New year Resolutions
This is something I wrote for a magazine called Venue in Bristol a couple of weeks ago, that wanted my new year resolutions for the end of year issue. Thought I’d share it, just for the laugh.
1. Do you have any resolutions for 2004?
First and foremost, I resolve to carry on not getting shot or blown up for as long as possible.
It’s a bit of a weird one, being asked for my new year resolutions, sitting here in Baghdad typing by candle light because, as usual, there’s no electricity. Yesterday I took statements from queues of people whose relatives have been detained without charge, trial, legal representation or visits from their family – lots of them don’t even know where the relative is, if he’s dead or alive.
The day before, I had a meeting with families of three men who were shot dead, while face down on the ground, by US soldiers who were raiding their house. The next day the soldiers came back and said they were sorry, it was a mistake. They’d raided the wrong house.
And so it goes on, day after day after day until I wonder what could I possibly do, what could I possibly resolve that would have any impact on the desperate need in this place. But then I see yet another thing so outrageous, so appalling, that I resolve, again, never to give up nipping the heads of the people responsible, never never never.
2. What are your plans for the year, personally and professionally?
I plan to be in Iraq till May, writing and trying to set up links between schools, universities, hospitals and so on, here in Iraq and in the UK, so people in the UK can help rehabilitate those institutions here. I'm also filing cases against the British government for human rights abuses and carrying out a health survey where depleted uranium weapons were used.
Personally- as above, I suppose, staying alive and trying to do something positive here and lots of mead, mushrooms and snogs with Tommo when I get back at summer solstice..
3. What are your hopes for the future:
personally
That I'll pass my bar exams, become a kickass human rights lawyer and smear metaphorical egg all over the faces of the forces of darkness.
That a vegan chocolate cake factory will open at the bottom of my garden.
for Bristol
That the developers who have so much control of the city and the council will be kicked out in a popular uprising and the people will retake the city
for the world as a whole?
The same as for Bristol really, but on a global scale - that we all stand together as people, take back the power and start organising the world around human concerns rather than economic ones.
I know it sounds like a pipe dream but when you see the disastrous consequences of the way the world is controlled now, really you have to believe in it.
That George W Bush’s trousers will fall down in the petrol station.
First and foremost, I resolve to carry on not getting shot or blown up for as long as possible.
It’s a bit of a weird one, being asked for my new year resolutions, sitting here in Baghdad typing by candle light because, as usual, there’s no electricity. Yesterday I took statements from queues of people whose relatives have been detained without charge, trial, legal representation or visits from their family – lots of them don’t even know where the relative is, if he’s dead or alive.
The day before, I had a meeting with families of three men who were shot dead, while face down on the ground, by US soldiers who were raiding their house. The next day the soldiers came back and said they were sorry, it was a mistake. They’d raided the wrong house.
And so it goes on, day after day after day until I wonder what could I possibly do, what could I possibly resolve that would have any impact on the desperate need in this place. But then I see yet another thing so outrageous, so appalling, that I resolve, again, never to give up nipping the heads of the people responsible, never never never.
2. What are your plans for the year, personally and professionally?
I plan to be in Iraq till May, writing and trying to set up links between schools, universities, hospitals and so on, here in Iraq and in the UK, so people in the UK can help rehabilitate those institutions here. I'm also filing cases against the British government for human rights abuses and carrying out a health survey where depleted uranium weapons were used.
Personally- as above, I suppose, staying alive and trying to do something positive here and lots of mead, mushrooms and snogs with Tommo when I get back at summer solstice..
3. What are your hopes for the future:
personally
That I'll pass my bar exams, become a kickass human rights lawyer and smear metaphorical egg all over the faces of the forces of darkness.
That a vegan chocolate cake factory will open at the bottom of my garden.
for Bristol
That the developers who have so much control of the city and the council will be kicked out in a popular uprising and the people will retake the city
for the world as a whole?
The same as for Bristol really, but on a global scale - that we all stand together as people, take back the power and start organising the world around human concerns rather than economic ones.
I know it sounds like a pipe dream but when you see the disastrous consequences of the way the world is controlled now, really you have to believe in it.
That George W Bush’s trousers will fall down in the petrol station.