Protest! (UK specific but with transferable ideas)

[spiralsheep]

unusualmusic asked me to crosspost here but I'm not sure my post would work for most non-Brit readers here without additional commentary so I've added some brief explanations (and am open to being asked questions in comments) and there is more detailed discussion amongst the Brits in comments at my original post. Plz 'scuse our developed-world problems, sry.

0. My country's current economic problems are, of course, mostly the (ir)responsibility of a few greedy rich white male bankers (as is true in so many countries but with added "chickens coming home to roost" in Britain's case). My country's current right-wing ConDem coalition government intends to continue giving free money to their rich friends while using our economic problems as an excuse to attack the poor, which they were planning to do anyway because that's their ideology.

1. The students are revolting. Sometimes people ask me why I'm "still" so angry about social justice, as if they believe I should have grown out of caring about my fellow human beings. Well, I haven't and I hope the generation of young people currently protesting about inappropriate cuts never do either.

How to support your local (student) occupation, with a links list of current occupations:

http://nsafc.wordpress.com/2010/12/02/how-to-support-your-local-occupation/

ETA explanation: Government cuts to EMA, for example, will cut off educational opportunities for many poor children at 16. /ETA

2. The highly respectable Fawcett Society (ETA: work for equality for women /ETA) also organised a protest against inappropriate and unjust cuts:

"Support Fawcett's bid for a judicial review of the budget

JOIN US TO PROTEST OUTSIDE THE HIGH COURT

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

In August, the Fawcett Society lodged papers challenging the legality of the government’s emergency Budget. Of the £8 billion pounds worth of cuts made through changes to tax and welfare in the Budget, 70 per cent are set to come from women’s pockets. The Fawcett Society believes such a skewed budget could not have been drawn up in accordance with the law. We believe the Treasury did not, as is required by law, consider whether their plans would have a disproportionate impact on women and affect women’s equality. On Monday, lawyers on both sides will present their arguments to a judge, who will decide whether or not to grant us a judicial review of the budget. Come and show your support for Fawcett’s case, be seen and be heard. Making women bear the brunt of cuts is wrong; drawing up a budget without thinking who it will affect is unlawful."

http://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk//index.asp?PageID=1202

And SHAME on the ConDems for seeking to alter the law so they would no longer have to consider equality when budgeting and passing legislation.

ETA: The protest happened but the judicial review was denied. The (British) Equality and Human Rights Commission is now supposedly investigating the budget. I doubt if they'll do anything but it's embarrassing for some members of the ConDem government and might help keep the story in the news. Further protests are planned. /ETA

3. Reality check on taxation and who doesn't pay. Remember students and people on benefits all pay tax in the form of VAT (sales tax), amongst other taxes which disproportionately hit the poor, which the ConDem government are raising to 20% in January. Here are three examples of many possible examples of tax avoidance by the ConDem government's rich friends (remember 18 members of the current cabinet are millionaires):

Tax avoidance by Vodafone = £6 billion
Tax avoidance by ConDem advisor Philip Green = £285 million in one year

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/dec/03/topshop-philip-green-tax-avoidance-protest

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/nov/14/vodafone-tax-evasion-revenue-customs

http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=22513

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2010/10/467024.html

One of the many incidences of tax avoidance by (Con) Tory peer Lord Ashcroft = £3.4 million

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/sep/27/lord-ashcroft-tax-conservative

General tax avoidance news (warning: for the Grauniad's middle-classness)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/taxavoidance

4. Protest! It works!

http://www.ukuncut.org.uk/actions

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/dec/06/tax-dodging-billionaires-protest

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-protest-works-just-look-at-the-proof-2119310.html

Comments

[the_future_modernes]

Epic post! Thanks! And i love the fact that people are fighting back by exposing the tax cheating rich!

[spiralsheep]

There're reasons why the party(s) of the rich choose to attack the poor and one of the primary motivations is their fear of us and our truths. Whether it's the Peasants Revolt in the 14th century or the poll tax riots in the late 20th century, non-rich Brits have a history of not being distracted by "bread and circuses" enough to stop us fighting back.

Anyway, the rich bankers and their allies caused our economic problems so the rich can pay their share of the clean-up costs.

[the_future_modernes]

good for them! meantime I kinda wonder if America is going to have to descend into outright fascism in order for the majority of people to start protesting. Anyway, the rich bankers and their allies caused our economic problems so the rich can pay their share of the clean-up costs. A-fucking-MEN!