Personal

Firstly, there's my long-suffering brother, Andrew, who is one of my closest friends-yep it sounds soppy, but I don't care.

Then there's the phenomenon that is Andrew Cristinacce (aka Nasty/Andy depending on when/where you first met him). Andrew used to live on the same road as us when we were kids, and although we don't get to see much of each other these days (he's just finished his degree up in Edinburgh), we still get on well. Andrew has a relaxed outlook on life, much less uptight and pretentious than me.

Going to uni hasn't really changed me that much, and there aren't a lot of people I know well here in Manchester, but I should mention: Dave Roocroft and Erinn Campbell, 'Little' Steve Cowley and Mitchell Naisbit. We all shared a house, 40 Scarsdale Road in the second year (1999-2000), and it was a good experience. Mitch hasn't escaped me yet...

Next, there's a small bunch of OLD SKOOL guys and gals, who I must say hello to: James Longley, Jack Moody, Craig Lindley, Sam Platts (finishing her Spanish and Business Degree in Hull at the moment), Emily Thompson, Abigail Wild (up in Glasgow)....

-There are loads of you out there, from Brampton Ellis and from Wath Comp - make yourselves known!

I'm interested in what's happening in the big wide world and, more importantly, in understanding and be able to appreciate the problems, be they social, political, economic, religious or otherwise which cause conflict and hinder peaceful progress.

In particular, I'm interested in the long-term conflict situations of the Middle East, the Basque Region in Spain, and in the continuing peace process in Northern Ireland.

Politically, there's no doubt that I have been influenced both by my parents and by where I come from. Unequivocally democratic, I believe in social equality and justice. To a certain extent I am liberal in terms of modern British Politics and certainly I'm no moral conservative, but at the end of the day I would probably vote Labour (2000).

As to the Conservatives, well I guess I'm biased; local social, economic and political conditions undoubtedly play their part, yet in many ways I can reduce my disagreement with Conservatism down to one factor: that of Individualism. To me, Conservative individualism signifies an abdication of our common and mutual responsability to our fellow men/women. It is a vision which takes us closer to an impersonal market society of non-communal empowerment.

How can one talk of community and traditional values, at a time when we are less and less integrated; when the old institutions and beliefs have given way to the (admittedly) unclear path of secular disinterest; when inequalities, though not the stuff of revolutions, remain stark in our 'rich' nation?

I do not necessarily blame everything on the Conservatives, tempting though that may be, but I feel anger in some ways at the current state of things, the impersonal and indirect management mentality of recents times has had a very dehumanising effect.That said, aspects of New Labour's presidential style, and the general obfuscation of consensus politics worries me.

Of course, political apathy annoys me, but then again anachronistic practices will do nothing to waylay casual popular belief that politicians are a self-serving species.

On the 'big issues' I am broadly pro-European (unlike most of my fellow countrymen), and I believe in the power of rational debate over direct action. I'm generally pro-choice, and I try to follow the maxim 'live and let live'.

If I had to associate myself with some form of ideology (always a dangerous, inflexible approach), I would say that Voltaire's words gave me food for thought, to paraphrase him:

I may disagree with what you say, but I shall defend to the death your right to say it

Moving onto another big self-identity issue, there's religion.

Although I was brought up as a Methodist, and indeed am proud of my father's family's long service to that tradition, I myself am not a believer. For a time I wasn't sure which label best suited me. 'Agnostic' sounds slightly vague and evasive, whereas 'atheist' sounds too absolute and lonely (probably accurate).
Nevertheless, I would have to say that I am a-religious, and really an atheist, though this is only a starting point.

I consider myself fortunate to have been born in an age of science and reason, where empiricism and objective observation can go hand in hand to investigate and try to explain the truth of the world around us.

Having said that, I do find religion fascinating. For devout adherents whatever their creed, faith has undoubted spiritual, and even psycho-physical benefits. I openly admit that belief in a greater power could have a positive effect on one's life and health, giving it a focus - a reason if you like. And one might argue that increasing individualism and loneliness are the results of an increasingly a-religious and secular society. Nevertheless, I do not believe that one should forego one's own truth just for what is ultimately artifical and transient benefit.

Of course this works both ways, and I would never ask someone to stop believing in their faith, or practising their religion anymore than they should expect me to change my views. However, I do believe in the human capacity for reason, and in the incontrovertable truth of evidence (with reasonable doubt). In many cases I believe that there are specific, objective reasons for doubting, for questioning and possibly even for rejecting different life-views.

NB I suppose strictly speaking this last point is dependent on whether or not you believe in man's individual free will, beyond the framework of any higher power.

After that little outburst, I should just say that I am not seeking to convert anyone, indeed, I am the worst 'missionary' of being an atheist-it sucks, but at least I have rationalised it to be the correct choice for me-that's not to say that I have all the answers, I don't believe that anyone does.

I like being with my family and friends, and especially with my grandma and grandad- I guess I'm a bit old fashioned in that sense.

I enjoy walking, and getting around the countryside close to home. We are lucky to be near to large urban areas, but still in the midst of a rural setting.

I enjoy going to see films, whether on my own or in groups-I've never quite understood why people think that it's strange to go into a cinema on your own-it's not as if you can talk to anyone when you're in there, anyway.

My favourite films of all time are: