"If It Was Safer On The Ground We Wouldn't Be On a Boat"

Aside from providing an amazing comment on the conditioning of today's young people - not only from the mass media's constant focus on "celebrities lacking in integrity" but societies failure in "showing the kids that they matter" - the lyrics to The 1975 's Loving Someone contains a poignant message on the current refugee crisis. 

"WE SHOULDN'T HAVE PEOPLE AFLOAT"

As the civil war in Syria continues, so does the racist rhetoric. The Sun's explicit scepticism around the age of the refugee children (which they actually put in inverted commas) for me, simply highlights how bizarre mindsets can be in regards to a person fleeing danger; I find it insane that people are more concerned about how we are going to scientifically prove their ages, than they are with how we are going to help them. So what if someone is over 18? How are we so in-sensitive as a society that we are more than happy to refuse someone asking for our help? Turning them away? As the 4th richest country in the world it should be our duty to provide aid and safety to anyone who needs it, welcoming them with open arms and not a dental check up. 

It seems that the only time we can muster a degree of sympathy to these people is when we put ourselves in their shoes. This idea of only caring when it directly affects is thrown around time and time again, from being told to imagine Donald Trump "grabbing" the vagina of our own wives or children in order to spark a reaction, Save The Children's short film on how it would look if London were a war torn country also urges us to look at the crisis as though it were us in their position - if you can't see suffering if you're not the victim, then something is wrong here. We need a radical change to how we view others; regardless of country borders, nationalities, cultures, religions - regardless of ANYTHING - we are all just people who happen to be born in different places and into different ways of doing things, it doesn't mean have different emotions or fears.

Although the right wing media might hate to hear you realise it, in-equality is created. 

It will never fail to amaze me that those trying to change the widespread opinion on refugees are labelled as activists, emphasising just how rare it has become to show love and compassion; The 1975's lyrics underlining how trying to escape conflict isn't a choice that you wake up one morning and stumble upon. You aren't midway through picking your breakfast cereal when an idea pops into your head that "hey, it might be a nice day to travel thousands of miles by boat". These are doctors, nurses, teachers, mothers, fathers, rich and poor making a choice on which option they feel gives them the best odds on life - the difference between living and dying. Staying or seeking refuge. 

In Pictures: Brighton

I spent a few days in Brighton last week and fell in love with it's emphasis on equality and general kindness to everyone. From it's overwhelming support for the LGBTQ+ community, to the stickers on every lamppost about the homophobia and sexism that certain political parties promote *cough* UKIP *cough* and the importance of not supporting these ideologies, Brighton impressed me as a vibrant seaside town with adorable independent cafés and stores - deffo worth a visit!

#____LivesMatter

This week I have began to see the hashtag "Muslim Lives Matter" floating around on various social media platforms. Now, this is a something that has caused controversy, with some people feeling like it undermines the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Aside from that however, I feel what we can't ignore is that in this beautiful and culture rich world, we are reliant on hashtag's to remind people that it's not just white Christians that are important.

In the past 10 days alone there have been 4 terror attacks in predominantly Muslim countries and here in the West we have barely bat an eyelid. The first attack was in Turkey's capital city of Istanbul, killing around 41 people. I was actually in Turkey at the time and it was heartbreaking to hear about the how local people were suffering as the impacts of this, and past acts of terrorism, continue to spread across the country; consequently having a huge affect on the tourism industry. Aside from this, I was deeply saddened by the minimal reaction it received from those back at home. The Paris attacks last year were met by a sea of French flags as Facebook pictures, copious amounts of tweets and Instagram posts expressing their condolences - however my news feed looked as though no-one was even aware of the news. The apathetic response to the devastating events in contrast to the passionate and extensive coverage (rightly so) of the Paris attacks, for example, was in comparable. This presents the ever prominent point that the media just don't seem to care as much if the victims are from the East. 

Baghdad, Dhaka and Madinah have also all been at the peril of evil attacks this week - the death toll of over 200 in Baghdad virtually ignored by the UK media, the minute reaction it received in terms of the its extremity is inadmissible.

It is so important that we remember and continue to express our recognition that these lives matter just as much as those that are nearer to us in terms of geographical location (or language or culture). Why is it okay that hundreds of people are dying and we aren't talking about the fact that Muslims are the very people being killed by so called Islamic groups?

Spring Snapshots

One of, or perhaps even my favourite, things to photograph are flowers. I'm not a huge nature person but I really appreciate it, I think everyone should take the time to study their surroundings; when you're having a bad day I find it nice to refresh myself with what we really have. Anyway, here's a few of my many floral photographs, since it's almost summer I think my blog needs some blossom to brighten it up.