Peter Preston's Words.

by ipsiphi Tue Jun 27, 2006 19:55

He's a hungerstriker.
We're all agreed.
Who'd break policy by meeting him?
Who didn't want the advertising revenue lost by reporting him?
Who will be the counsel of the family andronicus.
he has declared his right not to be force fed.:.

its a Hungerstrike. 37th day. location : Parliament of Ireland.

by mOuse Tue Jun 27, 2006 20:41

However, in time he will weaken considerably. He is in a vulnerable position
and welcomes solidarity and company. He likes to tell his story and welcomes
offers of support be it through research, filming or taping.

Whilst I was with him today, many people stopped by and talked with him.
They treated him with the greatest respect and asked questions about his
situation. It was nice to see that people respond to him, despite the active
media block on his case. He wants to tell his story and for people to witness
his betrayal.

It is patently clear that time will come when he is too weakened to continue
speaking with people and may need help physically, or just some company.

You will find him sitting outside the pedestrian gate at Dail Eireann
He is grey haired and has a sign beside him detailing the issue which
has brought him to this pass. Summer recess soon.

by 38 days - Labour Party Wed Jun 28, 2006 17:28

Mr Preston has made a statement published by us above and witnessed in Dublin - that he does not want to be forcefed.

Article 5 of the 1975 World Medical Association Tokyo Declaration states that doctors must not undertake force-feeding under any circumstances, it is understood as an articulation of the Universal declaration of Human Rights. However, Force feeding is done in certain prison environments as well as certain psychiatric institution cases. The declaration states :-

"Where a prisoner refuses nourishment and is considered by the physician as capable of forming an unimpaired and rational judgment concerning the consequences of such a voluntary refusal of nourishment, he or she shall not be fed artificially. The decision as to the capacity of the prisoner to form such a judgment should be confirmed by at least one other independent physician. The consequences of the refusal of nourishment shall be explained by the physician to the prisoner."
_______________________________________________________________________________

Mr Preston is a smoker.

You will notice a hungry spent butt in some of the photo taken of him in the last weeks.
This casts a different forecast on any prognosis of how long he will last on Kildare Street.
There being both negative and positive points members of the Dáil in general, the commercial media & of course the Irish Labour Party ought weigh -

He is insecurely housed, actually the social services would classify him as homeless at the moment since he's sleeping on Kildare street, this leaves him open to threats and verbal and / or psychological abuse & mounts on his suffering.

He is free, he isn't being locked up every day and is not in prison and thus has free association which might perk up his weary spirits, but of course he hasn't yet spoken to the man he really wants to see -
Deputy Joseph Costello TD (Irish Labour Party). But at least he may talk to members of the public and quite possibly members of the medical profession to facilitate on-going asessment of his condition. (re:- the wernicke Korsakoff syndrome)

60 days is often bandied about as a time limit on Hunger Strikes, (which would be mid July) but this is based on complete abstinence ( no salts or sugar ) and a body weight fat proportion index of about 10 kilograms. Many people might find it in bad taste to see "before & after" photos of Mr Preston at his Hunger Strike pitch.

But of course if he has taken advice he will know that his Hunger Strike will not be broken, and his kidneys protected if he take limited amounts of salt and sugar, & of course cuts down on the cigarettes. They're very unhealthy the cigs. If he has adopted that advice, he may yet rival Turkish hunger strikers who managed to sustain Hunger Strikes for up to 300 days.

In which case General Titus is going to be a General Election issue.

Oh yes!
I almost forgot to clarify what "Wernicke Korsakoff sydrome" you don't need to be Alderman William Shakespeare H. dip Ed, FRCSI, MBA to find that out now - do you?

I reckon Peter Preston's suffering is a matter of public concern. don't you?