Europe

From behind owls-eye spectacles, Cathy McCormack’s diminutive frame breathlessly declaims: “We are fighting a war without bullets”.

In many ways this feisty wee woman — who from her days living in a Glasgow council estate now campaigns for healthy housing and against poverty– best sums up the People’s Health Movement (PHM) and what it symbolizes today.

It’s about the little man trying to make things right; the battle between David and Goliath. It’s about fighting injustice despite all the odds.

From the moment people starting registering there was a buzz - people reconnecting with friends and colleagues from way back, Scottish delegates chatting to those who ventured north from England, students discussing what they are doing with more experienced colleagues, and already and informally, personal stories of activism.

Merseyside People’s Health Assembly

After registration and a drink in the UNITE café, the event started with introductions by the joint Chairs for the day, Chris Boyle and Val Walsh, providing background information about the  PHM and a reminder about the purpose of the Merseyside People’s Health Assembly, including the (flexible) running order for the day.

We have had very exciting and inspiring three days with almost 100 participants- representing community health networks/ groups, academics, health practitioners and activists- who shared personal stories & experiences and engaged in discussions and strategising around health inequalities and experiences of health under an environment of austerity and marginalisation!

People's Health Movement in Greece is participating in the European week of mobilisation for the Right to Health organising an open meeting entitled "Health" an undiscutable right or a commodity?" the 2nd of April.

10th – 12th April 2014, Edinburgh

Background and Context

The word ‘austerity’ has recently gained prominence. It is used to describe a wide range of cuts to public spending across services including welfare support, education, health and social care. What is often overlooked is how ‘austerity’ is a deliberate policy by the government to redistribute resources from the poor to the rich through bailout of banks, corporate tax evasion and private finance initiatives.

The Lancet—University of Oslo Commission on Global Governance for Health' has been released.

This report examines power disparities and dynamics across a range of policy areas that aff ect health and that require improved global governance: economic crises and austerity measures, knowledge and intellectual property, foreign investment treaties, food security,transnational corporate activity, irregular migration, and violent conflict.

Solidarity with migrants, immediate closure of all Centres for Identification and Expulsion (CIE)

We are currently witnessing the protest by a group of desperate migrants detained in a Centre for Identification and Expulsion (CIE) in Rome. Some of the migrants have literally sewn their lips together and many others have joined the protest through hunger strikes.

This is yet another protest by migrants, forced to take extreme forms of self-harm which they see as the only way to draw attention to their situation, using media pressure to get the authorities to listen.

In questi giorni stiamo assistendo alla protesta esasperata di un gruppo di migranti all’interno di un Centro d’identificazione ed espulsione di Roma. L’ennesima protesta dei migranti, costretta ad assumere forme estreme di autolesionismo, unica modalità per richiamare l’attenzione e costringere le autorità, tramite la pressione mediatica, all’ascolto. 

The Festival is about bringing together people and organisations who share the common values of justice, peace, non-violence, human rights for all, democracy, respect of differences, independence and self responsibility, honest & openess, equality & solidarity.

PHM UK is part of the festival and organises a workshop on PEOPLE'S HEALTH IN PEOPLE'S HANDS.

NEWS: applications for the International People's Health University in Thessaloniki are still open (deadline postponed at September 15th)!