We Live in Strange Times.
The Israel-Palestinian conflict seems unending, the invasion of Ukraine by Russia just goes on and on. We watch it unfold in detail on our televisions and hear it constantly on our radios. We only see the sanitised versions that our politicians and broadcasters want us to. Many more conflicts rage across the globe, many more ordinary people are suffering. But it is easy to feel detached, even if we feel passionately about it and are against one side or the other. This is often because it is happening in a distant place, far from our own everyday lives, and most of us feel powerless to have any influence over things..
The President of the United States has seemingly turned the world on its head since taking office in January 2025, and not in a way that is reassuring to world order and world peace. Again, most ordinary people, and even people with power and influence, seem unable to prevent or at least restrain his ambitions.
Similarly, when things happen in our own country, we often feel like we are merely helpless observers. We feel like we don’t have the power to alter or change things. A few folk will act, protest, write to their MP or their council, but for the most part the general population stays dormant, acquiesces and gets on with their day to day lives.
A good example of this is the recent decisions taken to close the post office, pharmacy and GP surgery in Evington Village. This was done despite consultation that showed widespread opposition to closing the post office and GP surgery, while little consultation was undertaken over the pharmacy closure. Most people I have spoken to feel disappointed, some outraged but most simply feel helpless to do anything but accept the closures. Even in the knowledge that the population was misled over the GP surgery closure.
A small group of us though have decided to act and to let the politicians and those who run the quangos, such a s the Integrated Care Board (ICB), know we are here and that we will not simply stand idly by while they run roughshod over us. We are under no illusion that our influence will reverse decisions already made but we firmly believe our politicians and those responsible for running our services are accountable to us. We will make their lives uncomfortable in the hope that they will think twice before disrespecting the people they serve again. You never know we may even persuade them to re-establish a GP surgery and pharmacy in Evington Village and prevent them closing the library.
We will also facilitate the voice of the people by organising the asking of pertinent questions within the organisational structures where our politicians, local council leaders and NHS managers who serve us operate.
You can help us and support us by joining Retain Our Services in Evington (ROSE) via our WhatsApp Group (R.O.S.E. Supporters Group) or our Facebook Group (ROSE-Retain Our Services in Evington | Facebook)
