Stick with me on this one as there is something creative to come, but I'd like to ask for some support for a campaign very close to my heart.
Action for ME have launched a campaign called
~{Time For Change}~ to:
End the
ignorance, injustice and neglect of M.E., once and for all.
Ignorance
·
Far too many people still don’t understand
that M.E. is a chronically disabling condition that wrecks people’s lives.
·
This ignorance extends from the heart of
Government, through the NHS and the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), right
down to employers, teachers, and sometimes even family members.
·
It’s 2012, yet we still don’t know what
causes M.E., or how to cure it. Unacceptable.
Injustice
·
People disabled by M.E. are either not
getting the welfare support or social care to which they are entitled, or are
at constant risk of losing their benefits.
·
More than half of those with M.E. will end up
losing their jobs, just because they are ill.
·
No other illness with such a devastating
impact on so many people has so little money spent on scientific research or
the provision of specialist healthcare.
Neglect
·
M.E. affects 250,000 people in the UK, but
successive governments have shown little interest in doing anything and have
just swept it under the carpet.
·
Too many of those with M.E are simply left at
home; lonely, isolated and abandoned by the medical profession and social
services alike.
·
For far too long, too little scientific
research has been undertaken that might ultimately find the answers that we are
all seeking.
What we are going to do about it.
·
We will campaign relentlessly to expose the
disgraceful neglect of M.E. and the institutional discrimination against those
who have it, until Government commits to putting this right.
·
We will drive the agenda on scientific
research by investing in our own pilot studies to open up understanding of the
biology of M.E.
·
We will continue to compensate for Government
failings by providing support to people with M.E through our Online M.E. Centre
and Telephone Support Lines, and will launch new services to help GPs,
employers and teachers understand the illness better.
Why we need your support.
·
Many voices can force change. We need to roar
our disapproval of the current situation, not say it with a whimper.
·
Whether you have M.E. yourself, are a carer,
a family member or a close friend, you understand how important it is to bring
about change. Your support is vital if we are to succeed.
·
Please tell your friends about the campaign. Forward
them the link and ask them to register their support too. The louder the voice,
the more chance of positive action.
As those of us with ME just aren't strong enough to get out there and campaign, we rely on others to speak and act for us and we would be grateful if you would add your signature onto this campaign so that one day it will be known what causes this. And one day there will be a cure and we won't be told 'there's nothing I can do' by drs.
Being ill is NOT a career choice, yet we are often treated as if it is. Personally, I have been ill now for 13 years and 3 weeks. Imagine feeling ill EVERY day for that long. And then having to convince people who don't know me that I am genuinely ill.
You can sign the campaign ~{HERE}~ Thank you if you do.
So now for something creative. I've finally made a canvas that I'm happy to hang in my kitchen and it's only taken me a year! This developed from a journal page I did in January inspired by
~{Milliande}~. The canvas is about 12 x 24 inches and I've used texture paste, acrylic paints, gesso, watercolour crayons, inkpads, a text stamp and black, white and pink paint pens.
Here's a close up of the flowers:
Kaz xxx
.JPG)
