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The Roman Catholic Church in Scotland has withdrawn support for plans to create seven shared campuses for Catholic and non-free online dating personals schools in North Lanarkshire.

The church has expressed strong opposition to having too many shared facilities and common entrances.

However, in February, Scotland’s first shared campus between a Roman Catholic and non-denominational secondary school was officially opened.

For this current scheme, discussions with North Lanarkshire Council had taken place over an 18 month period.

But the future of the campuses was thrown into disarray when the Right Rev Joseph Devine, Bishop of Motherwell, said the church could not go ahead with the proposal.

We asked if the church was right to be concerned or should it accept the economic and social case for integration? And did you think that bringing together Roman Catholic and non-denominational schools would result in more tolerance and better understanding, or should religious schools be kept separate?

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The following comments reflect the balance of opinion we received:

Why are the Catholic Church allowed to have a say in our children’s education?
I feel integration and no segregation is the way forward for Scotland. As the slogan goes “One Nation, Many cultures” So why not have “One School, many cultures”.
Stuart Smith, Glasgow, Scotland

All education should be secular. In addition lessons should be based on the facts (evolution) rather than a myth (creationism). It’s a disgrace that Tony Blair evaded this question when asked recently.
Nigel, Edinburgh

Yes they should remain distinctive. Catholic schools don’t just provide an education they help form caring and responsible citizens. I would rather my children were educated in a faith environment, rather than in a school where there were no defined values.
Elizathbeth Myers, East Kilbride

The issue of shared campuses is bigger than denominational schools versus non-denominational schools. Look at the example in Argyll and Bute recently where the proposal to merge two non-denominational schools was met with local opposition. There is nothing wrong with denominational education in Scotland, especially Catholic Schools. Anyone from any faith or no faith background can go to a non-denominational school or a denominational school. There is a choice, people seem to be unaware of this fact. And for those who say non-denominational schools breeds sectarianism, I ask you where the evidence of this is? The Executive preaches a diverse and online dating vancouver
society for modern Scotland. Excellent, but still people want to see denominational education, namely Catholic schools, in Scotland banned.
Jonathan, Glasgow

The Church didn’t even gain anything from their attempts with me at religious instruction - I’m now a happy, well adjusted Pagan. Jack,Leeds

The intransigence of the Roman Catholic Church beggars belief. As long as we have schools divided along religious grounds we will always have sectarianism. This is indefensible both morally and financially. If a certain grouping wishes to maintain their ‘own’ schools then let them pay for it. Go ahead and build the schools and if the Catholics don’t want to send their kids then tough luck. Let them make other arrangements.
David Watson, Helensburgh

Sectarianism which is still rife in Scotland today is taught in the home by Adults ignorant of the facts and whom have ironically never set foot in any church; the opposite is taught in Catholic Schools. By trying to hide the fact that Catholics exist in Scotland won’t solve the problem. Catholic Schools work as they teach decent moral standards (whether you agree with them or not, at least you know where they stand on issues) and perform academically better than non-denom schools….Why do you think there are large numbers of non-Catholics attending them!!
Stuart, Edinburgh

It is really sad that in the 21st century, certain people want to segregate children from the age of five. Shame on them. The Berlin wall has come down, communism is dead, apartheid is no more. Let’s get rid of these schools. One school for all!!
stef, Cumbernauld Scotland

I went to Catholic schools, primary and secondary, in Gourock, Scotland. Thus I learned through peer pressure at the age of eight that “proddy-dogs” (Protestants) were the enemy to be hated. Having separate schools causes nothing but bigotry and sectarianism, and the sooner they are abolished the better.

The Church didn’t even gain anything from their attempts with me at religious instruction - I’m now a happy, well adjusted Pagan.
Jack, Leeds, UK

I am strongly opposed to protestant children having to share campuses with Catholic children. I would never send my children to a Catholic-run school under any circumstances
K.SCOTT, STIRLING,SCOTLAND

It is not about teaching a religion, but imparting an ethos or a way of life. A way of life is not taught, like a subject, but is gradually learned by example, and teaching. Nick Dochnenko

Although there are many fine people have attended and taught at these schools, there is no doubt that the RC Church’s intransigence on this matter causes great offence to most decent people.

In my view, this religious apartheid, brought in at the age of 5, is the single biggest cause of religious bigotry in Scotland, and the 1918 Education Act should be repealed without further delay.
Colin Glass, Bearsden, United Kingdom

Having just returned from a weekend in my hometown of Larkhall and, as someone born protestant, I suggest anyone opposed to the shared campus idea (be they catholic, protestant or Martian) takes a walk around Larkhall and observes the latest fashion in home improvement - flagpoles merrily flying Red Hand of Ulster flags. When are we Scots going to grow out of this garbage ? The next generation deserve better
Alan, ex-Larkhall, now England

The European Convention on Human Rights (Protocol 1, Art 2) guarantees parents the right to choose education “in conformity with their own religious and philosophical convictions”. Abolishing Catholic schools would violate parents’ human rights.
Dominic Robertson, Oxford

Personally I think there is no place for any type of religious segregation in education. I went to school in the far north and segregated schools were not available. Bigotry was rare and your religious background wasn’t an issue.
Rowan, Paisley

I find myself increasingly angry at the RC Church as a former RC school student myself. Dividing children because of religion is a divisive, backward and utterly medieval concept. However to win the argument for an end to segregated education has to be done with the Catholic community not in spite of it.
Mairtin Delaney, Glasgow

It is correct that the Catholic Church has the interest of parents and pupils at heart. It is not about teaching a religion, but imparting an ethos or a way of life. A way of life is not taught, like a subject, but is gradually learned by example, and teaching. The Catholic Church does not, and cannot teach intolerance and bigotry. This goes against its very fabric. Therefore separate schools do not have a bearing on this. Bigotry can only come from parents and the home.
nick dochnenko, Glasgow, Scotland

I can’t understand why the Catholic Church has so much influence Lynne, Newport Beach, CA

It is a shame that our Catholic brethren still persist in promoting 19th century Irish politics, which have no place in our modern Scotland. Those who support such policies should count the amount of Catholic MPs and MSPs and they would quickly see where the bigotry is in protestant Scotland. I would urge our Catholic brothers and sisters to take the log from their eyes; before finding the speck in the eye of their fellow Scots.
James Hamilton, Falkirk Scotland

In the year 2004, it seems ludicrous that this situation of separate schools, never mind campuses, for children continues to exist. It’s archaic, unnecessary and also advocates social isolation rather than integration. The Government want the people of Scotland to be tolerant of other cultures, and rightly so, but how can we teach our children to welcome a foreign religion/culture when we’ve been encouraging our children to be wary of difference by virtue of the status quo in education. It’s time the Catholic church joined the last century, never mind this century.
William McCarron, Glasgow, Scotland

I been born and raised in Glasgow. I agree with the church that campuses should NOT be shared.
A C Masterson, London, England

Why should the taxpayers pay for what is really private schools. We are probably the only country in the world who have separate schools. Other countries do very well with all children attending the same schools. There would be more money available. And it surprises me that a priest can dictate to the authorities. The children are the ones who would benefit from the shared campuses.
maria, glenboig Scotland

The media say the RC Church has put a veto on given plans in North Lanarkshire. Can someone point to the law that gives them that veto? The plans can and must be pushed through.
John Maloney, Wishaw

I can’t understand why the Catholic Church has so much influence! Tax money should not be used for their schools! That is the Church’s responsibility to support and subsidise through tuition! My 4 children have all attended Lutheran Schools in California with an annual tuition of about 4,000 per student. We chose this and paid for our decision of a “church” school.
Lynne, Newport Beach, CA, USA

Segregation means division. Can anyone dispute that? Why segregate and divide kids at age four? How can that be a good thing?
Helen Maxwell, Greenock

Shared campuses are a necessity for today’s children to grow and understand tolerance and not bigotry. Iain Steven, Bridge of Weir

It is time to move away from separate denominational schools. It would be much better for all children to be educated together regardless of their denomination or none. Why should one denomination in Scotland have the privilege of exerting such an influence over the education system?
Alan, North Yorkshire

It is a source of constant bemusement that the Catholic Church in Scotland denies that the sectarianism that blights our society has anything to do with separate schooling. Where else do our children learn to hate each other so bitterly?
Ian Lowe, Airdrie, Scotland

Shared campuses are a necessity for today’s children to grow and understand tolerance and not bigotry. With falling school rolls and birth rates we cannot hold onto separate campuses, unless the Catholic Church will foot the bill for maintaining the separation. This smacks of religious separatism, so how can tolerance and understanding be fostered in such an atmosphere? My children mixed and played for 5 years with all denominations. Then Wham! At five their friends are split up and are not allowed to go to the same school. Try explaining this to a five-year-old. Then in the same breath explain football bigotry.
Iain Steven, Bridge of Weir, Scotland, Currently in Houston Texas

Education and Religion should never be mixed.
The taxpayer should never be forced to pay for indoctrination into any given religion whether that is Church of Scotland, Catholic, Islamic, Hindu, whatever. If a parent is so concerned that their child be educated in their religion they should do so, however, it should never interfere in actual education such as Maths or English. The parent should see to it outwith school hours, or each church could start after-school classes in their particular religion. The general population should not have to fund any of it. Secularism (separation of church and state) is required here.
Jenni, Scotland

Education is one of the most important items on the agenda of government and citizens . The current system of having separate religious schools beggars belief. What on earth do the children read into this. Let’s move forward and have an educational system that is world beating, our kids will thank us.
David Bell,

I am surprised that our society on one hand encourages religious and cultural diversity but does not extend it to Catholics who must not cultivate their belief unless they do it in private John, San Francisco

I read some of the comments on this page and they all seem to accuse the Catholic Church of bigotry, ignorance and promoting sectarianism. Yet these very commentators display much intolerance and not a little ignorance themselves. Catholics, we must remember, pay taxes for schools as well. They wish their children to be brought up with a high quality of education in which their values and beliefs are shared and taken seriously - where ‘God’ is not an embarrassing word. This is why the Catholic Church worries about the ‘character’ of its schools being changed.
Jimmy, Edinburgh, UK

Allowing any religion to control the way our children are educated is a dangerously outdated idea. Indoctrination should not have to be a part of any child’s life. Its flaws can been seen in the sectarian divides of the very communities directly affected by this decision. The separation of religion and education is long overdue.
Ian, Glasgow

I live in Bearsden. We have two Catholic primary schools, but no secondary schools. In the area there are three non-denominational schools. Bearsden Academy is moving into the St Andrew’s campus, giving us Catholics no secondary education. I would prefer our own secondary school, but if there was no other option I would be in favour of a shared campus.
Michael Duff, Glasgow, Scotland

I am surprised that our society on one hand encourages religious and cultural diversity but does not extend it to Catholics who must not cultivate their belief unless they do it in private. Don’t you see any inconsistency here?
John, San Francisco, USA

Separate church and local government. Abolish all funding for religious schools and let them pay for themselves. In the global year 2004 anything less promotes an “us vs them” mentality and is dysfunctional.
Lynn, Kent

Why is it that the West of Scotland is stuck in a time warp of bigotry on both the Catholic and Protestant side. My own city of Liverpool could easily have gone the same way yet our people happily share two cathedrals of different faiths, the first RC/Anglican primary school in England and prospective newly built joint faith secondary schools. I was christened in the Church of England yet my daughter was baptised a Catholic and will be attending the local RC Infant School’s nursery (OFSTED commended) where the staff are nothing short of outstanding.
Kev, Liverpool

Much like government, education should be kept separate from religion. Bryan, Edinburgh

Scottish Catholic schools are an excellent educational resource that, in general, provide good academic, social and moral education. Separate schooling for different faith groups, is only perceived as an issue in Scotland. Catholic schools do not breed bigotry, that starts at home. Faith, however, is not something that is kept hidden at home. A Catholic child’s education forms an important part of their moral development. Logically such development should be nurtured by participating in an educational community of faith which supports the child’s and families moral and spiritual beliefs.
Eddie, Strathaven, Scotland

The continued existence of state-funded separate education is frankly, an anachronism in today’s world. I for one would be interested to see the results of an independently conducted survey of Catholics who either attend or have children who attend separate schools - let’s see just how much support the “dinosaurs” actually have among their own “flock”.
John McGrevey, Ex-Motherwell, now Moorpark, CA, USA

It is time for separate schools to go. What better way to end sectarian divisiveness? The church is wrong to obstruct this but they have a vested interest in keeping the strife going.
Frank Hackett, Taylor, Mich USA

Much like government, education should be kept separate from religion. The current situation allows the church to influence a school’s curriculum, which can only be detrimental to a child’s education. The sex education provided by Catholic schools (”this is a condom, if you wear this you’ll burn in hell”) is especially poor. Religion is for home not school.
Bryan, Edinburgh

My daughter attends a Catholic primary school although we are protestant. She is a well adjusted child and the emphasis is more on caring for each other and the world around them. The teachers and pupils are a credit to the community. Surely integration at an early age is the best way of avoiding much of the hate and bigotry we see in our adult society.
Rosie Warwick, Dumfriesshire

If the Scottish Parliament is serious in actively promoting ethnic, cultural and religious harmony then the first thing it should address is Orange Walks. Maybe Catholics will be encouraged to be in an all inclusive society when we start to see some of these things removed from our society.
Mary, Edinburgh

Schools should be totally non-denominational in order to achieve the economies that are constantly being demanded of the education authorities. A Douglas, Erskine

The Scottish Catholic Church equals the biggest promoter of sectarianism in Scotland!
Scott Robertson, Glasgow

Would we even be having this discussion if it was about Islam? No I don’t think we would. Whilst I fully support efforts to combat bigotry on both sides of the divide, Catholic schools on the whole out perform non-denominational schools hand over fist. I went to a Catholic primary/high school and our playing fields were opposite the non-denominational school across the road and whilst some pupils did mix it was often a cause for conflict. Leave the Catholic school system alone it works!
Dave Hunter, Erskine Scotland

Why is the Catholic church allowed to continue to get away with its archaic and divisive attitudes? Why do parents continue to support an institution that causes such social chasms and takes religion as its defence? By dividing children from such a young age and continuing to do so until they reach adulthood nothing can be achieved except entrenching division and perpetuating sectarian bigotry. Religion is not a thing that should be ‘taught’ in schools - children should be informed about it and guided within their own families rather than relying on schools to force them down a path. It is disgusting that in the 21st Century plans for something that will promote further togetherness in a community can be shelved by a religious bigot.
Amy O’Neill, Ex-Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, Scotland, now England

Separate schools are an anachronism in this day and age. Sectarianism and bigotry can only be ended by educating our children together. Religion should be the responsibility of the home and not the school - few people attend church in this day and age. It seems like the Catholic Church is trying to cling onto whatever power it still has.
Beecher, Glasgow

Archaic, pathetic and pointless….

Steve, UK

Separate schools were required and relevant 86 years ago. Like the RC church and other so-called Christian religious organisations, they are irrelevant and an unnecessary expense. They may not cause religious strife, but they do nothing to help end it.
Steven Matthews, Kilsyth. Scotland

I live in Dalkeith have two sons at the campus and there are no problems whatsoever. So the forward thinking Catholic Church cannot agree on the way forward, well there is a surprise! Education and religion should remain separate, indoctrination should take place at home not in the classroom
Bryan, Scotland

There should only be the one curriculum for schools with each school providing religious instruction as required for the pupils it educates. Schools should be totally non-denominational in order to achieve the economies that are constantly being demanded of the education authorities.
A. Douglas, Erskine

All schools have a mandate to work within the community. We do this in Musselburgh with our six primary and on secondary schools but have difficulties with the one catholic primary school as they are usually going down a different route. We have a limited religious problem within our educational community but if we had shared campuses tolerance will then be fought head on by our children and one day be there will be a significant decrease in bigotry.
Douglas Johnstone, Wallyford, East Lothian

I understand that many people do wish to see their children raised within their faith, but feel that such education should not be at the taxpayers expense. Max Russell, Glasgow

Kids of different religions/cultures should be educated together as much as possible otherwise the sectarian and racist viewpoints will continue to cause discord in society as a whole. Fine, allow them to have separate RE classes but surely chemistry, maths and English are the same for both!
Dom M, London (ex Glasgow)

In this modern era where the government is actively promoting ethnic, cultural and religious harmony I see no place for separate Catholic schools. Surely integration at an early age is the best way of avoiding much of the hate and bigotry we see in our adult society.
James Snoddy, Gourock, Scotland

I understand that many people do wish to see their children raised within their faith, but feel that such education should not be at the taxpayers expense. Surely given that we want to have a greater amount of integration between all religions & ethnic backgrounds, maintaining a state sponsored divide is ridiculous? Kids should be growing up together; not with us and them schooling.
Max Russell, Glasgow

I believe ignorance breeds prejudice. There is no justifiable reason for segregating children based on what church they go (or don’t go to for that matter). In this day and age where religion is so irrelevant to many peoples lives, there should be a complete separation of church and state. Religion is a choice and if the parents want to teach a specific religion to their children at home or at church, that is their choice, but I don’t see why taxpayers should have to subsidise parents who want to give their children an education based on their religion.
Neil Curran, Seoul, South Korea

Scotland is a modern nation with a ancient schooling system. John Dillon, New York

Diversity and acceptance of others is Catholic teaching. After all it is a Catholic (Universal) church and made up of members from all over the world.
Janet O’Brien, Aberystwyth, Wales

And you wonder why there is a divide in our society! Another mistake by the church. Another chance to integrate future generations has gone. How long must we wait? Compromise is a word often spoken but never acted on
David, Edinburgh

If anything in this country encourages bigotry it is the insistence of the Catholic church on separate schools. Religion is a personal matter and should not be imposed on others. And surely, with money being so tight in education, our elected dating ethnic can see the benefit to everyone in merging schools; they have the power to do what the majority of taxpaying Citizens clearly want… one system for all.
Charles Cavaye, Edinburgh

In a time when money is scarce, it is disappointing that the catholic church demands so much of the money at the expense of others. Surely it would be better for our children to have one large campus with better facilities and equipment than 2 smaller ones with hardly any. Or do our children not deserve the best?
Kathleen, Scotland

As a Catholic I went to Catholic schools in the 50’s and early 60’s. The alienation this caused in my hometown of Cowdenbeath was painful. Scotland is a modern nation with a ancient schooling system. The church has no place in the education of our children. if Scotland is serious about ending sectarianism the MSPs should end state funding of denominational schools
John Dillon, New York USA

Saying you are different because your parents were catholic and thus must go to a different school can do nothing else but enhance division. The naked self-interest of the catholic church in Scotland should be seen for what it is, a desire to use state funds to recruit future adherents.
Alisdair Matheson, Glasgow, Scotland

Yes - as a first step to a fully integrated Scottish education system. This form of religious “apartheid” - however much it may have been justified some 90 years ago - is well past its sell by date. Such a move would - over time -help to heal some of our small country’s sectarian problems.
Gerry Smith, Edinburgh, Scotland

The intransigence of the Roman Catholic Church beggars belief. As long as we have schools divided along religious grounds we will always have sectarianism.
David Watson, Helensburgh

It’s about time the law in Scotland was changed. We cannot allow a tiny minority to dictate like this. We should all attend the one school.
Declan, Airdrie

Why is there so much emphasis on the need to integrate? Can’t we just leave things as they are? If it is not broken then why fix it? Human nature dictates that there are differences in every one of us so why do we endeavour to mix up these differences and create a cloned society?
James McDonald, Glasgow, Scotland

Why is this only a problem in Scotland, and maybe Northern Ireland. Look at Canada and America. There are plenty of Catholic schools over there and no bigotry on the levels found in Scotland. It is the Scottish people, not the system that causes the problem.
John, Erskine

The United States has warned Russia against blocking a UN Security Council resolution on the future of Kosovo.

The US ambassador at the UN, Zalmay Khalilzad, said that in the event of deadlock the Security Council could lose its control over the process.

Earlier, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner cast doubt on Russia’s dating ethnic site over Kosovo.

Moscow remains opposed to moves by the majority ethnic Albanians in Kosovo to break away from Serbia.

Mr Khalilzad told reporters that Russia would bear responsibility for blocking the draft resolution and warned of the 100 burundi dating free in online site
.

“Either the Council deals with this, with Russia playing a constructive role, taking a step in the right direction, or Russia will be responsible for pushing this process outside the Council”, Mr Khalilzad said on Wednesday.

A few hours earlier, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said he was not optimistic about a deal on Kosovo.

“I hope there will be a compromise with the Russians on the resolution… but I very much doubt it,” he said.

Russia unmoved

The Russian ambassador to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, rejected the latest version of the text, even though a reference to an automatic path to “supervised dating ethnic” had been removed.

Some Kosovo Albanians are growing impatient with negotiations

The new draft is the UN’s third attempt to seek support from Russia, which insists that Kosovo can only become ethnic dating with the consent of its ally, Serbia.

Moscow says the revised draft being drawn up in New York attempts to achieve independence for Kosovo through the back door.

Kosovo’s ethnic Albanians want independence from Serbia, but the minority Serbs - and the government in Belgrade - oppose that.

The province has been under UN dating free long man online seeking service woman
since 1999, following the withdrawal of Serbian forces. Their pull-out came after Nato air raids, launched to halt a violent Serb crackdown on ethnic Albanians, some of whom had taken up arms.

No date has been set for voting on the new draft, which is likely to be presented to the UN Security Council despite Moscow’s objections.

Russia is one of five permanent members of the Council, who have the right to veto resolutions.

The United Nations Security Council has approved a 26,000-strong dating ethnic site force to expand the 7,000 African Union (AU) force struggling to protect civilians in Sudan’s western province of Darfur.

More than 2m people are living in camps after fleeing more than four years of fighting in the region and they are vulnerable without peacekeepers.

Sudan’s government and the pro-government Arab militias are accused of war crimes against the region’s black African population, although the UN has stopped short of calling it genocide.

Sudan also rejects moves by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to name and then try war crimes suspects and hopes of peace remain elusive so far.

How did the conflict start?

The conflict began in the arid and impoverished region early in 2003 after a rebel group began attacking government targets, saying the region was being neglected by Khartoum.

The rebels say the government is oppressing black Africans in favour of Arabs.

Darfur, which means land of the Fur, has faced many years of tension over land and grazing rights between the mostly nomadic Arabs, and farmers from the Fur, Massaleet and Zagawa dating ethnic.

There are two main rebel groups, the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) and the Justice and Equality Movement (Jem), although peace talks have been complicated by splits in both groups, some along ethnic lines.

The groups opposed to a May 2006 peace deal with the government have now merged into the National Redemption Front led by former Darfur governor Ahmed Diraige.

What is the government doing?

It admits mobilising “self-defence militias” following rebel attacks but denies any links to the Janjaweed, accused of trying to “cleanse” black Africans from large swathes of territory.

Refugees from Darfur say that following air raids by government aircraft, the Janjaweed ride into villages on horses and camels, slaughtering men, raping women and stealing whatever they can find.

Many women report being abducted by the Janjaweed and held as sex slaves for more than a week before being released.

The US and some human rights groups say that genocide is taking place - though a UN investigation team sent to Sudan said that while war crimes had been committed, there had been no intent to commit genocide.

Sudan’s government denies being in control of the Janjaweed and President Omar al-Bashir has called them “thieves and gangsters”.

After strong international pressure and the threat of sanctions, the government promised to disarm the Janjaweed. But so far there is little evidence this has happened.

Trials have been announced in Khartoum of some members of the security forces suspected of abuses - but this is viewed as part of a campaign against UN-backed attempts to get some 50 key suspects tried at the ICC in The Hague.

What has happened to Darfur’s civilians?

Millions have fled their destroyed villages, with many heading for camps near Darfur’s main towns. But there is not enough food, water or medicine.

The Janjaweed patrol outside the camps and Darfurians say the men are killed and the women raped if they venture too far in search of firewood or water.

The Janjaweed are accused of ‘ethnic cleansing’

Some 200,000 have also sought safety in ethnic dating Chad, but many of these are camped along a 600km stretch of the border and remain vulnerable to attacks from Sudan.

The refugees are also threatened by the diplomatic fallout between Chad and Sudan as the neighbours accuse one another of supporting each other’s rebel groups.

Chad’s eastern areas have a similar ethnic make-up to Darfur.

Many aid agencies are working in Darfur but they are unable to get access to vast areas because of the fighting.

How many have died?

With much of Darfur inaccessible to aid workers and researchers, ethnic dating how many deaths there have been in the past three years is impossible.

What researchers have done is to estimate the deaths based on surveys in areas they can reach.

The latest research published in September 2006 in the journal Science puts the numbers of deaths above and beyond those that would normally die in this inhospitable area at “no fewer than 200,000″.

The US researchers say that their figures are the most compelling and persuasive estimate to date. They have made no distinction between those dying as a result of violence and those dying as a result of starvation or disease in refugee camps.

Accurate figures are crucial in determining whether the deaths in Darfur are genocide or - as the Sudanese government says - the situation is being exaggerated.

What happened to the peace deal?

SLA leader Minni Minawi, who signed the deal, was given a large budget, but his fighters have already been accused by Amnesty International of abuses against people in areas opposed to the peace deal.

The smaller SLA faction and Jem did not sign the deal.

There has been a dramatic increase in violence and displacement since the deal was signed.

With the peace deal looking unworkable and amid fears of renewed “all-out war”, there appears little prospect of people returning to their villages for some time yet.

Is anyone trying to stop the fighting?

About 7,000 African Union troops are deployed in Darfur on a very limited mandate.

Experts say the soldiers are too few to cover an area the size of France, and the African Union says it does not have the money to fund the operation for much longer.

Until recently, Sudan resisted strong Western diplomatic pressure for the UN to take control of the peacekeeping mission.

The new, larger joint UN-AU force should be in place by next year.

It should also be better equipped and has a stronger mandate to protect civilians and aid workers.

But some say even that is not enough to cover such a large, remote area.

Others point out that peacekeepers cannot do much unless there is a peace to keep.

They say the fighting can only end through a deal agreed by all sides, which has yet to materialise.

As a mixed-race child, her parents encouraged her to gain knowledge of and exposure to both Chinese and British cultures and histories.

Museum and gallery visits were a key part of this early education.

These experiences led Vanessa to take an A-level in history of art, where she became disenchanted by the emphasis on European arts.

Because of this narrowness, she decided to go on to the School of Oriental and African Studies.

Vanessa, 22, said: “While there, I became increasingly aware of the Euro-centric presentation that many of our museums observe and that inspired me to work in museums.

Better mix

“I want to provide a different perspective on how objects can be interpreted and displayed.”

Ms Mitchell’s story highlights the dilemma facing museums and galleries - the need to represent the ethnic mix of their communities, while having an dating ethnic site white workforce.

Furthermore, museums are failing to take advantage of the skills and talents of a significant part of the population.

According to a survey, ethnic minorities accounted for only 4% of the total employees in museums and galleries, compared with more than 7% of employees in the UK overall.

Fewer than 2% of people working on the care and interpretation of collections were from ethnic minorities.

The Museums Association says it wants to change this, through a scheme it calls Diversify.

It is recruiting people like Ms Mitchell and sponsoring them on postgraduate programmes in museum studies at universities across the country.

The project, which began in 1998, runs activities to attract more black and Asian people to apply for mid- and senior-level jobs.

Currently, it is dating free internet online service on bursaries and dating ethnic to prepare people for employment in museums and galleries.

“We work with universities to offer bursaries to students to take one-year postgraduate courses in museum studies,” said Lee Fulton, the project leader.

Favouritism?

“We also work with museums to offer fixed traineeships.”

With only nine dating ethnic site to date, some critics say the project is another example of tokenism towards minority groups.

Others accuse the association of favouritism.

Are British museums too European-centred?

However, those involved in the project dismiss these charges and bemoan the lack of adequate funding.

“Diversify is based on the principle of positive action and not positive discrimination,” said Ms Fulton.

“This is definitely not another tokenism. Diversify aims to take steps to help people from under-represented minorities compete on an equal basis for jobs.”

Ms Fulton said the association was not attempting to provide a quick fix or offering just a few opportunities for ethnic minorities.

Fair chance

The course tutors feel the selection processes are as rigorous as possible.

“Our selection criteria were that the candidate showed the potential and ambition to be a leader in the museum sector in the future,” said Alix Slate, the programme director at London’s Greenwich University.

“If we had not found a suitable candidate, we wouldn’t have awarded the bursary. The candidates face a tough interview to enter the programme. They were not given undue advantage.”

The efforts to get minority graduates into a museum career have started to pay off.

Hannah Phung, 23, graduated last year with a 2.1 in classical and archaeological studies from the University of Kent.

‘Just go for it’

Thanks to Diversify, she is now the assistant curator at the Grange Museum of Community History, London, while studying for an MA in museum studies at University College London.

She advises young black and Asian youths not to allow the image of a white, middle-class dominated museum workforce dissuade them from seeking careers in the sector.

“Museums and galleries are not for certain people,” she said.

“But if you avoid them, then no amount of outreach work, reports or talk will change anything.

“If working in museum and gallery is what you want to do and enjoy, just go for it.

“Make sure that you have the right qualifications and experience, as anyone who wants to work in this field should, because it is competitive.

“If black and Asian people shy away from museum work because they feel it is not for them, then things are not going to change.”

The top UN official in Kosovo says he believes extremists helped lead recent violence that left some 30 people dead.

Harri Holkeri said the start of the violence may have been spontaneous, but that it was taken over by extremists.

More than 3,500 Serbs were driven from their homes as a result of clashes between the majority ethnic Albanian population and the Serb minority.

Nato has pledged tight security at the funerals of the Albanian children whose deaths helped spark the crisis.

The funerals are set for Sunday - a day the Serbian government has declared a day of mourning for the Serbs who died in the ensuing violence.

Three Albanian boys drowned near the town of Mitrovica on Tuesday, reportedly after being chased by Serbs. The body of one of them is still missing.

As rumours spread about the boys’ deaths, mobs of angry Albanians set alight Serbian Orthodox churches and Serb-owned homes across Kosovo.

A day earlier, a Serb youth was shot and serious injured in what is thought to have been an adult free online dating service attack near the regional capital Pristina.

Nato reinforcements

The special representative of the UN Secretary General in Kosovo, Harri Holkeri, said he believed Albanian extremists free online datingd the violence.

“Maybe the very beginning was spontaneous but after the beginning certain extremist groups had an opportunity to orchestrate the situation and that is why we urgently are working to get those perpetrators into justice,” he said.

KOSOVO: KEY DATES 24 Sept 1998: Nato issues ultimatum to Milosevic to stop crackdown on Kosovo Albanians 24 Mar 1999: Nato begins air strikes against Yugoslavia over Kosovo 10 June 1999: Air strikes suspended after Milosevic agrees to withdraw troops. UN approves peace plan for Kosovo, ethnic dating site K-for peace force 11 June 1999: Nato troops enter Kosovo 10 Dec 2003: UN unveils road map on conditions Kosovo must meet by mid-2005 for talks on final status 17 Mar 2004: Serbs and Albanians clash in the worst violence seen since 1999 In pictures: Kosovo tension Intervention debate renewed

The BBC’s Nick Thorpe in Pristina says the situation in Kosovo has calmed down, but there is still considerable tension.

Nato has sent in extra troops to prevent further violence.

Serbs have been donating more than 30 tons of food, clothes and blankets for their fellow Serbs who were forced out of their homes during the violence.

The UN said at least 3,600 Serbs and other non-Albanians had fled. About 1,100 were being sheltered in camps run by the Nato peacekeeping force, K-For, while the others had gone to Serb areas, such as the town of Gracanica.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday described the violence in Kosovo as “ethnic cleansing” and called for protection for the Serb minority.

Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica has alleged the attacks were “planned in advance and co-ordinated… this was an attempted pogrom and ethnic cleansing” against Kosovo’s Serbs.

The clashes were the worst outbreak of violence since Nato forces entered Kosovo in 1999 to end years of ethnic unrest.

I have just watched and tried very hard to listen to your item on tonight’s Newsnight about the White Paper on Education. However, I found it impossible to concentrate on the important issues being discussed because of all those revolting images of sausages, minced meat and blue rubber gloves! No, I am not an extreme vegetarian! I cannot see however how those irrelevant and unnecessary visual images could possibly add to or clarify the serious debate about our education system. This paper marks a, possibly very significant, shift in our education system; we need to listen to the arguments and reflect on the implications of the paper without unpleasant and distracting visual images. I am finding the use of visual imagery is ethnic dating site intruding on many news programmes and current issues discussions.
Irene Knott, Nottingham

I have just switched off your discussion of the education bill in disgust - this is a bill which does not refer to Northern Ireland or Scotland and yet the differences between the systems in the various parts of the UK were neither mentioned nor used in your discussion. Why should I pay a licence fee to listen to a discussion which takes no account of the educational system where my children go to school? Please repay that proportion of my licence fee which funded this entirely anglocentric programme (despite the accent of the presenter). If you are the BBC you are the BBC - all of the time! Otherwise, let’s have a Scottish Newsnight for the whole of the programme. Thanks for the early night!
Cairns Craig, Aberdeen

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