http://www.merlene.org.uk/articlearchive.php Recent Press Articles from Merlene Emerson en-GB Merlene Emerson http://www.merlene.org.uk/ Prater Raines Ltd http://www.praterraines.co.uk/ (c) 2010 Merlene Emerson 2010-03-10T22:02+00:00 United Kingdom http://www.merlene.org.uk/articles/000014/on_pubs_businesses_and_networking__merlene_shares_her_experience_at_a_power_breakfast_and_reflects_on_how_small_businesses_can_withstand_the_economic_downturn.html Last Wednesday, I was at Stone Masons Arms, a pub in Hammersmith, at the unearthly hour of 7a.m., not to imbibe alcohol I might add, but rather to join a group of dynamic and entrepreneurial small business owners at a networking breakfast. 2010-02-06T12:00+00:00 http://www.merlene.org.uk/articles/000013/pressing_the_political_reset_button.html The new year has begun with the major parties starting their election campaigns in earnest, even though Prime Minister Brown has hinted that we should discount a March election. 2010-01-07T15:00+00:00 http://www.merlene.org.uk/articles/000012/reflections_on_afghanistan__what_next.html I am pleased to have the chance to share the Liberal Democrats views on the situation in Afghanistan. Just 2 months ago in September this year we debated this topic at our Lib Dem Conference and called for a ceasefire and phased withdrawal of British troupes from Afghanistan. Why? 2009-11-20T19:00+00:00 http://www.merlene.org.uk/articles/000011/britains_increasing_deficit__what_public_expenditure_cuts_are_required_and_what_are_liberal_democrat_policies_to_help_the_chinese_community_in_the_uk.html Vince Cable MP, our Treasury spokesperson has said that the country has suffered a heart attack with the banks at the centre. We are slowly getting out of the intensive care unit. But when we are out, some serious lifestyle changes will be required to be made. 2009-10-30T12:00+00:00 http://www.merlene.org.uk/articles/000010/one_world_liberalism__helping_poor_countries_not_just_the_commonwealth.html Last month the Tories presented their Green paper on international development aid and pronounced their plan to target UK aid to Commonwealth countries. Under a Tory Government there will be a root and branch review that may see aid cut from 108 countries that currently receive help from DfID to about 60. 2009-08-07T13:08+01:00 http://www.merlene.org.uk/articles/000009/whats_in_a_name.html Just as some with Jewish or Germanic names had chosen to anglicise theirs in the last century, many of us have taken on names that help us fit in. I was happy to adopt my husband's name when I married, but only to find out later that 'Emerson' was an invention of my husband's great grandfather who was himself born an 'Engelmann'! 2009-07-16T12:00+01:00 http://www.merlene.org.uk/articles/000008/tories_housing_plot_uncovered.html The Evening Standard published a bold article last Thursday suggesting that Hammersmith & Fulham Council and the Tory leadership were in a plot reminiscent of the days of Dame Shirley Porter ('Plot to rid council estates of Poor', 9 July 2009) 2009-07-13T16:00+01:00 http://www.merlene.org.uk/articles/000007/our_air_fit_to_breathe.html Some things are plain to see such as graffiti, neglected estates or general grot spots. However, in the case of the quality of the air we breathe, it is less apparent where there has been a breach of safety standards set by the World Health Organisation. Perhaps this is also why it is easier for the Government and local authorities to ignore the warning signs. 2009-05-25T12:00+01:00 http://www.merlene.org.uk/articles/000006/unlocking_democracy_with_vote_match.html I was at the Vote Match European Election launch held at Apple's palatial showroom on Regents Street on Monday 11th May, drawn by the special guest appearance of Stephen Fry. Appearing in a tuxedo and bow tie, he did not disappoint as he opened with an apology for the rest of us being under-dressed for the event. 2009-05-12T12:00+01:00 http://www.merlene.org.uk/articles/000005/safe_as_houses.html I agree with Vince Cable MP that cuts in interest rates have reached their limit and that we now need different policies to stimulate the economy. 2009-02-23T10:23+00:00 http://www.merlene.org.uk/articles/000004/reflections_on_morecambe_bay.html Today is the 5th anniversary of the tragedy at Morecambe Bay. Many are surprised to learn that 5 years have passed already. Perhaps it is because shock and sorrow have a way of lingering on after a death… or 23 deaths in this case. 2009-02-05T09:00+00:00 http://www.merlene.org.uk/articles/000003/life_the_universe_and_experiments.html On 10 September 2008 I was invited to the unveiling of the architectural plans for the new Hammersmith Academy at Stamford House, formerly a youth offenders institute. How serendipitous that the opening of this public exhibition coincided with 'Big Bang day', the day that the CERN (European Organisation for Nuclear Research) project was switched on. 2008-10-07T12:00+01:00 http://www.merlene.org.uk/articles/000002/mind_the_gap.html After weeks of news reports of our successes at the Beijing Olympics, we are now forced to return to a new staple of gloom and doom. Not only has last month been the dullest August since records at the Met office began, but Labour Chancellor, Alistair Darling has now warned us of the worst economic downturn in 60 years! 2008-09-03T00:00+01:00 http://www.merlene.org.uk/articles/000001/reflections_on_the_beijing_olympics.html 'Ao Yun' in Mandarin or 'Jeux Olympiques' as they say in France. Wherever you may be this month, it is probably difficult to get away from news on the Beijing Olympics. It is afterall the largest international sporting event showcasing the best in athletics and sports. Athletes from no less than 204 'nations' compete for titles and medals. China, as host nation, is on track to break new records in more ways than one. Described in the Economist as something of a 'coming-out party' after over a century of foreign colonisation, civil war and poverty, she is poised to show her return as a great world power. 2008-08-18T00:00+01:00