What the papers said in the week ending 22 May 2021
Christianity
Some senior Roman Catholic bishops in the United States are finding it difficult to accept President Biden’s distinction between his personal views on matters such as the availability of abortion services and his duty to uphold the law. The Guardian view on US bishops versus the president: Biden is on the angels’ side | Editorial | The Guardian
The history of misuse of positions of trust continues to haunt the Churches: Archbishop of Canterbury apologises to abused participants in Christian camps | Justin Welby | The Guardian
Covid-19
- In a world where deaths from Covid-19 continue to overwhelm resources to cope with the illness or make provision for corpses: Stench of death pervades rural India as Ganges swells with Covid victims | Coronavirus | The Guardian
- Domestic headlines are preoccupied with return to ‘normal’: access to the indoors of public houses, holidays abroad to countries which are designated ‘green’ for safety
- The stress on healthcare workers is recognised by special help from the Samaritans organisation Samaritans to extend help for frontline health and care workers | Coronavirus | The Guardian
- But the Social Care sector remains Cinderella though its importance during the pandemic, and at all times, is made clear in a well-balanced report from the National Audit Office Covid laid bare existing weaknesses in UK government, says NAO | Coronavirus | The Guardian
- The adult social care market in England – National Audit Office (NAO) Report
We have been encouraged by MHA and Age UK to write to our MPs about this. We are provided here with information to support the arguments
Government
An unpleasant faction within our community has turned to express hatred to innocent Jewish citizens: Four arrests over video ‘showing antisemitic abuse shouted from cars in London’ | UK news | The Guardian
- This is condemned Minister condemns ‘deeply disturbing’ rise in antisemitism in UK | Antisemitism | The Guardian
- We are still remembering the atrocities of the Second World War First-hand stories shed new light on Nazi death marches | Holocaust | The Guardian
Another atrocity which is our responsibility has yet to be resolved fairly and satisfactorily. The promised compensation of victims of Windrush still wait – 21 people have died on the waiting list. Some have waited for over a year since registering. Only 2,000 have registered though 15,000 would qualify Windrush scandal: 21 people have died before receiving compensation | Windrush scandal | The Guardian
Sadly another similar and emerging scandal is revealed before our eyes as the Home Office has sent threatening letters to bona fide residents, requiring that they confirm their status or risk losing the benefits which are rightly theirs: Home Office sends letters warning of immigration status to UK citizens | Immigration and asylum | The Guardian
Some science
We are warned that publications which attract attention because they are unexpected, may not be reliable: Research findings that are probably wrong cited far more than robust ones, study finds | Science | The Guardian
Data show that many European countries are experiencing low birth rates, exciting concerns that aged societies will be unbalanced and unable to support a population of dependent old people. The fear is raised recurrently. In reality older people make extraordinary contributions financial and non-financial to the wellbeing of countries: The Guardian view on declining birthrates: there may be trouble ahead | Editorial | The Guardian
Lack of rehabilitation training slows preparation of prisoners for early discharge – a problem for individuals and the prison service. The matter is exacerbated by the pandemic England and Wales prisoners taking fewer rehabilitation courses | Prisons and probation | The Guardian
LSD paralyses the brain filters which keep us sane Acid test: scientists show how LSD opens doors of perception | Science | The Guardian
Increased air pollution generates more cases of asthma and other respiratory problems – This is most evident amongst children, but old people are also affected: Air pollution linked to ‘huge’ rise in child asthma GP visits | Air pollution | The Guardian
- Spatio-temporal associations of air pollutant concentrations, GP respiratory consultations and respiratory inhaler prescriptions: a 5-year study of primary care in the borough of Lambeth, South London | Environmental Health | Full Text (biomedcentral.com) NB table 4. The increases are only around 2%. Most in very young but 65+ not far behind
An Oxford University study of 25,000 people has demonstrated that alcohol impairs brain structure and function even when taken in modest quantities. The damage is greater, the more that is drunk. Any amount of alcohol consumption harmful to the brain, finds study | Alcohol | The Guardian
A recent report focused on the ethnicity and wealth of pedestrians injured or killed in road traffic accidents. It found that BAME ethnicity and poverty are associated with more such injuries and deaths Pedestrian casualties higher among BAME people and in poor areas – study | Road safety | The Guardian
- road-traffic-injury-risk-amongst-gb-black-and-ethnic-minority-populations.pdf (livingstreets.org.uk)
- An earlier report confirmed that the greater risk is to pedestrians age 75 or older. Reported road casualties in Great Britain: 2019 annual report (publishing.service.gov.uk) (Chart 8)
A retired GP writing to the Guardian believes that Vitamin D should be taken as part of the approach to protect people against Covid-19 Vitamin D is a vital Covid defence tool | Letters | The Guardian
- The Lancet and other sources are not so sure. Low levels of Vitamin D certainly impair the immune system but levels higher than normal may not have value – and there are potential hazards of overdose. Vitamin D and COVID-19: why the controversy? – The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology
- Does vitamin D protect against COVID-19? (joinzoe.com)
Somethings to smile about:
Extra funds are being made available to Natural England – boosting the UK’s green credentials: Natural England to get 47% funding increase amid ‘green recovery’ plans | Natural England | The Guardian
We will soon be able to see details of the kitchen and other household activity on the home of Jane Austen Martha Lloyd’s Household Book: The Original Manuscript from Jane Auste – Bodleian Libraries (bodleianshop.co.uk)
David Jolley
