Archive for posts on Politics

Copenhagen, as told by my Facebook and Twitter updates Friday, January 1st, 2010

Kinders Al Kinley Colleague just said to me, “enjoy the weekend (the last one before Christmas)”.
27 November 2009 at 15:18

Kinders Al Kinley Drinking a beer and packing to go to something epic. ftw #cop15
11:21 PM Dec 1st, 2009

Kinders Al Kinley felt a bit teary leaving work. Can’t believe it’s here at last. We’re going to Copenhagen to save the world…
01 December 2009 at 19:46

Angelique Orr likes this.

Nikki Brown
Keep us all updated on facebook when you can, yes? I want to talk to you about your job at some point. I would very much like to do an internship with a charity at some point. As soon as I was old enough for charities to take me I’ve been doing voluntary work for various ones (next one is probably Oxfam!) and doing an internship seems like it might be a good idea when I’m well enough.
01 December 2009 at 19:56

Kinders Al Kinley
Maybe we can talk about it at Srafcon in Jan. Still not sure if I’m coming. But yeah, come and work for Oxfam! http://www.oxfam.org.uk/get_involved/volunteer/latest_intern.html
01 December 2009 at 20:00

Nikki Brown
Come to Srafcon! We’re lovely hosts. I’ll have a look at that link, thanks. :)
01 December 2009 at 20:06

Betsy Robson
Yay! Good luck! I love you! back to the USA soon?!
01 December 2009 at 22:47

Kinders Al Kinley
Man, I’d love to, but I promised no flights in 2010… anyway, it’s totally your turn to come to Oxford. I’ve got you a Christmas present that says so. xx
01 December 2009 at 22:53

Rory Patrick Aloicious McMannus
has the whole world gone fucking mad? www.nevertrustacop.org
02 December 2009 at 12:28

Kinders Al Kinley
Because of or despite the people planning to set Copenhagen on fire?
02 December 2009 at 12:56

Rory Patrick Aloicious McMannus
despite them and because of the people standing patiently and asking the Police officer for his badge number because they’re pretty sure he’s not allowed to do that while also waiting patiently and asking the men making billions (in profits and/or campaign contributions) if they’d mind very much just making millions for a while becauase some people in Bangladesh are getting flooded constantly. Sheesh!
02 December 2009 at 13:13

Kinders Al Kinley
Do you not think there’s any value in persuading people to do the right thing through engagement and discussion and education? Is destruction the only way to affect change?
02 December 2009 at 13:29

Rory Patrick Aloicious McMannus
The meeting is between governments, the only discussion is between nations wanting to safeguard their economic interests and get elected again in a few years. There is no engagement, you’re out on the street being herded along a pre-agreed route by riot cops. There’s no need for education, they all know what’s going on out there climate-wise they … See Morejust don’t give a shit, their prioroties are to continue genrationg profits for the multi-nationals that fund their parties and own their country’s newspapers. Come on Kin! No one changed anything without a little destrcution.
02 December 2009 at 13:47

Kinders Al Kinley
The represented governments include those from countries who have it in their best interests to prevent climate change. Part of the problem is indeed that developed countries are more interested in doing what’s profitable than what’s fair, but that’s why we’re out there campaigning, and I think we’ll do a better job of winning them over by engaging… See More them than by shutting down the discussions. We’re only out in the streets when we choose to be; we’re also there in the negotiations; engaged with the negotiators in person. I don’t think you’d be surprised by how poorly educated ministers are on any given topic including this one. The effect is pretty startling when somebody finally tells them what they need to know. I agree that a little destruction is powerful but it needs to be part of a broader set of actions. Surely pure destruction is purely destructive - ?
02 December 2009 at 19:28

Sibylle Shacklebolt Have a safe trip, Kinders! I hope you’ll be warm enough. I’ll look for you on the news :)
01 December 2009 at 20:12

Kinders Al Kinley has occasional evenings of uncontrollable win.
03 December 2009 at 22:30

Kinders Al Kinley RT @karinab - @kindersk was the gineau pig for a dry run of our Monday event. Try and guess what it is.
8:52 PM Dec 4th, 2009

Kinders Al Kinley Full day #1 in Copenhagen. It’s not even the weekend before the conference yet and I’m exhausted.
04 December 2009 at 23:05

James Maroney
good news on Obama though; keep up the good work Al!
05 December 2009 at 01:07

Kinders Al Kinley #CoP15 conference center is obscenely large. It’s all about to begin. Exciting!
06 December 2009 at 10:43

Kinders Al Kinley just had the most intense period of activity of his life
06 December 2009 at 19:19

Zoe Richmond and Gabriella Hood like this.

Kinders shared The Guardian’s Editorial on Google Reader

Kinders and Emily Subden are now friends.

Kinders favorited The world speaks out against climate change on YouTube

10 December 2009 at 03:58

Kinders Al Kinley is not feeling so loved today
10 December 2009 at 17:22

Alex McCarthy ✯
Aww. *hug* for Kinders!
10 December 2009 at 18:02

Zoe Richmond
There’s no ‘like’ button next to your name. But if there was I’d press it.
10 December 2009 at 22:16

Gabriella Hood
you are loved.
11 December 2009 at 00:21

Kinders Al Kinley
Thanks dudes, you rule. I feel loved again today. Part of me doesn’t want to leave here. Part of me can’t wait.
11 December 2009 at 22:58

Kinders Al Kinley feels loved today; have had a splendid day.
11 December 2009 at 22:51

Angelique Orr, James Maroney and Natalie Brook like this.

Kinders Al Kinley Week1 of CoP15 can best be described by the word “extremes”: most here have been shouted and sworn at, applauded, praised; felt elated, demotivated, frustrated, moved, excited, helpless; cried, fought, laughed and hugged. Despite some hellish days, I feel inspired and privileged to be here at this intensely significant… event. Excited for march/party tomorrow, and week2 to close a fascinating and amazing year.
11 December 2009 at 22:54

Kinders Al Kinley Finds that awful days are always overpowered by the awesomeness of the things I have the privilege of being involved in #CoP15
11:04 PM Dec 11th, 2009

Kinders Al Kinley owes apologies to lots of people for being a miserly grumpyguts today. #CoP15
13 December 2009 at 22:11

Guppi Bola
Chin up Al, coffee tomorrow? xx
13 December 2009 at 22:22

Kinders Al Kinley
Crikey, when?! Be nice if we get a chance :)
14 December 2009 at 06:27

Adam Tomkinson
Apology accepted.
14 December 2009 at 14:18

Sibylle Shacklebolt I’ve just seen people got arrested for protesting (what on earth). Are you okay?
13 December 2009 at 23:03

Kinders Al Kinley
Yeps. Only about 0.07% of demonstrators got arrested. The other 100,000 had an amazing time!
14 December 2009 at 06:26

Kinders Al Kinley is saying a fond goodbye to the #BellaCenter. I’ve gone from being UN invited today to uninvited tomorrow. #CoP15
14 December 2009 at 16:53

Kinders Al Kinley Just watched probably my last ever Fossil of the Day at #CoP15
14 December 2009 at 17:36

Kinders Al Kinley Proud to have been a Bali bear today
Save the humans
14 December 2009 at 21:58

Leisa Ashton MacLellan
I wondered if that was you- saw it on BBC- you are famous!!!!
15 December 2009 at 20:20

Kinders Al Kinley can’t believe it’s nearly all over.
16 December 2009 at 11:51

Kinders Al Kinley In our hotel, not allowed into #CoP15, it’s snowing and Dire Straits are playing. 2009 is nearly over. Feeling decidedly melancholy.
16 December 2009 at 13:51

Kinders Al Kinley signed the biggest petition in history. Join me. http://bit.ly/54XhuI #CoP15
17 December 2009 at 09:15

Kinders Al Kinley has the official pop mob sore throat
18 December 2009 at 09:01

Kinders Al Kinley Reading Obama’s speech before he speaks it. Bizzare. #CoP15
18 December 2009 at 11:43

Clare Fisher
loving your updates Al, have you got a blackberry or you permanently on the comp?!! oxfam xmas party last night we missed all you guys …
18 December 2009 at 14:49

Kinders Al Kinley
My routine is kind of, run somewhere, check emails, run somewhere else, check emails, run somewhere else… How was the party? Bummer to have missed it (third year running) but things are pretty exciting here too!
18 December 2009 at 22:29

Kinders Al Kinley featured on Have I Got News For You today… #CoP15
18 December 2009 at 21:25

Thom Wyatt
Which part? Were you a bear?
19 December 2009 at 04:34

Kinders Al Kinley
Yep :)
19 December 2009 at 09:43

Thom Wyatt
I’d wondered. You back in the uk now?
19 December 2009 at 18:23

Kinders Al Kinley
Nope. Some point this week, TBC
20 December 2009 at 10:39

Kinders Al Kinley My first Oxfam blog post :)
Being Nicolas Sarkozy | Oxfam International Blogs
Very few people have the opportunity to be the President of the French Republic in their lifetime, but today I was lucky enough to take up the mantle, at least for half an hour and be Nicolas Sarkozy.
18 December 2009 at 21:48


Kinders Al Kinley It’s all over. #CoP15
19 December 2009 at 09:49

Kinders Al Kinley Relief that exhausting #CoP15 is over now overtaken by bitter sadness that the deal is a massive #fail
19 December 2009 at 10:09

Kinders Al Kinley is coming home from #CoP15 early. I may have never been so happy
19 December 2009 at 16:19

Kinders Al Kinley necessarily got a lot off his chest last night. Time for 2010, I think.
20 December 2009 at 10:48

Kinders likes Juliana Russar’s photo.

Kinders and Becky Huinker are now friends.

Kinders Al Kinley met Kumi Naidoo at the airport #CoP15
20 December 2009 at 17:11

Kinders and Rully Prayoga are now friends.
Kinders and Christian Gade Bjerrum are now friends.
Kinders and Brian Cugelman are now friends.
Kinders and Bert Maerten are now friends.

Kinders Al Kinley CoP15 as told by Dr Zeuss…
Copenhagen
21 December 2009 at 10:37

Kinders Al Kinley Back home and already bored silly. Anyone fancy an all-delegation meeting?
21 December 2009 at 14:03

Kinders Al Kinley
Video: When George Monbiot met Boris Johnson … | Environment | guardian.co.uk
Environmental columnist George Monbiot challenges Boris Johnson’s green policies in an extraordinary meeting of world mayors in Copenhagen
21 December 2009 at 18:05

Kinders and Jason Wojciechowski are now friends.
Kinders and Anna A K Hinrichsen are now friends.

Kinders shared 3 items (1, 2, 3) on Google Reader

Kinders and Gabriel Leon Wulff are now friends.

Kinders Al Kinley hasn’t been this excited about Christmas since his age was a single-figure.
23 December 2009 at 10:23

Nidhi Shrivastava likes this.

Kinders Al Kinley spent the night having nightmares that people from work were calling incessantly to ask about their hotel in Mexico… :|
25 December 2009 at 13:12

Bert Maerten likes this.

Frida Eklund
Mwrahahahaha!!!
25 December 2009 at 20:23

Kinders shared Letters: Copenhagen: time to stop the finger-pointing on Google Reader

Kinders Al Kinley
A Message to World Leaders from Global Youth
Following the failure and collapse of the 2009 Copenhagen UN climate summit, the international youth climate movement has the following message for world leaders: “You’re not done yet. And neither are we.”

26 December 2009 at 10:46

Kinders Al Kinley La rana. La mariposa. La vaca. Lo siento.
27 December 2009 at 09:27

Frida Eklund
Mexico will be a breeze mate.
27 December 2009 at 11:44

Kinders Al Kinley
Mexico will be a long way from wherever I am in December!
27 December 2009 at 14:57

Kinders Al Kinley has had a lovely relaxing Christmas but is ready to go home tomorrow
28 December 2009 at 19:36

Kinders Al Kinley kind of misses Copenhagen…
30 December 2009 at 18:59

Frida Eklund
me too!!
31 December 2009 at 15:35

Kinders Al Kinley
What’s wrong with us?
31 December 2009 at 16:10

Posted in Climate change, Oxfam, Personal, Politics, Travel • 1 comment

2009/2010 Thursday, December 31st, 2009

2009 has been a strange and brilliant year for me. It started with an ending, when Katie broke up our four-year relationship. It was devastating, yet entirely the right thing to do, and, as it turned out, 2009 was the best year of my life (so far). I’ve visited the US, Holland, Scotland, Spain and Denmark; I’ve walked from Petersfield to Brighton. And in between each of these I’ve been in this beautiful city of mine, Oxford. I’ve befriended people from six of seven continents. I’ve discovered a hundred things about myself - my sexuality, my dreams, my fears. I’ve had my mind read and my pulse stopped and drunk the best cup of tea I’ve ever had (all in the space of an hour). I’ve chased thieves down the alleyways of Barcelona and danced at Parliament Square. People keep telling me I’ve been on BBC News as well as Have I Got News For You.

I had two resolutions in 2009 - the first of my life. One was to go permanently vegetarian. This I succeeded in. The other was to write Katie a letter every week. It would have been strange to have succeeded at that one.

I have lots of resolutions for 2010. My friends tell me they’re all cliches, but they’re sincere. Most of them are just things I’ve been meaning to do and the opportunity to do them seems to have arisen at the end of this year, but I am resolved to do them nonetheless:

Go vegan
I’ve been steering myself towards veganism since July and, despite a massive lapse in December (due to trips to Copenhagen and my parents’ - shh don’t judge me), I hit veganism at the beginning of November. In 2010, though, it’s going to become permanent, and I’m going to throw myself into learning to cook well.

Read
Ever since I got hold of The Wire I’ve stopped reading in bed, which means that - apart from policy papers and invoices - I’ve stopped reading altogether; and I miss it. I made a point of finishing The Wire before Copenhagen so that, when I returned, I could get back to the habit of burying myself in a book before snuggling down for the night.

Get creative
I used to take photographs and record music and write stories and I don’t any more. So let’s have some more of that again.

Learn Spanish
You know, it’s the second most spoken language in the world. And it’ll set me up nicely for COP16 in Mexico (estoy bromeando).

Run a/two marathon/s
Not really a resolution as I committed to it months ago, but running both the Paris and Berlin marathons is my Big Challenge for 2010.

Find someone to cuddle
2009 was the first year of my adult life that i was single and it was immensely good for me in ways I wouldn’t have predicted. But now I’m ready to find someone to cuddle again.

No flying
I took 10 flights in 2009 - 9 of them after beginning my job in the Climate Change Campaign team… So this year I’m taking none.

Keep campaigning
I’ve made so many friends and found so much meaning in campaigning this year, and I can only see that passion and energy growing in 2010. I’d like to start physically campaigning on more than just climate change.

It’s going to be an exciting year…

Here’s a meme about 2009, for those who are interested.

Posted in Art and photographs, Books, Climate change, Oxfam, Oxford, Paris Marathon 2010, Personal, Politics, Trailwalker 2009, Travel, USA • No comments

I can’t believe this is the first time I’m writing about this. Thursday, October 15th, 2009

Today is Blog Action Day, and this year’s topic is climate change. That means that this post is one of over 7,000 in over 130 countries, with a readership of over 11,268,800 readers, writing about this issue today.

I first became engaged in the problem of climate change when I was offered a job fighting it. In fact, even that engagement happened pretty gradually - since it didn’t happen because it was necessary: it happened because it was unavoidable. Every day I’m exposed to two quite polar things: the evidence of the effects that climate change is already having on thousands of people every day; and the massive, powerful and inspiring movement working to combat it.

One of the researchers at Oxfam told me a story about workers at a banana plantation in Malawi. The plantation had been washed away by floods, and many of the (ex)workers, who were mostly women, headed to the towns to prostitute themselves, which of course led in turn to greater rates of HIV and AIDS. It’s astonishing just how broad and significant the far-reaching effects of climate change are. Even in my home town of Felixstowe businesses have been swept straight from the shore.

We have an opportunity not just to solve the problems of the present, but also to shape a beautiful future on an unprecedented scale

What’s equally strange, frustrating and wonderful is that the solutions to this problem are both readily available and very exciting. We have an opportunity not just to solve the problems of the present, but also to shape a beautiful future on an unprecedented scale. Finding and executing answers to climate change means creating new jobs, new communities, new businesses, new friendships, locally, nationally, internationally. It is a chance for a fresh start. And just as exciting - although we would prefer it to be unnecessary - is the movement campaigning for those with the power to support us in this fresh start to do so.

Last weekend I was lucky enough to meet - and be part of - another group in this movement: the UK Youth Climate Coalition. It was moving and motivating to spend several days with a group of people so selflessly and passionately dedicated to doing something so very vital. It was also reassuring: I feel secure in the knowledge that there are so many intelligent, brilliant people fighting for a clean and safe future for us all.

I would absolutely encourage you to do whatever you can, whatever you want to, to help combat the biggest problem humanity has ever faced

Getting involved can mean anything from civil disobedience to signing a petition, from climate camping or scaling the houses of parliament to painting your face blue or just dancing your socks off. But it is immensely rewarding to know that you have been involved in the fight for a better future for everyone, and I would absolutely encourage you to do whatever you can, whatever you want to, to help combat the biggest problem humanity has ever faced. This December, decision makers from around the world will gather in Copenhagen to decide what action to take on climate change. We need to ensure that the deal they come to is fair - insisting those most responsible for climate change support those least responsible, who are also those hit first and hardest - ambitious enough to tackle the problem, and binding. Now is our best - and perhaps last - chance to act.

Below are some great videos, and if you want to find out more I would recommend visiting the websites 350 and TckTckTck.

Posted in Books, Climate change, Films, Oxfam, Oxford, Personal, Politics, Science and technology • No comments

Power Shift ‘09 Tuesday, October 13th, 2009
A round up of coverage so far:

Friends on Facebook will probably already be tired of hearing about Power Shift, so I’m not going to say too much about it, rather let the coverage speak for itself. What I would like to say is that, not entirely - but predominantly - because of the event, I had one of the best weekends ever (it was also great thanks to sambucca, two shut-ins and a magician who read my mind and [literally] made my pulse stop). It’s unspeakably inspiring to spend several days in the company of a few hundred brilliant people who are all sincerely motivated and committed to such a monumental cause. The crew - all under 25 years old - who put together the program proved themselves to be a group of talented, innovative, passionate people who really are going to change the world with the support of the thousands that they teach and energise.

Here’s the video:

Posted in Climate change, Personal, Politics • No comments

The right not to eat animals deserves support but I will never respect or support your right to do the same. Friday, May 8th, 2009
Related links

• BBC: What is “Speciesism”?
• The Vegetarian Society

The statement, “I respect and support your right not to eat animals, therefore you should respect and support my right to eat animals” is a nonsense, no more reasonable than “I respect and support your right not to rape children, therefore you should respect and support my right to rape children”. It should be obvious that the right to do something and the right not to do the same thing are not comparable. (They are opposites!)

My choice not to eat meat is not contentious. Its most negative effect is on those who make a living from those who eat meat, and by such an argument I might as well be chastised for not engaging prostitutes, or chain smoking. The choice to eat meat is contentious. Even those who feel absolutely justified in doing so must acknowledge that, supporting the confinement, suffering and death of a conscious creature, the issue is at the very least contentious.

That is why the right not to eat animals deserves support but I will never respect or support your right to do the same.

This post was inspired by the comments, including some of my own, on The Guardian’s “We should care because humans and animals are different”.

Posted in Politics • 6 comments

An open letter to various members of parliament and the UN Saturday, June 21st, 2008
More information about the situation in Zimbabwe:

• BBC Zimbabwe profile
• The Zimbabwe Times
• Zimbabwe on Wikipedia
• Zimbabwean 2008 election on Wikipedia
• Petition to the UN Security Council to intervene in Zimbabwe

endmoreinfo
Dear [various members of parliament and the UN],

I am in despair at the state of affairs in Zimbabwe. Every day the media reports the most horrific, vile events - and that is all I see: reportage. Neither the public nor the government appears to be taking any action, even appears to show any sympathy. As a politically active citizen, I want to encourage people to support those who are trying to save lives and and livelihoods in Zimbabwe; I want to encourage people to rally governments worldwide and the UN to take action against a despicable regime that, under an obviously fictitious veil of democracy, has become nothing more than a sick and desperate dictatorship. But I see no outlet for this. I see little public or institutional interest, and this is why I despair. We are witnessing the perpetration of the most evil abuses and doing nothing. There are a few petitions with barely scores of signatures; but given the way the government treats the issue - occasionally releasiing statements that are nothing more than a wagging finger, condemning, but not making any attempt to cease, Zanu PF’s actions - it is no surprise to me that people are either ignorant, unmotivated or incapable of responding actively. As a representative of the public, please take every opportunity you get to raise this issue to your peers, who are in a position to spread awareness and encourage action, since it is an issue of extreme importance: it is an issue of people’s rights, futures and even lives.

It is one sad thing to read these events in a newspaper; it is far more shameful and frightening to think that our supposedly socially-advanced government is watching and doing nothing to stop them.

Yours sincerely,

Kinders Kinley

Please feel free to copy and/or alter the text of this letter, sign it and send it to anybody you think appropriate.

Posted in Letters to Parliament, Politics • No comments

Dear George, Saturday, June 14th, 2008

David Edgar, in his open letter to George Bush today, made one particularly interesting point that had never struck me:

One of the ironies of the Manichean, “clash of civilisation” model, which has split the world on your watch, is that the very aspects of literal, Wahhabist Islam that westerners have proper worries about - the death penalty, the subordination of women, homophobia, censorship, aggressive warmaking, the divine authority of leaders - are aspects you don’t have that much trouble with.

A real update about fascinating me coming soon, I promise.

Posted in Politics • 4 comments

There is some possibility that this set up is farce Wednesday, March 5th, 2008

A terrorist carrying enough liquids to create an explosive goes through security at London Heathrow airport. Most of his liquids are confiscated because they are in containers larger than 100ml, and the passengers on his flight are saved.

The next day, ten terrorists carrying between them enough liquids to create an explosive go through security at the same airport. They are let through because their liquids are in containers smaller than 100ml. Thousands die and I still don’t get my shaving gel back.

Posted in Politics • 2 comments

I’ll be interested to see… Tuesday, February 12th, 2008

Everybody is aware that our justice system is, consciously or not, outwardly or not, shamefully or not, a legitimised route to vengeance before it’s a deterrent or a form of rehabilitation. That much is obvious, and it’s been the case ever since we’ve had a justice system. What I think will be interesting about the outcome of the forthcoming trials of those allegedly responsible for 9/11 is that, if it does result in the death penalty, it will be a clear and irrevocable indication not only that are we bent on revenge before trying to rehabilitate, but that we will seek revenge even at the expense of deterrence.

The criminals behind 9/11 want to be executed. They want to be martyrs; it is their greatest honour. If, as surely will be the case, they are found guilty by the court, administering the death penalty will be the opposite of a deterrent to others: it will only encourage those as deluded as them to walk the same path.

So will the justice system make an effort to do what it has long claimed to have been set up for and actually prevent further crime? Or will it just fulfill the easy, short-term job of placating our vengeful bloodlust, even when doing so fuels the flames that it supposedly exists to extinguish?

Posted in Politics • 4 comments

The final story Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008

And finally: you might have thought that marsupials weren’t master accordionists - but that’s where you’d be wrong…

Increasingly I’m finding that The Guardian’s articles sound like the final stories of so many lighthearted news round-ups. But the stories that are being covered in this laissez-faire manner are serious events, and the quirky tone of the writing is laced with a bitter, condescending sarcasm. The Guardian has always bent left but in the past they at least made an attempt to appear neutral. It’s a bit much for me. I don’t mind a little opining in news reporting, but when it’s presented as sarcasm and spiteful puns and cheap digs, I think it’s time to find a new news source.

Any suggestions please?

Posted in Politics • 3 comments

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