Reaching for the sky

A year ago today I posted my first Blip entry and announced to the world that one of the things I was particularly interested in taking photos of was public events such as demonstrations, celebrations. I never imagined the fantastic opportunities that I would have:

In March I went to London for the TUC demonstration.

July was a month full of Pride celebrations, with fab photo shoots in both London and Norwich.

October 15th marked the Global Day of Occupation and the establishment of the Occupy Norwich encampment. The camp is still there almost 3 months on, at the Haymarket in Norwich which is in the middle of one of the busiest streets in the city centre. This is fantastic for making face to face contact with people. About half a dozen people are there full time supported by many others like myself who assist in whatever ways they can: one woman regularly cooks hot food to take to the camp, another guy has developed a website to mention only two examples.

The Occupy Norwich crew have developed a completely anonymous survey and are keen to gain the opinions and perceptions of as many people as possible. Please take a couple of minutes to complete the survey, whether you are based in the UK or overseas - it will take less time than it does to boil a kettle!

So, at those times when I just want to put my head in my hands and think that the world is going to hell in a handcart I remind myself that social and economic change is possible so long as there is a committment to doing just that, even by doing tiny little things in the way we go about our lives.

I don't know what the coming year will bring - it's just so full of uncertainties - but I have learned so much this year, from my friends and contacts in the 'real' world and the 'virtual' world which has helped me get things into perspective. That's not to say I won't have a fit of the heeby-jeebies now and again though ;-)