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Interestingly,
the work the Pier and on the plaza complex, carried on!
Photos
by Phil, Patrick and Steve.
Our
weekly national news comment articles.
History
is lacking!
British youths have no idea
about their history, a startling survey has revealed. A report, undertaken by the Encyclopedia
Britannica, showed that only 26 per cent of people between the ages of 15 and 24 know what happened
on D-Day and just over half can correctly state how many wives King Henry
VIII had. Less than a third knew when St George's Day was although almost all
Scottish, Welsh and Irish candidates could name the dates of their patron
saints. The interviewees were also asked how many years Queen Victoria had
been on the throne, in what century King Richard III reigned and who had
invented television. Only 19 per cent could correctly answer the first two
and 33 per cent the third. The results have raised fears of decreasing standards in education and a
general lack of interest in British history. British Marketing executive,
Christine Hodgson said, "As a nation whose history has shaped the face of
the world, it seems incredible that the younger generation has decided to
dismiss it."
Cannabis.
Cannabis use in Britain has doubled
in the last three years according to an independent report. The figures, released by the Independent Drug
Monitoring Unit last week, show that cannabis consumption has risen from
three quarters of an ounce per person per month in 1998 to 1.5 ounces in
2001.Cannabis production has also surged drastically. Homegrown 'skunk' accounts
for approximately half of all cannabis consumed in 2001. Although the
research was undertaken before the home secretary David Blunkett's announcement to downgrade cannabis to a class C drug and the relaxing of the
policing of cannabis in Brixton, South London. It is believed that many
attribute the increase to this change in attitude towards the drug. Danny Kushlick, of drug reform group Transform, believes the
figures show that, with so many people using drugs, it is time society accepted it as a
normal part of society. He said, "Given that this is a very natural human
urge, isn't it time we gave up the fight to stop people doing it, and
controlled and regulated production and sale of drugs through legal outlets?"
Jon Owen Jones, the Cardiff Labour MP, who has previously stated his support
for the relaxation towards cannabis believing that, as adults, we should be
allowed to make our own decisions. Mr. Jones, who admitted to smoking
marijuana last year and is currently campaigning for the legalization
of cannabis, believes that by banning drugs people are more likely to take
them. He said, "The policies of the last 30 or 40 years haven't worked.
Prohibition merely promotes disrespect for the law." However, some people have stated that the relaxation of the laws could be a
form of encouragement for those who would not usually sample drugs. The
research also showed that Ecstacy and LSD use has declined in the last few
years. Despite the price of Ecstacy dropping to a record low, use have
fallen to 1994 levels. Cocaine, like cannabis, has seen a rise of 50 per
cent in the last three years with the percentage of the population using
cocaine on a weekly or daily basis rising from two per cent in 1998 to four
per cent in 2001.
Comment Articles
by Miranda.
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