Jeremy Hunt just said he’ll let Rupert Murdoch own all of BSkyB. We have three days to flood the public consultation with requests to stop the deal, and call on the government to initiate a public inquiry into the hacking scandals. Let’s save our media and democracy. Send a message now.
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| ‘The Peer Factor: Who Would You Put in the House of Lords and Why? competition asked young people to think seriously about the role and purpose of the House and Lords, giving them their say on who would make a valuable contribution to making laws on behalf of the UK public and checking and challenging government actions and decisions.
Entrants could make a short film, produce a Podcast, write an essay, create a collage or submit a newspaper or magazine article. Nominations included Sir David Attenborough, naturalist and broadcaster; Simon Cowell, music executive and television producer; Jamie Oliver, chef and restaurateur; Dame Jacqueline Wilson, childrens author; and Willow Smith, child actress and singer! One of the three winning entries this year was an essay submitted by 16-year-old Anna Mammedova from Swansea, who nominated local Green Party member Keith M Ross. The citation for Annas winning essay read, For 16-year-old Anna Mammedova, from Olchfa School in Swansea, Keith Ross has proved to be an inspiring role model because of his active citizenship. Anna and her family are refugees from Azerbaijan and Keith has been their caseworker during the six years they have been in the UK. Anna nominated him because of his already tested skills in scrutinising the governments work and making its social and economic policies work for vulnerable people. On hearing of her win, Anna said: I am really, really happy! I was confident about my essay but I did not expect to win. Swansea Green Party member Keith Ross said: Im so pleased that Anna has nominated me for the House of Lords for the Peer Factor competition. More importantly, Im absolutely delighted for Anna as her achievement is so remarkable when you consider that English is not her first language. More details of Peer Factor competition at: And read Anna’s winning essay here: Hearty congratulations to both Keith and Anna. Bridgend Green Party would not exist today without the support and encouragement provided by Keith. He continues to be a valued mentor and font of wisdom. |
| This presentation is well worth watching to understand the manoeuvrings of companies like Bridgend’s Coastal Oil & Gas and their Australian partners, Eden Energy, as they speculate over the gas potential of South Wales and many other areas.
It in no way diminishes the threat that the industry poses, but serves to underline the just how immoral the whole industry is, and how we should distance ourselves from it for ever more reasons than already documented. It offers a sound argument for not allowing test drilling as it is effectively used to create the speculative data to encourage the speculation that underpins the scam. It focuses on the Marcellus formations in the USA – but the principles are exactly the same here in South Wales and other frack threatened areas. NB : Bilk – definition: This all puts this report from Eden Energy into context for you: http://www.edenenergy.com.au/pdfs/926201282fa9408ce7db90979f0a8cfb.pdf |
| Johnny Linehan
“Do you want to know why I think that there never will be fracking in Wales? Thank you Johnny!! Johnny is one the main forces behind the FRACKING HELL UK Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_181312585243017&id=222190311155244 |
| I will be attending with the No Fracking UK group and speaking at the Combat Climate Change Forum. Lots of other things of interest to Greens!!
Venue Address: UWIC School of Management,200 Western Avenue, CardiffLlandaffCardiff CF5 2YBWales A Cooperative Nation Conference Agenda 9.15am Registration & Coffee 9.45am The Co-operative in Wales 10.30am Combining Commerce & Ethics 11.15am Coffee Break 11.30am Mini Forums 1.00pm Lunch 2.00pm Co-operation in the Community (3 x 20 minute sessions) 3.00pm Mini Forums Feedback 3.15pm Wales A Cooperative Nation 4.00pm Conference Closes |
| The Campaign Against Climate Change is a well established campaign with many prominent people involved, including Caroline Lucas, Jean Lambert (Green MEP) and George Monbiot. They are getting increasingly involved in the anti-fracking issue. Their National Coordinator, Phil Thornhill, wrote to me and said: “Obviously we are coming at this very much from a counter- climate change point of view. And we do feel theres an urgent need for some visible ‘on the streets’ type opposition to the creeping shale gas epidemic.“As part of this they have organised two high profile events.:Fracking Hell? What will shale gas mean for the UK? Public Meeting, Tuesday 19th July, 6.45pm in the Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL (Holborn tube). . Full details: http://www.campaigncc.org/frackingmeeting I will be in attendance and have been offered the opportunity to say something about what has happened/ is happening in Wales. If anyone is free, the event is free and I would welcome your company. I have just booked train/tube travel for just over £30, leaving just after lunchtime. Looking a little further ahead: Camp FrackWeekend of 17th-18th September. Join the resistance to the fracking invasion! Stop the massive expansion of shale gas extraction in the UK! We need renewables – not another source of fossil fuel! Camp Frack will be close to the operating rig at Singleton, near Blackpool. It will be organised with the support of a local landowner. It will involve workshops on shale gas, and on planning the campaign against it. It will involve raising local awareness about the problems with shale gas and an action day of peaceful protest against the drilling activities currently in progress in the Blackpool area. This happens to be the weekend after Green Party Conference – in Sheffield, which I hope as many of you as possible will try to get to. Green Party Autumn Conference 20119-12 September, Sheffield Hallam University Bookings Full details here: http://www.greenparty.org.uk/conference.html |
| Most people assume I am in the Green party because I used to be a Geography teacher. In fact, it has rather more to do with the fact that I am a socialist. Capitalists trash the planet in pursuit of this years profits and dividends. In doing so, who suffers the consequences of environmental degradation the most? The poor and the vulnerable. Hence environmental issues are socialist issues.
This can be seen at any scale, from global to local. It is, for example, why I am so passionate about stopping capitalist interests frack up my home region. It is about the legacy we leave our children with. On another level, consider this: Wales Green Party leader Jake Griffiths recently visited a newly built Eco-social housing site, owned by Cadwyn Housing, to demonstrate the widespread benefits renewable technologies could bring to Wales. The Green Party is highlighting how its policies to create a sustainable economy will help to tackle social and economic issues as well as environmental ones. Jake Griffiths said: “This is a great example of the benefits increased investment and imaginative thinking around renewable technologies could bring to Wales. Renewables won’t just tackle environmental issues like climate change and resource depletion, they will also address many of the social problems we are faced with. “For example, renewable energy and better insulation mean cheaper heating bills for tenants. On a wider scale this kind of thinking would massively help to reduce fuel poverty and prevent the disgraceful situation we found ourselves in last winter when 25% of Welsh households struggled to heat their homes (1). “Converting to renewables would create thousands of green jobs, and help put people back to work. They would also give us more energy security at a time when oil and gas supplies are becoming more and more unstable. And of course they will also help us to reduce our carbon emissions and tackle climate change. This really is a win-win situation.” Greens are calling for increased investment in social housing to support the depressed building industry, create jobs and address demand and affordability. They also argue that new housing should be regulated to introduce minimum standards. I hope you can all see how it all fits together. Andy |
| It was good to see a good Green Party presence at the meeting – but as it was called and organised by Gareth’s mum, we had to turn up!! Well done Kay!!
It was a pretty well attended meeting overall. It was chaired by a Community Councillor (who seemed think this was about the extent of his commitment to the cause) but featured Janice Gregory AM, who is clearly on the case and doing the right things, and Dr Porter from the sugery, who was very articulate and impressive. The points in my open letter were repeatedly stressed by the majority of contributors. The absurdity of the Rural classification by the ABM Health Board is clear to all and there is considerable hope that this will be duly overturned. We will do our bit in encouraging the letter-writing approach that was generally acknowledged as the best strategy at the moment. My Open letter has had responses from ABM Health Bridgend Director, Matthew Bunce, and the Welsh Assembly Civil Servant handling the issue, Mark Welsby. They both stress that no decisions have been made, and I get the distinct feeling that the great and fast groundswell of opinion against these proposals will win the day. You can help by writing too: Welsh Assembly Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NQ Or email him: mark.welsby@wales.gsi.gov.uk TELL HIM: Why Bettws is a Rural village and not an UrbAn town – What it would mean to you to lose your doctor’s surgery. Singularly less impressive was the absence of any other elected representative. Bettws Cllr. Michaelides could not tear himself away from his Mayoral duties, which got the appropriate groans that acknowledged no surprise there! But credit where it is due, Janice Gregory was the most important person to be present and she clearly knows the community well and is fighting their corner. She generally impresses me whenever our paths cross. She might even be the last Socialist in the Labour Party! |
Here we go again with public service cuts that hit the poorest and most vulnerable members of society the hardest. The Glamorgan Gazette quotes an anonymous ABM Health Board spokeswoman trying to argue that:
If the Labour administrations permit such a punitive service cut to such an area to happen, it will simply serve to underline the growing reality of how far they have abandoned their traditional support base. Socialism was created to look after communities like Bettws and protect such communities from the ravages of market forces and right wing ideology. Are there any socialists left in the Labour Party? I had to turn to the Green Party to find a socialist manifesto. It really is time for socialists in Labour to step up to the plate on issues like this one. We are watching. |
| Our friends at the Cooperative are at the forefront of the campaign to stop tar sands exploitation – especially in Canada. Alongside the issue of fracking for shale gas, it is the focus of their huge TOXIC FUELS campaign. It is therefore worthy of our support on so many levels. Check this out and then sign and share the petition.
Right now, EU law makers are introducing an important bill which would impose strict pollution standards on car and lorry fuels and would effectively ban tar sands fuel, the world’s most filthy and environmentally destructive transport oil. But shockingly, the UK is opposing it.But perhaps we should not be shocked given the pathetic stance the |UK Government have taken on the Fracking issue. Our government is bending under pressure from the oil industry and the Canadian government, who stand to make billions if they can get an ally to water down the law and remove the clause that bans tar sands. We can expose these dirty dealings, and demand the government support the law and protect the climate. In 2 days, campaigners will meet with Transport Minister Norman Baker. Let’s show him the British public is united against any attempt to undermine this critical legislation — sign here, then send this to everyone!
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