Tuesday, 21 February 2017

Dorset: Call for residents to take part in the NHS Dorset CCG Clinical Services Review



From Dorset Echo - "Call for residents to take part in the NHS Dorset CCG Clinical Services Review consultation and protect health services"

After long and careful consideration of the options and issues, I posted my questionnaire today. I've had my say, I hope many more people will take the trouble to fill in and return the questionnaire by post, or to complete it online. The deadline is Tuesday 28th February, 2017.

I have also (just) read the letter from Valerie Groves to the Dorset Echo, headlined "Trip is not acceptable". She raises some important points, which must be of concern to many residents living in Weymouth and the west of Dorset.





NHS misplaced half a million patient documents BBC News - "The company, NHS Shared Business Services, has expressed regret for the failings, which occurred between 2011 and 2016 in the East Midlands, the South West and north-east London".


NHS accused of covering up huge data loss that put thousands at risk, The Guardian


More than 22,000 documents missing from Dorset and Devon CCGs, Dorset Echo

Councillors discuss NHS Dorset CCG Clinical Services Review, Dorset Echo




Hospital cuts planned in most of England, BBC



Hospital cuts planned in most of England

Also, BBC TV News report, Joanna Gosling, Daily Politics, at 11am today, 21 February 2017 - "Most hospitals in England face cuts or the scaling back of services under local reform plans" - from full closures to centralising of services and moving of treatments. Is the funding and capacity there? 

Marine Microplastics; Dr Ceri Lewis; Microplastics in Crabs and Copepods



A fascinating and important community lecture last night, at the Thomas Hardye School.

Many members of the audience must have been thinking -is it safe to eat seafood like mussels, oysters, crabs and other crustaceans? Oyster-growers and farmers must be getting nervous about the growing evidence from scientific research into filter-feeders like oysters and mussels, which ingest micro-plastic particles. Fish which are gutted are probably safer to eat (if they don't have a high concentration of mercury).

Dr Lewis, Senior Lecturer in Marine Biology at Exeter University, explained that mussels accumulate plastics (often sticky) quickly; crabs eat mussels (and the micro-plastics, which they also breathe in through their combs).

Humans are at one end of the food chain: Dr Lewis is a specialist in zooplankton and copepods.

Research paper (pdf):

Uptake and retention of microplastics by the shore crab Carcinus maenas

Plastic products: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

Some tips: avoid products containing polyethylene micro-plastic beads; cotton buds with plastic stems; use compostable (corn starch) refuse bags


Plastic pellets found littering 73% of UK shoreline searched in latest citizen science survey, Marine Conservation Society

Plastic 'nurdles' found littering UK beaches, BBC News

Harmful plastic pellets found on three quarters of British beaches, Telegraph

Many species of marine life, including seabirds, are injured by plastic products such as polyester fibres, nylon fishing nets etc.

There is a high concentration of plastic waste in the Mediterranean sea.



The era of single-use plastic bottles must end if we want to save our oceans

Dr. Ceri Lewis, Researcher in Focus


Sunday, 19 February 2017

Greek Coastguard, Lesvos, 4.1 miles; Lesbos, 4.1 miles from Turkish Coast; Video; Refugees, Fact Sheet


Watch video. NYT Op Docs

Also on Vimeo

"A coast guard captain on a small Greek island is suddenly charged with saving thousands of refugees from drowning at sea, by Daphne Matziaraki".


"When I returned home to Greece last fall to make a film about the refugee crisis, I discovered a situation I had never imagined possible. The turquoise sea that surrounds the beautiful Greek island of Lesbos, just 4.1 miles from the Turkish coast, is these days a deadly gantlet, choked with terrified adults and small children on flimsy, dangerous boats. I had never seen people escaping war before, and neither had the island’s residents. I couldn’t believe there was no support for these families to safely escape whatever conflict had caused them to flee. The scene was haunting".



"Mary. Don't You Weep", Augusta, Georgia in 1929: A group of farm workers singing the spiritual, "Mary, Don't You Weep."


"Thanks to the University of South Carolina for preserving this rare footage" - From Dust-to-Digital, Facebook


Leadbelly,  Goodnight Irene

Also from Dust-to-Digital

GREEK RHAPSODY – INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC FROM GREECE 1905-1956


152-page hardcover book with two CDs featuring 42 Greek instrumental recordings made between 1905 and 1956. This compilation offers, for the first time, a unique panorama of the instruments and styles of the Greek music from the first half of the 20th century. Publication Date: June 11, 2013

About the author/compiler: Tony Klein is a British musician, researcher, and writer, based in Sweden. He has played and researched Greek music for 40 years, and studied with, among others, the veteran Stelios Keromitis. In 2005, in collaboration with collector Charles Howard, he produced and annotated the CD Mortika – Rare Vintage Recordings from a Greek Underworld.

Tracklist


DISC A
1. G. Gretsis & S. Stamos – Greek Rhapsody
2. George Deligeorge – Lemneiko-Zeibekiko
3. Instrumental Trio – Vlachico Sirto
4. Spyros Peristeris – To Mistirio
5. Markos Vamvakaris – Taxim Serf
6. Solo Laterna – Kazapiko
7. Spyros Peristeris – Tatavliano Hasapiko
8. A. Kostis – Dertlidikos Horos
9. Spyros Peristeris – Soultani Zeibekiko
10. Spyros Peristeris – Guzel-Zeibekiko
11. Spyros Peristeris – Hasapiko Laternas
12. Andonis Amiralis “Papatzis” – Hasapiko Politiko Argo
13. Spyros Peristeris – O Meraklis
14. M. Hiotis-D. Gongos ’’Bagianderas’’ – To Perasma
15. Kyria Koula – Zeibekikos Horos
16. Spyros Peristeris – Taxim Minore
17. Frangiskos Zouridakis – Syriano Hasapiko
18. Ierotheos Skizas Mandolinata – Karotsieris Hasapiko
19. Spyros Peristeris – Pireotiko Taximi
20. Spyros Peristeris – Romvia (Tatavliano Hasapiko)
21. Giannis Stamatiou & P. Vasileiou – Glykies Pennies

Disc B
1. Spyros Peristeris – Beykos Hasapiko
2. Spyros Peristeris – Keflflidiko Minore
3. Spyros Peristeris – Boutzalio
4. Ag. Tombouli – Raftaki
5. Havagies Bezou-Stipa – Kardia Ap’agapi Orfani
6. Solo Laterna – Zeibekiko
7. Apostolos Papadiamandis & Konstandinos Kalamaras – I Hira
8. Spyros Peristeris – Sevdali
9. Diodia Kyriakati – Karsilamas Mytilineikos
10. Spyros Peristeris – Dertilidiko
11. Lambros Leondaridis – Karsilamas
12. Ioannis Papaioannou – Serviko Hasapiko
13. Spyros Peristeris – Minore Tou Teke
14. Ierotheos Skizas Mandolinata – Vlahiko Hasapiko
15. Markos Vamvakaris – Taxim Zeibekiko
16. D. Arapakis – Memetis
17. Manolis Hiotis – Giouzel Taxim
18. Alexis Zoumbas – Arvanitiko
19. Lukianos Cavadias – Hasapiko Kavvadia
20. Spyros Peristeris – Mistirio Zeibekiko
21. Ioannis Halikias – Minore Tou Teke

President Trump, "Last Night in Sweden"; No Fear


Studies in Fear and No-Fear

Political Video, New York Times

Ten Meter Tower, video, MAXIMILIEN VAN AERTRYCK and AXEL DANIELSON  (NYT)


*****

The changing headlines:

Donald Trump appears to invent Sweden terror attack during Florida rally speech, The Independent


Donald Trump is right, there was a recent attack in Sweden. By neo-Nazis on a refugee centre - US President could have been referring to largely underreported 'politically motivated' incident in Gothenburg, The Independent


Donald Trump's Sweden comment referred to 'rising crime', White House says, The Guardian


Mr Trump confirmed that Fox News had been the inspiration for his comments, The Independent.


Donald Trump admits ‘Sweden attack’ comments were based on debunked 'Fox News' report, MSN/ The Independent


Wall Street Journal - "Trump Is Right: Sweden’s Embrace of Refugees Isn’t Working, The country has accepted 275,000 asylum-seekers, many without passports—leading to riots and crime".

JIMMIE ÅKESSON and MATTIAS KARLSSON, Feb. 22, 2017  - "When President Trump last week raised Sweden’s problematic experience with open-door immigration, skeptics were quick to dismiss his claims. Two days later an immigrant suburb of Stockholm was racked by another riot. No one was seriously injured, though the crowd burned cars and hurled stones at police officers"


Svenksa Dagbladet - SD i Wall Street Journal: ”Vill göra Sverige säkert igen”

"Donald Trump har rätt: Sveriges välkomnande av flyktingar har lett till upplopp och kriminalitet. Så skriver SD-ledarna Jimmie Åkesson och Mattias Karlsson i tidningen Wall Street Journal i en debattartikel med få källhänvisningar"


Accused of 'smearing' Sweden - SD: Trams att säga att vi smutskastar Sverige

Sverigedemokraterna får kritik för att svartmåla Sverige efter att SD-topparna Jimmie Åkesson och Mattias Karlsson skrivit en debattartikel i Wall Street Journal. Nu slår Karlsson tillbaka: – Som oppositionsparti ska man kunna peka på problem utan att bli anklagad för att skada Sverige, säger han till SvD


Swedish suburb becomes a part of the Trump media circus, The Guardian


Viktigt för Trump att Sverige havererar. Jenny Nordberg, SvD

"Idén om att Sverige skulle vara på väg att helt haverera fungerar utmärkt för Trump: Sverige har länge varit ett skällsord för den amerikanska extremhögern och Fox News. Inte nog med att svenskar är naiva socialister, med en felaktig samhällskonstruktion: Ingen får ha vapen, män tvingas bete sig som kvinnor, och alla är latmaskar i ett orealistiskt välfärdssamhälle. Sverige håller dessutom nu på att helt förstöra sitt eget luftslott på grund av flyktingar, som Trump ser som potentiella terrorister".

"Sweden has long been a term of abuse for the US extreme right and Fox News...Sweden's alleged decadence is simply a great story - for both Trump and the Sweden Democrats".


BBC 1, Sunday Politics, 26 February 2016, BBC iPlayer

Includes Sweden MP Laila Naraghi and Douglas Murray of the Henry Jackson Society


Swedish policeman pins violent crime on migrants, The Sunday Times