Tributes to civil rights pioneer & swans return to Slimbridge

Civil rights pioneer

Tributes have been paid to civil rights pioneer and former US congressman John Lewis, who has died aged 80 after a battle with cancer. Lewis was a key figure in the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, and was a close associate of Martin Luther King Jr. He was also a long-serving member of the US House of Representatives, representing Georgia's 5th congressional district from 1987 until his death. Lewis was born in Troy, Alabama, in 1940. He began his involvement in the civil rights movement as a student at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1960, he joined the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and soon became one of its leaders. Lewis was a key organizer of the Freedom Rides of 1961, which challenged segregation on interstate buses and terminals. He was also a prominent participant in the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963, where he delivered a powerful speech. In 1964, Lewis was elected chairman of SNCC. He led the organization through a period of increasing militancy, and was a key figure in the Selma to Montgomery marches of 1965. Lewis was beaten and arrested during the marches, and his injuries helped to galvanize support for the civil rights movement. After the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Lewis turned his attention to electoral politics. He was elected to the Atlanta City Council in 1973, and served until 1981. In 1986, he was elected to the US House of Representatives, where he served until his death. Lewis was a lifelong advocate for civil rights and social justice. He was a strong supporter of the Voting Rights Act, and he worked to expand its protections. He was also a vocal critic of police brutality and mass incarceration. Lewis was a recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Congressional Gold Medal, and the Spingarn Medal. He was also a professor at Emory University in Atlanta. Lewis's death is a great loss to the civil rights movement and to the nation as a whole. He was a courageous and dedicated leader who fought tirelessly for equality and justice.

Swans return to Slimbridge

The first swans have returned to Slimbridge Wetland Centre in Gloucestershire, UK, after spending the summer in Iceland. The swans are part of a flock of around 2,000 that migrate to Slimbridge each winter. The swans usually arrive in October or November, but this year they have arrived early. The reason for this is not clear, but it may be due to the warm weather in Iceland this summer. The swans are a popular attraction at Slimbridge, and visitors can watch them from close range. The swans are also important for the wetland ecosystem, as they help to keep the water clean and aerated. Slimbridge Wetland Centre is a 2,000-acre reserve that is home to a variety of wildlife, including birds, mammals, and reptiles. The centre is open to the public every day, and there is a variety of activities and events on offer throughout the year.