Free Pussy Riot!

It heartened me to discover that Ekaterina Samutsevich of the feminist punk band Pussy Riot was released from custody on 10 October 2012.  I am however deeply concerned that her release was conditional and that the other two members, Maria Alekhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, are still detained.

I appreciate that many Russians were offended when Pussy Riot performed a song of protest in a cathedral on 21 February 2012.  The band members were however only demonstrating their internationally recognised human right to peaceful protest; they did not incite violence.

(From left) Russian feminist punk-rock band Pussy Riot Yekaterina Samutsevic, Maria Alyokhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova

I call on Mr Alexander Yakovenko, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia and in charge of multilateral diplomacy, to release Maria Alekhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova as I believe them to be prisoners of conscience.  They should not have been prosecuted in the first place as their actions were not “hooliganism motivated by religious hatred” but a peaceful protest.  They need to be released unconditionally as their imprisonment is a violation of their right to non-violently express their beliefs.  Further to this I hope they review Ekaterina Samutsevich’s release, giving her unconditional freedom.

In November there were reports that Maria Alekhina requested to be transferred to a solitary, or "safe" cell, due to mounting tensions with other inmates.  This sparks alarm bells in my head and begs the question is she safe?  She needs to be free from the fear of ill-treatment and intimidation, from other prisoners or staff.  Someone needs to step in to ensure her, and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova's, welfare.  Further to this, the threat that the may be moved to distant penal colonies needs to be eradicated, as they have young children.

The bigger issue that needs addressing is that the Russian Federation needs to not only respect but recognise the right to freedom of expression.  People exercising this right should be allowed to do so without fear of judicial punishment and not treated like hooligans.  Everyone should be allowed to have their voice whether or not we agree with what is being said.  

The treatment of Pussy Riot has shocked me and it is a symbol of a judgement system to afraid to reinforce human rights.

Under 25s Housing Benefit

The government’s notion to abolish housing benefit for under 25s, affecting approximately 380,000 people, terrifies me.  This would have highly detrimental affects on young adults who are struggling to get into the adult world of work and independent living.  Back in June, David Cameron was quoted as saying “[A couple on benefits are] trapped in a welfare system that discourages them from working, [A couple living with their parents are] doing the right thing and getting no help”.  This appears to be a very narrow minded view of on individual circumstances and how adults in this country think and act.  Statements like these isolate thousands of people who are not only made to feel belittled but could potentially be left homeless if their benefits are cut.

Until recently, I claimed both Jobseekers Allowance and Housing Benefit, at the age of 22.  I was given a pitiful amount to live on but I was grateful for it and it meant I was able to be reliable to my landlord and utilities, and able to buy food.  I appreciate that benefits need to be quite low, not only because the country is trying to reduce its debt but also to encourage people back into work but the idea of receiving no housing benefit at all simply because I am younger than 25 fills me with dread.  The welfare state should be available to all who need it and people should not be discriminated against due to age. 

I worked very hard to get off benefits and into work and this is quite typical of people in that situation.  I am however only in a temporary position and may find that I will need to rely on benefits once more.  I hope this isn’t the case but it is crucial for a safety net to be there just in case.  Without benefits I would have had no where to go, I cannot live with my parents as they no longer have the room or resources to support me.  To be clear, I did not move out for an “easy” life or to get “trapped” into the benefits system and I did not do the wrong thing.  It was simply necessary at the time.

It heartened me to read an article on the Guardian’s website stating that George Osborne is likely to drop the plan to end housing benefits for under 25s and I sincerely hope this is the case.  In the majority of instances younger adults do not move out just to sit perpetually on benefits, they do it either because they are financially able to (which I appreciate is the ideal) or because they have no other choice.  In most cases they want to be in work and fulfill their own ambitions; a tiny majority may take advantage of the system but that does not mean it is right to tar each with the same brush.  It goes against human’s basic need of safety, which goes to resources, and it could violate their human right to property.

Whale Song

I'm a big fan of connecting the world and communicating globally.  Not only is there so much to learn and discover but it is also fun.  Postcrossing is a site dedicated to swapping postcards and I received this from Japan.

“Whale Song” - Yuki Okazaki. Printed in Japan.

The First Post is the Hardest

Like anything I write this is something that will grow and change over time.  Something that in its infancy will seem a little disjointed and chaotic, perhaps even with little sense of purpose.  I suppose that is the slight difference with this and with the fiction I write in notebooks because this has more of a clear idea.  I want to use this blog to express in a public forum my thoughts and views on various human rights, animal rights and inevitably some of my views on world and national politics.  I may also have posts on my fiction writing and what is going on in my life - I will see how it develops.

Recently, I became a member of Amnesty International (I'm waiting for my free t-shirt as I type!) and I often read through the human rights issues they are fighting against on their website.  As a result of this I often write pressuring letters to various MPs and governments, lobbying for human rights. I recently wrote to the Zimbabwe Ambassador in London demanding that members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) be free from harassment when demonstrating their international right to peaceful protest. As it stands they are maltreated by local authorities, sometimes even beaten by them.

I also write letters as part of Born Free's ongoing Activate campaign. A few times a year they email me about a specific animal related cause and give me the address to write to. The most recent one was about an Sardinian aquarium that does not meet the needs of its turtles. They live in small tanks and are riddled with illness. My letter demanded that they be returned to a rescue centre and rehabilitated back to the wild.

As you can see what I write about varies but the unifying ideal is acceptable quality of life.  There are internationally recognised human rights, which often get breeched, that need to be adhered to.  For example, in the case of Ramze Shihab Ahmed (dual Iraqi-British national) his right to a fair trial was violated.  He was found guilty of funding terrorist groups after a fifteen minute trial, during which his own lawyer was not permitted to cross examine witnesses, based on a confession he gave under alleged torture.  Clearly, his case needs re-examining and I along with many others feel driven to say something.

I believe animals in captivity should have all their basic needs met, not be exploited, and in most cases should be rehabilitated into the wild.  I wouldn't go as far as to say having a pet (or several) is wrong or even that zoos should be disbanded, as they can be educational and their breeding programmes beneficial. What I would say however is that the animals should have fresh food and water as often as they need, a safe environment that caters to them, high quality care and veterinary care as required.  In many instances this does not happen as people do not provide animals with their necessities and I find I do not feel comfortable staying quiet.

There are many good things about people and this planet but I am also concerned by many issues that still need work. Rather than just complain about them to no one in particular I try to make my voice count towards making the change. Whether or not I actually make a difference I do not know but I feel I must keep trying. I also try to only write with regards to causes I really care about, that seems important – though I find that most causes I read about touch me in some way.