Since my last post there have been student 'riots', an attack on Charles and Camilla, a hike in tuition fees, even more consultations released by government and of course the wikileaks saga continues.
Today we find out that the U.S is going to sue B.P over the oil disaster and yet the people of Bhopal still await justice. Pity the Indian government didn't pursue this as vigorously and aggressively as they should have. It's a bit late now to pretend that they care about ordinary and poor Indian citizens.
Is it me or are these strange times we're in? I keep feeling that I'm suddenly going to wake up to find it's all a horrid nightmare...
Well that would be wishful thinking and part of me just wants to emigrate, although I wouldn't know where to. Is anywhere better than here? I suppose running away from problems is never the answer but it seems that this government is hellbent on pushing through whatever money saving measures they have without thinking of the societal impact this will have. They keep coming out with words such as 'fairness' 'big society' 'austerity' etc etc. Yet how can you bring in models of change when you haven't even bothered doing your homework? How is 'fairness' an objective term for a government to use to inform policy? Surely the language of equality which is embedded in law is a better benchmark, but the Tories seem to be afraid of the word 'equality'.
What they called 'riots' is probably a precursor to the kind of demonstration of public discontent we are probably going to see in the next year or so when the cuts really start to bite. Unfortunately there has been little robust opposition from Labour which is probably because they don't know quite how to position themselves yet. They managed to self combust and are now in the process of regrouping, but they bloody well better hurry up...because people like me are looking for alternative solutions...
As a last point, as a person with a disability, I was shocked and disgusted by the police's treatment of a disabled student protestor (Jodie McIntyre). They dragged him out of his wheelchair, which they must have thought was a prop I'm assuming???..during the last student demo. Watching this on youtube made me feel sick to the stomach. We smugly tell the rest of the world about human rights and yet see human rights' abuses on our doorstep. Welcome to the brave new world.
Thursday 16 December 2010
Friday 19 November 2010
A winter of discontent
I've been on another hiatus and wish I could tell you that I've been gallavanting around the world doing some incredibly interesting and exciting stuff..alas! alack! no such luck..although one day this blog may come to you from some distant and far off land from the tales of Marco Polo ...well I can dream!!
Actually there is a lot I've wanted to write about; the spending cuts, welfare reform, and the rise of the right. It's 'funny' how in times of economic strife, it's the visible minorities that get targeted as scapegoats. As anyone who has studied history and the rise of fascism and nazism, you'll see the same patterns emerging, just a different set of protagonists and a different set of bogeymen.
The Guardian recently highlighted how the Roma gypsies are being abused and assaulted as well as being targeted by governments. The friendly French didn't think a niqab ban was evidence enough of liberte, egalite and fraternite, they thought that getting rid of the gypsies would also help towards pandering to the far right (Vichy anyone?). Sarkozy, I fear has a touch of the Napoleon in more ways than one...
In Britain, it's the Muslims, immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers (let's just bunch them under the banner of immigrant benefit scrounging, job stealing, white slave trading, terrorists - this pretty much encapsulates what The Daily Mail/Express/Star and The Sun think anyway)... so there's not just the BNP (although they have currently imploded), we now have the English Defence League (EDL) who apparently are saving England from Sharia and those nasty Muslims who are heaven/hellbent on (depending on which side of the fence you're on) taking over England, Britain..nay the whole of the world and impose ..wait for it...HALAL CHICKEN..the dutty barstewards!! sorry I couldn't resist...and the really funny thing is that there are some brown and dark brown and black people who suddenly think they're job is to defend England as well by joining the EDL and standing outside KFC with placards reading 'GET RID OF HALAL CHICKEN IN KFC' or maybe outside Toby Carvery with 'THE EDL IS DEFENDING THE ENGLISH CHICKEN'S RIGHT TO BE STUNNED NOT HAVE ITS NECK CUT OFF WITH SOME ARABIC CHANTING' ...what a bunch of nutjobs...the thing is, didn't people say that about Hitler and his little army of aryans before they dragged the whole world into war and killed a few million Jews? Us humans sure have short memories! I reckon I'd like to stick the EDL, BNP and Muslims against the Crusades and any other crazy nutjob in a field full of horseshit where they'll feel right at home, and let them fight amongst themselves. Meanwhile the rest of us normal people can get on with dealing whether we'll vote Wagner or Matt on the Xfactor!
That last bit really was a joke, what I meant to say was dealt with the stupendous welfare benefit reform and spending cuts that were recently announced. Now I'm not housing or welfare expert but even I can see that there are some serious flaws. If it were only the poor that were being affected then we'd probably ignore it because they all want to be there so they can live off benefits. However it isn't just the 'lazy' poor that are being targeted but Middle England. The child benefit cut pretty much left a lot of people astounded. Thanks to the Daily Mail housing benefit seems to be fair target although I do think like many others that the reform is ever so slightly flawed. If you want to create ghettos and even more social exclusion then this is one way of doing it. The mixed rhetoric from government also doesn't help. Maybe Nick Clegg keeps forgetting which party he belongs to? Nick! You're a libdem! You know, the ones that said no to a hike in uiversity tuition fees!
I'm pretty sure this is a 'wait and see' game as the level of reform being proposed and the level of cuts being pursued are so extensive that I don't think anyone can accurately predict what the situation will be in 2 year's time. All I know is that there are a lot of local volunteer and community groups that have done a lot of good work that are suddenly facing a bleak future due to funding cuts. Not so much 'Big Society' ...more Con-dem BS in my opinion...
Actually there is a lot I've wanted to write about; the spending cuts, welfare reform, and the rise of the right. It's 'funny' how in times of economic strife, it's the visible minorities that get targeted as scapegoats. As anyone who has studied history and the rise of fascism and nazism, you'll see the same patterns emerging, just a different set of protagonists and a different set of bogeymen.
The Guardian recently highlighted how the Roma gypsies are being abused and assaulted as well as being targeted by governments. The friendly French didn't think a niqab ban was evidence enough of liberte, egalite and fraternite, they thought that getting rid of the gypsies would also help towards pandering to the far right (Vichy anyone?). Sarkozy, I fear has a touch of the Napoleon in more ways than one...
In Britain, it's the Muslims, immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers (let's just bunch them under the banner of immigrant benefit scrounging, job stealing, white slave trading, terrorists - this pretty much encapsulates what The Daily Mail/Express/Star and The Sun think anyway)... so there's not just the BNP (although they have currently imploded), we now have the English Defence League (EDL) who apparently are saving England from Sharia and those nasty Muslims who are heaven/hellbent on (depending on which side of the fence you're on) taking over England, Britain..nay the whole of the world and impose ..wait for it...HALAL CHICKEN..the dutty barstewards!! sorry I couldn't resist...and the really funny thing is that there are some brown and dark brown and black people who suddenly think they're job is to defend England as well by joining the EDL and standing outside KFC with placards reading 'GET RID OF HALAL CHICKEN IN KFC' or maybe outside Toby Carvery with 'THE EDL IS DEFENDING THE ENGLISH CHICKEN'S RIGHT TO BE STUNNED NOT HAVE ITS NECK CUT OFF WITH SOME ARABIC CHANTING' ...what a bunch of nutjobs...the thing is, didn't people say that about Hitler and his little army of aryans before they dragged the whole world into war and killed a few million Jews? Us humans sure have short memories! I reckon I'd like to stick the EDL, BNP and Muslims against the Crusades and any other crazy nutjob in a field full of horseshit where they'll feel right at home, and let them fight amongst themselves. Meanwhile the rest of us normal people can get on with dealing whether we'll vote Wagner or Matt on the Xfactor!
That last bit really was a joke, what I meant to say was dealt with the stupendous welfare benefit reform and spending cuts that were recently announced. Now I'm not housing or welfare expert but even I can see that there are some serious flaws. If it were only the poor that were being affected then we'd probably ignore it because they all want to be there so they can live off benefits. However it isn't just the 'lazy' poor that are being targeted but Middle England. The child benefit cut pretty much left a lot of people astounded. Thanks to the Daily Mail housing benefit seems to be fair target although I do think like many others that the reform is ever so slightly flawed. If you want to create ghettos and even more social exclusion then this is one way of doing it. The mixed rhetoric from government also doesn't help. Maybe Nick Clegg keeps forgetting which party he belongs to? Nick! You're a libdem! You know, the ones that said no to a hike in uiversity tuition fees!
I'm pretty sure this is a 'wait and see' game as the level of reform being proposed and the level of cuts being pursued are so extensive that I don't think anyone can accurately predict what the situation will be in 2 year's time. All I know is that there are a lot of local volunteer and community groups that have done a lot of good work that are suddenly facing a bleak future due to funding cuts. Not so much 'Big Society' ...more Con-dem BS in my opinion...
Wednesday 18 August 2010
Pakistan Floods
The Pakistan floods are the worst the country has ever seen. It is estimated that approxmitately 20 million people have been adversely affected by the floods and what has the response been? Well, let's just say it reminds me of the media/political/charitable aftermath of Katrina. In the days after Katrina I received a shocking email with a photo of an African American person on top of their flooded house with a sign saying 'SOS Crack needed' ...the photo had been conjured up of course by someone with enough time to use a disaster to make a racist, disgusting point; the Blacks in the South were all crack heads and needed their fix, not aid.
Fast forward to 2010 and the pitiful response to the Pakistan floods highlight how public perception is affected by a constant drip feed of anti/negative Pakistan 'reporting'. If Pakistan isn't supporting the Taliban, then it's supporting anti Indian terrorists, if not anti Indian terrorists then pro Al- Qaeda terrorist...and if not terrorists, then Pakistan is full to the brim with super corrupt politicians. Of course this is the whole of Pakistan. Let's not in any shape way or form show the human face; You know, the ordinary people who go about their daily lives trying to make ends meet, trying to look after their families, trying to have a bit of fun. Of course Pakistanis don't do that. They're all a miserable bunch who send their kids to extremist fuelled madrasahs in Peshawar where they teach them about infidels and kalashnikovs or whatever the gun du jour is.
It's very easy to point the finger and call Pakistan a 'failed state' or for David Cameron to crudely pander to the Indians by calling Pakistan two faced but I'm still not understanding how this has anything to do with humanitarian aid. In the face of natural disaster these people have at worst lost their lives and at best, their homes, their livelihoods and their security.
Is the limited response due to people thinking the DEC campaign is actually funding the extremist/islamist/fundamentalist/radical aid workers???
All I know is that people...wake up...this is about having compassion. If you don't have the money to help, then fundraise. If you can't fundraise then at least raise awareness so other people may help. Don't demonise a whole people and let them suffer more than they are already.
Fast forward to 2010 and the pitiful response to the Pakistan floods highlight how public perception is affected by a constant drip feed of anti/negative Pakistan 'reporting'. If Pakistan isn't supporting the Taliban, then it's supporting anti Indian terrorists, if not anti Indian terrorists then pro Al- Qaeda terrorist...and if not terrorists, then Pakistan is full to the brim with super corrupt politicians. Of course this is the whole of Pakistan. Let's not in any shape way or form show the human face; You know, the ordinary people who go about their daily lives trying to make ends meet, trying to look after their families, trying to have a bit of fun. Of course Pakistanis don't do that. They're all a miserable bunch who send their kids to extremist fuelled madrasahs in Peshawar where they teach them about infidels and kalashnikovs or whatever the gun du jour is.
It's very easy to point the finger and call Pakistan a 'failed state' or for David Cameron to crudely pander to the Indians by calling Pakistan two faced but I'm still not understanding how this has anything to do with humanitarian aid. In the face of natural disaster these people have at worst lost their lives and at best, their homes, their livelihoods and their security.
Is the limited response due to people thinking the DEC campaign is actually funding the extremist/islamist/fundamentalist/radical aid workers???
All I know is that people...wake up...this is about having compassion. If you don't have the money to help, then fundraise. If you can't fundraise then at least raise awareness so other people may help. Don't demonise a whole people and let them suffer more than they are already.
Friday 4 June 2010
RAHA International
I just wanted to raise awareness of a non-profit organisation based in Kenya called RAHA International. This organisation is as grassroots as you can get and I'm hoping that people who read this post, take some time to visit RAHA's website and look at the case studies.
Background
RAHA was set up by three sisters Daksha, Nimi and Joshna Hirani a few years ago, but was officially registered in 2008. Nimi says that she was tired of seeing money being wasted by some charities and others providing aid in return for adherence to a particular faith; 'God for aid' she calls it. Instead, the Hirani sisters wanted RAHA to be simple, provide the basics,give people dignity and let people work it out themselves.
RAHA's main aim is to provide and facilitate access to education for young people who otherwise would not have been able to. Nimi who has a background in social medicine, drug, alcohol and HIV work says she benefited from the opportunities and choices having an education has given her. RAHA is raising funds not only for current students but what those who may come to them in the future for assistance.
Jeremiah's success
Jermiah Kangele will be an aeronautical Engineer in July. He was breaking stone at building sites when RAHA came accross him. RAHA helped his mum find a job and got him started on his course. He is a clever man who just needed a little support. He will feed his entire family once he finds employment.
For such a 'young' charity, RAHA is doing pretty amazing work and Nimi is adamant that administration costs will be kept to a minimum so that funds can go directly to those who most need the help.
For more information or to make a donation please contact info@rahainternational.com
Human Rights
Last week I went to a seminar on PR, Diversity and Public Engagement. Attending as speakers were people like Sue Caro, Senior Diversity Manager at the BBC and Afua Hirsch, The Guardian's legal affairs correspondent.
I didn't get to ask Sue my questions relating to the BBC's committment to diversity. It was pretty ironic that on her powerpoint she had the logo for BBC Asian Network, a radio station that is currently facing the axe. It's funny how anything 'ethnic' loses funding as soon as financial cuts are announced. I wanted to ask whether BBC Asian Network wasn't doing a good enough job and that was why it was going to go...
I also wanted to ask her why, on her diversity showreel, every single muslim person shown was talking about religion. Is that all muslim people do? Talk mosques, religion, ramadan and of course terrorism? (The Eastenders gay plot is just a blip in the system) My message to the beeb is "think out of the box because you're spending my money and not doing a good enough job of it"
I didn't get to ask my questions because there were loads of other people who had comments to make around media culture being white male dominated. Apparently it used to be a lot worse in the 80s...doh! really...that's not really an answer I want to hear as a yard stick for how things have improved. Is that what I should tell young black kids..."well you know back in the 50s black Americans had to sit at the back of a bus and used to get lynched in Alabama..look how lucky you have it now!"
Afua Hirsch spoke eloquently about the Human Rights Act and why it is there for us all. She highlighted how tabloids have misquoted and misrepresented the act and how it has sometimes been enforced incorrectly which have all led to it being perceived as protecting criminals and immigrants and all things 'other'. If you have a quick look on the link you'll find it hard pressed to disagree with what it covers.
Afua's presentation reaffirmed my committment to try and think past the headlines in both the tabloid and broadsheet press. Human rights are not just about moral relativism, or about protecting criminals; it is about having a base line for everyone regardless of who (this encompasses everything about a person's identity) they are.
Every now and then I come across people who challenge my beliefs, my thoughts and my opinions and the speakers at the seminar did plenty of that.
I didn't get to ask Sue my questions relating to the BBC's committment to diversity. It was pretty ironic that on her powerpoint she had the logo for BBC Asian Network, a radio station that is currently facing the axe. It's funny how anything 'ethnic' loses funding as soon as financial cuts are announced. I wanted to ask whether BBC Asian Network wasn't doing a good enough job and that was why it was going to go...
I also wanted to ask her why, on her diversity showreel, every single muslim person shown was talking about religion. Is that all muslim people do? Talk mosques, religion, ramadan and of course terrorism? (The Eastenders gay plot is just a blip in the system) My message to the beeb is "think out of the box because you're spending my money and not doing a good enough job of it"
I didn't get to ask my questions because there were loads of other people who had comments to make around media culture being white male dominated. Apparently it used to be a lot worse in the 80s...doh! really...that's not really an answer I want to hear as a yard stick for how things have improved. Is that what I should tell young black kids..."well you know back in the 50s black Americans had to sit at the back of a bus and used to get lynched in Alabama..look how lucky you have it now!"
Afua Hirsch spoke eloquently about the Human Rights Act and why it is there for us all. She highlighted how tabloids have misquoted and misrepresented the act and how it has sometimes been enforced incorrectly which have all led to it being perceived as protecting criminals and immigrants and all things 'other'. If you have a quick look on the link you'll find it hard pressed to disagree with what it covers.
Afua's presentation reaffirmed my committment to try and think past the headlines in both the tabloid and broadsheet press. Human rights are not just about moral relativism, or about protecting criminals; it is about having a base line for everyone regardless of who (this encompasses everything about a person's identity) they are.
Every now and then I come across people who challenge my beliefs, my thoughts and my opinions and the speakers at the seminar did plenty of that.
Monday 31 May 2010
HUMANITY?
Update
It looks like most of the peace activists held since Monday are now being released either back to Turkey or to their own countries.
However, some activists are still being held by the Israelis. It is still not sure if they are all Arab-Israelis.
Abid Mahi - A British film maker is also amongst the activists in the flotilla. He has not yet arrived back in Britain.
A full list of those who were killed has not yet been confirmed but it is thought that most were of Turkish nationality.
Reports today are saying that 10 PEACE activists were killed (read murdered), by Israeli commandos on the peace flotilla that was heading towards Gaza. This is a despicable act of state terror towards civilians. Israel is already operating an apartheid system in Palestine and has no qualms in murdering innocent men, women and children in the name of security.
Israel seems to get away with everything it does without any real condemnation or action from the International community including 'Muslim' countries in the Middle East.
For us ordinary people, apart from writing to our MPs and raising awareness of what is going on in Palestine, we can try to boycott any Israeli goods that we come across in protest.
Attack in Pakistan
Last week, two Ahmadiya mosques in Lahore were targetted by terrorists leaving 70 worshippers dead. It leaves me asking what did this achieve? It leaves me asking what makes us human?
It looks like most of the peace activists held since Monday are now being released either back to Turkey or to their own countries.
However, some activists are still being held by the Israelis. It is still not sure if they are all Arab-Israelis.
Abid Mahi - A British film maker is also amongst the activists in the flotilla. He has not yet arrived back in Britain.
A full list of those who were killed has not yet been confirmed but it is thought that most were of Turkish nationality.
Reports today are saying that 10 PEACE activists were killed (read murdered), by Israeli commandos on the peace flotilla that was heading towards Gaza. This is a despicable act of state terror towards civilians. Israel is already operating an apartheid system in Palestine and has no qualms in murdering innocent men, women and children in the name of security.
Israel seems to get away with everything it does without any real condemnation or action from the International community including 'Muslim' countries in the Middle East.
For us ordinary people, apart from writing to our MPs and raising awareness of what is going on in Palestine, we can try to boycott any Israeli goods that we come across in protest.
Attack in Pakistan
Last week, two Ahmadiya mosques in Lahore were targetted by terrorists leaving 70 worshippers dead. It leaves me asking what did this achieve? It leaves me asking what makes us human?
Friday 21 May 2010
Drawings of a prophet?
Reuters
May 20th was 'Everybody Draw Muhammed Day', contrary to belief, this was not a campaign led by Molly Norris. Instead it was the 'brainchild' of a pathetic idiot who thought it would some how symbolise the war against censorship.
In reaction to the facebook page, the Pakistani authorities put a temporary ban on facebook and a number of other facebook pages were started calling for the boycott of facebook by muslims.
I totally understand the issues around censorship and freedom of speech. What Molly Norris did was in reaction to what she thought was censorship. However she was pretty naive or stupid to think that this would not somehow attract the anti-Islam brigade. On the other side of this issue is the reaction of Muslims. Creating a page to call for a boycott of facebook is a bit of an own goal since you'd join the page and then boycott facebook only to come back to it a day later? The point of that being? Or totally denying access to facebook to Pakistani users because of this 'conspiracy' against Islam. Why not give people the choice to be offended or not?
I for one don't believe that any painting or drawing of the Prophet (peace be upon him) is a correct one. Therefore you could draw or paint anything and it would not be offensive because you haven't got it right. The same goes for any imagery of Jesus, Moses, Abraham etc etc.
This is neither the first nor the last time something like this is going to happen and I think the Muslim world and muslims alike need to learn how to engage in effective discourse. If someone wants to resort to being offensive, why do we react? They are doing it in order to inflame and we're stupid enough to fall for it.
We may cry that the media, the West, the U.S.A or whoever is anti Muslim, but instead of waving banners denouncing all of the above, why not rise above it and quit being so reactionary.
Wednesday 19 May 2010
Catch up
We have a new Con/Lib coalition in place and the country is thus far, still functioning as normal. David Cameron and Nick Clegg, or Davnick as I will now call them are positively in love with each other right now. Gone are the lovers' tiffs on television or during parliamentary question times; the election marriage and now subsequent honeymoon period have cemented (for now) the (doomed?) relationship. (Read into brackets what you will)...so what have Davnick got in store for us? Well apparently this is a new era in politics...I suppose it's the first time we've seen a co-alition like this so to an extent the statement rings true. However, I'm not sure how liberal policies can easily sit next to tory ones. Sure, they both agree on not having a third runway...hurrah...or I.D cards...again hurrah, but what about the real issues of transport and the real issues on civil liberties? Can this new era of politics deliver? Only time will tell...and what of the broken 'New Labour'...pff!!! Gordon has gone into hibernation (not difficult in the current climate) and now Ed and David are having their playground tiffs in front of the nation. Are we to expect a Blair/Brown type agreement? Will Ed Balls scupper their plans? Will John Mcdonnell rally his comrades and the unions to fight his corner? Exciting times ahead and difficult decisions to be made. I for one am back in 'lovish' with politics. It's a dirty game but as with that other game that is always in the news for being dirty (ask John Terry, Ashley Cole, Ribery etc), you don't have to play the whole 90 minutes, there are opportunities for spectacular own goals, extra time often yields surprises and it's all down to your skill and stamina...Let's see who lasts the distance.
Wednesday 5 May 2010
Election 2010
I've resisted writing about the Election till now...and trust me, my fingers were itching to get typing; but resist I did until today. The eve of a new dawn...ok that's a bit over dramatic but for me anyway, this is the first time since the 1997 election which swept New Labour in, that I have actually felt like it matters. Yes, this election matters because a lot has changed since 1997, and a lot has changed since 2001 and 2005.
Now I'm not advocating a particular party because to tell you the truth, I'm still sitting on the fence. For the first time however I'm taking part in a local election which has both a bnp and National Front candidate. How sick? How horrific? what has happened to multi cultural Britain? How has this happened? I ask myself.
So yes, this election matters, because I will not sit by and let fascism creep in through the back door of disaffection. Politics is a dirty game if you want to play dirty. The expenses scandal is testimony to this. Unpopular wars have made foreign policy a hugely contentious issue alongside the dreaded subject of Immigration. A
Apparently, people are voting BNP because they feel like they're being ignored and it's all about the recession and housing. No it's not. It's because they're stupid and don't realise who and what they're letting in. So if you want to remain stupid and vote in nasty, violent fascists who pretend to be otherwise, then use your democratic right. But please don't say it's a 'protest' vote..if you want to protest, vote Green.
And for all those Muslims out there who say it's haraam to vote, well, the next time your road has pot holes, and the planning permission for your mosque is rejected, or funding for your local group/organisation gets cut, then blame yourself for not voting for a person you thought would represent you.
Now I'm not advocating a particular party because to tell you the truth, I'm still sitting on the fence. For the first time however I'm taking part in a local election which has both a bnp and National Front candidate. How sick? How horrific? what has happened to multi cultural Britain? How has this happened? I ask myself.
So yes, this election matters, because I will not sit by and let fascism creep in through the back door of disaffection. Politics is a dirty game if you want to play dirty. The expenses scandal is testimony to this. Unpopular wars have made foreign policy a hugely contentious issue alongside the dreaded subject of Immigration. A
Apparently, people are voting BNP because they feel like they're being ignored and it's all about the recession and housing. No it's not. It's because they're stupid and don't realise who and what they're letting in. So if you want to remain stupid and vote in nasty, violent fascists who pretend to be otherwise, then use your democratic right. But please don't say it's a 'protest' vote..if you want to protest, vote Green.
And for all those Muslims out there who say it's haraam to vote, well, the next time your road has pot holes, and the planning permission for your mosque is rejected, or funding for your local group/organisation gets cut, then blame yourself for not voting for a person you thought would represent you.
Monday 19 April 2010
Live Earth hypocrisy
Update
This is an email I sent to DOW. I'm awaiting a response and will post it here when it comes along.
Dear Sir/Madam,
I recently came across the Live Earth, Run for water campaign. I applaud your involvement in this campaign but am wondering what you are doing to help ensure that the people of Bhopal, India are also being given the chance to access clean water and live free from the effects of the union carbide gas leak in 1984. I understand that DOW took over Union Carbide back in 1999 and yet the people of Bhopal are still suffering from the after effects of the pollution caused by the leak.
I would appreciate your response.
Thank you
I'm just back from Pakistan and Dubai and had lots to write about. Then I came across this story about Live Earth and it made me really mad. I know it's hard to always stand by your principles...I know I've boycotted Starbucks for ages but have now caved in a few times...but charities have an obligation to make sure they have robust policies in place when dealing with any partnerships.
If you go onto www.liveearth.org 'Run for water' campaign page, you will see a link to its event partners including DoW. The blurb for DoW is as follows:
"With sales of $58 billion in 2008 and 46,000 employees worldwide, Dow is a diversified chemical company that combines the power of science and technology with the "Human Element” to constantly improve what is essential to human progress. The Company delivers a broad range of products and services to customers in approximately 160 countries, connecting chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help provide everything from fresh water, food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal care products. On April 1, 2009, Dow acquired Rohm and Haas Company, a global specialty materials company with sales of $10 billion in 2008 and 15,000 employees worldwide"
Pretty impressive, especially the bit about 'human progress'. Tell that to the thousands of people in Bhopal, India, affected by the Union Carbide chemical leak in 1984. Dow owns Union Carbide, albeit the acquisition was after the disaster. When you buy a company you take on the good and the bad. Take a look at www.bhopal.org if you want to see how 'bad' it is.
What makes this partnership even more disgusting is that Live Earth's campaign is about access to clean water for people.
This is the blurb from their website:
"The Dow Live Earth Run for Water – to take place April 18, 2010 – will consist of a series of 6 km run/walks (the average distance many women and children walk every day to secure water) taking place over the course of 24 hours in countries around the world, featuring concerts and water education activities aimed at igniting a tipping point to help solve the water crisis"
I wonder whether they're going to have an event in Bhopal???
Wednesday 10 March 2010
Pretty things
I've been in a rather sombre mood lately...a variety of reasons that I won't go into right now. So I thought it high time that I talked about things that make me happy.
I'm generally a happyish kind of person. Yes, politics and the London underground always seem to have the ability to annoy me and get my blood pressure up, but the list of people/things/events that make me smile is far far greater.
Anyone that knows me will be able to immediately pick on my love of traditional Islamic/South Asian/Arab art. I enjoy the ability to lose myself in the geometric symmetry that is so perfect in an imperfect world. I love the swirls of floral patterns from Mughal architecture that capture the beauty of nature in stone and marble as well as through paintings. I could very easily spend hours in the V and A taking random photos or copying designs for no reason in particular other than they give me joy whenever I go back to look over them.
Our home is a mish mash of different influences. I have religious art on the walls, mosaiced mirrors and candle holders, floral ceramics and glassware from Turkey, Morocco and India. If I had the money I'd completely 'redo' the house and garden, but since I don't, it's the pretty little things I have that make the house our home. I still have a bare wall awaiting its guest; A Kashmiri wall hanging of 'the tree of life'. I want to have one especially made, or find something that I think will fit into the general look I'm going for. I haven't yet succumbed to ordering something from the internet as you never quite know what you're going to end up with until you physically see it. So the wall remains bare as it has been for the last three years. When I do eventually find what I'm looking for, it will hopefully be well worth the wait:)
I recently came across a few really pretty things that I'd love to have, although I need to make a bit of room in the kitchen/cupboards before I purchase any other nick nacks
This pretty cake stand is from Watts London and I love the rest of the 'Kinnersley' collection. I've been looking for a cake stand for a while now and this one ticks all the boxes.
I was also watching a programme about the Mosque in Granada, Spain where Munira Mendonca, a local artisan was being interviewed
Again her work is all the more lovely for being hand made and not mass produced. I may just contact her to ask if she runs art classes..
If any of you managed to visit the Hiroshi Suzuki exhibition, you lucky things! The closest I got, was staring longingly at the posters lining the walls of the underground. If only I had a few thousand pounds to spare on his work :)
To help you create a more boudoir look to your room, you can't go wrong with this over the top chair from 'Belle Interiors'
More pretty things coming soon
I'm generally a happyish kind of person. Yes, politics and the London underground always seem to have the ability to annoy me and get my blood pressure up, but the list of people/things/events that make me smile is far far greater.
Anyone that knows me will be able to immediately pick on my love of traditional Islamic/South Asian/Arab art. I enjoy the ability to lose myself in the geometric symmetry that is so perfect in an imperfect world. I love the swirls of floral patterns from Mughal architecture that capture the beauty of nature in stone and marble as well as through paintings. I could very easily spend hours in the V and A taking random photos or copying designs for no reason in particular other than they give me joy whenever I go back to look over them.
Our home is a mish mash of different influences. I have religious art on the walls, mosaiced mirrors and candle holders, floral ceramics and glassware from Turkey, Morocco and India. If I had the money I'd completely 'redo' the house and garden, but since I don't, it's the pretty little things I have that make the house our home. I still have a bare wall awaiting its guest; A Kashmiri wall hanging of 'the tree of life'. I want to have one especially made, or find something that I think will fit into the general look I'm going for. I haven't yet succumbed to ordering something from the internet as you never quite know what you're going to end up with until you physically see it. So the wall remains bare as it has been for the last three years. When I do eventually find what I'm looking for, it will hopefully be well worth the wait:)
I recently came across a few really pretty things that I'd love to have, although I need to make a bit of room in the kitchen/cupboards before I purchase any other nick nacks
This pretty cake stand is from Watts London and I love the rest of the 'Kinnersley' collection. I've been looking for a cake stand for a while now and this one ticks all the boxes.
I was also watching a programme about the Mosque in Granada, Spain where Munira Mendonca, a local artisan was being interviewed
Again her work is all the more lovely for being hand made and not mass produced. I may just contact her to ask if she runs art classes..
If any of you managed to visit the Hiroshi Suzuki exhibition, you lucky things! The closest I got, was staring longingly at the posters lining the walls of the underground. If only I had a few thousand pounds to spare on his work :)
To help you create a more boudoir look to your room, you can't go wrong with this over the top chair from 'Belle Interiors'
More pretty things coming soon
Friday 5 March 2010
Capitalism or bust
I had a meeting yesterday, in Westfield shopping centre. For those of you who don't know Westfield, it's the largest shopping centre in Europe with a designer section called 'The Village' and the usual list of high street brands.
The meeting was only arranged there because it was local to the person I was meeting who is 8 months pregnant; and there are a whole load of coffee places to sit at and talk shop.
After the meeting, I had to grab a few things from Boots and pick up a birthday present for my nephew. The shopping centre was surprisingly busy for a weekday and come 4pm was buzzing with school kids from the local area. I hate shopping on my own, whether it's for groceries, clothes, anything. It's always nice to have company and someone elses opinions. So I limited my spending and bought only the things I needed and no money spent on a whim. Yesterday was not a 'shopping experience' rather a necessary whizz around with a quick bite to eat in the middle.
A lot of people I know don't like Westfield, for the same reason they don't like the Bull ring in Birmingham, The Trafford Centre in Manchester or Bluewater in Kent. Unlike the high street, which is open air, with an eclectic mix of chain stores, independent shops and cafes as well as the fast emerging poundlands (a sign of our times)..these huge buildings have no 'soul'. If you want one symbol to sum up capitalism at its best then shopping 'malls' fit the bill.
I remember the first day Westfield opened. I had a day off for a hospital appointment and popped in to see what all the fuss was about. There is nothing mind bogglingly different about Westfield. Same shops, same look, same facilities. I mean we all shop, eat and go to the loo right?
The only interesting thing about Westfield is its collection of designer brand boutiques. They are positioned away from the main shopping area in a section called 'The Village'. Haute Couture and high end fashion brands have never really struck me as being well suited to shopping centres. Surely the whole allure of high end fashion is exclusivity. What is so exclusive about Westfield? Yet here they sit almost side by side to Zara and H and M, albeit with a champagne bar in the middle.
The answer is of course common sense commercial capitalism. Ms. Chocolate barfi blogs may not find herself ordinarily frequenting Gucci or Louis Vuitton on a regular basis when in the West End. Yet in Westfield you almost do it by accident. In one shop and out the other on automatic. Realisation only hitting when you look at the price tag and think 'have they added a nought?' The very fact you have to look at the price tag immediately informs the attentive sales person that you are not where you belong (if the shop was in Knightsbridge) but here in Westfield, you are the buyer who can be persuaded to buy into a little bit of luxury because well, doesn't it feel good to walk around with a Miu Miu bag in amongst all the Radleys and Nicas. Who cares about not eating for a week.
I'm happy to say although salivating at a Miu Miu bag, I was not persuaded to part with £600 for a bag. My mother for one would never forgive me for spending that much money on something that will only end up carrying my snotty tissues and leaking pens. Instead, I ate a piece of cake costing £3.99 (even hummingbird cupcakes are cheaper) and a coffee. Yes, I was happy that I had emerged into the sunlight with only two bags of goods and my self defined semi-socialist head held high.
On the way home on the tube, I happened to stand next to someone with a 'Capitalism is crap' badge on his jacket. A kindred spirit I said to myself. Although I think we were both mistaken; he was reading a digital book which probably cost him a few hundred quid.
In the end, high end boutiques and high street chains are happy neighbours in Westfield. Although I'm sure 'The Village' is a message saying 'we don't like people from outside our village, we just tolerate them for the tourist season. Makes economic sense'
The meeting was only arranged there because it was local to the person I was meeting who is 8 months pregnant; and there are a whole load of coffee places to sit at and talk shop.
After the meeting, I had to grab a few things from Boots and pick up a birthday present for my nephew. The shopping centre was surprisingly busy for a weekday and come 4pm was buzzing with school kids from the local area. I hate shopping on my own, whether it's for groceries, clothes, anything. It's always nice to have company and someone elses opinions. So I limited my spending and bought only the things I needed and no money spent on a whim. Yesterday was not a 'shopping experience' rather a necessary whizz around with a quick bite to eat in the middle.
A lot of people I know don't like Westfield, for the same reason they don't like the Bull ring in Birmingham, The Trafford Centre in Manchester or Bluewater in Kent. Unlike the high street, which is open air, with an eclectic mix of chain stores, independent shops and cafes as well as the fast emerging poundlands (a sign of our times)..these huge buildings have no 'soul'. If you want one symbol to sum up capitalism at its best then shopping 'malls' fit the bill.
I remember the first day Westfield opened. I had a day off for a hospital appointment and popped in to see what all the fuss was about. There is nothing mind bogglingly different about Westfield. Same shops, same look, same facilities. I mean we all shop, eat and go to the loo right?
The only interesting thing about Westfield is its collection of designer brand boutiques. They are positioned away from the main shopping area in a section called 'The Village'. Haute Couture and high end fashion brands have never really struck me as being well suited to shopping centres. Surely the whole allure of high end fashion is exclusivity. What is so exclusive about Westfield? Yet here they sit almost side by side to Zara and H and M, albeit with a champagne bar in the middle.
The answer is of course common sense commercial capitalism. Ms. Chocolate barfi blogs may not find herself ordinarily frequenting Gucci or Louis Vuitton on a regular basis when in the West End. Yet in Westfield you almost do it by accident. In one shop and out the other on automatic. Realisation only hitting when you look at the price tag and think 'have they added a nought?' The very fact you have to look at the price tag immediately informs the attentive sales person that you are not where you belong (if the shop was in Knightsbridge) but here in Westfield, you are the buyer who can be persuaded to buy into a little bit of luxury because well, doesn't it feel good to walk around with a Miu Miu bag in amongst all the Radleys and Nicas. Who cares about not eating for a week.
I'm happy to say although salivating at a Miu Miu bag, I was not persuaded to part with £600 for a bag. My mother for one would never forgive me for spending that much money on something that will only end up carrying my snotty tissues and leaking pens. Instead, I ate a piece of cake costing £3.99 (even hummingbird cupcakes are cheaper) and a coffee. Yes, I was happy that I had emerged into the sunlight with only two bags of goods and my self defined semi-socialist head held high.
On the way home on the tube, I happened to stand next to someone with a 'Capitalism is crap' badge on his jacket. A kindred spirit I said to myself. Although I think we were both mistaken; he was reading a digital book which probably cost him a few hundred quid.
In the end, high end boutiques and high street chains are happy neighbours in Westfield. Although I'm sure 'The Village' is a message saying 'we don't like people from outside our village, we just tolerate them for the tourist season. Makes economic sense'
Wednesday 3 March 2010
A cynical political move by Serbia
Watch this interview with Emina Ganic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiKICoJlH40
UPDATE Ejup Ganic has just had his bail refused. Do they think he's going to do a runner?? Also no access granted to his lawyers...why?? I thought that was a fundamental right!
So, Britain is in the middle of another political and diplomatic row. I'm not actually going to feel sorry for our government, since it's now pandering to the whims and cynical political aims of the ultra nationalist Serbian government.
Former Vice President of Bosnia, Ejup Ganic was arrested at Heathrow on March 1st a the 'request' of Serbian authorities based on an allegation of war crimes. If it wasn't so serious, I'd actually laugh. Serbia playing victim here?? Boy have they got a short memory...Srebrenica anyone? Kosovo?
Serbia is accusing Ejup Ganic alongside another 18/19 other Bosnians of ambushing a Yugoslav army convoy that was leaving Bosnian territory under UN supervision. 40 soldiers were killed.
The point is, the UN tribunals refused to Ejup Ganic based on insufficient evidence. This does not mean he managed to hide his crime, or that they could not find a direct link. If a person in this country is tried in a court of law for murder then the evidence and testimony must be absolute! No ifs, no buts...
It is very easy to sit in London in 2010 and forget what was happening to Bosnian Muslims during the Balkans conflict 18 odd years ago. They were being systematically ethnically cleansed...the thing we thought we'd never see again in Europe. Only now are Bosnians getting some redress in the form of the trials against Serbian war criminals. Radovan Karadzic is currently being tried, and trying very hard to turn this into a farce.
If Ejup Ganic is to be tried, it must be in the Hague and NOT SERBIA!!!...
Tuesday 2 March 2010
I'm back!
Well it's been a long time....I can't believe it's already March; maybe that's why I actually feel like writing ...the sun is out, it's not too cold and I didn't have to wrap a chunky scarf round my neck to keep warm. I even have the window to my office open..yay!
So what have I been up to in the last few months...hmmm...well, for one, my contract at my last work place ended and no they didn't try to extend it. I was a bit miffed but then actually realised that I wouldn't have wanted to stay. I'm surprised I stayed for 3 years, I'm usually bored by the end of the first year of any job if it's not eclectic enough. So...it was a bit scary not having another job to go to. Instead I thought I'd have a couple of months off to rest...and then start looking for something else.
I suppose God had other plans for me, because no sooner had I got my head around the concept of choosing to be unemployed, I was offered a job by another charity. Yes..I was actually head hunted:)...I would have been a fool to turn this opportunity down, so very happily took on the new job. So it's been just over a month and I'm loving it. The people are lovely and the job is great. It's in an area I'm interested in...health inequalities especially around black and minority ethnic communities. I'll probably be posting articles and reports I come across.
So, a new year, a new job and hopefully a new(ish) me...it's funny how you go through life and seem to 'forget' who you are...well I did..as Cheryl Cole nee Tweedy said in the L'oreal advert...'I got me mojo back'...so not only do I have this new job, I also decided it was high time to take a bit of me time and do something solely for myself. I can't remember the last time I did that. I've always loved henna painting so enrolled on an Ash Kumar course. http://www.ashkumar.co.uk/.
I've completed the foundation course and will be doing the intermediate and advanced levels in March and April...I'll post photos of my work which will hopefully improve as I practice and then who knows ..the sky's the limit as they say.
I'm also rethinking this blog and maybe making a bit more of an effort with it. I don't have any definite ideas yet, but lots of plans which I'm intending on following through.
xx
H
So what have I been up to in the last few months...hmmm...well, for one, my contract at my last work place ended and no they didn't try to extend it. I was a bit miffed but then actually realised that I wouldn't have wanted to stay. I'm surprised I stayed for 3 years, I'm usually bored by the end of the first year of any job if it's not eclectic enough. So...it was a bit scary not having another job to go to. Instead I thought I'd have a couple of months off to rest...and then start looking for something else.
I suppose God had other plans for me, because no sooner had I got my head around the concept of choosing to be unemployed, I was offered a job by another charity. Yes..I was actually head hunted:)...I would have been a fool to turn this opportunity down, so very happily took on the new job. So it's been just over a month and I'm loving it. The people are lovely and the job is great. It's in an area I'm interested in...health inequalities especially around black and minority ethnic communities. I'll probably be posting articles and reports I come across.
So, a new year, a new job and hopefully a new(ish) me...it's funny how you go through life and seem to 'forget' who you are...well I did..as Cheryl Cole nee Tweedy said in the L'oreal advert...'I got me mojo back'...so not only do I have this new job, I also decided it was high time to take a bit of me time and do something solely for myself. I can't remember the last time I did that. I've always loved henna painting so enrolled on an Ash Kumar course. http://www.ashkumar.co.uk/.
I've completed the foundation course and will be doing the intermediate and advanced levels in March and April...I'll post photos of my work which will hopefully improve as I practice and then who knows ..the sky's the limit as they say.
I'm also rethinking this blog and maybe making a bit more of an effort with it. I don't have any definite ideas yet, but lots of plans which I'm intending on following through.
xx
H
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