Uncle Tom...

...no not the silly book about the boy being evacuated. Me! Im an uncle. Uncle Tom!

My brother Steven and his girl freind are now proud parents to baby Billy. He was born around 7.30am yesterday and is weighing in at 6.8 pounds. I'm thrilled to finally be an uncle! The only downside is that he has blonde hair. Well GOD can perform maricles! Or I'll just get some hair die!

More on meeting Gordon Brown...

I just read what the Guardian published about Gordon Brown visiting my school. I am the "one lad" they refer to in the extract below:

At Langdon Park school in Tower Hamlets he did quite well among GCSE students from many backgrounds. "Freedom of speech" and "free health care", said one. "Charity", said another. "Fish and chips" and Grenada-born Private Johnson Beharry VC (the latest addition to the 100 Top Black Britons) were also cited as British symbols.

One lad who may go far added: "We are always ready to embrace other countries, we're proud to have British Asians and black British people." That is not the message all Labour MPs pick up. In recent days two have told me of strong anti-Polish feeling (just for starters) in large provincial towns. Pressure on public services, not to mention downward pressure on wages, are a real issue. But Mr Brown was quick to fold the students' remarks into his vision of a Britain committed to tolerance, openness and debt relief.

More on the gaurdain article - here or The Est London Advertisers article - here

Dancing in the street! Coz Jesus Loves you!

Like we often do, me and Josh jumped on a 15 bus last night to head west. We jumped off at Trafalgar Square as usual and got our kick energy drink from Tesco Metro as usuall and sat on the cold, dark streets of London eating baguettes and suasage rolls enjoying the wierd stares we were getting as we crouched down in the corner and quickly moved a few shuffles away from the smell of alchol and urine that seemed to be wiffting in our direction. At first I thought it was Josh but he hadn't been drinking.

Walking through Soho (not what you think) we were now passing Caffe Nero and were gonna stop by and say hello to Trevor and Bernard but couldn't be bothered. An old woman now approached me and asked me for directions to Leister Square. I accidently sent her the wrong way. I couldn't sleep last night because of it. All of a sudden we were in Liester Sqaure and there was a beating noise coming from the distance.

There was a guy drumming so we went over to have a look. He was singing and all of a sudden another guy from the crowd started dancing. Two other guys then started to dance too. Not any normall dancing. A circle then began to form around the free show and another woman then joined in the fun. Josh was trying to get me to dance but for some reason I didn't feel as if I could compete. The crowd was now about 100 strong and a police riot van had turned up. 2 guys were drumming together now, about a dozen people dancing, a strong crowd of about 100 and we were dancing and rejoicing together in the name of Jesus coz he loves us all. Well so the guy who was drumming said and sang, but I agreed with him and so did others.

The police van then began to accelerate into the crowd and then reverse back into the middle of the circle. They were there to crash the party. We then joined hands and started dancing round the van, it was fun (and rebellious!). 2 officers then got out and threatened to arrest the drummer unless he stopped. He agreed but others didn't. People began to clap and boo. One woman and another guy then stood infront of the van and began to dance together. Some people wanted to fight the police, they were in the minority though.

Next time you'rE in Liester Square, feel free to dance and rejoice. Why? Coz Jesus Loves you!

(SORRY THE POST ISN'T V. GOOD! I RUSHED! JUST IMAGINE IT WAS REALLY FUN!)

Does traffic affect quality of life in Tower Hamlets?

That's what I'm investigating for my Geography coursework. A group of us took to the streets of Tower Hamlets to fill out questionnaires and surveys.

We were now down Globe Road and I had 5 questionnaires to get filled out. Previous streets such as Bethnal Green Road and Grove Road left me with a few nasty words thrown at me and a woman nearlly getting run over to escape me. I did have a shower last night so I didn't smell. Must of been my ginger hair.

Old lady. There was an old lady across the street. Old ladies love to rant. I'll ask the old lady. I love old ladies when filling in questionnaires. Not that I spend my entire weekends speaking to old ladies. Well, this old lady was happy to talk to me...and she did rant. She ranted and ranted for 10 minutes. Then her neighbour came out, I asked her the same questions, she didn't agree with the previous old lady. So they began to argue. It was now 15 minutes and the group was just jumping on a bus. I had to leave the 2 old ladies ranting on the street together. Well, atleast they are socilizing! The first old lady ws my faviroute!

Walking my dog this morning, with this weeks Big Issue in one hand and a cup of tea in the other. Whilst reading and enjoying the sunshine a little boy passed me with his mum. He smiled. I smiled back. He opened his mouth to show me his missing front teeth and I started to run around in circles. It was a moment of fun for both of us, not for his mum though, who was now trying to clam him down whilst I quickly grabbed my dog and headed home.

I went out with Josh in the evening. We got a bus to Trafalgar Square and walked down to Picadily Circus. I saw a woman selling The Big Issue. It wasn't the same cover as this morning so I just assumed it was last weeks issue as I didn't manage to get that one.

I pulled my wallet out of my pocket and she began walking towards me. I pulled out 2 coins; a £2 coin and a 2 pence piece. I put the 2p back and gave her £2, said a few words of encouragement and walked of with my magazine. A tap on my shoulder made me turn and face the woman again. She held her hand out and in the middle of it was a 2 pence piece. Totaly embarassed with myself that I nearly mugged of a homeless person I quickly went down my wallet and grabbed another £2 coin and gave it to her. After appologising numerous times I made my way down Regents street with Josh. Josh then asks me why I have just given her £4. Just to be sure, I checked my wallet and had £4 less than before bumping into that woman. I checked all my pockets and then it all made sense. The ruddy woman conned me. She saw me pull out the 2 pence and pretended I gave that to her by mistake instead of the £2.

After contemplating whether to confront the woman, I decided to go and tell her off. She denied the whole thing. I wasn't listening to her lies. She said it was against her beliefs. I still wasn't swayed. She even hid her licence from me. It wasn't about the money, she could have it, but it was the fact that she conned me even after I tried to helped her out. Thats what got to me. I wasn't getting nowhere with this woman so I walked off.

We were now about half a mile down Regents Street when I realised that my copy I bought from her wasn't last weeks. Infact it was 5 months old.

So heres my verdict: I was conned my a woman I felt sorry for. I bought a £1.40, 5 month old Big Issue that was still talking about when Steve Erwin was alive for £4. Thats 40% of my wages. Im not buying it from her again!

Please don't be put off from buying The Big Issue for those of you who do. Just dont buy it from a woman wearing a blue hijab and has a mouth of gold teeth.

A more posotive out look (which I agree with) of The Big Issue then check Roz's post - here!

'OI!' Gordon, MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY!

It was yesterday (9th November 2006), I was told to tuck my shirt in for Gordon Brown, I was told to sit up strait for Gordon Brown, I was told to keep my opinions for an appropriate time (basically keep shtum) Well I didn't tuck my shirt in but I did zip up my jacket and I dont sit messily anyway, well I thought he was the scruffy one! And most certainly I didn't keep shtum, none of us really did!

For a while I didn't say much, I didn't care about football when I was talking to the PM to be, but then I was asked how do I think Britain can improve itself. Well for starters we can actually try and reach our millenium goals, secondly we can actually do something about Mugabes evil dictatorship and thirdly we can MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY once and for all. I tell you this, Gordon didn't expect the unpopular support he got from us.

Other students also thought they would use the opportunity to voice there opinion. "we should stop following America" said another guy. Gordon was suprised! and embarrased. Gordon Brown didn't stay long but as he was leaving I wasn't gonna let him get away that lightly, I went to grab the letters from my bag and followed him out of the room. As he come out of another door I confronted him with my concerns. I told him that our government needs to do more about poverty. I handed him the letters and told him that he needs to listen to what people are trying to say. I was then approached by his advisers who wanted my contact details to stay in touch. It was merely a detoy so he could escape.

Disappointments of the day were that I didn't feel as if Gordon was really concerned about what I had to say. Highlights though are; meeting Jim Fitzpatrick who has agreed to meet me at Parliment to discuss my concerns. Also how all of us students who met Gordon sticking together to let him know we are not happy with how things are.

Personal highlight- "Thomas, do you think you have a future career in Politics"-Daily Telegraph

To read the story published in The Daily Telegraph either buy it and check page 4 or read online and watch a 3 minute clip (sadly the clip doesn't involve my little speech. Just because America is more important than world poverty)!

Telegraph - Pupils' verdict on Britishness: full English breakfast and less US waffle
Proud Britains ' Morgan Stanley - Proud Britons '06 - vote

Picture above - Sadia and Gordon Brown (Picture taken behind my head)

Lobbying your MP.

Last night I emailed my local MP; Mr Jim Fitzpatrick. I emailed him in concern of a growing situation. Poverty. In the email I asked if i could meet with him and discuss my views in more detail. Guess what? He emailed me back today and has agreed to meet me!

Putting your view across...

Tuesday, listening in on a conversation that didn't involve me, I overheard two of my freinds discussing how they were going to meet Gordon Brown this Thursday. Well, I was fuming. The Prime Minister to be was visiting my school in just 2 days and I didn't know about it, I wasn't even invited to meet him. I managed to get all the information I could out of my 2 mates and I was preparing to organise a mass protest for Thursday. I then asked my 2 freinds why they were picked over me (beeing very jelous and angry I couldn't help but ignore the fact that these 2 students are very bright and politically influenced, just like me). The answer I got back from was "I was concidered, but my political background is too extreme and I may argue with the deputy" I was still angry but rather pleased with myself now.

Well, later that day my head master approached me and explained the situation. He said that I have actually now been chosen to meet with Gordon Brown, baring I don't go off track whilst in the meeting. Yea right! So tomorrow I will be meeting Gordon Brown. How exiting!

As part of my plan tomorrow, I am hoping to hand him a bunch of letters and post cards from myself and other people (i.e Roz, Sarah and Tony) Here is a letter I have recently drafted from myself:

Dear Gordon Brown,

Being in the last year of my compulsory education obviously this is a very important year for me and I should be bringing my full atention to passing my exams. Sadly thats not the case for me.

Sadly that is not the case for me and many of my freinds and millions of young Britons up and down the country. How can I and others ever concentrate on getting on with my education whilst hundreads of millions of young people across the world don't even have the opportunity to attend school.

Mr Brown, whilst a child is dieing every 3 seconds because of poverty and 50,000 dieing a day, I can never say we live in a proper democracy. Whilst this country invades Iraq and removes an evil dictator from power (for the right reasons) but still allows Robert Mugabe to proceed his evil dictatorship in Zimbabwe, I can never be fully proud of my country. Whilst 1.3 billion people are living on less than a dollar a day, I find it hard to sleep at night, and whilst there are enough resources on this earth to cater for 25 billion people, I can never understand poverty!

Nelson Mandela once said "you can be that great generation". Gordon Brown, you are the Prime Minister to be, you can be that great Prime Minister. Please, don't look away as others have done so.

Yours Truly,
Thomas Stewart

CCTV...Security or Big Brother!?

Is Britian turning into a nanny state. Over 20% of all the worlds CCTV cameras are on the streets of Britian. We are caught on camera atleast 300 times a day. There is now a CCTV camera for every 14 people living in Britain.

Has another one of our freedoms yet again been removed. I personally don't think so. It has been proven that crime has been reduced because of it. The killers of Damalola Taylor were caught because of CCTV in the area and if it means that we need over 4 million cameras on the streets of Britain then so be it!

Is our society turning into an enormous game of Big Brother! I don't know!!