In the ten years up to the start of the financial crisis, house prices rose by over 200%. Why?
A common belief is that there are too many people, too much immigration, and too few houses to go around. But this is a myth!The general consensus peddled by the media and politicians is that its a supply and demand problem too many people and not enough houses. Some political parties even claim immigration is the cause of higher house prices (despite the fact that while the population grew between 2007 and 2011, house prices fell by almost 10%).

While a lack of construction is undoubtedly contributing to higher house prices in some areas of the country, it is not the key reason for the massive increase in house prices over the past 20 years.

When you take out a mortgage, the money doesnt actually come from somebody elses savings. No. Its actually just created, electronically, by your bank typing numbers into a computer.

And its those newly-created numbers, or newly-created money, that you can use to pay for your new house. Since every mortgage works this way, all the crazy lending before the crisis created hundreds of billions of brand new money.

If we want to keep houses affordable for ordinary people, we have to look to the banks, and together take away their power to create money.

Well only get change when enough people understand how it really works. Help us spread the word.

Read her exposé here:

http://www.church-on-the-rock.org/forum/index.php/topic,106.0/topicseen.html

From: Peter Tatchell

Subject: March against religious attacks on human rights

*March against religious attacks on human rights*

*Defend religious freedom, oppose religious privilege*

Saturday 15 September 2012
Assemble: 13:30 Storeys Gate
March: 14:00-15:00
Rally: 15:00-17:00 Surrey Street (Temple Place)

Join the march and rally against religious attacks on human rights. All
across Europe, religious leaders are orchestrating campaigns against
equality for women and LGBT people, said Peter Tatchell, Director of the
human rights organisation, the Peter Tatchell Foundation.

Most UK religious leaders oppose same-sex marriage. They support legal
discrimination against same-sex couples. Some faith organisations ban women
clergy and bishops. Others oppose divorce, contraception, abortion, donor
insemination, embryo research and adoption by same-sex couples. Several
have been involved in child sex abuse and the cover-up of these crimes
against children.

Cardinal OBrien in Scotland has stirred homophobic prejudice and
intolerance by comparing gay marriage to slavery and by denouncing marriage
equality as grotesque and as an aberration that will lead to society
degenerating into immorality.

Saturdays protest demands an end to religious privilege and to religious
exemption from the equality laws. We support women’s rights, children’s
rights, LGBT rights & all human rights.

While we defend the human rights of all believers and non-believers, it
cannot be right that faith organisations have special rights and privileges
in law.

It is not compatible with democracy for the Church of England to be the
official state religion and for 26 of its bishops to sit automatically in
the House of Lords, with the ability to influence legislation. This is an
insult to people of other faiths and to those with no faith at all, he
said.

*The secular Europe campaign opposes:*

Privileged status of churches under Article 17 of the Treaty on the
Functioning of the European Union
Official state religions and established churches
The special status of the Vatican at the United Nations and its economic
and political privileges across Europe
State-funded religious schools

*The secular Europe campaign supports:*

Freedom of religion, freedom of conscience and freedom of speech
Womens equality and reproductive rights
Equal rights for LGBT people in all the European Union
A secular Europe democratic, peaceful, open and just, with no privilege
for religious organisations
One law for all, no religious exemptions from the law
State neutrality in matters of religion and belief

*CONFIRMED SPEAKERS:*

Robin Ince, Comedian and BHA Distinguished Supporter
Chris French, Skeptic and Professor of Psychology, Goldsmiths University
Warren Ellis, Writer and BHA Distinguished Supporter
Peter Tatchell, Human Rights Campaigner
Joan Smith, Journalist
Mejindarpal Kaur, Legal Director, United Sikhs
Richard Norman, Philosopher
Pavan Dhaliwal, Head of Public Affairs, British Humanist Association
Terry Sanderson, President, National Secular Society
Antony Lempert, Secular Medical Forum Chair
Adam Knowles, Gay And Lesbian Humanist Association
Nahla Mahmood, Council of ex-Muslims of Britain and One law for All
Sue Cox, Survivors Voice Europe
Maurizio Turco MP, Italian Radicals

*For further information:*

Peter Tatchell

www.petertatchellfoundation.org

It is good to have a feel good contribution in support of public transport in this country.

“Build it and they will come”

http://greenleftblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/green-left-fringe-fringe-at-green-party.html

My contribution is at about 21:12 of Howard’s section:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_A_6BuBeKUI#!

‘The Greens are turning into a force on the radical left’

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/video/2012/sep/10/green-party-gain-crisis-video

Good contributions from Romayne Phoenix and Sean Thompson – of Green Left.

Talking of which – can you spot the Bridgend delegation at the Green Left Fringe here:
Andy in Green (not asleep!) and Gareth looking the smartest member of the whole audience!

Will Duckworth, newly elected Deputy Leader, is a star in the ascendency. I strongly recommend you listen to his speech in its entirety. I may be biased here, because those of you that know me well will see quite a few parallel’s with my own story, but Will adds a tremendously warm and endearing personality to steely determination and inspirational success. He is a true man of the people, for the people.

PART 2:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=8hUTWSH00DM

Will’s successful election was also the pinnacle of Green Left’s success in getting numerous people into positions of influence in the Party – vital to ensuring that the Party stays truly ecosocialist in overall philosophy.

It is particular cause for celebration that Howard Thorp has become Campaign’s Co-ordinator and Derek Wall has become International Co-ordinator. They will both take places on GPEx – Green Party Executive – and be very influential in steering the Party’s course over the next two years at least. Oh, and I have also secured a place on the Green World Editorial Board, filling a seat vacated by Natalie Bennett’s and Derek Wall’s promotions. http://www.greenworld.org.uk/

Hopefully there will be more Green Left committee representatives announced tomorrow. The Green Left Fringe Meeting was encouragingly well supported, and although the theme was somewhat dystopian, there was a good buzz nonetheless.

http://bristolgreenleft.wordpress.com/2012/09/08/green-left-fringe-packs-yha/
Left to right: WILL DUCKWORTH / DEREK WALL / ROMAYNE PHOENIX / HOWARD THORP

And as proof that good news travels fast, we even had an amazing “Clause Four” moment during the debate on Howard’s ‘Economic Democracy’ motion. This is currently best reported here on the Bright Green Scotland blog:
http://brightgreenscotland.org/index.php/2012/09/green-party-clause-four-moment/

All good stuff!!

Andy.