[ News
| Homes
| Life
| Entertainment
| History
| Science
| Community
| Shop ]
| Sport
| Culture
| Cars
| Money
| Broadband
| Learning
| Health
| Dating
| Games ]
[ Text Only: Homepage ]
[ Graphical: Channel4 Homepage ]
The right to complain
A question of education
Deaf politics
Help and info
Did you know that more people voted in Big Brother last year than in the last general election? This week we're talking about how that can have happened and what – if anything – we should be doing about it.
Political apathy has many causes. It's especially common among young people, who either find politics boring or just think all political parties are basically the same.
Then there's the widespread belief that all politicians are liars. 'They never fulfil their promises,' says Duncan Rowley, who took part in the VEE-TV debate. 'It doesn't matter which party gets into power – they all do the same.'
'MPs are full of broken promises,' agrees Katie Roach. 'They never focus on deaf people. They only meet deaf people to look good and get their vote, but in the end, we don't get any results from them.'
The first time Katie voted was in the last general election, but her mum persuaded her do it. 'Those whom I voted for were people who supported deaf people in my area,' she says. 'But, personally, I don't believe in voting because at the end of the day they are all the same – supporting rich fat cats.'
But Andrew Hearn believes you've got no right to moan about politicians if you don't take the trouble to vote. 'If you don't vote, you have no say in the issues and the running of your area,' he says. 'If you don't vote, then when you complain you're full of hot air – you're complaining but you can't be bothered to vote. If you vote, you have a right to complain.'
Another reason why people aren't interested in politics may be that people feel they don't know enough about the issues and how the system works. 'Politics should be taught in school,' Katie says. 'I wasn't taught and it's difficult for me to understand. If I were given basic information first, I would have a basic knowledge and build from there.'
So, if people were better informed, they might be more interested in different party policies and what difference they might make to their own lives.
What about issues that specifically concern deaf people? 'I think deaf people should be more active in politics,' Katie says, 'because only deaf people know what it is like to be deaf and can therefore make the right decision where education and human rights are concerned. But the problem is many deaf people are not educated to think politically.'
At the beginning of this series, we discussed BSL recognition, which is a big political issue for deaf people.
'We need to focus on BSL recognition as our first step,' Katie believes. 'We can't improve education without the language. We can't have one without the other.'
There are lots of people campaigning for BSL, and many other important issues. For instance, there's publicising deaf awareness, getting benefits sorted out for those who need them, access and interpreters, counselling, participation with other deaf people worldwide, education and many more.
Andrew Hearn, for one, is not content to sit back and hope for the best. He has been to the British Deaf Association (BDA) forum to talk about setting up an education policy. 'I am actively involved in this,' he says, 'and will be setting up meetings within my area about it and bringing their views back to the BDA to include in the new policy. This is a very important step forward. It is the policy for deaf children's futures.'
Want to stir up some apathy? Then have your say on the message board.
Deaf issues
British Deaf Association (BDA)
1-3 Worship Street
London EC2A 2AB
Voice/Text: 020 7588 3520
Fax: 020 7588 3527
E-mail: helpline@bda.org.uk
Website: www.bda.org.uk
Run by and for deaf people to ensure those using sign language have the
same rights and entitlement as other citizens. The Training and Campaigns
Unit (TCU) ( www.britishdeafassociation.org.uk/tcu.html)
is responsible for organising and developing the BDA's national campaigning
and public-relations activities. The TCU also supports groups or area
councils who have organised their own, local campaigns.
Deaf-UK Mailing / Discussion List
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/deaf-uk
Mailing list for the Deaf community in the United Kingdom. Discussion
covers a wide range of deaf issues.
Federation of Deaf People (FDP)
PO Box 11
Darwen
Lancs BB3 3GH
Fax: 01254 708071
E-mail: contact@fdp.org.uk
Website: www.fdp.org.uk
Voluntary organisation that campaigns for Deaf people's rights. Information
about FDP publications, membership and events, such as the BSL marches.
The Forest Bookshop
www.forestbooks.com
Website of a bookshop specialising in books, videos and CD-ROMs on
deafness and deaf issues, based in the Forest of Dean. Search for a title
online or order their catalogue.
Politics in general
BBC News Online: Talking Politics
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk_politics/default.stm
Current and topical political news from the BBC.
UK Politics Directory
www.uk-p.org
Aims to be the most comprehensive resource for political links in
the UK.
UK Politics Magazine
www.ukpol.co.uk/messages
The main website is soon to be reserved for subscribers, but the message
boards will remain a free service.
Political Websites
www.uk250.co.uk/Political
Links to political parties' websites.
Politico's
www.politicos.co.uk
Independent London bookshop specialising in books to do with politics.
Comprehensive online service including extensive links.
Graphic version
Includes layout and images.