Running Against Austerity
Donation protected
I’m John Allcock, I won’t reveal my age – but I’m definitely in the upper veteran male sad wannabe cowboy category. I’m running the Brighton Half Marathon on 28 February. I’m not a real runner like my partner, son and daughter, but they’ve all run the half marathon and so I thought it would be good to push my own boundaries a little.
Training to run 21097 metres (nothing by others' standards) has been a new experience for me; ‘the loneliness of the long distance runner’ two hour runs along the cliffs on the way to Rottingdean, the wind, rain and sometimes the sun, painful knees, hips and calf muscles. Running alone has given me time to think away from everyday distractions, purer, clearer reflections on what’s happening to family, friends, neighbours, our community and what’s happening definitely isn’t good.
The NHS is being taken apart in front of us; stupidly high costs of housing; low levels of pay; poor employment practices, all in an overheating world. Meanwhile the combined wealth of the richest 1 per cent has overtaken that of the other 99 per cent of people. Not really a fair and moderate world for our children to grow up in!
So I thought this run would be a useful opportunity to raise funds for Brighton People’s Assembly, which I’m involved in.
Brighton People’s Assembly is part of the National People’s Assembly movement. We campaign to change the way things are run, so that everyone gets a fair deal, not just the very rich. On health, social security, jobs, taxation , housing, pensions and education, the Assembly wants to change the story, to work with others to develop a fair, sustainable alternative.
The People’s Assembly is not a political party; it promotes debate and discussion on alternatives to the austerity agenda. It organises campaigns, supports other groups in their work and helps new campaign groups to develop. In Brighton and Hove we work closely with other likeminded groups and people. We have a great web and social media infrastructure and take a key role in communicating everything that’s going on to fight austerity across the city.
We want a tax system that shares the UK’s wealth more fairly, instead of slashing benefits and squeezing the incomes of working people.
We want decent public services available to all those in need, instead of handing our public services to multinational corporations.
We want to fund decent public health care, housing, transport and pensions, instead of spending billions on Trident and other weapons of mass destruction.
We need work that pays a living wage and contributes to a sustainable future for our planet, instead of insecure and badly paid jobs.
We aim to listen to each other and rebuild a sense of unity and community, instead of blaming the poor, sick and disabled people.
I just feel it's vitally important not to sit and watch all the destruction of society by this Tory government who have taken power with a mandate from only 24 % of those eligible to vote. We have to do something to make people aware (against a constant stream of pro government media) that what’s happening isn’t fair.
I hope you will be able to sponsor my run and support this work. Funds raised will primarily pay for printing and other media resources to support anti austerity campaigns.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and a really big thank you if you feel able to support our fight against the myth of austerity by sponsoring my run.
If you support our aims , you can join us in the People’s Assembly by sending an email to [email redacted] with your name, address, email address and phone number. This will mean you get a regular email newsletter letting you know about forthcoming events, meetings and actions. All members are welcome to take part in our regular organising meetings and open discussion forums.
Training to run 21097 metres (nothing by others' standards) has been a new experience for me; ‘the loneliness of the long distance runner’ two hour runs along the cliffs on the way to Rottingdean, the wind, rain and sometimes the sun, painful knees, hips and calf muscles. Running alone has given me time to think away from everyday distractions, purer, clearer reflections on what’s happening to family, friends, neighbours, our community and what’s happening definitely isn’t good.
The NHS is being taken apart in front of us; stupidly high costs of housing; low levels of pay; poor employment practices, all in an overheating world. Meanwhile the combined wealth of the richest 1 per cent has overtaken that of the other 99 per cent of people. Not really a fair and moderate world for our children to grow up in!
So I thought this run would be a useful opportunity to raise funds for Brighton People’s Assembly, which I’m involved in.
Brighton People’s Assembly is part of the National People’s Assembly movement. We campaign to change the way things are run, so that everyone gets a fair deal, not just the very rich. On health, social security, jobs, taxation , housing, pensions and education, the Assembly wants to change the story, to work with others to develop a fair, sustainable alternative.
The People’s Assembly is not a political party; it promotes debate and discussion on alternatives to the austerity agenda. It organises campaigns, supports other groups in their work and helps new campaign groups to develop. In Brighton and Hove we work closely with other likeminded groups and people. We have a great web and social media infrastructure and take a key role in communicating everything that’s going on to fight austerity across the city.
We want a tax system that shares the UK’s wealth more fairly, instead of slashing benefits and squeezing the incomes of working people.
We want decent public services available to all those in need, instead of handing our public services to multinational corporations.
We want to fund decent public health care, housing, transport and pensions, instead of spending billions on Trident and other weapons of mass destruction.
We need work that pays a living wage and contributes to a sustainable future for our planet, instead of insecure and badly paid jobs.
We aim to listen to each other and rebuild a sense of unity and community, instead of blaming the poor, sick and disabled people.
I just feel it's vitally important not to sit and watch all the destruction of society by this Tory government who have taken power with a mandate from only 24 % of those eligible to vote. We have to do something to make people aware (against a constant stream of pro government media) that what’s happening isn’t fair.
I hope you will be able to sponsor my run and support this work. Funds raised will primarily pay for printing and other media resources to support anti austerity campaigns.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and a really big thank you if you feel able to support our fight against the myth of austerity by sponsoring my run.
If you support our aims , you can join us in the People’s Assembly by sending an email to [email redacted] with your name, address, email address and phone number. This will mean you get a regular email newsletter letting you know about forthcoming events, meetings and actions. All members are welcome to take part in our regular organising meetings and open discussion forums.
Organizer
John Allcock
Organizer
