|
Historic vote on
new rules for the extractive industries
ON 12 June 2013, after vote
in Strasbourg, European oil, mining, gas and logging companies will
have to disclose the payments they make to governments for access to
natural resources. Euro MP Arlene McCarthy, the European
Parliament's rapporteur for the new transparency laws, said:-
"The vote today is history in the making. The new rules will be a
major new weapon in the global fight against corruption, ensuring
that citizens of resource rich countries can hold their governments
to account for the exploitation of their natural resources."
In 2008 alone African oil, gas and mineral exports were
worth 9 times the value of international aid (296 billion EUR vs 33
billion EUR). Arlene said:- "After the vote 70% of the
world's extractive industry will now be covered by tough
transparency rules and the European Union has led the way in setting
a new global standard for transparency. The adoption of these laws
is a watershed moment in the global d rive for greater
transparency." Euro MP Arlene McCarthy has worked
closely with NGOs including The One Campaign, Oxfam, Global Witness
and the umbrella group Publish What You Pay (PWYP) in order to
secure this tough new law. Arlene added:- "After 18
months of tough negotiations we have a set of EU rules that we can
be proud of and that show how effective cooperation, between
legislators, citizens and action groups, can deliver real change."
Ali Idrissa, PWYP Niger Coordinator said:- "In Niger,
and in other African countries, PWYP members have been campaigning
for a transparent and responsible management of natural resources.
In revealing payments, this legislation will support us in our
campaigning so that we can call on our governments to spend the
revenues in a way that will benefit current and future generations.
We also need to know what payments are being made so that we can
make sure countries are getting a fair share for their resources.
Between 14.5 and 21 billion Euros of potential revenue for Niger
have been lost since 1960 because of unfair deals."
Jean-Claude Katende, PWYP DRC Coordinator said:- "The DRC is
incredibly rich in natural resources, yet many citizens remain in
poverty. We have been calling for an effective and fair
redistribution of extractive revenues in order to build better lives
for our citizens. However, a lack of transparency makes it difficult
to ensure that all citizens profit from natural resources. How can
you calculate how much revenue a local community should receive, if
you don't know how much has been paid? The EU Directive will help
lift the veil on payments so we can ensure they are spent for the
public good. Civil society in DRC has been very effective in the
EITI process and we look forward to how this legislation will
bolster the initiative in the country."
Heritage Lottery Fund grant means
victory for Victoria Cross Trust
THE Victoria Cross Trust has been awarded a
£10,000 Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant to help create an online
database, listing the details of all the servicemen awarded the
Victoria Cross (VC) since its inception in 1856. The money,
made available under HLF’s Sharing Heritage community grant
programme, will mean that the Victoria Cross Trust; which was set up
in 2011 to ensure all the graves of our bravest servicemen are
conserved and remembered; can now document information about each
serviceman including their birthplace, where they lived and died,
and where they are buried. The database will provide a free service
for the public to access information on all 1357 VC holders, and
there will also be a facility to submit further details and
photographs for inclusion on the website. The data will be provided
and verified by a group of expert volunteers, with the Trust hoping
to have the project completed by September 2014. Gary
Stapleton, Chairman of the Victoria Cross Trust, said:- “We
are delighted to have been awarded this grant by the Heritage
Lottery Fund to help us create the database. The work we do is vital
in order to preserve the memory of our military heroes and we
believe this database will help in doing so. Not only will it
provide a central resource for people to find comprehensive
information on the men awarded a VC, but we hope that it will also
allow us to promote our work and increase public support and
awareness for the Trust.” Fiona Spiers, Head of the
Heritage Lottery Fund for Yorkshire and the Humber said:-
“This award will enable the Victoria Cross Trust to expand on their
work to monitor and make accessible details of all VC servicemen
from the nineteenth century to today. The creation of a new database
is particularly timely as we approach the First World War Centenary,
and we hope it will offer people of all ages an opportunity to
engage with the stories of servicemen awarded the highest military
honour.” The Victoria Cross Trust exists to repair and
preserve the neglected graves of Victoria Cross holders, and
perpetuate their memory and ensure they are honoured. Only the
graves of the servicemen that have been awarded the military honour
who died on the battlefield during the 1st and 2nd World War are
looked after by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, otherwise it
is the responsibility of the living relatives. However many of these
graves have been neglected which is when the Victoria Cross Trust is
needed. The new database will be an excellent way for the
Trust to keep up to date with any much needed grave restorations,
making its mission to restore all the neglected graves of VC holders
a lot easier. This announcement comes just weeks after The Victoria
Cross Trust was granted membership with COBSEO (The Confederation of
Service Charities) which aims to represent, promote and further the
interest of the Armed Forces Community. |
 |
Business
Secretary Vince Cable references the "importance of Merseyside"
at FSB Summer Reception
ON Monday, 10 June 2013,
Business Secretary Vince Cable addressed the FSB's Summer Reception
in London on and revealed he had been left in no doubt about the
importance of Merseyside thanks to John Allan, the Federation's new
National Chairman. The Minister told the audience of around
200 in the National Liberal Club that he looked forward to working
with Mr Allan, who was formerly FSB Merseyside Chairman and remains
its Vice Chairman, along with being Chairman of the region's Sefton
and Ormskirk branch. He said:- "I must say how much we value
our relations with the FSB which is a really effective organisation.
When the FSB speaks they are speaking for tens of thousands of
companies at the grass roots and it is often a different message
from the one I normally get in the London bubble. The 1st message I
got from John when I met him last week was about the importance of
Merseyside."
The previous week Mr Allan had met Dr Cable, the Prime Minister
David Cameron and others during a reception at 10 Downing Street,
where Mr Allan; a former FSB recruiter; signed up a new member in
the garden after being approached by a business owner. At the
Summer Reception Dr Cable emphasised a number of issues facing small
businesses, including the banks, particularly the recent interest
rate swap mis-selling scandal. He said:- "Tens of thousands of
your members are being ripped off. Not a single one has yet received
recompense for this and that is an agenda I really want to work with
you on." The Minister added that:- "It is self-evident, but we need
to keep restating it; small and medium sized companies that will
drive the recovery."
In his speech, Mr Allen said:- "The fact that so many people
are here tonight is I think recognition of the important role that
small businesses play in the economy, and I hope recognition of the
role that we've been able to play in highlighting the needs of our
members. Tonight is about recognising the help and assistance we
have received throughout the year, and thanking all of you for the
role you have played in supporting our work. My election as National
Chairman coincided with the relaunch of our Keep Trade Local
campaign, after the scandal over horse meat appearing in the food
chain. But the need to Keep Trade Local goes far wider than that,
with many high streets struggling to stay afloat. Across the
country, small business is not just important to the local economy,
but at the heart of the community, and it is crucial that we all
support our local businesses. Government, both national and local,
has a key role to play and there are a number of measures that need
to be taken to ensure small businesses have the best chance of
succeeding; in having a planning policy that supports the high
street, parking policies that don't put people off from using our
local shops, and procurement policies that allow small businesses to
compete for contracts."
► Accelerate 2013 and the
FSB... less than 2 weeks to go... There are less than weeks to go
until Accelerate 2013, forerunner of the International Festival for
Business 2014 and the UK's 1st annual festival dedicated to
high-growth businesses. The festival was officially launched on
Wednesday, 05 June 2013 by the Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, at
a market opening ceremony at the London Stock Exchange. The FSB will
run several key events:-
► On Tuesday, 25 June 2013, at
Regus Liverpool, Horton House, Exchange Flags, Liverpool L2 3PF, the
FSB is to hold workshops on social media and internet marketing
throughout the day. Registration detail can be found
online.
► On Wednesday, 26 June 2013,
Liverpool's historic Town Hall, High St, Liverpool, L2 3SW will host
our Finance, Funding and Tax 'question time' panel
session and the Dragons' Den inspired 'Funding Store Live'
event. For registration details click on
here.
►
Finally, on Thursday, 27 June 2013, a joint FSB/Liverpool Chamber of
Commerce breakfast event on SME exporting and growth will take place
at the Jurys Inn, Liverpool. Visit FSB Merseyside, West Cheshire and
Wigan's
website for details of
registration.
Rod Stewart Night at the Longton
VM Sports & Social Club
ON Saturday, 29 June 2013,
Longton VM Sports and Social Club, Longton (PR4 5ZA) will be hosting
a Rod Stewart Tribute Night.
Hot Rod
has the voice, the moves and an uncanny look to pay the perfect
homage to Rod Stewart. "From the minute he enters
the stage to his beloved bagpipes intro to the final encore, Hod Rod
has the the crowd rocking, arms swaying and the dance floor packed
with a block busting set full of Rod Stewart's biggest hits."
said the clubs press officer. Tickets are on sale now £3.00 members
or £5.00 Guests. To order your tickets for this event call:-
01772 616800
or send the club an
email
with you contact details. For more information about the club
and other events that it is holding this year, visit their website
at:-
longtonssc.co.uk.
|
