VOD: Turkish Parliament Brawl

First the Japanese were at it, now it’s Turkey.

In the seat of power, where dialogue and reasoned argument are king, we have this video of a fist-fight.

Turkey gets stirred up

According to the article, there had been one the previous week concerning the draft of the European Union refugees bill.

If that stirred the Turks up, than this has done more.

Apparently, the Turks are attempting to draft in some draconian laws at present, similar to an autocracy with Erdogan as it’s head.

If that happens, the Kurds within the country have openly said that they will join the opposing side in overthrowing the government and seeking autonomy for themselves.

I suspect this is starting to play itself out in the Turkish houses of parliament.

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TTIP – Federal Europe vs United States hissy fit

The beginning of the end?

Or so it seems.

The bureaucrats are having difficulty ironing out who’ll be wearing the trousers, more specifically, provisions for the protection of EU citizens regarding dangerous products.

There’s been a leak “…the US is looking strongly to change regulation in Europe to lessen the protections on the environment, consumer rights and other positions that the EU affords to its citizens.”

Commentators claim these differences are “irreconcilable“.

A death knell for the TTIP?

Bear in mind that the US already signed the TPP last year, including countries in the Pacific ring, such as Vietnam,  Malaysia, Peru, Chile etc.

However, Europe, unlike TPP trading partners, already has it’s own set of laws enshrined both in the common law of the member countries, and the federal authority of the European Union.

It seems the US and the EU are having a battle over whose federalism is the federalism.

Personally, I don’t believe the deal will fall through.

On the back of the previous TPP deal, the US has a pretty strong carrot for negotiations to continue….

Article here.

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New day out – Barton Marina to Shobnall Marina

Not done this trip before.

It takes you a little way out of Burton on Trent to Barton Marina, and back again.

About 7km in all and about an hour and 1/2 trip all in, with 1 person driving and the other doing the locks.

Met a few boats on the way. One woman told me about the front doors on her barge had been sealed shut because boaters kept approaching the fully open locks, when locking up and letting the flowing water flow in though the cabin.

It was a hire boat.

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Duck removal

Background

The background to this story is that this duck just wanders into my mom’s back garden every year to lay her eggs.

She’s not near the canal, it’s not near any water, but a female duck has decided to make my mums’ garden the home of it’s off-spring.

Last year, my mom had to carry the chicks down from the garden because they couldn’t find their way down to the canal.

Local celeb

This duck is now a local celebrity, and there are many people checking up on it’s progress.

I can’t say I’m sorry. It’s just part of nature.

Ducks can have up to three broods a year.

This one didn’t make it,

Read on…. Continue reading “Duck removal”