Wikipedia
The ABC is doing battle with corporate information giant Wikipedia, over their refusal so far, to allow us to have a Wikipedia page. Our draft page see below, was prepared by a talanted, Essex University student volunteer, Mihaela-Georgiana Mihailescu with some additional final polishing by a supportive professional magazine editor. Wiki’s original argument was that the page we created, was too ‘sales orientated’ and so we re-wrote this submission with a more neutral feel, which to us seems a fair representation?
Wikipedia’s arguments are now are that we need significant national publicity to get a listing. We have told Wikipedia that we are a news outlet ourselves and less likely to be featured by other larger media companies. Also, importantly, that we are NOT a ‘populist’ organisation. Our mission is to assist those on low incomes first and foremost, and we are not inclined to chase publicity merely for the sake of being well known? In fact, we are often competing against corporate media that leaves out a lot of news. The government and police can issue notices that stop the press publishing information if it can lead to copy-cat crimes. It is unclear whether independent news outlets like us our fall under this banner?
People are suffering and if small localized civil-unrest happens, it is a significant point as to whether this should be reported, if it might lead to further unrest? We believe news should be reported. As another example, there has been little reporting by the mainstream press of Muslim organisations that assist food banks and the homeless? We are pleased to cover intiatives like this.
The national media poured spite and bile on the unemployed, labelling them as scroungers and shirkers - shaping the public’s attitude and their willingness to accept very harsh measures - the government making huge austerity cuts to welfare spending, initially under the DWP’s Minister, Ian Duncan Smith, causing not just hardship but many deaths.
We founded the Justice Organisation (see attatchment) which had a Wikipedia page in 2008 and that organisation grew slowly into the ABC. If Wikipedia now only accepts organisations that are well-known and therfore, in their eyes ‘credible’ good luck to them. The corporate media are untrusted by much of the population and the newspaper circulation figures are sleadily dropping. Hannibal Barca challenged the Roman Empire in the Second Punic War - leading his Carthaginian army, including war elephants, in an audacious march through the Alps into Italy‘:
Latin: ‘Aut viam inveniam aut faciam 'I will either find a way, or make one’ said Hannibal and he did, to the great astonishment of the Roman establishment.
Wikipedia does good work, but we are not impressed on this occasion. This is our entry below. See what you think:
The Association of Pension & Benefits Claimants CIC (the ABC, for short) is an independent international workers' association that aims to help people in receipt of state pensions and state benefits.
History
The idea of the ABC was conceived in 2012 by founder Simon Collyer, who was given a Millennium Award to develop his idea[1]. The ABC was officially launched on November 5th, 2014, becoming one of the first organisations of its kind, catering for a community that shared a common set of identifiers and issues. The ABC is not classified as a union, as the organisation is not involved in collective bargaining - though unemployed people are classed as workers even if they are unwaged.
This organisation was launched with support from the BIG Lottery[2], along with private funding.
Overviews
The ABC’s main aim is to give those receiving state pensions and state benefits formal representation through the creation of programmes and initiatives that enable those on benefits to secure beneficial and gainful employment, and to manage their circumstances better, while managing on a low income.[3]
Many organisations claim to speak on behalf of the unemployed, but there was no evidence that the staff of these organisations (as a generalisation) had direct personal experience of the benefits system. Thus, it was felt that an organisation that directly represented those on benefits could better articulate the needs of those who need state support and could bring about better policy outcomes. The ABC sees the individuals who require state help as a community that shares a common set of needs and problems, regardless of their previous occupations or personal situations.[4]
Throughout the long history of state welfare systems (Prussia was the first country to introduce a benefits system, in the 1800s) history has shown that unemployed workers have been seen simply as 'individuals' without work, rather than as an (international) community with common attributes. Sadly the unwaged are often portrayed as a burden on society, particularly by governments that want to cut taxes for the rich. This factor is causing a dramatic rise in inequality and a lack of social mobility, which in turn leads to a rise in mental health problems and other social issues directly linked to poverty. Nowadays, as Social Media has risen, these groups of individuals can be seen as a community.[5] Therefore, the ABC is developing practical ideas as well as signposting individuals to relevant help and support. [6]
The individuals for whom this organisation caters are not only those on state pensions and state benefits but also those in employment who want to see that their contributions, such as National Insurance Contributions (NIC)[7] in the UK, are spent productively. Taxpayers want to be assured that the money they have invested in these mandatory schemes is available as a safety-net if their own circumstances change. The schemes that they have contributed to over the years should provide insurance against disability, unemployment and underemployment and, later in life, provide an adequate basic state pension.[8]
As an example it has been argued that as many as 47% of the US workforce could be replaced by automation in the next twenty years.[9] A huge societal change is underway in the working environment, yet governments wanting to cut taxes present almost Victorian attitudes, frequently labelling the unemployed as lazy and feckless, shirkers and scroungers. A far cry from the reality of those who did not choose to become unemployed or disabled. [10]
WorkTV
The ABC's ‘WorkTV' TV Channel is a project in its early stages. The magazine-style programming will offer a wide range of informative videos with programming featuring news and information about career opportunities, apprenticeships, government schemes, franchising opportunities, small business briefings and the self-employed. It will share tips and ideas and offer further education advice as well as featuring recruitment professionals and their services. It acts as a resource for businesspeople, careers teachers and HR industry professionals and encourages work-seekers to share ideas, while providing morale boosting and encouragement.
Sponsors & Supporters
- Big Lottery Fund
- UnLtd
- The Work Foundation
- Corporate Watch
- University of Essex
- Colchester Institute
- National Debtline
References[edit]
- Jump up^ https://www.gov.uk/social-entrepreneurs-fund-millennium-awards-trust
- Jump up^ https://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/
- Jump up^ http://www.jstor.org/stable/248500?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
- Jump up^ https://academic.oup.com/rfs/article-abstract/23/3/1287/1595749/How-Do-Pensions-Affect-Corporate-Capital-Structure
- Jump up^ https://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=808HMxDE2pYC&oi=fnd&pg=PR11&dq=pensions+and+benefits+social+media&ots=_gKEDje-EN&sig=nky-XtMaggWbHBWiw_kcGHvJSjQ#v=onepage&q&f=false
- Jump up^ https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=bmoHtrmeIqsC&printsec=frontcover&dq=people+on+benefits+a+burden&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj61Ly31rXSAhVkDMAKHYY7BVgQ6AEIHDAA#v=onepage&q=people%20on%20benefits%20a%20burden&f=false
- Jump up^ https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance/overview
- Jump up^ https://www.gov.uk/workplace-pensions/about-workplace-pensions
- Jump up^ http://www.pewinternet.org/2016/03/10/public-predictions-for-the-future-of-workforce-automation/
- Jump up^ http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/finance-and-investment/the-economic-impact-of-protracted-low-interest-rates-on-pension-funds-and-insurance-companies_fmt-2011-5kg55qw0m56l
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