|
Thanks for a really thoughtful analysis. Amazing that
you can do this in the midst of such turmoil. I thought your New
Statesman comment was really focused, too. Hope the right people are
listening. May your workplace stay safe. Best to you and Ruth, Martha marc garrett wrote: Hi Martha, Alan & all, Thank you for your concern, we are both fine although worried regarding the media's 'shallow' representation of it all.Our flat is on Green Lanes one of the main busy streets. A mile and half away from the video I showed on here yesterday. Green Lanes turns into Wood green, a 5-10 minute walk away depending how short your legs are... Wendy, one of the members of this list, I think may have been directly in the middle of it all, and has dedicated an awfully lot of her time in Tottenham working on local projects, who I hope is ok - Wendy? The main part of (original) riots took place in Tottenham, which is about a mile away from the Furtherfield studios. But as in all big cities, everything sprawls over. People are living on top of each other, not much space. To be honest, I am surprised it has not happened sooner. Everyone locally is affected by it all in various ways. Not just this, the unrest is now erupting in several other parts of the capital's boroughs, from Brixton in the south (other side of the River Thames) to Enfield, Islington and Walthamstow further to the east. So, if you are some one who is living or working in a poor area in London, I would say the threat of violence is likely. Of course, the richer areas will be fine - which is where most of those working in the media live themselves... http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/aug/08/london-riots-spread-second-night I am not an advocate for riots, where local people are hurt by local people - it depresses me to see them destroying their neighbourhoods. But, it does declare the reality of how desperate things actually are here. Ruth & I recently, just moved out of London a week or so ago, but are still living & working at Furtherfield & the staying at the Flat still, for instance we will be in London today & tomorrow - regularly working & living in London (weekly) but also living outside as well. We have had to move due to cuts in the arts. Which brings me to some other things. In response to the riots I posted a comment on the Newstatesman web site (http://tinyurl.com/3buuabm) who are privileged lefties from Cambridge & Oxford by the way. Excuse me if I sound slightly bitter in this bit... "What I find interesting is no one above is considering the bigger picture. I live locally in Tottenham & have been hearing many younger people's views regarding their despair, of youth centres being closed down because of the recent cuts, & no jobs in the near future either. Our culture is suffering a deep attack against education & community values. I am really not surprised by any of this - but the blame lies from up top, with choosing neoliberalism above human needs. Whilst all of you 'comfortable' people chat away ignoring such realities, our 'little' Rome will burn, please wake up!" What I have found generally depressing in our culture, in the arts and right across the board - is that the working classes (whatever creed, colour, gender) are treated as a constant annoyance. The overall language of traditional broadcast media is conservative, whether it be radio 4 looking at things with a kind of 'rationalist' perspective, within their cosy and well educated situations, slightly liberal, although completely unaware of reality - usually asking even politicians nonsensical questions which on the whole is just noise. Yet, they get away with it, because they are educated and have a (voice) of so called authority - of presence, of standing. The Newspapers generally condemn the violence not allowing everyday people quality time to have a voice, time to work all of this out. You just hear trained 'officials' because everyday people do not know how to use these frameworks - these platforms of news (infotainment) media are not for them, it is 'only about' them. So, as working a class individual, who has not been through the same systems of education as most of my peers, until later in life. I kind of feel a (small) connection with these rioters (not the looters), I suspect if I was in their position and their age I would also be out there rioting - although I am so glad that I am not. And yes - of course it must be said; I do not agree with how they have gone about it. I would prefer that they were more organised and visited central London and challenged the source of the problem, the heads of state; who are creating even more poverty whilst they remain untouched by the circumstances and difficulties that they have and are contributing to. For it is important to remember, they have played a major part in placing the main burden of the financial crisis on the people, not the banks and corporations. Anyway, chat later... marc > This looks pretty bad on tv, Marc. Are you and Ruth safe? And your > office? I have my fingers crossed. > > best wishes for better days ahead, > Martha > > November 2010 Project > http://chapbookpublisher.com/November-2010.html > > City Bird: Selected Poems (1991 - 2009) > by Millie Niss, edited by Martha Deed > http://www.blazevox.org/index.php/Shop/Poetry/city-bird-selected-poems-1991-2009-by-millie-niss-edited-by-martha-deed-192/ > > > On 8/7/2011 11:03 AM, marc garrett wrote: >> Looting Woodgreen 2. >> >> Whilst the riots were happening on another street in Tottenham, on our >> street youths were smashing into shops and ransacking them... >> >> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKz2LqZHT6o&feature=share >> _______________________________________________ >> NetBehaviour mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://www.netbehaviour.org/mailman/listinfo/netbehaviour >> > _______________________________________________ > NetBehaviour mailing list > [email protected] > http://www.netbehaviour.org/mailman/listinfo/netbehaviour > _______________________________________________ NetBehaviour mailing list [email protected] http://www.netbehaviour.org/mailman/listinfo/netbehaviour |
_______________________________________________ NetBehaviour mailing list [email protected] http://www.netbehaviour.org/mailman/listinfo/netbehaviour
