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GNN ISSUE 3 : 29-Oct-04 |
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A free email newsletter that provides green news and views so that together we can create a better world.
Philip Booth, GNN
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QUOTE
"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world" ~ Anne Frank
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CONTENTS
FEATURE ARTICLE
GREENS CONFERENCE IN WESTON-SUPER-MERE: CRIME TAKES CENTRE STAGE
Philip Booth
OTHER ITEMS
1. THE GODFATHER OF SUSTAINABILITY DIES - Philip Booth
2. GM MAIZE CEASES TO AMAZE IN EUROPE AND THE UK - FoE
3. GREENS CALL FOR BAN ON ALL PTHALATES - Green Party
4. GOVERNMENT RESEARCH SHOWS PESTICIDES STILL CAUSING PROBLEMS - FoE
5. NHS UNDER ATTACK - Green Party
6. A MANIFESTO FOR HAPPINESS? - NEF
7. MPS EXPENSES - Politics Network
8. EURO MP BACKS PEACE ACTIVIST - Green Party
9. SHIPS SABOTAGE WAR ON ACID RAIN - The Observer
10. ARE WE ABOUT TO GAMBLE WITH OUR FUTURE?
11. UK's BIGGEST EVER POLITICAL EVENT - EUROPEAN SOCIAL FORUM - Green
Party
12. CAN INDEPENDENT MEDIA SURVIVE AFTER US ACTION?
ACTION: SIGN THE PLEDGE OF OPPOSITION TO AIRPORT EXPANSION
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FEATURE
GREENS CONFERENCE IN WESTON-SUPER-MERE: CRIME TAKES CENTRE STAGE
The Green Party delegates from around the country arrived in
Weston-super-Mere for the last conference of the season. For the first
time ever crime dominated the agenda(i) with Greens taking a radical
approach to crime, including a complete shake-up of the justice system
and community policing.
Britain has huge numbers of people in prison and horribly high
reoffending rates compared to the rest of Europe. There are strong
grounds to believe that harsh treatment in prison makes a violent
person more inclined to violence. Low self-esteem is often a factor in
turning a person to crime. Prison often serves to lower an offender's
self-esteem, and that can be highly counter-productive.
Many people in our prisons are simply not capable of feeling a sense of
responsibility for what they've done. Locking someone up hurts them.
But it doesn't help repair any of the damage caused by the crime. The
prison environment must serve the purpose of rehabilitation, rather
than being a school for criminals. Focusing on rehabilitation policies
will be costly in the short term but a sound investment in the longer
term as they reduce crime.
Green proposals also included tighter controls on guns, a new offence
of "hate crime" and a greater emphasis on community policing, like a
return to "Pushbike policing". In Seattle, for example, 5% of the force
regularly ride bicycles on the beat and make five times more arrests
than their colleagues on foot patrol (ii).
Other issues covered by conference included(iii):
- The European Constitution; after much debate the Party eventually
agreed to campaign for a "No vote". The "No vote" is not because Greens
are opposed to being at the heart of Europe, but rather the
implications of what a "yes" vote would mean, namely more privatization
of public services across Europe, more centralization and greater
military expenditure. Greens want a Constitution that puts much more
emphasis on social justice and re-distribution of wealth within Europe
and co-operation with the South of the Planet. The Conference also
noted concerns that Europe could develop a fortress mentality, keeping
poorer Countries out. It is no secret that the three richest people in
the world have more spending power than the 49 poorest Countries put
together.
- Climate change; this is happening now and there is a real worry that
this process could escalate out of control, if we don't dramatically
all change our life styles. The seriousness of this issue put the rest
of the conference into prospective. The other parties pay lip service
to this crisis and seem too afraid to face the real issue.
- No to more troops: conference also condemned government proposals to
move British troops into the area south of Baghdad and once again
called for Tony Blair to be impeached.
- Call for second Chartist movement: Peter Tatchell who recently joined
the Greens after 22 years in the Labour Party spoke passionately about
the need to reform our voting system. He said: ""It is time to end the
corruption of the first-past-the-post voting system, whereby Labour won
a majority of 167 MPs at the last general election, despite securing
only 42 per cent of the votes cast and winning the backing of only 24
per cent of eligible electors. Justice demands electoral reform. The
status quo is not an option for democrats. The Chartists and
Suffragettes fought for a democratic and representative parliament, and
so must we".
- The "work/life balance"; millions of British workers lead stressful
lives that have resulted in an epidemic of mental illness and soaring
prescriptions for anti-depressants. Green policies are about putting
the life into wor k/life balance. They include a maximum 48-hour
working week and a Citizens' Income scheme to encourage part-time
working and time off for parenting and voluntary work.
- Breast feeding in public; conference voted to end discrimination
against women who breastfeed in public. Scottish Green MEPs have
already introduced a bill to their parliament.
Caroline Lucas MEP gave several rousing speeches. Her keynote speech
finished: "And so, friends, I believe we are right to be going into the
general election campaign with confidence. Of course it's hard for us
as a smaller party facing a hugely unfair electoral system. We'll be
honest about that too. But the only wasted vote is a vote cast for a
party you don't believe in, which stands for values you don't share,
and implements policies you don't support. A vote for the Greens puts
social justice and the environment at the top of the political agenda.
And increasingly it elects Green politicians who demonstrate that it is
possible to be radical and effective. To be progressive and competent.
And to bring honesty and integrity back into politics."
Notes
(i) Winter Gardens, Weston Super Mare, 21-14 October 2004. Media pack
including media highlights available by email on request to Green Party
press office, press@greenparty.org.uk, 020 7561 0282.
(ii) More on Green Party conference information:
www.greenparty.org.uk/conference
(iii) More on "pushbike policing":
http://www.transalt.org/blueprint/chapter16/chapter16c.html#2
Conference Greens in the news:
Greens seek seats without sellout - Matthew Tempest and Michael White -
The Guardian:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardianpolitics/story/0,,1334158,00.html
Green Party 'has the policies to reach disenchanted voters' - Nigel
Morris, The Ind ependent:
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=574844
Greens call for Blair to resign:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3944513.stm
Caroline Lucas' speech:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3944773.stm
Green Party conference a 'radical' change - analysis by BBC political
correspondent Jonathan Beale:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3946667.stm
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1 - THE GODFATHER OF SUSTAINABILITY DIES
John Seymour, the environmentalist best known as the author of the
smallholders' bible, The Complete Book of Self-Sufficiency, has died
aged 90.
Seymour was revered as an environmentalist and as the godfather of the
sustainability movement. "Never be afraid of being called a crank," he
once said. "Look up crank in the dictionary. It's defined as a useful
object that starts revolutions."
During his life he wrote more than 40 books and was patron of Voice,
an Irish environmental group. He hated injustice of any kind and has
been described as a freedom fighter for humans, animals and plants. He
was far from being a pacifist and passionately believed in people
getting "off their backsides" and becoming active.He was also known
for his sea shanties and his doggerel verse. Here's what he wrote
about Irish protests against Monsanto's GM beet:
The GM Fairies got it right
they bashed the Beet in dead of night
Monsanto's game - just one solution
they had to stop this life pollution.
Mutant beet we do not need
Planted in Ireland just for greed.
Those twisted genes for sure would spread
to gardens, fields, and our daily bread.
For more anti-GM verse: http://ngin.tripod.com/poetry.htm
John Seymour: born June 12th, 1914; died September 14th, 2004.
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2. GM MAIZE CEASES TO AMAZE IN EUROPE AND THE UK
EUROPE HALTS CONTROVERSIAL GM MAIZE
European member states today failed to support a proposal by the
European Commission to import a controversial genetically modified
(GM) maize. The maize, made by US biotech giant Monsanto, failed to
get the required qualified majority from representatives of the member
states in an indicative vote.
"The European Commission seems determined to force genetically
modified foods down consumers' throats even when there are serious
questions marks about their long term safety", said Friends of the
Earth Europe GM campaigner Adrian Bebb. "Their actions are
undemocratic. People in Europe have made it consistently clear that
they do not want to eat genetically foods. It's time the Commission
listened and took action to keep Europe GM-free".
GM opposition to GM grows
Friends of the Earth has welcomed a new survey published in October
which showed that public opposition to GM food and crops has grown
since 2002. The mood contrasts sharply with UK Government views, with
Ministers currently considering plans to allow widespread GM
contamination of non-GM crops.
"Public opposition to GM food and crops is growing, yet the Government
is planning to allow widespread GM contamination of non-GM crops",
said Friends of the Earth GM Campaigner Clare Oxborrow. "If this
happens people will find it increasingly difficult to avoid GM food.
The Government must listen to the public and introd uce tough new
rules to keep our food, farming and environment GM-free."
Bush is using the World Trade Organisation to force-feed you GM food!
Sign the Citizen's Objection to the WTO at:
http://www.bite-back.org
Ask your MP to support new laws to prevent GM contamination at:
http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/real_food/press_for_change/gm_bill/
index.html
For more information see:
http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/food_and_biotechnology
How "Monsanto got off the hook":
http://www.90degrees.net.nz/
default.aspx?url=%2fview.aspx%3fid%3dCvmhNKYlP0aE5FlT7iYsNA%26url%3dok
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3. GREENS CALL FOR BAN ON ALL PTHALATES - EU BANS TOXIC SOFTENERS FROM
BABY TOYS
Trade Ministers from across the EU have agreed to phase out six toxic
chemicals used to soften PVC in children's toys - SEVEN years after
researchers highlighted the link between the 'pthalates' and both liver
damage and reproductive failure.
Caroline Lucas, MEP for South-East England and a member of the
Parliament's Environment Committee, said: "The competitiveness council
has made the right decision - eventually - and protecting the health of
babies and children will, at last, be prioritised over the interests of
the chemicals industry. It has taken seven years to overcome the
lobbying power of the multinational chemicals industry - and pthalates
are just the tip of the iceberg."
Dr Lucas added: "The challenge now is to build on this prohibition to
end the use of all pthalates - and harmful chemicals - for which safer
alternatives exist. That's the ultimate aim of the long-overdue
so-called 'REACH' proposals currently before the commission which will,
I hope, give the EU the world's most ethical chemicals policy."
More at: www.carolinelucasmep.org.uk
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4. LATEST GOVERNMENT RESEARCH SHOWS PESTICIDES STILL CAUSING PROBLEMS
One lettuce sample from Spain was found to contain a pesticide at
levels 13.7 times higher than the safety limit for 4-6 year olds, a
sample of Heinz baby food was also found to contain a pesticide residue
above legal levels and farmed fish contained a variety of persistent
chemicals.
Pre-packed salads also contained a range of pesticides - one sample
from Asda contained six different pesticides, including acephate,
cypermethrin, iprodione and procymidone, possible carcinogens, and
methamidophos, a highly toxic insecticide. Other pre-packed salad
samples were found to contain vinclozolin - a hormone-disrupting
chemical.
"Consumers will be alarmed by these latest findings", said Friends of
the Earth Pesticide Campaigner Liz Wright. "The Government must take
action to ensure healthy foods such as salads do not contain cocktails
of pesticides and ensure that safety limits are not breached. There
should be no delay in helping growers find alternatives to risky
chemicals such as methyl bromide as soon as possible."
Read more and ask your MP to help reduce children's exposure to
pesticides at:
http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/real_food/press_for_change/mp/index.html
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5. NHS UNDER ATTACK
PROPOSALS for an EU Services Directive which would open up EU health
care provision to cross-border commercial competition could spell the
end of the NHS as we know it, according to leading health
policy-makers.
Mrs Lambert, a member of the European Parliament's Employment and
Social Affairs Committee and parliamentary rapporteur on co-ordinating
cross-border healthcare provision, said: "The proposed Services
Directive will have profound implications for the way our health
service will operate, by opening up key areas of provision to
market-led competition - and it will have a major impact on the rights
of consumers and workers in many service industries."
Government proposals to use private doctors to offer out-of-hours
family healthcare also faced heavy criticism. Mrs Lambert, Green Party
MEP for London, described them as "a deliberate and disingenuous attack
on the NHS". She added: "This is a clear example of the Government
promoting disinformation about the Working Time Directive to promote
its stalling agenda of opening up public healthcare to private
business."
For more detailed analysis of the EU Working Time Directive and its
impact on the UK see Mrs Lamberts' recent report 'Flexible Working: A
Work-Life balance or a Balancing Act' available on request or at:
www.jeanlambertmep.org.uk
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6. A MANIFESTO FOR HAPPINESS?
nef's manifesto report, "A well-being manifesto for a flourishing
society", challenges the assumption that growing the economy is
government's most important function. nef's alternative manifesto calls
on government to help UK citizens be happier and more fulfilled not
richer and more depressed.
While government cannot directly make us happier or more engaged, it
can shape the culture and society in which we live. Growing the economy
has only a small effect on well-being and may be achieved at the
expense of other factors that have a greater effect on well-being:
work-life balance, the environment in which we live, and the vibrancy
of local communities.
Read more:
A well-being manifesto for a flourishing society - Free to download but
it is 2.7MB and needs Adobe Reader 6.0:
http://www.neweconomics.org/gen/z_sys_PublicationDetail.aspx?pid=193
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7. MPS EXPENSES
The publication of MPs expenses for the last 3 years is a victory for
campaigners who have been calling for freedom of information for
decades. With the Freedom of Information Act due to be fully
implemented in January 2005, this is an advance preview of the sort of
public scrutiny we can hope will become common practice in British
politics.
There is a real danger that if all expenses are treated as being
inherently suspect, all we will see is swingeing cuts that will lead to
MPs being even more dependent on individual donors. Democracy has a
price, and the current cost around 3p per constituent per year is a
bargain.
More at: http://www.new-politics.net/
MPs expenses: http://194.128.65.30/hocallowances_expenditure.htm
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8. EURO MP BACKS PEACE ACTIVIST
EURO-MP Caroline Lucas has backed peace activists who peacefully
blockaded Downing Street for several hours (11/10/04), demanding the
UK's withdrawal from a military pact with the US which could breach
international law.
Campaigners from across the UK locked arms inside a model nuclear
submarine. The "good natured" demonstration, which was organised by
'Trident Ploughshares', comes as the Mutual Defence Agreement (MDA)
between the UK and US - which gives UK backing to George W Bush's 'Star
Wars' programme - is due for renewal.
Caroline Lucas, a member of CND's national council and Green Party
Euro-MP for South-East England, said the MDA constituted a potential
breach of the UK's obligations under international law. Dr Lucas, who
was herself arrested during a peaceful blockade organised by Trident
Ploughshares in 2001, said : "The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
places a binding obligation on the UK to disarm and disable its nuclear
weapons. The MDA contradicts these obligations, and as such may itself
be an unlawful agreement. It is due for renewal before the end of
December and it is essential that Blair refuses to renew it - for the
sake of the UK's reputation for upholding the international rule of
law, as well as for the sake of world peace and respecting the wishes
of those who democratically elected him."
Cherie Blair's Matrix Chambers has just published legal opinion which
says that Britain will be in breach of the treaty if it renews the 1958
nuclear cooperation pact with the United States later this year. Yet
reports in todays Guardian suggest both leaders are about to sign the
pact.
More information can be found at:
www.carolinelucasmep.org.uk
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9. SHIPS SABOTAGE WAR ON ACID RAIN
"Acid rain is still devastating a large part of Britain's landscape
despite 20 years of intense efforts to halt its effects. Scientists
have found that although there has been a dramatic fall in emissions of
sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from factories and power stations,
major increases in pollution from tankers and container ships have
wiped out many of the gains."
"In 1990 a total of 16.4m tonnes of sulphur dioxide was pumped into the
air by factories and power plants in the European Union. At the same
time, shipping in the Baltic, North Sea and north Atlantic accounted
for 2m tonnes. By 2000 the figures were 5.8m and 2.6m, and by 2010 they
are expected to be 3.9m and 3.3m. So marine sources of sulphur dioxide
accounted for 10 per cent of the acid rain in Europe in 1990 but by the
end of the decade they will be responsible for 45 per cent."
"The discovery is a major headache, not just for Britain but for the
EU, because shipping in the Baltic, Mediterranean and North Sea is also
generating acid rain which is falling over other nations. However,
there are no effective treaties to control the emissions of ships on
international waters."
Until we get more controls over what's going on in the ocean we are
never going to be free of the blight of acid rain.
Extracts taken from:
Robin McKie, October 10, 2004 The Observer
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10. ARE WE ABOUT TO GAMBLE WITH OUR FUTURE?
Over the past three years, there has been a fivefold increase in
betting. Six out of ten adults now stake an average of £50 every month,
while some 350,000 Britons are classified as "problem gamblers".
One of Labour's conference fringe meetings was entitled: "Gambling,
regeneration, and social responsibility: can everyone be a winner?" It
was sponsored by Sun International, a corporation that operates a
number of casino resorts. Their executive director, had a seat on the
discussion panel, but they forgot to invite anyone from anti gambling
organizations, or those involved in treating gambling dependency.
Tony Banks, Labour MP and member of the Joint Committee on the Draft
Gambling Bill, has said there is every chance that every large town
could find itself with its own casino: "I would see nothing wrong with
that whatso-ever."
The industry suggest the bill is introducing more regulation but infact
the bill while tightening some areas, eases many of the current
restrictions. However when the social costs of gambling are taken into
account, allowing casino development seems likely to be a disbenefit to
communities.
Not a good thing - see timesonline article below
Society at stake;There are risks in Britain becoming a gambling nation:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,542-1308460,00.html
Public rejects Blair's casino plans:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardianpolitics/story/0,,1336076,00.html
A croupier speaks: A lose-lose situation:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,1336868,00.html
Gamblers harm other people too - Roy Hattersley:
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/politics/story/0,,1334678,00.html
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11. UK's BIGGEST EVER POLITICAL EVENT - EUROPEAN SOCIAL FORUM
Some 70,000 Greens and others opposed to war, racism and corporate
power descended on London for a three-day gathering to promote global
justice, workers' rights and a sustainable society. Activists,
academics and radical politicians from across Europe - and the world
beyond - came for 'debate, celebration and protest'.
Green Party Euro-MP Caroline Lucas, a veteran of previous ESFs in
Florence and Paris, played a key role in the event's 'showcase' plenary
sessions, discussing financial speculation, the World Bank and the IMF.
She said: "Big business and establishment politicians claim that codes
of conduct and voluntary agreements are all that is needed to bring
corporate action into blissful harmony with environmental
sustainability and social justice. But it isn't working: we need a
binding legal framework if we are to 'tame the corporations'."
Caroline Lucas continued: "Corporations have been described as
'psychopathic' - in the sense that their primary responsibility is to
maximise shareholder profit regardless of the negative impact this may
have on society at large. By definition, the only way corporations can
be tamed is through a programme of legally-binding regulation which
changes their very nature and imposes social and environmental
responsibility as a pre-condition for their activities. As long as the
law considers maximising shareholders' returns the only legitimate aim
of corporate activity, corporations will continue to systematically
despoil the environment and violate human rights - and taming them
requires nothing less than a legal revolution which brings corporate
activity under democratic control."
More at:
Susan George writes:
www.tni.org/george
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1327847,00.html
ESF hijacked by Socialist Workers:
www.schnews.org.uk/archive/news470.htm
70,000 rally against war:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1329690,00.html
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/esf/story/0,,1330018,00.html
Green Party information:
www.carolinelucasmep.org.uk and www.jeanlambertmep.org.uk
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12. CAN INDEPENDENT MEDIA SURVIVE AFTER US ACTION?
US wins court order to seize "Indymedia" computers from UK firm
Indymedia UK is a network of individuals, independent and alternative
media activists and organisations, offering grassroots, non-corporate,
non-commercial coverage of important social and political issues.
Indymedia was taken offline on 7 October when an unnamed United States
government agency went to court on behalf of an unnamed foreign power
and seized two computers from the United Kingdom.
More than 20 nations' IMCs were closed down by the move - though most
are now up-and-running again. Euro-MP Caroline Lucas condemned the move
as an assault on free speech and warned the use of a 'mutual assistance
treaty' to close down the Palestinian IMC could exacerbate tensions
across the Arab world.
She said: "Whatever justification there may be for limiting free speech
- to prevent libel, or to protect state secrets, for example - there
can never be a legitimate justification for closing down more than 20
media outlets serving distinct audiences around the world. In any
event, no justification has even been offered. Whatever the real reason
for the FBI's actions, closing down one of the few sources of impartial
news relating to the Palestinian Intifada and Israeli occupation of the
West Bank and Gaza Strip will be seen as using a sledgehammer to crack
a nut and will heighten tensions in the region."
Was the seizure of Indymedia's servers in London unlawful or did the UK
government collude? Go to Statewatch:
http://www.statewatch.org/news/2004/oct/04uk-usa-indymedia.htm
Online publishing has always been a risky business, both financially
and in terms of building reach and influence. It now seems that the
civil authorities are worried enough to take it seriously at least some
of the time. Can independent media survive? See more at:
http://www.opendemocracy.net/themes/article-8-2157.jsp
More at: www.carolinelucasmep.org.uk
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ACTION: SIGN THE PLEDGE OF OPPOSITION TO AIRPORT EXPANSION
The government says it wants to take action against climate change but
also plans to double air travel – the most damaging form of transport -
over the next twenty years.
The Green Party conference urged Tony Blair and Michael Howard to live
up to their recent statements on the need to tackle climate change, by
making a first step and supporting the Air Traffic Emissions Reduction
Bill which was passed by the House of Lords in March 2004.
The Bill - sometimes called the "No New Runways" Bill, as its most
obvious immediate impact would be to undermine the case for any major
airport expansions in the UK - was written by the Green Party and
steered through the House of Lords this year by Green Party peer Tim
Beaumont. It would require the government to achieve a 50% reduction in
CO2 emissions from the aviation sector by 2050.
What you can do - Sign the pledge - The Airport Pledge shows the
government the real threat it faces from the large number of people
opposing it's policy to increase aviation. The people who sign it say
that ‘if the government refuses to back away from its expansion policy,
I will take personal action to block airport expansion and to prevent
companies from supporting and funding it". What action people take is
their personal choice but the pledge helps them with updates and ideas
of what they can do.
You can sign the pledge at www.airportpledge.org.uk
The Air Traffic Emissions Reduction Bill may be accessed via:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200304/ldbills/011/
2004011.pdf
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TO JOIN the Green Party of England and Wales go to;
http://www.greenparty.org.uk/index.php?nav=join
To contribute to this news service (or to subscribe or unsubscribe) -
contact Philip Booth, Editor, Gloucestershire Green Party on 01453
755451 E-mail: <philip.booth2@virgin.net>. The GNN editorial team also
includes input from: Lesley Davies, Gloucestershire and Vivien Pomfrey,
Launceston, Cornwall. |
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