International Blog Action Day - speaking out against Inequality

A break from my usual blog updates, I'm taking part in the International Blog Action Day, an event which aims to unite the world's bloggers by posting on the same day about the same issue; so that awareness can be raised positive action is triggered.  The issue being focussed on this year is Inequality.  This could mean gender inequality, or wage inequality; but there's something that has been weighing on my mind a lot recently, something that applies to my own country as well as many others.

I've supported charities and campaigning groups for almost 15 years now - I was originally moved to do so after reading about how workers in developing countries like Bangladesh, who make products we buy here in the UK at premium prices (like sports trainers), are paid pittance to work long hours in horrendous conditions.  Over the years there have been events like 2005's G8/Live-8 intending to highlight poverty and inequality around the world; but following this there has been an apparent global recession - millions have lost money, jobs and homes, even, as a result, around the world.

However it has not escaped my attention (nor many other people's, for that matter) that during this period the gap between the richest and the poorest has grown ever wider, with the richest individuals controlling more wealth than many countries!  When I first started supporting charities focusing on poverty and inequality, everything seemed to be about other countries where these were most keenly demonstrated.  Yet in recent years these issues are having a negative impact on my own home country, the United Kingdom - something I for one never thought would be the case.

In the UK the gap between the richest and poorest has grown in recent years - despite the government repeatedly telling us that the economy is recovering and living standards are improving, increasing numbers of people are turning to Food Banks because they literally cannot afford to feed their families.  Housing poverty is on the increase, with more people unable to buy a home, or even rent suitable, affordable and decent housing.

In the UK we're always being told of the necessity to drive down the country's economic deficit - whenever anyone tries to point out the negative effect that the current government's austerity measures have had on some of the poorest and most vulnerable in our country, the government keeps reminding us that cuts are necessary.  There are some people in this country as well who try to support the cuts by arguing that a great deal of people on benefits are fraudulently claiming these, and that there is millions and millions of pounds of Tax Payer's money being wasted to benefit fraud.  The same people also like to point out that apparently asylum seekers and immigrants are sponging off the state, taking housing and benefits away from people that need it, and also creating another fraudulent waste of Tax Payer's money.

Such is the impact of these opinions that a recent survey shows the public have adopted this view - that people believe there is far more benefit fraud taking place than there actually is, that more money is spent on benefit fraud than is actually the case, and that there are far more immigrants and asylum seekers in the country than there actually is.

Source:  Britain Furst

Yes, benefit fraud exists, and yes, it does take Tax Payer's money away from where it should be.  However, the reality is that these views are inaccurate.  And yet there are many people still putting these views forward - especially this country's tabloid press, who most fervently bang the 'Benefits Fraud' and 'Sponging Immigrants' line.  These newspapers even go as far as to often demonise the poorest in this country who are dependent on benefits, labelling them 'scroungers'.

But when you look at two figures - the actual figures of benefit paid out (including  pensions, which is about half of the total, disabled and social) are less than the amount of money which is calculated to be LOST in tax that could be paid.  This becomes even more significant when you consider, for example, that the people who own the Daily Mail - notorious for banging the anti-benefits and immigrants line - keep their £Billions in wealth away from the UK tax in off-shore bank accounts.

There are ever growing wealth inequalities in the United Kingdom, but the media is manipulating the public to blame the wrong people - it is the wealthiest that should first and foremost be made to pay their fair share of tax.  It's estimated that the NHS could be funded alone on unpaid tax!  I think the time has come for the people of the UK to stop looking for easy answers - blaming outsiders (immigrants) and the powerless (the poorest) for the problems this country faces, and to start to urge our Politicians to begin to create a fairer, just and more equal country.  Sorting out Tax laws so that the richest pay their fair share is a good start!

Source. Go to this site for a detailed breakdown of benefits payments, the extent of fraud/overpayment, and the cost of tax avoidance.

There are organisations and charities that are campaigning against inequalities in the UK - I urge you to head to their websites, find one of their campaigns/petitions, and add your name to the list that will hopefully put enough pressure on the government to act:

- http://www.shelter.org.uk/

- http://www.ukuncut.org.uk/

- http://www.barnardos.org.uk (campaigns highlighting how pverty & food poverty is affecting children in the UK)

- http://policy-practice.oxfam.org.uk/our-work/poverty-in-the-uk (Oxfam has recently started campaigning on and supporting UK poverty issues, such as Food Banks)

Inequality exists all around the world, and supporting charities like Oxfam, Action Aid, Christian Aid or Save the Children - either through donating or signing one of their petitions - will enable them to work to make things better.

At the start of November I will be raising money for Save the Children, alongside two other charities, by playing at a gig with my friends from High School (we're reforming our band for a one-off charity event).  I chose Save the Children because of their work to support children who have fled conflicts like that in Syria; and also because of their 'No Child Born to Die' campaign, to improve maternity and post-natal care in developing countries.  If you're in the vicinity of Woodbridge, Suffolk, please come along and help us raise money for this, and our other charities.

If you live near Woodbridge, Suffolk, and can make it on 1st November, please come and help us raise money for charity!

This has been a much heavier article than usual - but I hope it has prompted reflection, and even some action from at least one person.  Thanks for reading it!