Could Obama be in trouble?

I have to be honest, I'm always logging on to YouTube to see the latest videos that have been uploaded.

Particularly with the lead up to the U.S. Election, which has been of great interest to me, the website provides what the news in some ways cannot.

I have been able to watch lengthy documentaries filming ordinary Americans and what they have to say about the two presidential candidates.

As interesting as this has been, it has also made me seriously consider some of the reasons why Obama becoming President might be much more of a struggle than I had previously believed.

Pro-Obama videos are in their hundreds on YouTube and has been an effective way of reaching out to young Americans who were unsure who they would vote for.

But it has also been of favour to the McCain campaign.

I had started to notice that a number of, very often young Americans, had posted videos of anti-Obama hatred.

Mainly filmed in the southern states, there is a clear hatred for him and they are not afraid of expressing this.

There are pretty harmless videos of 'rednecks against Obama' and so fourth who clearly don't really understand what the debate is about, but are stuck in their old ways of voting Republican.

What strikes me is that the most dangerous people are the Democratic voters who refuse to vote for an Obama presidency. There is plenty of footage of Clinton supporters who claim that they have never voted Republican.

But when asked who they would vote for if it were Obama v McCain, they quickly change their

tune.

It seems absurd that if you had always had a democratic way of thinking, you would change to Republican if it were not Clinton running for President.

But it is more than clear what the issue is here. These working class southerners have come to terms with the power that women now hold in their societies.

They are happy enough to accept that an educated white woman is ready to be President.

So why not Obama? Nobody can argue that he is not educated enough.

Although he lacks the foreign policy experience that McCain has, he is a well travelled and well educated middle class man, with fresh ideas on how to run the country.

Most of his opponents won't admit that the problem here is the colour of his skin.

Born to a Kenyan father and a white American woman, it is all too much for some traditional working class Americans to accept.

Although Obama has received fantastic press worldwide and is currently leading in the polls, it is still possible for McCain to win.

I hope that I am wrong in my assumption and that Obama will become President of the United States.

I have come to realise that a strong community exists of working class Americans, often very religious, who have strong doubts about Obama.

These people will have a huge impact on who will eventually win the Presidency.

Some 'Celebrities' should just give it up

Spread across the papers, Internet and being widely debated over the radio is this weeks most recent 'Kerry Katona' incident.

During her appearance on This Morning interviewed by Fern Britton and Philip Schofield, viewers quickly realised that something was not right.

Texts and phone calls came in their hundreds and eventually presenter Philip Schofield asked Katona if everything was ok. From the moment the cameras began filming, she had been mumbling her words and seemed very agitated.

With a history of drug use and family problems, hardly a day goes by without the mention of her most recent scandal.

The BBC reported that following her interview on This Morning, she was fuming with Schofield for embarrassing her on live television.

For the viewers at home, it seemed like a reasonable question to ask a guest who was in a clear state both mentally and emotionally.

It is now the end of the week and featured on the BBC News Entertainment page is Kerry Katona's response and the fact that she will remain contracted as the face of Iceland.

For someone who has clearly had a hard childhood followed by drug abuse and a broken marriage, I, as I'm sure many others, feel some sympathy towards her.

But a point comes when you have to wonder why these people are in the spotlight in the first place. She was a member of girl band Atomic Kitten who she left after a few hit singles but apart from that and a disastrous MTV deal in which they filmed her daily life, she has not been very successful.

Living life in the spotlight without having any particular talents to back it up seems to be a real soul destroyer for many of these 'celebrities'. The same applies to Jade Goody who made a fortune following her time on Big Brother, although she has suffered one trauma after another.

For some I think the time comes when you have to pack it up and realise that you are not getting any success anymore. It would do both Katona and her family so much good if she considered doing just that.

She has been lucky enough to have the short success that she has had and the money to keep herself going, which most people could only dream of having.

But it's even more of a shame when someone so fortunate pops up on our screens once in a while to tell us how miserable her life is and what the next crisis is that she has to go through.

Knife Crime - Tarnishing the reputation of youths nationwide

Prior to my move to London, I have to admit that the current issue of knife crime had made me think twice.

I do believe that the image of London has been slightly tarnished by this craze of gang violence and knife attacks, although what I have learnt is that in fact it is only existent in a small number of areas and even then only on a small scale.

The image of teenagers and young people has also been affected.

Although violent crimes are increasing in many areas of the United Kingdom, particularly areas of London, when compared to the number of young people living here, it is a small fraction of the population that take part in this culture.

The increase in violent attacks not only mean that people are losing their lives but for the majority of young persons in the UK, their reputation of being good citizens has quickly disappeared.

It comes as no surprise that we hear the elderly speak openly about their fear when walking past a gang of youths, with every right to be no doubt.

But for the majority this is an insult for everything that they do. A high number of young people are members of youth groups, sports teams and other organizations and would never be tempted to participate in such violence.

It is a real shame that such a tiny proportion of the population behave in such unthinkable ways and along the way, are ruining the reputation for the majority of the youths of Britain.

London three weeks on...

Trafalgar Square, London / Image: Ffion Rees

I have been living in London for three weeks now and am starting to get used to this fast-paced 'everyone gets on with it' sort of approach to life.

I have to admit that a number of people warned me before my move, some very bluntly saying that I wouldn't last more than a week.

But here I am three weeks on having a fantastic experience.

There are things about home that are irreplaceable - there's nothing nicer than a home cooked meal or walking down the street where everybody knows everything about everyone.

In London, people don't seem to be that interested about the person sitting next to them on the tube and I have quickly learnt not to apologize when I bump into someone, as everyone does it to each other.

As much as I can foresee that this is not where I will spend the rest of my life, I am so pleased that I made the final decision to come to this city and experience this completely different way of life.

There is always something to do in London and things to see and that is what I have really come to love.

I have not once sat in my room bored, complaining that I have nothing to do to keep me entertained.

And if I wasn't here, I wouldn't be going to the London Assembly to see Boris Johnson tomorrow which I am very excited about.

I will let you know how I get on...

Palin causes embarassment again

It seems that there is no limit to the embarrassment that Sarah Palin can create for the Republican party at the moment.

Her most recent controversy revealed that she had abused her power as Alaska's Governor by sacking a senior state official, over a family feud.

Then yesterday, a new video was posted on YouTube which was a dedication to all the ridiculous things Palin has said since she became vice-presidential nominee for the election.

What really drew my attention was when she was unable to name any Supreme Court decision that had ever taken place, other than Roe v Wade.

She is expected to know many cases having been Governor of one of the states of America but surely she could have thought of one to make herself look a little more educated.

I would think that the majority of Americans would know the Brown v Board of Education case, a landmark decision of the civil rights era that ended segregation within schools.

Palin would have been in her twenties at the time, so you would hope that she maybe would have known this or another obvious one.

I think at this moment in time we are lucky to be anything other than American.

If Obama wins the election he will reform the country but if McCain and his sidekick win, it will be an even scarier country to live in.

The thought that this woman could quite possibly become vice-president is absurd and it seems that Americans are starting to see this, but let's hope they do this before they cast their votes.

The Boris approach

Houses of Parliament/ Image: Helen Catt

Our course tutors have planned a trip for us next Wednesday to the London Assembly for a conference with the Mayor himself.

It's interesting as I tend to be very liberal in my views on the majority of issues. There are very few topics that I have a conservative view about.

So I was doing my research on Boris Johnson so that I could get to know more about him, particularly his beliefs and his ideas for London.

It struck me that after reading his list of priorities, I was in fact in great agreement with the Conservative politician on the majority of things.

His ideas on policing seem firm and fair, with particular emphasis on the extent of power he wants to give to the Police Community Support Officers.

As London is by now my home away from home, using the tube has become part of daily life.

For a woman I have no issues with this during daylight although at night, I have to admit that I don't feel a hundred per cent at ease.

It's clear that Boris Johnson has introduced some new measures to the underground by creating safer exit and entry points at the stations and providing well lit areas. As a female, the introduction of this itself would have been enough to convince me to vote for Boris.

What also caught my eye was the Mayor's Fund for London in which he provides finances to support voluntary groups who get young Londoners off the streets.

With the recent issue of knife crime, this is a means of giving parents the opportunity to send their children to groups who provide them with something positive to do with their spare time.

Of course these are some of the issues that Boris Johnson sees as important to tackle during his time as Mayor of London. Whether he is successful in doing so is another matter.

But reading some of his policies have been valuable for me as sometimes, I am too quick to jump on the Labour party bandwagon.

His ideas seem to be based on common sense and getting straight in there to tackle the issues. It will be interesting to see whether he is able to fulfil these ideas.

The Mermaid Girl...

I watched a programme tonight which really got me thinking.

It was the story of the 'mermaid girl', an eight year old girl from the States who sufferers from a rare condition which means that her legs have been stuck together since she was born.

This made particularly interesting viewing as it was for once a documentary showing an extremely disadvantaged child with an extraordinary positive outlook on life.

What was very interesting was the mother's concerns, in particular the fact that she was unsure whether giving birth to her child had been the right thing to do. She questioned whether it would have been kinder to end the pregnancy rather than letting her daughter live a life of pain and suffering.

This got me thinking about this weeks result of the Naomi Hill case in Britain. She suffered mild cerebral palsy and at the age of four, was drowned by her mother at their home.

Whether you let your child live or you terminate your pregnancy before it is too late I think is for each person to decide for themselves.

It is clear that the mother of Naomi had suffered great stress and serious mental health problems for years prior to the murder, which the court was in complete agreement about.

Even so, does this justify the murder of your own child? No, not in my opinion.

I have no right to assume what I would do in her situation as I have never had to experience what it must be like to raise a disabled child.

With official help available or even adoption if needed, what was done to Naomi was unforgivable.

The Extraordinary People documentary really gave light to the hard work that so many parents of disabled children worldwide have to do each day. But for many it seems that it is not a chore, it's simply loving your own child.

It was refreshing to see a family who have such a positive outlook on life and don't see their daily lives as a chore but the opposite. It's a real shame that Naomi's mother saw her child as a burden and made a decision that she will now regret for the rest of her life.

New Aids research gives hope

Image: Euan Denholm

In Northern Uganda, millions of people have been

displaced because of war and HIV/Aids

Although my trip to Uganda, East Africa was four years ago now, the issue of Aids is still strife worldwide and is the issue that I feel most passionately about.

Working with communities who had been so badly affected by the virus was heartbreaking although it is clear that what keeps them going each day is their faith and hope that one day a cure will be found.

Although they have not yet been able to find a cure, researchers are always looking for new evidence as to when and where this virus began although it is generally acknowledged that it was in sub-Saharan at the turn of the 20th century.

It was great to see that this year both Aids and Cancer researchers won the Nobel Medicine Prize as it really is a means of publicizing this hugely serious issue.

Their work was so successful that they managed to 'screen blood products' so that the spread of the disease could be limited. It was these French scientists who in fact discovered the HIV virus in the first place and that it was this that caused the Aids.

It always gives me great pleasure to see that people are dedicating their lives to the research of Aids and that eventually one day, a cure might be found.

The discrimination against those who suffer, in both African countries and worldwide is clear. This along with the severe pain caused by the virus means that victims shy away from their communities.

It would be amazing if a cure could be found very soon although at the moment it is crucial that work is done overseas and here in the UK to ensure that those infected with this deadly virus are given the love and care that they so desperately need.

Many charities such as Concern Worldwide have been working with communities heavily affected by HIV/Aids.

Image: Concern Worldwide

Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade...my Harrods experience

Images: Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade

I was taking some time out this Saturday to take a trip into central London, to do a couple of 'touristy' things.

I had been to Harrods once as a kid one Christmas, and remember thinking how huge it was in there.

Unlike most things that always look larger than life when your a child and actually aren't that big, Harrods is still huge!

When leaving to head to the Knightsbridge tube station I had absolutely no idea that I would be bombarded by anti-fur campaigners outside the Harrods entrance.

Anti-fur protesters

I am aware of the very influential campaign against companies who make their money from selling fur clothing but had no idea that every Saturday this was going on.

They are furious that Harrods are selling items made from the likes of beavers, rabbits, wolves and squirrels. It remains the only department store in the UK who sells them.

If only I'd known before spending my money

A feeling of utter guilt came over me that I had only five minutes ago spent £5.50 on some food and drink in there. If only I had seen them before entering, I certainly would have reconsidered spending my money.

I have always had great admiration for people who give up their time to protest against things that really do matter. It is a topic that I had never seen being protested against before and I believe that this is the way you can really reach the public like no other.

This along with a number of other issues should be explored much more within the media which would certainly contribute to supporting the coalition against the fur trade.

Even so, I have been convinced this weekend that there are people who really do care about these issues and that the best way possible of touching people is to be public with your opinions.

5 reasons why Obama should be president and McCain should not

With the U.S. election quickly approaching, I thought I'd share my views as to why Barack Obama should be made President of the United States and why John McCain should not. Here goes...

It's time for change

1. America is currently in a crisis and drastically needs change. With public opinion of the war in Iraq gradually changing, Obama will offer new ideas and new hope for the people of America

Gun control

2. On controversial issues affecting the American people, Obama is seen as a 'traditional realist' and has vast knowledge on what needs to be done. Following college shootings such as the famous Virginia Tech massacre, he is determined to introduce stricter laws on gun licensing

McCain believes that the right to bear arms is fundamental and this will therefore mean that shootings are not likely to be controlled if McCain wins the election

Women's rights

3. If McCain is elected as President, the women of America will no doubt lose some of their rights. He is strongly against abortion except in the case of rape or incest, and would like to overturn the Roe v Wade case of 1973.

Obama has a more progressive view on this issue, arguing that teens should be taught about absistence and contraception but abortion still needs to be available

Global warming

4. Obama's presidency would affect the rest of the world, particularly on the issue of global warming. It is crucial that the next president holds strong views on what is needed to be done and that it is a priority to them.

With McCain's choice of vice-president arguing that global warming is not man made, I don't think anything further needs to be said on this topic

Biden v Palin

5. No surprise but my final reasoning as to why Obama deserves Presidency is that he has made the right decision in choosing Joe Biden to become vice-president and McCain has made the completely wrong choice.

Biden has been a long-time member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and has served as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He will certainly erase any doubts that the American public has had of the lack of experience on the Democrats front.

The appointment of Sarah Palin has received great national attention and the thought that she could become vice-president of the United States is horrifying in itself. I will leave you with a quote, and you can decide for yourself:-

"Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right. Also, for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending soldiers out on a task that is from God. That's what we have to make sure that we're praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan." –Sarah Palin, on the Iraq war, speaking to students at the Wasilla Assembly of God, June 2008