Petition Tag - plans

Plans for the proposed redevelopment of the Kensington Leisure Centre (KLC) have now been released by the RBKC and Studio E Architects (available to be viewed at the above URL). Currently in a formal review period, these plans will be presented to the Council’s Cabinet in December for a final decision as to whether the project will proceed.

While many residents and KLC users welcome the thought of a new and improved leisure centre, there remain many unanswered questions as to what facilities we can actually expect. Available drawings are high level and the interim report (see http://tiny.cc/bse0x) is vague.

What has clearly been stated however is a 25% reduction in the length of the main swimming pool from 33 to 25 metres.

No clear reason has been given as to why and how this decision was made. We, consider this to be a significant mistake for the following reasons:

• There are currently only three 'large' public indoor swimming pools left in West London [Richmond (33m); Ealing (50m)]. All other swimming pools are 25m or shorter. Our pool is unique and should remain that way.

• “Larger’ pools are more flexible than smaller pools as they can be subdivided in many different ways or used at full length. A 50m pool can become a 25m pool but a 25m pool can never become a 50m pool.

• We do not support a lengthy and expensive redevelopment that leaves local swimmers worse not better off.

• Swimming longer distances builds greater aerobic capacity and therefore delivers greater health benefits.

• As London prepares for the 2012 Olympics, we believe that RBKC should be more not less aspirational for our local facilities. Why has the UK only won 2 Olympic Gold swimming medals in the last 35 years?

We believe that a new flagship 33m (or longer) swimming pool would be something for local residents to be proud of and would be a strong signal to our children and local young people that fitness and professional/ competitive sports can truly play a part in their lives.

Please sign this petition before the decisions are made that will affect our local community for generations to come.

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In January 2010 Telstra/Bigpond released a set of new wireless plans, however while the top plan received a slight decrease in cost the quota was not increased at all.

The Announcement: http://www.telstra.com.au/abouttelstra/media/announcements_article.cfm?ObjectID=46342
The Plans: http://www.telstra.com.au/abouttelstra/media/wireless-broadband-plans.cfm

Then on March 23 2010 Telstra/Bigpond released a series of bundle options to help their customers save by combining their services and having multiple services with them, however these bundles excluded those users with wireless only connections as they are only available to ADSL/Cable users.

Details: http://www.bigpond.com/internet/plans/bundles/home-bundles-plans/

While many people use wireless broadband as a secondary connection in addition to their ADSL/Cable connection there are quite a few, especially in remote/rural/regional locations, that have wireless as their PRIMARY and ONLY broadband connection due to ADSL/Cable not being available. While satellite is an alternative it is not a viable alternative to wireless due to cost, even less quota and stability of connection.

This petition is a request for Telstra/Bigpond to re-review the plans for Wireless broadband and for Telstra/Bigpond to release a new set of wireless broadband plans that provide sufficient quota at affordable and fair pricing of which is already enjoyed by its ADSL/Cable clients.

As at 19/4/2010 the Wireless plans are;

BigPond Liberty® 400MB $29.95 ($74.87 per GB)
BigPond Liberty® 1GB $39.95 ($39.95 per GB)
BigPond Liberty® 3GB $49.95 ($16.65 per GB)
BigPond Liberty® 6GB $79.95 ($13.32 per GB)
BigPond Liberty® 10GB $119.95 ($11.99 per GB)

As at 19/4/2010 the ADSL2+/Cable plans are;

BigPond Elite ADSL/Cable 2GB $49.95 ($24.98 per GB)
BigPond Elite ADSL/Cable 12GB $69.95 ($5.83 per GB)
BigPond Elite ADSL/Cable 25GB $89.95 ($3.60 per GB)
BigPond Elite ADSL/Cable 50GB $109.95 ($2.20 per GB)
BigPond Elite ADSL/Cable 100GB $129.95 ($1.30 per GB)
BigPond Elite ADSL/Cable 200GB $179.95 ($0.90 per GB)

As can be seen in the above comparison the plan size options between wireless and ADSL/Cable are quite obvious, what is worse however is the price per GB that wireless users are paying in comparison to ADSL/Cable users.

UPDATE: On the 25th July 2010 Telstra released additional new plans for ADSL/Cable

http://go.bigpond.com/broadband/index.jsp

BigPond Turbo 2GB Liberty 2GB 24 months From $9.95
BigPond Elite 2GB Liberty 2GB 24 months From $19.95
BigPond Elite 50GB Liberty 50GB 24 months From $49.95
BigPond Elite 200GB Liberty 200GB 24 months From $69.95

Oh and wireless got;

http://go.bigpond.com/wireless/index.jsp

BigPond Liberty® 400MB plan 400MB 24 months From $9.95
BigPond Liberty® 1GB plan 1GB 24 months From $19.95
BigPond Liberty® 3GB plan 3GB 24 months From $29.95
BigPond Liberty® 6GB plan 6GB 24 months From $59.95
BigPond Liberty® 10GB plan 10GB 24 months From $99.95

Whoopie!

So now lets look at the top plans for each delivery method shall we;
ADSL has 200GB at $69.95 so that is a tiny 35c per GB.
Wireless has 10GB now for $99.95 so that is still a massive $9.95 per GB.

This is NOT a request for like for like plans, as in this is not a request for the wireless plans to be the same size and cost as ADSL/Cable, however they do drastically need to be made fairer and sufficient for today’s internet user needs.

The internet provides a rich environment of various types of media, online entertainment and social networking of which many enjoy on a daily basis, however many wireless users have to continually manage and scrutinise the way in which they use the internet each month to remain within their allocated monthly quota. This will include the websites they visit, the online entertainment sites they use and any files they may want or need to download, including software and operating system updates. While shaping is provided and no excess charges are applied if a wireless user goes over quota, the shaping speed makes the use of the internet painfully slow.

While in comparison ADSL/Cable users can enjoy the internet at full speed all the time with much larger quota allowances at much more affordable prices.

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In 2008 the Government announced that Hillingdon secondary and special schools would be included in a £150 million programme of modernising and improving our schools and making their facilities fit for the 21st century.

A year ago the council sent out to local schools a brochure setting out their plans on how this money would be invested in improving our schools. The Council said at that time that “We will experience exciting new changes in Hillingdon schools, making them suitable for 21st century learning.” The Council told us that the plan was to start in the south of the borough and include the north of the borough as soon as possible.

The Council should have agreed its plans with the Government by now so that we can secure the funds and start the work. However, on Thursday 18th March 2010, the leader of the council informed secondary head teachers that the Council is delaying agreeing the improvement programme plans until after the election and is laying off the bulk of the staff working on the programme. In addition the national Conservative education spokesperson has said that if the local programme has not reached “financial close” by the election “then it won’t be guaranteed.”

In effect this means that the £150 million programme for our schools is now at serious risk.

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In a City the size of London, the Underground system is the quickest way to get around and we are disappointed with the Mayor's decision to shelve 22 of the 45 planned step free access projects across London only committing himself to providing step-free access at 29 per cent of all stations by 2017. This is a major step back from previous plans to provide step-free access on a third of the network by 2013. As a result, many disabled passengers, older people and parents with young children are being denied access to this mode of transport. This is particularly concerning in the run up to the 2012 Paralympics and makes us wonder how the Mayor is planning to keep his post-Beijing pledge to make London’s Games the most accessible ever.

It makes little sense that Finsbury Park, where the current 49.1m passenger journeys a year are likely to increase by 40% over the next 15 years, is not being made step-free whilst Kingsbury and Amersham, both serving less than one tenth of Finsbury Park’s passengers, are being made accessible. We believe that money would be better spend on projects in areas where a larger number of people would benefit.

The decision makes even less sense because Network is going ahead with plans to provide step-free access from the overground platforms to street level at Finsbury Park. It has now given Transport for London and the Mayor until the autumn to change their minds on working together to make Finsbury Park step-free.

These are the reasons why we (Jeremy Corbyn MP, Jennette Arnold AM, local councillors, the Islington Disability Network, Islington Mobility Forum and Transport for All) are working together to collect as many signatures to pass to the Mayor to convince him to change his mind. If you agree that Finsbury Park Underground station should be made accessible to all passengers then please sign this petition. We are aiming to hand the petition over to the Mayor in the Autumn.

Ps. Please provide your email address to ensure your signature counts!

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There have been proposed plans to close Sixth Forms in the local area, one of them being St John Fisher.

We as former pupils don't want it to close as it is a major part of the Catholic Community and where are pupils going to study when they have finished their GCSE's.

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There are elements of the Canterbury Road Project, that include plans to (despite the existing bypass) actively discourage through traffic coming into the main Village Centre.

The local shops and Businesses have already suffered due to the bypass - through traffic means passing trade - and it is very likely if the junction priority change at Aerodrome Road, the traffic light priority changes and any other measures to reduce traffic volume and encourage everyone to use the bypass, that at least some of the Businesses may suffer, or indeed close down.

Then there will be no Village Centre to speak of.

Width restrictions, or weight restrictions would be a simple measure to discourage the HGV's. Traffic calming measures would be welcomed.

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I truly can not understand the reason of why my dependant child can not reunite with me and her brother. My daughter Alexandra was approved for LEGAL Immigration into the USA in December, 2004.

Since then, we have been anxiously waiting for her immigrant visa which allow her to come to the US, and continue her education as a professional Concert Violinist.

In July 12, 2007 she had successfully passed her interview and was fingerprinted for the immigration purpose in the US Consulate in Kazakhstan.

Since that, - everything seems to be stuck again.

Alexandra had graduated from the National Music College for the Most Talented Children with 4.0 GPA, and plans to apply to Julliard or other similar institutions.

Her immigration status prevents us for making any plans for her superior education, not to mention our personal angst and pain this uncertain situation generates.

Please, feel free to forward this petition to your friends and social circle.

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www.savequeenmarys.com

This petition is for concerned individuals and groups in the community who strongly oppose the closure of Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup. The Secretary of State for Health should abolish any plans to close it.

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July 24, 2006

Siti Nurhaliza, Malaysia's top artist has just gone open with her plans to marry Datuk Khalid, a prominent businessman in Malaysia.

Although most fans are disgusted by the fact that she is 20 years younger than him (she is 27 and he is 47), but the thing that irks most Malaysians is that he is said to have divorced his wife of 20 years just so that he could marry Siti.

He has four sons, with age ranging from 8 to 19 years old. Her wonderful image is tarnished by this sudden news and we are hoping that she would stop all her plans to marry him.

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May 19, 2006

No to immigration snatch squad -
These detention centres are effectively the same as prisons.

It is inconceivable that at the same time that human rights advocates and campaigners are calling for them to be shut down in England and Scotland, that there are plans to establish one here.

The centre will lead to the criminalising of the immigrant community living here.

At a time when racist attacks are spiralling out of control this will contribute to fuelling racist attacks. We are further opposed to the plans for a special immigration squad who will carry out raids on workplaces to try to identify undocumented workers. This will breed the idea that the majority of overseas workers are here unlawfully when that is not the position.

There is a tiny number of asylum seekers and undocumented immigrants living here and there is no justification for having either a detention centre or a special immigration squad.

The current plans should be scrapped and the available resources used to tackle the real problems of race hate crimes.

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March 21, 2006

This petition is in support of letters of objection to the proposed building plans for further development of Nutten Stoven Residential Home for the Elderly at 81, Boston Road, holbeach. Application no. H09/0279/06.

Previous application of building plans H09/1610/04 were refused on the grounds of over development of the site.

We the residents of all the homes in Lime Grove no. 1-11 and the two homes either side of the entrance to Lime Grove at no. 3 and 5 Chestnut Avenue are opposed to the newly submitted plans.

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November 2, 2005

In November 2005, the United Nations will meet to discuss the Kyoto Protocol at the 11th Conference of the Parties (CoP-11). This meeting will also be the first time that the UN has met after the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol (MoP-1).

At this landmark event, we would like the UN to recognize the concerns of Youth of the Arctic.

Declaration on Climate Change from Youth of the Arctic.

We, youth from the Circumpolar North, realize that the world is facing a threat unlike anything ever experienced before in human history. Here in the Arctic, where the impacts of climate change are happening at an accelerated rate, we feel our physical environment, our culture, and our spirituality, are being disrupted. Sea ice is melting, coastlines are exposed and degrading, and species are at risk. Communities are being forced to give up land based traditions and Traditional Knowledge is being lost. Indigenous Peoples 'ways of being' continue to be threatened.

Our ecosystems are disturbed; we are vulnerable.

The science surrounding our changing climate has now existed for the same amount of time that we have been alive. Arguing the validity of climate change science is no longer worthwhile- it is now time to act - and act with conviction.

We are supporting research on impacts, mitigation and adaptation to climate change. We are encouraging our peers and our communities to become informed and engaged. Individually, we are taking responsibility for our actions. By reducing our personal greenhouse gas emissions, engaging in activities with lower environmental impacts, and making conscious choices, we are reflecting the world we want to live in.

We are challenging fossil fuel development such as the proposed drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, United States, the proposed Mackenzie Pipeline Project in Northwest Territories of Canada and oil drilling in Lensky region of Russia's Sakha Republic. We see the importance in taking steps now to lay a foundation for change that will reach far into the future.

The global community has come a long way in a short time. Thank-you to the United Nations for its Framework Convention on Climate Change. The Kyoto Protocol is a step in the right direction. Thank you for the considerable work carried out by the International Panel on Climate Change. Thank you to the Arctic Council for the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment and to Snowchange for their conference on Northern Indigenous and Local Community Observations of Climate and Ecological Change. These provide critical insight and raise international awareness about the situation of the North.

However, we are concerned that the work being done is not enough. We are concerned that science is not being met with awareness, and plans are not being met with action. More effort needs to be invested by individuals, communities, and governments, if the world is to reduce or reverse the impacts of climate change. We are concerned that the public at large is still unaware and uncertain of the threats of climate change. How can people be motivated to take positive action unless they understand the urgency of the situation?

The economy should no longer come before health and well being. Full cost accounting, or more socially and ecologically based accounting mechanisms should be developed and integrated. Long-term vision needs to be incorporated into climate change response plans, recognizing that political and business timelines are too short.

We would like to help you move forward with a multi-generational, multi-disciplinary vision. We will lobby for climate change to be taught in schools so that today's children are climate change literate and are armed with the tools to act. We will continue to inform the public about climate change and its effects. We will learn to adapt to climate change in a way that considers the impacts of our solutions on the seven generations ahead of us. Our generations are linked, just as the Arctic is linked to the rest of the world. Choices made in the present will exponentially affect the future.

We are willing to make a difference and we challenge you to do the same.

We call on you to help us build the economic, political, and cultural infrastructure necessary for a sustainable future.

We offer you our vision of a strong North and a positive world.

If you protect the Arctic, you protect the world.

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July 5, 2006

This petition is now closed. Thanks to all who signed.

October 8, 2005

Since the merger between TVU and Reading College, the University has offered the students more hardship. Cuts are being made across the whole University, but the plan to close the Radio Station is one cut too far.

The Radio Station is the heart of the student community of TVU Reading and that must be defended no matter what the cost.

We the undersigned are disgusted at the plans to close the Radio Station and demand that the service is handed over to the Students' Union to continue to provide the essential services that the station provides.

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Mercury Exposure provides consumer information about exposure to the toxin mercury in dentistry, medicine, products and the environment.

Mercury is a known neurotoxin that is not addressed in medicine, dentistry and health insurance. The lack of medical and dental education, diagnostics, treatment and documentation does not support consumer health issues.

Mercury is regarded an environmental problem, whilst medical, dental and household use of mercury is allowed to continue with exemptions.

Medical records have not itemized all exposures to mercury, from dental amalgams placed, vaccines given and other sources of mercury. The amount of mercury received and the onset of chronic conditions is statistically challenged.

Those at a greater risk of mercury exposure are the same groups being targeted with mercury containing vaccines.

The advances in diagnostics and treatment of mercury exposure need to be embraced by general medical education, practitioners and medical specialists.

The industrial and medicinal use of mercury goes well beyond acute occupational exposures, chronic mercury exposure and the increase of chronic disease requires statistical performance science documentation of patient exposure from continued use of small and large quantities of mercury in medicine, vaccines and dentistry.

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REASON FOR PETITION: The following interview was given just before the opening of the new pier and the following statements were made by The New Pier Management and we as pier Patrons/Anglers expect the management to abide by the statements that were made in the following Newspaper Interview in 2004 prior to the completion of the new Jacksonville Beach Pier.

***********************************

Fishermen will be front and center at the new Jacksonville Beach Pier.

That's the word from the folks chosen to manage the 1,300-foot pier, which is expected to open around the end of November.

"That's our primary focus -- fishing," said Don Streeter, a partner in Dania Pier Management. "I think this thing is going to be awesome. There's nothing on the Florida East Coast that equals it in length."

Dania Pier Management operates piers in Dania Beach, Deerfield Beach and Juno. The company was awarded the contract after the city of Jacksonville put out bids to manage the pier. While several groups expressed interest, Dania Pier Management was the only respondent.

"We were doing our own research, talking to cities and counties [with privately managed piers]," said Debbie Doran, of the city's Department of Administration and Finance. "All of them were very pleased with Dania Pier Management."

The firm's contract runs for five years, with a provision to renew for another five years.

When plans for the new pier were first being developed, local fishermen expressed fears it might become not much more than a boardwalk designed to attract tourists. Not to worry, Streeter said.

"We're going to do everything we can to make it where the fisherman is the main priority," he said. "Whatever the fishermen want -- whether it's live shrimp, greenies. If it's available, we'll have it."

The pier's main building will house restrooms and a bait and tackle shop. Rental rods will be available, and popular pier lures and other tackle will be sold.

"All piers are different," Streeter said. "Here in Dania, they very rarely fish with plugs or lures. But in Juno, 80 percent of them use lures."

Streeter recently met with Doran, and he'll submit a list of recommendations, including admission fees and hours.

"They're in the business of operating piers, so I'm sure we'll look closely at their recommendations," Doran said.

Streeter's plans call for the same admission fees charged by the old pier. Ronnie Waterman, who once managed the old pier, said admission fees were $3.75 to fish, 75 cents to walk.

Streeter is also recommending that the new pier be open from one hour before sunrise to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. On Fridays and Saturdays, the closing time would be 11 p.m.

"That's the way we're going to start off, and if the demand is there, we'll extend the hours," Streeter said.

Dania Pier Management's Juno pier is open from 30 minutes before sunrise to sundown. The company's other two piers are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Streeter, who plans to live in Jacksonville Beach at least temporarily, expects to hire several people to run the new pier.

The pier is expected to feature four fish-cleaning stations, two on each side. The original architect's plans included cleaning stations only on the north side, but Streeter recommended southside stations for use during colder months.

"If you've ever tried to clean fish facing into the wind during the winter ...," Streeter said. "The city has been very receptive to ideas. They're in agreement, if it benefits the pier and the fishermen, they're open to discussion."

The old Jacksonville Beach Pier held a popular annual tournament for surface and bottom species. Streeter said the new pier may also stage some kind of competition. Last year, on opening day of snook season, the Dania Pier conducted a $5 Calcutta pool for the first legal snook caught and the heaviest legal snook.

"If we get notice a good run of blues is coming down from the Carolinas, we might institute something like that," Streeter said.

Benches on the pier will be built back to back with space in between. Streeter has plans to install wind breaks that would fit in that space. Trash receptacles are scheduled to be emptied once a day.

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Verde Valley Christian Church plans to develop a worship center in a quiet neighborhood where neither the roadways nor the area are appropriate for such heavy usage.

Their current plans call for a "Multi-purpose facility" seating 500, a lighted parking lot for 375 cars, a lighted ball field and proposed second worship building for an additional 1000 attendants.

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The Issaquah School district has begun a fast-track redistricting plan.

We are concerned that several of the plans do not do what is best for the students of Issaquah and Sammamish and encourage people to support plan D which uses the new highland school more effectively and keeps students together much more cohesively.

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A call for the abolition of university tuition fees and for grants to be kept for poorer students.

Opposition to the introduction of top-up fees and support for Conservative plans to restore free access to highereducation and to reduce student debt.

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Gravesend & Northfleet Football Club faces the biggest threat in its 60-year history if plans to relocate Gillingham FC to the borough come to
fruition.

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Eight years ago the plans for the Wall Township Hidden View development was introduced. The plans proposed access from Cherry & Red Bud lanes in the Ramtown section of Howell. The Howell Council took action against this proposel. The NJ Supreme Court ruled in favor of allowing access to Hidden View from Cherry & Red Bud lanes. Plan B was to build a bridge over the Garden State Parkway which proved to be to daunting. The new plan calls for access to Hidden View via a new $750,000.00 "T" intersection at Jacob Road in the Forest Ridge development.

This plan is a result of complaints from the residents in and around the Cherry & Red Bud Lane area. While no one wants the access road in their area, to move it to another area is just shifting the burden. The Cherry & Red Bud Lane area has numerous alternate routes to Newtons Corner Road. The Forest Ridge area has extremely limited access to Newton Corner Road for vehicles from 177 new homes.

This "T" intersection if built will pose a serious threat to safety and well being of the children and all residents in the Forest Ridge development. Direct access to Newton Corner road or another main road should be found. Builing a new access road that funnels the traffic from 177 new homes trough ANY existing residential development must not be allowed.

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We are asking people around the world to sign an online petition asking the World Bank to immediately halt plans for the expansion of industrial logging in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Read on to find out more, and don't forget to forward this to friends and colleagues, as we need as many signatures as possible.

Logging the Congo rainforests will cut down more than just trees!

The rainforests of the Congo - which are the second largest on Earth after those of the Amazon - are imminently threatened. New laws being introduced under the guidance of the World Bank, as well as a 'zoning' of the country's forests, will potentially see an area the size of France handed out to logging companies.

35 million people (75% of Congo's national population) live in and around the forests, and depend on it for food, shelter, and natural medicines. The forests are also home to thousands of plant and animal species, including the lowland Gorilla, chimpanzees, forest elephants, and the rare okapi. So far, the rainforests have largely been spared widespread destruction.

However, the new laws, which are due to come into effect this year, will encourage a massive expansion of the timber industry, including a 60-fold increase in industrial logging.

This could be the start of the first major environmental and humanitarian catastrophe of the 21st century.

The Rainforest Foundation, along with dozens of environmental and human rights groups from the Democratic Republic of Congo is calling on the World Bank to immediately halt plans for the expansion of industrial logging of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and to ensure that the rights of people living in the forest are respected.

Please spare two minutes to sign the online World Bank petition and forward this email on to your friends and colleagues?

Yours sincerely

The Rainforest Foundation

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At present - "The System" is forcibly taking people who have made provisions for themselves into "custody". When this happens, the person becomes a "ward of the state", thereby losing ALL their assets, monies, property, home, and even RIGHTS ! This then means since the person is a ward of the state, that the state can collect Federal Grant monies for their care, assume their assets and dispose of that person where and how they please! Categorically, this is done, NOT always in the Best Interest of the person, but in the BEST FINANCIAL GAIN of the State and local municipalities.

The spirit of this petition is to ensure that if you create the above documents, Your Wishes will be Honored and You and Your Family will be treated and respected as you made provisions for and not allow the government the ability to "rubber stamp" you into "the system" as it is now doing. (www.usinjustice.com)

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This petition is to clearly state that we want cheaper broadband & adsl plans in Australia, particularly unlimited plans. Australia has large and unfair 'limits' on broadband which most people cannot afford. We are behind in our pricing and development on broadband/adsl. The internet is fastly developing a larger need for adsl users, which most users simply cannot afford!

We need cheaper & more reliable adsl, and we do not need small shaped plans - We have a demand for unlimited. Making this cheaper will also earn Australian Computer Companies more revenue, and our currency higher, with our technology soaring higher. This pertition is to show a small percentage of people, out of the millions, that really do care about this issue.

Related websites to this petition, and website's we'd like you to view, include:
http://www.whirlpool.net.au
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au
http://www.speedguide.net
http://www.broadband.com.au
http://www.pricewatch.com

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Ever since the reliance Infocom service started it has been nothing but a joke. The network isnt well spread, SMS don't work, tech support rarely has an idea as to when things will actually work. The so called 'features' of the handsets are actually shortcomings and Reliance has no plans of replacing them. The Samsung handset can't ring and vibrate at the same time. Moreover the max SMS length is an apalling 140 chars.

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It has recently come to our attention that the Government of TamilNadu is proposing to demolish the buildings housing Queen Mary's College, Chennai. We are alarmed at this possible action.

"There is nothing that solidifies and strengthens a Nation like reading the Nation's history, whether that History is recorded in books or embodied in customs, institutions and monuments" (J.Anderson)

The Queen Mary's College, Chennai is both an institution and a monument. Set up in 1914, it was the first women's college in Chennai and the second in the South. A rich educational tradition and the experience of
a long history define the institution that is Queen Mary's College. Several of the college buildings including Pentland House (1915), Stone House (1918) and Jeypore House (1921) are vintage monuments and have
been declared as heritage buildings by the Heritage Committee of the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority. This educational institution with its striking architecture has been one of the proud
landmarks of Chennai, helping define and continuing to contribute to the personality of the city. It is soon to celebrate its centenary in befitting manner.

Many of the buildings have been recently renovated and equipped with modern facilities with the help of a grant from the Department of Education. An effort by the alumnae has been underway to raise contributions to the 'building fund' set up to restore earlier buildings requiring more extensive repair and reconstruction. Plans
have been drawn for proposed improvements and are currently in the implementation stage.

It is therefore with great shock and dismay that we recently learnt of the plans of the Government to pull down this prestigious college and replace it with a Secretariat building.

Queen Mary's College is located on the Marina in an atmosphere conducive to learning, and offers education of the highest standard to more than 4000 students. The College is rooted in a strong sense of
responsibility to its surrounding community. It is committed to providing educational opportunities for students from less-privileged backgrounds to realize their potential. Today, most of the students
hail from lower middle class and labour class families, many of them first generation students. The 25 degree courses offered are a constantly evolving mix of the traditional and the unorthodox, tailored
to meet the unique needs of the community it serves. Always a pioneer in educational circles, Queen Mary's College has been the one of first to offer rare courses including physical education, three Home Science
Degrees, Tourism and Travel Management, Music and Functional English.

One of the best ways to preserve a country's heritage and pay tribute to its history is to maintain and restore ancient buildings, to retain a legacy for future generations to understand the country's great and
glorious cultural richness. We fear that the Government's proposed move to demolish Queen Mary's College lacks vision in this regard. The move will only serve to erode social, and educational values that have been
built over decades and deprive deserving lower middle class female students of an immensely valuable college education that uplifts and empowers.

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Calling all patrons, past and present, of Da An/Blowing in the Wind in Nanjing, People's Republic of China.

Nanjing University intends to redevelop the area in which Da An is located as part of their expansion plan. This means that Da An will be no more! Please sign this petition to help us make it known to the University, the cultural and social significance of Da An in Nanjing, in hope that they may allow Da An to remain or provide a suitable alternative space for the bar in their plans.

We are organising a Da An music night 'Zui Zhong Yao de Shi Wanr!' for June 29th, inviting all artists who have previously played in Da An to perform in support of this cause. Please come along!

This electronic petition will support our local paper-petition and will be submitted with as many photographs as we can get of good times in Da An. If you have a photograph of yourself in Da An and wish to submit it, please attach it to an email and send to:

Laodong55@yahoo.co.uk - or post them to Shanghai Road, No. 13 Jinyin Street, Nanjing, PRC, 210000

Please help us spread the word to all those who have been to Nanjing and Da An.

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