Saturday Spetember 14

A three foot plastic syringe was shaken in front of Downing street, London as a petition was handed in to stop the new Mental health bill becoming law.As demonstraters dressed as doctors danced to the energetic samba band, banners were waved with 'hugs not drugs' emblazed across them.

Campaigners believe the bill to be flawed as the governments plan includes powers to detain people with dangerous personality disorders.They could be locked up indefinitely in secure mental hospitals, without the need for evidence that they committed a crime.

Despite the major Mental health charities pulling out of the demonstration due to concern that the public could misunderstand their outrage, at least 150 people took to the streets. Afterwards on the site of the old bedlam asuylum, pensioners, parents,young men and women told their stories of life in Britains' mental wards. One woman read out a list of people who have died while locked up for mental disorders.

Undercurrents is video training one survivor who was sectioned, forced fed drugs, and locked up. She is now seeking alternatives. Her story will be released in 2003.

END

An online petition can be signed here
 http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/629187504?ts=1032045798&sign[partnerID]=1&sign[memberID]=740941454&sign[partner_userID]=740941454