2012 was an action packed year. One we will never forget with all the excitement of the Olympics and Paralympics and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Those amazing community celebrations for the Olympic Torch and the Diamond Jubilee Street Parties will last long in the memory.
The campaign to Save Ealing Hospital was and continues to be in 2013 the most important message from local people to the NHS bureaucrats and the government. The march from Southall Park past Ealing Hospital and along the Uxbridge Road to Ealing Common in the September sunshine was an incredible show of community strength and solidarity. I was proud to lead that march and to see the passion of thousands of local people to save their NHS and their local Hospitals.
We then took the petition that was signed by tens of thousands all the way to 10 Downing Street and David Cameron in November and we must keep the pressure up in 2013. We can not let 2013 be the year that Ealing Hospital and our other local hospitals have their vital services closed. We must demonstrate through marches and protests and by writing to the politicians in government and the NHS bureaucrats that we will just not allow them to do this.
2012 saw a double dip recession and challenging economic times for everyone. With a triple dip recession looking possible in 2013 these certainly are hard times and the future looks tough. That is why it is so important that we all continue to fight against poverty and for social justice and show solidarity, stay united and be one as a community.
Wishing all the Gazette readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.
