By Maeve McGoldrick
Actions speak louder than words’ – but, according to Mark Twain, ‘not nearly as often’
The green custard attack on Peter Mandelson sparked numerous debates over the weekend as friends and families debated the rights and wrongs of the action over a drink in the pub or a Sunday breakfast. No matter who I spoke to, or what paper I read everybody had a view, they all had something to say about it, it was great to engage in so many conversations.
However the key words in the above are ‘rights and wrongs of the action’. The discussions were about Peter Mandleson and security issues, the British political history of protesting and even the ins and outs of how the custard was turned green. There was debate around the climate change issue itself, but in this case there is a feeling that actions may be louder than the words behind it.
Some people are asking how effective this action was in changing government policy. Maybe it will be and maybe it won’t, but it certainly got people talking. My question is – are they talking about the climate change issue or the act of throwing custard over a decision maker? As we got taking the custard throwing activity brought back memories of John Prescott’s experience with the eggs, but very few of the people I asked could remember why it happened in the first place, what was the cause behind it.
So do actions speak louder than words? Today I received two pieces of information; the first was an invite to Faith in Community’s Scotland’s first Poverty Truth Commission: an incredibly important conversation bringing people together who have the experience of poverty and those who have the power to make changes.
The second was news that thirty protesters from the London Coalition Against Poverty, LCAP have just occupied DWP offices in central London to protest against the new welfare reform bill.
We launched our Need NOT Greed campaign recently at Westminster, bringing together the decision makers and people working, cash-in-hand out of need, as a survival strategy. The campaign has begun the way we intend it to continue; by having a strong working relationship with government and decision makers and people who understand the problems and changes needed the best. Those who bravely spoke about their experiences with poverty and the informal economy came out feeling positive and empowered.
At Community Links we believe that people who experience a problem understand it best. Voices and actions will create change only if they are listened to. Creating a space for dialogue is a step in itself to tackling poverty and creating change. Maybe the Welfare Reform protest will encourage the DWP to take action and get out of the office and speak to more people on the ground; otherwise, as we have seen, people will come in and speak to them.
Do actions speak louder than words, or is speaking out about poverty an action itself? What is important is exactly what is being said and who is doing the listening.
To get involved visit www.neednotgreed.org.uk
