Skip to main content

Britain unveils new bank note on anniversary

The Bank of England on Tuesday unveiled a new bank note featuring Jane Austen to coincide with the author’s death 200 years ago after a campaign to include more women on Britain’s currency. The new note worth ten pounds ($13, 11.3 euros) and made of polymer instead of paper will enter circulation in September. Tuesday’s launch follows the introduction of a polymer five-pound note last year that sparked controversy after the Bank of England confirmed that tallow, or animal fat, is used in the production process. Activists and religious groups have called for sustainable, plant-based alternatives, but while the BoE is continuing to use tallow, it is looking at the possibility of finding a different product in time for the release of its polymer 20-pound note due 2020. The Bank of England has praised the new notes for being waterproof and having enhanced security features. BoE Governor Mark Carney unveiled the new note in Winchester, southern England, where Austen is buried. “Our banknotes serve as repositories of the country’s collective memory, promoting awareness of the United Kingdom’s glorious history and highlighting the contributions of its greatest citizens,” Carney said at the unveiling. “The new 10 pound note celebrates Jane Austen’s work. Austen’s novels have a universal appeal and speak as powerfully today as they did when they were first published,” he added. – Equality campaign – The new notes will also contain raised dots to help the visually-impaired. The current ten-pound note features scientist Charles Darwin, famous for his theory of evolution but these will be gradually phased out. Austen is one of Britain’s best-loved authors, who combined romance with biting social commentary that still speaks to fans around the world. Tuesday marks the 200th anniversary of her death and there have been commemoration events around Britain. The author of classic novels “Pride and Prejudice”, “Emma” and “Sense and Sensibility” had only just become known when she died on July 18, 1817, aged 41. But her six novels, dissecting the lives of 19th century rural aristocracy, have since sold millions of copies and led to film adaptations. The appearance of Austen comes after the image of wartime leader Winston Churchill was chosen for the polymer five-pound note. Polymer is a thin, flexible plastic film that is seen as more durable and secure and is used also for notes in Australia and Canada. The former five-pound note featured prison reformer Elizabeth Fry. Her removal sparked a public outcry over the lack of female figures on banknotes — except for Queen Elizabeth II who appears on the front of all British notes and coins currently in circulation. Campaigners threatened to take the Bank of England to court for discrimination and launched a petition on Change.org that secured tens of thousands of signatures. The new 20-pound note will feature artist J. M. W. Turner on its back.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Armed customs officers search Ronaldo’s luxury yacht

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo was treated to a surprise visit abroad his rented yacht when Spanish customs agents boarded the boat in what tax authorities said Wednesday was merely a “routine check.” The Real Madrid star is said to have been stopped at high sea after leaving a restaurant on the paradise island of Formentera near Ibiza. Officials are believed to have boarded the yacht on Tuesday afternoon. Armed customs officers are reported to have boarded Cristiano Ronaldo’s holiday yacht as part of an inspection, according to Daily Mail. Ronaldo, 32, was reportedly on the yacht with girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez and friends and family when the officials approached the vessel on a large boat. The routine inspection is said to have lasted around an hour and a half. Spanish society magazine Hola, which broke the news on Wednesday, published pictures on its website of three officials boarding the yacht. Hola reported, “A Customs camera filmed everything that happened during...

ZUMA'S STATUE: AN ACCOUNT OF THE KING'S GRAVEN IMAGE

I love this piece. The writer is a good Bible student 1. And it came to pass that a certain Governor from the East by the name Rochas the son of Okorocha who ruleth over the province of Imo, sent a messenger to the kingdom of the Southern country of Africa.  2. And he said to the messenger, in this manner shall ye speak to the king, "long live the king! thou art highly favoured in the the eyes of my Governor, even among the people of the province of Imo, therefore come this day to meat in my kingdom that thou mayest be honoured"   3. And the messenger did according to the words of the Governor.  4. And it came to pass that the king of the Southern country of Africa by the name, Jacob the son of Zuma, entered into the province of Imo, even into the city of Oweri, the dwelling place of the Governor.  5. And Rochas the son of Okorocha made a great feast and prepared a banquet before the son of Zuma that night. And he called all the noble ...

Gadgets: Premium VS Budget VS Mid-range Devices

When we hear budget devices, our mind usually race to phones and smart devies. Based on public opinion, premium devices are attributed to affluence and luxury. I will like to broaden my scope with my classification of premium and budget gadgets. Lets start with mobile phones, classical example of premium phones are Samsung S-series, iPhones, HTC and the likes, examples of budget phones are the likes of Tecno, Infinix, iTel, Wiko, Fero. Moving away from mobile phones, Materials and gadgets that can also be classified as premium are Rolex watch, Beat by Dre earpiece, Auto brands like Rollce Royce (thanks to our Chinese reverse engineers that are able to produce replicas). With my experience owing Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge and having have a feel of ALL Samsung phone, I am trilled to say, the money worth it. I know most people will say the price is too high bla bla bla, permit to educate you a little on how this prices come by. 1. Research: In this age of science and technology, nobo...