Video from Save the Children UK

Here's a somewhat frighteningly good and poignant short film from Save the Children UK. They are using this to draw awareness to the plight of kids in war torn regions, especially the ones caught up in the Syrian Civil War.

I am not really sure what they would like us to do, because no matter what, the best and most effective way to save these children is the end the conflict without more bloodshed. Frankly, that is a lot easier said than done.

However, this piece also works as an effective bit of near future science fiction as well. It does what science fiction can do very well: based off an extrapolation of our world, illustrate a certain path. In many cases, the hope is that we can turn back from that path.

The effectiveness of this piece brings to mind a lot of great science fiction, such as 28 Days Later, Children of Men, and Black Mirror.

Of course, the most effective way to save the kids in any strife-ridden region is to come back down from the histrionics, and think about how it looks to your kids.

Is your cause important enough to sacrifice your children? Even in America, where acceptance of violence in our culture is part of our lives, it would serve us all well to think about it, at both a macro and micro level.

We say "Will someone please think of the children" as both a platitude and a joke. But does anyone really think of the children, and our future as a society?

(Sorry, no much coffee stuff today, my blood stream needs a break.)

Coffee and Cigarettes in War-Torn Damascus.

Here's something I found flipping through the BBC's site. There is a reason why Damascus is one of the most enduring cities in human history, despite a history of invasions, fighting, and bloodshed.

Its people like this...

From the article:

There is a table at the cafe which has the same customers every single day. They start with coffee and end up in the evening drinking locally-made arak and smoking the affordable Al Hamra cigarettes made in the coastal city of Latakia.

As much as I wanted to know about the coffee, the article really does not get into it, despite a description of how the cafe has declined over the years. I did, however, came across this gem:

Khaled is defiant and still tries to enjoy life when possible, drinking, eating, smoking and making love: "I live every day as the last day and I try to enjoy it with whoever is left in the city and with whatever means of pleasure are left," he says.

As a quote, it might pertain to anyone facing any kind of strife.

We can find the bright even in our darkest days.

Go over and read up on the article.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25878902