Why Vote Green?

Shahrar Ali's book entitled Why Vote Green? has just been published as one of a series on the main political parties. It is available from the Willesden Bookshop, next to Willesden Green Library.

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Willesden and Brent Times 11.03.10 and Willesden and Wembley Observer 11.03.10

Brent Campaign Against Climate Change meeting March 2 2010

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

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.”

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

After Copenhagen...How do we fight climate change?

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