Attended a launch event for the Tower Hamlets Interfaith Forum, of which I am a member of the Youth Committee at the Whitechapel Gallery yesterday evening. Our first project was to create a photography exhibition on what we view as our identity. It was an interesting one, as even though I have thought about my identity, but never about how I would capture that visually. I have to say I was very impressed by the creativity of the other 9 members, and love how we each have a different take on what is our identity and how we chose to best demonstrate it visually. Because I’m such a lovely person you can view the pictures here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ruj87/sets/72157625337667725/
Ok picture quality aren’t that great but if you are around Tower Hamlets you may come across them at some point. Currently they will be moved to the TH Council Town Hall, Mulberry Place then to other destinations. Will keep you updated on where they are.
Oh and I should add, for those of you who answered my question on Twitter you may see you answer in my pictures…
The question for those who don’t know or remember is:
If you had to pick a meterial object(s) to represent friendship, what would that be?
The evening was interesting, we had our new Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman, attend with an opening speech (after the first item – yes he was late as expected..) who my mum conversed with. Apparently she remembers him when he used to live nearby, and his wife, who used to work in the Tredegar Centre. We also saw the screening of three videos; ’76 Seconds’ about 3 Muslim and 3 Jewish young people who travelled together to watch the Amir Khan V Dmitriy Salita boxing match, ‘In Good Faith’ about the interfaith relations in Tower Hamlets including the message for No Place for Hate, and ‘Fragile Peace’ about the recent trip to Bosnia taken by the Tower Hamlets Interfaith Forum to learn about the Bosnian situation since the Serbian Genocide. Did you know there is quite a large Muslim community in Bosnia? The video for the first is below, or if you can’t see it check it out on their blog. The other two videos are only available on dvd (I mean really youtube anyone…) but if I do find that they have been ‘inspired’ and have published an online link and I’ll post it here.
Via: 76 Seconds
Later as we left I thought it would be nice to walk it home. My mum had other ideas. Ended up seeing someone who is long-distance family members (lady is my mum’s dad’s aunt – that makes her my great-grandmother, or great great aunt(?)). So upon entering, and few conversations topics later turns out her son is Zakir Khan (yup the Tower Hamlets Tories candidate in the last election and no I ain’t no tory supporter). My mum told us a story how she meet him years ago, in the early 90s when he was part of the Met Police. She thought how familiar he looked and how he looked like someone she knew. After approaching him it turned out the person she was thinking of was his dad. You know if someone approaches you in the street asks where you’re from, and it turns out they know not only the area but the actual building you live and your family, do a) ask them how they know and who they are b) thikn they’re stalking you and run away c) remain indifferent? He was c) indifferent. Yeah weirdo. So my mum, being my mum, went ahead and introduced herself anyway. But not once did he invite her to his house or speak to her warmly. Perhaps because he was on duty, but really now, is he against the Police Contract to speak nicely to residents?
Anway apart from him, I did meet his youngest brother, or by the way is the complete opposite to Zakir Khan (or what I heard about him anyway). Did take him a while to get his social act together (mind you East London boys seriously lack in their socialising skills especially when it comes to speaking with elderly) but once we got talking he was very friendly, turns out he volunteered in the same youth club I did, only three earlier. Then drove us home later (after a nudge from his mum of course :-p).
Anyway that was my eventful evening. Sorry about not being as regular with my posting, still not fully recovered. Just been really lazy and ill and doing nothing useful with my time at all. Hopefully be a little better… perhaps… 
~Ruji x
