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Protest Against Atos Outside the Paralympic Test Event!

claimantsfightback | 26.11.2011 19:44 | Health | Public sector cuts | Workers' Movements | World

As part of December’s month of festive action against Atos and the benefit cuts (1), disabled people, benefit claimants and supporters will be demonstrating outside the Paralympic Goal Ball test event (2) being held at the Olympic Park in Stratford on Saturday 3rd December from 2pm.



Atos are the French IT firm responsible for carrying out the government’s Work Capability Assessment which has led to tens of thousands of sick and disabled people being forced into poverty after being stripped of essential benefits. Despite the process being dubbed unfit for purpose and an increasing number of suicides due to the stressful and vicious health testing regime, this form of assessment is to be extended to everyone on some form of disability or health related benefit.

When not bullying disabled people Atos are also the official IT partners of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Join us to ensure that Atos do not receive one ounce of positive publicity from this role, as they champion their support for disabled athletes with one hand whilst destroying the lives of of disabled and sick benefit claimants with the other.

On December 3rd, International Disabled People’s Day (3), protesters will be gathering outside the entrance of the Olympic Park in Stratford at the Paralympic Goalball test event. Join us from 2pm and let’s show the world what Atos really think about disabled people.

Watch this space for further details. Bring banners, placards, noise!

Ttravel to Stratford station (DLR, Central/Jubilee Lines, London Overground) and then follow the indications to the Olympic Park entrance via Westfield Stratford City shopping centre. The route from the station to the entrance of the Olympic Park is approximately 600 metres.

The London Underground Jubilee and Central lines at Stratford Regional station are step free as are: DLR, National Rail and London Overground platforms at this station. Travel assistance can be pre-booked on National Rail and London Overground services.

Facebook page:  http://www.facebook.com/events/313266012034394/

(1)  http://benefitclaimantsfightback.wordpress.com/2011/11/13/a-month-of-festive-action-against-atos-and-the-benefit-cuts/
(2)  http://www.londonpreparesseries.com/goalball/index.html
(3)  http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=1561

claimantsfightback
- e-mail: notowelfarecuts@yahoo.co.uk
- Homepage: http://benefitclaimantsfightback.wordpress.com/

Comments

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for what?

26.11.2011 20:34

For acting like professionals? For believing in democracy?

They are an IT firm.

I don't know how it is with your IT shop but none that I ever worked in decided whether or not they would do IT work for clients dependent on whether they approved of that client's business.

And in this case it is "government work". Now like you perhaps I would prefer that the voters had chosen a different government but they didn't. So not their place to approve or disapprove of policies of the government that the people (however unwisely) chose.

Might I humbly suggest that you might want to reconsider your commitment to democracy? We can trace the argument back at least as far as Plato vs Aristotle. There is nothing dishonerable taking Plato's side of the argument that democracy is a bad idea and better would be govenrment by the wise who knew better what was in the best interests of the people (than they do themselves).

Understand? Although I have no right to a say (in the decision sense) I don't approve of the policies of your government (I can still express an opinion). But I don't believe that your system is so far removed from democracy that they aren't what most of you want.

MDN

Hidden Comment

This posting has been hidden because it breaches the Indymedia UK (IMC UK) Editorial Guidelines.

IMC UK is an interactive site offering inclusive participation. All postings to the open publishing newswire are the responsibility of the individual authors and not of IMC UK. Although IMC UK volunteers attempt to ensure accuracy of the newswire, they take no responsibility legal or otherwise for the contents of the open publishing site. Mention of external web sites or services is for information purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation.

more trolls

26.11.2011 22:30

No its not a fucking democracy MDN with you and your uncountable PFI corporate arses raiding the public purse with your dodgy consultancy firms corporates with their pocket politicians to run the country you pretentious fuckface troll. Do us all a favour and go kill yourself. We know you work for Atos.

fuckofftroll

Hidden Comment

This posting has been hidden because it breaches the Indymedia UK (IMC UK) Editorial Guidelines.

IMC UK is an interactive site offering inclusive participation. All postings to the open publishing newswire are the responsibility of the individual authors and not of IMC UK. Although IMC UK volunteers attempt to ensure accuracy of the newswire, they take no responsibility legal or otherwise for the contents of the open publishing site. Mention of external web sites or services is for information purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation.

@MDN

27.11.2011 00:34

"I don't know how it is with your IT shop but none that I ever worked in decided whether or not they would do IT work for clients dependent on whether they approved of that client's business."

Er, well maybe they should then?

You're telling me they would happily do business with the Mafia or with child pornographers, assuming they were legal?

anon

Hidden Comment

This posting has been hidden because it breaches the Indymedia UK (IMC UK) Editorial Guidelines.

IMC UK is an interactive site offering inclusive participation. All postings to the open publishing newswire are the responsibility of the individual authors and not of IMC UK. Although IMC UK volunteers attempt to ensure accuracy of the newswire, they take no responsibility legal or otherwise for the contents of the open publishing site. Mention of external web sites or services is for information purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation.

Plan an action like this carefully

27.11.2011 15:59

Important to control "what is the issue about".

It is one thing when we resist the decisions of our duly elected govenrments because we disapprove of those decisions. It can easily become something else when we take actions against those who don't join us. Instead of the original issue they can all so easily twist this (their choice of interpretation) so that in effect you are attacking them for not accepting the outcome of democratic elections.

Isn't that more or less the case with Altos here? You are objecting to their taking a contract from your duly elected government? To be sure, perhaps not a perfect democracy but are you willing to argue that so undemocratic and oppressive that everybody has a duty to resist?

They (Altos) would have a legitimate gripe arguing that you need to organize to change your government, not attack them.

MDN

they can argue what they fucking like

27.11.2011 18:53

Atos are the ones harrassing and bullying sick and disabled people on a daily basis. they are accountable for their actions. fuck them.

riotact

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