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

A variety of Welsh stalls will offer you:

– Fairtrade clothes
– Wood crafts
– Chocolate truffles
– Board games
– Wooden toys
– Henna
– Jewellery
– Minced pies and cakes
– And a tasty vegetarian Christmas Lunch!

A great opportunity to socialize, have lunch and fill your Christmas basket!

Free entry, indoor venue

*Canton Uniting Church Hall is at the corner of Cowbridge Road East and Theobald Road, next to Co-Op supermarket buses 17, 18, 60, 13 and 96.

Hope to see you all there.

Yvan Maurel
Wales Green Party
02920 310 306
07527 539 778

• EAGM – next week – Thursday 18th November – 7.30pm in the Haywain Function Room, Bridgend
• Swansea Meeting – Tuesday 7th December – 7.30pm in the Environment Centre, Swansea
• The Greens’ Christmas Market – Saturday 11th December – 11am – 4.30pm Canton Uniting Church Hall, Cardiff
• Bridgend Meeting – Thursday 16th December – 7.30pm
• Green Party National Conference – Friday 25th to Monday 28th February – Angel Hotel, Cardiff

Further details on all events available from Andy:
Mobile 078 1066 3241
Landline 01656 647314
Email: greens@chyba.go-plus.net