A Walk Into The Gardens Of My Mind

Ade Adepitan is by far one of the most admirable and inspiring sportsman and television personality in London. Adepitan,43, former basketball player and Paralympic champion shares his innermost thoughts on his childhood, his travels, British politicians, diversity schemes and the upcoming Paralympic games in Rio, September 2016. We met in Whiteley's shopping centre, and decided to go upstairs to the top ,where the Princess Studios are located, for a less busier and quieter environment. I am automatically stunned at how Adepitan rolled himself up on to the escalator whilst sitting on his wheelchair in a fair amount of speed and no sign of a yearning for sympathy. I couldn't help but feel proud of him at that moment and also ask myself, had I been in that situation, would I have been so happy and bubbly, at the face of such physical adversity? Only Allah knows. When we had reached the top floor, he told me that he needs to go get something, and disappeared into thin air, befo...

Sir Mark Allen, previous MI6 officer will no longer face charges over Libyan renditions.   Abdelhakim Belhaj - victim of torture and rendition in Libya as a result of MI6 senior officer Sir Mark Allen's involvement with the Libyan regime Abdelhakim Belhaj, former head of the Libyan Islamist fighting collective, detained as a suspect during the "war on terror", was granted asylum to the UK surprisingly. I say surprisingly, because thereafter, British officials plotted together with the CIA to fly Belhaj and his wife, who was pregnant at the time along with their children to Muammar Gaddafi's interrogation and torture cells in Tripoli. I now pose the question, 'Are MI6 above the law?'How can the abduction of a preganant woman along with her children, the imprisonment of an innocent women and her young children ever be justifiable? It is because they're Muslims?' Why am I even asking this question, of course its because they're Muslims,...

More than just a international sports-star, Muhammad Ali will be remembered for a very long time, for not just his successful career, but his outspoken and amazing personality. He is a man who has inspired mankind in ways other sporting figures can only aspire to achieve. Originally born Cassius Marcellus Clay in Louiseville, Kentucky, and then converting to Islam and becoming world-renowned boxer Muhammad Al i, he has touched the hearts of Black, White, Asian, Muslim, Christian, Agnostic and everything in between. To the Black man, he is an emblem of hope and sheer determination to overthrow what was and arguably now, a racially prejudiced system. To Muslims, Ali is someone we take pride in for representing us - Muslims globally have contributed so much to our culture and enrichment, however are dismissed occasionally due to rise of anti-Islam attitudes and propaganda. However, Ali has raised the flag for Muslims, with his conscious talks about religion and God and particularly abo...

The EU Referendum is days away and politicians along with other leaders are quarrelling with each other on whether or not Brexit is a feasible and effective decision, not just for Britain, but for the rest of the world too. Up until about a few months ago, I was completely uneducated and unaware what the European Union was and why the Brexit vote is significant for the present and the future.The EU is made up of 28 countries in the continent who are a politically-driven force with the aim to support one another's financial prospects and gains. The fact that the Prime Minister David Cameron alongside the Mayor oof the city, Sadiq Khan are backing and promoting the remain campaign  Having done a fair bit of research on the EU, personally, I will be utilising my vote in the referendum for Britain to remain part of the EU and I will explain why. In regards to consumer affairs, remaining part of the EU will be the most beneficial in the way that regulations part of the EU charter...

For the first time in my life, I decided to vote for the mayoral elections that were held on the 5th of May. It just so happened that the very candidate that I voted for, and encouraged my parents to vote for, ended up tasting the sweet victory of becoming the first Muslim mayor of London in British political history. He goes by the name of *drum-roll* Sadiq Khan, a MP for the Tooting borough in South London.                  First Muslim Mayor of London in British Political History : Sadiq Khan Khan is a British Asian Muslim from London, who has now become mayor of London. The very labels 'Asian' and 'Muslim' should not be as heavily identified as it is in the media - however, these labels are a cause for celebration for people from ethnic minority backgrounds like myself - how often do we see a Brown mayor, and especially one that is Muslim. Tory candidate Zac Goldmsith built a campaign around fear and hostility towards his rival ...

G4S Medway Centre for young offenders has been under extreme scrutiny since January this year, when BBC Panaroma revealed the harrowing crimes committed by custody officers against the young people in their care. It can be viewed here, by clicking on this link :  http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06ymzly It has now been reported that The Ministry Of Justice will be take over the G4S prison, after further allegations were made about abuse since the documentary has been aired. Only about a month ago, a prisoner got in touch with me via his contraband mobile phone, putting me in touch with a 'brother' who had been treated unfairly by the justice system and had a story to tell. The latter is a man named Jude Odigie, who otherwise goes by his Muslim name Hamzah, and is currently residing abroad in Nigeria with his family. Myself and Odigie have been communicating through whatsapp, by sending each other messages and occasionally discussing things on the phone.       ...

All too often I hear about conspiracy theories relating to authoritative figures who are usually very rich and powerful members of our society. I am always very quick to tell my friends to get their head out the clouds and that they have things twisted, and they've always said I need to get my head out the clouds for trusting too easily. I bet with the whole Panama Papers leak going viral and hitting the mainstream, they're all sat down on their sofas at home, enjoying a fag and thinking to themselves, 'I told her so '. The Panama Papers are a big data leak which has shed light on how strategic and secretive the world's famous and rich can be in concealing their wealth and investments in order to avoid tax. Mossack Fonseca has been found to be the law firm which facilitates and registers offshore companies for its affluent and powerful clients. Despite the backlash caused by the media's reporting of Mossack Fonesca's involvement in regards to the Panam...

                                            Gwenton Soley : A Changed,Charming Charismatic Man Mums and Dads living in the cold, bleak, but blissful city of London, are forever anxious about the safety and future of their teenage children who may fall victim to a life of crime and end up in jail, or worse case scenario, dead. Lets face it, every now and again, a teenager is murdered and we see a grieving mother on the news, only to forget about it the next day or two, and then mourn over another teenager's death sometimes the next day, sometimes the following week or even a month later. Last year alone, the Office For National Statistics revealed a staggering statistic of a 27% rise in violent crimes - most of these amounted to gun and knife crime committed by young people against young people. This year alone, so far, we have had a series of knife and gun attacks invo...

Living in the UK, where although we still have a long way to go, but a multi-cultural race and faith society is celebrated for its diversity most of the time .. it is hard to ignore or not be offended by Donald Trump's demonization of Muslims, his judgmental and harsh remarks about women and his hatred towards the growing immigrant Latino community, who are taking over America's demographics. Despite these downfalls, a staggering number of people are voting and rooting for him to be U.S president, which is difficult to comprehend, to say the least. Is it Trump's tan that is winning over people's hearts? In my humble opinion, he is unfit to be the president of the U.S with such a vile attitude and a lack of respect for people. ISIS has been a growing threat to countries all sides of the globe which has resulted in some reacting by strategically innovating education to stop radicalization, while others like Russia, didn't think twice about bombing ISIS or deployi...

It is estimated that supermarkets have a vast surplus of food which equates to approximately more than four million tons of food going to waste . To me, this is not only ridiculous but hard to comprehend, knowing there is enough supply for high demand, yet the number of homeless people and families experiencing severe poverty is increasing. Although London is arguably one of the richest cities in Europe, it is ironic that in this very city, we have families skipping meals because they cannot afford to eat a balanced diet of the basic three meals a day. But yet I have family back home who yes, are poor, but in some ways better off than us here to some degree. The bustling atmosphere of high earning individuals and sky-rocketing buildings in Central London are causing a fog over people's eyes, allowing people to really bathe in what amounts to ignorance being bliss. Away from Central London , if you visit inner-city areas within the city such as Hackney , Brixton ...

Many inner-city communities in London are at the heart of a 'super-gentrification' process, in which housing and local environmental design is being transformed with 'ghetto areas'  receiving an influx of middle-class and upper-class residents.You only have to look at areas such as Brixton where poverty rates are high and deprivation is very real, but at the same time, a few streets away from Central Brixton , you have properties so expensive, even those you think could afford them, cannot. Also, Hackney is an area in East London which is home to some of the most socially marginal members of society. Yet neighboring Hoxton is a melting pot of rich culture with its vast amount of cultural and art organizations at the heart of it. Super-gentrification to this extent creates a social divide among members of society and makes one's social class background become more of a marker in their life. This then fuels a culture of envy, rants and crime, particularly within ...

At the start of this week, junior doctors across the country, excluding those who work in emergency care, took part in a 24 hour strike. A reported 4,000 routine operations were cancelled and only God knows how many people were left unattended to, or taken to with the least appropriate care. It is beyond my comprehension how this statistic isn't enough for the government to really revolutionise the NHS and quit talking about it in fancy terms in parliament, and start taking immediate action to solve issues accordingly. For the last three to four days, I have been in and out of hospital for a severe experience of gastritis, the acid in my body at its maximum causing my anxiety levels to soar sky high resulting me having numerous panic attacks, convinced I was going to die. Only God knows how much pain and suffering I have been in this week and how honoured and blessed I feel that I am now able to eat. Maybe I wouldn't have got better had it not been for the NHS diagnosing my...

Time and time again, Third World countries miss the headlines or the attention and sympathy of humanity till its repeated on BBC News again and again. I believe the majority have become desensitized to the troubles being faced by our brothers and sisters in war-torn countries worldwide. President Pierre Nkurunziza is ruining the lives of innocent people with his corrupt ruling and decision making at the height of his status and position in one of the poorest nations in the world, Burundi . Thousands of bodies have been scattered on the streets of the capital, Bujumbura.                                                             President Pierre Nkurunziza However the African  Union have used their initiative and last month suggested the deployment of up to 5,000 peacekeeping troops in order to tackle the unjust bloodshed that ...

Being 'cultured' is something most people either aspire to, or insist on bragging about. I, for one, used to underestimate myself on educational trips to galleries and museums, amongst more affluent and so called 'cultured people' . Previously, I'd put myself down at my differing interests to the majority of those around me in various 'cultured' institutions, be it those directly related to the arts, education or entertainment. At the age of 22 now, I believe myself to be very cultured even  if my lifestyle or conduct may not adhere to what the supposed definition of being cultured entails. As young as I can remember myself, I adored books and reading everything and anything in general (I still enjoy reading to this day) . But most of the books I read were fiction during my formative years, I had a thrill of getting absorbed into someone else's reality and learning a valuable lesson even from fictitious story. It was only till I stared secondary sc...