Freedom drive 2009 14th-17th September 2009
Access Campaigner Tom Chambers from Newport along with his Personal Assistant, traveled to Strasbourg again this year as a representative from Mayo in cohesion with the Dublin Centre for Independent Living (DCIL) and European Network for Independent Living (ENIL) to march with over 441 people from 21 countries including, Latvia, Bulgaria, new member states, to the European Parliament to deliver a petition drawn up by the member states and CIL Dublin were the main Co-ordinators, 48 persons and their carers went from Ireland.
Tuesday 15th September all Freedom Drivers were formally welcomed to Strasbourg my Liz Lawler MEP for England on behalf of the Council of Europe and I had the privilege of speaking on behalf of the Irish Freedom Drivers and outlined our mission. Later on that day the Irish Freedom Drivers were met by their MEPs including our own 3 from the Connaught area.
The petitions concerning our nation and services to disabled were highlighted and speeches were given from some CIL members from Dublin, there was a Q @A session then the meeting finished. All attended except one who sent his apology. Questions were put to each MEP about cutbacks in all social welfare services
Wednesday 16th was the day of the march. All Freedom Drivers met at Parc Du Commardes at 10am where tee-shirts were given to all participants, sponsored by the Norwegian Group, and marched from there to the Parliament Buildings a distance of 1.6 kilometers. It was very uplifting and I was proud to be there. All participants were singing “We shall overcome” and chanting and mildly protesting! So can you imagine the scene? Both myself and my PA were appropriately dressed in the Mayo colours and waiving the Red and Green flags of Mayo. A meeting took place in the Parliament Buildings. The meeting was chaired by Richard Howitt, Chairperson of the European Disability Federation (EDF). Several members of ENIL New Member States had their voices heard such as Bulgaria and Lithuania. As the meeting was about to close the President of the European Union, Mr. Jerzy Buzek, was presented with the Eight Petitions by the President of ENIL Bente Skansgard and it was a meaningful and poignant exchange. Independent living being at the heart of the freedom drive and the rights of everybody to be upheld including none institutionalizing of people because they cannot have access to Personnel Assistants. Martin Naughton from Dublin, one of the founder members of the Freedom Drive, Declaring institutions is not solutions! Disabled people should not be locked up.
Ratification of the UN convention on the rights of disabled people was among the 8 demands.
I would sincerely like to thank everyone who gave me sponsored and once again bring Mayo to European Level.
Thomas Chambers
Disability Campaigner
“The Billy Ranch”
Knocknageeha
Newport
Co. Mayo
No comments:
Post a Comment