Hunger strike over... Our need for change is not

Today we travelled up to Plymouth to do a series of interviews with Spotlight and a few radio stations. It has been an exciting day... I am proud of everything our group of over 1400 people have achieved... but as of now at 6pm, after not eating since a cuppa soup and a packet of crisps on sunday at 1pm, I have decided to give up the hunger strike.

Here are my reasons... When I was 5 I suffered from rheumatic fever (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rheumatic_fever) a heart related condition. When I was buying Gandhi in HMV I felt a small, painful feeling in my chest area... it may have been nothing but an hour ago I felt it again... I am fine, but I feel like we have all created such a buzz in the media, and a close friend (Macka) did tell me that my family  is under enough stress and me being severely ill would increase that stress tenfold.

I hope you understand my reasons. The original idea was for me to protest to the government about this in my own way, a way not everyone agreed with. Now I feel the focus is 100% on my Dad's plight... and thanks to the stunning reaction from you guys he still has a job.

What's more important for me is this has highlighted how so many people are in this situation, and something needs to be done to resolve it. I want to be a part of that. I won't give up. A petition is awaiting approval from number 10, and I will spread the word everyway I can... and I want to be fit and well to do so. If you're in the same position then help the cause and get people to sign the petition, TALK TO YOUR MP!

I am proud to be a part of something as special as all of this, proud to be involved with every single one of you. This has literally been a group effort, and its been fantastic to see the "little people" finally win a battle... but there is much left to fight for.

Today in the interviews I was asked if I was angry about this whole situation. Obviously I was angered by the government, but the emotion that I have encountered the most over the past few days is that of pure inspiration. I realise that I will never again just sit there and let the government walk all over things I believe in. We have a voice, and let's continue to use it.

thankyou for everything

this is not over, let's help others in the same position... just look at what we have done in a week : )

Chris Shaw

x

Hunger strike day 5... Half the battle has been won

There has been a MASSIVE development within the last few hours:

My Father has been told that he won't lose his job anymore, and he can safely work at B&Q... which is great news... isn't it?

Yes of course, but his job was never the main focus for me or my family. It was the short term result we were hoping for, and I want to thank each and everyone of you for making this happen. It was truly down to all of you... but in the longterm what about if B&Q sack him in 2 months, will we have to go through all this again? what about if he wants to leave the country? He still hasn't got closer to getting a passport... more importantly what about when this is happening to someone else next week?

I feel if we all just sat back and celebrated this result we would be selling out. If B&Q had to let my dad go due to government laws then surely that means the government were the only ones who could have intervened?

This week I have read countless comments and messages from people in similar situations WE NEED TO CHANGE THIS!!! Even several people at my workplace have even been shown the door or narrowly escaped being sacked due to this law. This legislation was rushed to make it seem as if the government were handling immigration, but they clearly didnt think it through. If you think of the thousands of people losing their jobs each week during these troubled financial times, how many of those people face similar issues?

For this reason my hunger strike continues, and it will not end until we have had the government answer us! My resolve to get a result that will benefit the people of our country has never been stronger. Please Im begging you let's keep up the momentum so this doesn't happen to someone else tomorrow, or the next day. This is our chance to make a difference and send a message to Gordon Brown that we won't be ignored.

I want to thankyou all for your support, every message I have received has encouraged me to continue this path... a path we are all on. Sorry if I sound slightly deluded, but I can't believe the difference you have all made, its totally inspired me. Also check the Daily Express tomorrow, the Plymouth Sound and Spotlight (people in the south west) in the evening.

Take care and all the best

Chris Shaw

x

Hunger Strike Day 4

My evening has again been spent replying to as many people as possible who have emailed me with messages of support... honestly I am totally stunned by the public support my Father's plight has received. We are indebted to you all.

Throughout the day I have felt pretty rough... but I'm not moaning, I always knew how it would affect me... the reason I mention it is not for self pity, its because you all have totally inspired me, and as cheesy as it sounds it feels me with strength to read those messages everyday.

One thing that sucks is throughout the week I have been at work as per usual, Thursday is my last shift of the week and then I'm free until Monday but everyone at work has been so supportive...

Tomorrow the West Briton are publishing the story, Julian I just want to thankyou so much for what you have done. On Friday my Dad, my Broseph and I are all on our way up to Plymouth for a radio interview with the Plymouth Sound. They have been great : )

Our group on facebook has over 1000 members now, its phenomonal... I want to, and sorry for repeating myself, just thank EVERYONE. The government can't ignore this much longer. A friend at work, who is very supportive, looked up and sai "You do realise you ar trying to change the law"... It struck me how uphill the task ahead is... But now I feel totally confident we together, the people of Britain, can change this law.

Anyways I am off to get some much needed sleep, I was too busy on facebook until 2am last night, so I am off to bed to listen to Thrice in bed with a nice glass of water... also I have decided to take a Vitamin tablet each day, Im in this for the long run and Im not about to give up yet so I have decided to take the tablets to a) keep my Mum quiet and b) not totally destroy my body if im still on hunger strike this time next week

one last time... THANKYOU

change IS coming... thanks to you. Lets show the government who has the power

love and best wishes

Chris

x

Day 3 of hunger strike for my father

This message is just a short thankyou to everyone who has been so supportive, the response on Facebook has been unbelievable, we are all eternally grateful : )

The Home Office are still refusing to sort this issue out, and so my hunger strike is continuing. The only liquids I am consuming are water, tea and lucozade. I feel pretty good, apart from feeling extremely jaded, but just reading one of the many comments/messages I have received in support has inspired us all beyond belief

THANKYOU ALL SO MUCH

This has proven that we can all stand up for what is right. Most importantly this case could help others who face similar problems, and so your support could change this for many people. My Dad's case is one of thousands, of that I am sure.

Sorry for the short blog, I have been extremely busy today and this evening and still have to work my 10 shifts at work as Im not sure if my bosses could sack me for going on hunger strike.

Once again you are helping us make a difference, and our voice is being heard

Day 2 of hunger strike for my father

Just incase anyone thinks my dad or mum have put me up to this, I assure you they told me straight away that they didn't want me to do this... but then they realised how passionately I feel about this situation. This isn't JUST about my Dad... it's about all the other people that are in this situation. It's for all the people that have lost their jobs because our government have screwed them over.

I will continue this protest until I feel that the media has highlighted this issue, and it is resolved for my father. This in itself is a great result, but I'm hoping it will inspire other people to a) fight it if they find themselves in a similar situation and b) that our opinions DO matter, and apathy isn't something we should be content with.

I'm aware of many different types of protest, but believe in non-violent forms. Ghandi has been my inspiration for doing the hunger strike.

I haven't touched food, and even though its only been just over a day (36 hours), I don't feel THAT hungry. Only tired and slightly weak. I'm drinking lots of tea and lucozade : )

Not much of a response from the media as of yet, but I wouldnt expect to hear anything for a few days.

Lastly I want to thank everyone, all the people have joined our facebook group (http://www.facebook.com/inbox/readmessage.php?t=53043238122&mbox_pos=0#/group.php?gid=131637520260&ref=nf Kelly and Will for spending their time inviting everyone individually (not an easy task), the people who have donated their status updates, Sara for getting the union involved and everyone who has just been really supportive of this cause

you ALL rule

thank you all so much

Sunday 22nd February, Day 1 of hunger strike

Hi, my name is Chris Shaw. I'm 24 and live in Cornwall. I’m a graduate from Plymouth University and currently work for one of the Biggest Telecommunications companies in the UK. I was born in Britain and have lived here all my life, and consider myself to be a normal, everyday person. My Father is also British... but due to rushed government legislation he is days away from losing his job because he needs to prove that he is in fact "British". After months of chasing it up with the Foreign Office, his local MP and the Kenya High Commission and many other ignorant departments within the government, it seems certain he is going to be made redundant... this has spurned me on to take this drastic action: I will be going on hunger strike until this is resolved. I will continue to drink fluids, but will not eat an ounce of food. Let me explain why...

My father, Graham Shaw (he was born Nicholas Graham Shaw), was born in Kenya in 1952 to British parents. His parents divorced when he was about 12 months old and eventually his father, Edward Albert Shaw, obtained custody. Edward Shaw remarried in 1956 and in 1961 they all were forced to return to the UK due to the Mau-Mau uprising. Edward Shaw was a police officer in the Kenyan Police Force, and so remaining in Kenya was not an option due to the instability of the region. My father was enrolled in a local school and completed his education in Cornwall, until joining the army in 1970. Due to an injury he was forced to leave after 6 months, but then joined the civil service (DWP) where he worked for 35 years before taking early redundancy due to staff cutbacks in 2006. In 2007 he was offered a part time job at B&Q. As proof of identity he showed his P45 and also his MOD90 ID card (he is an Officer in the army cadets). After an HR audit he was informed that he needed to produce a British passport or full driving license due to a change in regulations by our "wonderful" Labour government. He does not drive and had previously found it difficult to apply for a passport, but on those occasions he was simply confined to the fact that he just wouldn't be able to go on holiday with his partner, Linda.

Since being notified of this requirement he has contacted the Home Office, and many other government departments and has been ignored. He's had his emails/letters ignored, been fobbed off by countless individuals and on one instance given a number to call which didn't work, only to be told there was a missing digit. When he called the corrected number he was swiftly told that the department didn't exist. He was even told that the only way he could sort this out was to go to Kenya and get the documents himself and send them to the Home Office... which would mean he could, potentially, be stranded in Africa for months... and judging by the level of support by the government, maybe indefinitely. Also he was told he could get a passport by applying for British Citizenship, which is a total slap in the face when you take in mind his job as a civil servant and being enrolled in the army, let alone the fact my Grandfather served this country during WW2.

Things have become more serious now. Despite being more "British" than myself (he served for the MOD and the Government) he is days away from losing his job (Saturday 28th February), which does not bode well as we face an economic crisis that has caused the world's economy to be brought to a standstill. This will leave Linda, his partner, to be the sole provider and have to pay the mortgage. He could sign on, but how will he ever be able to get a job unless this gets sorted? B&Q have been supportive throughout this, but once again I am reminded that our Government really does not care about the people of this country. Could he be deported as he is classed as an immigrant? Should a 56 year old be forced to live in Kenya despite serving his country and government?

He has contacted several papers (the Daily Mail being one) but to no avail. From this day onwards I am on hunger strike in order to get this noticed. Will Gordon Brown allow my father to lose his job and for me to starve? Who knows? I will be putting up daily blogs documenting the help, or ignorance, of all the national papers, government departments (even Number 10) whom I will be contacting with my story and my father’s.

Please to help awareness spread the message : )