Libel Reform: My MP's response

I have been following Simon Singh's libel case which has spawned the libel reform campaign.

The short version of his case is that Simon published an article in the Guardian in which he discussed chiropractic treatment with reference to the British Chiropractic Association.

In a passage describing the BCA’s claims about the treatment of a number of childhood ailments, Singh wrote that ‘even though there is not a jot of evidence’ the BCA ‘happily promotes bogus treatments’.

Despite the article being published in the Guardian, Singh was sued personally.

This case prompted the charity Sense about Science to start the libel reform to try and get the libel laws changed.

As part of the website you can sign the petition and you can also send a letter or email to your MP. I have done both of these things and this is the disappointing response I received from my MP the Rt Hon Adam Ingram.

Early Day Motion 423: libel law reform

Thank you for your letter of 31 March 2010 on the above subject.

I read your comments with interest, however, I do not support the underlying principle of EDM 423. I believe fundamentally in the right to free speech, however, those who exercise it must do so responsibly and with regard to the rights of others. Sadly, we have a media in this country which operates in a largely, unconstrained way, with only the libel laws available for redresss. There are now too many so-called journalists and commentators who operate on the basis of character assassination, never allowing the facts to get in the way. In short, we now have an imperfect situation brought about by media excess.

I fully support the need for freedom of expression in relation to genuine scientific debate, although we have to accept that there are all too many examples of flawed scientific research and opinion which can have hugely damaging consequences. The most recent example of this related to the MMR vaccine. That did not result in libel action, but I could have, so the law of unintended consequences could have resulted from unfettered comment, as you and the campaign propose.

Thank you again for taking the time to write.

With best wishes

Yours sincerely

Adam Ingram

I'm at a loss. The Winter Olympics are over - what on earth am I going to do to take up my time. I can't afford to go out, but I didn't notice that during the Olympics.

People don't get excited about the winter Olympics, not in Scotland anyway. I was in Calgary over Christmas and there was definitely a buzz there about it, but no-one really cares here. That was until it started.

We were all getting excited about the curling. It's like chess on ice, while making coffee in the morning in the office we were discussing the intricacies of the shot that Eve Muirhead made that went round three stones to get a 3. Then came the snowboard cross, it's like BMX on a snowboard. The most insane sport that became my new favourite almost instantly. Well that was until I saw Ski Cross. Ski Cross has to be THE most insane, violent, bloody, ridiculous, fun, made up Olympic sport I have ever seen.

It all ended with something USA v Canada ice hockey final which was tense and exciting with USA equalising with 20 seconds to go taking it into sudden death overtime (a stupid idea that football tried for about 10 minutes until everyone agreed it was a ridiculous idea) where Canada came out victors, closing the Olympics in style.

Everybody I know seemed to get caught up in the Olympics in some way or other and now I have giant gap in my schedule. I guess I'll have to wait for the next big sporting event which is probably the French Tennis Open. But really, it's just a countdown now to the FIFA World Cup.

98 days to go!!

New Ethos

So I started this blog ages ago but rarely update it. I think part of my theory is that since I'm rarely interested in what I have to say other folks definately won't be. Regardless of that, I'm going to endeavour to update more regularly and make more of an effort.

The past year or so have been strange for me. I feel like someone has hit a pause button on my life. I've spent the last few weeks feeling pretty sorry for myself, mainly because of financial constraints meaning that I couldn't really do anything at all. But I've been thinking about the past year.

The life and people I knew from the age of 17 changed overnight and then over the past year I've slowly changed. My tastes have changed, my taste in clothes and accessories have changed a lot. For a long time I kept feeling that my friends had changed and that annoyed me, until I realised that it wasn't them, it was me. They still wanted to do the same things we always did, and the other things they suggest doing, I never have the finances to join in so I feel like the pauper, can't join in and I blame everyone but myself for that.

The problem is, I I'm waiting for something to happen. My flat has been on the market for 14 months with no end in sight. Until it sells, I don't have a lot of money. I have no social life to speak of so I have resorted to never ending watching of DVDs and sporting events - Loving the olympics by the way! I got a new job late last year which is going spectacularly well at the moment so I'm not a total loss. I have my job, my friends are still awesome, I have my crazy dog, I am doing a marathon walk in 6 weeks. I'm looking forward to the World Cup.

So in short, all my introspection has made realise that I have to make more of an effort. Make more of an effort with my friends, who despite myself, are always there when I need them. I need to remember who lucky I am to have them in my life. And in the meantime, I shall amuse myself by talking to relative strangers on twitter.

Oh, and if you do know anyone who wants to buy my flat, that would be great!

People Watching

So I'm not one of these girls that has ever really enjoyed places like the hairdressers but I'm trying to embrace the experience. Today I used the experience for some people watching. There are the women that clearly see there stylist as there best friend whether they are there weekly, monthly or every second month, like me. There are the women that it's there big day out of pampering - now I have to explain, that I do not go to a top class city centre salon. It's a local, nice wee place. but still..... What I don't understand is the blokes. Why do blokes go to a salon? I can understand it if they want their hair coloured, although that can be very dodgy for blokes so take advice from girlfriends, sisters, girls that are friends guys. But guys, you can go to a barber get a cut for like £8, be in and out in 10 minutes and not have to make an appointment AND generally it looks alright. But some of you choose to go to a salon and pay £30 I just don't get it.

I go to a salon because I have to. I have afro hair, barbers wont/can't cut it, I need it dyed and basically females have to pay that bit more but guys - for god sake, get out of the salons, you don't belong there.

Unleashing my inner Geek

I decided to splash out and get myself a new TV and join the new world. I did a bit of research, spoke to some people and ordered myself a 42" panasonic plasma tv. I also decided that if I'm going to have a big flash, TV I might as well get HD television. I had heard it's not worth paying for (it's an extra £10 per month and you only get about an extra 20 channels at the moment) but I watch a lot of sport so I figured for that alone I'd do it.

I am now obsessed. I have watched 3 football matches in HD now and I actually get annoyed if the highlights of another game are not in HD because it looks weird and blurry. I am so impressed. I have turned into one of these techy geeks I hate who goes on and on about how good techy things are. But while watching the football, I can actually see the pattern on the ball. I can see the beads of sweat running down the players faces, it's amazing. It has also made me go and splash out on Blu ray player which is due to arrive tomorrow and will undoubtedly make me even more boring and geeky.

In short, I got a new toy and I like it!

Where'd all the time go

I recently got a promotion at work, it's only a temporary one but it's a start. The thing is it has meant a change to my shifts. I now instead of working 6 days on, 4 days off which a couple of my working days being nightshifts giving me time during the day, I am now working Monday to Friday 1pm - 9pm. I am actually enjoying it better than I thought I would but the major drawback is it has come while the TV season is good, therefore my Sky + is taking some hitting and the fact that I 'ahem' aquire quite a few US shows to get through too.

It has now hit Friday night and I have about 20 or 30 hours of TV to catch up on. This includes a week worth of The Daily Show and Colbert Report, The Shield, Life, ER, Newswipe, The Mentalist, Southpark. I also have; House, NCIS, Lie to Me (which if you haven't caught yet you have to see) It stars Tim Roth as a Body Language expert and it is just fantastic, Family Guy, American Dad, Scrubs and the list goes on. Oh and the Wire, which I've seen before but now that it is being shown on terestial TV in the UK I am watching it again. Although the BBC in their wisdom, decided to show it 5 nights a week - too much BBC. Anyway, I don't class myself as a big TV genie. My life does not revolve around TV but all the good stuff seems to be on at once. And now I'm single and poor (cause no-one's bought my flat yet) I can't afford to go out much but I also don't have time to catch up on TV.

I'm trapped in a cycle and I can't get out.

God I need to get a life

By the way, have you seen the BBC sitcom Outnumbered.....

Movies

I decided not to work as much overtime this week, maily because I have migraines that are getting out of control again, so a break away from work is a good thing probably.

I have used my time productively to try and catch up on tv viewing and some movies. I watched a movie called An Incredible Journey, which is a 1963 Disney film where the basic premise is that 2 dogs and a cat try to find their way home over 300 miles of rugged terrain. It has since been remade and Disney, in their wisdom decided to make the animals talk. In the original it is narrated and doesn't use special effects which means what you see from the animals is amazing. I realised that kids films from 40 or 50 years ago gave kids way more credit than they do now. They remade rather than jsut re-releasing it. And it's not just Disney, why do they have movie studios insist on remaking films rather than giving people credit and if you want to celebrate a good film, re-release it and give people credit.

The Incredible Journey I love this film, and highly recommend you watch it but ensure you get the original.