London Riots

I don't know where to start. London is up in flames and there seems to be no stopping it. What started out as a peaceful protest against the questionable killing of a Tottenham man, turned into riots in Tottenham, which has now spread across most parts of London.

It is frightening for anyone in London or with family or friends in London. We don't know where to go or where to stay, what is safe, what isn't? I watch Croydon in flames, knowing that friends are living just a ten minute walk from where the fires are. We all feel anger over this reckless violence that is hurting innocent people, destroying homes, properties and businesses.
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(Picture taken by my friend Woolstey, from her flat, just a few hundred metres from the mayhem in Croydon)

In all this, I feel so frustrated with the moron Home Secretary, Theresa May and the rest of the authorities for not understanding that there are underlying issues. Instead of approaching the problem from that angle, she points out that those parttaking in this will be prosecuted and focuses on praising the police. Nothing wrong in that, sure, but when you completely ignore (or are so stupid not to realise) that there are underlying issues, the problems will never die down.

Whether it was the death of Mark Duggan that started this or not, there are so many more serious issues (most likely, political, socioeconomic, class and racial and police/community tension issues) that need to be targeted:

What on earth compels the youth to get up in broad daylight and destroy everything around them, in their own communities?
How is it that they even have the time to do this?
Why is their lack of respect for authority and the police, in particular, so great that they'll do this unmasked, in daylight and purposely confront the police at any given chance?
How best can the authorities open a dialogue with this disgruntled group of people and find a long-term solution to these issues, rather than attempt to shut them up by threatening to imprison them?

London is burning, London is crying. We need to act quickly before it all goes up in flames

London people

A quick post whilst freeloading in the Apple Store. Actually looking for some software for work, but couldn't help but check on the blog. Funnily enough it hasn't felt strange coming to England, it's all the same old, same old. I had forgotten how dirty it is, that there may be rats around (my biggest fear in the world), but also how kind and friendly people can be (well, in the outskirts at least, in the City no one has time for that). Yesterday I fell on the slippery ground (it had rained) and immediately passers by were running towards me to check if I was ok. Of course, this happened in Croydon, in the Westend I would have been high street roadkill!

The English don't suffer from the social incompetence of the Swedes who think everything is too embarrassing (Gud vad piiiiinsamt!). In Sweden, we restrict ourselves from giving up seats to the elderly or pregnant on public transport, even though we want to, just in case that person who is offered says no, imagine the embarrassment! Of course 'we' does not include me, my family or any of my friends ; ) Since I had mentally prepared myself for this coldness, so foreign to Ghana, I am constantly pleasantly surprised everywhere I go. Hopefully, I will also be pleasantly surprised when I get to Sweden, not provoked as I usually am each time before I've even reached my house. Then again, who cares, I am there to enjoy the little time I have this visit for my friends and family, especially new family members.

Can't wait!