On having a heart and using my voice

I recently updated the photo on my UK drivers license, and had the new card sent to my parents’ address. They received it a few weeks ago and couriered it back to me (along with the original marriage certificate I’d had to send with the application to get my name changed), but the associated updated NHS* Organ Donor card only showed up at their place in the last few days. My Dad informed me of this fact during our regular Sunday Skype, and asked me what I wanted to do:

Dad: “Shall we send it over, or keep it here?”

Me: “I think it makes more sense for it to be in the same country as my actual organs”

Dad: “So you want us to send it?”

Me: “Well, I’d send you my organs to put with the card, but I’m using them”

Dad: “Cheeky bugger. Now, shall we just bring it when we come over in May, or do you need it before then?”

Me: “…”

(I know the card has no formal meaning in Canada or anywhere else outside the UK, by the way – but because I don’t drive here I don’t have its Canadian equivalent, so the presence of the NHS card in my wallet might be helpful to the people who’d have to make any organ-related decisions, regardless of their location.)

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In other weekend news: who do we have here?!**

There’s a longer shot of me in the video embedded in the news story itself. Mostly I just look a bit stupid because I was walking along talking to the colleague I’d just spotted (I also ran into someone I’d met at Vancouver Change Camp, someone who recognised me from Twitter, and David Suzuki), and only saw the CBC cameraman – standing stock still in the middle of the flow of people – at the last minute, and thought I was going to walk right into him. But before and after that I looked all chanty and angry and such.

It felt damn good to get out there, make some noise, and demand that someone bloody well DO SOMETHING (i.e. hold a prompt and thorough inquiry that has serious consequences for anyone found guilty – consequences that include holding byelections in all affected ridings) – but even better to realise that I’m not alone, not the only one who’s paying attention, and not the only one who’s as mad as hell about it (the apathy among most of my friends has been almost as depressing and infuriating as the allegations themselves). I think this issue has legs – I’ve heard people talking about it who don’t usually discuss politics at all*** – and hopefully Saturday’s protest was just the start.

Watch this space!

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*Sign #127 that Cath is now fully Canadianised: typing NHL instead of NHS. Twice. For shame, for shame!

**Sign #128: being on the CBC news

***My favourite comment, regarding unwanted dining companions during a conference: “just get the government to call them at the last minute and send them to the wrong restaurant. Problem solved!”