I was made permanently disabled after a surgical mishap which has left me with severe chronic pain for the past 8 years. I have been struggling to lead a normal life since this happened to me and it has opened my eyes to the lives of disabled persons and the difficulties and struggles we encounter. I am unable to get around by public transportation most of the time due in part to my physical condition and also largely due to the lack of accessibility on the Tfl transportation network. I rely heavily on my disabled parking permits to enable me to park close enough to shops, hospitals and other services which I need to access within my community but am often unable to park in disabled bays due to them being occupied by people who either do not have a valid permit or are using somebody else’s permit, fraudulently for their own benefit - which is not only against the law (which is rarely enforced) but also prevents those with a genuine need from being able to park where they are entitled to do so. In eight years I have not been asked once to prove that my blue badge does indeed belong to me and it’s for this reason that people can, and are, getting away with it. Whilst I’m sure this problem exists across the UK; London has the highest population and lowest number of disabled parking spaces in comparison to most other cities in the country.

Because we have a climate emergency and plastic waste is a major problem. These used to be in mental tins and still can be bought in metal tins if you search but most are produced in an ocean of cheap useless plastic tubs that will be thrown away .

We need to reduce our emissions but electric cars are still out of most peoples' reach financially. If the government is serious about reducing our emissions then steps need to be taken to make electric vehicles affordable. One way to do this would be for the government to help people to buy their first electric vehicle. Once electric vehicle ownership has become more commonplace then there is the possibility of a second hand market developing sooner and further improving their affordability in the UK. It needs to happen now!

This would encourage recycling which would be of benefit to the environment. This would also help to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill sites, especially plastic waste.

We need your support to save this vital community asset. Age UK East Sussex have been working with the Hastings & St Leonards Seniors Forum, Hastings Voluntary Action, Sussex Community Development Association and Hastings Old Town Residents Association to examine a future for the Isabel Blackman Centre which was closed in March 2019. In partnership, we have launched a petition asking East Sussex County Council to engage with the voluntary sector about the building’s future or, if the building is sold, “ring-fence” the capital receipt to benefit older people in Hastings. You can view and sign the petition here:- https://democracy.eastsussex.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?id=500000027&TPID=503118186&$LO$=1 The Isabel Blackman Centre has been a vital community asset for older people in Hastings for many years. It needs to be sold off to the voluntary sector and reopened as a community hub and main resource for local older people.

Many people in partnerships in business or relationships often sign financial agreements together, joint and several, without considering what would happen if there was a breakdown in the relationship. Often they do not seek legal representation due to cost, and finance companies make individuals sign as many guarantees to ensure their debts are paid, but joint and several often leaves one individual being hounded for the money, when the other signatory walks away going bankrupt, or avoids payment, hiding behind false income reporting. This is unfair, unjust and the system needs a shake up where individuals have knowingly been left in dire straits due to irresponsible behaviour by another. Organisations such as Womens Aid, Shelter, Citizens Advice deal with debt, homelessness, domestic abuse daily, but the number of women who are left in horrific financial crises by ex-partners who walk away from all responsibility is a world wide epidemic. Catastrophic when there are children involved. It has to stop. There has to be a responsibility crackdown, so that the culprits are caught, and pay their dues, by whatever means. Financial Abuse has to stop.

The UK housing and homelessness crisis has been torturing us for far too long, especially young people. #Vanlife may seem irrelevant unless you’re an Instagram influencer, but it is a growing moment encouraging minimal impact living, passive income and recycling of vehicles to meet social and housing needs. A UK wide permit enabling a cheaper and safer life on the move would liberate tens of thousands of people, and demonstrate to others that the cost of living can be far less than what they think is needed to live a full and secure life. Shelter is a human right, if we are denied proper housing, denied efficient homeless care, we should at least be offered assistance in our alternative housing methods.

The Zine Library is currently undergoing consideration by the DJCAD library as whether to make it a permanent feature and, if accepted, will function as a reference only section of the library. Much like other features of the library the Zine Library will be a valuable resource held within the art school that can be used by staff and students alike.  The DJCAD Zine Library aims to bring light to zine making at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, whilst providing a space dedicated to their creation, to inspire and educate.

The result of the 2016 EU Referendum is a United Kingdom that isn’t so united anymore, and an intensely divided country that finds itself facing the prospect of losing power, jobs, wealth, international standing and influence as a result of a hasty decision that is only supported by a narrow majority of voters. What if, for example, ‘Leave’ had won by 120,000 votes instead of 1.2 million? What if the margin had been much smaller? Does it really make sense to implement something that will have a fundamental, historic impact on the British Isles and Europe based on such a small majority? Of course it doesn't ! No other major democracy is so cavalier with the security of it's Constitution and Peoples' rights. For example, Amendments to the Constitution of the USA require 2/3 majority votes in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, and a nationwide referendum that must win in 75% of the States. The United Kingdom deserves better than this !

This is important to give young people an opportunity to learn about their history and culture. They would spend less time on the streets or in bus stations.

A young woman last week committed suicide [set herself on fire] while waiting for her court case rather than face six months in prison . Her crime - attending a football match. This is not allowed in Iran. So too is for women to sing solo or dance on their own. There are many other rules in Iran that disallow women equal rights .

It's important because this will help reduce rates of crime and give people freedom and help take care of their families