burning witches and exploding aliens

Apart from sleeping (a LOT) and washing clothes, i found time for some culture this long weekend. And of course, I couldn't just enjoy the entertainment, i needed to analyze =)

Friday night i caught up on news from back home (meaning the UK). Two stories caught my eye. The 1st was the sacking of the government's senior scientific advisor on drugs, asked to step down for 'crossing the line between science & politics'. His crime? Pointing out the inconsistencies between policies for cannabis and more dangerous (but legal) drugs - alcohol and tobacco. This upset me on one level because I think the rejection of scientific advice on a socially important matter sets a dangerous precedent. It also upset me because the main opposition party AGREED with the government's decision (no doubt concerned with protecting their recently hard-won endorsement from The Sun). Regardless of my own views on drug laws, i think it's very sad if our attitudes towards scientific evidence have gone back 500 years. Now, instead of the Catholic Church, it's the political establishment that's saying, effectively: "We don't care about your 'evidence', what you're saying is blasphemy!" Question the integrity of the evidence - yes. Demand further studies by different groups - yes. But tell them to shut up unless they agree with what you want to hear - this does nothing to serve the development of science or of effective social policy. Well done to the Liberal Democrats (the 3rd biggest party in Parliament) for having the integrity and courage to say this, even knowing it may attract negative tabloid headlines.

The 2nd was the attack on a young gay man in Liverpool by a GANG OF TWENTY. Seemingly his only crime was leaving a club with his boyfriend. Being surrounded by the liberal attitude of my own friends for the last 10yrs, I had started to think that this kind of thing didn't happen anymore in the UK. (Being in a place where it does apparently happen quite regularly, it's something i've thought a bit about, believe me...) At least the guy in question now seems to have made a full recovery.

On Saturday night Diego and I went to watch 'District 9'. Not only enjoyable entertainment, but fascinating because of some parallels with what i've been learning recently about the complex problems of the 'favelas' in Rio de Janeiro. A marginalized community being blighted by poverty and violence, turning to addictive substances for escape. Gangs gaining control by exploiting people's needs. 'Rich world' arms companies looking to make profits from the situation with no regard for the human costs. Am i still writing about the film...? On a lighter note, the added bonus of the film is that it had spaceships, lasers that evaporate people, and dozens of actors trying to fake South-African accents =)

Ok, now i need to go for lunch. But i'll be back soon to finish =)