The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 
Diana – the People’s Princess
Diana Spencer was born on the first of July 1961 in Sandringham in England. She had two older sisters and a younger brother. In
childhood she liked games, swimming, running and dancing. She wanted to become
a dancer. Besides she loved children very much and at the age of sixteen she
worked in schools for very young children. Diana became princess, when Prince
Charles, the Queen's son, asked her to be his wife and they got married. They seemed
to be a happy couple at first. They had two sons. They travelled a lot they
worked a lot, they visited many countries together. But Diana was not quite
happy because they did different things and Charles didn't understand her. Why
was Diana the most famous, the most beautiful, the most photographed woman in
the world? Why did she win the hearts of millions and millions of people in
many countries? Why did so many people come to London to remember her when she
died? Why did the car accident which took her life, become such a total shock
to crowds of people? Why did people feel the need to be in London at the
funeral? Why did the tears and love at the funeral move the world? The answer
is so simple. Matthew Wall, a student at St. Michael's College in Burlington said: "She was such a lovely lady. She did so much for those people less
fortunate that herself”. She was a kind woman. Hundreds of people talked about Diana's
kindnesses. She liked ordinary people, though she was rich and had many rich
friends. Wherever she was, she was always ready to lend a hand. She was devoted
to the sick and the poor. She visited hospitals for people with AIDS and for
lepers and wasn't afraid to touch them, talk to them, listen to them. She
worked on children's charities, and had teamed up with Hillary Clinton in an
effort to ban landmines. And it's not only money, that she wanted to give people.
She wanted to give them a part other soul, to make them happy because she was
unhappy herself. She wanted to give them love, because she needed love
herself.
Rock
stars (Sting, Elton John), pop singer George Michael, film stars and producers
(Tom Hanks, Steven Spilberg, Nicole Kidman, Tom Cruise) and other famous people
were among her friends. But she had more friends among ordinary people. Diana
was seen many times in floods of tears, because of the pressures other loveless
15-year marriage. It is not a secret that Diana was hounded and humiliating to
the point of mental breakdown and was able to pull through only because she
knew she had the love of the people to buoy her in her darkest hours. She was,
indeed, the People’s Princess.
Cities in Britain
Nobody can deny that Britain has a lot of enchanting, charming and fascinating cities that are very different.
Some of them are medieval, walled and peaceful. These cities have a lot of
trees, flowers so they are leafy. For example Darlington is a small, remole
and sleepy city with a population about 100000 people. It is rather far from London and hot coastal, so there are no big paints and manufactures. But I think that it
is a great advantage. Because today plants pollute air and water, so the health
of the people is changing for the worse. But also there are a lot of sprawling,
overpopulated, manufacturing and fast-growing cities. I think living in them is
a great torture. May be these cities are simply unworkable, undeserving of any
praise, plagued by unemployment, city of impressive government building and
expressways, but they are also centers of a high crime rade, lot of gambling
establishments. Today new, gateway or big capital city can boast its modern
apartment block of concrete and glass, enormous human and economic potential,
magnificent architecture and numerous amusement parks equipped with video games
and high-tech virtual reality attractions. The streets here are home to some
striking contrast, because there cities are fast-changing. Also streets are
promenades for residents and tourists, pickup artists and pickpockets, they are
lined with small buy shops and coffee bars, pulse with energy and life and
sometimes are lined with a double row of trees. It is true that these cities
offer more than you can imagine. Nobody ca deny that a great
example of these of these cities is London- capital of Great Britain. It grew up around the first point where the Roman invaders found the Thames narrow enough to build a bridge. They found a small Celtic settlement then known as
Londinium and by A. D. 300 they had turned it into a sizeable port and an
important trading centre. Over 8 million people live in London. The city
dominates British life. It is the home of the nation's commerce and finance,
the main centre of its legal system and the press. It has the largest
university and the greatest possibilities for entertainment and for sport in
the country. London is one of the most famous capital cities of the world, and
every year it attracts crowds of visitors from home and abroad. They come to
explore its historic buildings, to see its museums and galleries, its streets
and parks, and its people. London is a city of great contrasts. Its western
part is the richest part of the town with its cosy mansions, beautiful avenues,
shops, restaurants and hotels. The East End is the district inhabited by the
poor. Quite an army of people live from hand to mouth in its slums and
miserable houses lining dreary narrow streets. Industry is chiefly found in
that part of the city, grey with soot and smoke. The heart of London is the
City — its commercial and business centre. Here is situated the Tower of London that comes first among the historic buildings of the city. The River is
the main approach to London from the east. 1000 years ago William the Conqueror
decided to build a strong fortress to protect the City of London, which he had
just conquered, The Tower of London was one of the first and most
impressive castles after the Norman invasion of England in 1066. Since the
times of William I various kings have built and extended the Tower of London and used it for many purposes. The Tower has been used as a royal palace, an
observatory, an arsenal, a state prison, and many famous and infamous people
have been executed within its walls. It is now a museum. For many visitors the
principal attraction is the Crown Jewels, the finest precious stones of the
nation. A fine collection of amour is exhibited in the Keep. The security of
the Tower is ensured by a military garrison and by the Yeoman Warders or
"Beefeaters" who still wear their picturesque Tudor uniform. St Paul's
Cathedral,
the greatest of English churches, is situated not far from the Tower. St. Paul's Cathedral has always dominated the centre of London. It stands on the site of
former Saxon and Norman churches. The latter were destroyed in the Great Fire
and the present building, completed in 1710, is the work of the eminent
architect Sir Christopher Wren. It is an architectural masterpiece. Londoners
have a particular affection for St. Paul's, which is the largest Protestant Church in England. Its high dome, containing the remarkable Whispering Gallery,
is a prominent landmark towering above the multi-storeyed buildings which line
the river-bank. Not far away, is Westminster, where most of the Government
buildings are situated, is Westminster Abbey. Westminster Abbey is a national
shrine where the kings and queens are crowned and famous people are buried.
Founded by Edward the Confessor in 1050, the Abbey was a monastery for a long
time. The present building dates largely from the time of Henry III who began
to rebuild the church, a task which lasted nearly 300 years. The West towers
were added in the eighteenth century Since William I almost every English
monarch has been crowned in this great church, which contains the tombs and
memorials of many of Britain’s most eminent citizens. One of the greatest
treasures of the Abbey is the oaken Coronation Chair made in 1300. Near the
West Door of the Abbey the Unknown Warrior lies in a simple grave commemorating
the men who died in the First World War. The Abbey is also known for its Poets'
Corner. Graves and memorials to many English poets and writers are clustered
round about. Walking around London one can also see and admire Trafalgar Square. Trafalgar Square is the natural centre of London. The square was so named
to commemorate Nelson's Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, and the
monument in the centre, known as Nelson's Column, is surmounted with a Statue
of Nelson 16 feet high. The pedestal of the Column is decorated with
bas-reliefs representing Nelson's most familiar victories. At the base of
Nelson's Column are four lions. The square has now become a huge traffic
island, the statues and fountains have enlivened the space so that it remains a
place of pilgrimage for visitors. When the square is not used for
demonstrations, it is full of visitors feeding the pigeons or watching the
traffic. On the north side of the square are the National Gallery and the
National Portrait Gallery. The National Gallery has an outstanding varied
collection of paintings from British, Italian, Spanish, French, Dutch and other
famous schools. It is an international, rather than, as it is named, a National
Gallery.
From the centre of Westminster Bridge, one can have a splendid view of the Houses of Parliament which spread
magnificently by the north bank of the Thames. This structure is a remarkable
example of Gothic architecture. The Clock Tower, which contains the hour-bell
called "Big Ben", is known the world over. AARoyal
Palaces and houses were built along the banks of the Thames in medieval days.
The Houses of Parliament, called officially the Palace of Westminster, were
formerly a palace for kings and queens. The palace was used both as a royal
residence and also as a parliament house until the sixteenth century In the
course of the sixteenth century when the royal family moved to the new palace
within half a mile of Westminster — Whitehall Palace, the Palace of Westminster was occupied by the Parliament and became its home. So the site of Westminster has been involved with the government of England for 500 years.
London is one of the world's most enjoyable cities. Visited by tourists in the millions,
the city offers them an astonishing variety of scenes. In this historic city
the modern rubs shoulders with the old, the present is ever conscious of the
past, the great and the small live side by side in mutual tolerance and respect
and in every part of London's busy and complex life there is to be found a very
genuine affection for her traditions, and her fortunes.London survived the
Plague, which killed nearly 100.000 people and the Great Fire which followed.
Little damage occurred during World War I, but World War II brought tremendous
destruction. Many buildings of great historic value were laid in ruins and
today the face of London is changed. Yet much was spared, including the Tower, St. Paul's Cathedral and Westminster Abbey. London has buildings that express all the
different areas of its history, for London manages in a unique way to reflect
its past and at the same time to fulfil the functions of a modern city. There is
always something new to be [discovered, some fresh approach to a familiar
scene, some curious piece of history to be investigated.
The great problem of
all big cities is overcrowding, because they are overpopulated. Overcrowding
leads to the traffic jams. So most of the famous cities are smoky. But
nevertheless cities are full of charm and vitality and comfortable place to
live in. It would be right to say, that living in cities gives much more
opportunities, that living in the country.
Work and unemployment
Like every
developed country the United Kingdom has a problem of unemployment and finding
a job there is no such thing as a job life any more. There are a lot of
interesting professions in the world, but nevertheless many young men start
down a false path to their true destiny. There is no doubt that choosing the
right job is one of the most critical decisions you’ll ever make in your life.
For many people their future seems cloudy and they don’t mind hard physical
job. Others have a very clear idea of what they want. They find the right job
that involves theirs best subject and gives opportunities to expand their
horizons culturally. I think that there are some of the most attractive aspects
of a profession, that insist on taking it: good pay, responsibility, a pleasant
place to work, quite short working day, maternity leave, long holydays and
opportunities for promotion. As you know the ticket to long-lasting success in
the modern world is higher education, but it is very expensive, so not every
man have an opportunity to have a lucrative and enviable job. These people are
forced to spend their life in a job they hate. But a lot of people don’t have
any job at all, they are unemployment. Even in UK this problem is taking place.
I don’t think that to live people must earn their bread in the sweat of their
brows and live hand to mouth. It is very humiliating. The most important and,
career-track and solid professions are teacher, economist, doctor and political
worker. These jobs require skills and responsibilities, are challenging enough,
attract idealistic types only and of course pay a lot of money. For many people
high earrings are more important than job satisfaction, so, I think, that
person, who likes this job is rather soulless. His true to say that today the
level of unemployment in UK is 3,1%. It is rather low, but not enough.
Mass media
Today people all over the world have much more
television, than ever before and become a coach potato. Great Britain is a very developed country with very developed television. The British Media
consists of the press and radio and TV broadcasting. There are too many mass
media companies. The most famous TV company in the UK is BBC. It has a great
number of correspondents. They seek out the news, publish sometimes damaging
information, always want to be first with the latest news, shine light on a lot
of dark places and even some correspondents, and dig into someone’s private
life trying to come up with dirt. I can say, that the press sometimes goes too
far, crossing the fine line between the public’s right to know, on the one
hand, the right of the individuals to privacy and the right of the government
to protect the national security, on the other hand, oversteps the bounds of
its rights.
The BBC is run in the interests of its viewers and
listeners. Twelve governors act as trustees of the public interest and regulate
the BBC. They are appointed by the Queen on advice from ministers.
Day-to-day
BBC operations are run by 16 divisions. Their directors report to the
director-general, forming the Executive Committee. It answers to the Board of
Governors.
The
BBC’s governors safeguard its independence, set its objectives and monitor its
performance. They are accountable to its licence payers and Parliament, and
publish an Annual Report assessing the BBC's performance against objectives.
BBC governors differ from
directors of public companies, whose primary responsibilities are to
shareholders and not consumers. BBC governors represent the public interest,
notably the interests of viewers and listeners.
Executive Committee
Runs the BBC in the public interest by:
Proposing key objectives
Developing strategy and
policy in light of the set objectives
Operating all services within
the strategic and policy framework
Board of Governors
Ensures the BBC serves the public interest
by:
Setting key objectives
Approving strategy and policy
Monitoring performance and
compliance, and reporting on both in the Annual Report
Ensuring public
accountability
Appointing the
Director-General and other Executive Committee members and determining their
remuneration
It is a great advantage for people to have television,
because it informs the mind, changes human consciousness, analyses events that
have gone down in history, brings events like the Olympic Games into millions
of homes, but sometimes makes school dull and books less interesting. I think,
that British TV companies prefer to show daily ten-minute snapshot of local
crime, put too much political output, interview people live and show films made
for TV. Unlike Russia and Belarus UK television doesn’t prefer to show many
pornographic films. BBC has a lot of different programs and shows: nature,
quiz, public-affair, art, hot news programs and on-air questions, gardening,
modern shows. Also it has a lot of news programs: local, International, the
National, early morning, morning, regional, breakfast, main daytime. As for me,
I prefer television for entertainment. Many British people like to read
newspapers. Some of them have thousands of copies. They write about people, who
launder drug money, seize hostages, live in poverty and inequality; and about
other people who cry for their very lives. Newspapers print news about
different reforms, kidnappings, hijackings, natural disasters and political
scandals. There are a lot of gossip newspapers. Most of them are tabloid and
have a lot of interesting pictures, like in magazines. But sometimes these
newspapers make mistakes, so we must learn the difference between fact and
fantasy. Some people like newspapers that publish crosswords or damaging
information about our life. Many of them help us to understand the world. I
think it will be better if these newspapers include the readers’ understanding
of the events. All newspapers want to be at the center of attention. So news in
the front page can be grave, shocking, manicured or well-written. I think that
bad news sells newspapers. Many British newspapers, even Herald Tribune,
publish articles that can bring tears, but other articles can take up an entire
page and be a real eye-opener or they can paint a very rosy picture of our life
and bring tears and laughter. I suppose solid newspapers like Herald Tribune
can be a mirror of our society. Herald Tribune is an authoritative source of
news and a standard reading for diplomats and government officials and also
talks of rights, pictures the way people cope with life. But not only
newspapers help us to understand the world we live in.
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