Covid-19

Janine speaks as part of a panel on Covid-19, democratic ownership and the future of the economy in May 2020. - organised by Another Europe Is Possible. Video plus text of speech below.

Teachers say:
Let Daily Mail writers be heroes

Let them walk naked through war zones
Let them battle with an invisible enemy

Let them fall on the battlefield
in even greater numbers than they already have

Safe in the knowledge that they will be
lionised at the Daily Briefing

And that Matt Hancock may
issue a badge in their honour

This is a poem to tell you your rights,
if you find yourself working at dangerous sites
So please brush up your knowledge and uphold the law –
know that workers at risk have the right to withdraw

So if you’re facing danger that’s imminent and serious,
working conditions that seem deleterious
Call up your boss and then step right away –
you can not get in trouble, they can’t stop your pay

If you can, find figures that
make Britain look better
than other countries.

If you can't, then explain that
foreigners count differently
from us Brits.

If asked questions
about health and care workers,
say that they are heroes.

If pressed about their PPE, tests,
working conditions or isolation pay,
say again that they are heroes.

Here's one for those among you who are fans of Prince Buster, The Specials or anyone else who has recorded 'Enjoy Yourself':

Unmute yourself, ’cos it’s your turn to speak
Unmute yourself, your words will be unique
The meeting is in progress, and you don’t look very sleek
Unmute yourself, Unmute yourself, ’cos it’s your turn to speak

Hello, I’m Janine, and I’m going to unmute myself first

They were all in it together,
all in the same boat,
From upper decks to lower,
they'd sink as one or float

But some folk were in first class
and they got out alive,
While most folk were in steerage
and most did not survive

The ship had too few lifeboats,
and the lookout on the prow
Saw the iceberg didn't discriminate,
as the virus doesn't now

Attila the Stockbroker gives his endorsement to CoronaVerses: poems from the pandemic. (Well, he does have a couple of poems in it!)

And now for a passionate entreaty to buy a fantastic book of poetry.

This is no time for politics
for critics or for lobbing bricks
for calling names or stones and sticks
for challenging, for landing kicks

The time's not right for your point-scoring,
rival party leaders' warring
Disagreement's jolly boring,
disrespecting people mourning