Wednesday 29 October 2008

Kent TV Housing Debate

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Tuesday 28 October 2008

Students create films for Kent TV

Students studying at Canterbury Christ Church University have produced three films in collaboration with Kent TV to create a film on student housing.

The films were showcased in front of council members, staff, students and members of the public at a special screening on Monday 27th October.

The three films tackle issues of student housing, homelessness and housing development and are based on research carried out by the University’s politics students.

Ivanka Antova, 20, of Heaton Road, Canterbury, said: “The experience of being involved in a project of this magnitude was fantastic. It gave me an idea of what journalism is all about and how politics is a major part of our lives.”

Shelley, who is studying for a degree in Politics and Global Governance, said: “It has been a very exciting and interesting process that has helped develop my research skills and also the application of certain media studies procedures. I have enjoyed working with my fellow students as part of a team and we have created something we are very proud of.”

Sarah Lieberman, a Politics Lecturer at Canterbury Christ Church University, said: “The partnership between the University and Kent TV is a result of the student’s hard work and support for the University’s ‘Making Politics Matter’ initiative. The students have worked tremendously hard and should be extremely proud of what she has achieved.”

Editor of Kent TV, John McGhie, said: “Kent TV is a community internet station. It is therefore absolutely right that we work with the community and I’m delighted to say that Canterbury Christ Church students, as part of that community, have been fantastic to work with. They have been hard working, professional and good fun, and I hope that we can work with them again on future projects.”

The project forms part of Canterbury Christ Church University’s ‘Making Politics Matter’ initiative, set up by Dr David Bates and Sarah Lieberman, lecturers of the Politics degree programme. As part of this initiative, the Politics programme invited local politicians, such as Damien Green MP and Sharon Bowles MEP, to discuss current political issues. Following on from these successes, ‘Making Politics Matter’ has increased in scope to include collaboration with Kent TV and Canterbury Christ Church University’s Media Department.

The culmination of this collaborative housing project took place on Monday 27th October. A panel of experts viewed all three films and had the opportunity to respond and debate the issues raised. This was filmed by Canterbury Christ Church University’s Media students and Kent TV to produce an hour long broadcast, to be shown on Kent TV. The panel of experts included council members and student representatives.

Tuesday 8 April 2008

18th April 2008 Event - Sharon Bowles MEP

Members of the public are invited to attend Canterbury Christ Church University's Making Politics Matter event on Friday 18th April at 4.30pm.

Liberal Democrat Member of the European Parliament for the South East, Sharon Bowles, will give a talk entitled ‘The representation of Britain’s interests in the EU’. Ms Bowles MEP is currently leading a campaign to save international train services in Ashford.

The University’s Making Politics Matter event is part of a series of events at which eminent politicians engage with the local community on a number of political issues to try and get people across Kent more interested and involved in politics.

Canterbury Christ Church University’s Politics Programme Director, Dr David Bates, said: “Britain’s role in the European Union is an issue that generates very strong reactions from the general public. Whatever people’s views, Europe is not an issue that can be avoided. European politics covers everything from international security issues and environment and sustainability, to human rights and the economy. This forum will provide everyone with an opportunity to debate the issues and find out more about what Britain’s role in the EU is and what a European MEP actually does.”

Dr Bates continued: “We are delighted to welcome Sharon Bowles MEP to the University to talk about her work and the issues at stake. Ms Bowles MEP holds strong views on a wide range of crucial issues from China’s international human rights policy to the EU’s move to give the UK £120 million for flood repair, and therefore, I feel, members of the public will find the event of great interest to them.”

The event is free and is open to all local residents and the media. It will take place at the University’s Old Sessions House lecture theatre, Longport, Canterbury.
If you are a member of the public, and would like to attend this event, you do not need book. If you are a member of the media and would like to attend, please contact Canterbury Christ Church University’s Media Relations Officer, Claire Draper, on 01227 782391.


About the speaker:
Having been elected third to the Liberal Democrats list for the South East European Elections in June 2004, Sharon became a member of the European Parliament in May 2005, replacing Chris Huhne who stood down following his election in Eastleigh in the 2005 General Election.

On arrival in May 2005, Sharon became a full member of the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee and in February 2006 was central in the formation of the Committee of Inquiry into the crisis of the Equitable Life Assurance Society. As shadow Rapporteur for the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), Sharon has been a key player in the Payment Services Directive (PSD) negotiations. As rapporteur she is leading for the Parliament on fiscal fraud and has recently been appointed shadow rapporteur on Solvency II. However, her technical and professional experience has meant she has been involved in a range of matters spread over many other committees. She took an active part in the latter stages of the debate on Computer Implemented Inventions and has been closely following all matters relating to Intellectual Property. In January 2007, Sharon also became a substitute member of the Legal Affairs committee.

She is married to Andrew Horton and has two sons, Remy and Damian.

Wednesday 6 February 2008

13th February 2008 Event - Damian Green MP

The politics team at Canterbury Christ Church University are launching a campaign called Making Politics Matter in a bid to get people across Kent interested and involved in politics.

To kick-start the campaign, politics students have invited Shadow Minister of Immigration for the Conservative Party, Damian Green MP, to give a talk at the University’s first public politics forum on Wednesday 13th February at 7.30pm.

The event, which is open to all local residents and the media, will take place at the University’s Old Sessions House lecture theatre, Longport, Canterbury. It is the first of a series of political forums that will see eminent politicians engage with the local community on a number of political issues to try and get people more interested in politics.

Politics student, Sarah Fitzgerald, said: “The aim of this campaign is to ignite political interest in local residents. Many people perceive politics as boring and we, as students, are concerned that not enough people are voting, locally or nationally. I don’t think anyone can deny that politics today involves absolutely everyone and it is our responsibility to know what is going on and try to make a contribution to it.”

The University’s Politics Programme Director, Dr David Bates, said: “A significant number of British people seem to have disengaged from the political process and the levels of trust people have in politicians has declined. If young people in particular do not get involved in politics then their voice won’t be heard. If there is a central aim to this campaign, it is to make people look again at politics and see that it reaches well beyond the activities of politicians and the institutional structures of national parliaments. Political debates are integral to present concerns over issues such as global terrorism, war and environmental change and therefore central to our daily lives.”

Saturday 12 January 2008

MPM

'Making Politics Matter' is an initiative set up by staff and students in the Politics and International Relations programme at Canterbury Christ Church University, with the aim of engaging the population of Kent - students and the general public - more effectively with political debate.

'Making Politics Matter' has in the past attracted a range of high profile politicians local to Kent, including Damian Green MP, who spoke on the issue of immigration and asylum, Sharon Bowles, MEP, who spoke on the future of Britain within Europe, and most recently, Gwyn Prosser, the
Labour MP for Dover who spoke on the issue of regional development.

'Making Politics Matter' has also staged public debates on such issues as 'free trade vs. fair trade' and 'are student fees fair?', events that were well attended both by students and members of the general public.

Politics at Canterbury Christ Church University
The Politics degree programmes sets out to explore the national, international and global structures and processes which have shaped, and continue to shape, political activity. The programme draws on the research of the University’s academic staff and core political material is enhanced by insights from other disciplines such as geography, history, philosophy and sociology.

The programme aims to: enable students to understand the impact which politics has on all aspects of human life; provide students with comprehensive knowledge of the key factors underlying political debates, national, internationally and globally; create a learning environment that is receptive to the needs and views of students and encourages them to reach their potential; and facilitate the development of knowledge and skills in a way that enhances employability and career prospects of students.