Cynicism is the death of humanity

I used to have this slogan on my wall as a fresher, displayed as if it were some kind of ward against a disease. I’m not convinced it did me any good, but I can certainly see the value in making the statement right now, as I seem to have been overcome with an immense amount of this destructive emotion. Almost everything my mind turns to becomes framed with accusations of shallowness, of being out of touch, of being motivated in selfishness; myself, those around me, initiatives that I’m variously involved with, and several that I’m not. It sucks!

Poll: Topical Matters

Time for another poll. I took some of the most common categories, bundled a few similar ones and want to know which people who read this blog want to hear about the most. This isn’t so I just focus on them, and to be honest, I’m more curious than anything. Anyhow, here it is…

Winning Kingsnorth, Winning the Struggle

The dust has now settled after the shock announcement that Kingsnorth is going nowhere for 3 years at least. Naturally I’m delighted, to the extent that I raided my alcohol supply for a swift one and bounced around the living room with my housemate. But politics is complicated and victories rarely more than partial. Also, sorry for lack of posts, life is just moving too quickly. Edit: And now we’re back in shock mode, as the Telegraph announces BAA’s decision to scrap the Third Runway at Heathrow. This post is probably only more timely because of it.

Don’t send this postcard!

This was the slogan on a post card being handed out at Greenbelt. Just in case you didn’t know, Greenbelt is the busiest festival by-attendance (2nd after Glasto overall) for postcard signing, that NGO term for getting people to write their name on a pre-written message to whoever they’re lobbying. Was this some kind of radical statement against the lobbying mentality? A call to arms for something more radical?

So, what exactly is Social Action?

Its not so much a crises, a moment of panic, indeed, anything dramatic at all. I’m just slightly dazed by the enormity of what I could choose to consider my “patch” in this new job. There’s an awful lot of it! As Social Action Parish Assistant, I could be said to cover campaigning, volunteering or indeed anything justice related, but none of these seems to fit. And there is only one of me, a lesson I may have to learn extra well this year.

The Rise and Sprawl of the Security Industry

I recently saw a presentation that contained a list of the five most common jobs people are being recruited to in York at the moment. Admin and Hospitality & Catering were no surprise, Retail seems to have picked up and I think IT support was on the list, all of which are pretty morally neutral. Half way through the list was “Security”, a worrying if not totally surprising revelation.

Loving the NHS, loving our neighbours

There seems to be a massive spat going on, a sort of blog-war between Britain and certain parts of America. Almost out of nowhere, the #welovetheNHS tag has appeared and rocketed its way to the top ten things people are saying, with NHS not far behind. Seems it can all be tracked to one Republican using the NHS to slag off Obama’s healthcare package. It just shows the depths people will go to in order to prevent the poorest receiving the healthcare they need.

UK establishment unashamed to admit brutality?

I’ve been having a slow realisation over a period of some months that the UK government seems to be quite happy to receive small amounts of condemnation for policing tactics, if it makes the risk of injury and inconvenience in taking part more widely known about. It seems the police in particular are hoping that events like the G20 will just serve as a lesson, as people who feel outraged also consider their own interests in getting involved.

Corby: Protecting the Majority from the Minority?

Its a while since I last saw a news story unfold that clearly highlighted the difference between a majoritarian and minoritarian view point and their affects on two groups of people who are clearly equal in their claim to citizenship. But today saw the Chief Executive of Corby Council telling the media that they are acting to protect the majority from a council tax rise by not simply settling with the small number of people who’s lives they are claimed to have ruined.

Dan: It’ll look good on my C.V.

You know when you read something and thing “man I wish I could put it like that?”. Well, a friend posted this as a note on Facebook, and that’s exactly my reaction. Being between finishing and graduating probably puts him in a better position than myself. I don’t think its a uniquely York problem, and I think everyone, even non-students need to really stop and think about the issues he raises.