tag:helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk,2009-11-08:/Dreamer of DreamsDream while you live your life, and you will live larger still.MokoFeed2009-11-08T21:39:52+01:00tag:helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk,2007-05-28:/2007/05/28/shame_on_moscow~2348237/Shame on Moscowhf1482007-05-28T14:11:14+02:002007-05-28T14:12:15+02:00 <p><span>Just ten days after the International Day Against Homophobia, the shocking scenes in </span><span>Russia</span><span> yesterday serve to remind us that across the globe homophobia is still rife, even in countries where homosexuality is technically no longer a crime. </span><span> </span><span><br>
Activists, including MEPs and the irrepressible Peter Tatchell, were attacked as they protested against a ban on </span><span>Moscow</span><span>’s gay pride parade. The police did nothing, and later arrested the victims of the vicious assault, allowing the perpetrators to walk free. This is despite the fact that </span><span>Russia</span><span>, which is a signatory to the European Convention of Human Rights, decriminalized homosexuality in 1993. </span><span> </span><span><br>
In over 70 countries homosexuality is still considered a crime, punishable by death in places such as </span><span>Iran</span><span>, </span><span>Sudan</span><span> and </span><span>Pakistan</span><span>. Even in the </span><span>UK</span><span>, gay men and lesbians still face covert prejudice. No one deserves to be beaten, locked up, made fun of or shunned simply because of their sexual preference, skin colour, gender or age. </span><span><br>
Some people would argue that my strongly held views against discrimination and intolerance make me a member of the PC brigade. If that is their opinion, then call me PC and proud!</span>
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<p> <small> <a href="http://helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk/2007/05/28/shame_on_moscow~2348237/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk,2007-05-28:/2007/05/28/for_the_missing~2348230/For the missinghf1482007-05-28T14:10:33+02:002007-05-28T14:10:33+02:00 <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Another day, another newspaper with Madeleine McCann on the front page. On the Missing Kids UK Website, run by the police and the missing person’s bureau, Maddy is there of course. But so are many children and young teenagers- kids who walked off to school and never came back. They just vanished and no-one knows where they are anymore than they know where Maddy is. </p>
<p></span></p>
<span>Where are their yellow ribbons? Where are the front pages dedicated to their disappearances and their families anguish? To the white, middle class media, they don’t even exist in news terms. So to all those who have jumped on the Find Maddy bandwagon, I say don’t forget the other missing children. They deserve to be found too. </span><span> </span>
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<p> <small> <a href="http://helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk/2007/05/28/for_the_missing~2348230/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk,2007-05-28:/2007/05/28/images_of_death~2348223/Images of deathhf1482007-05-28T14:09:40+02:002007-05-28T14:09:40+02:00 <p><span>Channel Four has announced that it will show images of Princess Diana in her last living moments in a new documentary. These images have not yet been shown by the British press, although they have been seen in other countries. </span><span>Predictably, there has been an uproar, with cries of what about the Princes? What about her dignity? Let her rest in peace! Etc etc</span><span> </span><span>I am sure that none of these people made a fuss when Saddam’s hanging was shown, or when innocent Iraqi children are pictured dead or wounded, or when a grieving Palestinian grandmother has her tears and horror shown on the teatime news. If people don’t want death on their screens, then that censorship should apply to all. </span>
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<p> <small> <a href="http://helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk/2007/05/28/images_of_death~2348223/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk,2007-05-13:/2007/05/13/olympic_fears~2262086/Olympic fearshf1482007-05-13T14:26:01+02:002007-05-13T14:26:31+02:00 <p><span>Today’s Observer has reported that the Olympics may not bring the benefits to </span><span>London</span><span> that they are widely expected to. A report commissioned by the London Assembly states that the high expectations for improvements and regeneration in east </span><span>London</span><span> boroughs will not be fulfilled.</span><span> </span><span><br>
I am currently residing in Newham, one of the boroughs set to be the most affected by the games, and I would disagree with aspects of that report- the progress in regenerating this area is clearly visible. Forget the facts and figures, the change is there for all to see, and on the train I notice new building work progressing day by day. Residential buildings are springing up fast, and the train station is undergoing another refurb to ensure the transport links are up to scratch for 2012. House prices have also boomed since the games were won. </span><span> </span><span><br>
I can’t agree with arts funding being siphoned off for the Olympic budget, but we have got the games now and I do think the benefits will become clearer in time, especially in Newham.</span>
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<p> <small> <a href="http://helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk/2007/05/13/olympic_fears~2262086/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk,2007-05-07:/2007/05/07/mankind_needs_to_be_grounded~2227910/Mankind needs to be groundedhf1482007-05-07T18:53:17+02:002007-05-07T18:54:43+02:00 <p><span>Max Hastings has written on Comment is Free that our “binge- flying” culture must end because of the disastrous effects it will have on the environment. This is indeed a big problem. Air travel is becoming steadily cheaper, and traveling long-distance to far-flung exotic destinations is ever more popular. Developing countries rely on tourism and exporting goods via the air to support their growing economies, and flying at the weekends is perfectly normal for many people in need of a quick change of scene. <span> <br></span>Max Hasting’s argues that the best solution to this is a tax on aviation fuel, upping the price of flights drastically. Suggestions have also been made to ban “budget” travelers, who holiday cheaply and explore off the beaten track. </span><span> </span><span>This is an unfair solution- the rich will continue to fly and pollute as they have always done, whilst the rest of the world will be closed to poorer tourists. Money will be a determining factor not only in education and life expectancy, but also the right to leave these shores to experience new cultures- even if people can only afford to go across the Channel to </span><span>France</span><span> or to the </span><span>Costa Del Sol</span><span>. </span><span> <br></span><span><br>However, if flights are not restricted through fiscal means, what then to curb the aviation industry’s growing emissions? <br></span><span>Firstly, airport expansion should end. The industry cannot expand any more if we are to tackle climate change. There is just no room for this vastly polluting sector’s increasing emissions. Secondly, flights must always be full. Flying two half empty planes to the same destination within hours of each other is farcical. </span><span> <br></span><span>Thirdly, whilst I would not advocate pricing people out of tourism, perhaps we should consider flying quotas- restrictions on the number of air miles that people can travel in one year. Countries should be given, depending on population, size and other factors, a binding target on overall emissions, which they cannot exceed. Individual governments could determine what proportion of overall emissions could come from aviation and ration air miles accordingly. The countries with the lowest amount of emissions from other sectors could therefore be more generous with air miles. Thus there would be an incentive for countries to use renewable energy and electric cars, for example, so a bigger proportion of emissions could be allocated to aviation. </span><span><span> </span>Modern technology negates the need for flying in business- meetings can be conducted via web cams and conference calls. The same applies for politics. Wealthier people could still take their regular holidays, but once they had used their quota they would have to take alternative transport- using trains, coaches and boats. We have the Eurostar and there is an excellent train system over on the continent- therefore exploring Europe without air travel is perfectly feasible, and perhaps much more enjoyable as one gets to interact with the journey far more. For further afield journeys, there is the Orient Express, traversing </span><span>Russia</span><span> and </span><span>China</span><span>. Expanding the shipping industry, and coming up with fairly fast and efficient ships would make crossing the </span><span>Atlantic</span><span> not-impossible if one has used up all of ones air miles. </span><span> <br></span><span>Fourthly, offsetting carbon emissions, whilst not an answer to all ills, should become the norm for everyone traveling abroad. Finally, there must be more money spent on researching ways to improve the carbon emissions of planes. If they can be made much more environmentally friendly, then the above restrictions need not be so stringent. </span><span> <br></span><span><br>Humans have survived for thousands of years, and explored the world, without airplanes before. We can do it again.</span>
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<p> <small> <a href="http://helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk/2007/05/07/mankind_needs_to_be_grounded~2227910/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk,2007-05-05:/2007/05/05/poor_lord_browne~2215671/Poor Lord Brownehf1482007-05-05T16:44:46+02:002007-05-05T16:45:26+02:00 <p><span>This week saw the downfall of one of </span><span>Britain</span><span>’s business tycoons, spectacularly yanked out of the closet by the ever-gracious Associated Press (home of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday.)</span><span> </p>
<p></span><span>There are several aspects to this story that make me sympathize with Lord Browne, former head of BP. Firstly, despite the fact that the newspapers gleefully called his male lover a “rent boy”, this was actually a long term relationship, lasting over four years. Hardly the sort of sordid affair that the term “rent boy” tends to imply, regardless of the fact that Browne met Jeff Chevalier through an escort agency.</span><span> </span><span>Secondly, Browne made a huge, silly mistake of lying in court about how he met Chevalier, in order to prevent the type of headlines that we saw the very next day. Is it any wonder he told this little white lie when we saw the way the newspapers treated the relationship? </span><span> <br></span><span><br>Thirdly, Jeff Chevalier has been paid a large amount of money by the Mail on Sunday for his story, plus numerous “expenses”. He has turned his back on a former lover, one that treated him very well, and sold his story. Hurt feelings must abound indeed. </span><span> </span><span>Fourthly, questions have been raised by the Mail on Sunday regarding Lord Browne’s financial affairs within BP. No evidence of fiscal wrongdoing has been found thus far. It is therefore highly hypocritical of the MoS to point the finger at Lord Browne for funding Chevalier’s lavish lifestyle when the newspaper itself paid for Chevalier to go on foreign holidays in the name of “evidence gathering.” </span><span> </p>
<p></span><span>The whole news saga smacks of pettiness. Yes, Lord Browne should not have lied, but even today public figures still run the risk of damning headlines if their private lives are revealed for what they truly are. The media are as always obsessed with sex and scandal, frequently holding the front page for yet another kiss and tell story- which is what Chevalier’s sorry tale essentially boils down to. </span><span> </p>
<p></span><span>Isn’t it about time we started concentrating on more important things than who sleeps with whom??</span>
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<p> <small> <a href="http://helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk/2007/05/05/poor_lord_browne~2215671/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk,2007-04-29:/2007/04/29/i_can_t_save_the_world_my_toilet_roll_is~2180144/I can't save the world- my toilet roll is rubbishhf1482007-04-29T14:53:34+02:002007-04-29T14:54:00+02:00 <p><span> </span><span>Sheryl Crow urges us all to save the world by using one sheet of toilet paper per bathroom visit. Whilst I’m sure her heart is in the right place, her advice is crap (which would take a lot more than one sheet of toilet roll to clear up.) </span><span> </span><span><br>
In her rock star world, I’m sure that one sheet of 15 ply, double quilted, extra velvet tissue roll does indeed suffice. I, however, am a poor student, with the meagre offerings of the 99p store flapping uselessly in my bathroom. Honestly, just breathing in my toilet tissue’s direction causes it to disintegrate immediately. I would be in trouble if dictated to use just one sheet.</span><span> </span><span><br>
There are plenty of small things we can all do to combat global warming, but it’s unlikely that Ms Crow’s suggestion will be widely adopted. Thank goodness for that. <img class="smiley" src="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/tinymce/jss/plugins/blogdeemotions/smilies/05biggrin.gif" border="0" alt="" width="15" height="15"></span>
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<p> <small> <a href="http://helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk/2007/04/29/i_can_t_save_the_world_my_toilet_roll_is~2180144/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk,2007-04-28:/2007/04/28/consumerism_gone_mad~2175505/Consumerism gone Mad!!hf1482007-04-28T14:16:08+02:002007-04-28T14:16:08+02:00 <p><span> </span><span>First we had the shameful scrum rampaging over Stella Macartney’s collection for H&M. Then we had the Primark phenomenon reach its zenith and cause a mini riot at the opening of the flagship store on </span><span>Oxford Street</span><span>. </p>
<p></span><span>Now we have the new Kate Moss Collection for TopShop- which is set to spark scenes of unrivalled retail mania. So worried are Topshop bosses that the launch of the collection has been planned with military precision- involving a complicated wristband entry system and a handbook of Do’s and Don’ts. This is indeed consumerism gone mad- the expression of an “I want it now” and “me me me” culture at its worst. </p>
<p></span><span>Many people will stampede to get their hands on Moss’s hotpants (which no doubt are extremely unflattering and overpriced anyway) and then flog them on EBay for 3 times their original price. It is unlikely that this cynically earned cash will go to any good cause. <br></span><span><br>Meanwhile, those who keep the clothes will probably be bored of them soon enough. Surely people would be better off spending their energy, time and money doing something more useful than scrabbling around for a flimsy waistcoat or skinny jeans? <br></span><span><br>Alas, this disgraceful and undignified trend looks set to continue- look out for more rip-off must haves produced by cheap labour in the near future. </span>
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<p> <small> <a href="http://helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk/2007/04/28/consumerism_gone_mad~2175505/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk,2007-04-27:/2007/04/27/why_i_love_miliband~2172611/Why I love Milibandhf1482007-04-27T21:02:03+02:002007-04-27T21:02:43+02:00 <p><span>I had the pleasure of meeting David Miliband, albeit very briefly, on Monday night. Well, rather than a meeting it was more him walking past, saying something, and me swooning. Visibly.</span><span> </span><span>Anyway, swooning aside, he is a very nice chap. Personable, decent, seems clever enough. </p>
<p>But to tell the truth, I am extremely glad that he hasn’t thrown his hat into the ring for the Labour leadership contest.</span><span> </span><span>He has done himself justice in the past few weeks. Despite the pressure on him he has remained remarkably level headed and aware of the fact that running against Gordon Brown would do him no good at all. Instead, he has shown incredible loyalty to his ally, and agreed to back him all the way to Number 10. Labour needs loyalty like this right now. </span><span> </span><span></p>
<p>It will also give him time to become better known to the electorate- to make his mark- which will stand him in good stead for future cabinet reshuffles, and when the time arrives to appoint Brown’s successor he will be ready to take the reigns, should he even want to. </span><span> </span><span></p>
<p>Hats off to a sensible politician. </span>
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<p> <small> <a href="http://helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk/2007/04/27/why_i_love_miliband~2172611/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk,2007-04-27:/2007/04/27/should_i_kill_him~2172497/Should I kill him??hf1482007-04-27T20:31:36+02:002007-04-27T21:03:16+02:00 <p><span> </span><span>There is an intruder in my kitchen, dressed entirely in grey. I have named him Charlie.</span><span> </span><span></p>
<p>Charlie is a mouse who appears to have taken up residence behind my washing machine. He comes out at night when I am blogging too furiously to notice. When I first saw him, he made me extremely nervous, and I am sure I made him feel just as scared.</span><span> </span><span>But he and I seem to be used to one another now. In fact, I quite look forward to his nocturnal visits. </p>
<p>So I am starting to feel decidedly uncomfortable about the mouse trap in the corner. It has become something of a moral dilemma- should I kill this inoffensive, harmless creature? I just don’t think I have it in me. </span>
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<p> <small> <a href="http://helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk/2007/04/27/should_i_kill_him~2172497/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk,2007-04-24:/2007/04/24/welcome_to_the_world~2154574/Welcome to the worldhf1482007-04-24T19:32:52+02:002007-04-24T19:38:17+02:00 <p>The world wide web that is... I have finally joined the MySpace revolution. <br>Despite having never before been a computer lover, in the space of just a month I have blogged, networked and messaged my way around the internet, and I have to say, it's really pretty darn good. Here's to the web! <br>To blogs, to new friends and to pointless and inaccurate information on Wikipaedia. <img class="smiley" src="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/tinymce/jss/plugins/blogdeemotions/smilies/05biggrin.gif" border="0" alt="" width="15" height="15"></p>
<p><a href="http://www.myspace.com/helena_rose_justice">www.myspace.com/helena_rose_justice</a>
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<p> <small> <a href="http://helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk/2007/04/24/welcome_to_the_world~2154574/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk,2007-04-21:/2007/04/21/snobbish_and_judgemental_bloggers~2135476/Snobbish and judgemental bloggershf1482007-04-21T22:35:26+02:002007-04-21T22:36:03+02:00 <p><span>Scanning through some blogs recently I found some ones that I felt had an incredibly pessimistic and narrow minded view of </span><span>Britain</span><span> today. I won’t name names. They probably know if I am referring to them because I left comments on their blogs already.</span><span> </span><span></p>
<p>One particularly unpleasant piece took the view that </span><span>Britain</span><span> is full of stereotypical Vicky Pollards, pointing the finger at chain smoking TV addicted layabouts for the decline of </span><span>Britain</span><span>. Whilst I feel that it is a shame that some people indeed spend much of their lives without opening their eyes to the world around them, this does not make them bad people. I have met many who would fall into the blogger’s classifications, and yet they are kind, funny and generous, if a little rough around the edges. So what if the highlight of their week is playing bingo and watching the X Factor? Who are we to say that they do not lead valuable lives?</span><span> </span><br>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span></p>
<p>I would say that these views are informed only by class prejudice and snobbery, sneering at those less educated, less cultured and less proactive. It is mean and judgmental and we have no right to generalize about people in such a way. Focus on your own faults and allow others to do the same.</span></p>
<p> <small> <a href="http://helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk/2007/04/21/snobbish_and_judgemental_bloggers~2135476/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk,2007-04-20:/2007/04/20/another_place~2129758/Another Placehf1482007-04-20T21:23:25+02:002007-04-20T21:24:07+02:00 <p><span>I know this is hardly recent, but I think Anthony Gormley’s artwork “Another Place” is truly wonderful. The cast iron figures staring wistfully out to sea from a beach on Merseyside are strongly reminiscent of the Maoi of Easter Island. </span><span> </span><span></p>
<p>They gaze out to an endless ocean, not looking inland, thus reminding us that there is more out there than our own chaotic little lives. They represent the part in all of us that yearns for freedom and for release, the part that is searching for something more from the world, for “Another Place.” </span><span> </span><br>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>And yet they remain, motionless, unmoving. Ever searching, ever still. </span></p>
<p> <small> <a href="http://helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk/2007/04/20/another_place~2129758/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk,2007-04-20:/2007/04/20/from_one_lost_soul_to_another~2129611/From one lost soul to anotherhf1482007-04-20T20:55:09+02:002007-04-20T20:56:03+02:00 <p><span>It was gut wrenching to read about Ben Vodden in the papers today. He hanged himself last year because of bullying. He was only 11 years old.</span><span> </span><span></p>
<p>Children can be so cruel. There are those that single out the kids who look different, speak funny, wear the wrong trainers, or are good at maths. There are those that use physical violence, and there are those, like the ones who bullied Ben, that prefer to pick, taunt and tease until the victim’s self esteem is completely worn away. </span><span> </span><span></p>
<p>My heart goes out to them; the lone boy sitting on the bus wishing he was invisible so the jeers behind his back would cease; the girl who gets spat on and is too afraid of recrimination even to acknowledge the fat wedge of chewing gum nestling in her hair; the kids who have no friends and wonder around like lost souls, sporadically used as moving targets by the boys playing football. I wish I could do something to make it better, like I wish it could have been a little better for me. </span><span> </span><span></p>
<p>It is too late for Ben, but I hope that his suicide will shock some of these bullies into realizing what they do, and what the consequences can be. </span><span> </span><span></p>
<p>From one lost soul to another: Goodbye Ben. I hope you have found happiness. </span>
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<p> <small> <a href="http://helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk/2007/04/20/from_one_lost_soul_to_another~2129611/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk,2007-04-19:/2007/04/19/beloved_guardian_you_have_let_me_down~2123361/Beloved Guardian, you have let me downhf1482007-04-19T20:31:48+02:002007-04-19T20:31:48+02:00 <p class="MsoNormal">Dear Guardian</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <br>Faithfully I pick you up every morning, and enjoy the time I spend in your company. I am happy to spend money on you, because I have always felt that you were worth it. But I was disappointed with you today. I feel you let me down. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> On your front page you led with a story about Russian diplomacy. The mass killings in Iraq were amalgamated into another story on the third page- “In Baghdad, Carnage Continues.” </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> Is that it? Is that what 200 lives are worth? One measly page and an unimaginative headline?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> The Indy led with that story. So did the Metro. You, Guardian, you picked Cold War over Hot War, diplomacy over deaths. You let me down. And, you let yourself down. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p> <small> <a href="http://helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk/2007/04/19/beloved_guardian_you_have_let_me_down~2123361/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk,2007-04-19:/2007/04/19/stop_telling_me_i_m_gay_and_let_me_do_my~2123303/Stop telling me I'm gay and let me do my job!!hf1482007-04-19T20:21:27+02:002007-04-19T20:21:27+02:00 <p class="MsoNormal">I love my new job- it’s worthy, fun and interesting. But for some reason, working for a gay rights charity automatically means I <em>must </em>be gay. On singing the praises of my workplace to my mother, her thoughts lay not with the pension plan or the salary. Instead she anxiously queried: “You’re not going to become a lesbian are you?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <br>My partner’s family, my friend’s parents and other acquaintances all have similar questions regarding my sexuality, simply because of the career choice I have made. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What I think this demonstrates is ignorance along the same lines as the idea that a man cannot work for a feminist organisation, or a white person cannot be against racism. It also shows that gay rights is still viewed as a niche issue, only cared about by certain ‘types’ of people, and lost against more high profile equality campaigns. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <br>I would like to think that the job I do is much more important, and far more interesting, than my sexual orientation. </p>
<p> <small> <a href="http://helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk/2007/04/19/stop_telling_me_i_m_gay_and_let_me_do_my~2123303/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk,2007-04-18:/2007/04/18/thought_of_the_day~2117432/Thought of the dayhf1482007-04-18T21:29:08+02:002007-04-18T21:29:08+02:00 <p>Something for those who have hit rock bottom: </p>
<p>"It is only when things are at their darkest, that we can truly see the stars."
</p>
<p> <small> <a href="http://helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk/2007/04/18/thought_of_the_day~2117432/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk,2007-04-17:/2007/04/17/america_mourns_but_iraq_suffers_still~2110350/America mourns, but Iraq suffers stillhf1482007-04-17T19:43:22+02:002007-04-17T19:43:22+02:00 <p><span>Front page news today was of course the campus shootings in </span><span>America</span><span>. This was indeed a terrible event- at least 30 people were killed- a death toll which has already earned the incident reams of news stories and analysis, and a place in America’s history of mass shootings. </span><span> </span><span>And what of </span><span>Iraq</span><span> yesterday? The list of casualties topped 60- according to <a href="http://www.icasualties.org/">www.icasualties.org</a>, which keeps track of the <em>reported </em>deaths by news agencies. Inevitably of course, the death toll day by day is much higher than reported. Yet deaths in </span><span>Iraq</span><span> are now the NIBs (news in briefs) scattered throughout the media. They are no longer occurrences of note for us here in the west, instead, they are filler material for the lesser read pages of the lesser read newspapers. </span><span> </span><br>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>We will soon know everything there is to know about the casualties of the American shootings- their faces, their names, their ages- all soon to be commemorated on a tasteful memorial no doubt. The Iraqi’s who die daily will remain faceless, anonymous and forgotten.</span></p>
<p> <small> <a href="http://helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk/2007/04/17/america_mourns_but_iraq_suffers_still~2110350/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk,2007-04-15:/2007/04/15/inner_killjoy_on_the_dangers_of_dehydrat~2096530/Inner Killjoy on the dangers of dehydrationhf1482007-04-15T17:21:46+02:002007-04-15T17:22:47+02:00 <p><span>I hate to put a dampener on this gloriously hot sunny day, but my inner killjoy has spoken and desires to be heard. </span><span><br>
If this unseasonable warmth continues into summer, we face the prospect of yet more drought warnings and hose pipe bans. We just cannot ignore the fact that groundwater supplies are already depleted and the solution for </span><span>London</span><span> does not lie in simply building a desalinization plant, as Thames Water has proposed. </span><span><br>
Whilst the hosepipe ban has been lifted we must take more responsibility for personal water usage, for example, by turning the tap off when cleaning our teeth. And Thames Water should use more of their million pound profits to fix as many underground water pipes as possible. They simply are not working fast enough and last year 894 MILLION LITRES OF WATER A DAY were lost through leaking pipes. </span><span> </span><span>The forecast for the future- sunny and very, very dry. </span>
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<p> <small> <a href="http://helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk/2007/04/15/inner_killjoy_on_the_dangers_of_dehydrat~2096530/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk,2007-04-15:/2007/04/15/joseph_and_his_amazing_television_show~2096373/Joseph and his amazing television showhf1482007-04-15T16:48:32+02:002007-04-15T16:49:54+02:00 <p><span>Why oh why do I like Any Dream Will Do so much? It was the third installment last night on BBC One and I sat riveted through the whole cheese fest, practically shrieking with delight. </span><span> <br></span><span>The emotion! The Music! The terrible dancing! All my instincts say “look away now” but my heart cries out for more. I was uninterested in the problem of Maria, and the new Grease searchathon is like sugar coated crap, but the quest for Joseph has me singing along emotionally, (and badly) much to the chagrin of my lovely boyfriend, who I actually think would make quite a dashing Joseph.<br></span><span><br> </span><span>I can’t quite put my finger on it, but come next Saturday, BBC One will be my channel of choice for the evening. </span>
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<p> <small> <a href="http://helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk/2007/04/15/joseph_and_his_amazing_television_show~2096373/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk,2007-04-15:/2007/04/15/questioning_the_monarchy_not_the_breakup~2096317/Questioning the monarchy, not the breakuphf1482007-04-15T16:39:33+02:002007-04-15T16:40:34+02:00 <p><span>The media scrum over Prince William and Kate Middleton’s break up is diverting the public from considering the really important questions about the future of the British monarchy, namely, do we want them to continue after the Queen passes away?</span><span> </span><span><br>
It is easy to overlook the fact that it is Prince Charles who will become King next, when all the attention is squarely focused on William as the future monarch. It looks unlikely that Prince Charles would not accept the position and stand aside for his son, as he would relish the chance to garner more influence to promote his opinions, some of which I fear are misguided. The monarchy still has an influence in politics, and although much of that is purely for show, the King or Queen still gets to meet weekly with the Prime Minister. I wonder what agenda Prince Charles will be trying to push?</span><span> </span><span><br>
Another point of note is of course that in a country with an age-old democracy, undemocratic elements such as the monarchy are a bit of an embarrassment. Charles, William and Harry, like the generations before them, are in their rather fortunate positions through birth and no other right. It is incompatible with the ideals of meritocracy. Aside from this, I do not want my head of state to be someone who I feel has no comprehension of the ordinary life that their subjects lead. They have never known inequality or struggle and are only brought into contact with these things through benevolent charity work, where they cast aside their royal robes to chat with the unfortunates before swanning off to Boujis for a spot of groping and grinding with pretty and privileged young ladies. </span>
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<p> <small> <a href="http://helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk/2007/04/15/questioning_the_monarchy_not_the_breakup~2096317/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk,2007-04-14:/2007/04/14/stars_are_mountains~2093027/Stars are mountainshf1482007-04-14T23:29:20+02:002007-04-14T23:29:20+02:00 <p>Can you work it out.....?
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<p> <small> <a href="http://helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk/2007/04/14/stars_are_mountains~2093027/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk,2007-04-14:/2007/04/14/beauty_in_words~2092900/Beauty in wordshf1482007-04-14T23:03:56+02:002007-04-14T23:03:56+02:00 <p>We are the music makers<br>And we are the dreamers of dreams<br>Wandering by lone sea breakers<br>And sitting by desolate streams<br>World-losers and world-forsakers<br>On whom the pale moon gleams<br>Yet we are the movers and shakers<br>Of the world forever it seems.</p>
<p>My favourite poem, by Arthur William O'Shaughnessy
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<p> <small> <a href="http://helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk/2007/04/14/beauty_in_words~2092900/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk,2007-04-14:/2007/04/14/they_re_all_the_same_aren_t_they~2092827/They're all the same- aren't they?hf1482007-04-14T22:46:43+02:002007-04-14T22:49:22+02:00 <p><span>This has become the throwaway catchphrase of the apathetic masses, their excuse for not exercising the right to vote in local and general elections.</span><span><br>
Whilst canvassing in the local elections last year, this was the “reason” given to me for so many empty ballot papers. It angers me so much because it is an invalid, lazy argument for those who simply cannot be bothered to examine the individual candidates and make an informed decision. </span><span><br>
The vast majority of people who claim that politicians are “all the same” have never bothered to contact their MP, have no idea what they stand for and more often than not they do not even know their parliamentary representative’s name. Hard working local MPs who do fantastic work in their constituencies are penalized by the electorate because of the popular view of their central party, regardless of whether or not they differ from their front bench on a number of important policies.</span><span><br>
Politics as a whole has become more focused on simple generalizations, because people have neither the interest nor the inclination to delve a little deeper between the dividing lines of political ideology. It is far easier, for example, to identify one party with one person and a simple set of centralized policies, rather than recognize the myriad faces that actually form parliament, and all the many different viewpoints that they represent. The popular press has largely propagated this attitude and their readers do not challenge it. </span><span><br>
Voters should not make excuses about being alienated by their local MPs. Parliamentarians all have their own websites, email addresses and local offices, and run regular local surgeries for their constituent’s. It is easy enough to find out what they stand for, and to give them your views on matters of personal importance. Making an informed choice at the ballot box is not difficult, it just requires a little more effort than standing at the door repeating the tired old sentiment- “Oh politicians, they’re all the same aren’t they?” Um, actually, no. </span>
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<p> <small> <a href="http://helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk/2007/04/14/they_re_all_the_same_aren_t_they~2092827/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk,2007-04-14:/2007/04/14/britney_has_shown_our_media_s_failings~2092821/Britney has shown our media's failingshf1482007-04-14T22:45:31+02:002007-04-14T22:52:16+02:00 <p><span><br>The headlines on February 24 make decidedly uncomfortable reading. "Off her brolly- Raging superstar loses plot...again." A photo of a bald headed celebrity brandishing an umbrella and gesturing wildly accompanied the article in The Sun. The inicident in question was also described graphically by the Daily Mail under the humorous headline "Hit me Britney one more time ," and by the Daily Star as "Britney's got brolly rage! Skinhead singer goes beserk over her kids."<br></span><span><br>
Pop superstar Britney Spears seems to have suffered a very public mental breakdown, much to the glee of the tabloid press. Described as “wild eyed”, “crazy” and “mad” in various stories, the language used and the jokes made at the star’s expense are indicative of a media culture where mental health, and the way it is portrayed, is not taken as seriously as it should be. </span>
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A 2006 report by SHIFT, a government body dedicated to tackling the stigma around mental illness, found that whilst reporting of everyday mental health issues has improved, severe mental illness is still subject to prejudice in newspaper reports. The study found that 15% of stories highlighted the risk of violence posed by mentally ill people, and that only 6% of stories actually quoted people with mental health problems.</span></p>
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The report stated that: “In some cases, highly perjorative language is used, and overall coverage can leave readers and viewers with the false impression that most or many people with a mental illness are violent…This can be damaging to the vast majority of people with severe mental health problems who pose no risk to others.”</span><span><br>
With such a stigma surrounding mental illnesses, it can be extremely difficult for people to admit they need help. It can also lead to prejudiced attitudes making it more difficult for people with mental health problems to seek employment. Rethink, a mental health charity, says that 50% of people with a mental health problem believe that media portrayals have a negative affect on them and their health. </span><span><br>
According to the Press Complaints Commission’s Code, “the press must avoid prejudicial or pejorative reference to an individual's race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation or to any physical or mental illness or disability.” However, it is clear that this particular clause is not always taken into account, especially when it comes to reports of people in the public eye, such as Britney Spears, and boxer Frank Bruno. The Sun pressed ahead with the denounced headline “Bonker’s Bruno Locked Up” in September 2003, only to withdraw it for later editions of the newspaper. </span><span><br>
Whilst it was hoped that the media learnt its lesson from this, it seems that reports about mental health can still be narrow minded, and if a celebrity is involved, media coverage is especially cruel. Jokes such as this one, from The Sun, made at the expense of a woman whom it is said could well be suffering from post natal depression, do not show much progress:</span><span>“<br>
BRITNEY SPEARS</span>
<p><span>AGE - 25.</span></p>
<span>CONDITION: The patient has suffered an astonishing public meltdown, exhibiting wildly fluctuating and attention-seeking behaviour. Her symptoms have included heavy drinking and frequently forgetting to wear knickers while being photographed.</span><span>TREATMENT: After locking away the hair clippers, doctors are advised to dress the patient in school uniform and encourage her to sing along to her greatest hits album in an attempt to stimulate the "pop" follicle in her brain. It is hoped the star will migrate towards a recording studio. Mr Justin Timberlake to be put on stand-by.”</span>
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<p> <small> <a href="http://helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk/2007/04/14/britney_has_shown_our_media_s_failings~2092821/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk,2007-04-14:/2007/04/14/slow_it_down_angelina~2092795/Slow it down Angelinahf1482007-04-14T22:39:38+02:002007-04-14T23:15:59+02:00 <p><span>Angelina Jolie certainly seems to have noble aspirations for her family, and has created a habit of adopting children from impoverished countries in an attempt to ‘rescue’ them from a life of ill-health and poverty.</span><span>Admirable as her actions may seem, her bid to create a ‘rainbow’ family has been carried out in a wholly inappropriate way, which will prevent her ‘adoptees’ from reaping the full benefits of their new lives. <br></span><span>Let us consider the most simple tenets of child psychology (and I don’t claim to be an expert here)-all children need love and attention, which can only be gained through adequate contact time with parents (biological or otherwise). Adopted children from unstable backgrounds will require even more to compensate for the upheaval in their early years that has the potential to psychologically mar them for life. <br></span><span>Yet, Ms. Jolie has adopted too many ethnically diverse young children in too short a time to give them what they undoubtedly require, regardless of how rich, or determined she may be. Add to this mix Ms Jolie’s biological daughter, Shiloh Nouvelle, and you have the potential for intense sibling rivalry, alongside the cultural confusion that inevitably results when a child is removed from their homeland, and has their name changed, as Ms Jolie’s new Vietnamese addition so recently did. <br></span><span>Ms Jolie would do better to allow a much longer adjustment period for her new arrivals before adding to her growing brood again. They will need her undivided attention, and no amount of money will buy her more time in which to give it.<br></span><span>The salient point to bear in mind is this: Like the character of Mrs Jellyby in Charles Dicken’s Bleak House, a wonderful moral crusader can still be a inadequate parent. </span>
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<p> <small> <a href="http://helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk/2007/04/14/slow_it_down_angelina~2092795/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk,2007-04-14:/2007/04/14/happy_new_year~2092780/Happy New Yearhf1482007-04-14T22:36:52+02:002007-04-14T22:36:52+02:00 <p>No I haven't gone mad- today is the Tamil New Year, as I am reliably informed by my Sri Lankan correspondant. And in the spirit of things I thought I would try a new blog, now that I think I have the hang of this. </p>
<p>Why wait for January 1st to make resolutions? Free yourself from the drudgery of the calender and create your own beginnings!</p>
<p> <small> <a href="http://helena-rose-justice.blog.co.uk/2007/04/14/happy_new_year~2092780/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>