Wednesday 16 March 2016

Screen attack

I am staring at this mini screen immediately behind which are two more screens which I'm supposed to be working on. Deadlines loom behind the light of three screens bouncing off my spectacles lenses behind which I weep. When did life turn into this multiple screen disorder?

Tuesday 1 March 2016

If you’ve been gassed…


This will not be brutal
but
if you’ve been gassed
you may experience
burning
in your eyes, nose, mouth
and skin.
You may experience
blurring
of your vision.

This will not be brutal
but
If you’ve been gassed
you may experience
breathing
difficulties and
coughing.
You may experience
raging feelings
 from pepper spray exposure.

Intense anger is a common response.

This will not be brutal
but
if you’ve been gassed
you may experience
confusion, disorientation
and panic.
But do not panic.
The effects of tear gas and pepper spray
are temporary,
not life-threatening
unless you’re vulnerable –
a child
or elderly
or immune compromised.
If you’re pregnant
you may be at risk of spontaneous abortion.
If you’re a nursing mother
you may be at risk of passing toxins
onto your infant.
Contact lenses may fuse to eyes
And cause blindness.

This will not be brutal
but
you may wish to avoid being gassed.
But please be aware
Police abuse is unpredictable
and avoidance is not always possible.

If you’re at risk of being gassed
a gas mask might be best
but please be aware
tho’ gas masks work best
they can look intimidating
and make us targets of police violence.

So, think carefully about your
impact on others
when you decide how to protect yourself.
And remember
this will not be brutal.


 N.B A lot of these lines were found at http://facingteargas.org/bp/70/if-youve-been-gassed