Computer Security Get Prepared Or Loose Your Data

Submitted by: NamSing Then

The very much imminent threat to anyone using his or her computer online is the possible attacks or intrusions by Trojans, Viruses, Key loggers, Spy wares and etc. Some of the following preparations help you combat these threats in your quest to computer security.

Installing Antivirus Programs

Download and install one or more of the popular antivirus softwares and set them to update automatically. Viruses infest your computer from any of the input sources like diskettes, suspicious websites, emails and downloaded programs. Check these things every time you need to use them with these antivirus programs. You can also configure antivirus programs to automatically protect you whenever you connect to internet. If you are a professional user of internet, scan the whole system for virus as frequently as you want. These anti virus programs either destroy or quarantine viruses whenever they catch them.

Upgrade Your Operating System

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H87Yxc4p-C8[/youtube]

Vendors of operating systems often upgrade their releases and distribute the upgrades as service packs or patches. The service packs plug loopholes in the operating systems and make them robust by taking care of bugs. Subscribe to continuous up-gradation programs which automatically download the patches as and when they are made available.

Treat Email Attachments with Due Diligence

Macros and viruses are distributed by their creators as email attachments too. Don t open the mail or download the attachment unless you are sure of the senders and you were expecting the mail. Suspicious mails and attachments could possibly contain self installing viruses. If the mail subject line sounds amazing or suspicious just delete it or scan the attachment prior to opening it.

Use Firewalls

Firewalls are by far the strongest internet/intranet protection for computer security. They are either hardware or software tools that effectively scan data transfers from and to your computer. You can set parameters to scan based on location and type of data transfer.

Password Protection

Use of stronger passwords is a great help in onsite computer security. Strong passwords are longer in length and combine alphanumeric combinations with upper and lower case alphabets thrown in. They are never the words from dictionary, names of places or humans etc.

Keep Backups of Important Data

Regularly make backups of important data, just in case.

Be sensible to check certificates when downloading something from an unknown site. Use file encryption facilities to curtail unauthorized access to your files. Finally, your office computer can be secured by password protection against manual intrusions.

About the Author: NamSing Then is a regular article contributor on many topics. Be sure to visit his other websites

Computer Security Software

and

Secure

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Join The Cosmetics Sector By Attending An Esthetics College Program

Join the Cosmetics Sector by Attending an Esthetics College Program

by

Klaudia

Esthetics, also called skin therapy, is performed at salons, day spas, medi-spas, health clinics, cruise ships and skin care companies. The professionals in this field are trained at esthetics college programs in the cosmetic treatment of skin. They perform various cosmetic procedures including: facials, body treatments and waxing. More specifically, estheticians are trained to give facial treatments that may include deep cleansing, exfoliation and facial massage. They also extract or cleanse pore blockages and blackheads. In addition to these treatments, estheticians advice on the proper care of your skin, recommend appropriate skin care products for your skin type and perform certain specialty treatments. Because estheticians are not medical doctors, they don t diagnose skin conditions, prescribe medications or suggest treatment for any skin condition outside of using cosmetic products.

The esthetics sector is becoming increasingly popular with a boom in the number of spas in Canada.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iq4mgpF4E-0[/youtube]

In order to gain the proper credentials, Centennial College offers a two-year Esthetician program that results in employable and leadership skills as well as an Ontario College Diploma. The reputable offering allows students to gain academic and practical knowledge in the entire range of professional services offered by today s spas. One of the most important focuses of this program is teaching students about opening their own practices through courses such as: Professional Relationships, Exploring Customer Service, Introduction to Business Practices, Spa Business and more. Meanwhile on the esthetics side, students participate in courses such as: Skin Care Theory, Skin Care Practices, Manicures and Pedicures, Waxing and Hair Removal, Makeup and more. Incorporated into the classroom learning of Centennial s

esthetics college

program are subjects such as anatomy, physiology, practical applications, product knowledge, and more.

To complement lectures, students practice in labs. These labs are equipped with the latest technology on the market. Working with this equipment, and qualified instructors who have years of experience, ensures that students are aware of the most up-to-date techniques and market information. This on-campus lab and esthetics practice is great preparation for Centennial College s field placement, during which students are work in highly respected esthetics establishments. During their field placements, students interact with real customers (under the supervision of their instructors), learning the intricacies of the industry. Please be advised, that students must have completed a standard first aid and CPR (healthcare provider level) course, a vulnerable sector background police check, and an immunization review form before they can be sent out on the esthetician work placement.

To apply for admission to this Esthetician program, you must present at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older. Also required is compulsory English 12C or U, or skills assessment, or equivalent.

Klaudia is the author behind this article about

esthetics college

s esthetics program, which takes two years to complete and prepares students for either opening their own business or becoming an employee at a business that offers esthetics services.

Article Source:

ArticleRich.com

Internet Detectives A New Breed Of Super Sleuths

By Bruce Anderson

There’s a new breed of super sleuths emerging in the virtual world of the web. If you are an Internet troll, cyber criminal or an anonymous defamer you might not be as safe behind your computer as you think you are.

Seemingly hidden behind the protection of the Federal Communication Decency Act 230, there has been a dramatic increase of attacks by anonymous bloggers and posters on social media sites, blogs, and complaint sites by ex-employees, ex-spouses, ex-partners, and competitors. This alarming increase of attacks, most of them done in the privacy

of their own home, and has created a new niche market for Internet detectives, online investigators and cyber sleuths.

These online detectives are being summoned by clients to investigate corporate brand assassinations, extortion and embezzlement, Internet defamation and libel, cyber stalking and harassment, and in general tracking down anonymous attackers that are known as ghosts.

One of the biggest challenges that Internet detectives fine is that 85 to 90% of their investigations are tracking down anonymous attackers, that are hiding behind throwaway e-mail addresses, proxy servers, and rotating IP addresses all for the purpose of being able to attack someone anonymously. We find that many of these online attackers are sociopaths and narcissists that display very aggressive behavior, they think there that are smarter than the average bear, and they typically don’t respond to idle threats and in fact become more aggressive when challenged.

What most of these aggressive Internet trolls don’t realize is regardless of their Internet savvy, they typically leave a significant footprint that is traceable by professional Internet detectives and law-enforcement.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjGXwedOtjs[/youtube]

One cyber intelligence agency that we spoke with,(Rexxfield) told us that they are approaching a 90% success rate in tracking down online anonymous antagonists for their clients.

So let’s take a look at what it takes to become an online super sleuth.

BACKGROUND

First of all there are very few Internet detective agencies worldwide. The reason for this is that the barrier of entry is fairly difficult because this new breed of online detectives are typically ex-law enforcement officers, private investigators or network security analysts, and ethical hackers, that have decided to take their skills and utilize them online to catch criminals, Internet defenders, and hackers. It is very helpful if you have a nose for this stuff because many times what you are really having to do is to think like a criminal, bad guy or hacker in order to catch these anonymous attackers red-handed.

METHODS OF TRACING AND TRACKING DOWN ATTACKERS

SOCIAL ENGINEERING

One method that online detectives utilize to catch anonymous attackers is what is called social engineering. This is really the art of understanding the mentality of an online attacker, reverse engineering your way into them, and then setting up traps through the utilization of honeypots,web bugs, and other proprietary tools in order to capture the IP address, location, and Mac addresses of the online attacker. A good social engineer can find you,through your surfing habits, social media, e-mail, blogs, RSS, and even your favorite websites. In other words, if you are an anonymous attacker you really can’t hide if you utilize the web.

INTERNET FORENSICS

Another way that Internet investigators can find you is through the use of Internet forensics to analyze the web and traces that you have left behind while bidding your evil deeds. A good investigator can take one or two pieces of information like an e-mail address or web address and typically then find out a slew of information about you. They can find out things like where you live, how much you pay for your house, what website you own, what social media you’re on, phone numbers, e-mails, friends and Associates, family members, even when you were married. While this is a tedious and time-consuming process, a professional online investigator can hunt you down like a bird dog.

DIGITAL FORENSICS

Depending on the circumstances, an online investigator can gain access to your computer, phones, iPods and almost any other electronic device and run digital forensics on those items and find every e-mail, deleted file, deleted pictures or just about anything else that you have placed on those devices. In other words it is practically impossible to hide digital information once they can gain access through legal methods to your electronic devices. They can also zero in on which computers you are using, fingerprint those computers and even identify your location and MAC addresses.

SUBPOENAS-COURT ORDERS-WIRETAPS

For those cases that are more serious in nature like Internet defamation, cyber stalking, embezzlement, extortion, computer hacking etc. online investigators and detectives utilize legal instruments to produce subpoenas, court orders, online wiretaps and other various tools in order to track down information and evidence worldwide.

If you happen to be a person or company that has come under attack online you also have to understand that a lot of the electronic evidence is perishable and needs to be moved on very quickly in order to capture the evidence needed. The challenge with this is most attorneys are not trained on how to track down electronic evidence nor do they think like hackers or computer web experts. For this reason it is very important that you seek out a professional online investigator that can help close the gap between 20th century tactics in a 21st-century electronic world.

It is important that the persons or firm representing you specialize in Internet law, Internet forensics and privacy.

It is unfortunate that the Internet has both a bad and good side to it. Unfortunately we get numerous calls each day from individuals, celebrities, corporations and dignitaries that have come under serious attack by an anonymous antagonist. In most of these cases the online detective approaches the investigation much likely would murder case. It is the process of tracking down bits and pieces of information and then connecting the dots in a way that positively identifies the attacker. So if you have been thinking about attacking your ex employer, spouse, friends,competitor, or company that you’ve bought goods and services from, you need to make sure that what you say and do are legal and protected by law. Otherwise you may find yourself surprised when you get a knock on the door by your local law enforcement serving you with a warrant or lawsuit for the actions that you have taken online.

About the Author: Rexxfield is a team of online Cyber Specialists that focus their efforts on Cyber Intelligence-Internet Defamation-Reputation Repair for individuals, celebrities, corporations and dignitaries worldwide. East Coast +1 (813) 684-6018 West Coast +1 (408) 916-5977.

Source: isnare.com

Permanent Link: isnare.com/?aid=675068&ca=Business

Be It Pool And Spas Construction, Or The Maintenance, Here It Is All You Need To Know

Be It Pool and Spas Construction, or the Maintenance, Here It Is All You Need to Know

by

Tom Thoma

Have you had a dream of having a pool or a spa at your home? May be for these years you harboured it as a dream now we say time has come to transform it into reality. Today there are a number of swimming pool builders, all you need to do is just contact them, be it

swimming pool construction

or pool remodel, these companies provides all the facilities related to this arena. And believe us these companies today are well equipped with the modern technologies and the latest designs of pools and spas, so they will not only transform your dream into reality but in addition will help you get the latest designs in each categorisation.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlO73Om5K8Q[/youtube]

May be you are tired with the outdated look of your already existing pool, so why not opt for a remodelling? Just go in for a contract with these swimming pool builders

, for they not only help you in building a new one but they even help in cases of remodelling. Go in for a swimming pool contractor, explain to them about the remodelling designs that you have in mind, but remember never to weigh them down by your orders, welcome their suggestions, consider them logically before going in for the final designs, these companies will always guide you in the right way, be it pools with waterfall, or pebble or quartz interior surface conversion, they will suggest the best complementing your home ambience. So always balance your views as well as those of the contractors, proper understanding can really evolve the perfect balance of good designs and latest equipment suitable for your house.

Be it a Custom New Pool and Spa Construction

, or a remodel,

Pool and Spa Maintenance

forms an important aspect in both cases. Proper maintenance is needed in each case in their own manners to keep it clean and help it function best in its own way. Firstly ask your contractors to guide you with the maintenance schemes, devise suitable ways to keep the pools and spas closed during winters for it saves a lot of your work. Understand which automatic cleaner or the vacuum would be right for your pool. So remember to keep these intrinsic details in mind. Today getting a pool and spa is not enough, what you should strive for is its proper maintenance.

Infinity Pool is Southern California’s Premier Pool Company. We can help you enhance your residential or commercial pool. Contact us for an appointment at

Swimming pool builders

and Infinity Pools will help you re-design your pool or spa area.

Article Source:

ArticleRich.com

The Cost Effective Role Play Of The Air Conditioning Mc Kinney

The cost effective role play of the Air Conditioning McKinney

by

rudycartun40

Air conditioning McKinney not only adds to the zeal of your system by its well planned means of touchup and repair but also serves your needs for supply and installation. Providing the inhabitant with a cost and energy optimized cooling system is the guiding perspective of the air conditioning facility based in McKinney. Bearing this in mind; it looks after the commercial, as well as the residential needs for conditioning.

Whether it is the need for repairing or that of installation, the air conditioning McKinney is there to guide you with the right scheme of ideas. Free estimates of the system to be installed and the cost of its maintenance needs are all within their belt. The technicians of the mentioned facility are forever willing to coach and counsel with advice and tips. As far as the scheme of installation is concerned, you need to check out the viability of the unit and whether it would add to the prospect of energy conservation. In this respect, also the trained technicians of the mentioned scheme are there to bank on.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MiQCBIx1mM[/youtube]

Air conditioning McKinney includes the backup support of workforce which is trained with the requisite draw of technical knowledge. Additionally, you are able to avail the service of trained technicians with the extra backing of insurance and authorization. Thus, various facets of operation are carried out in a professional manner, with minimal chances of mess-ups and hassles. Cost effective terms of transaction gives the facility an added chisel. As a customer, you can avail of cuts, discounts and special vouchers of sale. The air conditioning McKinney guides you to a cost effective deal in repair, renovation and installation. Providing the inhabitant with a cost and energy optimized cooling system is the guiding perspective of the air conditioning facility based in McKinney.

In the course of your residential renovations, you may or may not go in for a scheme of replacement. You can also have the system touched up with fresh coats of renovation. Here again, you can bank on the authoritative guidance of the

air conditioning mckinney

. It all depends on the durability and age of your system. The technicians can guide your choice, so that you are able to come up with one of the cheapest options. That s because there are occasions when renovations may prove to be as costly as having the system replaced with a fresh new system of conditioning.

The author can provide you valuable as well as high quality information on

air conditioning repair mckinney

. You can find all the important information provided by this experienced writer on this topic.

Article Source:

ArticleRich.com

New Bie In Internet Marketing Let’s Get Started,A Call To Action

  • Find Out More About:
  • Seo

By Alphonso Smith

Let’s go….

Remember we’ve already decided that we will be successful in offering premium content.(video, digital, etc.) via e-commerce in a almost 100% electronic environment. Our business will be conducted in a beneficial manner for all parties involved.

At this point, we’ve decided on a name for our company and our website. we need to figure out who are the customers we are looking to serve and buy our product? Who are we going to sell our products to?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Yp-sX5_ahg[/youtube]

We can attempt to serve everybody or we can focus on those who are interested in what we are offering and will buy. Studies show that more sales are the key, and sales that generate repeat sales are best gotten by targeting a portion of the market. It becomes easier to know and talk directly to a targeted portion of the market. Your message heard by those who are not open to hear it, will just ignore it. Target your message to those who are open to hear your message. They will hear. They will listen. When they listen, they can be called to action.

As we are learning our customer base, we are learning what makes our customers tick. We’ve learned our customers’ ‘core complexes’ are composes of beliefs, feelings and desires that drives the customer’s buying behavior

Now that we think we know our customer (likes, dislikes, what makes them go further then they have gone before, what will make them take action?) let’s put all of this into a Sales page. One that does what we need it to do. I only say build a sales page to those who are able to or have confidence that they can. If you can’t, then that should only be a temporary thing, experiences will give you guidance. But for now there are copywriters galore that will give you the result of their skills for a fee. I don’t mean it in a demeaning matter, but they are everywhere. In my estimation, it’s a buyers market. Don’t act like a newbie. Be a new-bie. There are sample sales letters everywhere, there are boiler plate sales letter packages everywhere, don’t fret.

The great thing about this business is that you can build it from the ground up. If you want you can buy a turn key situation. It’s called a Business in a Box. The next option is that instead of buying your business in totality, it can be bought in components. Another option is that you can build it as you go.

Then you can also experience affiliate marketing. If money is limited and cost are an obstacle. Affilate marketing will allow you to learn what going on at the least expense and you can still make money. We’ll get back to affiliate marketing later.

At no time do we want to stray too far. We are at the sales page stage. I should really refer to it as the sales page package. I say sales package because that is what we’re putting together. No.1, there is the sales letter which goes into detail of what the product does, how it will benefit the buyer, how you the seller of the product can be trusted to give the buyer a fair deal and how the buyer should take immediate action in buying this product because of all types of legit reasons.(In my opinion, the most lengthy). Then there should be what I refer to as a lead capture page. This is called by many names and is narrowly tweaked for various purposes. Since one of the purpose I use it is to get names.(capture leads for future sales) I’m so driven to building my list, that I will give premium gifts in exchange for names. I repeat, these are leads for future sales to interested clients.

About the Author: Alphonso Smith is a founding member of The New-bie Nation supporting, promoting and advocating issues pertaining to the success and well-being of New-bies in the Internet Marketing industy. Mr. Smith is also contributing writer at

new-bienation.blogspot.com

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IMF prepares to help Hungary and Ukraine

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IMF prepares to help Hungary and Ukraine

Friday, October 17, 2008

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is preparing a series of loans to both Hungary and Ukraine as financial problems are hitting the two countries. Hungary has already received a €5 billion credit line from the European Central Bank (ECB). Ukraine is seeking a loan of up to US$14 billion.

Dominique Strauss-Kahn says the IMF is prepared to give loans to Hungary and Ukraine if needed.

The credit line to Hungary will be used to cover banks’ shortage of euros. Hungary has a severe debt problem with them posting an account deficit of €5.3 billion or 4.9% of GDP this year. As a result of this, Hungary is unable to find suitable credit to store up its supply of euros.

“We are in close dialogue with the Hungarian authorities and the EU to discuss further responses to the current challenges, including possible technical and financial support by the IMF”, said Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Managing Director of the IMF. “I have informed the authorities that the IMF stands ready to assist their efforts. We will provide technical assistance as needed and, in the context of a supportive policy setting, are ready to undertake [decisions] on possible financial assistance, responding rapidly.”

Ukraine’s Finance Minister Viktor Pynzenyk met with an IMF team on Thursday. In a statement, Pynzenyk said “the parties discussed a situation of influence the world financial crisis had on the economy of Ukraine.” It is not yet known how much the IMF is expected to lend to Ukraine but it is expected to be between $3 billion to $14 billion. It is also not known what type of conditions might be placed on the loan.

In addition to financial uncertainty, Ukraine is suffering from political turmoil with the current President, Viktor Yushchenko, calling a snap parliamentary election for December. The Prime Minister, Yulia Tymoshenko, has made moves to stop the election. Ukraine’s yearly trade deficit has increased by almost $7 billion since last year.

The credit line by the European Central Bank is the first time publicly that it has extended help to countries other than the 15 that make up the Eurozone.

According to Reuters, Hungary might be able to start the process of joining the euro quicker then expected. Currently, Hungary is on track to join the euro in 2011 or 2012, but if sped up, it is possible it could join as early as 2010. This might protect Hungary from further financial problems.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=IMF_prepares_to_help_Hungary_and_Ukraine&oldid=2295859”

Forex Trading Hard Truths You Will Fail In Forex Trading If You Lack These

One of the reasons why only 5% of the traders are successful and the majority of the 95% fail in the Forex market. Besides that, a lot of people lack a mindset that is essential for successful Forex Trading. Below are the 4 factors that most people lack of:

1. Discipline – This is a very important factor. Whether you are able to maintain successful Forex Trading in the long run will depend on this. As a disciplined trader, you have to follow the rules of a Forex Trading system and you do not break them. But on the other hand, you do not react to any signals appeared in the trading system blindly, you have to also understand the Forex market conditions. E.g. You may not want to go long on GBP/USD, when there are weak economic concerns about the U.K. market.

2. Trading Psychology – The inability to control the greed factor could lead to a downfall of your trading career. Always be satisfied with the profit target that you have planned and forget about the losses that you incurred in a failed Forex trade, there will always be more trading opportunities. Another bad habit of trading psychology is the Fear of losing a trade, meaning people may cut losses earlier or later. Leave it all to the target profit and stop loss that you have set, which means that you are consistent in everything you trade.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKQU-CcrQhs[/youtube]

3. Money Management – Forex Trading is also about how good you manage your money. Do not trade all your capital, but only the amount that you can afford to loose. Plan on how much are you willing to risk per trade. I would recommend trading on 1% to 5% of your trading capital per trade. This ensures you have enough money to trade Forex when you loose some.

4. Consistency – If you can be consistent in the above 3 factors, then you should be making profits in Forex Trading, and consistently. A Forex trader can make a huge sum of profits in a short period of time, but if he/she lacks consistency, I can guarantee that the trader won’t make a successful trader in the long haul.

I understand that as a newbie trader, you may find it tough to follow the above 4 points. I have gone through that too. This is why Forex Trading is not as easy as one may think. But by learning to abide those rules and following my Forex Trading guide, which teaches Forex system trading, I can be sure that through hard work and determination, you can be one of the successful traders as well.

Queen’s Speech sets out Coalition government’s final year agenda

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Queen’s Speech sets out Coalition government’s final year agenda

Friday, June 6, 2014File:Queen Elizabeth II delivering 2013 Queen’s Speech.jpg

Queen Elizabeth II, opening Parliament in a similar event last year.Image: VOA.(Image missing from Commons: image; log)

Queen Elizabeth II formally reopened Parliament on Wednesday and announced the legislative agenda of the UK government for the final year of the Coalition’s five year term. New measures introduced covered crime, the economy, energy and house building.

The next year of legislative changes would, the speech claimed, “deliver on [the government’s] long-term plan to build a stronger economy and a fairer society”. On economics, it promised the government would continue to lower taxes, produce an updated Charter for Budget Responsibility to “ensure that future governments spend taxpayers’ money responsibly”, and continue reduction of the deficit.

On employment law, the Queen’s Speech announced reduction in employment tribunal delays and plans to try and “improve the fairness of contracts for low paid workers” — a response to “zero-hours” contracts. The Institute of Directors support reforms to zero-hours contracts, specifically by removing “exclusivity” clauses. The speech also announced the introduction of a “collective pension” system similar to schemes in use in the Netherlands.

The government is also to increase penalties on companies that do not pay employees minimum wage, and reform National Insurance contributions by self-employed people. The government also plans to extend the ISA and Premium Bond savings schemes and abolish the 10% tax rate on savings. The speech also promised more house building, and also to introduce legislation to reduce the use of plastic bags.

The speech announced the government would seek to pass a new Serious Crime Bill “to tackle child neglect, disrupt serious organised crime and strengthen powers to seize the proceeds of crime”. Another bill will be introduced to deal with modern slavery and human trafficking and to support victims of these offences. The speech also said the government “will lead efforts to prevent sexual violence in conflict worldwide”.

The Serious Crime Bill would also include an increase in the sentence for those who bring about “cyberattacks which result in loss of life, serious illness or injury or serious damage to national security, or a significant risk thereof”. Under the Computer Misuse Act 1990, these are currently subject to a ten year prison sentence, but the punishment would now risk imprisonment for life. Punishment for cyberattacks that cause “a significant risk of severe economic or environmental damage or social disruption” would increase from the current ten year maximum tariff to fourteen years.

Jim Killock from the Open Rights Group said existing laws already allow effective prosecution of those engaging in cyberattacks.

The speech also announced legislation would be introduced “to provide that where a person acts heroically, responsibly or for the benefit of others, this will be taken into account by the courts”.

Constituents would be able to “recall” an MP who had been found guilty of misconduct under a proposed law that will be debated. The Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith described the current plans as “meaningless” and said voters had been “duped”. The Bill would force a by-election if 10% of voters signed a petition within eight weeks, but only if a Commons committee had decided the MP could be recalled. This latter requirement will make it “impossible to recall anyone” according to Goldsmith.

Business minister Michael Fallon defended the recall proposals: “we have to protect MPs from being recalled by people who just disagree with them[…] What you have to ensure is an MP can’t be hounded out just because people disagree with them back in their constituency.”

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said he agreed with Goldsmith the bill was not perfect, and he wanted “a radical California-style recall” system, but he had settled for a “modest” bill to satisfy “Conservative Party resistance”. Goldsmith claimed Clegg had been “the architect of the current Recall Bill”.

Tim Aker, head of policy for the UK Independence Party, said: “The decision to only offer recall voting on a signed-off-by-Parliament-basis reflects a political class that does not know, does not trust and certainly does not represent its people.”

Green MP Caroline Lucas spoke in opposition to the government’s fracking proposals. Image: The Health Hotel.

The speech included measures to make it easier for businesses to engage in hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) of shale gas. The Institute of Directors said laws “must be updated if the UK is to enjoy the benefits of our shale potential”, specifically by scrapping laws on trespass to allow the gas extraction to occur. The British Chamber of Commerce also support such a reform: “While fracking may be unpalatable to some, it is absolutely essential, and business will support legislative measures to exploit Britain’s shale gas deposits”. Activists from Greenpeace fenced off Prime Minister David Cameron’s home in Oxfordshire with a sign reading “We apologise for any inconvenience while we frack under your home”, and delivered a £50 cheque — identified as the maximum compensation suggested for property owners.

Simon Clydedale from Greenpeace UK said of the fracking proposals: “The prime minister is about to auction off over half of Britain to the frackers, including national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty like the Cotswolds. Fracking won’t deliver energy on a meaningful scale for years, if ever, by which time we’ll need to have moved away from dirty fossil fuels and towards high-tech clean power if we’re to head off dangerous climate change.”

Caroline Lucas, Green Party MP, spoke in opposition to the fracking proposals after the Queen’s Speech: “Not only does this bill defy public opinion, it denies people a voice. To allow fracking companies to drill under people’s homes and land without their permission is to ignore public interest in pursuit of the vested interests of a few.” A poll conducted by YouGov found 74% of respondents opposed the plans.

Following the Queen’s Speech, politicians from all parties debated the direction of the government in the year ahead.

Prime Minister David Cameron said that the Queen’s Speech showcased “a packed programme of a busy and radical government”, whose “long-term economic plan is working but there is much, much more to do”, and it would “take the rest of this Parliament and the next to finish the task of turning our country around”.

Labour leader Ed Miliband said: “We would have a Queen’s Speech with legislation which would make work pay, reform our banks, freeze energy bills and build homes again in Britain. A Queen’s Speech which signals a new direction for Britain, not one which offers more of the same.”

Cameron described Miliband as having a “rag bag, pick-and-mix selection of statist Seventies ideas [… a] revival of Michael Foot’s policies paid for by Len McCluskey’s money” — a reference to controversies surrounding the substantial funding Labour gets from trade union Unite.

Liberal Democrat president Tim Farron said of the Queen’s Speech: “I suspect the pensions proposals will be around for a generation or more and will be remembered. It’s about making sure they are fairer, cheaper, more secure, more reliable and potentially better for people.”

Plaid Cymru MP Elfyn Llwyd said: “This was an uninspired Queen’s Speech delivered by a government that has well and truly run out of steam.”

Angus Robertson, the leader of the Scottish National Party in Westminster, said the Queen’s Speech barely mentioned Scotland: “The absence of any mention at all of the Westminster parties’ plans for Scotland in the Queen’s Speech is extraordinary. […] In this – the year of the biggest opportunity in Scotland’s history – Scotland hardly even gets a nod at Westminster, and not a single mention of future plans for improving government in Scotland.”

The speech made brief mention of Scotland: “My government will continue to implement new financial powers for the Scottish Parliament and make the case for Scotland to remain a part of the United Kingdom.”

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Queen%27s_Speech_sets_out_Coalition_government%27s_final_year_agenda&oldid=3356011”

Oil spill hits Australia’s Sunshine coastline

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Oil spill hits Australia’s Sunshine coastline

Sunday, March 15, 2009

A small, basic map of affected areas in the 2009 Queensland oil spill.

200,000 litres of oil leaked into waters off the coast of Brisbane from the Pacific Adventurer when their fuel tanks were damaged in rough seas on Wednesday. The figure is about ten times higher than the original estimate of twenty thousand litres of oil. The devastating diesel oil spill has spread along 60 kilometres (37 miles) of the Queensland coast. In addition, 31 containers with 620 tonnes of ammonium nitrate fertiliser flew overboard during the violent storm.

Questions are being asked why the Hong Kong cargo ship was out in seas with nine meter waves caused by Cyclone Hamish, a Category 5 tropical cyclone, as well as why the fertiliser containers were not properly secured. One of the overboard containers ruptured the hull of the Pacific Adventurer, causing between 30 to 100 tonnes of oil to spew from the severely damaged ship.

If the ammonium nitrate mixes with the heavy oil, an explosion could occur. None of the containers have been recovered. Some of these may float, but it is believed that they may have sunk which then may cause algal blooms.

Disaster zones have been declared at Bribie and Moreton Islands, and along the Sunshine coast.

The vessel’s owner, Swire Shipping, reported that a second leak began on Friday, when the ship began listing after docking at Hamilton for repairs. “As full soundings of the vessel’s tanks were being taken at the port to determine how much oil had leaked from the vessel, a small quantity of fuel oil escaped from the Pacific Adventurer,” it stated. The ship was brought upright, and a recovery vessel was used to suck up the oil from the water. The leak produced a 500m-long oil slick down the Brisbane River. Booms were placed around this oil spill so that a skimmer could clean up the second spill.

9 March 2009 MODIS Aqua satellite image of Severe Tropical Cyclone Hamish over the Coral Sea just off the Queensland coast.

Swire Shipping could face clean up costs of AU$100,000 a day as well as fines up to AU$1.5million (US$977,000; £703,000) if found guilty of environmental breaches or negligence.

Sunshine Coast beaches are slowly starting to be reopened. The beach of Mooloolaba was still closed following reports of burning sensations from swimmers. 12 beaches remain closed; however, 13 have been reopened.

Over 300 state government and council workers are using buckets, rakes and spades in the clean up effort. Sunshine Coast Mayor Bob Abbott says the majority will be gone by Sunday afternoon. The full environmental impact on wildlife is not yet known. One turtle and seven pelicans have been found covered in oil.

There are concerns that the drinking water of Moreton Island is at risk, as the island uses water from the underground water table near the oil spill site.

“Every bucketload of contaminated sand has to be removed from the island by barge, and each bucketload from a front-end loader weighs about one tonne. It’s just an impossible task,” said Mr Trevor Hassard of the Tangalooma Dolphin Education Centre.

The commercial fishing industry has suffered from the incident. Trawlers won’t resume operations until Sunday evening, and any catches will be tested for human consumption.

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