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Contents:
Editors'
Chat
Bonjour, how
you doing? I hope you're still striving for inner peace, inner strength
and finding that balance within your life so you can feel contented
because that is what life is all about. You may not have what you
want at this moment in time, but does that mean you should not enjoy
life? So if you woke up feeling down, stop feeling sorry for yourself,
shake off that feeling and keep on moving, stop wasting valuable
quality time with your soul, stop beating yourself and get out there
and enjoy life!
One thing we
tend to do when we are growing up is look at life as filled with
problems when we should be looking at life as a challenge. When
born naturally our aim was to walk and talk amongst other things,
these were seen as a challenge and not a problem. A baby does not
get upset because he came into the world and could not crawl, walk,
talk, run or jump but in a few months and in its early developing
years a baby has accomplished its goals. The same should be applied
continuously throughout life, only thing is we get all emotional
and wrapped up in the chaos that surrounds us and for some reason
it has a devastating impact on our life. So avoid chaos in your
life by taking control of it, know what you want and accept the
challenge, minimise confusion around you and do not be afraid to
adapt.
As we are running
late with this week's Newsletter, for which we do apologise, we
are keeping the Editor's Chat short, but you know the deal, we'll
be back next week, so hold tight until then and continue to spread
the word and share. Before we go... Holiday period is amongst us
and what would be nice is if you are going on holiday whether aboard
or not remember to share your experiences with us!!!
Ju
& Caz
signing out till next week
Continue
the good worx and maximum respect 100 percent!



Beloved
daughter of Sandra and Lloyd
Sister of Nathan, Dean, Sarah, Christine, Dwayne and Omar
Little Princess of the Community
CONTINUE
TO SUPPORT THE SANJAE LEWIS TRUST. Although the original
appeal campaign was for Sanjae, the Trust will continue in the same
vein, to provide funds for medical research, treatment, support and
relief of suffering to children with fibrosing
alveolitis. Keep those donations coming - there are other little
Sanjae's out there who need our help - don't let the same thing happen
again - play your part in creating an institution to which those in
need can turn.
Donations
can still be made direct at any Barclays Bank, quoting the details
below:
Acc.
Name: Sanjae In Need ~ Sort Code: 20-46-60 ~ Acc. No: 40310913
SWIFT Code: BARCCGB22 (required for international donations only)
Correspondence,
cheques/postal orders
(made payable to SANJAE IN NEED
only) can be sent to:
The
Sanjae Lewis Trust
5 Greenwich High Road
London SE10 8JL
LET'S
SUPPORT THE CAUSE - WE KNOW WE HAVE THE POWER TO DO IT!!!
Further information can be obtained from calling 0870 746 5000
email info@sanjaelewistrust.org
or
visit the website www.sanjaelewistrust.org
click
here to view and sign Sanjae's Book of Condolences
.Chat
'bout
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Feedback
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"Hiya
all
"Having
just recently found out that you had a Newsletter, I immediately
signed up as there is isn't too many Black British websites
on the web.
"But
I am disappointed that time and time again it seems only to
be concern with the Black London community, I live in B,ham
and it's like we don't exist. Its not just you, it's also
all those other Black British websites that are suppose to
serve the UK Black community.
"There
is a world outside London, and I seriously think its about
time it was not
just acknowledge but addressed.
June
(from outside London)
Ed's say...
June, June, June, our sentiments entirely, especially seeing
as particular members of Blacknet originate from Brum also!
We tirelessly ask people to contribution information, news,
events, etc., from outside of London and will also be looking
to you to send some info in too! (seeing as you too feel so
strongly on this point). Caz & Ju |
|
"Hi,
"Just want to say thanks for publishing my letter.
"My
fellow workers are delighted to see a response in the Newsletter;
they thought I was kidding but is was good to see their faces
looking so happy.
"They
cannot wait to read the next letter so once again thank you
from me and my fellow workers.
"Thanks
Caz & Junior."
Roy
Ed's say...
Now that's what we like to see, share and share alike.
Good on you Roy! Let's hope other readers follow suit and share
their Newsletters with friends, family, colleagues - just about
everyone! Caz & Ju |
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CONSTRUCTIVE CRITIQUE is the order of the day
if we are to maintain this beneficial
resource - YOUR NEWSLETTER.
Drop us a line to share your views, regardless of what they
are: say hi, how much you enjoy
the publication, or mention any changes you would like to
see. Your views are important
to us, so please make them known.
Caz
& Ju
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Well,
do you have an idea for, or opinion on, the Newsletter? If
so, please email us
at feedback@blacknet.co.uk
with your views, comments and observations and we will
endeavour to implement changes/additions where possible (within
reason of course).
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Requests
Why
struggle to find information when you can share your request
with our readers - you'll be surprised what they know
and/or can do for you. Drop a line to requests@blacknet.co.uk
and we will publish the details, and results too!
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Do
you have a request? If so email
us with the details and we will endeavour to source the
results for you. Alternatively, if you have the answer to
any of the above drop
us a line too!
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Speak
Out!
Got something
to say... been wanting to get that burning issue of your chest...
or simply want to air your views on a subject and get some
feedback? If so, you're in the right place - send us your
'beef' at speakout@blacknet.co.uk...
you know it's time for you to Speak Out!
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Editors'
Comments
Got
something to say, or want to share with us on an issue?
Speak Out! email
us with your comments for publication.
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Don't
stifle yourself! Get it off your chest in Speak Out!
Send us an email with your gripe, or response, to speakout@blacknet.co.uk
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Reviews
ERYKA
BADU (Thu 4 July @ The Brixton Academy, London)
(Review by: Patricia Campbell)
| "The
show was absolutely breath taking." |
Hi Caz
& Junior
I went
to see Eryka Badu on the 4th July at the Brixton Academy.
The show
was absolutely breath taking. I went to see her last year
and I was a little worried that she wouldn't have been as
good.
Ms Badu
didn't disappoint. She sang most of the songs from her Mama's
Gun album, and once again I learned something about the songs,
something I had missed even though I have played the album
a thousand time. It's although she almost 'acts out' her songs.
She sang 3 songs from her debut album (not 'Next life time'
though!).
Ms
Badu thoroughly entertained the heaving audience. She made
us laugh and totally mesmerised us with her powerful God given
voice. I would love to know where it comes from because she's
so tiny. When she sang 'Green Eyes' she actually stood away
from the microphone and you could still hear her. Amazing!
Her backing
singers were excellent, and the band tight.
She sang
'Bag Lady' as her finale and jumped into the audience.
She really appreciated her audience. The whole evening was
excellent. Shaun Escoffery was in support, and well you know
the brotha can sing and is quite sexy. I shall be investing
in his album!!
I can't
wait Erykah releases her 3rd album and graces British soil
again. I'll definitely be there.
Peace
Patricia
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Why
not send us a review
- it can be about anything... a film, book, play, event
you attended, CD you've just bought - anything! You don't
have to be a journalist, all you need is a point of view.
So,
if you've been or seen, watched or listened, eaten or read,
let us know. Why not share it with our readers so we can
enjoy the pleasures too... or not, as the case may be!
Send
us your review and we'll publish it.
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Opportunity
Knocks 
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Contribute
to this section by sending us information to highlight
and promote opportunities and/or events that will empower,
inspire, motivate, stimulate and mobilse the community,
for both business and social purposes.
To
submit articles/information for publication in this
section, simply email opportunities@blacknet.co.uk
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Know
of anything that could benefit from being highlighted in this
section?
Send us the details for publication to opportunities@blacknet.co.uk
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Charity
Focus
|
Charity
Focus aims to highlight and profile the good work of
charitable organisations (registered and otherwise)
that are empowering and supporting the community. Most
of us know a little about the main ones, Sickle Cell
& Thalassemia, Black Cancer Care, ACLT (African
Caribbean Leukemia Trust), Stephen Lawrence Trust, Sanjae
Lewis Trust, etc., but what about those within the community
that are quietly mustering on and fighting the good
fight?
We
want you to tell us about these charities, organisations
and community groups that are helping our youth,
elderly, homeless, abused, and
socially excluded/challenged members of
the community so we can highlight them and bring about
awareness to all who may (at some stage in their lives)
need to turn to these institutions for assistance. Also,
if you are an active member or supporter of any particular
community group send us a bio, background information
or media pack so we can profile your organisation here.
charityfocus@blacknet.co.uk
|
|
Know
of an organisation/individual that could benefit from being
highlighted in this section?
Send us the details for publication to charityfocus@blacknet.co.uk
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Special
Feature |
If
you would like to feature your business, service or product
in this section, or simply
wish to submit an article, email us at features@blacknet.co.uk
for publication.
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| Achievements
of a Black Child |
|
My daughters'
achievements as young black children... Well, where do I begin?
My
oldest Daughter is called Camisha Tamara BRIDGEMAN. She is
17 years old and has currently completed her first year of
A levels. Over the years she has achieved so much. She is
currently learning to drive and is working, every Saturday,
for the John Lewis Partnership (as an Audio & TV sales
assistant in one of their branches) and aims to study at University
where she hopes it'll enable her to spend a year in America
in a paid employment placement. She achieved over-the-odds
at GCSE level, she got 1A*, 5 A's and 4 B's (whereas her teachers
only predicted her 3 A's 3 B's and 4 C's - some even wanted
her to sit the Foundation paper but she was adamant that she
could 'make-the-grade").
She was
voted year 10 class councillor and helped to represent the
issues of her peers (she hopes to run for the Wanstead 6th
form council). She was also voted her class Year Book and
Prom Organiser.
For the
past several years she has been captain of the netball team
and has won several accolades for her dedication and achievement.
She was also in the winning team for under 16's Redbridge
girl's basketball team and her photo was taken right beside
that of her younger sister (who was only 12 at the time).
Moreover
she is a good role model for the younger pupils at Wanstead.
For the past year she has helped to teach History to a certain
year 8 class as part of the school's Social Contract Policy.
Although it was only supposed to be for an average of four
month's, she has done it for the past year. Saturday last
(13 July), she went to SaarBrueken in East Germany for 1 week's
work experience, as she is learning German.
My Youngest
daughter Tanita Felicia BRIDGEMAN, was only 10 years old when
she began achieving awards for her sporting contributions
to her Primary School. She began training to play netball
in year 3 working her way up to what she would later accomplish.
In 6 years of playing netball she has won 2 sports player
of the year awards, 2 gold and 2 silver medals and an outstanding
contribution to sports award. Amongst them are 2 basketball
trophies and 1 football. Along with a passion for sport Tanita
is dedicated to organising her future so when it does arrive
it is not such a surprise. At the age of 11 she decided her
destiny in life was to become a lawyer and began researching
information on the different courses and grades she would
need to achieve to make her dreams come true.
At aged
12 she began researching different universities and the courses
they offered students. She narrowed them down to Brunel and
Southampton university and now aims to attend Brunel University
because of the high grades law students accomplish at that
specific university. With all this planning she realised there
would be sacrifices. In year 9, students must pick the subjects
they would like to study at GCSE level. My daughter has always
hated the subject history, but found that this subject offered
a taster at some of the skills she would need for studying
law. So putting her own personal feelings aside opted for
this subject one step closer to reaching her dream.
She is
involved in many different school functions, In year 8 she
was editor of her years magazine and Assistant Year Councillor.
She has just completed her S.A.T's exam and achieved over
average scores for her age level 6 in Maths and Science and
level 8 in English.
Achieving
those grades has won her recognition by the borough of Redbridge
(the area in which she schools) who have sent her an application
form to apply to be a member of the Junior Windsor Fellowship
Programme. This programme is designed for Black and Asian
students to improve on self confidence and how to present
themselves. It also includes many other aspects they'd need
to prepare for before entering adulthood.
Am I a
proud father... you bet! Years of loving have given my daughters
the start that I had hoped for when my wife and I decided
we wanted them. KIDS OF COLOUR.
BajanBoy
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Events
to look out for

click
here for full info on this
MUST SEE PLAY!
The
Troy Bar - Saturday 27 July 2002
(10 Hoxton Street, London, N1 6NG)
Presents...
The exclusive ladies night out
featuring Rudy Ranks from Unique FM
Playing the best
in reggae, soul & soca from 9 till 4am
Admission by
ticket only @ £7.50
You can obtain
tickets by calling 07930 636 847
Smart
Dress Essential
CAREERS FAIR
FOR MINORITY ETHNIC GRADUATES

Organised
by Linbert Spencer Consultancy in collaboration with
The Cabinet Office, Creating the Future 2002 aims
to provide minority ethnic students with a constructive and realistic
view of working in the Civil Service. One of its main aims is to
help departments to sell themselves more effectively so that they
can increase the proportion of minority ethnic employees in the
civil service.
Exhibitors
include; The Cabinet Office, GCHQ, the Health and Safety Executive,
and the Inland Revenue. The Fair is FREE so PRE-REGISTER
ONLINE NOW!
NUBIAN
TRAVEL PRESENTS THE 5 STAR SPECTACULAR HIDDEN TRUTH PACKAGE IN
EGYPT- Back again
2002!!!
~
~ ~ ONLY 2 SPACES LEFT!!! ~ ~ ~
22
July - 1 August 2002
 Are
you spontaneous and have a bit of loose change well next week
could see you in wonderful EGYPT. We are talking
about 10 nights - 5 star exclusive group
package. The whole nine yards!!! The complete trip is
worth around £1850 but with almost a grand knocked off the
price you will certainly have an experience in Egypt to talk about
for only £989.00. Let me break it down
for you so you understand what I'm talking about.
-
FLIGHTS
WITH EGYPT AIR - SCHEDULE AIRLINES.
-
ALL
AIRPORT TAXES.
-
VISA
FEES TO ENTER INTO THE COUNTRY.
-
ALL
YOUR TRANSFERS WITH AIR CONDITIONED COACHES.
-
7
NIGHTS ABOARD THE 5 STAR 'THE MS PIONEER VESSEL'.
-
7
NIGHTS ON THE VESSEL - BASED ON FULL BOARD
(BREAKFAST , LUNCH AND DINNER)
-
ENSUITES
ROOMS IN THE CABINS WITH A FANTASTIC VIEW OF THE NILE.
-
A
FUN PACKED ITINERARY WHICH INCLUDES VISIT TO THE VALLEY OF THE
KINGS / LUXOR TEMPLES / EDFU TEMPLES AND THE PYRAMIDS &
MUCH MUCH MORE
-
VISIT
TO A PERFUME FACTORY- THE NATURAL ESSENCES!
-
SHOPPING
SPREES DOWN THE LOCAL MARKETS.
-
EVENING
ENTERTAINMENT - INCLUDING BELLY DANCERS AND 'THE CAPTAINS PARTY'.
-
EGYPTIAN
GUIDE THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE DURATION.
-
ENGLISH
HISTORIAN TEACHER FROM LONDON TRAVELLING WITH US- PRESENTING
THE HIDDEN TRUTH INFORMAL CLASSES!!!
PROFESSIONAL
REPRESENTATIVE FROM NUBIAN TRAVEL.
-
INTERNAL
FLIGHTS TO CAIRO INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE.
-
5
STAR HOTEL THE MENA HOUSE OBEROI: - BASED ON BED AND BREAKFAST
- THIS GIVES YOU A CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE SOME OF THE WONDERFUL
RESTAURANT EGYPT HAS TO OFFER - IN COSMOPOLITAN CAIRO.
-
HALF
A DAY TOURS TO THE FAMOUS PYRAMIDS AND SPHINXS
-
HALF
A DAY TOURS IN THE UNFORGETTABLE EGYPTIAN MUSEUM.
Go on treat
yourself a trip of a life time awaits you, all I can say is, give
Nubian Travel a call on 0208 797 9660, have a chat with them and
see if I'm joking - Junior
BLACK
FOOTBALLERS' AWARDS (BFA)
(28 Sep '02 @ La Royale Banqueting Suite, Tottenham, London N17)
The voting for
the Black Footballers' Awards is now up and ready. To vote for your
favourite footballer, log onto www.blacknet.co.uk/bfaawards
or call 0906 755 2002 to register your vote and win the 'red
carpet treatment' for the night (check out the competition
zone for full details)
Brought to you
by Tharmm Equest (Sports Group), the three main sponsors are Blacknet
UK, Voice Newspaper and Choice FM, from whom further details on
how to purchase tickets and the itinerary of the event will be forthcoming.
These awards
are to honour Black Footballers of the past, present and future.
Voting is strictly by the community - YOU the community,
PICK the winners. Registering your vote by telephone could
win the opportunity to attend
the function in
fine style.
VOTE
NOW!
WATCH
THIS SPACE FOR FURTHER UPDATES AND INFORMATION
Blacknet
Information Community News
Work
plan for ethnic minorities
Grassroots
organisations in the West Midlands are to be employed by the Government
to help get people from ethnic minority communities into work and
training.
The Department
for Trade and Industry is negotiating with 14 local groups to set
up advice centres for black and Asian people.
The overall
UK employment rate is 74.6 per cent while the employment rate for
visible ethnic minorities is 58.1 per cent.
Ministers hope
that local community and arts groups will succeed where the official
employment service, JobCentre Plus, has failed.
Birmingham,
the Black Country, Solihull and Wolverhampton are to be targeted
by the initiative.
Minister for
Work Nick Brown said: ''There's an unacceptable difference between
the overall employment rate and that of people from ethnic minorities,
which is clear evidence of wasted talent.
"This new
outreach service will explore different ways jobless people can
be brought into work or training and forms part of a concerted effort
to narrow that 17 per cent gap."
The contractors
include small, locally-based grass roots organisations which have
an established or potential rapport with specific groups of disadvantaged
ethnic minority people in the East Midlands, Greater London, Greater
Manchester, the West Midlands and West Yorkshire.
The projects
will work by attracting people to mainstream services such as the
New Deal by improving links between communities and employers or
by providing specialist training where necessary.
Mr Brown added:
"We know that work is the best route out of poverty and that
many of the country's ethnic minority communities are based in its
poorest areas.
"These
providers are well-placed to identify the key obstacles preventing
their clients from taking up work, and then to build rapport and
win their trust in a way which gets results."
Five
found dead in burnt-out car The
deaths of four children and their father in a car fire are being
treated as a possible case of murder and suicide by police.
Officers were called to the Poplar area of east London early on
Sunday morning by London Fire Brigade, after reports that a car
was on fire.
The silver Nissan
Primera was severely damaged by the blaze and contained the bodies
of a black man and four black children.
A post mortem
found that the five died from severe burns and inhalation of fumes
from the fire.
'Shock'
The man is understood
to have been estranged from his wife and children - two girls and
two boys. None
of them have been named by police. Friends
of the dead man said they were devastated by the tragedy.
Laying flowers
at the scene Grace Omia, 31, said: "He loved his family so
much... We are all in shock." Her
sister, Cissy Owschi, said: "It's a tragedy, I don't know what
has happened."
'Intense
fire'
Detective Superintendent
Jim Osbourne, who is leading the investigation, said: "Murder
and suicide are a potential line of inquiry.
"The early
indications are that the man found is native to this part of London.
His estranged partner has been informed of the death."
Mr Osbourne
said the man's marriage and custody arrangements for the children
would be part of the investigation.
He added: "There
has been an intense fire, the vehicle and the bodies are badly burnt
but it is too early to say the cause of the fire."
Police are looking
for witnesses, but said the only people likely to be in the isolated
spot so late at night would be courting couples, delivery drivers
or night workers.
CCTV
images
Forensics experts
and a Home Office pathologist spent the day examining the car and
surrounding area. Officers
are also looking at CCTV images.
The bodies were
removed late on Sunday afternoon and the car was taken away shortly
afterwards.
The Serious
Crime Group in Barking are heading the investigation and police
are appealing for anyone who saw a silver Nissan in the area to
contact them.
Detectives have
set up an incident room. Anyone with information is asked to call
0208 345 3985.
World
Bank targets Africa's conflict zones
The head of
the World Bank, James Wolfensohn, is touring Africa in order to
build relationships with countries emerging from conflict.
Mr Wolfensohn is visiting Rwanda for the first time on Monday, following
on from a landmark trip to the democratic republic of Congo at the
weekend.
He is due to discuss how Rwanda's economy can be restored at a private
dinner with the country's President Paul Kagame.
Mr Wolfensohn's trip
to Rwanda comes as the country begins the transition from emergency
reconstruction to long-term development, eight years after its horrific
genocide.
From there, he will go
on to Tanzania, and meet finance ministers from nine African countries
emerging from conflict.
Debt relief hopes
Mr Wolfensohn has already
held up the democratic republic of Congo as an example of a country
that has implemented sound economic policies despite civil war.
"What the government
has done here is extraordinary, they have created a base with a
stable currency and budget," he said.
As a result, Mr Wolfensohn
has recommended that the World Bank wipe out 80% of Congo's $12bn
debt mountain early next year.
"We want to establish
a clean slate for the country," he said.
Civil-war broke
out in Congo four years ago, and the United Nations is still struggling
to broker a peace agreement.
Powerful
images of murdered kids
DRAMATIC artwork
depicting the death of Damilola Taylor has been turning heads at
a south London gallery - just a few streets from where he died.
The 10-year-old
schoolboy bled to death on the North Peckham estate on November
27, 2000.
Two teenage
boys were cleared of murder, manslaughter and assault with intent
to rob after a trial earlier this year.
Powerful images
showing the aftermath of his death have gone up at the Camberwell
College of Arts on Peckham Road.
The printwork
- entitled 'Future in Shadow' - is part of an exhibition by MA graduate
students.
Artist Lara
Ige- Jacks said she wanted to use her work to ask why there were
so many cases of child murder in this country, including Damilola,
Sarah Payne and Victoria Climbie.
The award-winning
39-year old artist said: "The issue of child violence in Britain
is overwhelming and oppressively sad. My work on this series was
very painful and sad."
And she added
that her work tackled a subject which south Londoners should not
shy away from. "Yes, it is very dramatic but it is a reality.
Something has to be done to get people thinking about this.
"It is
an issue that really needs to be addressed. "It is a very sensitive
issue, but if you don't think about these things, you cannot prevent
them from happening again. You have to think about the past if you
want to find a solution."
Armed
police patrol city after shooting
Armed police
were patrolling Wolverhampton city centre last night following a
shoot-out between rival drugs gangs which left three men injured.
Two of the injured,
described as black, were among a group of ten who came out of the
Decadence club in Broad Street early yesterday (July 13) and became
involved in an argument with two other men who were across the street.
The gunmen crossed
the road and targeted the pair.
One suffered
wounds to his lower body and the other was wounded in the shoulder.
Detectives said
the two victims were known to the police.
The third injured,
described as Asian, suffered ricochet injuries to his hand.
Police said
there was a possibility he could have been a bystander and not connected
to the group.
The gunmen ran
off and the victims made their own way by taxi to the New Cross
Hospital.
Police sealed
off the street until midday yesterday and ammunition from a semi-automatic
handgun and a revolver were recovered.
The victims
underwent surgery for their injuries which are not thought to be
life-threatening and were under police guard at the hospital last
night.
Chief Supt John
Colston said it was not a random shooting and special measures were
being taken to avoid a repeat.
"This is
a serious incident which we are treating as attempted murder,"
he said.
"Our early
inquiries suggest that two men were targets and a third, who was
Asian, was hit by a ricochet. We don't know at this point whether
the third man was a member of the gangs."
He said it was
believed the shooting was drugs-related and two of the victims were
known to the police.
"In a one-off
operation, 50 police officers with some armed will be patrolling
the city centre to provide a visible deterrent against a repeat
of anything like this happening.
"They will
be using stop and search powers with the aim of making people feel
safe in Wolverhampton."
Meanwhile in
Birmingham, Dawn Marshall, aged 38, and two other Handsworth mothers
have formed Parents United to help tackle the problem of gang-related
gun crime.
"This shooting
is another of the type we hear about every day," he said.
"As the
years go by it is getting worse and worse and this is the time to
try and do something about it.
"Lots of
parents are in denial about their sons being in gangs and they think
they are doing the best thing by not saying anything about it.
"But it
is not just the kids in gangs that are dying and getting hurt it
is innocent people, too.
"It is
a delicate situation but parents need to talk about it and hope
they will attend the meeting."
The first meeting
will take place at Handsworth Community Fire Station at 6pm on Wednesday.
Cannabis
message 'is wrong'
A Midland headteacher
has said that downgrading cannabis sent out the wrong message about
drugs to schoolchildren.
Elspeth Insch,
head teacher of King Edwards VI Handsworth School for Girls, said
the Government's move to reclassify the drug would have no effect
on the strong anti-drugs message sent out by schools.
She said the
Government had "effectively condoned spending money on something
that is harmful".
Miss Insch said:
"We have a strict policy, one of zero tolerance of either being
under the influence of drugs or having them on site or trading or
taking drugs," she said.
"I understand
that in certain countries such as Holland it works very well, but
not here because it teaches young people to look on drugs as a way
to have fun.
"My feeling
is that cannabis can lead people to other narcotics and it takes
you into circles where drug dependency is part of the culture."
Miss Insch said
the lure of drugs was not just an issue for inner city schools.
"People
assume that drug abuse is linked with the inner city but it's often
kids in leafy suburbs with money to spend," she said.
Sir Robert Dowling,
headteacher at the George Dixon International School, said the downgrading
of cannabis would make no difference to the message children got
about drugs from school, parents and the local community.
"I think
there's a danger in being hysterical about this," he said.
"To some
extent I have sympathy if one of my youngsters were caught with
a piece of cannabis I'd hate to see them get a criminal record.
"The message
we give is not going to change in that drugs are not a good thing
to do and the notion that you can control it is not backed up by
evidence."
African
patients push British HIV figures to new record
IMMIGRANTS from Africa have overtaken homosexual men as the largest
group reporting new HIV infections in Britain.
Last year 4,163
people were found to be HIV positive, of whom 1,338 were homosexuals
and more than 1,500 heterosexuals from Africa. Fewer than 200 cases
were attributed to heterosexual sex in Britain.
Barry Evans,
HIV consultant at the Public Health Laboratory Services’s
centre for communicable disease surveillance, said: “The figures
show that there were more newly diagnosed cases of HIV among African
immigrants than gay men for the first time." The number of
African immigrants diagnosed with HIV has trebled in the past five
years from around 500 to 1,533 last year. The total number of new
cases was the highest since testing began in 1985.
Of the 22,000
people known to be living with HIV in Britain, more than 5,000 are
from Africa, including refugees, students, nurses and others with
work permits, and people visiting relatives. The Human Rights Act
gives overseas visitors who are found to be HIV positive the right
to stay and be treated for the rest of their lives if treatment
is not available in their home country.
Callum O’Mahony,
chairman of the Association of Genito-Urinary Medicine, said that
the trend could spark a new outbreak among British heterosexuals.
“There’s a huge potential to spread that wasn’t
there before, because the number of gays is just not that high:
there are far more heterosexuals."In 2001 there were 2,225
new cases among heterosexuals in Britain. Dr Evans said that of
those 80 per cent were infected in Africa, 10 per cent elsewhere
in the world, and 10 per cent in Britain. Kings College Hospital
in South London reports that about 60 per cent of its HIV cases
are African immigrants and Caroline Bradbeer, of St Thomas’s
Hospital in London, said: "We’re now seeing more diagnoses
among heterosexuals than gay men, and most of the heterosexuals
are from Africa.”
Many HIV specialists
say that they are unclear about who they are meant to be treating,
and under what circumstances. Some patients visiting relatives attend
clinics, where they are not legally entitled to treatment without
first applying to remain in the UK on compassionate grounds.
Doctors have
been appealing to the Department of Health for guidance, but say
they have been told not to raise the issue because it is too sensitive.
Some countries,
such as the USA, Canada and Australia are insisting on HIV tests
before being granted permission to immigrate.
We
welcome news articles on any subject and current affairs,
in particular from out of London. Simply email communitynews@blacknet.co.uk
together with any images and your byline for publication.
|

Competition Zone
Congrats
to all our latest winners: Sandra Marshall who won a pair
of tickets to D&D Double Birthday Dinner, Show & Dance
(Fri. 12/07/02), courtesy of TAQUA, and to recent
Corn Silk Beauty Product winners,
|
IMPORTANT
NOTICE - PLEASE READ
PLEASE,
PLEASE, PLEASE REMEMBER TO PROVIDE YOUR NAME, DAY AND EVENING
CONTACT TEL. NOs. WHEN SUBMITTING COMPETITION ENTRIES, AS
ENTRIES FAILING TO BEAR THIS INFORMATION WILL AUTOMATICALLY
BE DISCOUNTED.
PLEASE
ALSO DO NOT SUBMIT ENTRIES TO COMPETITIONS FOR EVENTS IF YOU
WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND ON THE DAY AND TIME STATED.
|
CORN
SILK BEAUTY PRODUCTS (ends 31 July 2002)
Calling all
the ladies - where my ladies at? - have I got some
goodies for you!
"Use
Corn Silk powder to matt down your face after you've been sweating
to high heaven! make-up doesn't move once you put on Corn Silk Translucent
Powder." (Beverley Knight, More!, 28 Nov '01).
Countless women
swear by this product (and I'm one of them I'm afraid, after
having been sent a sample through the post - it's never left my
handbag since! ), including diva soul queen Beverley
Knight, who always has Corn Silk lurking in her make up bag
somewhere. For a perfect, shine-free complexion that will last all
day try Corn Silk Face Powder. Made from a unique natural walnut
formula, Corn Silk has been proven to be more effective at absorbing
excess facial oil and perspiration than traditional talc-based formulas.
You
hear that ladies, just what we need this time of year (well
all year round in fact seeing as we're always working so hard).
Now, not only have I got 20 FREE Corn Silk
Loose Powder sets to give away (pictured
above), I also have 20 FREE Corn
Silk (Oil-Absorbent Powder Papers sets to go with it too! (pictured
left). Encased in a compact with mirror, these oil-absorbent
powder papers eliminate shine in seconds. Soft blotting sheets
remove excess facial oil and moisture, leaving a touch of sheer
powder that keeps skin dry and fresh-looking for longer.
Whether you apply over existing make-up or on its own, the translucent
powder blends instantly to enhance your desired look - simply
perfect for touch-ups on the go!
I will be giving
away one set each day (starting from Wed 3 Jul) until
they run out, so If you would like to scoop up one of these items,
Simply send your name and contact telephone
number(s) (day and evening) to: Caroline@blacknet.co.uk
There are no
questions to answer, or puzzles to solve - so
hurry, FIRST COME, FIRST
SERVED!!!
| Terms
& Conditions of entry |
| 1. |
The
closing date for the competition is the 31st July 2002. |
| 2. |
Winners
will be notified immediately by email/telephone and items despatched
within 7 days by second class post. |
| 3. |
Entries
chosen at random by the judge on each day will be selected as
winners. |
| 4. |
The
prize includes either a Corn Silk Loose Powder or Oil-Absorbent
Powder Papers set. |
| 5. |
The
competition is not open to employees of Corn Silk, Chattem UK
Ltd, Sellers PR or Blacknet UK Ltd. |
| 6. |
There
is no cash alternative. |
| 7. |
The
judge's decision is final. |
| 8. |
Corn Silk, Chattem UK Ltd, Sellers Public Relations or Blacknet
UK Ltd cannot accept responsibility for any lost, delayed or
incomplete entries. |
| 9. |
Competition
applicable to UK residents only. |
Please
remember if you are a winner we request you send us a personal review
of the item(s)
MBRACE
FITNESS HOLIDAY (Algarve, Portugal) (ends 22
July 2002)
I know you can't
believe it, but yes - IT'S TRUE!!!
Courtesy of
Mbrace fitness, the number one UK fitness organisation,
I am giving one extremely lucky reader - YOU
- the chance to win a week in the sun with
Mbrace.
From
Thu 17 Oct - Thu 24 Oct you will enjoy the sunny climate of the
Algarve in Portugal, staying at the beautiful LTI Alfamar Beach
Resort. The Alfamar complex is located between the resort centres
of Albufeira and Vilamoura, both 25 minutes distance by road from
FARO and its international airport. The complex is positioned on
the beautiful Falesia beach, to which it is unique in having
direct access to its 7km of sand and largely undeveloped pine wooded
cliff tops.
In association
with Dial-A-Flight and Lotus International join Mbrace
for the ultimate in Fitness Holidays. There will be... click
here for full info
As
usual, there is a little catch, the lucky person will be sharing
their villa with two other individuals, one male, one female - so
unless you're the outgoing, get-a-long type maybe this competition
is not for you. We will require you to give us a full rundown of
your experience on this fitness holiday of a lifetime, with pics
'n' all. So, if you're up for it submit that entry fast, WHICH
MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A PICTURE.
Ok, so what
do you have to do to win this star competition..... hmmmmmmmm...
what wicked task can I set you............ let's see now........
(Ju says... stop tease the people dem, jus' give whey da ting
man!) Okay, okay, just kidding wid y'all, all you need to
do is answer the following questions:
| A. |
On
what date and where will Mbrace's 1/2 Marathon in aid of Cancer
Research UK take place? |
| B. |
At
what hotel will you stay if you attend the Mbrace fitness Party
& Pamper Weekend in Wales in January 2003? |
| C. |
Lastly,
in not more than 40 words, say why you think you deserve to
win this fitness holiday with Mbrace.
(clue:
check out their website)
|
Send your answer,
together with your name, day and evening contact telephone number(s)
AND A PICTURE to: Caroline@blacknet.co.uk
Simply
too good to miss? 130 people who've booked so far think so!
If you were at Lanzarote 2001 then you will
know what a great time you'll
have on Mbrace's holiday, working out and having fun in the sun!!
For
further information on Mbrace's fitness holidays/events,
call Paul on 020 8262 5343
| Terms
& Conditions of entry |
| 1. |
The
closing date for the competition is Thursday 22 July 2002. |
| 2. |
Winner
will be notified immediately by email/telephone. |
| 3. |
The
prize includes an 8 days/7 nights holiday in the Algarve, Portugal
only. |
| 4. |
The
competition is not open to employees of Mbrace fitness, Dial-A-Flight,
Lotus International or Blacknet UK Ltd. |
| 5. |
There
is no cash alternative. |
| 6. |
The
judge's decision is final. |
| 7. |
Mbrace fitness, Dial-A-Flight, Lotus International or Blacknet
UK Ltd cannot accept responsibility for any lost, delayed or
incomplete entries. |
| 8. |
Competition
applicable to UK residents only. |
Please
remember if you are a winner we request you send us a personal review
of the event
BFA
(Black Footballers' Awards)
(ends
16 August 2002)
The voting for
the Black Footballers' Awards is now up and running. To vote for
your favourite footballer, log onto www.blacknet.co.uk/bfaawards
or vote by phone - 0906 755 2002 -
to register your vote and be in with a chance of winning 'red
carpet treatment' for the night.
Simply call
0906 755 2002 to make your nominations
and leave your details. The lucky winner (along with up to 3 guests)
will win:
1. Chauffeured
travel to the event/home (up to 4 people);
2. All expenses paid to come to the show (up to four people - Dinner/Awards/Dance);
and
3. Bottle of Champagne
Does
that sound good, or does that sound good!? (Ju
says: I tink I better call that number myself man!)
These awards
are to honour Black Footballers of the past, present and future.
Voting is strictly by the community. YOU
the community, PICK the winners.
Telephone votes only will also give you the opportunity to attend
the function - SO COME ON, GET DIALING,
CALL
0906 755 2002 NOW!
| Terms
& Conditions of entry |
| 1. |
The
closing date for the competition is the 16 September 2002. |
| 2. |
Winner
will be notified immediately by telephone and further arrangement
made via Blacknet UK/Tharmm Equest Sports Group. |
| 3. |
First
entry chosen at random by the judge will be selected as the
winner. |
| 4. |
The
prize includes: (1)
Chauffeured travel to the event/home (up to 4 people); (2) All
expenses paid to come to the show (up to four people - Dinner/Awards/Dance);
and (3) Bottle of Champagne only. |
| 5. |
The
competition is not open to employees of Tharmm Equest Sports
Group, Voice Newspaper. Choice FM or Blacknet UK Ltd. |
| 6. |
There
is no cash alternative. |
| 7. |
The
judge's decision is final. |
| 8. |
Tharmm Equest Sports Group, Voice Newspaper. Choice FM or Blacknet
UK Ltd cannot accept responsibility for any lost, delayed or
incomplete entries. |
| 9. |
Competition
applicable to UK residents only. |
Please
remember if you are a winner we request you send us a personal review
of the event.
Good
Luck to all who enter the competitions!!! - Caz & Ju
Kickback
|
Teaser
1
You
have 1023 lemons and 10 bags. You have to distribute these
lemons in these 10 bags in any way you choose. But when I
ask for a certain number of lemons you have to give them in
terms of bags without transferring the lemons from other bags.
How do you distribute the lemons?
Teaser
2
Arrange
twenty cubes in four piles using these clues:
* All
piles contain an even number of cubes;
* There are twice as many cubes in the first pile as in the
second pile;
* The largest
number of cubes is in the first pile;
* All piles have a different number of cubes;
*
Each pile has at least one cube.
How many
cubes would be in Pile 1? Pile 2? Pile 3? Pile 4?
(Answers
in next week's newsletter)
|
Teaser
3
A
bathtub has separate taps for hot and cold water. With the
cold water tap you can fill the tub in 6 minutes and 40 seconds.
With the hot water tap it takes exactly 8 minutes. If the
tub is full and you pull out the stopper it takes 13
minutes and 20 seconds for the tub to drain.
If you
leave the stopper out and open both the hot and cold water
taps, how long will it take to fill the tub?
Teaser
4
Name
3 things that have eyes, yet cannot see.
Teaser
5
In
the house of Mr. And Mrs. Strange there is a strange room.
In the strange room are 6 strange rugs; on each rug are 6
strange 6-legged tables; on each of the 6 strange 6-legged
tables are 6 strange 6-legged creatures. How many legs are
in the strange room of Mr. and Mrs. Strange if there are no
humans in the room?
|
|
|
|
What's
in a name?
A man
sitting on board an aeroplane awaiting take-off glances up
to see a beautiful woman take the seat right beside him. Eager
to strike up a conversation he blurts out "business trip
or vacation?"
"Nymphomaniac convention in Milan," she says.
He asks,
"What's your business role at this convention?".
"Lecturer," she says. "I use my experiences
to debunk some of the popular myths about sexuality."
"Really," he says. "And what myths are those?".
"Well,"
she explains. "One popular myth is that Italians are
the most romantic men on earth, when in fact it is the Native
American Indian who is most likely to possess that trait.
Another popular myth is that Frenchmen are the best lovers
when actually it is men of Greek descent."
Suddenly,
the woman becomes very embarrassed and blushes. "I'm
sorry," she says. "I shouldn't be discussing this
with you. I don't even know your name."
"Tonto,"
replies the man as he extends his hand. "Tonto Papadopoulos."
Thanks
to Mike & Angela Smith for this one
Early
morning tee
There's
a fellow who is an avid golfer. Actually he's a golf fanatic.
Every Saturday morning he has an early tee time. He gets up
very early and golf's all day long.
Well,
this one Saturday morning, he gets up early, dresses quietly,
gets his clubs out of the closet, and goes out to his car
to drive to the course. It is raining a torrential downpour.
There is snow mixed with the rain and the wind is blowing
50 mph.
He comes
back into the house and turns the TV to the weather channel.
From there he finds that it's supposed to be bad weather all
day long. So he puts his clubs back into the closet, quietly
undresses and slips back into bed where he cuddles up to his
wife's back, and whispers, "The weather out there is
terrible."
She replies,
"Can you believe my stupid husband is out golfing?"
Comfortable
underwear
When Winston's
wife had to rush to hospital unexpectedly, she asked me to
bring her a few items from home. One item on her list was
"comfortable underwear."
Not sure
what she considers comfortable, Winston asked, "How will
I know which ones to pick?"
"Hold
them up and imagine them on me," she answered. "If
you smile, put them back."
|
|
|
Think
on these things...
- "Darkness
cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate
cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies
hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies
toughness in a descending spiral of destruction....The chain
reaction of evil -- hate begetting hate, wars producing
more wars -- must be broken, or we shall be plunged into
the dark abyss of annihilation." (Martin Luther
King, Jr.)
- "When
I despair, I remember that all through history the ways
of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants,
and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible,
but in the end they always fall. Think of it... always."
(Mahatma Gandhi)
- "Nobody
can help everybody, but everybody can help somebody."
(Anon)
- "Tell
me and I forget. Show me and I remember. Involve me and
I understand." (Chinese Proverb)
- "If
you give me some food you have fed me for a day. If you
teach me to grow food then you have fed me until the land
is over-taxed so it can be seized for development. But if
you teach me to organize, then whatever the challenge, I
can join together with my peers and we will fashion our
own solution." (Anon)
|
|
|
Did
you know...? (14%
of all facts and statistics are made up and 27% of people
know that fact.)
- It
has been recommended by dentists that a toothbrush be kept
at least 6 feet (two meters) away from a toilet to avoid
airborne particles resulting from the flush! (I can
see all of you now rushing home to move your toothbrushes
- hee hee)
- During
your lifetime, you'll eat about 60,000 pounds of food, that's
the weight of about 6 elephants
- In
ancient Rome it was considered a sign of leadership to be
born with a crooked nose.
- A giraffe
has no vocal cords.
- The
starfish has no brain (obviously related to Ju)
|
|
|
It's
a strange world...
GAY
1 number plate fails to fetch auction asking price
A Leicester
man's car number plate, GAY 1, only fetched £15,000
at an auction.
Andrew
Saunders was hoping it would fetch up to £60,000 at
the city's Heathcote Ball's auction house.
He says
he sold the number plate because he was fed up of people making
fun of it after the meaning of the word gay changed.
The registration
mark was on a Stag Mr Saunders' father owned and passed on
to him in 1973.
The 57-year-old
says he hoped the sale of the registration MG1 for £132,000
would boost interest in the number plate.
He adds
he was also disappointed by the lack of interest in it from
gay celebrities.
He told
The Mail on Sunday: "I am absolutely astonished that
there has been so little interest in the registration plate.
You keep hearing about high-profile personalities saying they're
glad to be gay, but no one seems to want to wear the badge
on their car."
Trevor
Wells of Heathcote Ball said: "Even Graham Norton wasn't
interested. We were very surprised."
Judo
kids banned for eyebrow plucking
Six Japanese
schoolchildren have been banned from a judo tournament for
plucking their eyebrows.
The boy
and five girls were punished by Tochigi Prefecture's junior
high school sports federation.
Officials
say tournament rules ban plucked or shaved eyebrows.
Head of
the federation, Tatsuo Kakizaki, said: "Judo is a sport
that places enormous importance on manners and thin eyebrows
create an unpleasant image.
"Federation
rules have banned plucked eyebrows for several years. It's
one way of teaching children. We have no intention of changing
our rules either."
Dyed or
tinted hair, piercing and even hair ribbons are also forbidden
according to The Mainichi Daily News.
|
|
| Answers
to last issue's brain teasers and puzzles:
|
|
Teaser
1
Q.
What is the only five letter English word that has the
same pronunciation when you take away four of it's letters?
A.
Queue (*cue*) - ueue = q (*cue*)
Teaser
2
Q.
Which of these words is the odd-one-out?
BENEFIT
~ FLOTSAM ~ HIJACK ~ ROSEBUD SUITED ~ TRUMPETER
A.
BENEFIT starts with a boy's name
(BEN) - the others all end with one.
Teaser
3
Q.
If you divide thirty by a half and then add ten, what
would your answer be?
A.
70. When dividing by fractions,
you multiply by the reciprocal. Or if you used a calculator:
(30 / .5) = 60
60 + 10 = 70
|
Teaser
4
Q.
One father and two sons were stranded on an Island. They
have a boat, but the but the boat can only hold up to 200
pounds. The two sons weigh 100 pounds each, and the father
weighs 200 pounds. How do the two sons
and the father get home?
A.
The two sons go on the boat together
and row home. One son stays home and the other one goes back
to the island. After the son who went to the island got to
the island, the dad took the boat and went home. When the
dad got home, the son that was already at home took the boat
back to the island, and the two sons rowed home together.
Teaser
5
Q.
The person who needs this doesn't know it.
The person who buys this doesn't use it.
The person who makes them sells them.
What Am I?
A.
A Coffin.
|
|
TEST
THE COMMUNITY'S THINKING SEND IN YOUR TEASERS AND PUZZLES
TO:
kickback@blacknet.co.uk
|
|
|
Where
are you now? Looking
For: Sandra Joseph
I am looking
for my sister, Sandra Joseph, whom I have not seen for almost 14
years!
She is 39 years
old (July born), about 5'5" tall, medium complexion, used to
be fairly slim - dress size about 12.
Last known living in
the Essex area of London, i.e. Ilford/Romford/Barking.
If anyone knows
of, or has seen, her please, please, please get in contact, or ask
her to contact me.
If you know
of Sandra
Joseph whereabouts click
here to email Carol
If
you're looking for someone email
us and we will post the details in next weeks Newsletter
or you can enter your details in our reunite section by clicking
here
|
Advertise
in the Blacknet Information Community Newsletter
Blacknet
Information Service
has been around for many years and its subscriber list continues
to grow at a fantastic rate. www.blacknet.co.uk
(The Black Network) which comprises of three additional sites (www.blacksearch.co.uk
- www.blackchat.co.uk
- www.blackprofessional.co.uk)
is all about spreading information, encouraging interaction and
promoting the Black community. To put it simply... if you want
your business (whether it be an event or company, big or
small) to gain excellent exposure then talk to us first.
For a full information pack call 0870 746 5000, or email
advertise@blacknet.co.uk.
If you have any
suggestions for additions or improvements to the Newsletter, please
remember... just drop us a line or give us a call with them, whether
it be Feedback, Reviews,
Kickback, Speak
Out!, Features, Community
News, Charity Focus,
Opportunity Knocks
- just about anything!
Until next week,
take good care of yourself.
Caz 'n' Ju
On
behalf of Blacknet UK - Thank you.
Please
pass this e-newsletter on to your friends, colleagues,
family or someone you feel may benefit from it.
|