Inside a Charity Shop: A day in life of Diane Wright

A day in the life of Diane Wright, aged 49, is an unique opportunity to penetrate inside
a charity organisation. She is an excellent mother, animal lover and Ebay seller;and
she finds the time of helping the commnunity by managing a local charity shop in Preston.

Timeline:

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Diane Wright, aged 49, at her charity shop

I get up about 6:45 am and the first thing I do is to take my little dog, Bobby, for a walk.

 He is a Cocker Spaniel and I do love him. We walk for about for 15 minutes, we both exercise. I come back, have a shower and get ready. 

 Some days I put the TV on, to watch the news in the morning, it tends to be ITV but if the commercials are one I flip to BBC.



I usually have cereal, especially Cheerios, for breakfast and then I leave the house at 8:30 am. 

I drive to work; it takes me about 15 minutes to get to the Salvation Army charity shop in Plungington Road, Preston. The first thing I do is to take the float out of the safe and put it in the till, put the lights on and vacuum. It’s just giving the shop a quick tidy before we open at nine.

I generally go through the donations, all the stuff is given, people walked through the door with. Some of the things come from the Salvation Army Centre, at Harrington Street.  




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Salvation Army Centre at Harrington Street, Preston

So on Monday mornings, I drop the paperwork off and pick up the donations and bring them into the shop. 

If I know the person I will go in my car to pick stuff up, especially if they are elderly and they can’t carry bags. 

We keep the donations in the changing room because we do not have a lot of space in the shop. I go through all the stock we have and put it out on the shop floor. Sometimes, I change the shop floor around it, depends what the priorities are.

I used to think at Christmas, by being a charity shop, it would boost the sales but it doesn't. It just tends to be the same all year around. However, we do get a lot of gifts and decorations at Christmas. 
People who buy a new Christmas tree will often bring their old Christmas tree in here. We don’t get much Halloween stuff in here, because we are a Christian charity we don’t celebrate Halloween. 

I am not part of the Salvation Army, but I enjoy working with them. They have certain rules: you can’t smoke, drink or gamble. They also go to Church every Sunday, but I don’t. 

About 12 I have lunch. I make my own sandwiches, mostly ham, to save some money. If you start eating out every day, it is two or three pounds so it can work out expensive. After lunch, I label the clothes and put them in the shop. 

Salvation Army Charity Shop at Plungington Road

I really love running this charity shop. Before I came here, I used to be a manager of a big retail store. It is completely different; personally, I prefer this store because you get much nicer people than you do in a high street store.
In a high street store, you do not get the same regular customers. We have some antique dealers who come in looking for the odd bargains. We also get a lot of women in buying clothes.

When I was store manager, the staff was horrendous. They would often phone in sick, they would do anything to try get out of work and they were getting paid. 
Here, everyone is volunteer and not one person has ever phone sick, not one person has complained about working.

I cannot believe the difference, and all of them are volunteering.

About two, I vacuum and clean up again, to make sure that the shop is tidy before I leave. After the shop closes at three, I go to the bank the money in town. It is not always the same day but I will do it today. 

I also do a bit of shopping what I do need for myself and then go home. 
On Tuesdays and Thursdays I've got a second job. I help my brother to sell things on ‘Ebay’ for a couple hours.

At the moment, my son is at home. He is in the army, but he is on leave so I will make him tea and dinner today. Then I’ll take my dog for a walk again. 

If I’m going out, I’ll just have a bath, watch TV and maybe a glass of red wine. I tend to play on my laptop a lot when I’m in bed and watching TV at the same time.
Sometimes I read a book, it all depends.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire- Review

The Hunger Games: Catching fire. Duration: 146 minutes. Broadcast on: Odeon Cinemas, Preston. 22/11/2013 at 20:45.Dir: Francis Lawrence. Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh and Donald Sutherland.

            Star Rating: 3.5/5

Catching Fire is the second movie of the Hunger Games trilogy, based on Suzanne Collins’ best sellers for young adult readers, the film is set in the futuristic world of Panem. Governed by President Snow (Donald Sutherland), Panem holds the Hunger Games every year. 

Inspired in ancient Greece and described as ‘a distraction to forget the real problems’, the Hunger Games is a competition to the death in the arena between the youngsters from different districts.

The successful trilogy shows a hypothetical world full of contrasts between the districts. The first district, settled in the city centre, are richer and more futuristic than the other districts settled in the country, which looked like they have been regressed back in time. 

The film seems to be as opposition to today’s society, full of anti-capitalism messages, however it is perfectly merged with a teenage theme, as a romance story.

After the agonizing ending of the first movie, when the couple from district 12 formed by Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson), decided to risk their lives for their love.

 The story starts a year after, showing the young ‘couple’, Katniss and Peeta go on tour to celebrate their victory. However, these teenagers have become idols for the social class people and they are also the icons of a sparkling revolution, which threatens the tyranny of President Snow.

Government’s fear caused them to take part in the 75^th Hunger Games, which includes special celebrations. Katniss and Peeta are forced to compete alongside old victors.  The 75^th edition is tougher to survive in the arena; competitors will have to face aggressive monkeys and a cloud of poisonous fog. 

More on Hunger Games:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/10441635/The-Hunger-Games-Catching-Fire-review.html

http://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/nov/12/hunger-games-catching-fire-review

Alternative Journalism

Few weeks ago, I had to write a university assignment. I should connect a journalism theory with a real life example. It seemed quite hard, because most of theories appear to be really inspirational and none seemed to happen in this world. However, when I did a bit I research I found a special case.

In June 2013, Brazil experienced a wave of protests, people demonstrated against the expenses in Olympic Games, which are going to be held in Brazil and the less effort that government puts to improve public education or health.

Millions of people took the streets, but they didn’t get all the attention from Brazilian mainstream media. However, there was an alternative journalistic online platform that covered the facts from the protesters’ view. 

Ninja media, the alternative online platform, had a great impact in the social media. With more than 200,000 likes in Facebook they were able to encourage people towards social changes.

Ninja has fulfilled its function as alternative media, because they provoke a social movement and they promote people to demonstrate against these government’s expenses. Government has stepped back with its costs and raising prices.

This media is worthy of admiration, but my question is: Could this alternative journalism become a precedent for futures social movements?

It is know that Mediterranean countries, as Spain or Greece, have been protesting for the last two years against the cuts in public education, health services... However, they were not capable to change any governments’ decision. So, can this Brazilian case be used as an example of encouragement of social movements? Can journalism play a greater role in futures protests?

Portfolio

Local News:

Shoplifter from a local supermarket was charged with 18 months of conditional discharge plus more than £100 fine.

Mr Steele, from Bolton Street, Preston was caught by the security guard trying to leave the shop, without paying ,with a trolley full of items.

The accident happened Monday 31, December, 2012 when Mr Steele, aged 45, who is living with his aunt, tried to leave Asda Fullwood Superstore, East Way, Preston with the trolley.

As soon he was caught, he said: “Sorry about this. I´m really sorry”, he kept apologising, the court heard.

The trial was held in Preston Magistrates Court in March 8, 2013. The offence which was tried in the magistrates court was considered an either way offence.

Miss Aksha Shahid, for the prosecution, said that the trolley had a total value of £150.86; inside he carried alcohol items, groceries and meat.

District Judge, Mr Peter Ward, sentenced that as he has no money he will receive 18 months conditional discharge plus £15 victim charge and £85 for costs.

When the police came this morning to arrest him, Mr Steele said:” I´ve heard from a friend”.

In his defence, Mr Nottingham said: “I just think he thought he´d get some money by selling the items.

 “He thought it was a good idea, clearly it wasn’t. He is very sorry for his actions”, Mr Nottingham said.

Shops VoxPop

Local shops or big supermarkets?

Shopping might be different if you go to a local shop, where you have a pleasant relationship with the shopkeeper, or you prefer to go to a big supermarket where you can find anything that you need.

Tesco, Sainsbury´s, Asda and Morrisons , known as ‘ the big four’ have been accused of taking out of the business the local and small stores.
The national Federation of Small Business and the agricultural industry have complained about the situation. They argue that the small business can guarantee a better quality in the products, because they are specialized, and they also provide more care to the products. Local shopkeepers will also offer a friendly and closer manner to the customers.

On the other hand, big supermarkets are considered to be easier and quicker. All supermarkets confirmed that their products have passed through more quality controls.Big supermarkets will boost the small communities, such as Preston, because of their multiple activities. Their great strength is creating new jobs. For instance, Sainbury´s has created more than 13,000 jobs in two years time.

Both types of shops have their advantages and disadvantages. Depending on customers, some of them prefer small shops rather than big supermarkets. Which one is more popular?

We went to Preston, in North West England, to find out which is the most popular choice.

(Manuel Rascado & Maria Fernandez)

Nowadays Slavery

"The number of people held in slavery today is 27 million” (Malbert, 2008)

Article 4 of European Convention (September 1953) states: No one shall be held in slavery and servitude and no one shall be required to perform forced or compulsory labour. It makes exceptions for military work; work imposed because of a detention, giving service in case of emergency and part of the civic obligations.

The statement ‘slavery has all about disappeared’ is completely inaccurate and false.  Slavery has developed adapting to the society, as a result of this, it is rarely seen slave trade as it happened in the 17^th century. Nevertheless, still millions of people who were trade as slaves and controlled by others, which is the key factor to commit slavery.

According to the US Government there are eight actions which are considered modern slavery: Forced Labour, Sex Trafficking, Bonded Labour and Debt Bondage among Migrant Labourers, Involuntary Domestic Servitude, Forced Child Labour, Child Soldiers and Child Sex Trafficking.    

Forced Labour is considered any work which exploits its workers involving often coercion, for example exceeding of working hours, salaries lower than the minimum, violence etc.

Sex Trafficking, is when an adult is forced to work as a prostitute. It is often than Latin American and African women are brought to Europe to work in prostitution thinking that they are going to be involved in domestic

Bonded Labour and Debt Bondage among Migrant Workers are fairly similar, both use debt or bond as a way of coercion, which is the essential to be considered Forced Labour.

Involuntary Domestic Labour consists on forced labour related to domestic chores. This slavery is more vulnerable to women, and teenagers.

Forced Child Labour, is the same as compulsory work but involves children. A great example of Child Labour is Restavek. Around 300,000 children between 4 and 18 are forced to practice Restavek.(house cleaning, preparing meals, ironing clothes etc., in Haiti)

Child Soldiers is a tactic to use children in the army forcing them to be soldiers. Many regions, which are now in conflict, mostly in Africa and Asia make the children participate in the combat. Child Sex Trafficking is really common type of modern slavery.  Women, under 18, are forced to leave their home and work as prostitutes without receiving any benefit from their work.

To summarize, Article 4 ECHR has served in terms of abolishing legal slavery; but still millions of people are held in slavery today, the highest rate ever. As a result, it is undoubtedly necessary to question about Article 4 real effectiveness. 

Source:

 ‘Free the Slaves’ <https://www.freetheslaves.net/SSLPage.aspx>

Bales K. Malbert R & Sealy M, Documenting Disposable People Contemporary Global

‘U.S Department of State Diplomacy <http://www.state.gov/j/tip/what/index.htm>

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Budget´s Summary

2013 Budget has been mainly influenced by the Euro zone crisis and the idea of referendum to get out of the European Union.                                                        
The Budget was realised by the Chancellor of Exchequer and Second Lord of the Treasury of United Kingdom, George Osborne in the morning of Wednesday 20 March, 2013.

Roughly, in terms of the country´s economy, the Budget was about deficit, borrowing, net debt and Europe. It was focused in reducing deficit and building a stronger economy. The deficit, which is the difference between the money the Government takes in and its spending, is expected to fall to 6.8% next year.

Borrowing, money that Government has to raise in markets, is expected to drop less than £100bn.  The net Debt in the public sector will be 75.9% this year; it will keep growing up before it starts falling in 2017-2018. However, the Gross Domestic Product is expected to increase 0.6% this year. Moreover, in relation with Europe, the European budget negotiated the UK £3.5bn.
The Budget will also make some changes in daily life and families´ economy. Taxes are expected to rise and personal allowance will set up in £10,000. Corporation tax will be reduced so that it creates new business .

National Insurance will be cut the first £2,000 from national employee’s bills.
The Budget was focused in falling deficit and building a stronger economy, this regards cuts in the public sector such a social care or higher education level. Moreover, fuel it will also increase its value. All countries in the Euro zone are concerning about the crisis, United Kingdom, by now, is one of them.

The Bank of England still targeting for 2% inflation rate, with the purpose of boosting the economy. Government´s departments will also suffer cuts, it is expected to save more than £10bn in this sector.

Families with children will have more support, because of tax-free childcare vouchers. Pension flat rate will start in 2016 instead of 2017. Social care will also go through cuts. For this reason, pensioners will be moving on the private sector.

The expected raise of the alcohol is not going to be done and the beer will be 1p cheaper.

Besides the Budget, the unemployment rates were also released. It shows that the number of unemployed has risen. These figures start being worrying, almost a million of people between 16- to 24- years-olds have no job. It has increased by 20% since October.

The Budget was focused in falling deficit and building a stronger economy, this regards cuts in the public sector such a social care or higher education level. Moreover, fuel it will also increase its value. All countries in the Euro zone are concerning about the crisis, United Kingdom, by now, is one of them.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/budget-2013

Venezuela, by USA

Recently, the Spanish newspaper El País has published an interesting interview to Roberta Jacobson, current United States Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs. It clarifies some new perspectives about the relationship between United States and Latin American countries such as Venezuela or Cuba. 

USA hopes that Venezuela’s elections are carried out with total normality according to the democratic principles. They would like that international observers as well as some local ones control de process so that transparency is guaranteed. 

The relationship USA-Venezuela has always been strained due to the past and the different ideology. Chavez used to criticise George Bush’s, and then Obama’s, way of governing. His speeches in the national television channel are worthy to remember. It is worrying, as well as dangerous, that the Government uses the national media with indoctrinating purposes. Without Free Press, it is difficult to have a free citizenship capable of making its own well-informed opinion. Moreover, as Roberta Jacobson says, only if the press is independent, the government and the opposition can send their political message to the voters. USA thinks that Henrique Capriles, head of the opposition Party Primero Justicia, would be a good candidate to win the poll, but they do not admit having a favourite.




 



Roberta Jacobson is sure about the possibility of cooperating with Venezuela: “In the past, it has always been talked about this region in terms of threatening, now we have to talk also about the opportunities.” Now that Hugo Chavez is no longer in the power, the future of the country is still unknown. Will Venezuela continue on its to democracy? Only time will tell.
 

Caño, A. (15th March 2013) “Cuba está cambiando” El Pais. Available online: http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2013/03/12/actualidad/1363127804_593782.html

Mali in conflict

The situation in Mali continues to be unsustainable as neither of the parts want to give up their conditions. Ibrahim ag Mohammad Assaleh, member of the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (NMLA), says that the government will have to take into consideration the separatist organisation if they want to re-establish the control all over the country. As part of the tuareg community, they have been fighting in wars for more than half a century, and will continue until the situation changes. 
The international support is essential and appreciated by NMLA provided that they fight against the terrorists attacks. France is obviously one of the most involved countries in the conflict. However, the European country is preparing its departure from Mali in virtue of the UN peace troops.  

UN has just revealed that they have got evidence that Mali army planned and carried out violent acts as revenge after France entered in the country. The victims could have been tuaregs, peul and arabs as they are generally considered as supporters of the separatists.  The justice minister, Malick Coulibaly, has said during a session of the United Nations Human Rights Council that these violent episodes are only isolated cases. 

However, a war is devastating and the consequences for the country are always long-lasting. For example. UNICEF states that around 200,000 children in the African country do not have access to education. Going to school is something that here, in the “developed” countries, may be considered as something normal, or even boring. But for Mali children is an opportunity to succeed in the future and help their community develop. Moreover, since the Putsch on March 2012 help coming from foreign countries has diminished.  

The future and stability of Mali depends on the peace coming soon to its streets.

In this video from Al jazeera in English they wonder if the military intervention is suitable to finish with the conflict. 

"Habemus Papam Franciscum"

After Pope Benedict XVI reached more than 3 million of followers on Twitter, he has resigned as head of the Catholic Church on Thursday 28 February, 2013. Although Pope Benedict XVI has resigned by himself because of his poor health condition, all Catholics supported him during his last ceremony and waited excited for the new pope, Francis.

A Name, an error
Many means of communications have made a mistake while putting the name of the new Pope. Was it and error due to the hurry to inform immediately or was it misunderstood? The truth is that even official Holy See’s news agency wrote incorrectly the new sacred name of Bergoglio. The new Pope’s name is Francis, and not Francis I as everybody tends to say. He will become Francis I when a Francis II is elected.


Latin American repercussion
A European Pope was expected to be elected as it has always happened. However, this American Pope might suppose a change for the Catholic Church in the American continent. Currently, in Latin American countries, where have always been a great religious fervour, the number of Catholics is decreasing. Will Pope Francis make a change? 
Moreover, the Catholic Pope is the head of around 13% of United States population, which has a great number of Catholics because of its immigration.


First Jesuit as the Head of the Catholic Church
The Jesuits, funded almost 500 years ago, has finally seen how one of its members has reached the highest position in Earth for a Catholic. They have always been extremely obedient to Pope’s orders even if sometimes it caused troubles. One of their most strict laws is to avoid high positions, however Pope Francis is an exception. Mario Bergoglio was born in Buenos Aires though his parents are Italian he started studying Chemistry.

Francis, the humble
The new Pope stands out for his modesty and will to give. He honestly believes in the power of praying. Before going to Rome he used to live alone in a room next to Buenos Aires’ cathedral. He used to cook always for himself and caught often the tube. 

A Pope of the first times.

It is the first time that a Pope has chosen the name of Francis. It is the first time that the Pope has been argentine. It is the first that the Pope has been Latin-American. Is the first time the Pope has been Jesuit. It is the first time that the Pope has asked the believers to spend the money with which they would have gone to the Conclave in the poor people. It is the first time that a Pope wears during his first appearance complete white clothing. Is the first time that the Pope has only one lung.


The entire Catholic Church is hoping that Francis will be able to adapt the old religious institution to the new ages.

Awareness of Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol consumption has always been an issue that National Health Service is worried about. NHS has set the recommendation limit on 21 units per week for men and 14 for women.  However, the real data (provided by University College of London) is of concern because the actual limit exceeds its recommendations.

University College of London has published a study, which compares the alcohol consumption between the different ages and different regions of England. They gathered the people in groups of ten years, so that they got these age groups: 16-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64,  65-74 and  75+.

This study has done its research based on a survey and on revised estimate numbers. Surprisingly, the results from the survey were much lower than the actual estimate data. For example, the total average for survey response was 12.9 Nevertheless, the revised estimate was 21.3 

Both men and women in all age groups have put-upon in the Survey, giving the responses much lower than the revised estimate data.  The information below is used the actual revised estimate data.

According to the research, men drink almost twice as much as women. For instance, in the ages between 16 -24 men drink 27.5 units/ week, whilst women, between those ages, drink 17.2 units/week. This difference is also significant in the pensioners; men over 75 ingest the treble as women. While men drink 18.2 units/week, women drink 6.7 units per week.The age group that has the highest alcohol consumption is men between 45-54 that have a current consumption of 32.8 units per week. In women, this group of age also has the highest level: 17.2

There are many risks associated to alcohol use; it has been linked more than 60 diseases to alcohol consumption. Some of the greatest diseases are: cancer, cardiovascular disease, cirrhosis and any liver disease.  This risk increases when people are under 18.

Interesting Links:

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/ghs/general-lifestyle-survey/index.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2013/feb/27/how-much-alcohol-do-we-really-drink

"Eternal Youth"

Cosmectic surgery has been on the news recently, due to the breast implant scandal in France and NHS publishing a report in this issue on March 2013. The number of patients increases every year and the NHS request for a safer surgery.

Cosmetic surgery consists in operating so the patient will look better. It started as a method to treat bodies damaged by an accident (Fire, Car accident etc.). However it became so popular when celebrities started to used looking for the “eternal youth”. There many different surgeries, some of the most known are liposuction, breast implant, rhinoplasty and Botox. All of them are used as cosmetic surgery.

Botox is the most recent one. It comes from a bacterium called “Clostridium Botulinum”, it is from the same branch as tetanus and it´s one of the most poisonous toxin known. It has been used in medicine since the 80´s and the American FDA (Food and Drugs Administration) approved its cosmetic use in 2002, pretty recently. That is the reason why its secondary effects still unknown. Nevertheless, Botox paralyzes nerves which connect with muscles so that it can produce cardiac arrest. Before this cosmetic procedure, it was used to alleviate muscle pains and to treat illnesses such as torticolis and squint, when the muscle must be relaxed.

Interviewing Doctor Guillermo Debén, haematologist at University Hospital of A Coruña and chairman of the scientific committee of the Spanish Association Against Cancer, said that Botox first procedure, medical, is more defensible in terms of its application. “Cosmetic use is a luxury treatment”, he said.

On the report due in March 2013 by the NHS one of the points covered is the first consultation and the information given. Doctor Debén said that patients are conscious and warned by the risks, as long it is done by a specialist. According to BBC article, most of the cosmetic surgery is done privately instead of NHS, which increases the risks of the action. Due to its price, underground surgery increased in recent years. Dr. Debén confirmed that does not exists guarantee and the risks are bigger at clandestine clinics.

This kind of surgery is mainly applied to women, but man have just started exploring it.  Males most used methods are liposuction and blepharoplasty. 

This aesthetic passion is not recent, in the Ancient Greece, citizens were looking for beauty. However, it was a different term; they understood the integral beauty as the combination of mind and body.  Dr Deben also said that ‘Botox has been democratized, in one way or another anyone can access to it’.

He concluded that the fact that ‘the people take care of their body is a progress of the society; however, the cult of beauty in itself is a mistake’.