Brent Campaign Against Climate Change meeting March 2 2010
http://blip.tv/file/3337205
Introduction
http://blip.tv/file/3337532
part 1
http://blip.tv/file/3337708
part2
http://blip.tv/file/3341912
part3
http://blip.tv/file/3340739
part4
NEWS AND VIEWS FROM BRENT GREEN PARTY - VOTE GREEN IN THE MAY LOCAL COUNCIL ELECTION
10 Mar 2010
PUBLIC INQUIRY INTO BRENT CROSS ESSENTIAL
Tim Storer of Brent Green Party joined members of the Brent Cross Coalition, including Navin Shah AM and Sarah Teather MP, to hand in letters to John Denham demanding a Public Inquiry into the Brent Cross Development.
Lia Colacicco, Co-ordinator, of the Coalition for a Sustainable Brent Cross Cricklewood Plan said:
“The case for a public inquiry into these disastrous and damaging plans is overwhelming. We are confident that the Minister will exercise sound judgement and work in the best public interest.
The Brent Cross plans clearly meet the criteria for a call-in – they affect vast swathes of north-west London. Brent and Camden have already formally rejected the scheme. It will cause congestion, pollution and is unsustainable in terms of transport, housing and the environment.
Five thousand local residents have now signed petitions and letters calling for a public inquiry. We urge John Denham to call it in immediately so it can undergo the full public scrutiny deserved.”
5 Mar 2010
UAF and EDL in Westminster
Here is an update on today's UAF rally against the EDL, in Westminster, which I had planned to give a speech at on behalf of the Party.
I spoke only a few words before we had to postpone all speeches because of the appearance of the EDL (small in numbers) - which roused the rally into chanting. On my way to the rally a police officer seemed to deny knowledge of our existence but for the hour that I was there I witnessed totally unnecessary and aggressive tactics by the strong police presence.
I estimate there were two to three hundred of us and about two-thirds of us occupied the street itself. This later become the scene of a kind of reverse kettling manoeuvre by the police (designed to keep people from joining but not from leaving). I moved on to the pavement at an early stage but from there witnessed some extremely aggressive behaviour by the police.
In one case, a young peacenik was overwhelmed by around six officers and many photographers attempted to record the struggle, which was not much of a struggle - think how an animal might look after being held to the ground for up to one minute, potentially suffocated in the process (I shall have to review my own footage).
There was no communication by the police about what they wanted (or if there had been some initial tannoy it was neither repeated nor updated). I learned from an organiser that the police had asked us to move to the park, but when I went to the gate I was told it was closed (and now apparently being used as a holding area). People being forcibly moved from the street, for a period of some 20 minutes, could not have known whether they faced arrest or why.
I am disgusted and saddened that the police have not facilitated a peaceful demonstration but instead sought to provoke upstanding citizens determined to fight racism in all its forms.
Picture of Green Party banner at the front of the rally in Westminster. UAF.
Shahrar Ali, Green Party
I spoke only a few words before we had to postpone all speeches because of the appearance of the EDL (small in numbers) - which roused the rally into chanting. On my way to the rally a police officer seemed to deny knowledge of our existence but for the hour that I was there I witnessed totally unnecessary and aggressive tactics by the strong police presence.
I estimate there were two to three hundred of us and about two-thirds of us occupied the street itself. This later become the scene of a kind of reverse kettling manoeuvre by the police (designed to keep people from joining but not from leaving). I moved on to the pavement at an early stage but from there witnessed some extremely aggressive behaviour by the police.
In one case, a young peacenik was overwhelmed by around six officers and many photographers attempted to record the struggle, which was not much of a struggle - think how an animal might look after being held to the ground for up to one minute, potentially suffocated in the process (I shall have to review my own footage).
There was no communication by the police about what they wanted (or if there had been some initial tannoy it was neither repeated nor updated). I learned from an organiser that the police had asked us to move to the park, but when I went to the gate I was told it was closed (and now apparently being used as a holding area). People being forcibly moved from the street, for a period of some 20 minutes, could not have known whether they faced arrest or why.
I am disgusted and saddened that the police have not facilitated a peaceful demonstration but instead sought to provoke upstanding citizens determined to fight racism in all its forms.
Picture of Green Party banner at the front of the rally in Westminster. UAF.
Shahrar Ali, Green Party
17 Feb 2010
11 Feb 2010
Food Inc,
I am a great believer in books and films changing the world. Naive of me perhaps, but it stems from a belief in humans. A belief that we all are good people and want to do the right thing, and if we had the right information we would act accordingly. Even though it is easy to be cynical and point to countless examples that show this not to be the case, I still believe it - otherwise, I would give up and start flying to hot places for my holidays! There are more examples of people who do stand up to be counted, as you can see from these pages. People who are prepared to go to prison for their beliefs (thank you daniel) as well as the more mundane, putting in time and effort to bring about a better society. Anyway - what I want to write about is a film, Food Inc, due out Monday 15 February, which is about the food chain and the effects of an industrial food system in the hands of a few. Lightweight for a full-on established greenie, but its always good to have the detail filled in, to have a clear focus brought to what is happening. As well as a recap and reminder to greenies, let's hope that it gets seen by those who are on the cusp of awareness and inspires them to take up the challenge to change the way our world is run. I have some great books (Michael Pollan - the Omivores dilemma, Raj Patel - Stuffed and starved among others) which tell a similar tale - what happens to our food before we eat it and who profits from it. They are scary, but also inspiring (in a negative way - when you see how bad it is you have to do something). So I am going to dust them off and get reading - knowledge is power - and we need to spread the word about what is going on to our food chain. What has happened to our food chain is a perfect analogy to what has happened to most other things, and is causing the widescale destruction of our environment. The good news is, if we can tackle the food chain, we can sort out the world. We all have the power to chose where we shop and we all know the brands and outlets to avoid. So, lets get started. Read a book and go to the movies and eat good food.
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