Interesting Articles

I notice that the Schengen area has been extended, and half of all education targets are missed. Beyond that, the political world has been a bit boring. Perhaps if I had more energy, a post on the EU Reforms that could bankrupt the NHS would be following. But never mind.

Merry Christmas!

Signing of Lisbon "Reform Treaty"

On the day Brown goes to Lisbon to sign the Reform Treaty, the BBC sets the scene:

>EU leaders are preparing to sign a treaty in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, that will greatly alter the way members govern themselves.

The treaty creates an EU president and a vastly more powerful foreign policy chief for the Union's 27 nations.

At the same time the document scraps veto powers in many policy areas.

The wording chosen is interesting. If it will "greatly alter the way members govern themselves", then this contradicts Brown's insistence that nothing has changed. A political statement by the BBC? As an aside, if the treaty does not change anything fundamental, why is Brown bothering to sign it?

Brown cannot attend the public signing, due to a diary committment in the British Parliament.

Yesterday, Nigel Farage led a protest of Eurosceptics across the political spectrum in the European Parliament against the Charter of Fundamental Rights:

MEPs at opposite ends of the political spectrum chanted and brandished placards, many of them booing.

Dozens heckled Portuguese PM Jose Socrates, whose country holds the EU Presidency, when he signed the charter in the parliament in Strasbourg.

EU leaders will sign the new treaty of the union in Lisbon on Thursday.

The largest contingent of protesters were British, with others from countries including France, Italy and Poland.

"Referendum, we want a referendum. The people of Europe deserve to decide for themselves," Nigel Farage, leader of Britain's UK Independence Party, shouted from his seat.

So things are hotting up nicely overall.

Sports Personality?

Last night saw the giving of the Sports Personality of the Year Award, but the shortlist, I thought, was poor, as it simply ignored the vast sporting successes this nation has seen this year. The list contained 4 world champions in 2007, yet a lady with three world championship titles in 2007 was not on the list. I know that this is my own personal hobby-horse, but Victoria Pendleton should have been recognised in some way. And the team award really made me despair. The British Cycling team has 7 victories in World Championship events this year. Just to put this into perspective, at the Athletics World Championships this year, Britain won one gold. So why did they lose to the Rugby team that came second in the World Cup? The world is not just.

I appreciate that I am heavily biased towards cycling, but if such an outstanding year can simply be ignored by the panel, something is wrong.

So the actual results were:

1. Joe Calzaghe 177,748 (28.19%)
2. Lewis Hamilton 122,649 (19.45%)
3. Ricky Hatton 85,280 (13.53%)
4. James Toseland 84,570 (13.41%)
5. Jason Robinson 67,061 (10.64%)
6. Paula Radcliffe 34,895 (5.53%)
7. Jonny Wilkinson 30,302 (4.81%)
8. Andy Murray 13,242 (2.1%)
9. Justin Rose 10,227 (1.62%)
10. Christine Ohuruogu 4,481 (0.71%)

And my dream nominations would have been:
1. Joe Calzaghe 177,748 (28.19%)
2. Lewis Hamilton 122,649 (19.45%)
3. Ricky Hatton
4. James Toseland
5. Victoria Pendleton Discussed above.
6. Andy Priaulx - WTC Champion.
7. Jonny Wilkinson
8. Jamie Murray - Actually won the mixed doubles at Wimbledon this year.
9. Justin Rose
10. Christine Ohuruogu

I know that this award is basically personal choice, but still.