Forum Topics

Dawn of a new era?

I thought I would click on the Local Govt button to see what was new. First item clicked was:New council leader hails mandate for positive change Cllr Stephen Greenhalgh welcomes "dawn of a new era" Curious, I thought, no local elections since those in May 2006. Turns out, this was put there in May 2006. What I remember of the launch of the new administration was the launch of their new borough logo, which must be almost unique in that the words Hammersmith and Fulham don't feature on it, and for a suppsedly non-political emblem of the borough, it looked remarkably like the Tory party logo!Since then as Stephen Cowan has pointed out, a lot of cuts of good services and few signs of innovation in generating any new ones. As ever, the obsession to the exclusion of improving services, with holding or reducing the Council Tax. No effort to even begin to resolve the chronic and growing housing shortage, especially at the affordable end - people there left to swing in the wind of insecure tenure in the fickle private sector or pitch for part-rent part-buy at prices they can barely, if at all, afford. No sign of Lib-Dem opposition around the borough being even remotely an alternative. So come 2010 it will be up to borough voters to chop them or keep them. I hope Stephen Cowan has a new intake of very able fresh Labour councillors lined up to take over again; my word what a lot of work to do to clear up the mess Greenhalgh and his gang will have left.

Dan Filson ● 5924d0 Comments ● 5924d

State Funded Muslim Schools

The demand for Muslim schools comes from parents who want their children a safe environment with an Islamic ethos.Parents see Muslim schools where children can develop their Islamic Identity where they won't feel stigmatised for being Muslims and they can feel confident about their faith.Muslim schools are working to try to create a bridge between communities. There is a belief among ethnic minority parens that the British schooling does not adequatly address their cultural needs. Failing to meet this need could result in feeling resentment among a group who already feel excluded. Setting up Muslim school is a defensive response. State schools with monolingual teachers are not capable to teach English to bilingual Muslim children. Bilingual teachers are needed to teach English to such children along with their mother tongue. According to a number of  studies, a child will not learn a second language if his first language is ignored. Bilingual Muslim children need state funded Muslim schools with bilingual Muslim teachers as role models during their developmental periods. Muslims have the right to educate their children in an environment that suits their culture. This notion of "integration", actually means "assimilation", by which people generally really mean "be more like me". That is not multiculturalism. In Sydney, Muslims were refused to build a Muslim school, because of a protest by the residents. Yet a year later, permission was given for the building of a Catholic school and no protests from the residents. This clrearly shows the blatant hypocrisy, double standards and racism. Christians oppose Muslim schools in western countries yet build their own religious schools. British schooling and the British society is the home of institutional racism. The result is that Muslim children are unable to developself-confidence and self-esteem, therefore, majority of them leave schools with low grades. Racism is deeply rooted in British society. Every native child is born with a gene or virus of racism, therefore, no law could change the attitudes of racism towards those who are different. It is not only the common man, even member of the royal family is involved in racism. The father of a Pakistani office cadet who was called a "Paki" by Prince Harryhas profoundly condemned his actions. He had felt proud when he met the Queen and the Prince of Wales at his son's passing out parade at Sandhurst in 2006 but now felt upset after learning about the Prince's comments. Queen Victoria invited an Imam from India to teach her Urdu language. He was highly respected by the Queen but other members of the royal family had no respect for him. He was forced to go back to India. His protrait is still in one of the royal places. There are hundreds of state schools where Muslim pupils are in majority. In my opinion, all such schools may be designated as Muslim community schools with bilingual Muslim teachers. There is no place for a non-Muslim child or a teacher in a Muslim school.Iftikhar Ahmadwww.londonschoolofislamics.org.uk

Iftikhar Ahmad ● 5973d14 Comments ● 5961d

Multi-faith Schools

. Multi-faith Schools• A Muslim charity In Swindon is bidding to run the first Multi-faith Muslim School for Muslim and non-Muslim children and have teachers from different faiths. An hour of the timetable each day would be dedicated to studying Arabic and the Holy Quran. Non-Muslims pupils would be able to be exempted from the lessons, but it is hoped that the majority would choose to stay in class to gain more “insight” into the Islamic faith.• In my opinion, Multifaith school is not going to be successful because non-Muslim parents would not send their children. In the past, a plan for a Multi-faith secondary school in Westminster for 1000 pupils could not be materialised because faith groups could not come to any agreement. Now even Hindu community has set up state funded school in Harrow. Black community is also thinking of setting up its own school with Black teachers. • According to David Lammy MP, there are still too many inequalities in the education system which prevents disadvantaged children from applying to study for a degree. British schooling is wholly responsible for the inequalities. A culture of low expectation and a lack of rigour holding these pupils back. Every child must reach his full potential regardless of his background. Justice Secretary Jack Straw MP said British society should be one which recognizes and celebrates differences. One in which we all have an opportunity to flourish, regardless of who we are or where we are from. British schooling has been trying to integrate and assimilate Muslim community through education in the name of integration. The Imams and Masajid have been playing their parts to keep Islamic faith alive, but that is not enough. British schooling does not promote global cohesion. It does not encourage dialogue and increases understanding. • Bilingual Muslim children need state funded Muslim schools with bilingual Muslim teachers as role models during their developmental periods. They need to learn and be well versed in Standard English to follow the National Curriculum and go for higher studies and research to serve humanity. They need to learn and be well versed in Arabic to recite and understand the Holy Quran. They need to learn and be well versed in Urdu and other community languages to keep in touch with their cultural roots and enjoy the beauty of their literature and poetry.• Iftikhar Ahmadwww.londonschoolofislamics.org.uk

Iftikhar Ahmad ● 6065d3 Comments ● 6052d

Tommy Cooperism's................

1. Two blondes walk into a building....you'd think at least one of them would have seen it. 2. Phone answering machine message - "...If you want to buy marijuana, press the hash key... 3. A guy walks into the psychiatrist wearing only Clingfilm for shorts. The shrink says, "Well, I can clearly see you're nuts. 4. I went to buy some camouflage trousers the other day but I couldn't find any 5. I went to the butchers the other day and I bet him 50 quid that he couldn't reach the meat off the top shelf. He said, "No, the steaks are too high. 6. My friend drowned in a bowl of muesli. A strong currant pulled him in.7. A man came round in hospital after a serious accident. He shouted, "Doctor, doctor, I can't feel my legs!" The doctor replied, "I know you can't, I've cut your arms off. 8. I went to a seafood disco last week...and pulled a muscle.9. Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly. They lit a fire in the craft, it sank, proving once and for all that you can't have your kayak and heat it. 10. Our ice cream man was found lying on the floor of his van covered with hundreds and thousands. Police say that he topped himself. 11. Man goes to the doctor, with a strawberry growing out of his head. Doc says "I'll give you some cream to put on it." 12. 'Doc I can't stop singing The Green, Green Grass of Home' "That sounds like Tom Jones syndrome. 'Is it common?' "It's not unusual." 13. A man takes his Rotteweiller to the vet. "My dog is cross-eyed, is there anything you can do for him?" "Well," said the vet, "let's have a look at him" So he picks the dog up and examines his eyes, then he checks his teeth. Finally, he says, "I'm going to have to put him down." "What? Because he's cross-eyed?" "No, because he's really heavy". 14. Guy goes into the doctor's. "Doc, I've got a cricket ball stuck up my backside." "How's that?" "Don't you start." 15. Two elephants walk off a cliff...boom, boom! 16. What do you call a fish with no eyes? A fsh. 17. So I was getting into my car, and this bloke says to me "Can you give me a lift?" I said "Sure, you look great, the world's your oyster, go for it.' 18. Apparently, 1 in 5 people in the world are Chinese. There are 5 people in my family, so it must be one of them. It's either my mum or my Dad, or my older Brother Colin, or my younger Brother Ho-Cha-Chu? But I think its Colin. 19. Two fat blokes in a pub, one says to the other "Your round." The other one says "So are you, you fat ba*tard!" 20. Police arrested two kids yesterday, one was drinking battery acid, and the other was eating fireworks. They charged one and let the other one off. 21. "You know, somebody actually complimented me on my driving today. They left a little note on the windscreen. It said, 'Parking Fine.' So that was nice." 22. A man walked into the doctors, he said, "I've hurt my arm in several places" The doctor said, "Well don't go there anymore" 23. Ireland 's worst air disaster occurred early this morning when a small two-seater Cessna plane crashed into a cemetery. Irish search and rescue workers have recovered 1826 bodies so far and expect that number to climb As digging continues into the night!

Carol Burge ● 6100d1 Comments ● 6099d

Day of Action to tackle obsessive compulsive disorder

My name is Paul and I am a volunteer press officer for the UK charity OCD Action. Since 1991 OCD Action has been promoting recovery, awareness and understanding of obsessive compulsive disorder. We have a day of action on November 22 at Imperial College London to show those who are affected by OCD how to fight back against their tormenting thoughts and secret rituals.OCD is a clinically recognised condition in which people experience repetitive and upsetting thoughts (obsessions) and use rituals (compulsions) to control the anxiety these thoughts produce.OCD can affect anyone at any time and it can hit hard. Do you know what it's like to try and rein in the uncontrollable anxiety that surges through your body when your mind is awash with obsessive compulsive disorder, and neither fight nor flight can defeat this invisible enemy?If you do then please come to OCD Conference 2008Date: Saturday, 22 November 2008Time: 9:30am – 5.30pmPlace:  Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZFees: £20 / £30 for members or supporting charities and £75 for professionalsPhone OCD Action to book your ticket on 0870 360 6232.www.ocdaction.org.ukOCD Action helpline 0845 390 6232 Professors, mental health experts and people who suffer from obsessive compulsive disorders will join forces in a series of presentations and workshops to raise awareness, increase understanding and share methods of how to treat the biological disorder that affects an estimated 1.8 million people in the UK. Read about ticket details on www.ocdaction.org.ukThere will be workshops for young people, adults and families on how to treat fears on contamination, hoarding, checking and reassurance, as well as Tourette syndrome, body dysmorphic disorder and skin-picking. 

Paul Carter ● 6118d0 Comments ● 6118d

An Open Letter to Ed Balls

An Open Letter to the Secretary of State for Education Ed BallsThe debate over the trajectory of the western sociopolitical system and its strained relations with Islam is the most pivotal of our time.  Muslims are in one of the most difficult phases of their history when malicious attacks including allegation of terrorism are being made on Islam and Muslims all over the world. The malicious campaign against Muslims is politically motivated. The world is obsessed by Islam. Anti-terror measures are ruining lives of Muslim youths. If you go around arresting young Muslims, you are going to find that you are going to ostracise this community. Young Muslims don’t need to be ostracized, they need to be engaged. According to the Arch Bishop, Rowan Williams, acceptance of some facets of Sharia not only “seems unavoidable”, but could actually improve social cohesion. Muslims should be able to choose to have marital or financial matters dealt with in a Sharia Court. Such courts should therefore be incorporated into the British legal system as a constructive accommodation with Islam.  Schools are being asked to help “win hearts and minds” in the battle against violent extremists on both sides. British born Imams should go into schools to supplement the teaching of RE, PSHE and Citizenship so that all pupils can learn about the Holy Quran and Islam in the context of a multicultural society. OFSTED must make sure that their services should be fully utilised by the schools, otherwise, it will be waste of public money. The British Establishment is wrong to assert that Imams and Masajid have been radicalising Muslim youths.  The roots of extremism are in the British society and schools where institutional racism is at its peak. The racism within schools has got little media coverage. The school attended by 7/7 bombers in a part of Leeds known for its history of racial tension between British Asians and native Brits. Leeds council was so worried about the violence that it had to call in Foundation for Peace, a government funded peacekeepers who were used to keep Catholics and Protestants from killing one another in Northern Ireland. True message of Islam should be promoted because British media and society have always portrayed Islam in a negative way since Crusades and the siege of Vienna in 1683.  School Curriculum should be used to convey a deeper understanding of Islamic faith, history and culture. Prison is not the answer of those who are vulnerable to, or are being drawn into violent extremism unless they have clearly committed an offence. The greatest challenge to humanity is learning to live in a crowded and interconnected world that is creating unprecedented pressures on human society. The rector of Oxford’s largest Anglican Churches has called a Muslim call to prayers from the main Masjid “un-English”. This is a clear case of intolerance. Gibraltar is a British colony. Five Pound currency note has a queen image on one side and on the other side there is an image of the Muslim Conqueror with a sword in his hand. There is more hatred of Muslims seduced by the Western media, education system and church leaders like Bishop Nazir Ali. Catholic nuns have worn veils for centuries, with no public controversies arising. There is no reason why any girl’s school uniform can not now be modified to include a veil. Wearing a veil to school or to work must be a matter of choice for all. Iftikhar Ahmadwww.londonschoolofislamic.sorg.uk

Iftikhar Ahmad ● 6130d6 Comments ● 6127d

Teachings of Zen!

1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me for the path is narrow. In fact, just piss off and leave me alone.2. Sex is like air. It's not important unless you aren't getting any.3. No one is listening until you fart.4. Always remember you're unique. Just like everyone else.5. Never test the depth of the water with both feet.6. If you think nobody cares whether you're alive or dead, try missing a couple of mortgage payments.7. Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.8. If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.9. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.10. If you lend someone £20 and never see that person again, it was probably well worth it.11. If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.12. Some days you are the bug; some days you are the wind screen.13. Don't worry; it only seems kinky the first time.14. Good judgment comes from bad experience and most of that comes from bad judgment.15. A closed mouth gathers no foot. 16. There are two theories to arguing with women. Neither one works.17. Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving.18. Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.19. We are born naked, wet and hungry, and get slapped on our ass ... then things just get worse.20. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night. Handle every stressful situation like a dog, if you can't eat it or hump it. Piss on it and walk away.

Carol Burge ● 6129d1 Comments ● 6129d

Retendering of local bus services have your say

TfL are currently consulting on the retendering of bus routes.Please bear in mind TfL’s advice on suggestions, comments, etc on routes:  They are looking for comments from the public to Stakeholders in this case London TravelWatch. They would particularly welcome information on any particular problems you may have identified rather than a specific suggestion for extension or enhancement of an individual route. This is because the best solution to a problem may be a change to another route rather than the one being directly reviewed. Closing date for comments put on the forum by 23rd September.  I will then take them forward to Tfl. Suggestions might include:                                                 ideas which enhance social inclusion;                        corridors or areas which might benefit from new or enhanced Sunday or night services;                        areas or corridors on which you feel increased frequency or larger vehicles are needed to  cater for demand;                         identifying routes which you feel are unreliable;                        ideas which improve integration with other transport modes or interchange with other bus  routes or improve access to major developments.”  The routes affected are: 207, N207, 427, 427, 607 195 266, N266 260 120 70, R70 94, N94 11, N11 195 X26 110, 111 81 211, C1

Libby Kemp ● 6164d10 Comments ● 6158d

Goldhawk Road Developments

So...another high-density development is proposed within a conservation area, a few hundred yards from the mooted Allied Carpets high-rise. In the past couple of years, four other high-density, mixed usage developments have been constructed within approximately a mile and a half of both the suggested sites. Given that our local schools, doctors and dentists are oversubscribed and groaning under the pressure, would it not be wiser to invest in our local infrastructure rather than constantly slap up new housing? Better still, refurbish the vacant housing stock that already exists in the borough - or would this result in less profit for developers? For, however cosy their stated intentions and murmurs of 'social' and 'affordable' housing, developers are in this to make a profit (or at least to pay their directors fat salaries) and neither scheme would enhance or benefit our already crowded community. As for 'affordable' housing and  part buying schemes - they are still too expensive and therefore rarely benefit those key workers such as teachers and  nurses who are most in need. Given the current parlous state of the housing market, is it even wise to be contemplating new-build developments that might then stand empty, blighting the area and attracting the usual security problems that beset empty properties? At least the Goldhawk Road site has already had residential usage - the Allied Carpets site has been commercial premises for many years and its change to high-density residential usage would have a severe impact on an already congested corner. Do the developers really think that a car park with an entrance from Greenside Road will not significantly add to the increasing traffic caused by the Westfield Centre, the Polish Church, the extended congestion zone et al? Greenside Road is a narrow, residential street and already often at a standstill. And what about the chaos caused by vehicles on site while works take place? I have just received a letter from the Council Planning Dept. inviting comments/objections to the scheme before 20th June and will be responding with the points I have outlined above. I will also be objecting to any development at the Goldhawk Road site on the same grounds. We need investment in infrastructure to enhance and sustain our existing community before we bow to developers' demands to make a fat profit at the expense of local residents.

Amanda Lees ● 6263d2 Comments ● 6262d

C4 documentary looking for case studies in Shepherds Bush...

I am an Assistant Producer working for betty, an independent TV production company that specialises in people-based documentary films and series’. We are currently making a three part documentary series for Channel 4 about the working relationship between builders and their clients and are looking for people who might be interested in getting involved with the filming process.We are looking for homeowners & builders in the Greater London area who have run into problems on a large scale domestic building project and need some help to get it back on track. We will offer the services (for free) of a leading industry expert to work with the homeowners and the builders to help resolve any problems.  The programme is a great opportunity to reach an amicable solution that gets everything running smoothly again for all concerned. The first two episodes reached an agreeable solution for both parties and I am confident that we can do the same for those involved in our final episode. My initial aim is to have an informal chat with the homeowners to determine whether or not the project meets the criteria of the documentary and I will then work on contacting the builder to explain the premise of the series.  Again we have managed to achieve this with our first two episodes and barring disaster we should be able to make it work the third time around.  The filming period is likely to last 2-3 weeks with our industry expert, Jeff Howell, spending 2 days each week at the building location.  Please do get in touch for an informal chat should the above apply to you or alternatively please pass on my contact details to anyone currently experiencing difficulties.  Best wishesFiona Wilson0207 907 0869 / fiona.wilson@betty.co.uk

Fiona Wilson ● 6530d0 Comments ● 6530d

Britain's largest books forum launches in West London

I live just down the road in Chiswick, and this week launched the largest books forum in the UK from my home, and the only one that is totally independent. It is called Book Group Online, and can be found by following this link: www.bookgrouponline.com. This forum has been constructed on the principle that it’s impossible to read a book and not have an opinion about it. Book Group Online is a place to come and discuss books to your heart’s content: to share your views and argue with those whose views differ from your own. We also want this to be a place to come when you’re wondering what to read next, and looking for recommendations. Amazingly, this is the first independent books forum to be launched in the UK, covering all the subjects you would find in any decent bookshop. There has never been a books forum covering as wide a range of subjects as Book Group Online, including different fiction genres, every non-fiction category you can think of, and a special section covering children’s books. Even on its first day, it is the largest of its kind.This is a brand new website, and I thought my fellow Chiswick residents should be among the very first people to know about it. To be honest, we’re just finishing off creating it now. You could look on it as like going on holiday to the Costa Brava and finding that the building is being completed around you – with the difference being that everything works, and that you have a say in how it’s constructed. Because ultimately, it is the first users of this site who will set the tone for future users.So please register and start posting! Click on www.bookgrouponline.com and it will take you to an opening page with simple instructions on how to register. All you have to do is choose a user name and a secret password. There is plenty of information on the forum on how to use the site.The other thing you can do is not keep the existence of Book Group Online to yourself. Spread the word! There are bound to be people you know who would enjoy this site, so we ask you please to pass on the address, email the link, whatever you can do to let others know about it. And then they too can spread the word! The more people who join and join in, the better this site will become. There’s not much point in being a pioneer if there’s nobody following you.If you haven’t finished, or even started, your Christmas shopping yet, our website contains an innovative way to do all your online purchasing at once. The site contains Top 50 charts for Fiction paperbacks and hardbacks, and Top 50 charts  for Non-Fiction paperbacks and hardbacks, plus Top 20 charts for children’s paperbacks and hardbacks. Each book has its own individual thread in chart order – go into it and you will see a description of the book, and a link that will take you straight to the correct Amazon page for that book. Thank you for your time!

Bill Matthews ● 7533d1 Comments ● 7237d