A Mother's Anguish

Looking at images of grief consumed mothers in Gaza I put a few thoughts into words. Though I feel words become meaningless under such unendurable grief.

Palestinian Mothers' grieving...

A Mother’s Anguish

Another mother

Left bereft

Her child taken

She, forsaken.

All words

Of comfort

Lose their meaning

As they turn to dust

Against such deep loss.

Her feelings

Her thoughts

Frozen in a point of time

Before the crime

That stole away

Her beloved child.

Her face

A trace

Of how she looked,

Now contorted

Into a mask

Of torment etched lines

That serve

To carry

Away her tears.

A heart that once beat

To the drum

Of a child’s joy

Her boy

He that kept

Her heart alive

Now tearing

At its strings

As though

To tear it

From her breast

For her

To join him at rest.

Violence even against the most heinous of prisoners is wrong

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/april-jones-killer-mark-bridger-3631652

April Jones' Killer Mark Bridger

Let's not get too carried away here. Mark Bridger committed an horrific crime and in my view should spend the rest of his days in prison. However, as a prisoner he has the right to safety. What right do other convicted prisoners have to mete out their brand of justice? Anyone who believes that prisoners who beat up or violently injure a child killer, child molester or rapist do so out of any sense of decency or justice is mistaken. Violence in prisons serves one purpose only, power. 

Tories use Social Control Tactics in their ideological war against the many

This post is in response to a very good article from the link below:

http://jaynelinney.wordpress.com/2014/05/25/an-exercise-in-social-control-the-real-agenda-behind-benefit-fraud-campaigns-3/#comment-3795 (please read this piece and join the campaign against the demonisation and vilification of disabled people) 

Jayne, we can go back the Benefits Integrity Project (BIP) (a misnomer as it lacked integrity and benefited nobody) introduced by the outgoing Conservative government in 1996 without proper consultation or Parliamentary scrutiny. The BIP cost a small fortune to set up and run, and it failed to uncover the massive fraud committed by recipients of DLA; or indeed recover enough monies to cover even its own running costs!

The BIP and the mentality behind it rubbed off on the Blair government who began witch-hunting disabled people almost from day one of their coming into office. This culminated in the debacle of ATOS and the WCA, sadly Labour initiatives.

A great shame of the 1997-2010 Labour administrations was their unstinting use of propaganda to attack disabled benefits’ claimants. This punitive approach made it easier for the ConDems to continue the attack on us, despite the fact, as you rightly point out, that levels of benefits fraud by disabled claimants barely register on the fraud radar.

Thus Jayne, your observations that the whole exercise of attacking benefits’ ‘cheats’ is a form of social controlling is correct. This social controlling being just another component in the wider ideological war being waged by the Tories in their quest to impose neo-liberal policies upon the majority.

Come on Labour, deviate from the path of ‘caring’ capitalism; get divorced from the mock marriage of neo-liberalism; and if you feel you need a ‘scapegoat’ look no further than Amazon, Vodaphone, Philip Green, Barclays, etc and their tax cheating ways. Don’t piss around chasing less than a £1 billion in benefits’ ‘fraud’ when you could be seeking out the £120 billion fiddled by big business and billionaires!

IDS Covers Up Yet Another Failure

He's hiding yet another failure. IDS's life is a succession of failures. He lied when he claimed he had studied at Perugia University; he failed in the army where he was known as Iain Drunken-Smith; and of course he flopped as the leader of the Conservative Party.

Iain Duncan-Smith, liar and failure of the first degree - the prerequisites of a good Tory Minister

Smith is hiding the fact that his string of failures has increased with his idea of a Universal Credit failed. He won’t admit what most people in the disability and anti-austerity movement knew from the very inception of this crackpot idea.

There is nothing fundamentally wrong with a universal benefits’ system. Anything that takes the bureaucracy out of our benefits’ system and instils it with some ease of use and, as importantly, fairness, should be supported. However, IDS’s idea of a universal credit was not to create ease for the claimant but rather as a punitive measure that stigmatises the very act of benefit claiming making it so difficult to access that only the desperate would bother.

Welfare State to Blame for Food Banks

Does Tebbit really ‘eat humble pie’ after earlier attacks on benefits’ claimants abusing food banks by accepting “…emergency handouts to save money which they then spent on junk food.”?

Lord Tebbit applies charity model to food bank recipients

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/top-tory-lord-norman-tebbit-3597647#ixzz32d93IQH5

Lord Tebbit, after visiting a food bank Trussell Trust food bank in Haverhill, Suffolk, lavishes praise upon the staff and the procedures they use to dole out food. He observes: “There was no slap-happy handing over of boxes.”  Which in the code of those with a charitable disposition means ‘responsible spending of tax-payers’ money.’ Or in the language of the hungry ‘give the buggers just enough to survive’; in other words, don’t over indulge them.

In Tebbit’s view starvation in itself is not sufficient reason enough to claim food from a food bank. No, the applicant must prove they have a genuine need to this resource and how they have arrived at this sorry state. In this respect the hungry person isn’t short of genuine reasons:

·       Wages from work being so low people can’t afford the basics of life

·       Benefits completely cut by job centre sanction

·       Benefit slashed as a result of wrong decisions made at WCA

·       Bedroom tax imposed upon social housing tenants

·       Qualification for new disability benefit, PIP, denied due to introduction of stricter qualifying criteria

·       Income so low that rent, travel, etc eats up most of money.

Thus, when Tebbit admits:“Some had fallen foul of the bureaucratic processes of welfare support, leaving them waiting for, or even denied, the cash support to which they were entitled” he appears to recognise that a problem exists. However, his judgement of the situation is disingenuous in that he places the blame on the welfare system.

Lord Tebbit, our welfare state has existed, despite constant Tory opposition from day one, for almost six decades. It is your party, the Conservatives, along with their partners in crime, the LibDems, who have created the need for food banks.

Your government’s policies are forcing benefits’ claimants to wait longer for their claims to be processed, thus placing them in penury.

Your government’s policies are sanctioning more and more claimants, quite often for spurious reasons, all too often for minor infringements of benefits’ rules.

Your government’s policies are wrongly finding sick and disabled people fit for work, thus reducing the amount of benefits they receive.

When a leading Conservative speaks out against the draconian policies his government has imposed upon some of the poorest people in the country; against groups of people least able to defend themselves, then and only then will I recognise any humanity coming from the words or deeds of a Tory.

Suppliers' Demands

So, just when I think everything is hunky dory at chez Seán another load of hassle. An email from my energy supplier informing me that “…an objection to the electricity transfer has been raised by your current supplier.”

The fact is that I’ve only just moved into the property and signed up to a new energy supplier at the same time. Yet there is an assumption by energy companies that new tenants somehow know the previous occupants of the property. For instance when I tell my supplier I haven’t a Scooby as to the name of my predecessor they generally sound quite surprised.

But why would I know the person who occupied my new drum prior to my occupancy? They then ask whether my landlord knows the previous tenant. Of course the landlord knows who lived here prior to my moving in. However, why would the landlord know from whom their tenants purchase energy?

This next bit is quite worrying. 

“Unfortunately, an objection to the electricity transfer has been raised by your current supplier. An objection can be raised for a number of reasons, so don’t worry. Your current supplier may have already contacted you regarding this, but if they haven’t we would advise you to contact them to discuss the reason for the objection.”

First my supplier, who know that I’m new to the property and have no idea who supplies energy to my home, insists on speaking in terms of ‘Your current supplier…’ (no pun meant), as though I had any say in the matter.

Then I’m told an objection to the transfer has been made. On questioning my supplier as to the nature of the objection I’m reliably informed that ‘my current supplier’ (honestly no pun intended) is not obliged to name the objection.

Look, it matters not a jot to me what the previous tenant got up to in the privacy of his or her, now my, crib. But isn't the idea of energy companies raising objections without offering up an explanation a bit strong? 

Parking Bay Squatters

Things have been going swimmingly with my move. All the boxes emptied and contents stored away. BT phone and BB up and running. TV reception excellent. The place feels like home.

At first I thought having a car parking space outside my flat, effectively my own car port. Prior to moving a red BMW driver had taken the spot as his own free parking bay. My housing officer managed to have a friendly word and he ceased parking there.

Since Wednesday several cars have taken advantage of my PAs going about their business in my car and parked up when they’ve spotted it vacant. On one occasion the car was parked so far back that I couldn’t get around it in my wheelchair; thus I was effectively trapped in my home – fortunately this inconsiderate person didn’t park for too long.

What happens when someone parks up for the weekend and I’m trapped in my home? Or if I can’t get out of my home to get to work?

Sadly it’s Friday night and my housing office won’t be open until Monday morning. In order that they’re aware of the situation I’ve sent them a lengthy email requesting that the landlord fixes a lockable folding parking post at the end of my parking bay to put a stop to squatting drivers.

Simple solution to parking bay squatters

Better Bus Design for Wheelchair Users

A little while ago Liz Carr ran into problems on a bus because she wished to travel in her wheelchair facing the driver, as most normies do, but the bus driver insisted she travel facing towards the rear of the bus with the back of her chair against the cushioned pad.

Liz then received the following:

"With regards to Transport for London (TfL) policy concerning the positioning of wheelchairs on buses, I must report that the drivers are correct in insisting wheelchair users travel facing rearwards, with the back against the backrest and brakes applied. This is a legal requirement that needs to be enforced. Drivers should of course be polite and helpful in doing this and they are all being trained on this issue as part of our new ‘All Aboard!’ training this year.

It may be of use for you to arrange for one of our Travel Mentor team members to accompany you on a journey, and look to see if there is a better way for you to travel. Though ultimately, I’m afraid that legal reasons dictate that this is facing rearwards for the reasons explained. The travel mentoring team might be able to provide alternative options, such as our door-to-door Dial-a-Ride service, if this is felt to be appropriate."

I don’t mind which way I’m facing on a bus, although I draw the line at facing the ceiling, or floor. However I fully appreciate Liz’s desire to travel facing the driver; and I also agree, given the inherent dangers of travelling on public transport, that Liz should be given the choice of her own fate – that is to be mashed up backwards or smashed up forwards.

What pushes me over the edge and into a frenzy of uncontrollable red-mist can’t-recall-a-single-thing-afterwards rage is the fact they want us to sit the wrong way; and in doing so make it next to impossible to manoeuvre our chairs into the designate area.

Why do bus companies insist on placing an upright pole a third of the way along the wheelchair space? This pole makes it incredibly difficult for me to enter the bus facing forwards; attempt to turn 130° in a tight turning circle; reverse into the space, impeded by the pole; and back onto the cushion. All this usually on a moving bus.

The offending upright pole is on the left of the photograph - coloured green

One bright spark told me the pole was there to arrest my fall in the event of the bus breaking sharply and my brakes giving way – which they do anyway with some drivers at which time my chair behaves like a rodeo horse. So if you hear someone shouting YEEE HAW as an 88 nips sharpishly along Whitehall, that’ll be me.

Oh, by the way. If the bus breaks and I’m thrown from my bucking bronco, I’d rather hit the floor than a bloody pole which would probably drive my ribs into me vitals!

Problems Inherent in Using Independent Gas Suppliers

Still no luck with identifying the gas supplier to my new flat. Contacted my new suppliers yesterday but sadly their computer system was down; on Friday their free phone number was out of order. Hope I've not bought a pig in a poke. 'U Switch' recommended the supplier. Stating their rates were competitive and, in my as important, they had an excellent customer service.

The fact that the previous tenant, apparently, used an independent gas supplier means the property does not appear on the national gas customers' register. However, there are another couple of avenues that my supplier can explore, but not until Tuesday, the day before I'm due to move.

BBC: Sack Clarkson Now!

Ask yourself the question, why was Jeremy Clarkson recorded reciting a nursery rhyme? His actions are those of a not particularly bright school boy, the one who as he coughed shouted 'wanker'; who when confronted by the teacher then claimed he had only coughed. While the lad courts the laughs and guffaws of other school boys; Clarkson's remarks are more sinister as they pander to the racist elements amongst his TV fans and readers of rags such as the Sun and Mail. 

A couple of wankers maybe, but they are dangerous wankers who have a public stage from which they can propagate their nasty and vicious right wing agendas

Clarkson has been acting the cunt for years, sailing ever closer to the wind just to see how far he ca push the envelope of accepted behaviour. Slagging off people of various nations is a favoured pastime. But of course all carried out within a context.

The context, of course, being the Clarkson context bluff no-nonsense uttering made by a laddish TV presenter which renders racist and xenophobic words and statements as harmless and disposable jocularity.

Likewise jibes about lorry drivers killing prostitutes; or shooting bus drivers in the face; or even that public sector strikers should be shot in front of their families. Just Jeremy being Jeremy.

Now Nigel Farage of the crackpot UKIP Party is defending the BBC presenter’s use of the word nigger as merely "just typical" of Clarkson.  

OK Farage, in which case you’ll not object if I state that you’re a racist and xenophobic bigot leading a party which is in reality the Waffen SS wing of the Conservative Party composed, for the greater part of scumbags, assorted sociopaths, oddballs, misfits and crackpots – these being the better elements.

I’m sure you won’t mind, after all its "just typical" of me to wander too close to the borders of offensiveness.

Moving House Blues

Over the past couple of days feelings of déjà vu are seeping and creeping into my dreams and even my waking moments. Ten years ago I moved into my current address, a place I’ve never considered home. One of the reasons I’ve attached no feelings of domesticity to the property is the hassle I endured when moving into the place.

Back then Lambeth agreed to do certain enabling works to allow for my disabilities and waived the rent for a number of weeks prior to my moving in. Which was just as well considering the nightmares I was to face trying to get an electricity connection.

On receiving the keys to the flat, prior to the enabling works, I needed a floor put in as well as decorating carried out. First things first, I opened an account with British Gas (BG). However, there was no electric power coming into the flat. The lights didn’t work nor did the electrical sockets – and the little wheel on the meter wasn’t going round and round the way it would if there was power.

Back on the blower to BG, explained little wheel static. Yes, all the fuses were pointing the correct way…up. But they maintained they were supplying me from there end. This was not their issue it was a problem for the landlord to sort out – Lambeth Council.

Chatted to my housing officer advised me to sign up with an energy supplier – tosser. After explaining my conversation with my supplier, BG, he gave me an over-the-phone-shrug-of-the-shoulders stating that Lambeth had carried out its obligations.

Back to BG I go, a little despondent with my faith in humanity a bit dented but not at major motorway pile-up level yet – this would come about in painful increments over a period of 22-days. BG were awfully sorry to hear of my dilemma; they took another butchers at my account and carrying out a conscious Pontius batted me back to my landlord.

This toing and froing continued for another few gruelling sets before an umpire (a third party I’d got involved so as to salvage a soupcon of sanity) suggested that Lambeth re-checks the electric power to my flat. The electric engineers, the Wild Bunch or Magnificent Seven as I recall, were called back; after doing their tests they reported that all sockets and light fittings were A OK and in working order.

The only problem was, nothing worked. Light bulbs shed no light upon switching the switch. The radio emitted no sound upon hitting the on button. The hob no heat did it throw out when flicking the switch. Indeed, the little wheel in the meter cupboard stubbornly lay still as though in a torpor unable to complete a revolution.

“What can we do?” Whined the Wild Bunch moseying on out of my flat down the road apace. But of course the manager had a solution, that’s why he spent the inspection on his mobile having the craic with a mate while his desperadoes carried out the work. “We’ll get EDF in. This is obviously a problem that’s on the outside of the property – or in other words, we haven’t got a Scooby what we’re doing let’s mug the billy bunter off with someone else.

In other words they had carried out two electrical tests of the premises; and though finding everything in order on both occasions, and signing certificate to this effect. They were now saying the fact I had no power was due to external influences – outside the drum. Yet all sockets, etc inside the drum were registering live.

Along comes EDF to check the outside electrical ting and ting. Big geezer comes to my door and hands me a very large fuse, about the size of a 1.6 v battery. “Here you go mate. Nuthing wrong wiv yer fews. See, clean as nun’s conscience”.

Indeed, it was.

So, looking at the meter, which was still, well still. Flicking a light switch, and there being no light I asked the electrician why the meter wasn’t working and the lights not coming on.

“Not ma problem, cheef” chirps this fidgeter of fuse boxes. “It’s inside yer ‘ouse; I only do outside”.

“Any ideas where or what?” I quiz; attempting to tantalizingly trick him into giving up the secret of the missing leccy from 25 Pisspot Way.

“Well, it could be…” as he launched into the lingua franca of Sparkyland.

“Whoa, slow down. Let me write this down. Just a minute.” I pleaded.

“…behind yer fuse panel”. He finished as he turned on his heel and naffed off.

“Hang on. I didn’t get any of that. Give me a fucking break, pal”. I pled. Had I bled it wouldn’t have moved this smug bastard. The kind of fucker who measures his pleasure by the misery of mourning mothers.

Lines of demarcation have a place within our industries; teachers should teach children; nurses nurse sick people; chippies swing doors; plasters spread walls; brickies to do things with frogs that brickies do; and electricians to wire up.

However, I wasn’t asking this guy to come into my place and do the work of another tradesperson. No, I was pleading with him to impart his knowledge in lay language so as I could get my problem sorted.

Anyhow, another couple of days went by. The third party assisting me managed to get the electrical engineers out, for a third time. At first they ignored me as I pointed to the meter uttering “the problems in the meter cupboard!”

No, they went through their esoteric rituals of poking their devices around sockets and gaining great satisfaction when a light lit up the device. It was their version of the entrails of a dead goat giving out an auspicious reading.

Satisfied with a job well done they attempted to leave the flat. No way Pedro. They were not going to pass until the wheel on my meter went round, round, round.

“The meter. Check the fucking meter. The problem is with the meter!” I screamed. By now I was frantic. This was after all day 22 without electric. “You’re not leaving here until there is electricity in this fucking place!” Roared a man teeting on the edge of a breakdown.

Slumping on the floor with my back covering the lower half of the front door, thus blocking their exit I sat, daring them to even try leaving without looking in the meter cupboard a couple of feet away.

“You’ll have to fucking kill me if you want to leave. And you know what? At this point in time I don’t give a fucking monkey’s for myself. So the choice is yours.” All said with a steely calmness; a kind of acceptance of my fate. The resignation of a beaten man.

“Alright mate, calm down. I’ll have a look but don’t blame me if the fault isn’t in the meter. My money’s on the ‘Erbert from EDF bollixing it up”.

Sparky opens the door of the meter. Whips out his trusty sparky-driver and whips off the panel over the fuses and says:

“Oh, yeh of course its blah blah sparky lingo…there you go mate, problem sorted…”

Flick! On comes a light. A radio in another rooms springs to life. The sparks help me up and I watch, with tears in my eyes the meter almost imperceptibly turn, the start of a revolution.

Almost ten years on from this very distressing situation I’m moving house again. Guess what? No, I have electricity in the flat. This time nobody, that is Ovo (my new supplier, EDF nor Which?Switch (who have a database containing a record of all energy suppliers and customer addresses) can find any trace of gas ever being supplied to the property.

All three have told me to get a MPRN (a meter point reference number) which is a unique number to a given meter and from this they can determine who supplied gas to the previous tenant.

After several days I discovered my gas meter resided in a kitchen cupboard, too low for me to access. But even if I could, what does a MPRN look like? It’s a series of numbers, I’m reliably informed by someone who works for an energy company and is familiar with the jargon and ways of her sector.

With this handy tip in ascertaining MPRN’s I take several photographs of the gas meter. One figure, 2005 followed by a colon and six numbers, isn’t the series of figures I need. Obviously the meter reading itself doesn’t qualify as a MPRN due to its mutability. Then aside from stickers with dates on them, maintenance information, there are no other numbers visible on the apparatus.

While I’m being batted to and from various energy suppliers and allied trades I’m explaining to my housing officer (HO) that I have a real problem developing. The HO, an extremely helpful young woman repeatedly assures me the problem will be sorted, before I move in on Wednesday next, 7^th May.

Somewhere down the chain, as it transpires, there is talk of the previous tenant having used an independent gas supplier. This explains why each time I’m asked for my address the energy company agent cannot find any record of gas being supplied to property.

“Are you sure you have the right address?” I’m patronised.

“Well if it isn’t, I’ve been doing a burglar Bill turn for the past week” I respond in an concealed attempt at light banter – the fact I’m hitting high notes as I spit out my responses is a bit of a giveaway.

“OK. And you’re sure it’s a gas meter?” She inflects in that falling fashion made fashionable by Aussie soaps.

“Gas meter? I thought I was arranging a funeral for Fluffyfattybum my recently departed Liptov Baldspotted Rabbit!” drawled I, not attempting to mask the sarcasm.

“Sorry, what was that?” comes back she lazily, with equally indifference as she lavishly laced her mocking mock question.

“Yes, it’s a gas meter. Several things suggest this including the SI unit for gas measurement. But mainly the words Gas Meter printed on the device”. Spoken without irony as by now the fun had escaped from the situation and I was coming down from the natural high generated when I enter a fight.  

It’s late now. My problems are unresolved. There is little or nothing I can do until Tuesday, the day before I move into the new property.

So fuck everything.

I’m going to do something I’ve not done for a long time.

I’m going into my living room and get rat-arsed, hollering and hooting, tearing and swearing, rabble rousing, neighbour disturbing, beastly drunk!
       

You notice I’m referring to the new property as ‘home’. Because if I have the same problems as before it may never become my home, just another flat in which I rest my head.

OT Problems

This rant concerns an Occupational Therapist (OT). Last week I went for a viewing of a wheelchair accessible property. This was the second viewing as the first was conducted sans OT. As it was a lovely spring day the housing officer suggested we wait outside for the OT, who as though to cue pulled up on his bicycle.

Staring at me with something of a quizzical look he asked me how long I’d been using a wheelchair, “About seven or eight years” I gestimated.

“When we met three years ago you weren’t in a wheelchair” replied the increasingly medical model sounding OT.

“Ah, that’s because we met in my current home” I responded “and one of the reasons you were assessing was due to my inability to fully utilise my home due to lack of wheelchair access”.

“In fact you recommended me for a wheelchair standard home over my current mobility standard flat.”

“But you were not using a wheelchair when I visited you last, were you?”

A sense of déjà vu was seeping into this conversation.

“To reiterate. You came to my flat back in 2011. The purpose of the visit to determine whether or not my home could be made accessible for wheelchair use. You measured various areas and launched into all the reasons why it was impossible to structurally alter the property, blah, blah, blah – which as I come from a construction back ground I was fully conversant with; and probably also better qualified.”

Adding to this I told the OT I’d had very bad experiences with OT’s in Lambeth over a number of years. That in the past they have ignored my needs. Indeed on one occasion an OT had conducted an assessment that took two hours to complete. He then copied me in a the assessment report, which turned out to be word-for-word identical to a report made three years earlier, all except he had changed the names.

Anyway, approaching the front door of the property, and stone me if Ove Arup doesn’t come out with another ‘qualified’ statement, remember at this point the front door was still closed:

“The hall is too small for you to make a three-point turn” prejudged he - even though a full turning circle for a wheelchair is not the same as a three-point turn.

The housing officer opened the front door and I entered the flat span around and gave the OT a mental ‘V’ sign.

As you can see achieving a turning circle in a wheelchair is not the same as carrying out a three-point-turn

Things just went down-hill after this. Mr Medical Model put obstruction in the way of obstruction. The doors were too narrow because I pull myself into the room by way of the door frame. This is a habit I have; and I do this at work, in public buildings, whether or not the door widths comply with Approved Document M.

He then picked up on me using my feet to open doors. Well, yes I do. What is the purpose of a kick plate anyway? Especially when the doors are fitted with Perkins door closers.

He persisted in asking me questions and not satisfied with the answer, attempted to get the answer he wanted by couching the question in a different way:

“Do you cook?”

“No. I have problems standing; and with a weakened left arm do not feel confident handling hot pans.”

“How about heating meals in a microwave?”

“Same thing, difficulty safely handling hot dishes.”

“You must make hot drinks, surely?”

“No I don’t. For exactly the same reasons I’ve just made.”

“So who cooks for you?”

“My PAs” – by now I’m getting the right hump.

“Are you his PA?” he asks directing the question at the only other person in the room.

“Yes, I’m one of Seán’s PAs” says my PA.

“Tell me…” and before he could finish the question, my PA interrupts with: “you’d best ask Seán”.

Of course I jumped in and told him to direct any questions about me to me.

At this point he accused me of being blasphemous to Lambeth OTs. Yes, he said ‘blasphemous’! Now I’ve met a good few consultants who fancy themselves as God; and not too few physio’s who are the devil incarnate – only joking Lesley, physio’s are all lurvelllly…

I’m supposed to be signing the tenancy agreement on Wednesday. Wouldn’t be surprised if the OT puts the kibosh on things stating the property is not suitable; and telling the HA that the council will not carry out any adjustments to the place.   

"Sod the 'cradle of humanity'..."

“The worrying thing is that its [Africa] supposed to be the 'cradle of humanity' as the earliest humanoid fossils were found there. Considering that that means that people have lived there longer than anywhere else, the place is remarkably backward in health, education, political stability....in short, all the things the rest of the world have in far better condition. Sod the 'cradle of humanity' - I'd rather have the comforts of 21st century civilization!!!”

A contributor to Facebook

So, far from being the 'cradle of humanity' Africa is reduced to an uncivilised continent that has contributed nothing to the civilising of humanity. That is humanity as measured by someone cosy with the comforts of Western civilisations.

I wasn’t aware that the 21C had been reduced to a single civilisation.

However, that aside for now. Let’s examine the comforts of this century, shall we? What about that darling delight coming our way, Global Warming? On the bad side a great swathes of land submerged in water which will either displace or kill billions. On the good side… there is no good side.

Pollution is already out of control in many of the developed countries on this planet. Now that China, India and Brazil are in the race to produce more goods the use of fossil fuels will rise over-proportionally given the size and scope of these economies.

The real threat of desertifaction of massive areas of the USA and Central Asia; and a creeping southwards of the Sahara Desert in Africa. Attendant on desertification will be reductions and loss of vital water supplies. In volatile regions such as the Levant and Middle East this will exacerbate existing relations between states, relations that are already tenuous or even non-existent in some cases.

Then there’re the other great comforts afforded by 21C civilisation. Neo-liberalism and the growth of greed to ginormous heights. The division of wealth that today sees awning gap the size of the Rift Valley between the rich and poor. Over 1,000,000 people were forced to resort to food banks in the UK, the 7^th richest country on earth, in the past year.

In the world’s richest economy, the USA, 3.5 million citizens experience homelessness in a year. 18% of US citizens have no medical insurance. Some 50 million Americans struggle with hunger at any one time.

Those are the real “…comforts of 21st century civilization!!!”

Finally the very real threat of another war engulfing much of the world is never too far away in this 21C idyll in which we exist. Since it is so backward and that Africa has contributed the least to many of the great achievements of the 21C will this undeserving continent then be excluded from the great comforts such as global warming; air and water pollution; and destruction in a nuclear holocaust?

A Definite Disconnect Between the Wealthy and the Poor

Kate Humble the star of the TV programme, Lambing Live, believes food is too cheaply priced. Humble argues that the public does not value food due to its cheapness and the fact they are disconnected from the farming process.

These are the views of a successful TV presenter who is married to a TV director both of whom also own a 117-acre, ex-council, farm in Trellech, Monmouth. So little fear of food banks for these two.

Kate Humble in the haystack in which she lives with the lambs she purchased  from 'Lambs 'R' Us'

OK, Mz Humble let’s apply your logic generally. Firstly we’ll raise the cost of farm labourers because you do not value them due to their cheapness and the fact you are so disconnected from their financial needs. Then we’ll raise the duty on agricultural diesel, as it’s obvious that you haven’t a clue about the oil industry, thinking that diesel simply comes from a tanker; and you’re totally disconnected from the intricate process of fuel taxation.

Ignorantia legis neminem excusat - unless you're a government Minister

Mrs Miller is the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport; and has been an MP since 2005. This means she has worked in the Westminster village for almost a decade. That’s almost ten years in a job that involves the making and enacting of laws.

Yet, like so many of her parliamentary associates Mrs Miller appears unable to distinguish between right and wrong herself. How is it that MPs, people for whom the law is an intrinsic part of their everyday lives, have such difficulties in understanding their own expenses procedures?

Mrs Miller making her less than contrite apology -
not for claiming £40,000 more than her entitlement,
but for her attitude towards an inquiry into her expenses

As a rule ignorantia legis neminem excusat, unless you’re a government minister. In which case a fraudulent claim in excess of £45,000 can be reduced to a repayment of £5,800; with a less than contrite 30-second long apology that sounded more like a stroppy teenager’s ‘whatever!’

Yet while MPs are allowed to get away with cheating on a vast scale, benefits’ fraud of under £20 K can carry a prison sentence of up to 12 months. There is talk of increasing the sentence for benefits’ fraud to ten years. In supporting such Draconian sentencing the political director of the TaxPayers' Alliance, Jonathan Isaby argues that:

"This is people stealing from taxpayers - stealing from vulnerable people. A message needs to go out that this is unacceptable and increasing sentences will act as a deterrent."

Most of us know the ‘us and them’ model which underpins most areas of life in Britain. All that the Miller case does is to confirm that it extends to Parliament. So Us and Them-ism runs through education, employment, health, housing, welfare, policing, the judiciary and Parliament. Good to know those at the top are able to maintain consistency.

Turn Left, Labour

"Ed Miliband risks losing next election and Unite support, says Len McCluskey

Labour is at a crossroads and may lose union's financial backing if it offers 'pale shade of austerity', general secretary warns"

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/apr/01/ed-miliband-election-unite-financial-support-len-mccluskey

In the 2015 general election voters may feel, 'Why change buses half way through the journey when both buses are headed to the same garage?'

The Labour Party is in need of an epiphany; whilst Ed Milband could do with a road to Damascus experience...and soon!

What did the ILF ever do for me?

The government is using a quite disingenuous argument that continuing with ILF somehow creates a two-tier stream of state care and support. It also argues against the cost of having to administer two different levels of care; and by placing all social care under one authority it would save on administration.

As a recipient of ILF I can testify to the benefits this scheme affords. My local authority has assessed me for social care and support that meets the needs of my personal care, including cooking and some shopping – around an hour for the weekly shop. In addition to this I receive funding for laundry, my condition calls for washing and drying of bed linen and clothes on a daily basis; and I get some a small amount of time for domestic care – housework.

The local authority care package is an essential part of my day-to-day living. Without this means of support my most basic needs, bathing, toileting, cooking, shopping, etc would go undone.

There is more to life than being kept clean, wearing fresh clothes and well fed while living in a nice clean environment. Just as women in struggle have called for ‘Bread for all, but roses too…’, disabled people demand the right to care and support over and above that necessary just to keep us functioning.

With ILF money I can pay PAs to assist me outside of the home. Going swimming can be done on my terms, not me being beholden to friends or family. Similarly I can choose to visit art galleries when I wish to do so. My disability campaigning is not hindered because I’ve nobody to drive me to an event.

ILF goes some way in levelling the playing field.

Without this funding many thousands of disabled people will find it impossible to hold down jobs. A for instance is the length of time local authorities give for support for a morning slot. Invariably the time allocated falls far short of that actually needed to properly support someone’s full care needs.

The work I do, which has me meeting with the public on a daily basis, calls for a certain degree of grooming and smartness. My current local authority time slot, an hour, for a PA to assist me with getting out of bed, toileting, showering, drying and observing areas such as feet, dressing, ironing my clothing, preparing breakfast, drying and cleaning the wet room, and clearing away after my breakfast does not cover these activities.

Without ILF to make up the shortfall I would find it impossible to get ready for work – remember Access to Work only covers the recipient from front door to work and back again.

But even if I did manage to get into work. My life would become a cycle of work to home to bed to work to home to bed with no funding to support any kind of social life. Actually, I’d be one of the more fortunate people as, provided I retain council funding, I’d be going to work and interacting with other people that way.

What of the thousands of disabled ILF users who either can’t get into employment or maybe are unable to work. For many of these people the prospect of social exclusion is a likely outcome. Loneliness will feature high in people’s futures. Some will be forced into residential care.

Over the past few decades disabled people have felt, albeit slowly, inch by achingly inch, a sense of moving forwards. DLA was a recognition of the extra costs met by disabled people in their day-to-day living.

Self-directed support a means to enhance individual’s independence was introduced – sure, it has its bad points.

In 1995 the DDA came into being. Toothless at first. However, Labour gave it a bit of a bite when it set up the Disability Rights Commission in 1998.

As a result more disabled people gained employment. And schemes such as Access to Work have proved a lifeline to thousands of disabled workers – sadly the LibDems are even making cuts here.

Improvements to public transport were coming on line; as well as the Motability car scheme that widened the world for hundreds of thousands of us.   

Yet in four short years we are witnessing a terrible reversal of the gains made in the past thirty or so years. The progress we experienced took countless disabled people from the shadows of exclusion into the sunny neighbourhood of social inclusion. This government is building more walls and barriers that will push us out of the sunshine back into the shadows.

TUDA STATEMENT ON ILF CLOSURE

In November 2013 a successful appeal was made to the High Court to stop the government from closing down the Independent Living Fund (ILF).

The ILF allows around 18,000 disabled people with complex care and support needs the opportunity to more easily interact within the wider community.

On March 6^th it was announced that following an equality impact assessment the government felt confident to justify their decision to close the scheme.

The Trade Union Disability Alliance strongly condemns the government for choosing to take this route.

In taking this course they have:

·       expressed a complete disregard for disabled people;
·       shown an indifference to the Court of Appeal decision; and,
·       flouted the right of independent living that is enshrined as one of the principles in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

TUDA believes that due to postcode lotteries and an ever dwindling public purse that local authorities would not be able to offer the same level of support and care afforded by the ILF.

And that as a result a shortfall in care packages will result in many thousands of disabled people facing a loss of independence which could result in:

·       unemployment;
·       economic exclusion;
·       social exclusion; and,
·       personal loneliness.

Welfare sacrificed in favour of Tory tax cheats

You couldn't make it up, could you; and why isn't the over-concerned tax payer, so beloved of this government, kicking up a storm? 

While I have no issues with the DWP looking to recover monies where fraud is proved, the government must also introduce some balance into the situation. It is known that HMRC fraud officers turn a profit from tax cheats, after all look at the sums of money involved. Yet since coming to power this government has actually cut the number of tax officers.

Conversely, they've increased the numbers of benefit fraud officers who, because they're chasing far less money, are a greater financial burden on the tax payer that this government would have us believe is deserving of value for money.    

This graph firmly nails the lie that we can't afford our welfare system

How much more revenue could the state rake-in were they to reverse the proportion of HMRC to DWP fraud officers. Ah, but that would mean the Tories going after their own, as tax cheats are more likely to be attracted to the Tory ethos of personal greed.

Unite Executive Elections

A big thank you to all the Branches and workplaces that nominated me for the disability seat on Unite's Executive Council. As nobody else stood I return to the executive unopposed. However, I am available to assist other UL candidates during the balloting process of the election.

Finally, well done all those other UL candidates who went through unopposed; and a big well done to all UL candidates for the efforts you've made in gaining such numbers of nominations.

Just another few weeks hard work should I hope see a UL dominated Executive Council.

What a Royal Tosser!

Just spotted this on Twitter. Prince Charles dressed as...well you tell me! What a fucking hoot. Mind you, it's a change from his family's usual fancy dress choice...a Nazi uniform (but of course lots of his cousins wore Nazi uniforms for real).

Where's that facking hookah, I'm gagging for a pull!

Plans to axe Capital Call – make your views known

Transport for London is looking to deprive some of London's disabled TaxiCard users by scrapping Capital Call. Capital Call affords its users the chance for longer subsidised journey's than TaxiCard which, in my experience, will take a user just over 3 miles on two swipes of the card. With Capital Call the user can use as many as five swipes, thus allowing a longer subsidised journey.

Once it's taken away we will automatically lose £200 of subsidised fares per annum; and it's unlikely to be replaced by anything that will benefit people, many of whom, totally depend on this form of door-to-door transport. Thus increasing the likelihood of social exclusion and its attendant impoverishment among disabled Londoners.  

Stop Corporations Using Your Medical Records

Unless you opt out now, care.data will soon store the medical records of everyone in England, yours included, in one giant database.

Our confidential health information will then be shared with companies and other public bodies.

Either follow the link below or contact your GP as soon as possible stating you wish your records to remain confidential.

https://www.faxyourgp.com/about-us

Nazi Tories? No. Just the Same Old Nasty Party...

Tory MP Nadhim Zahawi, remember him? He’s the parliamentarian, one of our law makers who over claimed his MP’s expenses by almost £6,000 in 2013. Apparently, he didn’t realise he needed a separate electricity account to heat his horse riding school stables and a yard manager's mobile home – this being a private business – and charged it all to the taxpayer.

Of course being a Tory MP he is immune from punishment. Just pay back the money and continue promoting austerity policies that kill people.

According to the DWP sanctions are only used as a very last resort; and the rules are made very clear to people. Anyone can appeal a decision.

OK then, explain how the parent of an eight-week-old baby with leukaemia was sanctioned? 

A Closer Look at China and HSBC – Are they Running Out of Cash?

Hasn't the financial sector learned anything from the disastrous collapse of the banking system in 2008? Or didn't casino banking ever go away? But why worry if they're secure in the knowledge that when in trouble the state will bail them out by socialising debt and privatising profits. So the poor are subjected to greater austerity measures while the vampire bankers continue to reap obscene rewards for failure.

Watch out for the fallout across the globe. Then what? An increase in austerity; a witch hunt for scapegoats to blame as the neo-lib governments pander to their mates’ losses. 

“Ukip’s Godfrey Bloom Asks Disabled Student ‘Are You Richard III?’”

On Thursday a Motion that “Post-war Britain has seen too much immigration” was debated at the Oxford Union. Godfrey Bloom, UKIP xenophobe, misogynist and now disablist, was present to support the Motion.

Godfrey Bloom, disablist, racist, misogynist, homophobe (left) and student David Browne at the Oxford Union (right)

Within a few seconds of David Browne, a student opposing the motion, began his opposition Mr Bloom, using a point of order to interrupt Browne, asked in a particularly derisive way “Are you Richard III or not?”

This was a disgraceful slur on Browne, who is disabled; an opportunity for Bloom to score a cheap shot, maybe even faze the young man.

However, David’s rejoinder used Thatcher by stating: "I am always quite flattered when people insist on personal attacks on their opponents as it just demonstrates they have run out of arguments."  

As is so often the situation in environments such as Oxford, instead of the audience expressing its disapproval at such an evidently disablist slur, David Browne seems to have been compelled by convention to take the incident on the chin.

Bloom was able to tell the Channel 4 News that Mr Browne has accepted the comment in good humour; so much so that:” “We enjoyed a good drink and a laugh until one o’clock in the morning on the strength of it.”

However, Mr Browne is reported to have said afterwards: "I didn’t think it was a very nice thing to say. I wasn’t happy with the remark.”

Does David Browne have the right to accept the comment in good humour? Scumbags like Godfrey Bloom open their mouths and spew out disablist, racist, misogynist, homophobic comments safe in the knowledge that they can’t be touched. They peddle their filth with impunity, often backed by papers such as the Daily Hate and Sun and the high priests of hate Richard Littlejohn and Rod Liddle waiting to champion them in the scum press.

David Browne, the longer we allow the Blooms of this world to run roughshod with their mouths or pens; the longer disabled people will have to endure slurs and put downs in reference to their physical appearances. Since you’re not happy with the remark, make a formal complaint. Don’t give Godfrey Bloom free rein to insult and abuse with impunity.

An ‘Agenda of Hope’

This poem is in response to Owen Jones' promise to pen an 'Agenda of Hope' in tomorrow's Independent to counter this government's 'Agenda of Fear'.

An ‘Agenda of Hope’

An ‘Agenda of Hope’ that flies

In the face of all those lies

Half-truths and social dividing

This government’s good at providing.

An ‘Agenda of Hope’ that the press

Take on board and confess

To the lies about austerity

Which they’ve spread with dexterity.

An ‘Agenda of Hope’ that has TV

Presenting the facts for us to see

Without distorting situations

Just to increase viewing populations.

An ‘Agenda of Hope’ that sees us disabled

As humans not to be labelled

Cheats, liars or a waste of breath

Only good to be done to death.

An ‘Agenda of Hope’ that values human life

An agenda to abolish poverty and strife

That puts an end to the torment

Of us, the ninety-nine per cent.

Nick Robinson the BBC's Tory Party Spokesman

"Mr Robinson’s appearance at the ADS annual dinner had been the subject of a formal complaint to the BBC by a leading anti-arms trade pressure group. The Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) wrote to the BBC this week stating that it believed the appearance would compromise the corporation’s impartiality and Mr Robinson’s “reputation for objectivity when reporting developments in the arms industry”.

 The corporation said it “did not accept” the accusation that Mr Robinson’s appearance would compromise his or the BBC’s reputation for impartiality."

Nick Robinson BBC Political Editor's a dyed-in-the-wool Tory who
wouldn't recognise objectivity if presented itself naked lit in neon lights

Oh, what a hoot. The very idea that Nick ‘True-Blue-Through-and-Through’ Robinson has ever reported anything objectively is risible. Robinson has previous. He’s a serial Tory supporter as an ex-President of the Oxford University Conservative Association and ex-president of the Conservative Party youth group- this geezer has form.

Consign ATOS to the dustbin of history

“Outsourcing the assessment of sick, disabled and vulnerable people to a private corporation, especially one with such a disgraceful track record as ATOS, is a scandal. 54% of people in Brighton and Hove who appeal ATOS’s ‘professional’ judgements are successful –yet Ministers have so far refused to take action to get rid of ATOS and their thoroughly discredited Work Capability Assessment.”

The above statement was made by Caroline Lucas, a Green Party MP. However, this observation could have been made by any one of the countless thousands of disability activists created by this government; people who have suffered under at the hands of ATOS unfair and flawed medical assessments.

For years benefits claimants and their supporters have criticised the way in which ATOS conducts its assessments of sick and disabled people for ESA; and this criticism has been vindicated by the number of ATOS decisions that are overturned on appeal in favour of the claimant.

ATOS should be consigned to the dustbin of history as the social welfare killer it is

Yet despite ATOS’s appalling record; the fact that they get so many assessments wrong, they go unpunished.

In what other field of work or service provision, apart from maybe the banking system or Parliament, would such gross failure be tolerated? Indeed, again bankers and MPs excepted, failure on this kind of scale in the private sector would invoke penalty clauses and very likely early termination of contracts; even in the public sector serious questions would be asked, scrutiny committees would investigate ATOS’s abysmal record.

So Caroline, keep up the pressure on this government; and I hope you’ll join the thousands of ‘Anti-ATOS’ demonstrators when they march in Brighton on March 9^th. 

Unemployment figures hide minimum wage, zero hour contracts and underemployment

Today George Osborne has enthused that the fall in unemployment to 7.1 percent is "great news".

Enthusing: "Everyone of those jobs is a family more secure and it's evidence our long term economic plan is working."

http://www.itv.com/news/update/2014-01-22/george-osborne-fall-in-unemployment-is-great-news/

Maybe in the fantasy world of trickle-down Toryshire this is good news. Ordinarily a cut of 167,000 in unemployment figures would be cause for celebration; a ray of hope in an otherwise gloomy economic forecast.

However, what Osborne fails to tell us is that most of those jobs are either on minimum wage, zero hours contracts or part-time (taken up by workers who actually need full time employment). Hardly the kind of jobs that will allow any real growth in economic activity on the part of these starvation wage earners.

Indeed, it will do little to stimulate the economy nor will it greatly reduce the burden on the state as many of the newly employed workers will still be entitled to benefits and tax credits due to the appallingly poor wages they’ll be taking home.

Sadly this reductions will serve only to massage unemployment figures, moving people from one benefit to another. But, it could boost the Tories standing with the electorate as the party that pulled us out of austerity; though I rather fancy the continuing flat-lining economy will be a better indicator of Chancellor Osborne’s mismanagement of our economy.