British Summer Time (BST) starts today!
UK clocks moved forward one hour today, Sunday 28th March 01:00 GMT (02:00 BST).
Did you remember to change your clocks?
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Good news regarding British citizenship for children born abroad to British mothers!
When I was on Twitter today, I noticed some new 'tweets' (posts) from Harriet Harman and was stunned to read these particular messages:
Talked to the Home Sec. We are going to scrap registration fee for nationality for British via mother from next year. Sweet tweet success
Equality Bill through the House of Lords. Great milestone for further progress on equality.
To say I am very pleased would be an understatement! I have been campaigning on twitter quite extensively to get the unfair law changed regarding British citizenship for children born abroad to British mothers.
In particular, I've addressed tweets directly to Harriet Harman (she is not just the deputy PM but also the Minister for Women & Equality) asking her how she can justify the inequality in the Borders, Immigration & Citizenship Bill, and had several replies from her with assurances that she would "get on to it". I was hopeful that the inequality would finally be addressed but since she also told me she couldn't give me a timescale, I could only keep watch on the situation and wait and see what happened.
After reading the tweets from Ms Harman today, I am very confident now that we (the adult children born abroad to British mothers) will finally get the same automatic right to claim British citizenship that children of British fathers have always had. I'm not sure about the details - why Harriet Harman states "from next year" for example - but hopefully the necessary changes to the law are at least starting to be put in place.
This news is very good news indeed! Thank you to everyone for all your support in this campaign and particularly thanks to everyone who has signed the petition started by Mrs Elizabeth Peterson.
I will be keeping a close eye on how this change to the law progresses. This blatant inequality must be corrected and I'm not going to stop my campaign for citizenship equality until it is.
Edited to add:
It would appear that I was too hasty in making this announcement because in fact nothing has changed yet. While it's true that Harriet Harman did make a promise via Twitter, it doesn't look like any changes to the law were instigated. And now that we have a new government, I can only deduce that we have to start our campaign all over again for citizenship equality. I apologise if I raised anyone's hopes that this issue was resolved.
I am closing comments to this particular post now.
Please see this Related Post for latest news:
People born before 1983 to British mothers
Talked to the Home Sec. We are going to scrap registration fee for nationality for British via mother from next year. Sweet tweet success
Equality Bill through the House of Lords. Great milestone for further progress on equality.
To say I am very pleased would be an understatement! I have been campaigning on twitter quite extensively to get the unfair law changed regarding British citizenship for children born abroad to British mothers.
In particular, I've addressed tweets directly to Harriet Harman (she is not just the deputy PM but also the Minister for Women & Equality) asking her how she can justify the inequality in the Borders, Immigration & Citizenship Bill, and had several replies from her with assurances that she would "get on to it". I was hopeful that the inequality would finally be addressed but since she also told me she couldn't give me a timescale, I could only keep watch on the situation and wait and see what happened.
After reading the tweets from Ms Harman today, I am very confident now that we (the adult children born abroad to British mothers) will finally get the same automatic right to claim British citizenship that children of British fathers have always had. I'm not sure about the details - why Harriet Harman states "from next year" for example - but hopefully the necessary changes to the law are at least starting to be put in place.
This news is very good news indeed! Thank you to everyone for all your support in this campaign and particularly thanks to everyone who has signed the petition started by Mrs Elizabeth Peterson.
I will be keeping a close eye on how this change to the law progresses. This blatant inequality must be corrected and I'm not going to stop my campaign for citizenship equality until it is.
Edited to add:
It would appear that I was too hasty in making this announcement because in fact nothing has changed yet. While it's true that Harriet Harman did make a promise via Twitter, it doesn't look like any changes to the law were instigated. And now that we have a new government, I can only deduce that we have to start our campaign all over again for citizenship equality. I apologise if I raised anyone's hopes that this issue was resolved.
I am closing comments to this particular post now.
Please see this Related Post for latest news:
People born before 1983 to British mothers
Sunday, March 21, 2010
2010 Laurence Oliver Awards Winners
Weisz and Rylance are Best Actress and Actor, Wicked wins Audience Award
Rachel Weisz and Mark Rylance have been named Best Actress and Actor in the 2010 Laurence Olivier Awards, while Wicked was voted most popular show by the readers of Official London Theatre.
2010 Laurence Olivier Awards Winners (complete list)
Rachel Weisz and Mark Rylance have been named Best Actress and Actor in the 2010 Laurence Olivier Awards, while Wicked was voted most popular show by the readers of Official London Theatre.
2010 Laurence Olivier Awards Winners (complete list)
Wonders of the Solar System (BBC series)
Have you been watching Wonders of the Solar System, a (fabulous) series about the solar system? Part three - "The Thin Blue Line" - is on BBC 2 tonight 9:00pm - 10:00pm (If you missed the first two parts, you can watch the episodes via BBC iPlayer ).
The five-part series is presented by the very enthusiastic physicist, Professor Brian Cox. The programme is excellent mostly because Professor Cox explains scientific facts (the laws of physics) so that they are easily understood but not in a condescending way. It's an outstanding series, educational but also very entertaining.
Wonders of the Solar System - BBC Two
You can also follow Professor Cox on twitter
The five-part series is presented by the very enthusiastic physicist, Professor Brian Cox. The programme is excellent mostly because Professor Cox explains scientific facts (the laws of physics) so that they are easily understood but not in a condescending way. It's an outstanding series, educational but also very entertaining.
Wonders of the Solar System - BBC Two
You can also follow Professor Cox on twitter
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
BBC Dig In 2010 campaign - free seeds!
Are you new to gardening? Thinking about starting a garden? This news may interest you then:
The BBC Dig In campaign is starting again (this is the second year) and they are repeating the free seeds offer.
Application form to apply for your free seeds (mixed salad, courgette, french bean, basil and carrot).
I suggest you send your application in quickly if you are interested because the seed starter packs will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, and the offer is sure to be very popular.
The Dig In website provides information, links and tips about each of this year's Dig In vegetables.
You can also sign up for a fortnightly newsletter for advice on growing your veg (aimed at encouraging novice gardeners) and Dig In news.
The BBC Dig In campaign is starting again (this is the second year) and they are repeating the free seeds offer.
Application form to apply for your free seeds (mixed salad, courgette, french bean, basil and carrot).
I suggest you send your application in quickly if you are interested because the seed starter packs will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, and the offer is sure to be very popular.
The Dig In website provides information, links and tips about each of this year's Dig In vegetables.
You can also sign up for a fortnightly newsletter for advice on growing your veg (aimed at encouraging novice gardeners) and Dig In news.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Daylight Saving Time in the USA and Canada starts today!
If you are in the USA or Canada, you should have changed your clocks today - Sunday, March 14th - and turned your clocks ahead one hour ('spring forward') to Daylight Saving Time.
The United Kingdom is currently on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
British Summer Time (BST) starts on Sunday 28 March 2010
The United Kingdom is currently on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
British Summer Time (BST) starts on Sunday 28 March 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
International Women's Day
Today is International Women's Day (IWD)
The 2010 theme: Equal rights, equal opportunities: Progress for all
I think it's apropos to connect this day to my quest for equal rights to British citizenship. This article, Misogyny is Alive and Well Among British Lawmakers - explains exactly how unfair the Borders Immigration & Citizenship Act 2009 is.
Children born abroad to (married) British fathers get automatic citizenship. The law was amended to correct the inequality regarding citizenship for children born abroad to British mothers but it still discriminates. The "children" (now adults) of British mothers have to register and pay £540 and attend a ceremony to attain British citizenship. Citizenship is not automatic.
What about equal rights for British mothers to be able to pass on their citizenship the same as British fathers have always been able to?
Please add your name to the petition: http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/UKmothers/
The 2010 theme: Equal rights, equal opportunities: Progress for all
I think it's apropos to connect this day to my quest for equal rights to British citizenship. This article, Misogyny is Alive and Well Among British Lawmakers - explains exactly how unfair the Borders Immigration & Citizenship Act 2009 is.
Children born abroad to (married) British fathers get automatic citizenship. The law was amended to correct the inequality regarding citizenship for children born abroad to British mothers but it still discriminates. The "children" (now adults) of British mothers have to register and pay £540 and attend a ceremony to attain British citizenship. Citizenship is not automatic.
What about equal rights for British mothers to be able to pass on their citizenship the same as British fathers have always been able to?
Please add your name to the petition: http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/UKmothers/
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