Pro choice demonstration, central London March 30

Posted on March 31, 2012 by Kate B

Some videos from today’s demonstration in Bedford Square in London, as Bishop Alan Hopes and the faithful knelt… Good to see such a turnout on the pro choice side, although the event as a whole was disconcerting. It was as though we’d been transported back 50 years and to another country… and the number of men in the anti choice camp was outrageous.

Good to see a few supportive ones on our side of the fence, though.

In this first video, an anti abortion demonstrator carried a sign with a picture of a baby on it into the pro choice part of the demonstration and stood there. That was fairly confrontational and he got the appropriate response:

Here, a man in the anti abortion crowd leans over the fence to taunt pro choice demonstrators with a rosary:

View from inside the pro choice side of the demonstration. Abortion Rights estimated that about 1000 people showed up for pro choice:

Anti abortion activists inside their fence:

Pro choice demonstrators chant:

The anti abortion group praying:

Pro choice demonstrators chanting “shame on you” at the 40 days for life group, as well they might:

Pro-choice protest against anti-abortion activism this Friday

Posted on March 27, 2012 by Kate B

Press release from Abortion Rights (I’ll be at this protest. No question there):

Pro-choice supporters will gather in Bloomsbury, central London (Bedford Square, London, WC1B) on Friday 30 March at 7pm, to voice their opposition to the ’40 Days for Life’ protest which has been taking place outside the Bpas abortion clinic in Bedford Square since 22 February.

40 Days for Life is a US-based Christian organisation which has been operating in the UK for several years. The group, which is opposed to abortion in all circumstances, is staging a 40 day picket outside abortion clinics in London, Brighton, Birmingham and Manchester.

On Friday 30 March, Bishop Alan Hopes, a Catholic Bishop in the Westminster diocese, will join 40 Days for Life protesters for an evening ‘prayer vigil’ in Bedford Square at 7.00pm.

Prochoice groups are planning a peaceful counter-protest during the Bishop’s visit, to express their outrage at the tactics of anti-choice activists, which cause distress and alarm to women trying to access a legal medical service, and to demonstrate the strength of support for safe, legal abortion that exists in the UK.

In recent days, concerns have been raised about the intimidation of women trying to enter abortion clinics, amid reports of protesters filming patients and staff, handing out leaflets containing highly misleading information about abortion and directing women to services known to provide grossly inaccurate and judgemental advice.

Commenting on the planned counter-protest, Kerry Johnson of Bloomsbury Pro-Choice Alliance, which was set up to oppose the Bedford Square picket, said:

“The vigil by 40 Days for Life is part of the increasing attack on our reproductive rights in this country. Our peaceful protest in response to the presence of Bishop Hopes is a great way for people to show their support for the vast majority in this country who are pro-choice.”

British Humanist Association Head of Public Affairs, Pavan Dhaliwal commented:

“Any group that seeks to restrict and remove a woman’s choice is one whose outlook is not shared by the BHA or, indeed, the majority of the population of the country. This is especially true for an organisation whose motives are entirely religious, and not at all based on evidence.”

Darinka Aleksic, campaign co-ordinator at Abortion Rights, said:

“It is vital that women are able to access abortion clinics without fear of being approached or intimidated by those who disagree with their choice. We have to send a clear message to anti-abortion groups that these tactics will not be tolerated in this country.

“At the moment, we are seeing an unholy alliance of anti-choice activists and government ministers, who are united in their desire to see abortion rights restricted. Andrew Lansley said last week that he is shocked and appalled by allegations of wrongdoing by abortion providers, yet he has been silent on these anti-choice protests taking place less than a mile from his office.” Continue reading →

A Tale of Two Barnets – statement about press comments by the Leader of Barnet Council

Posted on March 26, 2012 by Kate B

Barnet council leader Richard Cornelius has kicked up a fuss about the way he was portrayed in the documentary A Tale of Two Barnets.

The film features people affected by service cuts and increased charges in the borough. Cornelius agreed to be interviewed for it.

I’ve seen the film and think Cornelius would be better off shutting up and moving on. The film is certainly problematic for the council, in the sense that it features interviews with people whose lives have been made extremely difficult by council cuts and charges, but so what. That’s Cornelius’ problem. If he wants to be leader of a council which cuts services to vulnerable people, introduces parking charges that are killing trade and local businesses and pursues badly-thought-out outsourcing projects against advice – well, he needs to step up to the plate and take responsibility for the fact that people don’t like what his administration is doing. Anyone trying to justify the destruction of public services on Barnet’s scale is bound to look ridiculous.

Anyway – here’s a press release written by the film’s director and producer in response to some of Cornelius’ complaints. There’s a list of upcoming screenings at the end of it:

Following comments made to the Barnet Press Newspaper concerning A Tale of Two Barnets, film Director Charles Honderick and Producer Roger Tichborne issued the following statement.

“We are disappointed to see that Councillor Richard Cornelius has implied that there was a breach of trust involved in the way the film portrayed him. As per the agreement to appear, the filmmakers provided a list of questions prior to the film. During the interviews, Charles Honderick stopped the camera several times to clarify matters, which were not covered. As with all other interviews, the director condensed an 8 minute interview into approx 1 minute. Continue reading →

People affected by welfare reform, care cuts and care charges

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Kate B

The latest in my series of interviews for False Economy with people in the Northwest region affected by cuts and benefit changes.

Save our NHS demonstration London 17 March 2012

Posted on March 17, 2012 by Kate B

Some videos from today’s protest in central London. Bit rough, but mainly uploaded to give you an idea of the police presence, which was pretty excessive and over the top at points. Definitely got the feeling that they were going for a show of strength in the leadup to the Olympics.

First video: police push a woman to the ground. This seemed excessive – she’d just been standing there. You can see the lineup of special police (riot police?) here. Haven’t seen these uniforms before I don’t think.

Not the natty little blue caps, anyway.

Quick look at the police from inside the kettle. Kettling lasted about half an hour. They took names and addresses at the end of it. I was able to leave with my press pass.

This video shows the sort of numbers the police had and their flanking of the protest…people were singing the Stormtroopers theme from Star Wars:

And a video of the protest as it reached Trafalgar square:

This is another video of the protest as people blocked the streets – gives lie to claims that the demonstration was too small for the mainstream to cover. There was a lot of anger here and a lot of people expressing it.

This protest was well-attended and feisty. And certainly overpoliced. Can’t wait for the Olympics.

The chaos for families caught in care cuts

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Kate B

First in my series of articles for False Economy featuring people who rely on the NHS, council services (especially care) and benefits like the DLA. As government reforms start to bite, I’ll be publishing more stories with people who rely on those services to chart the impact of these policy changes on real lives. These first articles feature people living in the northwest.