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There is a considerable tendency to imagine that progress consists in moving from low tech to high tech – and, often enough, this is perfectly true. But not always. Some years ago, I came across an interesting counter-example. Utterly brilliant scientists and engineers created what was called global personal mobile communications. This ultra-tech system involves walking [...] Any regular reader of this column will, I hope, derive from it some additional information about the many remarkable voluntary activities that go on in and around Dorchester. This week, I can reveal another such effort about which I recently learnt for the first time. This is the Mind Your Head Challenge. The concept sounds positively science-fictional. [...] Fashion is a very strange thing. I have never been able to work out how it happens that, on a certain day in a certain year, fashion for or against a particular type of clothing starts and then spreads like wildfire only to be replaced by another. And, of course, it isn’t just a matter of [...] Events like the Queen’s Jubilee and the Olympics (not to mention last year’s Royal Wedding) serve to remind us all of the way that glamour can be life enhancing. It would be a dull world indeed if we didn’t have these marvellous, enormous events to lift us out of ourselves and into special worlds. But George [...] One of the great things about West Dorset is that, amidst our peaceful rural setting, there is actually a lot going on – and Bridport is no exception to this general rule. This week, I can report on two exciting elements which illustrate the cultural and social vibrancy that marks out the town. On the cultural side, [...] One of the wonderful things about Bridport is the sheer exuberance of the multitude of small businesses that it generates. Of course there is much more to Bridport than just business. The cultural and social life of the town is just as important. But there is a danger of forgetting that the underpinning of Bridport’s success [...] At the start of the New Year, I am reporting on my activities in 2011 as your constituency MP. We are lucky to have a much lower rate of unemployment here than almost anywhere else in the country. Nevertheless, I have found myself increasingly involved in helping young people find jobs, and others in the public, [...] The New Year has arrived – and the signs so far are that it may prove rather windswept, both physically and metaphorically. Certainly the global and, in particular, the European economic climate looks set to be chilly and testing. Under these circumstances, it is worth reminding ourselves of the many good things that can nevertheless be [...] Over the years I’ve become accustomed to the ingenuity and determination shown by the people of Dorset and it never ceases to amaze me how many local heroes there are who are more than willing to roll up their sleeves and address problems head on. I was reminded of this when I was approached by the [...] Last week, I found myself visiting a “care farm” near Dorchester. What, you might ask, is a “care farm”? Answer: it is a farm designed to provide much needed occupation and care for people who need it – in this case, people with learning disabilities. The farm itself is beautifully laid out, and it was wonderful to [...] |
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Copyright © 2012 Oliver Letwin MP - All Rights Reserved |
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