The Conservative Party, or Tories, has never really forgiven the British working class for demanding and winning the creation of the 鈥渨elfare state鈥. Gains won included such things as free health care, council homes at affordable rents, and care for the elderly and vulnerable.
From the Tories鈥 point of view, these are all things individuals should sort out for themselves. The modern state should provide the same level of social protection as was available to Queen Victoria鈥檚 subjects in the 19th century.
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The Venezuelan government said its 鈥淪mile Mission鈥 social program has provided more than 96,000 adults with free dental care, including 34,600 with dentures, since its creation in 2006, Venezuelanalysis.com said on October 29.
Health minister Eugenia Sader said the dentures provided by the mission are primarily for people from the poorest sectors. 鈥淭he Smile Mission helps recover the self-esteem of our patients and of the Venezuelan people鈥, Sader said. 鈥淭his is quality free dental attention that the revolutionary government offers to our people in order to guarantee health to them.鈥
A Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas (ALBA) meeting was planned in La Paz, Bolivia on November 10, for ALBA鈥檚 Latin American nation members to advocate for a common position on the defence of the rights of Mother Earth.
ALBA is an anti-imperialist bloc of eight nations led by Cuba, Venezuela and Bolivia.
Bolivian environment minister Maria Esther Udaeta said the meeting would discuss the position of ALBA nations at the next United Nations climate summit at Cancun in December.
Made in Dagenham
Directed by Nigel Cole
Starring Rosamund Pike, Bob Hoskins, Miranda Richardson
In cinemas nationally
Review by Jeff Sawtell
Given the advance publicity, I was looking forward to Made in Dagenham. It is based on the 1968 strike of women sewing machinists at Ford Motors, which was supposed to have inspired the 1970 Equal Pay Act.
As a former refugee, I can understand and share the concerns of the many Afghan asylum seekers currently facing deportation back to Afghanistan, the very country they had to flee from. This would send them into the hands of the very people responsible for much of the insecurity and threats to the lives and livelihoods of these asylum seekers.
It is unbelievable and preposterous.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez announced on October 31 the expropriation of steel company Siderurgica del Turbio (Sidetur). The company is a major producer of steel used in the building of homes, bridges and other infrastructure and public works.
Chavez also announced government interventions in six large housing developments being built and eight others that are ready for residents to move in. Government oversight has been increased in a further 19 privately-run housing projects.
The government of Papua New Guinea has been awarded Greenpeace鈥檚 鈥淕olden Chainsaw鈥 award in response to its corrupt, anti-environment forestry policies.
In a report released on October 25, the environmental advocacy organisation said PNG should not be allowed to take part in the controversial Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) carbon trading program until 鈥渟afeguards for biodiversity and indigenous and landowners鈥 rights and ending the corruption and illegal logging鈥 are in place.
On November 2, the Venezuelan government expropriated the Caracas shopping centre Sambil La Candelaria, Venezuelanalysis.com said on November 4.
The government decree said the shopping complex and large parking area would be 鈥渢ransformed into a meeting space for Venezuelans within the framework of a sustainable economy and permitting the development of the exchange of goods and services as well as the development of cultural expression鈥.
Men in uniform, mainly young soldiers holding AK 47 rifles, are seen all around northern Sri Lanka, from Mannar in north-west to Mullaitivu, the last battlefield in the north-east.聽In Mullaitivu, there are said to be more soldiers than civilians.
At least five Vodafone stores were closed in central London on October 30 by protests, TheGabber.org said that day. The protests were against the British government鈥檚 alleged decision to give companies, such as Vodafone, huge tax breaks of about 拢6 billion at a time when ordinary people are having their benefits cut or taken away.
See a photo slilde show of the rally . Hundreds of people took to the streets of Perth for the fourth time this year to protest against the federal government鈥檚 same-sex marriage ban. The November 6 rally heard from speakers including Kitty Hawkins representing GALE (Gay and Lesbian Equality), Rebecca Leighton from the Greens and a representative from the State School Teachers' Union.
Frank Mugisha, chair of the NGO Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMU), is no stranger to receiving threats because of his sexual orientation, a November 5 Amnesty International statement said.
鈥淏ut when a Ugandan tabloid published his personal details in October and called for him and others to be hanged for 鈥榬ecruiting children鈥欌, the statement posted on Amnesty.org continued, 鈥渉e knew there would be a struggle ahead 鈥 on the streets and in the courts鈥.
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