Isle of Wight News & Travel

by Helge V. Keitel

Legal disputes over the Harry Potter series – CNC Machining Parts Manufacturer – China Turned parts

Allegations of copyright and trademark infringement Nancy Stouffer
In 1999, American author Nancy Kathleen Stouffer alleged copyright and trademark infringement by Rowling of her 1984 works The Legend of Rah and the Muggles (ISBN 1-58989-400-6) and Larry Potter and His Best Friend Lilly. The primary basis for Stouffer’s case rested in her own purported invention of the word “Muggles”, the name of a race of mutant humanoids in The Legend of Rah and the Muggles, and Larry Potter, the title character of a series of activity booklets for children. Larry Potter, like Harry Potter, is a bespectacled boy with dark hair, though he is not a character in The Legend of Rah and the Muggles. Stouffer also drew a number of other comparisons, such as a castle on a lake, a receiving room and wooden doors. Portions of Rah were originally published in booklet form by Ande Publishing Company in 1986, a company founded by Stouffer together with a group of friends and family. Ande filed for bankruptcy in September 1987 without selling any of its booklets in the United States or elsewhere. Rowling has stated that she first visited the United States in 1998.
Rowling, along with Scholastic Press (her American publisher) and Warner Bros. (holders of the series’ film rights), pre-empted Stouffer in 2002 with a suit of their own seeking a declaratory judgment that they had not infringed on any of Stouffer’s works. The court found in their favour, stating that “no reasonable juror could find a likelihood of confusion as to the source of the two parties’ works”. During the course of the trial, it was proven “by clear and convincing evidence, that Stouffer has perpetrated a fraud on the Court through her submission of fraudulent documents as well as through her untruthful testimony”, including changing pages years after the fact to retroactively insert the word “muggle”. Her case was dismissed with prejudice and she was fined ,000 for her “pattern of intentional bad faith conduct” in relation to her employment of fraudulent submissions, along with being ordered to pay a portion of the plaintiffs’ legal fees. Stouffer appealed the decision in 2004, but in 2005 the appeals court upheld the ruling. She states on her website that she is planning to republish her books and is entertaining the possibility of another lawsuit against Warner Bros., J. K. Rowling and Scholastic Press.
The Legend of Rah and the Muggles is currently out of print. In the spring of 2001, it was published by Thurman House, LLC, a Maryland publishing company. Thurman House, formed by Ottenheimer Publishers to republish the works of Nancy Stouffer, was closed when Ottenheimer ceased operations in 2002 after filing for bankruptcy. Stouffer later asserted that any copies of the book published by Thurman House are unauthorised because the publisher failed to honour its contractual obligations to her. Claire Field
In 2000, in the lead-up to the release of the first Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone; Warner Bros., the film’s distributor, sent a series of letters to owners of Harry Potter fansites, demanding that, to protect their copyright, they hand over their domain names. The action resulted in negative publicity for the company when Claire Field, the then 15-year-old webmaster of the British fansite harrypotterguide.co.uk, was reduced to tears by what were described by her father as unnecessary bully tactics. Eventually the corporation backed down in the face of media opposition and declared that, as the site was non-commercial, it did not violate the trademark. Unauthorised Chinese Harry Potter books
In 2002, an unauthorised Chinese-language sequel titled Harry Potter and Bao Zoulong (Chinese: , Hanyu Pinyin: Hl Bt y Bo Zulng) appeared for sale in the People’s Republic of China. (In English-language media this was mistranslated as Harry Potter and Leopard-Walk-Up-to-Dragon.) According to translated excerpts, the book principally consists of the text of J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, but with most names changed to those of Harry Potter characters. The book was quickly recognised as a fake. Rowling and Warner Bros. took steps to stop its distribution. Copies were briefly distributed around the world, including e-book copies traded on the Internet.
In November 2002, the Bashu Publishing House, in the southwestern city of Chengdu, agreed to pay a 1,600 (US,400) fine and publish an apology in China’s Legal Times for printing and distributing the novel. As of 2007, the identity of the anonymous “author” has not been discovered. The opening of Harry Potter and Bao Zoulong, translated into English, was included in several news articles.
Also in 2002, the China Braille Publishing House published Harry Potter and the Porcelain Doll. As of 2007, it is estimated that there are fifteen million fraudulent Harry Potter novels circulating in China. In 2007, Rowling’s agents, the Christopher Little Literary Agency, began to discuss the possibility of legal proceedings concerning a fake version of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows that appeared in China ten days before the actual book’s publication. Uttam Ghosh
In 2003, legal pressure from Harry Potter’s publishers led an Indian publisher to stop publication of Harry Potter in Calcutta by Uttam Ghosh; a work in which Harry meets figures from Bengali literature. Dmitri Yemets
Main article: Tanya Grotter
In 2003, courts in the Netherlands prevented the distribution of a Dutch translation of Tanya Grotter and the Magical Double Bass, the first of Dmitri Yemets’ popular Russian series about a female apprentice wizard. Rowling and her publishers sued, arguing that the Grotter books violate copyright law. Yemets and his original Moscow-based publishers, Eksmo, argued that the books constitute a parody, permitted under copyright. The Dutch courts ruled that the books did not constitute parody and thus were not allowed to be sold in the Netherlands.
Later that year, as the Dutch translation Tanja Grotter en de magische contrabas was still legal in Belgium, the Flemish publishers Roularta Books decided to print 1,000 copies (and no more) in order to let people decide whether it was plagiarism, hoping that under those circumstances Rowling and her publishers would not sue. Rowling did not sue, but as there was a lot of interest in the book (Dutch people could buy the book by postal order from another Flemish publisher, Boekhandel VanIn) it was soon sold out. The books continue to be published in Russia and have spawned several sequels. Preventive Maintenance Monthly
In their May 2004 issue, the US Army publication the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, which instructs soldiers on how to maintain their equipment, featured a spoof comic based on Harry Potter, featuring a character named Topper who resided at Mogmarts School under Professor Rumbledore. The publication received notice from Rowling’s lawyers that the comics breached copyright, though the magazine’s editor, Ken Crunk, claimed that no violation had taken place, as “[t]he drawings do not look like any of the characters from Harry Potter”. After a discussion with Rowling’s representatives, the magazine agreed not to use the characters again. eBay
In 2004, Rowling and Time Warner launched legal actions against bazee.com, now the Indian branch of the online auction site eBay. The site had hosted illegally-created e-books of Harry Potter, which Rowling had never agreed to be published. In 2005, Rowling warned her fans on her website that various “signed” Harry Potter memorabilia appearing for sale on eBay did not in fact use her signature. She urged her fans to protest eBay to prevent other children from being swindled. In 2007, Rowling launched lawsuits against a number of users of the site, obtaining a series of stay orders preventing them from selling her work. However eBay claimed that in her dealings with the media, Rowling had falsely claimed that her injunctions had been against eBay itself. In June 2007, eBay filed papers with the Delhi High Court, alleging that Rowling had caused them “immense humiliation and harassment”. The High Court circumvented the application, claiming that it could not make such a judgment until the case went to trial. Wyrd Sisters
In 2005, Warner Bros. offered CAD,000 (later CAD,000) to the Canadian folk band the Wyrd Sisters for the rights to use their name in the film version of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Rowling had written a scene in the novel in which a band called the Weird Sisters appeared at a school dance, and the group owned the rights to the name in Canada. However, the offer was declined, and instead the band undertook a legal action against Warner Bros., as well as Jarvis Cocker of Pulp and Jonny Greenwood and Phil Selway of Radiohead, who were to play the band in the film. All plans to use the name in the movie were later abandoned. Despite that decision, the Canadian band filed a CAD-million ( million) lawsuit against Warner in Ontario court. In connection with the lawsuit, the band brought an interlocutory injunction hoping to prevent the release of the film. The injunction application was dismissed. The entire suit was dismissed in November 2005. In June 2006, an Ontario judge decreed that the band pay Warner Bros. CAD0,000 in legal costs, describing their lawsuit as “highly intrusive”. The group claimed they planned to appeal the decision. Jarvis Cocker initially wished to release an album of “Weird Sisters”-themed music with collaborators including Franz Ferdinand, Jack White and Iggy Pop, but the project was dropped as a result of the lawsuit. As of August 2007, the band were still pursuing their claim, with hopes to bring it to the federal level. The band has reported receiving death threats from irate Harry Potter fans. Kolkata lawsuit
In October 2007, Warner Bros. sued a group constructing a faade during a Hindu religious festival in the Indian city of Kolkata for

by Andrew Niddrie

Motorcycle Travel Guide Romania ? Roads To Die For

It’s mid-summer in Romania and I’m about to die.

Storm force winds are shrieking between the lampposts and lashing me with horizontal rain-bullets as I struggle to control my heavily-laden Honda Varadero motorcycle over broken cobbles. I’m on my way into Bucharest city centre and wishing I was anywhere else.

Surrounded by suicidally-impatient drivers who are nudging my bike with their bumpers, and dodging un-fenced road works trenches full of swirling brown floodwater, I think things can’t get any worse. Then I see they most definitely can…

The car ahead of me rears into the air, crashes down and slithers sideways as it hits some obstacle in the road. Now I can see what it is: glistening steel tram-tracks cross the road at 45 degrees. These rails stand a full six-inches above the road surface.

“My God!” I whimper, “They can’t expect us to ride over those?”

Realising there’s no alternative, I stand up on the footrests just as a bell rings beside me. A quick glance to my left confirms my worst fears. It’s a tram. It’s going to cross the road at the same instant I hit its tracks. There’s no time to stop. I’m going to die.

There are moments in life when one has to make a snap decision. I crack open the Varadero’s throttle and the big V-twin surges forward. Turning my bike at the last moment to hit the wet steel at near right angles, we lurch, bump and crash over first one, then two slippery rails.

Miraculously I’m still on the bike, still upright and the tram has missed me. Phew! Then I remember my wife Viv, riding her Honda Transalp right behind me. Omygod!

I twist to look over my shoulder just in time to see her bouncing her bike over the rails only feet in front of the advancing tram. By some miracle we both made it.

Many others weren’t so lucky. Next day, as we watched the TV news from a flood-bound hotel in neighbouring Bulgaria, we discovered the nightmare storm had washed away houses, roads and bridges. Cars, lorries, buses and pedestrians had been swept away in the biblical deluge. In all 62 people were killed by the floods, falling trees or lightning. Thousands more were left homeless.

What on earth were we – a pair of dithery grandparents – doing riding through all this on our bikes? Were we mad?

The answer was obviously YES. But we were mad with a motive. We had set off from home in Norfolk to visit the overseas projects of UK children’s charity EveryChild and, hopefully, raise some publicity for their good works in the process.

Inspired by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman’s Long Way Round trip when they visited Unicef operations in Eastern Europe, we figured we could do something similar, but without the TV crew, fixers, medics and support vehicles. We knew we would take in 12 countries along the way and clock up something like 5000 miles, but we had no idea what we were letting ourselves in for.

For more details of this ridiculous journey – hairy, scary and often hilarious – why not read the book of our travels. It is titled ‘Beyond Bucharest: Motorcycle Adventure Travel’ by Bob Goddard and contains numerous maps plus colour and black & white photos.  www.timbuktu-publishing.co.uk

by nikoretro

Aviation News Africa for African Airlines ,Airline News,Aviation sports , Scheduled & Charter Flights

Aviation has become very vital in the bussiness world bussiness  especially connecting  the entire world  within  hours and making bussiness deals  sealed within a short time without worying  the distance.

The aviation industry for the past years has been trying to find ways to make air transport more cheaper and affortable by trying to manufacturer low cost  aircrafts  like the Deamliner  787 which will cut down costs to 20% which will be passed on to consumers and  by also reducing the cost per seat by creating almost double  seating capacity of the aircraft.

AFRICAN AIRLINES

KENYA

Good news the opening of ORLY AIRPARK  in  Nairobi ,Kenya for recreation,sports and pilot training  by the Chairman Aero Club  and the Executive Officer Kenya AIR operator  Col  (Rd) Waithaka this week ending. It will also decongest the Wilson Airport which is one of the busiest Airport in Africa for both Commercial  flights into National Parks & Reserves in East Africa and private charters to Major Cities in Africa.Infact most of the flying schools like Kenya School of Flying have already moved its pilot training school and maintenance to Orly Airpark and they shareholders and are putting up a boarding flying school.Orly Airpark is owned with almost 25 shareholders who either own private charter companies in Kenya or hotels.It is situated in Kajiado district,Isinya,Olooitikosk,Kiserian  coordinates S01degrees34.52  E  036degrees 48.66  Elevation  5500 ft Runnway lenghth  1200 murram,Runnway heading  10/28,15/1200 caution keep listening on 118.2 & Nairobi Radar 122.3 becoz there may be skydiving ,glidding and ballooning in progress.

TAAG  FLIES INTO LISBON

TAAG Angola Airline has relauched its flights between Luanda and Lisbo exactly two years after all flights were suspended by the Safety Commission of the European Commission.The bans are imposed on those carriers that the Commission feels ddo not have satisfactory safety standards. Ameeting of Portugals National Civil Aviation Institute (INAC) held in July recommended that Angolas national airline be removed from the blacklist in order ro relaunch flights between the two countries.

The College of Commissioners accepted  this recommendations and August 1,A BOEING 777-200ER took off from Angolan capital enroute to Lisbon.According  to astatement issued by INAC it will also have to present reports to the Safety Commission “with a view to removing all Angolan airlines from the so called blacklist”

The Safety Committee is a consulting  group of the Commission that evaluates the safety of air transport in different countries throughout the world.At the time it was banned TAAG carried out six flights per week between Lisbon and Luanda.In April the Commission noted “significant progresss” had been made by the airline but opting, however , to keep  the ban on the Angolan airline.INAC also said that its involvement was “important ” for gaining authorization for TAAG to fly to Lisbon,specifically via its cooperation protocol with its counterpart in Angola,Invac.TAAG  Angola Airlines (Linhas Aereas de Angola) is the national flag carrier of Angola.Based in Luanda,the airline has alarge domestic network and flights to other parts of Africa and South  America.Like Ethiopian Airlines and South African Airways ,TAAG has been one of ythe  few profitable sub-saharan African carriers and one of the few to recently purchase newly built aircraft as opposed to second-hand aircraft. It is 100% state owned by the Angolan government and itself owns 100% subsidiary Angola Air Charter.

ZAMBIAN  CARRIERS  STILL BANNED

Zambian carriers have also been identified  as problematic but according to local airline, Proflight Zambia ,the main reason for this is that within Zambia ,the licensing process ( and so the system of overseeing) is done by the Ministry of Transport whereas the world norm is for licensing to be done by Civil Aviation Authority.

According  to a spokesman for Proflight the way the blacklisting has been reported ,including by the British Foreign Office Advisory for Travel, implies that Zambian aviation as an  industry is unsafe.Proflight is working with the UK Government to address the problem of the FOAs wording.

DELTA STOPS  ANGOLA  FLIGHTS

Delta Air Lines has indefinitely postponed  its flights between Atlanta and Luanda ,Angola,just nine months after first announcing its plans to operate to Luanda Via Sal Island,Cape Verde. This follows the suspension of its Cape Town service and the postponement of its Kenya service in July.

KENYA AIRWINGS EXPANDS FLIGHTS

Kenya Airways launched  direct flights to Ndola-Second largest city in Copper-rich Zambia – on 19 September,just two weeks after launching flights to Gaborone.

The twice weekly  flights will depart from Nairobi every Thursday and Saturday.Ndola becomes the 36th African Destination in the KQ  network with recent additions being to  CONGO-Brazaville and Lebreville: launched in March  and June this year respectively.This makes Kenya Airways ‘schedule to the Southern Africa region,a very robust one as it currently operates three daily frequencies into Johannesburg, and double dailies to Lusaka,10 flights a week to Lilongwe ,Malawi and Harare , andd three weekly flights to Maputo.

With a population of over 774000,Ndola is the inddustrial,commercial,administrative and distribution hub of the copperbelt,Zambias copper-mining region and has one of the three internationals airports, others being Livingstone and Lusaka.Kenya Airways has increased its frequency to Sychelles three times a week on Tuesdays,Wednesdays and Thursdays.Unfortunately the airline suspended its daily  flights to Kisumu as from September 7 ,2009.Thism is due to the renovation and repairs at Kisumu Airport By Kenya Airports Authority and the repairs are expected to be completed by end of November this year.Kenya Airways first received IOSA certification in 2005 and subsequently had the certification newedd in 2007.

BUSSINESS  AVIATION

China is to get its first private jet airport as Shanghais Hongqiao Airport,and it should be ready in time for the World Expo next year ,according to reports in a Chinese newspaper.

The plans make provision for a 3000sq meter terminal with its own inspections,quarantine and customs areas as well as agarage with space for three bussiness aircraft. Up to 4000 business flights are expected to arrive in Shanghai during the  World  Expo and up to 6000 private flights a year by 2015 .Presently some 2000 private  flights operate in China unnually.

CESSNA DELIVERS FIRST  CITATION X RETROFITTED WITH WINGLETS

On August 31 2009 Cessna Aircraft Company announced the delivery of the first Cessna Citation X to be fitted with Elliptical Winglets. The Winglets were installed at the Wichita Cessna Service Centre under Winglets Technologys US Federal Aviation  Administration-  approved Supplemental Type Certificate.Cessna Winglets Technology,LLC,collobarated to develop the latters patented Elliptical Winglet for retrofit on Cessnas Citation X  bussiness jet.The patented Elliptical Winglet shape ensures the lift distribution closely matches optimum lift distribution  a long the span of the wing , which reduces the induced drag of the aircraft .The resulting drag reduction enhances operational perfomamce for the Citation X  including decreased fuel consumption,increased speed andd increased range,Winglet Technology received FAA approval of the Elliptical  Winglet installation on the Citation X in June and delivered the first  FAA approved retrofit kit to the Wichita Cessna Service Centre .The retrofit kit includes flight and operations manual supplements along with an updated version  of CESSNAV for customers who have purchased that subscription service from Cessna.In addition to the installation of the Elliptical Winglets, the retrfit kit includes the replacement of the existing ant-collission and position light system with LED versions.Plans are underway to offer installation of the Elliptical Winglets STC on the Citation X  at  all nine Cessna Service Centres located throughout the US and  in Europe.Cessna parts Distribution will be providing spares support for Catation Xs with the Elliptical Winglet STC  installed.Thye Citation X  is then worlds  fastest non-military aircraft with a top speed 0f .92 mach,just under the speedd of sound.The Citation X  is the top of Cessnas line of light andd midsize bussiness jet.

AIRSHOW  IN NORTH WEST PROVINCE (SOUTH AFRICA) POTCHEFSTROOM

The  City  of Potchefstroom plays host to this years annual North West Province Air Show in October  2009.The Nations flag  Carrier ,South African Airways and South African Air Force are tremendous supporters of  North West Province aviation.

The city is well known as being ann academic centre and is one of  two university cities in the province, the other being Mafikeng. It is located 145 miles to the Soth West of Johannesburg on the main artiel N12  route andd occupies an important place on the main railway line between Gautang and the Northen and Western Cape.

A medium sized city with a population of around 250,000 the city is managed by the Tlokwe city council. Potcefstroom is however,niot just a university lovcation.Enjoying maximum temperatures of just over 29 degreess centigrade,the climate is hot and dry during summer and mild in winter.Average annual rainfall is 767mm.

Thwe airfield ,once a busy South African Air Force air base, is becoming an increasingly popular link to the rest of the country.Although  still used on occasion by military flights-often to support nearby army firing ranges, the base is home to an extensive motor vechicle servicing unit.The SAAF withdrew in

by nikoretro

ABTA Says Travel Insurance Costly But Essential

The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) has said that while purchasing travel insurance may be viewed as an additional expense for those planning already expensive holidays, taking out adequate protection is an essential course of action for those booking a trip away.

According to Sean Tipton, press officer at the organisation, travelling abroad either on business or pleasure without first taking out insurance would be “extremely foolish”. He added that the risks associated with travel would be magnified for those who planned to take adventurous breaks.

For those who are already struggling with the costs of travel, Mr Tipton asserted that while a saving of 30 or 40 pounds could be made, uninsured travellers could end up being forced to sell their house to cover the costs of medical expenses in the event of an accident. Consumers eager to ensure that they travel in safety may wish to consider taking out a personal loan to meet the full costs of taking a dream holiday while protecting against nightmare scenarios.

“The worst case scenario is that if you broke your leg skiing in America and you didn’t have insurance then you would be talking about a bill for tens of thousands of dollars. If it was a very bad break then they might decide that you should be flown back to the UK in an air ambulance and then you’re getting into a hundred thousand potentially. [If you didn't take out insurance] you would save 30 or 40 pounds for an insurance policy but you run the risk of having to sell your house to pay the bill and travelling uninsured is just a very foolish thing to do to,” Mr Tipton explained.

Research by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has shown that travellers from both younger and older generations are choosing to take adventure holidays. Statistics from the government body suggest that 17 per cent of 18 to 35-year-olds took a jet-skiing holiday and 14 per cent chose to go rock climbing or mountaineering at the last minute. Meanwhile, it was also reported that 20 per cent of over-55s took risks on holiday that they would not consider at home. Furthermore, the office revealed that 65 per cent of people in this age bracket travelled without travel insurance protection. It was also shown that older generations who did take out cover while travelling were three times more likely to make a claim than younger age groups. Average insurance costs for the older age bracket were said to be around three and a half times more expensive than the usual policy for someone aged 18 to 24.

For those struggling to meet the cost of an inflated travel insurance policy, a personal loan may be of assistance in providing the capital to allow people to take a holiday with the peace of mind provided by robust insurance protection.

In other holiday news, it was revealed last month by MyChild that summer vacations remain sacrosanct for many British families despite growing concerns about being able to manage various areas of personal expenditure.

by mennonot

Obama lifts US ban on HIV travel and Immigration

President Barrack Obama has announced that the ban on HIV-positive people entering the US is to be lifted early in 2010.

The disclosure came as Obama signed a bill reauthorizing federal funding for an HIV-related healthcare policy – to improve availability of care for HIV positive people and their families.

At the signing ceremony the President told attendees that the ban on HIV-positive people entering the U.S. was instituted 22 years ago “in a decision rooted in fear rather than fact”.

“We are one of only a dozen countries that still bar people with HIV from entering our own country,” he said. “If we want to be the global leader in HIV, we need to act like it.”

He added that overturning the ban is a “step that will encourage people to get tested and get treatment. It’s a step that will keep families together, and it’s a step that will save lives”.

Obama said that the repeal would take effect “just after the new year”. With January 1st a holiday the new rule is expected to be implemented on January 4th.

Leading UK sexual health charity The Terence Higgins Trust has welcomed the decision.

Lisa Power, Head of Policy at the charity said “Terrence Higgins Trust has campaigned for many years to end this discriminatory policy. We hope its ending sends a strong signal to governments and politicians globally who support such pointless gestures. Entry bans have no justification on public health grounds. Their only real impact is to increase stigma and prevent ordinary people with HIV from getting on with their lives.”

For weekly gay news, chat and soundbites visit www.mand8.com

More UK Travel News Articles

by mennonot

Travelling During the Recession: Why it?s a Great Time to Plan a Holiday

As the economy continues to plummet, many are seen to be cutting back on “luxuries” such as leisure and travel. Yet interestingly enough, countless others are doing just the opposite. In the midst of a relentless recession, many Brits are finding that they need that holiday more than ever.

Indeed, one prominent reason Brits are choosing to travel during the recession is that they’re treating their getaways as a necessity rather than a luxury. As times get tougher – whether with regard to work, finances, or other day-to-day pressures – people feel they need a break to stay on track. Thus, holidays become more of a priority in dealing with stress, and not just the luxury it used to be.

But what about the financial aspect of taking a holiday during a recession? After all, countless households are feeling the financial strains of the credit crunch, and many can’t justify spending on a holiday – even if a break is needed.

However, there’s good news for travellers everywhere: the recession has lowered the cost of holidays in many respects. It’s now easier than ever to find great deals on hotels, flights, train travel, holiday activities, and more. No matter where you look, you’ll find travel companies offering incentives to choose their travel services – and many of them are unbeatable.

So, while many are counting their pennies with regard to daily expenditures, it’s now possible to take a holiday at a fraction of pre-recession costs.

Of course, aside from incentives offered by travel companies, travellers are also getting smarter with regard to how they arrange their travel. For instance, many Brits are choosing to holiday in the UK, significantly cutting down on their transport costs. Many others are finding great deals on destinations that are cheap to travel in. Either way, calculating how costs will balance out is an important step towards taking an affordable holiday during the recession.

Ultimately, it’s important to give yourself a break from the stresses of everyday life – and you might find this to be particularly true during the economic crisis. The key is to look for good deals, and plan your travel in a way that will help save you money. Whether that means searching for cheap hotels in Liverpool or booking cheap flights to Thailand – where daily expenditures will ultimately be cheap – a strategic approach is best, and will help deliver the affordable holiday you need during the recession.

More UK Travel News Articles

by Stuart Herbert

Brighton Travel Information

The City of Brighton and Hove is a modern, vibrant, cosmopolitan “City by the Sea”, situated between the beautiful South Downs and the Sussex Coast approximately 60 miles due south of the United Kingdom capital, London.

Brighton has long been one of the UK’s biggest and most fashionable seaside towns and is a popular tourist resort with many hotels, restaurants and entertainment facilities together with a considerable business conference industry.

Originally known as the modest fishing village of Brighthelmstone, this city has strong connections with the past with its regency architecture, Victorian Sea Life Centre, Brighton Pier, and of course The Royal Pavilion. By 1825 after Dr Richard Russell extolled the virtues of bathing in and drinking seawater, Brighton was born as a fashionable seaside resort.

Now it is a contemporary metropolis, with diverse shopping from Churchill Square and Western Road, to The Lanes and bohemian North Lanes, London Road and St James Street, Church Street and George Street in Hove. There is a new state of the art Library, restaurants, bars and clubs to suit every taste, theatres, cinemas, 10-pin bowling and casinos. In addition there are 2 universities, and a wide variety of sporting activities, including successful cricket, and football teams, and even a racecourse and greyhound stadium.

Another unique and historical attraction is Volks Railway, the oldest operating electric railway in the world. Created in 1883 by Magnus Volk, this 1 ¼ mile track links the Aquarium and Pier with Brighton Marina, with a half way stop near the children’s playground.

This year Brighton & Hove have been awarded its first ever Blue Flag award for its beaches at Hove Lawns and West Street. These guarantee that they are litter free and have clean swimming water. There is also a discreet naturist beach at Dukes Mound near Brighton Marina.

After a visit to Brighton Pier what better way to continue than with a stroll along the beachfront and down to the boardwalk. Here you can find the artists’ quarter and fishing museum. There is a traditional carrousel and various bars, clubs and restaurants under these historic arches. Further along the seafront you will discover a children’s playground, paddling pool and volleyball court.

From here you come face to face with the remaining wreck of the West Pier. This was originally built in 1866, has been lying derelict since 1975, and was destroyed by arson attacks in 2002. Although certain pieces from this Grade I listed building were removed and have been kept in storage.

However, the exciting news is that work is due to commence at the end of July on this site for the groundbreaking Brighton Eye. To be built at the shore end of the wrecked pier, the i360 (as it is also known) will have a 172 meter high needle tower, with an ascending and descending circular viewing platform with a capacity for 125 people. It will be Britain’s highest observation tower with breathtaking views along the coast, across the South Downs and across the Channel. Completion of this exciting and innovative construction is scheduled for 2009.

by nikoretro

Medical Tourism: Traveling For Health

Medical tourism is all the rage in many countries nowadays. Many patients who require complex surgeries or medical procedures for their ailments are now traveling abroad to get treated. Patients from UK, USA, and many other developed countries are moving to Asian countries like India, Hong Kong, Malaysia, China, Singapore, Philippines, and Thailand. In these countries, these people receive superior healthcare at a fraction of what it would cost in their homeland.

Reasons for people opting for medical tourism

There are many reasons for which people from developed countries choose to get their ailments treated abroad. Some of the important reasons include:

The quality of healthcare services that they find in the other countries often rivals what they would receive at home. Most of the doctors and healthcare professionals are highly qualified. Besides, most hospitals and healthcare facilities are equipped with state of the art provisions for treatment. The cost of treatment in the countries noted for medical tourism is often a fraction of what is required for same services at developed countries. In fact, for a fraction of the price required in US for a heart bypass, patients from US can travel to India, get treated, and top it off with a small vacation at any popular tourist destination within the country. Employer-sponsored healthcare policies are now starting to include complete cost coverage of healthcare for employees who travel abroad to get treated. This has resulted in the employees getting good healthcare and the employer having to pay much less. Some contagious diseases, such as, tuberculosis, typhoid, and malaria are often misdiagnosed in developed countries because most doctors and healthcare officials believe such diseases cannot happen in their country. In tropical countries like India, Malaysia, Philippines, etc., doctors are more open to accepting the possibility that the patient might indeed have a contagious disease. Last, but not the least, many insurance companies in the developed countries are now providing full coverage of the healthcare costs incurred by the insured patient choosing to get treatment done abroad. The patients are happy because they are getting good healthcare plus the benefit of a vacation, while the insurance company has to pay a much smaller amount to the patient.

All these benefits have inspired many patients in developed countries to opt for treatments for their ailments in foreign country. In the coming years, health tourism is expected to gain even more popularity.

by tonyhall

Quick Loans in UK – More About Quick Payday Loans in UK

Quick loans have now become quicker by the possibilities of getting the cash as soon as the loan has been approved. This option can be availed by paying a small extra charge called the instant transaction fee. Generally these transactions happen in a couple of hours, otherwise the default free services take a couple of days.

Quick payday loans are very helpful when sudden bills crop up or some emergency expenses befall you. The reason why such quick cash lenders are making it so big today! The borrower is happy and so is the lender. The interest is always standard and reasonable. This is half the reason why online quick payday loans are so popular in the market.

The global recession and bad news everywhere only made borrowers more insecure about living their lives with the money they had. In such times anybody would need a quick loan, be it to travel to nearby cities or buy them a new suit. In such times, a quick cash advance loan would be of great use. Cash is the only commodity, how much ever possessed will never be considered excessive.

Fast loans in UK have become such a common thing that it has become more difficult to identify hoax lenders from real. In such cases, the most important thing before applying for a loan is to clarify all doubts about the lenders. Quick cash loans can be offered by a lot of lenders but the most important being authenticity of the posed lender. Documents, policies and licenses are some ways to verify the authenticity of lenders.

Nowadays the biggest attraction about UK quick loans is that they can be repaid in installments. Since the world is becoming a place where things can be owned without really having to immediately repay by bulk amounts; even payday loans are being offered on similar grounds. These schemes are like borrowing and repaying a regular loan at reasonable interest rates. Repayment is calculated depending on the number of cycles or installments. The number of installments and repayment amounts generally depend on the lenders and the loan amount borrowed.

For those who have taken a quick payday loan and want to repay it as soon as possible, the pay in advance plans are also available with all lenders. Here generally, only the outstanding principal of the cash advance that was borrowed along with the respective months interest has to be paid to the lender. These are the biggest advantages of quick payday loans. So forget long queues for quick loans, bad credit and impossibly large interests.

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Camp for Climate Action – Sheet Metal cabinet Manufacturer – PEM Fastener Manufacturer

General
Electricity for the Camp is generated from solar panels
Camps are organised through the preceding year with a series of monthly meetings, previously held in Manchester, Nottingham, Oxford, Leeds, Bristol, London, and Talamnh (near Glasgow). Anyone is welcome to attend a planning meeting and to join one of the working groups. There were no ‘leaders’ and meetings used consensus decision making. Camps are run entirely by volunteers and are funded by private donations.
Much of the material used to created structures for the camp is reclaimed waste from building sites which would otherwise have been sent to a landfill. Compost toilets, comprehensive recycling, grey water systems and a pedal-powered laundries. The site of the camp is divided into loosely bounded ‘neighbourhoods’ or ‘barrios’, most corresponding to geographic region (one exception being the queer barrio of the 2006 camp). Daily consensus based meetings are held in each neighbourhood, and delegates sent to a central meeting. It is considered to be in the nature of the camp that organisational structures are loose and reflexive, so as to be open to change if they are not seen to be effective or efficient.
During the camp a large number of workshops are normally held on the theme of sustainability and climate-related issues.
Power for lighting, radios, mobile phones, sound equipment and laptop computers was supplied by solar panels and a wind turbine. Biodiesel from recycled cooking oil was available for vehicles. Cooking used conventional propane cylinders. In 2007 a satellite up-link was installed, together with a media tent with ten laptop computers, this was also used to send media to the press as well as Indymedia UK.
In 2008, a new sound system made its first appearance at Climate Camp. All of the system was made from recycled materials, except its battery. During the stop searches the battery was dropped and damaged yet the sound system still worked throughout the camp. This sound system mainly played reggae/lovers rock and dubstep at Gate 5 throughout the night and during the raids. The sound system was powered by a 12-volt leisure battery, charged using solar power. A car amp was used to power the speakers the system was mono and the amp was bridged. The sound system was built by Onedread and Dec. ‘Son of pedals’ sound system was another sound system at Climate Camp Video.
There is a strong emphasis on the use of bicycles and public transport, including a Bicycology tour from London via Lancaster.
As the United Nations has reported that “livestock is a major threat to environment” all food is vegan, mostly organic and locally sourced to minimise food miles, provided by communal neighbourhood kitchens, many associated with the Social Centres Network. List of Climate Camps
Climate camps started in the UK but have now taken place in a number of countries
Action
Location
Date
Drax power station
North Yorkshire, England
August 2006
Heathrow Airport
London, England
August 2007
Kooragang Island
Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
July 2008
Kingsnorth Power station
near London, England
August 2008
Climate camp in the city
London, England
April 2009
Coal Caravan
Northern England
May 2009
Mainshill wood
Scotland
August 2009
Ffos-y-Fran mine
Wales
August 2009
Antwerp Bulk Terminal (ABT) coal terminal
Antwerp, Belgium
August 2009
Nantes Airport
Nantes, France
August 2009
West Offaly Power station
Shannonbridge, Ireland
August 2009
Blackheath London 2009
Blackheath, London, England
August 2009
One of six ‘climate action camps’ across Canada
Edmonton, Canada
August 2009
A camp is planned for October 2009 at Helensburgh near Sydney, which is the site of Australia’s oldest coal mine. Drax 2006
Climate camp with Drax power station in the background
The camp was on a squatted site, situated close to several large power stations including Drax, a coal-fired power station which is the largest single emitter of carbon dioxide in the UK.
Over one hundred and sixty workshops ran throughout the camp, sharing practical skills on living sustainably, on subjects such as the science of climate change, environmental justice and the effects of climate change on people in the global South, corporate ‘climate criminals’, direct action, children’s workshops, and many more.
Music was turned off after 11pm to allow campaigners to sleep. But on the last Monday of the camp music was allowed much later. Day of action
On 31 August 2006, up to 600 people attended a protest called Reclaim Power converging on Drax and attempting to shut it down. There was a ‘kids march’ to Drax Power Station, with a giant ostrich puppet, made by the The Mischief Makers. Two protesters climbed a lighting pylon at the edge of the Drax site and four others broke through the fence. At least 3,000 police officers, from 12 forces from as far afield as Hampshire and London, were reported to have been drafted in for the duration of the protest. Thirty-eight protesters were arrested. The police reported that work at the power plant was not disrupted, though eye witnesses reported having locked-on to various machinery inside the power station, thus stopping work. No coal went into Drax that day, with the railway line in being blocked off.
Other protests arising from the camp included a protest against a nuclear power station in Hartlepool, Teesside. Media response
The Guardian reported that the Camp marked a turning point in grass-roots campaigning against the causes of climate change. The network forged at the Camp continues to work on campaigns to highlight and tackle the causes of Climate Change, participating in actions drawing attention to (for example) road building and the climate effects of cheap air travel. Days of climate action on different themes have been called by this Network for Climate Action. Heathrow 2007
A ‘memorial’ to the village of Sipson which would be completely destroyed to make way for a new runway for Heathrow airport
The 2007 camp (512920 02643 / 51.48889N 0.44528W / 51.48889; -0.44528) ran from 14 to 21 August 2007 near London Heathrow Airport next to the village of Sipson on a disused sports ground owned by Imperial College London. Sipson would disappear from the map if the third runway at Heathrow was built. It was preceded by ‘Our Place’ arts weekend, a community arts project run by activists for local residents on 11 & 12 August at St Mary’s Church Hall in Harmondsworth, another village which would be severely affected by the building of a third runway.
During the camp there were also protests by Plane Stupid, who were injuncted from protesting at Heathrow. On 13 August Plane Stupid activists boarded a barge transporting an Airbus A380 wing and on the 16th August at London Biggin Hill Airport. 15 protesters chained themselves to its main gates and caused a “long queue of luxury cars waiting to get into the airport to build up”.
Climate activists blockade British Airports Authority’s headquarters for day of action.
On the 19th August, the final day of the camp some 1000-1400 people took part in a ‘Day of Action’ and 200 people blockaded British Airports Authority HQ.
As protesters left on the 20th August protests took place against two carbon offset companies, Climate Care and the Carbon Neutral Company on the 20th August when campaigners dressed as “red herrings” protested at the offices in Oxford London, five people blocked the main gate at Sizewell B nuclear power station in Suffolk, and a group invaded the London offices of Bridgepoint Capital, a private equity firm which is behind the expansion of Leeds-Bradford Airport, and a dozen protesters superglued their hands to entrance doors at BP’s headquarters in central London. A total of 58 people were arrested. Injunction
There was a relaxed atmosphere between police and protesters during parts of the camp
BAA’s proposed injunction would have restricted the movements of 5 million people from 15 different organisations, including the RSPB, Greenpeace, the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England, the Woodland Trust, Friends of the Earth, and the National Trust, among others. As such the injunction would technically have included the Queen; patron of the RSBP and CPRE, Prince Charles; in his position as President of the National Trust, and even some of BAA’s own staff. The ruling was sought under the auspices of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, originally intended to help the victims of stalking, but now frequently used against protesters. In the end BAA won a very much more limited injunction and the camp went ahead amid considerable worldwide publicity. Afterward, Duncan Bonfield, BAA director of corporate affairs, and Mark Mann, BAA head of media relations, resigned without stating their reasons. Policing
Policing for the camp was estimated to have cost 7 million by Scotland Yard, though this included 4.3m for costs such as salaries which would have been spent anyway. The Evening Standard put the costs at 70 million without explaining how it reached that figure.
The inside of the media tent and the climate camp at Heathow. 10 workstations, with live satellite up-link and powered on renewable energy
In 2007 the police made preventive searches under Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. The camp was heavily attended by a force of 1,800 police, who carried out searches, including some vehicles, under Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2006, and took photos of protesters entering and leaving the camp. On Sunday August 19 there were scuffles between protesters and police officers outside the offices of BAA at Heathrow, which were being targeted in a day of direct action by some of the protesters. Journalistic access
In relation to the 2007 the National Union of Journalists issued a public statement expressing “deep concern” over a proposed draft policy toward media access during its 2007 event. The camp media team replied to the NUJ criticism by stating: “The policy