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Restore Palestinian Artwork at Tynemouth Metro StationIn July 2012 a group of young Palestinian teenagers and their teachers from Shatila Refugee Camp in Beirut, Lebanon, visited North Tyneside. During their time in the area, working in collaboration with two local artists Faye Oliver and Anthony Downie and supported by North Tyneside council, they created a large friendship mural (https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/shatila-children-finally-start-tour-1368800.amp). This friendship mural was put on display on a platform wall at Tynemouth Metro station - where it remained for over a decade without issue or incident. The friendship mural was a significant part of the local culture and heritage and it was seen as an example of the role art and culture play in bringing different cultures and communities together and part of a long-term project between the Shatila refugee camp and North Tyneside , which promoted various cultural exchanges. Refugees in their day-to-day lives endure conditions and hardships that many of us cannot imagine. Hence, this creative outlet was not just a piece of art, but also an emblem of solidarity, representing the plight and resilience of Palestinian refugees across the world. According to UNRWA, as of 2023 there are over 5.9 million registered Palestine refugees globally (source: https://www.unrwa.org/palestine-refugees). One of the main purposes of art is to provide an outlet and create a space for as many voices as possible. Encouraging children who endure horrific conditions and hardships as refugees to engage in creative works has a marked positive impact on their development and wellbeing. The mural was taken down by North Tyneside Council in October 2023, citing an undisclosed threat made to deface the art piece. Since then, there is no stated plan for returning it to public view, which seems counter to what it hopes to achieve. The mural is not overtly political, but by its very existence raises awareness about the Palestinian & refuges plight – not the culture of power, but the power of culture as the Palestinian academic Edward Said put it. As such, the act of removal is a direct attack on Palestinian & refugees arts and culture and fundamental principles of freedom in the arts. This has removed Palestinians from the view of the public in North Tyneside, an area proud of its cultural exchanges with people from many parts of the world. We urge North Tyneside council and all other authorities responsible for the removal of the friendship mural, at the earliest possible time, to reinstate this important piece of artwork at Tynemouth Metro Station or at the very least seek an alternative secure public place to put it back on display in the community.2,105 of 3,000 SignaturesCreated by Gary Spedding
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Keep Ukrainian families togetherThis cruel decision, that was implemented with no warning, will leave families in limbo with no other option of being reunited with their family in the UK. With Russia’s war on Ukraine about to reach its two year mark, Ukranians need a continued safe passage to join family members who have already taken sanctuary here in the UK. Family reunification is a human right. Families who were in the middle of gathering the necessary information to apply are now left in limbo with no other options to be reunited. But if hundreds and thousands of us show that we won’t stand for families being torn apart, we can force the Home Office to reverse the decision.40,432 of 45,000 Signatures
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Open a Criminal Investigation into Kenneth Clarke role in the contaminated blood supply scandalContaminated blood products led to thousands of people being diagnosed with HIV/Aids and hepatitis after receiving contaminated blood products. Clarke has stated that he was not responsible for blood products during the early days of the infected blood scandal despite being a health minister at the time. About 3,000 people in the UK have died because negligence, while the number of people who had been infected with contaminated blood products ranges from 5,000 to 30,000. The exact number remains unknown.8 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Mark James
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Make toxic landfills safe - Support 'Zane's Law'!Current UK regulations with regard to toxic waste disposal and the danger to human life, to our environment, and to the planet as a whole, from both historic landfill sites and currently approved landfill sites operating the ‘dry tomb’ principle, are dangerously inadequate. Especially so, in the face of climate breakdown, with rising sea levels, increased rainfall, and widespread flooding. In 2014, 7-year-old Zane Gbangbola died and his father was paralysed with a diagnosis of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) poisoning, during catastrophic flooding in the first UK floods acknowledged to be caused by climate change. Flood water passing through a historic landfill site carried HCN into Zane’s home, detected there at high levels by the Fire and Rescue Services on the night of the tragedy. ‘Zane’s Law’ seeks to address the crisis of contaminated land in the UK, reinstating legislative provisions removed by successive governments from the 1990 Environment Protection Act, and recognising the Human Right to a Healthy Environment, endorsed by the UN General Assembly, in July 2022. ‘Zane’s Law’ proposes that the following measures be vigorously pursued, with no ambiguity in government guidance, to prioritise the protection and safety of people and planet, and the human right to a healthy environment, above all other considerations. 1. Every Local Authority must keep a full, regularly updated Register of Land that may be contaminated within their boundary. 2. The Environment Agency must keep a full, public 'National Register of Contaminated Land' to be regularly updated by information from Local Authorities. 3. All above mentioned Registers of Land must be accessible and available for inspection by the General Public. 4. Relevant Local Authorities must fully inspect any land registered that may be contaminated and must fully remediate or enforce remediation of any land which poses harm to public safety, or which pollutes controlled waters*. 5. Relevant Local Authorities must be responsible for inspecting previously closed landfill sites and fully remediating them, or enforcing their remediation when they pose a risk of significant harm to people or controlled waters. 6. The Government must take full responsibility for providing the necessary funds for Local Authorities to meet these new requirements, following the ‘polluter pays’ principle: to recover costs as appropriate where those responsible for the pollution can be identified. * Controlled waters are groundwater or surface water intended for human consumption.4,147 of 5,000 SignaturesCreated by Elizabeth Mansfield
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Stop the pension age going upI want people to join my campaign as we all have health issues as we grow older. We all have family or friends who could not work to the age they want to up the retirement age . It needs to stop now.8 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Vicki Jackson
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Fund the Northern Ireland Children's HospiceThe hospice is a local charity that provides specialist palliative care for more than 350 babies, children, and their families each year. It's the only facility of it's kind in Northern Ireland. Extremely sick children and their families depend on the Hospice. This funding must be restored immediately. Dáithí uses the hospice four times a year and we would be lost without it. The Northern Ireland Children's Hospice is such a magical place and the hospice and the people who work there make the impossible possible.1,204 of 2,000 SignaturesCreated by Nicola Browne
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Stop reckless gambling firmsThe Gambling Commission, the industry regulator, has the power to remove operating licenses for serious failures but has not done so with a large company, preferring toothless, easily payable fines. Multi-billion-pound gambling operators see fines as a cost of business and can carry on without the need to change. But these failures are causing deaths, with up to 496 people taking their lives every year after becoming addicted to gambling. One Gamesys customer was recommended new games and promotions after losing £10,000. They've been fined just £6m for serious failures, despite their parent company Bally’s having an annual turnover of close to £2bn. The big gambling firms will never change their ways unless forced to. If they knew they could be shut down, they would be forced to behave better. It's time to let the Gambling Commission know that they must revoke licenses for serious failures to help stop the deaths.4,224 of 5,000 Signatures
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Save NHS dentistry and make it fit for the 21st centuryI’m Tom Thayer, a hospital consultant. I treat patients left with horrifying mouth injuries after trying to pull out their own teeth out. Everyone who needs an NHS dentist should be able to get an appointment. But overstretched and underfunded, there are now fewer and fewer NHS dentists available. A recent survey found nine out of ten practices are no longer taking on new NHS patients. The Government’s own figures show that 13 million people are unable to get NHS dental treatment, while nearly half our kids are no longer getting regular NHS check-ups. In February of this year the previous Government announced a plan meant to encourage dentists to see new patients. But the money they offered to fund it is less than half what's already being scraped out of dentists' budgets, and dentists like me could see straight away that it was not good enough - it won't stop dentists leaving the workforce or help the millions who can't get care. Dentistry isn’t a nice to have, or an optional extra. The oral health gap between rich and poor is widening. Tooth decay remains the no 1 reason a child will end up in hospital. Day in, day out my colleagues are seeing scenes that belong in the Victorian era. Simply because they can’t get an NHS appointment. None of this is inevitable. This is a wealthy 21st-century nation. This is all the result of choices made in Westminster. Our new Prime Minister Keir Starmer ran for office promising to tackle this crisis, and reform the dental contract to rebuild NHS dentistry for the long term. Join me, The British Dental Association and The Mirror in telling him he needs to act urgently and deliver on this promise without delay. Millions of people who need an NHS dentist can’t afford to wait any longer.262,029 of 300,000 SignaturesCreated by Tom Thayer, The BDA, The WI and The Mirror
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Stop the building of houses on the Lido grounds.Our infrastructure on Newlands and Clipstone are stretched to the limit.150 of 200 SignaturesCreated by Sid Walker
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Pot holes in CreweCrewe Cheshire East4 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Linda Cooper
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Suffolk to allow pets to ride on busesThis will bring well-being for people who cannot travel with their pets. Will bring more people to visit town Center and other places in and around Suffolk. Pets are FAMILY, not animals.5 of 100 SignaturesCreated by James C
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Force Credit Card Companies to Limit Pay-at-Pump Reserve Amounts and Reversal PeriodThe current regulation is not fair and reasonable as the onus is then on the customer to have to raise the issue with the card issuer and/or then complain to the Financial Ombudsman. Once again a supposedly independent body takes the side of financial institutions.3 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Kevin Lovelady
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