tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54525850854511428682024-03-13T00:56:02.328+00:00Ben's BlogUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger280125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452585085451142868.post-20123177758927746142024-02-19T22:03:00.002+00:002024-02-19T22:03:39.558+00:00a good news day<p> Today Marcus Drecker was released on bail and able to come home to his family.</p><p><br /></p><p>And Lewes District Council just unanimously passed this motion</p><p>https://democracy.lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=431&MId=3826 <br /></p><p>https://democracy.lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk/documents/s31058/Motion%20-%20Support%20for%20Zanes%20Law.pdf<br /></p><p>Motion - Support for Zane’s Law<br />Submitted by Councillor Makepeace<br />Preamble<br />The current UK regulations with regard to toxic waste disposal and the danger to human<br />life, to our environment, and to the planet as a whole, from both historic landfill sites and<br />currently approved landfill sites operating the ‘dry tomb’ principle, are dangerously<br />inadequate. Especially so, in the face of climate breakdown, with rising sea levels,<br />increased rainfall, and widespread flooding.<br />In 2014, 7-year-old Zane Gbangbola died, and his father was paralysed with a diagnosis of<br />hydrogen cyanide (HCN) poisoning, during catastrophic flooding in the UK. It is understood<br />that flood water passing through a historic landfill site carried HCN into Zane’s home, and<br />this was detected there at high levels by the Fire and Rescue Services on the night of the<br />tragedy. This is expected to be the subject of an Independent Panel Inquiry.<br />‘Zane’s Law’ seeks to address the crisis of contaminated land in the UK, reinstating<br />legislative provisions removed by successive governments from the 1990 Environment<br />Protection Act, and recognising the Human Right to a Healthy Environment, approved by<br />the UN General Assembly, in July 2022.<br />Therefore, ‘Zane’s Law’ proposes that the following measures be adopted into legislation<br />by the Government, to prioritise the protection and safety of people and planet, and the<br />human right to a healthy environment. The legislation if passed would likely include:<br />1. Each relevant Local Authority must keep a full, regularly updated Register of<br />Land that may be contaminated within their boundary.<br />2. The Environment Agency must keep a full, public 'National Register of<br />Contaminated Land' to be regularly updated by information from Local<br />Authorities.<br />3. All above mentioned Registers of Land must be accessible and available for<br />inspection by the General Public.<br />4. Relevant Local Authorities must inspect any land registered that may be<br />contaminated and must fully remediate or enforce remediation of any land which<br />poses harm to public safety, or which pollutes controlled waters*.<br />5. Relevant Local Authorities must be responsible for inspecting previously closed<br />landfill sites and fully remediating them or enforcing their remediation when they<br />pose a risk of significant harm to people or controlled waters.<br />6. The Government must take full responsibility for providing the necessary funds<br />for Local Authorities to meet these new requirements, following the ‘polluter pays’<br />principle: to recover costs as appropriate where those responsible for the<br />pollution can be identified.<br />These measures are not all in place currently and would requirement significant investment<br />and full funding from the Government to be implemented. These must take account of other<br />statutory requirements (such as data protection provisions).<br />Motion<br />This Council therefore resolves:To write to the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Health, and the Secretary of State<br />for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to express the Council’s support for new<br />legislation on contaminated land based on the proposed principles of ‘Zane’s Law’, to<br />request that these ministers support Baroness Natalie Bennett, by all possible means, in<br />her efforts to advance ‘Zane’s Law’ through the House of Lords, and that the Government<br />provides all necessary funds for Local Authorities and others to meet the requirements of<br />any new legislation.<br />* Controlled waters are groundwater or surface water intended for human consumption.<br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452585085451142868.post-52371069288213546122024-02-05T07:43:00.003+00:002024-02-05T07:43:23.193+00:00A petition written by A. I.<p> I created a petition on change .org and it couldn't have been easier. They integrated A. I. (artificial intelligence) to generate the text. It just asks a few questions: Why are you concerned, and so on.</p><p><br /></p><p>The underwhelming output is here</p><p><a href="https://www.change.org/p/ensure-community-involvement-in-burnt-oak-development">https://www.change.org/p/ensure-community-involvement-in-burnt-oak-development</a><br /></p><p>Hopefully it will appear in search results at some point.</p><p><br /></p><p>To increase the score, they encourage multiple illustration photos and do split testing on them. I haven't got around to getting one together with people in it; I know faces are supposed to be the most powerful image you can use.</p><p> </p><p>Here is the shorter link <br /></p><p><a href="https://www.change.org/communityburnt">https://www.change.org/communityburnt</a><br /></p><p>do sign and share if you want a better place!!<br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452585085451142868.post-82690380499190717002024-01-24T09:05:00.003+00:002024-01-24T09:59:15.485+00:00My view on knife crime<p> Knife crime sits within a broader context.</p><p>Millions of people worldwide and many in the UK are killed and injured every day by car traffic, as well as the health effects of breathing their fumes and tyre particles. London is the hit and run car accident capital.</p><p>But somehow the horror of knife crime gets more attention, particularly when Sadiq Khan is up for re-election.</p><p>So what would the Green Party do about knife crime?</p><p>Too often violent crime is not punished enough by harsh custodial sentences. While the Green Party wants to abolish custodial sentences for those under the age of 18, it would also free up prison places by decriminalising and regulating the drug trade. This would free up prison places for serious violent crimes. Most of this is committed by men.</p><p>Other parties, and some charities, argue for deterrence but then try and say that drugs are the root cause, where as it's actually the way that drugs are policed and criminalised.</p><p>Awareness campaigns are sometimes scaring young people and making them actually more likely to carry knives. Research by Caroline Russell, London Assembly member, shows that police are going into schools and showing pictures of scary knives on social media, in many local areas.</p><p> The "London needs you alive" campaign was one such awareness campaign, which isn't targeted at your local voters but actually targeting children to encourage them to have something to live for and not to descend into nihilism that would make them risk carrying knives in their circles of friends. <br /></p><p>In Nottingham, knives and guns have often been used in violent attacks and reprisals. Then the community came together, as mothers, elders, and black people, saying enough is enough. We don't want our young people to be victims of this any more. They demonstrated on the streets.</p><p>In London we've seen similar initiatives such as knife amnesty bins and "art against knives". <br /></p><p>I've been particularly instructed by the Voice newspaper on this topic.</p><p>I've been aware of local community memorials for young victims of crime, for instance the 4front project.</p><p>& I've been inspired by recent peace protests which have sought to disrupt institutions until their demands are met. The families of survivors of violence (which often originates from the metropolitan police) are the most powerful leaders and when they are united, I believe in their power to make change.</p><p>Sian Berry and the City Hall Greens have diverted some money away from police violence to start the young Londoners fund and violence reduction unit. There have also been good moves from Sadiq Khan to bring experts form Glasgow and to treat the epidemic of violence as a public health issue. We've seen on BBC London how police, youth services, and the NHS are working together in an East London A & E department to offer interventions at a critical time in a young person's life. The Greens' budget amendments have consistently saved the youth services from closing over the pandemic and will continue to pressure a future government to properly fund youth services, which have been cut by the Conservatives over the last decades. They do this by showing the value of youth services.<br /></p><p>I predict we'll see more of this but do check out the announcement that Zoe Garbett has already made about drugs. This looks to be a priority for her campaign as Mayor of London candidate this year.</p><p>From speaking with Zoe I know that as a local councillor she is also keen on preventing and raising awareness of cuts to local services such as DV. I believe that there's a link between DV and violence outside the home. <br /></p><p>Stop and search has failed in tackling knife violence problems and created problems of its own and that's why I point to the above more positive solutions.</p><p>I'm also a big follower of USA politics. The school strikes to stop school shootings were the inspiration for Greta Thurnberg's movement Fridays for our Future.<br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452585085451142868.post-88764857547162865222024-01-12T08:16:00.002+00:002024-01-12T08:16:42.046+00:00Theatre Review: Chickenshed<p> <br />Last night's production of The Toymaker's Child was special. It was the last show of the season, meaning that this review may contain some spoilers.<br /><br />From the start, the BSL enterpreters were centre stage and well lit but fit into the setting. Though I do not speak BSL I would like to learn and this show gave me a chance to see it. There is loads going on in the stage, especially in the spectacular and exciting songs. There was a real band at the top rather than in a pit, with a violin, percussionists, and a saxophone. The lighting and technical side was masterful. At one point in the story, the robot drowns in water and it is an immersive experience for all the senses that made me hold my nose and brace for entry into the water spilling off the stage as smoke and lighting. The ushers too, behaved in an inclusive way, by holding signs in stead of distracting people by announcing stuff to us. My dad who works in IT liked the Windows windows, a quote of Microsoft Windows 10; and there was lots of technology, while borrowing from classic narratives of pinocio, the Christmas classic Wizard of Oz (the tin man well-played by a woman) and that tale of sisters, Frozen. The costumes too were amazing with the starring robot equipped with blue LEDs.<br /><br />Music too was bang up to date.<br /><br />The narrative was quite surreal and to be honest I could not make out what was going on. But powerful themes including the creator and toy-maker giving up, having a teenager, and wanting to control them or kill them off rather than let them go. Perhaps the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has created a monster too, and one day that monster will grow with its siblings and make friends with them. The relationship of the 2 female leads was so sweet and modelled half sisters who pick each other up when they are down, even risking their own survival, and coming out stronger. Their relationship is not just sisters, and not best friends but their only friends. It turns out the special robot is so intelligent and has many talents including dancing!<br /><br />I also enjoyed the parody of the 24 hour news shock jock with absolutly nothing to say and very dumbed down. GB News? I wouldn't know; I've only been interviewed by them once.<br /><br />I was left with a sense of hope but that more needs to be done so that the arts should be accessible to all.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452585085451142868.post-66275469221162914702024-01-09T08:22:00.001+00:002024-01-09T08:22:29.141+00:00Horizon scandal<p> wierdly, I met a CWU retired Post Office counter worker at a local protest. I would never have got to sit down for a cup of tea with him otherwise. </p><p><br /></p><p>Anyway here is my draft letter to my MP. Too rude? too polite?</p><p><br /></p><p>Tuesday 9 January 2024
</p><p>
<br />
Dear Matthew Offord,
</p>
<p>
As my MP you are no doubt aware that 700 post masters have been
wrongfully prosecuted by the criminal legal system. You know that post
offices process large amount of public money. In light of the Horizon
scandal I hope that the vicitims will receive compensation as soon as
possible. You might say, after supporting 14 years of Conservative
government "get the Post Office done." That's putting it politely!
</p>
<p>
Yours sincerely,
</p>
<p>
Ben Samuel
</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452585085451142868.post-27593300013248646412023-12-26T12:14:00.001+00:002023-12-26T15:25:00.376+00:00A look back on 2023 in the Green Party<p> In the coming year we will win a controlling majority in councils around the country, including Bristol where the green party is the largest party but the city recently voted in a referendum not to be governed by an executive mayor but go to committee system.</p><p><br /></p><p>How many campaigns have the Green Party won?</p><p><br /></p><p>Still to win are:</p><p>Ella's law - Clean air human rights act.</p><p>In my opinion the party must become better at picking its battles and look outside of its horizon to ensure everyone is represented and that there is a clear plans for which legislation the parliamentarians put forward when they have the rare chance.</p><p>Defending the right to protest - This was a win the previous year and the government was forced to bring back some of the worst attacks as a new legislation. In the coming year some of this will come into force. We've seen people arrested for singing carols and climate activists sent to jail, and threatened with deportation.<br /></p><p>Defending workers rights - Labour Party must be persuaded in this. Elizabeth May MP has led the way through the anti scab Bill in the Canada parliament.<br /></p><p>Defeating the Rwanda Bill - to be continued late January</p><p>Zane's law - a priority that we are working on</p><p>Stopping fossil fuel projects such as Rosebank - It was stopped but then rescued <br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Campaign "wins" include</p><p>High Speed 2 is dead. It is not planned to reach Euston and phase 2 is cancelled. The Green Party is calling for a public inquiry into the management of the project.</p><p>London has now extended the Ultra Low Emission Zone, despite dirty campaigning linked to the Conservatives. Shamefully Kier Starmer has publicly criticised the Mayor.</p><p>Outer London now benefits from the bus routes we fought to save and new routes the London Loop. New infrastructure is open such as Crossrail (the Elizabeth Line)</p><p>the APPG reparations has been formed and this has been adopted by XR as a 4th demand.</p><p>Fossil fuels are mentioned for the first time in the climate change framework.</p><p>The City of Sheffield has called for ceasefire and condemned Kier Starmer. Organisations are considering openly endorsing the Green Party and have invited Carla Denyer, Ria Patel, and Natalie Bennett onto platforms (they were hoping for Caroline Lucas. locally greens have spoken and attended rallies too including a petition hand in by school strikers in Bristol which other MPs failed to turn up)<br /></p><p>London Borough of Hackney has a policy to ban fossil fuels advertisements</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452585085451142868.post-29805910505443801172023-11-19T10:49:00.002+00:002023-11-19T10:49:45.242+00:00How it feels to be Jewish in the UK at the moment<p> I was hearing the deputy leader and democracy spokes person of the Green Party on LBC yesterday. I am proud that we have one who does such a good job, alongside other spokes people, such as yesterday. I have always cared deeply but the battle lines are frought on social media and we find ourselves in an information war which we never conscripted ourselves into. What support we have: family here and abroad, our holy congregations, and the community leadership, is also frought and under strain.</p><p><br /></p><p>With so many dying, including loved ones we've lost recently, and friends and neighbours we hear are bereaved: one neighbour lost 80 family members. It feels aweful. We have been in morning for the last month. I myself try and keep my spirits up but while I normally find politics enjoyable... lately it's been more of an experience of expressing my feelings of bereavement and loss, my anger, and the loss of people who political divisions have pit us as enemies when we were friends before.</p><p><br /></p><p>I have always cared about both sides and stayed informed to quite a high level and engaged with social media. This has translated into physical exaustion from many demonstrations. </p><p><br /></p><p>As a march we organise into blocks and I found myself torn between 2, these different identities.</p><p>On a recent demonstration with Jewish community and Brendan Cox, the Palestinian MP Leyla Moran, and a Tory, the organisers instructed us not to clash with the 5pm demo over at Parliament. Of course I was there, on time, even early. I see no contradiction in calling a ceasefire and also standing with Leyla Moran and faith leaders to recognise humanity. If anything, my 5pm demo attendance was a service to my party as a campaigns volunteer; filming a speech and allowing it to be shared on twitter as soon as I got to upload it on my cycle ride home.</p><p>As a cyclist, anti- austerity, environmentalist, and local issues campaigner I have been dividing all my hours between the different issues forcing me to make priorities.</p><p>On rare occasions I have allowed myself to read and even relax.</p><p>Some of my reading has been to raise my consciousness as previously I've read Jews such as Naomi Klein, Noam Chomsky, and Michael Rosen. But what about the deep library of Palestinian literature of the last 80 years? What if I am projecting my discomfort over what happened, onto Palestinians. As a Jew I have been target of love and messages of solidarity, as well as people calling my naive or a useful idiot. But Palestinians don't appreciate some of my comments and I have been ejected from a union whatsapp group. So has another member (called David) and even non Palestinian activist groups are becoming pro Palestinian allowing another Jewish friend of mine to be kicked out of a group. This is a pattern that allows me to sit with my own discomfort but it shows a lack of spaces where pro Palestinian Jews can discuss their genuine concerns and feedback about a small amount of behavoir without blaming but just maybe to learn and raise awareness of how to be inclusive.</p><p>In this difficult time I am therefore hugely grateful to groups like Na amod which aim to join the movement for a ceasefire and to end the occupation (which protesters believe is the root cause of the violence). Now more than ever. Chazak - power to the people. <br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452585085451142868.post-6982849737372559252023-10-08T16:21:00.003+01:002023-10-08T16:21:37.388+01:00That Green Party Conference motion in full<p> On the 4th of October 2023, the Prime Minister announced that Phase 2 of HS2 would be cancelled due to escalating costs. It is said that cancelling the Birmingham to Manchester part of HS2 would save £36bn, which is more than the £33bn that the whole scheme connecting London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Nottingham, Sheffield, and Manchester, with links to HS1 and Heathrow was originally meant to cost.<br /><br />At this point it seems uncertain as to what will happen to land which was compulsory purchased for cancelled parts of the scheme.<br /><br />While there are differing views in the party about HS2, we should all be able to unite and agree that this situation is a national scandal.<br /><br />The most recently published board minutes for HS2 Ltd show that the Government-owned quango intended to only reveal the costs of Phase 2b of the project after Parliament had voted to approve it, reminiscent of when Ministers withheld the fact they knew HS2 could not be delivered for the then £55bn budget when MPs voted to approve Phase 1 in 2015.<br /><br />As such, conference requests the Green Party Parliamentary representatives to call for a full public inquiry into the Conservative Government’s mismanagement of the project. The scope should cover:<br /><br /> Lack of oversight and regulation of HS2 finances<br /> The mismanagement of the Euston rebuild, including the government continually redesigning that has caused billions of extra costs and left residents with a building site for years longer than necessary, and the newly announced plans to descope Euston to 6 platforms and use the land for commercial development, severely restricting the potential for future services to the North of England and Scotland<br /> The removal of safeguarding of the route, effectively an attempt to sabotage future governments<br /> The redirecting of funds from HS2 cancellation to road building schemes which is incompatible with the Climate Emergency<br /><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452585085451142868.post-45588882639350998802023-02-10T12:47:00.000+00:002023-02-10T12:47:06.051+00:00LGBTIQA+ History Month - suggested reading<p> Barnet's local library service has kindly suggested some good books for this month.</p><p>When I was young many of these had not yet been written, weren't available, or I never got to read them. Going to an all boys school I never even realised until today a film was released about section 28, that section 28 also effected women and girls.</p><p>So when I picked up the Transgender Issue: a call for justice by Shon Faye I was hoping to raise my level of education a little. What I found was a great account of the history of trans in the 20th century, which I'd also seen in the disney plus series pride. </p><p>What I don't understand about the book is why it goes to great lengths to defend JK Rowling.</p><p>Another disappointment is that while it claims to be published in 2021, its critical analysis of the Matrix through a trans lens (though the author herself isn't trans) fails to include The Matrix 4: Revolutions.<br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452585085451142868.post-78312751923705485302023-02-10T11:24:00.002+00:002023-02-10T11:31:02.090+00:00Lots of barber shops and make-up<p> I have been considering how Burnt Oak's high streets are economically viable.</p><p>Thinking back to my Geography GCSE</p><p><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z9y47hv/revision/2"><u>https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z9y47hv/revision/2</u></a></p><p>where we learned about business clusters. Sometimes there are several banks in a row, or a closely organised group of similar shops or businesses. In the AQA Geography UK urban change course, that is Birmingham's Balti Triangle, and clusters of high culture, universities, and so on. (When I visited Birmingham I found that it has a rainbow themed gay village: I wonder why that is not on BBC bitesize).</p><p>Now as people shop online, where there is less stock shrinkage, that puts certain high streets in a precarious position. How can they compete against Amazon?</p><p>The answer is; convenience shops, supermarkets, and Post Offices can be parcel hubs where parcels are consolidated and customers can come and pick up their item. I have tried this on one occasion. It offers the higher floorspace and choice of online shopping, and the convenience of the town centre without having to wait in for a courrier.</p><p>Town centres will still exist, but as a more social experience. Some things are better in person such as a community pharmacy and health service, vaccinations, or women's clothes shopping where you can try things on for size. <br /></p><p>Another way to compete is to specialise and have business clusters. What are the strengths of Burnt Oak town centres? Can we welcome people and make them spend time and money here, actually enjoy the area, perhaps while they are visiting their auntie!<br /></p><p>Firstly there is the health cluster near the hospital, Burnt Oak Broadway: A mobility scooter and accessories shop, pharmacy, GP surgery, dementia home, community centre, fusion pub restaurant, and community hospital. There are also convenience shops, chippy and kebabs, a wildlife walk popular with people with substance use issues, and lots of new flats. Some primary schools are nearby and there is a playground near the flats.</p><p>Not far from the pub there is another pub for members only, which I tend to avoid, and other pubs further down the main road at the Hyde. There used to be a pub in the town centre but it is now a supermarket. Sadly drinkers have drifted away from pubs towards more reasonably priced single beers to crack open on the way home from work, or multi pack beers to pick up in the car and consume at home with friends. Perhaps some of the decline of drinking will lead to healthier lifestyles; but my experience of listening and reading comments online is that people do not feel healthy or safe.<br /></p><p>There are many international supermarkets including at least 2 different kinds of certified Halal Butcher, a 24 hour Romanian supermarket and restaurant, middle eastern supermarkets, and a block of flats which used to be Tesco. There are rumours of a new Tesco. There are also budget supermarkets but the main ones are out of town: Lidl (in Harrow Edgware) and ASDA (in Brent). For posh supermarkets these are also elsewhere. Upmarket shops moved long ago to places like Brent Cross. In the old days there was a Saturday market.</p><p>Special shops in Burnt Oak include a good number of Afro hair shops and specialist cosmetics outlets, located near the Jade Pharmacy, Library and council office, and GP.</p><p>Near the library there is the Liang church which has in its vicinity many community charities, a community cluster noted in an influential report.</p><p>In the middle there are a lot of cheap and cheerful homeware shops (selling items such as suitcases) and phone kiosks. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3RNTRjXJkSgaoLha3zBMA4khigjet-iVsf-UDod5DaYqDZEqQuDMZB1UJ1Y00Z-2ZmaUMILfavRaPS_0FZoZyRQ6LWadN8F32hQGi6OLhtbfeFWZObO5rR1Q2DuuN0HwTV-R1ySi9DYQdeGdvZNuz7m0EPYOAXbeTImcVuB2yyLOMsmsLh4oZlQtc/s940/Screenshot%20from%202023-02-10%2011-17-10.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="823" data-original-width="940" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3RNTRjXJkSgaoLha3zBMA4khigjet-iVsf-UDod5DaYqDZEqQuDMZB1UJ1Y00Z-2ZmaUMILfavRaPS_0FZoZyRQ6LWadN8F32hQGi6OLhtbfeFWZObO5rR1Q2DuuN0HwTV-R1ySi9DYQdeGdvZNuz7m0EPYOAXbeTImcVuB2yyLOMsmsLh4oZlQtc/s320/Screenshot%20from%202023-02-10%2011-17-10.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p>There are also a fair amount of nearby churches and at least one Islamic Centre or Mosque.</p><p>As evident in Birmingham, green spaces are important and must be protected when brownfield sites could be used: such as the carpark. There are 2 parks near the towncentre and a leisure centre, which also contains a nursery.<br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452585085451142868.post-34384371106904898872023-02-07T14:07:00.004+00:002023-11-01T06:35:01.699+00:00Barnet's long term transport strategy<p> I had a few thoughts to note while reading Barnet's long term transport strategy.</p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Here is what the corporate plan 21-24 says about cycle routes:</span></p><p>"– Developing a cycle network to major destinations in the borough<br />without impeding busy and narrow traffic routes"</p><p>As if cycle lanes would impede anything!</p><p>Why "traffic" which I take to mean cars, is busy, is because they are in their cars and not on bikes! Why would you say they impede traffic?</p><p>Only 1 cycle lane has been built, on the very wide A1000 road. Even then part of it was shunted onto the pavement making it unsafe and badly constructed.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p>"Using enforcement to increase compliance and support smooth and<br />safe traffic movement."</p><p>I see very little enforcement. When I am out and about I am anxious to see cars parked on the pavement, some legally, some illegally. Sometimes it's not just cars but vans, tipper trucks and larger vehicles too. They block the pavement and do not smooth the journey for walking and cycling traffic. They make the whole borough unsafe to travel.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p>"Promoting and continuing to roll out electric vehicle charging points<br />and car clubs"</p><p>Unfortunately I have not driven for years because car clubs have not reached my part of the world. There is one van rental near Capitol Way and a car hire in Brent Cross area. There are many car dealerships which I never visit because I do not own or wish to own one. A car club on my street would encourage people to go car-free and use it for convenience when it is needed which is less than you would think.</p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Not all roads are council run</span><br /></p><p>but many are, such as the A1000. There are traffic signals operated by TfL. Amazingly, the tube is maintained by the Council which explains the pigeons all over Burnt Oak tube station.</p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Urban</span></p><p>The West of the Borough is designed in the strategy as urban in nature with similar high population densities to inner London. This is sneaky because inner London has been hollowed out because of unaffordable prices and empty homes. Everyone knows that this part of the borough is suburban in nature. The MP says so, but is quick to blame the Labour mayor and assembly for everything that Boris Johnson left behind as mayor. It is a very recent and current phenomenon that tower blocks are being built there. In some parts, such as Stone Grove, tower blocks were actually demolished and replaced with medium rise of about 6 storeys. That area was lucky enough to have a residents association which campaigned hard to reject plans for something taller proposed by developers.</p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Passing through</span></p><p>My transport campaigner friends in Haringey, Camden, and Islington have complained to me that many anti-social drivers found there have started their journey in Barnet.</p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Narrative</span></p><p>The West of the Borough has lowest car ownership, correlating with income, but suffers the most severe air pollution. I recommend that the narrative places the residents of the West of the Borough as the active agents for change, by celebrating their work and amplifying their advocacy for the area. Groups such as Burnt Oak Residents Association might play a role, or the organisation Living Streets which historically had a presence here.</p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Freight</span></p><p>The strategy does not mention that freight can be carried by e-bikes and cargo bikes. It does not mention the Council's work on consolidation hubs for the high street, and last mile delivery. Meanwhile Royal Mail group has dragged its feet and been left behind investments in electric vans while DPD and amazon flood the streets. This did not stop Royal Mail paying obscene salaries and dividends.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFKFhBGQx7rONlX4KXue0tg2NhyFv2DZkXtjgqG_MQ3qUSvDn11z6zVH6PoKGVue2z7DWtFSX-XKaRrXPOJZSEqDWbuPpR9Tblq6r5HZS1d0p3798I3kFbCYs9Jz7u8kEmjvVpWhJtZtoim6x0xq8lQCXxhsu_9BtN3WItLMn5x0sCj9Q879j2HMuZ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFKFhBGQx7rONlX4KXue0tg2NhyFv2DZkXtjgqG_MQ3qUSvDn11z6zVH6PoKGVue2z7DWtFSX-XKaRrXPOJZSEqDWbuPpR9Tblq6r5HZS1d0p3798I3kFbCYs9Jz7u8kEmjvVpWhJtZtoim6x0xq8lQCXxhsu_9BtN3WItLMn5x0sCj9Q879j2HMuZ" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Here is a photo of me moving some compost on my cargo bike from West Hendon to my compost heap in Burnt Oak. <br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">One More Thing<br /></span></p>I have said for years that Labour's policy on 20 mph zones is weak. When they got into power people realised that residents do not have a single way to request the zones, it's not clear how wide they would be, and how the Council would react to any objections because some residents aren't in favour. In the climate emergency, the Council hasn't really made the case for them, and has been delaying so badly they may as well be Tory climate deniers. So residents have pressured them to get on with implementing some. I would struggle to find a 20 mph scheme implemented in the 1st year of the administration. Some roads have appeared with 20 mph on the main roads and then signs saying 30 mph on the side roads which is obviously ridiculous and residents have rightly pointed out. What's needed is a clear process for applying for these zones with an online form. They could be judged against criteria. I've been saying for a long time that everywhere where people live, work, and shop, should be a 20 mph area. It's totally unclear how wide that goes and could confuse drivers as they constantly change. (which is no bad thing)<br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452585085451142868.post-38938565262253604602023-01-29T14:36:00.000+00:002023-01-29T14:36:15.963+00:00Better Streets for Barnet - Tally Ho!<p> Today I went on my first ride with a group that organises monthly group rides around our local area.</p><p>I cycle for utility reasons not for sport or leisure and am keen that the route we took, riddled with potholes, is improved for all who share these spaces, to make them safe and accessible.</p><p>The first mission was crossing from the Tally Ho triangle island on foot to the left lane, past parked cars and 2 lanes of speeding cars.</p><p><br /></p><p>Recommendations</p><p><br /></p><p>North Finchley:</p><p>Remove the 1 way gyratory system, widen pavements and add a cycle-way to the town centre. add safer crossings and design for a 20 mph speed limit or slower. Add cycle phase traffic lights and bike box to allow riders to continue on the left when no traffic is coming across, while car red traffic light phases are on. Build more public toilets possibly in the Arts Depot which will open on a Sunday morning as pubs are not open till later. clean the pidgeon poo off the area. Fill in the potholes (too many to name individually).</p><p><br /></p><p>West Finchley: create a parallel cycle quietway between the A1000 and the Dollis river green walk, connecting schools, park entrances, tube stations, and the church hall where Barnet Cyclists meets monthly! Again 20 mph speed limits would be good value to invest in.</p><p>Parked cars allocated in the zone for residents could form a metal barrier separating a re-configured street layout with a safe space to cycle.<br /></p><p>Street junctions would be designed for 20mph traffic to travel separately to walkers and bikes, mobility scooters, e-bikes, and electric scooters.</p><p>Parked cars blocking the cycle filter near the allotments would be dealt with in a tough manner when reported by the public 24/7.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Mill Hill East: <br /></p><p>Bittacy Roundabout would be dutch style. Examples are available in many English cities and guidance called the Local Transport Note 1/20. Bittacy Roundabout already contains a quieter segregated section of road that could be a cycleway linking Bittacy Hill and Holders Hill. We took a quiet route to Mill Hill East via Abercourn Road. It is one-way and should have a safe cycle lane going the other way in both directions possibly as part of a quiet-way.<br /></p><p>We took a left down Sanders Lane via Bittacy Road. Sanders Lane can be difficult to navigate at junctions, due to the down-hill sharp corner, road layout, fallen leaves, bollards, kerbs, and parked vehicle opposite 50 Sanders Lane. This route avoids part of Devonshire Road and the busy roundabout which is difficult to navigate by bike.</p><p>Coming up Devonshire Road over the old railway bridge, there is some odd layout that is not cycle friendly. Coming down there is a lot of car parking for the football at the weekend. Going past the school, the right turn could be made safer at the mini-roundabout. Parked vehicles at school run time make the area less safe to cycle at the very time it is needed.</p><p>Bunns Lane crosses two loud motorways and the railway bridge. This area is dark and does not feel safe. Walking could be improved and made brighter, safer, and less messy, between the bus stop, rail station, and the industrial estate. The layout is bizarre along the A41 and a lot of land is dis-used and empty space which could be returned to nature or a traffic free gradual ramp or route of some sort. There is some excellent street art there. Flooding presents a problem here as well as car parking spaces allocated on the pavement which makes the area feel less safe on Bunns Lane and Pursley Road.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Edgwarebury <br /></p><p>Our route took us along Hale Drive which could be 20 mph and is near 2 primary schools. Cycle routes could be creates which will ultimately link with a new traffic free route through the Edgware Primary school Super Zone along the old rail land. Pupils at Edgware Primary would like school streets there, less car parking around, and more green space and outdoor space to play. But we took the current suburban route down Westway, Brook Avenue and Farm Road and past the Bank along Edgwarebury Lane where we waited at some traffic lights and crossed 5 lanes of traffic, which I recommend is improved for cyclists crossing there, with cyclist traffic lights, bike box, and good cycle parking at Mowbrey Parade shops.</p><p>We continued past the Jewish Cemeratry which has a steady flow of car traffic Sunday-Friday, and past some horses and along a bridleway, which crosses the M1 motorway. At this point there is a concrete block which makes the cycle path inaccessible to many e-bikes, though the gate does not seem to stop fly-tippers. This would be a good place to organise a community litter pick.</p><p>I would recommend cycle parkin for the Jewish Cemetary, which serves many local residents within a 15 minute walk or cycle journey.</p><p>The area is a great place to go on a walk but does not have pavements at this stage being Green Belt land. It would benefit from somewhere to rest and sit after the steep hill.</p><p> </p><p>High Barnet</p><p> On our way back, we passed Wellhouse Lane and Wood Street, passing some wonderful Whale-bones.</p><p>I would recommend improvements to cycling to the hospital for staff who regularly cycle near their home in inner North London but have to occasionally visit Barnet General Hospital. <br /></p><p>The junction of Wood Street and High Street is still not designed for cyclists.</p><p>I would recommend a safe crawler lane for cyclists up Barnet Hill.</p><p>Western Parade and Great North Road have an ancient lost cycleway which shows huge potential for a fantastic cycleway between High Barnet and Totteridge, but the junction outside the cinema towards New Barnet needs taking out and replacing with a public square that contains the abandoned building and greenery. At this point I note John's Cycles, a cycle repair shop, which will benefit from increased trade when the A1000 is made safe.</p><p>Whetstone<br /></p><p>After Farnham close and Friern mount drive, the A1000 cycleway would cross from the West to the East side of the road. The design of this crossing would retain some car parking spaces but re-design the space so it does not put them in a place that does not pose a danger to cyclists.<br /></p><p>At this point I would come off the A1000 down St Margrets Road avoiding the nasty junctions, or turn right at Kwik fit down woodhouse lane towards the quiet way and past the church hall where there is a drop off for Finchely Food Bank and where Barnet Cyclists meet.<br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452585085451142868.post-26353647260746840112023-01-03T07:52:00.003+00:002023-01-03T07:52:32.122+00:00Writing to the Hendon MP for the Nth time about the NHS<p> Dear Matthew Offord,<br /><br />I am writing to you about the NHS crisis.<br /><br />As you may know, the number of elective NHS operations such as eyes, that have been farmed out to private companies, has dramatically increased. This has led to an increased number of deaths according to a study by Oxford University. The Conservatives have carried on where Labour began.<br />While Labour's Health Secretary Alan Milburn MP found himself conveniently working for a fund that invests in private health companies, their shadow health secretary was quoted in the media promising to put private companies to the task of clearing the backlog.<br /><br />At Barnet hospital, Labour started a 33 year PFI project which bleeds money. I have proposed a solar deal which will re balance the hospital's bills by providing solar energy for the community's benefit using land and infrastructure that is already on site.<br /><br />This is not just about privatisation. The solution clearly lies in social care. The £14 billion over the next 2 years promised by the conservatives comes nowhere near the promises to nurses that you made, in your manifesto, for 40 new hospitals, many new doctors and nurses, and so on. As the budget consultation approaches let's be honest that there needs to be a lot more funding for social care for disabled people. This will allow carers the decent pay of £15 an hour they deserve while they risked their lives in the pandemic to keep their essential work going. There needs to be enough funding for a 20% lift in nurses average pay too, to allow them to afford the fuel to get to work, and to be able to feed themselves.<br /><br />This is urgent. There are people wetting themselves in emergency departments, that are overwhelmed with these patients.<br /><br />Could I suggest you reply to me once you have written to the health secretary which I asked you to do in a previous email.<br /><br />Yours sincerely,<br /><br />Ben Samuel</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452585085451142868.post-69134903310879275062022-12-05T16:58:00.002+00:002023-01-08T19:51:17.767+00:00Smog babies - using my photo<p> </p><p><br /></p>
<div class="v1v1elementToProof" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">
<p align="center" class="v1v1MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit;"><span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" style="font-size: 14pt;">PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span></b></p>
<p class="v1v1MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><b><span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" style="font-size: 14pt;"><u>Cross-party peers alive during Great Smog mark anniversary – and the need for a new Clean Air Act </u></span></b></p>
<p class="v1v1MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><b><span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" style="font-size: 12pt;">Green
Party Baroness Jenny Jones and Labour Lord Alf Dubs were among a
cross-party group of venerable peers – all born before the 1952 Great
Smog of London – who gathered today in Westminster to mark the 70<sup class="v1v1ContentPasted0">th</sup> anniversary of the Great Smog, which killed some 12,000 people and led to the passing of the first Clean Air Act in 1956. </span></b></p>
<p class="v1v1MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" style="font-size: 12pt;">The
peers had something to celebrate as well as something to remember: on
Friday, Baroness Jones' Clean Air (Human Rights) Bill, also known as
Ella's Law, passed its third reading in the House of Lords with strong
cross-party support. </span></p>
<p class="v1v1MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" style="font-size: 12pt;">Baroness Jones said: </span></p>
<p class="v1v1MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" style="font-size: 12pt;">"It's
easy to forget just what an impact the Great Smog had in terms of
people's awareness of the dangers of air pollution. It led directly to
the passing of the first Clean Air Act, which stopped the widespread
burning of coal in our towns and cities. </span></p>
<p class="v1v1MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" style="font-size: 12pt;">"Air
pollution now is less visible, but it's still taking a terrible toll in
lives and ill health. The Royal College of Physicians has estimated
that it kills around 40,000 people a year, and it causes serious
long-term health damage for millions more. </span></p>
<p class="v1v1MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" style="font-size: 12pt;">"The
Clean Air (Human Rights) Bill aims to make the right to breathe clean
air a human right, and to bring air quality up to minimum World Health
Organization standards in our towns and cities. </span></p>
<p class="v1v1MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" style="font-size: 12pt;">"It's
been incredibly heartening to see so many peers, from all sides of the
House of Lords, speak in support of the Bill, some drawing on personal
experience of people in their own families whose health has been badly
affected. </span></p>
<p class="v1v1MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" style="font-size: 12pt;">"The
Bill moves on to the House of Commons this week, and we know there are
many there who feel just as strongly that the government needs to take
much stronger action on air quality." </span></p>
<p class="v1v1MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" style="font-size: 12pt;">The
Bill is also being called Ella's Law in in memory of nine-year-old Ella
Roberta Adoo Kissi-Debrah, the first person to have air pollution
listed by a coroner as a cause of death. Since Ella's death in 2013, her
mother Rosamund Kissi-Debrah has campaigned tirelessly for stronger
legislation on air quality. </span></p>
<p class="v1v1MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" style="font-size: 12pt;">Lord Dubs was exactly 20 years old on 5 December 1952, the first day of the Great Smog, and celebrates his 90<sup class="v1v1ContentPasted0">th</sup> birthday today. <span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Lord Dubs said: </span></span></p>
<p class="v1v1MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">"For
someone in their teens at the time, the first day of the Great Smog was
almost fun, but as the days went by it became a horrible experience –
shocking, filthy and deadly. </span></p>
<p class="v1v1MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">"Despite
the measures taken after the Great Smog, we still have a long way to go
to clean up London's air. We've taken the lead out of petrol, but
London's air is still not good enough, which is why the Mayor's
extension of the Ultra-Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ )is a helpful step in
the right direction". </span></p>
<p class="v1v1MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Liberal Democrat peer Lady Bakewell said: </span></p>
<p class="v1v1MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">"In 1952 the only method of heating homes was coal fires.<span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Coupled with dank winter weather, smogs became common in many cities.<span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The recent huge hike in energy costs is seeing many households installing open fireplaces in order to keep warm.<span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we are not careful this could increase the risk of poor air quality similar to that of post-war years."<span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span></p>
<p class="v1v1MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Conservative peer Lord Balfe of said: </span></p>
<p class="v1v1MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">"The
London Smogs exacted a dreadful toll on human health and life. This is
not a Party issue and the first Clean Air Act was a Conservative
initiative pioneered by Sir Gerald Nabarro MP. That is why today we
continue to campaign across all political parties for cleaner forms of
transport and heating. Clean air makes for a longer healthier life." </span></p>
<p class="v1v1MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" style="font-size: 12pt;">Baroness
Jones was approaching her third birthday as the Great Smog descended on
London and six years old when the first Clean Air Act was passed. She
said: </span></p>
<p class="v1v1MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" style="font-size: 12pt;">"There
are many people alive today who would not be if not for that landmark
piece of legislation. At the time, some politicians claimed that it
would be far too expensive to stop burning coal in our cities. But then,
as now, the costs of inaction far outweighed the costs of action. </span></p>
<p class="v1v1MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" style="font-size: 12pt;">"We
know the damage that air pollution is doing, and we know how to prevent
it. Seventy years on from the Great Smog, it's past time for a new
Clean Air Act." </span></p>
<p class="v1v1MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" style="font-size: 12pt;">ENDS </span></p>
<p class="v1v1MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><b><u><span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" style="font-size: 12pt;">Notes for editors </span></u></b></p>
<p class="v1v1MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-left: 17.0pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -17pt;"><span style="mso-list: ignore;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span class="v1v1ContentPasted0 v1v1ContentPasted1" style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><span class="v1v1ContentPasted0 v1v1ContentPasted1" style="font: 12pt Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo caption from left to right: </span></span></span></span><span face="Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; text-indent: -17pt;">Richard
Balfe (Baron Balfe of Dulwich, Conservative); Cathy Bakewell (Baroness
Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville, Liberal Democrat); Susan Garden
(Baroness Garden of Frognal, Liberal Democrat); Jenny Jones (Baroness
Jones of Moulsecoomb, Green Party); Alf Dubs (Baron Dubs of Battersea,
Labour); David Hunt (Baron Hunt of Wirral McHale, Conservative); Ruth
Lister (Baroness Lister of Burtersett, Labour); Mike Watson (Baron
Watson of Invergowrie, Labour)</span></p>
<p class="v1v1MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-left: 17.0pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -17pt;"><span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br class="v1v1ContentPasted0" style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> </span></p>
<p class="v1v1MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-left: 17.0pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -17pt;"><span style="mso-list: ignore;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></span><span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" style="font-size: 12pt;">Air
pollution is the biggest environmental health hazard facing people in
Britain. with disadvantaged communities disproportionately impacted.
Government figures estimate that over 5% of all deaths in England are
attributable to air pollution – around 30,000 people annually. The Royal
College of Physicians puts the figure for the UK as whole at around
40,000 deaths a year. It states that: "The health problems resulting
from exposure to air pollution have a high cost to people who suffer
from illness and premature death, to our health services and to
business. In the UK, these costs add up to more than £20 billion every
year."<br class="v1v1ContentPasted0" /><br class="v1v1ContentPasted0" />See 'Every Breath We<span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> Take: The Lifelong Impact of Air Pollution', Royal College of Physicians, 2016: </span> <a class="v1v1ContentPasted0" href="https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/projects/outputs/every-breath-we-take-lifelong-impact-air-pollution" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/projects/outputs/every-breath-we-take-lifelong-impact-air-pollution</span></a><span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><br class="v1v1ContentPasted0" /><br class="v1v1ContentPasted0" /><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="v1v1MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-left: 17.0pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -17pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" style="mso-list: Ignore;">3)<span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" style="font-size: 12pt;">Baroness Jenny Jones' Clean Air (Human Rights) Bill passed its 3<sup class="v1v1ContentPasted0">rd</sup> reading in the House of Lords on 2 December and now moves on to the House of Commons. The Bill: </span></p>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><li><span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" face="'Calibri',sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Would enshrine the human right to clean air precisely and explicitly in law. </span></li><li><span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" face="'Calibri',sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Follows
a 'One Air' approach that encompasses the health and environmental
impacts of pollutants and greenhouse gases, and sets limits and targets
for each aspect based on the best international standards and scientific
advice. </span></li><li><span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" face="'Calibri',sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Would
require the Government and local authorities to bring air quality up
to minimum WHO standards within five years (or seek postponements
subject to strict conditions). </span></li><li><span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" face="'Calibri',sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Would require the national government to give local authorities the support they need to do this. </span></li><li><span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" face="'Calibri',sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Would
establish a Citizens' Commission for Clean Air ("CCCA") and require it
and the Committee on Climate Change to review pollutants and limits
annually and advise the Secretary of State if they need tightening. </span></li><li><span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" face="'Calibri',sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Would require the CCCA to annually review the Secretary of State's compliance with the law </span><br class="v1v1ContentPasted0" /><br class="v1v1ContentPasted0" />
<div><span face="'Calibri',sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;">For more information on the Bill and the impacts of air pollution on health, see </span> <span style="color: black;"><a class="v1v1ContentPasted0" href="https://ellaslaw.uk/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank"><span face="'Calibri',sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">https://ellaslaw.uk/</span></a></span></div>
<span face="'Calibri',sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></li></ul>
<p class="v1v1MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-left: 17.0pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -17pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" style="mso-list: Ignore;">4)<span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" style="font-size: 12pt;">The
first Clean Air Act of 1956 was enacted by a Conservative government
after Sir Gerald Nabarro, a Conservative MP, introduced a Clean Air Bill
as a Private Member's Bill. It mandated "smoke control areas" in
high-population areas to reduce smoke pollution and sulphur dioxide from
household coal fires, as well as measures to cut emissions of gases,
grit, and dust from chimneys and smoke-stacks. </span></p>
<p class="v1v1MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-left: 17.0pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<span face="Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="v1v1ContentPasted0" face="'Calibri',sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Introducing
the Bill in the House of Commons in 1955, Sir Gerald said: "The
conscience of the country was shocked by the loss of 4,000 lives in
December 1952. Doctors tell me that those deaths were very largely
caused by asphyxia, by people literally being choked to death by the
impurities in the atmosphere and the contraction of the human air
passages due to intense irritants in the atmosphere, such as sulphur
dioxide and sulphur trioxide. [...] Not only are innumerable lives lost
as a result of intense smoke pollution of the atmosphere year by year,
but equally serious is the steady erosion or shortening of life caused
by the heavy air pollution of industrial and urban areas." The figure of
4000 lives lost refers to people who died in the month of the Great
Smog. It is estimated that another 8000 people died from its effects in
the months thereafter</span><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </div>
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<div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/i4AenqivmoP2FYxzODGbHiLhIqfbSEaHTcG4wH8xFOXOhr4TyfIvSxGLFVs9I5ZoNNtTliqiMbpDUmQ=s400" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/i4AenqivmoP2FYxzODGbHiLhIqfbSEaHTcG4wH8xFOXOhr4TyfIvSxGLFVs9I5ZoNNtTliqiMbpDUmQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div>
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<p style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 12.5pt; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span face="Helvetica,sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;">Press Office</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 12.5pt; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"> </p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 12.5pt; margin: 0px 0px 1pt; text-align: start;"><span face="Helvetica,sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt; margin: 0px;">The Green Party of England and Wales</span><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="color: #222222; margin: 0px;"></span></p>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><b>p:</b> 0203 691 9401</div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452585085451142868.post-51107413655129466472022-11-22T08:47:00.001+00:002022-11-22T08:47:34.140+00:00The Battle of Barnet<p> Today Labour members in Chipping Barnet will vote between a party short-list of 2 candidates.</p><p><br /></p><p>My handy guide to who these people are</p><p><br /></p><p>
</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;">
<colgroup><col width="128*"></col>
<col width="128*"></col>
</colgroup><tbody><tr valign="top">
<td style="border: none; padding: 0cm;" width="50%"><p><b>Tweedle-dum</b></p>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0cm;" width="50%"><p><b>Tweedle-dee</b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td style="border: none; padding: 0cm;" width="50%"><p>Lawyer</p>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0cm;" width="50%"><p>Lawyer</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td style="border: none; padding: 0cm;" width="50%"><p>Has never
worked a proper job except as a lawyer in the labour movement</p>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0cm;" width="50%"><p>Has never
worked a proper job except as a lawyer in the labour movement</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td style="border: none; padding: 0cm;" width="50%"><p>Young and
ambitious</p>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0cm;" width="50%"><p>Young and
ambitious</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td style="border: none; padding: 0cm;" width="50%"><p>Claims to
have union backing</p>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0cm;" width="50%"><p>Claims to
have union backing</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td style="border: none; padding: 0cm;" width="50%"><p>Likes to re
tweet photos of canvassing</p>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0cm;" width="50%"><p>Likes to re
tweet photos of canvassing</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td style="border: none; padding: 0cm;" width="50%"><p>Claims to be
a local lad</p>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0cm;" width="50%"><p>Claims to be
a local lass</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td style="border: none; padding: 0cm;" width="50%"><p>Did not visit
picket line or support their union</p>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0cm;" width="50%"><p>Did not visit
picket line or support their union</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>My advice to anyone not suspended and still a member of Labour is to spoil your ballot paper tonight. <br /></p><p><style type="text/css">td p { orphans: 0; widows: 0; background: transparent }p { line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.25cm; background: transparent }</style></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452585085451142868.post-62885012517439644722022-11-21T15:06:00.000+00:002022-11-21T15:06:00.568+00:00GREENS MAKE STEADY PROGRESS IN COUNCIL ELECTIONS<p> 05/05/02 <br /><br /><br />Despite a couple of unexpected upsets, the Green Party continued its political comeback in the English local elections of 2 May 2002.<br /><br />The Green vote grew to 7% where the Greens stood, compared with 5% in 2000. The party fielded almost 1,100 candidates, more than in any year since 1991.<br /><br />In NORWICH the Greens got their first 2 councillors elected with 41% of the vote, up 18%, in the constituency of Labour Party chair Charles Clarke MP - a reflection of dissatisfaction with New Labour and the perceptible tendency of Labour voters to switch to Green.<br /><br />LEEDS Green Party got their third councillor elected, with a 1,100 vote majority.<br /><br />In BRADFORD, the Greens elected their second councillor with 42% and a 600 majority.<br /><br />Results mixed but positive<br /><br />Overall the Greens ended the night with 4 fewer councillors nationally - though still represented on 22 principal authorities.<br /><br />OLDHAM Green Party lost a seat (where a councillor had been elected as Labour, and had crossed the floor to the Greens mid-term) - but borough-wide the Greens almost tripled their vote, in the party's best-ever Oldham result. Other northern boroughs showed similar progress:<br /><br />MANCHESTER Greens narrowly missed getting their first councillor elected - just 83 votes behind Labour in a ward where Labour were sufficiently worried that they drafted in foreign office minister Tony Lloyd MP to help campaign.<br /><br />SHEFFIELD Greens almost doubled their vote, and TAMESIDE Greens got their best ever result, with a top vote of 20%.<br /><br />On OXFORD city council the Green Group was reduced from 7 councillors to 3. They had been in a ruling coalition with the LibDems, but Labour swept back into control of the council. Cllr Mike Woodin comments: "When we took over after 20 years of Labour rule, the council was in a dreadful state. We have had to spend the last two years clearing up their mess. It was all to easy for Labour to cease on one or two relatively minor decisions and blow them out of all proportion and enough of the electorate fell for it for them to get back in. But we will be back."<br /><br />The Greens point out that their steady increase in vote-share bodes well for gains in next year's local elections and the 2004 European elections.<br /><br />Executive Elections Coordinator Geoff Forse comments: "We're disadvantaged both by the archaic first-past-the-post electoral system and by the media's reluctance to provide the public with adequate information about the Green Party and its policies.<br /><br />"Our 7% vote would have been high enough to have won a large number of seats in a proportional system like those of most EU countries. When Britain eventually gets electoral reform, we can expect the Greens here to gain as much representation as our colleagues in other European Union countries.<br /><br />"In the meantime, with the ongoing increase in our membership, and the growing popularity of our policy, we'll continue to make steady progress."</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd0q1GjL0cPw4mmWh155ISz_iFjWmLMVK2Yn0n3VWzbgC4OdPZyWfWLRSew21oG2v6sKoxis8hnLOAvUi0Lh4YMXYEXSXeCVRaXOsdPreqCdKjJapBSe-q0wXEyTK92cadji0Xrf0Y35gOblS6_QY-Xw-9E79S5ynwnDTjTiLOJ2dXe6C-V6bY1BZ6/s75/75pressoffice.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="75" data-original-width="75" height="75" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd0q1GjL0cPw4mmWh155ISz_iFjWmLMVK2Yn0n3VWzbgC4OdPZyWfWLRSew21oG2v6sKoxis8hnLOAvUi0Lh4YMXYEXSXeCVRaXOsdPreqCdKjJapBSe-q0wXEyTK92cadji0Xrf0Y35gOblS6_QY-Xw-9E79S5ynwnDTjTiLOJ2dXe6C-V6bY1BZ6/s1600/75pressoffice.gif" width="75" /></a></div><p></p><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452585085451142868.post-51512431018467780482022-10-01T23:41:00.006+01:002022-10-02T06:49:07.648+01:00White Rage book review<p> Yesterday I had to go to my local library after an email demanding action regarding the books I had borrowed. Logging into my online account I discovered that library fines are back and it is impossible to renew online. In person I had even worse luck being unable to re issue books without paying the fine I owe, but the unstaffed library had a machine that was unable to receive payments at the moment, being partially out of order. So White Rage had to go back on the return shelf after I had not even completed the introduction.</p><p><br /></p><p>The book is about the issues of racism in relation to white people and analysing the white rage and how that shapes history. </p><p><br /></p><p>However I found the book difficult to read because it contains a lot of detail about USA based history which I am unfamiliar with.</p><p><br /></p><p>I would like to return to this book when I can.</p><p><br /></p><p>Edgware Library has a whole bunch of books on display for Black History Month. It includes childrens, fiction, and non-fiction. It includes local London history and Black British Lives matter, a compilation edited to show the recent movement, presented in shiny black hardback. There is also my favourite genre for campaigns, the auto-biography.</p><p> I was sad to have to return Tom Daley (a Gold shiny hardback) but I had a good attempt getting through the majority of it. He is not just a diver but also an able communicator.</p><p> I returned we fight fascists. The title is a recently published history. It is sympathetic to the CST and charts the continuous story between the non-Zionist East End and the Hendon based CST. </p><p><br /></p><p>I would recommend that the Green Party England & Wales looks at itself and educated itself as a white dominated group, to tackle racism and be anti-racism allies.</p><p><br /></p><p>Black History Month 2022 is something but will return much bigger and better in Barnet in 2023.<br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452585085451142868.post-46059567345990680572022-06-12T06:10:00.002+01:002022-06-12T17:20:45.008+01:00Trans book review<p>(not really a trans book. as it is pride month, the library has a heap of good books on display including one about unicorns) </p><p> I was in my local library and while I know that the title and the whole selection of Trans readers was available, was terribly biased and right-wing, after picking up this book "Trans: when ideology meets reality" the conclusion reads "Trans rights are human rights" so it can't be all that bad can it?</p><p>The book really is that bad and I give it 1 *.</p><p>At the end of the book the author, who is not trans herself, thanks a slew of organisations such as Women's Place, even Guardian opinion former Nick Cohen unless there is another one.</p><p>I didn't learn very much. It goes through the pre Nazi Germany experiments that I already knew about but that was mostly destroyed in a book burning: I think that was comprehensively covered by Jewdas twitter. Then there's the story of the first trans woman in history, that was covered nicely by Pride a film on Disney+</p><p>She makes the assumption that men who use the term TERF are against women whereas I know that nowadays men can be radical feminists too: For instance the Green Party's Shahrar Ali. Though the book prefers to use the politically correct term "gender critical" The bias is in the books language, rubbishing the other side of the argument and trying to systematically refute the arguments, calling us liars.</p><p><br /></p><p>The book calls itself a contribution to the "debate". But the fact is there is no debate. The fact is that there have been trans people in society in all countries for generations and they've never caused a problem.</p><p><br /></p><p>The arguments in the book are deeply regressive: What about sport, what about prisons and criminals.</p><p><br /></p><p>And the defence it makes of lead tweeter JK Rowling is really something. In my activist circles JK is definitely not on the recommended reading list. A billionaire doesn't need defending especially if she gives most her wealth to charity. Any charity that takes her money is now tainted by the ideology and strings of that movement.</p><p>I wish Barnet Libraries would give a platform to organisations like "all about trans" that really explain the trans revolution from an actual trans person's perspective. Even a cookery book by "a girl called Jack" would go a long way to contributing to a modern public library that doesn't go on a rant about how "I'm not transphobic but".</p><p><br /></p><p>Looking forward to next Thursday's training organised by true trans allies Carla Denyer and Bristol Green Party's LGBTIQA+ group. There's no such thing as a stupid question.</p><p><br /></p><p>PS</p><p>The book renders itself out of date pretty quickly. It doesn't mention the Matrix 4 sequel, and claims there are no anti trans laws in the USA which there are now loads of.<br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452585085451142868.post-9133363667020243192022-05-18T19:27:00.002+01:002022-05-18T19:27:25.870+01:00Utilities<p> A lot of people have been writing negative reviews about their utilities.</p><p>As a monopoly, the only recourse you probably have to them, is to write them a review. here is thames water:</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.thameswater.co.uk">https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.thameswater.co.uk</a><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452585085451142868.post-32760733732481383982022-05-01T08:30:00.006+01:002022-05-01T08:59:38.782+01:00On lying politicians<p> Boris Johnson lied to parliament. He lied to the Queen. He was fired from his job for fabricating a quote in a newspaper. We all know that.</p><p>Labour pop up before the local elections and point to Conservatives broken promises.<br /></p><p>But are Labour any better? I have only lived in Burnt Oak for 4 years now and I am shocked at the dodgy graphs and false promises of change that their candidate has pushed through my door since he was selected. Do they think we're all stupid? Really? I challenged him on the graph, claiming that the next election will be close in Burnt Oak, and that voting green or libdem may lead to Conservative councillors; and he said that Boris Johnson is unlikely to go, due to Ukraine. I texted him on whatsapp to point out this repeated deliberate lie, with no response so far. They are using this as a stepping stone for the Labour Party to unseat Matthew Offord MP at the next General Election as well as the other 2 Barnet MPs.<br /></p><p>But the local picture is important too. The truth is however we vote in Burnt Oak ward we will not change who controls the council, even after the boundary changes that take in the bit of Mill Hill up to Bunns Lane, the area near the Meads, and Edgware Primary School and get rid of the bit south of Montrose and Blundell Roads.</p><p>Is there no way to hold our Councillors who will go on to rule Barnet Council, to account? I invited the candidate to the Environment Hustings with no response. I did not see them take part; just saw one Councillor at JCoSS and Edgware United Synagogue but they didn't ask any questions and didn't stop very long to chat. We've had community meetings like the sustainability consultation that I attended, or the leader's question time, which Councillors say they were banned from. Not one Jewish hustings focussed on Burnt Oak because it's not local to where they were held.<br /></p><p>The literature Labour are creating doesn't clearly show an understanding of what powers and competencies local government has or national and regional government. Many people do not understand what a ward is. Some can not name their councillors.</p><p><br /></p><p>Too many have become sick and tired of Labour's games and refuse to vote for a party that just lies to them (about who is likely to win in Burnt Oak) and doesn't deal with the issues.</p><p>People say that they don't want to live in this country anymore, that they can't be proud any more to be English (Look - I don't agree with him) because mainly that social media has divided our community. People are rightly fed up with mainstream political parties and mainstream media (Since 9/11 - again I don't agree with him). People say that they haven't received any leaflets from the Conservatives only Labour. People say that the Labour leaflets go straight in the bin and they don't even notice them. People are in grief. People have to work and don't have time to think about politics. People assume that Labour and local politicians are just there to get their votes and will say anything to get the job of councillor - and then totally fail to be community leaders. People say that the government and council are fraudsters and that Trump should be locked up for his crimes. And after Capita, who is to say that Capita still don't control key functions which govern our local area?<br /></p><p>I know from this campaign that they will win based on these lies and by alienating their own electorate; just as they lost the last general election, with an insurgent centrist authoritarian faction. It will come back to bite them, the distrust they are sowing. That is a great shame.</p><p>Burnt Oak residents say that's how it always is, politicians are going to do what liars do. I believe politics can be better than that. That it can serve our community. The first step is for their election agent over in East Finchley whoever he is to apologise for lying and pledge a clean campaign that does not lie, or spread fear among those vulnerable to their message. Burnt Oak residents are mostly not engaged in politics, but they know that whoever they ask, rubbish continues to be dumped, mature trees are not well maintained near their gutters and lawns, and the area is in managed decline. Our neighbourhood is being run down.<br /></p><p>These lies will not work any more, it's incredibly short term and out of date thinking. Nowadays people have access to the internet, and can look up basic information like, who are my councillors, how can I write to them, do they hold surgeries? People can see the track record and the fact that most people in the area don't vote in these elections.</p><p><br /></p><p>Burnt Oak is a working class area or mixed area. It has voted returned Labour Councillors x3 my whole life and probably yours too.</p><p>This Thursday, there is no risk of the Conservatives winning here. So you can vote with your conscience. Or like many: you can stay away from this toxic tangled culture built on lies, and put the leaflets in the recycling bin along with the rest of the junk mail where they belong.</p><p><br /></p><p>I say this not promoting any candidate, but as a neighbour - who is concerned about what is being done to us by the Labour Party. I just want to correct the misinformation and encourage them to tell us what they have been doing the last 4-8 years to serve their corner of Barnet.<br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452585085451142868.post-7685378455355350172022-04-05T08:07:00.002+01:002022-04-05T08:07:22.739+01:00Who wins Barnet<p> </p><div data-contents="true"><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="3oto4" data-offset-key="7nqvr-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="7nqvr-0-0"><span data-offset-key="7nqvr-0-0"><span data-text="true">Back in 2017, fresh out of Barnet General hospital intensive care unit, I saw a poster in my local Kosher butchers on Brent Street about a Jewish Hustings that the Green Party had not been invited to.</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="3oto4" data-offset-key="fe881-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="fe881-0-0"><span data-offset-key="fe881-0-0"><span data-text="true">I was quite upset.</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="3oto4" data-offset-key="cqs15-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="cqs15-0-0"><span data-offset-key="cqs15-0-0"><span data-text="true">I had always taken the trouble to drop by there for services.</span></span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="cqs15-0-0"><span data-offset-key="cqs15-0-0"><span data-text="true"> I phoned the office to tell them. They apologised and said they were unaware that the party were taking part in the election. They denied organising it saying it was a charity and they were simply a venue.</span></span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="cqs15-0-0"><span data-offset-key="cqs15-0-0"><span data-text="true">I heard that UKIP showed up and made a fuss and were added to the panel last minute. <br /></span></span></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452585085451142868.post-57546799540161928812022-03-20T08:23:00.001+00:002022-03-20T08:23:09.717+00:00The Watling Estate being run down by successive governments<p> </p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-75c7d238-7fff-bed5-9155-36693d80c1bc" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Greens are showing leadership, demonstrating how we can do things differently, by implementing a ground-up approach, where local councils in an area work collaboratively together to insulate social housing. For too long successive governments have ignored the urgency of addressing our leaky homes and any attempts they have made, for example through the Green Homes Grant, have failed. </span></p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-75c7d238-7fff-bed5-9155-36693d80c1bc" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-75c7d238-7fff-bed5-9155-36693d80c1bc" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">It is such a shame that Burnt Oak local people don't vote Green in numbers sufficient to shake up this rotten borough.</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452585085451142868.post-15666409436731613162022-03-03T14:26:00.000+00:002022-03-03T14:26:32.006+00:00Stop the War coalition<p> A few thoughts after following A LOT of stuff on the BBC and twitter. No doubt half of it misinformation.</p><p><br /></p><p>2003: US and coalition of the willing had invaded Afghanistan and were about to attack Iraq. Some concern over Palestine. Various left wing parties and political groups got together for one of the biggest marches ever:</p><p>-Some marchers were not aligned with the stop the war coalition. Some did join however. Many did not reach the rally point or hear the speeches. </p><p>Groups included Muslim communities and their representatives such as MCB</p><p>Without the protest it may have been a lot worse. They may have gone ahead and attacked Iran.</p><p>At the time, a Labour government was in power as well as a Labour Mayor of London. George Bush Jr in USA very much leading the war having exhausted diplomatic channels.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p>2022: On 28 February, the war had already started. Right now Ukraine is being invaded on 3 fronts: Belarus, Russia, and the South. Locals are seen peacefully blocking the tanks. Social media exists.</p><p>Street protests are most visible in Moscow, St Petersburg and across Belarus. </p><p>Black and Asian students complain of discrimination. Jewish Community and Christians rally, pray, and organise humanitarian support.<br /></p><p>At the time, a Conservative government is in power alongside a centre left Joe Biden/ Kamala Harris in the USA, leading with rhetoric and economic sanctions.</p><p>United Nations General Assembly passes a motion with a few abstentions and Russia against and blocking a Security Council motion.</p><p>The European union plenary welcomes the Ukraine president. <br /></p><p>Labour is in opposition and controls City Hall and some councils.</p><p>It is unclear whether a mass demonstration will work against a government that won't listen, a UK and Russian billionaire class that lies and buys influence. Does Ukrainian civil society even want a cease-fire? Who has the power to end this war? What about other wars? With the cost of living and covid, is a big, weekend, march going to be big enough to bring change? Will it be hijacked by narrow political operators like the SWP? Can the left bring together its warring factions and Western orientated interests in an age of social media bubbles, cyber?<br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452585085451142868.post-37067070723160831032021-12-31T15:27:00.006+00:002021-12-31T15:28:38.596+00:00My response to Boris Johnson, Prime Minister<p> Boris Johnson<br /><br />LBC asked whether I back him? I laugh. I laugh. He should resign.<br /><br />You say it is the hypocrisy. I say it's the corruption.<br /><br />I have a science training. He is more of a classicist.<br /><br />Here in Hendon constituency my MP - Matthew Offord - has done nothing in the last year about Covid. <br /><br /><br /><br />Did you see the crisis coming?<br /><br />If you look at Offord's website it is out of date. it still says it is a legal requirement to stay at home.<br />Why is that? <br />He likes to tell people what to do. But they won't do it themselves.<br /><br />Why do they like telling people what to do?<br /><br />When they are clinging onto power, for Boris Johnson the crisis is a good thing. When you have a population in fear then they will be too afraid to overthrow him. He should resign for many, many reasons.<br /><br />If he was trying to keep people in fear though, wouldn't he be imposing more restrictions, which he was stopped from doing really by the back bench rebellion that he suffered?<br /><br />No, I don't see them as restrictions at all. I am staying home for my own safety and because I am on the vaccine trial and I don't want to get it before I get my booster. By the way, 50% have failed to get boosted so I don't blame anyone except Boris Johnson. He set an unrealistic target for December.<br /><br />Now in the new year he's got absolute Chutzpah, he's got the nerve, to tell us that we should all get boosted. What? To give him immunity.<br /><br />The People's covid inquiry report shows very clearly I think. The public inquiry will show what the people's covid inquiry showed which is that there was an exercise to prepare for the pandemic. You can't say he didn't see it coming because the government had an exercise to prepare for a coronavirus pandemic. Now what did Boris Johnson learn from that?<br /><br />Well, to serve his own ends.<br /><br />There is an alternative. It's called a Zero Covid strategy. We have it in Taiwan, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Japan, a strategy by which we can keep the infection down to a manageable level.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452585085451142868.post-5959341798241695272021-11-18T13:05:00.004+00:002021-11-18T13:05:48.572+00:00scrutiny on social care<p> Earlier I signed a motion to revolutionise the Green Party's social care policy.</p><p><br /></p><p>Back in local politics, where Green Party seeks to win power and govern seriously, I've submitted a question as a member of the public.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div dir="ltr">on agenda item 6.</div><div dir="ltr"> <br /></div><div dir="ltr">
Does the chairman agree with me that the public could have more of a
say if Barnet Council went beyond a budget consultation and gave us, the
people of Barnet borough, the option of a referendum to increase the
tax - which is a very small proportion of the wealth of those that own
property in Barnet - in order to save social care?</div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">Secondly</div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">Given
the fact that Barnet Council faces financial armageddon due to the
mismanagement of previous administrations, would the chairman agree with
me that the prudent thing to give residents a hope of free social care
as enjoyed by Scotland, would be to join me in saying "yes" in such a
referendum to save Barnet libraries and fully fund social care.</div><div dir="ltr"> </div><div dir="ltr"> </div><div dir="ltr">As the meeting clashes with Barnet Climate Action Group I shall not be submitting a supplementary system. Councillors attending often look bored. At the best of times Barnet Council have been reluctant to bring residents in to scrutinise their decision making meetings, restricting questions to the point that we're basically gagged. During a pandemic I resent the fact they have stopped live streaming meetings for those afraid to go out. Live streaming was hugely popular and fits with the theme of my blog post today, about public engagement, which is one of the Council's core aims, supposedly. <br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0