The Hardest Hit
I joined a very well organised, dignified and I hope effective protest rally at the weekend here in Edinburgh. The Hardest Hit Campaign, which is nationwide, is protesting against the impending very scary cuts to disability benefits. Reforms are set to save £18billion, according to Pam Duncan from Inclusion Scotland, who chaired the event. This at the cost of prospects, independence and dignity of those on disability benefits.
‘We are united in fury, she said.
Absolutely.
‘We didn’t cause the mess, so why should we have to pay?’ the protesters continued.
The event drew a record number of 1,000 protesters. However, the invisible number is much greater as many protesters simply couldn’t be there, -they are prisoners in their own homes, too ill to attend or cant speak for themselves.
The various speakers, who were given 5 minutes each, all delivered very powerful statements leaving you moved, very concerned but with constructive suggestions for solutions.
All except Iain Gray –leader of the Scottish Labour Party, that is.
‘You must fight’ he shouted.
‘You must fight the loudest’, he shouted even louder, when the first ‘cris de guerre’ didn’t seem to impress.
It was with a deep sense of injustice that I listened to his non committing, unconstructive, hollow shouting.
It is very simple Iain Gray, all humans are created equal.
And the point is, nobody should have to fight, nor shout, for equal rights to a meaningful and dignified life.
However, it is still the case that people with disabilities are languishing in the corners of society. Society seems to have a blind spot, its own form of disability- in its inability to accommodate anyone falling outside the norm.
I’ve always said that I am not a political animal. I think I have just contradicted myself. Although I would like to think that if I ever was to enter the political arena, my rocket would be fuelled by an uncontaminated human rights focus.
My idea of running a job agency, matching the 90% unemployment statistic among people with a learning disability to a potential job market, is still on offer.
Although a kind blog follower has pointed out to me that the name JobGenie.com was already taken.
So the new name is Mindroomworks.org.
Securely registered and owned by us. And available as a job opportunity.
Hardest Hit Rally, Edinburgh 22.10.11
