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Paper protest
WILDLIFE charity, the Whale
and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) is asking local school
children across the UK to help in a bid to make 10,000 paper whales
and dolphins for its campaign to end the captivity of these animals
in Europe.
Whales and dolphins are very intelligent and can travel up to 100
miles in a day in the wild, but they can't do that in a small
concrete tank. They live impoverished lives doing the same tricks
day after day. So WDCS is asking the local communities to create
thousands of paper whales and dolphins to take to the European Union
in Brussels, requesting that the Parliament better protects dolphins
in captivity and eventually phases out dolphinariums.
"Lots of families will visit these shows whilst on summer
holidays this year without realising that they are cruel. In
captivity dolphins just don’t have the space or stimulation they
need and are lost to family and friends. It’s not educational, it’s
not conservation, it’s all about making profits.” says Jess Feghali-Brown, youth engagement officer at WDCS.
A number of schools have already started making the origami dolphins
after following simple instructions available
online
or by writing to WDCS direct.
“Asking the public to make origami whales and dolphins is part
of WDCS’s campaign to change their future and work towards making
the EU a dolphinarium-free zone. WDCS hopes to make a bold statement
to the European Parliament from the people of the world in the form
of a huge display of origami dolphins. It’s something that both
children and adults can have a go at.”
WDCS is also asking for the support of local, businesses, youth
groups (Brownies/Scouts etc) and individuals to help create the
10,000 paper whales and dolphins which will be presented by
representatives of the charity, along with the help of some school
children, to members of the European Parliament this October (2012).
“There are many fantastic opportunities to see whales and
dolphins in the wild with a responsible boat operator, including in
the UK, so help us end captivity and keep whales and dolphins wild”,
Jess concludes. |
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Empty homes a
key priority for the HCA North West
THE North West team at the
Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has highlighted empty homes as
one of its major priorities over the next 3 years that will help
realise Government aspirations for affordable housing, contribute to
economic growth and meet local priorities across the area.
HCA North West has the largest number of long-term empty properties
across England (123,000) and will work closely with partners to
bring these back into use. Of the £100m funding available for empty
homes as part of the Affordable Homes Programme, the North West has
been allocated over £11m to deliver 1075 affordable homes by March
2015.
The North West team is managing the Clusters of Empty Homes
Programme; a further £60m fund to tackle the worst concentrations
of poor quality, empty homes in low demand areas. We are working
with Local Authorities in Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Lancashire
and Cumbria to support them refurbish and reconfigure homes, improve
public realm and tackle wider issues in the local area.
Other priorities for the North West include:-
► Delivering the Affordable Homes Programme to provide vitally
needed new homes across the area
► Working with Local Authorities
and Local Enterprise Partnerships to help unlock growth and
accelerate development
► Bringing forward development on
the HCA’s asset and land holdings such as Lilyhall Business Park,
Cumbria; Ancoats Urban Village, Manchester; and Edge Lane, Liverpool
► Working with Manchester and
Liverpool through their City Deals to support their economic growth
► Supporting a thriving private
rented sector through, for example, the development of build to rent
in Manchester
Deborah McLaughlin, North West Executive Director at the HCA said:-
“The North West is a place of great contrast and diversity
encompassing large conurbations, coastal towns and remote rural
areas across Cheshire, Cumbria, Lancashire and the City Regions.
Each place has distinct economic characteristics, market dynamics,
opportunities and challenges so we will work closely with local
partners to devise tailored approaches that will contribute to
economic growth and deliver quality housing that people can afford.”
HCA North West’s priorities are outlined in the Agencies Corporate
Plan 2012-15 that details how the national housing and regeneration
agency will use its commercial expertise, land assets and track
record of delivering investment in affordable housing to help
realise the Government’s Housing Strategy and make a major
contribution towards its aspiration of creating up to 170,000 new
affordable homes across England by 2015. |
