Monthly Archives: November 2011

TinTin Review

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TinTin is a must-see film. Although the Guardian gave it a poor review, for which they have rightly now been castigated, I cannot find anyone else who agrees with them. TinTin is already famous, so it was brave of Steven Spielberg to make a film on a childhood classic. He does not disappoint.

Although 3D is not a new thing, it has become the gimmick of the moment. While waiting for the film to start, it seemed that every film made in the last 10 years had a trailer announcing they would be in the cinema soon in ‘full 3D’. This is not a complaint, only an observation. I saw TinTin in 3D and definitely think it was worth donning the specs. Not every film needs to be in 3D, but some of the scenes, without giving anything away, really worked.

Spielberg is a master storyteller. He makes the kind of films the cinema experience was made for and TinTin is no exception of his talents. A rip-roaring, entertaining film. Spectacular animation, some of the best you have ever seen, and technically incredible. The voice acting was amazing and the characters were brought to life wonderfully. Though what do you expect from a film which is not only directed by Steven Spielberg, but also has Peter Jackson on the second unit?

My only complaint is the film is a PG, so you might be in the cinema with some badly behaved children whose parents won’t tell them to be quiet.

Five stars. Loved it.

Sir Roger Moore, Brigitte Bardot Speak Out Against Animal-Tested Cosmetics

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Hollywood legends Sir Roger Moore, Brigitte Bardot and Virginia McKenna are speaking out in support of a ban on selling animal-tested cosmetics in Europe. They join stars Ricky Gervais, Ke$ha, Leona Lewis, Melanie C, Dame Judi Dench and Mary McCartney in signing Humane Society International’s “CrueltyFree2013” petition.

These stars and more than 92,000 compassionate consumers are urging European Union politicians to keep their promise to make Europe a cruelty-free zone by banning the sale of new cosmetics tested on animals. With a ban in place, any cosmetics tested on rabbits, hamsters or other animals after 2013 would be banned from EU shop shelves.

In 2009, the EU banned animal testing for cosmetics in its own labs, but it is still legal to sell animal-tested products and ingredients imported from countries such as Brazil, China, Canada and the United States. An EU-wide ban on the sale of animal-tested cosmetics is due to come into force in March 2013, but the European Commission has hinted the ban may be delayed, perhaps by many years.

Sir Roger Moore said: “It seems absurd to me that Europe still allows animal-tested cosmetics to be sold in its shops when such animal testing is itself quite rightly banned in its laboratories. If something is unethical, it is unethical full-stop regardless of where in the world it takes place. So I say to EU politicians, stop supporting cosmetics animal testing in other countries by selling these products. You promised to ban them, and a gentleman’s word is his bond.”

Virginia McKenna added: “Sometimes I despair. We are meant to be an enlightened, civilized society, and yet we still exploit defenceless animals in the so-called ‘beauty’ business. Testing mascara, shampoo and other cosmetics on animals is completely unnecessary and totally cruel. Is that the choice we make over kindness and compassion? Shame on us if it is. I unreservedly support Humane Society International’s CrueltyFree2013 Petition.”

Brigitte Bardot said: “We do not have the right to poison then kill animals, sensitive beings, for some beauty creams. It is urgent to equip the European Union with reliable, modern and non-cruel research, by definitively abolishing animal testing which is a cruelty without name.”

HSI supports the international Leaping Bunny cruelty-free standard. Companies that carry the Leaping Bunny logo are subject to independent audits to guarantee no animal testing, and include Urban Decay, Hard Candy, Montagne Jeunesse, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s and the Co-operative. To shop cruelty-free, download our Leaping Bunny Compassionate Shopping Guide.

To join the celebrities and 92,000 EU consumers who’ve signed the CrueltyFree2013 petition so far, please click here, or visit: www.hsi.org/crueltyfree2013

An Alternative To Ebay?

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Ebay may have a stonghold, but now there are other ways to turn your old CDs, DVDs and games into cash.

TurnIntoCash.com is a new, free to use website that allows users to get cash for old unwanted discs without the hassle of an auction.

The Manchester-based company was founded by Rob Fox and Pete Petrondas, the team that developed the first ever cash for old mobiles website over eight years ago. It aims to give users the highest possible quality of service, while being more convenient to use than traditional auction websites.

Those looking to sell old CDs, DVDs and games simply enter the item barcode into the TurnIntoCash.com website for an instant valuation. When they have built up their trade (10 items) they are emailed Freepost labels or if they have 45 or more items, offered a free courier collection service. Payment for the old items is sent within seven days of receipt.

The TurnIntoCash.com system has been developed to provide a valuation for hundreds of thousands of CDs, DVDs and games including newer Blu Ray discs.

There is no limit on the number of items a user can trade-in and the amount offered ranges from 30p up to £10 depending on a number of factors including type, age, popularity and demand of the items. Old discs collected through TurnIntoCash.com are refurbished with new disc cases or by polishing out damage prior to resale worldwide. Items that cannot be resold are recycled responsibly.

“Users are always looking for ease, convenience and the highest possible quality of service, so we have made sure that quality is at the heart of our unique valuation and trade tracking system, “ commented Fox. “Our system regularly communicates with the user telling them what stage their trade-in is at, and, as our system tracks each item of their trade individually, we can tell them exactly the status of each item ensuring they receive their payment as quickly as possible with no delays.”

“If people want to sell their old CDs, DVDs and games they have a number of choices from car boot sales to auction websites, but because we have considered the user from day one, we think TurnintoCash.com will be first on their list in the future, “ concluded Fox.

 

 

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit UNICEF’s life-saving Emergency Supply Centre

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Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit UNICEF’s life-saving Emergency Supply Centre in Copenhagen to highlight desperate plight of children in East Africa

www.eastafricacrisis.org

On Wednesday 2 November 2011 the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be making a special visit to UNICEF’s global Supply Centre in Copenhagen to help maintain the global spotlight on the humanitarian crisis in East Africa, which has left more than 320,000 children so severely malnourished that they are at imminent risk of starving to death unless they get urgent help.

UNICEF’s Supply Centre has a warehouse within it the size of three football pitches. It sources, packs and distributes essential supplies for children around the globe, including food, water, special nutritional supplies for the most malnourished children, vaccines and emergency medical kits.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be accompanied on the visit by The Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Denmark. Their Royal Highnesses together will seek to raise the profile of the crisis in East Africa, an area well known to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and encourage the public to support UNICEF’s appeal for funds to help millions of children at risk.

During their visit they will receive a briefing on the latest situation in the region and then will see for themselves how the products are sourced and packed, ready to be sent to East Africa. They will meet staff and help to pack the emergency medical kits which are currently being sent to East Africa in order to respond to the life-threatening diseases affecting malnourished children, such as diarrhea and cholera. Finally the Duke and Duchess will go to Copenhagen Airport to see the supplies being loaded onto a British Airways flight, bound for Nairobi.

The public have been hugely generous in their response to news of the devastating crisis unfolding in East Africa, and life-saving supplies are getting through to children and families affected. So far, UNICEF has delivered more than 10,000 metric tonnes of supplies to the region, treated 108,000 severely malnourished children in therapeutic feeding centres, vaccinated 1.2 million children against measles and provided 2.2 million people with access to safe water.

However, the region is currently experiencing the worst drought in decades and much more needs to be done in order to help the many thousands of children who are in need of urgent nutritional and medical help.

Elhadj As Sy, UNICEF’s, Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, who is Global Emergency Coordinator for the crisis, said, ‘Right now UNICEF, along with many other partners, is working tirelessly to ensure that children’s lives can be saved across East Africa. Every day children are being given food and water thanks to the huge generosity of the public all around the world. But, there is so much more to be done. As we speak more than 320,000 children are in grave danger and need life saving emergency supplies, like those being shipped and airlifted from our warehouse today. We desperately need every single person to help us continue our work, so please donate today at www.eastafricacrisis.org ‘

To respond to the remaining needs of children in East Africa for 2011, UNICEF still requires $40 million. The financial needs for 2012 are US$402.8 million, including US$300 million for UNICEF Somalia, in order to ensure that provision of life saving therapeutic and supplementary feeding can continue.

To donate to the East Africa Appeal please visit www.eastafricacrisis.org

Markets Collapse on Greek Referendum

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Markets across Europe have fallen heavily following the news that Greece will hold a referendum on the latest bailout plan. Eurozone leaders had agreed to write off 50% of Greek debt but the deal may now not go ahead. A no vote will probably lead to a disorderly Greek default and Greece leaving the Euro. That could lead to severe financial contagion across Europe. Worryingly opinion polls in Greece suggest a No vote is probable. The vote is unlikely to take place until January potentially creating months of uncertainty for the markets. That uncertainty could damage confidence throughout the world.

The FTSE is currently down 3.5% while the Dax was down almost 6%. The French bank Societe Generale was down 17%. Credit Agricole was down 13%.

A confidence vote on the Greek government is due to take place on Friday. Many in Greece are now calling for early elections.