Specials | Westminster World

Dec122022 by Kedar WadjeNo Comments

Morocco creates history by becoming the first African country to qualify for the semi-finals

Breaking News, Explainers, Specials, Sport, Sports

Londoners supporting Morocco for semi-final in World Cup 2022 https://youtu.be/uspbt6o-Q5s People's reaction to Morocco's win in World Cup.Video credit: Kedar Wadje African trailblazers Morocco will endeavour to continue their magical World Cup 2022 journey when they face a monumental test of their mettle against current holders France in Wednesday's semi-final at the Al Bayt Stadium. France will undoubtedly be the favourite, but Morocco hopes for another massive massacre. After the win over Portugal, the streets of London erupted in joy as supporters celebrated the Atlas Lions' historic victory. Women wearing hijabs yelled with delight, as did men and many more supporters. They flung their arms in the air, red and green Moroccan flags flying behind them like sails in ce...

Historic LSE Cleaners’ Strike: Outsourced workers fight segregation

DontUse, News, Politics, Specials, Student

For the first time in LSE's 126 year history, cleaners went on a 2-day strike for equal benefits as in-house staff. The demands of the strike highlight the larger problem with outsourcing in UK universities. Mildred Simpson, 60 years old, has spent the past 16 years trying to keep the London School of Economics spotless. One of the cleaners at the leading research institute into inequalities, she works 11 hours a day, under contract from Noonan Services (a company that outsources cleaning staff to UK universities). Yet the benefits she receives are negligible compared to LSE in-house staff- 1% pension, no sick pay for the first 3 days- and workload that has cost her a knee. So she's on strike. https://youtu.be/De91vv-EoOk The conditions of the strike, i.e., th

Lost in Translation: Integrating migrant children in Britain

Blogs, Data Journalism, DontUse, Explainers, News, ReportingWeek2, Specials

A recent government report delivered by Dame Louise Casey warned that ethnic segregation is increasing. This is affecting ethnic minorities and migrant communities across the UK. Racial segregation and migrant exclusion are on the rise in Britain. Immigrants are now expected to adopt the English language and children to core British values at schools. According to the report, they are also expected to take an oath of allegiance setting out a "clear primary loyalty to this nation”. Despite the prominence of this issue, there is no common understanding of how integration should be defined and measured, especially in terms of children. At which point can an immigrant child be seen as 'integrated' into British society? What are the indicators showing how much people have adapted to l

Mar132016 by Adelaide ArthurNo Comments

Volunteers plant trees as part of city hall campaign

Environment, Food, Specials, Video

London’s newest urban woodland which is being created in Southall in Ealing borough is taking shape. The charity, Trees for Cities recently organised its second mass planting exercise which brought the total number of trees planted so far on King George’s field to 15, 000. The goal is to plant 20,000 trees along the edge of the park. According to the charity, the woodland will provide a serene atmosphere where locals can relax and also forage. “This woodland is an edible woodland so as these trees grow, local communities [and] the children obviously will be able to come here, pick fruits and nuts and berries. “It will be great for their health, education, for the community itself and wildlife. So it has multiple benefits,” said David Elliott, Chief Executive of Trees for Cit

Feb282016 by Giovanni PratiNo Comments

6000 people rallied against Trident. Corbyn: “We are the majority.”

DontUse, News, Politics, Specials

Thousands of people gathered and rallied to oppose the renewal of Trident in Central London on Saturday. More than 6000 demonstrators, according to both the Met Police and the organisers, took the streets to join the Stop Trident National Demo. People came from all over the UK, with many buses arriving from Scotland. The protest was led by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, the Stop the War Coalition and other groups supporting refugees, NHS, social housing and climate change. The march started from Marble Arch at 1 pm and ended in Trafalgar Square. Numerous front rank politicians joined the rally, among which Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister of Scotland, Leanne Wood, the leader of the Welsh party Plaid Cymru, Caroline Lucas, a Green Party's MP and the MPs against the Trid...

For greener pastures in London. Literally.

Culture, Environment, Specials, Video, Watch

Sub-zero temperatures at 10am on a Saturday morning — far from a good excuse to put on your tough boots, roll up your sleeves and head out to plant trees. Which is why it came as a welcome surprise when several enthusiastic groups of volunteers gathered at Southall’s King George’s Field last weekend for a tree-planting exercise. Organised by Ealing Council in partnership with NGO Trees For Cities and Unilever, the aim was to plant 10,000 new saplings in a single day. The event was part of Mayor Boris Johnson’s larger efforts to make London a greener place by planting 40,000 new trees across the city. His iTree urban forest survey shows that London has 8 million trees that are worth a whopping £6.1 billion to the economy and contribute £130 million in wider benefits. These

Feb152016 by Yee-Liu WilliamsNo Comments

London volunteers do what they can in the Calais ‘Jungle’

Experience, Politics, Specials

It was the day before the bulldozers moved in when I joined a group of London volunteers and walked the mud streets of the notorious French refugee camp known as the 'Jungle'. The Calais Jungle is home to an estimated 2,000 to 5,000* refugees described in recent months by UK Prime Minister, David Cameron as a "bunch of migrants". There is little doubt that life in the Jungle is brutal with harsh living conditions that swirl in a cauldron of mud enclosed by the razor wire security fencing paid for by the UK Government. The Jungle sprawls out from under the French motorway flanked by two chemical plants pumping out noxious-looking clouds over a 'new camp' of converted shipping containers planted on a toxic industrial wasteland. This 'new camp' will be home to some 1,500 inhabit

Are LGBT asylum seekers welcome in the UK?

International, News, Politics, Specials

LGBT asylum seekers in the UK are asked to prove their homosexuality. Reporter Indraja Gugle explores Sub editor: Cynthia Gregoire In 2013, UK saw around 283 LGBT asylum seekers. In order to stay in Britain, they are asked to prove their homosexuality, a breach of human rights. Some of the questions asked at asylum interviews range from “Can you prove you’re a homosexual?”, “Why do you choose to be homosexual when you know it is illegal in your country?”, “Why do you think you are a homosexual?” and “Can’t you be discreet about your sexuality and thereby avoid being noticed as a gay person?”. Britain’s asylum system Peter Tatchell says, “Britain’s asylum system is homophobic. The Home Office is refusing asylum to genuine lesbian and gay refugees and sending them back to countries

London’s female graffiti artists take to the streets

Culture, Specials

Celebrating International Women's Day with a weekend of female-powered creativity, Femme Fierce, the UK's largest female street art and graffiti festival returned to the Banksy Tunnel beneath Waterloo station. Reporter: Jipsa George Sub-editor: Di Bai Both male and female artists from all around London gathered at the infamous tunnel at Leake Street to showcase different types of art forms. According to Catfight magazine: "Graffiti, guerrilla art and urban activism still convey a stereotypically tough male image, but they are beginning to have other faces." But that did not stop the female graffiti artists to take it to the streets to make a statement. The event saw over 150 street artists spray paint and stencil large scale murals on the walls of the tunnel. Founder and editor

The world of female firefighters: Burning gender bias

News, Specials

How easy is it to be a female firefighter in the UK, or how difficult? Reporter Indraja Gugle explores the world of female firefighters on International Women’s Day Sub-editor: Hussein Abdel Fattah The sight of a smoked up kitchen or sparks around an electric gadget is enough to send us to panic-ville. But there are women out there fighting raging fires several feet high. It is not a task for the faint-hearted. Traditionally a male-dominated field, the UK is seeing a rise in the number of female firefighters. At 1.7% in 2002, the number has reached to 4.3% in 2012. However, in addition to risking their lives regularly, women in this field face various challenges, simply because they are women. Lucy Masoud, who holds a degree in politics and has done her Masters