Causeway U3A Current
Affairs - 20/03/2014
Can you believe it's March already? It's almost not dark, the
daffs are nearly out and here we are back in the Cromore. Our Jerry is off on
his travels to Myanmar, lucky sod! but hey, the show must go on, and there's
always our very own Johnny Mont to take over the role of maestro this month.
And doesn't he do well? We've got our questions, a cuppa's on the way, a wee
jam roll ............. and hey presto, we're off!
Who needs a comfy chair anyway? Ok, so maybe we are usurped from
our rightful place on the sofas upstairs by a few academics in search of the answer to the universe (they're on the
wrong floor if you ask me!) but that doesn't mean we can't have a perfectly
vibrant roundtable discussion even if it is at a rectangular table in the
restaurant downstairs. So let us begin ................
Jobs are us!
With the loss of the DVA office in Coleraine, is this a sign that
Westminster is determined to centralise departments as a money-saving method,
regardless of cost and damage to local communities. Should our MLAs now be
looking at creating job opportunities in the private sector as we will no
longer be able to depend on civil service pay packets?
NHS in crisis? What? Never!
Is the health service in crisis? Have we too many chiefs at the
expense of medical staff? Why is no-one prepared to accept responsibility for
the chaos in emergency departments? Is it right that staff should be charged
for parking or is this another easy money-making scheme?
Put.....in out!
Given the unrest in Ukraine, are the
Western powers right to become involved in support of the Ukranian government,
or are they doing it for their own self interests? Borders in that region have
changed many times without any complaint. Is it a question of trying to 'get
Putin out' before a new Cold War starts.
St. Paddy Fest!
As tourism is often cited as one of
Northern Ireland's biggest employers and money-spinners, are we missing out
because of our divided society? St Patrick's Day is celebrated worldwide, with
over 100 iconic landmarks globally turning 'green' for the day. St Patrick is
synonymous with Ulster, with sheep on Slemish, buried in Downpatrick and
founding the bishopric in Armagh.
With 17 th March being celebrated
everywhere I wonder how many know the dates of St George's Day, St Andrew's Day
and St. David's Day!
"I can't forget but I don't
remember why" (Leonard Cohen)
With all the furore over the OTR
secret deal, is it time to call a halt to the past and what happened? Our
parties cannot find a way to agree, even with outside help, so it is a hard
choice. Most young people aged 20 and under know nothing about what went on
during 'The Troubles'. Should our energy not be spent in making efforts to
build a future for them rather than continually live in the past, whether it is
30 years, 100 years or 300 years?
"No parking here" (Jimmy
Littlejohn)
With Minister Mark H. Durban pushing
for planning laws to help promote and sustain town centres, would it not be a
big help if car parking was free?
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