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. REGIONAL SPATIAL STRATEGY: WHY IT'S CRUCIAL AND A DISASTER 2. OLDBURY REACTORS SHUT 3. CLIMATE CHANGE: AIR CON, RAIL SERVICES AND CAR CLUBS 4. RUSCOMBE BLOG: NEW STUFF 5. STROUD GREENS RESIST COMPULSORY REGISTRATION 6. MORE RE HEALTH 7. US GM RICE CONTAMINATED OUR SUPPLIES FOR MONTHS 8. DAIRY FARMERS: NO MORE COWS IN FIELDS? 9. LAST CHANCE TO ACT ON SEAL PRODUCTS 10. WRITE ANOTHER VERSE TO PROTEST SONG! 11. SAFER ROADS: STREET PARTY AND 20MPH CALL 12. OTHER NEWS: POLYTUNNELS, TRAFFIKING, CANAL, INHERITANCE TAX AND SAME SEX MARRIAGE 13. NEW ON 'BIG ISSUES' 14. WEBSITES THAT MIGHT INTEREST 15. COFFEE HOUSE GATHERING: LEBANON, ISRAEL AND PALESTINE
"The person who loses his conscience has nothing left worth keeping" Izaak Walton
"Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits, The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules, and they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify, or vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as crazy, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do." Jack Kerouac
“The transition to sustainability involves moving from linear to cyclical processes and technologies. The only processes we can rely on indefinitely are cyclical; all linear processes must eventually come to an end.” Karl Henrik-Robert, M.D., founder of The NaturalStep,Sweden
"Having raised the earth's temperature 1 degree Fahrenheit in the last three decades, we're facing another increase of 4 degrees over the next century. That would imply changes that constitute practically a different planet. It's not something we can adapt to. We can't let it go on another 10 years like this." NASA's Goddard Space Institute Director James Hansen speaking about how NASA's computer models are predicting the quick progression of global climate change.
1. REGIONAL SPATIAL STRATEGY: WHY IT'S CRUCIAL AND A DISASTER
Stroud Greens have embarked on a massive task of reading and assessing the South West Regional Assembly's 'Draft Regional Spatial Strategy' (RSS) report which sets out development for the region over the next 20 years. This is probably the most important and influential planning document in the South West - yet what we have, is a plan to increase climate changing CO2 emissions, when what we need is to cut emissions significantly. It is basically a disaster.
The Green party in a lengthy submission to the RSS consultation process welcomed some aspects of the report but also highlighted key serious flaws. However one exciting development was that Greens on the Planning Strategy at Stroud District were able to raise some of these issues and despite some opposition managed to get Stroud District Council, as part of their submission to question the lack of action on climate change and alternative economic forecasts. Plus other Green parties in the South West have also used elements for their submissions. We hope now they will listen. We will be asking if a Green party representative could be on the panel of experts that are interviewed and questioned further about issues at the next stage of the RSS in late November/December.
Link to news release and full report: http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1433&Itemid=115
Safety regulators say they have seen nothing to persuade them that Oldbury nuclear power station is safe to restart - and despite the industry spending more than £5 million researching the safety of graphite reactor cores, both reactors are due to shut early September: http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1435&Itemid=115
Letters re alternatives to nuclear: http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1448&Itemid=116 http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1421&Itemid=116
SNJ right to debate nuclear: http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1425&Itemid=116
3. CLIMATE CHANGE: AIR CON, RAIL SERVICES AND CAR CLUBS
Arnold Shwarzenegger, Humvee driver and member of the same political party as George Bush, is implementing legislation to cut CO2 emissions by 25 per cent in the next 15 years. Why on earth can’t Tony Blair, who claims tackling climate change is a top priority, do the same?
600 campers at the Drax power station in north Yorkshire were among those trying to wake Tony Blair up. They occupied part of the power station. Drax is the biggest the coal fired power station in Europe and kicks out a massive 7% of the UK's megawatts and emits as much CO2 as a quarter of Britain's vehicle fleet. For many such protests are becoming the only way of getting their voice heard. The establishment acknowledge the science but ignore the urgency. We are as Caroline LUcas MEP says monitoring our own imminent extinction rather than making a contribution to preventing it.
Better ways than Air Con: http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1431&Itemid=116
Local rail services are deteriorating - time for fair fares: http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1426&Itemid=115
Car Clubs set to expand in Gloucestershire: http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1412&Itemid=115
BOOK NOW: Saturday 4th November - The Climate March is part of the International Day of Action on Climate and will be the UK’s biggest ever Climate Change Demo. It takes place on the Saturday before the Nairobi Climate Talks. For more on the International Day of Action see: www.globalclimatecampaign.org and www.campaigncc.org - Campaign against Climate Change. Coach leaving Cheltenham at 8am. For £10 seats on a coach leaving from Royal Well, Cheltenham, e-mail: cathyclimatechange@yahoo.co.uk
The blog by Philip Booth is updated regularly with local news items from his ward just outside Stroud. New items of general interest include:
- Randwick Church Environment policy: 26th August - The hugely successful Ragged Hedge Fair near Cirencester was a celebration of Green things: 3rd September - Plasma screen TVs: 15th August
Greens opposed to the Government's plans for Identity Cards have joined a national campaign to renew passports now to avoid being forced to register on the national ID scheme database: http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1434&Itemid=115
As consultations close we are now waiting. An astonishing 9,020 responses to the planned cuts to the county's mental health services flooded in to Gloucestershire Partnership NHS Trust. But Robert Maxwell, chairman of the board that will make a decision about the unit's future dismissed the volume of responses while chief executive Jeff James has said campaigners have not come up with alternative money-saving ideas. This is not true and in any case how on earth can they expect members of the public to come up with alternative solutions in such a complex environment when the organisations themselves can't? Other local health news:
Greens welcome the successful appeal to overturn the high court ruling allowing United Health Europe to run a GP surgery in Derbyshire. The Green Party hopes that this will act as a block to stem a potential flood of private companies taking over GP surgeries: http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1424&Itemid=115
Government must take share of responsibility for health: http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1428&Itemid=116
Herceptin problems call us to question private sector involvement in NHS: http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1423&Itemid=116
7. US GM RICE CONTAMINATED OUR SUPPLIES FOR MONTHS
Experimental field trials of GM rice in the United States have been contaminating European food supplies, including baby food, for months. The EU has responded with a ban last week of all rice shipments after the US Government admitted that the banned long-grain rice was widespread in exports to Europe: http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1436&Itemid=115
Gloucester Green have called on folk to join the online lobby to ban seal products from EU - must act before 6th September: http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1437&Itemid=115
A Cheltenham Green party member sent us a protest song and is inviting people to write more verses. See and hear 'Not In My Back Yard' at: http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1449&Itemid=115
Lansdown Road residents in Stroud held a party this afternoon that spilled onto the street and made front page on The Citizen. The aim was to draw attention to the problems caused by traffic and to explore possible solutions like the Shared Spaces approach: http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1445&Itemid=115
20 mph: Why should communities have to battle to be heard - it should be car users that have to justify a road being faster than 20mph. This letter to the press prompted a letter to the Green party from a consultant at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital supporting our position and offering to help: http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1417&Itemid=116
12. OTHER NEWS: POLYTUNNELS, TRAFFIKING, CANAL, INHERITANCE TAX AND SAME SEX MARRIAGE
Comments made on Stroud District Council' Community involvement document which is out for consultation: http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1450&Itemid=72
Plastic polytunnel farming in Newent: http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1416&Itemid=116
Capel Mill and Briscombe Port: getting the canal right: http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1422&Itemid=116
Inheritance tax - a green view on reforming it: http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1447&Itemid=116
Green lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender activists are calling on the British Government to grant same sex partners the right to enter into full marriage after a British lesbian couple recently lost their case to have their Canadian registered marriage recognised in the UK. Celia Kitzinger and Sue Wilkinson had their marriage, which is fully recognised in Canada, converted into a civil partnership by the British authorities: http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1442&Itemid=115
People trafficking: Greens welcome Gloucestershires' Chief Constable Tim Brains' actions and write to Mr Blair about concerns when Olympics come to Britain: http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1415&Itemid=115
A selection of articles sent in my GNN readers over the last month. Find links to them under Big Issues or use key words in the search engine:
- Pepsi and Coke threaten India - Hurricane Katrina dwarfed by future regional climate impacts - Britain's obsession with flat televisions needs 2 nuclear plants - Supermarket initiatives on plastic bags is 'greenwash' - Paul Rogers on 'The war on terror: past, present, future' - US helped Israeli attack Lebanon - UK foreign policy makes us a target - The 100 mile diet in US - Government doesn't know impact of roads, road pricing and sustainable travel - Migration from Bulgaria and Romania: UK approach wrong? - A statistical look at ravages of globalisation
'Driven by oil'. First of four programmes on the subject on BBC Radio 4. 'When Will The Tap Run Dry?' Tom Mangold explores the biggest debate facing the oil industry today - will we run out of oil, and if so, when? Listen to this excellent programme (usually on website for a week) at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/progs/listenagain.shtml
Common Ground is internationally recognised for playing a unique role in the arts and environmental fields, distinguished by the linking of nature with culture, focussing upon the positive investment people can make in their own localities, championing popular democratic involvement, and by inspiring celebration as a starting point for action to improve the quality of our everyday places: http://www.commonground.org.uk/index-x.html
Great Turning Times is a free quarterly email newsletter about finding our power to respond to global crisis. Bringing together ecology, psychology, spirituality and global issues: http://www.greatturningtimes.org/
15. COFFEE HOUSE GATHERING: LEBANON, ISRAEL AND PALESTINE
Friday 22nd September: Lebanon, Israel and Palestine. What are the underlying causes of the conflict? Is there a just and sustainable solution? What should we do? 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 about previous talks and idea behind these Coffee House Discussions. Leaflet on Lebanon and Israel: http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1411&Itemid=72
Peace Vigils: Don't forget that every Saturday 12 - 1 pm Stroud Highstreet - Peace Vigil - all welcome and every 4th Saturday in the month ie Saturday 23 September 2 - 3 pm there is a meeting for Worship outside the main gate at Fairford USAF airbase. Bring your own chair. All welcome. More information from Liz Whiteside 757874
Saturday 23rd September National Demonstration: ‘No Trident Replacement’ - CND and the Stop the War Coalition, of which the green party is a member, have called a national demonstration to take place in Manchester on the eve of the Labour Party conference. The demonstration will be calling for ‘No Trident Replacement,’ ‘Don’t Attack Iran,’ ‘Time to Go: Troops out of Iraq,’ and ‘Hands Off Lebanon.’ Coaches will be bringing demonstrators from all over the UK to Manchester. Check http://www.stopwar.org.uk/new/events/Transport23Sept.htm#Coaches to get details on coaches from your area.
Read more about the previous coffee house discussions at: http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=606&Itemid=96
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