Me and David Miliband, we're like this....

I think firstly I should apologise to my WWJD readers for neglecting you slightly, but I have a good reason! I've been working very hard and as you can see I have new pages and new additions to my blog, so I haven't been totally neglectful!

This post is evidence of some of my hard work by the way. As well writing about politics, I do occasionally go out and meet the politicians! We had a visit from David Miliband recently at my university, so I was straight on it trying to get an interview with him. As you can see from the picture, there was a small crowd at the press conference and I was one of them (I'm the one dressed in white jacket and black trousers with my hair in a bun).

After our small meeting he went onto give an hour long question and answers session with some of the students at my university and members of the public. He was here in Stoke to launch the local elections campaign and encourage people to vote in the AV referendum. Also there was our local MP for Stoke-On-Trent Central Tristram Hunt, who was also on hand to answer questions and generally be around!

Firstly, can I just say what a charming guy David was. He answered every question thoroughly and gave us student journalists plenty of time to chat to him, even though his people tried to move him on plenty of times! Secondly, I think it's about time we had more high-profile politicians come to visit Stoke, particularly Labour MP's. This is a safe Labour seat here, and I don't think they should forget that the local people take the time to vote to ensure they keep their seat. I personally was extremely excited to meet David. I was probably more excited to meet him than I would any sort of minor celebrity! But that's just me.

All in all, this is just a short post to let my readers know that I haven't neglected you, and I do sometimes do mildly important stuff. Sometimes. So apologies for being a bit slack, but there's your explanation!

(Photograph courtesy of L.Hardy)

March for the alternative! Which is.....? Anyone?

So yesterday we were encouraged by the TUC to 'March for the Alternative' and oppose the spending cuts that the government have proposed. Workers marched in their thousands, and were encouraged to bring the whole family to join in this jolly little jaunt across London, all finishing up with a happy picnic over at Hyde Park. How naive were they?

Firstly, why would you take a child to a protest? Maybe that's my over-protective background coming into play, but common sense? No? Secondly, what a damn shame. Yet again the news coverage shows images of fires burning, vandalised buildings and a general trail of destruction left around the streets of London. We all find the cuts a bitch to deal with, but going around London wrecking up the place is NOT the answer. If anything, dressing up in black and covering your face is the cowards way out. There were hundreds of thousands of people that managed to march peacefully, and convey a strong message without wreaking havoc and making themselves look like bloody idiots. However, no matter how people 'protested' yesterday, they were all there for the same reason- to march for an alternative to the government cuts. But what exactly is the alternative?

People from all walks of life attended the march yesterday, chanting slogans opposing the cuts, but what from what I can gather, there seems to be many different ideas about where to make the cut-backs. Some people think that the government should come down harder on the rich and impose a 'Robin Hood Tax', some people are shocked that we're intervening in Libya when the deficit is already so high, and some people are just generally hacked off that their job, community centre, theatre, youth centre, whatever, has fallen victim to such deep cuts. It just seems to me that there is no unifying idea in opposition to the cuts.

I think yesterdays march came down to the fact that you can't please all of the people all of the time. Don't get me wrong, I don't support the cuts. I graduate next year and I'm going to be going into one of the worst job markets for decades. The fact I want to work in the media industry, just makes finding a job even tougher. I was also there marching against the rise in tuition fees, so not for one second do I support what the Tory government are proposing. However, we have to face facts here- cuts are inevitable. The Green Party are proposing that we don't need cuts. WE DO. This recession is global and is hitting everyone across the world, it's just rubbish that it's effecting you.

I think it's times like this when we need to band together. I think yesterdays march showed just how divided we are in our ideas. If we as a nation can't decide exactly what we want, then how are the government supposed to keep us happy? Hopefully, in four or five years or so we should be getting back to normal, and it's the governments responsibility to keep the cycle of boom and bust to a manageable level, because let's not forget, this isn't the first recession to have ever happened in history ever in the world. Let's learn from this one shall we?

I personally agree with Labour's idea. They want to cut the deficit by 50% over four years as opposed to the Tories who want to eradicate the deficit over four years. When Ed Miliband spoke at Hyde Park yesterday, this idea was met by jeers from the crowd. It seems to me the fairer alternative. It's not ideal, but it most likely won't result in riots through London. The other alternative of course is to go back a few years and not get that mortgage/loan/credit card, as you ride the boom train on it's way to recession station. See, we're all guilty somewhere!

Basically, what I'm proposing is that we grit our teeth and ride the wave. Let's use some of that famous English stiff upper lip and show the rest of the world how it's done. If anything, it's the younger generation like me for example that are finding it hardest, and we're not really to blame. It may seem bad now, but things can only get better.....

WARNING: EXTREMISTS WANT YOU (maybe)

So this week my post is inspired by something I found pretty shocking and slightly worrying to be honest. The BBC have uncovered plans by the government to monitor students more closely to "de-radicalise" universities. This means that things like essays and other pieces of submitted work will be looked at more closely by lecturers. At first glance, it seems that this is something to keep the whole world a safer place, but as I read on, I started to feel a little uneasy.

The policy is to examine the threat to young men in particular being recruited by extremists, so a review by Lib Dem Lord Carlile is calling for lecturers to have closer relationships with students, and to have a bigger role in their care at university. Other suggestions that have been put forward are a "traffic light" system that will assess students of concern in private, and even a call for a "fightback" on sites such as Youtube and Facebook. Concerned? I am.

Now I can't help but think that all of these weird and wonderful ideas of extremism breeding on our university campuses is because of the student protests. I do not consider myself an extremist and neither do I have extremist views, but there I was with 50,000 other students exercising my right to protest. The video below is me outside Millbank Tower when it all kicked off.

Not particularly violent. Just a video to say "Yeah. I was there!". What a day it was as well. Apart from the small minority that went mental, it was a fantastic atmosphere and something I'm very happy I was a part of. Fat lot of good it did, but hey, freedom of speech right?

Studying journalism, we're encouraged to express our opinions and debate taboos openly as a class, so what a job it would be for some of my lecturers to keep tabs on half the things my class says! It shouldn't have to be up to lecturers to keep an eye on our every single move anyway. Surely if something was drastically wrong, alarm bells would ring and common sense would prevail (I hear some of these lecturers are quite an intelligent bunch you know!). So it's no wonder that this has been met with some hostility from staff who say they would feel like "spies". I think they're right to feel that. My lecturers go above and beyond their job roles to be honest. I couldn't fault them. They're there when I need help, always happy to chat and will put up with our constant demands "because we're paying for it", so why then should they be expected to keep an eye on more vulnerable people to make sure they don't get recruited by some sort of extremist organisation? Surely it should be the government that keep tabs on them anyway?

Aside from the fact it's a massive burden on lecturers, what about us lot? Where does this leave us? In an ever changing society where people complain that political correctness has gone mad, we now have to make sure that our work doesn't make us out to be some sort of nut job. Personally, I don't think I'm the kind of person they're after anyway. Here's a quote from James Brandon from the counter-terrorism think tank the Quilliam Foundation:

"The same as university lecturers for example see it as their duty to tackle racism, sexism, homophobia, I think they should also feel it's their duty to tackle radical, extreme and intolerant thoughts which are justified through Islamist ideology."

Think of that what you will.

My suggestion is that rather than the government make the lecturers feel bad, put actual spies in universities. How exciting would that make campus? A car chase here and there, the odd gun fight in the SU..... AWESOME!

Here are my Top 5 suggestions for spies at Staffs. You never know who'll be lurking in the LRV....

James Bond

The Ultimate spy it must be said! I could see him being a smooth operator at the bar in Ember. Taking advantage of all those cheap cocktails.... I reckon he's be a right charmer for all the young ladies too!

Jason Bourne

Well, let's face it. Bourne is the man. I think he would bring plenty of excitement on campus! I think he would be my all action hero for sure! Helps that he's easy on the eye too!

Evelyn Salt

This is just one for the lads really! You have to have a girl in somewhere. It was either Angelina Jolie in 'Salt', or Angelina Jolie in 'Mr and Mrs Smith'. I think she kicked butt in 'Salt' to be honest!

Austin Powers

I'm sorry, but could you even imagine Super Friday with Austin? It would most definitely be "groovy baby!" (Sorry. That had to be slipped in there somewhere!)

Harry Tasker (True Lies)

Maybe not the most conspicuous of spies, but you most definitely wouldn't want to make an enemy out of him! I think deep down that some girls would want to recreate that infamous scene with my namesake! If you haven't seen it, then I suggest you watch 'True Lies'. You're missing out!

My Census: the questions we really want answered.

So this week our decennial (not gonna lie. I looked up what every 10 years was in a thesaurus online, and yes, that IS what it is) census forms got posted through our doors. Now me being me, I felt very excited at the prospect of filling out my form. I have my very own rented house and since I'm 21 now, I don't have to leave it to my mum. It makes me feel grown up. Aside from feeling like a big girl, the thought of my ancestors tracking me down on a futuristic robot style 'Who Do You Think You Are?' is slightly fascinating, which is why it pisses me off that all these people are like "whhhaaaa but it's too intrusive and it's old fashioned and poo and whhhhaaaaa". It's not.

Now, being a young left-thinking student, I've sort of surprised myself at my views on this. Firstly, I'm totally aware of the human rights violation. A grand for not filling it in???? Errrr back up. If I got fined a grand every time I forgot to fill something in or hand something in on time, well, I'd be in even more debt. The only thing I manage to fill in on time are my student loan forms-and that's only because it leads to more money (and debt).

Secondly, I know the all new and improved extended form can be seen as yet another way that 'Big Brother' is watching us, but come off it, it's been over 200 years now since the first census. Chill out.

I found this video on youtube.

Now, I totally understand that Lockheed Martin are pretty scummy, but to say 'how can you trust these people with your details blah blah' is just crap. In an age where pretty much everything is digital you can find out whatever the hell you want. If you Google my name, my address comes up on the first page. Do it now. Jaimielee Delphine Rendall. Can you see it?

Can we also remember what the census is for anyway please? It dictates what the government will improve on and what areas need most funding. In a time where pretty much everyone is fighting for government funding, I would say it's pretty important. Let's not forget about Cameron's crack pot 'Big Society' scheme which was supposed to bring communities together, but is in fact an epic fail since many volunteer schemes are now having their funding stopped. Let's stick two fingers up at him eh?

We're all quick to point the finger when we have to take a few precious moments away from Facebook, where we're all quite happy for the world to know our business. But that's OK. We chose to be this way..... It's crap. Just fill in the questions and post your form. Or in fact don't. I can find it all out on your next status update.

Below, is my very own census. Fill it out and leave it in the comments box below. Or just leave comments.

First Name:

Surname:

Religion:

Occupation:

Favourite Type of Cake:

Favourite Type of Cake Icing:

Favourite Type of cake Filling:

(Do you know what, I just want a giant battenburg now....)

Do you sleep:

a. On your back

b. On your side

c. On your front

How do you like your eggs in the morning?

Did you buy your first real six string back in the summer of 69?

This question is left blank intentionally. Please move onto the next question.

How many light bulbs do you have in your house?

If you were a super hero, what would your super power be?

Please give a brief history of your household pets.

Thank you for taking part. This counts towards absolutely nothing.