elections, buffoons, slavery, and survival
I am having a very negative day. First of all, I'm trying my damndest to sit tight and wait for the London Mayoral Election Results, which look grim, which make me ponder whether democracy should in fact be a cultural value, or whether it's a conspiracy of sad liberals setting themselves up to be run by idiots and facists. Particularly because I know two people who didn't vote, one of whom forgot, the other of whom couldn't be bothered. I consider these people my friends, and yet on a very basic level I believe that people who don't vote are only fit to live in a dictatorship. I despise the complacency of it, the casual disregard for the suffragettes, the taking for granted of rights which people in Zimbabwe and Tibet and Burma and China are suffering for - and dying for - right now.
Also, sat through a nice staff briefing presentation today which was a timely reminder that slavery is still endemic in Brazil. China too. Did you know that before? Well, now you do. It should piss you off.
Finally, I'm not sure if this continues the crushing negativity or injects an element of hope into the proceedings, I direct you to an NPR story featuring my friend Juan Hoffmaister. You've got to listen to the audio slide show, which rocked my world with its ability to communicate some powerful truths with JuanPa's usual blend of passion and understatement.
Also, sat through a nice staff briefing presentation today which was a timely reminder that slavery is still endemic in Brazil. China too. Did you know that before? Well, now you do. It should piss you off.
Finally, I'm not sure if this continues the crushing negativity or injects an element of hope into the proceedings, I direct you to an NPR story featuring my friend Juan Hoffmaister. You've got to listen to the audio slide show, which rocked my world with its ability to communicate some powerful truths with JuanPa's usual blend of passion and understatement.