22/11/2012 Newsround

Good afternoon, everyone - I'm Joe, this is Nel, and you're in the

right place for today's news. Lots on today's show including:

Should prisoners be allowed to vote?

And I will be finding out how a big meeting in Europe will be affecting

wildlife here in the UK. And find out how this internet

First - should people in jail be allowed to vote in elections? Plans

have been announced today which could allow people in prison to

have their say. Prime Minister David Cameron doesn't want that -

along with the majority of MPs. But the government's been told by

the European Court of Human Rights that they must change the law. MPs

will be asked to decide on different options but not everyone

agrees. I've been finding out more. When someone is convicted of a

crime and sent to jail in the UK, they don't just lose their freedom.

They lose many other rights as well - including the right to vote in

elections. In Britain, all prisoners - like those in

Manchester prison behind me - are banned from voting. But since 2004

that has been illegal in most of Europe. The European Court of Human

Rights says that voting is a basic human right, and by taking that

away; the UK government is breaking the law itself. Campaigners here

think voting is an important part of introducing inmates back into

society. It is important that prisoners can bird macro, because

they are people, they are behind bars, but they are still people.

Voting is important, it gives us a say in our communities commander

would prisoners to be part of communities, not stay as criminals,

but rejoin society as responsible people. The UK is one of only nine

European countries where there is a total ban on prisoners voting. Many

people who are against it believe that by committing a crime, you

lose the right to have such an important say in how the country is

run. Do you think prisoners should have the right to vote, has an ex-

prisoner? I don't, I think the majority have the same opinion. The

last thing you are thinking about in Britain is a boating. But it is

aged human right? It is if you haven't contravened other people's

human rights. Back in February last year, nearly all MPs said no to

giving prisoners the vote. The worry is that if the government

continues to resist, they could have to pay tens of millions of

pounds to prisoners who say they human rights have been violated.

You've been telling us what you think about this on the website.

Next - parts of England, Scotland and Wales have been hit hard by

heavy rain and winds, causing flooding in some areas. 147 flood

alerts have been issued in England, with the south-west and the

Midlands worst affected. Some rivers have burst their banks

with water flooding streets, cars and houses. Lots of people have

been forced to leave their homes. More heavy rain is forecast for the

rest of today and over the weekend. Cass, who lives in the South West

of England, told us it's the second time this year that her house has

flooded. We got up to do the school run first thing this morning,

noticed it was heavy rain, felt a bit anxious because be got flooded

on 24th September as well. We have come back from the school run, and

our entire house is flooded again. Next, should farmers keep getting

paid to look after wildlife on their land? It's one of the issues

the Prime Minister David Cameron's going to looking at in a big

meeting of European leaders tonight. They're getting together to try and

decide how much money the European Union - a group of countries that

work together on some issues - should get to spend, as Leah's been

finding out! For the last 25 years, many farmers

here in the UK have become wildlife champions - helping to protect some

of our most threatened species. It's all thanks to payments given

to farmers to help them look after wildlife on their land. That is

when it's not raining. On his farm in North Wales, Gethin uses his

payments to plant hedge-rows that attract different types of birds.

He's noticed a big increase in species like sky larks and

starlings. The money that comes from Europe to help, it is vital,

otherwise we are going to lose them up forever. A all the countries

that are part of the European Union, like Britain, France and Germany,

contribute some cash, and the funds are shared out to project across

Europe, but with many countries experiencing big problems, the EU

is under pressure to cut how much it spends. Over the next two days,

David Cameron's meeting with other EU leaders in Brussels to talk

about the organisation's budget. Some charities like the RSPB are

worried it'll lead to things like the wildlife payments getting cut

and that could put many species of birds, butterflies and other

animals at risk. Farmers already do a lot in terms of looking after the

environment, what is important is that they get supported in what

they do best, which is produced The government department that's in

charge of farming, known as DEFRA, told us that though they think the

EU's spending on farming should be cut back, they're in favour helping

farmers like Gethin look after wildlife. But with all sorts of

people across Europe facing tough times and less money, the question

for David Cameron and the EU's other leaders is whether wildlife

should still be a priority. Next to a young man who's hoping to

follow in the footsteps of these guys and bring home gold medals

from Rio. Gymnast Courtney Tulloch just missed out on this year's

Olympics because he was too young, but last night he picked up the

One-to-watch award from a big sport charity in the UK. Ricky's been

finding out why Courtney could be a future star.

Remember the name - Courtney Tulloch. He took up gymnastics when

he was just six. And ever since then he's been learning to perfect

moves like this. It would have been great to go to London, obviously,

but it wasn't my time, so I think Rio, I am training hard for that

and pushing for a gold medal. Earlier in the year, Courtney won

two gold medals at the European junior championships. Now he's been

recognised by the charity Sports Aid as one of the bright hopes for

future Olympics. Sports Aid helps rising stars, giving them much-

needed cash to help them train in the early stages of their career.

wish I could be like him, on the rings, he is amazing. I have been

watching him, every day he gets better and better. When people say

it's a girl sport it is like a man not really, it is one of the most

dangerous sports there is. He beat off competition from nearly 2,000

others to pick up last night's One- to-watch award. And the judges know

talent when they see it. Tom Daley won it a few years ago. The Montale

be some of the past winners, when I was told I was down to three, I

couldn't believe it. Like many kids and teenagers inspired by the

London 2012 Olympics, Courtney Tulloch will be hoping this is just

the start of a glittering sporting career. Impressive! Do you remember

Rebecca Black? De why ever!

There is a new online pop sensation, and this one is sitting about

Her new video has gone a viral, singing about turkey legs.

So as Americans settle down, one lucky Turkey will escape, meet this