Citizen Journalists

Life Below the Line

For five days last week I lived 'below the line' as part of a Global Poverty Project campaign to raise awareness of the 1.4 billion people around the world who live on less than £1 a day, and to raise money for charities who support people to work their way out of poverty. I wrote previously about why I was taking on the challenge and this is how it went...

Day Zero

Shopping List
Seasonal veg bag
Stock
Porridge oats
Tinned tomatoes
Pasta
Frozen veg bag
Bananas
Bread

I’ve spent my £5. I have two bags of shopping and am feeling positive and up for the challenge. I hadn’t expected to feel quite so distressed during the shop though. As I counted up the pennies on my way round I realised I didn’t have enough to even get some of the things I was definitely going to.

I couldn’t afford fair trade bananas. This was frustrating as I would never not buy fair trade bananas but I could get 10 Tesco ones for £1 so I had to go with them.  

I’ve made a big pot of soup with three quarters of my £1 veg bag. 3 carrots, 2 parsnips, 1 onion, a tiny turnip and 2 cubes of my 10p box of stock.  I’ve split some of the food up into piles so I can see what I have for each day.

Day One

The bus ticket system is down. This may not seem relevant but it may prove to become a challenge later in the week. I was going to buy a week ticket but I couldn’t. What usually happens when I don’t do this is that I have to get the correct change for the bus. This usually involves buying a cup of tea or a snack. Hmm… I hope it’s fixed tomorrow.

My first meal didn’t go quite to plan. I left some unsupervised porridge in the microwave and came back to a slimy explosion mess. Still, I went with the half bowl I had left and chopped half a banana in it. Not the most delicious breakfast I’ve ever had bit it hit the spot. I think my breakfasts and lunches are pretty much going to be the same for the week so I’d better get used to it!

It’s only 10.30am and I’m already acutely aware of every rustle of a food packet and crunching noise around the office. I’ve also just had to donate my Graze Box which arrived this morning.

I made it to 12.15 before having lunch. I might regret this later but my productivity was suffering. The soup was delicious – thankfully, as there’s a lot more to go. Had a slice of dry bread to dunk in it and am enjoying my vegetable peeling crisps. A little like eating autumn leaves but the parsnip ones are especially tasty.

3.15 and I need a snack. The other half of this morning’s banana mashed in one slice of dry bread. Yum! I’m trying to drink lots of water to suppress my appetite. I have a very fast metabolism so am usually hungry pretty much all the time!
 
4.30 There’s a tea round going on in the office. Mine’s a hot water! I need another banana…

I managed to wait until 7pm to make my tea. I made a little pasta sauce with some tinned tomatoes, onion, carrot and stock. It tasted pretty good and I demolished two bowls! Still went to bed with a faint empty feeling though.

Day Two

A girl was eating a bacon roll right in front on me on my walk from the bus stop to the office. I rarely even eat bacon rolls but I wanted one then. I’ve become so aware of what others are eating and food advertising. Those chalk boards outside pubs and restaurants are suddenly so much more appealing. I can handle feeling hungry, it’s the lack of choice that’s going to get to me. Knowing exactly what I’ve got to eat over the next 3 ½ days is dull and as soon as you know you can’t have something you want it!

Went for a bigger bowl of porridge this morning and a whole banana. It lasted me much longer and didn’t need to eat lunch until 1pm. Porridge made with water really gives me the boak though. It’s pretty hard to eat but just kept thinking about how nice it would be to feel full. Lunch was soup again and one piece of dry bread.

I have a really bad headache this afternoon. I’m feeling pretty full and I’m drinking lots of water so I’m not sure what it is. Maybe lack of sugar or something.

Well I’ve made it all the way to 4pm without feeling too hungry. Mushed banana on toast has never tasted so good though.

Made some more ‘delicious’ pasta sauce this evening but only managed one bowl. I really didn’t feel like eating tonight which is a bit concerning. I didn’t have it until about 8.30pm and even then it was a bit of a mission. It’s amazing how uninterested in food you become when you have no choice.

Day Three

Woke up feeling positive and not too hungry. Think I’m getting into the swing of it. Had some porridge with banana again. Getting used to it but it’s still far from desirable!

Have had a really busy day at work today so it’s been a good distraction from my rumbly tum. Had my now usual lunch of soup and bread.

The Salvation Army shared a video with ’Live Below the Liners’ on twitter this afternoon which made me cry and re-evaluate my situation.   

I think I have indigestion. I’ve never had it before so I’m not entirely sure but whatever it is it’s not ideal…

It’s 5.30pm – that’s 2 ½ days - halfway!

I’m off out for ‘dinner’ shortly for a friend’s leaving do. I’m having my pasta now and I’ll be on the tap water there. They’ll be eating Japanese food and drinking beer.  

So the dinner was hard. I literally had to sit on my hands to stop myself grabbing delicious food off people’s plates. I’m totally going back on Sunday! It made me think about the fact that so much of our social lives revolves around food and drink. Catching up over coffee, Sunday lunch with the family, Friday night post work glass of wine.

When I got home I tried to recreate one of the dishes someone had in the Japanese restaurant. Mine consisted of some stocky water with veg and pasta floating around in it. Made a pleasant change but I’m not convinced it was an accurate recreation.  

Day Four

I’m tired, I have a headache and stomach cramps. Not sure this new diet is doing my body any good. I’m clearly missing some vital ingredients. I’m usually a pretty healthy eater with a fast metabolism and high energy levels. I feel sluggish, nauseous and achy.  

I couldn’t stomach the porridge this morning so just had some banana on toast. I’ve lost my passion for food and am only eating because I know I have to. I don’t even feel that hungry any more.

We had cake in the office this afternoon which I politely declined. I discovered I wasn’t really that bothered about the cake but I could have demolished a pineapple!

I received a few more messages of support and sponsorship today which have really buoyed my mood. I feel kind of guilty because people seem so impressed and keep telling me how amazing I am for doing this. It’s not fun, my meals are boring and I don’t feel great but I know it’s only five days and in the grand scheme of things it’s really not that bad.

I haven’t been to the gym all week. Mainly because I really have no energy and get a massive head rush every time I stand up. I cannot even begin to imagine having to walk for hours in the scorching heat and lugging a bucket of water home or working the fields in the blazing sun.

Day Five

It’s the last day – thank goodness! It’s Saturday so I thought I’d have a lie in and then I wouldn’t need to be hungry for so long. Wide awake at 7.20am. I’m strongly against wishing away time but I’m finding myself doing it this week. That makes me really sad.  

I needed to go and pick a parcel up from the post office and on my way home stupidly walked through my local farmers market. That was a bad idea! The smell of the barbequed ostrich burgers (I would never actually want an ostrich burger) was almost enough to break me, never mind the fresh breads, cheeses, chutneys…  I walked swiftly away.

For lunch I felt like I needed a change. I blitzed my frozen veg (peas, carrots, broccoli and cauliflower) with some stock (so glad I bought that stock) and made what turned out to be quite a pleasant soup.

After realising that my social life seems to solely revolve around eating and drinking I didn’t make many plans for the weekend. I figured it would just be easier that way. I did however, later bump into two people I hadn’t seen for about five years who were on their way to the pub. I joined them – for a tap water – and it was actually a good distraction and a lovely afternoon.

Another dose of pasta later and it was time for an early night. It’s exhausting not eating properly.

The aftermath

I woke up not feeling massively hungry which was a bit disappointing as today was the today I could eat whatever I wanted. I didn’t really know where to start so I had a big bowl of cereal – with milk, and two crumpets – with butter.

I felt guilty. I hadn’t anticipated that. I thought I might feel some kind of euphoria at being able to enjoy food again but I felt guilty. And emotional.

I need to say a huge thanks to those who’ve supported me this week with kind and encouraging words, with sponsorship and general distraction from hunger.

I’ve realised I’ve been vegan all week, I’ve had no calcium and very little protein (only from the bananas) and have consumed less than 1000 calories each day. I’ve also lost more than half a stone.

I’ve learnt a lot about my own and our society’s relationship with food. I’ve discovered that my body really does need fuelled by a healthy and balanced diet if I want to be able to do all the things I do. And although I already feel empathy for those in poverty, both here and overseas, I now feel a little bit closer to understanding.  

Comment (1)

Posted by Sarah Watson 

Osama and Obama

During his presidential campaign Barack Obama proclaimed “we will kill bin Laden”. A few days ago, some two and a half years later, he fulfilled his promise. In a covert operation in central Pakistan bin Laden was bought to justice by a Navy SEAL trigger.

bin Laden's legacy was unjustifiable, and his place as the 'world's most wanted' deserved. 911 is but one of the many tragedies he orchestrated. But was Obama's decision to shoot on-site the right one? It was certainly a popular choice. News of bin Laden's execution bought with it scenes of unparalleled America jubilation. Even David Cameron hailed his death “justified and right”.

There's a paradox with bin Laden's extra-judicial execution however. Masquerades under a banner of liberal values, Obama has washed over a major component of them: due process. Is it right that America, or indeed any country, should be allowed to presume individuals guilty? To deny them a trial? This is especially relevant given bin Laden was unarmed when he was apprehended.

At this point you're probably thinking, 'why try someone who is so clearly guilty?' Well, terrorist atrocities are political acts - ones that disregard the value of human life. It is when those who are purporting to defend human rights descend down to the same level - killing individuals for political purposes before their guilt is objectively proven - that liberal values blur to the point of non-existence.

Perhaps bin Laden would not have accepted a court's legitimacy. Perhaps his capture would even have heightened Islamic extremism. Perhaps Obama's orders were designed to maximise the inevitable poll rating boost. Regardless, if Obama really wanted to send a message to the world about values he would have placed bin Laden before the International Criminal Court.

Moreover, what struck me was the similarity between the jubilation present on the streets of some 'anti-west' countries September 11th 2001, and that apparent in America May 2nd 2011. A friend of mine posted this after he heard about Osama's death. I think it sums it up quite nicely. “I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy...Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." - Martin Luther King

Robin Murphy

WHO would vote in favour of smallpox?

I just wanted to draw attention to something I read recently about the eradication of smallpox. It was an article in The Times by Ben McIntyre entitled “A pox on those who’d keep this deadly virus” and it was published on April 26.

In 1980, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced the official eradication of smallpox. In the words of the author it was “the first and only disease to be defeated by human ingenuity.” 

Except, he then goes on to point out, it’s not really gone. In Russia there are 120 phials of the smallpox virus in a lab under armed guard, and in the USA there are 451 phials similarly protected.

That may change, however, as this month (May) the World Health Association will vote on whether to destroy these remaining stocks.

It’s pretty clear from the article's headline that the author is in favour of the virus’ destruction, and he provides us with some sobering facts about the disease: it has been around for at least 12,000 years and, in the 20^th century alone, killed between 300 and 500 million people – more than three times the number killed in war.

He points out that the opportunity to wipe this disease out once and for all may seem hardly worth debating but that:

“the issue deeply divides the scientific community: what some see as a chance to liberate the planet from a peculiarly horrible disease, others see as an invitation to terrorism, possibly leading to the resurgence of smallpox, and a spectacular scientific own goal.

The argument against destruction is that someone, somewhere, may hold a stock of smallpox that we don’t know about and be waiting to unleash it on “an unsuspecting (and unprotected) world”.

McIntyre thinks this argument “rests more on fear (and politics) than science” because “the virus has been closely studied for more than four decades and many scientists doubt that any more significant information can be gleaned from research into the retained stocks: the genome is known, the genetics of 49 strains of the virus have been catalogued and two antiviral agents are already in development.”

An expert WHO panel has already concluded that retaining smallpox stocks serves no public health purpose, and McIntyre goes on to say that scientists could potentially recreate the virus in a lab using synthesised nucleic acids anyway. Furthermore, if scientists in America and Russia can do that, terrorist scientists could probably do it too, meaning that keeping the virus under lock and key is pretty pointless. 

Obviously, there’s a lot more to the article than that, but it grabbed my attention for a number of reasons. Firstly, because when I once was accosted by a UNICEF chugger I found out that it costs a mere 11 pence to vaccinate a child against polio and I’ve been hearing for a number of years that it is close to being eradicated. This story made me wonder why we haven’t achieved that yet, when it was done for smallpox “through a co-ordinated, 11-year global campaign of inoculation".

The other thing I found interesting was the Cold War element to the whole situation. The centre where the virus is held in Russia is known as “Vector”, which is very James Bond-esque, and the author describes the survival of the virus itself as “a grim and potentially catastrophic hangover from the Cold War”. Having earlier alluded to the politics behind the retention of the virus in Russia and America, he says near the end that “the American and Russian desire to retain smallpox stocks seems at least partly symbolic, a toxic microbial arms race in which neither side is willing to back down.” I did know before reading this article that smallpox still existed, but I had no idea there was so much politics behind it. I guess it's similar to why certain countries have nuclear weapons and want to prevent others from building them.

Finally, it seemed pertinent to highlight this story on election day. Partly because of the politics mentioned in the article, and partly because of the upcoming World Health Association's vote. Not that we have any say in it, but I just wondered what you would do if you were given the chance to vote in favour or against the total destruction of the smallpox virus.

Comments (3)

Posted by Kirsty Cameron 

Seeking greater meaning in a market driven profession...

During the months that have passed since my return, the distance from the frantic pace of the studio has afforded me the opportunity to formulate my own opinions about the Landscape Architecture profession. I realised that I was in much need of broadening my horizons, seeking an insight into other disciplines, basically testing the waters to figure out how I can contribute meaningfully to my profession. I have realised that I am not suited to the all too frequent egocentricity and market driven nature of the Landscape architecture studio, and I would much rather work as a critic of the practices that are shaping our profession. The methods of participatory and consultative design that I investigated for the purposes of my thesis, “A study of Dharavi’s public spaces”, have encouraged me to consider the potential of dialogue and narrative as a generative aspect of design, and this is a medium through which I am hoping to continue to contribute to my profession.

I am now undertaking an internship with an inspirational public artist who is affording me a perspective on the field of socially inclusive art practices. This involves a primary focus on community engagement exercises. In this position I have met people who view art and design as a vital facet of our cultural identity, who realise that it has to be liberated from restricting economic and political agendas in order to bring the greatest social benefit.  The value of artistic practices should not be solely defined by their economic achievements; psychological and health benefits are equally important indicators of value.

I also have begun volunteering in my local Oxfam shop to learn from the organisation’s commitment to engaging and compelling forms of dialogue which often have an immediate and substantial influence on the public perception of pressing global concerns. I respect the sensitive methods which Oxfam employs to engender a sense of empowerment amongst the public – methods which encourage activism in relation to issues of poverty and injustice - and I hope that I can learn to carry these ideas forward in my own work.

I hope that contributing to the citizen journalist network will allow me to speak about the issues that are most pressing in our current social climate. This platform offers an incredibly valuable opportunity for elucidation and investigation of emerging concerns amongst its contributors, and I am very grateful to have the opportunity to become an active member of this community.

What's a quid got to do with it?

Next week I'm going to 'Live Below the Line'. That means only £1 a day for food and drink for five days. It's going to be tough but it's nothing really when there are 1.4 billion people around the world who live on £1 a day, everyday.

I hope that my experience next week will give me a better insight into the wider impacts of living below the poverty line. My £1 only has to cover food and drink. For those really living like this it also has to cover healthcare, housing, transport, education... I can't even begin to imagine how I would do that.  

From the 2nd - 6th May thousands of others around the UK will join me to take on the challenge to raise money for various different charities, supported by the Global Poverty Project.  My charity of choice is Positive Women.

I visited Swaziland in 2007 and saw the affects HIV/AIDS was having on the community there. I spoke to women disowned and abused for their HIV status, I met an 11 year old boy who was heading his household of three younger siblings after losing his parents to AIDS, and I spent a day shadowing the selfless volunteers who hold their community together - all this while living on less than £1 a day. But I also saw how Positive Women was working with these people to empower them to realise their rights and improve their lives.

This is what will keep me going when I'm struggling next week.

To find out more see:  http://my.livebelowtheline.co.uk/sarahwatto    

I'll write again mid week with my progress...

Comment (1)

Posted by Sarah Watson 

I wish poverty had never been invented: a video from 8 year-old-Isha

Isha's video was shown at the Poverty Truth Commission Final Gathering. Katherine Trebeck had these reflections on the event

An incredible eight-year-old girl said something to over 350 people yesterday that will stay with me for many years.  Isha said: ‘I wish poverty was never invented: when I grow up I’m going to be Prime Minister and I’ll make sure there is no more poverty...Please vote for me.’

 I can’t wait till I get the chance to vote for Isha – she’ll be a tremendous Prime Minister! 

Why her words are so profound (she certainly isn’t the only wee person who has said they’d like to be Prime Minister) is that her words reflect what we need more of in our political system.  We need brave politicians (as brave as wee Isha) who are willing to contemplate, let alone implement, changes to a system that perpetuates, and arguably depends on, poverty.

But how do we make sure our leaders are already so enlightened, rather, than having to spend time and energy ‘enlightening’ them? 

Why is it that our political leaders are so removed, so remote? 

Why is it that we don’t need more self-appointed intelligentsia telling people in poverty that poverty is caused by personal or individual deficiencies and that poor people simply need more ‘structure’ in their lives, more love and basically more of what the intelligentsia like to think they epitomise? 

But instead, what we need is leaders, like Isha, who appreciate and understand that we need to face up to a system that perpetuates poverty and systemically ‘invents poverty’, as Isha said? 

Why? Because of the inequality that defaces our society and our economy; because of power imbalances that mean that it is all too often from a narrow group of distant people that our political and economic leaders are drawn. 

Changing this requires looking at our unequal structures that concentrate power and influence in the hands of those who already have great wealth.  It also means stepping back from the deference we seem to pay to the least deserving – those who use their power to keep it for themselves and those like them.

In doing so we’ll need to explore practical progress en route to tackling the systemic causes of poverty and inequality.  Asset focused development and participatory budgeting are mechanisms to empower communities to create and own the solutions.  They represent a shift of real power, focusing on assets rather than deficits in our communities and transfer of budgets.  This is so much more substantive than the current modes of consultation which are invariably within predetermined parameters and where the issues up for consultation are the low-level minutiae, the details, not the very agenda itself.  It is about doing the economy for ourselves, not allowing ourselves to be dominated by an economy that doesn’t work for the people. 

Here’s hoping Isha gets a run for Prime Minister soon, because I have every confidence that she will be able to shift power and wealth from the few to the many, to structure our economy so that it serves the people, rather than the other way around.

Comments (0)

Posted by Rosie 

Life can change in an instant: as a disabled person I have never before felt such despair and fear

From Kaliya Franklin aka @bendygirl of The Broken of Britain

Originally posted at robinontheroad.org - the Robin Hood Tax tour blog

Any of our lives can change in an instant; whether it be the sudden shock of finding a lump in your breast or uniformed policemen arriving at 3am to break the news your teenage son is fighting for his life after being hit by a drunk driver. More often it’s the gradual pain of witnessing our elderly parents becoming increasingly frail and dependant, the heartbreaking effects of disease on our spouse and the new awareness of a world which will never be the same again. A world so eloquently described by one parent of a profoundly disabled child.

“The very painful thing about disability – whether your own or your loved one’s – is the feeling
that the situation is out of your control. When the system that surrounds you is very top-down,
bureaucratic, inhuman, that can only increase your feelings of helplessness … but I do believe there are moments of despair, helplessness and frustration that could be directly alleviated by the work of government.”

As a disabled person I have never before felt such despair and fear for all our futures. Every day I
hear of day centre’s closing, desperately unwell people being denied disability benefits, parents
fundraising for specialist wheelchairs the NHS can’t afford to provide their children with, carer’s at
such breaking point they feel their only option is to put their loved one into state residential care,
and most chilling of all, people planning exit strategies to end their lives for when the time they most fear comes and their benefit is denied.

We have all paid our taxes and national insurance for ourselves and our loved ones in the
expectation the financial support and protection they provide will be there for us in our hour of
need. The savage cuts to disability benefits and services mean this will no longer be the case, but
unlike that passionate parent we have no other resources we can fall upon as his government take
away our safety net and hurl us off the cliff into despair.

Comments (0)

Posted by Rosie 

Ghanaian Conversations

Burma blog 2: Bike Ride to Aung San Suu Kyi's House

A night at the Young Scot Awards

Last night I had the honour of attending the 2011 Young Scot Awards at the Hilton in Glasgow. Actually, I was on a last minute invite because someone else couldn’t make it so I was pretty unprepared for what turned out to be one of the most emotional and inspirational events I’ve been to.  

The event was glamorous, bustling and bursting at the seams with talented young people and their proud mums and dads, youth workers and friends. Not to mention all the big names – Olly Murs, Shane Ward, Alesha Dixon and of course, the one and only, Gary Tank Commander!  

As we filed in and took our seats we were treated to a ‘Glee’ style display of musical theatre performances by the very talented gamta, some lively songs from new girl group Wonderland and then a delicious three course meal washed down with all the Irn Bru you could handle (it was a young people’s event after all!)

After dinner it was time to get down to the real business of the night – the awards ceremony. All of the nominees were deserving winners and I was really taken aback by the dedication and passion for bringing about positive change these young people had. From the brothers who volunteer with nine projects a week to the young man who’s taken his campaign to have vitamin D added to school milk to reduce the number of MS cases to the Scottish Parliament, from the youth group who developed a project to support other young people who’ve experienced domestic violence at home to the young swimmer representing his country at the Special Olympics, their winning stories made for moving and inspiring listening.  

But the one I was really holding out for was the Environment category. At Oxfam Scotland we’ve been working closely with the community in South Uist for the last 18 months since holding a Climate Hearing there, in advance of the Copenhagen Climate Summit, where we heard about the challenges facing the island and its residents.

14 year old trainee crofter Megan MacDonald from South Uist has been a leading light in motivating her community to take action to save her island from the devastating effects of climate change, and protect the land she will work on when she leaves school. With some recently won funding from the Postcode Lottery, Megan will now work with our UK Poverty Programme in Glasgow to deliver a project using old fishing nets to protect the diminishing sand dunes which safeguard the island from the sea.

We were absolutely delighted when Megan was presented with the Young Scot award for the environment. Then she went on to be crowned winner of the overall Young Scot of 2011 as well! Megan is an absolute inspiration and a VERY deserving winner, and this is only the beginning.
 

I hope somebody can’t make it again next year...

 Sarah 

Comments (0)

Posted by Sarah Watson