Why I Pray for the Zombie Apocalypse...

It's August the 9th, 2011 and Britain has seen a spate of rioting and looting on a par with that which took parts of the country back in the 80's. People are burning things, stealing, mugging and generally being total dicks. This is an extreme underline to the reasons why, quite often, I wish the zombie apocalypse upon humanity.

Like many, many people across the world I am fascinated by the idea of being suddenly thrown into a situation where society has broken down and everyone, regardless of background, culture, creed or wealth is square. The slate wiped clean. Of course, fighting zombies and acting without consequence is one of main reasons anyone fantasises about something which, in all honesty, would be quite a horrible experience. The fact that this is such an entertaining and appealing topic should really have people questioning the state of current society.

Our world is dominated and run by greedy individuals. It is also influenced by greedy corporations (I hate sounding like a hippy, but this is what I believe). In turn, they service greedy classes who want nothing more than to have one over on their neighbour. Those who experience poverty also have a greedy state of mind, many turning to a life of crime to get what they want or abuse the system in order to get something for nothing. This may seem like a scathing and unfair view of modern culture but to me, it is the truth. We live in a capitalist society so there is always going to be an element of greed involved as corporations attempt to make as much profit as possible but, like environmental issues, greed is something that should be sustainable.

If you read any sci-fi novel you see a future dominated by an elite few corporations. Whilst this is science fiction, is has basis upon predictions in science fact. Unsustainable greed -- what I see as continued revenue increase without anything being given 'back' -- is what causes this often bleak view of the future where it is not governments that dictate the way we live but corporations.

We are a long way from any such corporate-controlled future but the riots across Britain are highlighting something which is an underlying problem not just in British society but all across the globe. Any reason, however small, gives people an excuse to become disorderly and commit crime. If this is not stamped out quickly and people are seen to be 'getting away' with their crimes then this escalates. Many modern people have weak morals. Not all, but many. Use this as an example and ask yourself what you would do: You walk past the scene of recent looting and see a shop with its windows smashed. On the floor in front of you lie two unopened iPads. There is nobody around. Do you take these, thus becoming one of those looters you claim to hate or do you walk away?

This is the essence of greed. Getting something for nothing. Because of the society we live in where you are not rewarded for good actions nor punished for the bad, greed is allowed to flourish. Those individuals who are walking out of burning electronics stores with new TV's and iPads are opportunistic scavengers who are simply taking advantage of a system which doesn't know how to handle the gravity of their crimes.

More CCTV (properly monitored) and harsher approach to criminal behaviour is something that I believe would help. This is a grim view of the immediate future but may help to create brighter prospects in the long term. In addition to this, those that take (large companies included) should be asked to give a little back. With fuel and energy prices rocketing (without acceptable cause), bankers bonuses rising and spending cuts that affect the poor (but have little impact on the rich) we should expect feelings of anger to boil. These exacerbate a situation which should not be as contagious as it is.

I can't see there being an easy or quick solution to all of the problems faced by this country or even the world. But, in my mind, when I envision a perfect future it is one where corporations support the communities around them by providing jobs and invest in new, smaller companies that are starting up with shared interests. In my future, energy companies seek new forms of fuel and invest in companies developing vehicles that run on their goods. In my future, bankers don't hoard the wealth they gain and give ridiculous bonuses to those that run their company, they invest in innovative ways to help people save or just give a portion of their profits to charitable causes. In my future the compensation culture is gone and people don't get something for nothing but instead get rewarded for hard work and leading a good, honest life.

It's either that, or an apocalypse. History and prehistory have shown that humankind can only progress and can only shine in periods where it is utterly threatened. Nothing unites the world like a zombie apocalypse.

Changing the World, One Fire Extinguisher at a Time...

Freedom of speech. Freedom to protest. such wonderful things. Shame the only people who protest now seem to be people looking to cause trouble and incite violence.

Over the last few weeks, students have been protesting about the rise in tuition fees. But seriously, they aren't really protesting about that, they are looking for a reason to cause havoc and participate in general antisocial behaviour. Or at least that's what it looks like. I guess that there were some people who took part in the protests in London who were genuinely annoyed about the fee increase and were looking to voice their displeasure but with the violence that ensued, it's hard to take the rowdy, antisocial group seriously or see them as anything more than a bunch of baying yobs. It seems that protests have not made any change in recent times but the right to protest has always been one of the freedoms we should be most proud of... Until people act up.

Any Reason for Violence and Disorder eh?

In interviews during the first student riots in London (I'm not even going to call them protests), a few apparently 'educated' youths explained that the actions they were taking part of were part of a 'socialist movement' and that it was actions of anarchy they were undertaking. Perhaps it was the media that failed to properly cover the event but there were very few individuals talking about the increase in fees, most of them just seemed to show their intention to cause trouble.

Obviously, following an event such as this, which probably caused thousands of pounds worth of damage (which taxpayers will have to essentially fork out for) people have blamed the police. During the first event, the police apparently didn't do enough. During the second one, they employed a technique called 'kettling' which was apparently 'too severe'. I personally feel rubber bullets, tear gas and high powered water cannons would've been a far more appropriate action. 'Kettling' is a term used to describe a tactic where riot police will pen in and prevent free movement of a group of people. This is only employed in situations where rioting is likely. People criticise the tactic, saying that it causes frustration and forces people to violence, but people should expect this when violence becomes (or has been) a part of the protest.

Student Rioter throws a Fire Extinguisher from the top of the Conservative Party Headquarters...

I think the politically correct term is 'Fucking Idiot'

The fire extinguisher that was dropped from the top of the Conservative Party headquarters is an example of the level of violence that police have to contend with when people gather in a mob. This object narrowly missed protesters and police and it's safe to say that if it had landed on someones head it would've easily killed them.

I feel I should congratulate the 'anarchists' that destroyed the peaceful demonstrations in London because their actions have now damaged the credibility of all those that oppose the rise of tuition fees. Future demonstrations will be seen as nothing more than a gathering of jobless kids out to cause trouble, rather than educated individuals with genuine worries about their future. It seems that once again, protesting has not had any positive impact on the country.

I understand the need for people to feel like they are making a change, or for their need to actually make a change. It would be a great thing if the actions of a small group of people were to make the world a perfect place, but the world is not a perfect place. The world will never be a perfect place. It is my belief that the very balance of the world itself rests upon imperfection.

Most of the people who rioted in London would have us live in their idea of a perfect world where there would be no government, no military and we would all live in yurts without electricity and only eat plants... but this is never going to happen. Protesting is good but thinking that civil disobedience and anarchism will bring about an era of peace is naive and childish. Life is precious and you only get one go at it; wasting it for a future that will never exist is stupid. Fight for what you believe in, fight for realistic changes but anarchism and socialism are unlikely to ever be a realistic alternative to the current society we have.

It's not perfect but it's what we've got. Make the best of it, boys and girls.

This rant was never about student fees, if it was then I would be very much agreeing that increasing student fees is wrong but the protests are not about that. They are about a small group of people acting violently and trying to change society to meet their vision of a perfect world. The sooner they can get that idea out of their heads and the sooner they can prove to the world that they are willing not to fight, but work for their beliefs, then we will face a better society.