"Pictures of Starving Children Sell Records"

The title is from Chumbawamba's album. It's inspirational, it makes you want to fight against the injustice in the world. The anger does indeed build up inside me and it is easy to either feel violent or helpless. The important thing is finding a balance between these two emotions; being passionate is the most important, believing in what you are fighting for. It is completely unacceptable the way people exploit others and the planet for the benefit of a fat bank balance. And no! I am not naive. I do not expect a revolution or a complete change in system; this is not a realistic goal. What is important is to change the system from within and eventually come up with an alternative that has a positive impact on the planet and the most of the human population, not on the minority of CEO's of multi-national cooperations or banks and organisations. The corruption needs to end!!! The most important thing at this stage for me is to read and learn as much as possible about other inspirational movements and figures in history. Discover how economics works, keep on researching and spreading the word of what I am being made aware of. And what I am aware of and what most people are aware of is the fact there is severe injustice in the world. And this isn't a 'natural' thing that is present. Human beings created injustice and although, sadly, I believe in the horizon there is no human paradise...we must try our best to create it, working together and try to fight this injustice!!

Close to end of an era

Listening to : Death Cab for Cutie - Soul Meets Body .

Well, tomorrow is my last exam of my masters degree and then I will have a dissertation to write over summer due in September. I need to start thinking about jobs, and what I will be doing next year. Currently however I am enjoying friends, bbqs, sunshine, home-made ice-cream, blue-moon beer. Or at least looking forward to the prospect of many more of the above mentioned this summer. Soon I'll be seeing Aerosmith, AC/DC and Rage Against the Machine, at Download Festival! So Life's pretty good. I will write an entry soon about what I have thought about my course and why I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in getting into the development world.

For now,

peace

inSpiral lounge

Up for excellent music and really good vegan food and awesome service? Then go down to Camden in London by the river. This venue is for you! It's amazing. Check out the website for more details, It's perfect for a pint on a beautiful spring day =)

http://www.inspiralled.net/
(Photo: camdenpeople.co.uk)

22

I've just turned 22 recently. When I was about 16 I used to think "Oh God! 22, that must be so old". Well now I realise that it isn't. I also chatted to a 35 year old man the other day who told me that, "my dad is 68, but really he's 17....in fact, everyone's actually 17". This conversation might have taken place in a rock bar, and he might have been there celebrating his birthday (drinking) from 11am (by this time it was 9pm), but I still sense the profoundness in his words. In reality, we are all 'pubescent 17 year olds' wondering 'what the hell am I supposed to be doing right now?!'. So, confusion is not the end of the world. It's ok to be confused, life is about confusion, just take it by the hand and go with the flow. These words made me feel better. Everyone is constantly worried about success and becoming 'CEO' of this company or having enough money to buy three cars and five houses etc. etc. I just want a roof over my head and be able to get a job that will sustain me. Naive perhaps, and maybe in the future I will look back at what I have written and say, 'it wasn't that easy'. But it never has to be, and also I believe that we can genuinely change people's outlook of being constant consumers and wanting to have the bigger and better of everything. In reality, what we take away from this life is our experiences with others, be it our family, our friends, polite strangers, or even the impolite ones that we say we will never become. I am now 22 and I feel there is a lot for me to learn and it is all very exciting....

TED - IDEAS WORTH SPREADING

http://www.ted.com/

This website is worth visiting. It is a series of talks that have taken place (and are still taking place) over the last few years that are extremely innovative and imaginative. It is a great platform to discuss ideas and learn something, even from the five minute lectures. There are issues ranging from the use of technology for sustainable development, the meaning of computer games as toys (Will Wright), the importance of creativity in schooling (Ken Robinson), and even words of wisdom from writers (J.K Rowling). You can search for speakers, themes or individual talks. And once you sign up, you can add talks to your favourties and interact with other people who have also watched the same talks. An Excellent website.