People Power Now – #votingmatters

P E O P L E   P O W E R   N O W   –   # V O T I N G M A T T E R S

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The weather was changeable outside but the speeches and discussions at the Are We Powerless? event were brimming with energy and moved in an unstoppable positive direction.

The debate centred around 3 main themes:

• who has the power in the UK in 2014
• are we really powerless
• what we can do to make our voices heard

Given the title and premise of the event, it was important that we got involved. And the inspiring nature of the event plus response to the #votingmatters campaign more than justified getting involved.

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Those present heard innovative and thought-provoking ideas from Louise Beaumont (founder of award-winning alternative finance company Platform Black), Jamie Kelsey-Fry (editor at New Internationalist and campaigner), the human rights lawyer Michael Mansfield QC Christopher Hird (chair of the Editorial Board of the Bureau of Investigative Journalism).

The majority of the event focused on where the speakers saw power and how people might break the barriers to using their own power with active input from the audience.

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There was a huge amount to take in, from the broken financial system and digital surveillance, to peaceful activism, alternative finance and successful examples of people power, such as the Save the Lewisham A&E campaign.

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People who don’t take action are the extremists.
– Jamie Kelsey-Fry

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Like the Are We Powerless? speakers, suffragette Emily Davison stood up and insisted on a better society.

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#votingmatters is a new campaign from #Emilymatters. which champions gender equality and encourages young women to vote, ensuring that legacies such as suffragette Emily Davison’s are not forgotten.

We’d love you to get involved and have your say.

This brilliant speech by Ciara O’Connor (co founder of the fantastic Emily Tree Project) echoes the calls for peaceful activism at Are We Powerless? – so listen up!

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Talk to people about it,

Tweet about it,

Blog about it,

March about it,

Vote about it,

Make tiny ugly bows about it.

Do whatever you want, but DO something.
– Ciara O’Connor, The Emily Tree Project, co-founder

 

Both The Emily Tree pic nic and Are We Powerless? events highlighted the importance of working with others to challenge inequality and exclusion. It’s time for Deeds AND Words.

The first part of this campaign is to collect photos, clips, poems and thoughts about whether #votingmatters to you.

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In the run up to International Day of the Girl on 11th October, which is also Emily Davison’s birthday, we’ll be sharing all things #votingmatters on social media, so it would be great to hear from you.

 

I don’t really care … I’m not really interested in it. I think it’s very boring.
– Lauren, Glasgow

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In addition, we’re running ‘Dear Lauren‘ – your words of encouragement to young women like Lauren, who unless things radically change, are unlikely to register and vote in 2015.

Hear Lauren’s story in her own words.

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We’re on:

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook 

Vine

 

So get creative and tell us your thoughts on whether #votingmatters to you.

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Building on the success of the #Emilymatters House of Commons event and May elections 2014 social media campaign what you tell us will form part of an ongoing #votingmatters digital archive to inspire and motivate young women to vote in the future.

 

21st Century suffragettes – Deeds AND Words

 

We need volunteers to help us make an even bigger impact, so if you’re passionate about getting more young women to vote, please do get in touch.

There’s no time to lose!

 

Kate Willoughby
Actor & Writer of Emily Wilding Davison play To Freedom’s Cause

 

 

Emily Davison’s legacy is for life, not just for 2013.