So we have been mandated to put up web links to demonstrate our political beliefs. It’s going to be interesting to see people’s links & I have a feeling that Oxfam is going to have lots of links from NEC.

But the whole link thing has got me thinking in general about NEC & politics. I think I am in the minority on the NEC because not only I am not a member of a ‘fraction’ or a ‘group’ within NUS I am also not a member of any political party- the question is should this matter?

It’s something that I have been faced with over the last few months- actually since I was a sabb at Bournemouth. For some people it seems to bother them that I am not in any fraction or affiliated to any party. People have called apolitical and this actually really annoys me and frustrates me. Anyone who knows me or have even read any of my blogs would see that I do have strong views and beliefs. I just don’t feel that I need to join a group or party to show these views.

So what 10 links would I put down and why? Well here they are. My 10 web links- hopefully they’ll give ya a little more insight into the way that I think and what my beliefs are- are you sure you want to read on and actually see what goes on in my mind?

1. Time to Get Equal (www.timetogetequal.org.uk) A wicked campaign that is trying to get rid of disablism. I would urge anyone to sign up to the campaign.
2. Surfers Against Sewage (www.sas.org.uk) having grown up loving the outdoors and living by the sea all my love and loving my surfing there is no way I couldn’t be a member of this campaigning organisation. I have been a member since I was 14 and seen the changes this group has bought about whilst out on my board- no longer do I have to compete with shit and condoms for waves.
3. Mental Health Alliance (www.mentalhealthalliance.org.uk) this is a campaigning group very close to my heart- the draft mental health bill is outrageous and it really concerns me that under the new proposals I could be sanctioned so quickly. The bill will also reinforce the view that people like me are bad and dangerous- I really hope we can lobby to get bill changed before it goes through.
4. Greenpeace(www.greenpeace.org.uk) my family have been a member since I don’t know how long- and yes I actually have handcuffed myself to a veal lorry before to stop it leaving the country. I firmly believe in ensuring that we have a sustainable world in the future. One of my favourite sayings is we do not inherit the world off our ancestors but borrow it from our children.
5. Free 2 Pee (www.free2pee.org.uk) I think this campaign really reinforces the need for the disability discrimination act but also think it demonstrated how the act doesn’t go far enough- it is wrong that in the 21st century access is not available to all of society.
6. BBC-Ouch (www.bbc.co.uk/ouch) not really a campaigns site as such but a great wealth of information about disabled issues and the message board is great for finding out what is happening within the disability movement.
7. Terence Higgins Trust (www.tht.org.uk)
8. Right To Read (http://www.rnib.org.uk/rtr/signup.php) every day three million people in the UK are being denied the right to read just because they have a sight problem or print reading disability. Visually impaired people have a real problem when it comes to reading books. Print Disabled people are, for instance, used to paying £40 or £50 for an unabridged audio book. That's how much they can cost sometimes. The last Harry Potter book on audio CD has a list price of £75.00, according to Amazon today. This site is all about campaigning and lobbying for the Right To Read and to have books in audio style.
9. NUS SWD Yahoo Group http://groups.yahoo.com - not a web site more of an email community where students with disabilities share ideas, good practise, uploads files etc.
10. NUSonline/Officeronline www.nusonline.co.uk / www.officeronline.co.uk Ok I will admit it I believe in the student movement (you would hope so considering I am on the NEC!!!!) and really like the new web sites. I regularly check them even though on the NEC and I do really believe that as a movement we can change things.

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