Speakers Corner…again!

OK so once again i’m apologising for being a bad blogger, it’s been months since my last post. I’ve been away for a few reasons, partly for the election (I was helping out on a couple of campaigns) and also for work.

But I’m back in London now and I’m so glad to be back! Hopefully now that I’m back I can start being a better blogger and get back to taking a pictures.

In the meantime, here are a few pictures I took this morning at Speakers Corner. Another couple of new faces including the guy with the saxaphone who was rapping using random words from the crowd, who was perhaps one of the most entertaining people I’ve seen at the corner.

The Latest Crazies

So this past Sunday (28th March) with my family down in London to celebrate my graduation we headed to Hyde Park for a listen to the crazies  Big turn out this week with a couple of new speakers (at least for me) who were both drawing big crowds.

In a way these guys were sort of polar opposites.  One an American Christian Evangelist was extolling the views of the Bible, while criticising Islam.  He was particularly focused on the Qu’ran and spent much of his time in arguments with a group of young Muslims who disagreed with his interpretation of their religion.

The other was a young (for Speakers Corner anyway) British Muslim who was discussing Sharia Law, punishment and forgiveness.  Like the first speaker he also spent much of his time talking about other faiths and was particularly critical of Christianity.  Another paralell was that he also seemed to spend most of his time in an argument with a group of Christians.  Just another day at Speakers Corner!

I haven’t been the most active blogger, or photographer lately, but hopefully with the weather starting to look at bit better and the election campaign around the corner, there should be plenty more posts and photos coming in the next few weeks.

Billy Bragg at Speakers Corner

Political activist and singer-songwriter Billy Bragg took his campaign against bankers bonuses to Speakers Corner this weekend. To protest the payment of big bonuses by the Royal Bank of Scotland, which was bailed out by the government, Bragg is refusing to pay his taxes.  Speaking at Speakers Corner for the second week in a row Bragg claimed he wouldn’t pay his taxes until the Chancellor of the Exchequer Alastair Darling vetoed the RBS bonuses as he has the power to do.

Using his speech at the Corner (and via his 20,000 strong facebook group) Bragg urged others to join his campaign by writing to the Chancellor and demanding he act against the RBS bankers.  While he’s been in Hyde Park for the last two weeks Bragg has said he plans to take his campaign around the country – starting in Edinburgh outside the RBS headquarters.

I did manage to shoot some video while Billy was speaking but it’s taking its time to upload, so i’ll post that later (probably tomorrow).  But if you want more information you head over to either the facebook group or the special website for the campaign. Both addresses are below -

http://www.nobonus4rbs.co.uk/

No Bonus 4 RBS Facebook Group

The Speakers of Hyde Park – Still Preaching in the Rain

If ever there was proof needed that the people of Speakers Corner are dedicated (or crazy and obsessed) you would only have to look at today.  Despite freezing temperatures and really heavy showers three Speakers dutifully turned out to entertain the crowds.

Well I say crowds, but to be honest there were only about 15 people there and they weren’t all that enthusiastic!  Most seemed to see how quiet it was and give up only staying for a few minutes.  Even one of the speakers who was there couldn’t be bothered and just sat there on his stool in the rain. Bit crazy if you ask me!

But despite the wind and rain, and the lack of much of a crowd one of the Speakers was going full force.  He wasn’t one i’ve heard before, but his message wasn’t that uncommon.  He was talking about the most common topic in the Corner, religion.  He was obviously a proponent of a particular type of Christianity.  But my description isn’t brilliant so why don’t you listen to the two audio clips i’ve posted to get a better idea.  I have to say I think even the most religious people will disagree with this guys wide definition of what qualifies as murder!

The Speakers of Hyde Park – the American and the Socialist

[Vimeo 7010698]

Click here to see the video in HD

Another Sunday, another visit to Speakers Corner.  My brother is down visiting at the moment so I took him with me, and luckily I got to use his excellent Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 lens, which is perfect for this sort of photography.  After using the lens today it has quickly jumped to the top of my wish-list!

Today’s speakers corner was a little than different than usual as it had moved slightly.  Because of the Royal Parks Half Marathon route going right throughout the corner it was shifted a little closer to Marble Arch.  Last time this happened it had a negative effect because there was less space and some of the Speakers decided not to come out.  Luckily that didn’t happen today.  All the regulars were there and there was at least one new Speaker (at least i’ve never seen him before).

Anyway I hope you enjoy the video, and if you want to see it in all it’s HD goodness click on the video to head over to my Vimeo page.