working class, yes i said it, working class

I heard an interview with Len McCluskey, the General Secretary of Unite.  Asked about why he wouldn’t accept the current plans concerning pension reform bearing in mind the financial pressures everyone was experiencing he spoke about how the pension funds that provided for the pensions of the Unite members were in good financial health. He …

Occupy, Punch and Judy

The occupation has been in front of the Cathedral for a couple of months now. I have  several friends who have been supportive in one way or another and conversation has often been in favour of giving assistance to the movement. The model of general assemblies appeals to certain sensibilities as does the absence of …

othering ourselves

In research there is always an issue of the researcher having power over the researched.  This is typical of anthropological work where the ethnographer comes to their field, spends time, forms relationships and then buggers off stage left,  perhaps to return with a chapter or a copy of a book if they are that successful.  …

a consuming shame

There has been a Tesco Extra open near to us in Sheffield for a couple of months now. It is located just at the edge (the town side) of a vibrant, mixed and low income/high unemployment shopping area called Ellesmere Green or Spital Hill. There was a lot of discussion before the giant supermarket opened …