Christmas Card

UK government

Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs minister: Hilary Benn ,
who has overall responsibility for all Departmental issues and represents the UK at the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council and at the EU Environment Council, also leads for the UK in other international negotiations on sustainable development.



Secretary of State for Transport minister: Lord Adonis,
whose responsibilities are sustain economic growth and improved productivity through reliable and efficient transport networks, and improve the environmental performance of transport, further, strengthen the safety and security of transport and enhance access to jobs, services and social networks, including the most disadvantaged.


Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs minister: David Miliband
Who is responsible for relations with foreign countries, matters pertaining to the Commonwealth of Nations and the UK's overseas territories and the promotion of British interests abroad.





Secretary of State for Work and Pensions minister: Yvette Cooper
who has overall responsibility for the work of the Department. She takes personal responsibility for public expenditure and Departmental security issues.






Secretary of State for Defence minister: Bob Ainsworth
who is the Cabinet Minister charged with making and executing Defence policy, and with providing the means by which it is executed, the Armed Forces. He is Chairman of the Defence Council and of its three Boards, (the Admiralty Board, the Army Board and the Air Force Board).



Home Secretary for the Home Office minister: Alan Johnson
who is responsible for immigration control, security and order. Also, responsible for the police, United Kingdom Borders Agency and MI5, It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs, counter-terrorism and ID cards.



Secretary of State for Health minister: Andy Burnham
who is responsible for NHS , social care delivery , system reforms, Finance and resources and Strategic communications.





Chancellor of the Exchequer minister: Alistair Darling
who is the head of the treasury and control the finance of Britain.








The Prime Minister's responsibilities: As head of the UK government, the Prime Minister oversees the operation of the Civil Service and government agencies, appoints members of the Cabinet, and is the principal government figure in the House of Commons. The Prime Minister presides over the Cabinet, is responsible for allocating functions among ministers and, at regular meetings with the Queen, informs her of the general business of the government. The Prime Minister's other responsibilities include recommending a number of appointments to the Queen. These include high-ranking members of the Church of England, senior judges and certain civil appointments. He also recommends appointments to several public boards and institutions, as well as to various royal and statutory commissions.

Visit to the Welsh Assemble

Senedd, a innovative building located on the waterfront in Cardiff bay, houses the Welsh Assembly for Siambr and Committee Rooms. Look from outside, the roof looks like the waves in the sea and make the whole build seemed like a modern version boat overlooking the bay. What impressed me most is the magic design, in one word, sustainable. No air-conditions in the Senedd thanks to the flexible windows and the roof. Also the glass wall make inside lightful and save the electric changes. The rational utilization of solar energy, wind power, rain, geothermal energy and so on, is not only sustainable but also economic.

After the staff’s introduction, we entered the Siambr which is the large, circular debating chamber which lies at the heart of the building. It houses the full meeting of all 60 Assembly Members under a spectacular funnel which hangs from the roof. Fortunately, we came across one of the sixty Assembly members who called Christopher Franks and we also asked a few questions. Mr. Franks friendly answered each question such as the employment of Chinese students and showed us a bright future.

Through the short term but rich content trip, we have a better understanding with Welsh Assembly and are more familiar with, both the building style of Senedd and the system of Assembly.

Britian Parliament

The three main parts which make up Parliament
Britain Parliament is made up of three main parts: House of Commons, House of Lords and monarch

Five key differences between Parliament and government
forming a government ;
ministers and MPs ;
scrutiny of the government ;
confidence motion ;
government bills

A brief explanation of the main roles of Parliament
checking the work of the government: Parliament examines and challenges the work of the government. Parliament examines and challenges the work of the government. Both the House of Commons and the House of Lords use similar methods of scrutiny, although the procedures vary. The principal methods are questioning government ministers, debating and the investigative work of committees. The government can publicly respond to explain and justify policies and decisions.

making laws: Parliament is responsible for approving new laws (legislation). The government introduces most plans for new laws, or changes to existing laws - but they can originate from an MP, Lord or even a member of the public or private group. Before they can become law, both the House of Commons and House of Lords must debate and vote on the proposals.

representing UK citizens: For example, rise issue in the house of commons that matter to people; ask ministers question and make speeches or raise petitions; hold 'surgeries' and find out about people's problems; attend local functions and meet a wide range of people.





Group 1 : Ella, YoYo, Aven, Jimmy

Halloween

Halloween, which is celebrated on the night of October 31, is a festival of the dead. In the ancient time, it was always associated with the beginning of the dard, cold winter, a time of year and human death. It is believed that wearing costumers and masks can ward off harmful spirits. In fact, people disguise themselves as monsters for the purposes to avoid harm. Common characters include the devil, the Grim Reaper, ghosts, ghouls, demons, witches, goblins, vampires, werewolves, zombies, skeletons, black cats, spiders, bats and crows.

Traditionally, on the Halloween eve people often place a candle on their western window sill to honor their departed, and carve lanterns from turnips and rutabagas with faces on them. However, pumpkins are used instead more popular nowadays.

EU policy about making European laws

Where there is a problem, there is a law. It is an accurate description of European Union’s policy about making laws. When problems arise, EU may draft a new law or suggest some measures to tackle them in order to provide the necessary powers. However the European Parliament and Council will review, and may amend, the Commission’s proposals.

Once a law has been agreed at European level member states are obliged to ensure their national laws are consistent with it. They must do so even if they opposed the law in the Council of Ministers but were outvoted by the majority. Any nation joining the EU must agree that laws passed at a European level take precedence over national law.

In fact, most laws benefit the member countries equally and for the purpose to unite them together and become more powerful.

Different national days of four nations in UK

It's universally known that Britain is made up of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. However, the four nations don't have an uniform national day instand they celebrate their own Saint's days respectively.


Firstly, I'd like to say something about Saint David's day in Wales because I'm living in Wales now. It falls on March 1st to commemorate the death of St David. Legend of the sixth century when the Saxon invaded Wales, St David taught the Welsh to leek in the hats in order to distinguish friend and foe and then united to defeat the invaders. Welsh revered David as their national patron saint. On that day societies all over Wales celebrate with special meetings and events. For example, in St David's Hall, there will be a concert featuring a 1000-member male voice choir, specially formed for the occasion.














Male voice choir

Secondly, St George's day is celebrated on April 23rd which is the national day of England. St George was a brave Roman soldier who protested against the Romans' torture of Christians and died for his beliefs. On that day, people usually wear a red rose for England in your jacket lapel. As the national flower of England, the rose is a symbol of patriotic pride, read the “Legend of St George and the Dragon”, fly the flag of St. George, eat fish and chips which are England's favourite take away meal.

St George's day


When it comes to Scotland, St Andrew's day is the official national day celebrating on 30 November, which marks the opening of Christmas Markets. Around midnight on Nov. 29, the day before St Andrew's Day, it was traditional for girls to pray to St. Andrew for a husband. They would make a wish and look for a sign that they had been heard.



Scotland














Then, the national day of Ireland is St Parick's day. It is a holy day of obligation for Roman Catholics in Ireland, and generally celebrated on 17th of March. Green ribbons and shamrocks were worn in celebration of St Patrick's Day as early as the 17th century,and the wearing and display of shamrocks and shamrock-inspired designs have become a ubiquitous feature of the day.













St Patrick's day

Henry the Eighth

The second class introduced a brief history of Britain, which attracted me most was the legend of Henry the Eighth (1491-1547). I’d like to call his story as legend, maybe he wasn’t a hero, but his love story and his contribution to the English society were amazing. There is a popular sentence in England which said “Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived”. It accurately described the story about Henry the Eighth and his wives. He was married to a Spanish princess called Catherine of Aragon, because Catherine had a daughter only so that he desired to divorce her. However, in that period Pope didn’t permit this. Consequently, he created a separate Church which did not regard the Pope as its leader. Then he married and divorced again and again, as long as he didn’t satisfied with his wives, he divorced them even killed them.
Maybe he wasn’t a good husband and a good man, but he had the courage of his opinion. He was quiet a brave man. Being a King, he never afraid of Pope and never been restrained from the authority. He made every effort to do what he wanted to do. During his domination (1509-1547), England had significant changes especially in religion. The religion reform which seems was owing to his marriage had a profound influence on the English history, and at the same time Wales was united with England.

First class of British Studies

The mysterious country--UK, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, attracts a great deal of students. Obviously I am one of those students. Through the geography learning of Britain, I realised that this land is composed of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. What' more, it motivated me to travel aroud the country, to see the beautifull scenery of each city eagerly. And when it came to the UK quiz, although I was not sure about the answers, they were actually funny and interesting. They taught me several useful colloquial words such as quid, cuppa, kip and so on which can make my language more native.
This first class of British Studies did leave me deep impression. It was't the boring course and made me a better understanding of the United Kingdom.