For the last few weeks the NHS has been reminding us of how old we are by letting us know that we qualify for a Covid booster vaccination and should book an appointment. Eventually we got our act together - it’s relatively complicated to arrange appointments for both of us in the same place, on the same day and at more or less the same time - and arranged for us to go to a chemist’s in Uppermill today.
Mid-morning I received a phone call from the aforementioned chemist’s letting me know that they had to cancel our appointments as they don’t have a pharmacist available today to administer the injection. We can, however, go to their walk-in session a week on Tuesday! So it goes.
According to some statistics the UK is number one on the world for homelessness. Not all of them sleep on the streets, which is a good thing, but an astoundingly large number are in temporary accommodation. And according to this article a homelessness museum is about to open in London.
The people responsible, Jess Turtle and partner, say this will be a ‘useful’ museum, with a cupboard full of sleeping bags upstairs and a thot water tap installed in the grounds (which, as one visitor who has been homeless notes, might allow someone to make a Pot Noodle and be warm and fed that day).
The museum was set up to record true stories about homelessness, Jess Turtle says, “but quite quickly, it became clear that that wasn’t enough, and we had to also take action. That’s when we started doing direct action on the streets and campaigning.
“Then the pandemic hit and we completely pivoted to [offering direct help] about 18 months or so. It depends what our community needs at any one time.”
This is the 21st century. We’re almost a quarter of the way through it and we still have these things going on. But an asylum housing tycoon has made it onto the list of the 350 richest people in the country. Some people are doing well! Or so it seems.
From the USA comes this news:
Lily Greenberg Call announced her resignation from the Biden administration on Wednesday over the ongoing US support for Israel's war on Gaza, becoming the first Jewish-American political official to resign in protest against the war.
Greenberg Call said: "I can no longer in good conscience continue to represent this administration amidst President Biden’s disastrous, continued support for Israel’s genocide in Gaza".
"What I have learned from my Jewish tradition is that every life is precious. That we are obligated to stand up for those facing violence and oppression, and to question authority in the face of injustice," she said.
It’s good to know there are still principled people around.
Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!
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