400 Africans die at sea: Politics doesn’t matter?

Just a few short months ago the European Union, to which the UK is one of its most powerful members agreed to scale back critical resources that would aid desperate African migrants attempting to arrive in Europe in over crowded boats.

The EU in their wisdom concluded that  if they take away the rescue boats that save lives less people will try and make the often trechorous journey.

Of course when people are utter desperate, fleeing war zones  and extreme poverty the danger of the high seas even without protection still seems a worth wile risk.

The politics that we don’t engage in this week witnessed that heartbreaking tragedy of 400 africans many children perishing on the high seas.

Who says politics doesn’t concern us?

I sadly hear it all the time: “Voting doesn't change anything” is the often hostile, mindless rebuke when encouraging people to register to vote as the OBV eXpress bus has toured the country.

Why mindless? If voting doesn't matter why do the wealthy elites have the highest rates of voter turnout? Without voting, our countries of origin would still be ruled by the British Empire, and in this country we would still be subject to a colour bar in employment, housing and education.

Not voting is simply a vote for the status quo which means unfair stop and search, high levels of black imprisonment, unemployment and homelessness and no justice for those who die in suspicious circumstances in police custody.

Left unopposed, the extreme right wing on the UK would institute draconian policies of deportation and immigration control. They would abolish the 1976 Race Relations Act.

Everything from the price of bananas, chocolate import and export duties, levels of trade aid and slavery reparations are being considered and the outcome will harm African, Caribbean and Asian economies. As migrants from African, Asian and Caribbean backgrounds, we send home millions of pounds to help support our families in our respective countries of origin, yet when we walk away from the ballot box we abandon these nations to the whims of the European Union rather than seeking to change such unfair terms of trade.

Millions of people in these countries are dependant on these arrangements and our vote in EU elections could bring substantial pressure to bear on improving trade and aid agreements.

Climate change is another important area. Every degree the Caribbean Sea heats up doubles the number of hurricanes in this region. How many times have we rebuilt our families’ properties destroyed by hurricane? Yet, with no vote we have no voice when climate change and reducing our dependency on fossil fuels are being discussed at the EU.

By 2050, between 350 million and 600 million people are projected to experience increased water stress due to climate change. Climate variability will severely compromise agricultural production and access to food across Africa. Toward the end of the 21st century, if the sea level rise continues it will devastate low-lying coastal areas around the world many in the developing world with large populations.

If these examples seem too far away, consider the creation of the National Health Service…through legislation brought in by a Labour Party that came to power because more people voted for it after the Second World War, wanting a fairer society that could provide free health care.

And to prove every vote literally counts, in the 1997 General Election Lib Dem candidate Mark Oaten gained Winchester from the Conservatives by two votes. This was the smallest percentage majority and the joint smallest numerical majority, in a UK Parliamentary election, since universal adult suffrage.

In 1910 Conservative Henry Duke beat Liberal Harold St Maur by two votes.

This 2015 General Election is likely to be the tightest in living memory and every vote will count. Not voting is a the type of indulgent luxury we cannot afford because the harsh reality is that those who do not vote will become the victims of those that do. The voter registration deadline is the 20th April. Don't let the deadline pass you by.

Register here: bit.ly/OBVsignup

Lee Jasper