ENERGY ACTION LIMITED As we see the cost of living crisis spiralling out of control and a Government with little grip on it or what reality is like for the people of this nation, a small group of mothers are saying "move over, let us do it".
Two predominant mothers are at the forefront,
Yet they are dedicating their time to finding solutions to the cost of living crisis. Why? And what qualifies them to?
Firstly we look at
"We were out because we were concerned about the severe impact of lockdown on people both long and short term, recognising that lockdowns killed too. Mental health and suicides rocketed, domestic and child abuse rose and elderly people died isolated, scared and alone. We believed their voices needed hearing too.
Plus when a Government is overstretching its reach, it is right to call them out on that. We are pro-rights of all and pro-democracy"
She wrote a piece the day of the budget saying how she believed that the Budget is a Human Rights issue as the Government's policies are forcing people to live in inhumane and degrading ways. This is in reference to many stories similar to that which we are also hearing up and down the country. Mothers of three not using their CPAP machine at night so that she can feed her children in the day, children being forced to wear dirty clothes, pensioners sleeping in their coats and more.
Poverty and homelessness has always been the case for some in the
"All poverty and homelessness is a political choice, in
This is where the disagreement begins as the Government would disagree, having changed the criteria of poverty it congratulates itself on there being less people meeting that criteria now. However Louise isn't the only one to think this is just smoke and mirrors. National
Then we move on to
"I worked for Eon for 16 years but was made redundant at the same time as losing my home and having my youngest child prematurely. I decided then that I didn't want to go back to the corporate world and that I wanted to educate and empower people with the knowledge I have. This has never been more vital than it is now."
The group activity levels are huge with well over 100,000 comments a month. Many people posting are in despair sharing about the huge numbers they are seeing on their bills, not knowing which way to turn and how they're going to survive. Then there are the more veteran of the group who have been empowered by what they have learnt in their time there, understand their bills and are proudly showing off ways in which they're saving energy and cutting costs.
But has penny pinching and the drive to reduce consumption gone too far? Gemma thinks so, saying:
"We want to encourage all to take reasonable steps to reduce unnecessary consumption but we are seeing people acting in dangerous ways out of sheer frustration and desperation. From people removing their gas meters to having BBQ's indoors. It is heartbreaking to see and I feel sick at night worrying about what people are going through because of Government policies"
These are two women who are clearly passionate about what they do, but what is the solution? They have launched the Heat and Eat campaign which demands a number of policy changes from the Government. They believe it will only be if the Government commits to them all that the people of this nation will be able to Heat and Eat instead of having to choose between the two.
They have liaised with energy experts, benefits advisors, former treasury economists and more to create their briefing which outlines the full set of demands including evidence and some costings. They have sent a copy to every MP themselves but now they are calling on the people to unite behind their campaign believing that it will only be once the Government realise how many people are affected by the cost of living crisis will they do anything about it.
They have made it really easy to be part of the campaign. On their campaign page you can email your MP in just two clicks and you can even "opt-in" to the campaign; meaning your MP will get weekly updates on the progress. Thousands have done this so far but Louise and Gemma believe it will take hundreds of thousands. With Louise stating:
"The Government seem highly resistant to helping the people and it will ultimately be down to us, the people, to say that "this is unacceptable". They are not impervious to public opinion but they have to know about it. Social media is wonderful, and we see millions discussing this issue there but we have to communicate directly with our MP's otherwise they can say they "didn't know". That's why we have made it as easy as possible."
Louise and Gemma are passionate and tenacious, determined to stop at nothing until something changes. Will hundreds of thousands of emails to MP's convince the Government to change their course? Who knows, but it's worth a try, for all of our sakes.
For further information you can contact Louise from Save Our Rights
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has." -
Save Our Rights
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