During my time with Groundswell we have covered, researched and discussed many topics, we have brought injustices and discriminations to the forefront and reported on extremely diverse and delicate subjects.
Most of my contributions have been based on personal lived experiences and my position as a volunteer community reporter has allowed me to dig a little deeper into my subconscious, which has played a major part in the healing process and for that I’ll be forever grateful.
I feel that this has given me the insight to take a step back and look at the bigger picture rather than being self-obsessed with all things concerning ‘Karen’ and her trials and tribulations.
A great concern of mine is how we are being treated by those who have the power and the money, by those who are so far out of touch with reality, those who haven’t a notion of what is going on in the country they govern and have no inclination to find out.
Apparently, we all have Human Rights, or that’s what is printed in the 1998 Human Rights Act and here they are: Our Basic Human Rights are dignity, fairness, equality, respect and independence, and these values are defined and protected by law.
I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry when I read this, because I don’t see any of these values when I think of immigration, homelessness, benefit claims, poverty, housing… the list unfortunately is endless.
All I know is when I look around there are more people street homeless, more poverty, more addiction, more crime, and there is less housing, less mental health support, less affordable food and heating.
We need change and we need it now, but most of all we deserve to be treated with basic human rights.