First off I'd just like to say get well soon Fabrice!
But questions must be asked how this could happen to a young man at his physical peak in the most demanding football league in the world? The premier league has in place medical procedures to prevent certain injuries and medical anomalies but there have been calls, since this recent tradgedy, to make these test more stringent. Now, across in main land Europe Italy have such testings, which stop athletes competing at such high intensities if proven to have such genetic defects that will endanger their lives. so why not in England? These preventative measures surely must be brought into force with immediate effect. Since the incident at White Hart Lane, the whole of the Tottenham squad have requested cardiology tests, as have players from clubs the length of the British Isles.
Now on the more positive side of things, the response from medics at the scene was fantastic. Not enough credit is given to the men and women who keep the athletes in tip top shape. David Silva, a Man City midfielder, has recently been quoted as saying in the telegraph that no player can ever say they are 100% fit. So credit must be given to the medics within these teams that get the players out on the pitch. But special mention has to go to the medics whose actions on Saturday evening saved a life.
Muamba's heart stopped beating for 78 minutes, and in that time had 15 defibrulations , it is a marvel he is alive to tell the tale. It is widely believed that without the actions of the club doctors, a cardiologist from the spectators and the ambulance staff that Fabrice would sadly no longer be with us. So hats off to those who are able to produce such heroic actions under the gazing eye of 42,000 chanting football fans.
Thursday, 22 March 2012
Sunday, 9 October 2011
Grit, determination, and a whole lot of rejection.
Since finishing university I have realised, I probably should have seen this a long time in advance, that 'making it' in the real world, 9-5 office hours, is not necessarily about what one has been learning throughout those 3 expensive years; balancing university work, a part time job and a social life. It is all about experience.
Now I know this is a dangerous statement to make, but, if I were able to do one thing differently in those three years it would be to take a a year out, half way through I would go about gaining experience in industry. A sandwich year, as they are more commonly referred to, is the perfect base to launch your final assault on university life and to start making arrangements post degree. Aside from my two years in the catering industry to keep myself hovering between black and red, I had very little experience in a work environment. So to put this essential wrong to right I am attempting to start from the bottom and work my way up, the old fashioned way. I have joined Kelly's services, a temping agency in the center of Birmingham, who, to be fair to them, found me a job straight away with Williams Lea, who are, in turn hired by Ernst and Young, covering current employee's holidays.
Now whilst filing might not be the most glamorous of jobs, at the end of the day it's a job. And in the current economic environment there aren't a lot of those knocking about, so I'm more than happy to suck it up and take what I am given, for the time being anyway. But in the long term, with my second class degree (upper class) in English Literature and Journalism, I am looking to get my foot in the door of the cut-throat world of PR. So whilst working for Ernst and Young I am currently updating my C.V, which to my surprise, has no shame in becoming rather promiscuous in fishing for that one job offer or offer of work experience that will give me that all important first step towards a career in PR.
I know I am not alone in this situation. Many of my university peers are struggling to gain that first footing on the career ladder, I know of only one who has managed to find that dream job offer, working as a trainee managing accountant in central London, the rest of whom have jobs at a variety of retail stores such as Waitrose, Russell and Bromley, and Boots.
There was a time when a university degree meant something, but at a dime a dozen companies are looking for something extra, experience. But it is getting that first experience which is proving so difficult. But as my father and no doubt many others, has always said: "if it's worth having, then it's worth fighting for" and it is with these words that I tuck my degree certificate under my arm and go knocking.
Now I know this is a dangerous statement to make, but, if I were able to do one thing differently in those three years it would be to take a a year out, half way through I would go about gaining experience in industry. A sandwich year, as they are more commonly referred to, is the perfect base to launch your final assault on university life and to start making arrangements post degree. Aside from my two years in the catering industry to keep myself hovering between black and red, I had very little experience in a work environment. So to put this essential wrong to right I am attempting to start from the bottom and work my way up, the old fashioned way. I have joined Kelly's services, a temping agency in the center of Birmingham, who, to be fair to them, found me a job straight away with Williams Lea, who are, in turn hired by Ernst and Young, covering current employee's holidays.
Now whilst filing might not be the most glamorous of jobs, at the end of the day it's a job. And in the current economic environment there aren't a lot of those knocking about, so I'm more than happy to suck it up and take what I am given, for the time being anyway. But in the long term, with my second class degree (upper class) in English Literature and Journalism, I am looking to get my foot in the door of the cut-throat world of PR. So whilst working for Ernst and Young I am currently updating my C.V, which to my surprise, has no shame in becoming rather promiscuous in fishing for that one job offer or offer of work experience that will give me that all important first step towards a career in PR.
I know I am not alone in this situation. Many of my university peers are struggling to gain that first footing on the career ladder, I know of only one who has managed to find that dream job offer, working as a trainee managing accountant in central London, the rest of whom have jobs at a variety of retail stores such as Waitrose, Russell and Bromley, and Boots.
There was a time when a university degree meant something, but at a dime a dozen companies are looking for something extra, experience. But it is getting that first experience which is proving so difficult. But as my father and no doubt many others, has always said: "if it's worth having, then it's worth fighting for" and it is with these words that I tuck my degree certificate under my arm and go knocking.
Thursday, 16 December 2010
31% of Tanzanians won't be able to read this
The statistic that only 1% of our hard earned cash that we give to charity actually goes to the charitable cause is deplorable. So shocking in fact that it has stirred up enough passion in amateur documentary film maker, Michael Matthews to investigate further. “It is something I feel passionate about, I could not believe it when I heard that stat, I thought to myself something must be done.” It is clear to see that the topic touches a nerve in Michael and it’s something he is very passionate about.
The New York News has reported that of the $14,993,873 donated by the public to Bono’s ONE campaign only $184,732 (1%) actually went on charitable causes. An Alleged $8 million of that went on salaries. “People around the world hear about Bono’s charity, don’t get me wrong he has done fantastic work, but surely a larger percentage can be given to those who actually need it.”
Michael has experience with working for charities in the past, but is fairly modest about it. “I’m no Mother Teresa figure but yes, I do have a background in charity work”. He has experience both in the UK and abroad, helping out with guide dogs for the blind as well as a school re-development programme in South Africa, all at the spritely age of 20.
I put the question to him, why he chose to focus his documentary, ‘Tracing the Pound’, upon children in Africa. Michael recounted his visit to South Africa, at the age of 17, where “there was a water shortage at a school I visited. There had been no rain for several weeks and the school was unable to provide water for its pupils and the group of British students I was with ended up sharing our own meagre supplies of water”. “It was a life altering moment for me, it was difficult to comprehend the state of poverty and the inability of the state to provide one of life’s essentials.” The passion is easy to see in Michael, it is infectious.
It is this experience whilst at the school that he says to have influenced his decision to document the suffering in Africa and in particular focusing on the education sector and if funds are misappropriated and where the rest of the money we give goes.
Tanzania, on the east coast of Africa is the chosen destination for Michael’s investigatory piece and his chosen charity is the Village Education Project Kilimanjaro. An education based project based at the foot of the largest free standing mountain in the world. “The fact that it involves children is a positive for me, because it will have a greater impact upon the audience”
The Tanzanian literacy rate is a mere 69% and when compared the 99% of the UK, it is clear to see that something needs to be done to help them out. Michael believes “education can be the long term solution to Africa’s troubles, an education of sexual diseases and other stuff like technology could be a huge help.”
Not only is Michael undertaking this massive project of exposing the reality of what charities really do with our money, but he is also taking on the mountainous venture of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. This is not just for his own personal gain, he is using his own charitable personality to help his close friend and colleague Jenny Young make her own documentary about the efforts of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, which she would have trouble creating without him. “I’m not just going along to help her with technical stuff but also mental support. It’s important to have friends during these types of things just to keep your head in the right place.” “I’ve always wanted to task myself with something like this, but I never imagined I’d be carrying filming equipment with me.”
“There is a confident air to Michael; every word he says has an authority behind it. An important characteristic when travelling to one of the most dangerous continents in the world, “I’ve been warned of the dangers, but if I’m sensible I’m sure I’ll be fine”
Tanzania is one of the less tumultuous countries in Africa which is why Michael has chosen to set his documentary there. “I haven’t actually got my Visa yet but fingers crossed it will be granted, there shouldn’t be any problem with my application”. Delving into some of his research reveals how difficult it is in some countries to obtain a visa, and really some of these places are incredibly dangerous for their natives let alone Western film makers with expensive equipment.
The well documented AIDS pandemic in Africa has affected the way of life in Tanzania as it has much of the rest of Africa. The life expectancy of the Tanzanian people has been reduced to 46 years due to it, an incredibly low number in comparison to that of the richer western nations. In the UK the average life expectancy is 80 years just under double that of the Tanzanian population whilst in the US it is 78 years. It was this pandemic that brought the African plight to our television screens.
“When in front of camera I try to combine the styles of Michael Moore, Louis Theroux and nick Broomfield, I’ve grown up watching these documentary film makers, and if I’m half as successful as any of them I’ll be happy”, As mentioned earlier Michael definitely doesn’t lack confidence and certainly when it comes to his aspirations he is thinking big, “in five years I’d love to be on a major team like Dispatches or perhaps freelancing abroad.” Michael has future projects in mind even before finishing this one, he has plans to investigate the laser eye surgery field and the risks of having it done and will then finish it by receiving the treatment if he thinks the risk are worth taking. The future looks bright for this promising documentary film maker.
The final cut of this documentary will be shown when Michael is still at just the fledgling age of 20, still with a great percentage of those 80 expected years left on his side.
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Tuesday, 2 November 2010
Introduction
The Great South Run is in it's 20th episode and although it hasn't been going as long as the Great North run it is still a major event on the racing circuit. I took the opportunity to head down to Portsmouth to witness some of the worlds best athletes competing against each other with a magnificent backdrop of the coast line. I was rewarded for my decision as I was able to witness the breaking of a record that had stood for 15 years. Joseph Ebuya broke the British record for 10 miles by a staggering 40 seconds, a record unlikely to be broken for years to come. My original idea for this project was to head up to St Catherine's hill on the outskirts of Winchester and capture a day in the life of the historic city from a far, but my reason for changing to the Great South Run was that I wanted to Challenge myself more with the hustle and bustle of the Great South Run, to capture action shots of an amazing event. Considering it is a prestigious sporting event as well as a major fundraiser on the charity circuit and with over 23,000 runners participating I thought what better event to catalog a day in the life of...
Monday, 1 November 2010
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