Fourth Plinth Occupation

I’ve just come across this really cool project in London, and just had to share it with you.

This summer, sculptor Antony Gormley invites you to help create an astonishing living monument. He is asking the people of the UK to occupy the empty Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square in London, a space normally reserved for statues of Kings and Generals. They will become an image of themselves, and a representation of the whole of humanity.

Every hour, 24 hours a day, for 100 days without a break, a different person will make the Plinth their own. If you’re selected, you can use your time on the plinth as you like. One & Other is open to anyone and everyone from any corner of the UK. As long as you’re 16 or over and are living or staying in the UK, you can apply to be part of this unforgettable artistic experiment.

You can play your part in making this idea a reality – either by volunteering yourself, by telling others about it, or by experiencing it online or in the square itself.

At the moment, there’s a panda on there. Not a real one, because that would be dangerous. It’s a guy dressed as a panda. Apparently his girlfriend made the outfit for him. He’s mic’d up, webcam’d up and advertising his mobile number for people to call. I haven’t called him, but I have sent him a text.

It’s actually really quite cool.

Here’s the panda;

You can watch the action live at http://www.oneandother.co.uk/ where you can also find out more about the project.

FixMyStreet

I love the FixMyStreet website (or as my friend Martina likes to call it StreetMyFix) In fact it’s now become a bit of an addiction of mine, other than this blog and Facebook of course.

I really wish that more people knew about it, and used it as it’s so easy to report issues to the Council (in my case Brighton & Hove City Council). It literally takes a couple of minutes and then it’s done.

You can report abandoned vehicles, street lights that aren’t working, graffiti, pot holes, pavement issues, the list is endless.

I’ve even been recommending it to my friends when they moan about things.

Now all the guys and girls at mysociety need to do is create a version for the Nokia N95 and I can sort stuff out as I walk past it.

Please, stop relying on somebody else to report things, take some pride in your local area and take the lead in sorting it out yourself. You’ll enjoy the satisfaction of things being fixed and telling people “I made that happen”.

There’s even a little picture up there in the top left hand corner for you to click, so you don’t even have to write the website address out or Google it!

Vulcan Petition Update

You may remember that I previously posted a link to the Number 10 petition website in connection with Vulcan XH558. If you don’t then you can find the post here.

The petition said;

We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to ensure the Vulcan XH558 project receives sufficient funding to enable it to continue “Honouring the past and inspiring the future.

Details of Petition:

After many years of hard work and £7 million, Vulcan bomber XH558 finally flew again on 18 October 2007. It was a mammoth effort that overcame a number of major setbacks. A truly extraordinary and inspirational project. It has delighted onlookers at airshows throughout the year and serves to educate future generations about the Cold and Falklands Wars. However, the outlook is grim. The downturn in economic conditions now puts the future of the only flying Vulcan bomber in the world in doubt. With tightening budgets, companies that previously may have been willing to support XH558 now find they do not have the finances to do so. This unique plane must be saved in its current airworthy state for the nation. We petition the Prime Minister to step in to ensure XH558 reveives sufficient funding to continue flying – whether from public or private sources. She not only serves as a ‘living museum’ to educate a generation lucky enough not to be experience the Cold War, but also as a flying memorial to the servicemen who lost their lives during the Falklands conflict. XH558 requires a mere £1.75 million to continue its important work.

The Government have (finally) issued a response to the petition which had been signed by 19,860 people. There response is as follows;

Thank you for your e-petition.

The Government welcomes the preservation of the decommissioned Avro Vulcan G-VLCN and applauds the commitment by the Trust that has brought about its return flight.

In June 2004, the Vulcan to the Sky Trust was awarded £2,734,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to assist in its aims of a return to flight and air display flying. However, as one of many warbird operations flying former military aircraft on the air display circuit in the UK, the operation of the Vulcan G-VLCN does not fall within the Ministry of Defence’s core business and further funding of this project would not be an appropriate use of defence resources.

The Ministry of Defence has provided support to the Vulcan Trust where possible, and has always been willing to consider abating charges for this support, whenever the circumstances are of mutual benefit to the Trust and the department. The RAF is committed to the long-term preservation of other non-flying Vulcan aircraft as examples of the type that are on display at both of the RAF Museum’s sites in Hendon and Cosford.

I’m sorry, but to me that just sounds like a lot of mumbo-jumbo (if that term really does exist). Exactly what does that statement mean? So the MOD won’t give any money because it’s not their core business. Maybe the MP’s who are at the centre of the expenses row should contribute, after all, they’ve fleeced us all out of several thousands of pounds (allegedly) when maybe that money could’ve been put to better use funding an important part of our history.

More to the point, why don’t they ever give an honest answer. A simple “Thank you for your support….but no” would’ve sufficed.

Let’s hope that XH558 is not left to rot away somewhere, especially as things seem to be bubbling away in far off places.