The SNP Government is chasing a minimum price of 50p per unit

The Scottish Government has announced it will seek a minimum pricing of 50p per unit of alcohol.

Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon made the announcement during a visit to Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

The measure is predicted to save 500 lives a year, and will see the price of a standard bottle of wine at 12.5% volume set at a minimum of 4.69.

A 70cl bottle of whisky at 40% will cost no less than 14, while a similar-sized bottle of vodka at 37.5% will be no less than 13.13. A bottle of strong cider at 5.3% will cost no less than 4.67.

Speaking at the infirmary, Sturgeon said: “Cheap alcohol comes at a price and now is the time to tackle the toll that Scotland’s unhealthy relationship with alcohol is taking on our society.

“Too many Scots are drinking themselves to death. The problem affects people of all walks of life.

“Introducing a minimum price per unit will enable us to tackle these problems, given the clear link between affordability and consumption.”

The Alcohol Minimum Pricing Bill is making its second passage through the Scottish Parliament after defeat in 2010 when the SNP was in a minority administration.

Labour is the only party not to have supported the revised legislation when it was debated at the first stage in March this year.

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SNP Seeks Minimum Alcohol Price

Is “Sister Wives” (9 p.m. Sunday on TLC, TV-14) the “Hogan’s Heroes” of the 21st century?

Let me explain. In the 1960s, CBS broadcast a sitcom called “Hogan’s Heroes” that was set in a Nazi prisoner of war camp. It defied history and good taste in offering a goofy spin on “The Great Escape,” where the clever POWs engaged in endless shenanigans and their German guards remained hapless and often kindhearted. “Hogan’s Heroes” was enormously popular and ran for six seasons.

The mid-1960s was the golden age of absurd, escapist TV comedies that took everyday assumptions and anxieties about current events and turned them on their heads. White Southern sheriffs may have been the heavies of the civil rights era, but not on “The Andy Griffith Show.” None of the Marines on “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.” ever went to Vietnam. And who needed a War on Poverty after the starving Appalachian Clampetts became “The Beverly Hillbillies”?

Generally speaking, when fundamentalist polygamous sects make the news, it’s not a good thing. Too many stories have emerged about fugitive compounds run by violent patriarchs who marry off 14-year-old girls to their cronies. OK, they’re not quite as bad as that sick guy on “Game of Thrones” who “marries” his daughters. But you could say they have an image problem, not to mention legal issues. (It should be noted that the contemporary Mormon Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints renounced polygamy in 1890 and denounces “fundamentalists.” Polygamy is illegal in all 50 states.)

Now entering its third season, “Sister Wives” portrays polygamous patriarch Kody Brown as a pleasant if overwhelmed guy with the gee-shucks demeanor of a daytime talk show host. His four wives even assemble on a common couch to complain and kid one another, just like those gals on “The View.”

In the upside-down sitcom world of “Sister Wives,” it’s the women who wield the power. Kody’s just too darn busy finding the right spot to cut down the Christmas tree!

Despite this whitewashed treatment, a creepy, cultlike vibe permeates the series. At least those wretched Gosselins of “Jon & Kate Plus 8″ had people come visit them. In this season opener, nothing ever happens outside of the claustrophobic confines of The Family. Do the kids have any friends? Do the wives have anybody to talk to outside of the harem? What does Kody do to afford the giant cul-de-sac family compound he wants to build just outside Las Vegas?

As on a sitcom, these basic questions seem beside the point. And much like comedies from the “Hogan’s Heroes” era, the weird humor found on “Sister Wives” is a perverse combination of the tragic and absurd.

Dennis landscaper Chris Lambton of “Bachelor” fame debuts his new show “Going Yard” (5 tonight on HGTV). The show’s premiere follows a busy month for Lambton who recently married Peyton Wright of “Bachelorette” fame. The pair are shooting one more episode for Season 1 about their Cape wedding celebration, then will focus on filming episodes on Cape for Season 2. Lambton says each episode of “Going Yard” will fix up neglected backyards, tranforming them into entertainment spots.

Happy Mother’s Day! Just in time for the holiday, “Notes From the Heart Healer” (8 tonight and Sunday on Hallmark) reimagines the ancient fable of the foundling child in the safe and cozy confines of Hallmark movie conventions.

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'Sister Wives' puts sitcom gloss on grim reality

A Brazoria County grand jury on Friday (May 4) ruled no criminal charges would be filed related to the March 13 collision involving two teenagers driving a go-cart and a woman driving a jeep in a west Pearland neighborhood.

Two versions of what happened were considered by the grand jury. The families of the two teenagers claimed the boys were seriously injured after neighborhood-resident Deanna Johnson drove off the road and crashed her jeep into the go-cart.

Johnson claimed she drove off the road to try and stop the boys who swerved and slid the go-cart into her parked car.

After six weeks of witness testimony and examining the evidence, the grand juryruled Johnson would not be indicted on criminal charges.

Thorough investigations regarding this collision were conducted by the Brazoria County Sheriffs Department and the Brazoria County District Attorneys Office, Brazoria County District Attorney Jeri Yenne told The Journal. While the facts of how the collision occurred are in dispute, the investigation revealed only minimal damage to both vehicles, as reflected in the 911 call and attached photographs (from the case file) and no serious physical injuries occurred to any party. Criminal justice decisions must be based on the facts. The findings of these investigations were forwarded to an independent body, a Brazoria County Grand Jury which fully reviewed the reports, statements, evidence and heard witness testimony, including the parties involved, over a six week period and after consideration of the same declined to take any action.

An attorney for the family of Julian Moor, one of the teens riding in the go-cart issued a statement via email following the grand jurys decision:

This is a sad day for the Moor family, the City of Pearland, Brazoria County, Texas, and the State of Texas. Today, a Brazoria County grand jury, by refusing to bring criminal assault charges against Deanna Gibson Johnson, has said that certain people, in their neighborhoods in Pearland, Texas, can take the law into their own hands and run over and assault children they do not know, wrote attorney Sylvester Anderson.

The Texas criminal justice system has failed these two children. Deanna Gibson Johnson was never arrested and was not even given a traffic citation. She never apologized for causing the crash and has never asked about the boys injuries. Two lawsuits have been filed against Mrs. Johnson in the civil district courts of Brazoria County and we, and the parents of the other 13-year old boy, will seek justice and accountability there. When children are attacked and not safe in their own neighborhood, and when the law appears to be against them and not applied fairly or equally, we must show our children, as parents, adults, and citizens, that we will fight mightily to protect them, to change the law, if necessary, and to make sure that those entrusted with law enforcement actually enforce the law.

Civil lawsuits have been filed by the families of both teenagers against Johnson seeking damages for injuries allegedly related to the incident.

The kids were fine, Johnson said in a released statement. They were talking and walking around like normal teenagers.

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No charges in go-cart incident

The man credited with stopping the Moors Murderers has died following a battle with cancer.

David Smith, the brother-in-law of Myra Hindley, witnessed the couples fifth murder aged just 17 in 1965 and went to the police.

His testimony made him the prosecutions key witness against Hindley and her lover Ian Brady but it was a role which would haunt him forever.

Mr Smith was hounded by the public who suspected he had also been involved in the murders and forced out of his Hyde home. He subsequently moved to Ireland with second wife Mary in the 1990s and lived in Galway at the time of his death.

In a statement, his family described him as a devoted husband and much-loved father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Widow Mary said: “He was an absolute inspiration to everyone in his family. He has given us so much strength to deal with things.

“There are a million words I would like to say about him but the main thing is just that we all love him so much.”

Last year he broke his silence to publish the story of his life, Witness, which included new information about where victim Keith Bennett whose body has never been found could be buried.

Keiths brother Alan Bennett, from Longsight, who wrote the foreword to Witness, said: “He always said to me that what he went through was nothing compared to what we and the other victims families did. It is very sad he has died and means one less chance to find Keith.”

Despite his bravery, Mr Smith and his wife Myras sister Maureen were hounded due to their connection to the murderers. Forced out of their home, their marriage broke up after David himself was jailed for attacking the leader of a gang who had threatened his family.

His prison sentence lead to a nervous break-down and a resolution to turn his life around.

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David Smith, who stopped killing spree of Moors Murderers Myra Hindley and Ian Brady, dies after cancer battle

By Leon Watson

PUBLISHED: 22:47 EST, 9 May 2012 | UPDATED: 06:05 EST, 10 May 2012

The man credited with stopping the Moors Murderers has died following a battle with cancer.

David Smith, the brother-in-law of Myra Hindley, witnessed the couples fifth murder aged just 17 in 1965 and went to the police.

His testimony made him the prosecutions key witness against Hindley and her lover Ian Brady – but it was a role which would haunt him forever.

David Smith, then aged 17, and his wife Maureen, who was 19 and the sister of murderer of Myra Hindley, 23. Pictured here at Hyde Magistrates’ Court for the trial. He was a witness after seeing the murder of Edward Evans

Mr Smith was hounded by the public – who suspected he had also been involved in the murders – and forced out of his Hyde home.

He subsequently moved to Ireland with second wife Mary in the 1990s and lived in Galway at the time of his death.

In a statement, his family described him as ‘a devoted husband and much-loved father, grandfather and great-grandfather’.

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Key witness who helped catch the Moors Murderers dies aged 65

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IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Wednesday, May 9, 2012, 9:22 AM

Updated Wednesday, May 9, 2012, 12:09 PM

Moors Murderers – Ian Brady and Myra Hindley

Photo by PA

David Smith, the former brother-in-law of Myra Hindley, a chief prosecution witness in the trial of the infamous Moors Murders has passed away. He lived in Oughteraud, Galway, for 30 years.

Smith grew up in the same area as Myra Hindley and married her younger sister Maureen. He also developed a friendship with Ian Brady, and became a key witness to one of the pairs best known crimes.

The Moors Murders were carried out by Ian Brady and Myra Hindley between July 1963 and October 1965, in the area now known as Greater Manchester, England. They murdered five children between the ages of 10 and seventeen – John Kilbride (12), Lesley Ann Downey (10), Pauline Reade (16), and Keith Bennett (12). Four of them were sexually abused.

The bodies were buried in Saddleworth Moor but the body of Keith Bennett has never been located. The 12-year-old disappeared on his way home from his grandmothers home in Longsight.

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Man who exposed gruesome Moors Murders dies in Galway – VIDEO

Andorra sounds like a mythical country in one of those Disney princess movies, but this small autonomous principality wedged in the Pyrenees between France and Spain is real and home to some 800 Filipinos who comprise one percent of its population.

Not surprisingly, a familiar landmark stands at the capitals Parc Central: a bronze bust of Dr. Jose Rizal that commemorates our national heros 150th birth anniversary. Philippine Honorary Consul General to Andorra Hans Peter Holbach had commissioned Andorran sculptor Angel Calvante to do the 50 x 30 x 216 centimeters bust that he later donated to the city.

The recognition given to Rizal also reflects Andorras acknowledgment of the contributions of Filipinos to this tiny principality. The first Filipino settlers here came in 1978 and were mostly domestic helpers, as there was a law limiting foreign workers to domestic employment. In the mid-90s, a new law was passed opening blue-collar jobs to migrants and foreign workers.

Aida Pera, who has been living and working in Andorra for 25 years, recalls how Filipinos have graduated from domestic work to become sales clarks, chambermaids, janitors, cooks and waiters. Ngayon konti na lang kaming mga DH at yaya (Us nannies and domestics are now a minority), she says.

The openness and vaunted hospitality of our fellow nationals greeted us when we recently visited this Pyrenean nation after we decided to extend our stay in Europe. Morocco was also considered but a recent bombing made us changed our plans. Instead, my Rome-based friend Carmen Ferreria and I took a flight from Ciampino, Italy and landed in Barcelonas El Prat airport. From there, we waited for the coach that leaves every two hours for the four-hour trip to Andorra.

I later learned that if youre coming from France, there are buses and coaches from downtown Toulouse and the Toulouse-Blagnac airport that leave twice daily and arrive in Andorra two and a half hours later.

The more moneyed can travel in style via helicopter and be in Andorra in 35 minutes.

This small mountain state is home to almost 80,000 people, a third of whom are Andorrans while the rest are either Spanish, French or Portuguese. Its independence dates from the late 8th century where, online sources say, Charlemagne is said to have granted the Andorrans self-government for their help in defeating the Moors.

There are actually more tourists here than residents, reveals Honorable Josep Vila Circuns, Minister of Commons. There are after all ski runs, mountain hikes, hot springs, opulent hotels, duty-free shopping and lots of public art in this peaceful suburb-like country.

Among OFWs, the main attraction is the availability of jobs and the friendliness of the locals. Says Pera: Maayos ang trabaho dito (The working conditions are good). They prefer Filipinos because were more hardworking than other foreign workers. The OFWs are willing to work beyond regular hours if a job needs to be done, she adds, unlike other workers who adhere strictly to their per hour contract.

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Meeting the Filipinos in Andorra

With global demand for natural resources increasing year on year, some of the world’s poorest communities are having to fight hard to protect their environment and way of life. When protests and direct action do notwork, many will try and get redress through the courts.

But when multinational companies decide that the costs of settling such cases are far less than the huge profits on offer, is justice being undermined?

High up in the Andes of northern Peru, among cloud forests, high moors and fertile lands, lies the town of Huancabamba and the nearby farming community of Segunda y Cajas. Untouched by modern industry, the local population lives almost exclusively through farming, tapping into the rich soils and fresh water sources to put food on the table and sell produce to the lowland cities.

In 2002, this community’s way of life, more or less unchanged for hundreds of years, was turned upside down by the arrival of British mining company Monterrico Metals. A mining company based in London, Monterrico had obtained concessions from the Peruvian government to start exploration and development work for the huge open cast copper mine called Rio Blanco – a project meant to run for 20 or more years.

In 2005, local communities marched on the mine site in protest against the company’s plans.

According to those who were there, the rally had been envisaged as a peaceful affair but a confrontation with the police took place in which a number of people were injured.

Twenty-eight protesters were detained at the site for three days and, according to activists, were humiliated and tortured by the security forces. Unlikely to get any redress in Peru, the victims sued Monterrico in the UK, with the help of British law firm Leigh Day and Co, alleging that the company had been complicit in the affair.

But though their prospects looked good, the case was settled by Monterrico last year just before it came to trial. It meant the victims did get some compensation – but the wider problems they were fighting to reveal were never aired in open court.

The case is an interesting example of a growing trend. Multinational companies are increasingly likely to respond to legal challenges in this way. The settlement costs can be high but usually they are far less than they would be after a negative verdict. And more importantly it gives the companies- and their lawyers – control of the public debate.

But it begs a disturbing question: If corporations will do anything to avoid going near a court – how can indigenous peoples ever assert their rights?

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Peru: Undermining Justice

Published: 5/4/2012 7:37 PM | Last update: 5/4/2012 7:37 PM

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MOORISH LAW 101: BASICS OF CIVIL RIGHTS ACT (1866) AND KU KLUX KLAN ACT (1871) Part 2 – Video

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Wealth Building Network attracts Moor new members in New Baltimoor Michigan – Video

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Part 2 of Moorish National card vs. State ID’s (what is a legal fiction?) – Video

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Moorish National Card v. State ID,’s – Video

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Moorish Consulate Post – Moorish Law

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Taj Tarik Bey Devine Warning Disc 1 Clip 1 ( Moors ) – Video

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Taj Tarik Bey Devine Warning Disc 1 Clip 2 – Video

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Taj Tarik Bey 2 A-Moor-ican History – Video

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2 Moor Confronts Police

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FREEMEN ON THE LAND / MOORISH LAW TALAPATON AKA TALLA – Video

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MOORISH LAW 101: Driving without licenses. – Video