Grumbling Owls | Polls Results | Polls | Rip Off Britain | Chat
We older people have a reputation for grumbling (see such TV programmes as Grumpy old men / women) which we wish to celebrate and encourage. We will try to inspire you to greater grumbling through our own writings, our news and views sections to set you off, plus the subjects of campaigns and our opinion polls which you are welcome to comment on. You are invited to either add your point of view, examples here or in our chatline. If you would like us to forward a particular complaint, grumble or rant to the relevant body please ask us to do so in your email.
There is also a more serious point. As we are entering a world with less and less liberty to protest, more and more controls, surveillance, laws and the criminalisation of opposition then complaints, petitions, campaigns become one of the few areas in which we (at the moment) are allowed to object and protest. Also as we get older then it becomes more difficult to object in other ways while we get better at knowing how to complain.
There are increasing requirements on the public sector, business and the media to formally respond to complaints and objections, to record our complaints and to investigate and report back their responses. We have a number of examples of successful complaints, lobbying and email / Letter writing campaigns (and remember Amnesty International's main method of drawing attention to miscarriages of justice and highlighting the situation of 'prisoners of conscience is through letter writing). If you want to send us any examples of such letters /campaigns and want to tell us about 'best practice' in affecting behaviour change or just sheer bloodymindedness that paid off and / or discomforted our masters then please feel free to let us and our visitors know Email here
BT
Here is one from Chris a concerned London commuter
Hello all, I have made some short films that highlight my journey into work with 'One' rail. A train journey should be a pleasant experience watching the world go by, but not when you travel with 'One'.
Introduction - Click here
Clapton - Click here
Hackney Downs - Click here
Bethnal Green - Click here
Make a change - Click here
Normal and One Times - Click here
Chris the concerned commuter has stated he is interested in your views, so please email him at cg20084@googlemail.com with your feedback.
Got a grumble? Send it in to us at webmaster@wiseowls.co.uk
Why are MPs the only public sector employees who can decide their own salaries and do not need to produce a receipt for any expenses below £250 and why are they the only ones who can employ their own families with public funds without going through proper and open employment and recruitment processes?
Why is the UK the only democracy where you can become a member of the House of Parliament (House of Lords) because either your parents were or because you paid for it or at best because you were appointed rather than face elections?
Why do more and more people on buses refuse to sit down on the empty seats instead crowding around the entrance and exit sections of the bus so that people can’t get on or off?
Why is dropping bombs on people (like in Iraq and in Gaza) which kill and maim men, women and children, not called terrorism?
Why do high street banks refuse to offer business current accounts which can earn interest?
Why is it that older residents in Britain from all diverse backgrounds not get more jobs when there are more vacancies being advertised?
Please feel free to add in more grumbles by emailing us at support1@wiseowls.co.uk or add them to the Grumbling Owls chat line after registering.
