GENERATION OS13

This is an enlightening and artistic short documentary about the current shocking state of Britain and its economy, and who is to blame for the continual recession.  (I'll give you a clue: It's the rich and the powerful).

I've always felt politicised and yet apathetic.  A paradox perhaps, but one that is recognisable in much of the people of Britain today.  We seem to be struggling with finding an outlet for our frustrations when making our voices heard on marches, sit-ins - even riots - draw a total blank.

What can we do apart from get angry and self-educated when our government is blatantly ignoring us?  How do you overthrow a leader when there seems to be no-one qualified enough to replace them?

Please send your answers on a postcard emblazoned with a funny political slogan, along the lines of the ones below.

You can vote for your favourite in Don't Panic's placard competition.

P.S, I used to work at the same place as Anika, the blonde musician in the documentary.  I had heard that she made really bizarre, crap music and that has truly been confirmed.

Voodoo and Vaccines

The first time I ever felt guilt at being privileged enough to be from a developed country was as a twelve-year old in Thailand.  I saw a leper, wizened from the disease and begging for money on the street.  He had one baht in his wooden bowl and I had ten in my hand.  I didn't give him my money.  I spent it on candyfloss at the beach.  I felt horrible about it for days afterwards, and still feel the same way about eating candyfloss as Naomi Campbell should when she wears fur and diamonds (dickhead).

Watching Voodoos and Vaccines, a joint VBS and One production about made me think about this sense of guilt that reoccurs when I think about the disparity between my less-than-affluent, generally mediocre life and that of some of those in the developing world.  It comes from that feeling that I should be doing more than just buying a charity shop dress once in a while.  I wish that filling in my details on a digital petition at the end of the documentary made me feel warm and glowy, but it's not quite enough, is it?

(Although you should all sign it immediately.  It's a start at least).

Does anyone else get this almost childish urge to save the world one moment, only to feel hypocritical, selfish and useless in the next?