The riots in London. Some thoughts.
66How the "poor" in London operate.
Tottenham High street. Before and after.
The results of "poverty" and "deprivation" revealed in London
The story that is dominating the news here at the moment is the rioting and looting that has been taking place in London, and other parts of The United Kingdom, since the weekend.
It started in the area of Tottenham in the north of the city, an area that I used to know very well.
In the years when I worked as a safety officer for London Underground, one of the places I had to drag my sorry ass at seven o clock in the morning, in order to scrape a living, was Northumberland Park Depot, which is in Tottenham.
The bus that I took from Seven Sisters station to the depot used to go the whole way up Tottenham High Street. Those shops whose flames, cast an uncheering glow into the skies of north London a few nights ago, were the object of my bleary gazing in those days when I had to travel to make a living, as opposed to these present days, when I work from home in order to scrape the same living.
Quite a few of them are no more now, along with the homes of the people who lived in flats above them. The reason why shops and flats filled the mile or so of Tottenham High Street on Saturday morning, and smoldering ruins occupied the place where so many of them stood on Sunday Morning, is that some of the residents of that same Tottenham, in company with some others, who are said to have come into the area, decided to trash their own streets, and set large parts of them on fire.
Later in the night, while the police and emergency services were trying to deal with the mayhem on the high street, another mob descended on a retail park at Tottenham Hale,(similar name, slightly different location). They broke into the shops and helped themselves to every available type of consumer goods, from 42" plasma televisions, to trainers, and carpets. Others did the same in the area known as Wood Green.
The following night, copycat rioters broke into shops in several other areas of London. We are still waiting to see if tonight will bring us any more shennanigans.
There was a reason why the initial trouble started in Tottenham. Last Thursday a young man was shot by police in Tottenham Hale. According to the police, he was carrying a gun, and got shot dead when he fired a bullet at one of the policemen. A gun, that was not a police weapon, is said to have been discovered in the car. A lot of people in the area doubt the version of the story being put out by the police. It is being investigated by The Independent Police Complaints Commission, at the moment.
There was a vigil being held outside the local police station prior to the riots starting on Saturday night. It was apparently, the refusal of a senior policeman to explain matters to the people outside the station that provoked the initial rioting.
Ok that is the background, and now for the point of this article, because oddly enough I am not writing to discuss the issue of how the unfortunate man got killed. This is being investigated. Depending on which peoples pressure group is in the ascendant,(the family's or the police's) will determine the outcome of the said investigation.
The topic, I most particularly wish to address here, is the looting, and the damage to property. In Tottenham several large stores were burnt down. Many of the premises on our various high streets have flats above them. These are the homes of, sometimes the shopkeepers, and other times people who rent the flats. When a shop gets burned to the ground, the people who work there are put out of work. Those who live above it are made homeless. The premiums that everybody pays to the insurance companies go up, because the damage has to be paid for somehow, and everybody is left a lot less well off as a result. You cant blame the police for this. It is also wrong to try to pin culpability on society for marginalising the urban poor. 99% of poor people do not go round torching shops. Besides there are a lot more poor people homeless now because their supposed deprived brethern/sistern set fire to the places where they lived. The blame for all of this destruction must be placed squarely where it belongs, on the arseholes that set the fires, and threatened the firemen, so they were unable to put out the fires.
I have seen commentators saying that these rioters came from deprived areas, that they were poor, and they were supposedly angry at a society that didnt give them all the good things, that the people in the plusher suburbs of our city had. That is such absolute rubbish. The same chatterers say, sometimes in the same interview, that the disturbances were fueled by social media. The "disenfranchised" deprived youth were apparently coordinating the action by "blackberrying" each other. If they were so damm poor, where did they get Blackberries ?
Another thing I noticed among the reports of looting. People were driving up in their cars, and filling them with goods from the shops. They were not all just deprived young people apparently.
Another thought occurred to me as well. A lot of the looting was being done by teenagers. Some of it seems to have been done by children. Now, to the best of my knowledge, teens and children usually live at home. There are not many members of the teenage and "kiddy" brigade living independently. So they must have been bringing these plasmas and trainers, etc back to homes that they shared with their parents.
My parents thought me that it was wrong to steal. What kind of values are these parents teaching their children? Pretty crap ones, I suspect.
Real poverty is like this.
What it really means to be poor.
While these much to be pitied poor people,(I dont think), were busy filling up their cars and stolen shopping trollies with designer goods, in another part of the world there is a different story. In The Horn of Africa there is a refugee camp with seven hundred thousand desperate, and in some cases, starving people. They have trekked from Somalia. The camp is in Kenya. The people, that are existing there, have walked for hundreds of miles through drought ridden country to have a hope of survival. Some of the children survive the journey. More of them die along the way. Mothers who are too hungry to produce breast milk, watch as their babies starve to death.
The amount of people who are recieving the minimum help they need to survive in the camp, is dwarfed by the number who can not get to help, because they are too weak to make the journey. Some parts of Somalia are too dangerous for aid agencies to work in. Here the starving are beyond help.
These really are poor people.
They probably dont have televisions in the villages in starving Somalia. But if someone did put a big screen in front of one of those women, who are just waiting dead eyed, for death to reunite them with their dead from starvation children. If someone did this, and there was a news report on, with some film of people looting plasma screens from an electrical superstore, and it was explained to this skeletal mother that these people were doing this because they were poor, do you think she would understand?
How the real poor operate.
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This is a thought provoking hub. It really puts things into perspective. While I'm not doing so great now days here in America, I really have no concept of what poor really is. I can't imagine not being able to feed my child.
CASE1WORKER.
Thanks for dropping in and for your good comments. We dont realise how well we are in the developed countries.
BukowskiBabe.
Thanks for your kind words. I hope you and your children prosper.
WOW! Yes, I wasn't aware of any of this until late last night. I watched a video that said something about police beating up a 16 year old girl with batons.
This looks very similar to the Los Angeles riots years ago.
There's a girl somewhere in the general London area that's on my facebook page, and she says she's not been able to sleep since this whole thing started. I certainly agree that the police wouldn't be to blame for the actions of a mob - which is what makes me think it a similar situation to the L.A. riots following the Rodney King trial/verdict.
Hi Wesman. According to the story around three hundred people went on a peaceful procession to Tottenham police station to hold a vigil outside, in hopes that a senior policeman would explain to them why the man got shot. They should have realised that senior policemen are never available on Saturday nights anyway. Only junior ranks usually work weekends. There was around fifteen policemen guarding the station. Some girl is supposed to have approached them to insist on speaking to a senior. When they didnt reply to her she started throwing things at them. Then they battened her, and that is how the trouble started.
There is another story as well.
Story no 2 says that some guys hotwired a couple of police cars, then drove them down to the police station, and set them on fire. The trouble started then. I dont know what story to believe, or whether the truth is a combination of both. There definitely were two police cars burnt at some stage, also a bus.
The people who lived above the shops that were being attacked say, that when they shouted for help, the police went running in the opposite direction.
My guess is that they were more interested in saving their precious police station, than they were the shops or the people living there.
The inquiry is going to be very interesting.
Yes definitely. I think there's enough reason for everyone to be angry. . . .except for the persons responsible for starting violence where there was none.
I agree certainly as to what REAL poverty is. I think we all know that the U.K. and other Western European nations deal VERY generously with immigrants - but covetousness is often trans economic social tier all over.
Oh well, glad that you're not in the minor war zone!
When people are so spoiled they don't know how to "make do" on "enough"' ; expecting to "have" just because someone else "has", whether or not they'e put in the same kind of work, effort, thought, sacrifice and patience as those who have managed to gain a little, these are the sorry kinds of results. Yes, the media do feed this sick attitude and for that I guess we are all responsible. We don't object when advertisers lure us with lies and promises of "something for nothing". But as you point out - it starts with parents, who must be the real teachers of standards of behavior and principles to live by.
There shouldn't be people dying of starvation while there are those overeating and making themselves ill with food, either. And then advertisers assuring people they can eat all they want and not get fat or have cholesterol if they just take their pills.
Somewhere along the line people need to THINK!
Hi again Wesman.
This is by way of an update. The rioting and looting is spreading throughout the city tonight, and the police seem to have very little control. I,ve just seen on the news that people are rampageing, just a couple of miles from where I live. I'm glad I live in a dump now. At least there is nothing to loot here. I can hear sirens blaring all up and down the street. The whole city seems to be decending into madness.
It's spreading to other cities now as well.
OH DEAR! Stay safe, Christopher. My thoughts are with you and all the others.
It is really pathetic...I have heard this from the TV news and now it become crystal clear by you.
Nellieanna. What you say is absolutely true, and the parents and the media feed this "must have" attitude all the time.
Dont worry about me. I,m bound to be quite safe. It's only in the various Main streets of the boroughs that the problems are. Nothing is likely to happen where I am. There are no decent shops worth looting round here anyway.
Hi breathing.
Thanks for reading. You are right. It is pathetic.
I am surrounded on three sides by Balham, Croydon, Streatham, Brixton, and I don't know where else... all in flames and looted severely.
I am beginning to think Teresa May should bring in the Army with plastic or real bullets. I'm sure the French would lend us water canon if we asked them nicely.
These aren't have-nots. They're thugs.
I'm appalled that our news is not mentioning it! I looked beyond the local networks to CNN and CNBC - nothing. I don't subscribe to the CNBC International, so that may be the problem. BBC America has only dramatic programming going. Surely tonight later (It's only a bit after 7PM now) - there will be something.
The evening news had a segment reporting the rioting in London, with well shot overhead video and oddly vacant commentary that seemed to simply record the events with no attempt to explain the cause or purpose of the repeated nightly mayhem. It seemed to me exceedingly incongruous for scenes reminiscent of the L.A. Watts riots of decades ago to be playing out in London now. There was no mention of ethnicities or economic strata or political affiliations that could hint at an undercurrent of unrest that had suddenly been sparked into a raging flame.
I have a feeling that, as you have hinted, the impetus for those involved is very likely the opportunity to loot and plunder en mass, a chance to acquire coveted commodities while attempting to maintain anonymity as just one of a faceless crowd.
Vandals, yes...cowards, certainly...cretins, undoubtedly.
The world is going to hell. I wish I had the handbasket concession!
Be safe. Peace.
CP
Hi, christopher, I hope you are okay, the one thing I want to add is that these are not londoners! we wouldn't do this to our Country, there may be a few stupid english people involved but our people would not do this. it makes me so mad, poor my arse! if they are in a poor area whose fault is that? we all have to work, we all have to make ends meet, but we don't all go out and set light to everything! the police have let this country go soft, musn't say this, must suck up to that! bring back National Service, then we would see who wants to be a londoner! you take care, nell
Hi Tyilight Lawns.
I certainly think the police need to rethink their tactics. This is more like guerilla warfare. Chasing them down one street, only for them to emerge on another is just not working. Batons and riot shields are useless in this form of moblie rioting.
The solution may be to use the old "rubber bullets".
They need to suspend the free travel concession for teenagers as well. This is only helping them, and a lot of the rioters are only around early teens.
My apology Twilight Lawns for spelling your name wrong. It's early in the morning here, and I hadnt had my first coffee yet.
It is probably hitting the news over your way now Nellieanna. Things are moving very fast. It's quiet this morning though.
Let's pray that is how it stays.
Hi CP. Thanks for looking in.
It started a bit like the Rodney King riots, but it seems to have gone way beyond that now.
Commentators are calling it "recreational rioting" now.
It's a kind of deadly game between the rioters and the police, with ordinary law abiding people caught up in the middle.
Pretty sick really.
Nell.
Thanks for reading. You make a good point about national service, but I would go one further.
Adolf Hitler was a monster, but he may have got one thing right. The kids that are running riot around the country at the moment evidently lack all sense of proper discipline.
I dont think they should all be gassed, but some form of "The Hitler Youth" might not be a bad idea.
They need structure and a sense of morality. Something of that nature might help.
I,m fine here. I dont think there will be any rioting in my street. (Touch Wood).
Hi Chris, i hope you are OK? It sounds terrible over there at the moment. There has been mention of bringing in the army, a good move in my opinion. I used to have to mingle with soccer thugs when i lived back in England, with the same mentality. I used to work at British Leyland with one who was named Tunney, after the boxer. He actually seemed a decent bloke monday to friday, but would tell me about his exploits on match day, not caring about the violence inflicted on strangers. It's that same mentality, enhanced by better comunications. The genie that has appeared out of the middle-eastern bottle is spreading its wings. The army needs to crush it now! Good luck Chris, and keep your head down. Keith.
Thanks Keith.
They should use those helicopters with the big bags of water, like they use in forest fires. Dump a few gallons of water on these guys and they would soon disperse.
Some of the looters are as young as ten or twelve.
It's madness.
I'm ok though. It's pretty rundown where I live. There are no plasma screens or designer goods in the shops around here. It would be a waste of a looter's time coming to my street.
Hey Chris - hope you're all to the good. Wish you had a water cannon, or some sort of sound cannon - or something to keep folks away from your abode. I think I'll tune in over at the BBC and see what's going on.
Thanks for sharing and keep safe!
Christopher, I hate the hearing of such down turns in what is laughable down trodden blackberry fools. It's coming to the USA and I'll live to see it. We do have sound cannons here only they sling projectiles with the sound. On our streets it will be a blood bath. It wasn't in LA at the riots because of the folks involved being short of cash for guns sans a few, shooting from the roofs of their stores and at firefighters at night. I'm glad I live out here, dust
I saw some footage of this on TV today with the PM talking. Do they have this contained?
Wesman. I'm fine here. Water cannon seems like a good idea, or boiling oil.
CMerritt. Thanks for dropping by and reading.
Hi Dusty. I hope to move out of London myself in another few months, just to a smaller town out of the city a bit. I can't wait. It should be nice to see the stars in the sky again at night.
Hi BukowskiBabe.
It's afternoon now, and people are on edge, waiting to see what the evening might bring. They have greatly increased the police presence, so hopefully things might be a lot quieter tonight.
Aye Christoper! here is to your stars, I remember leaving the city and rediscovering life sans light pollution, I can lay in my hammock staring up or get out my telescope and enjoy for hours, your going to love it I'm sure, Peace, Dusty
Peace to you too Dusty.
Yes, Christopher - the pictures shown on the news this morning were incredible. It looks like rioting in some 3rd world country - not that that is a standard, but I'm thinking of years past when we saw newscasts of rioting in Central America and North Africa - and couldn't believe that people would be so destructive in their own countries. It was unheard of. Now, of course - it happens here sometimes and in places - like London - where one would never ever expect it. But it still accosts one's credibility and smashes it.
The burning - and even people jumping out of upper windows to escape the fires - just so unnecessary and mean. And then people running with ill-gotten loot without so much as any shame. Almost like triumph. "Recreational rioting" seems to fit. What depths have the human race fallen to? People's lives, livelihoods, hard-earned possessions ruined and stolen - in broad daylight - and this is a generation which is to take over???? I shudder.
They need self-respect, first of all and respect for others. They need proper parenting. The materialistic standard rules. Parents feel pressured to provide things and meantime, neglect to exemplify and teach honor and decency. Kids teach each other new ways to get more things and are further ground into the same standard of "take" and disrespect for anyone else's lives or property. If it's "there" - they think they can have it.
Yes - being able to see the stars - and to have the impetus to look up at them - is a richness beyond all the things of earth. I miss the stars as seen at the ranch so much! The whole Milky Way and incredible lights going on forever! But even so, I look at those in view where I am. Such a joy. So - look up and out! Hugs.
Amen. To all you say there Nellieanna.
Norbury (my suburb) and Thornton Heath The next suburb till Croydon) have all the shutters down or are boarded up except for about three Halal shops and black barbers.
Some one was shot in Croydon last night and some nice shops and a furniture factory (100 years old... 5 generations of one family) completely destroyed.
The police aren't saying IF there are riots and looting tonight, but WHEN.
So far 2030 hrs it is very quiet in London, probably because of the extra police + there are some vigilantes.
The trouble is moved up country now to Manchester and Birmingham. It seems to be entirely looting and vandalism now, no social or political motive behind any of it.
Chris. I don't think there was any social or political motivation behind any of it. It was pure thuggery, criminality, vandalism and theft.
I have an Albanian friend who has just come back from holiday in Greece to hear all about this. His response?
"They should have shot the first ones in Tottenham as they came out of the doors carrying their plasma TVs..." he said.
"Kill the first fifteen of them, and the others will behave." was his policy.
I think I am going to vote for him as Home Secretary.
Drastic, but effective.
Hi, just came back to say, I am getting madder and madder at them! arghhh! stupid backward load of morons! thats better! so much for integration!! hope you are okay, nell
It was quiet here last night, but not so good in Manchester, where a lot of damage was done, and three men were run over and killed in Birmingham.
I reckon it will continue, as once these people see they can get away with it, they will continue.
Have been watching the news constantly for the past two days. I live 50 miles from Manchester, out in the countryside really, so all was quiet as usual here. But we were in town last night, and things seemed different somehow - we did see some kids out on the street, and I think it was on their minds that they'd like to emulate what they'd seen in the riots. They seemed to be egging each other on to 'go on, do it, let's do it', but they chickened out possibly. Lancaster's a small town, but it can be scary, and it was on Sky News today that a man from Lancaster was arrested for attempting to incite looting on Facebook. It has me slightly worried that this is not over yet, and that it won't stay contained in the bigger cities. Especially if police resources are being diverted from the smaller cities and towns to help in bigger ones.
Or perhaps it's done with now, and the impetus has gone. The fight back was magnificent, and I was following @riotcleanup on Twitter - such community spirit and desire to make things a little bit better really heartens me. Yes, it's old fashioned, and smacks of the Blitz spirit, but that's fine by me.
I'm not glad that the riots have happened, but sometimes it's good for things to come to a head. The deep-rooted problems that have been building over time (the way in which we've gone 'soft' on kids, the way we've allowed them too much freedom, allowed them to shirk any responsibility, the way we've allowed them to think that they can 'have it all'!) are now at the forefront of social consciousness, and although I don't think much of David Cameron, I thought his speech today was excellent (whether he can act on anything he said, and start paying attention to the whole of society rather than just his bit at the top, is another matter). It was uncompromising and tough, and promised a move away from the ridiculous pandering to the Human Rights brigade. Let's hope we can start to bring about a change in the attitudes of the young people we've wrecked the lives of by over-indulgence (I didn't over-indulge them, mind! My children get nowt!)
As always, I'm hopeful!
Linda, your excellent hub seemed to presage the riots, somehow. Are you in league with someone you shouldn't be?
Have you seen the "Good Samaritan" video which is doing the rounds? It made me sick to my stomach. But no, I don;t think it is all finished... I think it will drag on sporadically for ages, if not with the viciousness that we have observed right now.
It did, didn't it?! I'm quite stunned actually, and haven't dared post the rest of the series in case I start something else! I'm keeping my mouth shut from now on - I knew I shouldn't have had an opinion.
Yes, I have seen that - I saw it first on Twitter. Absolutely disgusting. I think someone's been arrested for that, haven't they?
I've just been watching footage of a parent of one of the nasty little oiks who'd been looting, defending them and their violence and vandalism - as she was being interviewed a member of the public joined in and had a go at her. It was great - ordinary law-abiding people have had enough, and I find that very exciting. We've had our say over a lot of issues with the government so far this year - I wonder if we can make our voices heard over this and make a real difference. It's never really happened yet, ever, in the history of the whole of everything! But you never know, we could see some firsts and some positive changes coming off the back of all of this.
No, I agree, I don't think it's over either - the kids are playing a game, just exactly as they see them played out on their Nintendos and what-have-you. They're having a ball, enjoying themselves hugely, and think that looting is the best night out they've ever had, no doubt.
If I could jump in for a moment. I have a feeling that this will continue, because the looters were shown just how easy it is to do this with impunity. A lot of them wont be caught, and the younger ones wont be punished if they are brought before the courts. This will just become another type of robbing. Their parents wont be any addition either. They are most likely to be at home enjoying the 40" plasma screens that their offspring have brought back.
The "good samaritan" incident happened in Barking. That is where I live. It's shaming that the only time my borough gets mentioned for anything by the international media, it is for something disgusting like that.
I,m glad at least one of the perpretators has got caught.
I think it's possible that the parents sent their kids out with a shopping list.
Mm, I've been listening to the police saying 'we know who you are, and we're coming for you' and thinking to myself 'yeah, but you don't know who they all are, do you?' There have been thousands out on the streets up and down the country and only a few hundred arrests - you're right, most of them won't be caught. That leaves them laughing, and looking forward to the next spark that will give them an excuse to do it all again.
Sorry for hijacking your hub :D
Linda.
I wish I was wrong about that Linda, but sadly I'm most probably right. Once the police are back off the streets, the looters will return. The papers who called them morons are wrong. These people are not fools. They are clever and amoral. That is a bad combination.
That is the most chilling word that has been used, Chris. "Amoral".
Anyone who might think that these people are not amoral, just have just to look at this video of the person setting fire to Miss Selfridge in Manchester.
Not only have we the arsonist taking loving care over his firestarting, like a mother trying to make sure she lights all the candles on a birthday cake, but nobody tries to stop him, and the people, who pass by as the shop catches fire, dont even seem to notice it. Not one of them show even the slightest sign of being bothered.
also we must spare a thought to the many, many people who did not sucumb to looting who come from many different financial backgrounds.
steve of ian fame.
I agree. There were plenty of people, and always will be, who are good and honest, as well as poor. The rioters were not all from poor backgrounds, and even if they were, in this country there is no REAL POVERTY.
It's my understanding that many who are rioting are on immigrant status. Okay, this will make a lot of people mad, but they are in some since, guests in the UK, and they are burning down the house? This is not anti immigrant. I am sure some are citizens. This just doesn't make sense to me. As Christopher has pointed out, no one is starving. I understand frustration. I am currently under employed, but I can't very well go beserk. What will it solve? Are they stealing food and provisions, or large screen televisions?
Another thing.
In the next few weeks, I can guarantee that in pubs throughout the land, in dodgy markets, car boot sales etc, cheap designer clothes, computer games, televisions, perfumes, and other items will be appearing.
People WILL buy these things, including a lot who are presently condemning the looting that will have provided the "hooky" bargains.
That is one of the sad things about our society.
Anyone who buys so much as a shoelace, that they suspect is stolen, is just as guilty as those who burn down shops after looting the contents.
I agree. I don't know much about the undergound market, and I never gave it much thought, but of course, you're correct. The stolen loot will be sold via unconventional measures, and those who purchase such goods are as bad as those who did the looting.
Chris, I was listening to the Prime Minister in the Commons just now and he said that already people are reporting neighbours who have acquired a new flat screen television, and the police are arresting. Wonderful news.
I love my city, It is my adopted city, but I love London and this is hurting so much, and I haven't even lost a single article or seen any violence.
I hope they get every one of the little cxxxs and their parents if they helped them in any way.
I saw the PM on TV saying that there is a gang problem there. Is it groups of disaffected youths?
I second that, Twilight Lawns.
BukowskiBabe. I suppose you could call them disaffected, although they dont all seem to have been youths. At least one of those in court today was in his fifties. The sentences they get are likely to be pretty mild, especially the younger ones.
I think I must have been very prescient when I wrote this.
Hi, I agree with the fact that if you come into this country you should go by our law. I am on social at the moment because I can't find a job, that doesn't stop me trying to earn in other ways, nobody starves over here, they get free housing, dole money, good schools, and free health service, and they still moan. but on an up subject, I was so proud of the seikhs, seeing them with there swords stood outside their temple made me so proud, and of course the english along with the turks and kurds, (quoting from the daily mirror here!) but I did notice a certain lacking in parents from other groups! hopefully this will bring us all together, the bubble has burst, maybe we will now see stronger action, maybe bring back corporal punishment, and smacking your child. This was a stupid rule, the only people who took notice of child smacking were the law abiding citizens, the bad parents still hit their child! children need to be disiplined, they are not our friends they are our children, sitting on a naughty step means nothing! I have watched that tv programme, supernanny, and the appalling way their three year old child acts is enough to send me of the boil! why do we do what a small child wants us to do? answer: because we were told to behave this way by the stupid government, and social services who many of them don't even have kids!
Hi Chris and thanks for writing this latest sad tale going on over there. Glad to hear you are safe :-) This is a sad and disgusting situation that is happening there. I also agree with you that none of us understands what true poverty is. Glad the people that were stealing from stores and injured people are now getting arrested. I think they all thought they would get away with it.
Hi Nell.
It's the sense of entitlement, without putting in any effort, that seems to be what comes across from any of the looters that are interviewed, plus the fact that they just seemed to be enjoying what they were doing.
Quite a lot are being caught now, but it remains to be seen whether they will be given any real punishment, and that is still a minority that are being actually apprehended.
Hi Minnetonka Twin.
Thanks for reading ,and for your good wishes. Perhaps these people ought to be shown video of Somalia, to let them see for themselves what real poverty is.
great hub :) ive just started writing a few days ago, i thought this topic was a must :p if you dont mind having a read through it and telling me how i could improve on it. :D thnx
Hi marckcey.
Thanks for reading. I will have a look in at your site in a couple of minutes.
Some good points there!
Thanks RP1010. I'm glad you think so.
I'm going to borrow your video and place it on one of my Somalia HUBS as that video pretty well sums it up succinctly. Nice contrast of values and the real maening of poverty. Well done. I do note that most of the comments talk about London.
Thanks Reynold.
Even the poorest people here are among the top 6% richest people on the planet, but very few seem to realise that.
A lot of those who were charged in connection with the recent riots, and the looting, were'nt even poor by the standards of this country. Some of them came from wealthy backgrounds, and had good jobs.
It was just excessive greed, and a desire to do damage.
The rioting just proves that people are so filled with a sense of entitlement that they're willing to forgo Law, and simple human kindness, when they aren't getting everything they want.
McCordRM.
Thanks for reading.I completely agree with what you say here.
A very no nonsense, excellent Hub-you make alot of valid points here!
Thanks Garnetbird. I appreciate your comments.
CASE1WORKER Level 6 Commenter 9 months ago
Totally agree with you. In the UK we do not know what poverty is and there are benefits to survive on and no one should actually be homeless- they may disagree but it is often because they have been an idiot that they are homeless.