his incredible parents and by the rest of the world.
But then, the doctors say no. Who are we supposed to trust? No one wants him to suffer unnecessarily, or for his parents to go through anymore than they have already.
It's so complex, like everything in this crazy world.
SO....?
This could be a tale of tragedy and international grieving for a life we lost way too early. Or it could be a story of inspiration, dedication and love.
Psst... shoutout alert. Gracie is a 13 year old blogger who hangs out at a Light in the Darkness. She also helps a tonnnnnn with our research. Thaaaaaaaaaank you.
All you need to know about Martha Rick
Thanks to Gracie, it'll be cray easy to get in the know.
WHO?
Martha Rick had a hard start to life, born in Tennessee in 1817, she was a slave. Her Father managed to buy the family's freedom though and they fled to West Africa, to Liberia, a country founded by former US and Caribbean slaves. They became farmers, growing cocoa, ginger and coffee.
Martha soon became known for her needlework and quilting, winning contests at local fairs.
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST?
Martha had a dream and that dream was to one day meet Queen Victoria. She had her reasons for this, the UK was one of the first countries ever to recognise Liberia's independence. Martha also admired Queen Victoria for the fact that she was strongly against slavery.
One day, Martha did get to meet this woman whom she thought great things of. And, when the time came, she had a very special gift to take with her.
When asked by the Pall Mall Gazette why she gave the Queen that beautiful, hand stitched, embroidered quilt, she looked mortified. It was a huge part of their culture to give gifts, even to the poorest of the poor. How could she visit the Queen Victoria without a gift to give her?
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE?
Martha has inspired a whole future generations in Liberia, and throughout Africa, to take up quilt making. It is an enjoyable pastime, a way to make an income and feed your family, a way to celebrate your heritage, a way to remember.
Psst... shoutout alert. Gracie is a 13 year old blogger who hangs out at a Light in the Darkness. She also helps a tonnnnnn with our research. Thaaaaaaaaaank you.
HOW
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Trendy Words 2017
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the What (June 20th)
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Cosmetics Industry Boom
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the What (June 29th)
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UK Survey
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Catwalk With No Models
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the What (July 6th)
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Plastic Rice
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The Trendiest Words This Year
A list of all the trendy words this year. So you'll know what will be annoying you like cray by the end of the year.
Trill...as in true and real all mashed into one. For when you can’t think of how to describe your tots amazing bff.
P….as in pretty. For when you’re feeling p lazy and can’t type out the whole word.
JOMO….as in the opposite of FOMO. For when you’re staying home for the weekend watching Netflix instead of hanging with your friends. No regrets.
GOAT...as in “greatest of all time.” For when you’re pulling out the selfie stick ‘cause someone’s p amazing. There’s kinda a reason this word’s so similar to “gloat.”
Done...as in nope, can’t deal anymore. For when you’ve been studying all weekend instead of watching Netflix (so you can say JOMO). Just done.
Narrative...as in T Swift’s new fav word. For when you just want to be “excluded from this narrative” ‘cause drama drama drama.
Aesthetic….as in the look and feel of something. For when you want to seem all cool and trendy on Insta. Love the aesthetic of that pic.
Lowkey...as in putting your finger to your lips ‘cause there’s a secret. Or you’re just trying to keep cool. For when you’re trying to catch the attention of someone without catching the attention of another someone. You’re lowkey waving.
Sus...as in suspicious. For when your old bff isn’t acting like she used to...it’s tots sus.
Cancel...as in kinda like a synonym to “done.” For when you’re just done dealing with a cray friend of your’s. You’re cancelling them.
Woke...as in being super open-minded about political stuff. For when you’re friend is marching at the Pride Parade. They’re woke.
Fam...as in the new “squad.” For when you post a pic of your friends on Insta. With the fam.
Stan...as in stalker and fan all mashed into one. For when you’ve spent too much time on Insta looking at a celeb’s account.
V...as in “very.” Yup, this is just like “p.” For when you’re feeling v lazy and won’t type out the whole word.
P….as in pretty. For when you’re feeling p lazy and can’t type out the whole word.
JOMO….as in the opposite of FOMO. For when you’re staying home for the weekend watching Netflix instead of hanging with your friends. No regrets.
GOAT...as in “greatest of all time.” For when you’re pulling out the selfie stick ‘cause someone’s p amazing. There’s kinda a reason this word’s so similar to “gloat.”
Done...as in nope, can’t deal anymore. For when you’ve been studying all weekend instead of watching Netflix (so you can say JOMO). Just done.
Narrative...as in T Swift’s new fav word. For when you just want to be “excluded from this narrative” ‘cause drama drama drama.
Aesthetic….as in the look and feel of something. For when you want to seem all cool and trendy on Insta. Love the aesthetic of that pic.
Lowkey...as in putting your finger to your lips ‘cause there’s a secret. Or you’re just trying to keep cool. For when you’re trying to catch the attention of someone without catching the attention of another someone. You’re lowkey waving.
Sus...as in suspicious. For when your old bff isn’t acting like she used to...it’s tots sus.
Cancel...as in kinda like a synonym to “done.” For when you’re just done dealing with a cray friend of your’s. You’re cancelling them.
Woke...as in being super open-minded about political stuff. For when you’re friend is marching at the Pride Parade. They’re woke.
Fam...as in the new “squad.” For when you post a pic of your friends on Insta. With the fam.
Stan...as in stalker and fan all mashed into one. For when you’ve spent too much time on Insta looking at a celeb’s account.
V...as in “very.” Yup, this is just like “p.” For when you’re feeling v lazy and won’t type out the whole word.
A lottttttt is going on today
Thanks to Gracie, you'll have no prob gettin' in on all the scoop. So you'll know what holidays to prepare for (and what to post about on Insta).
TODAY (June 20th 2017) IS.....
World Refugee Day! On this day, we show our solidarity with these people who have so much strength, courage and perseverance. We acknowledge the fact that everybody is human and think about how we would feel in their circumstances. What can we do to help?
American Eagle Day! In America, this is a chance to honour their national symbol and raise awareness for the conservation of these beautiful creatures and their habitat.
Ice Cream Soda Day! Yay!!! Here in the UK, temperatures have been hotter than both Los Angeles and the Bahamas over the past few days. The heat has been unbearable, reaching 32.4C on Monday afternoon. I could totally do with an ice cream soda right now! #TooHot
World Productivity Day!
”Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort.”
~ Paul Meyer
This says it all.
TOMORROW (June 21st, 2017) IS...
World Humanist Day! Let's change the world for good today, recognise the value of equality, compassion and justice. Appreciate our fellow human beings for who they are as unique individuals and for what we are together as humankind.
International Surfing Day! Promoting the sport and lifestyle that comes with it, this day is also used to raise awareness of the environment and ocean sustainability.
World Refugee Day! On this day, we show our solidarity with these people who have so much strength, courage and perseverance. We acknowledge the fact that everybody is human and think about how we would feel in their circumstances. What can we do to help?
American Eagle Day! In America, this is a chance to honour their national symbol and raise awareness for the conservation of these beautiful creatures and their habitat.
Ice Cream Soda Day! Yay!!! Here in the UK, temperatures have been hotter than both Los Angeles and the Bahamas over the past few days. The heat has been unbearable, reaching 32.4C on Monday afternoon. I could totally do with an ice cream soda right now! #TooHot
World Productivity Day!
”Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort.”
~ Paul Meyer
This says it all.
TOMORROW (June 21st, 2017) IS...
World Humanist Day! Let's change the world for good today, recognise the value of equality, compassion and justice. Appreciate our fellow human beings for who they are as unique individuals and for what we are together as humankind.
International Surfing Day! Promoting the sport and lifestyle that comes with it, this day is also used to raise awareness of the environment and ocean sustainability.
Psst... shoutout alert. Gracie is a 13 year old blogger who hangs out at a Light in the Darkness. She also helps a tonnnnnn with our research. Thaaaaaaaaaank you.
There's a biiiiiiig connection between social media and plastic surgery
Read up on it below.
WHAT?
A new study by Nuffield Council has stated that more and more young people are turning to cosmetic procedures as a result of social media pressure.
It has said that our modern day society puts so much emphasis on appearance that more under-18s than ever before are undergoing plastic surgery and body modifications.
The report discovered that there are apps in existence, targeting girls as young as nine, that allow you to take a photo of your body and it shows you how it should look if 'perfect'.
This contributes to anxiety, depression and eating disorders.
SO....?
Due to the rise of social media, fake selfies and the accessibility of celebrity lifestyle, this has become quite a huge problem for today's young people.
Professor Jeanette Edwards from the University of Manchester, who chaired the inquiry into this issue, has called for cosmetic procedures to be banned for anyone under the age of 18 unless they involve a team of specialists, GPs and psychologists.
BUT IS THAT THE SOLUTION?
In my opinion, no way. If there is to be a law that under-18s cannot have plastic surgery or other cosmetic procedures, that's all very well, but it doesn't eliminate the actual problem: social media pressure. Banning these procedures will not get rid of the body-image anxiety that surrounds social media.
So, what will happen? Who knows?
A new study by Nuffield Council has stated that more and more young people are turning to cosmetic procedures as a result of social media pressure.
It has said that our modern day society puts so much emphasis on appearance that more under-18s than ever before are undergoing plastic surgery and body modifications.
The report discovered that there are apps in existence, targeting girls as young as nine, that allow you to take a photo of your body and it shows you how it should look if 'perfect'.
This contributes to anxiety, depression and eating disorders.
SO....?
Due to the rise of social media, fake selfies and the accessibility of celebrity lifestyle, this has become quite a huge problem for today's young people.
Professor Jeanette Edwards from the University of Manchester, who chaired the inquiry into this issue, has called for cosmetic procedures to be banned for anyone under the age of 18 unless they involve a team of specialists, GPs and psychologists.
BUT IS THAT THE SOLUTION?
In my opinion, no way. If there is to be a law that under-18s cannot have plastic surgery or other cosmetic procedures, that's all very well, but it doesn't eliminate the actual problem: social media pressure. Banning these procedures will not get rid of the body-image anxiety that surrounds social media.
So, what will happen? Who knows?
Psst... shoutout alert. Gracie is a 13 year old blogger who hangs out at a Light in the Darkness. She also helps a tonnnnnn with our research. Thaaaaaaaaaank you.
A whoooole lot is going on today
Thanks to Gracie, you can stay in the know.
WHAT'S ON TODAY?
International Mud Day! Who fancies a mud bath? Time to get messy, guys!
Camera Day! Cue the celebrations of this ingenious invention and it's use to capture moments as a beautiful form of art. Get snappy!
Handshake Day! Looks like Trump's happy. Oh, and Macron.
WHAT'S UP TOMORROW?
Social Media Day! A time to reflect on the positive and negative effects this has on our lives in modern society.
National Meteorite Watch Day! We're heading into space for this one... See you all later..
Psst... shoutout alert. Gracie is a 13 year old blogger who hangs out at a Light in the Darkness. She also helps a tonnnnnn with our research. Thaaaaaaaaaank you.
The UK just did a surveyyyy
After the whole Brexit and UK general election thing, the UK gov is dying to know what peeps think. Here are the results.
WHAT?
A survey was recently carried out by the National Centre for Social Research, on what we, as UK citizens, want for our country. The results were as follows:
WHAT'S GOING UP?
48% of us think that the Government should raise taxes and increase national spending. This is the highest percentage since 2004!
It also appears that we're all becoming much more liberal, with the majority supporting things like same-sex relationships and abortion.
WHAT'S GOING DOWN?
The EU. Apparently folks are becoming quite skeptical of it.
Oh, and terror. Surprise, surprise. People are calling for huge investment into 'strong powers' against terrorism.
Psst... shoutout alert. Gracie is a 13 year old blogger who hangs out at a Light in the Darkness. She also helps a tonnnnnn with our research. Thaaaaaaaaaank you.
Get ready to say "awwwww"
A guy had an idea. Aaaaaand cue the warmed hearts.
WHAT HAPPENED?
It was a catwalk with no models, just normal people. It was a catwalk with no celebration of superficial appearance , just real inner beauty.
Jeremy Deller, a Manchester artist, had the dream of bringing his city and its people to life. So he organised this.
WHO DID IT?
Among the people who took part were army veterans, the elderly, a nine week old infant, a homeless man, someone who'd spent their entire life in and out of prison, an ex-alcoholic, someone suffering from cancer, a businesswoman, a doctor, someone transgender, a refugee, a cleaner. And every single one of these people were applauded for one thing: being themselves.
This is an incredible story of hope and truth and joy. I hope it's warmed your hearts like it's warmed mine.
Psst... shoutout alert. Gracie is a 13 year old blogger who hangs out at a Light in the Darkness. She also helps a tonnnnnn with our research. Thaaaaaaaaaank you.
A whoooole lot is going on today
Thanks to Gracie, you can stay in the know.
TODAY IS....
Umbrella Cover Day! Let's hope it rains.....
Kissing Day! Celebrating this sign of affection that is such a part of our culture. Show your loved ones just how much they're appreciated today. Aw....
Fried Chicken Day! Yum. Yum. Yum. YUM. Okay, point proven.
TOMORROW WILL BE....
If everyday was July 7th I think I would be in heaven. Here's what's happening:
Tell The Truth Day! Imagine a world with no dishonesty and lies, where people say sorry and others forgive. Tomorrow we want to achieve that, just for a day.
Chocolate Day! Okay, this is getting better...
Strawberry Sundae Day! Even better......
Global Forgiveness Day! Hmmmm, I wonder? Does this have anything to do with all those truths about to be told?
Psst... shoutout alert. Gracie is a 13 year old blogger who hangs out at a Light in the Darkness. She also helps a tonnnnnn with our research. Thaaaaaaaaaank you.
Things are getting weirddddd
No lie...yup, this actually happened.
WHAT ON EARTH!?
Yup, you heard right: plastic rice. Apparently this stuff is being produced in China and sold all over the world. *checks date* Nope, it's not April Fools.
WHERE'S THE EVIDENCE?
Videos of bouncing rice balls are popping up all over social media, fuelling belief in this strange claim.
Rumours have been spreading since 2010, after rice was said to have been made from potatoes and a sticky resin. Shortly afterwards a Chinese restaurant association made a statement saying that eating three bowls of this 'plastic rice' that was taking over the market, is the equivalent of digesting one plastic bag! Okkaaaayyyyy.
SO...
There were so many people complaining in Ghana in the past few weeks that the Ghana Food and Drugs Authority have decided to carry out an investigation.
They did eventually conclude that no plastic rice was being sold on the Ghanian market.
Last year Nigerian customs authorities confiscated 2.5 tons of rice on claims it was 'fake'. They had to backtrack later on, when their claims were proved wrong. Something was up with this strange rice though, it contained unusually high levels of bacteria. Weird.
Psst... shoutout alert. Gracie is a 13 year old blogger who hangs out at a Light in the Darkness. She also helps a tonnnnnn with our research. Thaaaaaaaaaank you.