impressive insight on Londons urban youth
I just stumbled over a photo essay by Simon Wheatley called “Inner-City Youth, London“. Simon is a Photojournalist working for Magnum Phots and living in London. Over time he developed inroads to the world of Grime, a music scene said to be Britains answer to Hip-Hop. Hi pictures reflect the desolate situation in that a part of Londons youth grows up.
karibu tena!
The Worldcup over here has been a real success. I must admit that I was not that sure wether we germans would welcome all those guests that friendly. I’m really proud and thankful, that the vast majority came across welcoming and friendly german people. My friend Alex pointet me to some excellent reviews of a straighforward TIMES-ONLINE journalist, Tm Dart. This are some quotes from his posts:
“Outstanding. I’ve spent a month picking up good vibrations. The international fan-tribes have been colourful and genial, the vast majority of Germans have been extremely enthusiastic, welcoming and helpful, and, apart from when England played Portugual, I’ve seen none of the drunken aggression of the kind that blights English town centres at night, let alone when England are playing. The Fan Fests were very successful, the cities feel safe. Oh, and the weather’s been great. Sunny and hot for almost the entire month.” [1]
In forefront of the worldcup nobody could imagine how germans would live out their corrupted national pride. There had been some bad racists attacks some weeks before the event. Hense a website was put up in five languages on how to prevent such an attack. But instead of racist attacks the country was overflowed by a mature patriotism together with - from a german poin of view - overwhelming friendlyness leaving no gap for racist attacks.
“I’ve marvelled at how you do it: patriotic but not jingoistic, boisterous but not threatening, fervent but not aggressive. You hosted a party and made everybody welcome, shedding your self-consciousness as the days wore on.”[2]
So all I can say is thank you for beeing our guests and welcome again.