London Zoo, or ZSL, report.

It is truly hard to believe that about ten years ago this zoo was in serious financial trouble, with the fear of closing a stark reality, but as with all trends, it had failed to change with the times and was stuck in the Victorian era with outdated paddocks and buildings that were poor for the inhabitants, as well as the visitors.
The turn around into a modern zoo has been met largely through good planning and huge personal donations from people who know the value of enjoyment and education for the children.
And what an era it has chosen to reform!
Global warming, pollution, endangered species and mans mission to destroy, are all constantly in the news.

Gone are the elephants and rhinos, moving to the greater pastures at the sister zoo at Whipsnade, near Luton. The grade 2 listed penguin pool, all concrete and slides, remains but the penguins have a better life in their new larger pen.
There is still so much more to do here, but there is a good feeling that the gorilla kingdom project has created a real buzz that brings people into a very special place. At last we are learning about the projects that the Zoological Society is carrying out throughout the world to save the animals, their habitation, as well as educating the local people to treasure, rather than kill, for all of us and the generations to come.

Valencia. Spains Hidden Treasure.

A break from London, and really a step into the unknown as I hadn't done much homework on the history aspect of Spain's third largest city.

One remarkable asset is a dried river bed that has been turned into one of Europe's finest walks. The existing river was prone to flooding and was diverted away from the old city. Now it is full of fountains, soccer pitches, art, tres and gardens, that is away from the roar of the traffic raised up on either side. The trees offer shelter from the sweltering 32 degree heat with a light, and very welcome, breeze. Right at the end of these joined parks is truly a sight to behold as Valencia shows of its style with a series of buildings that are both modern and functional. The opera house (pictured above), the science and arts centre, and an ocean centre, at a cost of some 2 million euros, is providing the local population and tourists with excellent exhibitions and sea life. Dolphins are the star attractions as the trainers take them through an outstanding performance. Aquariums that make the sea life centres seem dated elsewhere.

The old city centre is, as expected, busy at all times as people head for the train station or of to the adjoining Bullring. There is plenty of Plazas to sit and unwind in, and I must admit I was caught up in the frenzy of shopping that the Spanish excel in. Good bargains at cheap prices.

Valencia is likely to become the permanent home to the Americas Cup, the worlds premier yachting competition. The beach's stretch for miles, but there is signs that perhaps local people and their homes are making way for high investment in hotels and playboy type homes. If this is the case it is a tragedy, because the people are the heartbeat of this city.

Life On The Southbank

The London Aquarium centre piece is a fantastic tank set over three floors containing sharks and sea fish in shoals that swim towards you for a real close up view. More importantly is the education matter for all of us about the state of the under sea world that is threatened by human existence. For centuries we have used the oceans like a big flushable toilet with all kinds of pollutants being dumped there, as well as over fishing that is a real threat to our food source.

This visit was the starting point to a day out on London's Southbank side of the Thames which turned out to be one of my best days of the year. On a beautiful sunny day and devoid of the traffic, this area is second to none for a visit. Within a couple of miles there is a real mix of attractions and restaurants to suit any ones taste.

1. The London Eye- Take it or leave it, but you can't deny it has been a massive success.

2. Tate Modern- Love Art or hate it? A great setting in an old power station.

3. Shakespeare's Globe - Reconstruction of London's first open air theatre.

4. Salvador Dali Exhibition- See the amazing coffee table with the sexiest legs holding the glass.

5. Street entertainers- from the amateur to the professionals. Today there was a really excellent escapologist that had all of us laughing at his presentation, and cheering as he escaped from three padlocks holding the chain wrapped around him.

This side of the Thames is just so full of good things that if you haven't been, go soon and enjoy.

Charity Appeals On Tv. Do We Really Need This?

Yet another TV charity night aiming to raise millions for the starving people in Africa, to add to the millions already taken in.

Of all the appeals on our screens, this particular one is my favourite. It is easy to approach this fund raising in a negative way, many people find it hard to conjure up any enthusiasm as there really is no end to the suffering, especially in Africa which is in free fall to near collapse. Band Aid, Live 8, and many more keep puling at the heart strings with images that are harrowing.

Africa is not only a problem, it is our problem too. No charity is ever going to dictate to the governments of the African states on how to spend the Countrys wealth on the poor, because they will not listen. Corruption and fuedal wars will continue to bring death and famine whatever we do. so this accepted, what is the answer?

Primarily, I would say that the biggest change for the better could be the realisation of the Vatican in it's stupid stance on contraception, that has caused the HIV virus to explode amongst the poor Catholic nations. If only the Pope would stand up and say that "condoms are cool".

Comic Relief puts on a great show and i think that the stars on show are genuine in their beliefs, and good causes in the UK also benefit.

Nothing annoys me more in London than having these student charity workers leaping out in front of me like someone on an LSD trip, wanting me to part with my bank details as a donation.

I sometimes ask how much of the donation goes towards paying you ? Most just snarl and turn away. I just think of the old days when you could choose to put cash in a tin that they were holding.

I guess time have moved on, but one thing's for sure, any money that can give hope and bring a smile to a childs face is worth every penny. Well done guys and girls for making over £30 million.

Crime? What Crime?

We are always being comforted by the media, the Mayor, Police chiefs and Tony Blair that crime is on the decrease thanks to the streets being so full of police that we can't stop bumping into them.

Driving around the streets of London, seeing myself and hearing other peoples stories, however, paints a far from rosy picture of how things really are.

This is my actual account from this week of crime that is spreading like a virus, yet remains strangely out of the headline news.

A Regent Street jewellers being attacked at 3am by a gang with sledgehammers shattering the windows and helping themselves to expensive watches.

A group of eight black guys stabbing a man in Wood Green High Road. I gave a statement to the police as I saw them running away. I spent an hour yesterday signing a statement only to be told by the police officer that the guy stabbed doesn't wish to take the matter further, as it is gang related. Thanks you idiot for wasting everyones time and resources of our emergency services.

A series of four security van robberies as the guard carrys shop takings to the van. I saw two guys getting away on a moped outside Boots, again in Wood Green.

My local grocer tells me that he had a guy with a shotgun appear at the door, but fortunately it was locked.

Driving through Camden Town, one guy having some kind of drug trip in the middle of the road, yep, you guessed it, right in front of my car. (Oh no, not me again!)

Several store security guards told me of thefts on a major scale of people just walking into the shop and snatching rails of clothes, and running out, even silly stuff like cosmetics, toothpaste and soap are stolen.

So get real guys, London is developing into the wild west, with all sorts of crime and scams, but even worse is the increase in the use of guns and knives as over a hundred gangs have been identified by the police, including white,black and Asian mobs.

Footnote. Yesterday a young black, 15y.o. was stabbed in the leg and died after walking home from the cinema.

The Mayor Versus The Pigeons.

This photo was taken on a Sunday morning in Trafalgar Square and is a good indication of just what the Mayor is up against in his battle to rid the area of these " disease ridden pests".
The woman on the left has a shopping trolley containing enough bird seed to feed the whole of the country, and is breaking the law in doing so.
The street cleaner sweeps the seed up and the woman puts it back into the bag. The guy with the hawk is employed by the Mayor as the pigeons have a bit of a cowardly side and don't particularly want to take on this superb bird of prey. At the time that this picture was taken there was not one pigeon to be seen. However, about three hours later they were all back again as Hawkman had gone.
A lot of people, including myself, do have a soft spot for the pigeons as they have a bit of a tough life living with people. It has been said to me that they are vermin and carry loads of infectious diseases. My response is to ask whether they carry HIV virus, Syphilis, or any other disease that us humans actually do spread around. Kind of makes them think that perhaps we are the vermin? Let the pigeons live some kind of decent life without suffering the bully's who I have seen kick out at them. Someone once said that we caused the problem in the first place by domesticating these birds as they were once wild. Point taken!

Blood Diamond Film Review.

This is the film that has created quite a stir in the diamond dealing world and has lead to De Beers spending $8 million in advertising to defend their own source of diamonds as "conflict zone " free and to the rules of the Kimberley Mining Charter.

The film revolves around a huge diamond being found and hidden by a black African who is forced by rebel militia to pan for diamonds, whilst his son is taken away and trained as a boy soldier, and his wife and daughter flee into the refugee camps.

Leo DiCaprio is a dealer who had been a soldier in Rhodesia, and learns about the pure pink diamond whilst held in prison for smuggling stones across the border.

Jennifer Conneley provides the love interest and is a war zone reporter trying to untie the mystery of how these stones are being sold yet undeclared by the African states.

This is a big, expensive, blockbuster of a movie that reveals the

heartbreak of a nation torn apart by civil war, and the greed of the Western world as they buy these conflict diamonds knowing full well that the money they pay will buy the weapons that keeps the conflicts, suffering and death in motion. These rare sized stones are taken out of the dealing world to protect the price of already cut diamonds, making them seem a rare commodity, when in actual fact, they are not. This is the reason that you and me will be ripped off buying the rings and jewellery at high prices. So, a film with guts.

There are times in this movie that are absolutely heartbreaking as the chase to find the buried diamond heats up, bringing the rebels, the soldiers of fortune, and the two main characters into an explosive finale. Like any good film, it is hard to look ahead and guess the outcome.

This is also Leonardo DiCaprio at his very best, Oscar nominated deservedly, and comfortable with an Africaan accent throughout. His character is tough, focused, untrustworthy, with no other aim than to own the diamond for himself at any cost. A superb supporting cast and an excellent script and screenplay, makes this a hot contender for film of the year. Two hours of fast action take you through waves of emotion, despair, hope, tragedy and anger. As they say several times in the film- TIA . This is Africa.

Rating JJJJJ (five Justins)

Oh,Big Brother.

Well it was going to happen sooner than later, the Celebrity Big Brother has unleashed a foray of anger at "racial" insults aimed at Bollywood star Shilpa by Londons very own Jade Goody. The press has condemned her as tensions have risen in India at the treatment of a very lovely lady, and are seeking to destroy Jades career. This is "car crashTV" at it's best and worse.
What I actually saw was a very ignorant girl (Jade) doing what she does best, engaging mouth before the brain is in in use. Remember that she was a product of an earlier BB and has achieved quite a bit since with two series on Living TV, Jade's Salon and Jade's PA. A career based around the gossip mags since has brought her a fortune, but unfortunately no further intelligence. I quite like the girl when she is in a happy mood playing to the cameras. I don't think that she is a bad person at all, maybe all this celebrity nonsense has actually changed her in some small way. Stubborn,confident,stupid and rich.
Two accusations were that she was a bully and a racist. Firstly I would say that most people have got it wrong to say that she was a racist. The comments she made were in the heat of an argument with Shilpa that showed the difference between an educated woman and the complete opposite. Secondly, I would definitely agree that she is a bully and saw a chance to put down someone who is not at the same low level species as herself.
The real culprit of this sad event is the producers of Big Brother who have always used the diary room to lay down the rules about bad behavior and bullying. They let it all go without reprimand until it had got totally out of hand. They failed to protect the people they had hired to provide "entertainment" to this fast fading format, and allowed it to turn into havoc to boost the poor audience ratings.
Channel Four and Endemol, you stand accused of bringing the media of Television into the gutter. Guilty!

Justins Christmas Message.

Whether or not you are looking forward to this Christmas, it is a time to reflect on the year that is fast closing and ask the questions that need answering in order to move forward into the New Year.
For me personally I find Xmas a bit of a drag as I work in retail environments that began the build up in October. I sense the strain of the stores as they pull out all the stops to hit the targets that could make or break their year. Above all I see the staff working like crazy with extended opening hours eating into their personal lives and can't help wondering if the spirit of the actual occasion is lost. It's not until I see the kid's out with their parents that I realize that this is the time for family's to show their love not with expensive presents, but with deep human emotion.
My wishes for next year would be quite simple.
1) This year has been littered with storys of sadness for family's torn apart by violence, war, and loss of loved ones. From the killing zones of Iraq,Afghanistan, and the Middle east to the domestic murders of the five girls in Ipswich, it brings up the question of God's part in all of this. Let me say just this. God is not like a football team with rival supporters jeering their opponents. The world would become an amazing place if all the religions of the world could see that there is only one God, and their God is no better or worse than their neighbours.
2) To Israel I say find peace and stop killing the Palestine children, or the next generation will grow up knowing nothing else but murder and hate.
3) To George Bush and the USA. Stop trying to police the World. Iraq will take 20 years to solve in part. Blair knows it. Even I know it. Bush believes it will all end up with hugs within a year.
4) To the European Union- immigration is going to cause chaos and conflict in the years to come. The only sensible way for any kind of result is to maintain the borders, and limit access to people that want to adopt a new country and work hard.
Finally,to all of you out there. I wish you a very happy New Year full of nice people, love and above all peace.