London and beyond — Unrest rises from poverty

Edited by Carolyn Bennett 

“I think...when you get a lot of children [most of whom] can't find jobs and their only way of living is probably thieving and getting money off National Assistance, that is very sad,” said Member of the House of Lords Philip Harris of Peckham speaking to the BBC.

The young in England are rioting after police killed a young man, John Duggan, in Tottenham. The police said sorry and they are investigating. They have arrested hundreds of people.

Free Speech Radio News reported yesterday that riots in London have spread since the weekend. Shops and businesses have closed as police warn of further unrest and looting.

The neighborhood where the trouble began has high youth unemployment and recently has been hit by 75 percent cuts in youth services.

Unrest clearly connects with and rises from inequality, disrespect for some people's lives, power repeatedly abused, poverty and lack of opportunity. Harris said, “We have more youngsters 16-24 who are out of work than in any other age group.”

Sources and notes

Naomi Fowler reporting fro Free Speech Radio News, August 8, 2011,

http://fsrn.org/audio/headlines-monday-august-8-2011/8933

Philip Charles Harris, Baron Harris of Peckham, South London, is an English Conservative member of the House of Lords and a business owner.

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