News

The horrors of terror that plagued the streets of New York, London and Madrid more than a decade ago have returned, this time to the streets of Boston, Massachusetts. Quite rightly, right-reminded individuals are not jumping to speculate who the murderous perpetrators are. But everyone is tense, nervous, and apprehensive as to what all of this might mean.

Right now the authorities must effectively do their investigations. All we can do is offer our most sincere condolences for those who have either lost their loved ones, or had them seriously injured.

Once again OBV along with a coalition of BME organisations has joined forces with the Runnymede Trust to ensure our National Curriculum, particularly around history remains diverse and reflects a UK and global history that will inspire all children. Runnymede’s briefing paper in regards to ensuring Mary Seacole and Olaudah Equiano stayed on the history curriculum was hugely helpful in winning that debate. Now our joint efforts in response to the consultation paper about the proposed changes to the curriculum.

Tianlang Guan the 14 year old wonder-boy from Guanzhou, China, has become the youngest ever competitor in the 77 year history of the Masters.

Not content with just rubbing shoulders with the likes of Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and other golfing royalty, Guan actually had a very respectable first round. Scoring a respectable 1+ par seven shots behind the leader, Guan looked every bit a seasoned professional, even though he’s an amateur.

Asked at the press conference how he felt after his first historic day, Guan replied,

Local elections are taking place on Thursday 2 May 2013 in local authorities and county councils in many parts of the country. These local elections are a vital part of local democracy because local councils have decision-making responsibilties over many services which are part of our everyday lives – transport, libraries, community and youth centres, schooling and employment.

International history is in the making. The Labour Party has announced that its councillor from Barking and Dagenham, will stand in the 22 May 2014 European elections. If elected, she will be the first British black woman in the European Parliament. When OBV spoke to her she told us,

“I feel privileged and humbled to have been selected to stand as an MEP”.

After years of campaigning by groups such as ‘Kick Racism Out’, ‘Football Against Racism’, and many others, Uefa have finally agreed that their poultry fines for those committing racial abuse both on and off the field haven’t worked.

Today Uefa General Secretary Gianni Infantino announced that his committee would propose a minimum 10 match ban for any player found guilty of racism. He also stated that if fans abused players there would be first, partial closure and full closure for a second offence plus far tougher financial penalties.

Health Minister Norman Lamb MP will be speaking at the first national conference on policing and mental health organised by leading agencies from the UK’s African Caribbean communities scheduled to take place at the Molineux Conference Centre in Wolverhampton, on Thursday 27th June 2013.

My initial political response to the death of Margaret Thatcher, as a Socialist, should have been one of joy, but it's difficult to be happy about an elderly lady, suffering from dementia, perhaps dying a lonely death in a London hotel.

Although, riding through Brixton late last night, I did bump into the impromptu party celebrating her demise. Like me, some people in this part of town have long memories.

Upon more sober reflection I quickly realised that my overwhelming emotion is one of sadness.

My mother always taught me, as a rule, not to speak ill of the dead. I, therefore won't speak ill of Baroness Margaret Thatcher, but I find no praise for her time in Government.

There is no doubt that Margaret Thatcher was a formidable politician: She smashed the Unions, she defeated the Argentinian military junta, she even scared the Conservative elite who had run the country for centuries. The reality is, however, her time in power coincided with one some of the darkest episodes of race relations in recent British history.