Humphrey's End garden open next weekend

Saturday and Sunday next weekend from 2 to 6pm the garden at Humphreys End House (Randwick) will open again - well worth a visit - and great to see them in the double-page spread in The Citizen on Saturday.

Here's how the Yellow Book describes it: "Different areas of contrasting mood and interesting planting surrounding listed C16 farmhouse (not open). A wildlife friendly garden. Pond area, old roses, grasses and organic vegetables"

Admission £2.50, Children free Open for charity.

Green bees graffiti for Green party

I just came across the Bristol Graffitti website - great stuff - they also carried a piece of work painted for the Green Party office in Old Market by Mark “Skip” Courtney - see here article and photo left pinched from that website - he calls them wasps but infact I am assured they are bees! The site is worth a look at some of the other blogs - and of course Banksy - liked this one here in the light of expenses row about wanting to be an MP!

Photo: Green party wasps and below a piece I saw and liked in Cinderford recently

Interestingly one of my previous blogs about art or graffiti is still the one being hit most - not sure why!! See it here - I wrote it in a hurry and wish I'd now spent more time writing something more useful and interesting!!

Eat lunch in the street

The Big Lunch - is an idea being promoted by the Eden Project for Sunday 19th July 2009. They are inviting you and all 61 million people across the UK to simultaneously sit down to eat lunch with your neighbours, in the middle of your street as a simple act of community.

Photo: Bread Street Street party last year

This is a great idea that a resident in Randwick pointed out to me - she is hoping to get a lunch going there - here's more below of what it says in the Big Lunch promotion. I have to say we are v lucky in this area with community events from the Wap, pancake races, the recent art exhibition in Whitesill etc etc - and later today the 'Hands Around the Lake' in Randwick at Court Lodge from 12 (sadly I will miss that) - they need 200 people to link all the way around then songs, words and bring your own picnic.

A new initiative run by the Eden Project, The Big Lunch encourages communities to come together through growing food and flowers; creating street music, art and theatre; dressing the street and, of course, cooking and eating together. The day after the Big Lunch, people will walk down their street and know someone in most windows. However, the legacy of The Big Lunch is much bigger than just the day after... The aim is to give people the tools to strengthen their communities through activities such as neighbourhood-watch; improving local amenities such as youth centres; taking care of the elderly or disabled; making imaginative improvements to the local environment; sharing resources from lawnmowers to cars; and supporting local charities both with money and volunteering time.

Organising a Big Lunch in your area is really easy. Available from April, The Big Lunch website and printed Ideas Booklet will take you through the process step by step, giving you the tools, templates and resources to make it as simple as possible. You’ll find inspirational ideas and top tips from our ambassadors on the website and you can find others planning a Big Lunch in your street or area by simply entering your post-code on our Big Lunch map.

To find out more visit www.thebiglunch.com or call 020 7636 8152.

We had a great street party in Bread Street, Ruscombe last year - see here. Not sure what plans this year - some noises being made about another - poss a lunch this time? We also had a great couple of days juicing in Humphreys End last year - see here. So if anyone has thoughts I think just go for it - we had a great response to the street party last year - I think 3 houses were away but over 35 homes participated.....so go knock on those doors!

I see others locally are also doing meal shares like Transition Stroud - see here - and in Whiteshill and Ruscombe there is one of those meals where you have a different course in each home...

'Water for Today' conference in Stroud

You will see from this flyer that Stroud's Communiversity has a whole day dedicated to the crucial issue of water - Tuesday 23rd June at The Exchange. You will also see that I have a slot to talk about the Ruscombe Brook Action Group.

We must start taking this issue of water more seriously - this conference is a chance to look at some of the key issues in more depth - water resources are under huge pressures even in this country; some 25 million people live in areas where there is less available water per person than Spain or Morocco. The average Briton now uses 148 litres (260 pints) every day. Climate change is expected to reduce the amount of water available in our rivers by up to 80% by 2050 in the summer, yet we face population increases. The transport, heating and treatment of water accounts for over 6% of the UKs carbon footprint. Using less water means we take less from the environment and cut the energy needed to treat it.

It is also crucially about the way we look after our brooks and streams. We need water management strategies that look to store and infiltrate water to protect us from floods and drought. This is about improved wildlife and water quality in our brooks, an end to sewage leaks and a joined up approach to water that includes changes to planning, farming and house building. It means an end to those of us upstream dumping on those downstream.

Worldwide around 800 million people don't have access to safe drinking water, and 2.5 billion do not have decent sanitation. By 2030, according to an OECD report, 3.9 billion people, around half of the world's population at the time, will be living in bad water scarcity.

And that doesn't even take into account the likely impact of global warming.

Changed weather patterns will cause rain and snow to fall away from the traditional areas where they feed rivers and lakes and are captured by dams - or are held back by flood dikes and levees. By 2050 forecasts indicate there will be nine billion of us, compared with 6.5 billion today. How will we feed them? How will we provide water for them, given that we waste and pollute so much of the precious substance today?

Book now for your place on the day.

Staverton Airport yet another step closer to expanding

The Bank View Farm redevelopment was approved by the Tewkesbury Borough Council's Development Control committee today, despite the planning officer’s recommendation for refusal. Shameful. This means Staverton Airport's plans to expand are yet another step closer. See my most recent blog here.

As regular readers of this blog will know, the Airport's four planning applications were discussed at the April Planning Committee meeting. The Committee decided to permit three of the applications. A decision on the Bank View Farm application was deferred until a later date to allow council officers time to assess the Airport's recent revision to their application. The revision has reduced the size of the replacement agricultural buildings.

The deferred application was looked at today and passed. Below is a letter from one of the campaigners earlier this month - I am not sure if the Airport now has the crucial bit of land? However apparently campaigners still have a few things up their sleaves.

On 1st May you reported me and other demonstrators opposing the expansion of Staverton airport. I was proud to be opposing the unpopular developments which have been widely rejected by communities, such as neighbouring parish councils. It is also worrying that Liberal Democrat Councillors, even from Churchdown, have betrayed people who elected them by approving the expansion plans. This is NOT a good example of local representative democracy. Your report, thought, missed a grand irony in all this – that the airport do not own or have access to crucial land it needs for one of its developments. So there has been all this struggle, Councillors in long meetings, much expenditure on consultants and Council officers time. But the airport actually applied for one of the developments on somebody else’s land. And that person has sent an objection to the development plans. Does this extraordinary arrogance from the airport indicate what we can expect in future? Where will it all end? Meanwhile, - the airport expansion plans will mean more jets roaring above us, coming lower over Cheltenham, and yet more helicopter hell. Liberal Democrat councillors do not seem to care about this or any of the other concerns about emissions, value for money etc. Luckily, plenty of good citizens still do, even if they have not been properly represented in this decision making. Alison Parfitt

Stroud Festival of Nature

Saturday 18th July is Stroud Festival of Nature - I sadly can't be there but wanted to give it a little plug here on this blog - it is going to be bigger than last year with many more contributers looking at all aspects of the environment from renewable energy and recycling to wildlife and conservation. There is room for more stalls if you are interested...See more at:
http://stroudnature.co.uk/

Cashes Green Hospital site: make your comments known

Cashes Green Hospital site planning application is in - view papers here - comments etc need to be in v soon - the proposal includes the 'erection of up to 78 dwellings, parking, open space (allotments, local area for play and ancillary open space), ancillary uses and associated access works'.

Photo: the old allotment site

Two weeks or so ago I went the Cainscross Parish Council AGM and haven't had time to catch up here. Firstly it is excellent news indeed that it has now been agreed that 50% of the housing should be affordable. Originally the whole site was going to be but this has been seriously threatened to the point where I was starting to think we would get the minimum. It is also exciting that it is an innovative project putting together the affordable bit....it is clearly quite difficult getting the thing to stack up financially - especially when there will already need to be a substantial amount of grant funding to build the properties.

However despite all the probs - it would be wonderful to establish a housing project with higher levels of sustainability, land for food growing, community gardens, orchards and open space...however there are a number of issues I raised at that meeting...in v brief here are a couple of key issues below that spring to mind re the plans...I will be talking to Officers next week to find out more re other issues I will raise...

- Allotments - we can call for restoration of all the original site of allotments - already Cainscross is the highest concentration of houses and has the least green spaces in District. We need more areas to grow food.Indeed their is now a petition out to collect signatures to protect this site of allotments.

- I am not convinced that traffic measures on the Cashes Green road have been properly considered - we need a 20 mph on all surrounding roads esp Cashes Green Road

- I am also wondering if there cannot be a better way of integration with Hollybrook - I thought at one time there was talk of changing boundaries

Joanna Lumley says vote Green

Joanna Lumley, who shamed Ministers into changing their minds over immigration rights for Gurkha veterans has asked people to cast a vote for the Green Party in the European Elections. She said "I urge you to cast a positive vote for a better future by voting Green in the European elections."

Ricky Knight, lead candidate for the South West and on course to become an Member of the European parliament said, “It is an honour to be endorsed by Joanna Lumley. She has been named as the female personality the public would most like to run the country. Her campaign to get just treatment for Gurkha veterans was overwhelmingly supported by the public.”

Joanna Lumley concluded, "Greens were most likely to bring about real change."

Philip Booth commented: "Abolutely Fabulous!"

Two other 'celebs' who I have time for have also endorsed Greens recently - comedian Mark Thomas - see his video here and in a short film, Frank Cottrell Boyce, the Liverpool-based screenwriter and author - whose acclaimed films include "24 Hour Party People" and "Welcome to Sarajevo" - explains why after voting Labour all his life, he's backing the Greens in this election to stop the BNP in the North West of England.

See links to some of the national coverage re Joanna here.

Letter to SNJ re MPs expenses

Here's my letter below which went out this evening - not sure if they'll print but they have printed other parties views on this issue so I'll keep fingers crossed.

Cartoon: not sure where this came from but was in amongst emails - thanks to whoever created it!

Letters in the SNJ critical of some MPs expense claims, remind us that politics is not naturally corrupting (27/05/09). Some have claimed the row is creating "an anti-politics mood", but is it politics the public are against, or the behaviour of some self-serving politicians?

Campaign group Open Europe have just rated Caroline Lucas MEP, leader of the Green Party, as the best British MEP on transparency, accountability, democracy and waste, while Britain's Green Party MEPs were ranked above the groups of all other British parties. Indeed the Greens have been instrumental in trying to make the information about MEPs’ expenses public. Outrageously their efforts were blocked by representatives from the other political groups and the information was kept under wraps.

It is perhaps not surprising that a YouGov survey this week says the Greens are the most trusted politicians and viewed as least likely to put financial interests before the interests of their country. While a YouGov poll found 34% said they were either definitely going to vote Green or would consider voting Green in the European elections (iii).

Britain needs a new vision. Greens are the only party in this campaign that have presented a positive vision for the future. Perhaps the Green Party's million-jobs manifesto, for tackling the recession and the climate crisis at the same time, has struck a chord with the voters? These elections might yet signal a desire for positive change.

Cllr. Philip Booth, Stroud District Green Party.

Local archaelogical project gets funding boost

I was delighted to hear that Gloucestershire amateur archaeologists will get £12,000 grant towards their LIDAR project - this is something I have supported - see more on previous blogs here including it's use in Whiteshill, Ruscombe and Randwick. Below is how the SNJ reported it yesterday....

Photo: Painswick Beacon taken from SNJ site

AMATEUR archaeologists will be able to make new discoveries in the Stroud district by using cutting edge technology to look through dense woodland thanks to a £12,000 Lottery grant.

Ancient earthworks, burial mounds and habitation sites, roadways and even Civil War emplacements are just some of the features that can potentially be revealed by the latest airborne laser technology called LIDAR. In the past, aerial photography has been a way of detecting features in the landscape but its weakness is its inability to see what lies beneath dense woodland. But LIDAR uses laser beams to detect and measure physical features on the ground covered by trees and undergrowth. Gloucester and District Archaeological Research Group brings together amateur archaeologists with professionals at the County Archaeological Service and local heritage groups and individuals interested in archaeology.

The lottery funding, from the Awards for All scheme, means they can now use LIDAR to discover and research undetected features in Gloucestershire. A LIDAR survey covering certain parts of the county has recently been carried out and the data is now available for recording and interpretation. Parishes for which LIDAR data is available include Painswick, Woodchester, Cranham, Upton St Leonards and Standish.

Work is initially planned to concentrate on land belonging to National Trust. The grant will pay for the raw LIDAR data to be processed, for the equipment needed to assess the evidence on the ground and to provide training for volunteers. It will provide hands on experience in interpreting the LIDAR images and recognising and recording potentially interesting sites on the ground through a range of activities such as field-walking, geophysics and earthwork surveying and documentary research. Training and supervision will be provided in all the techniques required.

Anyone interested in being part of the group or for more information can contact either Tony Roberts at the County Archaeological Service on 01452 425705 or Ann Maxwell of GADARG on 01386 751662.

Cameron rejects electoral reform

David Cameron's sudden conversion to the parliamentary reform agenda is very welcome, but his outright rejection of proportional representation suggests he is not serious about the revival of democratic accountability. See our local Green party news release here with a comment from me urging support for the Make Your Votes Count campaign which has just been launched this week - please consider joining me and many others in lending your support for an electoral system that means your vote will count: www.makemyvotecount.org.uk/ref2010

See also my comment here re news that Greens are most trusted to put Britain before self and are now polling at 11% plus with 34% of voters saying they will consider voting Green.

Greens ranked top on transparency, accountability, democracy and waste

I've just returned from a camp with 96 other Woodcraft Folk in Nailsworth at teh wonderful Thistledown Centre - loads of fun but it is back to the last days of the Elections campaign and today the story is about Caroline Lucas MEP, leader of the Green Party, who has been rated best British MEP on transparency, accountability, democracy and waste - plus Britain's Green Party MEPs were ranked above the groups of all other British parties.

I've just helped to put together a press release to help get this info out - there is so much disillusionment with politics it is important that folk know there are those in politics who believe and act on accountability. Anyhow see here comments by myself and Ricky Knight, Lead-Euro Green party SW candidate.

The research was done by Open Europe who have published a ranking of all 785 Members of the European Parliament, scoring their record on promoting transparency and reform in the European Union over the last five-year term. While Greens were at the top the bottom nine places in the Open Democracy survey were occupied by four Conservatives and five UKIP MEPs - with the tenth-worst British MEP slot being held jointly by UKIP leader Nigel Farage and an MEP each from Labour, the Conservatives and the LibDems.

The revelations about MPs’ expenses is just one more symptom of how far the system is failing us. As I've said before "Greens want to change this fundamentally, to make the system fairer, more open and more accountable. We want politics to work with the community, for the community. The natural place for decision-making is as close as possible to the people affected. The current crisis offers a wonderful opportunity to make this happen!"
You can see more comments re each party on the MPs election expenses scandal here plus a brief statement video re Greens on expenses here.

A Guardian poll found 27% of voters are planning to support a minority party. It puts Greens at 9% of the total vote, while Ukip is on 10%, leaving the BNP way behind on just 1% – considerably down on the 5% the far-right party achieved at the last European elections in 2004. Ukip's standing is lower than its 16% vote share in 2004, and still surprising given the party has been beset by infighting, MEP expense scandals, resignations and a low profile during recent years. Our 9% share is three points up on our performance last time and suggests we could be set for our best performance since 15% of the poll in the 1989 European elections.

I've just heard a new poll which we can release on Thursday puts Greens at higher than 9%.

Swine Flew and flu

Loved this photo - not sure where it came from but great stuff! I last mentioned Swine Flu here - an equally good photo there - Greens have been for some while echoing scientists concerns that factory farming helped lead to swine flu - another factor which is just coming to light is that the man who helped develop the Tamiflu flu anti-viral drug believes the swine flu epidemic has been caused by human error.

This guy, Adrian Gibbs says the H1N1 virus may have been man-made and was passed to humans after a handling mistake at a laboratory. He suggests it has escaped from the laboratory - the strain apparently mutates three times faster than the most closely-related viruses found in pigs, which suggests it had evolved outside of swine.

This, of course, is not the first time a virus has ‘escaped’ from a laboratory - just this year the avian flu virus made its way into a consignment of seasonal flu vaccines, which were destined for around 18 countries in Europe. Some scientists also suspect that the Russian flu outbreak of 1977 was started when a virus was accidentally released from a laboratory.

Tory defeat on committee numbers

Full Council last night - I got there just after 6pm and we didn't leave until 11.15pm - a long meeting with some interesting moments...there is much, much I could write but have little time before work so a few highlights...

Photo: Ebley Mill from Randwick

Chas Fellows was again elected Leader of the Council despite some rumours about other Tories trying to take over.

The Tory amendments to the constitution on planning were withdrawn after much vocal opposition - as noted before on this blog changes are needed to planning but not the ways that are being proposed - furthermore other measures could be taken without in my view diluting democracy. I have already mentioned this and will again.

The Tories were also surprisingly defeated on their plan to cut some Members committee sizes from 12 to 9. It is rare the Tories are defeated when they have 31 of the 51 councillors. However there seemed no real reason for this change that would dilute the richness and experience in committees - anyhow a couple of Tories voted against, a couple abstained, and several Tories didn't attend and so the move was defeated. So then we had a long drawn out process of electing Members to each committee.....

The Members Allowances were then voted on and cuts to sandwiches for members were made along with some other measures - I had previously taken part in the consultation on this - and have to say I was disappointed that the Green party amendment to cut petrol allowances from over 56p a mile to 25p a mile was voted out by Tories and a few others. The 25p was on the basis of that is how much Parkers calculate it costs to run a car if you own one anyway and do some mileage. It would also stop rewarding gas guzzlers.

The civic timetable (ie when we have our Council meetings) was up next and Cabinet meetings have moved from evenings to mornings making it very difficult for those of us who work daytimes to attend - a point I made at the meeting.

Last up came the Housing Revenue Budget and the £1.2m overspend - no answers yet but some angry councillors - and rightly so - this is public money - but let's wait for results of inquiry before pointing fingers. Apols for being so brief - must to work now!

More about Gloucestershire Green party County candidates

This last week I've been adding stuff to our local Green Party website - you can now see more about all our Gloucestershire Green party County candidates here and about our SW Green party candidate here.

Photo: Sarah Lunnon, Leader of Green Group on District Council and candidate in Stroud East where we have a very good chance of getting a Green elected if all our supporters come out to vote.

What do you think of Stratford Park?

Twelve volunteers are being sought to help shape future services at Stroud's Stratford Park Leisure Centre. As noted on this blog the present contract for managing the centre is set to run out in October 2011, Stroud District Council is looking at what activities and facilities should be provided under a new deal and what developments might be possible.

If you are interested and are an existing or potential customer then contact Ray Figg, council head of cultural services at Ebley Mill. See here most recent blog which includes concerns re their lack of looking at sustainability - indeed just got minutes through from that Policy Panel mentioned in the blog and in my view the minutes played down councillors concerns that Sustainability should be a priority - also should we really be looking at Stratford Park in isolation from all other leisure services - I don't think so - I'll be writing again to Officers and Cabinet members on this.

Whiteshill and Ruscombe Art Truimph

Wow and wow again!!! Last Saturday was the first Whiteshill and Ruscombe Arts and Crafts Exhibition for parishioners - I managed to get along in the evening after the Levellers Day in Burford and what a great evening -apparently it was busy all day with folk and the evening had a lovely atmosphere where people chatted, enjoyed the art and amazing cheese selection and wine - great fun and a great community event.

Photos of the exhibition courtesy of one of the exhibitors Maggie Booth (no relation) - see her website for seriously great wedding photography!

Anyway huge congrats to John Rogers who conceived the idea of this exhibition and helped with colleagues to make it a reality.

I can't possibly list all the talents that were there during the evening but they included at least three Parish councillors....plus....

Louise, trained in Psychosynthesis and still working as a therapist had some great water colour life drawings - poss my favorite of the exhibition - she will also be exhibiting as part of the Open Studios this year - see them at her website: http://www.louisevision.com/

Jenny Nixon at The Old Vicarage on The Plain had some amazing glass pieces - then there was Dorte Shelley from the Old School on The Plain who had some paintings - she has opened previously as part of the Open Studios (see here). Sue Condie from Ruscombe was another of my favorites - some great pics - she has designed sets like those for the Rachel Carson play and helped us with our Woodies banner.

Lesley Young was also there - picture framer, ceramic repairer and restorer to the stars - well after 10 years of acting she used to work in Primrose Hill and apparently had clients to the shop there like Jonathan Miller, Sadie Frost, Jude Law and Sharleen Spiteri. She tried to source green products - uses the Green Shop in Bisley - and had various frames on show - quality stuff and v local - so call her on 762481 or email on lesleyyoung (at) waitrose.com

This is just a taster - there was lots more including Keith Bates with an impressive array of paintings in different media, glass and ceramics.

Also during the evening we heard the amazing Roz sing (see picture taken from her video) - this really was quite extraordinary - see more re Roz incl video here. Also see my entry to the exhibition here.

How does the EU voting system work?

The Green party video attached is from the North West but is worth a link as it has an animated video about how the vote is counted. It also has relevance here as the BNP are seeking a seat in the South West.

Parish AGM reports: a brief summary of what I have been doing

Both Whiteshill and Ruscombe Parish and Randwick Parish have their AGM's on this Thursday 21st May 2009. As I will be at SDC's AGM I have sent a statement to them - see below - I had wanted to write more but all done in haste as meeting in Cheltenham tonight.

Photo: me outside Randwick Village Hall during the Open Homes weekend

Statement from District Councillor Philip Booth

Apologies that I cannot join you this evening for our Parish AGM. Tonight is also Stroud District Council’s AGM. The District Council meeting looks set to be interesting as many councillors are seeking answers as to how the District’s Housing Revenue Account could be overspent by £1.2m and why there are moves to curtail District councillors and Parish and Town Council powers to challenge local Planning applications.

Below I’ve included some of the local issues I’ve been working on during the last year - however first I wanted to start by saying a big thank you to all the Parish councillors and Parish Clerk for the great job they are doing.

Where to begin? Well I was delighted to find my Blog, Ruscombe Green, was voted in a national poll, 5th Best Green Blog. I started it when I was elected in 2006 - an online diary with comments, copies of my letters to the press, info about meetings, local events, campaigns, photos and more. There are over 1,800 entries and over 3,000 unique visitors each month. It has been a good way to keep in touch and debate with local residents. See it at: http://ruscombegreen.blogspot.com

One highlight of the year was the Eco-renovation Open Homes weekend in September that I organised. Over 750 visits were made to 12 homes in the Stroud area to see renewable energy and energy efficiency measures in action. In addition to this over 400 people visited Randwick Village Hall to see the eco-exhibitions and the official opening of the hall. See more re this years plans for over 20 homes to open at: www.stroudopenhomes.org.uk/

Council’s environmental targets - I have been trying to ensure, through my role on a Scrutiny committee, that the District Council meets its environmental targets - and indeed improves those targets. Much is needed for example the future of Stratford Park is now being discussed yet in ten criteria used to evaluate delivery, sustainability was not even mentioned (it is now!). I am also sitting on a new small inquiry team looking to maximise funding from utility companies to tackle climate change.

Action on forecast fuel prices - Prices are fluctuating, but longer term they are set to rise. I have sought more action by the District Council to prepare for this, including pushing specific actions like a pool cover for Stratford Park Leisure Centre and greater promotion of special tariffs for those facing financial difficulties.

Planning issues - I’ve met a number of people locally and have tried to support them where they are having problems with the planning system or when inappropriate development is proposed. We managed to get rejected both the planned telecom mast near Ash Lane and a proposal by Highways to remove large parts of the roadside bank in Ash Lane.

Ruscombe Brook, Water and Flood action - I have just initiated and helped establish a forum of local flood and brook groups so that we can work more closely to ensure improvements to planning policy. Our local Ruscombe Brook Action Group that I helped set up still meets monthly and has successfully reduced sewage incidents in the brook. We have seen improvements locally by Severn Trent, organised a morning cleanup of one section of the brook and are working with the District Council to see measures at Puckshole to reduce the occasional severe flooding there. I have also been appointed to represent the District Council on the Wessex Water Customer Liaison Panel.

Allotments wanted - we have a Parish working group to explore finding a location for allotments. We are close to putting forward a proposal for a small site.

Basketball hoop - I managed to obtain a hoop following requests from younger residents, the Parish are now looking to install it in the Whiteshill and Ruscombe Playing Field.

Stratford Road Bus shelter - for some time now I have been working to see a shelter put in place by Tesco outside their store. Tesco have agreed but it still has not appeared: there is now a petition locally to see if we can encourage them to act.

Building communities - after initiating a street party in Bread Street last summer with local residents I have supported other communities to plan their parties. I am also working with a local land owner to establish a community-run orchard. We have already had two very successful picking and juicing days last Autumn. Events that bring people together are vital to communities and we are fortunate to have many in this Parish like the Pancake races, the amazing Wap and the excellent Whiteshill and Ruscombe Arts and Crafts Fair last Saturday.

County Council issues - I have also tried to support the Parish and address County Council issues like Slowing traffic - we urgently need traffic calming. The good news is that the ‘20 is Plenty’ scheme looks finally set to happen as a first step to more traffic calming (but not more humps!). Road Gullies and Grit bins - I negotiated with the County Council to see improvements at several key locations. However there are still problems like vandalised grit bins that lead to problems like salt getting into the local water courses.

Housing needs - support to people with various housing needs in the ward.

Recycling - calling on our Councils to improve recycling and prevent the construction of a huge waste incinerator at Stonehouse.

Climate Change talks and articles - I have written regularly in the local press and spoken at several local groups including two churches about the threat of climate change. The science is clear that we need to act and act very quickly. Yet the prospects of climate change are very scary and many, including politicians, seem paralysed or unclear about what measures they can take. It is vital we all get the message across about what is possible; fear disempowers us but there are signs of hope. We can all play our part in ensuring necessary actions are taken. I have just heard that my proposal for libraries to issue energy monitors like books has been accepted. A pilot will begin later this year so that people can borrow these and see how they can reduce their energy use and costs.

Other issues - I am also involved in a whole host of other issues locally including helping run the monthly Coffee House Discussions in Stroud where topics from the decline of bees to discussing tidal energy projects that are more sustainable than a barrage, getting the Rainbow Flag flying for Glos Pride, coordinating the Glos Safe Water Campaign, helping run a campaign to stop expansion of Gloucestershire Airport, supporting various Transition Stroud initiatives like a local currency and leading a weekly Woodcraft Folk group for 18 children aged 6 to 9.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have a query.

Cllr Philip Booth, Stroud District Councillor for Randwick, Ruscombe and Whiteshill ward, 2 The Laurels, Bread Street, Ruscombe, Stroud GL66EL Tel: 755451 Email: philip.booth2@virgin.net

'A Farm for the Future': watch here

Rebecca Hosking’s programme, ‘A Farm for the Future’, shown on BBC2 recently looked at her father’s farm in Devon, and the changes that will be needed in the light of peak oil. It is an excellent film that I strongly urge folk to view - I've just come across it on Youtube so have added the five segments below. See Rob Hopkins review here.

Who is challenging the Greens in Euro elections?

Greens polling is very encouraging - up from 6% a few days ago to 11% today - and the YouGov poll we commissioned indicates that 34% will either definitely vote Green or would consider voting Green. Plus some good national coverage last week.

If you haven't already contacted your local Green party do please think about it as leaflets, canvassing and more is needed. Life for many Greens is now super busy with the campaign - and here I'm responding to media requests regularly - although the absurd thing is that local press stop reporting most politics before an election - just at the time when people get more interested - see our website for some of the news releases and comments I've been adding.

Below is some of the news coverage plus a list of those competing against the Greens for votes in the Euros:

'Caroline Lucas: There's light at the end of the tunnel. After years of infighting and unworkable policies, the Greens are at last presenting a united front – and their leader might even become her party's first MP. Geoffrey Lean meets Caroline Lucas' - see here.

'Two in five shun three main political parties: After 10 days of headlines that have devastated Parliament, The IoS reveals the strength of the public revolt against mainstream politics' See here.

Party funding: Top donors turn against Labour over MPs' expenses. See here.


Whose on the ballot?

In order, as on ballot paper, below, are the parties for the EU elections with some initial comments and thoughts... it seems clear that there is no way the LDs and Lab will gain a second seat in the SW. The only way therefore that folk can prevent the right-wingers from maintaining their stranglehold on SW representation at Brussels is to vote in the Green Knight.

It is also worth saying again that in terms of the planet's future (and it's inhabitants) we must remain within Europe (and indeed the world community of nations) as we have serious global problems that cannot be fixed without international structures and restrictions. To walk out of Europe now would be to kill any hope of either stopping severe resource exhaustion or climate chaos. More below...

Anyhow here is the list...

1. BNP. I've written before on this lot - see also Richard Lawson's blog here. Also UNISON highlighted a few of their key policies: BNP would kick out everyone not born in Britain (if other countries kicked out Brits a staggering 5.5m people would be returned incl 800,000 from Spain who are mostly pensioners), if Black and minority ethnic people were kicked out many services like the NHS would simple collapse (16% of nurses, 40% new dentists and 58% of new doctors are from ethnic communities), the BNP would introduce apartheid to Britain with their policies of white's being given preference in housing, education and jobs (like in South Africa's policies of apartheid which the BNP supported),BNP opposes any racial integration - mixed race relationships would be outlawed and in their 2005 manifesto their answer to violent crime is to allow every household to have a gun. The good news is that today's PoliticsHome poll reflects intelligence on the ground that the anti-BNP message from mainstream parties may be working. Searchlight, an anti-fascist organisation, reports a shift to Ukip in the BNP's top target seat, the northwest. As the Green MEP for the northwest, Peter Cranie, argues, this election is the BNP's "last hurrah": if it cannot win a seat in such favourable circumstances, it may implode. Indeed as Peter has said - and Ricky Knight, the lead Green in SW, a vote for Green is the best way to ensure the BNP don't get a seat. See here.

2. Christian Party. All list members with London addresses - I don't know much about this lot and their websites have virtually nothing - they have some green mentions but their news items have only 5 items - and one of those is joining the Daily Mail's campaign against Alan Duncan MP for a week offensive quip he made on 'Have I Got News For You'. Two of the other news items were about their bus and billboard campaign????

3. Conservative Party. They will be looking to increase vote from forecast relative decline of UKIP so seem to be playing down their pro-EU angle. However see Cameron's Tories very poor record on environment in Europe here.

4. English Democrats Party. The tag is 'putting England First' - while I understand their wish to address the West Lothian question - withdrawl from the EU as they want is not the best way to achieve a better democracy - see comments under UKIP below - plus I have real concerns about where they are coming from - their London Mayoral candidate Matt O'Connor withdrew shortly before the 2008 election, claiming that the English Democrats had agreed with the England First Party - an avowedly racist breakaway from the British National Party - not to stand against one another. The EDP denied a link.

5. Fair Pay Fair Trade Party. I don't know about this lot despite knowing one of their candidates - again little info and while they may have some great policies they do not appear holistic in their approach. Again it is hard to find anything about their policies.

6. Jury Team. So it is hard to find policies about some of the above well this lot claims to want 'politics without parties' yet they are standing as a party - this makes little sense to me? What are we voting for here?

7. Liberal Democrats. See their poor voting record on environment here.

8. Mebon Kernow. These are good folks - Greens are closer to their views than others but we have a v v much better chance of getting elected plus we will prioritise some of their key issues.

9. No2EU:Yes to Democracy Party. Another party hating the EU but sounding less UKIP? See my comments below re UKIP.

10. Pensioners Party. Why develop another party when Green's have had standing ovations for their policies at Pensioners Conferences - and we have the full range of policies - see local Green party letter here.

11. Pro-Democracy:Libertas.eu. Broadly pro EU - but again where are the policies?

12. Socialist Labour Party. Party leader Arthur Scargill who wants more coal-fired power stations - not a great idea if you want to take climate change seriously - indeed I can barely find a mention of climate change on their website.

13. The Green Party. Who is this lot? Full list headed by some bloke from North Devon called Richard Knight. See more at: www.thinkagainvotegreen.org.uk

14. The Labour Party. This lot seem a little in disarray? Apparently have already failed to turn up at two hustings so far - are they in disarray? See Labour's dire voting record in Europe here.

15. UKIP. Anti EU, pro business with authoritarian tendencies - here are a couple of letters from last Euro elections here and here. UKIP calls for us to be out of Europe, yet they want more free trade agreements. These are no protection of British sovereignty or our own economy. UKIP seem to think that withdrawing from the EU, will mean we could still engage in full trade with our European partners without the political entanglements of belonging to the Union itself. Switzerland has been quoted as an example, yet the Swiss people still have to follow most EU regulations. If almost all your products are sold within the EU, then you have to meet EU rules. If Britain withdrew we would still be bound by EU regulations, but would have absolutely no say in formulating them. The UK Isolation Party, as they have been called, have also, in the past been strongly criticised by Friends of the Earth UKIP for failing to vote for a single environmental improvement measured. The way forward must be for the radical reform of the EU that Greens want - greater decentralisation - but with EU-wide decision-making on issues that cross national boundaries, like safeguarding basic standards of human, civil and animal rights, regulating multinational companies and resolving disputes between member states. Greens want to see the EU work for the benefits of all it's citizens, which is why we are working to see greater accountability and democracy in the EU with issues like trade and economic policy left for member states to deal with. Having said all that UKIP also don't have a great record with their MEPs - one resigned for beneifit fraud, another for allegations over expenses - then of course there was Kilroy-Silk splitting off, several racist incidents - and from 16% of the vote in 2004 their support plummeted to under 1% in the London Mayoral race. However I don't write them off; their simple message appeals to some who are switched off by politics - and no wonder with the recent nonsense over expenses. There is even a UKIP Watch website! Anyhow I didn't mean to go on here but wanted to address some of the issues that are being thrown around...

16. WAI D. This seems to be something about getting folk to tell their MEPS how to vote by using the internet - that immediately excludes a large section of the population...

17. Katie Olivia Hopkins, Independent. A list of one - apparently was in the TV show the 'The Apprentice'...and on I'm a celebrity get me out of here...her blog has little in the way of policies and the media section on her website appears to be all about losing weight after giving birth.

Stroud Woodies at Levellers Day

Woodcraft Folk members from various Elfin, Pioneer and Venturer groups across Stroud, joined other Gloucestershire Woodcraft groups, Greens, socialists, Cooperative groups and more for the Levellers Day yesterday in Burford.

Below is a bit more about that plus my article saying more about Woodies from The Citizen's blog - reproduced here as some have said they couldn't find it and wanted to know more about Folk.

On route to Burford we also happened to glimpse Elizabeth Hurley in Barnsley near where she lives - they had an Open Garden day - would have loved to stop and talk about her organic pigs and how her move has led to good press coverage about improved farming methods - but that her support for fur is just not on - see my previous comments here.

Oh dear I am getting side tracked...

I am a 'Woodcraft Folk Willow Elfin Leader' - that's a mouthful - anyhow I set off with my step-granddaughterwith and a group of other Woodies to Burford. For those unfamiliar the Levellers were radical idealists with strong beliefs in civil rights and religious tolerance - they have been called early socialists although of course they had no concept then of capitalism. They fought for their ideals and over 300 of them were captured by Cromwell’s troops and locked in Burford church.

On 17 May 1649 three were shot as ringleaders. This is the 35th annual Levellers' Day in remembrance of these three Levellers - it is about reclaiming a piece of history that seems to be missing from school books."

Photos: various pics from Levellers Day march including the local Indian restaurant waiters looking on at us all. Below is the commemoration at the Church and the Church yard plus a big circle of Woodies saying goodbye to each other.

The day was full of speeches, debate, stalls, and a procession through Burford which ended with a ceremony in the churchyard music and more.

The theme of the day was 'Energy Poverty Crisis: What's the solution and can we afford to ignore it?' The wonderful Tony Benn was among the speakers but sadly I missed him as Woodcraft had some games planned for a playing field - dozens of children running every which way in a complicated version of tag.

Anyhow this day was a great and ever more important reminder of the Levellers and the importance of holding on to ideals of justice and democracy. The sun shone and our large group of Woodies made plenty of noise singing with their colourful banners in the procession. Infact I had some many queries re the banner we had that I've put a blog entry on how to make one - see here.

I must also note that we got there and back with the wonderful Gloucestershire Minibus Scheme which allows organisation's to share minibuses with not-for-profit organisations. I would strongly urge others to consider joining it as it is a great way to have access to minibuses without all the hassle. Anyway here is that article saying more about Woodcraft Folk.

Woodcraft Folk in the Five Valleys

The Five Valleys are alive with various groups for children. Perhaps amongst the best known are the Scouts, Girlguiding, The Door and Sea and Royal Marine Cadets. Transition Stroud also have plans for a new Youth group and of course there are those groups linked to Churches, sports and music.


However in this blog I want to cover one group that has not had so many mentions locally: the Woodcraft Folk. There are now about 12 local Woodcraft Folk groups for various aged children in the Stroud District. I help run the Willow Elfin group that meets in Uplands Hall on Thursdays for 6 to 9 year olds and despite the name we do not under normal circumstances, hug trees or craft wood.

Photos: raft making last summer, Woodcraft Folk logo, Chalford, Sausage Sizzle, World peace Flag ceremony and Den Making

The Woodcraft Folk was started in 1925 by Leslie Paul who was disillusioned with the militaristic approach of many other youth groups at the time - the name 'woodcraft' can be traced to the influential writer, naturalist and pioneering youth worker Ernest Thompson Seton who at the turn of the twentieth century used the term to mean the skill of living in the open air, close to nature.

In Stroud, Woodcraft Folk started some 12 years ago and as our website describes we are "a unique progressive educational movement for children and young people designed to develop self-confidence and activity in society, with the aim of building a world based on equality, peace, social justice and co-operation....through its activities, Woodcraft Folk tries to give its members an understanding of important issues such as the environment, world debt and global conflict, with a key focus in recent years being sustainable development."

Indeed the official slogan of The Woodcraft Folk is "Span the world with friendship", although it also uses "Education for Social Change" in its publicity. The group is not based upon any particular religious belief or national identity, but has from its start received substantial support from the Cooperative Movement and is part of Cooperatives UK.

So what do we do?

Well as mentioned, there are a number of Stroud District Woodcraft Folk groups who meet weekly or fortnightly with varied programmes including games, projects, crafts, singing and educational stuff. Most of the groups like to be outside as much as possible.

To give examples of what we do in the last year our Willow Elfin group has helped with a radio show on Stroud FM, joined the Stroud Goodwill Evening Carnival procession, been to the Gloucester climbing centre, made rafts (see photo above) and tried to float them down the Chalford brook, had various nature walks, done litter pick-ups, made dens in Standish Woods (see photo below), presented nearly 200 flags at the World Peace Flag ceremony in Stroud (see photo left) on the International Day of Peace and more.

There are also various regular activities through the year where we have come together with other Woodcraft groups like the bonfire night, Conker walk, Levellers Day, Sausage Sizzle on Selsey Common (see photo above) and the hugely popular annual camp where all the groups come together for a big camp locally every May. All great fun indeed.

Who runs the groups?

We don't have regular leaders who run the group but rather all parents participate and help to varying degrees. Locally we usually have a minimum requirementfor parents to help with two sessions a term. All adult members are CRB checked.

Interested in finding out more?

The official telephone number for Stroud Woodies membership enquiries is 07504 349199. There are some spaces available in some groups but sometimes there can be long waiting lists. At my local group, the Willow Elfins, due to a number of children going up last month into older groups, we do have some spaces. This Thursday we have some potential members coming along to see whether they want to join us regularly: if you read this before then do call me on 01453 755451 for further info. There is also lots more about the philosophy, international activities, history etc at: www.woodcraft.org.uk

How to make a banner?

I've had so many folks ask about how the Woodcraft banner was made that I am going to put the instructions here - I have to say the design was nothing to do with me but rather Sue, one of the Elfin Woodcraft parents who had us last week making this banner. A wonderful fun event.

Anyway start off with canvas, then every child was issued with masking tape and set about sticking various shapes onto the canvas - the parents helped with the letters.

Then came the paint - a waterproof acrylic - thought we were going to need that as the weather forecast was for rain - infact it was sunny.

The children mixed and merged the paints on the canvas - some thought about colours for particular bits like a sun being more yellow but others just went for whatever colour - the whole canvas was painted.

It took two days to dry and then the fun of picking and peeling away the masking tape to reveal the banner.

Lastly came the dowel or hazel sticks to hold the banner up.

Whiteshill resident in Gloucesteshire has Talent

This evening I went to the Arts and Crafts exhibition at the Whiteshill Village Hall - more of that in another blog later but just wanted to mention Ros Bremercamp - at least I think her name is Ros - I am now wondering if I spelt that right - she sang this evening between all the amazing choice of cheeses, wine, art, chat and more - a quite extraordinary voice that brought a shiver to the spine - anyhow she has made it through to the next stage of Gloucestershire has Talent - the finalists will be on stage on Friday 29th May at Gloucester Quays.

Heart FM - formerly known as Severn Sound - are organising the event and I'd urge folk to vote to support our local talent - apparently there will be an internet vote soon - quite incredibly she has never had a singing lesson in her life!! Anyhow see her third in on this video here - the video sadly does not do her justice. Thanks for singing indeed. Infact thanks for a great evening.

Rainbow Flag not to be flown on IDAHO

I was disappointed to learn this evening that Stroud District Council will not be recognising IDAHO by flying the Rainbow Flag - but welcome news that the flag will again fly for Gloucestershire Pride day. I had been pushing for the flags to be flown - so some joy and some disappointment - see my full news release yesterday here.

Photo: Lock-keepers in Stroud which very sadly will close in a while as the hotel is becoming flats

Great short video from FoE for politicians

This Friends of the Earth movie is worth a watch - do pass the link onto others and make sure all politicians see it! We want politicians that take climate change seriously and act - not just hot air.

Aung San Suu Kyi stands trial: urgent email action

There are huge concerns at the news that Aung San Suu Kyi is to face trial on Monday. Aung San Suu Kyi was arrested yesterday and is now being held in Insein Prison, a prison notorious for its terrible conditions and horrific treatment of prisoners.

It is well known that political prisoners in Burma are routinely subjected to torture and often denied medical treatment. Aung San Suu Kyi’s health is already poor and she was denied medical care by the regime. She is going to face trial for supposedly violating the terms of her house arrest, after an American man, John Yettaw, swam across Inya Lake uninvited to her house and refused to leave. She faces a prison sentence of between three and five years.

Now more than ever Aung San Suu Kyi needs our help. Over 8,000 people have already emailed UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and ASEAN leaders calling for immediate action to secure the release of Aung San Suu Kyi. Please join them and email from here:
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/ASSK_action.html

Three interesting articles

Photo: nothing to do with articles - just yet another photo of an overturned grit bin - this time in Puckshole - I have asked Highways to install ones that do not tip over so easily. They are currently considering the request.

If some senior Tories are questioning the point of Trident then surely Gordon Brown should live up to his disarmament rhetoric argues CND's chair Kate Hudson. See New Statesman:
http://www.newstatesman.com/uk-politics/2009/05/nuclear-weapons-trident-brown

What on earth are we thinking when we go into shops and buy lots of pointless stuff we just don’t need? John Naish says it’s not so much what’s on our minds, but which brain we use when we spend. See The Ecologist: http://theecologist.org/pages/archive_detail.asp?content_id=2064

The Green party comment on the losses to road haulage jobs. See: http://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/07-05-2009-road-haulage-job-losses.html

Anthony Hodge will be greatly missed

It was with great sadness that I learnt of Anthony's death - The Citizen says it all in their piece copied below where they say "an exceptional painter and an insightful bon viveur who was 'great fun to be around'." Anthony will be greatly missed indeed - loved his art and his enthusiasm - a special man indeed.

Photos: Above - Anthony Hodge pictured by the Stroud News and Journal in October last year next to a self portrait at his exhibition at The Space entitled The Autumn of My Life. Below - Green party local election HQ in Anthony's gallery in Nailsworth.

Anthony was fun to be around
Wednesday, May 13, 2009

ARTIST Anthony Hodge will be remembered as an exceptional painter and an insightful bon viveur who was "great fun to be around".

Somerset-born Anthony, who died on April 29 aged 60, had a fascination with colour which began at an early age. He recalled in his memoirs: "When I was about five or six I found some small squares of coloured glass lying around in the cellar. They transformed the world into an all-blue/green/red/yellow place, with each colour providing a wholly fresh sensation – a taste, even."

His school report at 12 spotted his potential. His art teacher wrote: "He has lively, original ideas and should do very well indeed when he slows down a little." His quick wit was also evident. A geometry teacher reported: "If he wrote as much as he talked he would get better results."

He studied fine art at Chelsea and Kingston Schools of Art and met his future wife Jessica at South Hill Park an arts centre in Bracknell. The couple moved to Gloucestershire, spending 20 years in Nailsworth where they raised their daughter Alice, 27 and son Robin, 24.

Anthony taught at Stroud College and Ruskin Mill as well as running galleries in Nailsworth, No 4 and then The Warehouse. He painted landscapes, figures and still life and while his style developed throughout his career, his work always had a strong sense of colour and composition.

"Paintings, for me, have a dual function of being a window into an illusion and on the other hand making you aware of yourself in the present moment," he told Stroud Life last autumn. His unique sense of vision was integral to his personality.

"He painted almost every day for the last 30, maybe 40 years," said Alice. "He drew on napkins, telephone pads, in cafes and cinemas. If we went to a play he would draw the audience and actors. Drawing and painting was part of who he was."

He was engaging, clever and funny and Alice and Robin described him with fondness as "the most embarrassing dad".

He was a Peter Pan personality whose great love, aside from art, was sport, particularly tennis and cricket. He cited tennis star Roger Federer as an inspiration and said last autumn: "Sometimes when I'm painting I think 'I'm down a match point so this is the point I need to win'."

He leaves an enduring legacy, not only the paintings hung above fireplaces all over the country but the smile on the faces of friends who recall many happy times spent in his company.

New landshare website: get registered

Landshare is a national website which links people who want to grow their own fruit and vegetables to space where they can grow it. IT already has landowners and growers in Gloucestershire listed. It is also a network of help and expertise. Click here for more information and to log your details.

As regular blog readers will know I have been pushing locally for more land for food - not just about getting County Council's 94 tenanted farms producing more food or more CSA's but also in this area we look set to have a small area for allotments - still some negotiating to do - the Whiteshill and Ruscombe Parish are being excellent and look set to support the venture. We are also trying to establish a community orchard.....for me I was all set to register with landshare when I had a very wonderful offer from a nearby neighbour for a patch of land for veg. I already have potatos in it!

See recent Sunday Times article about Stroud food moves here.

Submission on new nuke at Oldbury and health risks

I just sent out yesterday a news release re our Green party submission on plans for a new nuke at Oldbury (see photo) - see details here - the closing date is tomorrow. I also enclose a bit more re our news release re cancer clusters at Oldbury.

Here is basically what I said to the press: "The case against new nuclear is overwhelming. A new generation of nuclear reactors will be too late to help tackle climate change and their contribution will be too little when it eventually arrives. Climate change will also cause sea levels to rise and more storm surges which will impact hugely on the proposed new Oldbury site. Nukes will also be too expensive, there is still great uncertainty over how to manage their highly radioactive spent fuel, they pose health, accident and terrorist risks, exacerbate problems of nuclear proliferation and will sap funding and political energy for implementing a green economic stimulus.

"It is shocking but there will be no public inquiry for experts to cross-examine the industry or Government. The Government has altered the planning system so that their nuclear plans can be pushed through easily at the expense of democracy. Why are the Government choosing this route rather than a sane, clean, safe, sustainable answer?"

Nuke health risks in the press

Some local press have claimed that a recent report about Oldbury nuclear power station cleared them of health risks. In fact that is not the case - see Green party press release that I sent out here - the meeting completely failed to look at figures in Chepstow, the nearest large population to Oldbury other than Thornbury.

The Public Health Observatory (SWPHO) said it examined cancers within ten kilometres of the nuclear site but missed out Chepstow, which is eight kilometres away and was the subject of a leukaemia report by Dr Chris Busby in 2001. He found childhood leukaemia eleven times the average and 50 percent extra breast cancer mortality downstream of the plant on the Gloucestershire and Avon side. SWPHO looked at both downstream and upstream which potentially dilutes the figures. Prostate cancer mortality was found to be 37 percent higher downwind of the plant and its arial discharges.

The SWPHO report recognises that the recent German study shows childhood leukaemia near every single nuclear power station but says this cannot prove it is linked to their radioactive discharges. True but common sense suggests so. The problem is that the epidemiology does not match the predictions of The International Commission on Radiological Protection, which is under mounting pressure to radically revise its advised safe doses to the industry. More can be found at www.llrc.org.

The Great Whiteshill and Ruscombe arts and craft exhibition this Saturday

This Saturday 2pm to 5pm and 7pm to 10pm the Village Hall will be open for a free exhibition of local artists and crafts people.

This evening I stumbled into the meeting planning the event - I had misunderstood - thinking this evening was a hanging session ready for the weekend - apparently that will happen on Friday night after 7pm.

I was only intending to hang the picture and go onto meet someone re their planning application. In the event I left with my huge pic under my arm (see photo) - embarrassed by intruding on the huge crowd of folk and the call to look at my pic - after all here were some real professional artists and more - and this was the first pic I'd painted in oils for many years - indeed I have not painted more than a handful in oils - I would love to get back to it when I have a bit more time. Anyhow I will return with the pic if they have room - it is not for sale.

Walking the Ruscombe Brook again

We have walked the brook several times over the years - the last time as a group was over a year ago - see here - we also have done it several times with experts - see for example here - anyhow last night we only did the top half - what a beautiful evening.

These photos are from the walk where we started at the spring and made our way down - first to Double Spout spring then (with permission already obtained from landowners) we cut across fields to the Charley's two lakes.

The first of these lakes (which you can't really see from the road) had just been desilted (see pic) - so much of the road run-off goes into the brook - this first lake prevents the second larger one from silting up so much - although we learnt from the Charleys who came out to meet the group that it too needed a desilt.

We also had a discussion about the Wellington that crashed in the valley - see more here.

This pic is of the pipe bridge opposite Bread Street that leaked sewage nearby and led to the start of the brook campaign - the old pipe collapsed and this new one was installed - it is starting to wear away at the base a little - nothing to worry about yet but need tokeep an eye on it.

Rubbish and more rubbish

Anyhow we moved on down the valley and as you will see we were disturbed by the recent additions to the brook - see photos below - usually there is not much rubbish and volunteers have cleared it out before - however this was exceptional - as you will see from the photos a two-seater couch, a shopping trolley, a tent plus a large rubbish bin were amongst the debris. There is some thought that this is local children - and we don't want to stop them having fun but there is a need to engender some responsibilities...we will be writing to Archway school although there is no evidence it is those children - the idea is that they may wish to help clear up later in the year...

Puckshole latest

We have cleared out silt at this site - see here - but it will remain a problem - the visit last night was useful to meet residents again there (the last photo is of the site where the brook goes into a culvert there). The brook group has had confirmation that measures will be undertaken there - we have met Officers at the site - and welcome the measures. We also now have a provisional start date in July. The site meeting last night led to further recommendations about this first phase that includes a new headwall and grate.

The group also had lengthy discussions about phase two to the area - namely considering elements like installing willow reinforcement or similar to banks to prevent further erosion, reinforcing the stream bed at outlet of the culverted brook and Wheeler’s Walk run-off to prevent further erosion and controlling velocity of flow from run-off. We are still researching what might be possible and then will seek funding - we had been given indications that funding would not be a problem but now it is so we need to get a proper detailed plan for the site.

Anyhow we finished there - lots more to say but have a meeting to go to now - indeed too many of those at mo - yesterday all day I went from one to another...a planning application to a Green District councillors meeting to a Transition Stroud meeting then four different meetings at Ebley Mill with Officers then home for walking the brook.

Today is a little better but have also been updating the local Green party website with local election stuff.... See Communiversity plans for a water conference in June here.

Stroud Communiversity: showcasing our talent this weekend!

Stroud Communiversity is basically a showcase for Stroud's finest projects - a chance to share with others and inspire and be inspired - this year it returns with a fresh feast of Stroud's finest projects this coming weekend - 'Land, Food and Money' - it is about an examination of practical, creative and innovative solutions to support the growth and development of a resilient local economy - and coming soon is a day on water.

Photo: Ruscombe Brook last night - see blog coming later today

The 'Land, Food and Money' will run for three days this weekend, preceded by the launch of The Exchange on Thursday. Here is the programme with much more about the concept and courses here:

Friday 15th May for Place, People and Land with Martin Large, Richard Keating and Kel; Saturday 16th May for Food for Life with Nick Weir, Mark Harrison and Odilia Jarman; and Sunday 17th May for Working for Ourselves; Working for Eachother with Molly Scott Cato and Max Comfort.

As noted plans are getting underway for a conference on water with Stroud Communiversity for 23rd June - I missed a meeting last week but have been helping set it up - we are looking to have great local speakers plus a tour of flood sites of the Slad Brook and a unique Sustainable Urban Drainage System (see what is in store here re tour).

Quote from the Communiversity site: "So learning is like muck, the more you spread it around, the more human growth there is in spades...."

Green party political broadcast

International Textiles Festival and Another Way Home: don't miss

Stroud International Textile Festival - not to be missed - see here and here for full details - we are very fortunate to have this amazing event locally. It is on until 21st May.

Photos: Ruth Davey in Mills Cafe

The photos here are from one of the exhibitions - this opened last week - Ruth Davey at Mills Cafe in Stroud Town Centre - described as "a broad interpretation of 'textiles' through photography". Ruth has helped us out in Transition Stroud and just last weekend took some of the photos of the launch of the 'Green Knight' beer. I saw the pics yesterday and really enjoyed them - well worth a visit.

Another Way Home

I also see Ruth has a pic in the new wonderful book "Another Way Home" - 78 local poets and local photographers gathering together to celebrate the landscapes of the five valleys which converge on Stroud - I love it - some wonderful words and photos - I keep dipping into it when I get a moment and love being surprised and delighted - it is available for £10 in various places in Stroud - including Photo Stroud.

Here is how Jeff Cloves described the book in Peace News ( I hope they don't mind me reprinting it here but for some reason I can't set up a live link on this blog entry today):

When the Ministry of Defence decided that the only way of defending the UK from annexation by the Communist Hordes was to threaten to blast them to Kingdom Come with an atomic bomb it knew just what to do. It practised a bit of annexation itself and reactivated the RAF base at Greenham Common (enclosed for military purposes during World War II) and handed it over to US Strategic Air Command. Here in Stroud, our wonderful Rodborough Common has not been so annexed and rightly remains a Stroud glory. Because it’s never been chemically treated it is a haven for wild flowers and grasses and you can even find the secretive and well-camouflaged bee orchids among the belted Galloways which graze there.

Now, imagine if you will, 78 local poets and local photographers gathering together to celebrate the landscapes of the five valleys which converge on Stroud and wonder at just how often their work makes reference to Rodborough Common. Well, wonder no longer because Another Way Home has just been published and a more perfect expression of community action and commitment would be hard to find.

It’s voluntary collectivism in action and what lifts this book out of the rut of competent but forgettable anthologies is its shared regard for its shared habitat. It’s what Common Ground has been going on about for years and this book lives up to what has been both an unconscious and conscious inspiration for many of its contributors.

Among the snappers and scribblers there are a few names – Laurie Lee the most celebrated – but the quality of the work from knowns and unknowns alike is something to behold and something for others to emulate.

In his admirably pitched introduction, one-time PN hack, Richard Mabey, asserts that: “History, light, human work, evolution, are inextricably entwined, but they are not the same kind of things. To worry at these distinctions matters. We are part of nature but also profoundly different. To trace the counterpoint between us is part of the vital work of finding our place in the world, in all senses of that phrase.”

It’s not too fanciful to suggest that the counterpoint is exactly what this book – in one way or another – traces and thus its particularity to the Cotswolds and the Vale of the Severn is also universal.

Actually “landscape” has been freely interpreted by those who’ve contributed and the book avoids the awful trap of a Tourist-guide-to-the-Cotswolds gloss. Thus, there’s room for a picture of an abandoned brutalist 1970s office block and Dennis Gould’s Stroud Café Talking Blues makes reference to Stroud’s radical history and its continuing presence:

In Trade Winds Joni Mitchell hums Mingus
In Whiteway Colony Lilian Wolfe and Orwell
In Woodruffs DylaN Thomas hums Bob Dylan
Blind Lemon JeffErson sups with Ida Cox

Lilian Wolfe was still selling Peace News in her 90s and Whiteway Colony is the oldest surviving commune in the UK.

But to Rodborough Common. Even when not mentioned by name I recognise its shape and grain in so many poems. Sheila Simmons, who was once a neighbour, looks down on the uncompleted and gothick Woodchester Mansion:

Riveted to the present
by the eye-blink of a jet –
its drench of passing sound –
I walk the common.
Around me, larks wind their music upward
like manic springs;
below me in the valley
Woodchester raggedly rings up the bells
for morning prayer.

And Debbie Sayers is completely seduced:

Your arms brim full of elderflowers,
Handsome in your cowslip and foxglove crown,
Valleys meet in your corn gold hair,
Beloved of all my longing.

Being in love with where you live is so important and writing about it and photographing it alerts us to its preciousness and transience. We need to save our planet from environmental and economic meltdown and everyone needs another way home from the calamitous path we’ve chosen so far. In its modest way this book could help us find it.

Wap tomorrow

Tomorrow is The Wap in Randwick - see here last year - this year looks set to be even bigger - publicity about the event seems to have got everywehere with full articles in local press and even a banner across the bridge in Stroud.

Photo: me with Randwick Wap Mayor Stan Giles watching cheese rolling

This year there will even be a parachute team - see Citizen article here. This year elected is the father and daughter team of the Wap mayor and queen Alan and Saffron Tomlinson. Plus the Ragged and Old Morris dancers, City of Gloucester Mummers, Nailsworth Silver Band and the Bubonic Wind Band and loads more like the mayor being dipped in the pool and more cheese rolling at Well Leaze.

Surviving and Thriving on the Land

Rebecca Laughton has recently published ‘Surviving and Thriving on the Land’ (Green Books). I was going to review this book that I have just finished reading but then came across the following article that Rebecca has written exclusively for Transition. It is about what lessons Transition initiatives might learn from the smallholding community - see it here - it gives a flavour of the book.

Rebeccas' book is perhaps the first book to look at how to avoid burn-out, manage your time and earn a viable living from the land - it is all about getting that piece of land or joining a community to tend some land - but doing it so that you care for the people involved as well as the earth that you are trying to protect. I have to say in places I skipped as the info was all too familiar and in other places I would have loved to get more of a taste of the communities she researched - instead of just a mention of Stroud Supported Agriculture where was the celebration of this project that could and perhaps must be be replicated around the country - the book was more like a thesis than a romping read but full of loads of important info - huge thanks to Rebecca for this important contribution to this subject.

Councillors not listening on Glos Airport expansion

This week I covered here the news that Tewkesbury councillors have given approval for the airport's expansion - well 3 out of 4 planning applications approved and one deferred.

Photo: view across to Wheelers Walk - nothing to do with Staverton Airport - just a local view!

Campaigner Kevin Lister had a good letter in The Citizen yesterday - he has kindly let me reproduce it below - it does sum up the frustration many of us feel that our elected officials are failing to understand climate change and the implications of airport expansions.....

The decision by the Tewkesbury planning to back the expansion plans of Gloucestershire Airport is a new low. It is the culmination of a process that could have been taken from George Orwell’s novels. We have seen examples of “double speak” from 1984. There is Steve Jordan (Cheltenham, Lib Dem) saying “They would manage emissions down after the runway extension.” There is Paul James (Gloucester, Conservative) saying he supports the Green Management plan to cap Greenhouse gas emissions, but saying (Echo, 13th Jan) that additional flights to Europe, “Is good news.” There is the airport claiming their grass will sequestrate all their CO2. There is the airport’s “Green Management Plan” which has no penalties if restrictions are exceeded. There is Tewkesbury Council signing up to the Nottingham declaration to put climate change as the top priority, then ignoring it. There is the airport claiming that the project is about safety, then moving the take off point 200 metres towards residential areas in Innsworth and Churchdown and saying “all safety risk assessments are classified.” We have seen Councillors behaving like the sheep in Animal Farm where they bleat in support of their leaders. Chrss Witts (Gloucester, Lib Dem) bleated ‘that I can not understand what the fuss is about.” We were assured that that there would be robust debate in the Scrutiny committee and then watched all the councillors unquestioningly voting 32 in favour with only Jonathan Whitaker (Gloucester, Lib Dem) having the moral fibre to vote against the airport’s proposal. We have watched our democratic process becoming a charade. The hundreds of letters sent to Gloucester and Cheltenham councils and the 400 objections to the planning department have been ignored. Faced with this failure in process, we had no option other than to peacefully protest, and were subsequently arrested. Whilst this farce played out, we watched the economy crumble and the outlook on climate change blacken. Our schools and public services now face budget cuts. Yet the council is still backing a multimillion-pound loan for a business with no viable business plan. This is a development that will benefit a tiny elite minority of the county and will be paid for by everyone else. Kevin Lister, Nailsworth,

Swine Flu: let's look at the causes

Influenza viruses have always passed between humans and animals, and always recombined. That's what they do. It seems likely that industrial farming gives greater opportunity for that to happen - and certainly open air pig slurry may have aided spread via flies.

Photo: Cartoon doing the rounds on the emails - plus below happy outdoor pigs?

Green party leader Caroline Lucas MEP called early on for governments to investigate the causes of swine flu - including the issue of farming practices - as well as addressing the current crisis. However there seems to be a reluctance to do that. Here is my letter to the press this week:

Gordon Brown claims "Britain is among the best prepared countries in the world," in terms of the swine flu pandemic. However there is still no serious plan to examine the causes of these animal-based epidemics that can jump the species barrier to humans.

There is growing evidence that intensive, industrialised farming could be playing a role. The first hybrid combination of swine, avian and human viruses was found in an industrial pig farm in 1998 in North Carolina. Indeed in the US pigs and poultry are raised in highly intensive conditions often in adjacent sheds managed by the same staff. Similarly in Mexico intensive pig farming has grown substantially in recent years, with some vast operations raising tens of thousands of pigs at a time.

Of course Ministers need to deal with the consequences of current swine flu outbreaks. However it is now more urgent than ever that the Government sets up a commission of inquiry into the causes: a call first made by the Green Party after the avian flu outbreaks in 2006.

The good news this week is that, like with avian flu, the dangers of swine flu may well have been exaggerated. But unless we urgently address the causes of these outbreaks, we might not be so lucky a third time.

Yours Sincerely, Philip Booth

See Guardian comment here and a Green party health spokesperson blog here. See The Ecologist article here and their film 'Sick as a Pig' here.

Viva! have long campaigned against the abuse of farmed animals in factory farming. They have joined Greens in calling for an urgent enquiry into intensive farming in Britain and its effect on human health. Contact Alan Johnson (Secretary of State for Health): Rt Hon Alan Johnson MP, Department of Health, Richmond House, 79Whitehall, London, SW1A 2NS

Plus online petition from Avaaz who write: Big agrobusiness will try to obstruct and scuttle any attempts at reform, so we need a massive outcry that health authorities can't ignore. Sign the petition below for investigation and regulation of factory farms and tell your friends and family and we will deliver it to the UN agencies. If we reach 200,000 signatures we will deliver it to the WHO in Geneva with a herd of cardboard pigs. For every 1000 petition signatures we will add a pig to the herd: http://www.avaaz.org/en/swine_flu_pandemic

Register to vote before 19th May: but not if you are a prisoner

Are you registered? If not, you don't have long left to register in time to ensure that you can vote in the local and European elections on 4th June 2009. The 19th May registration deadline is fast approaching and Stroud District Council has made a final call for those eligible to vote to ensure they are on the electoral roll. Completed applications for postal votes must also be received by this date. Anyone not registered by 19th May will not be able to vote in the local or European elections.

Registering is particularly important for anyone who has recently moved home - if they do not register at their new address they risk falling off the electoral register. Not signing up could also seriously harm residents financial as well as democratic status. Companies offering credit all refer to the electoral register. Anyone not on it is likely to find their application refused. You won't be automatically registered even if you pay council tax.

* If you are not sure you are registered to vote, call the electoral services team on 01453 754383 or email elections@stroud.gov.uk
* If you haven't already received and returned a registration or postal voting form, call 01453 754 383, email elections@stroud.gov.uk or download one from the council website at www.stroud.gov.uk/voting

Interestingly the ministry of justice has published a consultation on voting rights for prisoners. It sets out several options which could see some prisoners, depending on the length of their sentence, getting the right to vote. Submissions should be sent to the ministry of justice by 29 September. The government has decided to hold a separate consultation exploring questions relating those detained under mental health legislation.

At the moment only a small number of prisoners currently have the right to vote. The right to vote is basically restricted to the following categories of prisoner:
* Unconvicted prisoners
* Convicted but unsentenced prisoners
* Persons imprisoned for contempt of court and other prisoners classified under Prison Rule 7
* Those serving a term of imprisonment in default of payment of a sum of money, adjudged to be paid on conviction

The vast majority of prisoners held in UK jails or other places of detention in the UK are barred from voting and the UK has a tradition of removing voting rights from prisoners dating back 140 years. The UK is at odds with many other European member states. At present, sixteen European nations permit all prisoners to vote without restriction, including Denmark, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Most other countries allow prisoners to vote with some restrictions. Seven other European countries have a total bar, these are: Armenia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Luxembourg, and Romania.

At last thing slook set to change - the European Court of Human Rights judges found that the UK has been breach of its treaty obligations under the European Convention of Human Rights in applying an absolute bar for all prisoners.

Our prison population has large numbers of people with levels of mental distress far higher than in the general population. In a recent large-scale survey of prisons carried out by the Office of National Statistics in 2005, it was found that over one-third of men serving prison sentences had a significant mental health problem (such as anxiety or depression), nearly one in ten had experienced psychosis and one in four had attempted suicide in prison. Over three-quarters of men on remand and nearly two-thirds of male inmates met the diagnosis of having a personality disorder.

I find it extraordinary that prisoners have been excluded for so long. Let yus hope the changes come soon - it might even make MPs more interested in penal policy, and reducing re-offending?

Guide to Stroud Local Currency

I've been meaning to cover more re the Stroud currency on this blog for a while - the official name and note design are to be announced soon.

Photo: Russ cartoon to get the debate going about the design and name - I even had a query indirectly from The Independent on Sunday earlier this week about using this version - I noted we are still awaiting confirmation and that this was not a serious option.

Below I include the guide put together earlier this year to answer questions - some of the issues are still to be confirmed but it gives an idea. See more on a previous blog of mine here. I was also left a comment by Australia's 'Baroon Dollar' on a previous post - it is worth seeing their website here as they also have a blog about what is happening elsewhere in the world - good on them - a very useful resource.

A Guide to Stroud Local Currency

What’s it all about?
We are lucky that in Stroud there are many flourishing local businesses and a very successful food economy. We want to build on this foundation and help the local community thrive and become more resilient, especially in a recession. Transition Town Stroud is working towards launching a local currency in Stroud in the spring/summer of 2009, following the successful example of the German Chiemgauer.

What’s it for?
The Stroud local currency is an initiative to support and stimulate the local economy by emphasising the availability and quality of locally produced goods and locally owned businesses. Our main aim is to reconnect people to their local economy for employment, goods and services.

We are planning to base the working method for our currency on the Chiemgauer—a highly successful local currency in Germany. Christian Gelleri, founder and manager of the Chiemgauer currency, visited Stroud in January and offered much advice and encouragement for a similar scheme in Stroud.

How will the currency work?
You will be able to buy Stroud pounds in exchange for pounds Sterling (1 Stroud Pound =1 Pound Sterling);

- You can then spend Stroud Pounds in local participating shops and businesses;

- Traders can similarly spend Stroud Pounds with other participating traders or use them as change to participating customers;

- The notes will lose 2% of their value every three months, known as ‘demurrage’. They will have to be stamped to restore their full value: this process will cost 2 pence per pound. Monies raised by this ‘demurrage charge’ will go to support local charities or social enterprise projects;

- If you want to exchange Stroud pounds back into Sterling, you will only receive 95 pence for each Stroud pound: a 5% ‘redemption charge’; of this redemption charge, 2% is to pay for the administration of the scheme and 3% to fund local charities or social enterprise projects;

- Traders and businesses will be asked to pay a membership fee of £5 a month to be part of the scheme;

- Traders and businesses will receive only 90 pence for every Stroud pound exchanged back into Sterling: a 10% ‘redemption charge’ (a higher charge than for consumers);

- Shoppers and consumers do not pay to partake in the scheme – except through redemption and demurrage fees;

- Stroud pound notes will have a limited life. New ones will be printed each year;

- Currency holders will naturally try to spend their notes. When businesses receive and wish to redeem them for pounds, they have fourteen days to do so at the standard 5% charge. After this the 2% charge also becomes due. (???)

So, why do we need a local currency?
The money we usually use for most of our transactions, the pound Sterling, is tied up with a system of global transactions and processes that does not serve people in Stroud particularly well. A sizeable proportion of each pound Sterling spent goes to service debts in the global economy and in the process drains resources from the local economy. The current turbulence in the financial markets also suggests that global currencies may not be a secure basis upon which to organize our economic life. In 2007 98.8% of all money worldwide was used for investments, leaving only 1.2% for circulation.

Why will the Stroud currency lose its value? What is demurrrage?
Demurrage or ‘negative interest’ is the special feature of the Stroud local currency. It works very successfully in Chiemgau, Germany, and it will be the first local currency scheme in the UK to feature this device. The currency will lose 2% of its value every three months. This is to encourage people to spend the money more quickly than pounds Sterling, and to discourage hoarding. The notes will have to be stamped to restore their full value: this process will cost 2 pence per pound. Monies raised from this 2% demurrage charge will go to local charities or social enterprise projects.

The device is designed to increase the circulation of money. To create a healthy economy, money needs to circulate frequently. It can be likened to the human body which needs blood to circulate well. If the circulation slows down it gets ill or dies. Stroud pounds will circulate more quickly than Sterling to the benefit of participating local traders and businesses. Stroud pounds will support and stimulate local trade instead of leaking out to the global economy.

How will the currency be brought into circulation? Where can you get the money?
- A finite amount of notes will be printed;
- The money will be available in various denominations.
- There will be special launch to promote the currency;
- People can buy the currency, and redeem it, at named distribution point(s) in Stroud.

Where can I spend the money?
You can spend the money in participating outlets that will be listed in a user guide and the Transition Town Stroud website. Outlets may identify themselves with ‘Stroud pounds accepted here’ stickers. The money can also be used for any payments within the Stroud community if the recipient is willing to accept them. The money is legal as a voucher but it is not legal tender. This means that there is no obligation to accept it. The Stroud pound is complementary currency, not an alternative currency, and is not intended to replace Sterling.

What are the benefits for shoppers and consumers?
- Support for local businesses and enterprises;
- Funding for local projects via the scheme’s redemption and demurrage fees;
- Showing commitment to each other and to a secure and sustainable future;
- Stroud pounds encourage loyalty to local shops and businesses;
- Local businesses will see increased trade;
- Expressing concern about the misuse of global money;

Why does a business have to pay to join?
Businesses must join the Association (?) to take part in the scheme. Cost of membership is £5 per month payable by standing order. This will help with administration and advertising costs e.g. catalogue of participating businesses, website and other promotion. This charge is comparable to the fees paid to, for example, credit card companies (?) and will be well compensated by the benefits that the scheme will bring to your business.

Why do businesses pay a higher redemption fee than consumers?
Businesses will have to pay a redemption fee of 10% if exchanging Stroud pounds back to Sterling, of which 4% will go to administration and 6% to local projects/enterprises. This charge, higher than the 5% fee for consumers, is to discourage businesses from early redemption of the currency which would take money out of circulation and undermine the scheme. In effect, we hope that businesses will find it more beneficial to circulate the currency through exchange with consumers and other traders than to redeem it.

What benefits will my business gain from joining the scheme?
The aim of the scheme is to emphasise the availability and quality of locally produced goods and locally owned businesses and to encourage the use of local shops and businesses. In particular:
- The local currency operates as a kind of loyalty scheme and businesses that accept it in exchange for goods will be attracting customers that might otherwise spend money in another town or non-participating shop;
- Each member business will be listed in a local catalogue and on the currency website thus helping to bring in more customers;
- Opportunities for local promotion;
- Demonstration of support for the wider local community;
- Chains and businesses not currently supporting a sustainable future will have an incentive to participate and source more of their requirements locally – all helping to encourage a more local and sustainable economy.

As a business, how much of the money should I accept?
You can choose how much or how little of the Stroud pounds you deal with. For example, you could take only a limited percentage of the value of what you sell in this local money, perhaps 20%. Or you could accept Stroud money up to a certain limited value every week. You can, of course, also offer Stroud pounds to your customers in their change to encourage the money to spread and to support your local economy. From a tax perspective, anything paid for in Stroud pounds is accounted for in the same way as a pound sterling.

What about change?
The notes will be in several denominations (probably 1,2,5.10,20,50) and change will be available in the usual way from the distribution point. Where change of less than £1 is needed, ordinary sterling coins will be used.

Which local projects and social enterprises will benefit from the scheme?
One of the most important outcomes of the scheme will be support for the local not-for-profit sector. All members of the scheme will be able to dedicate a proportion of their redemption and demurrage charges to a charity or social enterprise of their choice (so long as it is also a member of the scheme).

Can I lose money?
Since every local pound is backed by a pound sterling held in an account, the local money can never be any less secure than the national currency. You can trade back to Sterling (less 5% redemption charge/10% for businesses) at any time but we don’t encourage this as the main aim is to keep the money circulating and supporting the local economy.

Could it be forged?
The notes have been designed on high security paper with security features to combat fraud. As comparatively few notes will be issued, it is unlikely to be worth the expense of forgery.

What about the recession?
The recession means that we are all facing difficult economic times, but history teaches that when a community works together it can flourish even in the harshest conditions. The new local currency is one way that we can show our commitment to each other and to a secure and sustainable future. The recession means that we are all facing difficult economic times, but history teaches that when a community works together it can flourish even in the harshest conditions.

Who will be operating the scheme?
The scheme will be operated by the Lifestyles and Livelihoods working of Transition Town Stroud. Transition Towns are working in their local communities to support people in their move towards a low-carbon future. Several other Transition communities have created local currencies e.g. Totnes and Lewes, and there are hundreds of these working successfully across the world, especially in Germany and Japan.

When will the currency come into operation?
The aim is to launch the currency with a special event in late spring or early summer 2009.

Have police infilterated campaign to stop Staverton expanding?

Well the bad news is that the Airport extension is one step closer after last week's vote - see here - they got three out of the four planning applications with the last one deferred. I still find it difficult to understand how councillors can support this move in the face of the evidence about climate change. I can only muse that they have not read or don't believe the evidence.

Photo: From Citizen

Anyhow onto a related matter - I read with concern that Austrian tourist Klaus Matza and his son were banned from taking pictures of buses in Walthamstow - see Guardian here - the two policemen forced them to delete the photographs from their cameras in the name of preventing terrorism. After the Tomlinson incident and reporting of G20 it seems that even the wider press have started to get concerned by police tactics. I personally have not had a problem or even witnessed one but have heard a number of first-hand incidents that have raised alarm bells...

One of the most recent concerns were the revelations that Strathclyde Police attempted to plant paid informants within the aviation direct action group, Plane Stupid. It raised the question amongst local airport campaigners whether the police had tried to infiltrate our Gloucestershire campaign. I have to say I think it would be very unlikely indeed.

Anyhow in response to the Strathclyde revelations Caroline Lucas said: "These revelations today are sinister and shocking, and come at a time when public confidence in police tactics is at rock bottom. At a time when there is already concern and controversy over policing of the climate camp at Kingsnorth, the G20 protests, and the mass arrests near Nottingham, it is clear that a review of police tactics is long overdue. The police should not be obstructing our right to peacefully protest. We should make it abundantly clear that intimidation, infiltration and bribery are not legitimate means of policing non-violent protest. We need a police force which understands the vital democratic right to peaceful protest, which acts proportionately, and which can be held properly accountable."

And here is the commitment that the Green Party are seeking from the police to halt:

* infiltration, bribery and intimidation of activist groups who are part of non-violent protest
* the filming of activists by police officers when activists have committed no crime
* an end to police officers at direct protest events appearing without ID numbers on their uniforms (as occured recently in a climate change protest at E.ON's headquarters in Coventry, and at the G20 protests) - see here. The comments by Denis O'Connor, the Chief inspector of constabulary are very welcomed on this when he told MPs on the Commons home affairs select committee that it was "utterly unacceptable [for police] to be not wearing their numerals" on the G20 protests. See here.

And to finish this blog here is a comment by a campaigner on the BBC coverage of Strathclyde: "You ran a piece last night on Strathclyde police's attempt to recruit a spy from Plane Stupid. Plane Stupid is avowedly a non-violent protest group. Yet you accompanied text from the police conversation relating to 'terrorism' with images of violent protest at the G20 events (no connection with Plane Stupid) and the violent break-up of the Climate Change camp by police, with no reference to the fact that the violence was inflicted by the police on the (peaceful) protesters. You therefore successfully portrayed violence as a natural component of dissent, and police action as fully justified in the general cause of defeating terrorism; and Plane Stupid as an organisation somehow connected with violence. Why did you do this and what action will you take to correct what is either lazy or biased coverage?"

84 MPs arrested for drunk driving?

I just got sent one of those emails about the MPs in the House of Commons - the email claims 29 are accused of spouse abuse, 7 have been arrested for fraud, 9 have been accused of writing bad cheques, 84 arrested for drink driving in the last year - well it's all a load of rubbish. A Green party colleague pointed out the Guardian comment here. Apparently this nonsense email has been doing the rounds for years. It seems deliberately designed to play on people's cynicism and naivety about politics. It is certainly worrying that people seem to intuitively believe this email - want to see their MPs as crooks. Yes of course there are some bad apples but as the Guardian comment says the same people wouldn't be taken in for a minute by an email from some bloke in Nigeria offering them $20,000,000 in cash.

Whiteshill resident elected to Baha'i council

I've just been talking to local press about Whiteshill resident, Zarin Hainsworth being elected to the national Baha'i governing council.

Zarin Hainsworth is President of UNIFEM UK and a long time advocate for the advancement of women - she has just been elected to the national governing council of the Baha'i community of the United Kingdom. She also locally, Chairperson of the Ruscombe Brook Action Group. Here is what she said to national press: “I am very honoured to be elected to serve in this way. In accordance with its belief in equality, the worldwide Baha'i community has been at the forefront of the movement to advance the rights of women for more than 160 years, so I am looking forward to contributing further in this regard in the UK.”

Since its inception in the mid-19th century, the Baha'i faith has taught the equality of the sexes. Its Prophet-Founder Baha'u'llah unequivocally stated that, until the equality between women and men is fully established, humanity's highest social development is not possible. "The only remedy is education, opportunity; for equality means equal qualification," say the Baha'i scriptures, "Until woman and man recognize and realize equality, social and political progress … will not be possible."

Bahá'í communities around the world promote development efforts for women, and work to raise the consciousness of both women and men about equality. They are committed to educational and social action initiatives that develop the capacity of children and young people of both sexes to play their part in the building of a healthy and equal society. At this stage, women compose approximately 30 percent of elected leadership in Baha'i councils at the national level, comparing favourably to national parliaments, which average around 10 percent women.

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the UK is elected each year in a unique process that does not allow campaigning and uses no nominations. Rather, each delegate to the Baha'i national convention - held in Llandudno, Wales - votes for the nine people whom they feel are best qualified to serve the Baha'i community for the coming twelve months. Ms Hainsworth's election comes more than sixty years after the election of her father Philip Hainsworth to the Assembly, a position he held for several decades before his death in 2001.

Further information
Zarin Hainsworth is a Trustee of Widow Rights International, a member of Gender Action for Peace and Security and active in the Associate All Party Group on Women, Peace and Security for which she is responsible for the sub groups on Iraq and Gender Training of Peace Keeping Troops. She is a Women’s Enterprise Ambassador, the co-founder and coordinator of the International Coordination for Gender Justice in Iraq and was a trustee of the National Alliance of Women’s Organisations and its chair for a number of years. She helped to establish a variety of local organisations for women in business and women of faith and was the first director of the Baha’i Office for the Advancement of Women UK. She has been President of the National Committee for UNIFEM in the UK for two years. Ms Hainsworth founded and runs her family company Serene Communications and is married with four children.

Proposed changes to determination of planning apps

The District Council has put forward some proposed changes to the scheme of delegation for the determination of planning applications. As Greens on the District we have put in an initial response paper - see here.

In addition I would like to note here that I am very concerned that the proposals will diminish the influence of Town and Parish Councils. There are many issues which affect the efficient consideration of planning applications like staffing levels that should be fully considered before placing further constraints on allowing applications to go before the Committee. Indeed the District seems to imply that Parish and Town Councils are in some way contributing to the poor performance. In fact Town and Parish Councils are in the best position to know their areas and the District Council should be listening to comments from those directly in touch with the local natural and built environment.

It should also be noted that while this is in response to the Government's calls to improve efficiencies - in fact the Government in response to the Killian Pretty Review has NOT accepted the recommendation that 90% of applications should be delegated to officers but does encourage the maximisation of delegation to officers. This response also accepted one of the report's recommendations that the current time based target (ie 8 weeks and 13 weeks depending on the type of application) is a poor measure of performance - a point I have made before in this blog.

There will no doubt be lots more on this as it has angered many. I hope it will also be an opportunity to improve our planning service - one related issue that I am still trying to get through is better pre-application info - this makes for less likely rejection etc. See for example Woking who have Pre-Application Advice leaflets:
http://www.woking.gov.uk/planning/planningapplications/publications

Having good guidance leaflets is also a useful way to help developers and others to make better decisions - and greener decisions! It would also seem that Woking have done all the work and v little resources would be needed to adapt existing work?

Future for Stratford Park leisure?

Last week I went to a Policy Panel one evening at Ebley Mill on Stratford Park - it was "to allow all Members the opportunity to assist the Cabinet in devising, formulating and implementing a policy on the Stratford Park Options Appraisal" - ie what is the future for Stratford Park?

Photos: Skateboarding near Stratford Park has improved significantly with the new park - middle pic is from a skateboarding friend in Australia who designed this park for his local town.

The Strategic Overview and Scrutiny Committee has already received two reports this year to consider the progress made on the Cultural Services Review (they should be on the Council website). There was also an information evening on 17 March 2009.

Anyhow the meeting last week looked at a number of issues like what criteria should we be considering for contracts for Startford Park? Astonishingly - or perhaps not - on the day the Council publishes their "Environmental Statement 2007-2008" in which they claim "Putting climate change at the heart of our policy making and operations" they release this discussion paper for the Options Appraisal for Stratford Park - it lists 10 criteria that make not even a mention of sustainability, energy efficiency or climate change?????!

I made the point and it was added as criteria point 11 and then we had much discussion about which were the most important points to consider - 'Sustainability' ranked in the top along with 'Service Levels' and 'Quality and Equality". The process was fairly meaningless as the criteria were so complex and not easy to simplify in the way asked - however it was about giving Officers and Cabinet member some thoughts on what was wanted. To some extent it achieved that.

There was also discussion about the range of options available for future service delivery and the possible advantages and disadvantages of each option. I strongly made the point that I thought it was wrong to be doing this appraisal in isolation from other leisure services like use of schools and other community facilities etc - and indeed the discussion about whether we should be involved in leisure services at all. Where is the vision or discussion about what we might want for the District?

Many points were made:

- what extent should SDC pay for leisure: some of the projections indicate going up from £300,000 plus to over a million?
- how does that compare with spending on fuel poverty/climate change etc? What are our priorities and responsibilities?
- some councillors asked whether we should be in the leisure business and if so what role?
- councillors also noted the huge benefits to community, health and more from such services: for me health/access/prescriptions are important aspects.
- costs of the well-run Dursley Pool (still managed by Council) and Stratford Park were compared - Dursley was more expensive in terms of subsidy but was maximising it's use more and didn't have facilities that would bring down the costs compared to Stratford Park. Comparing the two has only limited value. I did ask why we don't take Stratford Park back and have it managed by Dursley?

So should we see Stratford Park go to a company like the current one, or be taken back in house or should we cut the whole lot free - or should we be pushing for a more thorough appraisal about poss uses of the site? What about a conference centre? Other uses? I would welcome thoughts.

There was also information on Stratford Park grounds maintenance contract - and consideration of the advantages and disadvantages of having Grounds maintenance of Stratford Park as part of Leisure Management Contract or not - most councillors there seemed to agree it should be separate. This would allow for more local companies to bid and for them to focus on what they know best. I also made the point that some costs could be saved by turning to more sustainable flower beds - perennials and shrubs rather than annuals.

The next steps are soft market testing this month then some public engagement, Cabinet and Scrutiny in July, a September info evening and then Cabinet on 6th October to decide to procure Leisure Management Contract.

Seal Trade Ban at last!

An overwhelming majority of Euro-MPs voted in favour of a ban on the commercial trade of seal products in the EU today in a European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg (550 votes in favour, 49 against, 41 abstentions).

This is an issue I've had several emails about - and covered it previously - see most recent comment here. We know that closing markets saves seals’ lives. Even the prospect of an EU ban on seal product trade was enough to drive the prices for seal fur down to just $15 Canadian per skin this year - a decline of 86 percent since 2006. Indeed many sealers chose not to hunt seals this year as a result - and to date, out of a quota of 338,200 seals, just 57,622 have been killed. It is likely that when the seal hunt officially ends on 15 May, a quarter of a million seals will have been spared a horrible death. Now that the EU has banned its trade in seal products, countless more seals will live out their lives in peace from this year forward.

Dr Caroline Lucas MEP co-sponsored the original Written Declaration against the trade in seal products in 2006. Here is what she said today in her press release: “As one of the co-sponsors of the original Declaration which, almost 3 years ago, called for a ban on the import of seal products, I am delighted that Parliament has finally voted in favour of a ban. This vote is a victory for the global campaign against animal cruelty, and a victory for European democracy. Nearly one million seals are slaughtered annually in commercial seal hunts around the world, and the products of those slaughters - primarily fur - are legally traded in the EU. By closing the door on fur and other seal products, Parliament has taken meaningful action to reduce the scale of cruel commercial seal killing. Thankfully, compromises such as replacing a proposed ban with a labelling system have been strongly rejected, meaning that we can fully meet the expectations and demands of millions of European citizens. I am optimistic that this ban on the trade in seal products will save hundreds of thousands of seals from being clubbed and shot under cruel conditions in Canada and elsewhere.”

Dr Lucas MEP concluded: “I remember many meetings with Commission officials at which we were told a ban on the trade of seal products would be impossible. This vote goes to show that, with political will, the support of NGOs and the overwhelming balance of public opinion, seemingly impossible things become possible.”

Hawkwood Open Day

Monday saw Hawkwood open for their Open Day - they do it twice a year - I enjoy going if I can and was pleased to see progress on the Meditation Centre in the woods - see below - and the great new labyrinth (see photo which will be similar to the one in SNJ as their photographer was next to me seeking permission to photograph the kids).

Anyhow other highlights of the day included the singing, watching the maypole dancing and wandering amongst the various stalls of healers and more. It was nice to see that the School of Homeopathy (now celebrating 28 years) is in the process of moving to Hawkwood College for Sept 2009.

It was good to see how well the ponds have developed - they were designed to treat the sewage. Anyhow see the Hawkwood website here.

Video of Ricky at Glos Euro-Campaign launch

Apologies for my terrible filming and the dire sound quality but here is a taster of Ricky from outside the pub at the launch of the Gloucestershire Euro election campaign - see previous blog entry here with full details and photos from the evening.

Green Knight, Green beer, a horse and European elections

Indeed Green beer, a Green Knight on horseback, speeches, quiz, storytelling and an Open Mic night launched the Green party's bid in Gloucestershire to get the first ever Green MEP in the South West - more details below re what Greens want to see in EU, but first more about Saturday...

Photos: First couple of photos from independent journalist John Hatton then pics from me from Saturday night incl Ricky Knight doing his number plus Phil Blomberg doing his. The last four are from our official photographer Ruth Davey

On Well Saturday Green party members were out canvassing all day in Stroud and Nailsworth then in the evening we were met in Nailsworth by Rose Hall as the Knight on horseback - we then made our way to The Village Inn pub - to launch the Green Knight beer - a specially brewed organic and vegan beer named after Ricky Knight, the Greens lead Euro candidate - possibly the first beer ever to be named after a European election candidate!

Infact I've been emailing CAMRA and other beer publications today about the event. Jon Kemp, the Nailsworth brewer (he's the one holding the horse in this pic) has also done us some bottles - see label further below - took ages to sort with Electoral Commission the wording and what needed to count as donations etc to election. Anyhow here is some of what I said to beer press re the beer: "It has been described by the local brewer as a light, hoppy organic vegan beer with hints of grapefruit and elderflower coming in at 4.4% abv. I'm not sure I can taste the fruit but it was very quaffable indeed. Several other venues in the South West have expressed an interest in stocking the beer."

We had some passionate speeches from Ricky Knight and also Nailsworth and Minch County Council candidate Sophie Barton. All the while the horse, Brecon, behaved wonderfully - indeed a total star even supping from a pint mug for the photographers.

Ricky spoke about the opportunity to get a Green MEP for the first time in the South West as the European Elections are run on a Proportional Representation system. About the changes that will be possible and so needed, about not being corrupted by the Brussels politics and lobbyists, about the ways he will represent Green views and more. He said that with the economy in a mess and the environment balanced on tipping points the best possible message to send to those that have failed to represent us, is to vote Green on June 4th.

Sophie Barton, the Green party's County Council candidate in Nailsworth, a mother of three who is studying a Master’s degree in Advanced Environmental and Energy Studies also made a passionate speech from the heart saying: "Six months ago, I had no idea I would be in politics, but I can no longer sit on the sidelines, waiting for the changes we so badly need. As my knowledge has deepened surrounding the issues that currently face us, I realise that a fundamental change in the way we do politics has to come about. And, as Gandhi once said, 'Be the change you want to see'.”

We then all went in the pub for the European Quiz - 30 questions - one team romped home with 21.5 out of 30 - I am afraid the team I was in came in at 16 correct answers - semi-respectable? The quiz was compiled by Ricky's partner L'Anne who also acted as Quiz Mistress and contained some virtually impossible questions....

We then had a completely spell-binding story of the Green Knight and Sir Gawain - Fiona Eadie, a Nailsworth storyteller had me on the edge of my seat with the tale - brilliant, magic, wonderful! Plus she even managed to apply lessons to the Euro campaign....

After that came the Open Mic night and what an amazing collection of artists that included the Village Inn's House Band, Edge of Blue (who played in Whiteshill at the local village performance), a young lad who played Mustang Sally and more, Shaun with 'I've been through the desert on a horse with no name', 'Knock, Knock, Knocking on Heaven's Door' and Tracey Chapman's 'Revolution' plus the amazing Katharina Heinrich with a ukelehle - how on earth do you spell that - plus County Council Rodborough ward Green party candidate Phil Blomberg (see pic below) and more...

Ricky Knight even took a turn at the Mic to passionately sing an old antiwar song without accompaniment - very moving powerful stuff - see photo.

It was a good night indeed and a fitting start to our Glos election campaign. I don't think I've covered the seven key issues for the Euro campaign so here they are...

Seven key Euro issues on which Greens are campaigning

ENERGY
> renewable energy from the wind, the waves and from biomass
> every home a 'power-station' with free insulation offered to every household in the SW
> energy security with connection to a DC European Super-Grid

ECONOMY
> a £40 billion injection into real jobs in the energy market, not into bailing out failed banks
> re-regulation of financial and banking sector
> cap on salaries, bonuses, pay-offs and pension settlements and higher taxes on higher-earners

TRANSPORT
> massive investment in public transport, to encourage people out of their cars and onto busses, trains, bikes and feet
> put an end to uneconomical and unnecessary airport expansion and charge the true cost for aviation
> introduce joined-up transport solutions to urban congestion, with park and ride/walk schemes that link in with busses and trains, with safe pedestrian and cycling routes to work and a systematic reduction in parking spaces in town & city centres.

TOURISM
> encourage longer-stay home-holidays
> promote the South West as a UK holiday haven and destination of preference
> ensure quality of accommodation and environment, together with investment into entertainment and leisure options to ensure that longer-stays are memorable for everyone

CLIMATE CHANGE
> work towards a zero-carbon economy through systematic 'carrot and stick' legislation
> maintain the pressure on governments to achieve year-on-year CO2 emissions' reduction
> work towards a successful conclusion to the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference in December

TRANSPARENCY
> ensure that the issue of open, honest, transparent accountability is addressed
> ensure that the issue of MEPs' expenses is open to effective scrutiny
> ensure that bureaucratic overload, waste and corruption in the EU is effectively addressed

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
> invest in more allotments and encourage many more home vegetable-plots
> Local is Best - encourage farmers' markets and the production and availability of local produce to help break the monopoly of supermarkets and bring vibrant life back into dying town centres
> root and branch reform of the Common Agriculture and Fisheries Policies

Build a bee house!

A week or so ago we had our Coffee House discussion about bees - see here and here - well Stroud Life covered more about the Global Bee Project - claiming it as an exclusive but of course you read about it here on Ruscombe Green first! Anyhow I've enclosed their article below by Jo Barber as it is a good summary.

In that last blog I did mention I would make an attempt at building a bee house - the photos here are the results - basically an untreated log of wood with holes drilled in 10cm deep and about 8mm diameter - then must have a lid to protect from rain - a piece of wood will do - I had this bit of metal lying in the garden - the web is full of other designs - see for example here and video here.

Stroud Life article: Unique project to save bees begins in Stroud

A UNIQUE project aims to put the buzz back into the world's vanishing bee population by enlisting the help of gardeners and farmers. The Horsley-based Global Bee Project plans to enrol people as bee guardians to watch over and report on colonies and individual species.

It has been launched to help combat the steady decline of bees due to pollution and disease. The falling world population is a huge concern because bees are believed to pollinate plants which produce a third of our food. Their disappearance could result in catastrophic global starvation.

Project leaders Jessie Jowers, 30, and her partner Carlo Montesanti, 23, both feel so passionately about the dwindling numbers that they are launching a bid to track the insects and encourage their survival.

"We're in a worldwide pollination crisis because of what is happening to honeybees and to other bees," said Carlo. "Pesticides are the main thing causing their decline and the loss of habitats."

Already the couple's embryonic scheme has attracted several grants and gained the backing of a senior scientist from the University of Gloucestershire. The Global Bee Project is interested in saving all the UK's 250-plus bee species and more than 20,000 types globally. Becoming a bee guardian is easier than beekeeping.

Jessie said: "The project is about raising awareness that there are other bees than honeybees and bumblebees. The only thing people have to do is not use pesticides and leave a wild space to increase biodiversity."

Bee guardians will be able to send the project pictures of bees in their garden or on the farm.

Jessie and Carlo, assisted by social entomologist Dr Adam Hart from Gloucestershire Uni, will then identify the bees, map their location using GPS and create a national, and in time international, bee database.

"This is an international project but at this initial stage it's about tackling the global problem on a local level," Jessie said. "We're focussing on setting everything up in the Stroud area as a pilot to replicate nationally and internationally."

Dr Hart, whose specialist interest is in insects that live together like bees, said the uncertain future of honeybees had attracted a large interest. He said: "The majority of bee species are solitary and these also perform a vital role. What I liked about the Global Bee Project was the focus on these less glamorous but no less engaging bees. The project is still developing and growing but Jessie and Carlo are really on to something."

The Global Bee Project is about to launch its website at www.theglobalbeeproject.com

Sign petition on Afghanistan

The local press asked yesterday for a comment on Iraq - see here - however I also want to draw attention to this petition. While we can all welcome the troops leaving Iraq, the pull out is only partly in response to public opinion, it is also a product of the decision to escalate the war in Afghanistan.

Cartoon: Steve Bell taken from Stop the War website

The Stop the War Coalition, of which the Green party is a part, has just launched a petition to Gordon Brown demanding the withdrawal of all British troops from Afghanistan. In fact so new that I was the third signature. As regular blog readers will know Greens have opposed the war in Afghanistan from the start. Please consider signing online: http://www.petitiononline.com/stwc01/petition.html

Green Open Mic Night tomorrow

Don't forget Saturday night - that's tomorrow - and the launch of the 'Green Knight' beer with a knight on horseback turning up at 6.30ish to wish Green candidates in the coming elections well - lead Euro candidate Ricky Knight will be there and do a number or two during the evening - see more about the beer and evening here. During the day Greens will be out in both Nailsworth and Stroud publicising the evening and more importantly the elections and the chance to get more Greens elected.

My first experience of an Open Mic night was a couple of weeks ago at the Village Inn when I went to discuss the beer launch and evening. I have to say I loved it - it was great to see so much talent - the couple of photos are from then - some of those singers/bands have agreed to play again tomorrow night. It should be a great evening - we even have someone telling the story of the Green Knight - an abbreviated version - so do please bring along your own song, poem or whatever...

In many places Open Mic was established to provide an opportunity for people to gain experience performing to a live audience without having to go through the process of getting normal music gigs. They are gaining popularity across the country - indeed in Stroud area there are several other venues. However in Nailsworth I suspect it is more about having fun as some I have already seen at live events and others are easily talented enough for their own gigs...I've urged our local papers to do a feature on them as too many people (like me) that I have spoken to have not experienced one!!