Plaque to remember those who were killed in the Bombing Raid on Reading on 10 February 1943

I would like to sign the petition, but as I dont live within RBC they wont let me. So all I can do is ask others to sign.

In order to mark the 70th anniversary of the worse bombing raid on Reading during World War II we request that the Council commission a plaque or inscription to remember the people who were killed in the bombing raid on Reading town centre that took place on 10 February 1943.

Just Do It - a tale of modern-day outlaws

A film about climate activism, see the trailer here.

A film by Emily James is a documentary that lifts the lid on climate activism. Just Do It is a new documentary film that entertains and inspires. It takes a behind-the- scenes look at the world of UK climate change activists, offering a funny and engaging look at a community who refuses to sit back and allow the destruction of their world.

End Tax Aviodance

Caroline Lucas is campaigning to end corporate Tax avoidance.

Click here for the petition.

Firstly, the Chancellor should force all multinational companies filing accounts in the UK to reveal their use of tax havens and publish what profits they earn and what tax they pay in each country in which they operate, without exception. Secondly, banks should be required by law to give details of all accounts they maintain for companies operating in the UK so HMRC and Companies House can chase any companies who pretend to be dormant to evade tax. These two simple changes could help recover billions of pounds of lost tax for the UK by revealing those hiding their income from view.

Inequality To Blame For The Riots

Seventy-one per cent of 11-18 year-olds taking part in the first HeadsUp forum of the new school year, 'How equal is Britain?' thought that inequality was either mostly or partly to blame for the riots in English cities this year.

The 'How equal is Britain?' debate, running from September 26 - October 14, attracted a record number of comments from young people. The forum covered a variety of issues ranging from the role of inequality in the recent riots to equal representation in Parliament and sexism in sport.

Opinion was divided on the reasons for the riots:

"I believe that the people who got involved in the riots had a reason. Maybe it was because the government were not really taking care of them. They have got nothing left, so they have got nothing to lose."

"I don't think there was a message behind the riots because it could have started for a reason but most people that were involved with it were doing it for the excitement and money that looting provides."

Those taking part in the forum were asked if inequality played a part in the riots:

* 31% thought inequality was mostly to blame
* 40% thought that inequality was partly to blame
* 16% thought people involved were responsible for their own actions
* 13% were not sure what caused the riots

Equal representation of women in Parliament also attracted a lot of posts, with many agreeing with Green Party leader Caroline Lucas MP, who took part in the debate:

"Over half the population is female, yet we have a situation in which the important decisions about the future of the country are taken by men."

There was some debate as to how this might best be achieved, with some students supportive of fairer gender representation but stopping short of endorsing quotas:

There was also extensive discussion of women in sport. Posters felt that women had fewer sporting opportunities than men, owing to limited TV coverage, stereotypes about specific sports for each gender and poor P.E. lessons at school.

Sadam Husein and Colonel Gaddafi

I dont often, but found this quote from Stop The War is interesting. Most commentators seem to think the killing of foriegn leaders they dont like is a good thing. Many even support the war in Libya. I remain suspicious.

As with the capture of Saddam Hussein in Iraq and the killing of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan, it will be described as a turning point and a further victory in the seemingly endless 'war on terror'.

There is little reason for the triumphalism. Nato's war on Libya was not a humanitarian intervention' but a war for regime change -- illegal under international law. It was about the western powers attempting to regain control of the region in the face of the Arab uprisings across the Middle East.

Yet despite its overthrow of the regime in Libya imperialism faces many problems in the region.

"Gaddafi was a tyrant, he was always warning Arab rulers they were next and what happened to Saddam will happen to them, but his forecast came true with his own death," Ali al-Dabbagh, a spokesman of the Iraqi government told Reuters.


I would like a bit more constistency, why intervene in Iraq and Libya but not Zimbabwe. If its based on human rights why not China or Saudi Arabia? Many are suspicious of a link to oil. Or arms sales.

The 99%

An international movement to protest the way that the bankers continue to profit while ordinary people are paying the penalty for their (and politicians) mistakes.

Some call them 'occupy wall street' while othes know them as 'the 99 percent'.

We are getting kicked out of our homes. We are forced to choose between groceries and rent. We are denied quality medical care. We are suffering from environmental pollution. We are working long hours for little pay and no rights, if we're working at all. We are getting nothing while the other 1 percent is getting everything. We are the 99 percent.

In the UK people are aware that St Pauls Cathedral was closed but seemingly not of much more.

Report That Older people 'hoard' family homes

The very idea that people might be encouraged to leave larger underused homes seems to have hit a raw nerve with the Tories. 'An Englishmans home is his castle' was all very well but we have been heading for a shortage for a number of years, mostly thanks to the Tories (and Labour who had similar policies). Selling of council housing made Maggie Thatcher very polular but sacrificed future generations for the then residents, who largely did very nicely. This was folowed by a failure to build any more of them.

The thinktank Intergenerational Foundation said that 16 million people live in underoccupied homes and there were 25 million empty bedrooms. IF, which is a non-party political charity campaigning for the rights of “younger and future generations” in British policy making, said that the lifecycle of housing was “breaking down” as older people “hoarded” family homes.

The report says: ‘Whilst these older groups may think they are keeping an “asset” for future generations, the negative impact is felt primarily among the young who face higher lifetime levels of debt and smaller living space as a result.

What they ignore at their peril is a housing crisis. Shelter says 'More than two million people find their rent or mortgage a constant struggle or are falling behind with payments.'


Greens have a plan to sort this out, a land value tax. Underused porperties will generate a higher tax than smaller ones so encouraging people to move. The LibDem 'Mansion Tax' would go part of the way, as would giving the current system proper banding. But the big three parties are not brave enough to announce that the wealthy would have to pay more, so instead those least able to afford it are suffering.

Empty properties should be encouraged to be used first, empty buisnesses could be converted to housing when they have been unused for years.

I would also want to increase tax on second homes, it just seems wrong to me that the wealthy can have two or more homes while the young cant get their first one.

Some politicians want to see us build our way out of this problem, but as the best sites are taken this would mean using more marginal land, increasing flooding. Lets use what we have better, its more efficient.

18 Million To Make People Homeless

What a shame,  what a waste,  what a tradjedy.  Millions wasted , violent clashes,  and many families now in need of housing.

All they needed was to find a legal site for them to live on and they would have gone. What a waste

Reading Borough Council's home insulation rate lags behind national average

Reading is below average for insulating its homes according to the Department for Energy and Climate Change. Green candidate Jamie Whitham is calling for a concerted effort to improve the situation and reduce energy bills for the residents.

Out of a total of just over 65,000 homes in the town, the Council has so far managed to insulate a total of only 5,443 homes in the space of three years, equating to a homes treated measure of just 6.9%. The national average is a homes treated measure of 10%.

Elsewhere councils have match-funded the Energy Saving Trust's scheme. These include Kirklees in Yorkshire, where every house was offered the option of free loft and cavity wall insulation. This initiative was led by Green Councillor, Andrew Cooper, which has put the town at the top of the league table nationally. This work has given Kirklees a homes treated measure of 24.8% showing what is possible.

Green candidate for Park Ward Jamie Whitham said: "Proper insulation can save households around £100 per year, combat fuel poverty, and reduce our carbon emissions. We have already suggested that the Council could use the profits from the solar panel scheme to fund more energy-saving measures. It is time that the Labour administration in Reading started prioritising this area."

Camerons Weak Leadership

As is often the case, when a minister resigns his friends are saying what a fine job he did. I dare say they think they are being loyal but is their any truth in it?

Lets look back at a few highlights as his term as defence minister.
The following were a disgrace, made us an international joke.
British troops on front line in Afghanistan told they face the sack

Defence cuts 'to leave aircraft carriers without any planes'

While cuts are made everywhere else, the nuclear weapons are seemingly sacred, despite the cold war being over for decades. SO we have nukes we dont need but no harriers for carriers. Not joined up thinking.

Cameron says he is impressed with Liam Fox's record as defence secretay, but I am not. He said "A weak leader is someone who jumps at it because of some artificial deadline. Let's get the facts established, and then we'll make a decision." So he must be a weak leader then.

Leading From The Middle?

The Chancellor George Osbourne announced that the UK will not lead the rest of Europe in its efforts to cut carbon emissions. So that the country's carbon targets will probably be watered down. What hapened to the "Greenest Government Ever"?, More like 'We will only be as Green if everyone else does too'. Thats following not leading.

In a potentially explosive intervention, Osborne insisted the government will only cut emissions in line with its neighbours to ensure British businesses are "not disadvantaged".

Speaking at the Conservative party conference, the chancellor accused environmental regulations of "piling costs on the energy bills of households and companies" and argued that the government should not adopt green targets that damage the business sector.

Actually it would have meant we would be leading in a growing sector, leading to an increase in exports. Instead others will continue to dominate and we will have to continue to import Green technologies such as wind turbines.

So lets not invest in the future, they want us to continue much as we are; a bit behind. Who thought these people would stick to their promises?

Arrogance Of Power

Today Oliver Letwin MP is shown throwing constituents correspondense in the bin in a park. On 5 occasions. Voters should be able to recall him and kick him out.

Meanwhile more secrets leak out about the dodgy characters surrounding the Defence secretary, if he had any consience he would have resigned by now.

Locally last night Labour members displayed their own arrogance. Blocking in other cars as they were too lazy or just didnt care enough. Reminds me of the Labour Cllr who abused his civic centre parking privilege and left his car there for months. At our expense.

Most politicians start wanting to help people, once in power it seems to go to their heads and their sence of self importance rises.   
Udate;
Meanwhile they are closing down libraries, one opened by Mark Twain. Frozen public sector pensions for two years, cut the benefits to those who need it most.

We're not all in this together.  

Two New Eco Homes in Reading

Catalyst Housing Group have recently completed the eco-refurbishment of two Victorian ‘hard to treat’ houses in Reading.

The range of energy-related measures installed in these properties make the project the first of its kind in the Borough. The project has been endorsed by the European Union as an official partner of the Sustainable Energy Europe Campaign and is a finalist for the ‘Sustainable Smaller Housing Project of the Year’, which is one of the Sustainable Housing Awards 2011.

Two different approaches have been taken for each of the properties:
· ‘Cost house’ (Palmer Park Avenue) - where the marginal costs over and above the standard refurbishment costs have been kept as low as possible.


· ‘Performance house’ (Addington Road) - where the budgetary constraints have been secondary to the final building performance.

One of the main objectives of the project has been to gain the knowledge and experience required before considering rolling out energy-related measures in programmes of work across the stock.

Although the full range of measures will not be replicated in other properties at this time; the measures which optimise carbon dioxide reductions whilst representing the best value for money will be identified as suitable for incorporation in other programmes of work and will help to inform our long-term Asset Management sustainabilty strategy.

A Guest Post from
Catalyst Housing Group
A charitable housing association
www.chg.org.uk

Fox In Deep Doodoo

But he isnt the only one. I warned them already but anothr MP Gerald Howarth has behaved in similar way. Both should go.

My earlier blog post is here
http://greenreading.blogspot.com/2011/03/up-in-arms.html

A Million Engineers Say Yes We Can, Its Politicians Saying No

The technology needed to cut the world’s greenhouse gas emissions by 85% by 2050 already exists, according to a joint statement by eleven of the world’s largest engineering organisations, including the UK's Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).

The problem lies with politicians and the consequent lack of legislation and finance needed to ramp up efforts to tackle climate change.

The professional bodies, together representing 1.2 million engineers, submitted their opinion to the South African Deputy High Commissioner as part of preparations for the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change which is to be held in Durban from November 28 to December 9, (COP 17).

Occupy Wall St, Guest Post Avaaz

As working families pay the bill for a financial crisis caused by corrupt elites, the protesters are calling for real democracy, social justice and anti-corruption. But they are under severe pressure from authorities, and some media are dismissing them as fringe groups. If millions of us from across the world stand with them, we'll boost their resolve and show the media and leaders that the protests are part of a massive mainstream movement for change.

Thousands of Americans have non-violently occupied Wall St -- an epicentre of global financial power and corruption. They are the latest ray of light in a new movement for social justice that is spreading like wildfire from Madrid to 146 cities and counting, but they need our help to succeed.

The worldwide wave of protest is the latest chapter in this year's story of global people power. In Egypt, people took over Tahrir Square and toppled their dictator. In India, one man's fast brought millions onto the streets and the government to its knees -- winning real action to end corruption. For months, Greek citizens relentlessly protested unfair cuts to public spending. In Spain, thousands of "indignados" defied a ban on pre-election demonstrations and mounted a protest camp in Sol square to speak out against political corruption and the government's handling of the economic crisis. And this summer across Israel, people have built "tent cities" to protest against the rising costs of housing and for social justice.

These national threads are connected by a global narrative of determination to end the collusion of corrupt elites and politicians -- who have in many countries helped cause a damaging financial crisis and now want working families to pay the bill. The mass movement that is responding can not only ensure that the burden of recession doesn't fall on the most vulnerable, it can also help right the balance of power between democracy and corruption. Click to stand with the movement:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/the_world_vs_wall_st/?vl

In every uprising, from Cairo to New York, the call for an accountable government that serves the people is clear, and our global community has backed that people power across the world wherever it has broken out. The time of politicians in the pocket of the corrupt few is ending, and in its place we are building real democracies, of, by, and for people.

Quantitative Easing

The Tories in opposition were dismisive but now in government its back. Some are saying its just giving money to banks to boost their bonuses, Labour failed with this, will Tories do better?

Greens want to invest in low carbon economy, creating jobs. There is great danger in leaving large numbers long term unemployed, particularly young people whos careers have just started out been derailed.

Some say that the money from QE will find its way through to ordinary consumers; but other economists reckon there are many more direct methods of stimulating growth. They could buy up the bad debts on the books of the banks; invest in social housing; lend the cash direct to small firms; or build all of the government's latest wave of offshore wind-farms – enough to generate almost half of Britain's electricity.

Will handing banks lots of extra money cause them to speculate on commodities such as oil, boosting their price, pushing up inflation and making life even harder for cash-strapped consumers? If they can be made to invest in small buisness, wind farms, social houising, it will help. Otherwise they will mess us up as badly as Labour.

10 Years of War Achieves Nothing

We have been in a state of war for a decade, many people have died but nothing was gained. This war has lasted about as long as every other conflict involving the uk for the last century put together, but we are no closer to seeing our troops coming home.

Remember when it started, we were told thay shots would not be fired, that troops would be home by xmas. well weve heard all that before.

Does anyone in authority care how much the war has cost, both in lives and cash. Meanwhile they cut spending on everything; health, defence, even on the police. Total allied toll; 2,753 soldiers' lives and a cost of £258billion. No one seems to count the deaths of innocent civilians. Even the Mail has woken up to this. (Updated)

Aside from arms sales who benefits from this war, we are all loosers. We are all in this together.