Mark Donne
Encyclopedia
Mark Donne is a London based journalist, writer and political campaigner. His recorded interests include Latin American politics, English poetry and social justice in Britain. Mark Donne acts as a commentator on relevant issues on BBC News, Sky News, Channel 4 News and other broadcast news media programmes.
BACKGROUND:
Since 2004, Donne has worked for Latin American human rights organisations and appeared as a guest of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Frias on a live broadcast of his television programme “Alo Presidente” in September 2007.
In 2006/07, Donne was also a member of the small political team behind the Labour MP and anti-racist campaigner Jon Cruddas
in his bid to become Deputy Leader of the British Labour Party. During the campaign, Donne publicly clashed with then Labour Deputy Leader Hazel Blears
and accused her of hypocrisy for failing to support equal rights for British agency workers http://www.compassonline.org.uk/article.asp?n=554. Cruddas won the popular vote but eventually lost the competition following preference voting rounds to Harriet Harman
The Cruddas campaign however was voted political campaign of the year at the Channel 4 News
2008 political awards. Donne is also connected with democratic think-tank Compass
Donne is Editor and a trustee of online literary magazine Real Fits Journal and Director of a coalition of British charities and NGO’s campaigning for justice for the English working poor http://www.fairpaynetwork.org
On February 8, The Independent
reported that Mark Donne has called for the closing of tax loopholes for the very wealthiest in Britain and for a rise in the living wage levels for the poorest in the British economy.http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/campaign-targets-obscene-city-pay-787271.html. No 10 Downing Street responded by explaining that via their own tax initiatives "non-dom" business taxation would go some way to closing the disparity of tax burden between the richest and poorest. The broader context for this debate is the rising anger within the UK of the perceived injustice of the taxation system and stagnant levels of social mobility.
On behalf of charities such as Oxfam
, Child Poverty Action Group
and Gingerbread (One Parent Families) Donne leads a national campaign to urge the wealthiest Premier League football clubs to pay off-the pitch staff including cleaners and hospitality workers a living wage . Donne is a regular contributor to British print and broadcast media outlets on this issue.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2008/oct/29/premierleague
http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=26750786151&h=SmMxp&u=1kvEA
In August 2008, Donne set up Instigate debate
with musicians Jon McClure
, Carl Barat
, Drew McConnell
and Kieran Leonard
. The rolling initiative is designed to re-engage young people with contemporary political debate and to call into question the effect of the corporately owned media on the British democratic processess.
Donne introduced the project in The Guardian newspaper http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/aug/16/politicsandthearts?gusrc=rss&feed=politics.]
The Independent: http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/politics-starts-at-home-for-new-wave-of-protest-singers-1520127.html
Donne is reported to hold direct ancestral lineage to the English metaphysical poet John Donne
and maintains poetry interests through Real Fits Journal and other London literary publications.
BACKGROUND:
Since 2004, Donne has worked for Latin American human rights organisations and appeared as a guest of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Frias on a live broadcast of his television programme “Alo Presidente” in September 2007.
In 2006/07, Donne was also a member of the small political team behind the Labour MP and anti-racist campaigner Jon Cruddas
Jon Cruddas
Jonathan Cruddas is a British Labour Party politician who is the Member of Parliament for Dagenham and Rainham. He was first elected in 2001 to the seat of Dagenham....
in his bid to become Deputy Leader of the British Labour Party. During the campaign, Donne publicly clashed with then Labour Deputy Leader Hazel Blears
Hazel Blears
Hazel Anne Blears is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Salford and Eccles since 2010 and was previously the MP for Salford since 1997...
and accused her of hypocrisy for failing to support equal rights for British agency workers http://www.compassonline.org.uk/article.asp?n=554. Cruddas won the popular vote but eventually lost the competition following preference voting rounds to Harriet Harman
Harriet Harman
Harriet Ruth Harman QC is a British Labour Party politician, who is the Member of Parliament for Camberwell and Peckham, and was MP for the predecessorPeckham constituency from 1982 to 1997...
The Cruddas campaign however was voted political campaign of the year at the Channel 4 News
Channel 4 News
Channel 4 News is the news division of British television broadcaster Channel 4. It is produced by ITN, and has been in operation since the broadcaster's launch in 1982.-Channel 4 News:...
2008 political awards. Donne is also connected with democratic think-tank Compass
Compass
A compass is a navigational instrument that shows directions in a frame of reference that is stationary relative to the surface of the earth. The frame of reference defines the four cardinal directions – north, south, east, and west. Intermediate directions are also defined...
Donne is Editor and a trustee of online literary magazine Real Fits Journal and Director of a coalition of British charities and NGO’s campaigning for justice for the English working poor http://www.fairpaynetwork.org
On February 8, The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
reported that Mark Donne has called for the closing of tax loopholes for the very wealthiest in Britain and for a rise in the living wage levels for the poorest in the British economy.http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/campaign-targets-obscene-city-pay-787271.html. No 10 Downing Street responded by explaining that via their own tax initiatives "non-dom" business taxation would go some way to closing the disparity of tax burden between the richest and poorest. The broader context for this debate is the rising anger within the UK of the perceived injustice of the taxation system and stagnant levels of social mobility.
On behalf of charities such as Oxfam
Oxfam
Oxfam is an international confederation of 15 organizations working in 98 countries worldwide to find lasting solutions to poverty and related injustice around the world. In all Oxfam’s actions, the ultimate goal is to enable people to exercise their rights and manage their own lives...
, Child Poverty Action Group
Child Poverty Action Group
Child Poverty Action Group is a UK charity that works to alleviate poverty and social exclusion.The stated aims of the CPAG are:CPAG programs include:* Research and publish the latest facts and figures of family and child poverty in the UK...
and Gingerbread (One Parent Families) Donne leads a national campaign to urge the wealthiest Premier League football clubs to pay off-the pitch staff including cleaners and hospitality workers a living wage . Donne is a regular contributor to British print and broadcast media outlets on this issue.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2008/oct/29/premierleague
http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=26750786151&h=SmMxp&u=1kvEA
In August 2008, Donne set up Instigate debate
Instigate debate
Instigate Debate is a cultural and political UK project set up by a collective that includes musicians Jon McClure, Carl Barat, Kieran Leonard and writer and political activist Mark Donne in August 2008....
with musicians Jon McClure
Jon McClure
Jon McClure, known as the Reverend, is lead singer and frontman of Reverend and The Makers and ex-vocalist of 1984 and Judan Suki. He claims that the name "Reverend" became his moniker because "I'm a big mouth and always running on at people"....
, Carl Barat
Carl Barât
Carl Ashley Raphael Barât is an English musician, actor and author. He was the frontman and lead guitarist of Dirty Pretty Things, and recently debuted a solo album, but is best known for being the co-frontman with Peter Doherty of the garage rock band The Libertines.-Early life:Carl Barât was...
, Drew McConnell
Drew McConnell
Drew McConnell is the bass guitarist and backing vocalist with Babyshambles, the band formed and fronted by frontman of The Libertines, Pete Doherty. He lived in Tenerife, Spain, for much of his childhood, and he speaks Spanish fluently...
and Kieran Leonard
Kieran Leonard
Kieran Leonard is a British singer-songwriter and musician of Irish descent, who performs as a solo artist and with his four piece band he refers to as 'The Horses'.He is particularly known for his poetical songwriting, and compelling live performances...
. The rolling initiative is designed to re-engage young people with contemporary political debate and to call into question the effect of the corporately owned media on the British democratic processess.
Donne introduced the project in The Guardian newspaper http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/aug/16/politicsandthearts?gusrc=rss&feed=politics.]
The Independent: http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/politics-starts-at-home-for-new-wave-of-protest-singers-1520127.html
Donne is reported to hold direct ancestral lineage to the English metaphysical poet John Donne
John Donne
John Donne 31 March 1631), English poet, satirist, lawyer, and priest, is now considered the preeminent representative of the metaphysical poets. His works are notable for their strong and sensual style and include sonnets, love poetry, religious poems, Latin translations, epigrams, elegies, songs,...
and maintains poetry interests through Real Fits Journal and other London literary publications.
External links
- http://www.instigatedebate.com/
- http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/markdonne
- http://www.realfits.org.uk/?page=Article&story=4
- http://www.nme.com/news/various-artists/38899
- http://www.compassonline.org.uk/article.asp?n=1297
- http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2007/aug/29/foreignpolicy.uk
- http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/campaign-targets-obscene-city-pay-787271.html
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instigate_debate