Yesterday, I attended the Together Alliance ‘March To Stop the Far Right’ in London. It was a glorious day filled with unity and love that gave people from across the country the opportunity to express our opposition to the fascist regime that’s currently polluting the political system, both here in the UK and abroad.

We’re a nation divided, but we have a lot in common. For those of us who aren’t rich – at least 90 percent – we’re bewildered by the constant daily pressures that we’re under. The cost of living is increasing all the time, mostly due to abhorrent decisions by those in power who are entrusted to protect us. Our waterways are filthy, our food is toxic, the air is poisoning us, and we’re hammering the finite resources of our planet like we’re seated at an all-day buffet. The education system is failing our children, and any number of societal groups are vilified and excluded on a daily basis. It’s no wonder so many people are disillusioned and exhausted.

Why is this happening, and who does it benefit? Our economy is based on Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The gov.uk website describes GDP as, “the total value of all of the goods made, and services provided, during a specific period of time.” It says, “Rising GDP means the economy is growing, and the resources available to people in the country – goods and services, wages and profits – are increasing.”

Governments want us to believe that if the economy grows – growth, growth, growth! – everything will be fine and dandy. But this is a lie. GDP is a system that makes everyday workers – like you and me – more and more productive so those at the top can take a bigger slice of the pie. It drives capitalism, which encourages us to buy more, which again drives production, increases inequality and gives those at the top an EVEN bigger piece of pie. It’s a never-ending loop that’s destined to fail the majority.

GDP doesn’t take into consideration the significant variations that make our lives better – clean water and air, ensuring everyone has enough to eat and comfortable affordable accommodation, happy and healthy kids. It doesn’t account for the unpaid work that so many people do particularly women, many of whom have full-time jobs whilst taking on the majority of childcare and running households. If you want to explore this further, I’d encourage you to read Katrine Marçal’s eye-opening and extremely funny ‘Who cooked Adam Smith’s Dinner’ and Silvia Federici’s ‘Caliban and the Witch’ both of which I reference in my book, ‘The Healthcare Rebellion’.

And it doesn’t include the rights of all people to have equity in vital areas of everyday living, including healthcare.

Economic, social and environmental justice are all balanced on the same side of the same coin. You cannot discuss one without the other. Sadly, until we transition away from the current GDP model to a triple bottom line approach that encompasses planet, people and profit, the cracks in society will continue to widen. Until then, we will keep marching on.

Find out more about ‘The Healthcare Rebellion’; including my personal journey with lobular breast cancer and how the 22 women who are diagnosed with the disease in the UK every day are being failed by the government.