This Week in London Tweets

This Week in London Tweets


Episode 56

July 11, 2013

Episode 56 July 10th 2013
 
Hosts & Guests
Stuart Clark
Sean Quigley
Pat Maloney
Nathan Smith
Topic - #Ldnwest byelection

Candidate Background and transparency.
 
What are the voters in London West looking for.
What makes a byelection different from a regular one?

http://www.lfpress.com/2013/07/07/distrust-anger-and-apathy-unite-london-west-voters

http://www.lfpress.com/2013/07/07/gillespie-the-stirring-majesty-of-democracy-by-phone
Nathon’s Blog The forest for the Trees
http://www.am980.ca/Blog/NathanSmith/BlogEntry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10561717#comments

Topic: The Media and the Viewpoint

Is reporting on this by election fair and even - do we hear about all the parties?

Are the “scandals” really scandals or a way to drum up interest and drive sales?

What is the responsibility of the media in a democracy - even a small democracy like London?

Is the media responsible for the cynicism we have with politics or is it only the politicians? Or are we all to blame?

Topic Three - Youth in trouble
Growing number of young Londoners on the street  - http://www.lfpress.com/2013/07/08/growing-number-of-young-londoners-on-the-street
By Randy Richmond, The London Free Press
Monday, July 8, 2013 10:58:26 EDT PM
 
Signs of a potential crisis include:


One downtown agency is reporting a 62% increase in visits from youths seeking meals and other essentials.


Another agency reports seeing young people with far more complex and chronic problems than even a few years ago, and double the number of outreach workers wouldn’t satisfy the demand for help.


A third agency also is reporting an increased demand for food, and an increased plea from schools seeking help with troubled students and violence.


19,000: Rough number of visits for food and other essentials at Youth Action Centre, increase of 62%


3,000: People aged 12-25 getting help at Intercommunity Health Centre



This story generated 175 comments - many of them telling these youth to pull themselves up and go to work. Is this a realistic answer?
What is the responsibility of the family of the youth in these situations?
Are we “coddling”  our youth ?
Why is this happening now in London?
 

 
Topic Four - Egyptians in London stage rally against deposed president
London Community News
ByCraig Gilbert
http://www.londoncommunitynews.com/news-story/3882350-egyptians-in-london-stage-rally-against-deposed-president/
Topic 5 - London’s jobless rate drops to 9.2%
9.2% -- London's unemployment rate finally dips
By Hank Daniszewski, The London Free Press
Friday, July 5, 2013 7:59:54 EDT PM
http://www.lfpress.com/2013/07/05/london-jobless-rate-dropped-significantly-in-june-to-92
 
London area unemployment rate for this year:
January: 8.5%

February: 9.1%

March: 9.6%

April: 9.9%

May: 9.8%

June: 9.2%

June 2013 versus June 2012

Unemployment: 9.2% versus 8.5%

Participation rate: 64.5% versus 65.8%

Labour force: 270,600 versus 273,800