Politics and the mental health consumer movement

May 13, 2013 by

changing minds

Polly Peek

As a socialist and mental health consumer, I was recently excited to discover ‘The C Word,’ a blog on the Changing Minds website.

Changing Minds is a consumer organisation based in Auckland. Engaging in systemic advocacy and activism, the group acts as a network of mutual support for people who have used mental health services and want to be involved in improving the health system.

What’s exciting about this organisation and the information they’re providing for mental health consumers, is that they seem to be taking an openly political approach to their work, recognising the impact our material conditions have on all other aspects of our lives – including health and wellbeing.

The first C word examined in the changing minds blog is Capitalism.

“Capitalism” the author states, “is bad for my health. And in my opinion, it’s bad for everyone’s health”. Issues related to low wages and systemic unemployment are raised, and the inability to maintain a work-life balance within the present economic system is related to the people’s needs for rest, particularly where someone is managing mental distress.

The article goes on to discuss how the polarities of full-time or over-employment and unemployment are legitimised through an ideological equation of full-time work with full citizenship – a status unattainable to many mental health consumers due to the demanding nature of work under capitalism.

It is interesting to consider this blog post in relation to the politics of the wider mental health consumer movement. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Mental health

McDonalds vs Unite: Queer power, workers’ power

May 11, 2013 by
Sean Bailey, who faced homophobia at Quay St McDonalds, Auckland

Sean Bailey, who faced homophobia at Quay St McDonalds, Auckland

Ani White

While negotiations between McDonalds and Unite Union have broken down, a recent case of homophobia has also inflamed solidarity actions across Aotearoa/NZ.

Sean Bailey, a worker at the Quay Street McDonalds in Auckland, reported to the Herald:

“One of my managers said, ‘if you act gay on my shift, I will discipline you’.

“He also said, ‘if you turn anyone else in the store gay, I will punish you and make you lose your job’.”

Bailey said the comments made him embarrassed to return to work.

“I had to call in sick just because I couldn’t work with him, which meant I lost work hours and money.”

Once the managers’ behavior was exposed, McDonalds moved him to another store, in a move described as the “Catholic church solution” to homophobia. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Workers in Struggle

Video: Queer Avengers and Fightback in solidarity with McDonalds workers

May 11, 2013 by

[“Discrimination has to stop,” McD’s protest hears]

Filed Under: Workers in Struggle

Massive tax avoidance leak

May 7, 2013 by

Byron Clark

Members of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) including Nicky Hagar, have spent the past 15 months working though a cache of 2.5 million leaked files full of information on the people using off shore tax havens- foreign jurisdictions one can use to avoid paying tax on their income. According to ICIJ:

“The leaked files provide facts and figures, cash transfers, incorporation dates, links between companies and individuals that illustrate how offshore financial secrecy has spread aggressively around the globe, allowing the wealthy and the well-connected to dodge taxes and fuelling corruption and economic woes in rich and poor nations alike.”

The documents mostly concern the British Virgin Islands but the Cook Islands also feature prominently. This has put Cook Island authorities on the defensive, Jennifer Davis from the Cook Islands Financial Services Authority told One News:

“The media and information that we’ve seen come out … in relation to this matter seems to presume that anyone using the services or structures of the international finance centres are dodgy and that is simply not the case,”

Island nations often face limited development opportunities because of their small population and land area, so legislation giving them ‘tax haven’ status is seen as a method of attracting foreign capital. In 2002 The Economist described the main asset of these countries as the right to write the laws- something the Cook Islands did in the early 1980s, following lobbying from Australian and New Zealand business people. Today financial services are second only to tourism in the nation’s economy. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Christchurch event: What is Socialism?

May 5, 2013 by

what is socialism

This event will be a discussion evening about socialism, alternative politics, and their relevance to Aotearoa today. Joel Cosgrove of Fightback will facilitate the discussion and present introductory info on what socialism is and why we believe it’s important.

The night will mostly take the form of a discussion so those with questions are welcome to voice their opinions. All are welcome :)

6pm, Monday May 13th
WEA, 59 Gloucester St, Christchurch

[Facebook event]

Filed Under: Uncategorized
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