I was sat in my living room a couple of minutes ago, when I heard the flap of the letter box. I thought nothing of it when I went to pick up yet another flyer, probably from handy men advertising their services.
To my surprise, it was a flyer for the BNP. In a fit of blind, adrenalin-fuelled (and foolish) rage, I flung the door open and shouted, "You're unbelievable!". The man who stared back at me wasn't an Aryan, blonde-haired, blue-eyed fop - he was a middle-aged, thin and wiry man, following a rather obese looking middle-aged man who had already descended around the corner.
By this point I had slammed the door shut, and my mother had heard the commotion.
What's Chinese for BNP?
I attempted to explain to her that the BNP were nothing more than fascist reincarnations of Hitler, and what would happen if they took Carlisle, but then I realised how ridiculous I was starting to sound to my politically unaware mother, who had only voted once in her life in the years she has lived in Carlisle. And that was only because I frog-marched herself and my brother to the polling booth by our local last year.
Anyhow, still suffering from blind rage, I texted a fellow student; "I just shouted at someone who posted BNP flyers on my street. should interview him?!"
I then proceeded to find out more about them to try and distract myself, as much as it disgusted me to think of what I might uncover. Scrolling through pages on the internet, I struggled to find a valid message that wasn't vague, or over the top patriotic in a bid to prove how "British" the BNP remain.
The funny thing is, I still consider myself very British. The definition of the term "British" to me is to be "of" Britain. Whatever colour a person's skin is. Whatever race, religion, or gender. Whatever your sexual orientation. Britain would NOT be Britain if it was not the melting pot of cultural diversity it is today.
That is why I find it hard to believe that a party such as the BNP can have any power. Being a member of the BNP can be a sacking offence in some jobs, which has led to many members, as I believe, to hide their political views in public. Is a party really a party when you must hide who you are?
The idea of even justifying the existence of the BNP with a retaliation on my blog seems absurd since they have no serious agenda. The party is a joke. Had I sooner remembered this, I would not even have wasted my breath shouting. A colleague once said to me, "There is no point in worrying about them, because if they were to ever get into power (which they won't anyway), they wouldn't know what to do with it. The country would fall apart."
I should hope it would never come to that of course, but he is right. What better reason to people need to vote, than to keep the BNP out?
Friday 30 January 2009
Wednesday 28 January 2009
"Why don't you aspire to get a real job?"
Happy new year to one and all! One of the best things about being British born Chinese is easily, having two new years. That's right, the eve of January the 1st I get to drink copious amounts of alcohol with friends, and by the time Chinese new year arrives, I'm ready to spend time with my family, eat copious amounts instead of drink, and attempt to start my new year's resolutions again.
There's nothing quite like spending time with family. At Christmas and new year, all feuds are put aside briefly, and the time for eating commences. I can't imagine a life without two new years now.
When our family get together, more often than not the karaoke machine gets dusted off, and cranked right up. Luckily, my uncle's house stands solitary in a peaceful (!) cul-de-sac and we can warble as tunelessly as we like until the early hours of next year.
I don't remember new year's always being like this though. I remember I spent the eve of January 1st 2000 in Hong Kong. I was 13 years old, so drinking, cavorting and partying was completely out of the question. Meanwhile, my cousin's left to arrive fashionably late at their various parties, while I swept my grandmother's floor. Then my uncle came home with my brother.
"So what are your new year's resolutions Cindy?" he asked in a disinterested tone.
I thought hard. "I'm going to write more. I want to be a writer." It was never a case that I wouldn't be. I really had no other plans in life as I was notoriously bad at maths and any science. "I think I want to be a journalist," I deliberated after while.
Much to my surprise, he laughed. "Journalism? Why don't you aspire to get a real job, a job where you're skills are a required service? Like law? Or medicine? Maybe even nutrition," he added, remembering my weaknesses in science.
At the time, I thought nothing of it. I was a child, and I would become a novelist if I could not become a journalist, I thought. Easy. Today, I am thankfully estranged from that side of my family.
Aged 22 and studying for a Masters in International Journalism, it is hard to believe that I ever thought that it was ok for someone to tell me that becoming a journalist was not aspirational, or helpful to society.
Almost ten tears later, that conversation is still ingrained in my memory. I'm not sure why, but rather than hinder me, it's urged me forward. I remember just as clearly the day my father left us (this uncle is his brother) and my mother saying to me, "Do you're very best and no one will ever fault you. We can prove them all wrong."
I live by those words of encouragement now. If my uncle had said that to me today, my response would be entirely different. I would like him to try telling me that Watergate's Bob Woodward and Karl Bernstein were not providing a service. Or the journalists Anastacia Burburova and Anna Politkovskaya who laid their lives on the line so that the world would be able to see the political terrors of their country were not doing a "real job".
Thank you uncle, for making me see that in what I aspire to do, I am providing one of the best services I could possibly offer to the world.
There's nothing quite like spending time with family. At Christmas and new year, all feuds are put aside briefly, and the time for eating commences. I can't imagine a life without two new years now.
When our family get together, more often than not the karaoke machine gets dusted off, and cranked right up. Luckily, my uncle's house stands solitary in a peaceful (!) cul-de-sac and we can warble as tunelessly as we like until the early hours of next year.
I don't remember new year's always being like this though. I remember I spent the eve of January 1st 2000 in Hong Kong. I was 13 years old, so drinking, cavorting and partying was completely out of the question. Meanwhile, my cousin's left to arrive fashionably late at their various parties, while I swept my grandmother's floor. Then my uncle came home with my brother.
"So what are your new year's resolutions Cindy?" he asked in a disinterested tone.
I thought hard. "I'm going to write more. I want to be a writer." It was never a case that I wouldn't be. I really had no other plans in life as I was notoriously bad at maths and any science. "I think I want to be a journalist," I deliberated after while.
Much to my surprise, he laughed. "Journalism? Why don't you aspire to get a real job, a job where you're skills are a required service? Like law? Or medicine? Maybe even nutrition," he added, remembering my weaknesses in science.
At the time, I thought nothing of it. I was a child, and I would become a novelist if I could not become a journalist, I thought. Easy. Today, I am thankfully estranged from that side of my family.
Aged 22 and studying for a Masters in International Journalism, it is hard to believe that I ever thought that it was ok for someone to tell me that becoming a journalist was not aspirational, or helpful to society.
Almost ten tears later, that conversation is still ingrained in my memory. I'm not sure why, but rather than hinder me, it's urged me forward. I remember just as clearly the day my father left us (this uncle is his brother) and my mother saying to me, "Do you're very best and no one will ever fault you. We can prove them all wrong."
I live by those words of encouragement now. If my uncle had said that to me today, my response would be entirely different. I would like him to try telling me that Watergate's Bob Woodward and Karl Bernstein were not providing a service. Or the journalists Anastacia Burburova and Anna Politkovskaya who laid their lives on the line so that the world would be able to see the political terrors of their country were not doing a "real job".
Thank you uncle, for making me see that in what I aspire to do, I am providing one of the best services I could possibly offer to the world.
Monday 26 January 2009
Chickens, Hugh... and how I love him too
Anyone who didn't manage to watch Chickens, Hugh and Tescos Too please download it from www.channel4.com. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall (if you will give him the benefit of the doubt for his name) is a ground-breaking chef who brings to light the state our food is in when it is still mooing, oinking, and clucking. Chickens was an eye opener.
I've always known that anything cheap is certainly never cheerful, but this documentary made me realise the amount of crap we feed on everyday for the sake of a pound or two extra in our pockets. "Free range" may mean outdoors, but it does NOT mean spacious. "Farm raised chickens" does NOT mean fairly raised.
The scenes of fluffly chickens stuffed up against each other in a giant barn with no room to lift a crushed wing was grim. I have never been an animal lover, but to not be affected by these images would take a heart of stone.
It reminds me exactly why I hate corporates. "Large shareholders vote with management... they rarely rock the boat," says one cynical editor, doubting Hugh's resolution to bring fairer living standards to Tesco chickens.
Is it a happy ending for Hugh's chickens?
I shall let you viewers see for yourselves.
I've always known that anything cheap is certainly never cheerful, but this documentary made me realise the amount of crap we feed on everyday for the sake of a pound or two extra in our pockets. "Free range" may mean outdoors, but it does NOT mean spacious. "Farm raised chickens" does NOT mean fairly raised.
The scenes of fluffly chickens stuffed up against each other in a giant barn with no room to lift a crushed wing was grim. I have never been an animal lover, but to not be affected by these images would take a heart of stone.
It reminds me exactly why I hate corporates. "Large shareholders vote with management... they rarely rock the boat," says one cynical editor, doubting Hugh's resolution to bring fairer living standards to Tesco chickens.
Is it a happy ending for Hugh's chickens?
I shall let you viewers see for yourselves.
Sunday 25 January 2009
Credit cuts and going cold turkey
It is a rare occassion when I post two blogs in a day, but in my excitement over "90210" I forgot to rejoice in the fact that yesterday, I finally made cutbacks. I snapped my credit card in half.
I was then flooded with an array of emotions, mostly to my surprise relief followed by in no particular order anguish, pain, panic, terror and then triumphance. I had finally freed myself of getting further into the debt I was slowly adding to from 5 years ago.
My credit card arrived shiny and new shortly after I started university. I vaguely remembered saying "Er, yes?" to my banker when he asked me if I wanted a credit card, whilst I was opening up my student account ready for my first year at university. Excited at the prospect of having an overdraft, it never even occurred to me that I could get a credit card. Dumbfound, I watched as he ticked the "yes" box next to the words credit card on my application form. I was elated.
Five years and thousands of pounds in debt later (relax, it was my student loans), I have bit the bullet and decided (however momentary the decision was) to get rid of credit. Being a product of the typical "credit generation" doesn't make me proud. In comparison to a lot of people I know, my debts are nothing. I have known people to open two student accounts with different banks, just for the overdraft facilities. It doesn't make me any less guilty of the fact that I owned a credit card only to spend now, and pay later.
And this may be the very reason so many people my age and even younger, scarily, are steadily mounting up their debts. I read an article that stated that the average 25 year old has £10,000 worth of debt. I was going to become a statistic, if I wasn't already.
So last night after work as I walked towards the pub to meet my housemate, I realised enough was enough. I pulled my purse from my bag before I had time to stop and think, slid my red credit card out from it's usual slot in front of my debit card (that's how bad it got) and snapped it in two.
The overwhelming sense of relief I felt shocked me. If anything, I thought I would be crying or hysterical by now. So far so good, no fainting, no hot flushes, no nightmares. As I write this, I have gone over 24 hours cold turkey. It's like a weight has been lifted, really.
I am officially done with credit cards... well except for my emergency one which my mum monitors but that doesn't count because I wouldn't dare use it - right?
I highly recommend cutting up all your credit cards just to put an end to the credit madness. It's not easy going cold turkey, but I read a great tip in a magazine once - literally, freeze your credit card in your freezer if you're hesitant about getting rid of it completely, because then when you want to use it, you have to wait until it's defrosted. By which time, will you really need that pretty dress you saw on ASOS?
So if you have a credit card, consider this - why spend what you haven't got?
I no longer do.
I was then flooded with an array of emotions, mostly to my surprise relief followed by in no particular order anguish, pain, panic, terror and then triumphance. I had finally freed myself of getting further into the debt I was slowly adding to from 5 years ago.
My credit card arrived shiny and new shortly after I started university. I vaguely remembered saying "Er, yes?" to my banker when he asked me if I wanted a credit card, whilst I was opening up my student account ready for my first year at university. Excited at the prospect of having an overdraft, it never even occurred to me that I could get a credit card. Dumbfound, I watched as he ticked the "yes" box next to the words credit card on my application form. I was elated.
Five years and thousands of pounds in debt later (relax, it was my student loans), I have bit the bullet and decided (however momentary the decision was) to get rid of credit. Being a product of the typical "credit generation" doesn't make me proud. In comparison to a lot of people I know, my debts are nothing. I have known people to open two student accounts with different banks, just for the overdraft facilities. It doesn't make me any less guilty of the fact that I owned a credit card only to spend now, and pay later.
And this may be the very reason so many people my age and even younger, scarily, are steadily mounting up their debts. I read an article that stated that the average 25 year old has £10,000 worth of debt. I was going to become a statistic, if I wasn't already.
So last night after work as I walked towards the pub to meet my housemate, I realised enough was enough. I pulled my purse from my bag before I had time to stop and think, slid my red credit card out from it's usual slot in front of my debit card (that's how bad it got) and snapped it in two.
The overwhelming sense of relief I felt shocked me. If anything, I thought I would be crying or hysterical by now. So far so good, no fainting, no hot flushes, no nightmares. As I write this, I have gone over 24 hours cold turkey. It's like a weight has been lifted, really.
I am officially done with credit cards... well except for my emergency one which my mum monitors but that doesn't count because I wouldn't dare use it - right?
I highly recommend cutting up all your credit cards just to put an end to the credit madness. It's not easy going cold turkey, but I read a great tip in a magazine once - literally, freeze your credit card in your freezer if you're hesitant about getting rid of it completely, because then when you want to use it, you have to wait until it's defrosted. By which time, will you really need that pretty dress you saw on ASOS?
So if you have a credit card, consider this - why spend what you haven't got?
I no longer do.
Beverly Hills 90210
On a completely different note to the past blogs, I'm actually a little excited about this new "90210". I remember "Beverly Hills 90210" being a huge part of my childhood, because luckily, I had a female cousin five years older than me to tell me what was cool and what wasn't. Let's say I'll be watching this new adaptation for nostalgia.
As many issues as Kelly had, I wanted to be her. Having no idea what a drug-adled mother in real life could feel like, I wanted her blonde hair, pretty clothes, and gorgeous boyfriend. To me, the rest of the cast were merely a backdrop to her lavish lifestyle.
Along with Blur, tie dye, and Manchester United, "90210" reminds me so much of my childhood. BH reminds me that the nineties were an awesome decade to grow up in. Life was just about denim shorts and television shows, boys, and going to the cinema. Now "90210" is back on our screens in the absence of a new series of "The OC" or a decent series of "Skins", it's back with a vengeance. It's no longer my "Beverly Hills", it's opened up to a completely new generation who won't have a clue who the characters in the original series were.
It has come along at just the right time to remind me that even though I'm a little bit older and wiser, I don't envy rich people, however. At all. Oddly enough, the last time BH was on our television screens, it was at the height of a, you guessed it, recession.
This time around though, maybe a few things are different. For one, I actually know what a recession is. (It sucks.) Two, I don't have to watch it because I want to be cool, I'm watching it because I know it's useless to aspire to these things. Finally, third, I love bitchy.
Oh, and another reason why I love these shallow, superficial, aesthetically pleasing television shows -it proves that no amount of riches can save you from life.
As many issues as Kelly had, I wanted to be her. Having no idea what a drug-adled mother in real life could feel like, I wanted her blonde hair, pretty clothes, and gorgeous boyfriend. To me, the rest of the cast were merely a backdrop to her lavish lifestyle.
Along with Blur, tie dye, and Manchester United, "90210" reminds me so much of my childhood. BH reminds me that the nineties were an awesome decade to grow up in. Life was just about denim shorts and television shows, boys, and going to the cinema. Now "90210" is back on our screens in the absence of a new series of "The OC" or a decent series of "Skins", it's back with a vengeance. It's no longer my "Beverly Hills", it's opened up to a completely new generation who won't have a clue who the characters in the original series were.
It has come along at just the right time to remind me that even though I'm a little bit older and wiser, I don't envy rich people, however. At all. Oddly enough, the last time BH was on our television screens, it was at the height of a, you guessed it, recession.
This time around though, maybe a few things are different. For one, I actually know what a recession is. (It sucks.) Two, I don't have to watch it because I want to be cool, I'm watching it because I know it's useless to aspire to these things. Finally, third, I love bitchy.
Oh, and another reason why I love these shallow, superficial, aesthetically pleasing television shows -it proves that no amount of riches can save you from life.
Saturday 24 January 2009
BBC under fire
Today the BBC came under fire for not broadcasting a charity appeal for rebuilding homes in Gaza which is being supported by over 13 charities. ITV and Channel 4 have already agreed to air the DEC appeal, with Sky News "considering" showing the plea.
So why not the BBC?
Impartiality.
Even though the BBC's own reporters and journalists are outraged by the BBC's decision not to support a simple charitable plea. Everyone from the Archbishop of York to Jon Snow have said that the BBC's decision is ridiculous.
I think for the first time I actually disagree with the BBC. As leading broadcasters, I think only Channel 4 can compare to the Beeb for accuracy and stellar reporting. By not broadcasting this charitable plea the Beeb could seriously damage its reputation.
So why not the BBC?
Impartiality.
Even though the BBC's own reporters and journalists are outraged by the BBC's decision not to support a simple charitable plea. Everyone from the Archbishop of York to Jon Snow have said that the BBC's decision is ridiculous.
I think for the first time I actually disagree with the BBC. As leading broadcasters, I think only Channel 4 can compare to the Beeb for accuracy and stellar reporting. By not broadcasting this charitable plea the Beeb could seriously damage its reputation.
Friday 23 January 2009
Officially in recession?
So, we're now officially in a recession are we? I wonder how long it took for the experts to analyse the evidence before they came to this conclusion...
The evidence that I've seen is all around me. Go into a supermarket, the prices have soared on everything from toilet roll to meat. Walk past a restaurant, and there is never more than one or two tables of customers on a weeknight. Walk down the high street, and there is actually room to walk without having to elbow your way through prams and pushchairs.
Having said this, the news announced that retailers have seen the biggest January turnover in a while. How long will people continue to spend?
As a student who often overspends, I am a typical product of the "credit generation". Most of the time, I've been able to avoid the high street and can avoid consumerism, but this year, the January sales have gone all out. I bought a belt from our much loved M&S for £3. I bought a pair of shoes from Topshop, which has become astoundingly overpriced, for only £4.50. I then promised myself I would curb my spending, so my boyfriend bought me a dress for £9.
I have found I am actually spending more than I ever did before, thanks to the sales. With the value of the pound sterling now at a record low (£1.35 will get you $1 at the time I was writing this), what are the indulgent types like myself going to do?
Answer: Stay away from the high street.
The evidence that I've seen is all around me. Go into a supermarket, the prices have soared on everything from toilet roll to meat. Walk past a restaurant, and there is never more than one or two tables of customers on a weeknight. Walk down the high street, and there is actually room to walk without having to elbow your way through prams and pushchairs.
Having said this, the news announced that retailers have seen the biggest January turnover in a while. How long will people continue to spend?
As a student who often overspends, I am a typical product of the "credit generation". Most of the time, I've been able to avoid the high street and can avoid consumerism, but this year, the January sales have gone all out. I bought a belt from our much loved M&S for £3. I bought a pair of shoes from Topshop, which has become astoundingly overpriced, for only £4.50. I then promised myself I would curb my spending, so my boyfriend bought me a dress for £9.
I have found I am actually spending more than I ever did before, thanks to the sales. With the value of the pound sterling now at a record low (£1.35 will get you $1 at the time I was writing this), what are the indulgent types like myself going to do?
Answer: Stay away from the high street.
Tuesday 20 January 2009
So today was kind of a big deal...
What with Obama's inaugeration, and the "big change" for America, and the rest of the world. I just hope everyone will cut him some slack, and not expect him to perform miracles. I'm sure many people have the utmost faith in him, but he won't single-handedly turn the economy around. We all know that.
I don't doubt that the Hollywood biopic makers have already snapped up his story, and had it signed, sealed, and copyrighted - because it truly is an awesome story.
My lecturer told a very moving story today, about his college days in the U.S. when there was still segregation. It's funny, being only 22 years old, I really can't imagine what it would be like "back then" when white people and black people had seperate toilets. And theatres. And schools. So the list goes on. But Robert did, and as all good journalists do, he wrote about it, and read it out in class today.
He told us about how he helped a black student off a bus on the way to the same college, and got branded a liberal northener for helping "niggers". He told us about how they spat on his new shirt. He told us how even when the County Sheriff arrived at the scene, there was no hope because HE was told, "Don't get your hopes up boy, he's one of us."
This isn't some "woe is me" tale. I just couldn't do the story justice if I attempted to retell it in the same style. My lecturer has a big part in why I'm still so passionate about journalism, and his story (one of many we've heard) should inspire anyone who reads this as much as it inspired minorities in America today. People who turned up in the millions and droves to catch a glimpse of America's 44th Commander in Chief. The very Commander in Chief who's message across America since he became Senator of Illinois has never changed, and who's hopefulness is contagious. He's the one who has made us believe. Only forty years ago, someone would have spat in your face at the very thought.
For the first time in my life, I envy Americans.
I don't doubt that the Hollywood biopic makers have already snapped up his story, and had it signed, sealed, and copyrighted - because it truly is an awesome story.
My lecturer told a very moving story today, about his college days in the U.S. when there was still segregation. It's funny, being only 22 years old, I really can't imagine what it would be like "back then" when white people and black people had seperate toilets. And theatres. And schools. So the list goes on. But Robert did, and as all good journalists do, he wrote about it, and read it out in class today.
He told us about how he helped a black student off a bus on the way to the same college, and got branded a liberal northener for helping "niggers". He told us about how they spat on his new shirt. He told us how even when the County Sheriff arrived at the scene, there was no hope because HE was told, "Don't get your hopes up boy, he's one of us."
This isn't some "woe is me" tale. I just couldn't do the story justice if I attempted to retell it in the same style. My lecturer has a big part in why I'm still so passionate about journalism, and his story (one of many we've heard) should inspire anyone who reads this as much as it inspired minorities in America today. People who turned up in the millions and droves to catch a glimpse of America's 44th Commander in Chief. The very Commander in Chief who's message across America since he became Senator of Illinois has never changed, and who's hopefulness is contagious. He's the one who has made us believe. Only forty years ago, someone would have spat in your face at the very thought.
For the first time in my life, I envy Americans.
Monday 19 January 2009
Tomorrow is Obama's day, today is mine.
At least that's the spirit I want to apply to my new term. I can't believe how frightfully bored I've been over the holidays (stress over assignments not included), and I've looked forward to the start of this term for what seems like months.
I'm also exceptionally excited about Obama being sworn into the White House tomorrow! I remember my mother saying, "He's not going to do it, because he's black yunno. It's sad but it's fact." What a looooooooong way America have come :)
So term started, and we were laden with another hefty 8,000 words to write by May. Awesome. For now, however, I'm working on my presentation on Wednesday about foreign correspondence, and in truth, to sound ever so slightly geeky - I love my course. There's always something new to write about every day right? Foreign correspondence, the Fourth Estate, and the Gaza conflict. All very interesting.
Which led to my friend and I to debate exactly how much do we actually know about the conflict? It's very simple, Israel are wrong, Gaza is Palestine's and always should be. Israel should stop firing rockets and killing their own military. Israel have killed over 13,000 civilians. Correct?
Not quite. Even Palestinians are losing their patience with Hamas, and is the one week ceasefire going to solve ANYTHING? What do we know about this conflict? What have we been told? Even The Daily Mail says it's all Israel's fault, so it must be right?
Hmm. As Baudrillard said, "The Gulf War did not take place." In his essay, Baudrillard argues that what the public get, is exactly what they are allowed. How easily we accept that Israel are the bad guys because that's what the media say. While Israel won't let foreign correspondents anywhere near their borders, Hamas have all but embraced them. As a Palestinian empathiser, I'm not really sure that I've been given a great amount of detail on Israel's story. True, they should really let journalists into their country in the first place, but what if the majority of the western world are wrong?
Israel has put up with 8 years of rocket bombs without so much as a retaliation until now. Hamas have been trying to rile up Israel's government for a very long time.
Palestinians are dying, while Hamas leaders go into hiding.
Maybe we need to hear both sides of the stories before we jump to conclusions.
I'm also exceptionally excited about Obama being sworn into the White House tomorrow! I remember my mother saying, "He's not going to do it, because he's black yunno. It's sad but it's fact." What a looooooooong way America have come :)
So term started, and we were laden with another hefty 8,000 words to write by May. Awesome. For now, however, I'm working on my presentation on Wednesday about foreign correspondence, and in truth, to sound ever so slightly geeky - I love my course. There's always something new to write about every day right? Foreign correspondence, the Fourth Estate, and the Gaza conflict. All very interesting.
Which led to my friend and I to debate exactly how much do we actually know about the conflict? It's very simple, Israel are wrong, Gaza is Palestine's and always should be. Israel should stop firing rockets and killing their own military. Israel have killed over 13,000 civilians. Correct?
Not quite. Even Palestinians are losing their patience with Hamas, and is the one week ceasefire going to solve ANYTHING? What do we know about this conflict? What have we been told? Even The Daily Mail says it's all Israel's fault, so it must be right?
Hmm. As Baudrillard said, "The Gulf War did not take place." In his essay, Baudrillard argues that what the public get, is exactly what they are allowed. How easily we accept that Israel are the bad guys because that's what the media say. While Israel won't let foreign correspondents anywhere near their borders, Hamas have all but embraced them. As a Palestinian empathiser, I'm not really sure that I've been given a great amount of detail on Israel's story. True, they should really let journalists into their country in the first place, but what if the majority of the western world are wrong?
Israel has put up with 8 years of rocket bombs without so much as a retaliation until now. Hamas have been trying to rile up Israel's government for a very long time.
Palestinians are dying, while Hamas leaders go into hiding.
Maybe we need to hear both sides of the stories before we jump to conclusions.
Wednesday 14 January 2009
Alas, Poor Gordy!
I watched the first Prime Minister Questions this afternoon when I finally rolled out of bed; am I really the only one who feels sorry for our Prime Minister? He may not be as charismatic or obedient as Blair or Cameron, but the man is surely doing the best job he can out of the worst consequences.
Before I get a egg on my face, may I just say that I've never voted Labour. Or Conservative, just in case you doubted my liberal tendencies. I've only ever voted Lib Dem, because I believe. Today though, Clegg and Cameron were hammering Brown with such ferocity I had to reconsider - for only a split second - whether he really is doing such a bad job?
Call me young and naive, but I trust him. He has been criticised for the way he handled the credit crisis, even though we championed him when the government bailed the banks. He has been criticised for the V.A.T. cut of 2.5% over the holidays, even the shoppers breathed a sigh of relief. That saved the average household, £5 a week. A week! According to Jamie, that can buy you some slap up ingredients from the supermarket and "feed your family for a fiver". As a student, I definitely know how far a fiver can go.
He has also promised better education starting from nursery level. Surely that's where education should start? I have a two year old niece, and since she has been attending nursery once a week, I can't help but notice how much her English has improved, especially as she only understood and spoke a few words of Cantonese before.
Like I said before, I have never voted Labour before, but maybe, just maybe, I will next time. Anything to keep the Tories out, I say!
On another, not quite lighter note, I'm still struggling with my China/Hong Kong assignment, due in for Friday. So far, my word count is 0. How does one summarise the political regimes affecting journalism and the media in 2,000 words???
Before I get a egg on my face, may I just say that I've never voted Labour. Or Conservative, just in case you doubted my liberal tendencies. I've only ever voted Lib Dem, because I believe. Today though, Clegg and Cameron were hammering Brown with such ferocity I had to reconsider - for only a split second - whether he really is doing such a bad job?
Call me young and naive, but I trust him. He has been criticised for the way he handled the credit crisis, even though we championed him when the government bailed the banks. He has been criticised for the V.A.T. cut of 2.5% over the holidays, even the shoppers breathed a sigh of relief. That saved the average household, £5 a week. A week! According to Jamie, that can buy you some slap up ingredients from the supermarket and "feed your family for a fiver". As a student, I definitely know how far a fiver can go.
He has also promised better education starting from nursery level. Surely that's where education should start? I have a two year old niece, and since she has been attending nursery once a week, I can't help but notice how much her English has improved, especially as she only understood and spoke a few words of Cantonese before.
Like I said before, I have never voted Labour before, but maybe, just maybe, I will next time. Anything to keep the Tories out, I say!
On another, not quite lighter note, I'm still struggling with my China/Hong Kong assignment, due in for Friday. So far, my word count is 0. How does one summarise the political regimes affecting journalism and the media in 2,000 words???
Tuesday 13 January 2009
Recession, Redundancy, and ... Rethinking.
Any one who has been watching the news the past few days will know that several more companies have gone into administration. In fact, anyone who has walked down a high street in recent months will have been able to see the events of the recession unfolding slowly but surely. For me, it's been like watching a car crash, when you absolutely want to look away but you can't.
I thought that as a student, the "credit crunch" (I hate that term) would hardly affect me. I get a lot of help financially, thankfully, as my mum fully supports furthering my education. I did however still need to keep a weekend job, which my MA allows as I'm only in three days a week, freeing me for plenty of time for independent study and a job.
I walked through Eldon Shopping Centre today in Newcastle, and rows upon rows of shops either had neon "sale/70% off everything" or "closing down, final reductions" signs in the windows.
Whittard's of Chelsea, USC, Zavvi...
I work for a very well known chain of bookshops which announced it had a great turnover during the Xmas holidays. Imagine my surprise when I was called in for a special "national" meeting at 9am on Monday morning, my day off.
"Understand that this is the first I have heard of anything," the manager told the staff as we shifted uncomfortably in our chairs. There was no mention of the fact that he had kept us waiting for 1o minutes for this apparently important meeting to begin.
"There are going to be cutbacks," he continued as he read from a printed off email. I stared at the back of the translucent piece of paper he held in his hands, and it was no longer than four paragraphs. "The company will be letting members of the team go, and those most at threat are the ones who work in goods-in, and returns."
I heard a deep growl to my left, and turned to observe my colleague whose eyes had narrowed at the words. He has worked for the company for four years, while some of the newer staff had only been taken on since before Xmas.
When the manager finished the announcement, the loud silence and oppressive tension made him glance nervously from bookseller to bookseller. "If anyone wants to talk, I'll be in my office."
And that was that.
The sense of fury that flooded over me was not due to the fact that something we had anticipated all weekend since it had been announced we would be having this "special" meeting, had been confirmed. It was the way in which the news had been delivered to us lowly booksellers. The corporation had not even seen it fit to say more than a few paragraphs to the people who kept them in their comfortable office chairs in London, and had mounted the anticipation for a 5 minute brief. On a Monday morning.
I thought about who it would affect the most. Were they asking for voluntary redundancies? How would they decide who to let go?
Do I quit my job then, so that my colleague can feed his family, or my other colleague can pay her mortgage?
Who said that recession doesn't affect students?
I thought that as a student, the "credit crunch" (I hate that term) would hardly affect me. I get a lot of help financially, thankfully, as my mum fully supports furthering my education. I did however still need to keep a weekend job, which my MA allows as I'm only in three days a week, freeing me for plenty of time for independent study and a job.
I walked through Eldon Shopping Centre today in Newcastle, and rows upon rows of shops either had neon "sale/70% off everything" or "closing down, final reductions" signs in the windows.
Whittard's of Chelsea, USC, Zavvi...
I work for a very well known chain of bookshops which announced it had a great turnover during the Xmas holidays. Imagine my surprise when I was called in for a special "national" meeting at 9am on Monday morning, my day off.
"Understand that this is the first I have heard of anything," the manager told the staff as we shifted uncomfortably in our chairs. There was no mention of the fact that he had kept us waiting for 1o minutes for this apparently important meeting to begin.
"There are going to be cutbacks," he continued as he read from a printed off email. I stared at the back of the translucent piece of paper he held in his hands, and it was no longer than four paragraphs. "The company will be letting members of the team go, and those most at threat are the ones who work in goods-in, and returns."
I heard a deep growl to my left, and turned to observe my colleague whose eyes had narrowed at the words. He has worked for the company for four years, while some of the newer staff had only been taken on since before Xmas.
When the manager finished the announcement, the loud silence and oppressive tension made him glance nervously from bookseller to bookseller. "If anyone wants to talk, I'll be in my office."
And that was that.
The sense of fury that flooded over me was not due to the fact that something we had anticipated all weekend since it had been announced we would be having this "special" meeting, had been confirmed. It was the way in which the news had been delivered to us lowly booksellers. The corporation had not even seen it fit to say more than a few paragraphs to the people who kept them in their comfortable office chairs in London, and had mounted the anticipation for a 5 minute brief. On a Monday morning.
I thought about who it would affect the most. Were they asking for voluntary redundancies? How would they decide who to let go?
Do I quit my job then, so that my colleague can feed his family, or my other colleague can pay her mortgage?
Who said that recession doesn't affect students?
So I heard that all great journalists start off blogging online, and, due to being inspired by a particularly well known journalist, I thought I'd finally follow up on at least one of my new year's resolutions.
I find it a little odd that I would put my thoughts online - or even stranger to think that anyone would actually stumble upon this and take the time to read it. So thank you.
It's a great way to practise my writing skills I suppose, and rather reluctantly, I have to admit, I think that this will indeed improve my writing.
I recently wrote a story comparing three different media platforms over the BBC; online; radio; and television. I have to say I was shocked at the results I found. I compared the ways in which the Israel/Palestine Gaza conflict was portrayed in the three medias and my findings led me to see how a) the radio is really dying out and b) just how much everyone relies on the internet today. I didn't have a radio handy, so I listened to the six o'clock news on the BBC website. I wasn't near my tv so I watched the latest news on the Gaza conflict on the BBC News homepage. With the rise of the internet, is there really any need for, well any other form of media?
This assignment taught me just how easy it is to find ANYTHING you need online. The only thing I would argue is that the internet has resulted in the demise of newspapers. I still don't think there is anything equivelent to print journalism. I like my steadily growing pile of papers, scattered around all four corners of my bedroom.
Anyway, my second assignment was a feature on how Hillary Clinton has done wonders for feminism. I know a lot of people disagree with the way she handled the elections and she should have bowed out a lot more gracefully, a lot sooner. But I kinda like the lady.
She's dignified, intelligent, and obviously plays for the right team. Who could argue with anyone who agrees with Obama =)? I love, love the fact that she champions the trouser suit too! As much as those fashion critics hate what she wears, I think it's amazing that she refuses to conform to flaunting her sexuality/feminity the way Palin had to in order to "earn" the women's vote. It was a sly move on the Republican Party's part, I admit it was strategic, and who am I to disagree with some of the world's most powerful people? It just seemed very underhand to me, bringing in an unqualified, power-hungry, ignorant, and dumb candidate into the well-respected circle of McCain's campaign.
It was too obvious that Palin was elected for her "feminism" antics, and I think it's a shame the Republicans did not do their research before employing her. What is the exact population in Alaska, in comparison to the population of the WHOLE of the US? Let's be honest, this woman knows nothing. It sickened me slightly to see that people fawned on her because she was so different to Clinton - and they saw that as a good thing. As Matt Damon said, "this woman is going to have the nuclear codes".
I think that McCain actually ended the presidential run with a degree of humility. Truth be told, he seemed a bit of a puppet, and I'm not for conspiracy theories, but he may just have been used as a platform until they could find someone like Palin who represented the Party's views so wholly. It struck a chord with me when he gave his last speech, it was so dignified and hopeful and I genuinely wanted to believe him. I am, of course, easily persuaded but McCain is somewhat of a liberal in the eyes of his party.
Well how did I get onto that topic? I was trying to say that my assignment was actually on how Clinton had paved the way for many female tv presenters in America, such as Campbell Brown, Katie Couric (who kicked ass in the presidential campaigns with her interviews!) and Mika Bzerzinski. I hope this woman has made my plight to become a successful female journalist much easier too!
Well would you look at the time... so now you know this is what I'd rather do than write an assignment about the political and economical differences between Hong Kong and China.
For now,
Good night, and good luck.
I find it a little odd that I would put my thoughts online - or even stranger to think that anyone would actually stumble upon this and take the time to read it. So thank you.
It's a great way to practise my writing skills I suppose, and rather reluctantly, I have to admit, I think that this will indeed improve my writing.
I recently wrote a story comparing three different media platforms over the BBC; online; radio; and television. I have to say I was shocked at the results I found. I compared the ways in which the Israel/Palestine Gaza conflict was portrayed in the three medias and my findings led me to see how a) the radio is really dying out and b) just how much everyone relies on the internet today. I didn't have a radio handy, so I listened to the six o'clock news on the BBC website. I wasn't near my tv so I watched the latest news on the Gaza conflict on the BBC News homepage. With the rise of the internet, is there really any need for, well any other form of media?
This assignment taught me just how easy it is to find ANYTHING you need online. The only thing I would argue is that the internet has resulted in the demise of newspapers. I still don't think there is anything equivelent to print journalism. I like my steadily growing pile of papers, scattered around all four corners of my bedroom.
Anyway, my second assignment was a feature on how Hillary Clinton has done wonders for feminism. I know a lot of people disagree with the way she handled the elections and she should have bowed out a lot more gracefully, a lot sooner. But I kinda like the lady.
She's dignified, intelligent, and obviously plays for the right team. Who could argue with anyone who agrees with Obama =)? I love, love the fact that she champions the trouser suit too! As much as those fashion critics hate what she wears, I think it's amazing that she refuses to conform to flaunting her sexuality/feminity the way Palin had to in order to "earn" the women's vote. It was a sly move on the Republican Party's part, I admit it was strategic, and who am I to disagree with some of the world's most powerful people? It just seemed very underhand to me, bringing in an unqualified, power-hungry, ignorant, and dumb candidate into the well-respected circle of McCain's campaign.
It was too obvious that Palin was elected for her "feminism" antics, and I think it's a shame the Republicans did not do their research before employing her. What is the exact population in Alaska, in comparison to the population of the WHOLE of the US? Let's be honest, this woman knows nothing. It sickened me slightly to see that people fawned on her because she was so different to Clinton - and they saw that as a good thing. As Matt Damon said, "this woman is going to have the nuclear codes".
I think that McCain actually ended the presidential run with a degree of humility. Truth be told, he seemed a bit of a puppet, and I'm not for conspiracy theories, but he may just have been used as a platform until they could find someone like Palin who represented the Party's views so wholly. It struck a chord with me when he gave his last speech, it was so dignified and hopeful and I genuinely wanted to believe him. I am, of course, easily persuaded but McCain is somewhat of a liberal in the eyes of his party.
Well how did I get onto that topic? I was trying to say that my assignment was actually on how Clinton had paved the way for many female tv presenters in America, such as Campbell Brown, Katie Couric (who kicked ass in the presidential campaigns with her interviews!) and Mika Bzerzinski. I hope this woman has made my plight to become a successful female journalist much easier too!
Well would you look at the time... so now you know this is what I'd rather do than write an assignment about the political and economical differences between Hong Kong and China.
For now,
Good night, and good luck.
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