day #2 reflecting on the Riots.

In my Sociology class we're expected to share our opinions regarding the UK Riots, but of course not just share our opinion, it has to be an educated one. So, as I researched the Riots and tried to learn more about them, I was able to form an opinion.

     I can see how the police would get blamed for starting the destruction that ensued. The tragic and unexplained shooting of Mark Duggan by the police appears quite suspicious. Particularly because they refuse to discuss it. But without all the facts there is no possibility of accusing the police, as we do not know what the actual events were, which makes comprehending all the chaos even more confusing.
     While there are numerous YouTube videos which depict the Police in a negative light, we cannot assume that the police were the only ones with violent actions or the reasons behind their depicted brutality.
    This being said, I also do not believe that it is entirely the Rioters fault. Imagine, you're poor, can barely manage to pay for a post-secondary education and then all of a sudden, paying for that education becomes impossible because of the raised price. Furthermore, if you did manage to pay for it, the unemployment rates are so high that the chance of you finding a job after graduation is slim-to-none.

How would that make you feel?

If I was in that situation, I would be frustrated, angry, and feel almost imprisoned by my lack of options. The government keeps removing options for these people and in that way, taking more and more freedom away from them. Until they're all pressed up against each other forced to face their dismal reality. No wonder the London Citizens were livid, they felt extremely restricted and there was no way to fix that, unless of course, they captured their government;s attention.

Then, with one bullet, the one that unfortunately killed Mark Duggan, the citizens were given the perfect reason and the spark that ignited the blaze, metaphorically. And so, the madness began.

While I do not think that either party had the right to cause such damage, physically and emotionally, to London, I do understand at least to some extent why the events unfolded in the way that they did.

Restriction always leads to rebellion, and when the government finally took the time to listen to their people, it was already too late.

But, now the government seems to have cleaned up the Rioters' mess, there's only one question left: Will they be able to clean up a mess of their own?

#wewishwewereexperts

day #2: i guess i should probably give some background information about the riots...

Education cuts and high unemployment rates started to create anger and discontentment amongst the London Citizens.

Then, the police killed a young man named Mark Duggan. This it seems, was the final straw for London Natives. Thus, the looting and violence began. Over the following weeks it escalated and the police were brought in to subside the citizens.

But was this really enough?

day #2: hope in London

Apparently from Manchester to South London people are posting what they're calling 'Love Walls.'
I posted one picture of this earlier, basically everyone is putting up post-it notes with words of promise, love, hope, peace, and discouraging further destruction of their cities.

Below are some more pictures of this extraordinary invention. (All pictures were found on the BBC News website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-14548710 )



While being interviewed by BBC News, a psychologist named Geoff Beattie tried to explain what it was like watching people put up these walls. (the following quote was found on: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-14548710 )

' "I was watching people put up Post-it notes in Manchester, and what struck me was their body language. It was almost like the way people sign up to an anti-cruelty manifesto, there was a sense of 'I'm prepared to do this, come and join in'," he says. '

And that, is a very hopeful thought indeed.

day #2 : and the statistics are growiming increasingly alarming...

There have been over 1,400 Riot Suspects appear in courts.

Over 1,400.. thats over twice the size of the entire student population of our school.

Of this number 157 have been convicted, 327 bailed and almost 800 remained in custody.

Shocking.

#wewishwewereexperts

day #2 - Research ; The Charges Facts

According to http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14504294 there have been numerous charges laid in Manchester so far. They're have been 179 people charged so far, with 189 offences. Of this number, 72% of the charges were burglary related, 26% are violence and disorder-related, the last two percent had to do with drugs. Of the number of people, 25% were under the age of 18 and 12% were females.

I personally, find that shocking. The news was splattered with stories surrounding looting, but the fact that 72% of people were charged with looting makes the numbers staggering. The statistics make the violence, looting and other destructive occurences seem increasingly real. By researching statastics, such as the previously listed, it helps me to put the Riots into a better perspective.

day #2: the aftermath in some pictures.

thankyou http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14478066 who helped me to visually see the aftermath in London and providing me with hope that London can get through this.

Some Youth are helping clean up the destruction.

London Citizens put up signs clearly displaying their distaste for the Looting that occurred in past weeks.

day #2: London Residents Are Clearly Desperate For Peace.

Many people posted these post-it notes on the door of a boarded-up shop trying to promote peace and get everything back to normal.

This picture was found on: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14478066 

day #2: Sign That Was Put Up During The Aftermath of The Riots

from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14478066

day #1 : figured out bookmarking ! (Y)

Well, I just figured out delicious ! :)

Took me forever, but I got it !

Turns out, you just copy & paste links.

I probably should have figured that out earlier, but hey, but late than never.

#wewishwewereexperts

day #1 : bookmarking

I'm not going to lie.

The hardest part of this project is figuring out delicious.. I cannot bookmark via this program, whatsoever. I have absolutely no idea how it works. For my project, I'm supposed to bookmark all my research.

So far?

No such luck.

#weishwewereexperts

Sociology Day #1

We're researching London Riots today. The destruction and confliction is overwhelming. We can't even imagine what the ambiance surrounding the cities is like, all we can see is the video and the large amount of data. While this gives us an idea about what they're all about, it still hard to clearly picture it.

But, one thing I know for sure is that the Riots were not even close to being pleasant and London has a whole lot of cleaning left to do.

#wewishwewereexperts.