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Petition Tag - birmingham
1. Stop Redundancies at University of Birmingham 
The University of Birmingham have announced plans to make 114 staff redundant or force them to work anti social hours contracts.
Staff directly supporting students and there wellbeing are affected.
Cuts include:
*Cut in staff looking after students in student accommodation and downgrading their skills;
*Sports Centre, Security and Cleaning.
The anti social hours contracts are forcing staff with caring responsibilities for children and parents to work evenings and weekends.
All the cuts are to frontline staff, not senior managers.
2. Nominate Aund-Ree Crawford for Birmingham City Council District 6 Seat
After serving three terms as a Birmingham City Councilor, Carole C. Smitherman, Esq., verbalized her resignation on Tuesday, January 15, 2013.
3. Save Birmingham CAB Open Door Service
Birmingham CAB has announced the closure of the Open Door Information and Advice Service at all five bureaux across the city from 11th February 2011. This is because the City Council has decided to withdraw funding of £600,000 which currently pays for this service in bureaux at Northfield, Tyseley, Handsworth, Kingstanding and the city centre.
The CAB has been serving the people of Birmingham since 1939 and last year saw 56,000 clients through the open door service, all of whom were seen without charge.
On 11th March 2010, the outgoing Labour Government announced plans for a High Speed Rail (HS2) link from London Euston to Birmingham. It was reported then that it would cost £11bn, but that figure was 6 years out of date. On the same day you could have got information from the Department for Transport which put the cost at £17.4bn or from HS2 Ltd, which put it at £25.5bn, or 2.8% of our generational national debt (based on a total national debt estimate of £916.6bn).
Despite all the cuts we will face as a nation, and the fact the new Prime Minister has stated that "things are worse than we thought", the Coalition Government still want to go ahead with HS2 and even extend it to link with Heathrow and HS1, meaning it will cost even more than the current £160 million per mile.
The business case assumes three times the number of passengers carried by the West Coast Mainline (45,000 increasing to 146,000 per day), despite there has been no increase in long-distance train travel since 1995 and the only increase has been on discounted fares.
This also ignores the fact that in 15 years time when it is scheduled to be ready, people will need to travel for work less, as who knows what we will have in terms of internet connections and video conferencing.
When announcing the sale of HS1 in Kent, Secretary of State for Transport, Philip Hammond said; "High Speed One is a national success story." This is despite the fact half the trains have been cut to stem the losses. HS1, like HS2, was meant to be great for business and was going to carry 21 million people per year. It has managed 7.5 million. HS1 is being sold for £1.5bn, about a quarter of the £5.8bn it cost to build.
Just to make sure people will use it, as in Kent, current services will be cut. Commuters from Coventry currently enjoy three London trains per hour. If HS2 goes ahead, the two express trains will be cut, meaning even if people go up to Birmingham International to use HS2, it will take them longer to reach their destination.
Supporters and politicians are quick to say HS2 will be good for the environment, however when you read the actual plans, you find out this is not the case. HS1 passengers are responsible for 35% more CO2 emissions than car passengers, but HS2 will go faster, so the CO2 emissions will be higher, but we don't know how much higher as there is no passenger train in the world that travels at the proposed 250mph to compare it with. It will also lead to more flights, not less, as Birmingham International Airport is being extended and it will be about 40 minutes on the train from Euston and now will be directly linked to Heathrow. Birmingham will provide Heathrows third runway.
The HS2 report admits that the plan may lead to an increase in CO2 emissions, but in those calculations they ignore the seven years of construction and roadworks that will mean and the fact that in some places a 75 metre (83 yard) wide strip of 'green stuff' will be turned to concrete, due to 25 metre 'no vegetation zones' on either side.
Yes, 75 metres! The pitch at Wembley is only 69 metres wide. The plans state that where the trains will travel at top speed, the tracks will have to be 25 metres to stop passing trains blowing each other other the rails, and there will have to be a 25 metre 'No vegetation zone' on either side.
HS2 will cut right through the heart of the countryside at a noise level of 95 decibels. The noise level at which sustained exposure could cause permanent hearing damage is 90-95dB. It's not planned to go next to motorways (existing transport corridors) as that would cost even more and to travel at 'high speed', the line has to be very straight.
This will create massive social damage to towns and villages along the line. While the government say it is 'good for business', HS1 and the M6 Toll were justified for the same reasons, but have not devilvered the promised benefits. All they have delivered is large losses. The business case takes no account of businesses which will be destroyed, and businesses will only get land value when it comes to compensation.
HS2 will of course lead to the filling in of greenbelts, as once they are blighted by the fact upto 40 trains per hour (1 per 90 seconds), a quarter of a mile long, going past at 250mph, creating 95dB, it's not going to be a green belt any more. There is also the chance of extensive development around the Birmingham International station as a result of this plan.
The thing is with HS2 is it sounds like a good idea, but when you look at the details, you find that most parts of the plans are bad, unjustified ideas. The main thing is that it is going to be a collosal waste of money that will help bankrupt the country even more than it is now.
Just think of what would not need to be cut if it wasn't for committing to at least 25.5 billion pounds on one train line, connecting two cities, when there are already two train lines doing the job.
5. Boycott advertising on BRMB until Tom Binns is reinstated and an apology is issued
A radio presenter has been sacked for remarks he made on air about the Queen's Christmas message.
Comedian Tom Binns lost his job at Birmingham radio station BRMB after interrupting the speech (which was being broadcast in error) and describing it as "boring".
This sacking is quite simply outrageous and is an attack on free speech and the rights of those who regard free speech to be essential in a Democracy.
6. Save the Muhammed Ali Centre
A recent decision by Birmingham City Council to bulldoze the iconic Muhammad Ali Centre in Icknield Street (only yards from the Hockley Flyover) has sparked outrage among the black community who have been trying for years to have the centre re-opened.
Once a cultural focal point and visited by Ali himself three times, it is now a burnt out shell, and haven for drug misuse. A local group (ICDF) lead by activist Gerald Nembhard has been given only 8 weeks (until June 5th) to present a viable business model to save the building, and raise enough capital to prevent its demolition.
Please contact Gerald Nembhard at the Infinity group for more info. InfinityCDF@hotmail.co.uk
7. Transport from Birmingham to Cardiff at 11:30pm on 17th November 2009
We would like to arrange some sort of transport from Birmingham to Cardiff for the people attending the Jonas Brothers concert on 17th November 2009.
Many people from Cardiff wish to attend this concert but are unable to find any available transport to return home to Cardiff. The people attending can easily get to Birmingham via a train but the last train leaves Birmingham at 10:12pm, the concert will not finish until 11pm and the Cardiff citizens are unable to get home.
We have looked at the prospect of staying overnight in a hotel or getting a taxi but the prices of this are extremely unafforadable. We do not wish to miss this concert as it is a once in a lifetime opportunity for these people to see their heroes perform live on stage. All we are asking is for a small type of transport to make the short return journey to Cardiff the same night at an affordable price.
We would really appreciate you considering organising a small trip. We would be extremely grateful and thankful to whom ever would be kind enough to organise this for the fans.
Sincere thanks.
8. Contemplation/Prayer Room At The Bull Ring Birmingham
With more and more institutions providing quiet rooms/prayer rooms for people of all faiths and denominations (such as several major UK airports, The Trafford and Touchwood Shopping Centres) it is surprising that Birmingham's biggest shopping centre - the Bull Ring - lacks a similar facility; especially as Birmingham is home to over a million people of varying races and beliefs.
How can Birmingham aspire to be an international city when it's biggest retail centre does not cater for it's public?
A permanent quiet room, similar to that at Manchester's Trafford Centre, is long overdue and the management of Birmingham's Bull Ring need to address this issue immediately.
It is important for our kid's to be safe! The children are crossing a major street where there is alot of traffic.
They should have a crossing guard there during the school hours.
10. John Barrowman to go to the Birmingham Hippodrome
This Petition is for John Barrowman to come back to the hippodrome to do the pantomime called Robin Hood.
John Barrowman Has Entertained Us Over the Years On Television and also on stage with his talent and sense of humour.
So I am doing this Petition for Him.
11. I want to hear Ms C Brown on BBC Radio 1Xtra
Ms C Brown is a premier DJ in and around Birmingham, West Midlands. Due to the lack of Black Midland voices on Radio 1Xtra, we would like the BBc to consider hosting her radio show.
She has the backing of most if not all Midland based new Black music artists ranging from Hip Hop, RnB, UKG and Reggae, as she plays there music and represents for them wherever she plays a gig.
Many people know Midland based music through listening to Ms C Brown so we think the rest of the country would like to hear her unique style and presentation of New British Black Music!
12. Introduce child and youth playgrounds for Birmingham estates
Our estate has about 400 family built homes on it and one shop and a pub, the rest of the land is waste ground there are no play facilities on the whole estate leaving numerous children with nothing to do.
13. Birmingham, MI School District Middle School Restructuring
The Birmingham, MI School Board is set to vote on the middle school restructuring plan on February 7th.
It is our belief that this plan is not sufficiently developed to vote on at this time. It is our desire that they postpone this vote, until the issues raised by the community are addressed.
For further information on the background of this petition, send an email to the Perhamfamily@comcast.net.
14. Retire Birmingham Zoo's Mona to a Sanctuary!
On January 31, 2005, fifty-five year old Susie, a female Asian elephant, died at the Birmingham Zoo in Alabama.
Susie's death leaves Mona, her companion of 48 years, completely alone. Mona was captured in the wild in 1951. After being taken from her family and homeland, she has spent the last five decades on public display with little space - her exhibit a sliver of land wedged between the rhino and hippo enclosures.
In the wild, elephants walk an average of 25-30 miles each day. Mona has been held captive in a concrete and metal fenced enclosure for 50 years. She is now 54 years old.
Mona has dutifully served her time, and now, the zoo community can give her the one thing that she deserves: retirement to a sanctuary.
With the potential of a 70-year lifespan, Mona would have the opportunity to rediscover and enjoy all that she has missed, including roaming freely on thousands of acres of rolling pastures, foraging for fresh grass, swimming in natural ponds and streams, and making lots of new friends.
The Birmingham Zoo has been nonresponsive to an offer from The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee, to take in Mona.
We must compel Dr. Foster, CEO of Birmingham Zoo, Inc., to release Mona to a sanctuary!
And, REMEMBER: Mona was NOT captive-born. She was born in the wild and taken away from her family.
UPDATE 04/02/06:
Mona continues to pace, and she continues to be alone for over a year now.
The Elephant Sanctuary is less than five hours from Birmingham. It is hard to belive that the possibility of her new life is so close, and yet so far.
PLEASE go to our web site, find the email addresses for the Birmingham City Council; use your voice for Mona!
UPDATE 01/14/07:
Please visit Mona's blog, and share the link with others:
http://freemona.blogspot.com
UPDATE 06/30/07:
MONA WAS EUTHANIZED BY THE BIRMINGHAM ZOO ON THURSDAY, JUNE 21ST.
We are, all, devastated.
We recommend donations to The Elephant Sanctuary [www.elephants.com] in Mona's name.
(This petition will be removed on July 15, 2007.)
Namaste
15. CHANGE IN START TIME FOR SEAHOLM HIGH SCHOOL IN BIRMINGHAM MICHIGAN
ALL PARENTS RECEIVED A PACKET OF INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW FALL SCHEDULE. THE INFORMATION INDICATED, IN BOLD LETTERS, THAT THERE WOULD BE A CHANGE IN THE STARTING TIME FOR THE AUSTIC PROGRAM AT SEAHOLM HIGH SCHOOL IN BIRMINGHAM, MICHIGAN. CURRENTLY, THE STARTING TIMES ARE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM 7:25 A.M. TO 2:40 P.M. IN THE FALL OF THE YEAR, THE STARTING TIME FOR TUESDAY AND THRUSDAY WILL BE 9:05 A.M. TO 2:40 P.M. THE STARTING TIMES FOR MONDAY, WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY WILL REMAIN THE SAME. THE PARENTS WERE NOT CONTACTED TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY OF THE PLANNING OR TO OFFER ANY SUGGESTIONS REGARDING THE CHANGE IN THE TIME. THESE CHILDREN CANNOT BE LEFT AT HOME ALONE, THAT IS WHY THEY ARE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION -- THEY ALL HAVE SPECIFIC NEEDS. MANY OF THE PARENTS ARE WORKING PARENTS AND THE 9:00 STARTING TIME WOULD BE AN INCONVIENCE FOR MOST PARENTS.
16. Keep ABC 33/40 in Birmingham, AL
We in Birmingham and the surrounding area are writing the petition to keep our local ABC 33/40 Birmingham, AL station on Dishnetwork. We in these said areas depend on this station for our local weather and news. Especially during times of dangeroys weather seasons. Thank your for your consideration.