The Grenfell residents were sacrificed for greed and comfort

POSTED BY RUSSELL BRAND ON FACEBOOK

Sometimes there is a news story that has a power that reaches beyond the material facts, even if those facts are in themselves potent. Hillsborough was one. The drowned Syrian toddler another. The discernible reality alludes to a deeper truth and invites us to consider the real meaning.

Glenfell is such a story. The image of a burning tower is loaded with significance both modern and ancient. The facts, the deaths, the suffering are in themselves appalling yet the meaning of this story, due perhaps in part to its timing, is quickly becoming revealed.

We already know that residents had organised to protest about the dangerous conditions of their homes. We know that the building was masked by a deadly facade that likely hastened the conflagration. We know that the conglomerate that owned the building had been negligent. We know that we have a government that refused to responsibly regulate housing for the poor. We know that we live at a time where poor people are being continually maligned by austerity.

Austerity is not frugality, it is brutality. It is violence.

Whilst the Conservatives are in government they are not in power. They are allied with an extremist, minority group with whom their increasingly unacceptable agenda is now shared. The election result and the success of Corbyn's Labour, I believe is the beginning of an awakening.

This fire, at this time, is a grim omen indeed.

We know that firefighters have long been saying they are not sufficiently funded to adequately do their job. We know that public services are being deliberately eroded and we are beginning to understand that for many years power and wealth has been seditiously syphoned upward. It began in its contemporary form with Thatcher and has continued with successive governments, under a variety of banners ever since.

They lied about Hillsborough, they lied for decades but the truth was revealed. Ineptitude, prejudice and corruption killed the 96.

We recognise that the contempt of refugees and gleeful printed cruelty lead to the death of little Alyan Kurdi.

Grenfell has portent beyond even the unthinkable suffering of its victims. It was a pyre of ordinary people whose voices and needs had been ignored. Whose cause had been maligned. The flames of the fire fanned by the constant damnation of this government and its media partners.

If it proves true that the edifice applied to conceal the decay of the building and improve the vista of newly erected luxury apartments exacerbated the fire then we can succinctly decode the dreadful meaning of this awful event.

The Grenfell residents were sacrificed for greed and comfort. This burning tower and the screams of its residents are an urgent call for change.

When I first saw the image, like a well trained citizen, I thought 'terrorists'. And of course, in a way, it was. Surely for the occupants it felt like terror. Like a horrific assault that they could do nothing about in spite of trying to prevent it. I don't imagine that as they were immolated they thought "Well at least this fire was caused by corrupt landlords and a complicit government".

These terrorists can only be beaten by defiance, disobedience and solidarity. By direct involvement in politics and by supporting progressive leaders that want real change and are willing to confront the powerful. Perhaps then this tragedy may have a meaning beyond corruption and neglect, it could be a chance to tear down the facade and face up to the world we are living in.

FACEBOOK POST BY RUSSELL BRAND

I think that people are being too quick to point the finger and make this about politics and/or the "evil" nature of rich people.

I wouldn't call spending a lot of money on cladding in order to improve the look of a building "greed", and I wouldn't say it was the result of austerity either.

The fire service didn't encounter a problem - they were there pretty fast were they not?

No. But there are virtually no Fire Brigade building inspectors now. 
They all got made redundant during the austerity campaign.
Their job - visit high rise and comnercial buildings, checking fire safety, equipment and evacuation procedures.

Angry Andy wrote:No. But there are virtually no Fire Brigade building inspectors now. 
They all got made redundant during the austerity campaign.
Their job - visit high rise and comnercial buildings, checking fire safety, equipment and evacuation procedures.

It's not very clear if an efficient evacuation procedure would have made much difference, given the speed with which the fire took hold. I think the usual advice is for people to stay put because such fires should be contained, but something clearly went wrong here. I just think it's too soon to say what went wrong, or to start pointing the finger.

Anyway, Russell Brand needs to sit down, unless he's going to donate his large fortune to the victims of the fire.

Waffle...

I can't help but feel that these minor celebs like Brand and Allen, just do what they do for a bit of publicity. It's not like you ever hear anything other than political rantings from them. And all this from a man who was incredibly cruel and disrespectful with prank phone calls.

H/t, some prat gave you a red for speaking the truth !

nicko wrote:H/t,  some prat gave you a red for speaking the truth !

Wolfie loves me really

HoratioTarr wrote:I can't  help but feel that these minor celebs like Brand and Allen, just do what they do for a bit of publicity.  It's not like you ever hear anything other than political rantings from them.  And all this from a man who was incredibly cruel and disrespectful with prank phone calls.    

Did Lily Allen say that the death toll was much higher? I get her mixed up with Katy Perry.

Can't stand Brand or Allen. Oh after apologising for us all in Calais, did she ever take in the teen she promised a room to - thought not

Both publicity seeking parasites.

Raggamuffin wrote:

HoratioTarr wrote:I can't  help but feel that these minor celebs like Brand and Allen, just do what they do for a bit of publicity.  It's not like you ever hear anything other than political rantings from them.  And all this from a man who was incredibly cruel and disrespectful with prank phone calls.    

Did Lily Allen say that the death toll was much higher? I get her mixed up with Katy Perry.

Katy Perry can be reasonably entertaining musically. Lily Allen? Can't say anything she's sung is memorable. Her songs would make Nine-million Bicycles in Beijing sound enthralling.