The Queen has been laid to rest and the people have gone back to being blindly led once again by an institution that can only be described as decadent, lavish, greedy and above the law in&nbsp;the United Kingdom of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The Queen is dead! Long live the King! For a moment it felt like I was transported back in time to medieval Britain, where a clear, privileged, and defined hierarchy ruled these islands. Nothing much has really changed since those glory days of Great Britannia! The general public is still in awe of this racist and colonial institution, oblivious to its past history of murder, looting, and genocide in all its colonies. This institution is alone responsible for the murder and killing of over 100 million innocent civilians in their former colonies including India and the indigenous populations of America, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. This ‘achievement ‘is conveniently excluded from their history books taught at schools and other educational institutions. That’s why it comes as no surprise when well-meaning, “educated” Brits are shocked at any view or opinion that says otherwise. The queen is looked upon as God, to be fair she is the equivalent of the Roman Catholic Pope, being self-appointed the Head of the Church of England. The trappings of the Monarchy are embedded in every aspect of British society and culture and by royal decree, laws are made and changed while Prime Ministers are appointed and sacked. All in what the British believe is a functioning democracy where one family holds sway over all.

The much loved “Great Britain” name tag will go soon, along with the monarchy and the establishment who have ruled and maximised their wealth for centuries at the expense of the poor and working classes on this island and around the world during colonisation. Even during the Empire days citizens on these islands were living in squalor and abject poverty.&nbsp;Many people want to go back to the glory days of this country, where rivers were flowing with milk and honey and the “we are the good guys” image which is so conditioned and brainwashed into the minds of the British psyche from early childhood. Accurate history is not taught in this country but a very sanitised, pleasant version of it, mainly focusing on the grandeur of the monarchy for diversions and World War II.

This nation removed the kings and queens of the lands it conquered through deceit in the name of bringing democracy to the world but is still hanging on to its outdated traditions! A beacon of democracy that conveniently does not have a written constitution. Such hypocrisy! But why are we still so gullible and can’t see the obvious truth of where the power lies in this nation? Many people I personally know, support this outdated practice and institution and the cost to us the taxpayers. These very same individuals slam people on benefits, migrants, and food-banks, but are happy to give millions away to the queen and the extended royal family all in the name of tradition or a tourist attraction! This always proved my point that education does not necessarily mean you are aware or informed but conditioned to believe in an obvious lie. People want to go back to the glory days of the empire without fully understanding the true meaning of this statement. This country is responsible for all the major flashpoints around the world today. That’s the legacy of the empire and the monarchy, having committed mass genocide, looting of resources, and cultural decimation from which these countries are yet to recover.

Politicians who get elected see themselves as servants to the queen, not the electorate who voted for them in the first place. They take an oath to protect the queen (now king! And their heirs and successors!) Unbelievable! They then go about maintaining the status quo at the expense of people dying because of benefit cuts, food banks or parents having to starve in order to feed their children. 

It’s time for action and it already looks like the new King will not have an easy ride like his mother the “Beloved Queen”. Here is hoping that real change finally comes to the land that decimated countries around the world in what is known as its glory days of the empire where the sun did not set; but now has to, in order to move forward as a truly democratic nation.

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)&nbsp;

The Queen has been laid to rest and the people have gone back to being blindly led once again by an institution that can only be described as decadent, lavish, greedy and above the law in the United Kingdom of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

The Queen has been laid to rest and the people have gone back to being blindly led once again by an institution that can only be described as decadent, lavish, greedy and above the law in the United Kingdom of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The Queen is dead! Long live the King! For a moment it felt like I was transported back in time to medieval Britain, where a clear, privileged, and defined hierarchy ruled these islands. Nothing much has really changed since those glory days of Great Britannia! The general public is still in awe of this racist and colonial institution, oblivious to its past history of murder, looting, and genocide in all its colonies. This institution is alone responsible for the murder and killing of over 100 million innocent civilians in their former colonies including India and the indigenous populations of America, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. This ‘achievement ‘is conveniently excluded from their history books taught at schools and other educational institutions. That’s why it comes as no surprise when well-meaning, “educated” Brits are shocked at any view or opinion that says otherwise. The queen is looked upon as God, to be fair she is the equivalent of the Roman Catholic Pope, being self-appointed the Head of the Church of England. The trappings of the Monarchy are embedded in every aspect of British society and culture and by royal decree, laws are made and changed while Prime Ministers are appointed and sacked. All in what the British believe is a functioning democracy where one family holds sway over all. The much loved “Great Britain” name tag will go soon, along with the monarchy and the establishment who have ruled and maximised their wealth for centuries at the expense of the poor and working classes on this island and around the world during colonisation. Even during the Empire days citizens on these islands were living in squalor and abject poverty. Many people want to go back to the glory days of this country, where rivers were flowing with milk and honey and the “we are the good guys” image which is so conditioned and brainwashed into the minds of the British psyche from early childhood. Accurate history is not taught in this country but a very sanitised, pleasant version of it, mainly focusing on the grandeur of the monarchy for diversions and World War II. This nation removed the kings and queens of the lands it conquered through deceit in the name of bringing democracy to the world but is still hanging on to its outdated traditions! A beacon of democracy that conveniently does not have a written constitution. Such hypocrisy! But why are we still so gullible and can’t see the obvious truth of where the power lies in this nation? Many people I personally know, support this outdated practice and institution and the cost to us the taxpayers. These very same individuals slam people on benefits, migrants, and food-banks, but are happy to give millions away to the queen and the extended royal family all in the name of tradition or a tourist attraction! This always proved my point that education does not necessarily mean you are aware or informed but conditioned to believe in an obvious lie. People want to go back to the glory days of the empire without fully understanding the true meaning of this statement. This country is responsible for all the major flashpoints around the world today. That’s the legacy of the empire and the monarchy, having committed mass genocide, looting of resources, and cultural decimation from which these countries are yet to recover. Politicians who get elected see themselves as servants to the queen, not the electorate who voted for them in the first place. They take an oath to protect the queen (now king! And their heirs and successors!) Unbelievable! They then go about maintaining the status quo at the expense of people dying because of benefit cuts, food banks or parents having to starve in order to feed their children. It’s time for action and it already looks like the new King will not have an easy ride like his mother the “Beloved Queen”. Here is hoping that real change finally comes to the land that decimated countries around the world in what is known as its glory days of the empire where the sun did not set; but now has to, in order to move forward as a truly democratic nation. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Why the monarchy has no place in 21st century Britain

The Queen has been laid to rest and the people(sheep) have gone back to being blindly led once again by an institution that can only be described as decadent, lavish, greedy and above the law in this the United Kingdom of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Queen is dead! Long live the King! For a moment it felt like I was transported back in time to medieval Britain, where a clear, privileged and defined hierarchy ruled these islands. Nothing much has really changed since those glory days of Great Britannia! The general public is still in awe of this racist and colonial institution, oblivious to its past history of murder, looting and genocide in all its colonies. This institution is alone responsible for the murder and killing of over 100 million innocent civilians in their former colonies including India and the indigenous populations of America, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. This ‘achievement ‘is conveniently excluded from their history books taught at schools and other educational institutions. That’s why it comes as no surprise when well-meaning, “educated” Brits are shocked at any view or opinion that says otherwise. The queen is looked upon as God, to be fair she is the equivalent of the Roman Catholic Pope, being self-appointed the Head of the Church of England. The trappings of the Monarchy are embedded in every aspect of British society and culture and by royal decree, laws are made and changed while Prime Ministers are appointed and sacked. All in what the British believe is a functioning democracy where one family holds sway over all.&nbsp;

The much loved “Great Britain” name tag will go soon, along with the Monarchy and the establishment who have ruled and maximised their wealth for centuries at the expense of the poor and working classes on this island and around the world during colonisation. Even during the Empire days citizens on these islands were living in squalor and abject poverty.&nbsp;Many people want to go back to the glory days of this country, where rivers were flowing with milk and honey and the “we are the good guys” image which is so conditioned and brainwashed into the minds of the British psyche from early childhood. Accurate history is not taught in this country but a very sanitised, pleasant version of it, mainly focusing on the grandeur of the monarchy for diversions and World War II.&nbsp;

This nation removed the kings and queens of the lands it conquered through deceit in the name of bringing democracy to the world but is still hanging on to its outdated traditions! A beacon of democracy which conveniently does not have a written constitution. Such hypocrisy! But why are we still so gullible and can’t see the obvious truth of where the power lies in this nation? Many people I personally know, support this outdated practice and institution and the cost to us the taxpayers. These very same individuals slam people on benefits, migrants and food banks, but are happy to give millions away to the queen and the extended royal family all in the name of tradition or a tourist attraction! This always proved my point that education does not necessarily mean you are aware or informed but conditioned to believe in an obvious lie. People want to go back to the glory days of the empire without fully understanding the true meaning of this statement. This country is responsible for all the major flashpoints around the world today. That’s the legacy of the empire and the monarchy, having committed mass genocide, looting of resources and cultural decimation from which these countries are yet to recover.

Politicians who get elected see themselves as servants to the queen, not the electorate who voted for them in the first place. They take an oath to protect the queen (now king! And their heirs and successors!) Unbelievable! They then go about maintaining the status quo at the expense of people dying because of benefit cuts, food banks or parents having to starve in order to feed their children. 

It’s time for action and it already looks like the new King will not have an easy ride like his mother the “Beloved Queen”. Here is hoping that real change finally comes to the land that decimated countries around the world in what is known as its glory days of the empire where the sun did not set; but now has too, in order to move forward as a truly democratic nation.

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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The Queen has been laid to rest and the people(sheep) have gone back to being blindly led once again by an institution that can only be described as decadent, lavish, greedy and above the law in this the United Kingdom of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The Queen has been laid to rest and the people(sheep) have gone back to being blindly led once again by an institution that can only be described as decadent, lavish, greedy and above the law in this the United Kingdom of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Queen is dead! Long live the King! For a moment it felt like I was transported back in time to medieval Britain, where a clear, privileged and defined hierarchy ruled these islands. Nothing much has really changed since those glory days of Great Britannia! The general public is still in awe of this racist and colonial institution, oblivious to its past history of murder, looting and genocide in all its colonies. This institution is alone responsible for the murder and killing of over 100 million innocent civilians in their former colonies including India and the indigenous populations of America, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. This ‘achievement ‘is conveniently excluded from their history books taught at schools and other educational institutions. That’s why it comes as no surprise when well-meaning, “educated” Brits are shocked at any view or opinion that says otherwise. The queen is looked upon as God, to be fair she is the equivalent of the Roman Catholic Pope, being self-appointed the Head of the Church of England. The trappings of the Monarchy are embedded in every aspect of British society and culture and by royal decree, laws are made and changed while Prime Ministers are appointed and sacked. All in what the British believe is a functioning democracy where one family holds sway over all. The much loved “Great Britain” name tag will go soon, along with the Monarchy and the establishment who have ruled and maximised their wealth for centuries at the expense of the poor and working classes on this island and around the world during colonisation. Even during the Empire days citizens on these islands were living in squalor and abject poverty. Many people want to go back to the glory days of this country, where rivers were flowing with milk and honey and the “we are the good guys” image which is so conditioned and brainwashed into the minds of the British psyche from early childhood. Accurate history is not taught in this country but a very sanitised, pleasant version of it, mainly focusing on the grandeur of the monarchy for diversions and World War II. This nation removed the kings and queens of the lands it conquered through deceit in the name of bringing democracy to the world but is still hanging on to its outdated traditions! A beacon of democracy which conveniently does not have a written constitution. Such hypocrisy! But why are we still so gullible and can’t see the obvious truth of where the power lies in this nation? Many people I personally know, support this outdated practice and institution and the cost to us the taxpayers. These very same individuals slam people on benefits, migrants and food banks, but are happy to give millions away to the queen and the extended royal family all in the name of tradition or a tourist attraction! This always proved my point that education does not necessarily mean you are aware or informed but conditioned to believe in an obvious lie. People want to go back to the glory days of the empire without fully understanding the true meaning of this statement. This country is responsible for all the major flashpoints around the world today. That’s the legacy of the empire and the monarchy, having committed mass genocide, looting of resources and cultural decimation from which these countries are yet to recover. Politicians who get elected see themselves as servants to the queen, not the electorate who voted for them in the first place. They take an oath to protect the queen (now king! And their heirs and successors!) Unbelievable! They then go about maintaining the status quo at the expense of people dying because of benefit cuts, food banks or parents having to starve in order to feed their children. It’s time for action and it already looks like the new King will not have an easy ride like his mother the “Beloved Queen”. Here is hoping that real change finally comes to the land that decimated countries around the world in what is known as its glory days of the empire where the sun did not set; but now has too, in order to move forward as a truly democratic nation. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Why the English monarchy has no place in 21st century Britain

So! What’s been happening so far in Old Blighty? Since Liz Truss was selected by her Tory party members in an internal election for prime minister; the queen is dead, the pound crashed along with the economy and subsequently mortgage rates increased considerably with many looking to lose their homes, while the cost-of-living crisis just got worse for citizens.&nbsp;

The Conservative &amp; Unionist Party is now on its knees and going to lose the next general elections by a massive margin. The poll conducted by Electoral Calculus predicts a huge Labour landslide in the next General Election based on current opinion polling - far greater than even the majorities achieved by Tony Blair in 1997 and 2001.&nbsp;

The Scottish National Party is poised to be the main opposition with the Tories pushed in third place. The excuse that Russia is to be blamed for the markets collapsing and not the mini-budget announced in parliament by the now-sacked Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng after a mere 38 days, is proof that voters are not falling for this lie.&nbsp;

Liz Truss should have resigned along with her Chancellor, as it was her pledges and manifesto that she put forward during the election race. The Bank of England had to take an unprecedented step to intervene in order to stop the mortgage market from collapsing completely.&nbsp;

Jeremy Hunt was appointed as the new Chancellor and already he has managed to completely bin Liz Truss’s economic policies and promises including her mini-budget made during her election campaign within her party. While I am writing this Home Secretary Suella Braverman resigned as home secretary and criticised PM Liz Truss in a blistering resignation letter.&nbsp;

Personally, I am glad to see her go just like Priti Patel her predecessor as they both were a stain on Indian heritage and culture while competing to be the evilest and non-compassionate Home Secretary’s ever elected. Under their inhumane immigration rules, their own parents would not be allowed into this country.&nbsp;

These individuals like many of their counterparts want to stop people fleeing persecution and torture including those legitimate ones looking to have a better life in this country. Both these individuals tried their very best to demonise and dehumanise refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants and fairly succeeded in raising the ante when it came to introducing brutal and inhumane policies. Grant Shapps has been appointed as the new home secretary and the Tory party musical chairs continue.&nbsp;

What happens next is anyone’s guess. A general election is on the cards and this country has another opportunity to change direction and tact while working with the European Union and all nations of the United Kingdom in bringing back justice, equality and dignity to all its citizens. Will the people now realise the folly of Brexit?

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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So! What’s been happening so far in Old Blighty? Since Liz Truss was selected by her Tory party members in an internal election for prime minister; the queen is dead, the pound crashed along with the economy and subsequently mortgage rates increased considerably with many looking to lose their homes, while the cost-of-living crisis just got worse for citizens.

So! What’s been happening so far in Old Blighty? Since Liz Truss was selected by her Tory party members in an internal election for prime minister; the queen is dead, the pound crashed along with the economy and subsequently mortgage rates increased considerably with many looking to lose their homes, while the cost-of-living crisis just got worse for citizens. The Conservative & Unionist Party is now on its knees and going to lose the next general elections by a massive margin. The poll conducted by Electoral Calculus predicts a huge Labour landslide in the next General Election based on current opinion polling - far greater than even the majorities achieved by Tony Blair in 1997 and 2001. The Scottish National Party is poised to be the main opposition with the Tories pushed in third place. The excuse that Russia is to be blamed for the markets collapsing and not the mini-budget announced in parliament by the now-sacked Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng after a mere 38 days, is proof that voters are not falling for this lie. Liz Truss should have resigned along with her Chancellor, as it was her pledges and manifesto that she put forward during the election race. The Bank of England had to take an unprecedented step to intervene in order to stop the mortgage market from collapsing completely. Jeremy Hunt was appointed as the new Chancellor and already he has managed to completely bin Liz Truss’s economic policies and promises including her mini-budget made during her election campaign within her party. While I am writing this Home Secretary Suella Braverman resigned as home secretary and criticised PM Liz Truss in a blistering resignation letter. Personally, I am glad to see her go just like Priti Patel her predecessor as they both were a stain on Indian heritage and culture while competing to be the evilest and non-compassionate Home Secretary’s ever elected. Under their inhumane immigration rules, their own parents would not be allowed into this country. These individuals like many of their counterparts want to stop people fleeing persecution and torture including those legitimate ones looking to have a better life in this country. Both these individuals tried their very best to demonise and dehumanise refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants and fairly succeeded in raising the ante when it came to introducing brutal and inhumane policies. Grant Shapps has been appointed as the new home secretary and the Tory party musical chairs continue. What happens next is anyone’s guess. A general election is on the cards and this country has another opportunity to change direction and tact while working with the European Union and all nations of the United Kingdom in bringing back justice, equality and dignity to all its citizens. Will the people now realise the folly of Brexit? (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Great Britain to mini Britain!

In April this year, Maree Todd MSP - Minister for Public Health, Women's Health and Sport in the Scottish Government launched a public consultation on plans to make calorie labelling on menus mandatory in restaurants, takeaways, cafes and even hospitals.&nbsp;

This consultation fulfils a pledge made in the SNP’s 2021 Out of Home Action Plan. The Plan builds on the commitments made in the 2018 Diet and Healthy Weight Delivery Plan and recommendations made by Food Standards Scotland (FSS) to Scottish Ministers in 2019.&nbsp;

Mandating calorie labelling at the point of choice was one potential way to support the Out of Home (OOH) sector to make a key contribution to improving the dietary health of all Scottish citizens.&nbsp;

Pre-packed food is not within the scope of these proposals as there are already requirements to provide nutrition information for pre-packed food. Pre-packed food for direct sale (PPDS) is within the scope of these proposals. Similar legislation is already in place in England, where any food serving outlet with over 250 employees have been legally required to display calories since April 2022.&nbsp;

In a recent survey Beat, the UK’s eating disorder charity found that 95% of Scots affected by eating disorders would be negatively impacted by calorie labelling on menus, with many worried it would increase feelings of fear and guilt. So, what happens now? Will this add fuel to the fire?&nbsp;

There has been an increase in people suffering from various eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia in the last decade. Young people have been facing the brunt of this epidemic as peer pressure and constant shaming on social media has led to some even resorting to suicide.&nbsp;

This policy of the Scottish government has the potential to wreak havoc on people’s lives and exacerbate the problem even more.&nbsp;

Many experts in food disorders believe the focus should be on informing and educating people about the positive or negative impact of the food and drinks they consume on a daily basis. Young people should be exposed to cooking from a very young age eg. Primary and secondary schools.&nbsp;

Consultant Psychiatrist in eating disorders Dr Stephen Anderson, said: "There is no good evidence that this kind of calorie labelling is effective in reducing obesity. We also hear from people with eating disorders that this would have a detrimental effect on their eating disorder. Calories are one aspect of nutritional information but on its own this figure is not particularly helpful."

"Suggesting that people need a specific number of calories does not take into account the individual’s physiology, gender, race and activity. This could be particularly harmful for children and young people where limiting calorie and nutritional intake can have significant impacts on development. A wider public health initiative looking at social and economic determinants of obesity and improving the population’s nutrition is likely to be more beneficial than listing calorie content on menus."&nbsp;

Many completely agree with the above statement as this is not how food should be consumed. Cooking and eating should be a joy and are meant to be spontaneous and inspiring for all who indulge in this life-sustaining activity. It does not make sense to have people removing their calculators or apps to decide what they can and cannot have depending on the total calories highlighted on the menu. This will have a negligible impact on the very issue the government is trying to address and eradicate.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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In April this year, Maree Todd MSP - Minister for Public Health, Women's Health and Sport in the Scottish Government launched a public consultation on plans to make calorie labelling on menus mandatory in restaurants, takeaways, cafes and even hospitals.

In April this year, Maree Todd MSP - Minister for Public Health, Women's Health and Sport in the Scottish Government launched a public consultation on plans to make calorie labelling on menus mandatory in restaurants, takeaways, cafes and even hospitals. This consultation fulfils a pledge made in the SNP’s 2021 Out of Home Action Plan. The Plan builds on the commitments made in the 2018 Diet and Healthy Weight Delivery Plan and recommendations made by Food Standards Scotland (FSS) to Scottish Ministers in 2019. Mandating calorie labelling at the point of choice was one potential way to support the Out of Home (OOH) sector to make a key contribution to improving the dietary health of all Scottish citizens. Pre-packed food is not within the scope of these proposals as there are already requirements to provide nutrition information for pre-packed food. Pre-packed food for direct sale (PPDS) is within the scope of these proposals. Similar legislation is already in place in England, where any food serving outlet with over 250 employees have been legally required to display calories since April 2022. In a recent survey Beat, the UK’s eating disorder charity found that 95% of Scots affected by eating disorders would be negatively impacted by calorie labelling on menus, with many worried it would increase feelings of fear and guilt. So, what happens now? Will this add fuel to the fire? There has been an increase in people suffering from various eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia in the last decade. Young people have been facing the brunt of this epidemic as peer pressure and constant shaming on social media has led to some even resorting to suicide. This policy of the Scottish government has the potential to wreak havoc on people’s lives and exacerbate the problem even more. Many experts in food disorders believe the focus should be on informing and educating people about the positive or negative impact of the food and drinks they consume on a daily basis. Young people should be exposed to cooking from a very young age eg. Primary and secondary schools. Consultant Psychiatrist in eating disorders Dr Stephen Anderson, said: "There is no good evidence that this kind of calorie labelling is effective in reducing obesity. We also hear from people with eating disorders that this would have a detrimental effect on their eating disorder. Calories are one aspect of nutritional information but on its own this figure is not particularly helpful." "Suggesting that people need a specific number of calories does not take into account the individual’s physiology, gender, race and activity. This could be particularly harmful for children and young people where limiting calorie and nutritional intake can have significant impacts on development. A wider public health initiative looking at social and economic determinants of obesity and improving the population’s nutrition is likely to be more beneficial than listing calorie content on menus." Many completely agree with the above statement as this is not how food should be consumed. Cooking and eating should be a joy and are meant to be spontaneous and inspiring for all who indulge in this life-sustaining activity. It does not make sense to have people removing their calculators or apps to decide what they can and cannot have depending on the total calories highlighted on the menu. This will have a negligible impact on the very issue the government is trying to address and eradicate. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Will compulsory calorie labelling on menus reduce obesity levels in Scotland?

The Good Food Nation Bill was introduced in the Scottish Parliament last year by MSP Mairi Gougeon for Angus North and Mearns and Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands.

So, what is the Good Food Nation Bill? The Bill requires Scottish Ministers and certain public bodies to create Good Food Nation Plans. The relevant bodies identified in the Bill are health boards and local authorities (councils). Other public bodies may be required to produce plans in the future. The Scottish Ministers and relevant authorities need to have regard to these plans when carrying out certain functions. These functions will be set out by the Scottish Ministers in secondary legislation that will be considered by the Scottish Parliament. The Bill was created to support the ambition of the Scottish Government that Scotland become a "Good Food Nation". In 2014, the Scottish Government published a discussion document titled "Recipe for Success: Scotland’s National Food and Drink Policy – Becoming a Good Food Nation", which made a commitment that by 2025, Scotland would be "a Good Food Nation, where people from every walk of life take pride and pleasure in, and benefit from, the food they produce, buy, cook, serve, and eat each day".

The Bill encompasses the following key concepts:

<ul>
	<li>The people of Scotland take a keen interest in their food;</li>
	<li>People who serve and sell food ensure that it is of high quality.</li>
	<li>Everyone in Scotland has easy access to the healthy and nutritious food that they need.</li>
	<li>Diet-related diseases are on the decline;</li>
	<li>Food consumption's environmental impact is decreasing; and</li>
	<li>Scottish producers are ensuring that what they produce is increasingly healthy and environmentally sound.</li>
</ul>

Children in Scotland The national agency for voluntary, statutory, and professional organisations and individuals working with children and their families has responded to the Scottish Government’s consultation on the Good Food Nation Bill, calling for the right to food to be incorporated into Scots law. The ‘right to food’ Scotland bill covers very different aspects of food and was proposed by Labour MSP Rhona Grant, and the intention is to incorporate the bill into Scots law. Government bureaucracy is the same no matter where you are on this planet. Some countries may be more efficient than others, but overall, the workings and processes are very similar and tightly controlled. This is the current Scottish government's flagship policy and has come a long way since 2014, when the idea was first introduced to the public. To give credit to the Scottish National Party (Scottish Government), it’s a very forward and radical way of looking at food in Scotland and for the very first-time food will become an indicator of people’s health and well-being and hopefully a human right! &nbsp;

So, will the bill achieve what it intends to achieve in the coming years for the people of Scotland? The answer is not very clear as of yet, since we are at the very beginning of a very long process. The initial bill tabled is vague, very ambiguous and not very clear as to who will be ultimately responsible for providing or not providing good nutritious food to the citizens of Scotland. At first glance, the bill seems to address all the main factors in determining who, when, and how the policy should be implemented, but as they say in any flagship policy, the devil is in the details. Having read the bill, we, as an organisation, are not fully convinced that this policy will do what it is intended to deliver to its target audience, especially children, low-income families, people on benefits and vulnerable groups. The reason being that all benefits are not in Holyrood’s control, e.g., Universal Credit. In determining the content of the national good food nation plan, the Scottish Ministers must have regard, among other things, to the scope for food-related issues to affect outcomes in relation to (a) social and economic wellbeing; (b) the environment; (c) health; and (d) economic development. These factors alone make it impossible from the onset to expect any constructive, positive, long-term outcomes for the very section of society that it aims to benefit and address food-related health problems and inequalities. Most aspects of the bill, as mentioned before, are vague and will not go even close to eradicating the very problem this bill is meant to address.

Local authorities and health boards are required by law to draw up "Good Food Nation Plans" along with a specified public authority! Not sure what and who this refers too. According to this bill, "food-related issue" means

(a) a food matter, or

(b) any other matter connected with (i) the availability of food, (ii) the production, processing or distribution of food, (iii) the preparation or service of food for consumers. The onus will be once again on big business and corporations to heavily influence this bill in their favour as profits will start to tumble if more food is grown locally and by small farmers and community groups.

I and many other across the political divide have argued that Scottish Labour MSP Rhoda Grant’s The Right to Food (Scotland) Bill should be included as part of the Good Food Nation Bill to ensure no one goes hungry in Scotland. If the bill became law, the Scottish government would have responsibility for ensuring that food is available, accessible, and adequate for everyone. This ultimately will help support citizens of Scotland in achieving good, cheap and affordable nutritious food for all. &nbsp;In a nutshell, a slow but steady start to what could well become a shining example for the rest of the world to see an effective and robust food policy delivering at grassroots level all across Scotland. 
 
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The Good Food Nation Bill was introduced in the Scottish Parliament last year by MSP Mairi Gougeon for Angus North and Mearns and Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands.

The Good Food Nation Bill was introduced in the Scottish Parliament last year by MSP Mairi Gougeon for Angus North and Mearns and Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands. So, what is the Good Food Nation Bill? The Bill requires Scottish Ministers and certain public bodies to create Good Food Nation Plans. The relevant bodies identified in the Bill are health boards and local authorities (councils). Other public bodies may be required to produce plans in the future. The Scottish Ministers and relevant authorities need to have regard to these plans when carrying out certain functions. These functions will be set out by the Scottish Ministers in secondary legislation that will be considered by the Scottish Parliament. The Bill was created to support the ambition of the Scottish Government that Scotland become a "Good Food Nation". In 2014, the Scottish Government published a discussion document titled "Recipe for Success: Scotland’s National Food and Drink Policy – Becoming a Good Food Nation", which made a commitment that by 2025, Scotland would be "a Good Food Nation, where people from every walk of life take pride and pleasure in, and benefit from, the food they produce, buy, cook, serve, and eat each day". The Bill encompasses the following key concepts: The people of Scotland take a keen interest in their food; People who serve and sell food ensure that it is of high quality. Everyone in Scotland has easy access to the healthy and nutritious food that they need. Diet-related diseases are on the decline; Food consumption's environmental impact is decreasing; and Scottish producers are ensuring that what they produce is increasingly healthy and environmentally sound. Children in Scotland The national agency for voluntary, statutory, and professional organisations and individuals working with children and their families has responded to the Scottish Government’s consultation on the Good Food Nation Bill, calling for the right to food to be incorporated into Scots law. The ‘right to food’ Scotland bill covers very different aspects of food and was proposed by Labour MSP Rhona Grant, and the intention is to incorporate the bill into Scots law. Government bureaucracy is the same no matter where you are on this planet. Some countries may be more efficient than others, but overall, the workings and processes are very similar and tightly controlled. This is the current Scottish government's flagship policy and has come a long way since 2014, when the idea was first introduced to the public. To give credit to the Scottish National Party (Scottish Government), it’s a very forward and radical way of looking at food in Scotland and for the very first-time food will become an indicator of people’s health and well-being and hopefully a human right! So, will the bill achieve what it intends to achieve in the coming years for the people of Scotland? The answer is not very clear as of yet, since we are at the very beginning of a very long process. The initial bill tabled is vague, very ambiguous and not very clear as to who will be ultimately responsible for providing or not providing good nutritious food to the citizens of Scotland. At first glance, the bill seems to address all the main factors in determining who, when, and how the policy should be implemented, but as they say in any flagship policy, the devil is in the details. Having read the bill, we, as an organisation, are not fully convinced that this policy will do what it is intended to deliver to its target audience, especially children, low-income families, people on benefits and vulnerable groups. The reason being that all benefits are not in Holyrood’s control, e.g., Universal Credit. In determining the content of the national good food nation plan, the Scottish Ministers must have regard, among other things, to the scope for food-related issues to affect outcomes in relation to (a) social and economic wellbeing; (b) the environment; (c) health; and (d) economic development. These factors alone make it impossible from the onset to expect any constructive, positive, long-term outcomes for the very section of society that it aims to benefit and address food-related health problems and inequalities. Most aspects of the bill, as mentioned before, are vague and will not go even close to eradicating the very problem this bill is meant to address. Local authorities and health boards are required by law to draw up "Good Food Nation Plans" along with a specified public authority! Not sure what and who this refers too. According to this bill, "food-related issue" means (a) a food matter, or (b) any other matter connected with (i) the availability of food, (ii) the production, processing or distribution of food, (iii) the preparation or service of food for consumers. The onus will be once again on big business and corporations to heavily influence this bill in their favour as profits will start to tumble if more food is grown locally and by small farmers and community groups. I and many other across the political divide have argued that Scottish Labour MSP Rhoda Grant’s The Right to Food (Scotland) Bill should be included as part of the Good Food Nation Bill to ensure no one goes hungry in Scotland. If the bill became law, the Scottish government would have responsibility for ensuring that food is available, accessible, and adequate for everyone. This ultimately will help support citizens of Scotland in achieving good, cheap and affordable nutritious food for all. In a nutshell, a slow but steady start to what could well become a shining example for the rest of the world to see an effective and robust food policy delivering at grassroots level all across Scotland. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Scotland's Good Food Nation Bill - Leading the way forward

It's mind blowing to see the brazen attitude the UK government (Tories) has taken despite the party gate, energy crisis, Rishi Sunak’s wife’s non-dom status and many scandals that have hit Boris Johnson and his merry band of criminals. They are unstoppable, and rightly so, because they have a solid majority in parliament and a mandate from English voters to do whatever they want to make Britain great again.

So! What’s the big fuss about this new draconian refugee and asylum policy introduced by Priti Patel? Well! Quite a few legal, moral, and ethical issues to start with, as the Tories have been keen since they were voted in 2010 to copy the Australian model of immigration and dealing with asylum seekers and refugees fleeing war torn areas.&nbsp;

The country of choice has a very recent history of genocide, and the current President, Paul Kagame, ex-military, has been in power since 2000 and is well known for his iron grip on the country. Kagame previously commanded the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), a Ugandan-based Tutsi militia. Human Rights Watch has claimed that since Kagame took office, people have been prosecuted for doubting the official government’s explanation of the genocide.&nbsp;

The rights body lists a long series of murders, disappearances, politically motivated arrests, and illegal arrests of critics, opposition members, and journalists. So much for the UK government’s record for dealing with tough regimes and dictators around the world when it suits them.

The initial costs of the Rwanda scheme are £120 million for up to five years. This excludes all other support costs which the British taxpayers have to bear, and also, we have to keep in mind the UK government's obscene levels of always going over-budget by millions. Does anyone remember the original cost of rolling out Universal Credit? It was £40 million over four years! It is now over £300 million and counting. Taking responsibility is not the strongest point of this Tory government. My question is, will all refugees and those seeking asylum be sent to Rwanda once they arrive in the UK? The answer is no for now, as only Ukrainians fleeing war are being offered full support and direct access to some benefits and other privileges that other refugees and asylum seekers can only dream about. The Tories once again show utter contempt for equality, immigration, human rights and other laws, both locally and internationally.

Finally, who gets the initial £120 million contract to move refugees to Rwanda? The usual suspect is Infosys, the company that was founded by Rishi Sunak’s father-in-law! Rishi Sunak’s wife, reportedly owns a 0.91% stake in the business, which has secured £50 million in UK public sector contracts since 2015. Rishi Sunak was a shareholder in this company but transferred his shares over to his wife before he became an MP in 2015. Akshata Murty’s stake in Infosys is believed to be worth £500 million, meaning she’s likely to be richer than the Queen. Rishi Sunak has not mentioned this stake or most of his wife’s other assets in his register of financial interests—a parliamentary information resource intended to ensure open democracy.&nbsp;Double standards, nepotism, and corruption are what the Tories do best. 
 
(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

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It's mind blowing to see the brazen attitude the UK government (Tories) has taken despite the party gate, energy crisis, Rishi Sunak’s wife’s non-dom status and many scandals that have hit Boris Johnson and his merry band of criminals.

It's mind blowing to see the brazen attitude the UK government (Tories) has taken despite the party gate, energy crisis, Rishi Sunak’s wife’s non-dom status and many scandals that have hit Boris Johnson and his merry band of criminals. They are unstoppable, and rightly so, because they have a solid majority in parliament and a mandate from English voters to do whatever they want to make Britain great again. So! What’s the big fuss about this new draconian refugee and asylum policy introduced by Priti Patel? Well! Quite a few legal, moral, and ethical issues to start with, as the Tories have been keen since they were voted in 2010 to copy the Australian model of immigration and dealing with asylum seekers and refugees fleeing war torn areas. The country of choice has a very recent history of genocide, and the current President, Paul Kagame, ex-military, has been in power since 2000 and is well known for his iron grip on the country. Kagame previously commanded the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), a Ugandan-based Tutsi militia. Human Rights Watch has claimed that since Kagame took office, people have been prosecuted for doubting the official government’s explanation of the genocide. The rights body lists a long series of murders, disappearances, politically motivated arrests, and illegal arrests of critics, opposition members, and journalists. So much for the UK government’s record for dealing with tough regimes and dictators around the world when it suits them. The initial costs of the Rwanda scheme are £120 million for up to five years. This excludes all other support costs which the British taxpayers have to bear, and also, we have to keep in mind the UK government's obscene levels of always going over-budget by millions. Does anyone remember the original cost of rolling out Universal Credit? It was £40 million over four years! It is now over £300 million and counting. Taking responsibility is not the strongest point of this Tory government. My question is, will all refugees and those seeking asylum be sent to Rwanda once they arrive in the UK? The answer is no for now, as only Ukrainians fleeing war are being offered full support and direct access to some benefits and other privileges that other refugees and asylum seekers can only dream about. The Tories once again show utter contempt for equality, immigration, human rights and other laws, both locally and internationally. Finally, who gets the initial £120 million contract to move refugees to Rwanda? The usual suspect is Infosys, the company that was founded by Rishi Sunak’s father-in-law! Rishi Sunak’s wife, reportedly owns a 0.91% stake in the business, which has secured £50 million in UK public sector contracts since 2015. Rishi Sunak was a shareholder in this company but transferred his shares over to his wife before he became an MP in 2015. Akshata Murty’s stake in Infosys is believed to be worth £500 million, meaning she’s likely to be richer than the Queen. Rishi Sunak has not mentioned this stake or most of his wife’s other assets in his register of financial interests—a parliamentary information resource intended to ensure open democracy. Double standards, nepotism, and corruption are what the Tories do best. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Priti Patel’s immoral asylum and refugee policy

What a rollercoaster ride British citizens have been on since Brexit, COVID-19 and now the fatal energy blow being delivered to hardworking families in this country. From April this year electricity and gas tariffs have gone up by over 50 per cent&nbsp;on average, thanks in part to the price cap being removed by Ofgem and a free for all in a capitalist energy market. The working poor, pensioners, benefit claimants and ordinary folks will have to make a serious choice of whether to feed themselves and their families or heat their homes to keep everyone warm and comfortable. A disgrace for the United Kingdom as it belongs to the G7 club of rich nations.

While rising energy prices will affect most households across the country, they are more likely to disproportionately affect those on the lowest incomes. In the financial year ending in 2020, the poorest 10 per cent&nbsp;of households spent more than half (54 per cent) of their average weekly expenditure (£298.90) on essentials such as housing (including electricity and gas), food and transport. Those in the richest 10 per cent, in comparison, spend 42 per cent&nbsp;of their average weekly spend of £1,073.20 on the same essentials. As usual, during any economic crisis, it’s the working class that suffers the most and are often blamed, even though it’s the fault of our elected politicians and their lobbyist friends and donors.

A perfect storm is brewing for many households in Scotland as a decrease in wages, increase in high food prices, and from April a massive energy price hike. Rishi Sunak, ex-chancellor and now an aspiring prime minister, has not extended the £20 Universal Credit last year as that would have help cushioned the impact a little. The current rate of pay and benefits don’t fit well with a rich nation like the UK. Prepayment meters will see the highest price rise and they are mostly used by the poor and most vulnerable in our society. It beggars’ belief that the citizenry can be so easily misled and benefit claimants scapegoated again and again for the deals made by politicians to rob the taxpayers via their friends and families' companies which are setup simply to steal money officially through various tax havens.

Overall, considering predicted energy price increases alongside a reduction in real wages and the planned increase in national insurance contributions, the Resolution Foundation feared a “living standards catastrophe” in 2022. It is estimated that taxes and energy bills would have risen by an average of £1,200 per household since April 2022 under current government plans.

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What a rollercoaster ride British citizens have been on since Brexit, COVID-19 and now the fatal energy blow being delivered to hardworking families in this country.

What a rollercoaster ride British citizens have been on since Brexit, COVID-19 and now the fatal energy blow being delivered to hardworking families in this country. From April this year electricity and gas tariffs have gone up by over 50 per cent on average, thanks in part to the price cap being removed by Ofgem and a free for all in a capitalist energy market. The working poor, pensioners, benefit claimants and ordinary folks will have to make a serious choice of whether to feed themselves and their families or heat their homes to keep everyone warm and comfortable. A disgrace for the United Kingdom as it belongs to the G7 club of rich nations. While rising energy prices will affect most households across the country, they are more likely to disproportionately affect those on the lowest incomes. In the financial year ending in 2020, the poorest 10 per cent of households spent more than half (54 per cent) of their average weekly expenditure (£298.90) on essentials such as housing (including electricity and gas), food and transport. Those in the richest 10 per cent, in comparison, spend 42 per cent of their average weekly spend of £1,073.20 on the same essentials. As usual, during any economic crisis, it’s the working class that suffers the most and are often blamed, even though it’s the fault of our elected politicians and their lobbyist friends and donors. A perfect storm is brewing for many households in Scotland as a decrease in wages, increase in high food prices, and from April a massive energy price hike. Rishi Sunak, ex-chancellor and now an aspiring prime minister, has not extended the £20 Universal Credit last year as that would have help cushioned the impact a little. The current rate of pay and benefits don’t fit well with a rich nation like the UK. Prepayment meters will see the highest price rise and they are mostly used by the poor and most vulnerable in our society. It beggars’ belief that the citizenry can be so easily misled and benefit claimants scapegoated again and again for the deals made by politicians to rob the taxpayers via their friends and families' companies which are setup simply to steal money officially through various tax havens. Overall, considering predicted energy price increases alongside a reduction in real wages and the planned increase in national insurance contributions, the Resolution Foundation feared a “living standards catastrophe” in 2022. It is estimated that taxes and energy bills would have risen by an average of £1,200 per household since April 2022 under current government plans. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer) WATCH WION LIVE HERE: ×

What is cost of living crisis in rich Britain?

Corporations and scientists in the pockets of big pharma are always on the lookout for a perfect opportunity to peddle their creations to an unsuspecting public. Both Brexit and the pandemic have given these capitalist opportunists a perfect situation to push for the loosening of legislation controlling the quality and safety of our food, both locally grown and imported from abroad. Westminster is hell-bent on removing environmental and health safeguards that environmentalists fought for in this country for decades.

So, what is happening now at Westminster?

The Tory government in London has introduced a Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill which would set different rules from the EU following Brexit and has asked all devolved nations, including Scotland, to allow gene-edited crops to be grown. The Scottish government's environment secretary, MSP Mairi McAllan, dismissed the idea, saying that Scotland will set its own food standards under devolution and will not accept any constraints placed on its food policies.

What is gene-editing?

Gene editing basically allows scientists to change a plant or animal's DNA. Many experts would consider it one step before GMO’s (Genetically Modified Organisms), which are currently banned in Europe and the UK as a whole. Since Brexit, the UK government has been hell bent on eroding all our food and environmental safety laws that we as a country have fought so hard to achieve over the past many decades. I have previously in my columns highlighted the need for citizens to be vigilant against corporations, lobbyists, and greedy politicians who are now convinced that the only way to grow and feed the population in the UK post-Brexit is via gene-edited or GMO foods!

Under the UK's internal market legislation, introduced by the Tory government at Westminster, anything approved for sale in one part of the UK must be available across the whole of the UK. This legislation basically undermines "devolution" in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. We are already seeing the chaos caused by the "Northern Ireland Protocol Bill" and its hasty signing off as an election promise in their manifesto by the Tories in the 2019 general elections. MSP Mairi McAllan has written to her Westminster counterpart saying: "If the UK government is determined to press ahead with this legislation, it must take steps to ensure that its revisions to the definition of a GMO (genetically modified organism) do not force products on Scotland which do not meet standards here without the consent of the Scottish Parliament." simultaneously raising concerns about the impact of the bill on Scotland’s food exports to the European Union, which currently still has a ban in place for GMO’s.

So, what can we do in Scotland to stop this mad onslaught on our food and its impact on Scottish soil and water in the coming decades if this bill is passed?&nbsp; Once again, be informed about the technology that is being promoted, ask questions to your elected MSP/MP and try to understand the link between corporations like Monsanto, politicians and large-scale food producers. The citizens always pay the price when things go wrong. Let’s make sure this does not happen to Scotland’s land, water, air, and health of its population.

Corporations and scientists in the pockets of big pharma are always on the lookout for a perfect opportunity to peddle their creations to an unsuspecting public.

Corporations and scientists in the pockets of big pharma are always on the lookout for a perfect opportunity to peddle their creations to an unsuspecting public. Both Brexit and the pandemic have given these capitalist opportunists a perfect situation to push for the loosening of legislation controlling the quality and safety of our food, both locally grown and imported from abroad. Westminster is hell-bent on removing environmental and health safeguards that environmentalists fought for in this country for decades. So, what is happening now at Westminster? The Tory government in London has introduced a Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill which would set different rules from the EU following Brexit and has asked all devolved nations, including Scotland, to allow gene-edited crops to be grown. The Scottish government's environment secretary, MSP Mairi McAllan, dismissed the idea, saying that Scotland will set its own food standards under devolution and will not accept any constraints placed on its food policies. What is gene-editing? Gene editing basically allows scientists to change a plant or animal's DNA. Many experts would consider it one step before GMO’s (Genetically Modified Organisms), which are currently banned in Europe and the UK as a whole. Since Brexit, the UK government has been hell bent on eroding all our food and environmental safety laws that we as a country have fought so hard to achieve over the past many decades. I have previously in my columns highlighted the need for citizens to be vigilant against corporations, lobbyists, and greedy politicians who are now convinced that the only way to grow and feed the population in the UK post-Brexit is via gene-edited or GMO foods! Under the UK's internal market legislation, introduced by the Tory government at Westminster, anything approved for sale in one part of the UK must be available across the whole of the UK. This legislation basically undermines "devolution" in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. We are already seeing the chaos caused by the "Northern Ireland Protocol Bill" and its hasty signing off as an election promise in their manifesto by the Tories in the 2019 general elections. MSP Mairi McAllan has written to her Westminster counterpart saying: "If the UK government is determined to press ahead with this legislation, it must take steps to ensure that its revisions to the definition of a GMO (genetically modified organism) do not force products on Scotland which do not meet standards here without the consent of the Scottish Parliament." simultaneously raising concerns about the impact of the bill on Scotland’s food exports to the European Union, which currently still has a ban in place for GMO’s. So, what can we do in Scotland to stop this mad onslaught on our food and its impact on Scottish soil and water in the coming decades if this bill is passed? Once again, be informed about the technology that is being promoted, ask questions to your elected MSP/MP and try to understand the link between corporations like Monsanto, politicians and large-scale food producers. The citizens always pay the price when things go wrong. Let’s make sure this does not happen to Scotland’s land, water, air, and health of its population.

UK government pushing for GMO's via gene-editing technology

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Zee News Rajasthan

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Bosco Santimano

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