#OccupyDemocracy

Was there for the first 30 hours ...and just spent the past 32 hours with inspiring people in Parliament Square - each and every one an honour to know.

‪#‎OccupyDemocracy‬ - a 9-day occupation opposite our Houses of Parliament, brought together determined people active on a range of issues. Due to laws/byLaws/indignant officials using the police as tools to tidy away dissent - banning tents, sleeping bags, sleeping equipment, tarpaulin, guitars, megaphones, dosing and any comforts - this was never going to be a replica of Occupy London in 2011 - this is no-frills Occupy where sleeping is only permitted if in maximum discomfort and no rule makes any sense or seems based on any reason.

We each choose to Occupy for our own reasons and they are as diverse as we are – BUT what unites us is the realisation that each and every reason is a ‘symptom’ of a diseased system of ‘democracy’ and so we stand together against the cause.

My reasons are many...
...to insist on access to our democratic process in order to be part of the decisions on whether our NHS remains public, on whether tax havens are good for our economy, on whether extreme energy techniques like fracking/CSG etc are what we want powering us and the future, on whether education should be free, if wars are the way to solve international issues, if it was ever prudent to bail-out banks and if there is such a thing as a 'the-people-bail-out", what benefit over the long-term is derived from privatisation of services and how can we ensure that the people who live in this country, are HEARD and responded to on issues - not just every-5-year-box-ticking (from a miniscule and unworthy list of choices).

It has been exhausting BUT very sobering too when you realise that for all the discomfort (and it is pretty extreme) - most of us knew we could come home to beds... and too many don't have that option; enduring this nightly on the streets. This too is a very tragic symptom of the sickness at the heart of our government. I don't know anyone who doesn't want others to be warm, safe and fed - yet our government (acting FOR us) is content to spend on any number of vile, self-serving, profit-driven, risky ventures - yet sees fit to claw back money from those most in need by making access to justice, financially impossible, removing benefits that might have afforded some dignity and peace-of-mind.

Peace of mind... we need this x

*To ALL the incredible Livestreamers keeping the independent coverage going when mainstream ignore us, the online sharers who propel awareness, the key minds and creators of the Occupy Democracy and very much to those who will not sleep well tonight at Parliament Square because they give a damn, thank you