What these women share isn’t just political ambition; it’s also their conviction that the environment is the electoral issue of the future. Economy down? Create green jobs. Worried about feeding a resource-hungry world? Time to innovate new green technologies. “We have vision and think long term, but we apply our political beliefs in concrete reforms,” Künast said in August.

Someday sooner than you think, they might get the chance. Isn’t that right, Delyth?!

Wales is split into 5 regions for the second vote, South Wales Central includes Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan and Rhondda Cynon Taf. Greens received 6.4% across the Region the last time an election was held using proportional representation, during the 2009 European elections with 8% across Cardiff. Based on previous results 7-8% of the vote is needed to elect the first Green AM in South Wales Central.

Jake Griffiths, Wales Green Party Leader and prospective Assembly Member, said; “This poll gives recognition to the work we have been doing locally and shows us on course to elect our first Assembly Members in May. Greens in the Welsh Assembly would be joining Caroline Lucas, who was elected as Britain’s first Green MP in this years General Election, and Green colleagues in Northern Ireland, Scotland and the European Parliament.”

He continued “Green AMs are needed to challenge the devastating cuts to public services being imposed by Westminster and to get Wales onto the path for a low-carbon economy. Our policies would create jobs to beat the recession as well as tackling climate change, and these ideas must be heard in the Assembly chamber if we hope for them to become reality. Caroline Lucas, our first MP has already made her place in asking difficult questions that MPs from the old parties shy away from. Green AMs would continue this tradition in truly holding the Welsh Government to account.”

He concluded by appealing for those considering voting Labour to back the Green Party on the regional ballot:

“Labour have never elected a regional AM in South Wales Central since they win most constituencies, over 70,000 wasted Labour regional votes were cast in 2007, if just a small fraction of these switch to the Greens we will elect our first AMs. Electing a Green is also likely to deprive the ConDem parties of an extra Assembly Member.”

First of all, thanks to those that responded to the email re the small problem with the next meeting. I had half a dozen responses which raises a couple of issues.

Firstly, those that did not respond did not return a ‘Read Receipt’ either, so I do not know if they are getting my emails or not. Can I therefore please ask for a response or a Read Receipt so that I can amend my records and use other means of communication if this is not getting through.

Secondly those six responses split themselves evenly over the three options presented! I have therefore come up with a compromise that I hope is agreeable, even though it was not one of the options previously presented!

I have booked the Haywain Function Room for Tuesday 21st December, from 7.30pm. I am hoping that Neil will be on holidays and available on a Tuesday on this occasion. Those that I see to speak to have said this suits them ok, so I hope as many as possible will be able to come, despite the proximity to Christmas. I promise to get a round in! The provisional agenda is below.

Many thanks,

Andy Chyba
Bridgend Green Party
Blog: https://bridgendgreens.wordpress.com/
Mobile: 078 1066 3241
Email: greens@chyba.go-plus.net

1. 1. Welcome and Introductions
   2. Apologies for Absence
   3. Minutes of last meeting and matters arising
   4. Officers’ reports
   5. Blog articles
   6. Discussion points: WAG campaign / Bettws campaign / Topic for next meeting
   7. Any Other Business
   8. Date of Next Meeting

Making a stand through direct action and occupation is not easy and we respect and support those students and campaigners who have done so in South Wales and across the UK.

Over the past 13 years students have been let down by Labour on education and tuition fees. Now, at the hands of the Con Dem Government, they face further, deep cuts and a sharp rise to tuition fees.

We, the Green Party in South Wales West and nationally, oppose the cuts to higher education and to public services. We firmly and strongly believe that the education system should be publicly funded and tuition fees scrapped.

The way out of recession is not with cuts, deregulation and privatisation but with investment, job creation and the more efficient use of natural resources.

We are proud to stand alongside those Welsh students and pupils who marched peacefully two weeks ago on the NUS/UCU demo in London, and who this week marched for their rights, and then undertook the occupation in Wales.

Good luck in your endeavours and in solidarity for a truly fair economy and just society.

Signed:

Keith M Ross
Huw Evans
Delyth Miller
Andy Chyba

Green Party Assembly Candidates
South Wales West

It is worthy of our support. Click on the link and follow the take action suggestions – it is easy enough.

http://www.co-operativecampaigns.co.uk/toxicfuels/

P.S. If you haven’t already done so, think about transferring your bank account to the the Co-operative. As well as being a rare ethical bank, the staff in Bridgend branch are fab.

Wales Green Party (WGP) Notes (the bad news):
1. That 50,000 students marched in London on 10 November opposing tuition fee rises and higher education cuts
2. The Browne Review called for tuition fees to be uncapped and all public funding contribution towards courses to be ended
3. The Government has announced plans for tuition fees of up to £9000 with almost all public funding to end.
4. A report from the Higher Education Policy Institute found that the Government’s proposals would not save any money and would result 80% of graduates paying more than under the current system.

WGP Believes (the sensible news):
1. Higher education is a public good and should be funded by the state
2. That we should applaud the students who marched, leading the fightback against the cuts and we support the next day of action on the 24th November.
3. That WAG should resist higher university fees in Wales

WGP Resolves (the GOOD news):
1. That the Leader will write to WAG asking that fees not rise in Wales.
2. That Green AMs will vote against higher university fees in Wales.

First Green ever in a regional parliament in Poland

Yesterday local and regional elections took place in Poland. We learn from the very first results that the Greens gained seats in the councils of Warsaw, Poznan, and Opole. The co-partyleader was elected in the regional parliament of Silesia, and most probably the Greens also won one seat in the regional parliament of West Pomerania.

Being of Polish descent myself, I think we can truly take inspiration from these results, here in South Wales, as these results were unimaginable just a few years ago.

We need to press ahead to secure our own breakthroughs at the WAG elections next year and the Council elections in 2012. I truly believe that the first Green Councillor in Wales will be here in Bridgend.

Andy

• Chair (encompassing the roles of Co-ordinator, Contact Person and PPERA second officer) = ANDY CHYBA
• Treasurer = NEIL ROGERS
• Elections Officer (encompassing the roles of Nominating Officer, Election Agent and Internal Elections Returning Officer) = DELYTH MILLER

In addition, the role of Minutes Secretary was accepted by TRICIA HUGHES

Other positions were discussed as desirable to be filled at a later date.

There was a healthy and enthusiastic discussion of strategy for the upcoming WAG elections in 2011 and the BCBC elections in 2012.

• DoNM tbc
• Swansea Meeting on Tuesday 6th December all welcome to accompany Andy

Wales Green Party notes:
1. That in the WAG budget of 17 November 2010 social housing, higher education, the economy and environment departments bore the greatest level of cuts, whilst road spending was maintained at still significant levels.

2. Notes with particular regret the proposal to cut WAG budgets on environment and climate change and sustainability at a time when there is general agreement that global warming is the greatest threat ever faced

3. These cuts have been forced on the Assembly by the coalition government in the CSR

Wales Green Party believes:
1. That WAG cuts to Higher Education and Social Housing investment are misguided
2. The WAG cuts to environment and climate change are a false economy and will harm our ability to develop the low carbon economy of the future so important for creating green jobs, tackling climate change and preparing for increases in energy and raw material costs
3. That spending on road expansion remains too high and should only be used for safety reasons and maintenance.
4. That the cuts to public spending are not necessary and could be avoided with progressive taxation and investment in the Green New Deal.

Wales Green Party resolves
1. To instruct the General Secretary to write to WAG expressing these views and asking for WAG to reconsider these cuts.
2. To maintain its opposition to the rationale for public spending cuts

Higher Education and Tuition Fees:

Wales Green Party notes:
1. That 50,000 students marched in London on 10 November opposing tuition fee rises and higher education cuts
2. The Browne Review called for tuition fees to be uncapped and all public funding contribution towards courses to be ended
3. The Government has announced plans for tuition fees of up to £9000 with almost all public funding to end.
4. A report from the Higher Education Policy Institute found that the Governments proposals would not save any money and would result 80% of graduates paying more than under the current system.

Wales Green Party believes:
1. Higher education is a public good and should be funded by the state

2. That we should applaud the students who marched, leading the fight back against the cuts and we support the next day of action on the 24th November.

3. That WAG should resist higher university fees in Wales

Wales Green Party resolves:
1. That the Leader will write to WAG asking that fees not rise in Wales.

2. That Green AMs will vote against higher university fees in Wales.

http://www.ted.com/talks/conrad_wolfram_teaching_kids_real_math_with_computers.html?utm_source=newsletter_weekly_2010-11-16