JO - We could yet become a nation of bilinguals

From my archive of press clippings:

Jamaica Observer

We could yet become a nation of bilinguals

By Kadene Porter

Saturday, June 28, 2008

We Jamaicans are confused about matters relating to our patois. We are unsure of how to position it, whether to acknowledge it officially as part of our national identity, or to keep it in its place in a box marked "Broken English".

Read the whole article here.

Snippet(s):

"Few of us seem to realise that what we now hold up as "Standard English" was in its infancy one of hundreds of the regional dialects spoken in England, and like our patois, went through similar rites of passage before a single form emerged, or was chosen, as the standard.

Our colourful "patwa" is perhaps going through its own historical Middle Passage, where after years of pondering over its standardisation, making it a national language is still cause for a feverish debate, especially with the Bible being translated into this our "heart" language.

For as long as we entertain the notion that this is not a valid language with its own set of rules, and is merely broken English, we will continue to experience the same frustrations with the low number of passes in the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) school-leaving tests, and the inability of the masses to enter the global sphere of communication and commerce.

It has been said that "patwa" is an English-based dialect, so we should not have much difficulty learning English, but ironically it is the familiarity with English that breeds our handicap."

S&S - U.S. nukes moved from Lakenheath, official claims

From my archive of press clippings:

Stars and Stripes

U.S. nukes moved from Lakenheath, official claims

By Charlie Reed, Stars and Stripes

European edition, Saturday, June 28, 2008

RAF LAKENHEATH, England — News that U.S. nuclear bombs had been removed from England has British protesters celebrating. But many now question why government and military officials are reluctant to announce weapons consolidations in Europe.

Read the whole article here.

S&S - Air Force plan to merge maintainers into squadrons is delayed

From my archive of press clippings:

Stars and Stripes

Air Force plan to merge maintainers into squadrons is delayed

By Jennifer Svan, Stars and Stripes

European edition, Sunday, July 13, 2008

Sean Kimmons / S&S Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Clark, a KC-135 crew chief, searches for cracks on a wing flap in a recent inspection of a KC-135 aircraft at RAF Mildenhall, England.

The plan to put aircraft maintenance units back under the control of operational squadrons is on hold at U.S. Air Force bases worldwide.

Read the whole article here.

S&S - Navy to close last facility in U.K. by May

From my archive of press clippings:

Stars and Stripes

Navy to close last facility in U.K. by May


By Charlie Reed, Stars and Stripes

European edition, Saturday, January 17, 2009


The U.S. Navy will close its last remaining facility in the United Kingdom by May, officials said this week.

Read the whole article here.

Snippet(s):

"The "disestablishment" of the Joint Maritime Facility at RAF St. Mawgan in southwest England is expected to save the Navy $9 million annually, according to U.S. European Command spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Corey Barker.

The facility, which will be returned to the British government, employs 300 U.S. sailors, 45 British troops and 100 civilian personnel from both governments, Barker said."

&

"The closure at St. Mawgan will mark the end of the Navy’s presence in England, where sailors have been stationed since World War II."

re: "What Barack Needs To Know About Allies’ Barracks"

Robert at Expat Yank ("one American Living in the South of England") has the plain truth about European troop deployment availability.

Money quote(s):

"Americans must not allow themselves to believe there are ready reinforcements among NATO allies relaxing in comfortable, European barracks."

"(T)he militaries of France, Italy and Germany are professional. But materially and in terms of effective combat troops, they are far less capable than Britain.

In short, there are no reinforcements available. None.

Even with the best will in the world, it would take years to train and equip additional troops and large new sums would have to be appropriated to do both."

&

"(I)f the campaign in Afghanistan is to be won, it will be won mostly by Americans and Afghans."

CNN - Visitors to U.S. face refusal under new online entry system

CNN

Visitors to U.S. face refusal under new online entry system


January 12, 2009 -- Updated 1102 GMT (1902 HKT)


LONDON, England (CNN) -- From today, travelers visiting the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) risk being detained at airports and sent home if they don't comply with new U.S. immigration rules.

Read the whole article here.

re: "Windmills Of The Mind Appear To Power The BBC"

Robert at Expat Yank ("one American Living in the South of England") shares a sad tale of the BBC.

Money quote(s):

"(T)he BBC News 24 woman studio newsreader (yours truly didn’t catch her name) observed to him, in a voice dripping with the incredulity of a sort one might hear emanating from a child, that, as an Israeli ground offensive begins into Gaza, Hamas can’t fight back with anything [materially] like the Israelis have."

"(Y)ours truly also knew then and there that she had just provided a morning post. In other words, “Daddy, ooh, those Israelis have big tanks. Gosh, that doesn’t really seem fair?”"

"(W)hat’s that BBC newswoman’s excuse? For she’s purportedly an adult, and if her similar simpleton observation doesn’t neatly sum up BBC stupidity, bias and sheer reporting childishness, yours truly doesn’t honestly know what does."

&

"What in heaven’s name does she and the lot at the Beeb honestly think war is? A darts match? Who throws first? Everyone throws from the same distance? The same number of darts each? And afterwards everyone gathers in a circle on the lounge floor and partakes from the Holly Hobbie tea set?"

JG - Human trafficking: modern-day slavery

From my archive of press clippings:

Jamaica Gleaner

Human trafficking: modern-day slavery

published: Sunday May 11, 2008

Glenda Simms, Contributor

The ongoing saga of trafficking in persons in Jamaica has again been highlighted in a recent report covered by one of the local media houses.

Read the whole article here.

Snippet(s):

"The issue of trafficking is usually highlighted when the American State Department is ready to issue their evaluation of the effectiveness of the anti-trafficking initiatives that Jamaica has pledged to implement. It can be argued that in this process we appear to return to our nine-day wonder slumber, especially when we are put on an acceptable 'tier watch' for trafficking."

"In 1899, the International Conference on the White Slave Trade was convened in England. At that time a decision was taken "to do everything possible to protect the vulnerable against the practice of trafficking."

In spite of these early good intentions, many developing societies, such as Jamaica, are forced to acknowledge that their world is now faced with a modern form of slavery - a form that is protected by the monied class and the global tentacles of organised crime."

&

"These are the women and girls who come in from the streets of Moscow and other Eastern European cities, Havana, and Santo Domingo as exotic dancers and uptown call girls; the 'brownings' of St Elizabeth and Westmoreland and other rural areas who have little or no educational foundation, but are enticed by the seductive advertisements for work in exotic and erotic massage parlours, go-go clubs and other disguised institutions of prostitution.

These advertisements appear on a regular basis in the classified advertisement sections of both morning and evening editions of the local media houses. These categories of women are likely to include the dozens of teenagers between the ages of 11-19, who are currently reported as missing in Jamaica."