What the papers said in the week ending 31 October 2020
Two extremely important political developments during the week have significance for people of all ages:
- The Equality and Human Rights Commission’s Report on Anti-Semitism in the British Labour Party, has been long awaited. It is thorough, measured and fair, identifying faults and requiring that changes are made https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/inquiries-and-investigations/investigation-labour-party
- In Poland the ruling Party has made legal abortion all-but unavailable https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/30/polish-hospitals-begin-turning-away-women-seeking-abortions There are demonstrations against this ruling within Poland and criticisms from other countries
The issue of poverty within the UK, with a focus on hungry children, continues to receive attention: reluctance to act by Central Government but appeals for action to be taken from many quarters:
- https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/oct/27/indian-child-poverty-charity-offers-free-school-meals-in-uk
- https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/oct/30/marcus-rashford-businesses-proving-free-meals-in-england
Values and the concept of spiritual life are explored in the question of non-human creatures, notably dogs
- A study of headstones in animal cemeteries, reported in the journal Antiquity, found that recent headstones often include phrases which anticipate meeting a departed best friend in the afterlife. Pope John Paul II is quoted as confirming the view that animals do have souls and are as near to God as men are.https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/oct/27/do-all-dogs-go-to-heaven-pet-owners-increasingly-think-so-says-study
- A stray tabby cat who adopted Southwark Cathedral, has been celebrated in his death and honoured with burial of ashes in the churchyard https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/oct/28/much-loved-southwark-cathedral-cat-doorkins-magnificat-laid-to-rest
- Named as ‘Doorkins the Magnificat’ he has featured in a book written and illustrated about his life: https://cathedral.southwark.anglican.org/visiting/doorkins-magnificat/
Covid 19
Meanwhile life for people of all ages and around the world, is being constrained by Covid 19 and attempts to reduce the ill-health it is causing:
- The UK is following Germany, France and Belgium into a second lockdown https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/30/global-covid-report-belgium-facing-new-lockdown-as-germany-takes-in-patients
- There is some encouragement from reports that the Oxford University trials of a possible vaccine find that it raises immunity in people of all ages, including those over 70 – where side-effects are said to be less than amongst younger individuals https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/27/covid-vaccine-uk-oxford-university-astrazeneca-works-in-all-ages-trials-suggest
- We learn that the management of covid cases in terms of reckless discharge from hospital to a care home, was evident in Scotland as it was in England https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/oct/28/covid-positive-patients-were-discharged-to-scottish-care-homes-in-spring-report
Other matters:
The value of informal carers is highlighted: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/oct/26/why-are-unpaid-carers-still-taken-for-granted
Scouting, and other voluntary activities which add to the strengths of our community, are at risk from loss of funds associated with lockdown https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/oct/29/500-uk-scout-troops-face-closure-after-covid-hits-fundraising
Newspapers and other media outlets flood us with statistics and graphs about the covid crisis – These are difficult for the best of us to follow: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/oct/28/statistical-errors-and-a-wild-night-on-the-tiles
Obituaries:
Yet another example of a professional footballer dying with dementia – the loss of Nobby Stiles who was in the World Cup winning team 1966 along with Jack Charlton who died so recently, also with dementia https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/oct/30/nobby-stiles-obituary
Bobby Ball – of the comedy duo Cannon and Ball has died aged 76 with covid 19. The duo found faith in middle age and gave a good deal of time and talent to religious works Bobby Ball obituary
David Jolley
