for Solidarity!

January 23, 2011

London:

ATOS protest tomorrow meet 2pm Triton Square, near Euston Road, NW1.
PCS are supporting this.

All out for Saturday 29th January demonstrations

One of our members has asked us to bring these other demos to your attention. She says
“Although the demonstration has education as one of it’s main points, it is also a demonstration against privatisation in general, and this demonstration is also being supported by the unions, so really everyone needs to get out there!

People need to get on the streets and support each others’ causes, for maximum impact and effect. The way this government is destroying the NHS by the back door is a disgrace, and it is parallelled by the way it is denying further education to anyone other than the privileged classes….both issues are fundamentally related – after all if the wealthy are the only ones getting educated, and getting into positions of power, they are certainly going to be the ones who are not averse to selling out our precious institutions – such as the NHS – to private corporations, for vast sums of money…

I think we need to get a body of people out there this Saturday voicing their support of free further education, in support of the Unions, and against privatisation of the NHS! We need to make people aware as to what is going on, because I don’t think most people realise the implications of the NHS White Paper!”

http://anticuts.com/2010/12/20/a-two-of-two-demos-demonstrate-in-london-or-manchester-29-january/

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=184694258211136
LONDON – March for Education, Fight Every Cut
Assemble 12noon ULU, Malet St. March to Parliament
PUBLICITY: http://educationactivistnetwork.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/unite-for-education-29-jan1.pdf

MANCHESTER – March for A future that Works
Assemble 10:30am Manchester Museum. March to Platt Fields Park:
PUBLICITY:

http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/2/f/futurethatworks_29jan_poster.pdf

http://educationactivistnetwork.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/unite-for-education-29-jan1.pdf

These are two very important demonstrations on 29th January in London and Manchester. The “Unite for Education” London demonstration has been supported by UCU, PCS, GMB, UNISON HE Committee and CWU Gen Sec Billy Hayes. The “Future for All” Manchester demonstration has been called by NUS, UCU and the TUC and is supported by PCS, GMB, UNITE, NUT, FBU and PCS.
The attacks on education and young people are part of a wider assault on workers and public sector services. A record one million under 25s are now unemployed.
These demonstrations present a real opportunity to bring trade unionists, parents, the unemployed, disabled people, pensioners and all those under attack in behind the student movement to build a movement that can stop fees, win back EMA and defeat the government.

Details of transport ( no information about accessibility ) to the demo on the PCS website.
http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/campaigns/campaign-events/march-for-the-alternative–london-saturday-26-march.cfm

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London: National Day of Protest Against Welfare & Housing Benefit Cuts & Alternative Nativity at Trafalgar Sq

December 16, 2010

It actually started appropriately outside Downing St where DPAC was with disabled people protesting with the Housing Emergency Coalition against the Housing Benefit Cap and social cleansing. Like the biblical story where the Romans called for a census and people have to moved – Joseph had to go to Bethlehem with Mary from Nazareth.

People were gathered there with cardboard boxes and sleeping bags. Inspite of the spitting rain, there was a respectable turnout.

Housing Emergency Coalition Demo

Disabled and non disabled protestors and Richard Downes, organiser of the BIG CHIEF Campaign for Housing, Independence, Equality & Freedom and Linda Burnip, Maz, Adam Lotun were all there.

When all to be said was said and done, there was concern by the news that we might be not be able to move over to Trafalgar Square because the ‘donkey’ will be a health and safety issue. And we had not asked for clearance. Heritage Wardens were most vociferous we could not have our gathering there. (read Adam’s comments at here)

The ‘donkey’ was duly introduced and there was some hilarity and we ignored the warning and those of us who were disabled continued on to Trafalgar Sq. for well deserved hot drink before the nativity scene planned.

Joseph with the donkey

Many more people joined us under the Christmas tree including a lone photographer from the BBC, and some other media folks.

Jan Pollock agreed to be the hard hearted inn keeper who refused us – “no room for the inn” which is inaccessible anyhow and the different boroughs which would be affected by the housing changes.

We exchanged stories, networked and ate mince pies in the rain.

videos

(no to homeless cripples)

(The Heritage Warden tries to explain that one can’t protest there.)

More stories can be found at London: Disabled People Against Cuts, “Nativity Play”, Trafalgar Square
http://london.indymedia.org/articles/6720

http://vegeze.blogspot.com/2010/12/day-out-in-london.html

And a couple more reports in the other cities -

Glasgow: Citizens United
http://www.indymediascotland.org/node/22619

Oxford: Uninvisible Rally
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2010/12/470796.html

More photos at

from DPAC

http://www.flickr.com/photos/disabledpeopleprotest/sets/72157625613006116/

Posted by Disabled People Protest
Filed in disabled people protest, Housing
Tags: Brent Chief, DPAC, Housing Emergency Coalition, London, Trafalgar Square

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SUPPORT FAWCETT’S BID FOR A JUDICIAL REVIEW OF THE BUDGET

December 3, 2010

SUPPORT FAWCETT’S BID FOR A JUDICIAL REVIEW OF THE BUDGET

**JOIN US TO PROTEST OUTSIDE THE HIGH COURT**

12.30 pm – 2pm, Monday 6th December, Royal Courts of Justice, the Strand, London WC2A 2LL

In August, the Fawcett Society lodged papers challenging the legality of the government’s emergency Budget. Of the £8 billion pounds worth of cuts made through changes to tax and welfare in the Budget, 70 per cent are set to come from women’s pockets.

The Fawcett Society believes such a skewed budget could not have been drawn up in accordance with the law. We believe the Treasury did not, as is required by law, consider whether their plans would have a disproportionate impact on women and affect women’s equality.

On Monday, lawyers on both sides will present their arguments to a judge, who will decide whether or not to grant us a judicial review of the budget.

Come and show your support for Fawcett’s case, be seen and be heard.

Making women bear the brunt of cuts is wrong; drawing up a budget without thinking who it will affect is unlawful.

Posted by Disabled People Protest
Filed in Uncategorized
Tags: emergency Budget., Fawcett Society, London, women

1 Comment »

Coalition of Resistance Conference

November 23, 2010

Linda Burnip

DPAC members, Debbie Jolly, Eleanor Lisney and Linda Burnip, will be attending the Coalition of Resistance Conference . Linda Burnip will be speaking.

Saturday November 27
Camden Centre
Bidborough St, London WC1H 9AU
10am-5pm
Tickets:

Unemployed/Student Rate £3
Standard Rate £5
Representative £10

Conference Agenda

10:00 – 10:30 REGISTRATION

10:30 – 11:45 OPENING PLENARY
Mark Serwotka PCS, Andrew Murray, Jean Lambert MEP, Bob Crow RMT, Christian Mahieux (Solidaires unions, France), Clare Solomon NUS, Heather Wakefield UNISON, People’s Charter, John McDonnell MP, Lindsey German CoR.

12:00 – 13:15 ORGANISING AGAINST THE CUTS LOCALLY
Range of speakers from anti-cuts and other organisations from around the country

ANALYSING THE CRISIS
James Meadway, Stathis Kouvelakis, Derek Wall, Hilary Wainwright

MOBILISING THE UNIONS
Alan Whittaker President UCU, Rebecca Allen PCS, George Binette UNISON

WHAT SHOULD POLITICAL REPRESENTATIVES DO?
Liz Davis, Samir Jeraj (Green Party), Billy Bragg, Laurie Penny

YOUTH, STUDENTS AND EDUCATION
Speakers from recent school and student protests, Alex Kenny NUT, Jean-Baptiste Tondu (NPA student , France)

RESPONSES TO CLIMATE CHANGE
Chris Baugh PCS, Jonathan Neale CACC, Peter Robinson

13:15 – 14:00 LUNCH

14:00 – 15:15 DEFENDING THE WELFARE STATE
Colin Leys KONP, Chris Nineham CoR, Dr Jacky Davis, DCH

ALTERNATIVES TO THE CRISIS
Ozlem Onaran, Richard Brenner, John Hilary (War on Want)

STATES OF INEQUALITY
Zita Holbourne, Terry Conway, Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, Katherine Connelly, Linda Burnip

COR: HOW AND WHY
Paul Mackney, Andrew Burgin, Lindsey German

DEFENDING BENEFITS AND PENSIONS
George Thompson PCS, Colin Hampton (Chesterfield UWC), Pip Tindall (BBC), Pensioners’ Convention

15:30 – 17:00 VOTING, ELECTIONS AND CLOSING PLENARY
Dot Gibson (Pensioner campaigner), Lee Jasper (BARAC), Jeremy Dear (NUJ), Jeremy Corbyn MP, John Rees (CoR), Kate Hudson (CND), Chris Bambery (RTW), Lowkey, Tony Benn. Chairing by Paul Mackney and Romayne Phoenix

There will be elections for a National Steering Committee – nominations will be taken at the conference from individuals,organisations and anti-cuts groups that support Tony Benn’s statement. There will a vote on a campaigning plan for the forthcoming period. The plan of action will be amendable at the conference and will include suggestions from the sessions. This is a founding conference and we are proposing that the incoming steering committee prepare a resolution based conference to take place within 9 months.