What the papers say in the week ending 19 March 2022
The invasion of the Ukraine by Russian forces continues and is the focus of concern world-wide. People are taking action to demonstrate their care and support for innocent victims:
- Marina Ovsyannikova: Russian journalist fined after live broadcast protest | Russia | The Guardian
- More than 100,000 Britons offer to take in Ukrainian refugees | Ukraine | The Guardian
- Understanding how the situation has arisen may help divine how it can be resolved: Was it inevitable? A short history of Russia’s war on Ukraine | Ukraine | The Guardian
- People devote prayer time to this, and prayer has become the subject of correspondence more than has been usual: A divine catch-22 in prayers for peace? | Letters | The Guardian
- When prayer does not bring any relief | Letters | The Guardian
- Gauging the benefits of prayers for peace | Letters | The Guardian
This is a good thing. The discussion examines differing understandings and differing expectations of prayer. Applicable in a time of crisis like this, the thoughts and conclusions will be useful in other times and in the routine of life away from conflict.
Covid remains a significant threat.
There are more cases, especially amongst young people and old. Immunity has been found to fade quickly in elderly residents of care homes. The implication for individuals is not to abandon caution. There may be an argument for regular booster jabs in older people, especially those in care homes
- ‘Pandemic is not over’: ministers criticised for scrapping UK Covid surveillance | Coronavirus | The Guardian
- How concerning is it that Covid infections are rising in the UK? | Coronavirus | The Guardian
- Germany hits record Covid infection rate since start of pandemic | Germany | The Guardian
- Rise in UK Covid admissions leading to hospital illness, absence and delays | Coronavirus | The Guardian
- Covid resurgent across UK with infections in over-70s at record high | Coronavirus | The Guardian
- Covid immunity declines steeply in care home residents in England – study | Coronavirus | The Guardian
A ray of optimism follows the release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe after six years in Iranian detention: Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe returns to the UK after six-year ordeal | Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe | The Guardian
But there are many things to worry about:
Ambitions to reduce air pollution are too modest: Proposed air pollution limit in England is twice as high as WHO recommends | Environment | The Guardian
Inflation and other features of the economy threaten more people with poverty, including pensioners: UK ministers under pressure to ease impact of cost of living crisis | Cost of living crisis | The Guardian
- Pensioner poverty is at a new high – so why are older people still voting Tory? | Polly Toynbee | The Guardian
- The State of Ageing 2022 | Centre for Ageing Better (ageing-better.org.uk)
Relaxation of legislation on gambling since 2005 has released dreadful difficulties for some individuals and their families. This includes older gamblers. There is a lobby to make the situation safer: Only a public health approach can tackle the harm done by gambling | Letters | The Guardian
Alternative uses are not easy to find for failed champions of the high street: Almost 90% of Debenhams stores still lie empty a year after collapse | Retail industry | The Guardian
Some employers are prepared to terminate contracts with no warning: P&O Ferries sacks all 800 crew members across entire fleet | Shipping industry | The Guardian
And vulnerable youngsters may be housed in unsuitable accommodation, but this is within the law: Government lawful in allowing 16- and 17-year-olds in unregulated care, court rules | Children | The Guardian
Learning:
Reports about inequality based on race have been appearing for many years, but the problems remain. There is hope for action: UK government to scrap ‘BAME’ in response to race inquiry | Race | The Guardian
- But trends are not encouraging: Proportion of remand prisoners who are minority ethnic rises 17% in six years | Prisons and probation | The Guardian
History tell us that equality and solidarity have many benefits for individuals and for society: Equality was key to ancient Mexican city’s success, study suggests | Mexico | The Guardian
Sleep is precious – the USA is proposing to stop the ritual of switching the clocks forwards in spring and backwards in autumn: this may help us retain successful sleep patterns: My sleepy brain loves the sound of permanent daylight savings. But do scientists agree? | Sleep | The Guardian
- But extra naps during the day may indicate the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease: Long naps may be early sign of Alzheimer’s disease, study shows | Alzheimer’s | The Guardian
- ‘Vicious cycle’ found between excessive napping and Alzheimer’s – Harvard Gazette
The joy of sex is not lost in later life: An exhaustive to-do list for older lovers | Sex | The Guardian
The romance of ancient landscape can be recaptured: Plans to restore Brownsea Island to Dorset heathland of Thomas Hardy | The National Trust | The Guardian
David Jolley, Chair of Christians on Ageing, prepares this review in a personal capacity
