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| Degenerate |
on Sun 22 Feb 09, 9:20 PM to Degenerate's blog.
Copied from the DAN network.
2 Dates for your diary:
1. There will be a Lobby of Parliament on the 3rd March 2009, from 12:30 - 2:30, Committee Room 14 regarding the Welfare Reform Bill.
The Lobby has been organised by the TUC and PCS union along with Unison, GMB, Unite, The London Coalition Against Poverty (LCAP http://www.lcap.org.uk/)and DAN will be there. It is open to anyone who opposes this draconian and oppressive Bill. This is about the third reading in the house of commons on Welfare Reform.
2. March 11th 2009 DAN )Disabled People's Direct Action Network) and LCAP will taking high profile direct action in London at 10.30 am- press will be there.
This is part of a week of action on 'Welfare Abolition Bill' March 7th – 15th 2009. If anyone has details of the other protests or a good link to the general site, please add them or I will dig them out asap.
For DAN Contact: cripps_r_us@tiscali.co.uk (Nick's e-mail) or join our discussion group danmail-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
For anyone considering attending on 11th, Please note DAN uses the tactic of non-violent civil disobedience, this is not a legal or permitted protest. We will have legal observers and backup should we need them, plus survival info.
| 22 Feb 09, 9:46 PM flake_1 UK, 3 yrs |
But your dealing with a government who doesn't give a crap about anyone unless they're either giving them money or going to vote for them (& I'll refrain from that one)
They didn't listen to the thousands of the Countryside alliance, nor the millions of the anti illegal war protestors, they ain't going to listen to anyone regardless of the validity of their arguement.
Far better to try to disrupt the ineffecient civil service or to use the court system (not that they take any noice of court judgements either)
Life in a system where lawyers rule is never going to be easy, think about it - make silly laws which are highly questionable, people want to challenge them who do they have to pay? lawyers! then the government lawers in charge can pay another set of lawyers to defend the silly law, and loads of lawers end up making a pot full of money from the whole rotten mess. Whilst I sympathise deeply I just think it's not going to get anywhere | ||
| 22 Feb 09, 10:09 PM Degenerate UK(M), 5 yrs   |
I like your ideas of other things which can be done too. I think we should do everything we can. I understand how you feel, this government is good at making people feel they are not listened to. I understand you feel defeated, and that is exactly what those in power want. I disagree that protests do nothing though, it's one of the ways activists get the message out there to others that This Is Not OK and that in itself helps people fight back at an individual level and stop internalising the situation. One thing which definitely won't get us anywhere is doing nothing. The government has done a good job of making the public feel we can't influence anything. The 2mil march, whilst historic, went a good way to fixing that. I think our population is too compliant, too accepting, too convinced there is nothing we can do. Things change all the time, it's up to all of us to decide whether we will stand by and watch our liberties be eroded, or at least try to do something about it. Change doesn't just happen at a governmental level, it happens most powerfully at an individual level. Whether we decide to fight back or accept the situation, we ARE all actively taking part. I know which way I want to participate! People... Feel angry, not defeated.. take your feeling of defeat and turn it into anger.. take your feeling of fear and turn it into anger. Nobody should have the right to make us live in fear or hopelessness. How dare anyone make us feel like that - doesn't it make you feel angry? If nothing else fighting back stops us from being strangled inside by powerlessness. Countries have turned around far worse than this, but people need to be angry enough. Most of all I am angry at how the people here have been made to feel so powerless. Sometimes things have to get worse before they can get better. I think that time is approaching. I think activism is on the rise again. I think People Have Had Enough. The fact that it seems pointless is the whole reason we need to fight harder.. this is how bad things are - I for one refuse to sit back and accept it. Every time someone tells others it's pointless we take another step towards making it true. Proud angry and strong.. De Sign up to CAAN's statement www.caan.org.uk "Those who seek to find pleasure from other people's pain and exploitation will find themselves prosecuted and punished." Scottish [in]Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill http://www.informedconsent.co.uk/posts/227603/ SCOTLAND's PORN BAN - DO SOMETHING, NOW! Edited 22 Feb 09, 10:19 PM by Degenerate | ||
| 22 Feb 09, 10:23 PM Degenerate UK(M), 5 yrs |
PS for current kink related activism see here: http://www.informedconsent.co.uk/posts/227607/ Sign up to CAAN's statement www.caan.org.uk "Those who seek to find pleasure from other people's pain and exploitation will find themselves prosecuted and punished." Scottish [in]Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill http://www.informedconsent.co.uk/posts/227603/ SCOTLAND's PORN BAN - DO SOMETHING, NOW! | ||
| 23 Feb 09, 12:46 PM Prunesquallor UK(RG), 6 yrs |
Having had a meeting with some members of the Countryside Alliance, I have to say they were among the most unpleasant individuals I have ever met, and I am really glad that nobody listened to them. | ||
| 23 Feb 09, 1:56 PM spirifer UK, 6 yrs |
I totally agree. De, I just glanced at the Bill - what parts of it in particular are DAN and LCAP protesting about? The state has no business in the bedrooms of the nation - Pierre Trudeau | ||
| 23 Feb 09, 3:46 PM Degenerate UK(M), 5 yrs |
HIya LCAP's website is here: DAN are campaigning about the abolishment of Incapacity Benefit, which is a benefit awarded to workers who have had to leave their jobs due to illness or disability. It is being replaced by a new benefit which only half of the claimants will be entitled to.
Sign up to CAAN's statement www.caan.org.uk "Those who seek to find pleasure from other people's pain and exploitation will find themselves prosecuted and punished." Scottish [in]Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill http://www.informedconsent.co.uk/posts/227603/ SCOTLAND's PORN BAN - DO SOMETHING, NOW! Edited 23 Feb 09, 3:51 PM by Degenerate | ||
| 23 Feb 09, 3:50 PM Degenerate UK(M), 5 yrs |
You can sign up to DAN's sick note via here:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?sid=7c4da9b5e1... or go straight here: http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=5192342478... THIS IS DAN's SICKNOTE The Disabled People's Direct Action Network (DAN) are protesting against the governments “Employment Support Allowance” and “Work Capability Assessment” which are replacing Incapacity Benefit. This punitive economic attack will hit thousands of the poorest in society, forcing them further into poverty and a discriminatory job market, while thousands more are losing their jobs due to the deepening recession. We are sick of Politicians who attack minorities – that they see as easy targets – for public spending cuts and biased media / press coverage that negatively portrays Disabled People as lazy scroungers and benefits cheats Lack of access to meaningful education and training, leading to a lack of qualifications and job skills. Work in hostile environments where employers continue to discriminate; i.e. Against disabled employees that need part time and flexi-time work due to impairments, and don't have mechanisms that allow Disabled People to be absent without prior notification, for their impairment / condition. The lack of support to help us get to work and function in the workplace; e.g. regular breaks , shorter hours and a working week that can be adapted to suit our needs. DAN says Disabled People want: Politicians, press and media to wake up to the damage their words do Access to meaningful education and training, leading to proper qualifications and job skills Justice in the workplace with real penalties for discriminatory employers A positive approach to the inclusion of Disabled People especially those with invisible or fluctuating impairments / conditions Solutions to poverty rather than policies that compound it A fair and just system that enabled Disabled People who seek work and a non punitive system for those Disabled People who cannot currently work. Decent jobs with adequate incomes DAN's Sick Notes are a response to political jibes about Sick Note Britain. They are distributed by disabled activists on actions to inform the public about the reasons for our continuing discontent. They are freely available for use. Sign up to CAAN's statement www.caan.org.uk "Those who seek to find pleasure from other people's pain and exploitation will find themselves prosecuted and punished." Scottish [in]Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill http://www.informedconsent.co.uk/posts/227603/ SCOTLAND's PORN BAN - DO SOMETHING, NOW! Edited 23 Feb 09, 3:51 PM by Degenerate | ||
| 23 Feb 09, 4:00 PM skyfox UK(EH), 5 yrs  |
Too many people are too willing to go quietly simply because it's easy. The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. |
