Barack Obama

Last night events on the other side of the Atlantic have taken Rambler by surprise. Barack Obama achieved a three-state sweep in the latest round of the increasingly pugilistic contest with Hillary Clinton for the right to lead the Democratic Party into the 2008 presidential elections. These are indicators of an emerging generation that does not care about skin colours. Although politically apathetic, Rambler was compelled to have a look at the guy on wikipedia:

Barack Hussein Obama (born August 4, 1961) is the junior United States Senator from Illinois and a leading candidate for the Democratic nomination in the 2008 presidential election. The U.S. Senate Historical Office lists him as the fifth African American Senator in U.S. history, the third to have been popularly elected, and the only African American currently serving in the Senate.

Obama was born in Honolulu to a black Kenyan father and a white American mother. He lived most of his early life in the U.S. state of Hawaii. From ages six to ten, he lived in Jakarta, Indonesia with his mother and Indonesian stepfather. A graduate of Columbia University and Harvard Law School, Obama worked as a community organizer, University of Chicago lecturer, and civil rights lawyer before running for public office and serving in the Illinois Senate from 1997 to 2004. After an unsuccessful bid for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2000, he announced his campaign for U.S. Senate in 2003.

The following year, while still an Illinois state legislator, Obama delivered the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in November 2004 with 70% of the vote. As a member of the Democratic minority in the 109th Congress, Obama co-sponsored legislation for controlling conventional weapons and for promoting transparency in public life; in addition, he made official trips to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. In the 110th, and current, Congress, he has sponsored legislation on lobbying and electoral fraud, climate change, nuclear terrorism, and care for returned U.S. military personnel.

Since announcing his presidential campaign in February 2007, Obama has emphasized ending the Iraq War, increasing energy independence, and providing universal health care as major priorities. He married in 1992 and has two daughters. He has written two bestselling books: a memoir of his youth titled Dreams from My Father, and The Audacity of Hope, a personal commentary on U.S.

International Graduates Scheme to be replaced

Last year on 28 March 2007 the United Kingdom announced a new program called the International Graduates Scheme (IGS). The scheme enable international students to stay in the UK for a year to work after completing their studies.

Eligible persons were those who successflly complete either their degree, post graduate certificate, postgraduate diploma, masters or doctoral studies in the UK.

The news is that things will change again. The scheme will revolve yet again. The name will now be Post-Study Work and it will be for two years!

The Post-Study Work sub-category will replace the International Graduates Scheme and the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme. It is a non-renewable two-year period after which participants are expected to transfer to another immigration category.

Most Post-Study Work migrants are expected to switch from the Student category from within the UK, in which case the Maintenance test will only require the migrant to show they have £800 in funds plus additional funds for dependants.

For a migrant to stay in the UK after the 2 years post-study work period, they must apply for and meet the criteria of another immigration scheme, such as the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme, Work Permits, Innovator, Persons seeking to establish themselves in a business, or Student leave.

"International students bring many benefits to the UK. After the United States, the UK is the country which attracts the most international students and we need to build on this enviable position," Minister for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education, Bill Rammell was quoted as saying last year.

"Today's changes will help ensure Britain continues to attract students who contribute so much to the UK's economic and cultural life. Allowing them to work in the UK for a year will provide them with valuable work experience to augment the knowledge and skills they have acquired at our universities and colleges. It will also allow UK employers to benefit from skilled people who have gained UK qualifications and have experience of living in the UK.

"Higher Education Institutions have told us that a staying on scheme which is available to all graduates irrespective of subject of study will enhance the UK's attraction as a study destination in what has become an intensely competitive international student market. The new scheme underlines the importance which the Government attaches to maintaining and enhancing the UK's status as a leading exporter of higher education."

According to Immigration Minister Liam Byrne, international students contribute over £3 billion a year to the UK economy. He added that they "should be given an opportunity to use their skills to contribute to Britain's cultural and economic prosperity."

Rambler knows that the main aim of this scheme is to keep highly skilled gradutes in the UK. At the end of the day the UK will remain the winner in skilled human resources. Few graduates will find their way back to their home countries.

It is ironic that a country which has millions of highly skilled people continues to seek ways of retaining even many more people. On the other hand countries which have very few skilled people do not bother at all to maintain the few. Pathetic. Very verrrry pathetic.

How Rambler wished his government and politicians kept Malawi afloat by continuously reviewing policies to meet the needs of an ever changing society just as their UK counterparts do.

Oh help me God

Lawyers and politicians have a joint responsibility to keep the law relevant to the needs of a changing society.

Law affects every aspect of our lives and provides the framework within which a successful society can flourish.

Law sets the terms of employment, provides protection from harm, establishes compensation for injury and influences our closest relationships with others.

Without an operational legal system our societies would be in a state of lawlessness and disorder and the most vulnerable members of a society would be at risk.

It is a mistake to think of a law degree merely as a narrow route to the legal professions. On the contrary, a law degree opens up a wide range of possible careers.

Do you know that in addition to the traditional legal careers of solicitor and barrister, fields as diverse as accountancy, management, publishing, journalism and IT are open to law graduates?

Law graduate acquires a variety of useful skills including a capacity for logical and critical thought, the accurate use of language, communication skills and the ability to make a persuasive argument. Other skills include but not limited to: advocacy, drafting, opinion writing, negotiation, and conference skills.

The study of law provides one with opportunities for thought and argument on many interesting legal topics.

For UK graduates or those with equivalent status, a two year intensive law course provides a shortcut to a law degree. May be this could be the path Rambler may want to pursue to acquire the skills he will definately need home if he is going to be effective in his services???????

Oh help me God.