On 23 January 2017 President Trump signed an executive order reinstating the Global Gag Rule, or the Mexico City Policy. This order denies U.S. funding to global health and family planning organisations if they use money from other donors to provide abortion services, counselling or referrals—even if abortion is legal in a country. It blocks critical funding for life-saving health services like contraception, maternal health, Zika and HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment for any organisation that refuses to sign it. It will have a devastating effect. The World Health Organisation estimates that every day, 830 women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth and 99% of all maternal deaths occur in developing countries. The Policy will hit hardest women living at the margins of society – the poorest, the most remote and those under 25. Zika and HIV are more likely to spread. Millions will suffer. The Global Gag Rule jeopardises the investment the UK Government has made in women’s health globally. Due to close inter-linkages between women’s health and poverty, environmental degradation, forced migration and conflict, these trends will worsen. The Global Gag Rule is an attempt to silence the voice, choice, and control of the world’s poorest women. The Policy is an assault on every woman, everywhere. In the spirit of the Women’s Marches last weekend, we call on the UK government to join other governments in championing comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights both politically and financially. So please sign and share our petition asking the UK Government to champion life-saving services for women across the world. Many thanks, The IPPF team For more on the Global Gag Rule: http://www.ippf.org/news/why-we-will-not-sign-global-gag-rule

Throughout his candidacy and now in the first days of his presidency, Donald Trump has sought to undermine fundamental principles - gender and racial equality, human rights, religious freedom, freedom of the press and preservation of the environment amongst others - that Her Majesty the Queen and the British people hold dear. If a State visit is granted, we believe that it would legitimise a series of beliefs that are fundamentally opposed to those of Her Majesty and the British people.

In many of the UK's workplaces the wearing of a tie by male employees is both expected and compulsory. In our view, the tie serves no other purpose than to signify the gender of the wearer; in this case male. This is as unfair as women being expected to wear high heels. Men should be able to choose whether to wear a tie or not. Being forced to do so is, in our opinion, both antiquated and sexist.

The Dutch Government is planning to launch an international fund to finance access to birth control and abortion in developing countries, in order to fill the gap left after the Trump administration announced it would no longer fund any overseas aid organisations which discussed abortion. “Banning abortions does not result in fewer abortions,” Dutch Trade and Development Minister Lilianne Ploumen said in a statement. “It leads to more irresponsible practices in back rooms and more maternal deaths.” The World Health Organisation estimates that 22 million women experience unsafe abortions every year, the vast majority of whom are in developing countries. Choice is very important and has been a hard won right in may countries. It is telling that the signing of the repeal in USA was overseen by old men only, and significantly by men who have no financial pressures. Birth control is so important where women are given no choice about career or even control of their own bodies.

Public services are being cut back to the bone due to the political choice of austerity, playgrounds and sports facilities are being closed, the NHS is under attack, community groups, the disabled and vulnerable face all sorts of challenges from closures and budget cuts – this decision is an utter disgrace.

Stand Up to Trump statement The election of Donald Trump is deeply disturbing and a stark warning to us all. Every right-wing figure and organisation is rejoicing at the prospect of President Trump. The shameful list stretches from Marine le Pen and the Front National in France, Gert Wilders in Holland, Norbert Hofer in Austria, right wing leaders in Poland and Hungary to most of the Republican Party and the Ku Klux Klan. In Britain Nigel Farage and UKIP are at the head of the Trump bandwagon supported by sections of the Tory Party. Racism – whether Islamophobia, or antis emitism, relentless scapegoating of migrants and refugees, the disregard for black lives or shockingly, blatant belief in white supremacy – is growing significantly. Racial attacks and other hate crimes are worryingly on the rise. In addition, Trump’s election is encouraging and legitimising a backlash against women’s and LGBT+ rights - hard won over the past half century – not to mention the possibly devastating impact on climate change. Against the background of a discredited neoliberal ideology which has devastated lives and communities and whole countries globally, these developments have already encouraged some to vote for Brexit and translated into electoral success for the right in the US. This could very possibly now be repeated in France with the election of Le Pen in France next spring and the further growth of UKIP in the UK. The parallels with the 1930s, while not exact, are too disturbing for comfort. But the outcome is far from settled. It entirely depends on how millions of us – at home and abroad - react. We and our values of respect and cooperation, represent the views of millions. We now need to turn that huge reservoir of support into a resounding internationalist answer to the divisive politics of despair of Trump, Farage and their Tory outriders. Time is short. We cannot allow racism to seep deeper into society and whatever our other differences, we must unite together to meet this serious threat. We the undersigned therefore urgently call for anti-racists, trade unionists, community and campaign activists, and above all everybody of goodwill, to join the growing opposition to Trump and what he stands for. In particular, please help us build for two vitally important demonstrations initiated by Stand up to Racism: The ‘Stand up to Trump’ mobilisation on Presidential Inauguration day, US Embassy Grosvenor Square Friday 20 January 2017 Stand up to Trump, Stand up to Racism, No to Islamophobia and Antisemitism, Refugees are welcome, Black Lives Matter National Demonstrations 18 March in London and Glasgow, supported by the TUC Signed by: Diane Abbott MP, Shadow Home Secretary Emily Thornberry MP, Shadow Foreign Secretary Clive Lewis MP, Shadow Business Secretary Talha Ahmad, Muslim Council of Britain Rabbi Lee Wax Dr Shazad Amin Muslim Engagement and Development CEO Dr Siema Iqbal, Muslim Engagement and Development (MEND) Bruce Kent Len McCluskey, General Secretary Unite Dave Ward, General Secretary CWU Tony Kearns, Deputy General Secretary, CWU Kevin Courtney, General Secretary, NUT Mark Serwotka, General Secretary, PCS Mick Whelan, General Secretary ASLEF Manuel Cortes, General Secretary TSSA Sally Hunt, General Secretary UCU Ian Lawrence, General Secretary NAPO Ronnie Draper, General Secretary BFAWU Ian Hodson, President BFAWU Baroness Shami Chakrabarti, Shadow Attorney General Lord (John) Monks, former General Secretary TUC Lord (Bill) Morris, former General Secretary TGWU Baroness (Angela) Smith, Shadow Leader of the House of Lords Weyman Bennett, Stand Up to Racism Sabby Dhalu, Stand Up To Racism Grainne McGuire, Comedian Shakira Martin, NUS Vice President FE Mohammed Kozbar, Muslim Association of Britain Steve Hart, Unite Against Fascism Hugh Lanning, Unite Against Fascism Lindsey German, Convenor Stop the War Kate Hudson, General Secretary CND Dave Anderson MP Tracy Brabin MP Ben Bradshaw MP Ruth Cadbury MP Nic Dakin MP Wayne David MP Bill Esterson MP Paul Flynn MP Kate Green MP Carolyn Harris MP George Howarth MP Stephen Kinnock MP David Lammy MP Holly Lynch MP Rachael Maskell MP Madeleine Moon MP Ian Murray MP Lisa Nandy MP Kate Osamor MP Jess Phillips MP Steve Reed MP Virendra Sharma MP Wes Streeting MP Chuka Umunna MP Valerie Vaz MP Catherine West MP Daniel Zeichner MP Baroness (Tessa) Blackstone Baroness (May) Blood Baroness (Jean) Corston Lord (Quentin) Davies Lord (Derek) Foster Lord (George) Foulkes Baroness (Joyce) Gould Lord (Peter) Hain Lord (Alan) Haworth Baroness (Bev) Hughes Lord (Bob) Hughes Lord (Frank) Judd Baroness (Alicia) Kennedy Baroness (Glenys) Kinnock Lord (Neil) Kinnock Baroness (Doreen) Lawrence Lord (Chris) Lennie Baroness (Helen) Liddell Lord (David) Lipsey Baroness (Ruth) Lister Lord (Ken) Morgan Lord (Tom) Pendry Baroness (Dawn) Primarolo Lord (Tom) Sawyer Lord (David) Triesman Baroness (Janet) Whitaker Lord (Larry) Whitty Micheline Ngongo, Councillor Islington Claudia Webbe, Councillor Islington Suzanne Jeffery, Chair Campaign Against Climate Change

Camden Council is planning to close Netherwood which is a specialist dementia day centre - the only one of its kind - in Camden. This will be the third time Camden has tried to close it since 2011. Each time we campaigned and won. We need to win again. Situated in NW6 between West Hampstead and Kilburn, Netherwood is regularly visited by people the world over, so impressive is its design and the care received by the people who attend it. If Camden Council closes this centre and sells off the land, as is the general feeling, then it will be lost forever. The council will never be able to afford such a site again. If the closure goes ahead, those attending their beloved Netherwood will be "decanted" to another nearby centre which is not a specialist day centre and is not purpose-built. The council says it will have money to make alterations to the building to make it "dementia friendly". We argue: why spend money on partially reconfiguring another centre when you have one right there that is purpose built? We appreciate local governments are having to make huge budget cuts, but we believe losing such a jewel of a resource will be a travesty and will adversely impact generations to come. Please help us save this incredible community resource a third time! Dementia is recognised as a growing concern in today's society. Not only is it important that there is excellent care for the person with dementia, it is also crucial that family carers are given time to themselves to recharge from what can often be a hugely challenging and exhausting situation. Places like Netherwood enable families to STAY together. They also keep people from being hospitalised and we know how important that is in the current climate. If we have brilliant services in the community the ultimate saving to society, both financially and in terms of general well-being, is enormous. Cutting such lifelines will ultimately cost more in the long run with some families perhaps deciding that residential care is the only solution. The cost of this to the council would be enormous. If we are to have a truly dementia-friendly society then places like Netherwood should never be threatened with closure but should be protected in perpetuity.

Currently the law forbids assisted dying . And people are being denied a choice . People are able to travel to Switzerland to Die at a minimum cost of £10,000 . Many people are being forced to suffer and wish to Die . The majority of people are discriminated against by not only not having a choice but not being able to afford to go to Switzerland.

Mental Health services are not only being cut but actually being closed down . As a long term sufferer of mental health conditions both as a client and as a volunteer the situation is untenable . The give just a few examples Due to funding cuts from Central Government Derby Steps Rethink Mental illness funding cuts DORA chesterfield to close March 2017 The Croft . Ripley Rethink (decision from CCG Jan 21st Red Cross Dementia Care/ MH Alfreton/Belper/ Ilkeston/ Long Eaton (been volunteer for seven years) Cease operations March 2017 MHAG mental Health Action Group (which covers Amber Valley) Sept 2017 Moneywise CAB in the community Amber Valley through Derby CAB for MH scrapped Amber Trust P3 / Ripley floating support cut from 2 years to 9 months etc Probably more to follow Where are people to go ? To interact in a safe environment etc ., See Derbyshire Healthwatch Report on Crisis Care just published. "There is a massive increase in admissions to A& E by mental health sufferers as I'm sure you have heard/seen on TV and Radio .. Surely by cutting these services it makes the situation worse ?"The Mental Health Action Group is led by people living with a mental health condition who rely on services in the community to help them stay well. At a time when the demand for mental health services has never been greater, vulnerable people are facing cuts in Derbyshire on an unprecedented scale. All manner of support services, money advice services, advocacy services, housing support services are being scaled down. It is dangerous to underestimate the cumulative effect of this on so many individuals and families. The gap between need and provision is widening all the time and people will disappear through that gap. How can we allow this to happen when the impact of mental illness has never been so well recognised nor the need to improve mental health care so well acknowledged?" supporting statement from the MENTAL HEALTH ACTION GROUP DERBY RESTORE THESE SERVICES NOW

I for one just had my P.I.P reduced and mobility taken away. I know of GENUINE people also, that have had this happen. When I called to make a mandatory appeal, TWICE I was told, the decision was made BEFORE any of my medical evidence, Occupational therapy report had even been received . The government wants to save money - yet within the space of a month , I had to go to TWO different assessments. People are taking their own lives because of these decisions . Why should they be allowed to play with peoples lives ??

Exeter Council are handing out fines to people who beg for food or money from strangers. It’s an attempt to sweep homelessness and begging out of the area, but it could mean people sleeping on the streets over winter face fines they can’t afford. These people need support, like shelters and access to food and advice, not fines for asking for money. Fining them will not solve the problem of homelessness, it will divide us even further. Edit: In an effort to be transparent please read the following: It has been brought to my attention that this new public spaces protection order(PSPO) is not set to be decided until the end of February, if we can stop it from happening in the first place that would be amazing. Also, the PSPO specifically targets 'aggressive' begging, which is described as begging near a cash point or approaching people directly. A link to this information is below: https://cllrpaul4cowick.wordpress.com/category/pspo/ I personally do not know how different officers will enforce this, or how subjective 'aggressive' is. I do not mind being approached for money, however you may feel differently. The link to the information I was originally presented with is here: http://m.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/could-you-be-in-trouble-under-exeter-8217-s-public-spaces-protection-order/story-30027760-detail/story.html Thank you, Ella

Blackpool Council are already handing out fines to people sleeping rough on the streets, this petition is here to stop them. At least 90 penalties have been handed out so far according to a Freedom of Information request. Fines can be up to £100 according to the Council's website https://www.blackpool.gov.uk/Residents/Planning-environment-and-community/Crime-and-safety/Public-Space-Protection-Orders.aspx If we get over 1500 signatures we can trigger a council debate. Being homeless isn’t a crime and they shouldn’t be fined for not having a home. Targeting those with nothing to pay nonsensical fines is a crime itself. The council are leaving our most vulnerable even further out of reach of help, these people can’t afford food and don’t have a decent place to sleep at night, fining them isn’t going to help the situation. It then becomes our responsibility to do the right thing and stop these awful fines from continuing in our town. This campaign is based on this information from Blackpool council's website: https://www.blackpool.gov.uk/Residents/Planning-environment-and-community/Crime-and-safety/Public-Space-Protection-Orders.aspx If you have anything that suggests that Blackpool Council are no longer able to fine people for begging then we'd love to hear more from you, drop us an email at emailtheteam@38degrees.org.uk