Women's Views on News |
| Bike rides and a blockade for Palestine Posted: 19 Aug 2016 11:28 AM PDT
Hundreds of cyclists and their supporters blockaded a Midlands factory in protest at its sale of drones used by the Israeli military. The Big Ride for Palestine staged four feeder rides from London, Bristol, Manchester and Sheffield which converged on Birmingham for a festival in Sparkhill Park. The ensuing group then moved off en masse to a rally at the factory gates of UAV Engines, in Shenstone, near Lichfield. UAV is part of the Elbit group and has been the target of repeated protests by activists appalled at the way drones have been used against Palestinian civilians. The Big Ride for Palestine set out to draw attention to the 547 children verified as killed during the Israeli bombardment of Gaza in 2014. Protesters pinned photographs of child victims on the fence surrounding the factory and, during a two hour peaceful action, heard first hand testimony from a Palestinian doctor working with children in Gaza. "During 50 days of attacks, Israeli forces wreaked massive death and destruction on the Gaza Strip, killing close to 1,500 civilians, more than 500 of whom were children," said Philip Luther, Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa Programme Director, referring to attacks on Gaza which started on 8 July 2014. Merav Pinchassof, from Jews for Justice for Palestinians, recited a poem dedicated to Tair Kaminer the 19 year-old conscientious objector currently incarcerated in an Israeli military prison for refusing to do compulsory military service in the Israeli armed forces, the IDF. The event also created a minor internet sensation with tens of thousands of views of a video posted by the Friends of Al Aqsa group and YouTube footage of Tom from Manchester performing his rap composition, 'There's Nothing New about the News'. The Big Ride drew support from MPs, MEPs, trade unions and celebrities, including film director Ken Loach and campaign and charity groups including War on Want and Campaign Against the Arms Trade. The Big Ride set themselves a target of raising £20,770 to help the Middle Eastern Children's Alliance (MECA), which funds projects on the ground in Gaza – clean water, a playground, trees. Dr Mona El Farra, who lost nine members of her extended family in 2014, told the crowd: "With your support and solidarity, we are helping some of the thousands of children who are traumatised by the loss of the families, their homes, their schools. "Even though Gaza has been reduced to rubble in places with the support of arms manufacturers like Elbit, who own UAV, we are doing everything we can to rebuild lives. "The children are all our futures, and they are so brave, but I can't tell you how damaged they are. "They have to learn how to play again, to be children. "This is nothing more than collective punishment of the Palestinian people by the Israel and we say that it is a war crime." Activists are now meeting with other grass roots groups to step up their campaign against UAV and the UK government's support for the arms trade with Israel. Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT) supporter Kate Byrne took on the 130-mile ride from London to Shenstone and raised a fantastic £345 towards CAAT's campaigning against arms sales to Israel. "By trading arms with Israel, the UK is complicit in Israel's continuing violations of international law and in the horrific human rights abuses experienced everyday by Palestinians," she said. "That's why I raised money for CAAT: to support the work they do working towards ending the horrors of the arms trade. "The ride was a really fantastic and empowering way to spend the day which drew people from all walks of life. Thanks to all involved." The Campaign Against the Arms Trade is a UK-based organisation working to end the international arms trade. Committed to nonviolence in all its work, CAAT was awarded the Right Livelihood Award, the Alternative Nobel Prize, in 2012 for innovative and effective campaigning against the global arms trade. There is still time to get behind the Big Ride by dontaing, or join in challenging arms sales to Israel by adding to Kate Byrne's sponsorship total.  |
| Does local government work for women? Posted: 19 Aug 2016 10:47 AM PDT
Local government plays an important role in all our lives: it provides vital care and social services, influences economic development in our neighbourhoods and is a vital part of the UK's democratic system, and local councils spend around £95 billion a year Women make up over 75 per cent of the local government workforce – but only 33 per cent of local councillors, 19 per cent of elected mayors and 13 per cent of council leaders are women. 'Local and Equal – does local government work for women?' is a year-long commission by the Fawcett Society and the Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) to answer the question: does local government work for women? The commission is jointly chaired by Dame Margaret Hodge MP and Councillor Gillian Keegan, director of Women2Win, is being funded by the Barrow Cadbury Trust, and has a host of expert commissioners with expertise in local government, women and BAME political representation and devolution: Angela Mason, Labour Councillor for Camden, and former chair of Fawcett; Anne Baldwin, Women's Local Government Society; Binita Mehta, former Conservative group leader, Watford Borough Council; Chris Naylor, London Borough of Barking and Dagenham; Deborah Cadman, Suffolk County Council; Heather Wakefield, Unison; Helen Edwards, Department for Communities and Local Government; Jemima Olchawski, Fawcett Society, Jen Pufky, LGIU; Judith Blake, Leeds City Council; Lauren Lucas, LGIU; Nan Sloane, Centre for Women and Democracy; Pam Cole, Women's Budget Group; Sam Smethers, Fawcett Society; Sarah Pickup, LGA; Shaminder Takhar, LSBU; Simon Woolley, Operation Black Vote; Halla Gunnarsdóttir, Women's Equality Party; Rita Patel, Operation Black Vote; and Baroness Meral Hussein-Ece, from the Liberal Democrat Party. The Commission wants to understand the barriers to equal representation in local government for women. It look at this issue and consider the particular experiences of women from a range of backgrounds, including black and minority ethnic (BAME) women and women with caring responsibilities. It will also consider the impact of women's under-representation on local decision making and women's wider engagement in local politics. After examining the evidence and best practice on these issues it will make concrete proposals that should ensure that local government really works for women. The Commission will use a number of means to gather and test the evidence on this issue. It will hold evidence-gathering sessions on issues facing women in local government including councillors, officers, leaders and devolution. It will consult the public: say if you think local government works for women or ask your local female councillor to give us their experiences of local government. And it will carry out research: currently no organisation is responsible for finding out how many women councillors there are after each election, so will be counting councillors to find out where and which party is best for women's representation. This will include gathering evidence about the diversity of women who are local councillors or who make it into the most senior positions. The Commission will also conduct a small number of interviews with female council leaders to find out what it's like to be a woman at the top. You too can get involved. The Commission needs you to help gather evidence, stories, experiences, photos and views. Even if you only have a minute, an hour or a day to spare, there are lots of useful ways to get involved. Got one minute to spare? Share our social media posts with your followers making sure you include the hashtag #LocalandEqual Follow your female councillors on social media. Tweet your councillors to promote the campaign. Got more than one minute? Email or tweet your councillors with a link to this survey. Tell the Commission your views by completing its consultation forms, or get in touch with your local Fawcett group to share your experiences. A list of the Fawcett groups and their contact details can be found here. Do you have experience of working in local government? The Commission really wants to hear your views and experiences on the subject of whether local government work for women – please complete this survey. Why not go to a public council meeting? Get clued up on who's making the decisions that affect local services and developments in your area. And sign up to hear more about this campaign and to find out when there is a call to evidence.  |
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