Motion called to end fighting in Middle East
Poster is picture perfect
CALLS for a ceasefire in the Middle East have been made to ‘prevent harm to Sefton residents’ as tensions escalate in the region.
Sefton Council’s full cabinet meeting on Thursday (January 18) will hear a motion calling for an immediate end to fighting in the Middle East.
The motion has been submitted by Cllr Natasha Carlin and calls for an immediate end of the fighting after a new wave of deadly hostilities began in October.
The Labour member’s motion said this would ‘prevent potential harm caused directly and indirectly to Sefton residents both at home and abroad.’
It is now more than 100 days since the latest conflict began with tens of thousands of people now reported dead.
Cllr Carlin’s motion calls on the local authority to condemn ‘the murder of innocent civilians, the taking of hostages and the subsequent death and destruction in Gaza’ and how there should be ‘an urgent priority to stop the deaths and suffering of anymore civilians internationally, and to prevent potential harm caused directly and indirectly to Sefton residents both at home and abroad.’
The Blundellsands councillor’s text urges the council to express ‘deep sympathy for all those affected by the conflict in Israel and Palestine’ as well as ‘those in Sefton who have been affected by this conflict we offer our support in this difficult time.’
It added how the council should believe ‘in calls for an immediate permanent ceasefire to allow more aid into Gaza and Palestine, and to help the possibility of a peaceful resolution.’
Similar motions have already been approved by other councils around the UK - including Liverpool City Council.
There have been increasing calls for the three main parliamentary parties to join together in adopting similar motions.
However, only the Liberal Democrats have so far supported such proposals.
Like similar motions submitted to other councils around the UK, the desire for continued community cohesion and inclusivity is one of the main drivers for seeking to progress such proposals.
It said: “[Sefton Council] believes that the tragic recent events in Palestine and Israel must not be allowed to divide our communities in Sefton.
“This council therefore condemns the increase in Anti-Semitic and Islamophobic violence and abuse in the UK and believes that all forms of racism have no place in our borough.
“This council believes Jews, Muslims and people of all faiths should feel safe in Sefton.”
The motion for a ceasefire is accompanied by three resolutions which Cllr Carlin hopes to get Sefton Council to commit to.
The first centres on creation of support for local residents impacted by the violence in the Middle East.
The second commits to offering support to innocent people displaced by the violence emanating from the Israel-Gaza conflict.
The third resolution calls for Phil Porter, chief executive of Sefton Council, to write to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, to advocate the need for an ‘urgent permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the rest of Palestine and Israel.
“Every effort should be made to resume the peace process, including upholding humanitarian law to ensure civilians everywhere are protected,” it said.
A POSTER detailing the success of a quality improvement project at Southport Hospital has won a national award.
Dr Avraneel Talapatra, Dr Winson Cheung and Dr Paddy McDonald prepared a poster for the Royal College of Physicians’ Med+ conference.
The poster detailed a study focused on Eating and Drinking with Acknowledged Risks (EDAR) and how to support individuals to continue eating and drinking where there is a perceived risk of choking or aspiration.
The poster, detailing the full project’s background and conclusions, staved off the challenge of more than 140 others to take the top award at the conference which is attended by medical staff from across the world.
Stroke consultant Dr McDonald oversaw the project.
He said: “This project deals with an important clinical problem surrounding swallowing difficulties in mainly frail, older patients, as we strive to ensure that the correct decisions regarding allowing eating and drinking are made, taking into account the risk of aspiration.
“It also focused on ensuring there is a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) approach in the assessment of capacity and stresses that best interests are tantamount in that patient-centred decision. It was an excellent project to be involved in as it produced some important conclusions. To have won the best poster competition at such a prestigious event is great for everyone involved.”