By Katie L-S, September 26th, 2006
I use public transport often when I have the option of using a car, try to use locally produced goods, don’t eat meat, am careful to switch off lights, use heaters only when really necessary, and despise air conditioning. Yet in the last few months I have been responsible for over three tonnes of carbon dioxide being added to our already polluted atmosphere, just through air travel, according to Climate Care. Three tonnes!
By Katie L-S, September 16th, 2006
I’ve come to find the clunk and whirr of closed circuit tv cameras turning to follow my movements as I walk to and from work quite reassuring. It seems sometimes like I’m stepping into Orwell’s Big Brother world every time I leave the house, and more than finding it frightening, I find it comforting.
By Katie L-S, September 13th, 2006
It’s interesting that I can type my London postcode into Google Maps and see an arrow pointing to where I live, while it’s apparently too much effort for them to even mark in the locations of African cities. Yes, here follows an exasperated discussion of that really boring subject: genocide in the Sudan. But, before I get into that, I highly recommend you watch this beautiful, well made short documentary looking at the lives of a few people in Kenya. It’s not even depressing, honest!
By Katie L-S, September 10th, 2006
How far are we to take the unwritten London Commandment, Thou shalt ignore thine fellow tube passengers?
By Katie L-S, September 7th, 2006
I’ve studiously ignored recent media speculation around when Tony Blair might stand down as British Prime Minister – it’s all seemed rather academic, uninformed, and boring. Now there’s some movement, which brings to mind The Big Lebowski’s dancing landlord – painfully clumsy.
By Katie L-S, September 4th, 2006
No longer do Adbusters need to generate spoof advertisements to make a political statement – it seems that Land Rover is doing it on its own. Their latest ad campaign features a super-sized SUV parked in the middle of a generic “Arab-looking” market.
By Katie L-S, September 2nd, 2006
The train back to London had only just left Cardiff when we stopped in a tunnel. For about 40 minutes. No-one was impressed. Smoke from the engine seeped into the carriage, and everyone’s mobile phone conversations were louder without the low rumble of the wheels on the track to drown them out. A welsh girl ranting loudly about her day from hell. Aw, ye just wouldn’t believe it beeb, am telling ya. Lots of calls home. Gunna be ome late, still sat in this fuckin tunnel. A strange twenty minute domestic from a sweaty young man temporarily sitting across the aisle. Ah no, Sareh, listen tor meh. Ah aint… Am tellin ya… Ah cant say cuz… cuz… Ahm on the treeen, wave all splat up… Nor… Ahm not wath tham.
By Katie L-S, September 1st, 2006
A very quiet, closed-up Sunday afternoon, in a very quiet, closed-up town near Cardiff. My intentions were to hire a mountain bike and enjoy the sunshine, but I apparently for the less actively inclined it would seem like a good time for a piss up.