UK UNCUT: Block the Bridge, Block the Bill . . .

DPAC

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UK UNCUT: Block the Bridge, Block the Bill Posted: 23 Sep 2011 01:12 PM PDT St Thomas Hospital, London Press release: UK Uncut to shut down Westminster Bridge in protest over NHS bill The government is just weeks away from destroying the NHS forever. This is an emergency. On Sunday October 9th, join UK Uncut on Westminster Bridge and help block the bill. Free coaches available! See here for more information Posters/flyers available here On one side of Westminster Bridge is Parliament. On 7th September, MPs in the Commons voted for the end of the NHS as we know it. Yet the coalition’s Health and Social Care bill was not in the Lib Dem manifesto. It was not in the Tory manifesto. None of us voted for this. On the opposite side of the bridge is St Thomas’ Hospital, one of Britain’s oldest medical institutions. If the bill passes, hospitals like St Thomas’ will be sold to private corporations, the staff put on private payrolls and beds given over to private patients. Despite the government’s lies, this bill represents the wholesale privatization of the NHS and, with it, the destruction of the dream of comprehensive healthcare provided equally to all. On October 12th, the Lords have a chance to vote down the bill, and a huge Liberal Democrat rebellion is brewing. We have one last chance to save our NHS. On Sunday 9th October, just three days before the Lords vote, join UK Uncut in a spectacular act of mass civil disobedience to block the bill. By blocking Westminster Bridge we symbolically block the bill from getting from Parliament to our hospitals. Yes, it will be disruptive. Yes, it will stop the traffic. But this is an emergency and we have to shout as loud as we can. Get to the middle of Westminster Bridge shortly before 1pm. When Big Ben strikes one, pick one of the tactics below and help block the bridge: Bring some fake blood and play dead Bring hospital radio to the bridge with some music and comedy Bring a nurse for a resuscitation skill-share Dress up in scrubs and perform an operation Enjoy a picnic overlooking Parliament Share stories about the the NHS Invite a friend from across the pond to describe the reality of a privatised healthcare system Invite older generations to describe a time before universal healthcare (if you’ve got other good ideas, email them to ukuncut@gmail.com) Invite everyone you know to the Facebook event, and make sure you click ‘attending’ – the action will only go ahead if 1000 or more people plan to attend. We’ll be in close contact with St. Thomas’ before and during the protest to ensure access for emergency vehicles. We will not let a coalition of millionaire politicians and private health lobbyists destroy our NHS. Be on Westminster Bridge for 1pm on October 9th and together let’s block this bill from getting to our hospitals. See you on the bridge.

Campaign: sell off government services, London.

DPAC

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campaign: sell off government services, London Posted: 23 Sep 2011 02:20 AM PDT Can you take action to kick off the national campaign against the selling off of ALL public services this Saturday 24th September? Yes, you heard it right. The Opening Public Services white paper, recently brought out by the coalition, intends to introduce a ‘presumption’ that all public services (except the military and judiciary) can be run by private companies. **If you didn’t like the selling off of the NHS, you ain’t seen nothing yet.** This is the time we’ll look back on and say ‘that was the moment that everything changed’. Don’t stand still and let it happen. Anti-cuts groups around the country are jointly organising a day of action on September 24th in London where we symbolically ‘sell off’ several government services, departments and monuments. Sorry for the late notice, we’ve had to organise this quickly – but can you or your group be involved? Day of auctions in London this Saturday 24 SeptemberMeet in London outside Westminster tube at 1pm. We’ll go on a magical mystery tour of public services and monuments, highlighting a few national treasures – things like healthcare, education and culture. We’ll sell off these national treasures to the highest bidder, to raise awareness about what the government is doing. Come dressed as a banker if you like, and get ready to bid to buy public services! Ways you can be involved Join the action in London on September 24th http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=217930008262832 Let the Government know you don’t want your public services to be sold off on their consultation website http://www.openpublicservices.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/ Spread the word!

Charity to replace welfare rights as Jobcentres send poor and hungry to Christian food banks

Charity to replace welfare rights as Jobcentres send poor and hungry to Christian food banks

Posted: 21 Sep 2011 10:21 AM PDT Benefit claimants whose claims have been delayed or who have been refused crisis loans will now be signposted by Jobcentre Plus staff to food banks run by a Christian trust, signaling a pronounced move from welfare rights to charity. In an article in The Independent by Jonathan Owen and Brian Brady they comment that this “is the first time in living memory that hungry people will have been passed on to charities in this way” as the Trussell Trust gears up to hand out 100,000 food parcels across England and Wales this year. The scheme will operate from the 70 existing food banks run by the Trust who is also planning to open a further 60 in the next six months. Jeremy Ravn, a Director of the Trust, estimates that 30 – 40% of those receiving the food parcels will be in need as a result of problems with benefits. A claimant will be limited to three consecutive referrals – each time giving them enough food for three days. They will be given basics such as tinned soup, baked beans, meat, fish and pasta. The government is making it ever more difficult to claim for benefits as they attempt to expunge any notion of welfare entitlement from our society. Once claims are accepted it is also ever more uncertain that a claimant will receive any money as benefit payment centres are closed and staff made redundant alongside a policy of stopping claims at any and every opportunity. Disabled people are being plunged into poverty and destitution. We are also being forced into greater dependency as the very real fear of being left without any source of income inhibits aspirations to try for anything different. As a result of the government’s attack on the welfare state, people with no income will be left with a choice of either starving or stealing to feed themselves. The introduction of food banks enables the government to excuse itself from taking responsibility for putting people who are powerless and in need into this position; it will mean they can more easily demonize those who do resort to crime to survive by pretending this is not their only option, meanwhile creating a section of society who are without opportunity and are dependent upon the charity of those who have chosen to pursue wealth and material gain as a life choice. Shame on the Trussell Trust for colluding with the government in the destruction of the welfare state and the rights of disabled people to live equally and with dignity. For full story go to: www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jobcentres-to-send-poor-and-hungry-to-charity-food-banks-2356578.html

UKDHM Celebrating Our Struggle for Equality 22 Sept London Posted: 21 Sep 2011 08:29 AM PDT PR E S S  S T A T E M E N T UKDHM Celebrating Our Struggle for Equality UK Disability History Month is holding a Pre-Launch for 2011 on Thursday 22nd September  at the TUC,  Great Russell Street, WC1  from 5pm to 6.30 pm. Please  come. This is a crucial time to celebrate the contribution of disabled people to our society, now and in the past. We seem to be under attack on all sides with cuts in our livelihood, benefits and housing. We are made out to be cheats and liars in parts of the popular press. Hate crime is on the increase as we are increasingly picked upon to vent people’s frustrations with the current economic situation. Yet disabled people have always made a terrific contribution to humanity. Think of just a few from history-Julius Cesar, Milton, Isaac Newton, Beethoven, Horatio Nelson, Emily Dickenson, Harriet Tubman, Florence Nightingale,  Albert Einstein, Helen Keller, Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Van Gogh, Frida Khalo, Virginia Wolfe, Paul Klee and Alan Turing  to see our impact.  More recently, David Blunkett MP , Ian Dury, Richard Branson, Stephen Fry, Bill Gates, Dame Tanni Grey Thompson, Dame Jane Campbell, Lord Low, Alison Lapper, Evelyn Glennie, Oscar Pretorius, Betty Jackson, Stevie Wonder are a tiny proportion of those who have made a difference and would count as disabled people under the Equalities Act. Disability History Month 22nd November to 22nd December is already supported by more than 80 organisations. It provides an annual focus for the wider community to develop a more positive attitude towards disabled people and better understand the barriers we face in society, which despite improvements in recent years, is still largely hostile to us. Schools, colleges, workplaces, trade unions, councils, community and disabled people’s organisations throughout the UK will be holding events to celebrate UKDHM, discover our history and to challenge the negative stereotypes that lead to discrimination. At the pre-launch contributors will be :- Penny Bechizza-Being Deaf now and in the past,, Michelle Daley-Black  disabled experience in the UK, Micheline Mason, poet-  ‘Sorry I don’t Have the Time’, Katherine Quarmby- author of ‘Scapegoat’,   Richard Rieser-UKDHM 2011, Dr. Sonali Shah,-author of  ‘Living as a Disabled Person 1940s,1960s,1980s ’ For more information on UKDHM go to website http://www.ukdisabilityhistorymonth.com or  contact Richard Rieser, UKDHM Co-ordinator  07715420727 or email rlrieser@gmail.com

Disabled and Carer Groups Joint action: “Your silence is Deafening” Labour party! Posted: 21 Sep 2011 05:27 AM PDT The Labour party conference starts in Liverpool on Saturday. As we all know, Labour were the architects of Employment Support Allowance and the ‘not fit for purpose’ Work Capability Assessment which is so stressful and traumatic it was linked to the suicide of claimants whilst Labour were still in power. The Labour party are the official party of opposition, but they are not opposing the Welfare Reform Bill as they should be and seem to have forgotten that the 10 million sick and or disabled people plus carers, friends and family in the UK have the power to vote. It is time for us to remind Labour that they will not get any of our votes if they do not start to oppose the parts of the Welfare Reform Bill set to return sick people, disabled people and carers to a life of desperation, dependency, despair and charity. We are asking you to help with a mass email to the Labour party to remind them of our voting power. Please include the following details in your email and send it to Ed Miliband, Margaret Curran (shadow minister for disability) and Liam Byrne (shadow minister for DWP). If you have time please also email it to any Labour MP and particularly any members of the shadow cabinet. We have provided a list of email contacts below. Please aim to send your email at 11am tomorrow (Thursday the 22nd September) If you can’t send the email at 11am, don’t worry, just please try to send it at any time between then and the end of Labour party conference on Wednesday 29th September. The email subject  should read “Your Silence Is Deafening” We suggest embedding a link to this youtube video “The Sound of Silence” To embed the video into your email just copy and paste the link below. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvsX03LOMhI Then please copy the following text into your email; Dear (insert name here) ‘The 10 million disabled people in this country plus their carers, relatives and friends are watching what your party do in relation to disability issues and wondering why you seem uninterested in trying to get their votes by opposing the savage attacks against disabled people being made by the Coalition government. During conference season we wish to remind you, the architects of Employment and Support Allowance to ‘never fall ill, never grow old, never become disabled’ (and never become a carer), for if you do, as we have found, not even Labour will speak up for you.’ If you would like to add a short, personal message explaining to Labour how you feel about their lack of support for sick, disabled people and carers then please include it after the suggested text. You might also like to include a photo of yourself, or perhaps a photo of what disability, sickness or caring means to you. Don’t worry if you don’t want to personalise the email, sending the suggested text is fine. Ed Miliband MP, Leader of the Labour Party House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA Tel: 020 7219 4778 ed.miliband.mp@parliament.uk Shadow Secretary of State for Work & Pensions Liam Byrne House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA Tel: 020 7219 6953 Fax: 020 7219 1431 byrnel@parliament.uk House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA Tel: 020 7219 8102 Fax: 020 7219 6656 margaret.curran.mp@parliament.uk Shadow Home Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP coopery@parliament.uk Shadow Chief Secretary Angela Eagle eaglea@parliament.uk Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation & Skills John Denham denhamj@parliament.uk Cabinet Office and Minister for the Olympics Tessa Jowell jowellt@parliament.uk Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Caroline Flint House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA Tel: 020 7219 4407 Fax: 020 7219 1277 caroline.flint.mp@parliament.uk Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport Ivan Lewis House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA Tel: 020 7219 2609 lewisi@parliament.uk Shadow Leader of the House of Commons Hilary Benn House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA Tel: 020 7219 5770 hilary.benn.mp@parliament.uk Shadow Secretary of State for Defence Jim Murphy House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA Tel: 020 7219 4615 Fax: 020 7219 5657 jimmurphymp@parliament.uk Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Mary Creagh House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA Tel: 020 7219 6984/020 7219 8766 Fax: 020 7219 4257 creaghm@parliament.uk Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Election Coordinator Andy Burnham House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA Tel: 020 7219 8250 andy.burnham.mp@parliament.uk Shadow Lord Chancellor, Secretary of State for Justice Sadiq Khan House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA Tel: 020 7219 6967 Fax: 020 7219 6477 sadiqkhanmp@parliament.uk Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Meg Hillier House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA Tel: 020 7219 5325 Fax: 020 7219 8768 meghilliermp@parliament.uk Shadow Secretary of State for Health John Healey House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA Tel: 020 7219 6359 Fax: 020 7219 2451 healeyj@parliament.uk Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Shaun Woodward House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA Tel: 020 7219 2680 woodwardsh@parliament.uk Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland Ann McKechin House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA Tel: 020 7219 8239 Fax: 020 7219 1770 ann.mckechin.mp@parliament.uk Constituency Shadow Secretary of State for Transport Maria Eagle House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA Tel: 020 7219 4019 Fax: 020 7219 1157 eaglem@parliament.uk Shadow Secretary of State for Wales Peter Hain House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA Tel: 020 7219 3925 Fax: 020 7219 3816 hainp@parliament.uk Steven Timms MP timmss@parliament.uk stephen@stephentimms.org.uk Karen Buck MP buckk@parliament.uk

What is a Minister for Disabled People?

DPAC

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What is a Minister for Disabled People? Posted: 17 Sep 2011 01:01 PM PDT I recently learned that the Welfare Reform Bill – which is currently being debated in the House of Lords – was having the debate moved to a smaller not so disabled accessible committee room. Concerned about this I e-mailed the members of the House of Lords (some of whom are themselves disabled) – about getting the debate back in the House of Lords where disabled Lords and disabled members of the public would have access to debating or viewing the proceedings. Thinking on – it occurred to me that surely the minister for disabled people (Maria Miller mp) would be concerned that disabled people were not being able to access a bill that affects them substantially and directly and also surely it is her job to ensure disabled access – no matter what the bill. Thus I e-mailed Maria Miller at  maria.miller.mp@parliament.uk with this ‘Dear Ms Miller As minister for disabled I would like for you to ensure that the debate concerning the welfare reform bill remains accessible to the disabled many of whom will be hugely affected by the changes suggested within it. Please read this blog. http://thebrokenofbritain.blogspot.com/2011/09/urgent-appeal-for-action-now.html As a representative of the disabled community I am sure you would want us to have equal access – thank you for your help with this. Kind Regards’ the reply I received was ‘Maria Miller MP Basingstoke Thank you for your email, if you live within the parliamentary constituency of Basingstoke please make sure your message contains Full name Address, including Postcode Day time telephone number If you are contacting me in my capacity as Minister for Disabled People please resend your email to ministers@dwp.gsi.gov.uk’ and then later ‘Thank you for your email to Maria Miller MP. As the issues you raise relate to Maria’s responsibilities as Minister at the Department for Work and Pensions, I have forwarded your email to her Ministerial Office for attention. The email address to use for future reference isministers@dwp.gsi.gov.uk Kind regards Anastasia’ I then received a generic response from the dwp! Now how on earth and why on earth is a minister for disabilities job/post within the dwp? and is it not her job to ensure disabled access for all at the Houses of Parliament? The reply I got from the dwp, which does not address the point I raised regarding disabled access – but just goes on to wibble about ministers being too busy to reply – that this fits into their remit and a wibble about how all the changes in the WRB are good for the sick and disabled and carers are all great for us!!! lol!! I wish! The only results I can draw from this correspondence is that the minister for disabled people is not a minister for disabled people at all – but a dwp minister and that there is no minister for disabled people – not even for those disabled people in The House of Lords!!! Cross posted with thanks from Twisted News

DPAC OPENS TO MEMBERS! Posted: 17 Sep 2011 11:04 AM PDT Disabled People against Cuts (DPAC) opens to members and hosts first DPAC Conference in London DPAC is becoming more accountable by opening itself up to members and developing an election process for a new DPAC steering group. DPAC will be one year old on 3rd October 2011. They have hosted many protests against the condem regimes, cuts in local authority spending and their impacts, and against Atos and the WCA. DPAC has publicised and reported on the many issues that are affecting disabled people in the attacks led by the condem government. DPAC works from the framework of the social model and will continue to do so. Membership for individuals is free but DPAC suggests a donation to the cause, organisations of disabled people and allies of disabled people are also welcome to become members. DPAC funds go directly to campaigns, all those working with DPAC work for no fee using the knowledge and skills that DPAC needs to keep going. DPAC wants to open up membership and elect a steering group to take DPAC into the next phase of the fight against the attacks on disabled people. To find out about becoming a member please see our membership information: DPAC membership You can join online by going to:  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dFE5dmRsQVFVS29XYU13NFVWY3ExRHc6MQ or by downloading and returning one of the forms below: easy read membership  DPACMembershipForm DPAC Conference 29th October- London DPAC’s first conference will aim to develop the campaigns and areas that new DPAC members are priorities. It will give a chance for disabled people to come together to discuss the issues affecting them and develop solutions and actions. DPAC is pleased that a number of speakers have agreed to take part in this conference. They include Linda Burnip, co-founder of DPAC, Jon McArdle from Black Triangle, Tracey Lazard from Inclusion London, Julie Jaye Charles from Equalities National Council, Melanie Close from Disability Equality North West, Andrew Lee from People First (Self Advocacy)and journalist and presenter Mik Scarlet. The conference will also be the venue for the election process for the new DPAC steering group. Places will be limited to a first come first served basis so please book soon. There is a small travel allowance open to members only, again on a first come first served basis. DPAC would like to thank Stephen Hodgkins of Disability Lib for providing the conference venue, the Andrew Wainwright Reform Trust for travel finds and all those that have supported DPAC For more information about the conference or to fill in a booking form see below: conference flyer booking form