It’s been AGES since I blogged because I’ve been very, very busy. Even this blog post has been slowly written, sentence by sentence, in between my work day tasks.
It actually took me 4 1/2 hours to finish that last sentence.
Right, here we go. A few days ago on my way into work I noticed some people protesting. Ever the protest enthusiast, I thought I’d take a quick look. Imagine, then, my shock and horror to discover these were anti-choice so-called “pro lifers” protesting about a woman’s right to choose! I know right? In the 21st Century and everything. FALE.
I posted some kind of rage on my Facebook that a couple of people responded to. The lovely Jim Turner said:
Carmen, do ’40 days of treating the staff of BPAS’, and get people to chip in. I’m good for a Chupa Chups tree.
And then the marvellous Liz said:
Also, I’m up for giving the BPAS staff treats
And so a mini campaign was born.
The first day, I took round some Jaffa Cakes (my personal favourite). The receptionist I spoke to on the phone (before I went out for confection) thought it was hilarious and absolutely had no problem with me buying them sweets. When I dropped them round, Marguerite, their lovely office manager came out to thank me and we had a right old natter about it.
Then, yesterday, I received an email from the commissioning editor of G2 Magazine. Having been misquoth’d by the Grauniad before, I was pretty careful in wording my email to her, and consequently wasn’t at all surprised when they didn’t use anything I’d said, as it was pretty bloody boring:
I only started working in Central London recently, however several colleagues of mine told me that the protesters visited and did the exact same campaign a few months ago.
This protest looks reasonably peaceful, but several colleagues have complained about the noise both to me (the office manager here) and to those singing hymns outside. I also mentioned to a nun that I found her plastic foetuses in a box rather offensive yesterday. As a former Catholic Sunday school teacher, I can confirm that the Bible does not condone intolerance or judgement towards other people except to those with such an agenda, and I find this sort of ‘guilt trip’ campaign tactic to be abhorrent and not reflecting the true values of the practising Christians I know.
Whilst I fully support everybody’s right to freedom of religion and right to demonstrate, I prefer a more positive approach, that does not seek to label those who may be going through an already stressful process with the kinds of negative connotations that so-called ‘pro-lifers’ often make.
The initial idea was suggested to me by a friend overseas, Jim Turner, and Liz Lutgendorff was the one who set up the blog and Twitter. I dropped round some Jaffa Cakes yesterday and chocolate twirly things today. The staff thought it was hilarious but they really seemed to appreciate the gesture.
I am not connected in any way to BPAS, Marie Stopes, or any other pro-choice/family planning/sexual health organisation, however I fully support a woman’s right to choose what happens to her own body and can be very vocal about it!
Carmen D’Cruz
So there you have it, my side of the story.
You can read the Grauniad’s take here.
My mate Tessa posted a rather good write up here too.
Please do follow @40daysoftreats on Twitter and send us messages of support that we can pass on to BPAS. The work these people and others do is so important, it doesn’t take much to show our appreciation!
Incidentally, if anyone would like to buy ME some Jaffa Cakes, I am all up for that.
Carmen x x x
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