GNN - GREEN NEWS NETWORK - ISSUE 21: 12-May-2006

A free monthly newsletter that provides green news and views from the Gloucestershire Green party so that together we can create a better world.

QUOTES OF THE MONTH
1. ELECTION RESULTS: OUTSTANDING GREEN WIN IN STROUD AND IS POLITICS GOING GREEN?
2. CLIMATE CHANGE: GLOS CAR POLLUTION, POWER FIRMS WINDFALL AND MORE
3. NUCLEAR: OUR ENERGY REVIEW SUBMISSION, ALARM AT WASTE REPORT AND 'CHERNOBYL DISASTER' AT OLDBURY?
4. TESCO MUG PAGANHILL?
5. IRAN, IRAQ AND DARFUR
6. PARKWAY: GREEN OPPOSITION CONTINUES
7. LATEST ON BADGERS
8. CALLS FOR COMPULSORY DNA TESTING CHALLENGED
9. WASTE: FREECYCLING, CAR BOOTS AND PACKAGING
10. GM AND FAIR TRADE
11. NHS: GLOS CUTS GO BEYOND ALL SANITY
12. OTHER LOCAL ISSUES: CASHES GREEN REVOLUTION, ASTON DOWN, LONGLEVENS HUMPS AND MORE
13. NEW ON 'BIG ISSUES'
14. WEBSITES THAT MIGHT INTEREST
15. UPCOMING KEY EVENTS: STROUD 2020 AND SEVERN BARRAGE

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QUOTES OF THE MONTH

"Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success."
Henry Ford

"According to the U.S.Health Department, pandemics are more or less inevitable. But what our sciences and policies forget is that 'pandemic' derives from Pan, the wild nature god whose haunts we destroy. Banished from the discussion, he forces his way back in (as wounded nature always will) through disease and pan-daemonium."
Craig Chalquist

"Racism and xenophobia work perfectly well without foreigners, for they are based on fear rather than reality."
Elfriede Jelinek

"They that would give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."
Benjamin Franklin

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1. ELECTION RESULTS: OUTSTANDING GREEN WIN IN STROUD AND IS POLITICS GOING GREEN?

Philip Booth has been elected to the ward covering Randwick, Ruscombe and Whiteshill with a massive 56% of the vote while in the 9 seats they stood Greens got 20% of the vote:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1235&Itemid=115

The Citizen gave excellent coverage to the result and Ian Mean, the Editor even said: "I believe strongly that we are seeing an emergence of true community politics, and there is no better example of than than in Stroud where the Green candidate, Philip Booth, captured a seat." He also asked Philip to write an article regarding Community politics. Read it here:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1236&Itemid=115

This is in spite of criticism days before that The Citizen wasn't giving fair coverage to Greens in the election:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1219&Itemid=116

Philip has received a huge number of emails and other congratulations from many quarters. Even Cllr. Chas Fellows, Council leader, for the Conservatives was quoted in SNJ saying: "The Green party worked very hard in Over Stroud and they probably deserved to win."

Glos, regional and national results - Greens get 20 gains:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1234&Itemid=92

BNP vote a symptom of failing electoral system:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1242&Itemid=116

Thank you letters from candidates:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1237&Itemid=116

Is Politics going Green? Surely normal people can usually tell the difference between blue and green and will vote accordingly - only a Green vote is a green vote. Glos Green party comment:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1205&Itemid=115

Greens dismiss David Cameron's "Go Green" as 'giving even tokenism a bad name':
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1193&Itemid=115
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1192&Itemid=116
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1194&Itemid=116

Election launch:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1188&Itemid=115

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2. CLIMATE CHANGE: GLOS CAR POLLUTION, POWER FIRMS WINDFALL AND MORE

Gloucestershire in top five for highest rates of car pollution.
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1221&Itemid=115

Gloucestershire singled out as having the lowest recorded green heat capacity in the South West:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1196&Itemid=116

Glos Greens consider new draft Planning Policy PPS3 will weaken even the current inadequate guidelines.
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1231&Itemid=115

Power firms could make a £1bn windfall profit from the EU Carbon Emissions Trading Scheme because many firms have benefited from increases in electricity prices brought about by the scheme without needing to make any extra investment in return. Greens have condemned the news as a scandal:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1222&Itemid=115

Bristol International Airport is currently seeking to change the bylaws governing the airport and in particular there are new articles specifically aimed at preventing orderly, lawful, public protest - Greens joined email campaign:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1190&Itemid=115

A Stroud Green attended the Public Inquiry this week regarding plans to build a new wind turbine at Shooters Bottom, near Chewton Mendip in Somerset:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1209&Itemid=115

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3. NUCLEAR: OUR ENERGY REVIEW SUBMISSION, ALARM AT WASTE REPORT AND 'CHERNOBYL DISASTER' AT OLDBURY?

Stroud District Green party made one of the 2000 plus written responses to the Government’s Energy Review consultation. Their full report written by Dave Cockcroft argues the Government must act to meet energy needs and limit effects of catastrophic climate change:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1206&Itemid=115

After two decades, the legacy of the Chernobyl disaster is still casting its poisonous shadow over Britain's countryside. Greens say continued operation of Oldbury is not worth the risk and an accident could mean long term evacuation of Gloucestershire and even in parts of London - see map of areas effected by blast:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1200&Itemid=115

The Green party has expressed alarm at recommendations released this week by the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management which 'considers geological disposal to be the best available approach' to disposing of high- and intermediate-level radioactive waste. Glos Greens have been part of the Round Table discussion with the CoRWM and made a 35-page submission to the committee:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1210&Itemid=115

A programme to build new reactors would be fraught with risks and could not plug the electricity gap, concludes a report by the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee. The report savages the UK government for not doing enough to boost energy efficiency, renewables and clean coal. And it is scathing about the Prime Minister’s energy review, suggesting that it is unnecessary and doomed to failure:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1172&Itemid=115

The Health & Safety Executive has been asked to look at pre-licensing arrangements for reactors in the UK. Greens are concerned by reports that the DTI is prepared to shortcut through the existing licensing and planning structure to pave the way for a new generation of reactors. They have made a submission to the DTi:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1202&Itemid=115

Lib Dems wrong on nuclear funding:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1191&Itemid=116

Concern re injured Oldbury worker being injured:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1207&Itemid=115

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4. TESCO MUG PAGANHILL?

Paganhill Post Office: has the community been mugged?
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1186&Itemid=116
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5. IRAN, IRAQ AND DARFUR

Greens urge people to support campaign calling BBC to account over their reporting on Iran following their blatant distortion of an Amnesty International press release:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1199&Itemid=115

Greens support national email petition re Dr Kendall-Smith and his refusal to fight in Iraq:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1173&Itemid=115

Greens are urging people to write to the UK Government asking them to put pressure on the UN to stop the genocide in Darfur:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1208&Itemid=115

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6. PARKWAY: GREEN OPPOSITION CONTINUES

Bryan Meloy, Gloucester Greens has consistently spoken out against this ridiculous and damaging proposal that is supported by the other three parties. The Citizen on 12th May printed a letter from a Derbhla Maccormack saying: "Bryan Meloy of the Green Party has selflessly taken it upon himself to represent the people and write to The Citizen adding his voice to the protest against the proposal and he doesn't even live near or represent the area concerned. Thanks Bryan! I hope the views of all those who oppose Elmbridge Parkway have been heard and heeded."

Katy Nixon, another Gloucester Green writes to say Coun. Waddington is mistaken over Parkway:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1180&Itemid=116

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7. LATEST ON BADGERS

Bovine Tb is going up by 18% annually so we are repeatedly told. But Defra’s latest figures show a clear downturn this year: a GB total of 5,455 reactors slaughtered during Jan/Feb/Mar - down from 7,731 in the same period last year. It suggests that the catching up with the backlog of overdue cattle tests after the chaos caused by BSE and FMD, although still imperfect, is starting to work. So why the silence about this and calls for a cull?

Jeremy Wade, biologist and TV presenter from the local Stopwaronbadgers.org writes: "If the government holds off from allowing a badger ‘cull’ and cattle measures alone are shown to control the disease (as they did from 1950 until the mid-1980s), the badger theory will be shown to have been a hugely expensive waste of time and money. And those who pushed, and swallowed, this theory – to the virtual exclusion of everything else, such as introducing more accurate cattle tests – will suffer major embarrassment. But if there is any kind of badger ‘cull’, the badger theorists will claim some of the credit for the downturn and the waters will stay safely muddy for ever. Hence the intense pressure on the government for a badger ‘cull’ and the silence about the latest TB figures."

47,474 responses on badger consultation - write to MP now:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1218&Itemid=116

A farmer whose cattle were the first in Britain to be linked to the theory that bovine tuberculosis comes from badgers has rubbished the connection blaming instead intensive dairy farming:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1211&Itemid=115

Cattle testing vital to tackling Tb:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1178&Itemid=116

See latest at new website with group primarily based in Gloucestershire:
www.stopwaronbadgers.org

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8. CALLS FOR COMPULSORY DNA TESTING CHALLENGED

Call for compulsary DNA testing, like the absurd compulsory ID cards that will be forced on us, must be challenged:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1174&Itemid=116

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9. WASTE: FREECYCLING, CAR BOOTS AND PACKAGING

The Freecycle Network™ is made up of many individual groups across the globe. It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns - including 2391 members in Gloucestershire. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer and membership is free.
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1228&Itemid=115

Call for accessible car boot sales:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1189&Itemid=116

More action on packaging:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1195&Itemid=116
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10. GM AND FAIR TRADE

The European Commission approved GM crops despite safety fears:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1187&Itemid=115

As the international celebration of fair trade takes place around the world tomorrow, Greens want to see legislation to ensure all goods become fair trade:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1244&Itemid=115

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11. NHS: GLOS CUTS GO BEYOND ALL SANITY

The cuts to Gloucestershire's NHS go beyond all sanity: 9 hospitals, 500 NHS jobs and up to 240 beds face the axe along with many other services to meet a £38 million deficit. Cutting services like Stroud's cherished Maternity Hospital does not even make economic sense. This must not be allowed to happen:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1243&Itemid=116

Latest reorganisation is wasteful:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1220&Itemid=116

A vote by Portsmouth Primary Care Trust to proceed towards water fluoridation was narrowly passed and brings the possibility of water fluoridation across the whole country closer:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1179&Itemid=115

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12. OTHER LOCAL ISSUES: CASHES GREEN REVOLUTION, ASTON DOWN, LONGLEVENS HUMPS AND MORE

Revolutionary affordable housing proposal for Cashes Green hospital site:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1216&Itemid=115

Greens have applauded a decision made by the Deputy Traffic Commissioner, after a public inquiry, to refuse Skinner Groundworks a Goods Vehicle Operating Licence to operate from Aston Down:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1184&Itemid=115

Greens have dismissed recent plans for large retail units including a new women's clothing and restaurant at Cheapside:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1177&Itemid=115

Call for debate on roadside trees being cut:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1215&Itemid=116

Longlevens celebrating hump review: other traffic calming measures maybe better:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1238&Itemid=116

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13. NEW ON 'BIG ISSUES'

Browse the sections to find new articles like:

Tax returns should be public record like in Norway and Finland
People willing to change but need to see others act around them
U.S. Mayors Respond to Washington Leadership Vacuum on Climate Change
The forward march of women halted?
The politics of fear are blinding us to the humanity of others
Syrian claims 'Unknown Americans' Are Provoking Civil War in Iraq
Latin America and Asia are at last breaking free of Washington's grip
America's masterplan is to force GM food on the world
Roadbuilding budget nearly doubles
Save Parliament: read more about the boringly-named Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill
Six Myths of Lords Reform
Britain starts eating the planet on Sunday 16 April

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14. WEBSITES THAT MIGHT INTEREST

Showing films from FoE, Ben and Jerrys, Defra, The Environment Agency andf more:
http://www.green.tv/

RenewUS and FutureFlix present a film about climate change:
http://www.renewus.org/index.html

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15. UPCOMING KEY EVENTS: STROUD 2020 AND SEVERN BARRAGE

- Saturday 21st May - Stroud 2020 - Greens explore from 3 to 6 how we want Stroud to look. Contact Philip on 01453 755451 for details.

- Friday 26th May - Is the Severn Barrage a good idea? A Severn Barrage might generate 6% of UK's electricity from the tides. Is this a green solution to our energy needs? A potential disaster to a unique tidal habitat? Are there cheaper and less damaging ways to use the tides? Open to anyone - 7.30 and 9.30pm at Star Anise Arts Cafe at the Painswick Inn, Gloucester Street, Stroud. Click 'Read more' to find out more about this talk and previous talks.

Read more about the previous coffee house discussions including our last one on People Trafficking - the worlds third largest illegal activity - at:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=606&Itemid=96

Details of other Green party meetings can be got from John Marjoram on 01453 751189

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GNN has grown out of a Green news service first established on 13th November 2001. To contribute to this news service (or to subscribe or unsubscribe) - contact the editor Philip Booth on  press@glosgreenparty.org.uk