This blog supports Scottish Independence!

This blog supports Scottish Independence!
A long haul to the vote, (Now scheduled for 18th September 2014) but the Scottish Greens are formally involved in the YES Campaign
A website is also set up to rally supporters of Scottish independence in England - Yes England.
There is also a Facebook Page for both these campaigns.

Green MSP to Support Candidate in Norwich

GREEN PARLIAMENTARIAN IN NORWICH NORTH!
Patrick Harvie MSP talks about what just a few Greens can achieve in a Parliament

The Green Party candidate in the Norwich North by-election, Rupert Read, is aiming to become the first ever Green MP at Westminster in the election on July 23rd.

But in fact the Greens already have two MPs – in the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood.

One of them is Patrick Harvie MSP, who has been a Green MSP for Glasgow since 2003. Mr Harvie will be in Norwich on Sunday and Monday (July 12th and 13th) in support of Dr Read’s campaign in Norwich North.

Patrick Harvie says although the Greens may be few in number, they regularly hold the balance of power at Holyrood and have notched up some remarkable achievements, including the first Green Act in Britain – Patrick’s own legislation to tackle hate crime.

The Scottish Green MPs have also delievered:

* a Climate Change Bill with stronger targets than those set for the UK
* a £27.4m Climate Change Fund for innovative communities in Scotland
* a £30m Scottish Investment Fund for socially beneficial enterprises
* legislation to protect the coastline against the risk of oilspills in the Firth of Forth
* a strong campaign to get a buildings insulation programme in place across Scotland
* helped secure the abolition of student tuition fees in Scotland

Patrick Harvie is clear that even a small number of Green MPs at Westminster could begin working towards similar progressive measures. That’s why he’ll be out campaigning with Rupert Read in various locations across Norwich North on Sunday and Monday, and ready to meet the media on request.

Green progress in Europe

This is the news release from the Greens' European grouping:

Great Result for European Greens strengthens GREENS/EFA Group by at least 10 Seats

The European Green Party has had an excellent result in the election to the European Parliament. A total of 46 Green MEPs have been elected, up from 35. The Greens/EFA Group is now likely to have 53 MEPS (46 Greens and 7 EFA MEPs), up from 43, although the exact formation of the Group is still to be confirmed

EGP Co-Spokesperson Philippe Lamberts, who has been elected a MEP for the Belgian French-speaking Green Party Ecolo, said: “To have increased the number of Green MEPs from 35 to 46 is a great success. Our showing is even more remarkable when you consider that we have 11 more seats than before in a parliament with 49 fewer MEPS and that all other groups have shrunk. Countries which deserve a special mention from our point of view include France where Europe-Ecologie obtained an amazing 16% of the national vote and so will have 14 MEPs and Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Finland which will all have more Green MEPs than last time round and Greece which now has its very first Green MEP (The Greek Greens’ campaign demonstrated European solidarity as an Austrian-Greek Green stood as a candidate to support the Greek party). What our 31% increase in seats proves beyond any shadow of a doubt is that the Greens are a major political force to be reckoned with and that we are gaining the trust of more and more voters, not only in our traditional areas like the environment and climate policy and human rights, but also economics and social policy. “

EGP Co-Spokesperson Ulrike Lunacek, who was also elected a MEP for the Austrian Greens, who maintained 2 seats despite an electoral atmosphere marred by rightwing populism, continued:” I would like to congratulate all Green parties and their members, candidates and workers for their hard work and to thank all the people who, as our slogan said, dared to “Think Big, Vote Green. We will fight hard on their behalf for a Green New Deal for Europe, which was at the heart of our common election campaign and obviously appealed to many voters, including many who had never voted Green before. The Green New Deal would not only create 5 million new Green-Collar jobs in 5 years but would also help fight climate change as 500 billion Euros of public and private funds would be invested in renewables, energy efficiency and other future-oriented technologies. While we are generally very pleased with our showing, we are very disappointed not to have made an electoral breakthrough in the EU’s new member states or in southern Europe, with the notable exception of Greece. From now until 2014, working hard with Greens in those countries will be our major priority so that we can ensure that voters in every EU member state have a viable option of sending a Green MEP to the Parliament.”

(Note - the EFA part of the Parliamentary grouping is composed of Regionalist and Left Civic Nationalist Parties including the SNP and Plaid Cymru.)

Green Election Videos

Here are some of the very good Green Party election videos for the forthcoming European and local elections.

This is the main one first broadcast last week for the Euro elections on June 4th -
http://www.thinkagainvotegreen.org.uk/

And here is the i-player link for the June 4th local elections broadcast from this week.


Here is one, (courtesy of Jim's blog) from the campaign in the North West where lead Green Candidate Peter Cranie could well be slugging it out with far right leader Nick Griffin for the last seat under the electoral process used for these elections.


A You Gov poll reported earlier this week that 34% of respondents had said they would either vote Green or consider voting Green. More here.

For a more old fashioned campaigning method here is a printable Green Party poster.

It is perhaps a sign of the times that fellow Green blogger Matt Sellwood was given a guest post on the Labour supporting Daves' Part Blog to put forward the case for left-wingers to give their votes to the Greens in these elections, particularly in London and the South East where Jean Lambert and Caroline Lucas are defending their seats and in the North West battle mentioned above.

Support The Occupations!

Two schools have been occupied in Glasgow in opposition to the Council's planned closure programme. This, along with recent factory occupations in Ireland, Scotland and England, is another sign of the growing awareness of the need for direct action tactics to oppose the onslaught of cuts, closures and job losses that ordinary people face in the aftermath of the breakdown of casino capitalism. French workers have been engaged in some even more militant and radical action, including occupying and keeping bosses captive! The ruling class and the establishment should know that we will not take the destruction of our communities, livelihoods and services lying down. These are all signs of what is to come.

From the BBC -

A demonstration has been held in support of parents who have occupied two closure-threatened schools.

More than 20 parents barricaded themselves inside Wyndford Primary and St Gregory's Primary in the Maryhill area of Glasgow on Friday afternoon.

The city-wide Save Our Schools Campaign held a rally outside the premises in a show of solidarity.

Glasgow City Council has proposed closing or merging 13 primary schools and 12 nurseries across the city.

Parent Debbie Watson is one of those occupying the school.

She said: "We are fighting against the closure of our schools.

"If our schools close within the Wyndford community, our community dies.

"It's already in a bad state as it is, but our community will fight to the bitter end to keep our schools open.

"We will be here until the very end until Glasgow City Council and the Labour councillors wake up."

The support we've been getting has been amazing. I've had about 300 texts from all over Britain and even one from Italy
Nikki Rathmill
Protestor

More, including the interview above, here.

The Glasgow Save Our Schools Website is here.

All these occupations should be applauded and supported and publicised as much as possible to show people what is possible.

Factory Occupied In Dundee

An occupation is taking place at Prisme Packaging in Dundee. It started at 5pm on Wednesday 4th March after the twelve employees were told their contracts were being immediately terminated without redundancy pay.

Quote:

“On Monday we came into work as normal and the Managing Director came in and gave his letter of resignation. So we phoned the company secretary who was actually on holiday. We were told to speak to a guy called Alan Dand. On Tuesday he called us and an administrator came to look at the accounts. Then the company told us that they didn’t have enough assets to pay for the administrator and said “Looks like we’re just going to shut the door”.

We were told that the director and a legal representative were coming to tell us our rights but in fact the legal representative was for the director and wouldn’t tell us anything. They won’t even tell us who owns the company! We demanded that we be given a letter how much we were entitled to in redundancy payments, our P45’s and statutory redundancy forms. When we received the letter it stated how much our statutory redundancy payments were and that we were entitled to wages, pay in lieu of notice and accrued holiday pay. Then the next sentence of the letter said “Unfortunately, we do not have any money to make these payments to you.”. They said there were other routes we could take to get our redundancy payments but all they have suggested is speaking to the Citizens Advice Bureau.

After receiving these letters we were told to leave and come back at half nine in the morning but we decided we’re not leaving until we receive what we’re entitled to. We’re not giving them the opportunity to lock the doors while we’re out so we end up with nothing.”

Please text/phone urgent messages of support to 07970875455 or email prismeworkerssolidarity@googlemail.com

http://www.solidarityscotland.org/content/view/595/2/

Weekly Links 11/01/2009

Gaza
Here are some links regarding this weekend's demonstrations and other events.
UK Indymedia had a timeline of events during the Saturday protest in London.

Pictures from the London Demonstrations are posted here, here, and here. They also have reports and pics from Sheffield and Edinburgh, which also has links to Indymedia reports of protests from around the world.

A detailed opinion piece with photos from the London demo has been posted on the website of the commune.

Bloggers reports come from
- Derek Wall recording David Rosenberg's views on Another Green World.
- Jim, on Daily (Maybe), who links to lots of other blogging comment.
- Ed, at I.R. also has some good pics from Saturday's demo.


Other blogging
Dave Osler at Dave's Part reflects on the latest revelations of a racist outburst from a British Royal.
Matt S at Anglo-Buddhist Combine reports on early UK opinion polling for the upcoming European elections.
Meanwhile, on the subject of polls, A Very Public Sociologist blogged about the latest Weblog Awards this week, and gave some suggestions for a brave and eclectic handful of leftist bloggers to vote for against the rightist hordes.

Protest Against The Israeli Attacks On Gaza

NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION: SATURDAY 3 JANUARY
HANDS OFF GAZA: STOP THE BOMBING: FREE PALESTINE
Assemble 12:30pm along Embankment, by Embankment tube station , LONDON.
Called by Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Stop the War Coalition, British Muslim Initiative and many other organisations.

PLEASE PUBLICISE AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION AS WIDELY AS POSSIBLE.

OTHER DEMONSTRATIONS IN LONDON:

TUESDAY 30 DECEMBER, 2 - 4pm outside Israeli Embassy, Kensington High Street, London, W4. Nearest tube Kensingston High Street (turn right out of tube station and walk along the main road.

WEDNESDAY 31 DECEMBER, 2 - 4pm outside Israeli Embassy

THURSDAY 1 JANUARY, 2 - 4pm outside Israeli Embassy

FRIDAY 2 JANUARY 2 - 4 pm. Outside the Egyptian Embassy, 26 South Street, London, W1K 1DW. Call for Egypt to open the border immediately.

*********************************
DEMONSTRATIONS ROUND THE COUNTRY

GLASGOW
Saturday 3 January 12 noon. Outside Lloyds TSB St Vincent Street then assemble for demo at Blytheswood Square 2pm

EDINBURGH
Saturday 3 January 12 noon. Foot of the Mound, Princes Street

BRISTOL
Centre, opposite the Hippodrome, Tuesday - Friday 5.00 - 6.00 and Saturday 3.00 - 4.00.

CARDIFF
Tuesday 30 December 12 to 1pm. outside Cardiff Market/ St John's Church, the Hayes
Wednesday 31 December New Year Vigil. Nye Bevan Statue, Queen Street

NOTTINGHAM
Tuesday 30 December 12 noon, Market Square

SOUTHAMPTON
Tuesday 30 December 12 to 2pm, West Quay Entrance, High Street

PORTSMOUTH
Saturday 3 January 11am, Guildhall Square
Organised by Portsmouth Network for a Just Settlement of the Arab-Israeli Conflict, and Portsmouth Stop the War Coalition

HULL
Saturday 3 January, 11am. Queen Victoria Square.

England and Wales Green Party statement on the events in Gaza here on Derek Wall's blog Another Green World- Derek has been blogging regularly as things have developed.

the enemy of nature

Sometimes, when you are reading something it is just so appropriate to the times and other things you have recently read or heard about. So it was for me the other day when I was reading Joel Kovel's excellent argument for ecosocialism, the enemy of nature.

The Bhopal anniversary was just the other day, I had just been reading in the newspaper about the plans to privatise parts of Scotland's forestry in order (it is claimed) to "pay for climate change tackling measures" and this weekend sees the annual climate change demonstrations in London and elsewhere. With these in mind, Kovel's words (on page 40-41 of the 2007 Zed second edition) took on an extra immediacy and relevance -

The essential argument for environmental economics within the capitalist system is that by privatizing nature people learn to care for it as their property. However, the problem is that, being made property, nature is a priori severed from its ecosystemic ways of being. Thus the ceaseless rendering into commodities, with its monetization and exchange, breaks down the specificity and intricacy of ecosystems. To this is added the devaluation, or basic lack of caring, which attends what is left over and unprofitable. Here arise the so-called "externalities" that become the repositories of pollution. To the extent the capital relation, with its unrelenting competetive drive to realize profit, prevails, it is a certainty that the conditions of production at some point or other will be degraded, which is to say, natural ecosystems will be destabilized and broken apart. As James O'Connor has demonstrated in his pioneering studies of this phenomenon, this degradation will have a contradictory effect on profitability itself (the Second Contradiction of Capital"), either directly, by so fouling the natural ground of production that it breaks down, or indirectly, in the case of regulatory measures, being forced to pay for the healthcare of workers, etc, re-internalizes the costs that had been expelled into the environment.(see note)
In a case like Bhopal, numerous insults of this kind interacted and became the matrix of a ghastly "accident." For Bhopal, degradation was concentrated in one setting; while the ecological crisis as a whole may be regarded as its occurrence in a less concentrated but vastly more extended field, so that the disaster is now played out more slowly and on a planetary scale.
It will surely be rejoined to this that a great many countervailing techniques are continually introduced to blunt or even profit from the degradation of conditions and production, for example, pollution control devices, commodification of pollutants, etc. To some degree these are bound to be effective. Indeed, if the overall system were in equilibrium, then the effects of the Second Contradiction would be contained, and we would not be able to extrapolate from it to the ecological crisis. But this brings us to the second great problem with capital, namely that equilibrium and confinement of any sort are anathema to it.

Note - The first contradiction of capital is that of the classical "realization crisis", where cutting workers wages makes it more difficult for them to purchase the commodities they produce.

Wise words indeed - I recommend Kovel's book to all seeking a deeper understanding of the current systemic economic and ecological crisis.

Weekly Links 23/11/08

Activism
The 2008 Climate Change Campaign march in London is coming up in a couple of weeks, and the day after is the No Sweat Gathering in London for those wishing to make a weekend of it.

No Sweat Gathering - Sun Dec 7
As well as Mark Thomas reading from and signing copies of his new book about Coca Cola, Belching Out The Devil, hear Garment Worker Activists From Bangladesh tell their story; Colombia Solidarity Campaign on the most dangerous country in the world to be a trade unionist and loads more...

Sunday December 7 at Queen Mary & Westfield College, Uni of London.
Crash accommodation for Sat night can be arranged for anyone coming to the benefit and / or the climate march. Glossy fliers available on request. More info and downloadable flier (agenda to follow) at:
http://www.nosweat.org.uk/node/824
Tickets at:
http://www.wegottickets.com/event/39506 (£6 full price)
http://www.wegottickets.com/event/39507 (£4 concs)

British Republicanism
Republicanism continues to get more column space in the British press and to be taken more seriously than for a long time. After various articles in the Guardian, including some by members of the broad campaign group Republic, this Thursday Johann Hari had an article in the Independent that has provoked a similar level of response, pro and anti as greeted the Republican articles in the Guardian. the message is getting across that modern British Republicanism is not just about being against the monarchy, but is part of the broad movement for democratic change at all levels.
Meanwhile, socialist republicans from all parts of these islands are meeting in Scotland at a Convention organised by the Scottish Socialist Party. More information here.

Saturday November 30th this year sees the 85th anniversary of the death of the great Scottish socialist and republican; John McLean. It is therefore fitting that the SSP choose that day to organise a major conference on Republicanism in Britain.
The struggle for the establishment of an independent Socialist Republic is at the heart of the SSP’s programme for Scotland, but what will this new Republic look like and what are the implications for the rest of the Left in Britain?

International Left
An interesting article by David Graeber, US anarchist and anthropologist, here on the prospects for a global radical opposition in light of the current economic crisis of capitalism.

Weekly Links 02/11/08

Green Issues
There is to be a meeting on Thursday 27th November 2008, where The Public Interest Research Centre will launch the report "Climate Safety" at Friends Meeting House, Euston, London. Speakers Caroline Lucas, George Monbiot, Kevin Anderson, Jeremy Leggett and Tim Helweg-Larsen will be discussing the question 'How do we get back to climate safety?'

An ecosocialist view on climate change from writer John Bellamy Foster here.

Unions and Work
Labourstart this week linked to a variety of interesting stories - a mass teacher's strike looming in Romania, conflict brewing between local government workers and the state in Nigeria, a series of strikes in motor vehicle and electronics plants in Germany and news on the struggle of workers employed by transport companies subcontracted by Unilever in Turkey.

Closer to home Scottish Water workers are being balloted on industrial action.

The IWW British Isles Regional Organising Committee now have a website created by members in Wales -
In Welsh -> http://union-wales.org/
And English -> http://union-wales.org/intro.html

A fellow worker alerted me to an article by US journalist Frank Joyce that has provoked debate on Alternet - Union Card or Mastercard - How a nation of workers became a nation of debtors

Italy
The dispute between teachers, pupils, lecturers and students and the right-wing Italian regime continues. Interesting stories and links on UK Indymedia about this - here, and here (with an account of protesting students clashing with far rightist students - some of the far right seem to want to attack the movement, others to infiltrate it)
Another report here from Libcom.

Meanwhile, the Italian Airline Alitalia is still in a state of crisis - Reuters report this weekend. The BBC has further news on this.

US Politics
The big media event of the week of course, barring any unexpected drama, should be the US election. Looking at the possible election of Obama from the left a range of positions are possible - here are the views of Howard Zinn, Todd Chretien and Mike Davis

Polemic
Ecosocialist writer John Bellamy Foster has written a Postscript to "The Financialization of Capital and the Crisis" which is available here.

Signposts, Programmes And Ideas For The Left In Britain

Unfortunately I am unable to get along to the Convention of the Left in Manchester over the next few days, so I thought I would link some useful background reading, information and programmes and give my tentative suggestions.

The Convention itself has been left with as open an agenda as the organisers could without leaving it totally without suggested outcomes. This, despite the inevitable complaints of the usual suspects is a good idea IMO. (And the fact that some are complaining they did not have a clear enough policy programme in advance and others are complaining that making any suggestions pre-empts the discussion shows they have got it about right.) The tentative idea of local left forums for co-operation on matters of broad agreement does not seem overly controversial. The idea would be that co-operation only took place in such cases between people who agreed on the task or strategy in hand, rather than acrimoniously debating in an externally alienating manner what they did not agree on, as has too often been the case in the past.

So, to some of the ideas, transitional, broad brush and otherwise that have been circulating. One of the debating points at the moment is the Green New Deal drawn up by various figures on the environmentalist left to give a progressive, social-justice-based approach to the pressing climate crisis and current economic difficulties. This programme should not be seen as an end in itself, but a series of transitional/progressive demands that can help change the territory of debate and open the frozen ground for more radical demands and approaches. The report can obviously be criticised, but can at least give some pointers to possible immediate demands.

In terms of broad concrete demands and unity platforms there are a number of Charters circulating and being proposed. Here is the People Before Profit Charter (promoted by amongst others the SWP and their "Left Alternative"), and here is the CPB idea for a new People's Charter.

It is important that the English left do not forget, or fail to learn from, the situation in Scotland and Wales, or indeed the situation of our Irish neighbours. It is good that there is at least a debate scheduled (put together by Scottish Left Review) around the situation as regards devolution, autonomy and independence early in the convention.

The convention and current events also call us to look at the relationship of the left to the greens and vice versa, with a key role for groups like Green Left, the AGS and the Ecosocialist International Network. Here is a contribution from SUB by Green Left activist Sean Thompson.

Industrial work, alongside community organising, must become more of a priority for activists in Britain given the likely assaults that will be made by New Labour and the bosses to try and deal with the economic crisis and by any incoming Tory government eager to "go where New Labour daren't". Whilst the NSSN shop stewards network is a good initiative that is still worth exploring, and developing, as a Wobbly I would like to see the IWW in Britain (already larger and more inclusive than the vast majority of British left political groups) developed as both a radical union in its' own right but also as a network for linking up industrial unionists in existing unions during the coming struggles.

Green Left Events Around Green Party Conference

Green Left are involved in a number of events around the Green Party of England and Wales Autumn Conference over next weekend.

'Greening Latin America'
Thursday 4th September, 7pm to 9pm
Bolivar Hall: Embassy Of Venezuela
54 Grafton Way
W1 5AJ
Chair: Joseph Healy, Green Party of England and Wales International Secretary
Speakers:
Roberto Perez, Cuban permaculturalist who launches his British tour .
Dr Diana Raby, Lecturer at the Institute of Latin American Studies (University of Liverpool)
Nestor Lopez, from the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
Dr Derek Wall, Green Party Principal Speaker
'This meeting will show case the progress being made in Latin America (with an emphasis on Cuba and Venezuela) in dealing with climate change, biodiversity and a range of environmental issues. It will examine the lessons in terms of politics and environmental policy that both the Green Movement and the wider left in Britain can learn from the Latin American experience.'
Organized by Green Left

Green Left and SOAS Palestinian Society



Anti-Zionism. A Jewish Perspective.



Friday 5th September @ 7pm (Khalili Lecture Theatre SOAS)



With



Simon Lynn (Editor of Jewish Socialist Magazine)



Tony Greenstein (Palestine Solidarity Campaign)



Chair: Dr Joseph Healy (Co-Convenor Green Left)

Meanwhile our comrades in Scotland are involved in putting on the following event :


Social Forum on climate change and peak oil issues and strategies


Imagining and creating a just and sustainable society


Sat 18th October (10.30-5.30) Sun 19th October (11-2)

Edinburgh Students Union, Teviot Building

For all who want action not just targets


Key speaker: Sian Berry London Mayoral candidate, Green Party


Workshop Strands will include:



1. WHAT are the causes of climate chaos?



2. HOW can we reduce carbon emissions fast?



3. WHO can change Policy not just light bulbs?



While governments plan to reduce emissions some time in the far distant future, global warming emissions rise rapidly worldwide (Scotland’s emissions rose 8% in 2006). While the Arctic is set to be ice free and absorbing rather than reflecting heat by 2013, scientists argue that this could be just the start of the feedback loops which will drive temperatures higher and potentially drive us to extinction.



This situation has lead people from a range of environmental and political groups to put aside their differences and ask: what is causing this, and how can we stop it, and stop it fast? How can we challenge this system of ever-increasing economic growth that drives climate change emissions up daily?



If the politicians won’t act to tackle the causes of climate chaos, then can ordinary citizens create a community based, nationally effective, and internationally connected political movement that seeks to deal with peak oil and avoid catastrophic climate change by creating ecological and social justice now?



Come along, learn and share views on the issues that need to be addressed and the action that can be taken.



organised by activists from

Democratic Left Scotland, from the Scottish Green Party and from the Scottish Socialist Party

Resistance To Airport Expansion Grows In Scotland

I got the following press release from the Workers' Climate Action e-list (Workers' Climate Action can be found online at http://workersclimateaction.co.uk/)

Plane Speaking - Scottish Communities Respond to Government Airport Expansion Plans


AirportWatch Scotland , the organisation recently set up to oppose expansion at Scottish airports (1), will be holding a series of public meetings in Edinburgh and Glasgow next month (2). The meetings are expected to attract local residents and environmentalists concerned about the plans to expand Glasgow and Edinburgh airports. The purpose of the meetings is to enable local residents affected by the airports to influence the National Planning Framework which the Government expects to approve later this year (3).


Dan Glass, spokesman for AirportWatch Scotland , said, “We hope that these meetings will be a chance for local residents to express their views about the proposals to expand Edinburgh and Glasgow airports. We know that there is already a lot of concern amongst people under flight paths in places like Drumchapel in Glasgow and Cramond in Edinburgh about the noise from the planes. It can only get worse if the expansion plans go ahead. Ad it also makes no sense from a climate change perspective. Aviation is the fastest growing contributor to CO2 emissions in the UK. If the Scottish Government is serious about dealing with climate change, it should oppose these airport expansion plans.


Glass added, “Our plane speaking meetings will be an opportunity for local people to speak their minds. So far, their voices have been ignored.”


Professor Frank McManus, Chair of the Scottish branch of the UK Noise Association, said, “Make no mistake about it. The noise climate will get worse if these plans go ahead. Planes may be getting a little quieter but the sort of growth that is being talked about will wipe out any of the benefits for local people.”


ENDS

Notes for Editors:

(1). AirportWatch Scotland is a not-for-profit umbrella movement bringing together national environmental organisations, local communities, and individual environmentalists. We aim to campaign against airport expansion, particularly on the grounds of climate change and noise.


(2). 1) Dates and Venues All 7.00-9.00pm

August 12th- Kirkliston Community Centre, 16- 18 Queensferry Road , KIRKLISTON , EH29 9AQ

August 13th- 13th court room, Clydebank Town Hall. Address: 49 Dumbarton Road Clydebank G81 1TX ;

August 14th Martyrs Church , Broomlands Street Paisley , PA1 2LS - on the corner of Broomlands street and King Street

August 18th- The Millennium Room in Cramond Kirk Hall, 18 Cramond Glebe Road, Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh, EH4, Scotland

August 19th- Kirkliston Community Centre, 16- 18 Queensferry Road , KIRKLISTON , EH29 9AQ

August 20th The Napier Hall, 312 Dumbarton Road , Old Kilpatrick G60 5JH

August 21st Martyrs Church , Broomlands Street Paisley , PA1 2LS - on the corner of Broomlands street and King Street


(3). The National Planning Framework Process

We want to empower local communities and individuals concerned about aviation expansion. In particular, we want to ensure that the voices of communities directly affected by planned airport expansion are given due weight over the next critical four months when the Scottish Government will be finalising and agreeing it’s ‘National Planning Framework’, which will provide the legislative framework for major infrastructure projects. The final consultation will be a sixty day period in the Autumn parliamentary session where members of the public can feed into the consultation through MSPs.


This will be the first step in empowering local communities to develop their own campaigns in the fight to prevent the expansion proposals. This will help influence the Scottish Climate Change Bill, the National Planning Framework and equip communities with life-long skills to challenge runaway climate change and the other downsides of airport expansion and the institutions which perpetrate them.


How can you help?

1.
Get involved with the campaign and invite everyone you think may be interested to the 'Plane Speaking' near your home. Publicise in all media outlets. All support is of great use- if you have experience with creating publicity, liaising with workers and trade unions or anything else, please do get in contact. Especially if you've got time on your hands. Come to the next meeting on Wednesday 16th July or the next one (see www.airportwatch.org.uk/scotland) as I'm sure there will be many more. Please reply to this email to say whether you'll be attending. If you have upcoming meetings which you would like someone from AirportWatch Scotland to attend, just ask.

2. Give us advice. If you've got experience with campaigning on airport-related issues or supporting community projects or think there are particular people that we should speak to or should be involved then please pass on this email to them or reply offering any of your suggestions.

3. Join the organising list. This is not a public list and is for people actively involved.


AirportWatch Scotland

Please see www.airportwatch.org.uk/scotland for more information and up to date news

Global Warming Primer

Today's Independent newspaper in the UK has a free booklet in its Science Made Simple series on "Global Warming" by Mark Maslin, Director of the UCL Environment Institute. Mark Maslin is a leading palaeoclimatologist and is the author of the book Global Warming : A Very Short Introduction.
The Independent also has a thoughtful editorial on the dilemma posed by the recent onshore windfarm decision in Scotland.
However, in the interests of "balance" the Independent still gives room to the tedious contrarian (from a clan of tedious far right neo-liberal contrarians) Dominic Lawson, to rant on in the same vein as his father about the global conspiracy and how everyone else are idiots, fools and dupes - and all the world needs is more markets, more competition, more red-in-tooth-and-claw capitalism. Yeah, right. We still remember Lawson senior's disastrous term under the Iron Handbag......

April Industrial Worker Highlights Green Unionism

The April issue of the IWW (Industrial Workers of The World) newspaper, the Industrial Worker is now out and highlights green syndicalism/unionism in a centre spread.

Headlines:

* Puerto Rican teachers defy government
* Scottish college sacks Unison steward, cuts jobs
* Maquila workers denounce NAFTA

Featured Articles:

* Metro Lighting a scab business
* Green unionism
* Review: End of America offers no alternatives, ignores unions

Part of the green spread is a Dan Jakopovich article - Dan has had articles published in British IWW publications and the online US Green discussion journal Synthesis/Regeneration.

As part of their campaign against cuts and closures in the Blood Service in Britain, the IWW are supporting a demonstration outside the National Blood Service HQ in Watford on 11th April :

All-out for big demonstration at Blood Service HQ in Watford! IU 610s, other wobblies and supporters will be visiting the offices to cause a fuss and demand that the head honchos revoke their damaging proposals, democratise the service, and are called to account for their shoddy and dangerous policies.

Bring noise-making implements, banners, placards and loads of friends!

There is also an IWW supported public meeting in Leicester this week (9th April) about the campaign to oppose closures and cuts in Adult Education in Leicester which I blogged on a while ago.

It is good to see the rapidly growing British Isles organisation (BIROC) of the IWW getting stuck in with high profile campaigning. BIROC is happy to be hosting the first IWW General Assembly to take place in Europe, in London this summer.

Weekly Links - 24/03/2008

Today is the anti-nuclear demonstration at Aldermaston marking 50 years of CND (The Campaign For Nuclear Disarmament.) I will hopefully be able to post some links to reports later in the week. First here are some photographs from the 15th March anti-war demo in London posted on the Green Party Trade Union Group blog. The blog also advertises the South East London Health Rally planned for Saturday 29th March.

Around the blogs this week A Very Public Sociologist comments on the turmoil within the Labour Party in Scotland, and Jim at The Quiet Road started a discussion on CO2 emissions per barrel of various oil products here, and continued it with corrections to some dubious oil company data here.

Chicken Yoghurt and Enemies of Reason blogs have posts about the human-animal embryo debate.

Smiffy has a post on Cedar Lounge Revolution blog dissecting the latest war apologetics of Christopher Hitchens which found their way to the Irish Times after being published in Slate (Warning for those of a nervous disposition - it starts with a truly stomach churning pic of Hitchens in the shower!) Dave Osler this week looked at the Iraq War anniversary.

Louise posted on the "counter terrorism" bill at the Socialist Unity blog this week, while Charlie Marks at Rebellion Sucks commented on the failure of the Police to prosecute the Tory MP at the centre of a nepotistic corruption scandal.

Liam MacUaid reports on the experience of attending a local Catholic Mass over Easter, while Jack Ray comments on the current debate around religion, race and politics in the US started by the words of Barack Obama's associate Reverend Wright. Green Left Infoasis has comment on similar topics from Cynthia McKinney.

Lastly, Derek Wall at Another Green World over the weekend blogged on food miles and the despicable behaviour of Foreign Office Minister and Columbian regime apologist Kim Howells.

Weekly Links - 03/02/2008

A mixed bag of sites this week, in what could be an interesting period both domestically and internationally.

Green Politics
Green Left, the ecosocialist and anti-capitalist current of the Green Party of England and Wales have a new website at http://gptu.net/gleft/greenleft.shtml.

Like many Greens with a left and workplace orientation I am looking forward to the first Campaign Against Climate Change Trade Union Conference in London on Saturday 9th February.

London Green MEP Jean Lambert is on a fact finding mission to Israel and Palestine with other MEPS this week.

In Scotland the Green MSPs have been commenting on the consultation on a Climate Change Bill.

Lastly on the Green front, the blog of GPEW Male Principal Speaker Derek Wall carries an alert regarding protests against the US Secretary of State who is visiting the British Prime Minister on Wednesday.

Around the blogs
Some excellent thought provoking blog posts to link to this week -
Jim at Daily Maybe and Louise at the S.U.B. report on the media and political feeding frenzy of attacks on the disabled and benefit claimants.

Andy at the Socialist Unity blog has this week posted the debate on political strategies between Hilary Wainwright and Mark Perryman that appears in the current Red Pepper.

Dave Osler at Dave's Part has been reflecting on the situation in Kenya.

Anton Vowl at "Enemies of Reason" had an enjoyable rant on Friday at the duplicity and idiocy of the Mail, Express and the more excitable of their readers on the subject of immigration.

At the Climate and Capitalism blog, Daniel Denvir reports on developments on the green left in Ecuador.

Links on Sunday - 16/12/2007

To start this week with some positive news, the Green Party won a resounding victory in a council by-election in Brighton that was seen as a crucial test in the town where there are high hopes of Britain's first Green MP. More information on the Green Party of England and Wales site here.

Returning to last week's Climate demo in London, Simon from Swindon posted a good range of video and audio clips on Indymedia yesterday.

Meanwhile, if more confirmation were needed of the rightward drift of the Lib Dems and the likely orientation of their new leader (whether Huhne or Clegg - Orange Bookers both) we see David Cameron setting out his stall for a "progressive" (cough!) alliance between the Tories and the Lib Dems. He even (choke!) mentions the Greens. (No thanks Dave - even limited local dealings with the Tories in a few areas have been ill-advised and largely counter-productive) Now this may just be dodgy Dave trying to spoil the Lib Dems' party and cause rows, but he would not be able to play the card if the "progressive" alliance was unthinkable. Mind you, with the Tories leaning towards a reversion to 19th Century protectionism and the Lib Dems becoming ever more enamoured of German FDP style economic neo-liberalism the two parties appear to be swapping economic clothes. It is an unequal and patchy process with sizeable groups of resisters, but the Tories seem keen to leave behind (at least in terms of language and presentation) the Thatcherite laissez-faire economics that are growing in popularity with the Lib-Dems, who for their part want to bury the Social Democratic legacy of Charlie Kennedy, possibly the last representative in LD high office of the Limehouse tendency. Of course, Huhne has rejected the Cameron approach - but this is probably mostly to do with him needing to keep what passes for the Lib Dem "left" onside with his leadership campaign. The main demand "progressives" should make to the Tories and the other establishment parties - whoever is in power - should be a proportional voting system as soon as possible. Without this the British people are just going to have more of the same old neo-liberal dish, with different rhetorical side salads.

Moving to blogs, the Lenin's Tomb blog hosted a good guest post by Gareth Dale on the Bali summit this week.

Just in, the Socialist Unity Blog reports on developments in Scotland around Tommy Sheridan. S.U.B. have also been covering the split in the main British far-right party, the BNP.

Overseas, Renegade Eye has been covering the developing situations in Bolivia and Argentina.

Molly at Gaian Economics blogged on the "Credit Crunch" this week. Congratulations to Molly on coming top in Jim Jay's Green Blogs poll (in which my humble efforts also appeared in the top twenty). I will get round to reviewing Molly's book Market Schmarket eventually!

Finally this week, Derek Wall has been blogging on Vegetarian and Vegan Christmas recipes and posts his recipe for vegan Xmas pudding!

Weekly Links - 10/12/2007

A number of my fellow bloggers attended the Climate March in London over the weekend, so here are links to some of their relevant posts -
Derek
Jim
Liam
Louise (On Socialist Unity Blog)
Polly
Noel

More pictures and a report from Indymedia here.

Calvin was at the Glasgow event.

On the related issue of Biofuels, the Green Party commented last week on the Biofuelwatch report.

On international affairs, as the Balkans situation reaches a new crossroads today over the question of Kosovan independance, here are some articles and discussion from Socialist Unity Blog.