Salute

A Soldiers Poem

If I die in war zone
Box me up and send me home.
Put my medals on my chest,
Tell my mum I did my best.

Tell my dad not to bow,
He won't get tension from me now.
Tell my brother to study perfectly,
Keys of my bike will be his permanently.

Tell my sister not to be upset,

Her brother will not raise after sunset.

And tell my love not to cry,

Cause I'm a soldier and I was born to die.

Lest we forget

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I found that poem on one of my friends Facebook, I'm not sure if they wrote it or whether they found it but I thought I should share it regardless.

Now I am completely against war, but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate the sacrifices made not just by the men and women but by their families and friends who get left behind also. Also the animals: we don't think of them but they die for us too.

For many, today was a day of mourning and in the eyes of an eight year old, who may not even know why we do this, is a day of remembrance. You can see the people holding back tears from their eyes as they place a poppy on a piece of stone. Only a few will ever know their true story and yet a country will become almost silent to say thank you.

I've always found it remarkable: whilst you are thinking for two minutes in silence, so is everyone around you and the majority of the country. Sharing the same thoughts.

Nobody is born to die. This day isn't about one war or even two - it isn't even about a war as far as I'm concerned. It's about sacrifice for someone else, to put yourself in the line of fire to save a person you don't even know.

So for that, I am eternally grateful.

Until the next time,

Kris

Olympic Torch

A pointless event; that was the view of a some and I suppose it is just another flame, I can do it with a match. What makes it so special? Is it that the flame comes from Mount Olympus?

I, however, have a different theory. The torch is special because its about being part of something; the olympics started in Greece 8000BC before restarting in 1894 and for every person standing in the pouring rain to see a flame travel past you know you've just become a part of history.

Quite proud of this photo I had to contend with giants to take it!

Through all the rubbish in the world, the crisis in the Euro zone, global warming, wars and yet millions of people are turning out to see a torch? No, they're coming in millions to see hope. You will be able to see that you saw the torch in person, but one thing did annoy me with the ceremony the carriers were supposed to be inspiration people and I know inspiration people but some of the people just aren't. 

Then afterwards it was the Carnival, now if you don't know this year I'm in the school show and for some unknown reason they managed to get us a float at the carnival and lets just say I know why the Queen doesn't ever wave properly. After two house of waving my hand was about to drop off! It was still amazing with everyone on the float even if we were about to have a breakdown from singing 'We Go Together'!

But just because you didn't carry the torch don't feel like you've never done anything important because what's the point of running with a torch if no one's there?

I'm on my work experience next week so I may not be able to get to a computer but I'll try and write in advance.

See you soon,
Kris

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Also because we feel that not everyone deserved to be awarded was rewarded for their inspirational behaviour A New Perspectives will be running its own competition to find the most inspirational person in our school. So get your top three nominations in soon with a the reason why you think they should; you will remain anonymous if you wish.

Hurry up and give someone the credit they deserve. In order to nominate someone click here and thank you.

Foxes

This is one thing I really don't get - why do people want to kill foxes?

Leave them be!

Most people I won't let you kill a wasp so God help you if you try to kill a fox in front of me, the reason I'm actually writing about this today is because we have foxes! Yes that's right they have made a nest (I think that's the right term?) under one of our neighbours shed's and she has had cubs so now we frequently get a visit from them.

About 21,000 - 25,000 foxes are killed annually by organised hunts and that is ONLY 5% of fox death's so in the UK an estimated 460, 000 foxes die every year. Let's say 1 in every 5 foxes is a mother or father that mean's that 36, 800 fox cubs left without mother's or father's.

"Canine Mange is a terrible condition that left untreated will see the death of the infected fox. We believe that if a condition can be treated then it should be, regardless of whether the householder is unwilling, or unable to pay for the treatment. If you have seen a fox with mange and would be willing to provide food (in the form of a jam or honey sandwiches each night), the treatment can be sent to you free of charge."

If you do have a fox with the mange you can save it for all most no cost you - visit the Fox Welfare Society if you live in the UK and show some compassion.

Kris
PS: The unedited fox video is below and the music is from Jurassic Park. There is a signup form on the right of this page that will allow you to be notified every time I publish a new post.

Homophobia in Russia

If someone says bullying this is probably what you think of, but that's not what I am writing about today.

In Russia at the moment there is a big argument in Russia second biggest city - Saint Petersburg. This following story has been going on for a while now. The equality group AllOut has recently released this letter from a man called Sergie who has recently been arrested in the city.

My name is Sergey and I'm an attorney in Russia. I'm straight - happily married for 16 years - and until last week I would not have been called an "activist".   But in just five days I will got to court, fined and maybe even thrown in jail because I held up a banner in Saint Petersburg and told the truth: “A dear family friend is lesbian. My wife and I love and respect her … and her family is just as equal as ours." 

I was among the first to be arrested, but thousands more could follow.  As I write this, Russian officials are fast tracking a plan to extend Saint Petersburg's "gay propaganda" law to the entire country.
I believe that it should never be illegal to defend the dignity of friends and family. 

(Watch this video to the end, there is a purpose to it)

This law is trying to make speaking about lesbian, gay, bi and transgender (LGBT) illegal in the city.  Now that lawmakers in the Duma (the federal legislature) are debating a version of the law, this despicable law could go national - unless we fight it now. They are making words illegal. I personally have words to describe how messed up this law is but...

Did you know that 76 countries still criminalize being gay, 10 countries make being LGBT punishable by death or life imprisonment. But you can stop this, sign the petition at AllOut. Would you want someone to be silenced because you didn't speak up?

Kris

PS: Send this post to everyone, you don't have to be LGBT to stand up for what's right.
PSS: All the videos in this post can be found on my YouTube channel here.

Make A Difference

So, coming up to christmas I have been doing my christmas shopping when I thought what about people that are way less fortunate then me. Corny, I know but true.

Imagine knowing your going to die at the age of 15. The fear. The pain. I can't but some people have to put up with this everyday. The Make-A-Wish foundation changes this, they have granted more than 7,000 magical wishes over 25 years. They know that their wishes transforms lives.

A statement taken from their website

Over 20,000 children in the UK are living with a life-threatening illness, a figure validated by research commissioned by Make-A-Wish. At a human level, we believe few things can be more important, or more deserving, than giving a seriously ill child the chance to have their wish come true, with all the hope, expectation and happiness that brings. 

This year alone 1,200 children will turn to us to have their special wish granted. And we want to grant a wish to every one of these.

I know most of my readers are minors themselves so of course don't have bank accounts but I know you have phones so text EASY99 followed by the amount you wish to donate to 70070 or visit my JustGiving page today.

Can you see spots?

 

I stayed up until 2AM this morning so I could watch the Children in Need show on BBC 1. It was amazing, with many famous names such as Matt Cardle and Adele, I totally love Adele.

   

I’m not old enough to ring in unfortunately but what I was old enough to do was to donate money to Children in Need through my school. The school also did a show for Children in Need and all the profit’s were donated to Children in Need. Hope you enjoyed the show and saw spots.

Kris.

PS: I think I’m going to set a charity sponsorship  page up so I can do an even bigger bit for charity, so I’ll keep you updates.