Riot Riot

By now the news of the idiocy of the London riots has spread to the far corners of the globe so I figured a blog update is probably a good idea.

Last night was a little rough. I have yet to be outside this morning but I was kept up all night by sirens and periodic shouting. My neighborhood seems to be fine from what I've read, just basic looting down by the mall thats a 15 minute walk away, but other than that I think my neighborhood has emerged unscathed.

Things have gotten quickly out of hand. These kids---and I do mean kids since they're all being profiled at about 15-18---have absolutely no regard for the fact that they are destroying their own city. The looting has gotten completely out of hand. People's shops, their livelihoods, have been ransacked, trashed, some even burned to the ground. And in a city where all buildings are connected and people live on top of each other, several people have lost their homes as well.

It's spread across the city. What started in Tottenham over a questionably unjust murder, has now spread to my neighborhood next door, Stratford, Croydon, Woolwich, Lewisham, Clapham, Ealing, Oxford Circus. Reports are surfacing that its even spread to other cities as well: Liverpool and Birmingham to name two. Evidently idiocy and a disregard for humanity are contagious.

I don't want to worry my friends and family back home. I am safe, my apartment and neighborhood is still intact and really I haven't even personally witnessed any of the violence first hand. But the reality of the situation is the rioters seem to own the streets right now and quite frankly all the law abiding citizens are getting a bit fed up with the lack of reaction from the police and the government. The PM and Mayor should be back from their holidays today so hopefully a new plan will be formed.

Once again, I am fine. I'm currently packing a bag to go stay with a friend who lives in Stratford. They've been hit out there as well but less than up by me so its my better option for the time being. Plus my ground floor apartment is less appealing than the protection her high rise can offer and if I'm being honest that whole saying of "safety in numbers" is ringing pretty true with me right now.

So I'll spend the day with her, most likely eating junk food and watching movies, and I'll keep updating my facebook to let people know how I am. I'll also have my mobile so those with BBM feel free to check in whenever you want. And of course I'll be taking my computer. I'm talking to my parents a lot through this all so if for some reason you need to talk to them you can always do that as well.

Anyways below are links to some of the ways I am keeping myself informed about all of this, incase any of you wish to do the same. I'll keep everyone updated on what seems to be my second historical experience in London; its too bad this one isn't as positive as the last.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/1478157.stm

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/blog/2011/aug/09/london-riots-violence-looting-live