Gaza
The invasion by Israeli of the Gaza Strip made a very unwelcome start to 2009. As the fulcrum of many of the world’s security problems it does make for a very dangerous beginning to this year and beyond. For myself I believe that Israel’s actions were wrong, disproportionate and will be counterproductive. The invasion I believe has been undertaken for political rather than security reasons. Carefully chosen to occur at year end it precedes a very difficult election for the Israeli government and comes at the fag-end of the Bush administration.

Lottery Joys
One less well known aspect of the Lottery is how many local and voluntary sector good causes the Big Lottery Fund helps. Mainly under the auspices of Awards for All, many local charities, communities and volunteer groups have gained over recent years through the operation of this funding these monies often been the stimulus and seed corn basis for allowing those recipients to go on and undertake a particular project or complete a facility that would otherwise stay unfinished.

The Social Fund and Credit Unions
One of the dafter ideas a policy wonk came up with a few weeks ago was to suggest that interest might be charged on social fund loans. To those who do not know social fund loans are those offered by the Department of Work and Pensions to those claimants in desperate need of a capital item such as a washing machine, bed or table and chairs realizing that the recipients have no other way of obtaining these vital household items.

Time and income poverty
At this time of the year, and particularly now we tend to think of what to do with our leisure time but also what the New Year will bring work-wise particularly against the background of the recession.