Aldermaston Pilgrimage All Faiths Call For Peace 8 Aug

Local worshippers from all faiths will join members of Reading Peace Group in a Peace Pilgrimage from Reading to Aldermaston on Saturday 8th August to show their support for global peace and disarmament initiatives.

The pilgrimage is being organised by Reading Peace Group and will leave Reading Civic Centre at 9.00 am, when the Mayor of Reading, Councillor Fred Pugh, will launch the walk and take the first few steps of the 13 mile journey to Aldermaston with the Peace Pilgrims.

On arriving at Aldermaston (expected time of arrival around 3.30 pm) members of Clergy Against Nuclear Arms will lead a multi-faith service outside the Atomic Weapons Establishment, where British nuclear weapons are made.

The date of the pilgrimage has been chosen for 8th August to co-incide with the anniversaries of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima (6th August) and Nagasaki (9th August) in Japan in 1945, as an opportunity to remember these tragedies and say 'never again'.

Speaking before the Pilgrimage, Ella Marsh of Reading Peace Group said:
“President Obama's speech in Prague in April has put the vision of a world free from nuclear weapons back on the global political agenda, and the recently agreed cuts in nuclear arsenals between the USA and Russia represent an important step towards this goal.

“Senior figures from all the main political parties are now keen to see disarmament happen, and a recent opinion poll shows that a clear majority of the British public do not think the country should replace its Trident nuclear weapon system.

“AWE Aldermaston is where British nuclear weapons are made, but it also has an important role to play in decommissioning nuclear weapons to make them safe, and in developing the technology and expertise necessary to verify that governments are keeping promises not to develop nuclear weapons.”

Walkers will be departing from outside the Reading Civic Centre at 9.00 am on Saturday 8th August led by the Mayor of Reading.

For more information please call Peter Burt on 0118 958 8281.

Notes:

1. The Peace Pilgrimage will begin at Reading Civic Centre and walk along the River Kennet towpath, and then take public footpaths up Paices Hill to the AWE Aldermaston site. Walkers are welcome to join the pilgrimage for as long or short a distance as they wish. The route is suitable for families with older children. Walkers are advised to wear comfortable shoes, bring food and rink with them, and prepare for the
weather.

2. In 2006 the Mayor of Hiroshima visited Reading and Aldermaston, and since then Reading Borough Council has been a member of the international Mayors for Peace network. Mayors for Peace has nearly 3000 member mayors worldwide, and in the UK there are over 50 members. UK membership includes Mayors of all political parties and most major cities are members, including London, represented by Boris Johnson.

Toxic Airlines Poisons Passengers

As if there wern't enough reasons to stop flying, along comes a film.

Aircraft supply unfiltered air to breathe taken directly from the engines? Evidence confirms passengers and crews are suffering serious adverse health consequences of inhaling contaminated air on commercial aircraft. Evidence confirms flight safety is being compromised. Commercial aircraft have no detection systems fitted to warn the pilots or the passengers of these exposures.

http://www.welcomeaboardtoxicairlines.com/ is the film that reveals the full story and the film has triggered 2 calls for a public inquiry in the United Kingdom and was the recent focus of a CNN special.

The acclaimed investigative documentary 'Welcome Aboard Toxic Airlines' made by former British airline captain Tristan Loraine and Multi award winning Fact Not Fiction Films is available on DVD.

'A ground-breaking documentary that raises serious questions about the air that passengers breathe.' The Daily Telegraph

'This is one of the most important whistleblower films to date - powerful and emotional.' Holiday Travel Watch

It premiered in Paris in November 2007. The film had a limited theatrical release in the United Kingdom in 2008.

They Killed The Big Green Gathering

The Big Green Gathering, a fixture in the alternative calendar, was due to return after two years this week. 15–20,000 people were expected to turn up on Wednesday the 29th to the site near Cheddar, Somerset, for Europe’s largest green event - a five-day festival promoting sustainability and renewable energy, with everything from allotments to alternative media.

Hundreds of staff and volunteers are already on site, and its cancellation comes just days before gates were due to open. Organisers, most of whom work for nothing, are gutted. One said “We are so disappointed not to be having this year’s gathering – it means so much to so many people”.

A last-minute injunction by Mendip District Council, supported by Avon and Somerset Police, killed the event - citing the potential for ‘crime and disorder’ and safety concerns. The festival had already been granted a licence on the 30th of June.

Chief Inspector Paul Richards, festival liaison, later confirmed to one of the festival organisers that “This is political”, adding that the decision had been made over his head at county level. According to SchNEWS’ the police were frank about the fact that the closure had been planned for two weeks. “This was a blatant act of political sabotage – the Big Green Gathering is now completely bankrupt, they knew that we were going to be closed down and yet they carried on allowing us to spend money hand over fist on infrastructure”.

Mendip District Council had insisted on road closures as part of the licensing requirements. A festival organiser contacted the highways agency to process this fairly routine request. The decision was passed to junior management who reportedly came under intense pressure not to grant the closure. As the road closures were not secured, the council were able to claim that the BGG was in breach of licence. A nice little legal stitch-up that according to one QC meant the BGG stood no chance of fighting the injunction.

Anyone who has ever been to the Big Green will know that the atmosphere is more like a village fete than any of the mainstream events. There is virtually no aggro. It’s more about chai and massages than Stella and fisticuffs.

http://www.schnews.org.uk/archive/news685.php


http://www.big-green-gathering.com/


Dear Friends,
following threatened injunction proceedings in High Court by Mendip District Council supported by Somerset & Avon Police and having taken extensive advice from a prominent QC and other eminent lawyers, the directors of the Big Green Gathering have been left with no other option than to voluntarily surrender the license for the Big Green Gathering 2009.

The event will now not take place and the directors' advice and request is that no one intending to attend the event should attempt to do so, as the site is now closed and they are likely to be turned away by Somerset Police.

It is our intention to avoid any form of confrontation or public disorder in regard to this and it is our earnest hope that all those involved will follow this advice.
It is with great sadness that we have been forced into this position and we express our profound apologies to all those concerned.

The Directors of The Big Green Gathering


http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jul/27/big-green-gathering-climate-camp

"It was a premeditated political decision made at least a week ago. There were going to be people from the Climate Camp here as well as Plane Stupid. It could be seen by police as gathering ground of radicals," said festival chairman Brig Oubridge . Climate Camp demonstrated in London during the G20 meeting and at Kingsnorth last year, while Plane Stupid have taken direct action at Stansted and Aberdeen airports.

"What the police have done is put more and more pressure on us over all our arrangements. It was a deliberate attempt to make it impossible to go ahead. We got in exactly the same paperwork as in other years. We know the officers were under pressure to close us down. This is a step backwards to the days of Margaret Thatcher," he said.

The Big Green Gathering has been running in its present form since 1994 without complaints about public safety or crime. It features music, debates and practical green living demonstrations

Poet who blew whistle on Sellafield dies - Duncan Ball R.I.P.

Talented poet and former nuclear foreman Duncan Ball died on July 17th aged 49. He was a man who repeatedly spoke out about unsafe practices in the Magnox plant at Sellafield where he had been employed as a foreman. His subsequent experience followed the same route as other whistleblowers.

He walked with Footprints for Peace from Cumbria to London during the 2007 Dublin to London International Walk for a Nuclear-Free Future. I marched with him from Reading to London along with many others,


Having tried all avenues to raise the alarm about unsafe practices causing releases of radiation, in 2004 Duncan left what he called a “literary bomb” in the Sellafield visitor centre. This was nothing more harmful to the general public than a CD which contained a detailed log of dangerous practices within Sellafield. Duncan who lived in Penrith was jailed for 2 years.

Duncan’s poems chronicled the nuclear industry and include one that was read out publicly at the recent international “Lakes for Living” conference in Windermere.

"For nuclear waste growing bigger and hotter
they're sucking the life from Lakeland and Otter,
cooling the poison they've shipped from afar
condemning the angler and Arctic Char.

"What's the harm? There's water aplenty!"
Say the loudest mouths with heads near empty,
while for son and daughter the waters spoil
cooling waste in the kettle I fear will boil…"

Along with many other Sellafield workers Duncan was under the Compensation Scheme for Radiation Linked Diseases for terminal cancer. In April of this year Duncan came along to support Radiation Free Lakeland’s sponsored walk around Wastwater to raise funds for Chernobyl Children’s Project.

A spokesperson for Radiation Free Lakeland said “Duncan was described and discredited by the nuclear industry as “obsessive” but the truth is he was a hero whose only crime was trying to alert his employers and the wider public to dangerous practices in the nuclear industry. His voice will still be heard for generations to come through his wonderful and prescient poetry – Cumbrians need to listen to the truth of what Duncan had to say”

More of Duncan’s poems can be seen on the Radiation Free Lakeland website:
Sellafield bomb hoaxer is jailed

Poet who blew whistle on Sellafield dies.

Sellafield bomb hoaxer is jailed
no2nuclearpower
another-green-world

Duncan was in his forties and died of a form of myeloma, a type of cancer said to be unusual for someone of his age, strongly suspected to be due to radiation exposure during his 17-year career at the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant in Cumbria.

BNFL, Gordon Brown and his brother Andrew (media chief at EDF Energy, owners of British energy), unelected minister Peter Mandelson, Ed Miliband etc will be relieved to hear of Duncan's passing.

Dark Days at Sellafield

Boris Johnson breaks an election promise

When Boris became Mayor, he was said to be an indication of the way a future Tory Government would go. So what happens there is of interest to the whole country.

During the run-up to his election, Boris Johnson promised to pay for three new centres and fund the only remaining centre for at least 4 years. There is now only one remaining Rape Crisis centre for the whole of London!

That’s one small centre for 3.9 million women. The staff and volunteers who run the centre work with constant danger of closing over their heads and can never be sure that their core funding costs can be met from year to year.

That he will fulfill that promise, or even part of it, is now seriously in doubt. He needs to be held to account. There is a consultation opened to decide the funding closes on 20th July and here
is a campaign both to support the remaining centre in Croydon and let Boris know that we want him to keep his promise!

There will be events, press work and lots of asking people to give £2 a month to support the last remaining centre in Croydon.

Please get involved, even if you just let other people know about the campaign. We can make this shameful situation better with just a little help.

http://www.boriskeepyourpromise.org.uk/
http://www.libdemvoice.org/boris-johnson-breaks-another-election-promise-11700.html
http://www.labourmatters.com/Editor/boris-breaks-manifesto-pledge-over-rape-crisis-centre-funding/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/feb/13/boris.london08
http://www.guardian.co.uk/global/2009/jul/21/campaigners-johnson-rap
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23678447-details/Boris+betrayal+as+he+breaks+his+promise/article.do
http://www.boriswatch.com/



BoJo gets £250,000 annual income he receives from writing for the Daily Telegraph; “chicken feed”. “I don’t see why on a Sunday morning I shouldn’t knock off an article – if someone wants to pay me for that article then that’s their lookout…” Boris said. It turns out that the Telegraph contract is worth significantly more to Bozza than the £140,000 he earns for his “day job” as Mayor of London. Johnson claimed that he writes as a means of relaxation anyway.

By Election Results

After an incredible campaign, the Norwich Greens had a good result. In the previous general election, we got 2.7%, this week we got 9.7% of the vote. Its one of the the best Westminster result from the Greens, and it isn't even a target seat. It makes Norwich South an even more interesting prospect. (Brighton Pavillion in 2005 Greens got 9,530 votes; 21.9%.)

Chloe Smith (Conservative) 13,591 (39.54%, +6.29%)
Chris Ostrowski (Labour) 6,243 (18.16%, -26.70%)
April Pond (Lib Dem) 4,803 (13.97%, -2.22%)
Glenn Tingle (UKIP) 4,068 (11.83%, +9.45%)
Rupert Read (Green) 3,350 (9.74%, +7.08%)
Craig Murray (Put An Honest Man into Parliament) 953 (2.77%)
Robert West (BNP) 941 (2.74%)
Bill Holden (Independent) 166 (0.48%, -0.17%)
Howling Laud (Loony Party) 144 (0.42%)
Anne Fryatt (NOTA) 59 (0.17%)
Thomas Burridge (Libertarian) 36 (0.10%)
Peter Baggs (Ind) 23 (0.07%)

It proves the Lib Dems were lying when they said it was a two horse race between them and the Tories. Its a good result for UKIP, reflected by their speding a vast amount here, as did the three big parties. UKIP may not have come second as their election bar chart was claiming and were beaten by parties that they had claimed could not win here, so they look silly. Despite the money, and frequent visits from big beasts Labour and Lib Dem votes went down.

The Tories won, congratulations to them, on a slight increase, despite many visits from Cameron and the shadow cabinet. They seemed to benefit from the expenses scandall and economic downturn, despite being in similar position as Labour. They have better spinners this time. And have deeper pockets. We spent roughly £12,000 compared to the £100,000 that the Tories have apparently spent.




In Brighton came news of an even more amazing result;
GRN 1,456 - 38.5% (+17.6%)
Greens in Brighton and Hove are jubilant at winning the strategically
important Goldsmid by-election in Hove, taking the seat from the Tories.

The result sees the election of the first Green councillor, Alex
Phillips, from Hove to Brighton and Hove City Council
and deprives the Tories of their majority on the council.

Caroline Lucas, national Green Party leader, said, "This is a spectacular win.
"It signals an unstoppable surge to elect the first Green MP at Westminster, whenever Gordon decides to go to the country.

"With this result, we're on the threshold of taking Green politics to the heart of Westminster."

Cllr Alex Phillips said, "Thank you to all the voters who put their faith in me. It's a ringing endorsement of Green policies and the work of Green councillors locally.



Also South Devon GP followed up their sensational nowhere-to-Cllr win at District level in June with a Totnes Town Council victory over a Tory posing as an Independent. Green candidate Jacqui Hodgson got 56% of the vote vz her opponent's 44%. Very good given her rival is a former chief reporter of the local paper and owns two pubs in the town.


So well done Alex Jacqui and Rupert, all hard working candidates, and some good clean campaigning.

Norwich North Pics

Well its been an exiting few days in Norwich North, supporting the Greens in the by election. And now we all eagerly await the result, to be published soon. Fingers crossed for the Greens. Well done Rupert Read and his team, great campaign. Considering the money spent by the oposition we did a great job, whoever wins.

Residents definately noticed this campaign, most will have had 30 to 40 leaflets! They are sick and tiered of getting more leaflets. We knocked on lots of doors and talked to people, they were happy that someone had bothered to do so. The big parities have spent fortunes on leaflets, and have hordes of supporters getting them out rapidly. There was a perception that the greens had given out loads, but some of these were actually Lib Dem leaflets coloured green but attacking us. Most people didn't open them, but just had an imnpression from the colour of the front page.

I thought I would share a few more pictures from the campaign.

Green Phone Box



campaign Shop


http://norfolkblogger.blogspot.com/ Lib Dem Norfolk Blogger has published lots of these leaflets. He is silent on the negative tactics of his candidate.
He lists:
Lib Dem 14 (Inc 2 Freepost)
Tory 13 (Inc 2 Freepost)
Labour 5 (Inc 2 Freepost and one posted - Although one of these leaflets never reached parts of Broadland)
UKIP 4 (Inc 2 Freepost - Although one of the other two hand delivered leaflets only went to parts of the constituency)
Murray 2 (Inc 1 Freepost)
Green 2 (Inc 1 Freepost)
NOTA 2 (Inc 1 Freepost - Although the other NOTA leaflet had limited distribution)
Others 1 (Each - All Freepost)

Thsi will vary a bit depending on which area they live in.

Race For Life in Reading

Well its not a race, but it is for life. Thousands of people appeared in the usually sedate Prospect Park on Sunday morning for two back to back events, with a tannoy system to annoy residents but cheer the entrants. Lots of money was raised for Cancer Research UK. The money is to help fund the pioneering work of Cancer Research UK, a leading independent organisation dedicated to cancer research.

Cancer Research UK funds over 4,500 scientists, doctors and nurses based throughout the UK. They are carrying out world-class research into all aspects of cancer, from understanding the causes and biology of the disease through to developing better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat it.

They don't seem to be looking at cancer clusters around AWE or nuclear power stations; perhaps they dont want to rock the boat.



To make residents even 'happier' dozens of cars were parked on the verge, and hundreds of cars were allowed inside the park. I would rather the park was used for biodiversity, and a shuttle bus laid on to bring people to and from the train station. The next day thre was no sign of any damage, so well managed parks department. And to be fair the organisers had announced there was limited parking, perhaps they should have said there was none, and got that bus sorted.

Influencing politicians. Although we are a non-political organisation, we build strong and influential relationships with the UK’s most powerful politicians. Engaging key decision makers and opinion formers is essential to securing policy change and getting our message across. Politicians listen to our views on vital issues such as strengthening tobacco controls, regulating sunbeds, improving the research environment and maximising the value of people’s donations through tax-friendly initiatives such as Gift Aid.

I would like to know if there was any benefit to the local people though, they bought there own cafe and toilets (thankfully) so were self contained. Perhaps the authorities should allow a couple of little shops nearby, to take advantage of/ serve on events like this.

Jollydarity; Jolly Anglers Street Party

What a lovely street party, a great day not dampened by some variable weather. There was a large turnout, and a good atmosphere.


Rob White said: “On Tuesday, June 16, the Jolly Anglers opened for the last time. It was sold by Enterprise Inns. “Pubs like this one are part of the glue that holds communities together. We have already lost the Dove, the Plasterers and the Eastgate from the local area and we are all poorer for it. Let us work together to reopen The Jolly Anglers for the good of the community.”

Today news came of a record 39 pubs a week closing in Britain, up on the 36 closures a week in the first half of 2008, according to new figures compiled by CGA Strategy for the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA). "With pubs closing at a record rate and job losses escalating, it is truly staggering that the Government is proposing to hit the sector with a £300 million bill for extra red-tape this year alone" said Rob Hayward, Chief Executive of the BBPA. "In fact, the Government openly state they believe that their new regulations will lead to more pub closures and job losses.
It is community pubs that are most at threat. Suburban pubs are closing at the rate of 19 a week, town centre pubs at 8 a week and rural pubs at 13 a week. Britain's pubs are now closing almost ten times faster than in 2006 (four a week) and nearly twenty times faster than in 2005 (two a week).



There is a longer version on youtube part 1
part 2
performed by the
black diamonds

getreading campaign announced
facebook group with 189 members
Lib Dems
businessinberkshire
canal blog
Youtube Rob Wilson MP
Youtube song
retreat
anonydem
Rob White
Reading Chronicle
readingcamra

camra
Youtube Jolly Anglers Song

New Labour Candidate Naz Sarkar IDR Quiz

Oh dear,the recently selected Naz Sarkar has had a tough time on a radio interview. He does have some local connections, but didn't know what 'IDR' stands for (though its not actually in Reading West anyway). This is not a good, but then anyone can get caught out not knowing something; anyone remember Nick Clegg not knowing how much was the state pension? "I think it's about £30 quid now, isn't it?" When the basic pension at the time was £90.70 a week for a single person and £145.45 for a couple.

When I became a General Election candidate in 2005 I was interviewed on a local radio station, and I made mistakes. They asked 'what are the 3 B's associated with Reading, I had lived here for 5 years at that time, and visited the local museum so could remember biscuits and bulbs, but forgot about beer. I would have thought beer was made in most big towns anyway.

The other reading bloggers are not being very kind about Naz, driving it to over 3000 youtube hits so far.
cllr dave luckett
richard willis
was
Howard Thomas
Jane


Nationally Ian Dale has also pounced on it.

Why Are We In Afghanistan

With several recent deaths the country is at last debating the perpetual war in Afghanistan. Unfortunately it is mostly about the lack of equipment, but that is a start.

For what purpose are their families suffering such grief? The Prime Minister speaks of 'our soldiers are dying in order to achieve peace and stability in Afghanistan in time for presidential elections in November'. Gordon Brown insists the UK is winning the war in Afghanistan! His spokesman said: "We are trying to deal with the terrorist threat to prevent attacks here and elsewhere." And I though this was making terrorism worse.

Almost forgotten are the words of the then defence secretary John Reid who said the troops were there to help the Afghan reconstruction effort, and "would be perfectly happy" to leave without firing a shot! They fired more than four million bullets in 2007 alone.

John Reid has recently secured a £50,000 job with a private security company operating in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is to be a consultant to G4S Security Services, the company provides armed security guards to British Government employees stationed in war-torn countries. He joined a long list of former Labour Ministers who have cashed in on their Government connections and inside knowledge by taking private- sector jobs, including Tony Blair, Patricia Hewitt, David Blunkett, Adam Ingram and Richard Caborn.





AFGHANISTAN TIMELINE
11 September, 2001
US hit by major terrorist attacks. USA Authorities blame the al-Qaeda network led by Osama Bin Laden. Ignoring other 'inconvenient' links to Saudi Arabia.

October, 2001
The UK was involved in Afghanistan alongside Coalition forces, led by the US under Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). Royal Navy submarines fired Tomahawk missiles against the Taliban and Al Qaeda networks, and RAF aircraft provided reconnaissance and air-to-air refuelling capabilities in support of US strike aircraft. The US flew missions from Diego Garcia, part of the British Indian Ocean Territory.

9 November, 2001
Opposition forces seize MazareSharif and within days march into Kabul and other key cities. The Taliban fall.

August, 2003
Nato under its United Nations mandate assumes control of an international peacekeeping force in Afghanistan.

September, 2004
British combat jets along with 315 troops are sent to Afghanistan for the first time.

October, 2004
Democratic elections are held. Hamid Karzai is declared winner with 55.4 of the vote.

1 October, 2005
Defence Secretary John Reid says Nato troops should be sent to southern Afghanistan.

9 October, 2005
Amid escalating violence four Britons are injured when a suicide bomber rams their armoured vehicle.

26 January, 2006
The UK announces extra troops are to be sent to Afghanistan peaking at 5700 over the next three years. During 2006 the consequences of neglecting Afghanistan to launch an invasion of Iraq became evident.

November 2007 Baghlan sugar factory bombing kills 75, including six Afghan MPs.

December 2007: Battle of Musa Qala, a major clash in Helmand Province.

17 February 2008: Kandahar bombing kills 100 people, the deadliest suicide bombing of the war.

13 June 2008: Sarposa Prison attack. Taliban attack the Sarposa Prison, freeing up to 1,000 prisoners.

July 2009:
The Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission estimates the number of civilians killed in 2008 at around 1,800, with about 1,000 killed by militant groups and about 800 killed by U.S.-led military forces. In 2008, 38 aid workers, almost all from NGO's, were killed, double the number from 2007, and 147 were abducted. This month Seven British soldiers were killed in seven days, that's has caused the reassessment of out tactics.

There seems to be little in the way of strategic planning, Brown finds it easier to let things keep going, to keep the USA happy. Its time for talk about getting out of there, we are not achieving anything, and may be making things worse.

Pictures From Norwich Campaign

Rupert Read and Tony Juniper in Norwich

Pictures From Norwich Campaign

Norwich Green Campaign Shop



Rupert Read, Adrian Ramsay and Patrick Harvie MSP



Rupert Read being interviewed

Norwich North Candidates

The National media havent done that much on the Norwich North by election yet, but there are some interesting stories.

Expected to win are the Tories, Chloe Smith has a leaflet that says she is a Taurus who like Dan Brown films, serious politics here. She met and William Hague in an Asda, so helping local shops is not high on her agenda either. Their campaign HQ is a church!

Labour candidate Chris Ostrowski has been sent in from London, though he does have some Norwich links from his University days. The local party are furious with the way Dr Ian Gibson was treated and the lack of activists may see them struggle to come second. It turns out Ostrowski is an ex Tory

Running an extremely negative campaign is April Pond, who fears the Greens beating her to third place. She has put out several leaflets misquoting the Greens, refused to sign a clean politics pledge, leading to Tory blogger Ian Dale doing some digging on 'Moatgate'. One campaign slogan 'From Norwich, For Norwich' sounds good, but here in Reading West the LD candidate is an Oxford man, he may not like it so much.

Green Party Dr Rupert Read, philosopher (Wittgenstein etc.) University of East Anglia website blog First on Easter Euro List for the Green Party.

UKIP have spent a fortune on advertising, but have very few posters in windows, indicating lots of money but little local support.

Craig Murray Ind (ex ambasador and author) "Put an honest man into Parliament" has been fly posting. It may be that he will be charged for the council removing them, and this could be added to his election expenses. His response is to say 'Totalitarian Dictatorships Are Very Tidy' . I have a lot of respect for Craig, after he blew the whistle on torture; but his campaign is confused.

Also standing:
Thomas Burridge (Libertarian) born 1991, Kings Lynn. Educated at Litcham High School.
Bill Holden (Independent) Contested Norwich North 2005 as an independent.
Alan Hope (Offical Monster Raving Loony)
Robert West (BNP) Who set up his own church. Former Tory Linconshire District councillor, elected as a Conservative but defected to the BNP in 2006.
Peter Baggs (Independent)
Anne Fryatt (NOTA) None Of The Above



Norwich local paper on the election
norfolkblogger

Human Happiness Index

In these times of recession, good news from NEF (the New Economics Foundation); there is no link between human happiness and more posessions. Their Happy Planet Index works out how well each country is using their environmental resources to deliver happiness and well-being to their people.

The Index doesn’t reveal the ‘happiest’ country in the world. It shows the relative efficiency with which nations convert the planet’s natural resources into long and happy lives for their citizens. The nations that top the Index aren’t the happiest places in the world, but the nations that score well show that achieving, long, happy lives without over-stretching the planet’s resources is possible.

Top is Costa Rica, and, nine of the top 10 nations are in Latin America.
Saudi Arabia is 13th, China is 20th, India 35th.
Not a single European country made it into the top 50, Germany is highest at 51, Sweden 53, Italy 69.
The UK (74) just managed to beat that well-resourced and happy country known as Iraq (79).
Australia (102) beat New Zealand (103) and the USA (114) is no doubt breaking out the champagne for managing to triumph over Nigeria (115) by one whole place.
Not too surprisingly, Zimbabwe is languishing at the bottom (143).

http://www.happyplanetindex.org/

Norwich North By Election

Being in Norwich for their by election is really inspiring. Many high profile figures are coming here in the next few weeks, joining a group of volunteers from around the country. There is a real buzz here, helped by some good media coverage, and the fact that for once a by election has happened next to a target seat.

Yesterday I campaigned with Jean Lambert MEP, today I heard Tony Juniper (Cambridge PPC) give an inspirational speech. In the next few days Sian Berry (London Mayorall candidate) is coming to town, then Peter Tatchell (Oxford East PPC).

The response from canvassing is really good, and we have lots of posters up. I have seen a few LD 'winning here' posters but they realistically can only dream of coming 3rd. UKIP have spent some serious money on giant advertisments, but I have yet to see a single poster on a house. There are a few Tory posters, which shouldn't be surprising, much of Broadlands is strong territory for them. I predict a vast increase in the Green vote from 2005, probably not enough to win, but we could come close.

So come on Greens, get down here and make a difference. Or help by raising money or telephone canvassing. Or help Brighton with their ward by election also on the 23rd July.

Labour Fails The Educated

I met Jean Lambert MEP today, who was having a discussion with a voter. The voter graduated a few years ago, but is now unemployed, she was advised the Government to retrain in food preparation. Clearly the system is set up to retrain manual workers, who need new shills. But graduates mostly have lots of skills, how will it help them to retrain? I suspect some thought will have to go into this.

Of course they could just look at the greenparty website for some answers, the Green New Deal wil provide jobs and a sustainable economy. You might say and end to boom and bust, if that phrase wasn't already taken (and misused).

http://www.greenparty.org.uk/news-archive/3493.html

White House Peace Vigil

A friend in the USA told me about this, a protest remarkably similar to Brian Haw in London. A peace vigil has been going on the White House lawn since 1981; Concepcion Picciotto is one who stays; through the rain and snow, the arrests, the abuses and threats through the years. Since 1981, Concepcion, has continued a vigil for world peace against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.



portrait of washington
pics
wikipedia
famewatcher Hero of the Day. “She is standing there for all of us.”
DCist Interview
more pics
wwwwsonneteighteencom
Video

Reading cycle protest part 2

The protest was very well attended, and included friends and family of the late Anthony Maynard. They even got a ghost bike, as I suggested in my earlier post. The fake blood splashed on it looks horrible though.

We waited outside the CPS office for an hour, then just as most had drifted off, out came someone with a message. They even asked us to pose for a picture of those remaining.


has some tributes from his fellow riders.
getreading
Guest book
bbc.co.uk
londoncyclesport
readingcyclingclub
commemorative jersey or email roadracing@readingcyclingclub.com
Route of Anthony Maynard Sportive Sunday July 19th 2009 ride

Protest on the 1st anniversary of the death of local cyclist Anthony Maynard

Today (3 July) is the 1st anniversary of the death of local cyclist Anthony Maynard.

Anthony was cycling between Henley and Bix when he was struck from behind by a van driver who claimed in his defence that he didn't see Anthony.

Anthony was with another local cyclist who was seriously injured.

The Crown prosecution service decided not to prosecute the driver, and this decision has left any vehicle driver who kills a cyclist to simply say I didn't see him or her and get away scot free.

This is an outrageous decision, but there is no option to appeal. So left with no choice Reading Cycling club (of which Anthony was a long term member) are organising a protest outside the office of the Crown prosecution service at Eaton Court, 112 Oxford Road, Reading, Berkshire RG1 7LL.

The CPS offices are close to the town centre, at the very start of the Oxford Road:
The cycling club and friends of Anthony would like to invite any members of Reading Cycle Campaign to join us in this protest.

We will meet at 4 pm, and the protest will last about 10 minutes. Please come along, and spread the word.

Adrian Lawson,
Chair Reading Cycle Campaign
http://www.readingcyclecampaign.org.uk/

One way to post a warning and memorial is a Ghost Bikes; they are small and somber memorial for bicyclists who are killed or hit on the street. A bicycle is painted all white and locked to a street sign near the crash site, accompanied by a small plaque. They serve as reminders of the tragedy that took place on an otherwise anonymous street corner, and as quiet statements in support of cyclists' right to safe travel.
http://www.ghostbikes.org/

Silton Dorset, Another Wind Farm Bites The Dust

Green energy firm Ecotricity had planned to build six 120m turbines near Silton, Gillingham in Dorset. North Dorset District Council's turned it down today.

Around 200 residents were to protest outside the meeting in the Olive Bowl conference centre, Gillingham, with a handful due to speak against the scheme. The campaigners, who go under the name Save Our Silton, have already sent almost 2,000 letters of objection. They argue the wind turbines are only 550m away from the nearest four houses which will suffer unbearable noise disturbance, and that it may damage tourism in the area, especially to some of the nearest houses which offer bed and breakfast and holiday lets.

The Wind Park would have contributed significantly to renewable energy targets and reducing emissions of carbon dioxide. The turbines could produce nearly 20 per cent of the suggested target for renewable electricity generation in Dorset by 2010. Electricity for nearly 9,000 homes could be generated by the giant propellers, reducing North Dorset's carbon footprint by about 10,000 tonnes a year, according to Ecotricity.

Friends of the Earth co-ordinator Dorset Angela Pooley said an environmental impact assessment would have to be made, but backed the use of wind farms in the county to produce renewable energy. "We have to reduce our carbon footprint and that means looking at renewable sources of energy".

But Bob Walter, the Tory MP for North Dorset, opposed the turbines, saying they were unsightly, heavily subsidised and inefficient.

ecotricity wanted to build turbines to reduce emissions
saveoursilton say the turbines woldn't reduce emissions!
recently wind turbine factory closed
Conservative Opposing Wind Turbines
Labour Opposing Wind Turbines
LD Opposing Wind Turbines
Facebook group 'I think wind turbines would look cool in Gillingham.' has 439 members so far

Ethical Food

Chicken Out wins top award

The Chicken Out! website has won the award for Best Use of Interactive in this year’s Broadcast Digital Awards. www.chickenout.tv
website was recognised for “outstanding ability to enhance the viewing experience and become a key element of a TV programme’s success.”

Now, with over 160,000 Chicken Out! supporters backing our campaign for a free-range future and over 250 MPs lending parliamentary support, we are urging the UK government to introduce legislation that improves the lives of millions of chickens.


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Last night More4 showed pig business, a powerful film about the pig industry. The intensive farming methods used in the rest of the world that are no longer legal here are horrible. The animals live in terrible conditions, undermine small farmers and pollute the environment. The lagoons of manure may be responsible forswine flu , and cause poor health for those that live in the area.
Smithfield is the corporation featuring in the film, and is the owner of a massive pig farm in Perote, Mexico, near the village of La Gloria, where the earliest cases of the new H1N1 flu were detected. The virus may have been caused in part by the conditions under which the farm operates, which the petition terms "horrifically unsanitary."

"One-third of the world’s total cultivable land is dedicated to growing cereal and soya to feed livestock, while a further 7% is used for grazing animals. Eighty per cent of the world's soya beans and 60% of its maize and barley are grown for livestock feed. Much of this land is acquired by destroying forests, a major cause of CO2 emissions and loss of biodiversity. Between 2004 and 2005 around 1.2 million hectares of rainforest were cut down as a result of soya expansion, almost entirely for animal feed and livestock pastures."

The film was supposed to premiere in the UK in February but the screening was canceled due to fears of legal action from Smithfield. Robert Kennedy Jr. makes an appearance, speaking out against the dangers of intensive pig farming.

Eco-campaigner Tracy Worcester, a former actress and now Marchioness of Worcester, has campaigned for years for quality food, animal welfare and environmental protection through a revitalisation of rural economies. Pig Business is her four year exploration of intensive pig farming.

newscientist on flu
channel4
Cesspools of Shame
Watch the film here