iblog

Rushda: New, worrying statistics based on 32 police forces in England and Wales have shown that around 3000 crimes were committed last year by children under 10, who were too young to be prosecuted. Almost half of these incidents involved damage and arson whereas the rest included crimes such as burglary and even sexual harassment.

What has been particularly concerning is that these children often get away with it because they cannot legally be charged with an offence. Police insist that although under-10s cannot be charged, the crime is still recorded by the police and, if concerned, the child can be placed under a supervision order. Though some say the minimum age should be dropped, some want it raised, so it is a controversial issue. Perhaps the most neutral stance is that of Paul Cavadino, Chief Executive of the crime reduction charity Nacro who argues:

“The best approach to serious child offenders is to deal with them as children who need effective care measures.”

Whatever the law, it is clearly a tricky issue as it seems wrong to put blame on children so young and yet there has to be some accountability. Though in some states in the US, the minimum age for having criminal responsibility is a shocking six years old, to many this would sound completely inhumane. Yet what of cases such as little James Bulger who was murdered by children who were barely ten years old?

Rushda: Romantics across the country may be pleased to hear that the divorce rate in England and Wales has reached the lowest number in 22 years, according to official statistics. Although it may be shocking that 132,562 couples split up over the last year (12.2 per 1000 married couples), the divorce rate has plummeted in recent years, the number being 7% lower than in 2005 and, in fact, the lowest number of recorded breakups since 1984.

The results have been taken from the Office for National Statistics, which has revealed lots of interesting facts about marriage over the past few years. For example, though the figures above might be positive it is worth noting that there are less marriages occurring nowadays and split ups have been more difficult to record. Furthermore, it has also been shown that the most likely age group to get a divorce are men and women in their 20s, yet the average age for divorces in the early 40s for both men and women, and the average divorce occurs 11 years after marriage.

What is particularly saddening is that more than half of the divorces involved at least one child under the age of 16 - that means 125,000 children were affected, with over a fifth even being under the age of five. This has devastated many families across the country. As Claire Tyler, chief executive of relationship counselling service Relate has said:

“Whilst it is encouraging that the divorce rate has fallen we must not forget that divorce is still a reality for many families living in the UK today and the emotional fallout can be devastating. For the fifth consecutive year men and women in their late 20s have the highest divorce rates, many of whom will have young children.”

As for the falling number of marriages, there are many reasons for this. One of the main reasons could be that the payout sums in cases of divorce have scared people from committing too soon - such reasons mean there are more couples simply cohabiting instead of tying the legal knot. Whatever the reasons for the drop, it is still clear that marriage is a huge decision which has been taken lightly by many and causes trauma to many lives when it ends in divorce.

Rushda: Many of us indulge in pipe dreams about what kind of house we would live in if we had lots of money. Well a new finding may come as a surprise as a survey has shown that most Britons would love to live in a detached country home, built from scratch. That means, historic dwellings such as castles, barns and vicarages are out, and large custom-made homes with open-plan sitting rooms are in.

The buying of new homes rather than old ones is a relatively recent fashion, first started by wealthy home owners who had special requirements such as indoor pools. Now, everyone wants to be able to decide exactly how their home should look, putting modern conveniences over historical character. As Rupert Connell, of the property-buying consultancy Buying Solution says:

“There are clients who are willing to trade character for efficiency. They also do not want to compromise their requirements for such things as indoor swimming pools. Some are looking for existing houses that can be pulled down and replaced with a home built to their specifications.”

One such example of a dream home which sold recently for an incredible £12m is The House in the Wood, at Hindhead in Surrey. This stone mansion dates back to 2001 and comes complete with underfloor heating and a super integrated music system.

Virgil: A recent survey conducted in the US of three thousand people aged 57 to 85 has revealed that a significant number of 70 and 80-year-olds maintain an active sex life. Whilst the common view on the subject seems to be that the older you get, the less sex drive you have, the study revealed that the most common barriers to intimacy were simply not having a partner at all or being too unhealthy; a lack of desire was generally not the problem.

The study, maybe somewhat surprisingly for younger readers, found that three-quarters of people in their late fifties and early sixties were still having sex, whilst this figure dropped to a half for the early seventies, and a quarter for the early eighties. Leader of the study, Stacy Lindau, comments on the findings, saying:

“This suggests that, among older adults, there is an internal drive or need for sexual fulfilment. People are living longer. Many people have higher expectations for what ageing should be like … yet we have no baseline data on sexuality in later life. These data will give people a sense of whether what they’re experiencing is typical.”

Indeed, half of the people surveyed described their sex problems as “bothersome”, bringing to light just how important that aspect of life is even as you grow older. Of those surveyed, the ones who rated their health as worse were also less likely to be intimate, demonstrating how important health is in maintaining that kind of physical relationship. Professor Edward Laumann of the University of Chicago, who co-authored the report, notes that:

“There are a lot of people who feel that age is very tightly correlated with sexual activity or interest, but it turns out that healthy people are sexually active if they have a partner, and that this is an important part of the quality of life.”

The study sheds some light on an area perhaps taboo, and brings with it a better perspective on the world of sexual relations, regardless of one’s age.

Rushda: A Chinese talent show similar to Pop Idol in Britain has been banned by the the state’s broadcasting watchdog for being tasteless and “vulgar”. The show, which is called The First Heartthrob had attracted about 100,000 Chinese contestants since it began last year, and was one of the few talent shows which got such high ratings. But after consideration, The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (Sarft) announced that it was unacceptable to air it any longer as it was only aiming at “the low-grade interests of a minority”.

It is difficult to know whether to be appalled or amused about the cancellation, as it would be unheard of for any popular shows in Britain, such as Big Brother or X Factor, to be banned because they do not match the artistic quality of Mozart. It is also unclear what exactly was wrong with The First Heartthrob for it to apparently show a lack of social responsibility. In their own words Sarft say:

“The design of the show is coarse. The judges’ behaviour lacks grace. The programming lacks artistic standards. The tone of the show has cheapened. The songs performed are vulgar.”

Apparently the decision might have something to do with a tightening of media controls due to the Chinese Communist Party’s congress. Alternatively, it is also speculated that it might have been prompted by a contestant making a judge cry. Either way, it’s quite a confusing issue that no doubt thousands are unhappy about. Perhaps this story will mean I end up watching the new series of X Factor with pride!

Rushda: A new online survey poll from Virgin Travel Insurance has revealed the tourist sites which Britons think are most overrated and left them feeling disappointed and uninspired. Topping the list are attractions such as Stonehenge and Angel of the North in Gateshead in the UK, and the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre in Paris.

It is probably not surprising that so many people voted for Stonehenge, given that ultimately it is really just a pile of stones, and as travel writer Felice Hardy described it, it is “an isolated pile of rocks in a usually muddy field”. It is also near a busy motorway and therefore not a very spiritual setting. The Stonehenge director explains that this is just an unfortunate coincidence and a bid has already been made to the government to divert the motorway. However, the numbers voting for the Eiffel Tower seem alarming given that it is one of the most well known sites in Europe. As one respondent on the poll said:

“So long to get to the top and when you get there it’s not even impressive. The queues are ridiculous and the lasers beamed from it at night just make it look super-tacky.”

What is most ironic about the poll results, particularly Stonehenge and the Eiffel Tower, is that they were recently among the top nominations in July’s announcement of the seven new wonders of the world. Interestingly, the poll also revealed the best things to see in Europe and none of these were included in the seven wonders of the world. In the UK the top results include the lesser well known sites such as Alnwick Castle in Northumberland, Shakespeare’s Globe theatre, and (I was pleased to see) The Backs in Cambridge. Overseas, favourites include Sydney Harbour Bridge and The Treasury at Petra in Jordan. Maybe our ideas of wonders of the world do not match what we’d truly like to see!

Virgil: There are fears that the History A-Level is under threat through lack of popularity - being an optional part of the National Curriculum after the age of 14, students are opting for the so-called “softer subjects” such as Media Studies instead. Will this mark an even bigger decline in the poor number of British youngsters who have little idea of their own country’s past or its place in the world?

The decline in the subject goes alongside loss of interest in Geography and Modern Languages, all of which are seen as boring, useless options, unless you want to become bookish, a weatherman, or go on holiday a lot - the former necessitating less exciting and lucrative careers, the latter requiring more exciting and lucrative careers.

Katherina Tattersall, of the Chartered Institute of Educational Assessors, considers this change in emphasis, saying:

“History is … disappearing into the new citizenship, which is being promoted by the government.”

Whether the government is to blame is a matter of debate. Over in America, all primary school children are taught to memorise the chronology of American presidents, and some begin to learn the names of all the states. Over here, very few children will know about the chronology of English Kings. However, whilst some fears are over children not knowing enough about their own country, there are others saying the History syllabus is far too English-orientated. Some advocates have even complained that a focus on “Britishness” amounts to fuelling racism.

A spokesperson from the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCFS) comments that the important thing to focus on in teaching History is to give pupils an overview of it. To extend his point, I think it’s fairly obvious that the useful thing to be taught before A-Level is where everything stands - it’s knowledge that will help you to understand the world, and will also help you decide what topic to go into further detail on if you take the subject on to A-Level or further.

OFSTED states that History is one of the best taught subjects at schools, a statistic that I personally never benefited from. But whether there are flaws in the teaching or the focus of the subject, the DCSF is positive that enough interest remains in the subject at A-Level for it to continue, with over a quarter of a million entries last year.

Jeanne: The Cossacks of southern Russia, once the feared soldiers of the Tsar, are regaining their influence within the country. Strongly nationalist, they have gained political strength during the Presidency of Vladimir Putin. Many politicians, including the Russian premier, have regarded the Cossack lifestyle as a model which all Russian citizens should follow. Cossack families are highly disciplined and are known for their strong work ethic. In a country where social problems are keenly felt, the Cossacks remain an ever-present reminder of conservative Russian values.

The village of Varennikovskoye in southern Russia is home to some 200 Cossack families. Here life goes on much as it has done since the days of the Tsar. This farming community was collectivized under Stalin. However, after the demise of Communism many Cossack families live in relatively comfortable surroundings. Nevertheless, Cossacks remain traditional in their beliefs. The Russian Orthodox Church and its often reactionary teachings underlie their way of life. Families operate according to a hierarchical structure and are known for their large size. Men are invariably the breadwinners. Women, in turn, are responsible solely for domestic tasks and child-bearing. Children, often as young as 11, can be found engaged in hard physical labour. Such practices, according to Cossack elders, instill values of responsibility and pride and individuals who fail to comply with village rules are ‘dealt with’ firmly.

All this may appear very strange to western ears. Not so to the country’s leaders, however. Russia is currently dealing with more than her fair share of social problems. Unemployment is on the increase and corruption continues to hinder growth. Alcoholism is also a growing problem in Russian countryside. Under these circumstances, it is not surprising that many Russian leaders regard the Cossack lifestyle as a model for Russian social development. Alcohol, for example, is banned in Cossack villages. Those found intoxicated can expect to receive a severe whipping.

Many Cossack leaders long for a return to Russia’s traditional roots. This, they believe can only be achieved under the leadership of a Tsar-like figure. Who do they feel could fulfill this role? Vladimir Putin is the undoubted favourite with most Cossacks:

President Putin has proved himself as a potential Tsar by bringing order and the start of Russia’s long-awaited national revival

Virgil: An 8,000 year old Stone Age village has been found submerged beneath the waters at Bouldnor Cliff, Isle of Wight. However, with the tides washing away 12 inches from the top of it every year, the race is on to discover what we can while it’s still there.

It has been known since 1980 that a prehistoric forest lay beneath the waters, but it was only when a lobster was noticed chucking pieces of worked flint from its hidey-hole that divers realised they’d stumbled on an ancient settlement.

The village is of particular interest as it dates from a period in British history of which little is known. The settlement was swamped after the northern European Ice Caps began to melt. It is for exactly this reason that so little is known about settlements from the period - they are now all mostly submerged. Garry Momber, director of the charity doing the excavations, describes the importance of the site by saying:

“This is the only site of its kind in Britain and is extremely important to our understanding of our Stone Age ancestors from the lesser-known Mesolithic period.”

More interestingly, as 8,000 years ago the whole area would have been dry:

“It reveals a time before the English Channel existed when Europe and Britain were linked. The people who lived on this site could have walked over to Calais without too much trouble.”

The excavators hope to garner more funding as they continue, otherwise the artefacts buried at the site will be washed away forever.

Rushda: A new report has suggested that one of the reasons for underachievement amongst black youths is the fact that there aren’t very many good role models for them who give out a “positive” image.

The conclusions of the report were released by The Reach ,a panel of experts from fields such as education and business, who have said that role models for black youths too often tend to be glorified rappers who promote violence and drugs. There need to be better role models in order to bridge the academic gap between black and white. As Clive Lewis, of the Men’s Room charity has said, black youths are in need of better role models to raise their aspirations and give them more of a chance to contribute politically, academically and culturally to the UK. He explains:

“Black boys and young men desperately need a greater diversity of images and portrayals, showing that black men can be, and are, successful in a wide range of careers including business, teaching, the law and health care.”

It is clear that black people have indeed been very successful in a variety of such fields. For example, Tim Campbell is a black man who won the first series of The Apprentice with his intelligence and dedication. Yet, unfortunately, it is still the rappers who take the limelight, and many have speculated that it is such role models which have increased the popularity of street gangs which put even more pressure on black youths.

I think it makes great sense that black youths are being let down by rappers such as 50 Cent who do not promote a dignified and educated lifestyle, but quite the opposite. Black youths do need to be given a better picture of what’s on offer for their future. However, I think it needs to be emphasised that any underachievers need good role models, and this doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with colour.