THE UK'S CRUELEST CUT - TENS OF THOUSANDS OF GIRLS IN THE UK ARE FORCED TO HAVE THEIR GENITALS CUT.

Girls In The UK Are Often Forced To Have Their Genitals Cut, Often Without The Benefit Of Anaesthesia.

Each year, tens of thousands of girls in the UK are forced to have their genitals cut, often with no anaesthesia. But there has never been a conviction for female genital mutilation here - even though in London alone, police have received 166 complaints in the last four years! Now we have a chance to help. Undercover reporters for the Sunday Times recently caught three medics on film offering to mutilate young girls, massively scaling up the pressure on law enforcement to act. We can use this moment to call on Home Secretary Theresa May for real accountability. She is in charge of every police chief in England and Wales - if she takes the issue up personally, the entire police system could be shaken into action.

Avaaz member Ruth Burnett has created a petition calling on her to start prosecuting the people involved with these assaults and already more than 1200 people have signed! If we reach 20,000 signatures, Avaaz will deliver it directly to Home Secretary May and the head of the Metropolitan Police Force - click below to sign the petition and forward to all your family and friends:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/stop_female_genital_mutilation_in_the_uk/?vl

Female Genital Mutilation is a custom widespread in nearly 30 Middle Eastern and African countries. But FGM has been illegal in the UK since 1985 and in 2003 the law was tightened to stop girls being taken abroad for the operation - on so called "FGM holidays".

Still, the practise is widespread here in the UK! When the undercover Times reporter explained to Mohammed Sabih, an alternative medicine practitioner in East London that he represented a Ghanaian couple who wanted to have their two daughters - aged 10 and 13 - circumcised, he said "I can do it here," confirming that he would both remove the clitoris and sew up the vagina. "This is my work. I know what I am doing. I am going to do it. I will tell you how (much) to pay (for one): £750."

Home Secretary Therese May -  who oversees women's issues for David Cameron, and hires and fires the police chiefs all across England and Wales - recently admitted that people would be "shocked" by the number of young girls in Britain subjected to FGM. Now we can push her to take concrete action to end FGM in the UK - Please sign the petition. From Iran to Morocco to South Africa, our community has fought back attacks on women;s fundamental rights. In the world we all want, a women would never be forced to suffer the horror, pain and trauma involved with FGM. Today here in Britain, we have a chance to take a giant step closer to making that world a reality. Let us stand with those women and eliminate this practise from our country.

Emma Ruby-Sacks - Avaaz.org

HOW POLITICS CHANGE! - IN MY VIEW THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE SINCE THE DAYS OF SUNNY JIM CALLAGHAN

For Those Who Think That There Has Been A Change, Not Since James Callaghan Adopted Neo-liberalism in

1978 Whilst In Government. 

For those of you who think that there has been a change in our politics in recent times. Well in my view it has remained the same since the days of Sunny James Callaghan. The first manifestations of the adoption of Neo-liberalism in Government was in 1976 when James Callaghan informed the Labour Party that the game was up.

What is the cause of high unemployment? Quite simply and unequivocally if it is caused by paying ourselves more than the value of what we produce. There are no scapegoats. That is as true in a mixed economy under a Labour Government as it is under capitalism or communism. It is a fact of life which no Government, be it left or right, can alter. We used to think that you could spend your way out of a recession and increase employment by cutting taxes and boosting Government spending. But I tell you in all candour that, that option no longer exists, and in sofar as it did ever exist, it only worked on each occasion since the war by injecting a bigger dose of inflation into the economy, followed by a higher level of unemployment as the next step. Higher inflation followed by higher unemployment.We have just escaped from the highest rate of inflation this country has known; we have not yet escaped from the consequence's: high unemployment. That is the history of the last twenty years.

Callaghan's regretful message soon became Thatcher's triumphant catchphrase, and was later adopted as the mantra of American evangelists for untrammelled global capitalism: there is no alternative. Callaghan's statement also demonstrates that he did not understand Keynes. Spending was not the way out of recession. Investment was the way out.

http://wn.com/david_cameron

Keith C

THE NHS MATTERS - TAKING THREE STEPS FORWARD IN THE CAMPAIGN TO RECLAIM OUR NHS

Reclaiming Our NHS Conference Will Take Place On Saturday June 23rd, 2012,

10.30 AM Friends House, Euston

Road, London NW1. 

Dear NHS Supporter,

I would like to tell you about three things you can get involved with that could help the campaign to protect the NHS.

Keeping track of privatisation.

The Federation is starting the next phase of a project to record the privatisation of NHS services. This project, called NHS unlimited, has already published two reports. First we looked at GP and community health services, and we have now gathered baseline data around outsourced services which we would like to use to prove the extent of privatisation as the Government's current changes take effect. We are aware that others are keen to start work in this area and we hope that we can work together to share information and where possible, to divide the effort. This project is currently supported by UNISON. Please let us know if you want to find out more or get involved, or if you have information about new NHS privatisations in your area.

Campaigning? Researching? Monitoring?

 Who is doing what?

After an intense period of campaigning, there are many more people and organisations starting projects to defend the NHS. We are collecting and publishing information about this work, so that we can all see what is going on and improve collaboration between NHS supporters. So if you have a project, an event or a piece of research that you would like to include in this listing, please let me know (paul@nhscampaign.org). As well as posting it on our web site, we will also circulate it to other relevant networks that we know about. 

Reclaiming the NHS: Saturday 23rd June 2012.

If you haven't already done so, book your ticket now for our major campaign event "Reclaiming Our NHS" in London. Speakers include: -

• Polly Toynbee Guardian columnist and writer
• Clare Gerada Chair of the Royal College of GP's
• David Babb's Executive Director of 38 Degrees
• Frances o'Grady TUC Deputy General Secretary
• John Lister health journalist and Director of Health Emergency
• Jacky Davis BMA council member and Chair of the NHS Consultants Association
• Harry Keen President of the NHS Support Federation.

The event will combine information, presentation from health experts and lively discussion with contributions from some of the most prominent contributor's to the health debate. It will also include workshops to share experiences, information, ideas and talk about ways to campaign to protect a comprehensive NHS. It is crucial that we all get a chance to take part in this event and so our ticket prices are optional depending on your budget. We hope that it will be an informative, constructive and inspiring day, and we very much hope to see you there. Thank you for your support.

Paul Evans - Director - NHS Campaign

PS. Help us fund the campaign to protect and promote the NHS. We believe that the NHS should provide comphrensive healthcare to all those who need it, regardless of their income. It should be fair and free at the point of use. It has proven itself to work well when properly supported - but it does need public support.

Please Donate Now.

THE QUEENS SPEECH LAST MONTH ANNOUNCED THAT THE STATE PENSION AGE WILL BE INCREASING TO 68

The Queens Speech Contained Firm Proposals For Increasing The

 State Pension Age

Please sign up for the "68 is too late campaign". We need as many voices as possible in this fight to stop this Government's plans to increase the state pension age. In this years budget a formula for increasing the retirement age was proposed, which could make children born this year work into their late 70's to qualify for a pension. That is why we are saying that "68 is too late"

Watch our short video explaining the case against working longer.

Learn more about the consequences of these changes now and help widen the campaign by sharing the "68 is too late" video with your colleagues, friends and family.

http://www.68istoolate.org.uk/watch-our-video

Best wishes from Beth - The "68 is too late" campaign team, email: - 68istoolate@pcs.org.uk

The "68 is too late" campaign has been launched by the Public and Commercial Services Union, the National Union of Teachers and Unite - with support from the National Union of Students, Prison Officers Association, National Pensioners Convention, Welsh teaching union UCAC, the Educational Institute of Scotland, and the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance.  

A NEW PLAN TO SAVE THE PLANET? THIS WEEKEND WILL THE G8 SUMMIT AGREE A PLAN THAT COULD LITERALLY STOP CLIMATE CHANGE

In Three Days, World Leaders Could

Agree To A Plan That Could

Stop Climate Change.

This weekend, the eight most powerful leaders in the world will meet at the G8 summit and could agree to a plan that could literally stop climate change. It is crazy, but right now, our Governments give nearly$1 trillion a year of our taxpayer money to Big Oil and Coal to destroy our planet. Key leaders, including President Obama who is hosting the G8, have already agreed to stop these polluter payments. Now, if we demand that they act on their word and divert this huge sum into renewable energy, experts say that we could actually save our planet.

It is a simple no-brainer that our leaders have already agreed to. Let us hold their feet to the fire, and push President Obama to lead the world's largest economies to turn these polluting subsidies green. Sign the urgent petition below and forward this message to everyone - a massive campaign now can force them from talk to action: - http://www.avaaz.org/en/a_new_plan_to_save_the_planet/?vl

The only reason that we shovel cash into the coffers of Big Oil is that their lobbyists have a stranglehold on our Governments. But if we demand that our leaders green our tax-money, we will increase total global green investment by 400%, making solar and wind energy cheaper than oil and coal - in the process saving the planet by putting big oil out of business.

We are rapidly reaching a point of no return on climate change and a treaty to prevent catastrophe is years off. Fortunately, momentum behind this new planet saving plan is building. New Zealand, Mexico, and Switzerland are calling for an agreement now, and policy makers from 20 countries including the US, Brazil, and China have just voiced their support. All G8 leaders have publicly committed to ending these dirty subsidies, and right now President Obama is pushing for US legislation to stop them. Our planet is being destroyed at a terrifying rate and this is our best chance to stop it. Now is the time for action , but without massive public support, the powerful polluters could stall the proposal. It is up to us to counter the Lobbyists with extraordinary people power. We have only a little time left to get Obama to lead. Please sign this petition now.

For far to long, progress on a global solution to climate change has been held back by self-interest and the profits of Big Oil, Coal and Gas. But. finally Governments are realising that cutting subsidies will benefit the climate and help balance out the global economy. If we speak up now, together, our movement can force our leaders to action and free the world from the tyranny of fossil fuels.

Iain Keith - Avaaz-org 

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KEEP RIO TINTO OFF THE OLYMPIC PODIUM - END THE LOCKOUT OF IT'S WORKERS NOW

Help Get Rio Tinto Off The Podium - Say No To Rio Tinto's Tarnished Gold.

A few weeks ago I wrote to ask the public to give their support to the United Steelworkers - Canada campaign in support of the locked-out workers at a smelter owned by Rio Tinto in Alma Quebec Canada. Locked-out because they are resisting demands by Rio Tinto that would destroy hundreds of good trade union jobs. Thousands of you responded to that appeal. Today I am writing with an urgent new appeal and a new campaign, but on the same issue. 

Rio Tinto is the official supplier of the metals that are used to make the medals handed out at the Olympics. If we can put pressure on the international Olympic Committee (IOC) to get Rio Tinto's products off the Olympic Podium the 780 workers on the picket line in Alma will be closer to getting back to work. Their families and their community will be closer to getting back to normal. Between 23rd and 25th May the Canadian Olympic Committee is hosting the IOC in Quebec City. The locked out steelworkers will be there. If you are unable to be there beside them, you can still send your them message's of solidarity. Before the 23rd send a message to the Canadian Olympic Committee demanding that they get Rio Tinto off the Olympic Podium.

Please send your message to the Canadian and International Olympic Committee. A copy will go to the locked-out-workers so that they will know that they have your support. It is not often that a global corporation like Rio Tinto is venerable to pressure from union members like you and I. Let us take full advantage of this opportunity. Please pass this message along to all your contacts. Time is short but if the word gets out we have a very real chance of making a difference.

In Solidarity

Derek Blackadder

Labour Start Canada, visit our web site: -

http://www.labourstart.org Mailing Address: - Labour Start,

4 Alexandra Park Road, London, N10 2AA  

A PUBLIC CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD ON JUNE 23RD FOR NHS SUPPORTERS IN LONDON

This Conference Will Focus On The Most Controversial Health And Social Care

Act In The History Of The NHS.

The Health and Social Care Act is their most controversial change in NHS history and will affect us all. Soon our NHS may not be able to deliver the health care that we have come to expect and to rely on. Many people are worried and want to find out what is happening and what they can do about it. Reclaiming our NHS is a conference that will provide insight about the impact of the act and what people can do to campaign and protect the core principles of the NHS, locally and nationally.

• Listen to health experts explain the latest news about the Government's NHS changes.
• Find out how the changes will affect you and your family.
• Join NHS supporters from across the country to discuss how we can work together to secure the local services that we need to protect our NHS.

Speakers will include: -

• Clare Gerards - Chair of the Royal College of GP's
• David Babbs - Executive Director of 38 Degrees
• John Lister - health journalist and Director of Health Emergency
• Frances O'Grady -  TUC Deputy General Secretary
• Jackie Davis BMA - council member and chair of the NHS Consultant Association
• Harry Kean - President of the NHS Support Federation

The Event will combine information, presentations from health experts and lively debate on the impact of the health and social care act. It will also include discussion workshops to share experiences, information and talk about campaign strategy. The conference will conclude with a question time style debate about the future of the NHS.

The event will take place on Saturday June 23rd from 10.30 AM at the Friends Meeting House, Near Euston Station in London. Most of the details given have been confirmed, to be up dated or to apply to attend this conference please contact: 

Paul Evans Director, NHS Support Federation, Community Base, 113 Queens Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 4HA 

GAS & ELECTRICITY PRICES - SOME GOOD NEWS 200,000 HOUSEHOLDS WILL BE OFFERED AN AVERAGE SAVING OF UP TO £123 A YEAR

We have Just Received The Results Of Our People Powered Bid To Get Cheaper

Gas and Electricity Prices.

Some good news. We have just got the results of our people-powered bid to get cheaper gas and electricity prices. The Co-op has come forward with the cheapest offer.It now looks as though those of us taking part could save a grand total of £25 million. 200,000 households will be offered an average saving of £123 per year. This proves that our plan to use our shared buying power to drive a harder bargain can work. But it is also great news that Co-operative Energy - a newer, smaller and more ethical supplier - managed to offer the cheapest deal. 

The Co-op offered us a better deal than giants like British Gas. Maybe that has got something to do with their business model - they do not pay their bosses whopping bonuses, and they are much keener on green energy. When thousands of us switch over, we will be sending a signal to the huge, profit-hungry companies: gas and electricity customers are taking their power back. This all started last autumn, when 38 Degrees members first voted to challenge spiralling gas and electricity bills. Thousands of us discussed what we should do. Together we came up with the idea of using our power as customers to try and get a cheaper deal. We the teamed up with consumer experts "Which" and "The Big Switch" was born. 

Since then we have worked together to build up momentum. We have signed petitions. We have forwarded emails to our friends. We wrote to MP's and local papers. Many thousands of us signed up to take part and switch supplier. It now looks as though all this hard work has paid off. This a great step forward - and a real challenge to the power of the Gas and electricity giants. But let us hope that this is just the start. This about more than some of us saving money - it's about making sure that everyone can afford to heat their homes. For now the weather might be getting (at least a bit) warmer. But there is still a risk that too many families will struggle to keep warm next winter.

So the next time that someone tries to tell us that there is nothing that we can do about gas and electricity prices, we have now got a very convincing answer! We know that by working together in the last few months we have saved Great Britain energy customers up to £25 million. We also know that if we keep working together, we can achieve much more in the future. Read more articles on what we have done together here: -

http://blog.38degrees.org.uk/gas-and-electricity-rip-off/

Becky Jarvis - 38 Degrees