Yay for Bernie Sanders, the Democratic Senator for Vermont. If we lived in a just universe, he’d be in the Whitehouse now, just as Jeremy Corbyn would be in 10 Downing Street. He’s a secular Jew, but he understood the hardships and problems of America’s ordinary working Joes and Joannas. Clips of his presidential campaign showed him being embraced, and comforting all kinds of people, including theologically conservative, blue-collar Christians from the American south, worried about unemployment, healthcare and the destruction of the domestic industries that were their livelihoods.
In this video, addressed to Benjamin Netanyahu, Bernie tells him clearly not to insult the intelligence of the American people, and states, over and again, that it is not anti-Semitic or pro-Hamas to
point out that in a little over six months that his extremist government has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians and wounded over 78,000, 70 per cent of whom are women and children.
point out that his bombing has destroyed more than 221,000 housing units in Gaza, leaving almost a million people, half the population, homeless
To note that his government has obliterated Gaza’s civilian infrastructure, electricity, water and sewage.
To realize that his government has annihilated Gaza’s healthcare system, knocking 26 hospitals out of service and killing 400 healthcare workers.
To note that his government has destroyed all of Gaza’s 12 universities and 56 of its schools, with hundreds more damaged, leaving 625,000 students with no educational opportunities.
To agree with virtually every humanitarian organisation in saying that your government, in violation of American law, has unreasonably blocked humanitarian aid coming into Gaza, creating the conditions in which so many thousands of children face malnutrition and famine.
He states clearly that anti-Semitism is a vile and disgusting form of bigotry that has done unspeakable harm to many millions of people. But please, he says to Netanyahu, do not insult the intelligence of the American people by attempting to distract us from the immoral and illegal war policies of your extremist and racist government. Do not use anti-Semitism to distract attention from the criminal indictment you are facing in the Israeli courts.
It is not anti-Semitic to hold you (Netanyahu) accountable for your actions.
I’ve left the Labour party, but still have immense respect for Labour MPs like Richard Burgon who are still campaigning for socialist solutions in the party, and I wish he and they the very best.
‘Dear Friend
I hope you are well and looking forward to the Easter break.
Below is an update on my key campaigning in recent months, including for a real ceasefire in Gaza, an end to austerity and for Julian Assange to be freed.
In the coming weeks, I’ll be presenting a new Climate Change Bill in Parliament to stop MPs being able to take any funding from the oil and gas companies driving the climate crisis – so keep your eye out for that!
In solidarity,
Richard
CAMPAIGNING AGAINST ISRAELI WAR CRIMES IN GAZA
Israel’s war on Gaza has left over 32,000 dead, most of them women and children. Famine is hitting Gaza, hospitals cannot get the medical supplies they need, and aid is not getting in. The situation is catastrophic.
Although the recent UN Security Council ceasefire resolution is incredibly welcome, it is already being ignored and, as I said in Parliament this week, our Government must now take action to ensure it is enforced and Israel respects this ceasefire vote and international law.
I have been working in Parliament for our Government to end arms sales to Israel and to hold the Israeli Government to account over its war crimes in Gaza.
This has included hosting a series of evidence sessions attended by dozens of MPs with leading global experts. I will be presenting evidence from these sessions to the International Criminal Court in the coming weeks and demanding that justice is done.
I have also been campaigning on the very real possibility that UK military exports were used in an Israeli military airstrike on a compound housing British doctors volunteering in Gaza. You can watch my question on this in Parliament here.
I’ve written to Foreign Secretary David Cameron demanding the Government launches an investigation into whether UK-supplied military equipment was used in the bombing of British doctors volunteering in Gaza.
NO MORE CUTS, NO MORE AUSTERITY
This month Chancellor Jeremy Hunt delivered his budget with no real solutions to the deep crisis facing our communities and that plans yet more austerity.
Austerity has driven down wages, stagnated our economy, and shattered our public services, including pushing our NHS to breaking point. Over 300,000 people have died as a result of Tory austerity.
We need to build the movements to ensure austerity is ditched for good.
In Parliament, I recently called for an urgent debate on the damage caused by austerity economics. You can watch my speech here.
We need a wealth tax on the super-rich
Deep inequality scars our economy. The rich are getting ever richer, while the vast majority are losing out. Ahead of the Budget, I organised a meeting with leading campaigners for economic justice to look at how we build an economy that serves the 99% not the top 1%.
I will keep campaigning for wealth taxes on the super-rich so that we tackle inequality and to get the resources needed to rebuild our broken public services.
FREE JULIAN ASSANGE
Julian Assange could spend the rest of his life in a US prison for his journalistic work including for exposing war crimes in US-led wars on Afghanistan and Iraq.
Extradition would strike a blow against press freedom. It would set a dangerous precedent for other journalists and media organisations the world over.
I have been campaigning in Parliament and beyond for Julian Assange to be freed. Ahead of the High Court ruling on Assange’s case, I spoke at the demonstration there demanding that Assange is not extradited to the US, making it clear that exposing war crimes is not a crime.
I also spoke to Left Foot Forward on the huge implications his extradition would have for human rights and press freedom around the world.
Following the High Court’s decision, It is welcome that Julian Assange will not be extradited immediately. But the danger to Julian Assange and to wider press freedoms remains.
HELP ME TAKE ON THE TORIES
A general election could happen any time. As part of my campaign to get re-elected, I’ll be contacting tens of thousands of constituents before the election. But to do so takes time, resources and support from activists.
The Tories may have their dodgy donors but we have a movement of people wanting to make a real difference in these difficult times.
I know times are very hard for many of you but for those who wish to, and can, make a donation to my local campaigning ahead of the General Election, you can do so here. Every penny will be used towards my re-election campaign.
I got this message earlier this evening from the Stop the War Coalition giving the details of their forthcoming events against the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. But in many ways the most important piece is the top the article giving an entirely different perspective on the Labour Party’s motion for a ceasefire in Gaza which prompted a walkout by the SNP. I put up a message I’d received this afternoon from Karin Smyth, which stated that the amendment went further than the SNP’s motion. This strongly gives the impression that the motion was made in good faith. However, according to the STWC, Starmer only tabled it after making a phone call to Herzog, the Israeli prime minister. This indicates that it was made in bad faith in order to prompt the SNP to walk out, and thereby scupper the amendment. If that is the case, then it’s another object lesson in why Starmer shouldn’t be PM: he’s a deceitful schemer who lies, and, like the Tories, engineers the lies so that they appear to be the opposite of what they actually do.
Newsletter – 23/02/24
A Smokescreen to Hide the Genocide Behind 🫣
Following Wednesday’s disgraceful scenes where Keir Starmer, after a phone call with Israeli PM Isaac Herzog, colluded with the Speaker of the Commons, Lindsay Hoyle to sabotage the SNP’s motion calling for a ceasefire, it appears that both the government and its loyal opposition have decided to aim their fire at peaceful protestors.
It is obvious that the current attempt to equate the right to protest with intimidation is an attempt to deflect from the horror in Gaza and the British political establishment’s support for it. The millions of people in this country that have taken to the streets for Palestine over the past five months represent majority opinion in this country. In the words of YouGov last week: “public desire for Israel to stop and call a ceasefire stands at 66%”.
We issued a statement earlier today strongly condemning any proposals to ban protest outside parliament, council buildings and MPs’ offices with a commitment to campaigning energetically against them:
“The recent cycle of protests calling for a ceasefire have seen record numbers of people protest. Despite bizarre attempts to demonise these huge marches for peace and an end to mass killing as threatening, ‘hate marches’, they have been entirely peaceful with less arrests per person than at major music festivals.
Calls to limit the right to protest from centres of decision making are an attempt to insulate politicians from public opinion. As such, they are an attack on democracy not a defence of it.”
There is a massive movement in support of the Palestinians across Britain and real anger that politicians have, for the most part, stood by as we witness a genocide in Gaza. We will continue to campaign and mobilise until there is a ceasefire and justice for Palestine. The next National Demonstration will be on Sat 9 March. Make sure you’re on the streets.
Ukraine: How To Stop This War – Online Meeting Tomorrow
Two years on from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, hundreds of thousands are dead, countless more injured, homes and infrastructure destroyed and millions displaced – and the risk of nuclear war has increased. This war must end.
Stop the War is pleased to be co-hosting an online rally with CND to discuss the disastrous impact of the war and the crisis it has created with an outstanding line up of speakers including Jeremy Corbyn, Lindsey German, Vijay Prashad, Kate Hudson, Yurii Sheliazhenko, Tom Unterrainer and Medea Benjamin. Don’t miss this important event tomorrow.
Stand With #PalestinianWomen in Your Workplace on #IWD24
Our next Workplace Day of Action which will coincide with International Women’s Day 2024 is just two weeks away! On Friday 8th March we are calling on workers across the country to take action in their workplace or trade union in solidarity with Palestinian women. Women and children have been forced to bear the brunt of Israel’s genocide in Gaza so it’s vital that we highlight their plight on #IWD24.
We hope you will join us as the push to take the struggle for justice for Palestine into the workplace continues. We must puncture the enforced silence around Palestine that many people find in their places of work. Can you organise a lunchtime rally, canteen meeting or a ‘wear a badge for Palestine day’?
We’ve had a stream of events coming through already and we’ll be compiling a full list in the run-up to 8th March – Let us know what you are organising by emailing: office@stopwar.org.uk
It is with regret that we’ve decided to postpone our Trade Union Conference on 2nd March due to the weight of activity currently taking place. We will be rescheduling the conference for a date in April/May. We will be in touch as soon as the date is confirmed. Apologies for any inconvenience caused. All ticket-holders have been refunded.’
There was some kind of upset in parliament Wednesday night. From what I gather the SNP tabled a motion calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. The Labour party tabled an amendment, which some people say the speaker, Lindsay Hoyle, was bullied or tricked into upholding, and the SNP walked out. There have therefore been demands for Hoyle’s resignation, while Labour has been accused by the anti-Islam right of cowardice for supposedly caving in to ‘Islamist’ demands. There was indeed a demonstration outside parliament, and while I don’t doubt that Islamist firebrands were out there, it was a demonstration in support of Gaza and the Palestinians, not a demand for sharia law. But you wouldn’t think that by some of the ludicrous videos put up by GB News. Patrick Christys, a particularly horrible right-wing sprog, has called for sharia law to be banned in Britain. Well, sharia law has no legal standing. I haven’t noticed people having their hands amputated for theft, or being whipped for other offences as prescribed by Islamic law. If they were, the people involved would be arrested for assault of various degrees of severity, and hopefully convicted and imprisoned. But that’s another issue. From what I’ve read of the amendment, not only does it call for a ceasefire, but it also demands a halt to the construction of Israeli settlement and a two-state solution to the problem. Corbyn, I feel, would also have demanded a halt to the expansion of Israeli settlements. Which is ironic, as according to Starmer and his faction, he was a terrible anti-Semite and threat to Jews. I think, however, that most pro-Palestine activists feel that a two-state solution is unworkable and that what should happen is that the Palestinians should be integrated as genuinely full and equal citizens of Israel.
Here’s what Karen Smyth said:
‘Dear David,
On Wednesday, Parliament resolved to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, agreeing the text of the Labour amendment to the Scottish National Party motion without a division.
Like all of us, I have watched the events of the last five months in the Middle East with horror and sadness at the abominable loss of life. I know members of Bristol South Labour Party are extremely concerned by the continuing conflict.
This Labour amendment was much stronger than the original motion brought by the SNP, which failed to address violence elsewhere in Palestine and the need for a massive, unimpeded relief effort in Gaza. Not only did our motion definitively call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, it also called for an end to settlement expansion and violence in the West Bank. In addition, it re-stated long-standing Labour policy on a two-state solution.
It was gravely disappointing and saddening to see this important decision by Parliament being overlooked due to events in the chamber that night.
The fighting must come to an end. The UK must now work with our international partners to bring about that immediate ceasefire, and provide a credible plan to end this conflict. Statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people alongside a safe and secure Israel.
Please see below for the full text of Labour’s amendment.
Yours sincerely,
Karin Smyth
Labour amendment in full
“That this House believes that an Israeli ground offensive in Rafah risks catastrophic humanitarian consequences and therefore must not take place; notes the intolerable loss of Palestinian life, the majority being women and children; condemns the terrorism of Hamas who continue to hold hostages; supports Australia, Canada and New Zealand’s calls for Hamas to release and return all hostages and for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, which means an immediate stop to the fighting and a ceasefire that lasts and is observed by all sides, noting that Israel cannot be expected to cease fighting if Hamas continues with violence and that Israelis have the right to the assurance that the horror of 7 October 2023 cannot happen again; therefore supports diplomatic mediation efforts to achieve a lasting ceasefire; demands that rapid and unimpeded humanitarian relief is provided in Gaza; further demands an end to settlement expansion and violence; urges Israel to comply with the International Court of Justice’s provisional measures; calls for the UN Security Council to meet urgently; and urges all international partners to work together to establish a diplomatic process to deliver the peace of a two-state solution, with a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable Palestinian state, including working with international partners to recognise a Palestinian state as a contribution to rather than outcome of that process, because statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people and not in the gift of any neighbour.“
Okay, as you’ve no doubt seen on the news, the Labour party won the Wellingborough and Kingswood bye-elections. In Kingswood, a suburb of Bristol, I think they increased their majority over the Tories to 8,000. The local Bristol Labour party has been campaigning hard up there for the past few weeks. I suppose that, as a member of the party, I should feel delighted, optimistically looking forward to Labour enjoying a sweeping landslide when Sunak chooses to call an election.
But I’m not. Because I don’t think that the election is necessarily secure, and that even if Labour win, it’ll just mean a change of faces, not a change of policies. As the saying goes, ‘Same sh*t, different assholes’. And the week has definitely been mixed for Starmer, no matter what spin he chooses to put on it.
To begin with, Starmer has managed to destroy Muslim support for the Labour party. He could have called for a ceasefire, citing the massively disproportionate casualties suffered by Palestinian civilians, most notoriously women and children. He could have made it plain that he condemned the terror attack by Hamas that killed the kids at the music festival, and said something about Israel having the right to defend itself while stating that the death toll on civilians had gone too far. In short, he could have acted as a statesman in waiting. He didn’t. He rejected a ceasefire, then when this started to lose him votes he did what he usually does when faced with electoral or political embarrassment: he started lying and claimed that he had always supported a ceasefire. Nobody bought this latest set of untruths. The result is that the party’s support among Muslims has collapsed, and various Muslims are now standing against Labour in their constituency as independents. In Rochdale he disavowed the Labour candidate, Afzal Ali, because he said something that one of the ultra-Zionist watchdogs decided was anti-Semitic. In fact, Ali simply repeated the Egyptian story about the attack and made a few observations and questions of his own. The Egyptians have claimed that they told the Israeli authorities that the attack was coming days before, and the Israelis did nothing. There are other questions as well. Israel is circled by surveillance equipment, including alarms that go off whenever anyone breached their defensive wall. But somehow all this highly sophisticated equipment failed to detect the terrorists when they flew into Israel. The music festival itself was only miles from a number of IDF bases, so why did it take the army eight hours to get there? And the festival was originally a bit further away, and actually moved closer to the Gazan border. Various people, and not just Ali, have smelt something very fishy. Sonia Paulton on her YouTube channel said that it looked very much like a false flag attack, of which the Israelis have been responsible for a number. The most famous was the attack on the USS Liberty during one of the wars in the 1960s. The Liberty was in the Mediterranean off Israel collecting intelligence. The Israelis were afraid they’d pass this on to Egypt and the Arabs, and so attacked the vessel.
But Ali was accused of anti-Semitism and spreading conspiracy theories about Jews. Er, no. He raised reasonable questions about the Israeli state, which is not synonymous with the Jewish people or religion whatever Netanyahu and his supporters over here may say. Starmer apparently threw Ali out. But this has led to further embarrassment. I think Ali is set to win, despite no longer being a member of the Labour party. And a number of Starmer’s own right-wingers have been accused of anti-Semitism, because they’ve said much the same as Ali. Or uttered other comments that could be viewed as anti-Semitic. The ever-excellent Damo Kernow has made a brilliant video about this. One of those who could be accused of anti-Semitism is Ruth Smeeth, the malign women who made a completely bogus accusation of anti-Semitism against anti-racist activist Marc Wadsworth after he commented on her passing on pamphlets to a hack from the Torygraph. The bug-eyed Zionist right is now appearing on GB News and other right-wing propaganda outlets declaring that Labour still has a problem with anti-Semitism.
And along with this embarrassment, Starmer ditched his £28 billion pledge for Green energy and technology. The right hates the Green movement with a passion and so I doubt that they’re terribly upset at this. But that hasn’t stopped the Torygraph noticing that Labour’s lead was falling in the polls. There is preciously little now, if anything, that separates Labour from the Tories. Starmer has just about dumped the last left-wing policy he had. His stance now is basically, ‘Vote Labour – we’re not the Tories’. And many people are now wondering who they should vote for. I’ve had friends tell me that they don’t know, because Labour is now the same as the Tories. They’ve even said that they’d rather vote Communist, not because they are Commies, but because that party would offer a genuine alternative.
I’m very happy that the Tories didn’t win Kingswood, but I don’t really have any enthusiasm for Labour’s victory. I would have been happier if it was smaller, and there was a break out vote for the Trades Union and Socialist Coalition, the Socialist Party or the Greens, and that one of these parties had come second. Such a result might convince some people in the party that they should start returning to socialism sharpish if they don’t want Labour to start to come second to them. But that’s far too much to hope for.
At the moment it looks like a Labour victory is still on the cards, but with a reduced majority. I believe that, if they do get in, we should still prepare to carry on the fight to preserve the NHS and the welfare state just as the left is doing now under the Tories.
Because Starmer hates the nationalised NHS and the welfare state as much as they do.
I go this message online from the Labour party’s Yvette Cooper. I’ve posted any number of articles criticising – rightly – the Labour party and Keir Starmer’s Toryism and destructive and vindictive factionalism. But this time I think the party is doing the right thing in its plan to cut knife crime. That is, if they go along with it and Starmer doesn’t think it’s another policy that’ll get him criticised and which Tory voters won’t like.
‘David, yesterday, the government let young people down again.
Knife crime has gone up by a shocking 77% since 2015, and the number of fatal stabbings has hit a record high, with the steepest increases in our towns and suburbs.
Too many young lives are being lost, too many families and communities left distraught.
Yet the Conservatives have repeatedly and shamefully failed to act.
Ministers have said 16 times that they will ban the online sale of dangerous knives. Yet even with the changes they belatedly announced yesterday, it will still be easier to buy dangerous machetes and ninja swords online than it is to buy a kitchen knife on the high street.
Enough is enough. We need urgent action to save lives. Only Labour is determined to do that.
Keir Starmer has made it part of our mission for the next Labour government to halve knife crime. That is why we have set out an urgent plan:
Get knives off our streets with an urgent crackdown on the possession and sale of lethal knives, and bring in new and stronger laws to crack down on dangerous knife sales
Crackdown on criminal gangs who are luring teenagers into violence, by making child criminal exploitation an offence and strengthening the serious and organised crime strategy
Community prevention work and early intervention to stop young people being drawn into crime through a major new Young Futures Programme including new youth hubs and mental health support
Immediate interventions and serious consequences for young people caught carrying a knife with referrals to Youth Offending Teams, sanctions and bespoke intervention plans
Create a new cross-government coalition to end knife crime, bringing together political and community leaders to help tackle the issue and keep young people safe
With the Tories, dangerous knives remain on our streets. It’s yet another crushing example of us all paying the price for Tory sticking plaster politics.
Only Labour will restore security to Britain’s streets with a mission to halve serious violence and rebuild confidence in policing and the criminal justice system.
Labour will make cutting knife crime a priority to make our streets safe – for you, your family, and your community.
Richard Burgon’s one of the socialist group of Labour MPs. I can’t say I agree with everything he says, but I agree with a large part of it. He’s one of the few MPs who’s actually keeping me in the Labour party. If Starmer purges him and some of the others, then I really shall seriously consider resigning. Earlier this afternoon I got this round-robin email from him describing his efforts to get a ceasefire for Gaza and start taxing the banks and the rich in favour of the poor. There’s also an appeal for donations to help his election campaign. I’m not one of his constituents and can’t afford to donate to anybody, but I’m leaving it in for people who may be in a position and want to. Here it is
‘Dear Friend
I hope you are looking forward to a relaxing break over the Christmas and New Year period.
Below is an update on my key campaigning over recent months – which has been focused on pushing for a ceasefire in Gaza, fighting for tax justice and tackling the climate crisis.
Here’s looking forward to booting out the Tories in 2024!
In solidarity,
Richard
CAMPAIGNING FOR A CEASEFIRE NOW
Israel’s brutal war on Gaza has already killed over 18,000 Palestinians – with 70% of those women and children.
In Parliament, I have been demanding that the Government use all diplomatic channels to push for an immediate ceasefire – to protect lives, free the hostages and ensure that the much-needed humanitarian aid can enter.
I voted for a ceasefire in the Parliamentary vote and before that I tabled an Early Day Motion calling for a ceasefire backed by over 100 MPs across eight different parties.
You can read my article for The Independent on voting for a ceasefire here.
I was also proud to address the national demonstrations, rallies and marches calling for a ceasefire, echoing the urgent call of the UN General Secretary and humanitarian NGOs.
In 2024 we need to keep demanding: Ceasefire Now
MY FIGHT FOR WINDFALL TAXES AND WEALTH TAXES
The Tories are planning another £20 billion in cuts to public services.
In Parliament, I have campaigned to show there is an alternative. By eliminating the tax perks handed to the rich and wealthy, we can invest to rebuild the economy so it serves the majority of people, and we can strengthen society by rebuilding our broken public services.You can watch my speech in response to Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement here and read the full version here.
Windfall on the banks
As part of my campaigning, I secured a Parliamentary debate calling for a Windfall Tax on the exorbitant profits of banks as an alternative to more cuts.
Just like the energy companies, the banks have used this crisis to line their pockets with windfall profits. So just like the energy companies, the banks should face a Windfall Tax on these undeserved profits. This could raise billions to invest in our services.
The same fossil fuel giants that have driven up energy bills have brought us to the cliff edge of climate disaster.
For decades, fossil fuel companies and their lobbyists have used their financial and political influence to delay, weaken and undermine climate action to protect their profit.To fight back against this, this month I launched a new Parliamentary Bill that would prevent MPs from taking any second jobs or receiving donations from any company that makes more than 50% of its annual revenue from oil or gas.
It now looks certain that a General Election will take place next year, with an election in May even possible.
After thirteen years of Tory mis-rule under five Prime Ministers, we urgently need to get them out of Government.
I’ll be contacting tens of thousands of constituents before the election, but to do so takes time, resources and support from activists. The Tories may have their dodgy donors but we have a movement of people wanting to make a real difference in these difficult times.
I know times are very hard for many of you but for those who wish to, and can, make a donation to my local campaigning ahead of the General Election, you can do so here.
This came earlier this morning, and is an appeal for people to get on social media to send a message condemning the UK’s abstention on this crucial issue.
‘Dear friends,
Rishi Sunak just made the U.K. the only member of the UN Security Council to abstain during a crucial vote for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.
In stark contrast, the U.K.’s close allies – Canada, New Zealand and Australia – have joined 150 nations backing a ceasefire.
Some estimate that 1400 more Palestinian children will die before Christmas. What are our leaders waiting for?
Make no mistake, the U.K. government is feeling the heat – it’s increasingly isolated and rebellions are growing in both main parties. It’s working: let’s keep up the pressure! Send a message to Rishi Sunak via Twitter and forward this campaign to your friends using the buttons below:
Over 2 million people live in Gaza, and almost 50% are children under 18. The blockade has left them largely without drinking water, food or fuel. This is illegal under international law. Hospitals are operating on wounded civilians without anesthesia. Imagine – screaming, wounded children with no painkillers to help them.Now, calls for help from Gazans have no way out with the airstrikes cutting off access to cell phones, internet and landlines — and the rest of the world is unable to see what’s really happening.This isn’t a targeted strike on Hamas — it’s the collective punishment of an entire people.The Israeli people are also in danger. After the horror of October 7th, their far-right, Trump-like Prime Minister is drawing them into a war that could take years and thousands more lives. Standing with Israel does not mean standing with PM Netanyahu or supporting a war that will make everyone less safe.With key governments, like the US, giving Netanyahu the greenlight to plunge into war, the hawks of war are far louder than the voices for peace. And that is one thing we can change if we act together — demanding the leadership we need to bring security and justice to both sides.Join the massive call to STOP this insanity before it’s too late. Add your voice below and Avaaz will put our message in ads around the world and deliver it directly to key heads of state.
There is no liberation for any of us when we let this kind of harm come to innocent people, and we all have a role to play in stopping it. We can be the people who choose justice over revenge. Who choose life over death. Who choose peace over war. Let’s call the world to its senses together!With hope and determination,Nell, Abdelrahman, Alice, Christoph, John, Kanika, Lily, Mo and the rest of the Avaaz team
I found this on Aliaksei Zholner’s channel on YouTube. It’s a working model organ made from paper, though I think much of what is called paper here is really card. Zholner’s clearly Russian. and the Russian title for the video says that it’s a children’s instrument. It seems to have a balloon as its air reservoir. I’m really amazed that it actually works, and am putting it up here not only because it’s a wonderful piece of paper craft, but it also shows the various paper card components that have been put together to make it. And so other people might be encouraged to try it for themselves.
‘David, the amount of people experiencing homelessness in our country is a disgrace:
There are a RECORD number of children without a home, stuck in temporary accommodation. [1]
People are DYING from being homeless and left in the freezing cold. [2]
There are SIX TIMES as many homeless families than social homes available. [3]
With the next General Election just months away, ALL political parties should be prioritising ending this crisis, with programmes like building homes for the people who desperately need them. Right now these proposals just don’t go far enough. [4]
If enough of us come together and sign this petition today, politicians from all sides will see that the only chance of winning an election will be to fix this crisis once and for all.
David, sign the petition today and demand that ALL our politicians commit to ending the homelessness crisis! Then can you share it with friends and family to really help put this issue on the agenda?
This crisis doesn’t just impact those who are homeless: without enough genuinely affordable social homes, councils are being pushed to bankruptcy by the sky-high costs of temporary accommodation as they are forced to house people in cramped hostels and B&Bs – meaning they can struggle to deliver essential services we all need. [5]
But this isn’t councils’ fault – this crisis needs commitment from whoever wins the next election, with proper interventions like building enough social and other affordable homes.
Our politicians must make ending homelessness a priority ahead of the General Election to make sure EVERYONE has a decent home – sign now!It takes 30 seconds to sign, and sharing it after will help us get it to 100,000 and make a splash in the media.
Beastrabban\'s Weblog 