For all those who knew her, I am writing to let you know the sad news that Sarah Berger, a dedicated WDM campaigner and fellow member of the Brighton and Hove WDM group, passed away on 23 March, after a long battle against cancer.
She was an amazing campaigner and wonderful person. Words used to describe her have included: determined, wise, articulate, intelligent, passionate, committed, dramatic, practical, organised, courageous, media-savvy, upbeat and positive. I knew her from being a fellow activist at Brighton and Hove WDM and as a friend. Here’s some of the stuff that she did:
Sarah once appeared in the press as a grandmother pretending to row a boat to Genoa for the G8 protests, she dressed up as a first-aid box for a London march, crashed to the floor with a “debt-laden” sack in a tug of war, dressed all in white as a goal post in an unfair football match or as a trade barrier in Churchill Square, her theatricality was there for all to see.
At the various demos, stunts and marches she was always ready to carry a banner, keen to use a megaphone and prepared to argue with establishment lackeys (e.g. at climate marches, RBS demo, World for Sale stunt, Churchill Square). She was brilliant at talking to the press and TV, her interview making it on to the BBC in a documentary about the 2005 Make Poverty History event and G8 protests in Scotland.
Sarah was always in the thick of it, co-organising big events like the “Ballot on the Beach” (a huge event in Brighton) and public meetings involving speakers from developing countries or parliamentary candidates. She was always able to get to the nub of what we were trying to achieve and keep a clear head if any of us were getting carried away or a bit off track.
Taking her campaigning to Europe, she was active at major events in Prague (2000), Genoa (2001) and Florence (2002).
Despite increasing health problems she was still keen to get involved when she could and feisty enough to be disappointed if she felt that something was not edgy enough or wasting an opportunity. I was amazed when she turned out on a bitterly cold day last December for the annual climate change demo and march in London.
Sarah had of course been very active in other ways as well, in other campaigns, taking a lead in her local community project and with a busy family life. She died peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones as she would have wished.
She was a great inspiration to all who knew her and will be sorely missed.
Her family have asked that, rather than buying flowers, people make a donation to WDM.
