iblog

Rushda: A recent organ donation case has sparked much anger from across the country. The daughter of a woman who was in serious need of a kidney transplant suddenly died, but her organs were distributed to strangers against her wishes despite her mother being in need. The ruling was that preference couldn't be given to the mother even though the daughter had always wished to help, even expressing interests to be a "living donor" but never completing the formalities. Laura Ashworth, from Bradford, suddenly died from an asthma attack on 2nd April aged 21. Because she had agreed to be an organ donor whilst she was alive, the decision was made to user her organs for transplant after she died. However, even though Rachel Leake, the mother of Laura, was in desperate need of a kidney she was not allowed to take it because no preferential treatment could be given, and the kidneys went to three strangers on the transplant waiting list. Many people have felt outraged that the state could intervene in such a way when it is so intuitive that donors should be allowed to help their family first. Not only have Laura's wishes been disrespected but she has left behind her young daughter who is now dependent on her suffering mother. Mrs Leake is horrified by the decision and has said:

"I believe it should be overturned, I really do. It's an absolutely ridiculous law. Laura's helped three people through this, but Laura would have wanted to help me. To help her mum."

The Human Tissue Authority (HTA) defended its decision to not allow Mrs Leake to take Laura's kidneys. Adrian McNeil, who is chief executive of the HTA, said:

"The central principle of matching and allocating organs from the deceased is that they are allocated to the person on the UK Transplant waiting list who is most in need and who is the best match with the donor. In line with this central principle, a person cannot choose to whom their organ can be given when they die; nor can their family."

Even though he says this, he admits that there can be special circumstances to consider, which is why in the future the laws may be revised. It is just unfortunate, however, that such a statement will not help Laura's mother. What is especially terrible is that not only has this decision cost the mother and daughter but so many people have now lost faith in the donation system and have subsequently removed their name from the register. I cannot blame them: who wants to give something away voluntarily to know their wishes won't even be respected? Everyone would help their family if they were given the chance, especially their own mother who gave them life in the first place.

Rushda: Royal Mint has unveiled new designs for British coins which have not changed in appearance in over 40 years, since decimalisation April 1968. Described as one of the biggest events in British History, the new coins, which can be seen here combine modern designs with traditional elegance. They were announced as the result of a competition which ran since 2005 and received over 4000 entries. The winning designer of the coins is 26-year-old Matthew Dent, a graphic designer who lives and works in London. What makes the designs particularly striking is that the royal coat of arms has been split amongst the six denominations, the crowning piece being the £1 which displays the entire heraldic shield. This is the first time the coins have contained elements of a singular design. The other side will retain the traditional image of the Queen's head and the two pound coin has not changed. Dent is understandably amazed that his own designs will be on every new British coin. He says:

"For designs of mine to appear on a medium as significant and prestigious as the United Kingdom's coinage and to be produced and circulated in millions is a tremendous honour."

The new designs mark a huge event in British history. As Andrew Stafford, chief executive of the Royal Mint explains:

"It is the only work of art that every member of the general public touches every day, that is important to the nation's way of life,"

The coins will gradually begin to circulate in the summer, though old coins will remain legal tender. Personally, I really like the thoughtful new designs and though the old coins will be missed (especially the 50 pence coins with images of Britannia), I'm sure most people will like the fresh new look which was long overdue. I can't wait to get my hands on some (though I suspect I'll be reluctant to use them as anything but a jigsaw puzzle initially!).

Rushda: At approximately 1am this morning, an earthquake shook many homes all across the country. The earthquake, which measured 5.3 on the Richter scale, is the most intense one experienced in 25 years, with much damage being caused to buildings as well as injuries caused to residents. The British Geological Survey have said that the earthquake's epicentre was near Market Rasen in Lincolnshire. The tremors, which were felt in many places such as Newcastle, Yorkshire, Wales, and London had widespread effects. In many streets residents came out in their dressing gowns to find out what had happened. The emergency services were alerted at many homes which suffered great damage from the tremor. Not only that, but there were some injuries as well. For example, 19 year old student David Bates was pinned under masonry in his attic bedroom in Barnsley Road, Wombwell, South Yorks, and suffered a broken pelvis as a result and had to be taken to hospital. His father said:

"There was a rumble and then we heard a bang and my son screaming 'Dad'."

Other residents from the country also had stories to tell about the shaking. For example, Bev Finnegan from Market Rasen, where the tremors were greatest, said:

"I was terrified to be honest. The noise was really, really terrifying... it was so deep and rumbling. It felt like the roof was going to fall in. There were people coming out in their dressing gowns wondering what it was. It was quite an experience."

Thankfully there were no emergency calls from Lincolnshire about injuries. A Lincolnshire Police spokesperson has said:

"There is slight structural damage, cracks and a couple of chimneys damaged. There's nothing serious at present. Mostly people were distressed by it so there were a large quantity of calls coming in."

Since this was the biggest earthquake for so long, many have been naturally worried that it will happen again, perhaps even worse than this time. But the British Geological Survey has said that earthquakes such as these are very rare so there is no need to fear. As Dr Brian Baptie, of the BGS, said:

"An earthquake of this size, of magnitude five or thereabouts, will occur roughly every 10 to 20 years in the UK. So we can get these kind of moderate to significant earthquakes of this size but they're relatively rare."

Myself, I felt a mild tremor all the way down in Cambridge - thankfully, I didn't feel much of the terror as it was so mild but I was certainly confused. I'm so glad the mystery was resolved!

Thomas King: Sales of Morrissey albums will soar, the poetry of Leonard Cohen will top the bestsellers lists, black will become (if possible) more fashionable. No, it's not the Eighties coming back, it's a new piece of research saying that, if you're depressed, you may need to live with it and not rely on pills to feel better because anti-depressants may not really work. The study, published yesterday in the journal PLoS Medicine and led by an academic from the University of Hull, took data from 35 clinical trials, covering the four most-prescribed anti-depressants in the US. The results from these studies were pooled and examined to see if, overall, there was any significant effect of anti-depressant. The research found that, overall, there was a improvement in mood when taking an anti-depressant. But it also found that an almost equal improvement in mood was seen when taking a sugar-pill that the subject was told was an anti-depressant. In fact, in two of the trials, patients reported feeling happier when taking the sugar-pill than they did when taking the actual drug. Interestingly, the trial found that the more depressed an individual was to begin with, the greater the benefit that they seemed to get from the drug. Severely depressed individuals were the group who reported the biggest difference in improvement of mood when taking the real drug and when taking the sugar pill. The study's authors say that this is a false result, "attributable to a decrease in responsiveness to placebo, rather than an increase in responsiveness to medication." More depressed people were no more likely to report an increase in mood with the anti-depressant, they were just less likely to report an improvement with the placebo. If these drugs have no real effect, then why are they still prescribed? In the year 2006/2007 there were over 31 million prescriptions for anti-depressants in the UK. Would so many people be taking them if they didn't make them feel better? According to the study's authors, any beneficial effects you might feel come down to a 'placebo effect'. We've probably all heard stories of people getting drunk on water because they believe it's vodka. This, in essence, is a 'placebo effect'; something affects you a certain way because you believe it should. Anti-depressants make you happier because you expect to be happier. After all, you're taking anti-depressants. So, should this finding be seen as a hammer-blow to depressives, one less way to scare away the black dog? No. If anything it should be seen as a hopeful message as it shows just how easily depression can be relieved if you're in the right frame of mind. They say "Let a smile be your umbrella" but an upbeat attitude could protect you from more than just rain.

Rushda: The world's biggest fast-food provider McDonald's has just been approved to have its own McDonalds qualification, different componants of which could add up to count as an actual A-Level under the new Diplomas offered next autumn. McDonald's is in fact one of a number of new firms which are introducing government-regulated qualifications, other major companies being Flybe and Network Rail. Many are undestandably critical, saying that such a move could give the illusion of academic rigor and thus give a whole new meaning to the already-ridiculed "mickey mouse degree". Prime Minister Gordon Brown has, however, given the new ventures his wholehearted approval, reassuring everyone that this does not mean we are dumbing down as a nation. He says on GMTV about the course:

"It is going to be a tough course, but once you have got a qualification in management you can probably go anywhere. I think that is the important thing, companies prepared to train people up which they weren't doing before, in the way that we want them to do, in a far greater number, so that people have the qualifications for the future."

It certainly seems though that the government is doing everything it can to get more people getting qualifications, even if it does mean the qualifications have little respectable substance. When universities were asked whether they would accept such a qualification as a genuine one, predictably they were not too keen. Out of the ten admissions tutors who were asked, at least four said that they would not accept the new Diplomas. Even though they may not be accepted as sturdy A levels, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) have insisted that their approval now presents McDonald qualifications as being on par in terms of assessment. A spokesperson from QCA says:

"The Qualifications Credit Framework is a new framework that allows nationally recognised courses to be broken down into units. It is componentised so if a learner drops out of a course or can't manage to complete they can take those units with them. McDonald's have achieved the standards for awarding accredited qualifications at Level 3. This will enable them to assess, track and recognise learning that otherwise would be lost."

Personally I'm in two minds over this. On the one hand, it's great that vocational workplace skills are being given some recognition and next time I order a burger I won't end up with a McFlurry, but at the same time the snobby Oxbridge student in me wants to stamp my foot down in outrage. An A-Level for McDonalds? However good it may be for the restaurant chain itself, I doubt this wolf in sheep's clothing will get a non-McDonalds supper.

Kayleigh: Famous Hollywood actor Heath Ledger was found dead in his apartment yesterday. Twenty eight year old Ledger was booked in for a massage at his home when his housekeeper walked in on him to tell him, but found him lying unconscious next to a bottle of pills. Police are investigating the possibility that the Brokeback Mountain star took an overdose. Heath Ledger's father, Kim Ledger is devastated and said the death of his son had been "tragic" and "accidental". Speaking from Heath's home town in Perth, Australia, he said:  "Heath has touched so many people on so many different levels during his short life," he said. Fellow Hollywood actor Mel Gibson said: "I had such great hope for him. He was just taking off and to lose his life at such a young age is a tragic loss." The people of Australia are also shocked and saddened to hear the news. The Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, described the death as a tragedy, and said: "Heath Ledger's diverse and challenging roles will be remembered as some of the great performances by an Australian actor." The successful American actor John Travolta said: "I adored him. He's my favourite actor. I don't know how to compare his talent to others but he's touched me deeply as a talent and it's a great loss." The star leaves behind a daughter, Matilda, 2, whom he had with former Dawson's Creek star, Michelle Williams, who he spilt up with in September. Michelle's father, Larry Williams said: "My heart goes out to everyone in his family and my family. The saddest thing is that his daughter whom he loved dearly, Matilda will grow up without knowing her father." Ledger has starred in many Hollywood films such as 10 Things I Hate About You, Monster's Ball and A Knight's Tale, and had been nominated for an Oscar in his role in Brokeback Mountain. An autopsy is due to be carried out today.

Rushda: An actor who worked in a teddy bear suit on the highly popular children's programme "In The Night Garden", made by BBC's Ragdoll Productions, is taking the company to court after claiming that he was mistreated. Not only was the equipment faulty so he could not see whilst in the costume and thereby left to require hospital treatment after falling over, but he was also insulted by other cast members and managers, being forced to continue to work even whilst he insisted it was unsafe. For viewers, all they could see was the smiley face of the character Tombliboo. According to 28 year old Isaac Blake from Cardiff, however, the reality was much different. He claims that he was completely dependent on cameras to know what he was doing, but even they failed for several weeks and he was left fumbling in the dark in the costume, which was part robot and part puppet. When he complained he was rudely forced to continue and became injured as a result. He also says that another cast member called called him a "bitch" and a "faggot" but that the staff ignored this when he complained. The staff ultimately dismissed him for making a fuss. Ragdoll productions, which also produced the Teletubbies, has denied all allegations saying that none of the other cast members had experienced any problems and that Mr Blake was actually dismissed because he was rude to staff. Actress Elisa Laghi, 31, admitted she used the words "bitch" and "faggot" to refer to him, but said that she meant it jovially and not because Mr Blake was gay. Indeed she says:

"I'm bisexual myself so I don't have a problem with people being gay"

The tribunal now continues. If the allegations made by Mr Blake are true, then this is terrible news, particularly for those who have loved watching the programmes. To think that the actors are themselves suffering whilst producing such dramatic displays of optimism for children is saddening and I hope that any injustice on the part of the production team will not go unnoticed.

Steve Robinson: When Sam Allardyce parted company with Newcastle United on Wednesday he became the eighth Premier League manager to lose their job in just five months of the current season. His removal has prompted outcries from the media and fellow managers alike that managers at Premier League clubs are under far too much pressure to produce results. The trend began in earnest in September when legend Jose Mourinho shocked English football by leaving high-fliers Chelsea, with the media touting poor relations between the club’s owner Roman Abramovich to blame. In the following months, Tottenham parted company with Martin Jol, Billy Davies left struggling Derby, and Birmingham, Bolton, Fulham Wigan all lost their managers. This latest management change has left many fans wondering how many more displacements there might be in this turbulent season.

"If you were put into a job in the city, the first thing you would ask for is time. It takes a while to gel. "In Sam's few months at Newcastle he might not have even found out the correct strength of the reserve side. He might have players injured that he doesn't know much about. "But with football, it's absolutely out of hand. It's so crazy now."

Martin O’Neil, Aston Villa Manager, speaking to BBC Sport

Many have asked why football managers have been under so much pressure this year. With a massive surge in money from advertising and TV revenue this season, Premier League clubs are all keen to avoid relegation and continue to reap the benefits of the extra cash. Unfortunately, this added competitiveness has meant that teams are under extra pressure to perform. Inevitably, pressure builds on the manager, with whom the buck stops, it appears. Allardyce took over from previous boss Glenn Roeder in May 2007, but saw a new regime in place within a month, as new owner Mike Ashley upped his stake and Freddy Shepherd stood down as Chairman. From then Allardyce was constantly under pressure from a new boss and from expectant Newcastle fans. However, Allardyce’s departure is a classic example of the lack of time now given to managers to settle into the role and develop the team. Allardyce was in charge for just 8 months and oversaw just 24 games, taking Newcastle to 11th in the division. Surely 8 months is not enough time to judge a manager? The departure leaves Newcastle searching for their seventh manager in 11 years. Many toon fans will hope that former Newcastle player Alan Shearer gets the role, although he is reported to be happy with his job at Match of the Day. Whoever gets the nod, it will be a tall order to impress a club with such lofty expectations. Whether we have seen the last management casuality of the Premier League 2007/8 season, however, remains to be seen. For those who are interested in football and need a sports grant then a new scheme called Cash 4 Clubs may be of some use. Image: Wikipedia

Kayleigh: Scientists have found that living a healthy life can increase an individuals life span by up to 14 years. Doing frequent exercise, not smoking, drinking in moderation and eating more fruit and vegetables were the key factor in increasing a person's life, a study by the University of Cambridge and the Medical Research Council based in Norfolk found. The Public Library of Science Medicine study involved research on 20,000 people over a time span of ten years. Participants, who were between the age of 45 and 79, were given a point for each of the four healthy behaviours, which were not smoking, exercising, drinking no more than than 15 units of alcohol per week, (which is less than five large glasses of wine) and eating five servings of fruit and vegetables a day. The results showed that the participants who were aged between 45 and 79, and who followed all four rules were more likely to have lived longer than those who didn't. In fact of those that didn't, some died. The results also showed that smokers were 77% more likely to have died during the ten year period. Professor Kay-Tee Khaw a gerontologist at Cambridge University who led the study said: "The results strongly suggest that these four achievable lifestyle changes could have a marked improvement on the health of middle-aged and older people, which is particularly important given the ageing population in the UK and other European countries." Health organisations welcomed the study and encourage people to take note of the findings. Judy O'Sullivan, who works at the British Heart Foundation said: "This is good news and shows that by living a healthy life, people can reduce their risk of dying from heart and circulatory disease. "By not smoking, drinking alcohol in moderation, taking regular physical activity and eating a diet rich in fruit and vegetables, people can improve their chances of living longer." I am not a smoker, but I do tend to abuse alcohol on weekends and I should eat more fruit and vegetables, and this research has encouraged me to look after my body more. What better time to start than the New Year- this should help you keep your resolutions!

Kayleigh: Britney Spears has gone crazy after losing her court battle against ex husband Kevin Federline to gain sole custody of her two sons Sean Preston and Jayden James. The famous pop star has also lost the right to visit her young sons. Police and ambulances were called to her LA mansion after she refused to hand over her sons after a monitored visit to Kevin's bodyguards on Thursday. Britney locked herself and her two children in her bathroom and it took four hours for police and medics to get her out. Britney is now in hospital after being stretchered out of her LA home. Britney may now have to face up to 30 days of mental evaluation, and has been placed on "5150 hold", meaning she is considered a danger to herself. A source told us.magazine.com, "They had to strap her down like a mental patient and she was going between laughing and hysterics. She just went crazy." According to The Daily Star newspaper, reports showed Britney had attempted to take her own life by mixing drink and drugs. A friend of Britney's said: "We're so worried. She's acting weird and may never get full custody of her boys again after taking them hostage. "She desperatley needs help. These are not the actions of a well woman." Federline and Spears married in September 2004 and had a rocky marraige before they divorced in July 2007. Kevin Federline's lawyer, Mark Kaplan said: "I'm not happy about any of these events. There's no winners here." The events follow after a turbulant year for Britney, who shaved off all her hair in February 2007, before smashing a car up with an umbrella. The 26 year old's singers mum, Lynne Spears, said: "Let's just say prayers." A new custody hearing has been set for January 14th. Whilst I do believe that primarily children should be with their mother, Britney has been going off the rails for some time now. She needs to clean up her act before she can be taken seriously by any US court for custody of her children. The priority in this case is the children's safety.