29.10.2007
20.10.2007
the threats of the 21st century...
reading yesterday's Guardian a short comment on drinking behaviour of the middle class in Britain caught my attention...
Acctually, it was not the comment in itself that baffled me, but rather a sidecomment added to the article on the rhetoric used by British politicians these days. It says: (Guardian, Friday October 19th 2007, p. 20)
"We were officially told this week that obesity is as big a threat as climate change. Not long ago we were told that global warming is as big a threat as terrorism. And earlier, that terrorism is as big a threat to the British people as the Second World War. So: child obesity = global warming = terrorism = Fascism. Ergo, those crisps in your child's lunchbox are today's moral equivalent of the Nazis. Now do you feel guilty?"
The commentator points at a phenomenon I already observed myself the last couple of weeks. Politicians here (as well as back home, but I'm not informed about the situation there at the moment, thus I'll stick to the UK for now) tend to link problems of the 21st century in an irrational, for me absurd way. How does global warming and obesity fit together?! Maybe the politician looked at the picture of a fat child on the one side, and on the other he had the motive of a globe. They kind of looked the same, so why not compare them in a public speech?!
When thinking about global warming and obesity in depth, as sociologist, they are interconnected in some way, as both problems need to be tackled by changing social structures and social behaviour. Still, comparing global warming and obesity is like comparing apples and oranges! Global warming affects the entire world, affects the nature, all species living on our planet (some might look forward to a warmer planet, others might not) and human beings and their societies. Obesity on the other hand primarily affects the obese. Of course, this is a very short viewed description as to challenge obesity on a large scale, it is not enough to tell the fat to go to the gym and dring coke zero. However, politicians, and individuals listening to their words, should always keep in mind that there are differences in the nature of two distinct problems. Otherwise we might all end up and believe that child obesity = global warming = terrorism = Fascism.
Acctually, it was not the comment in itself that baffled me, but rather a sidecomment added to the article on the rhetoric used by British politicians these days. It says: (Guardian, Friday October 19th 2007, p. 20)
"We were officially told this week that obesity is as big a threat as climate change. Not long ago we were told that global warming is as big a threat as terrorism. And earlier, that terrorism is as big a threat to the British people as the Second World War. So: child obesity = global warming = terrorism = Fascism. Ergo, those crisps in your child's lunchbox are today's moral equivalent of the Nazis. Now do you feel guilty?"
The commentator points at a phenomenon I already observed myself the last couple of weeks. Politicians here (as well as back home, but I'm not informed about the situation there at the moment, thus I'll stick to the UK for now) tend to link problems of the 21st century in an irrational, for me absurd way. How does global warming and obesity fit together?! Maybe the politician looked at the picture of a fat child on the one side, and on the other he had the motive of a globe. They kind of looked the same, so why not compare them in a public speech?!
When thinking about global warming and obesity in depth, as sociologist, they are interconnected in some way, as both problems need to be tackled by changing social structures and social behaviour. Still, comparing global warming and obesity is like comparing apples and oranges! Global warming affects the entire world, affects the nature, all species living on our planet (some might look forward to a warmer planet, others might not) and human beings and their societies. Obesity on the other hand primarily affects the obese. Of course, this is a very short viewed description as to challenge obesity on a large scale, it is not enough to tell the fat to go to the gym and dring coke zero. However, politicians, and individuals listening to their words, should always keep in mind that there are differences in the nature of two distinct problems. Otherwise we might all end up and believe that child obesity = global warming = terrorism = Fascism.
19.10.2007
Birmingham....
As usual I update this blog with a few more pictures. This time I didn't go far, but decided to stay near my "hometown" and visited Birmingham. Compared to other 1 mio inhabitant cities it cannot take my breath away. Anyway, decide for yourself!
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| Birmingham 19.10.2007 |
18.10.2007
16.10.2007
07.10.2007
Bristol
another city I've visited this week-end. Especially the universtiy building impressed me...
this is the University of Bristol....
this is the University of Bristol....
Bath Spa (World Heritage City)
Once upon a time a man had a plan. His dream was to build the Rome of Britain at a place called Bath. Back then Empires were powerfull and money available, so quite a few astonishing buildings were added to the city of Bath. Personally I think Bath is one of the nicest British cities I've ever seen. It has flair, it is tidy, it is crowded (but not too much), it has a Spa, nice churches, ancient roman baths and parks every now and then...
Take a look yourself:
Take a look yourself:
Mt Snowdon, Wales
Last week the office for international relations organized a short trip to Mt Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales, the second highest in England and the third highest in the UK. This sounds higher than the mountain accutally is, but I'll let you find out by yourself at which altitude the mountaineer reaches the top... (it was approximately a 5h walk to the top and back)... Unfortunately the weather was bad and I couldn't see much - but anyways, there are a few pictures here: (sometimes it is possible to see to Ireland and to overlook great parts of England as well...)
Wolverhampton
As this blog turns more and more into a photo-blog, I'll just add a few pictures of Wolverhampton, the small town I'm living in right now!
....Birmingham
I know, I promised to add comments to the pictures I uploaded a while ago. Unfortunately, I cannot find enough time to do so... Hence, I'll just add some more picture for you to look at - this should give you an impression of what it is like to stay in the UK...
And yes, I am studying as well (actually I've classes from Monday to wednesday, so my week-ends tend to be somehow longer than back home).
Have fun and enjoy some (tiny) impressions of Birmingham (GB second largest city with almost 1 Mio inhabitants). As I only went there once for about 3-4 hours, I didn't see that much of this bustling city... There will be more pictures soonish.
And yes, I am studying as well (actually I've classes from Monday to wednesday, so my week-ends tend to be somehow longer than back home).
Have fun and enjoy some (tiny) impressions of Birmingham (GB second largest city with almost 1 Mio inhabitants). As I only went there once for about 3-4 hours, I didn't see that much of this bustling city... There will be more pictures soonish.
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