I write as riots are spreading across London - North, South and East. Where I live in Bermondsey all local shops have closed out of fear - even concrete belief - that it will spread here. Currently it has hit areas such as Tottenham, Enfield, Brixton, Walthamstow, Lewisham, and Peckham.
There are many worrying issues here. Firstly of course is the immediate threat of injury, death, theft, and so on. Secondly is the inevitable effect on community relations in the already most difficult parts of London.
A third issue that a lot of news reporters have picked up on is the role of social media - particularly BBM (BlackBerry Messaging) in spreading word about the riots and therefore making rioting easier. This is the downside to social media whose upside was evident in the 'Arab Spring'.
What is terrifying is that there are evidently a significant collection of young men (this is the demographic witnesses describe being involved for the most part) across London who are evidently require the slightest provocation to resort to mindless violence. What can be done to prevent this? I certainly have no good answers - but I cannot imagine that levels of youth unemployment help much. Certainly Boris Johnson's plans to cut police numbers during these tough economic times (to use Lord Sugar's phrase) do not seem a bright idea. While I would never argue that the blame for this trouble lays in anybody's hands but those who have perpetrated it. However, that does not mean that we cannot draw lessons from it - indeed we must do so.
Meanwhile I will be eating up leftovers in my cupboards for dinner tonight.
There are many worrying issues here. Firstly of course is the immediate threat of injury, death, theft, and so on. Secondly is the inevitable effect on community relations in the already most difficult parts of London.
A third issue that a lot of news reporters have picked up on is the role of social media - particularly BBM (BlackBerry Messaging) in spreading word about the riots and therefore making rioting easier. This is the downside to social media whose upside was evident in the 'Arab Spring'.
What is terrifying is that there are evidently a significant collection of young men (this is the demographic witnesses describe being involved for the most part) across London who are evidently require the slightest provocation to resort to mindless violence. What can be done to prevent this? I certainly have no good answers - but I cannot imagine that levels of youth unemployment help much. Certainly Boris Johnson's plans to cut police numbers during these tough economic times (to use Lord Sugar's phrase) do not seem a bright idea. While I would never argue that the blame for this trouble lays in anybody's hands but those who have perpetrated it. However, that does not mean that we cannot draw lessons from it - indeed we must do so.
Meanwhile I will be eating up leftovers in my cupboards for dinner tonight.
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