LONDON--July 14, 2014 will be a day marked in history. The women in the Church of England are now able to become bishops.
Charlotte Waters of Cambridge said,“If that’s what she wants to do than good for her, and that’s good for women in general who are in the world of religion.”
The measure passed with the required two-thirds majority vote from the three bodies of the General Synod: The House of Bishops, The House of Clergy, and the House of Laity.
The measure will now go before parliament. If approved, the general synod will make a formal announcement at its next meeting in november. This means the first female bishop could potentially be appointed in the next year.
Some Londoners believe this progressive decision is long over due.
“About time. Really, it shouldn’t be a sexual thing, it should be who ever cares and wants to be within that profession or within that lifestyle,” UK resident David Beasley said.
Simon Kilby of Yorkshire is another supporter of the measure. Kilby calls the General Synod’s decision a growing pain of today’s society.
“People get stuck in their ways, you know people are big believers in traditions, religion--whatever that might be,” Kilby said. “That’s absolutely fine, but we’ve gotta move forward, right?”
The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby released a statement, following the final vote, in support of women becoming bishops as well saying, “I am delighted with today’s result.”
But there’s also the belief that the traditional roles of men and women should be upheld within society.
“It’s very important that men and women have the same opportunities, but I think it can still be respected that men take up certain roles,” Waters said. “I think different genders are suited for different things--I just think that sometimes a man might be better at something than a woman.”
When it comes to gender equality, the question of whether the women will do the job just as good as men tends to arise.
“Is there any reason why they can’t?” Kilby said. “I don’t see why not. You know if there good enough, then fine, they can do it.”
The General Synod’s decision to allow women to become bishops comes 20 years after the Church of England ordained the first women priests. It will be interesting to see what historical decision the church will make within the next 20 years.
The London travelers dream starts with a ride in the notorious tube. This smelly and overly hot underground subway station is the prime form of transportation for all travelers and city commoners. We saw days where we packed like sardines and accustomed ourselves to the no personal space way of living. Nonetheless, we got to our destinations in a swift manner, and traveling was made easy by the tube. Next up, Greenwich, a very historical city for many different reasons, the invention of time, longitude and latitude, and especially the beautiful paintings within these building walls you see here. Built for worship, these sites are huge tourist attractions, as the walls are the original painting with no murals hung like you would see today in someones home. The last tea ship, the "Cutty Sark" expired here and was turned into a landmark museum, where others can learn about the history of this great ship, and all of its voyages. We got to ride a clipper boat on the Thames river to transport throughout the city one day, and along the way we caught a glimpse of all the tourist attractions, such as Big Ben, the London Bridge, and many other large towers or buildings. Wesminster church was a surreal experience, as we got to view the inside and see some of the best glass and carved sculptures a building has to offer on this planed. The London Eye was filled with performers of all types, but they gathered hundreds around them just to get a decent income for their talents.
LONDON-- People from all around the world travel to the city of
London to see the sites. The London Eye is no exception as it has been voted in
the best top ten attractions to see in London. Climb aboard for a breathtaking
experience, with an unforgettable view of London’s famous landmarks.
Approaching the top of the London Eye
The towering London Eye sits in Jubilee Garden on the South
Bank of the river Thames. As the water flows by you can catch a breeze as you
wait in line with other excited guests for an experience of a lifetime. The Duo
team of architects, David Marks and Julia Barfield shaped the massive wheel. The
London Eye was created to celebrate the turning of the Millennium. Specifically,
the turning wheel is meant to represent the passage of time. Even though the
Eye has only been around for about 14 years, it attracts world-wide attention as
people near and far come to ride the wheel to see London’s true beauty from a
distance.
Ride operator, Craig Fraser says, “The London Eye sees an
average of 23,000 guests each summer day.” With this amount of people entering in
fellow ride operator Katie Howell also said that, “we are ever evolving” referring
to promotions as the new representative of a modern London.
The London Eye stands 135 meters tall, one of the tallest
structures in London. The stunning view allows the visitor to see 40 kilometers
in every direction on a clear day. London Eye employees have mentioned that
they can see as far as the Windsor Castle on a perfect day.
Looking out
More than three and a half million people travel to the eye
each year, so constructing the best views and optimal safety concerns are
important. After stepping inside a capsule, visitors will notice that you can
see a complete 360 degree view. A site from every possible angle can be awed
at. The wheel has 32 capsules, weighing 10-tonnes each as they represent each
one of London’s Boroughs. Also, each capsule can carry 25 people as they are
free to walk around and enjoy each view. The London Eye travels at a pace of 26
cm per second, carrying a total of 800 people in a quick 30 minute revolution.
A view of the capsules
In 1999, Prime Minister Tony Blair officially opened the
wheel on December 31. However, the first ride wasn’t conducted until March of
2000. Walking through the sea of visitors below the Eye, you can see and hear
how diverse the people are who come to see one of the best attractions in the
United Kingdom. It is very amusing to see all different ages and hear all types
of languages who come together for a single purpose.
After talking with guests, most people had reported that
this was not their first time riding on the London Eye. However, experiences
were so great that they had to come back for a second go around. The London Eye
is a place for school groups, families, date nights, or anyone who wants to
reflect on the beautiful city and take in the amazing views of London.
Katie Howell said, “Because we are working with EDF Energy,
people are racing to the London Eye this summer to see if they can catch a ride
on the special orange capsule.” After doing some research, the London Eye is
offering promotions through EDF Energy. For example, you can rent out the
orange capsule and have a spectacular ride with dinner and champagne along with
the sunset. The perfect setting for a special event.
Top of the London Eye
The London Eye was the best part of my London
experience and I would recommend everyone ride the spectacular wheel so they
too can have an eye in the sky.
LONDON--The term “Busking” comes from the Spanish root word
“buscar,” meaning, “to seek. Dating back to the 1860’s, Great Britain has been
home to millions of buskers performing for various reasons. Many seek fame and
fortune, others seek recognition, and some simply enjoy utilizing their
talents.
Today, busking typically takes place on a public street
corner as to attract large numbers of foot traffic. In London, performers are
typically in the tube stations, at restaurants, and any popular tourist
destination. Performances from buskers can be almost anything that will gain
attention, like; acrobatics, magic, singing, dancing, or even sword swallowing.
After seeing so many performers, it is easy to become
curious about the people behind the talent. Why do they perform? How often do
they perform? And on the top of the list, how much do they make performing? In
order to answer these questions, it is important to go where busking is the
spectacle, rather than the background.
With the intention of talking with some of these talented
performers, the London Eye is a place over run with tourists and buskers alike.
Sure enough, there were performers lining the pier next to the Eye. The first group
of buskers was a group of 4 Jamaican acrobatic performers. Before they began
their show they passed out 4 metal bowls, and encouraged the audience to “bless
them if they enjoyed even a minute of the performance.”
This is the tactic of a busker who relies on their
performance as a full time job. The performers were exceptionally great at
incorporating audience participation, and the culture that they expressed
through their dances was easy to see. It wasn’t difficult to see how they were
able to use this type of performance as their sole form of income.
Next, the attention of people walking along the pier seemed
to be taken to a young woman performing recognizable covers, and originals. Charlotte
Campbell is a singer songwriter who performs a mix of pop and folk. Charlotte
released an album early in her singing career that wasn’t as successful as she
would have hoped. In order to gain musical attention she decided to try out
busking. Within a short period of time her music gained popularity and she is
now in the process of releasing a second album. Campbell said, “I really didn’t
think anyone would listen, and then they did.” With the help of foot traffic
along the pier, Campbell has made a name for her self within the city of
London, and hopes to expand her career around the globe.
Each busker performs in a completely original way, making
them unique to every other performer on the street. However, they all have one
thing in common: a desire to share their passion with as many people as they
can. It is this similar trait that keeps the art of busking alive today. It is
difficult to stop and listen to one of these many performers without smiling.
Buskers aren’t beggars, or professional con artists; they are musicians, and
talented performers passionate about what they do.
To watch Charlotte Campbell perform a hit single off of her
new album click below.
LONDON-- It’s July in London and the students descend.
The metropolis of London, England, is not only a popular
tourist destination, but also a top stop for international education programs.
London swells with students during the summer, said tour
guide Nadia Jennings.
As a major study abroad destination, approximately 24
percent of all students in London are international students studying abroad,
according to londoncouncils.gov.uk.
“Summer is particularly full,” Jennings said. “You have a
lot of students coming over to study.”
Jennings, 25, a student tour guide for API, a study abroad
program provider, said she suspects more students study abroad during a summer
term because of fewer sports commitments and shorter, more financially viable
programs.
Also, she said she has noticed more female students than
male students tend to go on study abroad programs.
However, many students who choose summer programs find that
London is especially full.
Last year, London attracted nearly 4.9 million visitors
during the summer months of July through September, which was a 20 percent
increase from the previous year, according to London Evening Standard.
The 2011 Census pegged the population of London at 8.17
million, and the projected population for 2021 is forecasted to exceed 9
million, according to londoncouncils.gov.
London's view from above.
With more than 8 million people living in the city and
almost 4.9 million visitors, places are bound to be crowded and busy,
especially during hectic summer months.
Katy Taylor, 20, a student from the University of San Diego,
said she is taking a communication class at Queen Mary University in London for
three weeks as part of a study abroad program.
“I’ve always loved London, so I was excited to see there was
a program,” Taylor said.
Professors from the University of San Diego teach using
classrooms at Queen Mary University while the students stay in the dorms,
Taylor said.
But with an influx of people in London during the summer,
the city’s overcrowded nature can seem daunting.
“I don’t mind the people as much except for when I use
public transportation,” Taylor said. “That’s the only place where I’m annoyed
that it’s crowded.”
“There’s so many people, but you don’t really notice because
London is so diverse, anyone could live here,” said Mackenzie Kroon, a student
studying with Taylor.
Kroon and Taylor both said they see the most crowds at
tourist locations such as the Harry Potter Studio Tour, Big Ben, and
Kensington.
“In general, the feeling in London is that it’s over
populated,” said Jennings, who despite being a tour guide is also a local.
The large number of historical, cultural and political
attractions London has to offer is one draw for tourists.
Popular tourist destination, Stonehenge, which is about a
two-hour drive from London, attracts 1.2 million visitors a year, said David
Jones, an employee at the English Heritage site.
The circular stone structure at Stonehenge greets visitors.
The site is especially busy during the summer when about
7,000 and as many as 9,000 people visit per day, Jones said.
With up to 9,000 people a day, some might find it difficult
to soak in the history of the site.
However, some visitors attempted to break away from the
common take-a-picture stereotype and experience Stonehenge differently. Through
broken English a daughter in a group of tourists, MarieAnne, meditated in front
of the ring of stones. She explained that meditating helps her get more out of
the experience of visiting an ancient site.
“It’s a bit obvious that it’s big and was used for something
important,” she said. Meditating helps her observe the stones in a different
way, she added.
The student-tourist experience can also differ from just
being a tourist, Taylor said.
“We’ve done a lot of tours as students,” Taylor said. “I
don’t think I would have done as many. But I’ve gotten to do things as a
student that I couldn’t as a tourist.”
Students can tour the Guardian newspaper offices in London.
Taylor said her communications program included visits to
The Guardian newspaper and BBC offices, places people don’t often visit when
just on vacation.
Working for API, Jennings contributes to the process of
setting up student itineraries for various programs.
“Surprisingly, the theatre is not popular, except for the
Globe,” she said. ”When we do Harry Potter, it’s a hit. Almost everyone comes,
its full.”
But no matter what the case, many reports point in the same
direction: London tourism is on the rise.
VisitBritain projected the worth of the UK tourism economy
in 2013 to be approximately £127 billion, which supports more than 3 million
jobs. And in 2025, the tourism industry is predicted to reach £257 billion and
support 3.8 million jobs, according to a report by visitbritain.org.
Apparently, it’s like The Clash said: London’s calling.
View the photo gallery below for pictures on London Tourism. Please note the photos might take a few minutes to load.
My time in London over the past week has left me with
memories that I will treasure for a lifetime and a trove of pictures to look
back fondly on. My journey started on a cool Seattle morning at SeaTac
International Airport. The flight across the states and the Atlantic was
enjoyable enough. For a boy who grew up in eastern Washington who had never
been further east than Idaho every new city or vista I saw sparked my
imagination and fueled my spirit for adventure.
I arrived in London early Tuesday morning. Unable to check
into my apartment until midafternoon I was left on my own to explore central
London. Which as you can imagine is quite daunting to the uninitiated traveler
unfamiliar with the surroundings. The jet lag and urge to find somewhere quiet
certainly didn’t help either. But I took up the challenge and proceeded to
spend the day guiding myself around central London, absorbing all the new
sights and sounds I was exposed to.
The arrival of my group was a welcome sight, familiar faces
in a sea of people from around the world buzzing around the city. Our travels
as a group the first few days included trips to Stonehenge, Westminster Abbey,
the Churchill War Rooms and Trafalgar Square. As someone who enjoys history I
lost myself in the weight of where we were. To say I was entranced would be an
understatement.
This new stimulus truly inspired me and made me feel like a
child on Christmas Eve, every night a head full of the plans and sights the
next day would bring.
The group dynamic was a good one, happy chatter and jokes
filled the streets we walked through and the trains we rode on, much to the
chagrin on the locals. Meals were a wonderful time to catch up on the day’s
activities, share pictures, and make plans for the adventures the night may
hold with visits to bars, pubs, and holes in the wall where the thirsty
Londoner could wet their tongue and soak in the beautiful summer evening.
My experience in London has truly been a rewarding one.
Years of book learning cemented by the firsthand experience of being able to
travel abroad, my hope is that these pictures can help tell that story and shed
some light into my journey here. I fear
this trip has sparked a dangerous ambition in me to travel, to taste, to hear,
to see, to write and to inspire.
Today we ventured to Speaker's Corner within Hyde Park, a place designated for free speech. This park holds plenty of space for all sorts of speakers, as each brings their own chair to stand on. Each speaker has a different topic, and they seem to transition between individuals in a group every 10 minutes to keep the location running constantly. Swarms of people crowd around either to listen, or in most cases some push to the front to have an opposing statement that draws a response from the speaker. The conversations run rampant and the speaker can't seem to get enough of the attention. Most of the conversation is premature, as the speakers discuss issues that they have paid attention to recently, but their points aren't solid enough to have people consider them. Almost as if they are just shouting opinion rather than preaching a new mindset for others to chew on. This way of speech brought upon arguments that got nowhere, which isn't surprising from these religious folk.
A majority of the speakers were very intrusive, giving no leeway to others voices, and bothering those just passing by. Some people would walk up to others and start pushing topics and discussions. As I was taking photos, numerous others came up to me to tell me things and assure me that what they were discussing needed to be heard. The idea of throwing out speech for acceptance was lost, and it seemed as though others resorted to shouting, as some speakers offended and brought the form of discussion into a type of mockery, or insult. When opposition was confronted by a audience member, and the notion given was offensive to the speaker, they resulted bickering and disagreeing with one another, which brought down the credibility as a person of faith in my opinion. If I came to a place like this to hear someone and actually have a clean slate when listening to their evidence, I would expect them to hold themselves to a higher regard, which is expected by the figure they worship. I lost respect for those who held their beliefs and esteem to a higher level, when they lost all self control and acted ever so irrationally. The ability to maintain civil discourse, and communicate with credible or fact based evidence was lost, as most just bickered about what was felt emotionally.
This experience was ever so eye-opening, giving me insight as to what this environment is like. I found myself very bothered by the discussions, not because of what they were saying, but rather their behavior as a person of faith. If you truly want others to follow you or listen to your word, you have to behave in a way that is mutual between both parties; that means speaking in an calm voice, and truly having your statements backed up.
The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby released a statement, following the final vote, in support of women becoming bishops as well saying, “I am delighted with today’s result.”
