Wadjda -a film about bicycle love, hope and being true to yourself

So I finally watched a Wadjda: a film directed by Haifaa Al-Mansour. Yes, my excitement has been building up and finally watching it today was just as anticipated: brilliant! And brilliant on so many levels!

The film is about human resilience and hope:

a girl who wants something passionately, who won't take no for an answer; with determination and hard work she gets what she wants, a voice in society. The bicycle, which she so much wanted but was not allowed, becomes the vehicle towards freedom and equality. Parallel to that, we have the story of this child's mother and father with the issues of gender, again, highlighted. And in both parallel stories we have love and passion Vs tradition and society.

In my few brief minutes of meeting the film's director, Haifaa Al- Mansour, i asked "why a bicycle? if you want to talk about equality there is a million other things that could have been the objects of desire or the mission and battle of the character". She replied "the bicycle is non-threatening; it's a toy" and that's exaclty what makes this film so beautiful. It tackles the issues of tradition, lack of gender equality and religion in a strong and determined way but with no threat: in the same way there are no "baddies" in the film, there are no big threats: just the stories of multi-layered characters put in a journey of Passion Vs Society. And talking about multi-layers, even the character of Wadjda's dad  brought much  warmth: despite his final choice and conformity to society's rules, we see a man full of warmth towards his daughter but also encouraging her to just be, something that he, in the end, maybe did not manage to do.

I would definitely recommend this film; it had me sitting on the edge of my seat, it had me crying and laughing. And if you have the chance to meet Haifaa Al-Mansour, who by the way is the first female Saudi filmmaker,  you'll probably also be captured by her warmth and friendliness.It was a real honour watching the film and meeting its director.

The good, the badass and the ugly - London Riots

Mark Duggan, a Tottenham local, was shot a week ago in Ferry Lane as police officers attempted to make an arrest. At the moment, there is no evidence of Mark Duggan shooting at the police, and the post-mortem tests found that he died from a single bullet wound to the chest, shot by the police.  There are mixed stories about who Mark Duggan was: some stories portrait him as a crack-dealer gangster and other stories as a father of four who wanted to stay out of trouble.

Following this, London had days and nights of riots. Riots, that looked different from the usual protests of marching and banners, and from the riots that our fellow Athenians have made us accustomed to. 

The London riots mostly consisted of teens and younger adults breaking windows of shops and stealing what they found inside: Chain stores like JD sports, Currys, and PoundShop (!) were targeted.  We also saw videos of teens mugging teens, and an "accusation" from the public that these riots were based on greed and not politics. And yes, in a sense, these London riots felt different: we did not see the politically minded activists targeting police stations as a protest against the police killing a man and authoritarianism; and the targets were not simply against the big capitalist chain shops. But one, thing we cannot deny is that these London riots are political in their own way; they show us the poverty, the gaps within our society, the result of endless prejudice, of not fitting in. These, will result in gangs, in looting, in riots of this kind - because it makes you feel in control, it makes you be part of something, it brings results, and it brings a sense of achievement and revenge against what excluded you in the first place. And this is political. 

  

"There is nothing more dangerous than to build a society with a large segment of people in that society who feel that they have no stake in it; who feel that that have nothing to lose. People who have stake in their society, protect that society, but when they don't have it, they unconsciously want to destroy it."— Martin Luther King Jr.

  

'When you cut facilities, slash jobs, abuse power, discriminate, drive people into deeper poverty and shoot people dead whilst refusing to provide answers or justice, the people will rise up and express their anger and frustration if you refuse to hear their cries. A riot is the language of the unheard.'

Now the interesting thing, to me, was people's reactions to the riots. I have heard friends saying bring back the curfews and bring the army in. Now, this is just a dumbass idea:

WHY CURFEWS AND RUBBER BULLETS ARE A DUMBASS IDEA:

If a local council introduces a curfew, then the police has powers to break up groups of kids and take anyone under 16 back to their homes or a safe place. Curfews can be introduced in areas where the police and the council agree that gangs have been hanging around and starting trouble or threatening people. Local councils can authorise the police to do this using powers from the 2003 Anti-Social Behaviour Act. The powers can last up to six months. After that, councils have to re-apply. 

What makes me disagree with curfews is the power they can have over me and other "innocent" people - who gives anyone the right to tell me not to go to a place at a specific time. We have experienced the police abusing the Stop and Search power, quite a few times, already! Anti-war demonstrators have been filmed and searched by the police numerous times, unfairly and with no obvious reason - these searches felt to simply be a statement of police power; The last thing I really want is to be controlled with a curfew; No sir! i want to cycle to see my friends any time i want; i want to sit in a park and talk rubbish with them. This is not a crime. And curfews simply criminalize our existence of being in certain places at a certain time.

As for bringing in the army, the rubber/plastic bullets... well... No, thanks. Fighting violence with violence is just like fucking for virginity. 

Besides, armies and curfews just oppress people. They will not solve the real issue. 

THE FEAR

The other reaction was people cancelling plans and being fearful: Just like curfews, the fear becomes a barrier to doing what we usually do, and i found that annoying. So, i made the decision to continue doing what i usually do. The police nor the rioters can control me. No, sir!  

THE UGLINESS OF THE WHOLE STORY

The thing that really worried me and upset me was the suffering that the whole situation brought to our cycling community. I mean, i don't care that much about a stolen pair of trainers from JD sports -  these big unethical chains can certainly afford it and have already spread alot of evilness (sweat shop products and all the rest, so go on and fight them!), but it does break my heart hearing that one of the nicest bicycle stores was also attacked. Micycle, a friendly bicycle shop and cafe in Islington lost most of their stock:

A youtube video of the Looting at Micycle:

  

News also traveled fast, that cyclists were  targeted in London Fields. Apparently cyclists were pushed off their bikes and mugged. An Evans bicycle shop was also broken into in Chalk Farm. 

Unfortunately, the cycling communities were not the only "innocent" ones to suffer. The burning of PIAS distribution centre brought damages to indie music and film labels.   

So, just to finish off, dear Rioters, please choose your targets wisely. Smash the system, Shut the City down, Mindfully Rebel.

Let the religious get religion, let consumers get a clue

Let scientists get perspective, let activists get their due

Let industry get a conscience, let the earth inherit the meek

Let the divinity of nature speak 

- Ani Difranco 

and for the final thought:

"I love the way that we call people who break into chainstores 'looters', yet the rest of us law abiding citizens get to loot the entire planet and are deemed peaceful. Instead of H&M, read rainforests. Instead of JD Sports, read oceans. Instead of Tesco, read soil. If you want to see a looter, look within, we're all looters. Just some are culturally normalised" ~ Mark Boyle

election time

STAND UP AND BE COUNTED

After I had two friends of mine kindly lecturing me about how i should register to vote, you know all that "women fought for our right to vote" and even the good old "you are meant to be greek: you guys "invented" democracy", i decided to finally register so that i can vote. 

I logged on the website, with my friend's words as a mantra "women fought for our right to vote"; the more i read, though, the less passion i had for my vote to be counted. First i found out that the election register has two versions: what they call the full register, and the "edited" register. You can opt out of the "edited" one: I wonder how many people actually know that they can opt out. The edited register is just a list of people's details which are sold to marketing companies. Strike 1: our right to vote is now another profit making business.  I know this is how economies survive, but i do have this very strong core belief that sometimes we need to separate people's core rights and profit, money making. Strike 2: OK, so i can opt out from the edited register, but to be honest my trust in this system has been pretty much damaged; it's about principles. Strike 3: the full register, although it gives you the power to vote, it is also used for other purposes; not that i have something to hide: but it's that "principles" thing in the way again.

The more i hear about elections the more angry i become. I am firstly disappointed hearing people saying "i am gonna vote labour so that the conservatives don't get in" it breaks my heart. We spend so many years marching the streets against the war. How can we now hold the pen and vote again for labour? how can we approve of the killings? I really do not understand how we can march, get arrested, shout, and then hold a pen and vote for them, again? Them, who took our fingerprints, our photos, and details under the anti-terrorist section, when all we did was to say "hey i don't think you should go abroad and shoot people". How can we hold that pen and give our vote to them?

People tell me, this is so that the tories don't get in. Well, if the tories don't get in, and labour does will you sleep at night? will you feel good that you did the right thing? stood up for what you believed in? And also, why if you vote for the smaller parties you think it is a wasted vote? If your beliefs are expressed voting for the smaller parties then bloody vote for the the smaller parties. This is how you can be heard: by voting for what you believe in. Only then, you become stronger. 

In my quest to be the greek who honors democracy i started reading the manifestos, trying to fish out the things that interest me the most. I came across the whole bicycle  thing and was really amused by:

the UKIP party! Amused in the way of watching a really bad horror film. UKIP talks of forcing cyclists to dismount, making them get off at roundabouts, even banning them from road use, and enforcing bicycle parking charges. Wow, i wonder is these people ever rode a bike when they were kids! remember, that feeling of freedom with the wind gently touching your face; that feeling of riding aimessly, smiling, riding...well, seems if UKIP is in power this will all be history! How weird that the bicycle seems to demand such extreme control measures; i don't know whether to laugh or cry.

LIB DEMS talk about safer cycle lanes and routes. Although they seem to lack the passion on our beloved bicycle, at least they are not treating  it as the devil and are heading the right direction.

TORIES talk about giving priorities to the issues of cycling. aahhhmmm, that's it really, there isn't any more info. But Boris Johnson is a keen cyclist AND he follows me on twitter (better Boris than the BNP following me!) i like this personal touch of keeping it real (but that's not really enough for a vote! is it?)  oh David cycles too.

LABOUR well the labour brought in the Cycle to Work Scheme right?. Which meant many of my friends have got a bike now, hooray! But now we got the bikes, we really need to see a more proactive policy on cycling. I mean don't just give us a discount to swimming with hungry sharks. (this is how sometimes  cycling feels in london!)

GREENS

http://policy.greenparty.org.uk/mfss/mfsstr.html#Walk

The greens seem to really get it right when it comes to cycling. They mention junction priority over motorized traffic, well maintained and regularly reviewed lanes and roads, and basically see the bicycle as an important legitimate vehicle. Alleluia! It seems they have at least googled Copenhagen, and Amsterdam and have seen how big cities can truly incorporate the bicycle safely. It's really worth reading their cycling policies.

COMMONS

Since we are talking about politics, i guess this is a good place to mention that Tamsin (from the To The Commons) is running for local MP. This is the girl who was involved in the Suffragette climate rush  and seems to have sound views on environmentalism, cycling and all good things.  Slogans like "this is what democracy looks like" and actions like Critical Mass, Guerrilla Gardening,  echo anarchist values: by that i mean values of non-hierarchy, equality and community. What slightly confuses me is that democracy does depend on hierarchy: an approved leader; and the beauty of guerilla gardening, critical mass and the likes are all about horizontal power. They are all about how we can do things without a leader; my brain is confused... but still better to have the Commons representing us, right? Better to have someone who keeps getting in trouble for doing activist things. :-) So if you are in north london, Tamsin Omond will be standing as a parliamentary candidate for Hampstead. What fun to vote for such "trouble maker". The Commons are also organising a ride this saturday: Pump Your Ride, Saturday 17th April 2010. Meet at 3.30pm by Whitestone Pond, top of Hampstead if you fancy it..


Well, enough political rants. Time for a bicycle ride.

Critical Mass London: "Someone please tell me why there are 1000s of people on push bikes riding around london?!" (twitter)

"commemorating the cyclists killed by HGVs" 

"celebrating the bicycle"

"it's our party" 

"cos it's Friday"

The reasons why more than 600 people joined critical mass on 26th March 2010 differed and the atmosphere reflected this fluctuating from a big party celebration (3rd birthday of the London Fixed Gear and Single Speed forum) to thoughtful silence.  I usually join critical mass to have a ride with friendly people, make the bicycle more "visible", and simply to enjoy the city. Last night though, the main reason that took me to critical mass was to  to pay respect to the 3 cyclists, Professor David Vilaseca-Perez, Muhammad “Haris” Ahmed, and Shivon Watson, who were killed (February / March) by HGVs.  

Lorries seem to be a primary source of cyclists' deaths in London as statistics show that 69% of London's cyclist deaths last year were indeed caused by lorries. In 2008 this figure was 88% and with figures so high it makes me wonder why London still has in place the London Lorry Control Scheme (LLCS) which forces lorries to enter the city during the peak commuting hours. If the scheme was truly put in place to protect the people from noise pollution  then it makes no sense why it is not reviewed since it looks like it has contributed to a lorry rush that has caused the lives of commuters on bicycles. See the blogs by * Moving Target Zine * ibikelondon  * the Bike Show podcast *

Last night's critical mass of 600+ people, was with no police escort, and ran smoothly. The majority of pedestrians and drivers looked cheerfully at the sight of the cyclists; some joined in with a dance and a wave to the sounds of the sound system and the ones who were told about the deaths of the cyclists by HGVs expessed their "approval" to the ride and similar views on how ridiculously dangerous cycling in London is.

The critical mass had the occasional aggressive driver, including a lorry driver (the irony!) who decided to overtake 600+ cyclists by speeding in the counter flow lane...His behavior can only be described as murderous. And before you readers say it is understandable that the driver got annoyed, i must point out that the mass was actually flowing in good speed.  And this is when attitudes must change into respect for people; respect for people who choose to ride the humble bicycle.  

Links

Bike Ride for 3 London Cyclists killed by HGVs
Critical Mass London

Cyclist Deaths in London and HGV: Call for Action

Cyclists killed by HGV this year

Professor David Vilaseca-Perez, 46 from South Bank (February 2010)

Muhammad “Haris” Ahmed, 21, a 4th year Medical student (March 2010)

Shivon Watson, 28 years old, a designer and musician from Bow  (March 2010)
Another woman dies on 14th April 2010








In 2009, 69% of cyclists' deaths were caused by HGVs/lorries, yet we see no action from our cyclist Mayor to look at the London Lorry Control Scheme and re-assess, or increase the budget on road safety.






London Lorry Control Scheme (LLCS)


The LLCS restricts the movement of HGVs in London at night and weekends. It aims to limit noise pollution in residential areas and restrictions apply between:

21:00 to 07:00, Monday to Saturday
13:00 Saturdays to 07:00 Monday


which means that HGV are forced to go through the city during peak hours;






There have been huge efforts from cycling communities around raising cyclists' safety awareness: never EVER ride on the inside or outside of a lorry if there is a chance it may make a turn; a lorry to turn left will most possibly bear right to be able to then make a left. Keep clear from them, and if you are waiting in front of them at the lights, leave some distance so they can see you: make eye contact to make sure the driver has also seen you. I sometimes raise my hand to signal i am there - most drivers signal back and smile, then i know they have seen me. There are cycling courses for adults to raise road safety awareness. There are ghost bikes all over the city to remind us of the cyclists' deaths.









But these are still not enough: It does not just take a cyclist to be aware of the dangers - it takes educating the drivers, removing this ridiculous cyclist Vs driver war (see my previous blog entry) and reconsidering the London Lorry Control Scheme.






TAKE ACTION: JOIN THE CRITICAL MASS


Friday the 26th March from 6.00PM.


The London Mass meets at 6.00pm on the last Friday of every month on the South Bank under Waterloo Bridge, by the National Film Theatre.















This video below was on the news a couple of days ago - the guy driving the HGV had no idea he was dragging the car in front... just like when the HGVs driving in London have no idea they are driving over cyclists.(photo above taken from the Real Cycling blog)