Stroud MP is new Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change in 2020

This evening I saw 'Power' by the local HEXAGON THEATRE COMPANY - they have two more nights of their play - go see it - a look at what could happen in the not too distant future...

The play explores human emotions and relationships involving government, press and local connections in what the flyer describes "can sometimes be a dark yet often humorous take on politics and energy."


The play is set in 2020 where Stroud MP Fiona Hunter has stepped forward into the limelight as the new Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change. Fuel stocks are running low, civil unrest looms, the press are digging into her private life and Fiona is forced to make some difficult ethical and personal decisions. Will she be able to save her career, save her family and keep the lights on?

The play was written by Katy Albiston who started her career in the Home office, 'dabbled' in local politics and now teaches history, politics and anthropology - plus she completed a Master's in Education for Sustainability.

'Power' contains many local references - lots of fun there that I wont spoil by sharing here - plus some occasional strong language. In some ways, to someone immersed in green politics the story line has something of the cliche about it - and talking afterwards to another green we wondered if alot of that might happen well before the 2020 date....I hope not. However it is great to tell this story - too many do not understand the massive failures of repeated governments to get to grips with energy......The play mentions the 2010 Ofgem report - a report I've also highlighted before - most recently last month - see here. That Ofgem report should be warning enough  - there is very much we need to do!

The play has a good pace and convincing characters but I was disappointed that Climate Change didn't get a mention in all the discussion re energy - maybe alluded to in one comment about cold winters.....and possibly more could have been made of social justice and fuel poverty - some 15.6% of Stroud households are already in fuel poverty.......but then again this is meant to be entertainment not all doom, gloom or education.....a big thank you to all those who made it possible - an enjoyable evening that hopefully leaves us thinking abut the urgency of this issue. I hope many Stroudies (and indeed beyond) get to see the play.

The play runs for 2 more nights - open 7.15pm Performances start at 7.45pm. Tickets: £7.50 from Stroud Tourist Information Centre or call Hexagon on 01453 828424. Anyway I must finish this ramble and go to bed...

See Hexagon Facebook site here.....the company has a long list of plays since 1985 when it was first formed.

Three new local businesses

A green PC company, a company of of Positive ideas and a CranioSacral Therapist....I've not tried any of these yet but as noted before this blog is happy to give plugs to local businesses

Well first up is PC Techniques with Greg Dance in Whiteshill - a friend recently sent the photo attached - not sure where it originally came from but now there is perhaps an answer locally....

The website is www.pc-techniques.co.uk. Greg says the company aims:

• To minimise the use of car travel so limiting fuel use and carbon emissions by working locally in the Stroud area where ever possible.
• To arrange for transfer of hardware which is still serviceable between current and prospective owners.
• To operate as a social enterprise company so that value is retained in the community, where it can be used.
• Will accept Stroud Pounds as payment!

And here is an offer! PC Techniques will visit you in your home or business (within the Stroud valleys area) free of charge for up to 30 minutes, so we can work out the best way we can help you, without the pressure of time & cost to worry about! Grg notes that since his very recent launch he has already arranged the re-use of 2 serviceable printers locally!

Second is the Positive Ideas Company, with CEO Iman Fadaei, based in Ruscombe, who put together websites - see their website at: www.positive-ideas.com/

But they also have an exhibition at Star Anise cafe in Stroud of Maasai art from 10th to 28th April - with money raised going to help school Maasai children - see more at: www.maasai-art.com/

Third is Millie Wood Swanepoel who has recently moved into Ruscombe. She is a CranioSacral Therapist and offers other treatments - see her website for more details of where she practices, costs etc: www.milliewoodswanepoel.com/

Transition Stroud's Cycle Trainers

Here's another video I've put together for a Transition Stroud colleague, Helen Royall. I'm not directly involved in this project but it will hopefully be playing an increasing role in encouraging more of us to cycle.

Climate Change week highjack?

So we have just had Climate Change week - it is meant to be a 'week of action' - it finished yesterday - Stroud District Council celebrated this with a press release - however they rather cheekily say that 'Stroud District Council and SWEA partnership has also led to a supply of energy monitors being placed in libraries throughout the district available for any resident to hire - an illuminating way of seeing how much electricity your home is using'. The project was initiated by myself - but hey I shouldn't get petty!

As for the week itself - as People and Planet asks who are the champions of environmental justice? Well it is Tesco, EDF Energy, Kellogg’s, and our friends the Royal Bank of Scotland. Of course it is important they play a part but it is these very corporations who are big in causing climate change - the website says: "Climate Week is extremely pleased to have four Supporting Partners with such a strong commitment to action on climate change."

People and Planet call it greenwash: "Climate Week sponsors RBS, for example, finances more fossil fuel extraction than any other UK bank. Since being bailed out in 2008, RBS has been involved in providing finance worth around £13billion to companies involved in extracting fossil fuels, including tar sands mining in Canada. This produces carbon emissions three times greater than conventional oil and causes devastating social and health problems for indigenous communities. Find out more about the other sponsors of Climate Week"

Sadly I don't think there were any events in Stroud. Of course what we really need is that every week be a Climate Change week.

Should you move frog spawn?

I had always thought it wasn't too much of an issue to move spawn. However Froglife - the main UK charity for frogs do view it as "risky".  Others are stronger in their language saying never do it.

Basically there is a risk of transferring disease - a disease that is reducing frog populations called ranavirus - see: http://www.froglife.org/disease/ranavirus/.  They have a map of its spread which shows the nearest hotspot to be Bristol. So instead of getting frogspawn in from another pond the recommendation is to just let them arrive - and indeed they seem to do just See more at: www.froglife.org/advice/FAQs/spawn_tadpoles/where.htm

Libraries and Tory claims

Tories are claiming victory in a party flyer for saving a library - library campaigners are understandably furious as not one Tory spoke up at the County meeting to stop library cuts and it is of course the Tories that are closing the libraries - see details here. Meanwhile libraries are closing (incl mobile service) and many like Moreton (the busiest in the Cotswolds) still face becoming a link library despite population growth in the area - see here. There are so many other examples....


Pic by local artist Russ

I was also shocked to see that our own MP Neil Carmichael said in the House of Commons in a debate on the Big Society: "In Gloucestershire we are benefiting from a sensible and forward-thinking county council paving the way for local people to take over libraries. This is excellent. Does he agree we should encourage more such initiatives across the piece?"



This chimes a little differently from his what he told Liz Hillary, a Green party member, who has written to the local press. In his response to her he does not say that he thinks it is a good idea to get volunteers to run libraries:

I wrote to Stroud MP Neil Carmichael about Stonehouse Library to see what the plans were for the 12 hours per week it is to be open: would it operate from the same building (I believe there are plans to sell it off), would it have access to Gloucestershire County books etc?  Mr Carmichael directed me to the County Council.

I also asked the question about whether the present cuts were due to the current financial situation and if so, would services be mothballed until finances are in a better shape (in which case, you cannot justify selling off buildings that house services) or do the cuts respresent future policy whatever the financial situation is.  Mr Carmichael stated that 'I will fight for more central Government funding but the Council must decide how to spend it whether that is on Libraries or not.'  He seems to be saying that his constituency should get more public money in the future.

I would therefore urge Stroud residents, whatever their political persuasion, to fight for their public services and the buildings that house them.  Once libraries, police stations and youth centres are sold off, there is very little chance of there ever being the money to buy them a space in the future.

GCC are still using Buckinghamshire as a model as a way for volunteers to run libraries - yet even in Bucks they are saying there are difficulties - as campaigners point out comparing Tuffley (ranking in the top 10% deprived areas in the County) to affluent Buckinghamshire is just not fair - see here. Plus it is worth a look at info gained under a Freedom of Information request here re County correspondence with the Museums Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) over their plans for our library service.

See more re campaign at: http://foclibrary.wordpress.com/

12 go into the Woods with Loppers!

I have been trying to set up this Randwick Woodfuel project for over a year - see here Feb meeting last year with details of other project proposals! Our first project this year has been to assist in restoring a limestone grassland where some trees have been impacting on the rich and unique biodiversity there. Participants in the project, in return for some 4 hours plus of work, have gone home with a boot full of wood which they can then chop up at home.

As the video shows there are many benefits from the project including improving the biodiversity, learning new skills, helping the National Trust to manage their estate, health benefits from all the chopping and cutting, low cost fuel, reduced fuel miles and a local sustainable energy supply plus helping people connect more with their local community and woods. One guy even said he hadn't had so much fun since he was 16!

I hope this video might inspire others to similar projects in their local woods.

Whiteshill and Ruscombe Village Shop advert!

Here are some myths:

·      VILLAGE SHOPS ARE EXPENSIVE

·      VILLAGE SHOPS ONLY OFFER A VERY LIMITED RANGE

·      VILLAGE SHOPS DO NOT SELL FRESH BREAD

Photos taken on visit a couple of weeks ago


Yes, the above does apply to many village shops, as they need to make enough profits to cover wages and large overheads. This comes from one of the volunteers who keep our village shop (plus Coffee Bar with the best views in Gloucestershire) going:

Luckily none of the above apply to Whiteshill and Ruscombe Village Shop.  The shop, situated by the playing fields at Whiteshill, is run entirely by unpaid volunteers.  The shop is very well stocked to provide a wide range of products to cover customers’ daily needs and lifestyle choices and includes ;

Everyday items  - Eco Products  -  Vegetarian  -    Local Products and Produce  -  Crafts  - Daily / Weekend Newspapers reserved for a small fee   -  Fresh Bread, pies, pasties and other goods baked daily in a Bread Oven on the premises  -  Coffee Shop with panoramic views serving Tea, Coffee, Cakes,  Snacks & Light Meals

If you can spare a couple of hours a week on a fairly regular or occasional basis to help in the shop, or have other skills or can help in any other way,  please give your details to Mary Watkins or any other shop volunteer, or at the shop number 01453 766277.  Shifts can be very flexible to suit you, and you can make new friends and meet new people in a friendly welcoming atmosphere

Shop hours are Mon-Fri 9 – 5, Saturday 9 – 1,  Sunday 9 – 11.

Randwick Street lighting update

Randwick Parish Council have been moving quickly now on street lighting - after some long delays it seems much has been happening - Parish Councillor, Vernon Williams has met with GCC and already all the lights have been converted to part-time night lighting bar about 10 - all of which are on awkward junctions or bends - mostly on the main road through the village or the road down to Humphries End.

Each meter reduces the electricity bill by 40%. A long time ago I supported the switching off of Parish lights late at night - see here re Essex. Whiteshill and Ruscombe Parish have already had a load switched off - now with Vernon's help Randwick has seen their lights go off. It seems to date there has not been a single complaint or concern re the lights going off - and as I've said before it is great to have at least a part return to the night sky and more rural feel - plus of course tackling climate change and lowering costs to taxpayers.

Cuts March today - budget was for bankers

Today many thousands will be marching in London and demonstrating across the country. See my video of the march in Stroud here. There is an alternative to the cuts as that video showed. The Guardian also have a video here about alternatives to the cuts - stars Bill Nighy, Radiohead, UK Uncut and more. Below are details of the last talk on 'Cuts or Commonwealth' - but before that, Caroline Lucas has done an analysis of the budget here: "a betrayal of our environment and our future". See similar scathing report on the budget from George Monbiot here.


As Caroline Lucas said the budget was "a budget for bankers" that put the interests of international finance and big business above those of ordinary people or the environment. She said: "George Osborne has made cutting the deficit his one and only goal. This may please City bankers and international investors, but it means more unemployment, greater poverty, and decimated public services. It is also a huge missed opportunity to turn our environmental and energy crisis into an engine for a sustainable future. Investing in energy efficiency and renewables now would stabilise the economy, help people reduce their bills, help end fuel poverty and make us less dependent on oil and gas from overseas. Instead, the Government is cutting support for UK companies trying to lead this energy revolution, even though it has found £5 billion in tax cuts for biggest companies. It has also turned the much-hyped Green Investment Bank into a PR stunt by preventing it from raising funds." 

See a short clip of Caroline Lucas speaking at the Green party conference, when she says let's show David Cameron what the Big Society means and all turn out for the 26 Mar rally in London: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gfvSxgopZ8

Plus a short video of Caroline talking about retaining spending on NHS/libraries, and cutting spending on Trident and cutting tax avoidance:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnuajhFdqYQ

The Government's plans are not the only option, despite what Osborne's claims. Blog readers will remember the videos I produced re tax havens - available at: http://bit.ly/iflD6I

Guest Blog: Cut Inequality Not Public Services

The following article by Stroud-based Molly Scott Cato, Reader in Green Economics, Cardiff School of Management and Green Party Economics Speaker was to appear in a local paper but I've not seen it yet. The important points it raises need wider airing! Don't forget to click 'Read More' to see whole article. Photo: a recent visit to London: inequality grows.

<sup>A few weeks ago, our county councillor Sarah Lunnon came into Stroud with a placard to inform the town about the tax avoidance by Barclays Bank, who have a tax rate of somewhere between 1 and 2%, compared with working people who pay around 20% as a minimum. The injustice of this situation—where banks receive billions of public money and then avoid paying their share for the benefit of wider society—is the backdrop against which the discussion of public spending cuts must be held. The recent film Inside Job makes it clear that the financial collapse resulted from a conspiracy between the banks, economists and politicians. Nothing but a radical shake-up of all three systems will be sufficient to ensure that we have the sort of stable banking system that we need.

The rise in the deficit that the Tories are using as an excuse to privatise public services was not the result of too much spending on hospitals and schools. The data shows clearly that the rapid rise began in the autumn 2008, immediately after the bank bailout. It was the private sector banks that messed up: why should public-sector workers be made to pay for their crisis?</sup>

500,000 companies fail to pay tax or file accounts!!

While I was away for a few days in Wales a press release re the tax haven videos I made was sent out - see below - meanwhile the Government are cutting Corporation Tax - agh! As Johann Hari says in the Indy following the budget  "I doubt there was a single person who woke up yesterday, looked out across Britain, and thought: "I know what's wrong with this country. Vodafone pays too much tax."

We are as David Cameron promised getting a light touch for corporations re tax. Green MP Caroline Lucas, has tabled a new Tax and Financial Transparency Bill in the House of Commons to try and tackle the UK's billion-pound tax evasion scandal.

The HMRC is failing to prevent serious tax evasion which could amount to as much as £16 billion of lost tax. Caroline Lucas writes about this  key, key issue -  'click read' more to see the rest of this blog:

Incinerator plan is a disaster for Gloucestershire

Depressing news indeed. Javelin Park just over the hill from us will get it's waste incinerator. Gloucestershire County Council’s cabinet gave the £500 million project the green light - but it is far from green. As the local press reported Greens have been fighting this on many fronts from a huge number of emails challenging the technology and the consultation/decision-making process to demonstrations, meetings and formal questions. Greens have also accompanied County Officers and councillors on fact-finding missions and it is quite, quite unbelievably short-sighted to be going down this route. Indeed barely believeable that the county are being what many are calling so deeply irresponsible.

Photo: On the streets in Gloucester collecting signatures against the incinerator

My only smile came when Councillor Sarah Lunnon (Green Stroud East) agreed with a question at council which asked: "Does the leader of the council understand that the combination of service cuts and an incinerator will mean his legacy will be to be remembered as the slash and burn administration."

Sarah also noted that cabinet member Councillor Waddington refused to give information relating to the agreed minimum tonnages of waste the county would have to deliver or how the chosen technology will deliver flexibility. This really does make no sense and ties taxpayers into contracts for many years.  She commented: "GCC's lack of commitment to environmental issues and social justice is demonstrated in how both these policies are being pursued. A lack of clarity and will has been comprehensively displayed."

The next steps are being looked at but well done to all who have worked so hard on this - we certainly won the arguments but how sad sad sad that the County should take this route.

Fukishima: time to say no to nuclear

I've been away from this blog for more than a week and much has happened in the news - I had been planning to update re nuclear but the situation in Japan completely changes the focus of what I was going to write - the nightmare of polluted water and food, the number of refugees, the race to tackle the plants and indeed all the unknowns - thoughts go out to all those there at Fukishima dealing with the crisis.

Photo: Trawsfynydd nuclear power station in North Wales - closed 1991


Our MP Neil Carmichael has very publicly been supporting the new nuclear reactors planned for Oldbury - despite an electrical failure at the Oldbury site this last week - remember also the fire at Oldbury a few years ago - the situation in Japan in my view only confirms what we already know - nukes are just too dangerous. You can email Neil from here. Whether or not an earthquake on this scale could happen in the UK, one key lesson is that the company operating Fukushima had said that its reactors could withstand any expected tremor. They didn’t. EdF has made similar claims about the proposed Hinkley C reactors, for example in relation to an aircraft crash. As this blog noted previously, a tsunami did hit the Somerset coast in 1607. Just as at Fukushima, Hinkley C and indeed Oldbury will have storage buildings for spent nuclear fuel expected to stay secure against flooding, or other natural disaster, for at least 100 years.

You can never design out every possible human error, or natural accident, or unpredictable event. The problem with nuclear power is that it’s just so inherently risky. If a catastrophe does happen, then the impacts when we’re dealing with nuclear power are uniquely catastrophic - in a way that they’re not if we were dealing with the alternatives around renewable energy and energy efficiency. We at least have a review of nuclear although David Cameron has said he will push ahead with nukes - you can email Huhne here to say to say suspend plans for new nukes and here to sign Friends of the Earth petition. Read more by clicking on the read more!

Spirit of Transition

Rob Hopkins recently had a blog of photos capturing 'the spirit of Transition' - you can see his blog entry with the photos here. It included one of our recent Potato Day here in Stroud. See more at: http://stroudpotatoday.blogspot.com/

See also 'Transition 1.0' - the Movie about Transition is now here.

Photo: Duck on canal near Saul

'Supporting People' cuts make no sense

A couple of weeks I signed a letter along with many other councillors across the country to express anger at cuts to Supporting People - in Gloucestershire it could be as high as 43% with some Councils across the country suggesting 50% cuts. See my earlier blog here.

An independent evaluation carried out in 2009 for the Government estimated that the national annual investment of £1.6 billion in housing-related support generated net savings of £3.4 billion by avoiding more costly acute services. This means real cost savings and economic benefits to every local area.

It is clear that cuts to these services will very likely create disproportionately negative impacts on vulnerable people - and result in greater costs to local authorities, health, police and other statutory services.

Why are Greens opposing the new high speed rail link?

Opposition is growing to the high speed rail project - see The Independent here - it seems the Government, at the time of writing this, are undaunted by a backlash in Tory heartlands, over plans for the 225mph London-to-Birmingham line. But there are signs of the Government weakening on this....But some might ask why are Greens opposing this extension to our rail network?

At the recent Green Party conference, Greens voted against the High Speed Two (HS2) link arguing it would be "economically and environmentally unsound". Of course we remain committed to genuine improvements in public transport, but the economic case is unsound. Furthermore the claims about reducing CO2 emissions are not founded in fact - plus you have to factor in the huge damage which would be caused to local communities and their environment would be unsustainable.

Tax Havens part 6: Comments and Questions: Boots, Treasure Islands and the Joy of Tax

It is great to see the Tax Haven videos that I put together following a talk by John Christensen getting coverage on allsorts of websites. I hadn't come across VisionOntv before - worth a look - they are about videos for social change - some excellent stuff. The Tax Justice Network blog has also covered thevideos - see here.

Here is part 6 which covers comments and questions from the talk with a particular look at Boots, the new book Treasure Islands and the Joy of Tax! See all 6 videos here.

More quotes

Some more quotes that inspire and made me think, smile or cringe - for more click on the 'label' below. Photo: Ruscombe valley

"Peace as a goal is an ideal which will not be contested by any government or nation, not even the most belligerent. "Aung San Suu Kyi

"The technology we need most badly is the technology of community - the knowledge about how to cooperate to get things done. Our sense of community is in disrepair."
Bill McKibben

"If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe."
Carl Sagan

"Concern for our environment is a clear imperative arising from the respect we owe to creation and to each other. It is about securing justice for each other and for the generations to come. So questions of airport expansion, like all developments that risk increasing the damage we do to our global environment - which still impact hardest on the poorest - cannot be considered uncritically, or to be in a morality-free zone."
Rowan Williams

"We consume a great deal of time and energy going somewhere else. The average American moves ten times in a lifetime, and spends countless hours at airports and on highways going to places that look a great deal like those just left behind. Our lives are lived amidst the architectural expressions of deplacement: the shopping mall, apartment, neon strip, freeway, glass office tower, and homogenized development - none of which encourage much sense of rootedness, responsibility, and belonging."
David Orr, Ecological Literacy

"What breaks your heart, what you really love, is the thing that will sustain you. That’s what you ought to be doing.”
Andrew Harvey

Transition Heathrow project

Really nice video with interviews and beautiful shots of the amazing Transition Heathrow project:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWDerzFiqOo



I also came across this website, 'A Growing Culture' that has a list of great sustainable agriculture films.

Tax Havens part 5: Interview with John Christensen

This is part 5 of 6 videos that I've put together after the talk in the Stroud Sub Rooms - see all 6 here. It is an interview with John Christensen that sums up the horrors of Tax Havens - there is an alternative to the cuts.

I also note that George Monbiot had a useful article highlighting why we need to make the 26th March protest not just against the cuts but for Plan B - see his article here. He acknowledges that all the £120bn tax avoided and evaded cannot be reclaimed - but we need a national target to claw back £25bn a year. Staffing levels at HM Revenue and Customs should be raised accordingly rather than cutting them. We need the positive alternatives to cuts. This is territory covered by many Green bloggers - see for example Dr Lawson's piece here.

Stop Blood Money

The government are trying to sell off our national Blood Service. People give blood to save lives, not to make money for big bosses.

As someone who has given blood on a number of occasions I am appalled to think that folk will be profiting from the gesture. As UNITE say: "By letting big business marketise blood donations, the Tories will shatter the virtuous link between donors and recipients." 

I have added my name to a petition to try and block the plans - please consider adding your name now:
http://action.unitetheunion.com/Say-no-to-blood-money

It is true that there are inefficiencies with our National Blood Service, but this is not the way to improve things. What is sadly needed is investment. Commentators do not believe that privatisation can deliver cheaper or better - indeed costs will rise as the new owners seek to recoup their investment ie putting money in the pockets of shareholders straight from the taxpayer. Polls also show that 3 million people would be less likely to give blood. I am one of those. There is no evidence that a private company could further entice people to volunteer.

NHS petition

Meanwhile there is another petition to Save the NHS. As we know the government is rushing through plans which experts, and groups representing doctors and nurses, warn could break the NHS up and hand control to private health companies. It's also a huge waste of money at a time when funding is already squeezed with beds and wards being cut: http://www.38degrees.org.uk/NHS-petition

See my letter to local press at Christmas time here.

Second Randwick woodfuel session

Today was our second go in the woods with the National Trust - well actually in a pasture clearing some wood to restore the special biodiversity of the site - see here details of last time and a Youtube coming before the end of the month hopefully.

Four hours later after burning brash and dragging logs about I am completely exhausted. However delighted to also have a pile of logs. The idea behind the project is that we give our time to help with conservation work and go away with some of the wood that is chopped down. Sadly wood is repeatedly stolen from the woods - this is a way where all can win.

I tried to start the project a year ago but there have been various delays - however the interest and enthusiasm from participants has made it all worth while. It looks like we will be able to restart the project in September after one more session this year next month. Indeed the interest is so strong that we may well be able to start another similar local project.

Scrutiny last night: report rejected

Last night the Performance and Overview Scrutiny at Stroud District Council unanimously rejected a report for the first time in anyone's memory. It was a report looking at the process of procurement of an innovative renewable energy scheme. It appears the process was started last summer but then interrupted and restarted in the correct way - possibly leading to as much as 5 months delay.

Update 12/03/11: I've had a couple of comments saying it is not clear what this post is about - apols! As noted below this is absolutely not about whether or not renewables are good or whether or not this scheme should go ahead - all seemed agreed that it should - however it is about the report into how the procurement process went. Click the read more to see what I wrote earlier.

Photo: The lighting in the Council Chamber has now been replaced - the new lighting saves an astonishing £2074 per year!!!

EU support Robin Hood Tax

Bankers bonuses of £7billion - that's just their bonuses!!! Taxing the bankers bonuses makes sense economically, environmentally and socially - see a short youtube graphic that illustrates the point here with what else we could spend that money on. Let's not also forget that banks are being subsidised by us - see my blog post and link to an excellent video here.


As I said in an earlier post 'Bankers: morally corrupt?' shows how a few changes could save us from having to make these cuts.

In one piece of good news I was delighted to hear that the European Parliament has just reiterated the call for the introduction of an EU-level financial transaction tax, as part of a report on innovative financing adopted by MEPs.
Keith Taylor, the Green MEP for South East England spoke in parliament this week to highlight the work of the Robin Hood Tax campaign and to urge MEPs to vote for the tax. MEPs voted in favour of introducing a tax on financial transactions.

Citibank contract is another nail in coffin for PO

I just want to make a quick blog here to vent my anger that Citibank will now provide over the counter service for welfare payment disbursement from 2012. This move will surely be the final nail in the coffin for Britain's network of small community post offices?

Picture: by Russ

"People, particularly those on a low income, value the security and privacy that post offices provide. We are concerned that many convenience stores will not be able to provide the kind of service many consumers need." Andy Burros from the watchdog, Consumer Focus

The government said it would make the "Post Office the front office for public services" but I fail to see how this will achieve that. Indeed the coalition's plans to sell off the Royal Mail will further undermine the Post Office network as I've noted before. According to the Communications Workers Union, over 1,000 UK Post Offices were either closed or put up for sale in 2010. Local closures and relocations are already leaving hundreds without adequate access to this vital public service.

Demo against Post Office Privatisation - Sat 12 March assemble 11am at bandstand in Gloucester Park and March to Shire Hall.

The Tax Haven videos

Transition Stroud and Stroud Commonwealth organised the recent talk 'The Rise and Rise of Britain's Tax Haven Empire' - John Christensen from the Tax Justice Network (see photo) speaking in Stroud's Subscription Rooms on 20th January 2011.

Well myself and a friend filmed and edited it into 6 parts with some of the best bits - plus part 5 being an interview with John by James Beecher and part 6 some of the comments and questions from the evening. Here are the links to all six parts - the first one is a great introduction to the topic that hopefully will wet your appetite for the others.

Tax Havens part 1: Alternative to the Cuts:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsjJR4Fmzwg

Tax Havens part 2: Britain is the Biggest Player: How Bananas Help Us Understand Tax Havens:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49cSkt0jkSk

Tax Havens part 3: Trusts, Evasion and Grolsch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mB-99W2IxEo

Tax Havens part 4: Cause of the Financial Crisis and Solutions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKatC9wnSA8

Tax Havens part 5: Interview with John Christensen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WVRISVp1dc

Tax Havens part 6: Comments and Questions: Boots, Treasure Islands and the Joy of Tax:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNxdcF0io9U

Tax Havens part 4: Cause of the Financial Crisis and Solutions

Here is the fourth part of John Christensen's talk in Stroud which I've put together with a friend. This looks at some of the solutions.



See 'Tax Havens part 1: Alternative to the Cuts' at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsjJR4Fmzwg
See 'Tax Havens part 2: Britain is the Biggest Player: How Bananas Help Us Understand Tax Havens' at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49cSkt0jkSk
See 'Tax Havens part 3: Trusts, Evasion and Grolsch' at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mB-99W2IxEo

See report of talk here.  Part 5 will have some of the questions and comments from the evening.

Prisoners voting

Neil Carmichael managed to get front page of the SNJ a couple of weeks ago saying he hopes prisoners will get the vote - basically as he says this will mean we wont be liable for the fines. Yet when it came to the vote he voted the opposite way?!! I am not alone in being confused judging by the handful of letters in the local press last week.

Here is what Caroline Lucas said after the vote: "David Cameron says he feels ‘physically sick' - yes, physically sick - at the idea of prisoners having the vote. He finds that the views of the European Court of Human Rights - set up largely by Britain to promote our values of tolerance and respect - make him physically sick. That allowing people in prison to retain their right to vote - and in doing so, perhaps help to encourage them to return to the mainstream of society - makes him sick. I'm proud to be one of just 22 MPs who voted to uphold human rights and to challenge Britain's flouting of European law."

Tax Havens part 3: Trusts, Evasion and Grolsch

Here is the third part of John Christensen's talk in Stroud which I've put together with a friend.



See 'Tax Havens part 1: Alternative to the Cuts' at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsjJR4Fmzwg
See 'Tax Havens part 2: Britain is the Biggest Player: How Bananas Help Us Understand Tax Havens' at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49cSkt0jkSk

See report of talk here.  Part 4 looks a bit at the history and the solutions and should be ready later today.

Murdoch takeover not good news

So Jeremy Hunt has announced he wants to give Murdoch's BSkyB takeover the go-ahead. We have three weeks to challenge the deal. We need to get MPs speaking out right now, and telling Jeremy Hunt that it's obvious that this deal is whitewash.

Photo: Russ pic

The Murdoch empire has been forced to give a little ground - Sky News won’t be totally controlled by Murdoch, but he’ll still have directors on the board and control the cashflow. Sky News will have to stay in Murdoch’s good books if it wants to keep going.

Murdoch made similar promises when he took over the Times. But these promises turned out to just be spin.  This latest deal is seems all too similar. It still means Murdoch gets more control over our media. And that's bad news for our democracy. Click on the link to send your MP a quick email:
http://www.38degrees.org.uk/bskyb-murdoch-whitewash

Tax Havens part 2: Britain is the Biggest Player: How Bananas Help Us Understand Tax Havens

Here is the second in the series of videos on the talk on Tax Havens in Stroud - see the first one here showing there is an alternative to the cuts.

News catch up

Well another busy week where I've missed a few bits...

Photos: walk along canal at weekend

Full Council: I've not managed to write up last week's Full Council meeting - although to be honest there was little at it - indeed the shortest one I've ever been to - discussed taxi licensing and treasury management. I spent a lot of last weekend writing up the final draft of the inquiry report into Council Housing standards that I am chairing - news on that soon.

Dog attack in Bread Street - I was disturbed to read in the SNJ last week that a man and his 11 year old son had their springer spaniel attacked by a Staffordshire bull terrier. As many will know I live in Bread Street and this was a great surprise to learn this - also don't know any Staffordshire bull terriers. This is a very sad incident especially as apparently this has led to the child not wanting to go out to walk the dog.

Randwick Wap - download their new constitution proposals from here http://www.randwick.org.uk/

Stroud's Edible Open Gardens Project - see my previous blog here re this weeks meeting.

Eco-Renovation Open Homes - well we've heard we have some funding for the fourth year - see previous year info here. This is great news and at our project meeting this week we appointed Helen Royall to coodinate. It will be the weekend of 10th and 11th September 2011.

Stroud Valleys Water Forum - see previous blog - but we also have a date for the next Ruscombe Brook Action Group on 29th March - new members welcomed to come and hear what we do - contact me.

Land Adjacent To Sunny Ridge - Townsend - a planning application is in again re erection of 13 dwellings. They have removed part of the previous objection so they are clearly hoping to get it through this time. However there are still many concerns in the community about this application. Revised application from planning refusal S.09/1643/FUL. See more here.

Save the Slad Valley - have launched a website: www.saveslad.blogspot.com/

Stroud Valleys Water Forum: should homes say no to individual flood protection?

Well there was lots to catch up on as we had not met for a few months - this Stroud Valleys Water Forum is the group that I set up a couple of years ago with the other brook and water action groups in the area. We started the evening meeting on Thursday in the Ebley Mill Committee Room with feedback from each group but the focus was mostly on news re Bridgend and in Slad.

Photo: Ruscombe Brook Action Group campaign poster by Rory Cohen

There seems to be alot changing at the moment - in particular the news from the Environment Agency about their next steps to help reduce the risk of flooding in the communities living along the Slad Brook.

A drop-in meeting has been set up by the EA and will be staged at the Sub Rooms in Stroud on Thursday, March 17 from 2pm to 8pm. This comes after the EA was forced to ditch a previous scheme when it emerged that a large concrete dam would need to be erected to make it work. Click read more for lots more!

Stroud's Edible Open Gardens weekend 9th and 10th July

Here is the latest on a project we have long been seeking to get off the ground. This week we had a meeting and funding has been confirmed. Volunteers will run the event but we needed money for publicity and more - it will run similar to the Eco-Renovation Open Homes event which we have run the last three years in September - the good news is that we have also had some funding for that (so news soon on plans for this year). Lots of exciting ideas - and spaces if folk want to get involved in helping to organise this event.

Over 20 edible gardens and allotments have signed up to open to the public in July to encourage people to grow and learn more about food. There will be vegetables, fruit, herb and kitchen gardens, chicken keepers, pigs and more in various communities including Stroud, Whiteshill, Stonehouse, Bisley and Horsley. The gardeners will be available to share their knowledge and passion for growing.

Transition Stroud are still seeking a few more gardens for the project. If anyone is interested in offering their garden for part of the weekend in July please contact Helen Royall on 01453 755509.

Philip Booth, an organiser of the event and Transition Stroud member said: "We are delighted to have confirmed this week initial funding from the Cooperative Community Fund and Cainscross Parish Council to help publicise and organise this event. This is a chance to celebrate some of our wonderfully productive gardens and local food growing projects in the Stroud Valleys. We want to see if we can reach lots of people who have never grown veg before."

Food prices set to rise

Philip Booth added: "Local food accounts for only 1.5% of national food consumption. Our food system is staggeringly inefficient and heavily dependent upon oil, at a time when the production of energy from fossil fuels is on the decline. Our dependence on imports is damaging for national food security, harmful to the environment and is simply unsustainable. The UN report that food prices have hit a record high and are forecast to continue climbing this year. Shoppers have already been hit with jumps in the price of many key food items and with the impact of the economy it has never been a better time to grow your own food. With this Edible Open Gardens project we hope to all learn, but also inspire more local food production at a lower environmental cost than the supermarkets."

Gardens still wanted

The project so far has a grant from  to help organise and publicise the project. Transition Stroud is a group working on the transition to a locally based low carbon lifestyle. More info at: http://www.transitionstroud.org/

We are hoping to set up our own website with more details of this event very soon.

Ruscombe Green makes 14 in new chart

Three Gloucestershire blogs, Jonathan Porritt, Gaian Economics and Ruscombe Green make the top 20 Environment blogs in a new listing that will be published tomorrow on Wikio.

1	Environment blog | guardian.co.uk
2	BLDGBLOG
3	Bright Green
4	Better Nation
5	Greenpeace UK blog
6	Jonathon Porritt
7	Richard Black's Earth Watch
8	Transition Culture
9	Green Ladywell
10	Do The Green Thing: The Green Thing blog
11	Crafty Green Poet
12	Greener Leith
13	Stuart's Big Green Spot
14	Ruscombe Green
15	The Rubbish Diet
16	Suitably Despairing
17	How can I recycle this?
18	Barkingside 21
19	Gaian Economics
20	Green Energy Republic

Ranking made by Wikio

Randwick couple exhibit

There was a nice piece in Stroud Life yesterday about Randwick residents Lesley Hayes and Ralph Boyer. See Ralph's exhibition last year here. Ralph oil paints on large canvases mystical and fantastical worlds while Lesley makes smaller pictures than you can imagine - 2 by 3 inches with loads of detail.

Anyway catch their exhibition, 'His 'n' Hers' at Kendrick Street Gallery above the art shop until 26th March.

Stroud meeting to say Yes to AV

I blogged on the 'No to AV' poster campaign a few days ago (see left) - well by all accounts the campaign has been plunged into chaos. A leaked Treasury document demolished their key argument on the posters. The report shows a senior government minister admitting that the outcome of the referendum would not have ANY impact in terms of public spending. This fully rebuts the claims of the No camp, who have desperately claimed that a Yes vote in the AV referendum would jeopardise the lives of premature babies, or members of our armed forces.

Well Chris Owen, who lives in Ruscombe, is holding a public meeting to kick-off the Stroud campaign for a "yes" vote in the upcoming Alternative Vote referendum. This meeting will be on Thursday March 10th, at 7:30pm in St. Laurence Church Hall, on The Shambles in Stroud, opposite the Old Town Hall (GL5 1AP) with a representative from the official Yes To Fairer Votes campaign. It is an open meeting for anyone interested in helping with the "Yes to Fairer Votes" campaign in the Stroud area, to discuss how we can raise the profile of the campaign. The meeting will look at how AV works and what its merits are.

Call for windfall tax on banks

Stroud last week saw protests as part of UK Uncut's 'Big Society Bail-In' (see left). Barclays were first to be targetted after their recent announcement of an enormous bonus pool of £3.4bn, with a personal bonus of £9m to go to CEO Bob 'the time for remorse is over' Diamond. See my last blog and film with John Christensen praising Uncut UK here.

At the Green party conference Caroline Lucas criticised the huge profits announced by UK banks - a stonking £25 billion. A windfall tax would restore public spending and help minimise the damage done by the cuts regime to public services, the economy and society as a whole.

At a time of austerity, it is just not right that banks such as Lloyds TSB, part owned by the tax payer, are recording such huge profits. At the conference it was noted that there would be wide public support for a measure requiring the banks to pay a windfall tax on bank profits of 50%.

Alternative to the cuts - a short film about tax havens

Back at the end of January we had a talk by John Christensen about tax havens. Here is the first video that I have put together with a friend - it is only 4 mins long - more to follow later this month.

Garden Notes: March

 Here is the next set of my Garden notes..for the other sets click 'Label below and scroll down.

March Notes

Sow seeds undercover - use old guttering for peas and beans then when the plants are large enough they can be slid out as a complete row into prepared soil with no root disturbance - cucumbers and tomatoes can be sown in propagators or on warm windowsills

Complete planting of bare-rooted trees; plant out evergreen shrubs, perennial herbs and herbaceous plants - divide any herbaceous perennials

Dig perennial weeds like ground elder and docks out by hand - hoe others as this will also expose young slugs and slugs eggs to birds and the frost

Prepare beds for summer crops - digging in the dark reduces weed seed germination induced by light exposure! Make outside sowings like parsnips and beetroot if soil is warm enough, but avoid ‘pasty’ soil - plant early potatoes if you can protect tops from frost (chit on window sill first - see photo)

Put barley straw in ponds to inhibit algae growth

Lift any remaining leeks and heel them in a shady corner to prevent new growth - leave several for seed saving and their wonderful flower heads

Rake out old thatch from the lawn and if it’s dry and starting to grow cut it - remove any mowings from the lawn early in the season

Leave bulbs alone - dying down naturally is what they like best - if messy foliage offends hide with late-emerging ground cover - snowdrops can now be split and transplanted - leave their dead flower-heads to seed

Ensure ventilation to cloches on sunny days to prevent scorching

Prune roses and hard prune dogwoods and willows grown for their colourful stems - it’s also the last chance to prune apples, pears and soft fruits

Daffodils - dead-head after flowering

Sow broad beans as soon as soil is workable

Deter slugs and snails from susceptible crops with lime, soot or calcified seaweed

Put down tiles and grapefruit halves - in the mornings remove any slug