Thursday, 16 August 2012
Friday, 27 July 2012
Thursday, 12 July 2012
Tuesday, 3 July 2012
What will happen if drugs are legalized in Britain?
When proposals of legalizing drugs in Britain came about in 2013, visions of a hollow Big Ben drowning in flames, a rotting Buckingham Palace, riots lasting months and a heroin addict for a Prime Minister were just some of the predictions agreed on by the majority of the public. Even the end of the world was discussed by some people, as the moral panic of complete social disaster spread across the UK. But is this what really happened?
The year is 2016, and after the collapse of the Eurozone in 2013, drugs were legalized in order to get money back into our battered economy quickly (saving the country up to £14 billion from taxpayers, victims of crime, and the criminal justice system), as well as reduce the embarrassing and growing numbers of HIV cases and drug related deaths.
The right winged America, ready to go to war with most Eastern countries, cut all diplomatic ties with Britain almost immediately after the decision was made, disagreeing strongly with the more liberal policies on drug use and envisaging an unholy and immoral country about to crumble. The absent support from the more level-headed and fair Brits though meant that America, believing they could go it alone, lost control over the situation in the East, losing respect as a global superpower and thus having a weakened impact around the world.
But instead of a complete social catastrophe back in the UK, apprehensive politicians witnessed the complete opposite of Armageddon.
In 2014, it became apparent that the money that would have gone into funding gangs, drug dealers and trafficking was alternatively injected (sorry) into the economy. This has left all crime rates at the lowest ever with police services gaining more time to focus instead on major crimes, leaving communities safer and cleaner. Following Portugal’s example from 2001, drug abuse is now treated as a public health issue, where those in possession, found using or dealing drugs are called before the Commission for the Dissuasion of Drug Addiction. With a panel consisting of a doctor, a lawyer or judge and usually a social worker, it’s decided whether the individual faces a medical referral, a small fine, or a taxi number home. Prisons are no longer over crowded, and community service charges have led to cleaner streets.
Moreover, statistics recorded by CATO prove that cannabis has become boring amongst teens (now the lowest rates of usage in the EU), who understand that the legalization of marijuana has allowed for its alternative use as an anticonvulsant painkiller, often by patients in chemotherapy and suffering from cancer. Publishers such as The Guardian keep parents up to date on the most popular drugs at the time, as well as the most dangerous, again discouraging younger users who are more understood by their elders than ever before. Drug related deaths, hospitalisations, HIV and AIDS cases are also decreasing year on year for all ages, where the top 20 rehabilitation centres in the world are found in England and Wales.
By 2015 the hippies had officially returned, as a wealthy economy with additional money meant more focus on sustainable energy sources and the successful promotion of greener activities. Psychedelic music, the abundance of mushrooms and travelling by bicycle or walking all became the new fashions. Rather than protests and strikes, environmentalists work with MPs on a daily basis to find more and more ways to keep Britain and the rest of the world clean and green friendly. The developments in such technology has lead the United Kingdom to be elected as the new head state of the G8 Summit, now held annually in a different area of extreme poverty to discuss the developments and action needed in 3rd world countries (often with the absence of the American leader). Each year the heads of the most powerful countries in the world tour these areas (with heavy security of course); having to witness for themselves the kind of lifestyles the people there lead.
Britain has undoubtedly succeeded in regulating, rather than controlling, the use of drugs, daring to go where few countries had gone before. There was much difficulty at first of course, where the power of freedom went to the heads of many. But over time, the results became clear. The legalization of drugs was a necessary move by Britain. Let’s hope that this successful policy will not be shattered in the future.
Monday, 2 July 2012
Wednesday, 23 May 2012
Monday, 9 April 2012
The Hunger Games
Having not read "The Hunger Games" I would have approached the film with an open mind-if it had not unfortunately been dubbed in the media as the replacement for Twilight fanatics or "Twi-hards." Naturally I expected a gooey teenage romance, a stereotypical break up and reunion, and a shallow female character with boyfriend-orientated values.
However it soon became apparent that the female protagonist Katniss was a more interesting character (played by a more varied actress) than that of the weak and subordinate Bella Swan. Admittedly she was a similar "closed book" of a character, but emotion and turmoil was evident (hint hint Kristen) and was communicated so realistically. Alongside some brilliant acting, themes of dystopia would have had Karl Marx spinning in his grave. The lack of respect for human life insinuated that rather than progressing in terms of equality and justice, humanity is instead going backwards as a result of materialism and money. The cool colour palette of District 12 (Katniss' depraved home where people starve on a daily basis) for example resembled the haunting image of a concentration camp. Money has truly taken over in this plot. The nauseous and dramatic use of colour in the affluent clothing further emphasised the corrupted wealthy who lack morals and ethical reasoning.
I was also impressed by the soundtrack and variation in camera shots. I felt genuinely tense when the characters went through the "reaping" (the volunteering/selection of tributes into the deadly Hunger Games), through the use of frantic camera movements alongside very deep but quiet music. The treatment of the poor echoed Marx's comments of the majority "lower" classes as ignorant to their power as a collective and thus their strength in overthrowing those in power. Grey overtones over images of animal bones, rotten wood and elderly characters highlighted this weakness. This overthrow of capitalism, in effect, can be expected in the second and third installments to the story, where the imagery in this way is unlikely to disappoint.
Saturday, 7 April 2012
Wednesday, 4 April 2012
Damien Hirst: The First Look/ Thoughts, Work, Life.
When I saw the advert for Channel 4's take on Damien Hirst's exhibition at the Tate Modern in London (commencing from 4th April until 9th September 2012) I was genuinely quite excited. When I first saw Noel Fielding, however, I was not. OK, so we know him for his outrageously odd (or what some might call "quirky") sense of humour and his bold eye for colour, which ties in well with the non-conforming "punk" of an artist. I admit I was relieved to see his nerd-esque diamond skull ring with skull infused t-shirt, the nervous touching of his face and twizzling of hair, which proved that Fielding knew his place as a prior Art Student alongside the prestigious and affluent Hirst. Naturally, I expected some unusual questions with some informative answers from someone who obviously understood the importance of this man, but honestly? The first episode was rather embarrassing.
As a fan, comments like "I like the wonk" followed by an awkward silence, did not go down well. What is a "wonk", Noel? Is your name not supposed to mean the recognition and great celebration of one of the biggest religious festivals in the world?
Despite Noel's abysmal attempt at interviewing Hirst, I certainly look forward to visiting his exhibition.
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