Who's Fiddling While London Burns?

Consumerism as ideology. Before they rioted for peace and rights; now it's self-interested fun & plasma TVs. But who's fiddling while London burns? 

Because judging by the time it's taking to sweep the streets clean and circumvent a dismal Olympics and a 'double-dip' into depression, you'd be forgiven for thinking that this is just a ploy to turn public opinion against violent protest.

Why? The emergency policing powers that will now be clamoured for, and are justified to stop London's stupid gangs, unemployed and school children running amok, will be used to curb reasonable disorder when the real news, that of the coming Eurozone and Dollar crash, raises its rotten inevitable head.

"Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to greater danger." - Herman Goering; and things have moved on since WW2.

Should we underestimate the iron fist of the State, gloved and held behind the back by spurious human rights lawyers and future inquiries; or is this the thought through burning of a fuse?

The Thames Festival

A huge amount of people watched the fireworks that marked the end of this year's Thames Festival. After photographing the parade, I got in place for the fireworks at a vantage point on Hungerford Bridge. Deciding that there was a better view from the stone balcony on the bridge, I went past a barrier and set up my tripod. To my dismay, I was moved by a constable of the Health and Safety brigade, keen to see that I would not choose this momentous occasion to leap into the chilly Thames, or be pushed in by the surging mass of a couple of cold individuals. With no possibility of setting up now, I turned my camera on those people watching the fireworks, who stood universally transfixed. With the fireworks outside of the frame, this otherwise empty space in London's heart now is scattered with silent watchers.