Ricky Gervais backs cruelty free campaign

The former office star Ricky Gervais is giving his backing to a new campaign which hopes to put a halt to the use of cruel cosmetics testing on animals.
Ricky Gervais is known for his love of animals and has often backed campaigns by the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV) before.  Gervais has now become the Ambassador for a new non-profit organisation established by the BUAV called Cruelty Free International.

In a video recorded in support of the campaign, Ricky Gervais says:

"I am delighted to support the launch of Cruelty Free International, the exciting global campaign to end the use of animals in product testing. Animal testing for cosmetics is still allowed in most of the world. That means thousands of animals can continue to die for the sake of a new shampoo. We urgently need a worldwide ban on this cruel and unnecessary suffering.”

“It's time to close the door on testing products on animals. Get involved. Please join me in supporting Cruelty Free International in its global mission to consign animal testing for cosmetics to the history books."

The BUAV are among other groups who have spent years campaigning to see an end to the practise of testing products on animals - something that is not a legal requirement - and the BUAV says that there are other more reliable ways of testing the safety of products before they are used.  Despite this, 80% of countries still test cosmetics on rabbits, guinea pigs and other animals.

Michelle Thew , Chief Executive of Cruelty Free International, said:

"We are delighted to receive the backing of Ricky Gervais for this exciting and dynamic organisation. The time has come for a concerted effort to finally end animal testing for cosmetics worldwide. Cruelty Free International will lead this global effort.”

Remains of 80 animal mummies discovered by researchers in Egypt

A team led by researchers from the University of Canada has discovered the remains of 80 animal mummies while on an excavation in Abydos, Egypt; the remains were those of cats, goats, sheep and puppies.

This was just one of the discoveries made by researchers; a private chapel, a monumental building and a wooden statue of a king were also found.  The researchers say this gives important information about ritual activity in ancient Egypt where such ceremonies were commonplace.

The finds were uncovered last year and Professor Mary-Ann Pouls Wagner from the University recently presented the findings to the Society for the Study of Egyptian Antiquities.

In a press release, Professor Pouls Wagner said:

“The offering chapel proves that people – probably elites – were able to build monuments right next to the processional route in the Middle Kingdom, and that at least one such chapel was allowed to stand in this increasingly densely built-up area and continued to receive offerings even 800 years after its initial construction,”

It is thought likely that the chapel dates back to 1990-1650 BC and that the statue of the king is meant to represent King Hatsheput, a female Pharaoh.  A larger building discovered during the dig is thought to have been either a royal temple or chapel and dates back to the Ramesside Period.

David Cameron in US for official visit

UK Prime Minister David Cameron was in the United States this week to meet President Barack Obamas as part of an official visit.
The first day was relaxed enough as the two world leaders went to a ball game and ate hot dogs while the President pointed out the finer points of the game to David Cameron.

A press conference and State dinner were all part of the official trip but there were no major announcements regarding policy as a result of the official visit.  Following the press conference, David Cameron and Barack Obama met for talks with Afghanistan highly likely to have been on the agenda and on Thursday David Cameron - along with wife his Samantha - visited a memorial to the victims of 9/11.

Many see this as a reaffirmation of the United States-United Kingdom special relationship although others do not like this term and prefer to call it an essential relationship.

Pictures on the White House website show the PM and the President and their wives stood on a balcony waving to the crowds that were there to greet the British Prime Minister while a notice declares it a 'rock-solid relationship'.

Speaking at the State dinner last night President Obama said:

"As I said this morning, this visit also gives us an opportunity to return the gracious hospitality that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, as well as David and Samantha and all the British people showed us during our visit to London last year.  And I know Michelle looks forward to returning.  Because, as she announced yesterday, she will be leading the U.S. delegation to the opening ceremonies of the Summer Olympics in London."

...But in moments like that, and in all of our interactions -- including today -- I’ve learned something about David.  In good times and in bad, he’s just the kind of partner that you want at your side.  I trust him.  He says what he does, and he does what he says.  And I’ve seen his character.  And I’ve seen his commitment to human dignity, during Libya.  I’ve seen his resolve, his determination to get the job done, whether it’s righting our economies or succeeding in Afghanistan."

Prince Harry wins against Usain Bolt

It appeared to be a no contest when Prince Harry challenged the world's fastest man, Usain Bolt, to a 30 metre race while on a visit to the University of the West Indies.

However, the young prince did not disappoint and left Usain Bolt at the starting line while Prince Harry, dressed in a Jamaican athletics team kit, took off down the track while the record-winning athlete was distracted

While appearing at the University of the West Indies Law Facility later that evening, the sprightly prince borough a smile to many people's faces as he boasted of his earlier win.

Prince Harry, who is in the Caribbean as part of the Diamond Jubilee Tour, was said to have gotten on famously with the Jamaican athlete but has declined the offer of a rematch.

The young royal has proven popular while on the Jubilee Tour and seems to have charmed just about everyone he has met; Diana would be proud.

War crimes committed on both sides in Libya says UN

A new report recently issued by the United Nations says that both pro and anti-Qaddafi forces committed war crimes and human rights abuses during last years conflict.  The report was due to be presented to the Human Rights Council on 8 March.

The violations said to have been committed include torture, unlawful killings, arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances, the commission says.  Individual cases of rape, attacks against civilians and ill-treatment have also been uncovered by the investigation which was mandated by the UN.

Amnesty International has previously published a report detailing some of the abuses carried out by anti-Qaddafi forces.  Amnesty's report gives graphic details of the torture inflicted on some of those thought loyal to Qaddafi and details their ill-treatment.

The UN states that the legal framework in Libya deteriorated during the reign of the Qaddafi regime but moves are underway for its restoration.  The UN is calling for those responsible to be held accountable for their actions.

Another horse carriage accident in New York

Reports came in last weekend of another incident involving one of the New York carriage horses.  The horse got frightened while in the heavy Upper Manhattan traffic and took off dragging its carriage along with it as it ran.
The incident happened during the early evening traffic while traffic flow is at its heaviest and the news has led to yet more calls for the ban on the use of carriage horses.  The incident only came to an end when the horse eventually collapsed outside of the studios where the John Stewart Daily Show is recorded.

Details released by the Coalition to Ban Horse Drawn Carriages shows that there have been six such incidents in recent years, most notably that of Charlie, a Percheron horse estimated to be 15-years-old, who collapsed in the streets of New York last year.  It was later found that the horse was in poor health and would have likely been in immense pain.  The death of Charlie highlights the need to ensure the proper welfare of the horses and has added further weight to the campaign to ban the use of carriage horses, a campaign which has received the backing of some in congress.

Commenting in a press release, Elizabeth Forel, president of the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages, said:

“Horses do not belong on the congested streets of NYC being barraged with such a variety of stimuli. As prey animals who weigh between 1,500 and 2,000 pounds and who will bolt and spook at the slightest provocation, these sensitive, nervous animals become unwitting weapons and could kill or injure themselves or passers-by. “

Internet footage shows war graves damaged in Libya

Last weekend video footage released on the Internet showed the destruction and damage done to 200 grave stones at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery in Benghazi, Libya.

The damage is thought to have been done in the last week of February, according to a statement released by the Foreign Office and says that a number of headstones at the Benghazi British Military Cemetery were damaged too.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission, whose cemeteries, burial plots and memorials pay tribute to the 1,700,000 men and women from the Commonwealth forces across the world states that the headstones will be restores.  The Commission also states that none of the maintenance staff were injured during the attacks on the gravestones.

There are more than 1,200 Commonwealth servicemen from the Second World War buried at the Benghazi War Cemetery and 284 are buried at the Benghazi British Military Cemetery, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission says.

The attacks have been condemned by Libyan officials and they have pledged to bring those responsible to justice.