Due to lack of interest, I have cancelled this weekend.  It clashes with Pride and there’s a Jersey trip straight afterwards - the competition was too great!

Dear All,

Neil and myself had exchanged a few comments following his posting of ‘Please sign this petition’, relating to the appropriateness of using the GLUG blog as a media for postings of political nature.  For those interested please read the trail of comments posted on the website.  I hope that we can have a discussion on this at the next monthly meeting. 

As Neil mentioned, for those unable to make the meeting, further comments will be welcome.  However, as per my last comment, I won’t say anymore here.  I am mindful of the risks of causing misunderstanding and bad feelings by such postings.  There has been a couple of incidences in the past as a result of exchanges of messages between GLUG members via this website.  

Ben

The MCS (Marine Conservation Society) and BSAC are calling up British Scuba Divers to join the Battle for Britain’s seas. Join them for a march on Parliament to demand Marine Reserves Now within the Marine Act, which will be published in draft on 3rd April.

MCS, BSAC and public aquaria have collectively gathered over 100,000 signatures in support of a network of highly protected marine reserves, to be delivered to Environment Secretary, Hilary Benn outside the Houses of Parliament. We need YOUR support, so please register as a demonstrator today. Email Sandrac@bsac.com giving your name and contact details.

NB: Only the first 100 Divers will be able to take part in the march (on a first come first served basis). Please DO NOT simply turn up on the day without registering first.

More details:
Date: 3rd April
Assembly Time: 11:00am
Assembly Point: In front of County Hall (by London Aquarium)
What to bring: Mask & Snorkel. (optional: Diving suit, booties, fins, but NO Dive Knives, Tanks, or Weights).
NB: There will be no changing or storage facilities

A Marine Reserves Now! T-Shirt will be provided to participants.

The March will start at 12:15, to arrive at Old Palace Yard at 12:45. There will be a photocall with divers congregated outside the Houses of Parliament and presentation of the Marine Reserves Now! petition to the Environment secretary at 13:00.

This isn’t dive-related at all, but it is something that affects a great number of long-term HIV sufferers, so I hope you’ll forgive me for posting it here.

I would urge everyone to sign the petition at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/DLA-Review/. Please read on, to discover why…

Back in the ’80s and early 90’s, when HIV was considered a terminal illness, and the life expectancy of HIV sufferers was only a few months, the government awarded Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to large numbers of HIV sufferers (and, of course others with chronic illnesses). DLA recipients are normally subject to a Periodic Review process, but those with terminal, chronic and/or incurable conditions were exempt from this - their benefits were guaranteed “for life”.

The vast majority of those awarded DLA at the time have since passed away, however a few lucky ones survived. Over the course of the last 10-20 years, they have, naturally, structured their lives and finances on the assumption that they would continue to receive this benefit.

However, in May last year, this exemption was removed, with no prior consultation or publicity, and now many long-term HIV sufferers face having their benefits reduced, or removed altogether. This process has already begun. The Government is making no effort to find employment for, or offer other assistance to those whose benefits are stopped.

Although HIV is no longer considered a terminal disease, those who have been taking various HIV medications for such a prolonged period are often unable to work, due to problems such as Severe fatigue, Arthritis, Liver disfunction, etc. Even for those who are able to work, finding employment is likely to be difficult - many are in their 50s - and the first question any employer is likely to ask is “So, why haven’t you been working for the last xx years?”.

While I’m not suggesting that benefits should be paid to those who don’t really need them, I think the sudden removal of benefits that have been assured for many, many years is likely to cause real hardship for those it affects - possibly even causing homelessness (I know of people who have obtained mortgages on the basis of these “assured” benefits). The Government should at the very least be providing support for those whose benefits are being removed - either by a gradual reduction, or by helping them to find employment, prior to removing the benefits.

Please go to http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/DLA-Review/ and put your name to the petition.

Thanks,

Neil.

At last week’s monthly meeting, several people were kind enough to congratulate me on winning 3rd Place in the Visions 2007 Underwater Photography Competition.

However, since Alan hadn’t warned me that he was going to tell everyone, I didn’t think to take the photo with me to the meeting so, for those who wanted to see it, here it is. (You can click on it to see a larger version)

I was particularly pleased to win a prize, because of the way the competition was run: The photos were displayed throughout the Visions conference, and rather than the pictures being judged by a panel, every delegate voted for their three favourite photos in order of preference. I narrowly missed 2nd place - my photo had the same number of overall votes, but one less “first preference” vote.

The winning photo was a stunning image of a wave recoiling from a rock wall - a perfect tube of water, seen from below.

BTW, the conference was excellent, and, as always inspired me…now if I could just win the lottery, to fund all that expensive dSLR equipment, and a few dive trips…!

Ocean Optics are holding an Open Day, with renowned Underwater Photographer, Mark Webster, on Saturday Jan 12th.

Mark’s credentials are impressive - a well established photo-journalist writing regularly for the major diving, photographic and wildlife magazines. He has also been selected four times to represent Great Britain at The CMAS World Championships of Underwater Photography winning silver and bronze medals. Further competition successes include the BBC/British Gas Wildlife Photographer of the Year and the Agfa Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Blue Earth 2000, Geographical Magazine Photographer of the Year 2000, Ocean Realm Magazine Marine Photo 2000, Diver Magazine Image 2001 and 2003 and Subios 2004 along with numerous other awards.

Scubapro are running a competition where you can win a MK17AF/X650 Regulator (retail price £369). To find the answers, try the links in this post.

Are you fed up with trying to keep all your dive gear and holiday things to under 20Kg of baggage? Or of having to pay excess fees in order to take what you need?

SITA are recognised by a number of people as having a lead role in the Scuba Industry, and they’ve been campaigning for a while now to get divers a decent baggage allowance.

You can help the cause by printing off their petition, and getting all your friends to sign it.

I’d encourage everyone to do so - it’s only by demonstrating that there are large numbers of people who care about this that the airlines are going to change their policies.

Win tickets to LIDS with Divernet

Win a Red Sea Liveaboard trip with Divers’ Heaven by answering a simple question.

Gay Games VII in 2006
London Presentation
SATURDAY, 13 November, 2004
NOON to 2 pm

London City Hall, The Queen’s Walk, London SE1 2AA,
Committee Rooms 4/5, Lower Ground Floor (map)

You’re Invited!

Greater London Authority and London’s umbrella sports group, Out For Sport, are hosting Chicago Gay Games representatives for a special information session for London area athletes, artists and. This event takes place from noon to 2 pm at London City Hall, The Queen’s Walk, London SE1 2AA, in committee rooms 4 and 5 on the lower ground floor. All are welcome. There is no charge to participate.

Stony Cove, the inland dive site in Leicestershire, is holding a “Splash-In” photography competition on Saturday 20 November.
There will be prizes for the winners, free hot drinks, and free copies of DIVER magazine in the marquee (near the shower-block) for competitors, supporters and other divers enjoying a dip in Stoney Cove.
The £5 competition entry fee entitles you to a free 36-exposure slide film . The film must be exposed at Stoney Cove and handed over to be entered in the competition on the same day. Digital entries will also be allowed, with proof that all shots entered are from your on-the-day dive at Stoney Cove.
All divers are welcome to participate - you do not need to be an experienced underwater photographer to enjoy this event; a special category for novice photographers will give you the chance to borrow a demonstration model of the easy-to-use Bonica underwater camera.
Pre-register or simply turn up on the day.

Ever wanted to try Ice Diving? - Win a trip to Norway