The death has occurred of one of my few heroes – the great socialist historian Howard Zinn. He was 87.
Unlike many ‘serious’ academics, Zinn had a great way of getting his point across by using humour.
You can see his interviews here http://www.democracynow.org/tags/howard_zinn
Here are a few quotes:
If the gods had intended for people to vote, they would have given us candidates.
Remember, there are some people who cannot be educated. They must be defeated.
There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people.
A poem can inspire a movement. A pamphlet can spark a revolution. Civil disobedience can arouse people and provoke us to think, when we organize with one another, when we get involved, when we stand up and speak out together, we can create a power no government can suppress.
Historically, the most terrible things -war, genocide, and slavery - have resulted not from disobedience, but from obedience.
Civil disobedience is not our problem. Our problem is civil obedience. Our problem is that people all over the world have obeyed the dictates of leaders…and millions have been killed because of this obedience…Our problem is that people are obedient all over the world in the face of poverty and starvation and stupidity, and war, and cruelty. Our problem is that people are obedient while the jails are full of petty thieves… the grand thieves are running the country. That’s our problem.
Saturday, 30 January 2010
Friday, 29 January 2010
*Tickets now on sale for Green Party gig
The Green Party Spring Conference takes place between February 18th and 21st.
Venue: The Arts Depot, North Finchley, London.
We have entertainment laid on every night. The big event is on Feb 20th with a night of music and comedy headlined by Alistair McGowan and that great radical acoustic band Seize the Day. The event is open to everyone. Tickets available here:
http://www.artsdepot.co.uk/event_details.php?sectionid=local%20companies&eventid=1164&searchid=current
Thursday night (18th)will have quiz and an Irish Bingo, while on the Friday night (19th) we have Conference Revue, with some brilliant Green party musicians and sketches. This event takes place at The Elephant Tavern, Ballard's Lane, just fifty yards from the Arts Depot.
Both these events are entry free and opened to everyone.
Venue: The Arts Depot, North Finchley, London.
We have entertainment laid on every night. The big event is on Feb 20th with a night of music and comedy headlined by Alistair McGowan and that great radical acoustic band Seize the Day. The event is open to everyone. Tickets available here:
http://www.artsdepot.co.uk/event_details.php?sectionid=local%20companies&eventid=1164&searchid=current
Thursday night (18th)will have quiz and an Irish Bingo, while on the Friday night (19th) we have Conference Revue, with some brilliant Green party musicians and sketches. This event takes place at The Elephant Tavern, Ballard's Lane, just fifty yards from the Arts Depot.
Both these events are entry free and opened to everyone.
Tuesday, 12 January 2010
*Mayor's year of controversial planning decisions
Four of the Boris Johnson's most controversial planning decisions are
in the running for the coveted 2010 "worst planning decision" award. Darren Johnson makes the award each year for the planning decision he considers to be the most damaging, in parallel to the Mayor's London Planning Awards.
The trophy is an inscribed breeze-block.
This year's shortlist for the prize (together with Darren's comments)
is:
London City Airport, Newham:
Doubling the number of flights will mean huge increases in noise for residents and increasing carbon emissions from a Mayor who claims to lead the fight against climate change.
Brent Cross Cricklewood, Barnet:
By waving through a development that will create a surge in traffic and air pollution, the Mayor has undermined city-wide efforts to improve air quality, and has done nothing to help severely affected centres in neighbouring boroughs.
Columbus Tower, Tower Hamlets:
The Mayor intervened to help this 63 storey tower go ahead on the edge of Canary Wharf against the local council's wishes, apparently because Crossrail money was at stake.
Ferrier Estate, Greenwich:
The Mayor gave no objections to this regeneration project, which will slash the number of social rented homes from 1,730 to 730 in a London borough with 13,486 households on its waiting list.
Darren Johnson commented:
"The Mayor's second year in charge of London's biggest planning decisions has revealed his true priorities. Despite all his talk about sweetening the air and making London pleasant, he is waving through developments that will increase noise and pollution. The Mayor has overruled a local council for Crossrail money, but has shown little leadership in stemming the loss of affordable housing and the probable growth in congestion."
The Winner of the 2010 Worst Planning Decision Award will be announced in March this year, the day before the Mayor hosts the London Planning Awards in City Hall.
in the running for the coveted 2010 "worst planning decision" award. Darren Johnson makes the award each year for the planning decision he considers to be the most damaging, in parallel to the Mayor's London Planning Awards.
The trophy is an inscribed breeze-block.
This year's shortlist for the prize (together with Darren's comments)
is:
London City Airport, Newham:
Doubling the number of flights will mean huge increases in noise for residents and increasing carbon emissions from a Mayor who claims to lead the fight against climate change.
Brent Cross Cricklewood, Barnet:
By waving through a development that will create a surge in traffic and air pollution, the Mayor has undermined city-wide efforts to improve air quality, and has done nothing to help severely affected centres in neighbouring boroughs.
Columbus Tower, Tower Hamlets:
The Mayor intervened to help this 63 storey tower go ahead on the edge of Canary Wharf against the local council's wishes, apparently because Crossrail money was at stake.
Ferrier Estate, Greenwich:
The Mayor gave no objections to this regeneration project, which will slash the number of social rented homes from 1,730 to 730 in a London borough with 13,486 households on its waiting list.
Darren Johnson commented:
"The Mayor's second year in charge of London's biggest planning decisions has revealed his true priorities. Despite all his talk about sweetening the air and making London pleasant, he is waving through developments that will increase noise and pollution. The Mayor has overruled a local council for Crossrail money, but has shown little leadership in stemming the loss of affordable housing and the probable growth in congestion."
The Winner of the 2010 Worst Planning Decision Award will be announced in March this year, the day before the Mayor hosts the London Planning Awards in City Hall.
Monday, 11 January 2010
*Poll surge suggests Greens on course for first Commons seat (The Independent)
Caroline Lucas poised to secure historic breakthrough in Brighton By Michael McCarthy, Environmental Editor
The Green Party is on course to make a historic electoral breakthrough by winning the Labour-held seat of Brighton Pavilion at the forthcoming general election.
A poll of voting intentions carried out by ICM Research shows that the Greens, who had their best-ever result in the constituency in 2005, hold an eight-point lead over their nearest rivals, the Conservatives, with the Greens on 35 per cent, the Tories on 27, Labour on 25 and the Liberal Democrats on 11 per cent.
If repeated at the general election, the result would see the Greens snatch the seat from Labour with a majority of 3,500 over the Conservatives. The Green candidate, Caroline Lucas, the party leader who is already an MEP, would take her seat at Westminster in a key political advance for the British environmental movement. The UK remains the only major European country which has never had Greens in its national legislature.
Several developments boost the chance of Britain's first Green MP. The first is that Brighton Pavilion's incumbent Labour member, David Lepper, is standing down. Mr Lepper is a popular local figure. A key factor in his holding on to the seat last time around was that he had voted against the Iraq war.
The Greens' 2005 candidate there, Keith Taylor, scooped 22 per cent of the vote, beating the Liberal Democrats for third place and coming within 1,000 votes of pipping the Tories to second. That was the party's best general election performance.
Another is that dissatisfaction with the Government of Gordon Brown does not, in radical Brighton – perhaps Britain's most "alternative" city – translate into automatic support for the Conservatives. If Ms Lucas is seen as a credible "keep the Tories out" candidate, she will likely attract considerable support.
But the most significant development is the candidature of Caroline Lucas herself, Britain's most accomplished Green politician. Articulate, passionate, radical without seeming threatening, the former Oxfam adviser has been MEP for South-east England for 10 years, and is a world away from the old image of the Green party activist as someone who lived in a tepee eating brown rice.
She presides over a party which has shifted from its purely ecological roots to an identity which might be described as radical social democrat; although still with the most demanding agenda for fighting climate change, and resolutely anti-nuclear, the Greens are now equally concerned with job creation in the recession and defending the NHS.
Besides a solid record of high-profile activism in the European Parliament, Ms Lucas's achievement has been the modernising of her party, by getting it to elect a single leader. For 20 years grassroots Green activists rejected the "cult of leadership", condemning the party to have several figures speaking for it at once, which meant that the focus was hopelessly split and the Greens were consigned to the political wilderness.
The Greens now have their best and highest-profile politician standing, with no diversions of focus, for their most winnable parliamentary seat.
The party has 126 councillors in 43 local authorities across Britain as well as two MEPs, Caroline Lucas and Jean Lambert. It intends to field a "half slate" of just under 300 candidates in the forthcoming election, likely to be held in May.
But in what some may see as another sign of its political coming of age, it is concentrating its efforts in just three target seats: Brighton Pavilion, Lewisham Deptford and Norwich South.
In Norwich South, the party's deputy leader, Adrian Ramsay, is standing against the former Labour cabinet minister (and leading critic of Gordon Brown) Charles Clarke. The Greens have 13 councillors in Norwich, making them the official opposition, and came first in the city in last year's Euro elections.
In Lewisham Deptford they will field Darren Johnson, local councillor and chair of the London Assembly, against Joan Ruddock, the minister for Energy and Climate Change; they have six Green councillors in Lewisham and in the most recent local elections polled 27 per cent. But Brighton Pavilion represents their best chance of all, where Ms Lucas may be part of the first all-woman slate in a British general election.
Her Labour opponent is Nancy Platts, a former policy adviser and campaigner in the trade union movement and the voluntary sector; their Tory rival is Charlotte Vere, a businesswoman who is chief executive of an online support network for the emotionally troubled, Big White Wall. The Liberal Democrats have yet to adopt a candidate.
The Greens' hope is that in Brighton Pavilion, they, and not the Tories, will benefit from Labour voters' disenchantment. The ICM poll – at present – bears this out. For not only do the Greens have the greatest support, with 35 per cent; what excites the party campaigners is the large number of centre-left voters, Labour and Liberal Democrats, likely to switch their vote to Green if the party is best placed to stop a Tory win.
Almost two-thirds (63 per cent) of Labour and Liberal Democrat voters polled indicated they would switch, with 37 per cent saying they were "very likely" and 26 per cent saying they were "quite likely" to switch in that situation.
Although the headline on the website of the Labour candidate, Nancy Platts, asserts that "Voting Green Will Mean A Tory MP For Brighton" – by splitting the Labour vote – it is clear that some Brighton Pavilion electors take the opposite view, and consider that voting Green may keep the Conservatives out – with historic consequences.
............................
If you haven't seen a hard copy of the paper you'll get a nice surprise: On the front page there's a very prominent green-coloured panel with a picture of Caroline and, in big letters, "Britain's first Green MP?".
noel
The Green Party is on course to make a historic electoral breakthrough by winning the Labour-held seat of Brighton Pavilion at the forthcoming general election.
A poll of voting intentions carried out by ICM Research shows that the Greens, who had their best-ever result in the constituency in 2005, hold an eight-point lead over their nearest rivals, the Conservatives, with the Greens on 35 per cent, the Tories on 27, Labour on 25 and the Liberal Democrats on 11 per cent.
If repeated at the general election, the result would see the Greens snatch the seat from Labour with a majority of 3,500 over the Conservatives. The Green candidate, Caroline Lucas, the party leader who is already an MEP, would take her seat at Westminster in a key political advance for the British environmental movement. The UK remains the only major European country which has never had Greens in its national legislature.
Several developments boost the chance of Britain's first Green MP. The first is that Brighton Pavilion's incumbent Labour member, David Lepper, is standing down. Mr Lepper is a popular local figure. A key factor in his holding on to the seat last time around was that he had voted against the Iraq war.
The Greens' 2005 candidate there, Keith Taylor, scooped 22 per cent of the vote, beating the Liberal Democrats for third place and coming within 1,000 votes of pipping the Tories to second. That was the party's best general election performance.
Another is that dissatisfaction with the Government of Gordon Brown does not, in radical Brighton – perhaps Britain's most "alternative" city – translate into automatic support for the Conservatives. If Ms Lucas is seen as a credible "keep the Tories out" candidate, she will likely attract considerable support.
But the most significant development is the candidature of Caroline Lucas herself, Britain's most accomplished Green politician. Articulate, passionate, radical without seeming threatening, the former Oxfam adviser has been MEP for South-east England for 10 years, and is a world away from the old image of the Green party activist as someone who lived in a tepee eating brown rice.
She presides over a party which has shifted from its purely ecological roots to an identity which might be described as radical social democrat; although still with the most demanding agenda for fighting climate change, and resolutely anti-nuclear, the Greens are now equally concerned with job creation in the recession and defending the NHS.
Besides a solid record of high-profile activism in the European Parliament, Ms Lucas's achievement has been the modernising of her party, by getting it to elect a single leader. For 20 years grassroots Green activists rejected the "cult of leadership", condemning the party to have several figures speaking for it at once, which meant that the focus was hopelessly split and the Greens were consigned to the political wilderness.
The Greens now have their best and highest-profile politician standing, with no diversions of focus, for their most winnable parliamentary seat.
The party has 126 councillors in 43 local authorities across Britain as well as two MEPs, Caroline Lucas and Jean Lambert. It intends to field a "half slate" of just under 300 candidates in the forthcoming election, likely to be held in May.
But in what some may see as another sign of its political coming of age, it is concentrating its efforts in just three target seats: Brighton Pavilion, Lewisham Deptford and Norwich South.
In Norwich South, the party's deputy leader, Adrian Ramsay, is standing against the former Labour cabinet minister (and leading critic of Gordon Brown) Charles Clarke. The Greens have 13 councillors in Norwich, making them the official opposition, and came first in the city in last year's Euro elections.
In Lewisham Deptford they will field Darren Johnson, local councillor and chair of the London Assembly, against Joan Ruddock, the minister for Energy and Climate Change; they have six Green councillors in Lewisham and in the most recent local elections polled 27 per cent. But Brighton Pavilion represents their best chance of all, where Ms Lucas may be part of the first all-woman slate in a British general election.
Her Labour opponent is Nancy Platts, a former policy adviser and campaigner in the trade union movement and the voluntary sector; their Tory rival is Charlotte Vere, a businesswoman who is chief executive of an online support network for the emotionally troubled, Big White Wall. The Liberal Democrats have yet to adopt a candidate.
The Greens' hope is that in Brighton Pavilion, they, and not the Tories, will benefit from Labour voters' disenchantment. The ICM poll – at present – bears this out. For not only do the Greens have the greatest support, with 35 per cent; what excites the party campaigners is the large number of centre-left voters, Labour and Liberal Democrats, likely to switch their vote to Green if the party is best placed to stop a Tory win.
Almost two-thirds (63 per cent) of Labour and Liberal Democrat voters polled indicated they would switch, with 37 per cent saying they were "very likely" and 26 per cent saying they were "quite likely" to switch in that situation.
Although the headline on the website of the Labour candidate, Nancy Platts, asserts that "Voting Green Will Mean A Tory MP For Brighton" – by splitting the Labour vote – it is clear that some Brighton Pavilion electors take the opposite view, and consider that voting Green may keep the Conservatives out – with historic consequences.
............................
If you haven't seen a hard copy of the paper you'll get a nice surprise: On the front page there's a very prominent green-coloured panel with a picture of Caroline and, in big letters, "Britain's first Green MP?".
noel
*Commissionerioner Dick's award.
I totally agree with Joseph Healy's letter below.
The award to Commissioner Dick is the most undeserved since Caligula's horse. A police officer who got lost inside Scotland Yard, who prevaricated and gave ambiguous orders that led to the execution of an innocent person!!
The letter below was published in Friday's issue of the South London Press.
"I read with interest your account of the New Year's Honours List on January 1st but one significant award was not mentioned. As someone standing for the election in the constituency of Vauxhall, which includes Stockwell, where an innocent man, Jean Charles de Menezes, was killed by the Metropolitan Police in 2005. I wish to express my shock and revulsion at the award of the Queen's Police Medal to Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick, the woman who oversaw a lot of the operation. I share the concern and anger of the de Menezes family campaigners over this - and what a slap in the face it is for them after everything else they have suffered. Once again it demonstrates that the establishment will always rally round for its own and the victims will be left voiceless. The circumstances of this case were simply too murky and there are questions which have never been answered. To grant this award now is, I believe, an utter disgrace."
Joseph Healy
Green Party Parliamentary Candidate for Vauxhall
The award to Commissioner Dick is the most undeserved since Caligula's horse. A police officer who got lost inside Scotland Yard, who prevaricated and gave ambiguous orders that led to the execution of an innocent person!!
The letter below was published in Friday's issue of the South London Press.
"I read with interest your account of the New Year's Honours List on January 1st but one significant award was not mentioned. As someone standing for the election in the constituency of Vauxhall, which includes Stockwell, where an innocent man, Jean Charles de Menezes, was killed by the Metropolitan Police in 2005. I wish to express my shock and revulsion at the award of the Queen's Police Medal to Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick, the woman who oversaw a lot of the operation. I share the concern and anger of the de Menezes family campaigners over this - and what a slap in the face it is for them after everything else they have suffered. Once again it demonstrates that the establishment will always rally round for its own and the victims will be left voiceless. The circumstances of this case were simply too murky and there are questions which have never been answered. To grant this award now is, I believe, an utter disgrace."
Joseph Healy
Green Party Parliamentary Candidate for Vauxhall
Sunday, 10 January 2010
*Tories and Climate Change
Guest post from a Barnet Green Party member.
Did anyone else hear this gem during PMQs on Wednesday? Lifted from Hansard, the word Laughter in brackets doesn't begin to convey the volume of howls of derision Ann Winterton received for her stupid question. I would love to have seen Cameron's smug face as she spoke...
Q6. Ann Winterton (Congleton) (Con): Bearing in mind the failure of Copenhagen and the current weather cycle, which clearly indicates a cooling trend- [ Laughter. ] Mr. Speaker: Order. The more noise, the less progress we make. I want to reach other Back Benchers.
Ann Winterton: Will the Prime Minister reconsider the proposed wasteful expenditure of £100 billion on offshore wind farms, which will be incapable of delivering sufficient energy but will result in excessively exorbitant charges for electricity users?
The Prime Minister: The idea that the Conservative party could take a lead on climate change when they cannot even convince their own Back Benchers of what is necessary- [ Laughter. ]
The Conservatives cannot make up their mind about nuclear. We are now the leading power in the world for offshore wind. We will soon be making announcements that will make it clear that massive numbers of jobs will come as a result of offshore wind. That is the right policy if we are going to have 15 per cent. renewables by 2020. I cannot understand where the Conservatives' energy policy comes from. If they take out nuclear and they take out offshore wind-and every Conservative local authority is opposing onshore wind as well-they have no policy whatsoever.
Thankfully she is standing down at the next election. Still, I wrote to her thus...
Ann,
Just to say how much you cheered me up on Wednesday with your question to the Prime Minister. I almost choked on my sandwich as I sat in my freezing van at lunchtime listening to PMQs.
The amount of laughter you received gave me hope that so many other MPs actually understand about Global Warming and Climate Change. The UN stated that in 2008 over 300,000 people died worldwide due to changes in climate.
May I suggest you look beyond your own snowy back garden and listen to the testament of Inuit Indians, Himalayan tour guides, and citizens of Lima in Peru etc., before you make such a misjudged statement in the Commons again.
Despite George Bush's denial of the subject, all the best data on Climate Change actually comes from American Universities. The truth is out there, go find it.
All the best on your future career,
Donald Lyven - Barnet Green Party
Did anyone else hear this gem during PMQs on Wednesday? Lifted from Hansard, the word Laughter in brackets doesn't begin to convey the volume of howls of derision Ann Winterton received for her stupid question. I would love to have seen Cameron's smug face as she spoke...
Q6. Ann Winterton (Congleton) (Con): Bearing in mind the failure of Copenhagen and the current weather cycle, which clearly indicates a cooling trend- [ Laughter. ] Mr. Speaker: Order. The more noise, the less progress we make. I want to reach other Back Benchers.
Ann Winterton: Will the Prime Minister reconsider the proposed wasteful expenditure of £100 billion on offshore wind farms, which will be incapable of delivering sufficient energy but will result in excessively exorbitant charges for electricity users?
The Prime Minister: The idea that the Conservative party could take a lead on climate change when they cannot even convince their own Back Benchers of what is necessary- [ Laughter. ]
The Conservatives cannot make up their mind about nuclear. We are now the leading power in the world for offshore wind. We will soon be making announcements that will make it clear that massive numbers of jobs will come as a result of offshore wind. That is the right policy if we are going to have 15 per cent. renewables by 2020. I cannot understand where the Conservatives' energy policy comes from. If they take out nuclear and they take out offshore wind-and every Conservative local authority is opposing onshore wind as well-they have no policy whatsoever.
Thankfully she is standing down at the next election. Still, I wrote to her thus...
Ann,
Just to say how much you cheered me up on Wednesday with your question to the Prime Minister. I almost choked on my sandwich as I sat in my freezing van at lunchtime listening to PMQs.
The amount of laughter you received gave me hope that so many other MPs actually understand about Global Warming and Climate Change. The UN stated that in 2008 over 300,000 people died worldwide due to changes in climate.
May I suggest you look beyond your own snowy back garden and listen to the testament of Inuit Indians, Himalayan tour guides, and citizens of Lima in Peru etc., before you make such a misjudged statement in the Commons again.
Despite George Bush's denial of the subject, all the best data on Climate Change actually comes from American Universities. The truth is out there, go find it.
All the best on your future career,
Donald Lyven - Barnet Green Party
Saturday, 9 January 2010
*Alistair McGowan to headline at Green Party Conference entertainment.
My favourite comedian Alistair McGowan has confirmed that he will headline at the Green Party Conference concert.
The Conference takes place between Feb 18 and 21st in The Arts Depot, Tally Ho Corner, North Finchley, London N12.
There will be entertainment on every night with the main event on Saturday 20th.
As well as Alistair, there will be the brilliant young comedian Ian Smith - http://www.myspace.com/iansmithcomedy
and my favourite band of all time - "Seize the Day" who have recorded dozens of brilliant songs including the Motorway Song ("Fuck your motorway"), Designer Kidz, and one of the saddest songs of all time "I Was Only Doing My Job" Narrated from the point of view of the lorry driver who ran down and killed Jill Phipps, it starts off with defensive bravado but as the song progresses, you hear the guilt coming through. You can hear it on http://www.seizetheday.org/music.cfm?trackID=7&albumID=1&alphabet
There will also be a music review and comedy on Friday 19th and Quiz, Irish Bingo and auction on Thursday 18th.
All entertainment events are open to the general public. All performers have donated their time for free.
The Conference takes place between Feb 18 and 21st in The Arts Depot, Tally Ho Corner, North Finchley, London N12.
There will be entertainment on every night with the main event on Saturday 20th.
As well as Alistair, there will be the brilliant young comedian Ian Smith - http://www.myspace.com/iansmithcomedy
and my favourite band of all time - "Seize the Day" who have recorded dozens of brilliant songs including the Motorway Song ("Fuck your motorway"), Designer Kidz, and one of the saddest songs of all time "I Was Only Doing My Job" Narrated from the point of view of the lorry driver who ran down and killed Jill Phipps, it starts off with defensive bravado but as the song progresses, you hear the guilt coming through. You can hear it on http://www.seizetheday.org/music.cfm?trackID=7&albumID=1&alphabet
There will also be a music review and comedy on Friday 19th and Quiz, Irish Bingo and auction on Thursday 18th.
All entertainment events are open to the general public. All performers have donated their time for free.
Tuesday, 29 December 2009
*Norwich councillor in Gaza house arrest
A Norwich Green Party councillor has been placed under house arrest in Egypt after trying to reach the Gaza Strip to deliver art materials to people traumatised by the conflict in the territory.
Peter Offord, Green county councillor for Thorpe Hamlet, set off last week to join the Gaza Freedom March, a 1,000-strong international delegation calling for the borders to be re-opened to let in humanitarian aid and mark the first anniversary of a conflict with Israel which saw more than 1,400 people killed.
The 62-year-old managed to reach the Egyptian city of el-Arish, about 40km away from the Gaza Strip, but at 12pm on Sunday he was among around 30 activists who were detained in their hotel.
Road blocks have also been set up around the town, with the Egyptian security forces preventing taxis carrying people who appear to be European, from leaving, with two protesters having been stopped and detained by police.
Mr Offord, a qualified art therapist, who hoped to visit the newly set up Palestine Trauma Centre in Gaza and donate art materials, said: “We are pretty much under house arrest. We can leave the apartments so long as we don't take our luggage with us, but the minute we pick up our bags, they stop us from leaving.
“The internet connection at the hotel has either gone down or been cut off and there are plain-clothed police at the front and back of the hotel.
“My main aim is getting the art materials to the trauma centre, so I am trying to make contact with the Egyptian Foreign Minister to see if, even if I can't go there, it would be possible for someone else to take the materials to them.”
On New Year's Eve the group hopes to walk from Gaza City to the Erez border crossing to meet a delegation from the Israeli side comprising of Palestinians and Jews who are also calling on the Israeli government to open the border crossing.
But Mr Offord said the group was becoming increasingly frustrated and that such as meeting was looking unlikely to happen unless the Egyptian security forces relented.
He said: “We are frustrated, sad and angry. From the outset we made clear this was a peaceful protest, but as soon as we arrived they enforced a law saying it was unlawful to gather in groups of six or more, so the main protest was banned.
“We are looking at ways we might still be able to get there, but people are becoming demoralised.”
Mr Offord said the trip had still fulfilled its objective to raise awareness of the situation in Gaza and help victims of the conflict.
“It is vital that Gaza and Palestine are not forgotten by the rest of the world,” he said. “It highlights the need for both sides to come to a peaceful resolution.”
Peter Offord, Green county councillor for Thorpe Hamlet, set off last week to join the Gaza Freedom March, a 1,000-strong international delegation calling for the borders to be re-opened to let in humanitarian aid and mark the first anniversary of a conflict with Israel which saw more than 1,400 people killed.
The 62-year-old managed to reach the Egyptian city of el-Arish, about 40km away from the Gaza Strip, but at 12pm on Sunday he was among around 30 activists who were detained in their hotel.
Road blocks have also been set up around the town, with the Egyptian security forces preventing taxis carrying people who appear to be European, from leaving, with two protesters having been stopped and detained by police.
Mr Offord, a qualified art therapist, who hoped to visit the newly set up Palestine Trauma Centre in Gaza and donate art materials, said: “We are pretty much under house arrest. We can leave the apartments so long as we don't take our luggage with us, but the minute we pick up our bags, they stop us from leaving.
“The internet connection at the hotel has either gone down or been cut off and there are plain-clothed police at the front and back of the hotel.
“My main aim is getting the art materials to the trauma centre, so I am trying to make contact with the Egyptian Foreign Minister to see if, even if I can't go there, it would be possible for someone else to take the materials to them.”
On New Year's Eve the group hopes to walk from Gaza City to the Erez border crossing to meet a delegation from the Israeli side comprising of Palestinians and Jews who are also calling on the Israeli government to open the border crossing.
But Mr Offord said the group was becoming increasingly frustrated and that such as meeting was looking unlikely to happen unless the Egyptian security forces relented.
He said: “We are frustrated, sad and angry. From the outset we made clear this was a peaceful protest, but as soon as we arrived they enforced a law saying it was unlawful to gather in groups of six or more, so the main protest was banned.
“We are looking at ways we might still be able to get there, but people are becoming demoralised.”
Mr Offord said the trip had still fulfilled its objective to raise awareness of the situation in Gaza and help victims of the conflict.
“It is vital that Gaza and Palestine are not forgotten by the rest of the world,” he said. “It highlights the need for both sides to come to a peaceful resolution.”
Friday, 25 December 2009
*20mph speed zones cut road injuries by 40%, study says
UK cities should have more 20mph speed zones, as they have cut road injuries by over 40% in London, a study claims.
In particular the number of children killed or seriously injured has been halved over the past 15 years, the British Medical Journal reported.
The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine study estimates 20mph zones have the potential to prevent up to 700 casualties in London alone.
At 20mph, it is estimated only one in 40 pedestrians is killed in a crash.
This compares with a one in five chance for someone hit at 30mph.
The researchers compared data on road collisions, injuries and deaths in London between 1986 and 2006, with speed limits on roads.
After adjusting for a general reduction in road injuries in recent years, they found that the introduction of 20mph zones were associated with a 41.9% drop in casualties.
The greatest reduction was seen in children under the age of 11 years and in the numbers of all ages killed or seriously injured.
Cyclist injuries fell by 17% once 20mph zones came in, and injuries in pedestrians have been cut by almost a third.
There was also no evidence of a higher rate of casualties in areas bordering the 20mph zones, as in areas adjacent to 20mph zones casualties fell by an average of 8%.
Expansion
Study leader Dr Chris Grundy, a lecturer at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: "This evidence supports the rationale for 20mph zones, not just in major cities in Britain, but also in similar metropolitan areas elsewhere.
"Indeed, even within London, there is a case for extending the currently limited provision of such zones to other high casualty roads."
He estimated that 20mph zones in London save 200 lives a year, but this could increase to 700 if plans to extend the zones were implemented.
A spokesman for the Department of Transport said the study backed their own research showing that 20mph zones help to reduce accidents and casualties.
"Our road safety strategy consultation recommends that local authorities introduce, over time, 20mph zones or limits into streets around schools, and which are primarily residential in nature, to protect pedestrians and cyclists.
"This will save lives and make people feel more secure in walking and cycling on those streets."
Kevin Clinton, head of road safety at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, said: "This research confirms that one of the most effective ways of protecting vulnerable road users, especially children, is the introduction of 20mph zones.
"It lends weight to calls for an expansion of 20mph zones, which RoSPA strongly supports and which we hope will become a crucial part of the new road safety strategy for the next 10 years."
(BBC)
A special word here for Councillor Katie Dawson, Green Party Councillor in Islington. She was instrumental in forcing the 20mph policy through Islington Council in the face of opposition from the ruling Lib Dems. She can sleep well at Christmas knowing that there will be people alive to celebrate next year's festive season who would not have been alive without her efforts.
In particular the number of children killed or seriously injured has been halved over the past 15 years, the British Medical Journal reported.
The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine study estimates 20mph zones have the potential to prevent up to 700 casualties in London alone.
At 20mph, it is estimated only one in 40 pedestrians is killed in a crash.
This compares with a one in five chance for someone hit at 30mph.
The researchers compared data on road collisions, injuries and deaths in London between 1986 and 2006, with speed limits on roads.
After adjusting for a general reduction in road injuries in recent years, they found that the introduction of 20mph zones were associated with a 41.9% drop in casualties.
The greatest reduction was seen in children under the age of 11 years and in the numbers of all ages killed or seriously injured.
Cyclist injuries fell by 17% once 20mph zones came in, and injuries in pedestrians have been cut by almost a third.
There was also no evidence of a higher rate of casualties in areas bordering the 20mph zones, as in areas adjacent to 20mph zones casualties fell by an average of 8%.
Expansion
Study leader Dr Chris Grundy, a lecturer at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: "This evidence supports the rationale for 20mph zones, not just in major cities in Britain, but also in similar metropolitan areas elsewhere.
"Indeed, even within London, there is a case for extending the currently limited provision of such zones to other high casualty roads."
He estimated that 20mph zones in London save 200 lives a year, but this could increase to 700 if plans to extend the zones were implemented.
A spokesman for the Department of Transport said the study backed their own research showing that 20mph zones help to reduce accidents and casualties.
"Our road safety strategy consultation recommends that local authorities introduce, over time, 20mph zones or limits into streets around schools, and which are primarily residential in nature, to protect pedestrians and cyclists.
"This will save lives and make people feel more secure in walking and cycling on those streets."
Kevin Clinton, head of road safety at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, said: "This research confirms that one of the most effective ways of protecting vulnerable road users, especially children, is the introduction of 20mph zones.
"It lends weight to calls for an expansion of 20mph zones, which RoSPA strongly supports and which we hope will become a crucial part of the new road safety strategy for the next 10 years."
(BBC)
A special word here for Councillor Katie Dawson, Green Party Councillor in Islington. She was instrumental in forcing the 20mph policy through Islington Council in the face of opposition from the ruling Lib Dems. She can sleep well at Christmas knowing that there will be people alive to celebrate next year's festive season who would not have been alive without her efforts.
Wednesday, 16 December 2009
Friday, 11 December 2009
*London Greens Winter Party
Our Winter Party is shaping up to be a great social event. “Sounds like a jolly party, so I will be there” said a top London (non-GP) Blogger.
Jules, our Social officer has put in a huge amount of work. She has gathered wonderful stuff for our auction and raffle. She is even baking the Green party birthday cake, and wait until you taste Melan’s wonderful cuisine!!
There will be a pay bar and they have got in real ale, especially for the Green Party.
There will be a ‘goody bag’ for everyone (or at least the first 60).
IT IS NOT CONFINED TO GP PEOPLE, SO DRAG IN ALL FRIENDS, FAMILY, WORKMATES ETC. WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED.
PARTY WITH A DIFFERENCE!
This year's London Fed Winter Party hopes to be so. Also marking the exact birthday of PEOPLE (from whence we grew), founded 12th December 1972.
Presentations to the longest serving active members and the children from the Euro campaign leaflets.
With talented John Hegley headlining and live music from Afghanistan and the Ukraine; vegan & vegetarian dishes from Iran & Central London (?!). Quality and original auction lots and raffle prizes kindly donated by Ecotricity, Ecover, Wiggly Wigglers & others, including a Bat Walk for two at the London Wetlands Centre. We are going to try our hardest to make this a 'zero waste event' with NO disposable cups, plates, cutlery, anything. Hope to see you there.
Out of the tube, left & left again!
Winter Party
Saturday 12th December
7.30pm to 11pm
The Horse Hospital
Colonnade, Bloomsbury
London WC1N 1HX
See map at
Russell Square tube, Piccadilly Line,
Buses: 7, 59, 68, 91, 168, 188
Special guest: Comic poet musician, John Hegley (
Delicious vegan & vegetarian feast
Live music
Pay bar
Disabled access
Original raffle prizes, auction, Irish bingo, gift stall & more
FREE admission but donations very welcome. Come along, bring friends. Meet and chat to our MEP, Assembly Members and Councillors. Have a great London night out at this special venue for the Arts.
Live music
Pay bar
Disabled access
Original raffle prizes, auction, Irish bingo, gift stall & more
FREE admission but donations very welcome. Come along, bring friends. Meet and chat to our MEP, Assembly Members and Councillors. Have a great London night out at this special venue for the Arts.
Jules, our Social officer has put in a huge amount of work. She has gathered wonderful stuff for our auction and raffle. She is even baking the Green party birthday cake, and wait until you taste Melan’s wonderful cuisine!!
There will be a pay bar and they have got in real ale, especially for the Green Party.
There will be a ‘goody bag’ for everyone (or at least the first 60).
IT IS NOT CONFINED TO GP PEOPLE, SO DRAG IN ALL FRIENDS, FAMILY, WORKMATES ETC. WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED.
PARTY WITH A DIFFERENCE!
This year's London Fed Winter Party hopes to be so. Also marking the exact birthday of PEOPLE (from whence we grew), founded 12th December 1972.
Presentations to the longest serving active members and the children from the Euro campaign leaflets.
With talented John Hegley headlining and live music from Afghanistan and the Ukraine; vegan & vegetarian dishes from Iran & Central London (?!). Quality and original auction lots and raffle prizes kindly donated by Ecotricity, Ecover, Wiggly Wigglers & others, including a Bat Walk for two at the London Wetlands Centre. We are going to try our hardest to make this a 'zero waste event' with NO disposable cups, plates, cutlery, anything. Hope to see you there.
Out of the tube, left & left again!
Winter Party
Saturday 12th December
7.30pm to 11pm
The Horse Hospital
Colonnade, Bloomsbury
London WC1N 1HX
See map at
Russell Square tube, Piccadilly Line,
Buses: 7, 59, 68, 91, 168, 188
Special guest: Comic poet musician, John Hegley (
Delicious vegan & vegetarian feast
Live music
Pay bar
Disabled access
Original raffle prizes, auction, Irish bingo, gift stall & more
FREE admission but donations very welcome. Come along, bring friends. Meet and chat to our MEP, Assembly Members and Councillors. Have a great London night out at this special venue for the Arts.
Live music
Pay bar
Disabled access
Original raffle prizes, auction, Irish bingo, gift stall & more
FREE admission but donations very welcome. Come along, bring friends. Meet and chat to our MEP, Assembly Members and Councillors. Have a great London night out at this special venue for the Arts.
Tuesday, 8 December 2009
*Dubai debt woes give Islamic finance its first big crisis
By Andrew Newby
DUBAI, Dec 02, 2009 (AFp) - Dubai World's plan to delay repaying a huge Islamic bond issue may damage the image of sharia finance, not due to inherent problems but rather because investors have ignored key questions, analysts say.
"In many ways, this has been an extraordinary crisis, but it is the first for the empyonic sukuk industry," said Khalid Howladar of Moody's Investors Service.
Another expert, professor Habib Ahmed of Durham University, said the crisis points to the need for a better understanding of the rules applying to sukuk.
"This case is a wake-up call for Islamic finance to focus more on ethical and moral issues that it has been ignoring for so long," Ahmed told AFp.
A widespread view among economists is that fears about the rights of the Dubai World bondholders relate at least as much to a lack of clarity in the Dubai legal system as they do to the rules of Islamic finance.
In addition, much of Dubai's spending has gone on speculative construction projects and the 50 percent fall in property prices in the emirate means all real estate-related finance deals face a problem whether using Islamic or Western rules, they say.
Islamic sharia rules forbid usury, so anyone lending money is barred from charging interest. Instead, investors are granted a share of the assets and in the case of a property developer, the issuer of a sukuk will typically pay a rent until refunding the loan when it matures.
Dubai World's property unit Nakheel, developer of Dubai's iconic palm Jumeirah artificial island resort, is scheduled to repay a 3.5 billion dollars sukuk on December 14, so it is the first subsidiary affected by the group's request last week for a six-months halt to debt repayments.
"The maturity date of the sukuk was December 14, 2009 when Nakheel was supposed to pay the last rental coupon and buy back the assets, but instead declared its inability to perform," said Ahmed, chair in Islamic law and finance at Durham's Institute of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies.
Theoretically at least, Islamic laws on financial transactions have some inherent features that induce stability, he said.
"The ban on interest and other rules would prevent Islamic investors investing in certain instruments such as conventional bonds and derivatives," which caused last year's global credit crunch, Ahmed said.
"Until now, Islamic economists have been saying that Islamic finance was not affected directly by the subprime problems. The Nakheel problem shows that Islamic finance can have similar problems if wrong investments are made," he said.
One reason for this is that many sukuk are structured to resemble conventional bonds, meaning the risks of ownership are transferred to the issuer rather than shared by the investors, the professor said.
"This is one of the criticisms of Islamic products: instead of coming up with products that reflect the spirit and substance of Islamic law, they are structured very similar to conventional products," Ahmed said.
A source who asked to remain anonymous because his company has extensive dealings in the region said credit ratings agencies have valued Islamic debt on the creditworthiness of the issuer rather than the assets because of doubts over investors' claim to the assets.
"Noone has confidence in sukuk investors to foreclose on the assets" they have lent money on in Dubai and several countries using sharia rules, because the legal system in those countries is "underdeveloped," he said.
The Dubai International Financial Centre, a business district which opened in 2004 with the aim of making the emirate a world-class financial hub, uses English law within its perimeter because of the lack of precision in sharia law, the source told AFp.
Moody's Howladar agreed with Ahmed that many sukuks are too similar to convention finance for their own good.
"The desire for Middle Eastern corporate credit exposure and unsecured debt has created sukuk instruments that, in substance, attempt to be identical to conventional bonds," he said in a study released this week.
Restructurings such as Dubai World's are common in mature markets, but the "immature and opaque nature" of Dubai's law system and the lack of precedent "give little comfort to investors spread across the world," he said.
"Given the sheer scale and complexity of Dubai World, this event will be an important test of investors.
Source: Zawya
This article is by Andrew Newby, economics journalist and foreign affairs expert. He is the Green Party General Election candidate for Hendon.
DUBAI, Dec 02, 2009 (AFp) - Dubai World's plan to delay repaying a huge Islamic bond issue may damage the image of sharia finance, not due to inherent problems but rather because investors have ignored key questions, analysts say.
"In many ways, this has been an extraordinary crisis, but it is the first for the empyonic sukuk industry," said Khalid Howladar of Moody's Investors Service.
Another expert, professor Habib Ahmed of Durham University, said the crisis points to the need for a better understanding of the rules applying to sukuk.
"This case is a wake-up call for Islamic finance to focus more on ethical and moral issues that it has been ignoring for so long," Ahmed told AFp.
A widespread view among economists is that fears about the rights of the Dubai World bondholders relate at least as much to a lack of clarity in the Dubai legal system as they do to the rules of Islamic finance.
In addition, much of Dubai's spending has gone on speculative construction projects and the 50 percent fall in property prices in the emirate means all real estate-related finance deals face a problem whether using Islamic or Western rules, they say.
Islamic sharia rules forbid usury, so anyone lending money is barred from charging interest. Instead, investors are granted a share of the assets and in the case of a property developer, the issuer of a sukuk will typically pay a rent until refunding the loan when it matures.
Dubai World's property unit Nakheel, developer of Dubai's iconic palm Jumeirah artificial island resort, is scheduled to repay a 3.5 billion dollars sukuk on December 14, so it is the first subsidiary affected by the group's request last week for a six-months halt to debt repayments.
"The maturity date of the sukuk was December 14, 2009 when Nakheel was supposed to pay the last rental coupon and buy back the assets, but instead declared its inability to perform," said Ahmed, chair in Islamic law and finance at Durham's Institute of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies.
Theoretically at least, Islamic laws on financial transactions have some inherent features that induce stability, he said.
"The ban on interest and other rules would prevent Islamic investors investing in certain instruments such as conventional bonds and derivatives," which caused last year's global credit crunch, Ahmed said.
"Until now, Islamic economists have been saying that Islamic finance was not affected directly by the subprime problems. The Nakheel problem shows that Islamic finance can have similar problems if wrong investments are made," he said.
One reason for this is that many sukuk are structured to resemble conventional bonds, meaning the risks of ownership are transferred to the issuer rather than shared by the investors, the professor said.
"This is one of the criticisms of Islamic products: instead of coming up with products that reflect the spirit and substance of Islamic law, they are structured very similar to conventional products," Ahmed said.
A source who asked to remain anonymous because his company has extensive dealings in the region said credit ratings agencies have valued Islamic debt on the creditworthiness of the issuer rather than the assets because of doubts over investors' claim to the assets.
"Noone has confidence in sukuk investors to foreclose on the assets" they have lent money on in Dubai and several countries using sharia rules, because the legal system in those countries is "underdeveloped," he said.
The Dubai International Financial Centre, a business district which opened in 2004 with the aim of making the emirate a world-class financial hub, uses English law within its perimeter because of the lack of precision in sharia law, the source told AFp.
Moody's Howladar agreed with Ahmed that many sukuks are too similar to convention finance for their own good.
"The desire for Middle Eastern corporate credit exposure and unsecured debt has created sukuk instruments that, in substance, attempt to be identical to conventional bonds," he said in a study released this week.
Restructurings such as Dubai World's are common in mature markets, but the "immature and opaque nature" of Dubai's law system and the lack of precedent "give little comfort to investors spread across the world," he said.
"Given the sheer scale and complexity of Dubai World, this event will be an important test of investors.
Source: Zawya
This article is by Andrew Newby, economics journalist and foreign affairs expert. He is the Green Party General Election candidate for Hendon.
Saturday, 5 December 2009
CHRISTMAS WITHOUT CRUELTY FAYRE
CHRISTMAS WITHOUT CRUELTY FAYRE takes place tomorrow Sunday Nov. 6th.
10am-5pm.
Venue, Kensington Town Hall, just yards away from High Street Kensington Tube.
As usual, I will be running the Green Party/Green Room stall. I will also be conducting the Auction at 2.30pm.
Our stall is downstairs outside the crèche.
Hope to meet loads of you there. If you haven't been there before, it really is a wonderful event.
Wednesday, 2 December 2009
*The Internationale starts auction.
The auction on Saturday was a great success.
Adams & Smith Auctioneers (alias artists Hollington & Kyprianou)put on a very professional production. About 50 people attended. I was introduced after a rousing rendition of all six verses of The Internationale.
Among the prices realised:
Packet of anadins......£5.50.
A used golf ball.......£40. This allowed me a rant about the iniquities of Donald Trump's vandalism in Scotland and 'Scottish Clearances'
Bottle of water........£4. The greatest con of the 20th and 21st centuries.
Empty plastic bag......£8. Allowed me to give a quick briefing on these environmental terrors and mention my GLA paper 'Plastic not Fantastic'
Banking counter pen and holder......£48. Made the point that while people were expected to trust the banks, the banks didn't even trust their customers with a plastic pen!!
Several hundred pounds was raised to help send protestors to Copenhagen.
The whole event was filmed and will be available in the near future.
See more at www.electronicsunset.org
Adams & Smith Auctioneers (alias artists Hollington & Kyprianou)put on a very professional production. About 50 people attended. I was introduced after a rousing rendition of all six verses of The Internationale.
Among the prices realised:
Packet of anadins......£5.50.
A used golf ball.......£40. This allowed me a rant about the iniquities of Donald Trump's vandalism in Scotland and 'Scottish Clearances'
Bottle of water........£4. The greatest con of the 20th and 21st centuries.
Empty plastic bag......£8. Allowed me to give a quick briefing on these environmental terrors and mention my GLA paper 'Plastic not Fantastic'
Banking counter pen and holder......£48. Made the point that while people were expected to trust the banks, the banks didn't even trust their customers with a plastic pen!!
Several hundred pounds was raised to help send protestors to Copenhagen.
The whole event was filmed and will be available in the near future.
See more at www.electronicsunset.org
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