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Petition Tag - defend
Proposed cuts in public funding for ESOL
People who move to the UK need English language skills to access training, gain employment and participate in society. Enabling new arrivals and longer-term residents to fulfil their potential is essential. Migrants bring with them valuable skills, qualifications and experience which can lie untapped unless they have the chance to learn English.
The best way to achieve this is through publicly funded English language provision known as ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages).
Adequate and sustained funding of ESOL is not a luxury. It is an essential public service. This was recognized by Skills for Life, the national strategy for the improvement of adult literacy and numeracy. Thousands of migrants achieved levels of English which enabled them to join the jobs market, access training and participate more fully in their local communities. The strategy created a national curriculum for ESOL, training and qualifications for ESOL teachers and a research centre, the National Research and Development Centre. But now, the funding made available through the strategy is under threat and the good work begun by Skills for Life could be lost.
The government proposals indicate that:
- Full funding will be only be available for unemployed people on job-seeker’s allowance (JSA) or on employment support allowance (ESA), described as ‘active benefits’.
People on other benefits, described as ‘non-active benefits’, such as income support, or on low wages, and their dependants will have to pay the co-funded rate of 50% or the full cost of the course.
- Asylum seekers and people on Section 4 support will not be eligible for full public funding - they will be expected to pay 50%.
- There will be no public funding for ESOL in the workplace. Learners or employers will be expected to pay full cost.
- Since 2007, ESOL learners on benefits or low incomes have been able to get help towards fees from the discretionary Learner Support Fund for ESOL. We fear this will be unavailable in 2011-12.
- The Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) grant which provided support for 16 - 18 year old ESOL learners will be withdrawn.
- The weighting for ESOL and Literacy, which was reduced from 1.4 to 1.2 in 2009, is to be further reduced to 1.0.
We predict devastating effects on ESOL provision, teachers' jobs and ESOL students. We believe that people on low wages, women and asylum seekers are likely to be worst hit.
2. Defend LLU+ 
On Friday 18th June the whole staff team at LLU+, London South Bank University, were called to a meeting with Mike Molan, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Human Sciences.
The team were presented with a 'change document' which proposes the phasing out of LLU+'s work and redundancy/redeployment as provision is run down or transferred for the whole staff team.
3. Defend Council Housing in Bolton Say No to the Stock Transfer
Bolton Defend Council Housing
Say No to Stock Transfer
Council housing is worth defending against privatisation. There is concern that tenants are not being given full information on the case against transfer. The alternative of direct investment should be given and the risks of privatisation highlighted.
These risks include loss of secure tenancies, higher rents and charges, loss of accountability, and problems of debt and borrowing. These risks also include financial crises, job losses, pay cuts, mergers and takeovers.
4. Egyptians should have the right to carry guns and rifles
I as a citizen of Egypt believe I have the right to defend myself and my family by carrying guns and rifles as long as I will not harm anybody and do not have a bad record.
In my country those high ranked have the right to carry automatic rifles; we poor are not allowed to carry even a knife. All poor are subject to be stopped and searched for knives and guns unlike high class who dares to approach them.
War propaganda threatens to corrupt U.S. media. Why waste time, money and our men?
Those men can be anything they want to be and they are using their time to defend our country.
Billions of American dollars have been used to fight this war. The money can be used here in the U.S. for greater things.
So, I fell that if you want to invest money into something effective, make music, not WAR!
6. Ban the Bloc
On September 11, 1993, the Bloc Québécois federal political party, based on the need to defend the French language and promote Quebec culture, became officially registered with Elections Canada.
With this mandate in mind, in the October 1993 federal election, the Bloc formed the Official Opposition in the House of Commons, with Mr. Bouchard as their leader. In Canada, an opposition party is a political party with members elected to the House of Commons or legislative assembly that is neither the government party nor one of a coalition of parties forming the government.
The role of an opposition party is to oppose the government by criticizing government policies, suggesting alternatives and keeping the public informed about issues relating to government administration.
The Bloc Québécois has no other thought other than what is of benefit to Québec, and has no interest in being of benefit to the rest of Canada. They constantly strive and push for separation from Canada, seeking an autonomous and sovereign relationship with Canada.
The existence of the Bloc in the House of Commons is unconstitutional as this party does not run candidates outside of Québec. Should the Bloc ever become the Official Opposition Party again, how could they honestly and justly defend the interests of her Majesty and the people of Canada if their only reason for being is for the welfare of Québec?
November 19, 2004
Mr. President, I call your attention to Article IV, Section 4 of the U S Constitution. It regards your duty to defend every state against invasion.
History records that every nation in which immigrants have not assimilated, but which has tried to be multi-cultural and multi-lingual, has failed.
Balkanization will lead to the downfall of America from within, not from without.
Please do not let this happen on your watch. You took an oath to protect and defend our Constitution to the best of your ability. Mr. President, please take control of this situation, and protect your citizens against invasion.
