“Climate change will affect you.”

“Global warming is all faked.”

“IPCC are just a bunch of liars.”

“Glaciers will melt and cause major natural catastrophes.”

That is stuff you can read around the World Wide Web. Personally, I can’t tell who is lying or who is right. Probably both are partially right and wrong. Since I’m not an expert on that subject I do not claim to have a correct answer to questions and problems but I have some thought I would love to share.

One thing I have experienced in the past few years is that older people and by old I mean all people above the age of forty years (No offence!) are saying that they have never seen weather like this. Back when they were young it never rained that much, it was never that hot, storms were never that extreme and so forth. That’s what I hear from people everywhere in Europe. No matter if they are 40, 50 or 60 years old. Weather as it appears nowadays is completely new even to them. Judged by those opinions there is definitely something changing. Moreover, something is changing in a very alarming way. I will leave you to judge whether this is significant or not.

Secondly, a whole lot of people with high reputation all around the world are saying that global warming is a serious issue. Well, I’m not sure how much influence governments, companies and the illuminati have but I dare to doubt that so many scientists would give up their principles to a fake research results about global warming.

Furthermore, there is a highly important question. Is it caused by humans? Well, no matter if it is or not. Would not everybody and our own planet earth benefit if we stopped consuming and using so much oil and other fossil fuels? In my opinion, people should try to become more independent and switch to greener technologies not just for sake of our global climate but also for the sake of our own countries and their independence from others. Let me back up a bit and get to the point if it was caused by humans or not. Ever since the era of industrialisation mankind’s demands have risen enormously. We need more food, cars, water. Basically, we need more of everything. Therefore, it is my belief that all carbon dioxide, plastic and other waste must affect our climate. It would be naive to say it’s not. It’s basic physics, we cause a billion kilograms of CO₂ and the result we get is the so-called greenhouse effect. Others may beg to differ here and say that we are heading towards an ice age or that the world has always had its ups and downs. Still, if the change is natural, it may still be pushed by humans and that’s a problem which needs to be taken care of.

And here I am again, not knowing if it is all real or not. Not knowing if we can stop or avert it. Not knowing if all that green energy hype is helping. Maybe it is just a money-making, evil world that uses their citizens and makes them believe they have to buy so-called green products to save their environment. Companies always do that. On the other hand, I can look at it from the perspective of an engineer and say that R&D departments will achieve advancements in all kinds of fields only to make us a less wasteful world. This will push the envelope in science; companies will invest and thus create new jobs. That is all for good. And for all I know progress in that direction is good. What can I say, I’m not a pessimist.

As you probably could interpret from the title of this blog post I will write about London (UK). So, I’m living in London for the next couple of months and it’s going to be legendary. Before, however, several things need to be sorted out.

It was a lovely Thursday evening when I first arrived at Gatwick Airport. There was I and my luggage which was no more than it should be. 20 kilograms of clothes, stuff and more stuff. Basically, enough for anybody, anywhere and for however long. After my arrival I went to a good friend of mine who provided accommodation for the time needed to find a place on my own.

Starting to communicate a.k.a. get a SIM card

If you ever look for a flat in London you will need a cell phone and a SIM card. I only needed a SIM since I already posses a phone. Where do you get a SIM? Let’s say T-Mobile. I went to T-Mobile because it seemed quite a good offer I saw on the internet before I went to London. Unfortunately, I was informed that I needed a UK bank account for that. Thrilled and enthusiastic I approached HSBC Bank to open an account. I waited for a couple of minutes and was then served by an employee. Once more I didn’t succeed since I had no address yet because I was staying with my friend. In fact, I did not even know her address.  So I was fucked. It seemed like a vicious cycle.

No SIM without bank account, no bank account without address and no flat without being able to contact people.

I stepped out of HSBC and just opposite there was a Llyods Bank which charges you 6£ a day for unplanned overdrafts with your VISA debit card. I did not know that and don’t mind about it now but you should consider it if you ever think of opening a bank account in the UK. I went to Llyods Bank and for some reason the lady there told me that she couldn’t open my bank account without my employer’s contract. Again, I had no idea what to do. My first day in London almost ended without a result. I nearly couldn’t check anything in my checklist. Despite all the obstacles that were thrown in my way by destiny I didn’t even for one moment consider giving up. I approached another T-Mobile because I really needed a SIM card to be able to communicate. Such a basic need and those cold-blooded, competitive providers tell their potential customers to go away and open a bank account. And those even more cold-blooded banks telling me to go a get papers and a place to live. Anyways, I was again in a T-Mobile store and this time a much friendlier guy told me that I could not get that special offer I saw on the internet because it needs contract. He offered me a pay as you go SIM with internet booster that kind of stuff for a fistful of pounds. I was good to go. Relief spread through my body when I succeeded getting a SIM card. I was keen to continue my quest and open a bank account. I went to another Llyods Bank and a much friendlier woman was able to help me. She could open an account and needed no contract; even my workplace address was good enough. Simply splendid. I now had a SIM, bank account and was ready to seek for flats.

Where are all the Brits?

Gumtree, easyroommate, spareroom were my source websites to help me find a room. Gumtree in particular is fantastic. It’s well-known and hundreds of ads are posted every day. I don’t have much money that’s why I was looking for a cheap room in a flat share or house share. My budget was about 350£ which is not a lot. I’m talking about 350£ per month, not per week. It’s so exciting to look for flats in London. You’re sometimes scared, wondering, feeling awkward or just like a place. Which place you take depends on your budget and your interests. I wanted to be with at least some British people who I can talk to and improve my English. 7.5 million people live in London but I honestly can’t tell where the English people are in London. I’ve been to 6 flats in 6 days, all in different parts of the city and only 2 were not occupied by Uzbekistanis, Italian, French,  Japanese or Indian people. I’m not xenophobic I was just really wondering where the heck the people were that supposedly live in this country. At long last, I found a flat and it’s a great place. Doesn’t cost me much more than expected, it’s close to work and comfortable.

Silent pilgrims in corporate uniform

My first day at work was interesting. Interesting is neutral. Many impressions shape my first day. I was still at my friend’s place and I used to walk over London Bridge for the first couple of days which is quite cool. It starts at about 8 am when you see people in suits heading towards Bank. Thousands from all sides. Fat, skinny, white, black, small, tall, short, good-looking men and women in their suits march towards those huge, lifeless, concrete building owned by banks and insurance companies. So was I.

It’s fascinating that amongst all those people still almost everyone manages to be alone. No matter how stuck the tube is, no matter how close you site besides someone in the bus, people just wouldn’t talk to you. If you ever want to be alone and not disturbed go to Europe’s largest city, you will get more privacy than in any godforsaken village.

That was the first post of many to come. I already have had loads of other adventures but 1000 words is enough for now. Next time I will start an experiment. Talking to people in the tube.

ALERT! It’s the Bible. SPOILER ALERT! Don’t read any further if you haven’t seen the movie yet. SPOILER ALERT!

So, let’s start. I have just seen “The book of Eli”. A film starring Denzel Washington as Eli on his godly journey heading West where he is supposed to find a save place for his King James Bible. But let me provide you with some more background. It’s set in the U.S. in a post-apocalyptic future where people can’t read and the entire world heritage is lost. Except for some people in the West who collect and try to preserve it and re-establish the society with its former knowledge and education. Eli is on his quest from east to the west (I should become a rapper) and he is always carrying the Bible with him. That’s more or less the story. If you want to know the rest of it check out Wikipedia or download the movie from some piracy site if you’re not up to paying money for that movie.

Anyways, what disturbs me about the movie is not only that it lacks a real background story which offers viewers insight to the cause of the catastrophe. It is rather the Bible itself. Why did they choose the Bible? I mean really. I can’t see why that book would be any more important than an encyclopaedia or “Being nice for dummies”. The film is well-made in terms of its martial art scenes and its realistically appearing special effects. Yet it lacks a good story and an objective.

If the world ended up that badly I would rather care about a book which explains basic engineering to build new machines or a book on how to grow plants and food. This is essential and not the Bible. I hope I am not offending any religious people who read my blog. But no one reads it anyways, so what the hell. The bible is the source and cause of many wars that are made nowadays. Of course it helps people to get on with each other and teaches basic rules how people ought to behave. It’s the base upon which laws in the western world are based on but these rules can be taught differently as well. If the world was at such a state as it’s in the movie, I definitely would not start again by teaching rules from the Bible. I would teach rules neutrally and not make the same mistake all over again.

While I’m writing this, a question pops in my mind. What are the right rules? Who decides that? Is there a perfect summary of those rules in some kind of book? Who wrote that and why is that person right? Yes, maybe there would be war again and groups that separate and change the rules as they like. Perhaps new religions or followers of certain rules would be created. Damn. It’s difficult. But I would at least give it a try. Creating a new world without religious bias, a world whose rules are based on common sense and not on stories from the olden days must be at least worth a try. When we cut it down to the bones the rules are more or less the same no matter who writes it and which religion it is.

I shouldn’t really write about religion because that’s usually one of those taboo topics such as politics, racism, American patriotism and the list goes on.