40 a day

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No, I’m not back on the cigarettes, but I’m trying to get back into books with 40 pages a day. I read a lot of blogs but want to add variety by mixing what I would normally read (crime thrillers, business titles, sports biographies) with some very new and different stuff for me.

Starts today, and with this one. It’s a very interesting insight so far…

Running is not like team sport. You have to be egocentric. But you also have to separate the race from the rest of your life; you shouldn’t become an egocentric personality.

Wise words from Grete Waitz (86), taken from Noakes’ classic Lore of Running (3rd edition, 91)

Travel

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This last year has seen a lot of travel for me and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. As always, I’ve made a lot of observations along the way and here are a few of them that immediately come to mind:

  • Airports and customer service are like chalk and cheese.
  • Receive a smile in an airport, other than from a duty-free salesperson, and it stands out and is always remembered.
  • The inhabitants of countries who have less economic power, less inward investment, and less opportunity in their own lives are generally much happier than those than those from other perceivably ‘better off’ countries.
  • Simplicity trumps complexity every time and leads to better results.
  • Turn off your tv and see what is out there on your doorstep. You’re likely to be very surprised.
  • Try to take every opportunity to meet local people in whatever place you find yourself. (I missed out on this a couple of times and I should have made more of an effort.)
  • Make a plan for any trip before you travel, but don’t get too hung up on it. Keep some excitement in there.
  • There is so much of our own countries that we haven’t yet seen, and, for me, taking a look at this would be a good thing.

homelessiam:

Homeless Photo of the Day

By Shamus Dollin. 

I am not happy that I am putting this photo up, because of the photographer’s callous use of words towards the homeless. 

If you click on the photo it will take you to the flickr page. Where he calls the person a “homeless” and a “bum”

Stop blaming the homeless for what their situation is and labeling them as if they don’t deserve a name or an identity. 

If you lived on the streets, ate from a bin and were hopeless, how better off do you think you would be? 

What’s your target?

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As we head into the final quarter of the year, with dark nights, christmas present lists, next year’s summer holiday plans, etc, it’s time to think about targets for next year. They don’t need to be sporty ones (although mine mostly are – I do a lot of sport) but they can be anything you like. They can be a real help in motivating us to do something new, improve ourselves, find a new hobby or interest, meet new folks – whatever you fancy, really.

What are yours?

I’d love to hear from you. Even you lurkers out there, too. Come and join in, let us all know what you’re up to…

Mine? Well, the biggest one, anyway – Paris Marathon next April in a new best time for me that’s a long way off right now – 3.15. I’m going to throw everything at it!

Rio’s real problems

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Have just taken @ninianna back to the airport via bus for her journey back to the UK, and travelled very close to some of the favelas that cover large parts of central Rio. These sprawling areas of basically slum residences where those under the poverty line have their homes are controlled in most cases by drug gangs, and the only rules that seem to matter are the ones set by them – law enforcers stay well clear. The film ‘City of God’ is set in one of the Rio favelas and if you haven’t seen it and are interested in this kind of thing be sure to check it out.

What I find hard is the City of Rio has done nothing to reduce the levels of abject poverty suffered by people living in these conditions. The homes in some cases have no windows or doors, and large numbers of a family live together in cramped spaces. There is obviously a strong, almost tribal, sense of community in these areas, but the conditions are not good. There are many deaths each year due to gang violence and the numbers are deaths are huge. I have heard that there are more killed in the favelas per year than there are in officially designated war zones! This is an incredible statistic to consider. So why is nothing done about this?

Most of the tourism sites in Rio are owned and run by the state, so all the income they generate is fed into the public sector. There is also a large amount of foreign investment, bringing with it significant tax income. But where is the expenditure on helping those in need in the city? I left with the feeling that the city has given up on those at the bottom of the pile. They should be doing A LOT more than they are. I heard of plans to build huge walls to keep the people of the streets away from the big Olympic and World Cup venues when these arrive in a few years time. What sort of a solution is this? A completely irresponsible one.

Another example of poor leadership, politics gone bad, a society in need and at breaking point, and no true, deep, long-lasting and sustainable solution in sight. There is a chance for someone to stand up and make a massive difference here. Break the stranglehold of the political puppets. I’m no expert on politics or the way that these things are done but I do know that in Rio it is desperately needed.

(written Tues 28 Sep 2010)

Rio wrap-up

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Last day in Rio today so trying to get my head around the trip, all of the experiences from it, and my thoughts on the place, the people and how it’s made me feel. I think the sun’s creeping through so will get packed up and back out into it for the last few hours now.

See you on the other side…

The Rio experience, and the climax of the Homeless World Cup

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It has been an honour and a pleasure to be here in Rio and experience the HWC first hand. I’ll write in much more detail over the next few days/weeks but there is a lot to be said. The street soccer was played with a spirit, a skill level, and an attitude that is hard to beat, and the players gave it their all. The desire, and the hunger to be the best, shone like the Brazilian sun (on the odd occasion it came out!) and the faces of the Brazilian tournament winners (men and women) in the moments after the final whistle blew will stay with me forever. They had done it! They had overcome the problems in their lives and they were winners! And they loved the feeling soooooooo much.

There are sights to see now before the return journey home. Thanks to Mel and all at the HWC for putting on a grand show.

Next stop – @homelesswrldcup Rio De Janeiro

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Later this week @ninianna and I will be travelling to Rio to witness the spectacle that is the Homeless World Cup street soccer tournament, taking place on Copacabana Beach. I’ve completed a few sporting challenges of my own this year, raising funds for the HWC by way of many generous donations from all of my great friends, and this trip to see what the funds I have raised can do for the people taking part in the tournament is going to be a very special occasion.

I wanted to help HWC by raising funds because they inspire and empower people – giving those with little or no hope a real chance of changing their lives for the better through taking part in the tournament, playing street soccer, and representing their nation on the global stage. Having the opportunity to see this kind of project in action, and the difference that it can make at first hand, is something that doesn’t happen every day and I’m going to enjoy every minute of it.

Just imagine going through these steps over the course of a few months:

  • you are homeless (living on the streets or are in temporary housing or a hostel, for example) and you are asked if you would like to come and play soccer one evening
  • you turn up, play, and meet some new people who become your friends and team mates
  • you come back for more, week after week, have a lot of fun and begin to get fitter
  • you are picked to play for your team in a regional/national tournament
  • you do well, and are selected for the national team to represent your country at the HWC
  • you are wearing your national team’s colours and are playing in the HWC tournament
  • you are in with a shout of a trophy on finals weekend of the HWC
  • you are playing in the final of the HWC
  • you are in the winning team of the HWC!!!

This scenario is going to come true for some of the players in Rio this week – how fantastic is that?! I’m sure I don’t do this transformation justice in this small post but it happens and will keep happening as long as the tournament continues and people support the cause. Mel Young and the team at HWC do a fantastic job in putting the tournament on in the face of a lot of opposition and bureaucracy related the homelessness cause, but their work is invaluable and long may it continue.

I want to share my experiences of the event with as many people as I can so there will plenty of tweets, a few photos and some video clips, too. Follow me here, or the HWC and Mel Young: