“The rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened.”
— John F Kennedy.
I have just taken the plunge. Not into the cold waters of the Mediterranean off Eastern Beach or the Caleta, but into the much more turbulent waters of politics.
It is not a decision taken lightly, although it took even me by surprise. I have been involved in campaigns, in political discussions, and in engaging with local politicians since I was a teenager, and I have done so both in UK where I lived for many years, and in Gibraltar where I resettled in 2009.
Politics affects all of us, whether we engage with it or not. We all have opinions about how we should live, what our community should be like, and what shape our futures should take. Many of us spend a lot of time and energy voicing our opinions – even if many times these are voiced in the privacy of our homes shouted at the TV set during news reports!
But our lives cannot escape the effect of political decisions. These impact the way we live and our life chances. Unless we each play a part in the way our community is run, our lives and the opportunities that we can take up are entirely at the mercy of other people’s decisions. More than that, our lives are at the mercy of the values by which those people make their decisions.
As a community, we each have a responsibility to each other. Gibraltar is small. We are a vibrant, warm, welcoming people endowed with creative energy and a huge measure of determination and resilience. We have so much going for all of us, but, it seems, some are able to tap into the positive energies of Gibraltar much more than others. As we approach some difficult times that are affecting societies across the world, we too are beginning to see our community polarised, fractured, with real, heart-rending problems affecting those whom we should be proud to call our neighbours.
As our community faces challenging issues, it is time for all of us to get involved and engage with politics. Whether we get stuck in and seek to represent the community in Parliament, or whether we become involved in those tough conversations are needed to make positive changes so that Gibraltar grows into that inclusive, supportive society that it really can be, it is time for each of us to stand up and speak up. We can no longer leave decisions to an exclusive group of people; we must work in an inclusive way, together.
And that is why I have joined Together Gibraltar and am seeking election. Together Gibraltar is a democratic party with core values that truly represent what we all aspire to. We stand for equality and inclusivity, transparency and accountability, pragmatism and participation. We offer a better way to true democracy. And we stand for the environment; because without protecting the place that we live in, Gibraltar, the sea, the earth, we have nothing. For me, those values are vital for the future of Gibraltar, for my children and grandchildren, for my friends and neighbours, for all of us. Because for each of us, it is Gibraltar that matters.
So this is me, doing what I believe to be right, at the right time.
This blog is my space for expressing my thoughts on the issues that we face, for explaining the changes that I believe are needed to make life on this Rock better for all of us. I’m inviting you to follow, to learn about me and the issues that I am passionate about, and to engage. Comment, message me and let’s start those vital conversations about all things Gibraltar!
Gibraltar Matters 