| https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=sTSNqcWWPHA |
Pippa Bartolotti’s speech to Conference
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Some more Conference bits
Good coverage of the Conference in this Guardian video:
‘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:
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Some National Conference highlights
| I have not long returned from three days in Bristol at the Green Party Autumn Conference.It is always a great event and this time we had the added buzz of unveiling our new leadership team.Natalie Bennett’s inaugural speech as leader went a long way to assuring people like me, on the Left of the party, that she is going to steer us in roughly the right, or should I better say ‘correct’, direction. She has a very clear vision of what she wants to achieve, and the intelligence and determination to achieve it. Considering she only landed the job a few days ago, there is time for her to add a little polish to her presentation skills.
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.
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/ 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: All good stuff!! Andy. |
Kill the cull, not the badgers!
| Plans for the large-scale shooting of badgers in a misguided attempt to eradicate bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in cattle are well advanced and could begin in parts of England within the next few weeks.
At least seven out of every ten badgers across two areas, each approximately the size of the Isle of Wight, will be shot over a six-week period. Please help, ask the Prime Minister to call off the cull today! If the full policy is rolled out, it could affect up to 40 similar-sized areas across England and result in the deaths of up to 130,000 badgers. The scale of the killing could lead to the disappearance of badgers from many local areas. Scientists involved in the largest-ever study of badgers and bovine tuberculosis, which took 10 years to conduct and cost £50 million, concluded that badger culling can make no meaningful contribution to cattle TB control in Britain. Humane Society International/UK not only believes that the policy is misguided, it is also greatly concerned that many thousands of badgers could be injured and left to suffer a slow and painful death. Killing badgers is not the solution. Please join us and tell Prime Minister David Cameron: Listen to the science and kill the cull, not the badgers. http://e-activist.com/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=105&ea.campaign.id=16188&ea.tracking.id=email |
Congratulations to the new leadership of the Green Party
| The new leadership and executive of the party have been elected as follows:Leader – NATALIE BENNETT Deputy Leader – WILL DUCKWORTH Executive Chair – TIM DAWES I am pleased to say that I have had the chance to get to know 8 of these 11 people quite well through various channels and can assure everyone that this is a strong team that is very capable of taking the Party forward. I know that at least 4 of these people are members of Green Left, including Will Duckworth, so I find that encouraging. Green Left are the growing force in the Green Party, already punching well above its weight in numbers, that will endeavour to keep the Party eco-socialist in philosophy. It is well known that I did not vote for Natalie, but it is widely acknowledged that she produced the strongest campaign and therefore probably secured the most votes from members not familiar with the candidates. Can she exploit the opportunities presented by a decaying centre-right coalition and a far from dynamic Labour leader? I share Derek Wall’ perspective: “She will also gain from the victory of Will Duckworth as deputy leader. A true working class Black Country lad, he won as a councillor in Dudley in May, showing that the party could move beyond its middle-class image and win against Labour in a working-class ward.” http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/sep/03/natalie-bennett-green-party-leader http://www.natalie4leader.org/ – Natalie’s leadership campaign website BBC coverage and her first TV interview as leader: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19462474 I am looking forward to her ‘victory’ address to Conference on Friday afternoon. Andy Chyba |
Scottish Catholic Leaders: Stop Demeaning Same-Sex Couples
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Bettws By-election – a reality check
| Gareth’s excellent 24% in the Bettws Election in May gave rise to optimism that we could advance again in today’s by-election. It was not to be and casts May’s result in a different light. With most of Gareth’s vote switching directly to the Independent with a ‘don’t vote for political parties’ platform, it is clear that we had the anti-establishment vote in May and that the Independent offered an even more anti-establishment option this time around. Our Green message has not sunk in at all, sad to say.
Add to this the fact that Labour were taking no chances, and rolled out their big machinery and swarmed over Bettws like a rash today (apologies for the mixed metaphors – but it is getting late!), and we were always fighting over the minor places. We did at least beat the Tory – who couldn’t even be bothered to show up to the count. So, time to re-group and re-evaluate where we are and where we are going. This will be what the whole party will be doing in the wake of the leadership election – with the result for this announced on Monday – and the Annual Conference just a week away. Einstein said it is insanity to keep doing the same thing and expect different results. So it is more of the same for Bettws and Bridgend CBC. How depressing is that? Welcome to the Asylum of the Universe! |
The Green Party and the LGBTIQ community
| In the course of my work I have become increasingly aware of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex & Queer people in our communities and issues affecting them. Some people will live in a full time presentation of their preferred gender, others will live part-time. And a whole new movement is emerging of people who are living between genders, embracing the potentials of gender-queer and gender-fluidity. It is a lot more complex than most people realise.
The mission of the National LGBT Green Group (LGBT-G) is to advance Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex & Queer (LGBTIQ) equality in our society and to raise awareness and understanding of Green and progressive values among LGBT people. LGBT-G aims to build a more sustainable and equal society where everyone is valued as an individual. The diversity within the LGBT community enriches all our lives, and should be encouraged and promoted. We will defend what we believe in, regardless of hostile media coverage. Coming to terms with our sexuality can be a difficult and distressing time for anyone, but when there are no strong role models and apparent hostility at every turn, it can become a serious issue. I have had the privilege this week of meeting an excellent role model who identifies as transgender, and also happens to be an excellent and highly qualified therapist who is expert in gender identity issues, cognitive behavioural, counselling and psychotherapy. I attended a suicide workshop that was a lot more interesting and stimulating than I thought possible. Alex Drummond – Talk Me Better – http://www.talkmebetter.co.uk/?/counselling-services/gender-identity/ Alex Drummond – GrrlAlex – http://www.grrlalex.com/ Alex is based near Caerphilly, but covers most of South Wales – including Bridgend. |
Earthjustice petition on Fracking to President Obama
| Sponsored by: Earthjustice In the State of the Union, President Obama promised that drilling and fracking for natural gas would happen “without putting the health and safety of our citizens at risk.” But oil and gas companies are lobbying hard to get him to go back on his word.We need to push back! Remind Obama that fracking for natural gas shouldn’t come at the expense of people’s health. |
Bettws By-election Update
| Leafleting and canvassing schedule has had its up and downs, but with re-enforcements drafted in today from Swansea Green Party, courtesy of Keith Ross, we are back on schedule to complete planned activity tomorrow.
We have had issues with the Risograph printing facilities at Wales Green Party HQ, with graphics compromised a bit and an inability to print the reverse side of the last leaflet, but, overall, feedback has been positive. The young lady standing as an Independent has broken cover and seems to be taking the line that we cannot trust the established parties to deliver on their promises. The Labour campaigning has been based on trying to take credit for things they have little influence on (re-building the school wrecked by fire, the Life Centre) and making a big thing of their candidate having lived there once upon a time. The Tories appear to have wasted no printed material or shoe rubber at all – which is one of their most sensible and greenest decisions they have made for a long, long time. In all, it looks set for an interesting two way battle between us and Labour – with the Independent a potentially minor, but significant factor – if it proves as close as we hope (and the Tory completely inconsequential). I hope to be able to post the result before midnight on Thursday – so watch this space! Andy Chyba |
Bridgend's Green Leftie 