More political unrest in Europe

Sunday saw Bulgaria vote for a new Parliament. Bulgaria has been led by a caretaker government since February after Boiko Borisov resigned as PM amid protests against poverty, high utility bills and corruption.

The results from the election body today show that the 42nd Bulgarian General Assembly will be divided equally between the Socialists and ethnic Turks on one side, and the centrist GERB and the nationalist Ataka on the other. Again, another European country's electorate are split in terms of ideology and what is the best avenue for their country.

This election hasn't been smooth with allegations of more corruption and even vote-rigging. Protesters have been rallying during the whole electoral process. There seems to be little hope for the people of Bulgaria. The Balkan state of 7.3 million remains the EU's poorest member, and 1 in 5 Bulgarians live under the poverty line.

It is still unsure whether a coalition government can be formed, but without a stable government the country looks like it will still be turmoil.

The British NHS

Those that know me well are aware that I have had to have some tests and procedures carried out over the past 8 months or so. Thankfully, I am fine, but it has been difficult fitting in appointments while I am back in the UK. I wanted to write this post to show my appreciation of the collective British National Health Service. I know that many people complain about the NHS for many reasons but as a British citizen I am extremely proud of it and think it is one of the best things about our country.

During the Second World War there were agreements that post-war, "a complete health service to be available to every member of the community" should be set up. After the war and under Clement Attlee's Labour government, The National Health Service Act was passed in 1946, and the rest they say is history. Even though they have been several reforms to the NHS over the decades that have since passed, the service remains largely free to anyone and everyone. Some people may not agree with free healthcare, but personally, and having lived in a country where I had to pay for my own healthcare, I think it is a service that should be available to everyone in the world. After all, isn't health a basic human right. The World Health Organisation Constitution states:

"the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being..."

Maybe I'm an idealistic person. I just don't think that individuals or private corporations should profit from the sick and needy. Wouldn't it be nice to not have to worry about insurance or possible medical bills every time you travel. I am not saying you have to agree with me, but to all the British people that read this, please be thankful of the NHS we have, as trust me, I'm sure you would complain a lot more if the NHS was abolished.

It wouldn't be Britain without a nice cuppa!

St. George's Day

Today is St. George's Day, England's national day to celebrate all that is English and it's patron saint. Yet, how many people actually celebrate. Unlike our fellow nations of the UK, who celebrate their respective patron saints, we in England usually let this day go by without even a thought. Why is this?

Nice work Google!

I believe it may be that a lot of us feel or are made to feel ashamed of our English past and imperialistic ways, and think celebrating this is inappropriate. Is it because the idea of some sort of English collective togetherness doesn't exist anyone? I am very proud to be from the North of England but what do I have in common with someone from Essex, for example. Maybe, the nation of England is too diverse for a common nationalistic empathy, or perhaps we only feel this when we are faced with adversity, or England manage to reach the later stages of a sporting World Cup (here's wishing).

Whatever you feel about this national day here are some facts you may or may not know:

• Despite the fact that St George has been England’s patron saint since the 14th century, a recent survey showed that only one in five people know that St George’s Day falls on April 23.

•  A popular custom in bygone years was for people to wear a red rose in their button hole, the national flower for the national day.

•  St George’s flag was adopted by Richard The Lion Heart and brought to England in the 12th century. Soldiers wore it on their tunics to avoid confusion in battle.

•  St George is also considered a martyr in Islam as well as Christianity.

•  Not only is there no evidence that St George ever slayed a dragon (which seems unlikely), there’s very little evidence he ever existed at all. If he did, he was probably born in what is now modern-day Turkey, to a Turkish father serving in the Roman army and a Palestinian mother.

• St. George is said to have been beheaded for resigning his military post and protesting against his pagan leader, the Emperor Diocletian (245-313 AD), who led Rome’s persecution of Christians.

• Aside from England, other countries that celebrate St. George’s Day include Canada, Croatia, Portugal, Cyprus, Greece, Georgia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Republic of Macedonia.

Rest in peace Mrs. Thatcher

Like many people in Britain today, I have been following the news about the death of Baroness Thatcher. I wasn't sure if writing a blog post was a good idea but I felt compelled to write something about this extraordinary woman, after all, regardless of your political standing, you can't argue against the fact that she shaped British politics and has had a lasting effect (good and/or bad) on the state of the United Kingdom as we know it today.

 

Growing up in a Conservative constituency and from a family that did benefit from some of her government's policies, I have always had a lot of respect for Mrs. Thatcher. In a political world ran by men she made her voice heard and will go down as one of the most powerful women in modern history. It was only as I became older and started to study politics that I began to see the kinks in her neo-liberalism armour.

It has been over 20 years since Thatcher was in office and yet many people in the UK still have deep wounds and dislike for Britain's first female Prime Minister. Hindsight gives us the ability now to evaluate her politics. What you can't contest with is the democratic process that re-elected her to power during her time as PM, winning a landslide victory in 1983 and a majority in 1987. Whether you liked her or not, the electorate still voted for her, even through the troubled times many British people were facing.

I expect to get a few negative comments about writing this post, however much I have tried to keep it away from discussing political views. I, myself, have mixed opinions but nevertheless I hope that 'The Iron Lady' will be allowed to be laid to rest peacefully. The time for political reflection can come at a later date. A woman, a controversial woman at that has passed away, and her loved ones should be able to say goodbye to her in a dignified way. There will definitely only be one Margaret Thatcher!

Tenerife airport disaster anniversary

On this day 36 years ago, the world's deadliest accident in aviation history occurred. Two Boeing 747 passenger aircraft collided on the runway of Los Rodeos Airport on the Spanish island of Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands, resulting in 583 fatalities.

I was totally unaware of this tragedy until a friend of mine told me about it last week. We were being particularly morbid and talking about how we would react if you were ever in a major disaster, and what we would do to try and survive. I thought I was very strange as I do often have these thoughts when I travel but the group of friends I was with admitted to similar apprehensions. Maybe it is a human instinct to prepare yourself for the worst. I have to say I am lucky in the fact that apart from a couple of unscheduled stops due to medical emergencies, I've never had to even experience an emergency landing aboard a plane, and I have taken several flights every year since I was a few months old. I remember when I was a child always being fascinated by air travel and getting excited about flying. Even though these days flying to me is pretty mundane, I still find it amazing that in a few hours you can be in a completely new destination, thousand of miles and oceans apart from where you took off. That is probably one of the reasons why I love travelling so much.

Going back to the 1977 Tenerife airport disaster, even though it was a horrific event, it highlighted problems in aviation procedures which have since been rectified so that a disaster on this scale should never happen again. If you are like me and find these incidents historically interesting then check out this mini documentary:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1SWe_zi4-o&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Mothering Sunday

Today is Mothering Sunday in the UK. This is a Christian day celebrated on the 4^th Sunday in Lent, therefore this day changes every year, along with the time of Easter.  In the USA, Canada and several other countries, however, ‘Mother’s Day’ is celebrated on the 2^nd Sunday of May due to a modernisation of the day.

This made me laugh!

Since my Mother is in the UK, I am celebrating today. Hopefully my Mum has received her card and flowers. Thankfully, due to the wonders of modern technology, it is very straight forward and easy to sort out, which is great as sometimes I can be slightly forgetful and disorganised. I do feel very bad that I cannot spend this day with my Mum. I haven’t been able to be with her for the past two Mother’s day and birthdays, therefore I would like to dedicate this blog post to my wonderful Mother as a way of hopefully making up for my absence.

Not only am I extremely grateful to have such a loving and brilliant Mother, she is also one of the most amazing and inspirational people I have ever met, and I am very lucky to have her in my life. She has always taught me to be a strong, independent woman and encouraged me to achieve anything I’ve wanted to. Anyone that knows my Mum will tell you that she is not only wise but full of funny stories, with an infectious personality to boot. How she managed to put up with myself and older brothers when we were younger, I don’t know, but I have the utmost respect for her.

Happy Mother’s Day Rona

My Mum and I at the Trevi Fountain in Rome

Taken when I was still a student!

Writing this blog has made me realise I need some nicer pictures of myself and my Mum lol, and has also got me emotional and nostalgic which doesn't happen a lot.

Have a lovely day Mum, and if I end up looking like you when I'm older, I'll be very happy lol :-)

R.I.P Hugo Chavez

Officials in Venezuela have called for peace and unity after President Hugo Chavez's death yesterday. Vice President Nicolas Maduro will assume the presidency in the interim, before elections will be held in 30 days.

The future of Venezuela is uncertain but whether or not you agree with Chavez's policies, he will have a lasting legacy in his beloved country. Chavez was President from 1999 until his death. During this time Chavez, following the political ideology of Bolivarianism and 'socialism of the 21st century', implemented sweeping constitutional reforms, nationalisation of several key industries, such as oil, and increased government funding of health care and education. 

Chavez had not only supporters and opposers within his country but also abroad. I personally advocate him for making a positive change in his country for the benefit of the majority of Venezuelan people. In a Western world anyone in left-wing politics is open to criticism. One of the most resonating quotes by Chavez is as follows:

Democracy is impossible in a capitalist system. Capitalism is the realm of injustice and a tyranny of the richest against the poorest. Rousseau said, 'Between the powerful and the weak all freedom is oppressed. Only the rule of law sets you free.' That's why the only way to save the world is through socialism, a democratic socialism... [Democracy is not just turning up to vote every five or four years], it's much more than that, it's a way of life, it's giving power to the people... it is not the government of the rich over the people, which is what's happening in almost all the so-called democratic Western capitalist countries.

As someone who is a true believer in democracy, I think it speaks volumes. My hope for the future of Venezuela is that democracy will prevail and the people get the representation they want.


I end this blog on a musical note, courtesy of the wonderful Arkells: