European Ministers inject new impetus to ensure space's role as a key asset in facing global challenges

THE Ministers in charge of space activities in the European Space Agency's 18 Member States and Canada have concluded a successful 2-day Council meeting in The Hague, agreeing to undertake new initiatives in several fields and endorsing the next phases of a set of ongoing programmes.

The decisions are a further step towards giving Europe the means to respond to global challenges. In keeping with the European Space Policy, designed in cooperation with the European Commission, the measures will further strengthen Europe's role in the development and exploitation of space applications serving public policy objectives and the needs of European citizens and enterprises. These decisions have particular relevance at the present time, showing as they do Europe's determination to invest in space as a key sector providing for innovation, economic growth, strategic independence and the preparation of the future.

Recognising that space is a strategic asset and that it is of fundamental importance for the independence, security and prosperity of Europe, the Ministers also adopted 4 Resolutions:-

► 1st,"The role of Space in delivering Europe's global objectives", covering the political and programmatic highlights of the Council;

► 2nd, a resolution establishing the Level of Resources for the Agency to cater for Space Science programmes and basic activities in the period 2009-2013;

► 3rd, the renewal of the contribution of ESA Member States to the running costs of the Guiana Space Centre - Europe's spaceport in French Guiana (South America); and

► 4th, a resolution outlining the future evolution of the Agency, spanning its financial management reform, decision-making processes, industrial and procurement policies and the further development of site infrastructures for ESA programmes.

On the programmatic side, the Ministers took decisions concerning the full range of the Agency's mandatory and optional programmes:

The decisions taken concern the following:-

a) The Agency's mandatory activities. Funding of the Level of Resources for 2009 to 2013 covering the Scientific Programme and basic activities.

b) Continuation of ongoing optional programmes and start of new programmes:

► Subscriptions for the Launcher programmes, including funding of the Guiana Space Centre, Ariane 5 and Vega accompaniment technology programmes, Ariane 5 evolution and the future launchers preparatory programme.

► Subscriptions for the Earth Observation activities, including the second segment of the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security Space Component programme, the Meteosat 3rd generation development programme and a novel Climate Change Initiative on the provision of essential climate variables.

► Subscriptions for the human spaceflight, microgravity and human exploration programmes including exploitation and evolution of the International Space Station, on-board research in life and physical sciences and definition studies on the evolution of a returnable transfer vehicle.

► Subscriptions to robotic exploration programmes (the ExoMars programme and preparatory activities on future Mars robotic exploration).

► Subscriptions for Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES), focusing on technologies, applications and mission demonstrations and including preparatory work for a European Data Relay System (EDRS), an air traffic management satellite system (Iris) and Integrated Application Promotion combining usage of telecommunications, Earth observation and navigation satellite systems with terrestrial information and communications systems.

► Subscriptions for the programme on the evolution of the European Global Navigation Satellite System, to continue the improvement of Galileo.

► Subscription to the start of a Space Situational Awareness programme to provide the information to help protect European space systems against space debris and the influence of adverse space weather.

► Subscription to the continuation of the General Support Technology programme to provide in a timely way technologies for a wide range of new space programmes.

Space is an enabling tool which gives European decision-makers the ability to respond to critical challenges such as global climate change and global security. It brings a significant contribution to Europe's growth and employment; it provides indispensable enabling technologies and services for the knowledge society; it increases the understanding of our planet and Universe; and it contributes towards European identity, cohesion and security, providing inspiration for future human potential and bringing young people into scientific and technical education.

Through this meeting the ESA Ministers have seized the opportunity to capitalise on the recent successes and achievements of Europe in space and to translate the political impetus into new programmes able to deliver knowledge, services and competitiveness and to shape ESA to assert itself as a global space agency, indispensable to the world in contributing to global policies.

'Don’t treat fans like criminals!!!'

FIGURES released by the Home Office prove what the Football Supporters’ Federation (FSF) have been arguing for years – there is absolutely no need to treat football fans as criminals.

The latest Home Office statistics show that 37 million supporters attended football matches in England and Wales last year and there were only 3,842 arrests made; 1 in every 10,000 fans.  Only 1 in 10 of these arrests were actually made for acts of violence - the majority related to consumption of alcohol, pitch incursions and public disorder offences.  Of these offences the majority were committed away from football stadiums, meaning that less than half a fan per game, per stadium was arrested for actual violence in a football ground.  And the FSF are extremely concerned with the manner in which police increasingly choose to use legislation in order to criminalise normal football supporters.

Amanda Jacks, of the FSF, said:- “The vast majority of football supporters are normal, law abiding citizens and we’re very concerned at this portrayal of fans as violent, mindless thugs. The Government’s own statistics show this is simply not the case, and we’re pleased that Home Office minister Vernon Coaker has acknowledged this. 

There were fewer than 1,600 arrests inside football stadiums last year, a tiny amount when you consider a total of 37 million people attended games. And a large number of these were for trivial offences such as persistent standing or drinking alcohol within sight of the pitch.  It’s very difficult for many supporters to challenge fairly minor, non-violent charges. We’ve heard from people who have been put off from contesting dubious charges purely because of the expense involved or have had their cases thrown out due to lack of evidence – although these still appear in the arrest figures.  Supporters are frequently treated like criminals, and we hear of far too many worrying cases.”

Recent examples of this include 80 Stoke fans rounded up in a Greater Manchester pub before their club’s visit to Old Trafford. The supporters were served a Section 27 order, which means police can forcibly move people from an area, whether an offence has taken place or not. There had been no reports of trouble and no complaint from the pub’s landlord. The fans were taken back to Stoke against their will and missed their team’s game against Manchester United.

In another shocking case last month, Chelsea fan Cliff Auger was victimised for protecting his teenage son. He was found guilty of ‘causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal’ and fined £500 following the Chelsea v QPR FA Cup tie in January 2008. After the match one of his son’s friends went into a pub to use the toilet, shortly afterwards the premises were 'locked down' by the police meaning no one could enter or leave. Whilst asking police if his son’s friend might be permitted to leave the pub, Cliff’s eldest son James was bitten on the leg by a police dog. In an attempt to release his son from the dog’s grip, Cliff kicked the dog and was immediately wrestled to the floor by police officers. He was left with four broken ribs, a punctured lung, conviction, and a £500 fine. The vet at Cliff’s trial testified that the dog received nothing more than a few minutes discomfort.

All matches were developed, in full or in part, at League clubs.

Ending Domestic Violence Across the Spectrum

TUESDAY 25 of November marked White Ribbon Day - the global campaign to ensure men take more responsibility for reducing the level of violence against women. 1 in 4 women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime, but domestic violence impacts on different people and different relationships. 

Around 1 in 4 lesbians, gay men, bisexual and transgender people will experience domestic violence at some point in their lives. This statistic is very similar to that experienced by people in heterosexual relationships, yet most people think in terms of domestic violence experienced by heterosexual women. They forget that LGBT people live in the same world and experience similar domestic abuse.

The LGBT community is to a large extent in denial about the existence of domestic abuse. However academic research over the last few years, including Stonewall's 'Prescription for Change', has consistently shown that abuse does occur and that men and women are suffering on a daily basis from their partners, ex partners or members of their families.  Over the next few month’s Broken Rainbow (National Helpline for LGBT people suffering domestic abuse) and the Lesbian & Gay Foundation (LGF) will be highlighting the issue of same sex domestic abuse, culminating in targeted campaigns to coincide with LGBT History month and Valentine’s Day in February.

Melvin Hartley Chief Executive of Broken Rainbow says:- “Since its launch almost 5 years ago, Broken Rainbow has worked hard to change the situation for LGBT people experiencing domestic violence. We offer the only national helpline which provides confidential support to all members of the LGBT community, their families, friends and agencies supporting them. It is run by trained LGBT people who have an understanding of sexual identity issues along with the impact domestic violence can have.”

Andrew Gilliver LGF’s Communications Manager adds:- “If you think you are in an abusive relationship or know someone who is, there are many ways in which you can find help. No one has the right to hurt or harm, and everyone gay, lesbian or otherwise, deserves the right to live their lives freely and with dignity. Whatever you do, whether it is to phone a national helpline, seek out local support, tell a friend or go to the police, reach out for help, there is help there for you.”