Maiden Erlegh Round Two

Last year Wokingham Council changed the catchment area, unfairly saying the Reading children could no longer go to Maiden Erlegh Secondary School. Reading is next to Wokingham, for some children it was there closest school.

The Council looked at the proposal and changed it. Instead they have decided they want to prioritise those from Lower Earley, so those living closest to the school can't get in. It does seem a bit strange. This is the result of years of poor planning, building houses with no school provision.

More maps here
I must declare an interest, I have family living close to the school, they could be hit by this.

A campaign group has sprung up on facebook with a website here. Letters to reach Wokingham by Valentines Day. How romantic.

Following the closure of Ryeish Green there has been a need to review the admissions arrangements. However, the informal consultation and this formal consultation have shown that there is no quick and easy answer to the problem of school places and their distribution in Earley. It is clear that with this proposal there will be more losers than winners and I would urge Wokingham Borough Council not to implement this new catchment area and tie-breaker.

* History and Community: This will divide our community which surrounds the school, with some getting in and others not. In time, Maiden Erlegh School will become detached from the community living on its door step, and serve a community which lives further away.

* Size of Designated Area: It makes no sense to enlarge a designated area so that it is massively too big for the school capacity (as confirmed by the Independent Review commissioned by WBC). If and when both schools are of the same quality and enjoy the same reputation, then and only then, does it make sense to have such a big shared catchment area. This proposal will lead to anxiety and stress for parents. It will also lead to huge numbers of appeals (at £200 a piece excluding Head Teacher time) which Maiden Erlegh will have to administer – at the taxpayers’ expense.

* Traffic and Safety: For parents who live less than one mile from Maiden Erlegh, they will have to let their children cross a dangerous, busy road and negotiate a narrow bridge over a railway and motorway to get to Bulmershe, all in darkness in winter. Those who can will drive their children, creating lots of congestion in the Three Tuns area. The idea that all Lower Earley children will walk to Maiden Erlegh is quite ridiculous. This will vastly increase the numbers of car journeys to Maiden Erlegh and increase the number of car journeys to Bulmershe.

It was clear from the public consultation meeting that both councils need to work far more closely together to develop a long term sustainable ten-year plan for school places in this part of East Reading and Wokingham. This must include:

* Investing in Bulmershe to improve its Ofsted Rating – look what has happened in recent years at Highdown and Prospect Schools. If Maiden Erlegh and Bulmershe schools both had a good rating or higher, you would not be faced with this difficult situation. Lower Earley parents would not be lobbying for spaces and East Reading and Earley residents would not be campaigning so hard against your proposals.

* Reviewing the grammar schools in Reading – particular their catchment areas. In the past these schools were only for Reading children. Now Kendrick does not even have a catchment area. I would suggest that there is at least some sort of quota for children who live locally – say within 30 minutes of the school.

In summary, I urge you to think again, put a stop to these proposals, work with RBC and come back to the table with a longer term and sustainable solution.

Letters to be sent to:
School Admissions Consultation, Wokingham Borough Council, Children’s Services, Civic Offices, Shute End, Wokingham, RG40 1WN
or online here

Co-operatives South East Sustainability Conference Reading Tuesday 15th March, 2011

Co-operatives South East Sustainability Conference
Reading Town Hall & Museum Tuesday 15th March, 2011

The conference will include Key Note and Guest Speakers, along with workshops on renewables, retrofit, travel and sustainable communities.

Speakers include:
Charlie Baker - Urbed Architects
Phil Beardmore – Confederation of Co-operative Housing
Dan Harris - Oxford Cycle Workshop
Rob Hopkins - Transitions Network
Stuart Major - Solar Energy
Mike Pickering – The Midcounties Co-operative


To book a place at this event, please click here

Save Our Forests

The Save Our Forests campaign has created a stir. Woodland Trust, save englands forests, #saveourforests on twitter, 38 degrees.

Involded in the campaign are Dr Rowan Williams; Carol Ann Duffy, the poet laureate; Dame Judi Dench, the Oscar-winning actress; and excellent author Bill Bryson.

The government has had to respond by bringing in the spin doctors and launching a "consultation". They're claiming that they love the forests too and there's nothing to worry about. They're asking for views on how our forests should be sold off - when most of us don't want them sold at all. Meanwhile they're quietly removing legal protections for our public woodland, paving the way for privatisation. What sort of a consultation is that?

If they want to know what we think, here it is: 38 Degrees members have already funded a national survey confirming that 84% of the public think our public forests should be protected for future generations. Our enormous petition of nearly 250,000 signatures - almost three times the capacity of Wembley Stadium - proves that people care enough to speak out. Now we need to get our message where the government can't ignore it.

Chip in to fund an ad in our national press here

Intelligent Planning Response To Fuel Price Rises

Professor John Whitelegg, leading academic and spokesperson on sustainable development for the Green Party has strongly criticised government policies to tackle rising fuel prices.

Speaking on Granada TV he said: "Britain could not have got it more wrong if it tried. Government policy on this matter is bonkers and backwards. It needs to get its act together now before oil prices triple, as they inevitably will." "Even a quick look at Berlin or Zurich will show how intelligent planning and investment produces much less driving, much more walking, cycling and public transport and gives people real choices so they can dodge fuel price increases."

Referring to the difficulties facing many people in a time of austerity, he said: "The Green Party takes no satisfaction at all from steep price increases that cause upset and stress for families that are just going about their normal business. We would take a similar view about housing and food."

He highlighted the urgent need for change, concluding: "The Green Party response to this is to sort out our miserable transport and planning system to provide people with dramatic improvements in public transport. We would encourage walking and cycling and prevent counter-productive policies like the closing of 3000 post offices, which makes people travel further and pushes them to opt for the car."

Thats No Life For A Chicken

Pam Anderson on KFC for PETA


More celebs from PETA

Petition to defend the EU Ban on Battery Cages.

Census Joke

The Nationwide Census takes place on 27 March 2011, brought to you courtesy of:
USA arms giant Lockhead Martin

and CACI International, a US-based defence contractor implicated in abuses at Abu Ghraib.

Will people give them all their personal data?

Remember last time the Jedi census phenomenon ?
In England and Wales 390,127 people (almost 0.8%) stated their religion as Jedi on their 2001 Census forms, surpassing Sikhism, Judaism, and Buddhism, and making it the fourth largest reported religion in the countries.[10] In the 2001 Census 2.6% of the population of Brighton claimed to be Jedi. The percentages of religious affiliations were:
Christian: 70.0%
No religion: 14.7%
Chose not to respond: 7.8%
Muslim: 3.1%
Hindu: 2.1%
Jedi: 1.79%

John Pullinger, Director of Reporting and Analysis for the Census, noted that many people who would otherwise not have completed a Census form did so solely to record themselves as Jedi, so this joke 'helped to improve the quality of the Census'. It did not appear to occur to him that people that would put a joke answer against one question on their form, may not have been fully candid in the rest of the form either. The Office of National Statistics revealed the total figure in a press release entitled "390,000 Jedis there are". Allegedly.

Bun in the Oven - Presented by the LA Comedy Shorts Film Festival

Great video from the LA Comedy Shorts Film Festival



Directed by Gary Anthony Williams, Laura Merians & Jeannie Roshar Written by Jeannie Roshar & Gary Anthony Williams Produced by a LA Comedy Shorts Film Festival, Buddies Hollywood as well as Snehal Patel Starring: Jeannie Roshar Gary Anthony Williams Kate Higgins Ilana Krechmer Laura Rossi Navaris Darson Jeremy Rowley Ryan Higman Cinematographer: Laura Merians Editor: Scott Fuselier Associate Producer: Bhavna Devani Music by Nick Jameson Female vocals: Jeannie Roshar Melique Berger Kate Higgins Choreography by Lindsey Glick Wardrobe by Ebone Dorsey Make-up by Samantha McCue

Local Green Cllr Rob While Award

Rob White, a Green Party councillor in Reading has been shortlisted for a national award.

Rob, who represents the Park ward, has been shortlisted as "New Councillor of the Year" in the Councillor Achievement Awards run by the Local Government Information Unit.

Cllr White said today:
"This was totally unexpected. I have just been working away with residents and the council on improving the local area, as I was doing before getting elected.

"Apart from being surprised I am both delighted and honoured to have made the shortlist."

Cllr White said that before the election his priorities were more decent affordable housing, better public transport walking and cycling facilities and tackling crime and antisocial behavior.

Since then, Rob says, he has been "standing up for public services and fighting cuts to care services."

The awards ceremony is being held in Westminster on Tuesday, 8th February.

NHS reorganised. Again.

Cameron said he wouldnt reform the NHS. So what a surprise, he has plamned the biggest NHS reorganisation for decades. 

Labour used to reorganise institutions every couple of years, it looks like ministers have taken positive action when it really means lots more work for staff. 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/jan/17/nhs-bans-operations-surgeon-warns

So will GPs know how to run hospitaks better than the PCTs? Possibly, but thats not the point. They have more important work to do. Leave managers to manage, doctors and nurses to care for patients. 

One of my first posts on this blog was after watching "can Gerry Robinson save the NHS". One of the problems he found was that consultants had too much power, they arranged surgery to suit themselves. 

With Doctors in charge I expect that they may vote yet more pay rises for Drs, while keeping nurses and other health workers pay low. Thats not fair, Doctors have seen huge pay increases recently. 

Cameron said he would save the NHS, it doesnt look like it to the rest of us. 

Petition Against Hinkley C; No More Nukes

I wanted to draw your attention to this important petition that I recently signed:

"Petition Against Hinkley C"


I really think this is an important cause, and I'd like to encourage you to add your signature, too. It's free and takes just a few seconds of your time.

Viesnik D: No new nuclear white elephants at Hinkley or anywhere. Green solutions, not nuclear greenwash!

Abigail Hill: Nuclear power is neither green nor cost effective. the nuclear programme needs to be terminated immediately

Laurence Bryant: go for renewables for the health of the people and the plane

Adrian Windisch: Storing the waste would be a huge burden to future generations. A bit like our using all the cheap fossil fuels leaving them with nothing. Nuke is not fossil fuel though it is mined and has emissions

Good News Bath Road Reservoir

Amazing news today! The planning inspectorate has dismissed both of Thames Water appeals!! The Bath Road Reservoir survives. Many thanks to all those who have supported and helped the campaign over the past 13 years, your dedication and hard work has helped make this campaign an astounding success.

The Inspector dismissed both appeals, concluding that the benefits of the proposed scheme would not "outweigh the harm to the character and appearance of the site and the wider area", citing in particular the "significant mass" of the 3 and 4 storey buildings which would "sit uncomfortably within the development"; that the setting of the heritage assets would be unacceptably harmed, and that the proposal failed to "preserve the special architectural and historic interest of the listed building". The full decision details can be found here

''Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For, indeed, that's all who ever have.'' Margaret Mead

I wrote about this 3 years ago here.

Protest The Cuts; march through Reading on Saturday

March through Reading on Saturday, TUC day of actions.
There will be a march from the University to the Civic centre via the Rbh.

Meet up at any of these locations:
11am Royal Berkshire hospital
12am Market place
1pm Civic centre + rally

The scale of the cuts in Reading are going to be huge.

Reading councillors are expected to make cuts of £17.8 million from the budget and slash around 300 posts.

This is likely to lead to about 150 staff redundancies that are expected to cost the council between £2.5 and £3 million in redundancy payments.

Unlimited free bus travel for pensioners, seasonal replanting of municipal flowerbeds, roadside mowing and graffiti clean-ups are among service cuts the council will be asked to agree.

Proposed cuts and rises
£200,000 cut by reducing meetings and Civic Centre opening hours
£750,000 increased income from the Town Hall, The Hexagon and South Street
£35,000 saving by replacing seasonal bedding at roadsides to low-maintenance shrubs or grass
£80,000 cut by reducing roadside verge cutting from 10 times a year to five times a year
£50,000 income by standardising charges across all sport and leisure facilities. Some now have no charge.
£178,000 income from charging £22 per year for emptying green waste bins
£225,000 cuts in the regulatory teams including licensing and environmental health. For example, stop the out-of-hours dog warden service
£138,000 cut to Street Care services such as cleaning and graffiti removal
£20,000 income from increased charges for second and other residential parking permits
£238,000 cut to council scheme for concessionary bus passes for pensioners, reducing it to the statutory national scheme that provides free off-peak bus travel. At the moment four per cent of all journeys are paid from council tax and not from government funding
£500,000 income from parking charges for currently free on-street parking

conflict chocolate

Conflict chocolate is a post not exactly about domestic conflict over choccie bars.

The Ivory Coast, called the 'pearl of West Africa', is on the brink of civil war and chocolate companies could play a critical role in stopping the bloodshed.

Despite losing elections in November and united international pressure and sanctions to remove him, Laurent Gbagbo is clinging to power. Revenues and tariffs from cocoa, the country’s largest export, are bankrolling his brutal army that has murdered hundreds of winning party supporters. If chocolate companies immediately and publicly refuse to do business with Gbagbo, his cash supply could dry up – and without the support of the army, his power base would dwindle, and he could be forced to step down.

This situation could spiral into all-out war within days. Chocolate lovers of the world, let's flood popular brands like Nestlé, M&M/Mars and Hershey's with messages to end trade with Gbagbo now and commit to working only with the legitimate government. Click to send a message directly to leading companies -- and Avaaz will publish which companies have cut their financial ties to Gbagbo:

All regional, African and international institutions recognise Alassane Ouattara as winner of the November elections and the legitimate President of Ivory Coast, but Gbagbo refuses to step down despite threats of military intervention. More than 200 Ivorians have already been killed, and 25,000 have fled to neighboring countries, whilst pro-Gbagbo TV and radio stations are inciting violence against UN peacekeepers and sparking fears that his supporters could undertake campaigns of widespread brutality. The risk of a dangerous spiral into civil war looms ominously and threatens regional stability.

Ouattara, the legitimate winner, is doing what he can for peace and has agreed to accept ministers from Gbagbo's cabinet into his new administration, but Gbagbo insists he be President. Millions of Ivorians risked their lives to participate in democratic elections and exercise their right to vote. Caving in to Gbagbo would only reward impunity and his violent crackdown – and would encourage other election-losers in Africa to cling to power, as happened recently in Kenya and Zimbabwe.

The Ivory Coast accounts for nearly 40% of the world's cocoa supply. Cocoa companies alone can’t unseat a dictator, but the Central Bank of West African States has just suspended services to Gbagbo -- and cutting the cocoa industry's financial support to his army could be the tipping point. Companies have long bolstered Gbagbo's abusive regime, many through shady financial operations. Three national cocoa institutions gave more than $20.3 million to finance the war effort in 2002-2003, when some of the worst killings and human rights violations were taking place.

We know these companies are making delicate calculations right now and they listen to consumers -- Nestlé just stopped sourcing palm oil from Indonesia after a massive public campaign by Greenpeace to stop rainforest destruction.

It is crucial that the international community escalate pressure, but at this critical time, if they act fast, cocoa companies could hold the key to removing Gbagbo's illegitimate regime. Click to send a message now -- if enough of us persuade them urgently to sever ties to Gbagbo and his forces, we can help pull Ivory Coast back from the precipice.



The world has taken a strong stand to support fair elections and combat impunity in Ivory Coast. Now its future hangs by a thread. If we take action and stand with the democratic Ivorian people now, we can offer hope for a peaceful solution.

With hope,

Stephanie, Benjamin, Alice, Graziela, Maria Paz and the rest of the Avaaz team

P.S. The CEO of Nestlé Paul Bulcke, will co-chair the Davos World Economic Forum at the end of January. If 75,000 of us send messages, we will also deliver our appeal to cocoa companies directly to him.

More information:

Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo facing crisis as cash noose tightened – The Guardian, January 3, 2011:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/03/ivory-coast-president-laurent-gbagbo

Ivory Coast: Africa mediation fails to end stalemate - BBC, January 4, 2011:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12110119

Côte d’Ivoire: Pro-Gbagbo Forces Abducting Opponents - Human Rights Watch, December 23, 2010:
http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/12/23/c-te-d-ivoire-pro-gbagbo-forces-abducting-opponents

West Africa Central Bank Says Alassane Ouattara Controls Ivory Coast Funds - Bloomberg, December 24 2010:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-24/west-africa-central-bank-says-alassane-ouattara-controls-ivory-coast-funds.html

Fresh Cote d'Ivoire Violence Erupts as Armed Groups Clash - Amnesty International, 12 January 2011:
http://amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/fresh-c%C3%B4te-divoire-violence-erupts-armed-groups-clash-2011-01-12

UN News Centre on Côte d'Ivoire:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/morenews.asp?Cr=UNOCI&Cr1

Sweet success for Kit Kat campaign: you asked, Nestlé has answered - Greenpeace, May 2010:
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/news/features/Sweet-success-for-Kit-Kat-campaign/

To find out more about the cocoa trade and how to encourage fair trade and good business practices that reduce conflict as a matter of course:

Hot Chocolate: How cocoa fueled the conflict in Côte d'Ivoire - A report by Global Witness, June 2007:
http://www.globalwitness.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/cotedivoire.pdf

Ending Child Trafficking in West Africa: Lessons from the Ivorian cocoa sector - Anti-Slavery International, December 2010:
http://www.antislavery.org/includes/documents/cm_docs/2010/c/cocoa_report_for_website.pdf

Osborne "bows to rich and powerful"

Alan Johnson has said George Osborne "bows to rich and powerful whilst bearing down on everyone else" as the row on bankers' bonuses continues. A Lib Dem backlash is expected.

The BBC's Business Editor Robert Peston says the outgoing chief executive of Lloyds Banking Group Eric Daniels is in line for a bonus of about £2m this year. This came on top of recent reports that Stephen Hester, boss of the Royal Bank of Scotland which is 84% taxpayer-owned, could receive a £2.5m bonus.

While Alan Johnson is making a powerful speech, lets not forget what happened under Labours watch. Labour did little to regulate bankers' bonuses - at a time when Ed Miliband was working at the Treasury. The rich got very very rich, equality is down. Is it a surprise things will get even worse with the Tories, time for something different.

Justice Equal For All; Not

Edward Woollard, 18, has been given a thirty two month sentence for 'violent disorder' for his part in the student protest at Tory HQ recently where he dropped a fire extinguisher from the roof of the building, narrowly missing police and protesters.

It's a stiff sentence for a stupid act but he'll be unlikely to receive much sympathy. His actions are indefensible; they were criminally reckless and could have resulted in severe injury or death of a protester, police office or passer-by.

Jim Jepps says:

Sadly this does not herald a list of prosecutions against violent behaviour. We will not see those who put Alfie Meadows in hospital before the courts, nor those who put Ian Tomlinson in the morgue. This prosecution may well be the first of many against students though, many of whom will not have endangered lives or been violent in the way that Mr Woollard undoubtedly was.

Judge Geoffrey Rivlin QC said in his sentencing;
"It is deeply regrettable, indeed a shocking thing, for a court to have sentence a young man such as you to a substantial term of custody.

"But the courts have a duty to provide the community with such protection from violence as they can and this means sending out a very clear message to anyone minded to behave in this way that an offence of this seriousness will not be tolerated.

"It is my judgment, exceedingly fortunate that your action did not result in death or very serious injury either to a police officer or a fellow protester."

Jim Jepps says:

My personal view is that this sentence seems comparatively high compared to others who have committed violent offences, but I'm more concerned that this does not herald the start of a series of convictions against those who did not endanger lives on these protests, whilst violent police officers appear to be immune from the law.

One the same day another young man who drove while twice over the legal limit was jailed him for four months, with a two-year driving ban while his mum (who tried to cover up for him) received a two-month sentence suspended for two years (ie nothing). He was an ex copper, and the son of a Tory MP. The cases are different, and only the judge knows all the details, but; is it a coincidence that people with connections get a surprisingly small sentence, while those protesting about MPs get a large one?

Last year I wrote about Labour Peer Lord Ahmed who got a 12 week sentence while others committing a similar offense got between 2 and 4 years in prison.

Personally I would like to see these privileged people treated just like the rest of us.

Guantanimo anniversary

Guantánamo Bay – 9 Years Old Today! 

In January 2010, we said “no more anniversaries!” yet today, Tuesday 11 January 2011 marks nine years of the illegal regime of torture and arbitrary detention at the US-run prison camp at Guantánamo Bay. The London Guantánamo Campaign will be holding two actions to mark this event and urges you to take action by writing to your MP.
 
1 – Delivery of letter to Downing Street – am
2 – Protest vigil Beyond Words: Silent Witness to Injustice – 1-2pm, Trafalgar Square
3 – Write to your MP (letter provided)
 
1 – Delivery of letter to Downing Street
The London Guantánamo Campaign, along with PeaceStrike, will this morning deliver a letter to Downing Street asking the Prime Minister David Cameron to take immediate action to secure the release and return to the UK of Shaker Aamer, seek the release of other prisoners to the UK on humanitarian grounds and help the US close Guantánamo Bay. The letter has been signed by 75 individuals and on behalf of organisations. Signatories include MPs Caroline Lucas and John McDonnell, MEPs Jean Lambert and Baroness Sarah Ludford, London Assembly Member Darren Johnson, Bruce Kent, Victoria Brittain, Andy Worthington, Lindsey German, Kate Hudson and many others. The letter and the full list of signatories are at the end of this communication.
The Guardian newspaprt printed a shorter version of this letter today: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/11/guantanamo-closure-obama-deadline
 
2 – Protest vigil, 1-2pm, Trafalgar Square
If you are in London and free at lunchtime, please join us in Trafalgar Square, outside the National Gallery, in a silent protest to mark nine years of Guantánamo Bay. 173 prisoners at Guantánamo have spent the last 9 nines there without charge or trial and any idea of why they are held there. We ask for just one hour, or less, of your time. The protest will be joined by Jeremy Corbyn MP and messages of support have been sent by Green London Assembly Members Jenny Jones and Darren Johnson, Lib Dem MEP Baroness Sarah Ludford and Labour MP Karen Buck.
Please join us if you can!
 
3 – If you are unable to join us or do not live in London, please send the following letter (or a modified version) to your MP today – you can find their contact details by entering your post code at www.theyworkforyou.com
 
Dear MP,
 
Guantánamo Bay has now been open for nine years. During that time, all but two former British residents have returned to the UK. Almost a year after the expiry of President Obama’s own deadline to close Guantánamo, the facility still holds some 174 prisoners.
 
Recent efforts have been made by Foreign Secretary William Hague and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg to raise the case of Shaker Aamer, the last British resident in Guantánamo Bay, with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. These measures must translate into his immediate and unconditional release and return to his family in the UK. Shaker has never been charged or tried for any crime, and no reasons have been given by the US for his continued detention, despite him being cleared for release in 2007. I urge you to demand that the Prime Minister David Cameron intervenes personally in his case.
 
Guantánamo Bay will not close without concerted efforts by the international community, and Britain must play its part and follow the lead of other European countries that have accepted innocent prisoners on humanitarian grounds. One such man with links to the UK is Ahmed Belbacha, also cleared for release since 2007, who resided in Britain for two years. He cannot return to his native Algeria for fear of his life and liberty, so he continues to languish in Guantánamo. I ask you to urge the government to request his return to the UK, and to offer to take other cleared prisoners awaiting release in order to make possible the early closure of Guantánamo.
 
Support for the closure of Guantánamo Bay has been expressed by all the main political parties. I further ask you to demonstrate your support for its closure by signing, if you have not already done so, EDM 1093 on Guantánamo Bay tabled by Caroline Lucas MP
http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=42093&SESSION=905
 
I look forward to your reply.
 
Yours faithfully,
 
London Guantánamo Campaign
london.gtmo@gmail.com
11 January 2011
 
Open Letter to Prime Minister and signatories (in alphabetical order):
http://londonguantanamocampaign.blogspot.com/2011/01/open-letter-to-prime-minister-david.html
 
Dear Prime Minister,
 
Guantánamo Bay has now been open for nine years. During that time, your predecessors were successful in securing the return to the UK of all British nationals held there, and all but two of the former British residents. Nevertheless, they were knowingly complicit in the ordeal of the men and their families. Almost a year after the expiry of President Obama’s own deadline to close Guantánamo, the facility still holds some 174 prisoners.
 
We welcome recent efforts by Foreign Secretary William Hague and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg to raise the case of Shaker Aamer, the last legal British resident in Guantánamo Bay, with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. These measures must translate into his immediate and unconditional release and return to his family in the UK. Shaker has never been charged or tried for any crime, and no reasons have been given by the US for his continued detention, despite him being cleared for release in 2007. Shaker is, like you, a father, but his four children have had to grow up without their father for the past nine years, and his youngest son has never even met his father. We urge you to intervene personally in his case.
 
Guantánamo Bay will not close without concerted efforts by the international community, and Britain must play its part and follow the lead of other European countries that have accepted innocent prisoners on humanitarian grounds. One such man with links to the UK is Ahmed Belbacha, also cleared for release since 2007, who resided in Britain for two years. He cannot return to his native Algeria for fear of his life and liberty, so he continues to languish in Guantánamo. We would ask you to urgently request his return to the UK, and to offer to take other cleared prisoners awaiting release in order to make possible the early closure of Guantánamo.
 
A series of military tribunals at Guantánamo Bay over the past year, including that of a child soldier, Omar Khadr, show clear contempt for justice and the rule of law by our US allies. In 2011, four years away from the celebration of 800 years of the Magna Carta and the rule of law in England, influential in US and international law, the United Kingdom must show greater leadership in ensuring that basic legal and humanitarian principles are upheld.
 
We, the undersigned,
 
Len Aldis, secretary of Britain-Vietnam Friendship Society
Mark Barrett, Campaign for Real Democracy
Councillor Jonathan Bloch Lib Dem Councillor, Haringey Council
Victoria Brittain
Adrienne Burrows, Peace and Justice in East London
Chris Cole, Figtree
Liz Davies, Chair, Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers
Hilary Evans, Kingston Peace Council/CND
Maria Gallastegui, Peacestrike
Lindsey German, convenor of Stop the War Coalition
Richard Haley, Chair, Scotland Against Criminalising Communities
Noel Hamel, Chair, Kingston Peace Council
Maryam Hassan, Justice for Aafia Coalition
Desiree Howells, Peace and Justice in East London
Kate Hudson, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
Joy Hurcombe, Brighton Against Guantánamo
Cllr Darren Johnson, Green Party member of London Assembly
Bruce Kent, vice-president of Pax Christi
Les Levidow, Campaign Against Criminalising Communities (CAMPACC)
Caroline Lucas, Green MP for Brighton Pavilion
Sarah Ludford, Liberal Democrat MEP
Aisha Maniar, London Guantánamo Campaign
Millius Palayiwa, Director, Fellowship of Reconciliation, England
Asim Qureshi, executive director of Cageprisoners
Milan Rai, co-editor of Peace News
Estella Schmid, Campaign Against Criminalising Communities
Ray Silk, Save Shaker Aamer Campaign
Walter Wolfgang, Labour CND
Rosemary Addington
Khadijah Al-Hilali
Dr Shahrar Ali, Green Party
Bisher Al-Rawi
Karima Azzouni
Abduljaleel Bain
Steve Barnes
Shaun Brown
Maude Casey
Manish Dhokia
Paschal Egan
David Ferrard
Aman Fida
Michael Fisher
Martin Francis
Anne Gray
C.C.H. Gwyntopher
David Harrold
Mary Holmes
Gillian Hurle
Miranda James
Ewa Jasiewicz
Zelda Jeffers
N.M. Kleinman
Ann Kobayashi
Sarah Lasenby
Christine MacLeod
Jim McCluskey
Simon Moore
Corinna Mullin
Anita Olivacce
Roshan Pedder
Mike Phipps
Malcolm Pittock
Ian Pocock
David Polden
M.A. Qavi
Emma Sangster
Daniel Viesnik
Sam Walton
Frances Webber
Adrian White
Adrian Windisch
Richard Wolff
Andy Worthington

Newbury Bypass Remembered; 9th January 1996

On 9th January 1996 the bulldozers and chainsaws moved in to clear the route of the Newbury bypass. This nine-mile stretch of Berkshire countryside had been under threat since a public inquiry in 1988 approved the building of a four-lane road.

With the rising environmental awareness of the late 80s and early 90s came a new commitment to direct action. Open cast mines, peat extraction works, golf courses and many other places were targeted by the new generation of Earth First!-style actions. But the movement really congregated around the issue of roads.

Treehouses were constructed with rope walkways between them so that it would be a difficult, lengthy and expensive job to remove them. It began four years earlier at Twyford Down and spread to numerous threatened woodlands, including Newbury.

Along the Newbury route were three Sites of Special Scientific Interest, ancient woodland, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, rare wildlife in some of the cleanest rivers in the country, organic farmland, and a dozen archaeological sites from a nationally important stone age axe factory site to the historic two battlefields of the Civil War that lent their name to the road protest. Anything that made a piece of land special, precious, worth saving, it was there.

The idea that roads generate rather than solve traffic was long proven by studies. If there is a new road, people will use it. However, it was still a tad counterintuitive for simple-minded ministers, and the cloud of bullshit from construction firm lobbyists made it even harder to see clearly.

What Margaret Thatcher called ‘the great car culture’ was an assault not only on our land and lungs but on social justice. The out of town developments really were making motorway services into the new cities, and they excluded those who couldn’t afford the four-wheeled entry fee. A third of British citizens had no access to a car – the poorest third. Meanwhile, because poor children walked and played in the street they were far more likely to be run over than their rich counterparts.

Beyond this, it was about a clash of values. The profitable versus the sustainable, the greedy versus the stewardly, the acquisitive versus the humane. Some people came just to defend a favourite piece of woodland, but whatever brought people there it was soon apparent to all that the road was not a one off; nor was it about all roads; this was just one prong of an insane bloated vision that placed endless profit above all else. Visions and bonds forged at the road protests became the seeds and strength of the anti-capitalist movement that came at the turn of the century.

Protesters were largely drawn from the untold thousands of unemployed youth, but supporters came from across all demographics. Here were people empowering themselves to challenge the most unpopular government in living memory, so encouragement tsunamied in from mainstream environmental organisations, commentators and the public at large.

On 9th January work began. They came for thirteen trees in a field at the top of the route next to Mary Hare School for deaf children. Protesters repeatedly charged at the lines of security guards, some got arrested but some got through and up three of the trees. After a stand-off, the chainsaw crews went home. That night, a camp was set up among the trees.

Every morning, protesters would patrol the lanes in the area, using CB radio to relay information. As soon as workers were spotted, people descended on the area and charged at the trees. Those that got caught became a diversion that let others through to the trees. The security had no training or insurance to come up the trees; those that were occupied would live to fight another day, and the workers would have to come back.

But as the weeks wore on protesters focused more and more on fortifying their camps. There were over thirty along the route. Some, like Mary Hare and Bagnor, were a few people and even less trees. Others, like Snelsmore, and Rickety Bridge down on the River Kennet, were vast sprawling villages of walkways. Sod what the designers of tower blocks said, these were the real streets in the sky.

Once the main tree felling finished, the evictions of the treehouses began. Rope access workers were brought in with cherry-picker cranes. Huge risks were taken with safety. The evictions’ overseer, Under Sheriff of Berkshire Nicholas Blandy, looked glibly on and said that protesters were fortunate not live in a country where they’d be machine-gunned from the trees.

As the media grew tired and began to stay away, and as the police became bored with standing round outdoors, so the violence increased. Bailiffs would smash protesters in the face with riot shields. The police would turn and face the other way. ‘They can make a complaint later, if they want to,’ said one officer.

By the time the last tree fell at Tot Hill on 2nd April, the policing and security costs had added £25m to the cost of the road, about 20% of the cost of construction. There had been nearly a thousand arrests.

We lost at Newbury. It was always going to be that way. Contracts had been signed, and there was a lot of money as well as face to be lost. But because of the defeat there, there have been victories elsewhere. The continued presence of the protest in the national consciousness had created the space for real discussion on road building. What had started out being treated as a wacky idea had become a new orthodoxy.

The government cancelled great numbers of road schemes, slashing the roads budget by two-thirds at a stroke and saving the public purse £17bn. Remember that number next time someone complains about the waste of money giving dole to scuzzy hippies in trees. You can walk in places such as the water meadows around Salisbury today and be thankful to those who ignored the law at Newbury that it is not under concrete.

Guest post written by Merrick, bristlingbadger.blogspot.com

Berkshire Blogs December

Check out the risers and the fallers with Green Reading exclusive monthly chart of the top blogs in the area (compiled using Wikio.co.uk).

This used to be done by bythemuddybanksofthethames.

Of course no ranking system will ever be definitive so if you want to get listed don't forget to tell us about your blog in the comments section - the more the merrier.

Here are the Berkshire Blog rankings for December 2010.
November is here.
I have archived the lists here.

1 (=) 108 Cons John Redwood MP
2 (=) 151 Boulton and co
3 (=) 224 Liberal Burblings
4 (=) 269 another green world Derek Wall
5 (+1) 376 cartoon church
6 (-1) 437 babyrambles
7 (+3) 567 green reading
8 (-1) 606 left outside
9 (+3) 616 oy va goy
10 (-2) 622 bracknell blog
11 (-2) 680 Cons Cllr Richard Willis
12 (-1) 755 Jane Griffiths
13 (+2) 1024 Lab Richard Mckenzie
14 (+9) 1034 LD Cllr Gareth Epps
15 (-2) 1177 Neville Hobson
16 (-2) 1502 Lab Jones
17 (-1) 1556 Lab Cllr John Ennis
18 (-1) 1638 Mr london street
19 (-2) 1699 the salted slug
20 (=) 1709 LD Cllr Swaine waswasere

There rest of the list is here

AV Alternative Vote

This is not a particularly easy topic to get enthusiastic about.

Just look at the title, how to get people excited by something called an 'Alternative Vote'? An alternative to a vote is not voting, and we don't want that.

Which is presumably why people are calling it 'yes to AV' or 'no to AV'.

So the LD are for it (which makes it harder to like it, the LD are ever more associated with some horrible Government policies). Labour are in two minds. The Tories are against.

But what is the Alternative Vote?

The Alternative Vote (AV) is very much like First-Past-the-Post (FPTP). Like FPTP, it is used to elect representatives for single-member constituencies, except that rather than simply marking one solitary 'X' on the ballot paper, the voter has the chance to rank the candidates on offer. So just slightly better than the current system.

So the Greens are sort of for it, and I will be voting yes, as its a slight improvement on FPTP, but I don't expect anyone to get very excited by it.

What a shame we have such a poor choice, the LD should have stuck to their principles and got us a referendum on PR. Proportional representation is a far better system, and it was LD policy.

Green Party Leader and MP for Brighton Pavilion Caroline Lucas has tabled an amendment to the Referendum Bill to give the choice of various electoral systems, or stick with First Past the Post. Sadly, the big parties who have a vested interest in the current system, have killed off that idea.

More from Peter Cranie here

Buzz food chain is in peril

Bees are dying off worldwide and our entire food chain is in peril. Scientists blame toxic pesticides and four European governments have already banned them. If we get the US and the EU to join the ban, other governments across the world could follow, and save bees from extinction. Sign the avaaz petition and forward this urgent appeal:

Silently, billions of bees are dying off and our entire food chain is in danger. Bees don't just make honey, they are a giant, humble workforce, pollinating 90% of the plants we grow.

Multiple scientific studies blame one group of toxic pesticides for their rapid demise, and bee populations have soared in four European countries that have banned these products. But powerful chemical companies are lobbying hard to keep selling this poison. Our best chance to save bees now is to push the US and EU to join the ban -- their action is critical and will have a ripple effect on the rest of the world.

We have no time to lose -- the debate is raging about what to do. This is not just about saving bumble bees, this is about survival. Let’s build a giant global buzz calling for the EU and US to outlaw these killer chemicals and save our bees and our food. Sign the emergency petition now, and send it on to everyone and we’ll deliver it to key decision makers:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/save_the_bees/?vl

Bees are vital to life on earth -- every year pollinating plants and crops with an estimated $40bn value, over one third of the food supply in many countries. Without immediate action to save bees we could end up with no fruit, no vegetables, no nuts, no oils and no cotton.

Recent years have seen a steep and disturbing global decline in bee populations -- some bee species are now extinct and others are at just 4% of their previous numbers. Scientists have been scrambling for answers. Some studies claim the decline may be due to a combination of factors including disease, habitat loss and toxic chemicals. But new leading independent research has produced strong evidence blaming neonicotinoid pesticides. France, Italy, Slovenia and even Germany, where the main manufacturer Bayer is based, have banned one of these bee killers. But, Bayer continues to export its poison across the world

This issue is now coming to the boil as major new studies have confirmed the scale of this problem. If we can get European and US decision-makers to take action, others will follow. It won’t be easy. A leaked document shows that the US Environmental Protection Agency knew about the pesticide’s dangers, but ignored them. The document says Bayer’s "highly toxic" product is a "major risk concern to non target insects [honey bees]".

We need to make our voices heard to counter Bayer’s very strong influence on policy makers and scientists in both the US and the EU where they fund the studies and sit on policy bodies. The real experts -- the beekeepers and farmers -- want these deadly pesticides prohibited until and unless we have solid, independent studies that show they are safe. Let's support them now. Sign the petition below, then forward this email:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/save_the_bees/?vl

We can no longer leave our delicate food chain in the hands of research run by the chemical companies and the regulators that are in their pockets. Banning this pesticide will move us closer to a world safe for ourselves and the other species we care about and depend on.

With hope,

Alex, Alice, Iain, David and all at Avaaz

MORE INFORMATION

Bee decline could be down to chemical cocktail interfering with brains
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jun/22/chemicals-bees-decline-major-study?INTCMP=SRCH

Bee briefing
http://www.soilassociation.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=RXLEm9WXrHk%3D&tabid=439

$15 Billion Bee Murder Mystery Deepens
http://www.businessinsider.com/colony-collapse-disorder-still-unsolved-lead-researcher-had-connections-to-bayer-2010-10

“Nicotine Bees" Population Restored With Neonicotinoids Ban
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/05/nicotine-bees-population-restored-with-neonicotinoids-ban.php

EPA memo reveals concern that pesticide causes bee deaths
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/green/detail?entry_id=79910

Beekeepers want government to pull pesticide
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/money/beekeepers-want-government-to-pull-pesticide-1107701.html

British Beekeepers' Association to stop endorsing bee-killing pesticides http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/nov/16/beekeepers-end-pesticide-endorsement?INTCMP=SRCH

Pesticide industry involvement in EU risk assessment puts survival of bees at stake
http://www.corporateeurope.org/agribusiness/news/2010/11/16/pesticide-industry-future-bees

RIP Pete Postlethwaite

Clip about the on The Age of Stupid


Interview


Just saw a documentary on him. And found these quotes here.
"At the end of the day, acting is all about telling lies. We are professional imposters and the audience accept that. We've made this deal that we tell you a tale and a pack of lies, but there will be a truth in it. You may enjoy it, or it will disturb you."

It's all in the cheekbones, this career of mine. They are quite whopping, aren't they? Who was it that said, 'He looks like he's got a clavicle stuck in his mouth?'

I refuse to be typecast, and I'll have a go at anything so long as it's different, challenging, hard work and demands great versatility.

My first agent wanted me to change [my name]. So I changed him instead. When I made a breakthrough as an actor, people started to say, 'Who's that bloke with the funny name?' They advised me to change it, saying it would never be put up in lights outside theaters because they couldn't afford the electricity. But I would never contemplate changing it. It's who I am. It's my mother and father, my whole family. It's where everything I am comes from. I couldn't imagine living my life with another name.

Big four supermarkets are expanding at an alarming rate

Recent research says the big four supermarkets (Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Morrisons) are expanding at an alarming rate.

In the last two years, planning authorities have granted permission for at least 480 new supermarket stores in England. It is argued that this will give more choice to local shoppers – but will it? Unfortunately, many councils are persuaded to give planning permission, because of the financial benefit to themselves. Often an agreement is made, whereby the store has to build a community resource, or provide funds for such a venture, in order to gain planning permission to build a store. Thus the council does not have to pay for such facilities. In this age of recession councils will be even more tempted.

John Walker, national chairman for the Federation of Small Businesses, said the number of stores which had opened in the UK in two years was "a concern", especially when almost 12,000 independent shops closed their doors in 2009.

Supermarkets can attract many shoppers with the lure of lower prices (and even more so in a recession). Local traders cannot compete with such huge organisations, which buy in vast bulk at cheap prices. Therefore it leads to forced closure, which, in turn, leads to less choice and variety in an area. The independent High Street shop has been a feature of villages, towns and cities for generations and helps to form the character of an area. Napoleon called us a nation of shopkeepers, in a derogatory way, but, surely, the small trader is a tribute to British enterprise and individuality.

The closure of any small shop leaves our High Streets depleted and, eventually, leads to a loss of identity. 12,000 independent shops went out of business last year.

In their search for ever more cheaper products, the Big Four seem to have scant regard for many concerns.

The farmer who cannot afford to accept the wholesale price offered by the supermarket goes out of business. Question marks hang over the sources of some of the clothing offered so cheaply by the Big Four

And what of quality? Cheapness and quantity triumph here. Mass-produced food, using vast quantities of chemical fertilisers and pesticides is often tasteless when compared to organic produce, or that produced by the local allotment-holder. The effects of imbibing the residues of these chemicals have yet to be seen. And standardisation has reduced variety (take apples and potatoes, for example).

And what of animal welfare? The generality of people have demonstrated their abhorrence of intensive farming methods with their boycott of the battery-produced egg (at least Sainsbury's has banned these).

Yet, I do not doubt that the Big Four will buy milk from the huge factory dairy being proposed in Leicestershire – if it gets planning permission. Like battery chickens, these cows will spend their whole lives inside huge sheds, never placing their feet on a green field. The entrepreneur behind this enterprise has the effrontery to state on television that cows don't belong in fields anymore! It's like a Victorian factory-owner stating: 'Workers (i.e. men, women and children) don't belong in villages anymore!' And, of course, the small dairy farmer will not be able to compete and will go out of business.

Tesco made £3.4 billion profit last year. It cannot possibly make such a profit on its cheaper ranges, which suggests its customers are paying over the odds on other items. But, once in a supermarket, most people will buy everything there. After all, it's so convenient!!!

hattip Vowles

Timelapse; 1000 tonne bridge deck replaced over Caversham Road

The Reading Station works are making progress. This timelapse is astounding.



Network Rail successfully completed the first stage of its six-year project to upgrade Reading’s railway, in time for commuters to begin travelling back to work after the Christmas break.

Between 25 December 2010 and 3 January 2011, more than 250 engineers worked around the clock to lay the groundwork for a bigger, more modern station and a more efficient track layout for the Reading area.

Bill Henry, Network Rail project director for Reading, said: “The work we’ve completed this Christmas is the launch pad for a huge programme of improvements for Reading’s railway. Over the coming years we’ll build a bigger, better station and make substantial changes to the track layout to improve journeys on the entire Western route, from London to Penzance and Swansea.

“Our people have put in 16,000 hours over the past ten days to deliver this work on time, and some two years of planning have gone into keeping disruption to the railway and road network to a minimum.

“Local people have given us great support over the past few days. Around 30 people spent the whole of New Year’s Eve watching us slide the new bridge into place, and hundreds more visited our work site over the new year weekend. It’s fantastic that the public are enthusiastic about our work and show understanding when it affects their journeys.”

Between 25–30 December 2010 Network Rail engineers completed the resignalling of 100 miles of railway around Reading, transferring control to a state of the art signal centre in Didcot. In the early hours of New Year’s Day they lifted a new, 1,000 tonne bridge deck into place over Caversham Road ready to carry track serving new platforms at the station.

This year will see demolition work begin on the old signal box and other buildings north of the station to make way for new platforms. New entrances and a new passenger footbridge will follow, opening for use in 2013.

Green Economics Conference in Oxford 17th January 2011

Long Term Economics Issues and The Green Built Environment:
Risk, investment, the future, discounting, intergenerational equity.

The Green Economics Institute presents a one day Conference event/ Symposium which will bring together state of the art research and ideas about Long Term issues in Economics: Rural Urban Fringe, and the Built environment and construction on the 17th of January 2011 at the Green Economics Institute premises in Oxford.  

Themes and presentations include; planning for the long term, overcoming issues of planning for the long term, rural centric/urban centric perspectives, opportunities for sustainability in the Rural Urban Fringe, discounting, intergenerational equity, intragenerational equity, risk and the future, and investment.

Join us for an exciting day of innovation and lively discussion for research about the rural urban fringe!

This is a working symposium event, contributing to research for government policy on long-termism in economics and the Green Built environment, construction and spatial planning. The ideas and research will contribute to the Rural Economy and Land Use Programme, leading to a policy briefing on the Rural Urban Fringe.

10:30am – 6 pm on the 17th January 2011
at The Green Economics Institute, The Old Music Hall, Oxford

Registration
£25.00 for students and concessions.
£35.00 for individual admission per person.
£60 per person for Invoices and payments by organisations and universities.

email greeneconomicsinstitute@yahoo.com
www.greeneconomics.org.uk

Save Our Services; protest the cuts

Message from the facebook group; Save Our Services in Reading

Fri 7th Jan: Education Protest on Nick Cleggs Birthday. Meet 3.15pm at Trafalger Sq, London. March to Lib Dem HQ. Organised by Education Activist Network.

Sun 9th Jan: Keep Our Post Public! Take the protest to Camerons constituency. Meet 11.30am in Church Green, Witney, Oxfordshire. Organised by the Communication Workers Union.

Thurs 13th Jan: Next SOS Reading meeting. 7.30pm @ the Library Room, Great Expectations hotel, London Street, Reading

Sat 15th Jan: TUC local actions against cuts

Thurs 20th Jan: Protect our NHS in Reading! An open meeting organised by members of 38 Degrees, Reading Trades Union Council and SOS Reading. We aim to discuss potential changes and privatisation in the NHS, including a local 'trial' of GP's commissioning most services in South Reading and discuss how best to defend this vital service. 7.30pm Library Room, Great Expectations Hotel, London Street, Reading

Sat 22nd Jan: National Shop Stewards Network anti-cuts conference. 12pm - 4pm @ South Camden Community School, Charrington Street, London.

Wed 26th Jan: Day of action: Same EMA, Stop all Cuts, Free Education! Walkouts, protests, occupations, marches, teach-ins. Called for by Education Activist Network.

Sat 29th Jan: National Protests against cuts and unemployment in London (organised by National Campaign Against Fees & Cuts and Education Activist Network, backed by London Region University & Colleges Union) and Manchester (organised by Public & Commercial Services union, backed by the TUC).

Hope to see you all soon at some or all of these events.

National Debt False Economy

Every now and then I like to remind people about our debt. How big is it compared to the past? And where did most of it come from.

From figures published May 2010, UK public sector net debt was £903.0 billion. (or 62.2% of National GDP) – Source: Office National Statistics.

And £850 bn was the official cost of the bank bailout.

Notice how close these numbers are? £903.0 billion debt less £850bn from the bank bailout would leave our debt at £53 billion. Relatively speaking this is small beer.

Now I don't claim to be a financial genius, but why aren't these figures talked of more often? Many people suspect the Government is using our debt as an excuse for their own agenda; cutting services for the poorest while allowing the rich to get richer.

They could simply push the banks to pay back what they owe. Clearly they couldn't do it all in one go but considering the big bank profits recently they could make a start.

This is a site debunking some of the myths surrounding the ideological need to cut public spending, False Economy.

Compare where we are today with what happened between the 1992 and 1997 elections.

Yes, our debt is going up and is higher than it was before the election.

But it's still lower than it's been for many years this century, and is lower than in many other similar countries.

Yes, it's costing more to pay back our debt and it's going up.

But it's lower than most years since the second world war. Just 6p in every pound of spending went on paying off debt last year, compared to 8p in 1996.