APOLOGIES FOR THE LATE AGENDA YET AGAIN!! (only just back from Green Party Conference this time!)

7.00pm Thursday 11th September 2014 at theThe Pencoed Social Club, Hendre Rd. Pencoed (1 minute walk from the station – across the level crossing)

ALL WELCOME (Especially new members!)

AGENDA:

1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Apologies for Absence
3. Minutes and matters arising
4. Officers Reports
5. Councillor feedback
6. Campaigns Update- bedroom tax/fracking/NATO Newport
7. Elections – standing in General Election? Council target seat?
8. Autumn Conference feedback
9. AOB
10. DoNM

REMINDER – If anyone needs a lift to any of our meetings, let Andy know (andy.chyba) and we will organise it for you.

Click on images to enlarge:

Venue map Venue photo

This Conference was the biggest and one of the the best Conferences of recent years.

Conference was at Aston University from Friday 5th September to Monday 8th. The venue was excellent, being the best example I have seen of a campus style University within walking distance of a city centre. It provided first class facilities for workshops, fringe meetings and plenaries, alongside good quality catering and on site accommodation in a hotel or student accommodation. It was highly regrettable that the the usual crash space provision was not provided, making it very difficult for many on low incomes to attend. I have usually used the crash space myself, as it has always been part of the Conference craic as far as I am concerned. This and the slow bar service are the only criticisms of the Conference provisions.

As for the Conference itself, there were a noticeably more ‘newbies’ than ever before and this gave the whole event an added buzz. In particular, it was great to see so many new Young Greens about, making tremendous contributions in all manner of ways, from their traditional hosting of the Quiz night, to putting on the most exciting fringe of the weekend – Get Organised – aimed at raising young people’s awareness of trade unions and encouraging them to join and get involved.
http://younggreens.org.uk/campaigns/getorganised.html

The keynote speeches hit the right notes, although some of the things in Natalie Bennett’s speech might need a little refining (e.g. £10 minimum wage; banning zero-hours contracts)
http://greenparty.org.uk/news/2014/09/05/natalie-bennetts-green-party-autumn-conference-speech-(full-text)/

Caroline Lucas was a star turn as usual – truly inspirational.
http://greenparty.org.uk/news/2014/09/06/caroline-lucas,-mp-for-brighton-pavilion,-speech-to-the-green-party-autumn-party-conference/

And it was good to hear from the newly elected deputies, Amelia Womack and Sharar Ali. They are certainly going to broaden the appeal of the party in the coming months and years.
http://greenparty.org.uk/news/2014/09/06/amelia-womacks-maiden-speech-as-green-party-deputy-leader/
(I cannot find Sahrar’s speech – which is a pity as it was excellent; laying down the gauntlet for reaching out to wider communities.) (Addendum: link to speech on youtube in first comment below.)

Lots of important issues were discussed in various forums, including minimum wage/citizen’s income/wage ratios, restating of the Party’s ‘no nuclear’ stance, tackling gambling exploitation, and, perhaps most importantly of all, the fight against TTIP (I will blog about this separately soon).

As for Wales Green Party’s contribution, I am afraid it reached new depths of ignominy. Pippa’s speech was. at least, inoffensive and was well received by some, although it left many wondering about its relevance (she focussed on the No To NATO events that were not specifically Green Party events), but this was as good as it got. She had only been allocated 5 minutes, but rambled on for nearer 9 ( I was co-chairing the session at the time so running the stopwatch on it – we would have had to pull the plug on her at 10 minutes).

A little later in the same plenary, Ann Were presented a motion on ‘speeches to conference’. This was a thinly veiled attempt to ensure an automatic right to a speech for the Wales Leader at every conference. The Wales Leader speech had been pulled (along with the Deputy Leader speech) at the previous Conference in order to create room for our 6 MEP target candidates to have a slot and gain some exposure. This appears to have been deemed unacceptable to Ann and Pippa, however, the motion they presented was poorly put together, threatened gender balance in the speeches, and looked to remove the scope for Conference Committee to exercise discretion in the Conference itinerary. This in itself would have seen it defeated, but with many present still able to recall Pippa’s disgraceful rant at Nottingham 17 months ago, it was kicked out by a massive majority vote by the well attended plenary.

This could be written off as just one of those things – motions fall routinely enough – but there was no excuse for what followed a few hours later. The next plenary looked at the reports from the officers of the Party. There was a fair bit of disquiet about the failure of about half a dozen officers to submit reports in time to be included in the agenda for consideration by the membership. Pippa’s Wales Leader report was one of these. It was explained that some had not received reminders in time and this was accepted by most, because all, except Pippa, were present to give a verbal report in person instead. Votes are taken on whether to accept or reject the reports presented. All were accepted. Pippa’s disappearance so soon after the plea to have a speech enshrined as a right went down like a lead balloon and she received a near unanimous censuring vote in her absence. This is unprecedented in my time of attending Conferences. All being well, I will be able to redress the image and opinion of Wales Green Party in the wider Party over the coming months and years.

Despite this, there was no getting away from the the very positive air and sense of urgency and desire to get on with raising our game in the light of the the influx of new and active members across the Party. It is going to be a very interesting 12 months coming up in all manner of ways!

NATO SUMMIT DEMONSTRATIONS
Week of Action (Saturday 30 August – Friday 5 September)
7 Days to Shake the World
A quick round-up of some of the key actions

SUNDAY 31 AUGUST
<<<Counter Summit in Cardiff. County Hall, Atlantic Wharf 10am – 5.30pm.>>>

Speakers from the global peace movements & sessions and workshops on NATO expansion, the drive to war and military spending; Ukraine and a new cold war; Afghanistan: the endless occupation; Women and War; Move the money: Disarmament for Development; Palestine; Middle East: Oil & Empire; The New Nuclear Arms Race; Militarisation & Science; Singing for Peace
Full timetable here:
http://cnduk.org/images/stories/Counter_Summit_Programme_1.pdf

<<<For Gaza: A Fundraiser>>>
The Full Moon, Womanby Street, Cardiff City Centre, CF10 1BR, Upstairs – the Moon Club.

5pm – 8pm – snacks, stalls etc.Music from 8pm
Performers include – Stu and Reb from Dirty Revolution (Ska-Punk-Reggae), Lynne Denman – unaccompanied Welsh singing, Salih Hassan (Palestinian Oud Player), Cosmo (Folk-punk), Novacoda (Dance), Flora Mackay (Acoustic), David Ambrose (Storytelling), Neta Hel (Poetry), Think Pretty (Acoustic), DJS – Love & Harmony Sounds,
Shahid (Salsa Buena), Dave Grooveslave
£5. All funds raised will go to purchase medical supplies and support for children in Gaza via Middle East Children’s Alliance. Please seehttps://www.mecaforpeace.org/

Facebook event page:https://www.facebook.com/events/1451993351727210/

MONDAY 1 SEPTEMBER
<<<Newport Alternative Summit at Dolman Theatre, 10.00 – 5pm.>>>
Sessions on combating drones, militarisation of the EU, Iraq: War & Crisis, Nuclear weapon abolition, closing all military bases

Full timetable here:
http://cnduk.org/images/stories/Counter_Summit_Programme_1.pdf

TUESDAY 2 SEPTEMBER
<<<Newport Alternative Summit continued>>>
Dolman Theatre. 11am – 4pm – Sessions on Gaza, Peaceful co-existence, Victims of NATO

WEDNESDAY 3 SEPTEMBER
<<<Artists and Musicians against War.>>>
All day at the Tredegar Park Peace Camp

Including kite making, anti-facial-recognition-software makeup, placard making, banner making, self-defence workshops, Urban Circle workshops, Singing peace and protest workshop, Fly Kites not Drones, Revolution Rock with Birmingham band Living Field. Open mic throughout the day until 8pm for poets and musicians.

THURSDAY 4 SEPTEMBER
<<<First day of NATO Summit. >>>

NEWPORT Mass Action and March on the Celtic Manor where world leaders meet to present messages. Gather at 12.00, Cenotaph, Clarence Place

CARDIFF No dinner of death! Protest World Leaders castle banquet to send a message from Wales and the world: Freedom for Palestine. No New Wars Cardiff Stop the War Coalition and Cardiff Trades Council are calling for people to gather assemble Queen Street Cardiff at 6pm (Details may change due to security on this day )

Facebook event page:https://www.facebook.com/events/572940132811020/

FRIDAY 5 SEPTEMBER
Final day of NATO Summit.

Direct Actions. Street Theatre. Celebration party at the Pen and Wig in Newport from 6.00

<<<NEWPORT PEACE CAMP>>>
Accommodation

A peace camp will be located in Tredegar Park, Newport, from Friday 29th August. Basic facilities will be provided and the camp is recognised by the local council and police. Bring your own tents. The camp is asking for a donation of £2 per night per person.

Facebook event page:https://www.facebook.com/events/1462249840701918/

Great new Fracking site, launched by the people behind the “We Need to Talk About Fracking” Tour that visited Swansea in June. Use it to heap pressure on the New Energy Minister, Matthew Hancock.

Web Version | Like Tweet Forward Hello Andy In June we invited a range of Government representatives to address the public’s questions at five Talk Fracking debates around the country. We were shocked that not one of them agreed to attend. Since then the new Energy Minister, Matthew Hancock MP, has offered fracking companies half of the UK for drilling, completely ignoring the public’s concerns. But if enough of us stand together we can’t be ignored and so today we launch ‘My Fracking Questions’ – a website designed to make sure Mr Hancock answers your questions. Question Mr Hancock in three simple steps: Visit MyFrackingQuestions.org Read the questions by clicking on the titles, then drag your top three into the circles above and click ‘Get some answers’ Choose whether you want to send your fracking questions by email or Twitter and please feel free to add your own questions into the email. It’s time to make our voices louder. You can forward this email to your friends or share the following link on your preferred social network: http://www.myfrackingquestions.org. If enough of us demand real answers – answers based on fact, not spin – we will reveal the truth about fracking. Thank you for your continued support, The Talk Fracking Team Follow us: Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Instagram This email contains news and information about Talk Fracking   www.talkfracking.org #talkfracking

Begin forwarded message:

Hi folks,

PLEASE FORWARD this final invitation to the Long March on NATO to anyone who cares about way the world is going!

Just two more chances to be involved in the Long March:

Thursday 28th august: walk or cycle from Abergavenny to Cwmbran (10 miles). Meet at 10am Abergavenny Rail Station

Friday 29th August: Cwmbran to Newport (9 miles) Meet at The Arcade, Cwmbran 10.30am

or Friday 29th August: Cardiff to Newport (14 miles) Meet at the museum steps 10.30am

Or call 07510 911460 to join us later in the day.

War, austerity, unemployment, degradation of the environment – it is all part of the package deal that corporate capitalism has in store for us for years to come, unless a different vision of the future catches hold. The Long March takes that vision out there… see our aims at www.notoNATOwalk.org.uk

peace and solidarity,

marie

PS PLEASE FORWARD to all who may be within distance… thanks

I have had a few requests for more details of what is going on when and where – this is the latest bulletin:

Begin forwarded message:

From: Cardiff Stop the War

Subject: NATO Week of Action

NATO SUMMIT DEMONSTRATIONS – No to NATO. No to Austerity. No New Wars. Stop Arming Israel
Week of Action (Saturday 30 August – Friday 5 September)

7 Days to Shake the World. A quick round-up of some of the key actions around the visit of 60 world leaders including Obama for the NATO Summit. As leaders, foreign and defence ministers prepare to come to Wales, this weekend Israel called up 10,000 reservists reportedly for another ground invasion of Gaza.
The week begins on Saturday with a national demonstration (including international delegations from Europe and America) assembling outside the Civic Centre at 1 pm in Newport. Note: Organisers of the week of action have been experiencing something of a ‘funding crisis’, so if you would like to make a donation to the cause, get in touch.

SATURDAY 30 AUGUST
<<<Eve of the Summit: Mass Demonstration and March>>>
March Assembles 1 pm, outside Civic Centre, Central Newport

Ends with a rally outside Westgate Square with speakers from the global anti-war movement.

Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/242628435926556/

Note: Cardiff Stop the War Coalition contingent will be meeting outside Newport Railway Station between 12 noon – 12.30 pm to form up the Free Palestine Bloc before moving on to join the main march. There are very frequent trains from Cardiff to Newport, the journey takes about 15 mins and a return costs around £5. Bus travel is also cheap, though there may be traffic delays.

Facebook event page for Free Palestine Bloc https://www.facebook.com/events/622061097912566/

SUNDAY 31 AUGUST
<<<Counter Summit in Cardiff. County Hall, Atlantic Wharf 10am – 5.30pm.>>>

Speakers from the global peace movements & sessions and workshops on NATO expansion, the drive to war and military spending; Ukraine and a new cold war; Afghanistan: the endless occupation; Women and War; Move the money: Disarmament for Development; Palestine; Middle East: Oil & Empire; The New Nuclear Arms Race; Militarisation & Science; Singing for Peace

Full timetable here:
http://cnduk.org/images/stories/Counter_Summit_Programme_1.pdf

<<<For Gaza: A Fundraiser>>>
The Full Moon, Womanby Street, Cardiff City Centre, CF10 1BR, Upstairs – the Moon Club.
5pm – 8pm – snacks, stalls etc.Music from 8pm. Admission £5

Performers include – Stu and Reb from Dirty Revolution (Ska-Punk-Reggae), Lynne Denman – unaccompanied Welsh singing, Salih Hassan (Palestinian Oud Player), Cosmo (Folk-punk), Novacoda (Dance), Flora Mackay (Acoustic), David Ambrose (Storytelling), Neta Hel (Poetry), Think Pretty (Acoustic), DJS – Love & Harmony Sounds, Shahid (Salsa Buena), Dave Grooveslave

£5 entry. All funds raised will go to purchase medical supplies and support for children in Gaza via Middle East Children’s Alliance. Please see https://www.mecaforpeace.org/

Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1451993351727210/

MONDAY 1 SEPTEMBER
<<<Newport Alternative Summit at Dolman Theatre, 10.00 – 5pm.>>>
Sessions on combating drones, militarisation of the EU, Iraq: War & Crisis, Nuclear weapon abolition, closing all military bases

Full timetable here:
http://cnduk.org/images/stories/Counter_Summit_Programme_1.pdf

TUESDAY 2 SEPTEMBER
<<<Newport Alternative Summit continued>>>

Dolman Theatre. 11am – 4pm – Sessions on Gaza, Peaceful co-existence, Victims of NATO

WEDNESDAY 3 SEPTEMBER
<<<Artists and Musicians against War.>>>

All day at the Tredegar Park Peace Camp
Including kite making, anti-facial-recognition-software makeup, placard making, banner making, self-defence workshops, Urban Circle workshops, Singing peace and protest workshop, Fly Kites not Drones, Revolution Rock with Birmingham band Living Field. Open mic throughout the day until 8pm for poets and musicians.

THURSDAY 4 SEPTEMBER
<<<First day of NATO Summit. >>>

NEWPORT Mass Action and March on the Celtic Manor where world leaders meet to present messages. Gather at 12.00, Cenotaph, Clarence Place

CARDIFF No dinner of death! Protest World Leaders Castle banquet at 6pm to send a message from Wales and the world: Freedom for Palestine. No New Wars Cardiff Stop the War Coalition and Cardiff Trades Council are calling for people to gather assemble Queen Street Cardiff (Details may change due to security on this day )

Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/572940132811020/

FRIDAY 5 SEPTEMBER
Final day of NATO Summit.
Direct Actions. Street Theatre. Celebration party at the Pen and Wig in Newport from 6.00

<<<NEWPORT PEACE CAMP>>>
Accommodation
A peace camp will be located in Tredegar Park, Newport, from Friday 29th August for people who wish to stay in Newport for the week. Basic facilities will be provided and the camp is recognised by the local council and police. Bring your own tents The camp is asking for a donation of £2 per night per person.
Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1462249840701918/

See you on the streets!!!

Adam Johannes
Secretary
Cardiff Stop the War Coalition
www.stopwar.org.uk

Sunday 24th:Starting from the Co-op in Pyle

Via the A48 near Laleston (just after an interesting encounter with South Wales Police – apparently a passing motorist thought we were being anti-social by carrying our banner over a motorway bridge and had called the Police to complain. Perhaps we should call the Police to complain about all the antisocial barricades being erected around Cardiff and Newport!)

End of the day outside the Tesco opposite the South Wales Police HQ – how daring was that!!
Left to right: Sheila from Cardiff, Maggie from Ystradgynlais, along with Bridgend Greens, Laurie, John and Andy.

We received plenty of supportive toots and waves, along with a handful of less supportive gestures, but we decided that there are a lot worse things we could be than what a couple of the gestures suggested – merchant bankers? We ended the day with some very positive feedback and some people expressing interest in getting more involved.

On which note, the walks continue. See the schedule here:
http://notonatowalk.org.uk/en/

We encountered a few people non-plussed at why we have issues with NATO, and for those people, or if you want a response for similar people, here is the nub of it: (click on it to enlarge)

Apologies for short notice!!

We are assembling at the Co-op between 10.00 and 10.30 on Sunday morning for a stroll into Bridgend.

I really no little more than that.

All welcome. My son is dropping me and Laurie Brophy off in Pyle so we have room for one or two more if you contact me.

Here’s hoping the weather holds!
Andy

On 14 Aug 2014, at 22:00, Andy Chyba wrote:

I was gutted to receive a phone call from the manager of the Three Horseshoes to say that the pubs owners had instructed him to cancel the Mini Peace Festival after the Police had contacted them to raise ‘concerns’ over the event. I have not got full details of what was said, but it appears they mentioned my name specifically and may have suggested that that as known political activist they may have to ‘monitor’ the event. This has evidently spooked the pub owners into not wanting to be involved at all.

I can only apologise to all the people, and performers in particular, that had so generously committed to supporting the event.

The Long March on Newport will still take place, but I cannot see me being able to put on much of a reception for them in Bridgend. Sorry, everybody.
(I am still able to offer accommodation to Maggie and Sheila as before).

I will post details of how to get involved with the Long March when I get them.

Andy Chyba

Provisional running order:

4.00pm – The Unforgiven (Pontypridd’s Waterboys!)

5.15pm – Justin Lewis Preece (accomplished acoustic fusion of rock, blues and folk)

6.30pm – Blood Club (rising stars – sublime songwriting)

7.30pm – Paul Thompson (acoustic bluesy roots)

8.30pm – Vinna Bee (gorgeous alternative folk – catch them before their US Tour)

10.00pm – Novacoda (blurring the boundaries between techno, garage, dubstep and breakbeat!)

Many thanks to, in particular, Frances Jenkins – best known to most of you as founder of Frack Free Wales.
She is also the founder of CounterComms Ltd, graphic design and media company, who produced the poster for me and helped get the line up sorted. And as if she is not talented enough, she is also half of Novacoda who will be helping chill us out at the end of the day!!

Thanks also must go to Vic Doyle, Croc Dinaero, Ben Jenkins, Vinna Bevan and the Three Horseshoes for all your help and advice in getting this together.