52x52: Wear A Badge

52 random acts of kindness that each take under 52 seconds. One action each week, over a year takes less than an hour of your life.

Yesterday some of the main streets of London were a little fuller, with 20,000 others (including myself) on a Stand Up to Racism demonstration. 

That we live in a society where such a number of us can take over the main shopping streets of London on a busy Saturday and that we can march down the roads of those streets waving banners, holding placards, singing songs, playing music, chanting for equality, fairness and freedom is a privilege. It is inspiring to see so many people, so creatively demonstrate their commitment to making the world a better place. 

And you don't have to carry a placard or wave a banner. It's surprising what just wearing a badge can do. It says something and it says it all the time, whether it is on your coat or bag or bicycle or laptop, it is a tiny act of kindness. It is saying something along the lines of :'I want a better world for everyone and here's a suggestion how we could go about it'. Who knows who will read it and be changed and/or inspired.

I remember some years ago a woman admired the badges on my bag and said to me:

'They speak even when you don't'

So, to give others a voice and to be heard even when you are not speaking - wear a badge.

Badges from January 2011

   

Biscuit Politics

As Tony Benn would ask:

How would you feel if you went to the dentist and they said I'm not a dentist myself, haven't learned anything about dentistry, or even read a book on it but my dads a dentist so I'll call myself a dentist? 

Tony Benn, 2011

Tony Benn considered inheriting a title in a similar vein, so renounced his title of Viscount on that basis, which it why it's surprising to read in the Guardian that his son Stephen, is now reclaiming this heriditary peerage.

Speaking at rally in Trafalgar Square 2011

Sadly, he hasn't inherited his father's other title - 'socialist'! No that's something you have to work at and believe in and isn't just a badge you stick on when you fancy it.

Biscuit politics. They are most secure in the shop, labelled, in the packet or box or biscuit tin, with all the other biscuits. On their own, in the hands of the public, it doesn't matter which biscuit you choose, if you hold them in hot water long enough they will break and fall, whether they are chocolate or plain, they all create a splash before finally sinking to the bottom.

Tony Ben wasn't a biscuit, he was the biscuit tin and now he's gone, unfortunately, some of the biscuits have now fallen apart and are just a pile of crumbs. Try dunking that in your tea!

Do Something

 

My reaction to the Conservatives getting into power was to rejoin my union Unison (after a lapse during a change of employment). I thought the unions could do with every bit of support they could get and I knew there were many people out there who didn't have the same security in their jobs that I have and would need that support too.

Other direct debits that come out every month are for the NSPCC and Amnesty International. I give Kiva loans,  am a blood donor and buy The Big Issue. I have volunteered doing a variety of projects, from working with under 5s and their parents promoting literacy to working at a homeless shelter to planting trees in the local park.

I buy Fairtrade, recycle and read.

And however much or little I do, there will be people who do more and people who do less. But at least we try to do something.

On Saturday, the 18th of October, I will be on the Britain Needs a Payrise march and rally .

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."

Edmund Burke/disputed 

History Repeating

I marched in 2003/4 with the students of our school and I will be protesting again this coming Saturday the 4th of October.

Why ? Check out why Stop the War Coalition think Iraq and Syria should not be bombed.

As Franklin D. Roosevelt said 'Repetition does not transform a lie into a truth.'

~

 

 

 

People's Climate March London

 

 

 

 

Never Doubt

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

Margaret Mead 

As I watched Pride and 'Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton and George MacKay sparkle in this tale of lesbian and gay activists’ support for the miners’ strike', as Mark Kermode put it (Observer, Sep 14, 2014) and was inspired.

I remembered what Martin Niemöller had said about the need to stand up for other people.


First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

There are so many things I am not and so many things that I am and at one time or another I have been treated with prejudice because of what people thought I was or was not. Hasn't everyone?

So shouldn't I stand up for other people whether they are people like me or not - because they are people? Or should I stand up for stuff like ethical issues or justice? Do I have to have something to believe in? Will I, as Malcolm X suggests 'fall for anything' if I don't 'stand for something'?

What do I believe and what do I stand for? How do I show it? In how I live? What else? In the film Pride you could see prejudice being overcome and shows of unlikely solidarity on a grand scale. I thought of the marches I had been on whether for peace or for trade justice or while on strike, and enjoyed those feelings of solidarity. What did they do though? Were they just to make me feel better, as if I was doing something? Was I doing anything?

Protests work. Look at a writer for the Independent, Johann Hari's article aptly titled 'Protests Work' (2010). Unsurprisingly he ends his article with the same Margaret Mead quote above.

Tomorrow is The People's Climate March. It's happening in 150 countries all over the world, from Melbourne to New York. Its a call to action to influence decisions at the UN Climate Summit. Tomorrow the march will be going from Temple to Parliament Square in London. Tomorrow I will be there. I will be making a stand.

Protests work. Never doubt.