Mr Cable acknowledged the seven companies - which mainly operate in the mining and extractive sectors - faced "unique challenges" in attracting more women since their line of work often involved regular travel and projects in "remote areas of the world".

BBC: Vince Cable: Boardrooms need more women

Some of these look like they were submitted by regular people, and others seem more likely to be the work of professional activists.

FORBES: Online Petitions at Whitehouse.gov Call for Legalizing Drugs, Abolishing TSA, Talking to Aliens

For a professional caregiver who wants to work more than 40 hours a week at the regular rate (and many do), that option evaporates when overtime pay is required.

CNN: Mandating overtime pay hurts caregivers and seniors

Not only have the special forces got more work to do, but the pool of potential recruits in the regular army has been drying up.

ECONOMIST: The army's cutting edge sharpens up