NEWS AND VIEWS FROM THE GREEN PARTY IN THE LONDON BOROUGH OF BRENT

27 Nov 2015

Join the Green Party on People's March for Climate, Justice and Jobs on Sunday


The Green Bloc will assemble for the march on the corner of Park Lane and Deanery Street (near the Dorchester Hotel, W1K 1QA). 11.30am Map here: http://bit.ly/1HcO5b7

26 Nov 2015

GREEN PARTY POLICY ON HOUSING – 10am to 1pm Saturday 5 December, in Camden Town Hall, Euston Road.

GREEN PARTY POLICY ON HOUSING – 10am to 1pm Saturday 5 December, in Camden Town Hall, Euston Road.
Please RSVP for this to Anne Gray amgggg2@yahoo.co.uk so we can ascertain numbers and plan workshops. If you RSVP we will send briefing notes and update on speakers next week. There is no charge though a donation on the day for future venue hire and sandwiches would be much appreciated.

10am registration and intro

10.15 to 11.15 3 main speakers and question/comments:-
Tom Chance – overview of London housing situation and Green Party policy responses

Richard Lee from Just Space – on their challenge to London Plan; problems of targets, densification and forced gentrification, loss of social rent housing

Andrea Carey-Fuller – rent control in private sector

11.15 to 12.15; workshops; participants choose between:-
1) The London Plan and how to fight extension of ‘right to buy’ as well as estate demolitions
2) Rent control in the private sector
3) Housing policies and solutions for singles and non-family groups, including GBLTQ, co-housing, youth in shared housing, supported housing for older people and those with disabilities

12.15-1; report back and wind-up; then lunch

Briefing notes will be sent out to those who RSVP.  We are also hoping to set up a Facebook page shortly - watch this space

25 Nov 2015

Vote for a positive Green voice on Brent Council in Kensal Green by-election


Brent Green Party has selected 28 year old Jafar Hassan, a strategic consultant, as its candidate for the December 17th Kensal Green by-election. Jafar has lived in Brent for 25 years.

Jafar said:
The Green Party came second to Labour in Kensal Green at the last council election so it's vital that everyone in the area goes out to the polls on 17 December to make their vote count. Brent Council needs change and I believe I'm the right person to do that. Whether in Parliament, the GLA or on London councils such as Islington, the Green Party has proved that though few in number we can make a huge difference.

Brent Council is dominated by weak Labour councillors, a divided Conservative opposition, and a single ineffectual Liberal Democrat. The Green Party can win in Kensal Green so I hope that the people here will vote for me  on 17 December.  I will hold the Council to account and put forward positive ideas to fix Brent’s lack of affordable housing, shortage of school places, poor handling of regeneration projects and the cluelessness when it comes to tackling fuel poverty and making homes energy efficient.
The Green Party beat both Liberal Democrats and Tories to come second behind Labour in the  May 2014 local elections.

17 Nov 2015

Greens warn against Paris attacks dictating policy on refugees

As Paris mourns its dead and cares for its wounded after the hideous weekend attack, the Green Party says it is important to ensure that we do not act in ways that fuel ISIS and terrorism.

Green Party leader, Natalie Bennett said:
There is a real risk that amongst the outcomes of the heinous attacks in Paris will be increased fear and division, the stirring up of Islamophobia and an impulse to retreat from the compassion and support with which Europe has so far met those fleeing ISIS in Syria and Iraq.

ISIS does not want to see that compassion, inclusion and displays of fraternity.

While sensible screening measures and checks need to be maintained; to cut off escape routes for desperate people fleeing war and persecution would only play into ISIS's hands.
We cannot let the actions of a handful of extremists dictate our response to the ongoing refugee crisis. The Green Party will resist calls to reduce Britain and Europe's access to refugees and are redoubling our calls for Britain to welcome its fair share of the refugees reaching Europe.

We also want to acknowledge and highlight the way in which so many communities around the world live with regular similar atrocities, including attacks in Beirut, Ankara, Baghdad and Kabul. And we need to note that the actions of Turkey in attacking Kurdish communities fighting ISIS within Syria have been disastrous, damaging, and deserve the strongest condemnation.
Green Party foreign affairs spokesperson, Tony Clarke said:
The killing has to stop and world leaders must find a way forward that defeats ISIS using the weapon that these terrorists fear most of all, peace talks.

There were signs over the weekend that those talks may now have some new foundation and I would encourage presidents and prime ministers to recognise that the drones cannot provide a solution and pick up the phones and find a way of halting this never ending circle of death.

16 Nov 2015

Deja vu ‘Brent Artists Resource exhibition 7/11-16/12/2016

Deja vu ‘Brent Artists Resource exhibition 7/11-16/12/2016




















INVITE: Déjà Vu Exhibition Private View

A BAR Members Exhibition 2015 7/11-16/12/2016

brentartistsresource.org.uk

‘Brent Artists Resource: Supporting artists since 1984’

Please Join us for the Private View of Déjà Vu. A multi-media exhibition celebrating BAR’s diverse artistic community and its exceptional 30 year history in Brent.

Brent Artists Resource (BAR) is an independent arts organisation that has been supporting local artists, by delivering high quality projects and exhibitions since 1984. BAR has a long history with Brent Council, most significantly by collaboratively running The Gallery in the old Willesden Green Library Centre for over 12 years. The Gallery was nominated one of the top community galleries in London by the BBC in 2011. Déjà Vu exhibition sees the return of BAR and its artistic community to the new library gallery for one very special show.
The exhibition features 32 BAR artists and shows a variety of art media including photography, painting, print and sculptural work.
Taking place at the Private View will be a live session of our Community First funded project We are Willesden. Working with a local photographer, visitors will have the opportunity to have their portrait professionally taken and share their thoughts and stories about Willesden.

13 Nov 2015

Muhammed Butt should stand against Modi's politics of communalism

Muhammed Butt should stand against Modi's politics of communalism

Wembley awaits Modi       Photo: Francis Henry
Guest blog by Sujata Aurora. This is also published as a letter in the current edition of the Brent and Kilburn TimesLINK

 Today Wembley Stadium will play host to Narendra Modi, the current PM of India, in an extravaganza that has been welcomed by Muhammed Butt, the leader of Brent Council.

Narendra Modi is a former worker for the RSS, a violent, fascist, Hindu supremacist group who openly admire Hitler. His party, the BJP, retains strong links with the RSS and the two are umbilically connected. Both are responsible for what has been termed a "growing mood of intolerance" towards minorities in India but as Arundhati Roy has observed, "'Intolerance' is the wrong word to use for the lynching, shooting, burning and mass murder of fellow human beings."

Modi himself is accused of personally orchestrating the Gujarat violence in 2002 during which around 2000 people, mainly Muslims, died in what has been termed a modern genocide - some of the worst communal violence India has seen. As chief minister it is thought that Modi allowed the charred bodies of 54 Hindu victims of the Godhra train fire to be paraded in the streets of Ahmedabad, directed senior police officers not to interfere if Hindus sought revenge and placed cabinet colleagues in the police control rooms to ensure compliance with his directives.

Contrary to what Modi's supporters say, Modi has not been given a "clean chit" by India's Supreme Court for his role in the violence - in fact the case has never been heard in the Supreme Court and legal action by the families of some of the victims (including three victims from Britain) is still ongoing.

That Muhammed Butt and some of his councillor colleagues think it appropriate to welcome such a person to Brent is a shameful stain on the name of what was once regarded as a tolerant borough. There is still time for them to change their minds and join the many Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and Dalit groups who stand against the politics of religious hatred and communalism, and say Narendra Modi is not welcome here.

8 Nov 2015

Take action: 2 million peope may drop off electoral register



On 1 December, if the Government gets its way, up to 2 million people will drop off the electoral register - in what will be the single biggest act of disenfranchisement in our history. This is an outrage and HOPE not hate is determined to do…
HOPENOTHATE.ORG.UK

6 Nov 2015

INVITE: Déjà Vu Exhibition Private View

INVITE: Déjà Vu Exhibition Private View

A BAR Members Exhibition 2015

Private View: Thursday 12th November 6pm-9pm

brentartistsresource.org.uk

‘Brent Artists Resource: Supporting artists since 1984’

Please Join us for the Private View of Déjà VuA multi-media exhibition celebrating BAR’s diverse artistic community and its exceptional 30 year history in Brent.

Brent Artists Resource (BAR) is an independent arts organisation that has been supporting local artists, by delivering high quality projects and exhibitions since 1984. BAR has a long history with Brent Council, most significantly by collaboratively running The Gallery in the old Willesden Green Library Centre for over 12 years. The Gallery was nominated one of the top community galleries in London by the BBC in 2011. Déjà Vu exhibition sees the return of BAR and its artistic community to the new library gallery for one very special show.
The exhibition features 32 BAR artists and shows a variety of art media including photography, painting, print and sculptural work.
Taking place at the Private View will be a live session of our Community First funded project We are Willesden. Working with a local photographer, visitors will have the opportunity to have their portrait professionally taken and share their thoughts and stories about Willesden.

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