Shirt Winner (7th May
2003)
Mick Little, resident of Duttons Road, Romsey, was the lucky winner
of our ‘Oh When The Saints!’ competition.
Pictured here, is Observer Managing Director, Jez Walder, presenting
the proud Mr Little with his prize - a retro football shirt signed
by the entire Southampton team! Mr Little also received a copy of
‘Saints in Stripes’, a book that traces the history of
the Southampton Football shirt.
The Saints will be running out of the tunnel in the yellow and blue
‘away’ colours on May 17th, when they hope to bring the
FA Cup home from the Millenium Sytadium in Cardiff.
Speaking of his win, Mick commented: “I’m ecstatic, over
the moon, even!”
He plans to get the shirt framed, although he has, as yet, to decide
on where to hang it.
Congratulations to Mick from all the staff at the Mid Hampshire
Observer.
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We Love Homelands (and talking
a lot) (7th May 2003)
The Percy Hobbs Pub Nr Winchester is more famous for its fine ales
and food than being a hot spot for London Promoters and DJ’s.
Convertible Jag doors swung open in the car park on the 1st May,
designer shoes hit the gravel and Gucci hats hit heads.. the movers
and shakers had arrived.
I downed my diet coke, took my last hit of Nicotine and leapt from
the barstool – It was time for me to mingle!
I saw James Zabiela. In his spare time he hangs out in his home
town of Southampton, goes to the pub with his girlfriend, and gets
verbal abuse from his mates for being a ‘lame DJ’.
Other pastimes and hobbies include winning Muzic magazine’s
DJ mix competition, hanging out at Sasha’s record company,
holding a residency at Space (Ibiza) and did I mention…playing
at Homelands!!
I think his friends should reconsider their opinions and get behind
this new found jewel and begin a reserve list to carry his records
to the Rhino club - this baby is about to hit the big time!
My attention was diverted from ‘James the jewel’ to an
older rustic Ruby sat at the window. I couldn’t believe that
the polite, modest and charming man I was looking at was so passionate
and animated when discussing ‘shifting sounds’ and ‘continued
relevance’ to the musical needs of 18 – 25 yr. olds.
I am referring to Melvin Benn who is responsible for the tens of
thousands of people coming to Winchester on May 24th.
“The ‘We Love.. Homelands’ Live Arena reflects a
change in direction and our vision of the future” said Melvin
“the dance music scene is currently under the spotlight, you
can fall into the trap of taking for granted the pulling power of
branding, people want more”.
With Live acts such as Groove Armada, The Streets, The Chemical
Brothers, 2many DJ’s, Audio Bullys and Mint Royale; Homelands
is most certainly promising to be a very dynamic night of carnage!
“What is essential to the future of Homelands is the provision
of more than just a DJ and an audience” continued Melvin “it
is an infusion of Live artists, for a start - De La Soul’s
live set will be a ‘delight of hip hop’ particularly for
the slightly older audience like myself!”
Mean Fiddler MD Melvin, is continuing to re-invest money into organisations
for the Youth of Winchester… “They are the people who
in ten years time will be keeping me up to date!” For now however,
he is very in touch, his parting words were “see you on the
dance-floor” what a lovely man.
You may have noticed that the festival name has changed to ‘We
Love…Homelands’ this year. Why?…promoter Darren Hughes
explained “‘We Love’ is an endorsement tag, it covers
the love for events/parties/pubs/clubs/beats and brainwaves!”
Darren is most famous for ‘We Love…Space’ Ibiza –
the success has risen above and beyond credibility. I can personally
testify, that my experience at Space was so invigorating, that I
didn’t return home from my June holiday until mid September
(please don’t judge me!).
When asked what his ambitionwas for ‘We Love’? he replied
“TLC.”
My experience at the organisers meeting in Winchester has reassured
me that passion is the key to success. Beneath the stereotype that
I had previously associated with music biz ‘types’, I
discovered a cluster of honest, heart driven people, who live for
music and tomorrow.
As Darren reflects on the past and looks to the future he takes
a deep breath “This ain’t no dress rehearsal.”
We Love…Homelands
Saturday 24th May, 1pm - 6am
The Matterley Bowl, Winchester
Tickets £49 adv C/C Hotline: 020 7344 0044 (24hrs)
Or book online @ www.meanfiddler.com & www.ticketmaster.co.uk
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Fine Local Fayre (7th May 2003)
There was delicious food and wine from Hampshire, plus a new cook-book,
chairman and name for the group. Hang onto your chef’s hat
its a meeting of the Mid-Hampshire District Group of *CPRE!
Delicious wine, apple juice, cheeses and sausages were amongst the
mouth-watering food and drink donated for a Local Foods evening
at Colden Common Community Centre on Friday evening, April 25th.
Hill Farm Orchards - www.hillfarmjuice.co.uk - kindly donated some
delicious apple juice for the evening; there was wine from Northbrook
Springs Vineyard, Bishops Waltham; cheeses from Wield Wood Farm
near Alresford. Bursledon Windmill held a stall with flour ground
at the windmill.
The tastings followed three fascinating talks presented to around
40 attendees after the Annual General Meeting of the Winchester
& Eastleigh District Group of the Council for the Protection
of Rural England.
Tim Brock of Hampshire Fare opened the presentations with a short
talk about this membership organisation of food, drink and craft
producers in Hampshire. More information on obtaining local produce
is at www.buylocal.co.uk.
Martin Bazeley, a tenant farmer based at Portsdown Hill, Portsmouth
gave a very interesting talk about 'what it means to be a farmer
today' - covering how the farm started in 1952 and all the changes
that have taken place, including the farm's move to beer production
from its own barley! Suthwyk Ales were tasted eagerly after the
talk. They can be bought at Hampshire Farmers Markets.
Last but not least, Toby Bowtell of Bowtell's Farm Shop, East Tisted
and a director of Hampshire Farmer's Markets spoke of the farm shop
beginnings from using a hand-making cream-maker, to the full farm
shop range of lamb, pig and beef to ice-creams, cream and apple
juice. A new Hampshire cookbook is now available at the Farmers
Markets.
The AGM saw the election of Dr Brian Foster as the new Chairman
for the District Group, and members voted to change the group's
name to the Mid-Hampshire District Group of CPRE. The change from
Winchester & Eastleigh District Group to Mid-Hampshire District
Group was agreed as being more representative of the whole area,
including both rural and city residents.
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You’ve got the Right for
your Bike to Party (7th May 2003)
The Winchester bike week is coming to town again next month. The
idea is to encourage people to make more short journeys by bike.
The health of both the cyclist and the environment is obviously
vastly improved by this.
The week kicks off on the Saturday, June 14, with a bike fair and
cyle cavalcade. This starts at 11am at The Broadway, and any cyclists,
of any age or ability, can join in. Simply turn up at 10.30am, register
and off you go, a leisurely 25 minute ride around the city. Also
on the Saturday is a cycle skills course for youngsters, and in
the afternoon there is a 15/20 mile ride, open to anyone.
Throughout the week people will be encouraged to cycle to work,
and any money they save they will be asked to give to Cancer Research
UK.
On the Wednesday there will be a ‘back to biking for adults’
refresher course, for those who have reached adulthood, amusingly,
without learning to ride a bike. There will also be a medium distance
cycle ride in the evening, and a fun sounding forum on the Thursday
to discuss cycling issues.
Then, on Saturday the 21 June there is a ‘randonee’ on
the South Downs. This sounds like great fun. Riders have a choice
of three distances, 100 miles, 65 miles or 35 miles. Each rider
is given a set time to finish the course, and there will be checkpoints
and a support van along the way. On the same day there is a cycle
ride from Farley Mount down to Winchester, and the next day is a
family cycle day. Another more hardcore day is on the Sunday as
well. This is the Winton series. There is a choice of three rides,
a 100km chalk uplands one, a 60km chalk downs, and a 30km chalk
streams route. All routes start at Kingsworthy.
In a similar vein, on Monday September 7 Winchester has an Alternative
Transport Day. This is aimed at raising people’s awareness
of travel issues and it brings together a wide range of different,
more environmental ways of getting around. Gas, electric and dual
fuel vehicles will be there, although I do not think that they have
taken Pete’s idea of a ‘Goat Sled’ on board this
year. The square will be closed to vehicles, and, as if they will
need to, local cafes and bars will be encouraged to extend their
tables and chairs onto the pavement.
For more information look on www.winchester.gov.uk/onthemove, or
check the leaflets that are being handed out in tourist information
centres, The Guildhall and the council offices.
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Out
Of Africa (14th May 2003)
A Congolese man, who has made his home in Romsey, is being sent
back to the war torn land that he thought he had escaped.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has been racked by civil war since
1997, with an estimated death toll of three million and rising.
The whole region has been decimated by war. Neighbouring Rwanda
and Bhurundi are no strangers to death and genocide, and there are
plenty of scraps in Angola, just to the south. Formerly known as
Zaire, the country was taken over by Laurent Kabila in 1997, and
the government of president Mobutu was toppled.
Mobutu would not let it lie, and came back in 1998 with a rebellion
backed by Rwanda and Uganda. Troops from Zimbabwe, Chad, Sudan and
Namibia came piling in to help the Kabila regime, and got him reinstated.
Kabila was assasinated in 2001, and his son Joseph took over the
reigns of power. A total despot, his government was persuaded to
form a government of ‘national unity’ last year. Sylvain
Anzim decided to escape this chaos and seek a new life in England.
A former artist in the pay of Mobutu, Sylvain was helped in his
decision to stay by the death of his father at the hands of Kabila.
They had both spent time in jail, and unfortunately his father did
not survive the torture and beatings that they were subjected to.
Sylvain feared that he was next and fled over here in 1999. He met
his wife, Rachel, here, and they have a daughter, Imlah, who was
born in the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester.
Sylvain has been working in two different jobs to support his family,
so he certainly cannot be labelled as one of the ‘bludging
asylum seekers’ one reads about in the more scurrilous sections
of the press. He works in the care sector, with the needy in Eastleigh
and Southampton, under the employment of Carewatch in Winchester
and Supportways in Eastleigh. It would be safe to say that he is
no burden on the community and country that he has adopted.
It would seem grossly unfair, then, that, in early 2001, Sylvain’s
claim for asylum was refused. In response to this decision, the
Anzims have established an online petition to gather support for
their case. With a meeting with the home office scheduled for July
2003, the Anzim family are anxious to gather as much support as
they can, before the decision regarding their future is made.
The situation that they would be forced to return to in the Congo
is still very volatile. Up to 40,000 Rwandan rebels are said to
be hiding in the woods, avoiding the retribution they would face
if they returned to their own country. Different militias charge
about all over the place, and the Anzim family would face almost
certain death.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has a report on the situation
on their website, stating that “the conflict has led to abuses
of human rights and humanitarian standards by all sides.” The
issue of asylum seekers has obviously been in the press a great
deal lately.
The official definition of someone who deserves asylum in Britain
is ‘someone whose life, liberty or family would be in danger,
through no fault of their own, in their country of origin.’
Sylvain, would seem to qualify under this criteria if anyone was
going to, as he has lost his father, and is potentially in a great
deal of trouble himself, just because of who they worked for.
Sandra Gidley, MP for the Romsey area, is supporting the Anzims
in their quest to stay, and they are highly regarded by their neighbours
and work colleagues.
If anyone would like to pledge their support to Anzim, they can
have a look on www.ncadc.org.uk/letters/newszines31/anzim.html,
or write to Sylvain Anzim c/o NCADC, 110 Hampstead Road, Birmingham,
B20 2QS.
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Come on down and meet the folk
(14th May 2003)
The Winchester Folk Festival returns to the streets of the City
this weekend, with a packed programme of music, dance and workshops.
The festival has long been a favourite of folk aficionados and this
year promises to be the biggest and brightest yet.
The festival kicks off on Thursday with a Balinese Gamelan Music
Workshop at the Bird in Hand Activity Centre, off Parchment Street.
On the Friday there’s an evening concert at The Guildhall featuring
Bob Fox, Mick Ryan, Pete Harris, Hen Party and Innominata, with
the whole event being expertly MC’d by Mike Winterson.
Dancing takes over the City Centre on Saturday, with displays throughout
the day. There will also be a procession leaving (and returning
to) the Cathedral Close from 2pm.
Also taking place on Saturday and Sunday is a huge range of musical
activities at various venues including St Lawrence’s Church,
The Railway Inn and the Fulflood Arms. Featuring at these shows
will be the likes of Bad Pennies, Tabbush Sisters, Emily Slade,
Hardcore Fluff, Jez Lowe and many, many others.
So prepare yourself for a weekend of folktastic fun - it’s
not to be missed!
For more info head to www.winchfolk.org.uk
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Poet Laureate heads for Winchester
(14th May 2003)
Poet Laureate Andrew Motion arrives in Winchester next Tuesday for
a special appearance at The Tower Arts Centre.
Born in London 1952, Motion was later educated at Oxford University
where he won the Newdigate Prize for Poetry. From Oxford he went
to lecture at Hull, published his first collection of poetry and
met Philip Larkin, whom he came to regard as ‘possibly the
finest expository lyrical poet’.
When Motion was 16, his mother was involved in a riding accident
which left her in a comatose state for 10 years before her death.
He has stated that this tragedy was one reason why he became a writer,
as bringing her into his work was ‘another way of keeping her
alive’.
When he was appointed Poet Laureate in 1999, it caused quite a stir
in certain circles. At the time, the smart money was on John Cooper
Clarke claiming the top job, but it soon became obvious that Mr
Clarke’s addiction to Chocolate Hob-Nobs might eventually bring
shame on the nation. With this in mind, the job was rightfully handed
to Mr Motion, a decision that (almost) no-one could argue with.
“I recenty wrote a four line poem called Causa Belli opposing
war in Iraq,” explains Motion. “Hundreds of people wrote
agreeing with me, but I did get one letter from someone who thought
their Hungarian goat could write better poetry!”
Along with the eight books of poems, Andrew Motion is also the author
of four biographies, including celebrated works on Larkin and Keats.
Andrew Motion will be talking about his life and reading from his
work at the Tower in Winchester on Tuesday 20th May at 7pm. Tickets
and details available on 01962 867986.
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Eastleigh Rocks! (14th
May 2003)
Tickets are now on sale for the Eastleigh Summer Music Festival,
the biggest live music event being held in Hampshire this year.
Over 20,000 tickets are available for nine different concerts being
held at three different sites during the week commencing Monday
28th July.
Headlining the Festival is Jools Holland, who will be appearing
with his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra at Manor Farm Country park,
Bursledon on Thursday 31st July.
Other artists appearing at the six-day festival will be appearing
in a 2,000 capacity ‘Big Top’ and arena situated on Leigh
Road Recreation Ground in the centre of Eastleigh.
Top artisits booked to appear include Sir Bob Geldolf; TV favourite
Rolf Harris; legendary Irish band The Saw Doctors; Glastonbury regulars
The Levellers; American soul-stars The Drifters and the tribute
band Real Abba Gold.
The festival will also include a special concert by The SAS Band
(Spike’s All-Stars) who feature a host of pop stars from the
seventies and eighties and nineties including Leo Sayer, Paul Young,
Graham Gouldman (10cc), Midge Ure, Fish (Marillion) and Chris Thompson
(Manfred Mann’s Earthband) plus some suprise guest stars.
Former Dr Hook vocalist Dennis Locorriere and Britain’s foremost
acoustic duo Show Of Hands will also be appearing in acoustic concerts
being held at The Point Arts Centre in Eastleigh.
As well as the big-name concerts, the Festival will feature free
‘world music’ concerts every lunchtime, free family and
children’s entertainers every afternoon, a week-long Craft
Fayre and an International Food Fayre.
A ‘Fringe’ Festival will include an open-air concert by
the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra at the Royal Victoria Country
Park, Netley on Saturday, 12th July.
Tickets are on sale from The Point Arts Centre in Leigh Road, Eastleigh
(023 8065 2333) or via the festival website at www.eastleighfestival.co.uk)
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Oh Beehive (21st May 2003)
The Hampshire Country Show takes place at the Broadlands Estate
near Romsey this Spring Bank Holiday Weekend. Show jumping, Obedient
Dogs and Falconry are just a few of the many attractions on offer
at the show which is open from 10am until 6pm on Sunday and Monday
25 and 26th of May. Sam Leyden reports on why the bee-keeping exhibit
is of particular interest this year..
The art of beekeeping has been thrown into the spotlight, once again,
in recent weeks. We rely on bees, not just for honey, but for the
vast numbers of crops that depend upon the insects for reproduction
by pollination – crops that make up an estimate 33% of our
diets. The fact that these pollinators are under real threat, then,
should be of concern to us all.
While the destruction of their natural habitats, and increased use
of pesticides, have contributed greatly to the problems of the 21st
century bee, perhaps their largest threat is the Varroa mite. This
parasite - which lives and feeds on bee larvae, leaving them weakened
and deformed - was first spotted in the UK in Devon eleven years
ago. Since then it has spread throughout the country, with few beekeepers
being unaffected by the problem.
While the condition has usually been treatable in the past –
usually with the use of unpleasant chemicals, beekeepers have recently
had great cause for concern, due to the emergence of a resistant
form of the mite.
It is surely an enormous blow to apiarists, already contending with
vastly depleted bee numbers, to have their livelihoods under threat
once again. And, as the people who are indirectly responsible for
ensuring that we are able to eat the vast array of produce that
we do, their problem is just the tip of our society’s iceberg.
So why not head on down to the County Show this weekend, take in
the sights, and watch a demonstration by some of Britain’s
most unappreciated folk.
On a less apocalyptic tip, readers may be interested to note that,
during the Second World War, the Japanese employed bees to carry
microscopic documents, gummed to their wings, across enemy lines.
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Feeding the 3,000
(21st May 2003)
I was strolling through town on Monday (12/5/03) when some worthy
fellow offered me a free barbecue.
Suspecting his motives, the old adage of ‘no such as a free
lunch’ running through my head, I accompanied him down to the
Cathedral Grounds. There, indeed, was a full on barbecue, with gazebos,
a band and everything.
A group of Christians were handing out free burgers, ‘vege’
and meat, and hot dogs. These could be washed down with a glass
of water. Although obviously disappointed that there were no bread
and fishes on offer, the hot dog was nice, onions and some red hot
West Indian sauce.
To carry on the analogy, the ‘feeding of the 5,000’ lasted
four days, from Saturday to Wednesday, and actually fed 3,000 people
in the end.
It was part of the ‘Walk Wessex Initiative,’which is where
‘pilgrims’ are walking all over Britain over a three/four
year period. The Wessex walkers had been in Basingstoke, and then
they were off to Romsey and Southampton after Winchester.
Not content with just handing out food to the hungry masses, the
Christians also sent a youth contingent around the estates of Winchester
to wash cars, do gardening and any other odd jobs. For free! This
was called ‘Noise Social Action’ day, and around 35 youngsters
took part in the end.
So, all in all, the Walk Wessex few days were a success for all
concerned.It is nice to see acts done in a spirit of true altruism
in this day and age!
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Are Badgers All Bad? (21st May 2003)
After reading recent newspaper headlines about Boris the Badger
and his wild rampage through the Worcestershire countryside Elizabeth
Wombell wondered what badgers were really like.
Badger’s are shy nocturnal animals, so you won’t see large
numbers of them out and about during day light hours. You can tell
when a badgers has been around because they leave ‘snuffle
holes’ where their noses have been whilst foraging in the ground
for worms.
Although known as a garden pest because they like to eat roots and
bulbs the badger can be of help to the gardener by eating slugs
and snails.
One very effective way of deterring a badger’s from your garden
or alotment is to spook him with wind chimes or strong perfume.
The sounds and scents will make the badger think a human is present
and they’ll run away.
The badger is an intelligent & agile animal, they can climb
over fences so watch out! Badgers are sociable creatures and live
in group’s of between 4 and 12. There are 42,000 known groups
in the UK. The life expectancy of the average badger is 14 years,
but it is very rare they live that long. Approximately two thirds
of the UK’s adult badgers meet untimely deaths under the wheels
of motor cars.
Badger baiting was outlawed in 1835 and digging out badgers was
outlawed in 1973.
By Lizzie Wombell
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Adapting to life in Basra (21st May 2003)
The war in Iraq is over, but for many British Servicemen & women
the job has only just begun.
British servicemen & women are working hard rebuild the Iraqi
people’s homes and lives.
One of the toughest jobs is getting life-saving aid through to Basra.
The British tankers have to find their way through small streets
which are crowded with locals trying to rebuild their homes.
The troops in Basra have had to adapt quickly to their surroundings
they stay in tents, abandoned buildings and on their army vehicles.
Home comforts are at an absolute minimum because the units have
been moved several times in a matter of months. Now the war in Iraq
is officially over the ration packs and MRE’s (Meals ready
to eat) are no longer essential as the Army chef now has a stove
to work on.
Shower and toilet facilities are gradually being installed to make
life for the servicemen & women that little bit more comfortable.
In the desert, soldiers are aware that their body’s need for
fluids will be far greater than normal. They must drink a minimum
of ten litres of water each day.
Many of the servicemen have little luxuries such as books and CD
players to make life a little bit more bearable.
Each soldier is entitled to a 20 minute phone call every week, using
a satellite phone system that can operate almost anywhere in the
desert.
The ‘e-bluey’ allows friends and family to send their
letters via the internet, for printing in the operational theatre
in the form of a regular letter.
This system means that letters from loved ones get to servicemen
& women much quicker than the regular post.
By Lizzie Wombell
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Salad Daze (28th May 2003)
Jo Guest visited Alresford, the ‘Home of British Watercress
Farming’ on Friday (23/05/03). The glamorous model lay in a
watercress bed to launch ‘National Watercress Week’ which
runs until the 31st May. Jo said: “I’m proud to be launching
the British watercress season. It’s a really healthy little
plant and it has a nice hot bite to it too. It’s also said
to be an aphrodisiac so I just can’t get enough of it!”
Page Three ‘stunna’ Jo Guest came to Alresford to cavort
naked in a field of watercress last Friday (25/05/03).
Drawing the short straw as usual, me and Lizzie went over to have
a look. Upon arrival at Pinglestone Farm, we met Steve Rothwell,
one of the heads of Vitacress, purveyors of watercress to the gentry.
Over a coffee, he told us how great the plant really is.
Gram for gram it contains more vitamin C than an orange, more vitamin
A then a carrot, and, last but not least, it has anti cancerous
qualities. This made me sit up and take notice. Apparently, tests
have been done that show that animals exposed to cancer do not develop
it if they are given watercress to eat. It contains an enzyme called
PEITC which can be refined and put into pill form.
When this was taken by heavy smokers over a three day period, it
nullified the carcinogenic effects of their fags. Smokers who weren’t
on the watercress saw their levels go up significantly. So, smoke
watercress and you will be ok! Funnily enough, my friend Tom bought
a bag of watercress at the Notting Hill Carnival and tried to smoke
it! Ahead of the game as ever.
Then it was onto the serious business of Jo. First she stood, the
only thing between her and a state of undress a few bales of watercress.
Then she lay down in the stuff! She must have been cold, but the
swarms of photographers did not seem bothered as they snapped away.
Also on offer was an ‘alternative photo shoot’ of two
rural types picking cress by hand in the time honoured fashion.
Obviously this was treated with the contempt it deserved.
My favourite bit was when Jo stood up at the end, her bikini bottoms
fell down and she said “does anyone want a sandwich!?”
Yes please. Oh, and there was bucks fizz to drink as well!
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Don’t Send Them Home to Die (28th
May 2003)
A couple of weeks ago we ran the story of Sylvain Anzim, the man
from the Democratic Republic of Congo who is living in Romsey and
working in the region. The Home Office are wanting to send Sylvain
and his family back to Africa, saying that he is not eligible for
asylum here.
The only problem is that Sylvain stands a very real chance of being
killed if he goes back.
Sylvain was an artist in the party of deposed leader Mobutu, and
as such has already been tortured and imprisoned by the new regime.
His father was killed by them.
So, should he be forced to go back? We do not think so, and even
more so now when I read in the paper that it has all blown up in
the Congo again. The Foreign Office currently lists the Congo as
a ‘no go’ zone for British Nationals. It looks as if we,
the British, may even be about to contribute to a peacekeeping force
over there.
Thousands of people have been killed in fighting in the last few
weeks. Rival tribes are doing battle for the mineral rich Ituri
region. They want control of the diamonds and gold that can be found
there. Apart from this, all manner of old tribal rivalries have
arisen. The overall death toll stands at anywhere between two and
four million. This is more than Saddam ever killed, that’s
for sure. Tony Blair himself described Africa as a ‘scar on
the conscience of the world’ a couple of years ago. Nothing
has been done about it though. At the moment there is a meagre UN
peacekeeping force over there, who spend their time being hammered
by the warring tribes. Tales of horrors such as mutilation and cannibalism
are rife, and tribal fighters run around with the entrails of their
enemies hanging from their belts. Britain has privately complained
to the UN about the standard of the force, and is giving its backing
to a French led team who may actually be able to do something.
Jack Straw visited the region last year, and denies that Africa
has slipped down the list of priorities. “My intention is to
go back there. You can assume I will return to the Congo problem.”
Well, he may want to go back there, but young Sylvain would certainly
rather leave it. Surely, now that Africa is back at the top of the
governments list of priorities, then they have to admit that it
is one of the war torn countries that we should be accepting refugees
from.
If, on the one hand, Tony Blair is saying “we will revisit
the terrors of the Congo” then they cannot, with a clear conscience,
send a working, family man back there.
If you would like to pledge support to the campaign to allow Sylvain
to stay, then visit the internet at:
www.ncadc.org.uk/letters/newszines31/anzim/html or write to Sylvain
Anzim c/o NCADC,110 Hampstead Road, Birmingham, B20 2QS.
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Otter Miss Belief (28th
May 2003)
Who can forget the sensational badger fact-file from in the last
issue, this week Lizzie Wombell reveals that the otters are returning
to the land from which they were driven..
The number of Otter’s in England has fallen considerably in
the last 50 years, but now it is rising.
The National Otter Survey for England (NOSE) recently revealed that
of the 3,327 riverbanks & wetland areas surveyed, just under
35% (1,137) showed evidence of Otters.
The enviroment agency has seen signs of otters living in areas of
England. Otters leave prints, spraints (droppings) and flattened
areas around the river bank.
The number of otters inhabiting the south of England, especially
Hampshire, has expanded.
Although many other areas in the south of England now have a small
number of otters living in their river banks, the river Itchen still
has the most otters in England.
The river Itchen runs from Alresford through Winchester to Eastleigh
and then into the Solent.
The bed of the river Itchen consists of chalk which helps make the
water clear and clean.
Another hotspot for otter’s in the Uk is the New Forest.
Otters need to eat a kilo of food every day, the majority of which
should be fish. Pollution in the UK is killing these fish and in
turn otters cannot survive. Furthermore the source of a lot of this
pollution, lorries and trains, also cause many otter deaths by simply
running them down.
Top Otter Facts
Otters are brilliant swimmers, clocking up speeds of more than 7
mph. This doesn’t sound very fast to me - I suspect its 70mph
- anybody know? Pete
• An otter needs 1 kg of food per day- this consists of
fish but they will also eat amphibians, molluscs, crustaceans, birds
and small mammals.
• An otter has a home range of up to 40 kms- it marks its range
with droppings known as spraint, which smell like a combination
of jasmine tea and fish paste! That’ll be the kilo of fish
then.
• Otter whiskers help to detect food in the murkiest water
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Argentina, Spain, Winchester (28th
May 2003)
The Theatre Royal Winchester are hosting two fine evenings of World
Music in the coming week, there’s the tango inferno that is
ZUM, and also the fiery flamenco stylings of Jaleo!
ZUM stormed the UK with their first sell-out tour in 2001 and another
2002. The year ZUM is touring its brand new show entitled Gypsy
Tango Inferno - a stunning fusion combiningthe fire and brilliance
of music from the eastern Europe gypsy fiddle tradition and the
hot-blooded passion of Argentinean tango, including music by the
master of modern tango, Astor Piazollo.
From klezmer to bebop, ZUM are a magical mix of magical tenderness,
intoxicating harmonies and incredible explosions of sound and rhythm...
an inspiration to both your eyes and ears!
We, (courtesy of the Theatre Royal) also have two tickets to ZUM
and a ZUM CD to give away! To have any chance at all of laying your
hands on these prizes just answer the following question: Which
South American country is known as the home of the Tango? Answers
on a postcard to Madaleine Smith, Theatre Royal Winchester, Jewry
Street, Winchester, SO23 8SB.
Live and direct from the heart of Andalucia come Jaleo! As authentic
as you could possibly get, their searing flamenco sounds have justifiably
bought them to worldwide recognition.
Led by ex-Lancashire lad Peter Holloway (aka El Ingles), Jaleo fuse
the essential elements of flamenco with their own inimitable and
charismatic brand of Spanish passion; unnleashing the raw energy
and sensuous rhythms inherent within flamenco.
ZUM appear at the Theatre Royal, Winchester on Friday 30th May at
8:00 pm. Jaleo appear on Wednesday 4 June at 7.30pm. Tickets and
details are available from the Box Office on 01962 840440.
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