The ‘dangerous problem’ that was completely missing from the presidential debate
The Canary UK

The ‘dangerous problem’ that was completely missing from the presidential debate

Contrary to initial expectations, the climate crisis did feature in the presidential debate on 29 September. Candidates also faced a question on the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. Presidential nominees got asked about climate change at a debate for the first time in over a decade— Here's what Trump and Biden had to say about the ongoing climate crisis #Debates2020 pic.twitter.com/xQfhsRyIYM — NowThis (@nowthisnews) September 30, 2020 However, the biodiversity crisis, which is as important as the climate crisis and intrinsically linked to it, didn’t get a look in. Nor did a “dangerous problem” in the US, relevant to both the pandemic and biodiversity, get a mention. That’s the US’s…

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30 September 2020
Julian Assange versus Washington’s boot – the hearing so far
The Canary UK

Julian Assange versus Washington’s boot – the hearing so far

To write about the greatest press freedom case in recent history, it has been necessary to rely almost exclusively on the work of independent journalists reporting from the Old Bailey Central Criminal Court. Detailed coverage of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s extradition hearing in the Guardian, the New York Times, et cetera, is almost nowhere to be seen. This is indeed troubling: the press itself is one of the greatest barriers to infringements on the First Amendment. This article will offer a brief overview of the Assange hearing to date, 30 September. The Canary will be on the ground to cover the remaining two days of proceedings. Espionage Act Assange…

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30 September 2020
A damning fact about the BBC’s Assange coverage just emerged
The Canary UK

A damning fact about the BBC’s Assange coverage just emerged

If you regularly rely on BBC News, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the extradition hearing of publisher Julian Assange wasn’t happening. Because the public service broadcaster has been doing a distinctly unpublic service by barely covering it. But a revelation by another journalist has exposed a damning fact about the BBC‘s lack of stories on Assange. And moreover, it’s home affairs correspondent has also admitted why he thinks his employer is ignoring the case. Assange: the trial of the century? You can read The Canary‘s coverage of the Assange case here. John McEvoy reported that: Assange is currently being held in the UK’s Belmarsh Prison, as extradition proceedings to…

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30 September 2020
Johnson is royally put in his place at PMQs
The Canary UK

Johnson is royally put in his place at PMQs

Another week, and another Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) has left some of us feeling, well – underwhelmed. But much like the previous week’s edition, the spark came from somewhere other than the Tory and Labour benches. This week, it was down to speaker Lindsay Hoyle to put Boris Johnson in his place. PMQs: Hoyle starts as he means to go on It didn’t start well for Johnson. Lancs Live reported that Hoyle laid into the government over the controversial coronavirus (Covid-19) laws that MPs are fighting over. MPs want to be able to debate changes to the legislation, but the government doesn’t want to let them. Hoyle scolded…

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30 September 2020
Coronavirus is disrupting early years education. And it’s the poorest children who’ll suffer the most.
The Canary UK

Coronavirus is disrupting early years education. And it’s the poorest children who’ll suffer the most.

Early years education has been severely impacted by coronavirus, according to a recent report, prompting concerns that disadvantaged children will lose out. The report, conducted by the Education Policy Institute (EPI), found that 71% of staff in the early years sector were furloughed from March to August. During this period, 7% of staff left their posts and 4% were made redundant. Sharon Birch, owner of a nursery in Hartlepool, told the Canary: I had to let eight staff go, and they were the people that were on the lower contracts, that were part-time. It’s just turned everything on it’s head really, especially for vulnerable families. With less staff,…

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30 September 2020
Universal Credit is back in the spotlight as the Tories dodge a massive issue
The Canary UK

Universal Credit is back in the spotlight as the Tories dodge a massive issue

The Conservative government’s response to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic has consistently been in chaos. Now, an open letter is urging it to act over changes to Universal Credit. Because in April next year, hundreds of thousands of people could be “pulled into poverty”. And so far, the Tories have done nothing to avoid this. Emergency measures Over 50 charities and organisations have written to the chancellor Rishi Sunak to discuss the increase in certain social security payments that happened in April. The government increased the rate of Universal Credit and Working Tax Credits by around £20 a week. But the Tories are ending this increase in 2021. So,…

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30 September 2020
This time last year, a baby died in prison. It’s urgent we demand all pregnant prisoners are released.
The Canary UK

This time last year, a baby died in prison. It’s urgent we demand all pregnant prisoners are released.

Disclaimer: the author is a member of Shoal Collective, one of the signatories to the statement referred to in this piece. In June 2020, a newborn baby died in Styal prison. The mother was refused medical care, and had been complaining of severe pain for days. Disgracefully, this was the second death of a baby in under a year in UK prisons: in September 2019, a newborn baby also died in Bronzefield prison. The woman gave birth alone at night in her prison cell. Now campaigners are urgently calling for the release of all pregnant prisoners, saying that they are “outraged” and “broken-hearted” by the babies’ deaths. Why…

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29 September 2020
The government is quietly trying to destroy freedom of speech in our schools
The Canary UK

The government is quietly trying to destroy freedom of speech in our schools

The Department for Education has updated its PSHE guidance to schools with new restrictions banning resources from “extreme political stances”. PSHE stands for ‘personal, social, health and economic education’. It teaches children skills intended to prepare them for adult life, as well as knowledge about keeping themselves healthy and safe. But the new guidelines amount to a direct attack on freedom of speech. And many education professionals have expressed concern about how this will affect their freedom in teaching PSHE. The guidance The guidance, published on 24 September, includes an outline of appropriate resources for use in teaching about relationships, sex, and health. Part of the guidance reads:…

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29 September 2020
Western leaders ‘not serious on climate change’: Vijay Prashad talks Trump’s Cold War with China
The Canary UK

Western leaders ‘not serious on climate change’: Vijay Prashad talks Trump’s Cold War with China

In 2016, Donald Trump won the US presidency with a vow to stop China from ‘raping’ the US economy. During the four years since, the US has adopted an increasingly confrontational stance towards China. In January 2018, Trump launched a trade war with China. In 2019, it imposed a ban on Chinese telecommunications firm Huawei. And following the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, Trump has consistently attempted to distract from his administration’s failures to contain the virus with anti-Chinese racism. Meanwhile, the US is ‘encircling China with military bases’. Since former US president Barrack Obama announced America’s ‘pivot to Asia’ in 2011, the US seems to have shifted its military…

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29 September 2020
As experts call ‘urgently’ for online teaching, students demand tuition and accommodation refund
The Canary UK

As experts call ‘urgently’ for online teaching, students demand tuition and accommodation refund

Some 40 universities have reported coronavirus (Covid-19) cases since term began, while thousands of students all over the country have found themselves paying for the privilege of self-isolating. Scientists have now released urgent guidelines following the increasing outbreaks. Independent SAGE experts argue that there is an “urgent need” to “act quickly and pragmatically”. They stress that all teaching should immediately be transferred online. They also argue that where online teaching isn’t possible, there should be regular coronavirus-testing for both staff and students. Accommodation fees should be refunded The scientists also recommend that universities: Offer students the choice whether to live on campus / in their university accommodation or…

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29 September 2020