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Covid-19: put people before profit
There is a real threat of a second wave of Covid 19 as a result of the Tories prioritising profit over people’s lives. Last week the official Sage scientists group warned that they were not confident that R number in Britain was coming down, and on Friday the 24 hour death toll was alarmingly high at 120.
Part of the reason for this has been the government’s drive to re-open the economy before it is safe, under pressure from big business. Millions of workers are being forced back to work places before a proper track and trace system is in place.
The Tory response to all of this is to blame individuals and whip up racism. The local lockdown in parts of Northern England on the day before Eid celebrations was a blatant attempt to portray Muslims as being responsible for any spike in cases. And it prohibited people from visiting family in their homes, but allowed different households to congregate in pubs, restaurants & bars.
In this context we want to encourage and be part of every manifestation of class resistance against the impacts of the covid crisis. This means resisting any attempts at national unity or scapegoating, and supporting those who seek to fight back to protect people’s lives and resist attacks on jobs, pay and living standards.
Oxford TU Covid group online Zoom organising meeting 6 pm: Meeting ID: 811 9144 9798 Passcode: 451746
Next Oxford SWP online discussion - all welcome.
Last year the Lancet medical journal published what they called the “planetary health diet”. They claimed that if their universal scientific targets for healthy diets were adopted, not only would it save at least 11 million lives but would also help avert global environmental catastrophe and prevent the collapse of the natural world.The diet they recommended was largely plant-based, and therefore boosted the claim that only by going vegan can we save the planet. The global Covid-19 pandemic has strengthened the calls for a turn away from meat. But can a mass conversion to veganism save the planet and prevent future pandemics? What is the nature of global food production in the 21st century? All Welcome.
NHS pay revolt: build solidarity with healthworkers
The revolt by NHS workers demanding fair pay is gathering pace. NHS workers reacted with anger at the decision to leave them out of the limited pay increases for public sector workers. In London on Wednesday a fiery protest of thousands of healthworkers took place (see video report here).
Oxford protest for NHS pay justice
Assemble 2 PM Saturday August 8th, Bonn Square OX1 1EU - please wear masks and maintain social distancing.
Rank and file NHS workers have called protests across the UK on Saturday to demand a pay rise to reflect their efforts during the Covid pandemic after the government excluded them from it's announcement of pay rises for public sector workers, and after losses of up to 20% during the period of austerity following the 2008 banking crisis. NHS workers are angry at the government's neglect of their safety during the pandemic, where 540 healthworkers have died as a result of contracting Covid-19. They rightly say "They clap us, then they slap us". You can show your support by getting your union to send a banner, delegation and message of support.
Please accept this email as a formal request from the signatory campaign groups to Oxfordshire CCG to support the implementation of the Doctor's of the World "Safe Surgeries" scheme across Oxfordshire's GP practices.
Safe Surgeries is a network of GP practices committed to tackling barriers preventing access to primary care, and to promoting the health of everyone in their community – regardless of their nationality or immigration status. This could include pregnant women, survivors of trafficking, and people who have fled war. At a minimum, this means practices declaring themselves a ‘Safe Surgery’ for everyone and ensuring that lack of ID or proof of address, immigration status or language are not barriers to patient registration.
We believe the adoption of Safe Surgeries would help to counter the health inequalities and institutional racism highlighted in numerous reports and most recently expressed by the Black Lives Matter movement.
We hope that Oxfordshire CCG welcomes this opportunity to contribute to ensuring that no-one in Oxfordshire is excluded from GP services.
Oxford Love Music Hate Racism Spoken Word Workshop
11 Am Saturday 8th August
Oxford Love Music Hate Racism is hosting a live Zoom event on Saturday 8th August to share in the art of spoken word. The event will not only help support you in creating your very own spoken word, but will also showcase some of Oxford’s best talent.
Thame Against Racism Community Lunch
12-3 pm Saturday 8th August Elms Park OX9 3HX
A casual, bring your own, socially distanced lunch for TAR members and those who are interested in coming along to find out more about TAR and Oxford Stand Up to Racism. Please join us for discussion on various topics and also the organisation of an event in September.
Police, Institutional Racism, And The Fight For Justice
7 PM Tuesday 18th August
Speakers:
Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP,
Brian Richardson, Stand Up To Racism,
Rawz local teacher and rap artist
with more to be announced.
Zoom meeting ID: 851 8784 9222 Passcode: 683947
Join this panel to discuss what can be done about the disproportionate number of stop and search used against Black people, the use of section 60 to stop and search without police having to give a reason, taser usage and deaths following police contact.
We need independent socialist journalism to expose Tory lies, hypocrisy, and mis-management of the coronavirus crisis.
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