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The "Sooner State" is a place of rich American and Native American history, diverse wildlife and seemingly endless forests, and also wildly successful metropolises. Oklahoma's motto, "Labor conquers all" denotes the statewide standard of a strong work ethic. This work ethic has clearly made its impact over the years. Oklahoma's riches can be traced to the manual labor of its citizens, specifically to the locating and drilling of oil in the early 19th century. The state's oil supply then fueled the economy for nearly one hundred years, but in the early 2000's, profits from the natural gas industry surpassed even those of the oil industry and by 2007 Oklahoma had one of the strongest economies in the country, ranking among the top three states in per capita income growth and gross domestic product growth.
Top Public Offerings in Oklahoma
The majority of Oklahoma's online colleges are public institutions, which is largely due to the state's commitment to creating more options for adult-learners and students who may live in the more remote areas of the state. The state's K-12 public school system has consistently ranked as one of the best in the country, if not the world. This may explain the phenomenon that though the state's expenditure per student is one of the lowest in the country, nearly 90% of adults held high school diplomas, much higher than the national average. This has also driven up the enrollment and student success outcomes in Oklahoma's higher education institutions. Oklahoma State University, the University of Oklahoma, the University of Central Oklahoma, and Northeastern State University are the largest public institutions of higher education in Oklahoma, mainly using one primary campus in combination with satellite campuses throughout the state. These numerous campus locations mean that students can attend hybrid degree program events all over the state. Oklahoma State University and Northeastern State University also consistently rank among the nation's top undergraduate business programs.
Top Private Offerings in Oklahoma
Oklahoma's top four private universities are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, Oral Roberts University, University of Tulsa, and Oklahoma Baptist University. According to calculations to determine the overall return on investment (ROI) on online undergraduate degrees, the University of Tulsa and Oklahoma Baptist University offer the best return on the investment of tuition in the state — Tulsa ranking 1st and Oklahoma Baptist 5th. In terms of online education, Oklahoma Wesleyan University and Oral Roberts University offer the most diversity in types of online degrees offered such as at the associate, undergraduate, or graduate level. These Universities also offer an impressive number of concentrations and specializations, so students can add complexity and marketability to their degree. The state's investment in online programs for adult learners at public institutions has created competition for the private universities, consequentially driving up the funding and quality of these programs. This market competition has created a unique environment of higher education in Oklahoma, making it an excellent choice for residency for online students.
Featured Online Schools
When looking at the educational costs of Oklahoma it's best to contextualize the numbers with national averages. The 2016 national average for the annual cost of college — based on the average of family income ($51,939) — was $26,725. While this number may seem intimidating, this number incorporates the average impact of financial aid, housing costs, and other common costs of the college experience. In 2016-17 the average published tuition and fee costs for in-state students at public four-year institutions ranged from $5,060 in Wyoming, $6,360 in Florida, to $15,450 in Vermont, and $15,650 in New Hampshire (CollegeBoard.org). Also according to College Board, the average cost of tuition and fees for the 2016–2017 school year was $33,480 at private colleges, $9,650 for state residents at public colleges, and $24,930 for out-of-state residents attending public universities. An important note to make here that private universities offer static tuition regardless of state residency, although some small extra fees may apply.
The financial environment in Oklahoma is largely positive for students across a number of a areas. Firstly, the average cost of living per year in Oklahoma is about 16% lower than the national average. Also, many of Oklahoma's cities offer pricing on housing markets at anywhere from 10% to 30% lower than national averages — an incredible perk for online students living off-campus. Oklahoma's average cost of yearly public in-state college tuition is $4,858, nearly half of the nation's average, making Oklahoma even more financially appealing to students. Similarly, even out-of-state students will see savings with the state's average at $10,968 — also nearly half of the national average. The state's average yearly cost of private universities is $18,521, which isn't quite as low as public tuition costs but is still far below the national average.
Oklahoma City: With nearly 1.5 million residents, Oklahoma City is the country's 27th most populous city and 8th largest city by landmass. The city is bisected by the North Canadian River, which near the time of the city's founding split the area into two separate cities. Today, Oklahoma City employs one of the largest and fastest growing livestock markets in the world. Agriculture, oil, and natural gases are industries with scale in close succession. The city is also home to several famous sports teams, offers numerous science, culture, art, and history museums, and hosts one of the largest parks and recreation services in the state. These factors combined with low cost of living averages make Oklahoma City an excellent place of residency for students. Nearby colleges include the Oklahoma City University, University of Oklahoma, and the Oklahoma City Community College.
Tulsa: Tulsa, Oklahoma is a city of pleasant weather and rollings hills in the heart of the "Green Country," located in the northeastern quadrant of the state. Tulsa is known for its phenomenal weather, which consists of 227 days of sunshine a year and an average daily temperature of 61 degrees. Students in the area can look for a variety of career and research opportunities among the city's impressive array of thriving industries, including aerospace, telecommunications, manufacturing, construction, high technology, healthcare, education, transportation and energy. The city is also well-known for its dedication to the arts. Called one of "America's Most Liveable Cities," downtown Tulsa is riddled with Art Deco masterpieces with sculptures and other works of art adding the natural splendor of the city. Tulsa's housing market costs are 33% below that of the national average, making it an incredibly affordable place to live for students.
Lawton: The City of Lawton was founded on lands that were originally dominated by the Native American tribes of the Kiowa, Comanche, and Apache. Today the Native American culture is strong with more Native Americans in higher education that anywhere else in the country. The city's landscape is defined mainly by the Great Plains, which roll into the Wichita Mountains to the north. The Fort Sill Military Reservation has historically been the city's main economic impetus, however, in recent years several other industries have begun to take prominent standing in the city's economy such as manufacturing, higher education, health care, and retail. Lawton's average housing market costs, utilities, and cost of groceries are also well below the national average. Colleges in Lawton include Cameron University and the Comanche Nation College.
Oklahoma City
Population: 620,602
Cost of Living: 0.859
Top Industries (Male): Construction; Manufacturing; Retail Trade (12%)
Top Industries (Female): Healthcare and Social Assistance; Retail Trade; Educational Services
Local Online Degrees: 2
Population: 399,682
Cost of Living: 0.869
Top Industries (Male): Manufacturing; Construction;
Retail Trade
Top Industries (Female): Healthcare and Social Assistance;Educational Services; Accommodation and Food Services
Local Online Degrees: 28
Population: 118,040
Cost of Living: 0.864
Top Industries (Male): Educational Services;Accommodation and Food Services;Retail Trade
Top Industries (Female): Educational Services;
Healthcare and Social Assistance; Accommodation and Food Services
Local Online Degrees: 10
Broken Arrow
Population: 104,726
Cost of Living: 0.878
Top Industries (Male): Manufacturing; Retail Trade; Transportation and Warehousing
Top Industries (Female): Healthcare and Social Assistance; Retail Trade; Educational Services
Local Online Degrees: 0
Population: 97,017
Cost of Living: 0.85
Top Industries (Male): Public Administration; Retail Trade;Construction
Top Industries (Female): Healthcare and Social Assistance; Retail Trade; Educational Services
Local Online Degrees: 7
Population: 88,605
Cost of Living: 0.86
Top Industries (Male): Retail Trade; Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services; Accommodation and Food Services
Top Industries (Female): Educational Services;
Healthcare and Social Assistance; Retail Trade
Local Online Degrees: 0
The Best Online Colleges in Oklahoma
Online Programs: 10
Type: Public
The University of Oklahoma Extended Campus is a regionally accredited leader in online learning, offering a variety of online degrees, including criminal justice, administrative leadership, and health/human services. OU Extended Campus also offers online certificates like corrections management and restorative justice. The online programs are geared toward working adults to prepare them for leadership roles in today's most critical fields. The programs are flexible and affordable, making them a smart investment for busy students. The University has also received numerous accolades recognizing the academic excellence of both its online and on-campus undergraduate programs. The University of Oklahoma, Extended Campus has been ranked as a top public university in the country, a topic online undergraduate business school, and a nation's top pick by high school counselors.
Online Programs: 7
Type: Public
As a state land-grant institution, Oklahoma State University, Main Campus offers enrollment to all who seek higher education. As such the university prides itself on delivering challenging, career-oriented undergraduate curriculum designed to mirror the real world challenges of the job market. This career-oriented focus is particularly beneficial for the entrepreneurial student, and online programs encourage the creative thinking that is central to the entrepreneur's spirit. Evidencing the effectiveness of these school's values is the fact that the university's Entrepreneur Club is ranked 9th in the world.
Online Programs: 13
Type: Private
Oklahoma Wesleyan University offers a robust online degree program for working professionals and mature learners. The University is unique in that it delivers online learning from a faith and scripture based perspective. Thus online degree programs emphasize elements of spiritual development in curriculums, so that students can simultaneously develop academically and individually. The University has ranked as one of the best online degree programs in the region, and boasts highly impressive student success and satisfaction outcomes, showing that students get a nice return on their investment of tuition while also enjoying high levels of satisfaction.
Online Programs: 9
Type: Private
Oral Roberts University is another reputable institution that melds spiritual development with online education. At Oral Roberts University a student's choice of career is more than just an interest in specific job types, it is a life mission that requires one's mental and spiritual commitment. Degree programs incorporate christian tenets and principles throughout coursework, so that students perceive the spiritual component of their specific major or career interest. Flexible learning formats, affordable costs, and various course pacing options empower students to create healthier work-life balances.
Online Programs: 4
Type: Private
Founded in 1894, the University of Tulsa has an incredibly rich history that parallels the development of the state of Oklahoma. And in recent years progressive leadership has taken the university to new levels of success, ranking as one of the nation's top 100 private universities. US News & World Report also ranked Tulsa's petroleum engineering school as the 4th best in the country. For students interested in careers in Oklahoma's oil industry, Tulsa University is likely impossible to beat. 94% of students receive financial aid, making it one of the financially supportive universities in the region.
Online Programs: 15
Type: Public
Tulsa Community College is one the state's premier community colleges, offering a wide-array of undergraduate and professional certification programs. The College prides itself on its passionate and engaging teachers, who strive to inspire creativity and innovation in their students. Further distinguishing the University is the Workforce Development Program, which emphasizes the importance of guidance and advisement after graduation. Online students can thus look forward to professional help in finding internships and employment after graduation, so that they can more effectively leverage their education for career momentum and progression.
Online Programs: 7
Type: Public
Cameron University originated as one of the state's original agriculture universities, but today has grown to offer over 50 two-year and four-year degree options and the associate, undergraduate, and graduate level. Cameron University distinguishes itself through its highly modernized online degree programs which incorporate three main learning options. Students can choose to earn their degree entirely online through flexible coursework formats and schedules. They can also choose the hybrid option where students progress through the bulk of coursework online but attend on-campus events, professional development seminars, and expert speakers. The third and most unique option is the university's Interactive Television (ITV) program where faculty members live-stream to TVs or computers, allowing students to interact with instructors in real-time.
Online Programs: 7
Type: Public
Rogers State University (RSU) sets itself apart through its student-centered philosophies, enacted through small class sizes, attentive teachers, and highly affordable degree options. 50% of students graduate from RSU completely debt-free, placing it among the most affordable colleges in the country. RSU's online nursing and health degree programs boast of impressive student career success rates — with many graduates taking top positions in Oklahoma's healthcare industry. The RSU online degree department was the first in the state to offer online and distance learning options to students. As such faculty members are specially trained in online instructorship.
Online Programs: 2
Type: Private
Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU) is a faith-based institution, employing Christian principles throughout its degree programs. The University has received national acclaim from numerous higher education ranking institutions. US News & World Report has ranked OBU as a top 10 university in the region for 25 consecutive years. Online degree programs have received attention as some of the best and most affordable programs in the nation. OBU also employs a Lifelong Learning Program where students benefit from continued guidance and a highly active and engaging alumni network.
Online Programs: 6
Type: Public
Southeastern Oklahoma State University was founded in 1909, and was built around the philosophy of creating engaging, impactful graduates. Today the University offers numerous degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate level. The University's online learning department offers flexible learning formats, asynchronous course schedules, and cutting-edge virtual learning technology. Among the online degrees are nationally ranked business programs, and a fast-paced and affordable MBA program as well. Other online degrees are offered through four academic schools: Arts and Sciences, Education and Behavioral Sciences, John Massey School of Business, and the school of Graduate Studies.
Online Programs: 6
Type: Public
Langston University is a rapidly growing university with a stellar academic reputation. LU offers over 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, among which are healthcare and business programs that have ranked among the nation's best according to the Princeton Review for 14 consecutive years. With over 20,000 active alumni, students can take advantage of a massive professional network in order to line up internship and career opportunities. Student studies are divided into six colleges: Agriculture and Applied Sciences, Arts and Sciences, Business, Education and Behavioral Sciences, Nursing and Health Professions, and Physical Therapy
Online Programs: 4
Type: Private
Founded in 1899, Southern Nazarene University (SNU) is a private, christian liberal arts institution working in the service of the Church of Nazarene. Regardless of the degree subject matter, students can expect faith-based curriculums and teaching philosophies based on christian principles. SNU's degree programs offer rigorous academics combined with student-focused support features such as math and writing tutors, student health services, and career guidance professionals. As such SNU's hybrid degree programs are particularly valuable as they allow online students the benefits of distance learning combined with the support services of on-campus divisions.
Online Programs: 4
Type: Public
Located in the Northwest of the state in Alva, Oklahoma — a city of just over 9,000 residents — is Northwestern Oklahoma State University's main campus. Students can choose from more than 40 areas of study to earn their Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degrees, and offers complete master's degree programs in education, counseling psychology, and American Studies. The University offers a total of six online bachelor's programs across areas in education, business, and psychology. The online programs are designed to accommodate working professionals and adults with demanding schedules, and thus the program employ highly flexible learning formats and schedules.
Online Programs: 1
Type: Private
Oklahoma City University is a private institution located in the urban area of uptown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The University works closely with the Methodist Church and implements christian philosophies in all facets of its institution. Students can earn online faith-based degrees in the liberal arts, fine arts, sciences, and business. The University's most popular online program is the Bachelor of Arts in Business degree. Students can expect this program to be challenging, rewarding, and a highly marketable achievement upon graduation, as the program is ranked in the top 4.5% of business programs in the country. With fiercely competitive tuition costs and fast-paced course progression, students can earn one the country's best business degrees with a relatively low investment of time and money while enjoying the freedom that distance-learning provides — making this an option that's very hard to beat.
Online Programs: 3
Type: Public
With two campuses located in Weatherford and Sayre, Southwestern Oklahoma State University is well-equipped to offer distance learning students opportunities for on-campus events. Online students may complete associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees while attending either fully-online programs through state-of-the-art virtual learning technology, or through hybrid programs which supplements online programs with on-campus learning programs, career-building sessions, and in-person group projects that facilitate leadership and team building skills. The University makes clever use of its two campuses in order to reach the most online students, planning events by the number of students in proximity to each campus. This is especially helpful for the University's many online nursing students, who can benefit greatly from hands-on learning experiences offered on-campus.
Monitoring the accreditation of a university you are interested in attending is incredibly important. Accreditation ensures your credits can transfer that you can receive Federal financial aid, and most importantly that certain standards of educational quality are during your schooling. The highest accreditation standard for most programs in the United States is provided by regional accreditation agencies. The regional accrediting agency for Oklahoma is the Higher Learning Commission, one of six regional accrediting agencies responsible for accrediting schools in Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
Making sure that a University you're hoping to attend is regionally accredited — or accredited by a real and respected accrediting agency — is one of the most important choices you can make in ensuring the quality of your education.
Three Steps for Securing Financial Aid
- Submit your FAFSA.
- Check to see if additional forms are needed at your university of choice.
- Search and apply for private scholarships.
Through the previous three steps most students find themselves offered some sort of federal grant, work study, private grant, scholarship, or stipend.
Great Oklahoma Higher Education Resources
This website displays the various state-based programs and resources for Oklahoma students pursuing higher education. This website is an excellent resource for new or prospective students seeking specific state-level resources. There is also a wide-array of helpful and independent resource-providers linked throughout site.
This organization is designed to help working adults with partial college credit hours earn associate and undergraduate degrees. 14 public and community college and 8 private colleges contribute to this organization, so that working adults can get a second chance at education. Programs are offered in personalized formats to meet the needs of the individual.
The Great Plains is an organization that was developed in Oklahoma but has since built a network of influence to eight other states. This organization provides an infrastructure for hosting, sharing, and developing data, educational resources, and research initiatives. This is an excellent resource for students pursuing degrees related to the data sciences.
For low-income family residents of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Promise offers tuition scholarship opportunities to qualified youth. This is an excellent resource for Oklahoma students looking for financial assistance in the form of scholarships.
Oklahoma Gear Up is an organization dedicated to helping students and their families prepare for college. Check out the various links, guides, and resources — they span an impressive array of services and topics.
Oklahoma College Start is an organization that provides guidance, advisement, and preparatory resources for success in high school, and tools for leveraging that success for better options in college. The organization also helps you build a professional portfolio so that you can hit the ground running upon graduation.
Offered through the Gear Up organization, the Plan 4 College organization consists of 28 locations where students and families can gain free one-on-one college advisement and counseling. This is an incredibly value resource that any prospective college student in Oklahoma should take advantage of.
The Oklahoma College Assistance Program is dedicated to empowering students to make the best choices between high school and college. This organization provides educational tools, loan management resources, and guides to instill financial literacy in students so that they can maximize their financial options during college and beyond.
This organization is designed to help Oklahoma students avoid the pitfalls of poor student loan decisions. This site holds a wealth of information for making informed decisions about student loans, how to manage them, and how to avoid them at all.
This organization is a phenomenal organization in support of online higher education in Oklahoma. This organization works to advance the standards of distance learning in the state while also providing excellent resources for online students such as learning technology and apps to supplement your current degree programs..
This program is too great not to mention. It allows students to simultaneously attend high school while earning an Associate of Applied Science degree. Students simply have to register and participate in several progress assessments. This can allow students to vastly increase their career momentum by allowing them to graduate high school with a highly marketable associate's degree.
This Oklahoma-based organization is dedicated to helping students make educated plans and decisions about funding college. This organization is also unique in that it actually counsels students on whether college is the best choice for them in the first place, so students won't feel pushed towards anything they're not ready for.
Hosted by Oklahoma State University, 'R is for Thursday' is a remarkable statewide initiative dedicated to helping former foster children achieve success in higher education. The initiative conducts research and implements strategies based on the findings in order to better serve students who experienced foster care at or above the age of 13 (regardless of residency).
Oklahoma AHEAD is an organization dedicated to helping students with disabilities achieve greater levels of success in higher education. Through advocacy, support, and educational resources, students suffering from any disabilities during college will find this site and organization an extraordinary support system.
This nonprofit, charitable institution offers students over 120 scholarship options. Many of these scholarships are atypical and provide scholarship opportunities to students, who may have thought themselves to be unlikely recipients of a scholarship. You'll be surprised just how many options there really are.


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For the Cannes Film Festival, Air France introduces "Cinema to Go".
Who's never been frustrated at not being able to finish watching a movie on a flight?
With Cinema to Go, to celebrate the 36th anniversary of the partnership between Air France and the Cannes Film Festival, the Company is offering its customers the opportunity to watch or finish watching their film, from the "Cannes Film Festival" selection, after their flight on tablet, smartphone or PC with a gift code offered by the Company.
More information on: http://www.airfrance.com/CannesFilmFestival

subset: commoncrawl


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Hey Red Team,
Sleigh it ain't so, day 2 is here! Here's another chance at our 12 days of Christmas giveaways!🏂
You have 24 hours starting now until December 14th at 12 pm CST for a chance to win:
Entering is easy, just follow these steps:
Good luck everyone! 😊
*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to legal residents of the 50 United States (D.C.) and Canada, 18 years or older members of the AMD Community forum. For Official Rules, including odds and prize descriptions, visit AMD Red Team's 12 Days of Christmas. Void where prohibited. Sponsor: AMD, Inc.
Solved! Go to Solution.
Hey everyone! Thanks so much for joining in on some Day 2 fun. I've closed the comments and will update this post when the winner has been confirmed - Stay tuned!
And if you want another chance to win, check out Day 3's post!
Our winner for Day 2 is @emperor! Congratulations! 😄
Favorite thing about holidays is spending time with family.
I'm never lucky
I'm rarely lucky too, but it does not hurt to try!
Also, it is fun to read through all the comments, so that is a prize in itself...
Im the only one who works on christmas on that bakery 😁
But i like it, not bad at all.
Playing games on new hardware
my favorite tradition is doing the family secret santa thing
My Fave tradition is spending time with the Extended Family.
Watching the cats go nuts with all the boxes is always funny.
White Elephant gift exchange
putting together holiday themed puzzles
Wearing Costumes and trying to scare people! Wait, we said Christmas! Hmmm. I'll keep my answer! LOL!
hello AMD
Playing games with winter scenes.
Wrapping boxes within boxes like a Russian nesting doll, Wonderful way to torment the children, especially when you have their giftcard taped to the inner lid of the first box. Did burn up a ton of wrapping paper tho
My Gram had torture down to an art... She would fill a huge box fill of crumples of newspaper, some crumples of nothing, and other crumples would have candy, a present, or some change in them. Just imagine how long she took to package 150 green men! (I think I spent a few hours going through all the wads of newspaper making sure that I found everything)...
Family gathering!
Most gaming during the holidays
My holiday tradition has become entering all the giveaways that I can find.
playing relaxing video games near the fireplace while it's snowing at night is such a vibe
Merry Christmas ALL .. Good Luck ..
I don't go to church all year, but going to church with the whole family is my favorite tradition at Christmas.
Best holiday tradition is gaming near the fireplace........
My favourite would be sharing bread around a dinner table. It's a local thing...
my favourite tradition is watching xmas movies
Buying silly gifts for the fam 😉
Watch Die Hard
Wearing my Die Hard ugly sweater and Food!
"Never forget Nakamichi Plaza"
Calisto Protocol
Love the advent calendars which are so popular in Europe and opening them gradually throughout December!
My family christmas tradition is to play boardgames. Fun for all the family. Death by Monopoly!
Making cookies
Birthday month! Plus just love the feeling of Christmas! As for tradition, spending time opening gifts and sharing laughs with friends and family.
celebrating Christmas and actually saying MERRY CHRISTMAS
Meeting with friends went Christmas market and enjoying the atmosphere with some mulled wine
Getting together with friends and family for a drink or two or three etc...........
lowering pc fan speeds because room is cold...
Hey everyone! Thanks so much for joining in on some Day 2 fun. I've closed the comments and will update this post when the winner has been confirmed - Stay tuned!
And if you want another chance to win, check out Day 3's post!
Our winner for Day 2 is @emperor! Congratulations! 😄


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Pratap Bhanu Mehta writes: The scenes at the Red Fort may have been disturbing. But the real darkness on the horizon is not the protest, or the turn it might have taken. It is the turn Indian democracy is taking, almost as if it is on the road to perdition.
When the dust settles on the events of Republic Day, one conclusion will be palpably clear. The logic of the state's political strategy is to find any pretext for social division and state repression. The immediate elite reactions to the unruly and shameful scenes in the wake of the farmers' protest in India's capital, especially at the Red Fort, were two-fold. The first was to feign shock and horror, and to channel everyone's inner nationalism and get them to rally behind the cry of order. The flying of the Nishan Sahib flag at the Red Fort, as inappropriate as it was, was treated as an existential threat and national desecration. The second was relief that the unruly scenes now delegitimised the farmers' movement, broke the momentum of the protests and would protect the agriculture bills. India's problem is solved.
But this attitude should not disguise the fact that we were all trying to find a respectable way of expressing our deep authoritarianism and unleashing another round of repression. The leaders of the farmers protest will be targeted with all the national security arsenal that the state has used in previous protests, from Bhima Koregaon to the Citizenship Amendment Act. This includes using the National Investigation Agency (NIA), detention, state harassment, and encouraging mobs to target legitimate protestors. For instance, Yogendra Yadav is already experiencing this at more levels than one can imagine; it is remarkable that people like him, our true patriots, still keep the democratic faith. The real perpetrators of disorder will not be punished while those exercising the right to democratic protest will be demonised. States like UP will unleash their arsenal of state lawlessness in the name of law and order. But the worse is: We will all cheer for authoritarianism.
The scenes at the Red Fort may have been disturbing. But the real darkness on the horizon is not the protest, or the turn it might have taken. It is the turn Indian democracy is taking, almost as if it is on the road to perdition. For almost two months, the farmers' protests were not just peaceful but a model of disciplined civic expression and cultural articulation. Dozens of farmers died in the cold. There was no outrage anywhere compared to the outrage we saw on the flag. They were demonised. They were subjected to the standard argument of the state, that they were secessionist Khalistanis. The NIA was freely used to hang a sword over them. All the institutions of the state that could have acted as redressal mechanisms, from Parliament to the Supreme Court, abdicated their core duties. But the farmers were not provoked. You may argue that the protest is still largely by farmers from Punjab. You may also disagree with some of their positions. But the government's position has been even more of a travesty. Even if the movement is largely based in Punjab, we know that it is a deep and genuinely state-wide movement. Does deep existential discontent in Punjab need not be constructively addressed, and in good faith?
Instead, what we have got is the usual pattern of the BJP's "heads we win, tails you lose" political strategy. First, take an intransigent position that does not address the core of the grievance or contemplate reasonable constitutional solutions — wear the movement down, use the existence of the movement to shore up your credentials as a strong state. But when the time comes, use the movement as a pretext for further crackdowns, strengthening the arbitrary powers of the state, and position yourself as the custodian of nationalism against all powers. Find the perfect occasion for doing so. In every movement, this script has been followed.
But the most disturbing part of the Republic Day was not the events; it is the way our repressive instincts were channelised. The media acted as nothing short of the unquestioning cheerleader of the state, hiding behind pieties of the flag and feigning concern for the frontline policemen. If they were genuinely concerned about the sorry condition of the frontline policeman, they could have asked tough questions — like why do our political masters, including the home minister, put frontline policemen in an impossible position by not doing their political jobs? There were no tough questions about the circumstances that may have led to the disorder. Was there an element of state collusion, a false flag diversion? These are questions that need to be asked. There were complete double standards. Let us for a moment grant that elements of the protest went unruly; youth groups joined it that were not the core of the movement. But if this unruliness can delegitimise the legitimate grievances of farmers, then Hindutva — a movement that has led to more intentional blood spilling, collateral damage, and vigilantism than anything — should have been delegitimised a long time ago. If a few unruly scenes can delegitimise Punjab farmers, put in abeyance any rational discussion of the real problems of agriculture, one would have hoped that lynchings and violence would be more than sufficient reason to put "love jihad" laws and cow protection laws in abeyance.
The language of order, and the pieties of the flag in which it is wrapped by the state and the media, is not about order at all. The language of order is partisan to the hilt. It is weaponised to crush dissent. It is used to empower repression. It is used to desecrate the spirit of constitutional values. But it gives even the supposedly most liberal amongst us the perfect pretext to rally behind the government once again. It gives a pretext to appease our consciences that we can ignore the systematic repression of civil liberties, the runaway crony capitalism, and the frightening communalism of the state, the criminalising of dissent, the desecration of federalism and the collapse of institutions. It allows us to ignore the fact that the most influential and powerful sections of society from legal professionals to academics and media, from owners of capital to bureaucracy, have connived in creating the conditions of disorder, by closing off legitimate channels of democratic deliberation, and actively supporting authoritarianism and communalism. The government may have won the battle of perception by playing on a disingenuous language of order. But the open wounds it has created will fester and create long-term problems. The cycles of repression, protest and more repression will continue. The real desecration did not happen at the Red Fort. It happened when we created a country where jokes, acts of love, and democratic articulation are all deemed anti-national. As Thomas Paine said it in his classic put-down to Edmund Burke: "We pity the plumage but forget the dying bird."
This article first appeared in the print edition on January 30, 2021 under the title 'The read desecration'. The writer is contributing editor, The Indian Express.
Source: Read Full Article


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The fifth edition of the biggest reality show in Africa, Big Brother Naija show have continue to live up to expectations and it promises to bring more dramas as things goes on.
Housemates are gradually feeling the heat of getting evicted after three eviction
shows that have seen five housemates say goodbye to the show.
As the show continues and housemates gearing up for the task and eviction show
ahead of them, we've compiled our top five housemates that might end up making the
finals and thus winning the show.
1. Kiddwaya:
On top of our list is billionaire son, Kiddwaya, who have been trending on
social media ever since he started his adventure at the show.
The young entrepreneur have been able to capture the mind of fans with his love
affair with Erica and chances that the current head of house will not make
the finals is slim.
Kiddwaya also have the backing of top celebrities in the industry as his recent
shout-out to DJ Cuppy showed how much influence he has outside the show.
2. Erica:
Don't be surprised to see Kiddwaya's lover at the show make our list.
Erica have been able to melt not just Kiddwaya's heart but also fans heart
outside the show with her smile.
The beauty queen have also shown how talented she his by winning task given to
them and with her relationship status with Kiddwaya, fans will surely keep her in the show for at least the final week.
3. Laycon:
Laycon is no doubt the most brilliant housemate at the ongoing Big Brother
Naija 'Lockdown' show and despite his entaglement with Erica, he continues to
make headlines outside the show.
The talented young rapper will be making the last five housemates at the show if he
continue playing his game right as his fans outside does not look like a camp that will
be leaving him anytime soon.
4. Nengi:
I'm sure you've been waiting for this name to pop up, Nengi seems to be the new case
study in the house but things are surely working in her favour.
Nengi have been tipped by some evicted housemate to make the finals and it
wouldn't come as a surprise if she went as far as becoming the second female
star to win the show.
The beauty queen have been able to play her cards right and fans outside the show have also been helping her in the quest to win 85 Million Naira.
5. Ozo:
Neo might currently be in the house but don't be surprised if he gets evicted
before Ozo does.
Just like Kiddwaya, Ozo have formed a good friendship with Nengi and both lovers
will be in the show for at least the final week.
Ozo's talent and hardwork will make sure he join the top five housemates at the
show despite having threat from the likes of Dorathy and Neo.
Though it's still early days but the aboved named housemates are tipped to make the top five with one of them winning the grand prize of 85 Million Naira.
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New corporate mentor initiative for LGBTQ refugees launched
Nearly two dozen companies in North America have agreed to mentor LGBTQ refugees as part of a new initiative announced on Tuesday.
The Baltimore-headquartered Under Armour is among the 23 companies in the U.S., Canada and Mexico that have pledged to mentor at least 50 LGBTQ refugees over the next three years under the new initiative the Human Rights Campaign and the Tent Partnership for Refugees unveiled during their virtual North American Business Summit on LGBTQ Refugees.
Accenture, ADP, AT&T Mexico, Bain & Company, CIBC, CompuCom, GSK, Chobani, Finastra, Hilton, Huron, IBM, Ipsos, Kearney, Medtronic, Nomura, SAP, Scotiabank, Softchoice, TD Bank Group, Von Wobeser y Sierra and Warby Parker are the other companies that have joined the initiative in which roughly 1,250 LGBTQ refugees will participate. Former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power announced them during the summit in which HRC President Alphonso David and Chobani CEO Hamdi Ulukaya, who founded the Tent Partnership for Refugees, participated.
The companies will mentor the refugees through their respective LGBTQ employee affinity groups.
The nation's capital, Los Angeles and San Francisco are among the cities in which the participating companies will offer mentorships.
"This is a wonderful first step," said Power after she announced the companies that are participating in the program. "Each of you companies that made these commitments, you're making it easier for other companies to do the same, by being first movers and so I just think have so many people's personal gratitude, people whose names you'll never know."
The Organization for Refuge, Asylum and Migration during the summit unveiled a guide that advises companies on how they can develop and implement mentorship programs for LGBTQ refugees and asylum seekers. ORAM Executive Steve Roth participated in the summit alongside José Luis Loera of Casa Refugiados, a Mexico City-based group that assists migrants, and Forouz Salari of The519, a Toronto LGBTQ community center that provides services and support to migrants and asylum seekers.


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Writing the University of San Diego Application Essays 2022-23
College Admissions
For the first University of San Diego application essay, you'll have to put on your sorting hat, and decide which of five learning communities at USD is the best fit for you. If you have strong opinions about whether you are a Ravenclaw or a Hufflepuff, you might have a lot of fun with this essay prompt! USD also has another required question (you get to choose from three options) that's a little more straightforward.
Good news: We're going to walk you through how to nail both of them.
The University of San Diego offers diverse educational opportunities grounded in the liberal arts and sciences. First-year students are immersed in one of our five Learning Communities (LC), with the themes reflecting the vitality of the liberal arts tradition: Advocate, Collaborate, Cultivate, Illuminate and Innovate. Select one of these five themes and describe how it resonates with you and why.
The LCs are like Hogwarts houses in that they each have their own colors, their own logos, and their own core qualities. They're also like Hogwarts houses in that you have a say in where you end up. And that's what this essay is all about.
Important: Before trying to pick your LC, we recommend you spend some time on USD's website learning more about them.
Here at Prompt, we talk a lot about the five traits that make for a successful college applicant (if you don't know about them, read our guide to the common app essay here). If you've gone through our essay plan to determine which of these key traits are strongest in your own personality, you'll have a much easier time deciding which LC to pick, and a much easier time thinking of specific experiences that will prove you belong. It's free, so you might want to take some time to make an account on our website and go through it.
Now that you know all about the five traits, let's see how you can use them to pick an LC, and write a persuasive USD essay. The key here is to use your experiences as proof. That is, you can't just say that you are intellectually curious, you need to tell a story about yourself that shows your intellectual curiosity.
Let's start by reviewing the USD Learning Communities, thinking about which traits are associated with each, and brainstorming about your experiences
- Collaborate: This community is for students who are driven to work with others to make things better. If you love team projects or participating in government, this might be the community for you!
- Associated traits: Contribution, Initiative
- Ask yourself: What's something you've created or accomplished that you couldn't have done on your own? Can you think of a time where you made one or more people's lives better? What is something you frequently do that others will miss in your community when you are in college?
- Advocate: This LC focuses on social justice, and helping students make their voices heard. If you have a cause you believe in, or a unique voice that needs amplifying, you might be an Advocate!
- Associated traits: Diversity of Experience, Contribution
- Ask yourself: Can you describe a time when you spoke out against something you didn't agree with? What actions have you taken to advance causes you believe in? What have you done or experienced in your life that is different than most other applicants? What do you know more about than anyone else in the room?
- Cultivate: In Cultivate, you'll be able to live and work with other students who care about the future and the environment. If you are want to help build a more sustainable world, this could be the LC for you!
- Associated traits: Contribution, Intellectual Curiosity
- Ask yourself: What actions have you taken to improve sustainability in your own life, or in the lives of those who surround you? Can you describe a time that you learned about environmental science or sustainability issues on your own, outside of school? Can you describe a problem that you've solved, or that you want to solve? What steps did you take?
- Innovate: This community is aimed at present-day problem-solvers, and future entreprenuers. If you like creating new things and starting new organizations, you might be right for Innovate!
- Associated traits: Initiative, Drive
- Ask yourself: Describe a time you saw a problem that needed to be solved. What actions did you take to solve it? What exists within your community that wouldn't be there if not for you? If you could create anything, what would you create?
- Illuminate: This is the Honors LC, and, accordingly, it is focused on people who love both knowledge and academic achievement. If you find yourself going above and beyond to learn (and if USD has invited you to apply to the honors program), this is the LC for you!
- Associated traits: Intellectual Curiosity, Drive
- Ask yourself: What do you learn just for the fun of it? Describe a time you found yourself immersed in a topic. What did you learn? What is your greatest skill? What actions did you take to develop or grow this skill?
Once you've decided on an LC, and brainstormed potential experiences, structuring the required University of San Diego application essay is simple. With only 350 words, don't worry about setting the scene. Instead, focus on a clear answer to the prompt.
- Start with a summary of which LC you are interested in and why. You can include a "hook" if you wish, but keep it short: just a sentence or two.
- Tell the story of one experience that proves you are a good fit for that LC.
- Finish your USD essay on a positive note by imagining what you can accomplish with the support of this LC.
Choose One of Three
Wait! You're not done. You still have to tackle the "Choose One of Three" USD essay prompt. Let's talk about which prompt is a good fit for you.
Option #1) Here at USD, we believe that our campus community and the communities we engage with are integral parts of who we are as a university. Our students come from all walks of life, have experienced very different realities and bring with them an array of unique perspectives. Some of these perspectives are underrepresented and underserved by higher education. What contribution have you made to your high school and/or local community that best exemplifies your awareness and commitment to creating a diverse and equitable community?
- This would be a great choice if you've taken specific actions to promote diversity or equality. For example, if you:
- Participated in a group/event that elevates an underrepresented group or culture
- Helped an underserved person or group in your community or school
- Participated in a group/event that promotes equality
Option #2) USD is a proud Changemaker Campus, as designated by Ashoka U. As such, the USD experience emphasizes changemaking through civic engagement, social innovation and global perspective. If you had the opportunity to get involved with a project or organization that addresses a contemporary social issue, what issue would you address and why?
- If you can think of a social issue that you're really passionate about, this topic might be a good choice for you. However, try to make sure you can answer these questions:
- Why is this social issue important to you, personally?
- What specific actions would you take to help solve this issue?
Option #3) The year 2024 will mark USD's 75th anniversary. In preparation for this milestone, we as a campus community are looking to grow in meaningful and impactful ways. We are looking to set the standard for an engaged, contemporary Catholic university where innovative changemakers confront humanity's urgent challenges. In what meaningful and impactful ways do you hope to grow by the year 2024? Where do you see yourself, and what type of impact do you hope to have on the world around you?
- This is an opportunity to discuss your goals. However, the goals you discuss in this essay should relate to improving the world around you and "confronting humanity's urgent challenges." (For example: a student who wants to learn about renewable energy in college, so they can help confront climate change.)
- If your goals fit this description, then this prompt is a good choice for you!
Choosing Complementary Essay Topics
- When you select your topics for your University of San Diego application essays, consider how they will complement each other. Try to avoid selecting two topics that address the same interest, goal, value, or experience.
- Also consider how your University of San Diego application essays will complement your Common Application essay. Is one of your USD topics similar to your Common App essay? If so, try to branch out!


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May I start by thanking the Mental Health Foundation for organising this year's Mental Health Awareness Week? Having good mental health is vital to us all, which is why we are investing record levels in mental health. We want to ensure that people receive treatment and care when they need it.
This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in this House, I will today be joining world leaders and internet companies for a summit in Paris on tackling terrorist use of the internet.
I also support Mental Health Awareness Week.
Instead of a transplant providing my constituent Pauline Hunt with an improved and extended life, she has tragically received a death sentence after receiving a malignant kidney. Pauline rightly needs answers, and comfort that this will not happen to anyone else. Rather than her having to fight the system to get these answers, will the Prime Minister ensure that NHS Blood and Transplant undertakes a case review to identify why this malignancy was not picked up earlier and why red flags were not identified post-operation?
The hon. Gentleman has clearly raised a very concerning case, and has given some details here on the Floor of the House. I will ensure that the relevant Minister looks at the issue, because it is obviously a matter of concern if somebody receives something that they believe is going to give them their life but that is actually a malignant organ, as has happened in the case raised by the hon. Gentleman. I will ensure that the relevant Minister at the Department of Health looks into the matter.
I thank my hon. Friend for highlighting this issue, because we obviously recognise the importance of supporting young carers. We have published a cross-Government carers action plan that is committing to improve the identification of young carers' educational opportunities and outcomes, as well as access to support and services. I am very happy to join him in congratulating Annette on this award and thanking her for the amazing work she has done and continues to do to support young carers. I also congratulate Rugby FM on identifying people in the community like Annette who are doing so much help the lives of others.
I join the Prime Minister in acknowledging Mental Health Awareness Week. I want to send my support to all those campaigning all across the country to raise awareness of mental health, and a message that all of us can do something about it by reaching out and talking to people going through a mental health crisis, and also ensuring that there is proper funding for our mental health services.
I would like to pay tribute to the former Labour MP for Birmingham, All Saints, Brian Walden, who passed away this week. He was a very formidable figure in this House and a very strong political interviewer who every politician really loved being interviewed by at the time—but they only said that afterwards.
I think it would also be only right that the House of Commons pays tribute to a leading Hollywood icon and campaigner for animal welfare, Doris Day, who passed away this week. I am tempted to quote some Doris Day songs, but I won't. [Interruption.] All right—"Whip-Crack-Away!" [Interruption.] No, no, no. [Interruption.] I do apologise, Mr Speaker—I have obviously started a parliamentary singalong here.
Speaking of icons, it would be right to acknowledge that it is 40 years since my hon. Friend the Member for Huddersfield (Mr Sheerman) and my right hon. Friend the Member for Birkenhead (Frank Field) were both elected to this Parliament for the first time in the 1979 election.
In the last two years, nine of the UK's richest hedge fund tycoons have donated £2.9 million to the Conservative party. Is this a Government for the many or one in the pockets of an elite few?
Let me first respond to some of the tributes that the right hon. Gentleman paid. I am sure that everybody across the House would wish to recognise the sad passing of somebody who gave many hours of entertainment through her films and career—Doris Day.
I would also like to congratulate the hon. Member for Huddersfield (Mr Sheerman) and the right hon. Member for Birkenhead (Frank Field) on having been elected to this House 40 years ago and having spent 40 years in this House. I also note that 40 years ago, of course, it was the election of Margaret Thatcher and her Conservative Government. It was always said that Margaret Thatcher had enjoyed being interviewed by Brian Walden, who did indeed not only have a career in this House but went on to have a very respected career in television journalism as a broadcaster and interviewer.
The right hon. Gentleman raises issues about fairness and equality, and those who are better off in our society. Can I just say to him that income inequality is down since 2010? As Conservatives, we want everyone to be better off, everyone to have good jobs, and everyone to have a better life. But that is always the difference between us and Labour: Labour wants to bring people down; we want to raise people up.
The Nobel prize-winning economist Sir Angus Deaton said that the UK risks having extreme inequality levels of pay, wealth and health. Of the G7 countries, only the United States is more unequal than the UK. Is that something the Prime Minister is proud of?
The right hon. Gentleman talks about income inequality and fairness. As I say, income inequality is down since 2010. The lowest paid have seen their wages grow the fastest since 2015. The top 1% are contributing more income tax than at any point under the last Labour Government, and thanks to the Conservatives, millions of the lowest paid are no longer paying any income tax at all. That is Conservatives delivering for everyone.
Real wages are lower than they were 10 years ago. How can it be fair that we live in a society where the average chief executive of a FTSE 100 company now earns 145 times the annual average salary in this country? Some of the lowest rates of pay are among young workers. That is why at the weekend, I announced that the next Labour Government will abolish the youth rates, because, quite simply, if you are old enough to do the job, you are old enough to be paid the wage to do the job. Does the Prime Minister agree with that principle?
The impact of the policy that the right hon. Gentleman has announced is actually that it will cost young people jobs. That is not just what I am saying. The director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies said that the policy would
"end up having quite a negative effect on young people."
But we do not need to rely on quotes to know what would happen to young people under a policy like that. We can just look at the record of the last Labour Government on youth employment. Under the last Labour Government, youth unemployment rose by 44%. Under the Conservatives in government, youth unemployment has fallen by 50%.
I seem to recall that it was the Conservative party that opposed the national minimum wage in 1997. I seem to recall that it was the Conservative party that predicted millions of jobs being lost because we wanted decent pay for people.
Why do this Government continue to punish our young people? Since 2010—[Interruption.] Well, since 2010, the Conservative party, with its Liberal Democrat accomplices, has trebled tuition fees, abolished the education maintenance allowance and cut child benefit. While wages remain lower than a decade ago and housing costs have soared, more and more food banks are opening up in Britain. In Great Yarmouth, one has just been opened for pupils at a school, and last week the Department for Business established a food bank for its own staff in its building on Victoria Street. Can the Prime Minister tell us what is going wrong in modern Britain when a Government office in the centre of London has a food bank for some of its very low-paid staff to get something to eat?
As the right hon. Gentleman knows, I think that the best way to ensure that people have a good, stable income for their families is to ensure that they are in work. This is the fourth question he has asked me, and in none of his questions so far has he welcomed the fact that employment is at record levels, and unemployment is down at a record low. The way he talks, you would think that inequality started in 2010.
One of the Labour Back Benchers shouts from a sedentary position, "It did!" Who was it who said that the last Labour Government
"ensured that the gap between the richest and the poorest in our society"
became "very much bigger?" Those are not my words; they are the words of the right hon. Gentleman, attacking his own Labour Government.
My question was about food banks in a Government office—[Interruption.]
Order. I am very, very worried about you, Mr Spencer. You used to be such a calm and measured fellow. You are now behaving in an extraordinarily eccentric manner—almost delinquent. Calm yourself, young man, and your condition will improve.
My question was about a food bank in a Government Ministry, which seems to suggest that in-work poverty is the problem in Britain.
The Trussell Trust handed out 1.6 million food parcels last year, half a million of which went to children. A new report out today by the End Child Poverty coalition shows that child poverty has risen by half a million and is becoming the new norm in this country. The End Child Poverty coalition called on Ministers to restore the link between inflation and social security. Will the Prime Minister do that, to try to reduce the disgraceful levels of child poverty in this country?
The right hon. Gentleman talks about helping those who are low paid. It is this Government—it is a Conservative Government—who introduced the national living wage. And what do we see? Under Labour, someone working full time on the national minimum wage would have taken home £9,200 a year. Now they take home over £13,700—£4,500 more under the Conservatives for the lowest paid. That is the Conservatives caring for the low paid in our society.
They may have changed the name, but the Institute for Fiscal Studies says that child poverty will rise to over 5 million by 2022 at the current rate because of the strategies being followed by the right hon. Lady's Government.
When the wealth of the richest 1,000 people in Britain has increased by £50 billion in one year, but there is not enough money to properly feed our children or pay workers a decent wage, we have failed as a society. This country is seeing the rich get richer while the poor get poorer, while the Government are in the pockets of a super-rich elite. More children in poverty, more pensioners in poverty, more people struggling to make ends meet: when are the right hon. Lady and her Government going to reverse the tax giveaways to the super-rich and make sure they pay their fair share of taxes, so we can end the scandal—and it is a scandal—of inequality in modern Britain?
In fact, as I have pointed out, the top 1% are paying more in income tax today than they ever did under a Labour Government. But what have we seen from Labour in just the past week? The Labour party has a plan for a system where everybody in this country would get benefits. That means handouts to hedge fund managers paid for by tax hikes on working people. Labour's policy—money for the rich, paid by taxes on the poor.
Of course, we are already putting record levels of funding into our schools—£43.5 billion. My hon. Friend is trying to tempt me to talk about the spending review that is upcoming, but I can assure him that we are committed to improving education for every child, because I absolutely passionately believe that we should be making sure that how far a child goes in life depends not on their background, their circumstances or who their parents are, but on their individual talents and their hard work. Everybody in this country should be able to go as far as their talents and their hard work will take them.
I join the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition in welcoming Mental Health Awareness Week.
Mr Speaker, pending your approval, we now know that the Prime Minister's three-times defeated Brexit deal will return yet again in June. Can the Prime Minister tell us: has a back-room agreement been reached with the Leader of the Opposition to sell out the people of Scotland and to force her shoddy deal through?
The only party that wants to sell out the interests of Scotland is the SNP, with its bid for independence.
I am not quite sure what that had to do with the question. You might at least try, Prime Minister, to answer the question. The people of Scotland are none the wiser about what is going on in the secret Tory-Labour talks. Scotland's people, and the will of the Scottish Parliament, are being ignored. Enough is enough. Why is the Prime Minister so afraid of giving the people of Scotland their say? The fact is, at the European elections next week the people of Scotland will make their voices heard, whether Westminster likes it or not. Next Thursday, the people of Scotland can vote SNP to stop Brexit and to send a clear message that Scotland will not be ignored any more.
The right hon. Gentleman talks about the people of Scotland not knowing where things stand. Well, the people of Scotland will know where things stand if the right hon. Gentleman and his colleagues vote for the withdrawal agreement Bill and ensure that we leave the European Union. If people want to vote for a party that not only is a Brexit party but is a party in government that can deliver Brexit, they should vote Conservative.
I am happy to confirm to my hon. Friend that we do indeed remain committed, and not just to delivering Brexit and to securing a majority in this House to do just that; I can reassure him on his specific points. In leaving the European Union, we want to—we will—end free movement, restore full control over our immigration policy, open up new trading opportunities around the world and end the days of sending vast payments to the European Union, and we will not pay for market access. He mentions commitments that were made at the last election. He and I both stood on a manifesto promising to deliver the best possible deal for Britain as we leave the European Union, delivered by a smooth, orderly Brexit, as we seek a new deep and special partnership, including a comprehensive free trade and customs agreement with the European Union. I am committed to those objectives. I believe that we have negotiated a good deal that delivers on those and I am determined to deliver it.
We are investing in the future and not the past. That is why we have been encouraging issues like electric vehicles—the battery technology that is being developed here in the UK. The hon. Gentleman talks about our interest and our support for what we need to do on climate change. Just look at our record. Our renewable energy capacity has quadrupled since 2010; annual support for renewables will be over £10 billion by 2021; 99% of solar power deployed in the UK has been deployed under the Conservatives in government; and we have been decarbonising at a faster rate than any other country in the G20.
My hon. Friend is absolutely right that we need to abide by, and will abide by, the Government's commitment to publish a Green Paper on adult social care. We want to ensure that, when we do that, we are able to bring forward proposals that deliver the answer, or possible answers, to the question we have to ask ourselves, which is how we can ensure that the social care system is sustainable into the future. We will be publishing it at the earliest opportunity and it will set out those proposals to ensure that the social care system is sustainable in the longer term.
From the hon. Gentleman's references to those of us across this House, it is obvious that his charm offensive to become the next Speaker has already started. May I also say to him that it is in the interests of Scotland that it remains part of the United Kingdom, and in the interests of the whole of the United Kingdom that we deliver on what people voted for in the referendum and deliver Brexit?
I thank my hon. Friend for her comments about the increasing number of children in Somerset in good and outstanding schools. It is indeed, as she says, our management of the strong economy that enables us to put more money into our public services, such as education. That is why we are putting a record level of funding into schools this year, giving every local authority more money for every pupil in every school. We have introduced the new funding formula to make distribution fairer across schools across the country. We want to keep on improving education for every child so that, as I said in response to an earlier question from my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Worcestershire (Nigel Huddleston), we have the opportunity to ensure that every child can go on and achieve their full potential.
What is important as children go through their education is that we make sure they are receiving the right education for them and we make sure that schools are providing the right quality of education. Simple tests that enable judgments to be made about where children are in relation to their learning through their school career are, I believe, right. It is right that they were introduced and it is right that they continue.
My hon. Friend is right to raise the issue of mental health in universities. It is important and it is a priority for the Government. NHS England is already working closely with Universities UK, through the Mental Health in Higher Education programme, to build the capability and capacity of universities to improve student welfare services and access to mental health services. However, I am happy to ask both the Health and Education Secretaries to consider options to look at the issue further.
This House voted for the referendum. The Government at the time said they would abide by the decision of the referendum. The people voted, the people made their choice, and it is right that the Government deliver on that choice and deliver Brexit.
The hon. Gentleman mentioned his coming into this House and that he has been serving his constituents for 40 years. He mentioned prosperity. Actually, in 1979 it was a Conservative Government that came in and turned around all the problems of a Labour Government and gave this country prosperity.
On behalf of animal lovers across the country, may I congratulate the Prime Minister on introducing Lucy's law to stamp out the horrific and barbaric practice of puppy and kitten farming? However, this law applies only to England. With the Welsh consultation closing this week, does my right hon. Friend agree that unless the SNP Government now act to introduce Lucy's law, there is a real risk of Scotland becoming a hub for unscrupulous puppy farmers? Scotland cannot be left behind.
My hon. Friend raises an important point. I congratulate him on the work he did on this issue—he raised it regularly and championed the cause. It is ironic that, as an MP for a Scottish seat, he was able to help to change the law here in England and ensure it was brought in, yet the SNP Government in Scotland are not willing to change the law. It is time the SNP Government got on with the day job and started legislating for things that matter to people in Scotland.
The hon. Lady knows full well my response to the question about going back to the people. The people were given the choice as to whether we should stay in the European Union in the referendum in 2016. They voted, they gave their decision, and it is up to not just this Government but this House to respect the decision taken when we as a Parliament gave people that choice.
At a crucial time, may I take this opportunity to highlight the absolutely vital importance of supporting British Steel and in particular its world-leading special profiles division at Skinningrove in my constituency? It is a profitable business and a jewel in the crown of UK steel making. I urge my right hon. Friend to deliver a productive outcome to the ongoing talks as swiftly as possible.
My hon. Friend raises an important point about British Steel. Obviously, I cannot comment on the speculation about the future of Greybull Capital-owned British Steel. I realise this is a worrying time for those employed there and their families. As everybody across this House would expect, the Business Department is in regular contact with a wide range of sectors and companies. Of course, last month the Government entered into a commercial agreement with British Steel relating to its obligations under the EU emissions trading scheme, which has provided support to that company.
I have not seen the charter yet. I will look carefully at it, but, as I have said in response to a number of questions on this issue, what is important is that we have in this country an economy that enables people to get into good jobs. That is what we are delivering as a Conservative party in government. That is what enables people to have that stability in their income, and that is what enables people to be able to care for their children.
Will the Prime Minister join me in welcoming the final evaluation of the national bereavement care pathway, which found that nine in 10 parents who had suffered the loss of a child—[Interruption]—felt they were treated sensitively and with respect? [Interruption.]
Order. The hon. Lady has passed the test with flying colours.
Not only did the hon. Lady pass the test; so too did the national bereavement care pathway. It also found that eight in 10 healthcare professionals felt supported to deliver good-quality bereavement care. Does the Prime Minister agree that these results are a rallying call to the remaining NHS trusts to adopt the care pathway and ensure that all bereaved parents receive better bereavement care?
I realise that this issue is close to the hearts of many Members across the House, including my hon. Friend's. She has spoken most movingly on this subject. I thank the all-party group on baby loss for all its work. We recognise that all bereaved parents should be offered the same high standard of care and support in an appropriate environment. These results show the benefit of the national bereavement care pathway. It has already helped to strengthen support for many bereaved families across the country, and I certainly urge all trusts to adopt this approach.
I recognise the important role that trade unions play in our democracy and the work that can be done with them to enhance workers' rights in this country. That is exactly what the Government are doing. We want to see workers' rights enhanced and improved and are already on track to do that. I look forward to our continuing to be able to do so in the future.
A couple of weeks ago, I asked the Prime Minister about a family in my constituency who desperately needed the life-changing drug Spinraza. This morning we have the wonderful news that it will be made available in England. Will she now press for a managed access agreement to be put in place as soon as possible, because the children who need this drug cannot afford to wait a single day longer?
My hon. Friend raised a very important issue at the time, and I am very pleased that NHS England and Biogen have agreed a deal that enables NICE to recommend this revolutionary new treatment. As he said, it has the potential to transform the lives of young children with spinal muscular atrophy and their families, and I will certainly ensure that the Department of Health and Social Care acts on his request that it be made available as quickly as possible.
The family courts system should never be used to coerce or re-victimise those who have been abused, and the child's welfare must be the paramount consideration of the court in any proceedings. I am pleased that the president of the family division published new draft guidelines just last week that provided greater clarity on issues around the family courts, such as increasing transparency. The Ministry of Justice has not seen evidence to suggest a public inquiry is necessary, but I will ensure that the new Minister of State meets the hon. Lady to discuss the concerns she has raised.
Will the Prime Minister congratulate the hard-working campaign team in Redditch who secured an increased majority on the borough council in the local elections earlier this month? Will she visit Redditch to find out how they are putting in place plans to unlock Redditch, and will she recommit her Government's resources to the crucial issue of regenerating towns and high streets up and down the country?
I am very happy to congratulate all those campaigners—those elected councillors—on their success in the Redditch Borough Council election, and I am pleased to see the council moving forward with its plans to improve the town. Certainly we remain committed: we have allocated sums to ensure that we see improvements in towns up and down the country, and we continue our commitment to that. I am grateful to my hon. Friend for the invitation. I will ensure that my diary secretary is aware of it, and we will see whether it is possible.
My constituent Gerald Corrigan was shot with a crossbow outside his home on Good Friday. This weekend, he died of those severe injuries. I am sure that the House will join me in sympathising with his family, his partner and his friends. The community is in shock. Will the Prime Minister join me in appealing to the public for any information that they may have, and to give that information to North Wales police in confidence? Will she assure me that, in view of the number of such incidents, the law on crossbows will be reviewed, and will she also ensure that the police have enough resources to conduct what is now a murder inquiry?
The hon. Gentleman has raised a very worrying case, and, as he says, the thoughts of the whole House are with the family, friends and partner of his constituent. It is terrible to hear of an incident such as this. The Home Secretary has heard what the hon. Gentleman said about the law on crossbows, and I absolutely join him in encouraging any member of the public who has any information about what happened to get in touch with the police. There is, of course, the anonymous route, which enables people who may be concerned about giving information to the police to ensure that it reaches them without being identified. If anyone knows anything that could help the police to catch those responsible, I urge them to come forward.
For more than 20 years I have worked with an incredible group of Conservatives in Wellingborough and Rushden. They raise money for the party, they deliver leaflets and they knock on doors, week in, week out. This Saturday, some 40 of us went out campaigning for the European elections.
Unfortunately, Sir, I have here a letter from those Conservatives, addressed to the Prime Minister. They say that her deal is worse than staying in the European Union, and that they want us to come out now on a no-deal basis. More importantly, Sir, they have lost confidence in the Prime Minister, and wish her to resign before the European elections. Prime Minister, what message have you for those dedicated and loyal Conservatives?
First, let me thank all members of the Conservative party across the country who campaign regularly in elections of all sorts. We have just heard about the group in Redditch Borough Council who succeeded in getting excellent results in the council election. I thank all those Conservatives for the time and effort that they put into promoting the Conservative cause.
Secondly, let me say to Conservatives up and down the country who are concerned about delivering Brexit that this is a Government who want to deliver Brexit, and have been working to deliver Brexit. Sadly, so far the House of Commons has not found a majority to do that. If everyone in the House of Commons had voted alongside the Government and the majority of Conservative Members of Parliament, we would already have left the European Union.
The people of Hornsey and Wood Green are completely distraught because a British Council worker, Aras Amiri, has been suddenly imprisoned in Iran. The Foreign Secretary is kindly having a meeting with me and the family on Friday, but will the Prime Minister please condemn this action by Iran, and will she please speak to President Rouhani urgently about this terrible situation?
Obviously, we are concerned. We are always concerned when any individual is sentenced purely on the basis of their employment with an entirely legitimate institution, as has happened in this case. It is utterly shocking, and I am deeply concerned by the turn of events. My thoughts are with the individual and her family at this time.
As the hon. Lady says, the Foreign Secretary is taking the issue up. The Government will press the case and the concerns that have been raised, but sadly the arrest of this individual shows Iran's attitude to entirely legitimate organisations that are trying to foster better relations and cultural understanding between countries.
The Prime Minister is rightly regarded by Scottish Conservatives as a trenchant champion of the Union—and thank goodness for that. Does she agree that the UK shared prosperity fund is an opportunity to strengthen the Union? Will she confirm that the fund will be led by the needs of communities, and will not be Barnettised?
It is absolutely right that we have an opportunity, with the shared prosperity fund, to ensure that we recognise the ways in which we can reduce disparities between communities and between the nations within the United Kingdom. As my hon. Friend said, it is absolutely right that that should be led by the needs on the ground. We should make sure that the money is spent effectively, and that it delivers for people. That is our intention.


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Samuel L. Jackson and Justin Timberlake both promised the audience they're not giving up their day jobs (or swapping careers). Christina Ricci's comments were more of the gosh, gee-whiz, glad-to-be-here variety, but she looked smashing in a form-fitting Audrey Hepburn-style gray sweater-dress. That's about twice as much clothing as she wears at any point in writer-director Craig Brewer's richly lurid Southern melodrama, "Black Snake Moan," which premiered here on Wednesday night before a packed, ecstatic house of 1,200 people in the Eccles Theatre.
Tickets for the "Black Snake Moan" premiere were commodities much sought after and bargained over this week at Sundance. It's difficult to calculate a film's merits while enveloped in celebrity endorphins and the clicking of a thousand camera phones, but let's just say the audience turned up determined to have a good time and was not disappointed. Given its cast, its title and its outrageous premise, Brewer's movie would have had little trouble garnering media attention with or without Sundance, but his breakthrough hit "Hustle & Flow" was launched here two years ago, and he seemed genuinely thrilled to be back.
Before we got to all the multiracial, good-natured Memphis joshing and gushing sincerity of the onstage Q&A session ("Justin, what challenges do you face in making the transition from singer to actor?"), we all sat attentively through a two-hour movie. It was pretty damn good! A memorable work of art? Well, I'm not so sure about that. It's more an ingenious and stylish entertainment, "Pulp Fiction" with a Southern accent and a heart of gold, driven by both love of the Lord and a certain affection for the other fella. Any movie in which Jackson plays a guy who keeps the town slut chained to his radiator, wearing nothing but a Rebel flag T-shirt and a pair of panties, has got a different tradition than "art" in view.
Like everybody else here, I couldn't help thinking about the instructive similarities -- and even more instructive differences -- between this film and the much-derided "Hounddog," Sundance's biggest stink bomb to date. Both pictures are drawing from the same deep well, trying to create something new from the mythic materials of the rural South: race, sex, sin, redemption and the blues. But "Hounddog" gets stuck in a depressive poker-faced realism (that never actually feels real), while "Black Snake Moan," through sheer pulpy outrageousness, through its reverence for both the sacred and the profane, is more powerful, more dangerous and, paradoxically, closer to real life.
Let's get back to those chains. Yes, it's true that Lazarus (Jackson), an embittered sharecropper and semiretired bluesman whose wife has run off with his brother, keeps Rae (Ricci), a girl known throughout the county for her generosity, chained up and padlocked in his house for much of the film. It isn't quite what you think. The key to melodrama is to invent outlandish situations and play them straight, giving the characters as much dignity and integrity as you can. Lazarus has the purest of intentions toward Rae -- better than any other guy in town, anyway -- and when he finally unlocks her, it's not clear how much she wants to leave.
As the cloudy-hearted Lazarus, Jackson has all the gravity and darkness you expect from him, but "Black Snake Moan" really belongs to Ricci. Rae moves through the movie like a weather system or a small but angry wild animal, spitting bile and invective wherever she goes. During and after the opening credits, she gives a trucker the finger and invites a street heckler to "kiss my Rebel coochie, faggot." She's playing a compulsive nymphomaniac and is nearly naked for most of the film, but the extraordinary thing about Ricci's performance is how non-exploitative and unprurient it is.
Some viewers will doubtless disagree, but I see no misogyny at the heart of "Black Snake Moan." It depicts a misogynist society, one that has beaten, shamed and victimized Rae all her life. But if that society has warped Rae's self-image, it has not vanquished her spirit. Both she and Lazarus may be trapped in dime-novel situations, separately and together, but they nonetheless are complicated, fleshed-out characters, marred by self-hatred and stiffened by pride.
Rae's fiancé, Ronnie (Timberlake, who gives a straightforward, unaffected performance), has gone off to the Army and presumably to Iraq. Rae loves him, but when it comes to other guys she literally can't help herself. She seems to be overcome by physical seizures of lust, desires she doesn't welcome but can't control.
Rae and Lazarus find each other at a point when both badly need someone. They're haunted by bad memories and bent on self-destruction. She assumes he just wants what every man wants from her; he believes God has made him the instrument of her salvation. They're both partly right and partly wrong, but let's not go any deeper than that. Except to point out that Jackson sings and plays a couple of convincing and truly evil blues numbers, including the title song, performed during a lightning storm as Ricci's Rae clings to his knee, wide-eyed.
I don't know whether "Black Snake Moan" is really an independent film, or even what that question means at this point. But it's a true rarity, a picture made for grown-ups that combines vibrant, color-drenched cinematography (by Amelia Vincent), grand narrative ambitions and a desire to thrill. There are a few undercooked characters (Timberlake's among them) and some bits of canned dirty-South color. Then again, this isn't meant to be a gravy-stained depiction of life below the Mason-Dixon exactly as it is today. Instead, it's a blast of energy, an exhilarating pop culture moment that combines (as Brewer says) a drive-in aesthetic and deep mythological roots. Hell, yeah.
To switch gears drastically, there are a couple of powerful and demanding documentaries here I'd be remiss not to mention. Timeliest of these is Charles Ferguson's "No End in Sight," a systematic and rigorous history of the Iraq war to date. An MIT Ph.D. and onetime Silicon Valley pioneer (he wrote the Internet start-up memoir "High Stakes, No Prisoners"), Ferguson has no previous experience as a filmmaker. But this piercing and unbiased account of all the stupidity, venality and small-mindedness that created our nation's latest foreign policy disaster combines hardheaded journalism and a tragic sensibility.
This is no left-wing screed; Ferguson himself says he was initially optimistic about America's foray into Iraq. His interviewees include former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, retired Gen. Jay Garner (the first coalition governor of Iraq) and the principal author of the 2004 National Intelligence Estimate, which tried to warn the Bush administration about the bottomless, nightmarish money pit that lay ahead. That was the document described by George W. Bush as "guesswork," even though (its authors say) the president had not read it or even seen it.
Ferguson synthesizes existing footage and his own interviews and original research -- he spent several weeks in Iraq, working under armed guard -- to create a portrait of an ideologically driven administration that conducted a war with disastrous incompetence, in which every bad decision was followed by another one. In dissolving the Iraqi military, firing most of the Baathist bureaucracy and allowing public buildings to be looted to the bare walls, Ferguson suggests, the Americans set themselves on a course toward inevitable humiliation. This is the film those stubborn Bush supporters in your family need to see.
Possibly even tougher to watch (though it's a close race) is Steven Okazaki's "White Light/Black Rain: The Destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki," which will be shown on HBO in August and may also get a theatrical release. Of course we know about the atomic bombs dropped on Japan in August 1945 -- perhaps the defining event of the 20th century -- but this humbling, shocking film reminds us that we don't really know enough.
Okazaki interviews 14 survivors of the two bombings -- which killed about 210,000 people directly and led to the deaths of some 150,000 more from radiation-related illness -- along with four Americans involved in building and delivering the bombs. He also includes rarely seen footage of the two cities in the immediate aftermath of the devastation, shot first by Japanese news cameras and later by American occupation forces. No warning can really prepare you for these images of ashen corpses, maimed survivors and apocalyptic destruction, but in an age of renewed nuclear tension, there can be no question as to their relevance.
Okazaki, a Japanese-American whose father fought in the U.S. Army during World War II, ducks the question of whether the A-bomb attacks were moral or justifiable. As he put it in remarks after the screening I attended, that debate is now pointless, and often becomes a way of avoiding what actually happened, what it looked like and what those who lived through it can still tell us. (It's a disappearing generation; even the youngest of those who can remember the bombings clearly are now close to 70.)
As Okazaki demonstrates in the film's first scene, both of the nations involved in the catastrophe are in danger of forgetting it. While the A-bomb defined postwar Japan's identity in a certain sense, it also became a shameful subject surrounded by silence. (Survivors and their descendants face discrimination to this day.) When he stops eight random strangers on the street in Tokyo and asks them what historical event occurred on Aug. 6, 1945, none of them know.
During my last hours in Park City, I resisted sleep and crept into a late-night screening of "Once," a lovely musical romance from Irish writer-director John Carney that might be this festival's ultimate sleeper hit. A heartbroken Dublin street musician (played by Glen Hansard, of the Irish band the Frames), who busks for shoppers all day but sings his original folk-rock material at night, meets a classically trained Czech pianist (Markéta Irglová) who's now selling flowers.
They fit together wonderfully, both as musicians and as guy 'n' gal, but there remains a slightly mysterious distance between them. His songs -- neither character is named -- are all written to a missing girlfriend, and she has a 2-year-old daughter whose dad is still in the Czech Republic. They drift through Dublin, separately and together, in a mellow haze of music and infatuation. But Carney has measured the bitter and the sweet in precise proportions in "Once"; this is a romance for everyone who has ever fallen in love when you weren't really free to do so. A wistful and delightful little film, just the thing to send me on a jet plane homeward with an Irish song in my heart.