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NEWS

Here is a flavour of this months news plus below some interesting events planned and what's in the blogs this month - for the full stories, reports and background go to our website:

NAILSWORTH WIN: Fi Macmillan won the Nailsworth seat (near Stroud) in a hard fought campaign by nearly 30 votes.  Huge congratulations to all especially Fi, Rosie and John. Results are still coming in but we sadly didn't make the gain we had hoped for in Rodborough. We are still awaiting other results in Stroud but it looks like the final make-up of the Council will be 31 Tories, 7 Labour, 6 Green, 5 Lib Dem and 2 Independents. Cheltenham and Gloucester results still to come. Across the rest of the country we are seeing gains like in Norwich where Greens have leapfrogged the Liberal Dems to become the official opposition. Also still no results in the London's Mayoral elections where The Observer said vote Green as your first choice. See more at:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/content/view/2094/2/

NEW NUCLEAR PLANT PLANNED FOR OLDBURY: Plus NDA's U-turn on decommissioning Oldbury.

CHELTENHAM GREEN CHALLENGE LIB DEMS ON AIRPORT: See two letters.

ENERGY SECURITY: See letter about recent strikes and price rises.

CALL FOR RETHINK ON BUS SERVICE CUTS: "Our countryside is increasingly becoming a ghetto for the rich, completely inaccessible for those without cars. Good rural buses need to be an alternative for people with cars as well as a lifeline for those without." The no 46 has a partial reprieve for evening service only at weekends and due for a review.

GLOS ECONOMIC STRATEGY IS BUSINESS-AS-USUAL: See Green comments as part of the County-wide consultation.

The website also carries news items on: Greens supporting a ban on genetically engineered trees, the meeting called on First Great Western, Green motion to Council on Post Offices, 300 hear Caroline Lucas MEP in Stroud, condemnation of EU and UK biofuel policies which were also discussed at a lively Coffee House discussion, concerns if Hunts Grove is overturned, Green statements on PCS union, comment on BNP, comments on waste, a call for hydro and wind,

NEXT COFFEE HOUSE DISCUSSION: Friday 23 May - Is CO2 rationing the best to stop climate change?  See more:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/coffeehouse

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PLUS THE GLOS BLOGS

Read Ruscombe Green (2200 monthly visitors) which scored 8 out of 10 and came 60th equal out of nearly 700 international blogs. This month look at over 70 blog entries this including Porsche's eco-crimes, his nomination for County Environmental Hero award (and comment on hereos), Randwick mobile phone mast, Camden Council go veggie, NUT and PCS industrial actions, getting GM rice out of Gloucestershire, the world food crisis, Glos bee colony numbers drop by 30% in one year, St George's Day should be a national holiday, Greenshop opening, Nailstock, Transition Stroud Library, Obama and Clinton condemning Brown over human rights,  recycling in village hall, Local Transport Bill is going wrong, GM will not feed the world, a good Youtube video on Round-UP and GM, the Government found unlawful over BAE corruption investigation, Gloucestershire Pride 2008, Interrogation centre opens in Cheltenham, Cardiff Passivhaus (and maybe one in Randwick) and the Peace Tax Seven come to Gloucester.
See: http://ruscombegreen.blogspot.com/

Read Molly Scott Cato's top Green UK blog - housing entitlement day (we chose a day and make it law that, wherever people were living on that day became theirs), Molly talking at the Palace of Westminister on monetary reform, the ruins of our national bank, can advertisers sell us less, poetry versus greed and a great link to a Youtube video on the absurdity of some economics.
See: http://gaianeconomics.blogspot.com/

Read Jonathan Porritt looks at why Greenpeace perhaps got it wrong over Unilever, the Government weakening plans for smart meters and more:
http://www.jonathonporritt.com/pages/

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QUOTES OF THE MONTH

"Another world is not only possible, she's on the way and, on a quiet day, if you listen very carefully you can hear her breathe."
Arundhati Roy

"The well being of the planet is a prior condition for the well being of humans. We cannot have well being on a sick planet, not even with our medical science. So long as we continue to generate more toxins than the planet can absorb and transform, the members of the Earth Community will become ill. Human health is derivative. Planetary health is primary."
Thomas Berry and Brian Swimme, The Universe Story,

"Impassable ecological obstacles now lie on the path down which we chase the shadows of conspicuous consumption to deliver our well-being. But another way is not only possible, it is better, richer and more enduring"
AC Grayling

"Politically sensitive and controversial issues require discretion..."
Excerpt from a Bush Administration memo advising scientists to conceal recent discoveries that antibiotic resistant bacteria are contaminating the air in communities near factory farms.

"Oh, yeah? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that."
President George W. Bush, upon hearing that numerous analysts are predicting $4-a-gallon gasoline

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Details of Gloucestershire Green party meetings can be got from John Marjoram on 01453 751189. This Green news service first established on 13th November 2001. To subscribe or unsubscribe to GNN visit the Gloucestershire Green party website and to contribute to this news service contact the editor Philip Booth on  press@glosgreenparty.org.uk