|
MERSEYSIDE NATIVE WINS AUTOGRAPHED GUITAR IN PETA CONTEST
Written by a member of PETA
WHEN Wallasey local Laurie Swain caught the Goldfinger gig at the Leeds Festival last year, he wrestled with dozens of fans in the mosh pit to grab the guitar that lead singer John Feldmann threw into the audience, only to have it taken away from him by a gig technician. But Laurie got his guitar in the end. He had recently beat all the other contestants to win an autographed Goldfinger guitar, the grand prize in PETA's contest to launch its new youth Web site, peta2.co.uk.
An ethical vegetarian who counts among his favourite Goldfinger songs the irreverent anti-hunting anthem "F*** Ted Nugent,"
Laurie looks forward to "making my mates extremely jealous"
by displaying his guitar in his room. Laurie, who was moved to become a vegetarian after reading animal rights leaflets in school, is a fan of both Goldfinger's music and the animal rights message in songs like
"Free Me", a haunting plea on behalf of animals killed for food that can be downloaded on peta2.co.uk. "I think the song is awesome, really profound and delivers a good message", says Laurie.
"The video is good as it sticks in your memory and shows people what really happens on factory farms and in slaughterhouses."
"Today's young people are always ready to question the status quo Kids have the power and the energy to bring about enormous change, and peta2.co.uk gives them the tools to do it."
says website co-ordinator Fiona Pereira.
Letters to Editor:-
"Christmas Puppies"
"DEAR Southport Reporter
We are sure that some people may have received puppies for Christmas this year despite all the usual festive warnings. We would ask people to consider making a New Years' Resolution to help their new dog have a great start to his new home by booking him some training classes. There is a lifetime of joy and companionship to be had from owning a dog but he needs to learn right from wrong at an early stage.
The Easter holidays are quite often the worst for animal welfare organisations, like Dogs Trust, when the puppy bought at Christmas time - and not trained - becomes a nuisance. Our centres are already full to bursting so please contact your local dog training club, which should be listed in the phone directory, to make sure your dog stays with you for life.
If you are still contemplating life with a dog then please remember the dogs at rescue and rehoming centres.
For a list of Dogs Trust centres please call 020 7837 0006 or visit our website www.dogstrust.org.uk .
Happy New Year" Yours sincerely... Clarissa Baldwin, Dogs Trust Chief
Executive
Letters to Editor:-
"Southport & Formby Xmas Lights"
"Merry Christmas from Australia,
I was very excited to see photographs of my cousins house on your website.
Australians also decorate their homes with lights over the Christmas Season, only we don't find Christmas SOOO cold.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year."
Jacki Hewson, Perth, Western Australia
|
.NHS STAFF LEAD THE WAY IN NEW PATIENT MEDICAL INVENTIONS A REPORT detailing new ideas and inventions generated by the 1.3 million people who work in the National Health Service (NHS) was launched on 29 December 2004.
In the 12 months up to March 2004 NHS Innovations, which is made up of a network of regional innovation centres known as NHS Innovations Hubs, handled almost 500 new ideas brought to them by NHS staff. One hundred new ideas were then selected for further development and the NHS Innovations Hubs helped broker licences for twenty-four of them.Patients are now benefitting from the products in use in the NHS.
The new inventions include:-
1. Child Imaging Chair; To obtain good quality images during kidney scans it is vital that children keep as still as possible. This special chair ensures children do not move around and accurate images can be obtained. The Imaging Chair was the idea of Rob Beckwith, Medical Physicist at Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust.
2. X-Ray needle placement mannequin; This mannequin mimics the human body in the feel and position of internal organs and bones. It is used in training to administer complicated epidural pain relief which involves placing needles into the spine and skull. This idea for this mannequin came from Tim Johnson, Consultant Anaesthetist at Salford Royal Hospitals NHS Trust.
3. E-PAQ; An electronic pelvic floor symptoms assessment questionnaire. Some medical conditions can be difficult for patients to discuss freely with their doctor and this can lead to uninformed consultations, poor diagnosis and poor condition management. This electronic patient questionnaire is completed in a private area of the waiting room and the doctor can see a printed analysis before the consultation. The idea for E-PAQ came from Stephen Radley, Consultant Surgeon at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
4. Pupilometer; A portable eye measuring device that paramedics can use at accidents sites to measure the size and responsiveness of the pupils of head injury victims. It allows a quick and accurate assessment of the possible extent of their injuries. Pupilometer was the idea of Andy Clark, Senior Medical Technologist at Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust.
Health Minister Lord Warner said:- "Our aim is to create an environment in the NHS in which innovation is at the heart of our business. Establishing NHS Innovations Hubs was a major first step in recognising the creative potential that lies within the NHS and enabling staff to get their ideas accepted whilst protecting intellectual property rights.
I am impressed by the work of the Hubs and by the enormous enthusiasm and energy for innovation that exists throughout the NHS among clinicians, scientific and technical staff, managers and others. The NHS is a rich source of excellent ideas that, if tapped, can provide enormous benefits for the NHS, for the inventors, for the patients and for the UK economy."
Nine NHS Innovations Hubs have been established based on the nine English Regional Development Agencies. Each serve the NHS organisations in their area, helping the NHS Trusts and Primary Care Trusts to develop their understanding of innovation, identify those new ideas which need development, and advise on licensing the best products to the industry. The products can then be accessed by the NHS and other healthcare markets.
Dr Tony Bates, NHS Intellectual Property Advisor and founder of NHS Innovations said:-
"Until the Hubs were created, an employee with an exciting innovation had nowhere to go. Good ideas leaked out, often going abroad, and any benefits to the inventor, the NHS and UK industry were lost.
The clinician, technician or researcher can come up with discoveries which often have the potential to develop into new products or innovations in service delivery. NHS staff can be at the forefront of invention."
|
