The Welfare System and the NHS

The National Health Service (NHS) is a state run entity set up by the Labour government after 1948 as part of the welfare state. It was originally run by local authorities with funding from public money allocated by central government. Though in recent years this money has been moving to the private sector and many have speculated that this is privatisation by stealth.

The National Health Service offers care to all residents of the United Kingdom. The aim of the health service is to ensure that anyone can receive the medical care they need, regardless of their age, circumstances or financial situation. The NHS offers many advantages to UK residents, especially in terms of the cost, the care available and the continuous quality reviews.
The NHS provides care free of charge to most UK residents (see Entitlement to Care). This represents a huge advantage compared with the health systems in many other countries which charge for health insurance, quarterly surgery fees, prescriptions, particular tests and treatments. You will pay for the NHS when you pay UK taxes; every taxpayer makes the same contribution, regardless of whether they rarely visit a doctor or need regular hospital care.
The NHS entitles you to diagnostic care and treatment for any illness or health concern. You can receive treatment for everything from minor ailments such as colds and rashes to serious diseases such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease, free of charge. You can also receive care during pregnancy and birth without paying extra costs. You may need to make small contributions to your healthcare, for example pay a fee for prescriptions you receive, but many people are exempt from paying even these small charges.

The advantages of a welfare state system includes;
-There is a supreme percentage decrease in homelessness.
-There is also a fall in crime rates.
-Provides basic living needs for single parents,sufferers and disabled ( basic apartment payed for by government (partially taxpayers money), transport payed for and 45 pound a week.

The disadvantages of a welfare state system includes;
-A person can receive payment without working or contributing to society eg. charity work.
-It can demean a child's inspirations to achieve to earn money as they know they will end up with money.

The Welfare System in China, including the system of medical insurance, the old-age insurance system, unemployment insurance benefits, compulsory education, special policies for certain people.



Reference:
http://www.nhs.uk/
http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/2503961?uid=3738032&uid=2&uid=4&sid=21100844793781

The UK as a diverse society

Britain is a multicultural nation of around 60.6 million people from different racial, religious and cultural backgrounds.

Different communities have settled in the UK and, for centuries, have left their own legacies. Today, approximately 4.6 million people - or 7.9 per cent of the population - are from a minority ethnic group according to the 2001 Census. Some groups who have settled in the UK since the first millennium include:

• the Celts. They lived in Britain from the first millennium BC but were pushed into Scotland, Wales and Cornwall after the Roman invasion
• many Romans, who settled in the UK after the successful Roman invasions. They also brought the first black people to Britain
• settlers from Northern Europe. These include the Danes, Angles and Saxons who came to the UK as Roman authority was collapsing
• Jewish settlers started to arrive after 1066, gypsies came in the 16th century, and Muslims from the 18th century onwards
• after the collapse of the British Empire, the UK attracted immigrants from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh in the 1960s - 1970s and from the Caribbean in 1940s and 50s
• political and religious refugees and asylum seekers are frequently granted refuge in the UK today
• the expansion of the European Union has seen a number of eastern Europeans come to the UK in recent years.

Reference：
http://ukinchina.fco.gov.uk/zh/visiting-the-uk/about-uk/people-politics/multicultural-britain

London 2012 Olympic

The Greece is the london Olympic torch first lit. It is lit by the sun. The Olympic Flame arrives in the UK on 18 May 2012. The Ben Ainslie will be the first tourch bearer in UK. Ben Ainslie is Great Britain's most successful Olympic sailor, and he won gold medals in Sailing at the Beijing 2008, Athens 2004 and Sydney 2000 Games. There are 8000 people will carry the torch across the UK. The torch will be taken to reach the Olympic stadium 70 days.

The Torch was designed by east Londoners Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby. There are four design of the torch Olympic stadium. Firstly, Representing the inspirational stories of the 8,000 Torchbearers who will carry the Olympic Flame. Secondly, the power of '3':

The three Olympic values of respect, excellence and friendship;

The three words that make the Olympic motto – faster, higher, stronger; 

The fact that the UK has hosted the Olympic Games in 1908, 1948 and will host them for the third time in 2012; and

The vision for the London 2012 Olympic Games to combine three bodies of work – sport, education and culture

Thirdly, the gold colour embraces the qualities of the Olympic Flame – the brightness and the warmth of the light that it shines.

Paralympic Torch Relay will begin in London. The name of the Olympic mascots are Wenlock and Mandeville. Wenlock’s name is inspired by the Shropshire village of Much Wenlock where the ‘Wenlock Games’ was one of the inspirations that led  the founder of the modern Olympic movement Baron Pierre de Coubertin to create the Olympic Games. Mandeville’s name is inspired by Stoke Mandeville in Buckinghamshire. In the 1940s, Dr.Ludwig Guttmann came to Stoke Mandeville Hospital to set up a new spinal unit to help former soldiers suffering from spinal cord injuries. Looking for ways to inspire those in his care, he encouraged them to take up sport, leading to the formation of the Stoke Mandeville Games, widely recognised as a forerunner of the modern Paralympic movement. 

Reference:


http://www.london2012.com/athletics/about/


The British Media - TV and Newspapers

The British Media - TV and Newspapers

What are the top 3 news stories on the following news channels today?

• BBC News

Bahrain activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja wins retrial
London 2012: Five missile sites identified
Badminton Horse Trials cancelled amid South West flood alerts

• ITN news

Roy Hodgson in talks to become next England manager
Tributes pour in for aid worker found dead in Pakistan
Clydesdale and Yorkshire banks cut 1,400 UK jobs

• Channel 4 News

Aid worker killed 'because of unpaid ransom'
Clydesdale and Yorkshire banks axe 1,400 jobs
Hodgson in England manager talks

What is the top story in the following newspapers online today?

• The Guardian

David Cameron called to Commons to answer questions over Jeremy Hunt
Khalil Dale murder senseless and barbaric, says Red Cross
Eurozone crisis live: Spanish crisis deepens as recession confirmed

• The Sun

Al-Qaeda offers to swap Brit hostage for radical Abu Qatada

• The Daily Mirror

Horror at the hairdressers: Football agent arrested after his estranged wife is stabbed to death at beauty salon
Choose one story, either from a news channel or a newspaper, make notes and write a short summary on your blog.

Roy Hodgson in talks to become next England manager

Roy Hodgson looks set to become the next England manager after agreeing to talks with the Football Association.
He is the first manager to engage in negotiations over the national job and a decision could be made within days.



Reference:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17891251
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17891223
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-17892419
http://www.itn.co.uk/home/44255/Roy+Hodgson+in+talks+over+England+job  
\\http://www.channel4.com/news/aid-worker-killed-by-kidnappers-as-ransom-not-paid
http://www.channel4.com/news/clydesdale-and-yorkshire-banks-axe-1-400-jobs
\http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/apr/29/david-cameron-commons-jeremy-hunt
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4287074/RBS-boss-Stephen-Hester-opens-his-mansion-to-public.html
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/weather-heavy-rain-and-gale-force-811539

Crime and punishment

Last year, london has the large-scale riots in 6th August. Riots in the london hit inner-city Tottenham, suburban Ealing, gritty Hackney, and chic Notting Hill. Windows were smashed, video cameras stolen, cars set ablaze. Young men congregated on street corners and charged the police. Riots followed across the country, from Bristol to Nottingham and Manchester.

What causes lead to the occurrence of riots? I think this is a very serious topic, there are many reason of riots. Firstly, Social and economic inequality. For example , Tottenham has a population of 225,500,  the extent of poverty ranked fourth in all 33 London boroughs ,and ranked 13th in the whole of England . According to official data in the region , 55 percent of local residents are poorest populations at the All England. Secondly, high rates of youth unemployment. This is clearly an event with far deeper causes.

The Guardian reported that "With rising unemployment , government spending cuts , youth activity centers and other community services were forced to suspend or downsizing , young people increasingly feeling of social exclusion , crime rates continued to rise."  Another reason is that the racial and cultural differences.

About 48.7% harringay residents of non - white British , higher than the UK average . London 's non-white British proportion of 40.2% ; in the whole of England and Wales , this proportion was only 13%.

 

Some of them were quite young in the riots, and the punishment is appropriate for young people.Of more than 1,800 people arrested in connection with the riots, more than 500 have already appeared in court. Collective punishment than to educate them, and let them know the seriousness of the riots. a 17-year-old minor, has been sentenced with “120 hours community service, a 12-month youth rehabilitation order and observe a curfew between 7pm and 6am for three months” for writing three sentences of support for the rioters on Facebook.

 

 

 

Reference:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/mar/29/riots-deeper-roots-poverty-alienation/print

http://www.mediaite.com/online/sign-of-the-times-uk-youths-who-wrote-about-riots-on-facebook-are-hit-with-bans-and-jail-terms/

http://select.yeeyan.org/view/237685/211705

The important of Team work

Nowadays, almost everyone has taken into the team work and team work is more and more important than before. Though last week and this week team work, I am understanding about the advantages and disadvantages of the teamwork.

The advantages are many. Team work can gather more useful information; Team work makes people put things into their right perspective; Team work makes people take things into consideration comprehensively; Different people play the different roles; Team work could strong the responsibility of the teamer.

Different cultures may make team work bad; Different individuality may make teamwork bad; Team work may increase people’s inertia; One person who has no responsibility could destroy the team work.

Team work is more and more important in the world and then the advantages and disadvantages will be more patency. Even though, I have learn to many knowledge about Team work. In the further, I can excellent to finish cooperate and team work with teammate.

Reference:
http://dirgantara.blogdetik.com/2010/06/25/team-work-dalam-pembelajaran/

Welsh Assembly

The English translations of Welsh word:
Senedd:    Parliament        Oriel:   Gallery       Neuadd:    Hall         Siambr:    Chamber

Questions:
1. The Senedd building was opened in 2006.

2.The devolution means that the process of declining from a higher to a lower level of effective power.

3.When I Standing infront of the Sanned I can see amzing building and beautiful seaside in Cardiff Bay.

4.The reception area of the Senedd is called the Neuadd and situated on the first floor.

5.The funnel helps reflect natural light downwards into the Siambr from a glass lantern using a collection of aluminium pipes which cover the inside of the funnel.

6.The headphones are provided to listen to an English translation of Welsh language proceedings.

7.'Plenary meetings' which take place in the Siambr on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons between 13.30 and 18.00.

8.The first purposes of the glass walls is reduce the building's energy consumption. The second reasons of the glass walls is  Welsh goverment policy carried out in a way that is open and transparent.

9.You can buy some souvenirs in the Assembly shop, such as Clogau gold, Melin Tregwynt, Penderyn and books.

Reference：http://www.assemblywales.org/.

The Parliament of UK

The UK parliament is bicameral, with an upper house, the House of Lords, and a lower house, the House of Commons. The Parliament building is the home of the two houses of Parliament - the House of Commons and the House of Lords but is still known as the Palace of Westminster.

The Parliament of Great Britain was formed in 1707 by the Acts of Union that replaced the former parliaments of England and Scotland. A further union in 1801 united the Parliament of Great Britain and the Parliament of Ireland into a Parliament of the United Kingdom. The meeting every year twice, the first session from the end of march to end early August, the second session from the end of October, end to 12 months before Christmas.





The House of Commons is a democratically elected chamber with elections to it held at least every five years. The men and women who form the House of commons are called Members of Parliament(MPs).The legislation in the house of Commons is mainly functions: put forward some important bill; First the discussion, and through the law; Questions; Finance bill put forward by the house of Commons and through only.





Members of the House of lords is not elected by a royal descendant of the hereditary aristocracy , aristocratic family the right of nobles , life peers , Scottish nobility , the nobility of Ireland , the outgoing Prime Minister . As the Queen may temporarily increase the knighted Members death without addition of the House of Lords the number of members uncertain .





David William Donald Cameron, October 9, 1966-was born in Britain's a noble family, have pure royal descent, is conservative political star, 2001 to become the house of lords, 2005 in only 39 as conservative leader, 11 May 2010, has been British 53 became prime minister, is also Britain since 1812 the youngest prime minister.

Liberal Democratic Party leader(Nick Clegg) as deputy prime minister, mainly responsible for constitutional reforms.

Reference:

http://www.zhgpl.com/crn-webapp/doc/docDetailCNML.jsp?docid=101679251

http://www.parliament.uk/

http://www.travellondon.com/general/the-houses-of-parliament/
http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/

The economic crisis in the eurozone

Nowadays European Union's economic crisis is a very major problem in the world. This article I will talk about the European Union's economic crisis and each national solution simply. In the article, I will discuss some of the measures of eurozone.

Germany, the EU's biggest economy, is heavily dependent on foreign spending. In the economic crisis in the eurozone, in economic policy objective selection, the German government's way is: price stability and high employment first in economic growth; Long-term and sustainable growth of short-term growth in priority, quality priorities in the growth of the volume growth. In the government task of greatly increased, pay attention to keep the government's fiscal balance.

Economic integration to European countries deal with the financial crisis of the basic policy combination convergence, include: nationalization, interest rate cuts and regulatory rules change. Lower bank interest rate is the most European countries use financial policy to stabilize macroscopical economy for common policy tool, the reducing the interest rate policy behind it is global economy moves deep-seated change.
The United Kingdom in November 6, 2008, the Bank of England cut its benchmark interest rate by 150 basis points , from 4.5% of the level of interest rates to 3% , which is the Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee since the policy of independence in 1997 , the most significant interest rate cut , but also far beyond the market had widely expected to cut interest rates by 50 basis points.


 

Reference:
http://ptnews.zjol.com.cn/putuo/system/2010/05/31/012182711.shtml
http://www.eurunion.org/eu/
http://www.ftchinese.com/column/007000012

The difference education system between China and UK

Hello ererybody! This article will discuss China and Britain different education system.China and the UK education system is very different! It involves many factors, such as: culture, language, history and so on.

Firstly, The UK and China have different education background. For example,in Britain,children between 5—6 years old are obliged to attend school. Childrem betweem 5—11 go to primary shool(state schools; co-educational or mixed schools). Children between 11—19 go to secondary schools(90% of them are enrolled to comprehensive schools without reference to their academic abilities). It’s compulsory. Some children choose to attend grammar schools at the age of 11 through 11 plus examination.

In China, Children begin to go to school at the age of seven, it takes them for six years to finish primary school. After primary school, the students will go to junior middle school without having to pass to the exam. Education at this level is compulsory, junior middle school education lasts for three years.  Turning now to senior middle school. When junior middle school education comes to end, the students are screened by exam in two ways. Some students expect to enter to college, they enter to senior middle school. The other want to work, they attend to professional school. For senior middle school students, it takes them for three years. For professional school students, it takes them for two to three years. Regarding college, senior middle school graduates have to pass competitive exam, they enter to college. The college education takes them for 4 to 10 years.

Secondly, There are many different education methods between China and UK, such as home work. Chinese high school students always have a lot of homework,which may be the same kind of questions, to make more practice, so most of the time students spend more time on assignment, but in this way students can finish the exam quickly with high score.

But I know in UK, students do not have many homework and most of the homework need to discuss or to communicate with the others and to find the materials by themselves. It is hard to find what they want directly. They always play games after school and seldom consider about their studying. 

Thirdly, The difference values between Chinese students and British students. Chinese students have much more pressure to achieve top marks and so enter top universities. The UK educational system has changed because they found that they had so many people with degrees who only wanted professional work, but who was going to fix the lights when they were not working or drive the taxis?

UK students usually start school at 9am and finish at 3.30pm, leaving them plenty of time to be creative, play sport and learn about life in general. All of the UK educational systems recognize the importance of teaching the young about their future lives as adults and the responsibilities they face. UK students do not have to compete to enter universities.

Finally, I hope that China and Britain's education system can put their respective advantages combined, which can make students all over the world obtain good education!


 
 
 

Reference:
 http://gb.cri.cn/chinaabc/chapter8/chapter80204.htm
http://school.blog.eduglobal.com/default.aspx?blogid=474

The Four Nations difference of UK

This blog I will  discuss the different characteristics of the 4 nations of Britain. The United Kingdom consists of  four nations, such as Englad, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.The total area of Great Britain is 244,820 square kilometres.The population of Great Britain is 60,776,238.

Firstly, I will talk about England. The capital is London.The national emblem of England is the Rose. England is not just countryside–there are elegant, refined and historic cities with Roman, Georgian, Tudor and Victorian influences; architectural splendors; university cities; cathedral cities and other vibrant, exciting cities with museums, art galleries, modern trendy restaurants, nightlife and some amazing theater.

Secondly,The capital of Scotland is Edinburgh and its second largest city.The national symbol of Scotland is the Thistle. All the inhabitants speak English although about 100,000 still speak Scottish Gaelic. Many of the Scottish accents of English are very strong.Scotland is a country of great variety and a rich heritage. Its attraction lies mostly in the great diversity of its landscapes.. Loch Lomond and Loch Ness are probably Scotland's most famous lakes.

Thirdly,The capital of Wales is Cardiff. Cardiff is  principal seaport, and shipbuilding centre.The two symbols of Wales are a leek and a daffodil. The three biggest towns include: Swansea, Cardiff and Newport.Wales most famous is the welsh language.Welsh uses several letters which are not in the Eng­lish alphabet. These include:
ch as in Bach
dd as in English them
ff like English f
ll like English thl
The vowel w is pronounced like the English oo, the vowel y like the English u in but, and the vowel u sounds like the vowel i. So the Welsh word for Wales, Cymru, sounds something like the English come-ri.

Lastly,The flag of Northern Ireland is called St. Patrick's Cross. The national emblem of Northern Ireland is a Shamrock. The capital and largest city of Northern Ireland is Belfast.Ireland is separated from Great Britain by the Irish Sea. The island is politically divided into two parts: the Republic of Ireland or Eire and Northern Ireland which is part of the United Kingdom.A characteristic feature of Northern Ireland is the greenness of the countryside and the cloudy skies above.Northern Ireland is a fisherman's paradise, and the soft green landscape and rugged, picturesque coastline make it one of the most attractive regions in the island.

The four nations have different characteristics.This makes the British culture rich and colorful.Through wrote this blog I am  more to like Britain.

2012.01.15

Today I  am study at home and finished my homework.

Hi, everbody

My English name is Aaron, My Chinese name is Liu Jiang. I come from China. I am very happy use blogger. I like travel, sport and watch film. I can write my mood in here. I can show my lifestyle. I hope my English can improve.