Brian
Orr of Brent Green Party and a former activist in the London Federation of
Green Parties died on Monday 12th June, after an illness which began
in Autumn last year.
Brian
played a crucial role in re-starting Brent Green Party as an effective political
body and went on to steer it through the early decades of this century. He was
unstinting as an organiser of campaigns and as a campaigner. As Party Chair and
Election agent he ensured that the party stood candidates in local, regional
and national elections, and also stood as a candidate himself.
Brian
also worked with the London Federation of Green Parties as Treasurer during the
time Noel Lynch was Chair of the Federation
Brian
had a scientific background and training which informed his deep commitment to
Green politics and ideas. Long before many others he was aware of the
potentially catastrophic impacts of human-caused global climate change and its
environmental feedbacks. He argued that this was manifesting itself in loss of
biodiversity, especially of insects as the basis of the food chain. However he
combined this understanding with a determination to enact these ideas
politically as can be seen here https://brentgreens.blogspot.com/2010/06/brent-greens-call-to-safeguard-climate.html.
So, it
is no surprise that he welcomed the intervention of Greta Thunberg and
Extinction Rebellion in the climate crisis campaign. In fact, he loved the
development of ideas and politics through debate and his colleagues and
comrades both in person and online. We will sorely miss provocative and
insightful discussions with him.
He made
a significant contribution, and we will miss him. We send our sympathy and
condolences to Liz his partner and his family.
Peter Murry and Martin Francis