FINN(COM) DAILY RECORD: MONDAY, 17 MAY 2004

PRESS RELEASE

Monday, 17 May 2004

With Challenge Day not too far away now is the time to get busy thinking about just what you are going to do to get breathless on the day.  Don’t forget to take the opportunity to get to know your own Leisure Centre and access all of its facilities mostly for free on the 26^th.  A quick reminder about what is available!

·         Free Circuits Session with Luci Bennett – 5.00 pm

·         Free Yogafit/Fitball Session with Carol Peck- 5.00 pm 

·         Free Aquarobics with Sarah Clement– 6.00 pm

·         Free Swimming Pool all day – 7.00 am – 9.00 pm (dependant on Block Bookings)

·         Free courts all day (dependant on Block Bookings)

·         Table Tennis Tournament in the School Street - Contact Mandy McKay with your name to play

·         5-A-Side Football game in the Gym 12.00 pm – 1.00 pm - Contact Chris Biggs with your team names (Only 8 Team Slots Available)

·         Free access to exercise machines all day

·         Fortuna Zone Challenge Final Assessments – Lots of great prizes to be won.

The United Kingdom Department of Health has recently published a report titled “At least five a week”.  In it’s report it states that “the message is clear. The scientific evidence is compelling. Physical activity not only contributes to well-being, but is also essential for good health. People who are physically active reduce their risk of developing major chronic diseases – such as coronary heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes – by up to 50%, and the risk of premature death by about 20-30%. The annual costs of physical inactivity in England are estimated at £8.2 billion – including the rising costs of treating chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease and diabetes. This does not include the contribution of inactivity to obesity – an estimated further £2.5 billion cost to the economy each year.”  What is the estimated cost to the Falklands Economy, we can only surmise.

“Being active is no longer simply an option” states the report, “it is essential if we are to live healthy and fulfilling lives into old age.  The recommendations for physical activity are supported by the scientific evidence. For general health, a total of at least 30 minutes a day of at least moderate intensity physical activity on five or more days of the week reduces the risk of premature death from cardiovascular disease and some cancers, significantly reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes, and it can also improve psychological well-being.  The research demonstrates that the 30 minutes of physical activity necessary for health benefit can be built up in bouts of 10 minutes or more. For example, it can be made up of three 10-minute brisk walks rather than catching the bus for short journeys.”  Physical activity does not necessarily involve long hours slogging away in a gym, simply walking to work, walking the dog or playing a gentle game of short tennis would be enough to keep most people in the ‘black’ with respect to physical activity.

“The evidence also clearly demonstrates that achieving the weekly recommendation is not the preserve of the sports enthusiast. We all can and should be more active.”

Get yourself active on Challenge Day this year, make this the excuse to overcome years of inactivity and make a positive contribution towards your future health.

Steve Dent

Recreation Manager

Stanley Leisure Centre

For a copy of the report go to – This Link

Contact Steve Dent – Stanley Leisure Centre 27285/27291

FIBS NEWS DIRECT: MONDAY, 17 MAY 2004

QUARK TO APPEAL:

A local fishing company has spoken to News Direct on the recent decision by the UK Court of Appeal to refuse its claim for damages against the Foreign Office.  Joint Venture fishing company, Quark, originally brought a case against the Foreign Office after it was refused a licence to fish in South Georgia in 2000.  After a long series of appeals, the company was finally awarded the licence.  It then tried to suit the Foreign Office for damages to make up for the loss of income that the original decision caused.  This appeal was refused on the 29^th of April.

When FIBS first reported the case, local director, Mike Summers (MS), said he wasn’t ready to comment but today he told FIBS he hasn’t given up his fight for damages.

MS:  We were quite happy with the judgement of the Court in the end.  There were a number of issues at trial.  And, the most important, from our point of view, was that the Secretary of State was acting in the right of the Secretary of State of the United Kingdom as opposed to South Georgia.  That is an important issue to clarify if we are to pursue the claim for damages.  Although we lost that particular round, will be carrying on with the case and still remain confident that damages will be payable in the end.

LH:  Presumably, you will have to pay some costs to the FCO.  Have you an idea how much and how it will affect the company to lose this money?

MS:  There was an award of costs but normally the costs would go with the decision.  Having lost that round of appeal, we would expect to pay but, in fact, the Court awarded the UK Government only 40% of their costs on the grounds that they had lost more than half of the issues that were argued.  There was some expense involved but it wasn’t too horrendous.

LH:  So what’s next?

MS:  What’s next is that both sides, I mean, the Government were very unhappy about the part of the decision that we are happy about.  That’s not surprising.  They would like to appeal that to the House of Lords.  We would like to appeal the whole issue of whether compensation should be payable under these circumstances to the House of Lords.  So, both sides, I expect, will apply to the House of Lords for permission to appeal that.

LANDING DAY SERVICE:

The Landing Day service will be held at the Blue Beach Cemetery on Friday, 21 May 2004, marking 22 years since British Armed Forces landed.  The service will start at 1100.  It marks the events of the 1982 Conflict up to the Battle of Goose Green and the death of Capt. John Hamilton, MC at Port Howard.  People are asked to be at the Cemetery by 1045.

MILITARY CHARITY:

Members of the Supply Squadron based at MPA are to take to the road on the 28^th of May to walk to Stanley to try and raise £1,000.00 to send a woman who is suffering from Hodgkin’s Disease to a Health Farm.  Twenty-four year old Alexandra Sharp is currently receiving radiotherapy and chemotherapy in the UK.  Sgt. Steve Mixture says that she is a courageous young lady.  “I couldn’t believe how cheerful and happy she was when I saw her in November.  She was cracking jokes and acting like she didn’t have a care in the world.”  He adds that a holiday at a health farm would help her recover from the intensive treatment in a relaxing and supportive environment.  Capt. Jill Hamlyn at Media Ops. Says that £400.00 have already been donated by personnel at MPA but anyone else who wants to support the team or help in any way should contact Steve at MPA on 76283.

AIRBUS FLIGHT:

Today’s Air Bus flight marks the arrival of the “Hung, Drawn, and Quartered team, who will be busying themselves around MPA for the week.  While they are here they will try and transform the WVRS Lounge as well as the Helicopter Lounge.

SHOOTING COMPETITION:

Teams from the FIDF, RFIP, JSEOD and JSPSU will take to the ranges on Saturday when they take part in the Cable & Wireless Shooting Challenge.  After a 1000 briefing, teams will move off to various locations to begin the challenge, which starts at 1100.  Consisting of falling plate shoots, 9MM pistol shoots and clay Pigeon, the teams will battle it out during the afternoon.

NO TRIP FOR CONSERVATION WATCH GROUP:

Unfortunately the members of the Conservation Watch Group were unable to go out on the Whale watching trip we told you about last week.  The weather was just too rough out in Berkley Sound on Saturday to take the group out looking for the Sey Whales, which have recently been spotted there.  Conservation’s Sarah Clement offered her thanks to FIC which would have provided the launch for the trip.

FISHING AND HARBOUR NEWS:

Catches of Hoki have improved for the 10 vessels that were fishing over the weekend.  Fishery Operations report that the average catch for yesterday was 13 tonnes.  They also say that the experimental Loligo vessels have been doing quite well, averaging around 20 tonnes a day.  Tanker, Zalgares arrived alongside FIPASS this morning to discharge fuel.  There are 3 vessels in Berkley Sound.  The Reefers are awaiting vessels for transhipment.  They will join Tanker, Typhoon.

POLICE NEWS:

The Police were kept busy over the weekend with disturbances and road accidents to deal with.  In the early hours of Sunday morning they were called out to two separate incidents.  The first was a call for assistance in East Stanley after a person was spotted trying to get into a house.  That followed a fight earlier that evening, which left one person injured.  This is still under investigation.  One person is helping with enquiries.  The second incident was a call for assistance at the trough.  The situation was resolved before the police arrived and is still being investigated.  Just before 1730 on Sunday there was a report of a possible maritime distress.  The call was taken from Falmouth Rescue in the UK, who said the emergency beacon onboard the Robin M. Lee had been activated.  It was found later that the vessel was in dock in Montevideo.  Just before 1900 on Sunday, two road accidents were reported, both on the Stanley to Darwin Road.  In separate incidents, vehicles had gone into the ditch.  Each carried three people but there were no injuries.  Sgt. Dave Roberts has warned drivers to be careful when driving at this time of year as conditions deteriorate.

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