Iceland, Eyjafjallajökull – May 1st and 2nd, 2010 from Sean Stiegemeier on Vimeo.

You can also watch it in HD on it’s Vimeo Page

You all know about the earthquake that hit Haiti on Tueday. I’m sure you have seen some of the horrific images on your TV Screens and across the internet, and the huge international relief effort that is now under way. We in the UK are among the richest people in the UK, so we should give what we can to help in the recovery. Even small amounts will help.

There are so many places to donate money, the DEC, Red Cross, Oxfam, Christian Aid. Whereever you donate to, be careful, as belive it or not there are some scammers seeking to cash in on the disaster, read more about that on the CNN website.

I want to suggest that if you want to donate some money, you could donate to Compassion International. Compassion already have staff and workers in Haiti. Compassion doesn’t receive and funding from government, so it relies on support from its sponsors and donors.

How your money could be used.

All funds raised in response to the Haiti earthquake will be used immediately to provide for Compassion-assisted children and families affected by this crisis. Any funds raised in excess will be stewarded by Compassion for additional and future disaster relief efforts.
You can provide immediate relief today.
• $35 helps provide a relief pack filled with enough food and water to sustain a family for one week.
• $70 gift helps care for their needs for two weeks.
• $105 helps provide relief packs filled with enough food and water to sustain two families for two weeks.
• $210 gift helps care for two families’ needs.
• $525 helps provide relief packs filled with enough food and water to sustain 10 families for two weeks.
• $1,050 gift helps care for 10 families’ needs.
• $1,500 helps rebuild a home.
• $2,100 helps supply 20 families with the basics for three weeks.

If you want to donate to help in the recovery please use the Haiti Earthquake page on the Compassion website.

https://www.compassion.com/contribution/giving/haitiearthquake.htm?referer=105120SocialSponsorshipBlitz

For example,

Grant Smith, who has 25 years experience documenting buildings by Richard Rogers and Norman Foster, was stopped by a squad of seven officers who pulled up in three cars and a riot van and searched his belongings under section 44 of the Terrorism Act, which allows police to stop and search anyone without need for suspicion in a designated area.

“Three of them descended on me and said they were here because of reports of an aggressive male,” Smith said. “One of them even admired my badge which said ‘I am a photographer not a terrorist’. But they searched my bag for terrorist-related paraphernalia and demanded to know who I was and what I was doing. I refused. saying that I didn’t have to tell them, but they said if I didn’t they would take me off and physically search me.”

Smith’s trouble began when he refused to provide his name and explain what he was doing to a security guard from a nearby Bank of America office. He said he was astonished by the police response, not least the expense of dispatching four vehicles and seven officers.

Taken from this article on the Guardian website.

And this excellent video from the Guardian, I know it’s 9 minutes long but it’s worth watching.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/video/2009/dec/11/photographs-police-anti-terrorism-laws

Now, I do agree that this guy was being a little bit provocative, but even still, special branch?! These incidents and more are being reported by Amateur Photographer magazine almost weekly now. What is the justification for this action from the police. Well it’s all to do with Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

The act states (section 43 and 44):

43 Search of persons

(1) A constable may stop and search a person whom he reasonably suspects to be a terrorist to discover whether he has in his possession anything which may constitute evidence that he is a terrorist.

(2) A constable may search a person arrested under section 41 to discover whether he has in his possession anything which may constitute evidence that he is a terrorist.

(3) A search of a person under this section must be carried out by someone of the same sex.

(4) A constable may seize and retain anything which he discovers in the course of a search of a person under subsection (1) or (2) and which he reasonably suspects may constitute evidence that the person is a terrorist.

(5) A person who has the powers of a constable in one Part of the United Kingdom may exercise a power under this section in any Part of the United Kingdom.

Power to stop and search

44 Authorisations

(1) An authorisation under this subsection authorises any constable in uniform to stop a vehicle in an area or at a place specified in the authorisation and to search—

(a) the vehicle;

(b) the driver of the vehicle;

(c) a passenger in the vehicle;

(d) anything in or on the vehicle or carried by the driver or a passenger.

(2) An authorisation under this subsection authorises any constable in uniform to stop a pedestrian in an area or at a place specified in the authorisation and to search—

(a) the pedestrian;

(b) anything carried by him.

(3) An authorisation under subsection (1) or (2) may be given only if the person giving it considers it expedient for the prevention of acts of terrorism.

(4) An authorisation may be given—

(a) where the specified area or place is the whole or part of a police area outside Northern Ireland other than one mentioned in paragraph (b) or (c), by a police officer for the area who is of at least the rank of assistant chief constable;

(b) where the specified area or place is the whole or part of the metropolitan police district, by a police officer for the district who is of at least the rank of commander of the metropolitan police;

(c) where the specified area or place is the whole or part of the City of London, by a police officer for the City who is of at least the rank of commander in the City of London police force;

(d) where the specified area or place is the whole or part of Northern Ireland, by a member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary who is of at least the rank of assistant chief constable.

(5) If an authorisation is given orally, the person giving it shall confirm it in writing as soon as is reasonably practicable.

I don’t really know what all this technically means, or how it applies outside London, or in Northern Ireland, but it seems to be that if you start taking photographs near a bank, government building, or tourist attraction then in the eyes of some police officers you are potentially a terrorist and they can search you.

Don’t get me wrong, if a police officer asked me what I was doing, and why, I would quite happily explain that I am an amateur photographer, just taking some photographs. However I would not be happy about being made to give my name and address to go on police files as having been searched under the terrorism act.

All this comes just weeks after Andy Trotter, Chief Constable of the Association of Chief Police Officers, said on BBC 1, that it is not ‘an offense to take a photograph in a public place. ‘These powers were brought in to protect the public, not to oppress,’.
Then yesterday the sentiment was reaffirmed.

John Yates, assistant commissioner of specialist operations at the Metropolitan Police, has today issued a statement to all Metropolitan Police members reminding them that people taking photographs in public should not be stopped and searched unless there is a valid reason.

He also says that unless there is a very good reason, ‘people taking photographs should not be stopped’.

Taken from BJP website

I don’t know of anyone personally that has been stopped, but if you do please share the story in the comments of this post.While reading various articles about this type of event, and section 44 I came across this useful advice to keep in mind if you do get stopped.

• You do not have to give your name and address
• You do not have to explain why you are there (though it may be advisable if you don’t wish to get arrested)
• If requested, a police officer can ask to see what photographs are on your camera, but has NO power to delete them.
• Police officers have no power to stop you taking photographs in a public place, under section 43 or section 44.
• Take details about the Police officer(s) searching you, name, badge number, police force etc.
• Take details about the search itself, time, place, length, what was searched.
• Keep any documentation the police officer(s) give to you

What are your experiences or thoughts on this issue, let me know.

Also here are some useful links that I came across, and people recommended.
http://www.bjp-online.com/public/showPage.html?page=871996 – This is one of many articles on the BJP website on the issue
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/video/2009/dec/11/photographs-police-anti-terrorism-laws – Guardian Video of a video-grapher at St. Mary’s Axe
http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/news/ – Amateur Photographer News section, a whole host of articles
http://www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk/issues/6-free-speech/s44-terrorism-act/your-rights-under-section-44.shtml - Your Rights under Section 44
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/ukpga_20000011_en_5#pt5-pb2-l1g44 – Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200506/ldjudgmt/jd060308/gillan-1.htm – R & Another vs Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis and Another

Free Celebratory Balloons

I remember going to the museum as a child, I was fascinated by it, it was my first experience of a museum. I loved seeing the dinosaur bones, the Egyptian mummy, and all the other artifacts. 

The museum opened it’s doors again to the public on Thursday past. I couldn’t get down for the opening, but I headed down in the evening with Lorraine.

Museum Atrium

The new museum is so open and airy now, compared to what is used to be like. It would take quite a while to go round all the exhibits in detail, so we just went round the main ones.

It’s still free to get in, so you should take an afternoon and go for a walk around. 

Visitors - Lensbaby

Information - Lensbaby

See these photos bigger on flickr.

Check out this post and photos about the museum opening as well.  

“We’ve just learned Michael Jackson has died. He was 50.
Michael suffered a cardiac arrest earlier this afternoon at his Holmby Hills home
and paramedics were unable to revive him. We’re told when paramedics
arrived. Jackson had no pulse and they never got a pulse back.”

This was the news broken yesterday evening by entertainment news website TMZ. They were the first, and for a while the only, media outlet who had confirmed the death of the 50 year old star. However over the course of the next hour and a bit, other media agencys then confirmed the reports.

When I first heard about him being rushed to hospital (via @pinkhairedgirl on twitter), I didn’t think much of it. When I switched on BBC News 24 though I realised that this wasn’t just a minor heart attack, it was full blown cardiac arrest. I watched the story develop over the course of the evening, until the BBC  confirmed that Michael had indeed passed away.

How will he be remembered though? Strange, creepy, odd? Or as one of the best musicians the world has seen? Obviously he didn’t get the name ‘Wacko Jacko’ for no reason, and yes he was eccentric, and a really strange person. The oddness of his character is not something that people will forget, but setting that all aside he was a fantastic musician. I am not a HUGE Michael Jasckon fan, I don’t have his full back catalogue or anything, but even still I loved his music. His songs always get me either singing along (much to the dismay of those around me) or attempting to dance and moonwalk (to the embarassment of those around me).  So here’s hoping that he will be remembered as the King of Pop, more than Wacko Jacko…

One of my favourite MJ songs… Man in the Mirror

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7755278.stm

“AFTER three years of hectic full-time work on Neighbours, Caitlin Stasey is to be a “normal 18-year-old” again.

The Ramsay St darling has made the life-changing decision to finish her contract early so she can return to school and complete year 12.

She will film her last scene as Rachel Kinski next month, after three years on the show.”

It’s not gonna be the same without her in the show, I’m glad I went to Melbourne when I did, and got a wee wave from her…

for those of you who dont have a baldy what I am talking about, its the Apple Store, in Victoria Square, Belfast. It’s Northern Ireland’s first Apple Store, and there will be the chance on Saturday to win a new Macbook, and an iPod nano… I know some people who will probably be there, supersimbo? phil? alan?

Anyone else gonna be there?

For the most of us this is merely an inconvenience, it means we have to spend more on food, and less on the little luxuries we like, but as with all problems of this nature its always the same, the poor are hit the hardest.

There a loads of people in the world who are living on about $1 a day, that’s 50p, that’s how much I spend on a can of Coca Cola. These people are being forced to spend 80% of that on food. Nearly all the families that Compassion International works with in Bangladesh are being affected by this, and as the crisis continues it grip gets tighter and tighter, on places like Haiti, where all the children that are involved with Compassion projects have been affected.

The crisis is being caused mainly by the soaring fuels costs, this combined with natural disasters destroying crops, and the higher demand for food from countries like India and China

You might be wondering why I am blogging about this, well I guess to help raise awareness of the issue on behalf of Compassion International, and to suggest a couple of things that we can do to help.

First of all, something that we all can do, Fast and Pray. Compassion have designated June 25th 2008, that’s next Wednesday, a day of prayer and fasting for those most adversely affected by the crisis. So please, whether it be praying for half an hour instead of heading to Subway for lunch, or fasting for a full day, please get on board with this. I fully intend to spend some time in prayer on June 25th, and will give up a least one meal to pray for those struggling.

For those of you with a little more expendable income, consider donating to Compassion’s Global Food Crisis Fund, your money will go to provide food vouchers for families, as well as seeds and farming tools, and nutritional services provide at Compassion centres worldwide, donate HERE

For some more reading…
http://www.compassion.com/sponsordonor/global-food-crisis/default.htm
http://blog.compassion.com/tag/global-food-crisis/