5 reasons why I'll be voting Labour on Thursday.

Hello!  The UK general election is on Thursday 12th December and you can vote (for Labour, if you're planning on voting Conservative I hope you please conveniently forget to vote!) between 7am until 10pm, don't worry if you've lost your polling card, you can still vote without it so long as you're registered to vote. 

I'm honestly scared of what'll happen to our country, and to myself and my friends and family, if the Conservatives win.  I'll be voting Labour, and here's why,

1.  The NHS.  I REEEALLLY don't trust the Tories to not make a terrible deal with the USA where they allow healthcare to become very expensive.  I need a new asthma inhaler every 6 weeks, in the USA these cost $175 - $300 each. (Warning, skip this bit if you don't want to hear about my cervix!)  I'm currently having a smear test once a year, these cost between $20 - $200 each in the USA, I've also had two colposcopies in the last 12 months, these cost between $200 - $600 dollars each.  Imagine how gutting it would be to have to pay two thirds of your monthly income, and being unable to pay your monthly share of the household bills, so a doctor can use a telescope thingy to look at your cervix to check it hasn't turned cancerous.

2. My job.  800 libraries have closed since 2010, due to the Conservative government's unwillingness to give proper funding to local councils.  I would quite like to keep my job thank you.   And libraries have free books, PC access, advice, community spaces, community activities, and staff who will listen to the grumbles of many old and lonely people.

Labour's Manifesto to rebuild our public services

3.  The environment. The Tories have been in charge since 2010, and what have they done for the environment?  Not much apart from allow fracking...  The Green Party seems to be the best choice for tackling climate change, but I honestly don't think they'll get in, Labour has a really strong Eco policy and are more likely to get in (if we all vote for them, please!)

Labour's Green Industrial Revolution Manifesto

Greenpeace's summary of the Climate debate 

4. I just care about other people - and I don't feel that the Tories do (unless you're rich).  And I think everyone should be taxed fairly.  I'm happy to pay extra tax to support people who need help and to put money into schools, hospitals and public infrastructure so everyone who lives here can have a nice life.  

Labour's Manifesto to Tackle Poverty and Inequality

5.  I like what the Labour Party stands for.  I know loads of people won't vote Labour because they don't like Jeremy Corbyn.  I happen to like Jeremy Corbyn, but it's not just him you're voting for (no-one voted for Boris, remember!?) it's for the whole party and what it stands for, as well as all the labour MPs and prospective MPs.  There's a whole load more working and middle class, women and people from BAME backgrounds in the shadow cabinet than there are in the Tory party. 

About the Labour Party

Labour's shadow cabinet

Here's some more reading for you,

Labour party website

Labour party Instagram

Jeremy Corbyn's Instagram 

Simple Politics

Vote well my friends.

Vote Labour.

Things to think about before you vote.

Urgh.  The general election is on Thursday (the 8th of June, please don't forget to vote!).  I'm currently not friends with politics (see Brexit, Trump and Theresa May), but it's our duty to know the facts and to vote.  I'll be voting Labour.  I'm a Green Party girl at heart, but I don't think they'll win (yet, one day maybe) and I can't bear to think what another 5 years with the Tories will bring us, so Jeremy it is.  He has an allotment and buys the Big Issue after all.

Firstly (most importantly) you can vote between 7am and 10pm on Thursday.  You should have received a polling card that tells you where your polling station is.  If you've lost your card you can still vote as long as you're on the electoral register and at the right polling station and can give your name and address (find your polling station here).  If you're unsure of anything contact your local council's electoral services, they are wise and can answer all your questions. 

Find out which political party matches up with your views at I side with.

Read about why climate change matters this election, and what you can do about it.

Friend's of the Earth have published a survival guide for the election, their comparison on how the parties score on eco issues is particularly helpful.  

Check out Labour's manifesto, and the Conservatives too (if you really want to, ack, ack).  The Lib Dem's is here and the lovely Green Party's here.  

Use your vote tactically to prevent a tory victory and maybe make Brexit a little better.  

Here's some unashamedly pro Labour, pro Corbyn propaganda,

(By the way, I think you should vote for the party, rather than the leader.  I like Corbyn, but even if you don't the Labour Party has lots of good and skilled politicians in it.  Let's face it, no one voted for Theresa May and she's in charge, so anything can happen in 5 years)

40 economists support the Labour Party's anti austerity stance.

Jeremy Corbyn won the Ghandi Foundation International Peace Award in 2013.

Here are 16 more reasons to vote for Corbyn.

And 5 more why young people should vote for Labour. 

I don't normally watch The One Show, but I randomly caught Corbyn's appearance, where he discussed manhole covers, his allotment and he brought a jar on home-made jam to give to the hosts.   

And can I just remind you that Theresa May supports fox hunting, fracking, is the anti-feminist, will privatise the NHS, under-fund our schools and she held hands with Donald Trump.

Fingers (and toes) crossed for Thursday and all the positive vibes and Jedi mind hugs for everyone feeling pre election jitters/ennui/anxiety/extreme nausea!

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5 things to do to cope with Brexit.

photo from here.

Oh dear!  I have no proper or clever words for what I think about Brexit.  Apart from really sweary ones!  

I hope something positive comes from it, but I honestly think it's a political and economic disaster and I'm so sad that I don't get to be a European any more.

I don't know if I can honestly say I'm feeling positive right now, but I'm trying to work towards it.  When something sad happens I give myself a day or so to wallow in it, then try to move on, so that's what I'm doing now.  Time to remember the good and lovely things in life I think,

Turn off the TV and the Radio and the Internet. 

Even if it's just for a little bit.  A constant stream of opinions will do you no good.  Social media is not your friend at this time.  The rage you feel from people being objectionable online doesn't usually outweigh the comfort found from those who share your feelings.  Turn them all off, for a few hours, days or weeks, and do something else.

Go outside.

The night before the vote, full of angsty tension, I pruned 3 trees.  Yesterday Joe hacked down the back garden hedge.  Today I've watched some birds hopping about the garden, and planted some vegetable seeds.  Breathe in and out, look at pretty flowers, the world is still going on, it's still beautiful and hoppy sparrows are still hopping.   

Do your favourite things. 

Since the referendum result was announced I've had a Chinese, read, watched Star Wars and Doctor Who, danced around to my favourite music, hugged my husband extra tight, been charity shopping and to the pub to see a friend on her birthday.  It's good to remember that good things still exist, and lots of them will still exist even though our politics are a pile of poop. 

Use your voice.

Find a petition to sign or write to your MP.  This petition for another referendum is currently doing the rounds, and has over 2.5 million signatures.  I'm not sure how politically sound it is to say I didn't like those results, can we have another go?  But it felt good to register my feels somewhere.  I like this one too, to show Jeremy Corbyn we still want him as Labor leader and the one asking the EU to offer EU citizenship to those who want it. 

Be excellent to one another.

Times are tough, be kind to each other.  Do random acts of niceness for friends and strangers.  Avoid anyone who'll spout opinions at you that you can't cope with.  Smile at people.  Do you know who I'm extra-smiling at?  Immigrants.  I would hate to think anyone feels unwelcome in our country.  A lady was most excellent to me at the pub tonight, my husband had got involved with a ranty, angry young man talking about the EU ref, and she, a stranger, tapped me on the shoulder and asked me if I'd like to sit with her instead, where we discussed life stuff and eventually did talk about the EU, but only so say how sad and shocked we were.  Lovely lady!  More of this kind of thing please.      

If all of that fails, plan your escape to Scotland (my research tells me we can probably afford a lovely 3 bedroom house in Dumfries, which has a train station, cinema and a library!).  Also read this poem, it always calms me, 

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others,
even to the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Desiderata - Max Ehrman

I hope you're all holding up ok.  xxx

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10 reasons to stay in the EU.

So, the big EU vote is coming up soon and tomorrow is actually the last day you can register to vote in the EU referendum.   

 

If you need to register to vote, it takes 5 minutes on the gov.uk website.

I don't usually talk politics, but the image below pretty much sums up why I'm going to (a little bit) now,

from twitter

Here are some helpful articles to read if you need help deciding,

Stephen Hawking thinks leaving the EU would be a 'disaster'.

This month's Vegan Life Magazine explains what leaving the EU would mean for animal welfare.

The Green Party say we're fairer, safer and greener in Europe.

Friends of the Earth have pointed out what the EU has done for nature.

And then the RSPB and WWF agreed with them!

Friends of the Earth can also tell you 7 things the EU has done for our environment, including helping our beaches stay clean and our bees buzzing.

250 creative, arty people signed an open letter to the Guardian asking us to stay in Europe for the sake of our culture.  Signatories include Benedict Cumberbatch and Helena Bonam Carter.  

British charities would lose £200million in funding if we left the EU, according to Third Sector.

38 Degrees have fact checked the 'in' and 'out' leaflets, to give you a fair, acurate view.

Jeremy Corbyn thinks we should stay in.

And just to be fair, even though I really, really, really do think we'd be better off in the EU, because I like being able to travel to Europe without a visa, and I definitely like that there's a whole load of MEPs to keep an eye on our government, and stop them doing anything too heinous to our environment, workers rights and other important stuff, and because I'm honestly scared of what the Tories will do to us out of the EU, here's the BBC's guide to the EU referendum, and the arguments for Brexit and Bremain.  (you didn't think I'd write a whole blog post on the EU referendum and not use the terms 'Brexit' and 'Bremain' did you?  It will be the first and last time I ever use them, promise!)

If you need to register to vote, it takes 5 minutes on the gov.uk website.  Don't forget to vote on June 23rd!
 

Disclosure - I get a digital subscription to Vegan Life Magazine in return for giving them a shout out every month.  I only work with brands I like and all opinions and ideas are my own.  Vegan Life Mag is ace, you can subscribe here.

 

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