Turned down: Abigail Howarth
Posted on 08/05/2007 9:55:18 AM PDT by Stoat
A teenage science student has been banned from applying for a training programme with the Environment Agency because she is white and English.
The recruitment agency handling the scheme told Abigail Howarth, 18, that there was no point in her submitting an application because of her ethnic background.
But bizarrely she could have applied if she had been white and Welsh, Scottish or Irish.
Abigail, who wanted to join the Agency's flood management programme, saw an advert in a local newspaper offering positions in the Anglia region where she lives, complete with a £13,000-a-year tax-free grant.
Scroll down for more
Turned down: Abigail Howarth
It made no mention of the ban on white English applicants, merely noting that candidates from ethnic minorities, such as "Asian, Indian' and "White Other, e.g. Irish, Welsh, Scottish', were encouraged to put themselves forward.
Abigail, of Little Straughton, Bedfordshire, said: "I was really disappointed. To be told being "White English" ruled me out in my home county shocked me. I know why there are positive action training schemes to assist those who are genuinely discriminated against but when it's broken down to this level it seems crazy to me.
"I really wanted to work for the agency and I was very excited - followed by feeling very disappointed.
"I would not have minded had I been beaten for the position by somebody better able than me."
Abigail, who is awaiting the results of A-Levels in environmental science, geography and geology, emailed PATH National Ltd, the company handling applications.
She asked: "Am I correct in assuming that as I am English (White) I need not apply as the preference is for the minorities you have listed, or can I apply anyway?'
Three days later, PATH recruitment officer, Bola Odusi, replied: "Thank you for your enquiry unfortunately the traineeship opportunity in <\[>sic] targeted towards the ethnic minority group to address their under representations in the professions under the Race Relations Act amended 2000."
Such a policy may breach Race Relations legislation as employers must prove ethnic groups are under-represented before using positive discrimination strategies.
The Environment Agency admitted it had 'no evidence that white Welsh, Scottish or Irish workers were under-represented' in the Anglia region.
South West Bedfordshire Tory MP Andrew Selous said: "I think this is complete nonsense and the Environment Agency should be taking the best people, irrespective of their background.
"This is obviously borne out of some idiotic quota system. Abigail should have been able to apply and been judged on her own merits. I will raise this when I have a meeting with the Environment Agency next month."
PATH National's organisational development manager, Mary McDowell, said: "The "White Welsh", "White Irish" and "White Scottish" is a technicality in law - if they are a minority, they are entitled to places on these schemes - they are not part of the majority group, which is "White English".
"The "White English" in this area are the majority group and hence could not apply.
"That is the way the law is laid. This is a chance for people who might be less employable to gain experience, just experience. Public-sector organisations have a duty to ensure they reflect the make-up of the society they serve."
The Environment Agency says 387 of its 12,000 workers claim BME (Black and Minority Ethnic) status. A spokesman added: "The Commission for Racial Equality has confirmed we are acting legally."
A CRE spokeswoman said: "The Commission will be checking with the Environment Agency to clarify the current situation regarding their positive action initiatives.
"Positive action can only be used to encourage or train particular under-represented groups."
From reverse discrimination to perverse discrimination.
"waving furry stoat paw in the air"
Interestingly, our own neo-Confederates base their claim to "Southron nationhood" on their Celtic identity. But don't expect them to criticize their Communist-supported brethren, or even ask why they are treated differently!
Not Guilty. But I would like to be an unindicted co-conspirator.
Come here to the US.
Now, that’s the kind of environmentalist we need.
“Wow...I wouldn’t turn her down.”
I don’t think many people would. LOL. I’ll bet they are taking a long second look and whoever turned her down head is going to roll.
Don’t forget diversity which only prolongs the pain and does not work.
Even thought I was qualified; I was turned down for a small business loan because I am married to a white man.
Update: Still married to him. Coming up on 24 years in Oct.
You’re Caucasian and your long-dead forbearors oppressed other long-dead people?
Well, F-— You!
(the sort of attitude you encounter in the rarified atmosphere of
academia)
We do the same nonsense.
A friend of mine named Carlos was offered a job at HUD. They liked him quite a bit during the interview. But upon looking at his application closely, they discovered that he wasn’t Hispanic. His Mother simply liked the name Carlos. HUD retracted the offer!
Does she want to work in Los Angeles?
” But upon looking at his application closely, they discovered that
he wasn’t Hispanic. His Mother simply liked the name Carlos.”
Good thing Juan Trippe was working in the private sector, building
American’s aviation industry and hastening the arrival of the Boeing 747.
(He was named after a Cuban step-grandfather, IIRC)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_Trippe
Another strike against her is the attempt to fix her teeth. How un-English!
Perhaps the Daily Mail reporter who is credited with writing this story (Mark Nicol) can contact her family and get that information.
Here is the Mail's contact information page:
The network I use to work at instructed us not to put “caucasian or white” on breakdowns when casting specific roles, even if it was what we were looking for. We could put “Hispanic,” “African-American,” etc., but not “caucasian”. The role’s ethnicity could not be mentioned when looking for whites. So stupid.
Note that they can’t even use the “prior discrimination” excuse.
This is pure, undiluted social engineering.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.