http://gamesmonitor2014.org
Police accompanying the Queen’s Baton near Barrhead, East
Renfrewshire arrest protesting disability activists, pinning one to
the ground. The group, Glasgow Against Atos, has staged a series of
increasingly high-profile direct actions demanding the removal of IT
giant Atos as a sponsor.
The firm has sought to boost its public profile by sponsoring
database software for international sporting events, but campaigners
have fought to expose its role in deadly cuts to disability benefits.
The firm has seen a string of scandals and wrongful sanctions
arising from its contracts quizzing sickness benefit claimants with
“work capability assessments” for the Department of Work and
Pensions.
The affair has even seen silent protest from Paralympic athletes
who hid their branded lanyards from cameras at London’s 2012
opening ceremony, while Sport Disability Scotland told MSPs in April
of athletes who could no longer afford to continue their sporting
careers after losing out to a work capability assessment.
Games organisers insist they are “very proud” of Atos’
involvement, while press officers have refused to comment on whether
they are contractually obliged to offer public shows of support.
This is the latest in a series of protests and occupations from
the Glasgow Against ATOS group including two occupations of the
Commonwealth Games Gift shop in Central Station and an occupation of
the main CG store in George Square.
Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk
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