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

15 Feb 2015

Brent Green Party's candidate for Kenton By-Election

Brent Green Party has selected Michaela Lichten to contest the Kenton by-election

Michaela said:

I have been a Kenton resident for 19 years (and a Brent resident for 38).

Having raised my children in local schools and taught basic literacy skills to adults, I am particularly interested in education within the borough and advocating equal educational opportunities for all.

Michaela Lichten
I am at the present time a carer for my husband who has Alzheimer’s and so have an interest in elderly care delivery which at present is, worryingly, earmarked for cuts. Many of the people who will be affected by these cuts are in the difficult position of increasingly needing help whilst being decreasingly able to access that help.

Being lucky enough to live in  Brent with the wonderful resource of our many parks and Fryent Country Park, I’d like to focus on the issue of fly tipping and litter which affects everyone's enjoyment of these open spaces and blights the streets where we live. This can only get worse with the introduction of selective payment for rubbish removal and proposed cuts in residential street sweeping.  The cost of removing illegally dumped rubbish will far exceed the revenue raised and makes no sense.

As a Brent parent I’m anxious to see opportunities for young people to get into employment. New approaches have to be made to help them, we have to see that it is an asset to us all for our children to make the transition from education to the workplace as productively as possible. Apprenticeships, continuing education and help to set up their own businesses are ways in which this can be achieved.

I support the building of affordable homes which are truly affordable. I would like to see the estimated 3000 empty houses in Brent brought back into use and and an end of the Right to Buy scheme which further depletes the housing stock.

As we all become more budget conscious under austerity most of us are becoming greener through necessity, but being green has a relevance to our lives in the wider world and it’s my understanding that it is only The Green Party that has put the individual at the centre of their policies and is committed to a fairer society.  That is why I’m standing as The Green Party candidate in this by-election.

13 Feb 2015

Stonebridge Adventure Playground remains defiant

Stonebridge Adventure Playground remains defiant -the fight goes on despite being presented with a fait accompli

A Valentine's Day from Stonebridge chidlren to Brent Council
The Cabinet will be finalising the budget and cuts package at its meeting on February 23rd and it will then go to Full Council on March 2nd. Well, that's the theory but it appears that things have already been decided with Muhammed Butt, at his Leader's Briefing, saying that the cuts will go ahead.  In addition Stonebridge Adventure Playground have been told that their funding will definitely stop.

This is a letter from one of Stonebridge ward councillors posted on the Adventure Playgrounnd's Facebook PageLINK:
Dear Glynis,

It was unfortunate that all efforts to keep our cherished Adventure playground open was unsuccessful with the decision of withdrawal of the funding. It will be a devastating news to the Stonebridge community and environs who use this facility.

Regarding your concerns and some information you requested,I'll email you later today for those request and also enquire if their will be room for time to sort out the Staff that work in the Adventure playground instead of March 31st deadline.

Kind regards,
Ernest
Cllr. Ernest Ezeajughi
Stonebridge Ward
Clearly the hope is that the campaign will accept this but the struggle will carry on until the last Stonebridge kid whizzes down the zip wire crying out 'Stonebridge will Stay Forever!'.

I wrote a message on the Facebook page amongst the messages of sadness:
We should not accept that funding is to be stopped until we have exhausted all campaigning opportunities and lobbied all councillors, MPs, candates etc Exactly as you have been doing so well. The Cabinet does not offically decide its recommendations until February 23rd and then they have to be approved by Full Council on March 2nd. Muhammed Butt may have decided funding will cease but are we saying that the rest of the process is therefore meaningless? It doesn't say much for local democracy if so. Let's not give up yet - look at the Kilburn Times fron page today.
The Kilburn Times story is about a rise in youth cautions in the borough and includes a quote from Colin Hunter, a playground worker:
Without youth services it's far too easy for young people to be swayed by peer pressure and get involved with gangs and go down the criminality route, so the figure will rise.
And Doug Lee wrote a message of defiance on the Facebook page:
IT IS NOT OVER We will fight on and even harder for JUSTICE . The gloves are off now and we at Bridge know how to fight and WIN There are at least three rounds to go .Come on everyone lets finish the job and finish it well We are not some walkover We stand our ground and always will . Bless all our supporters .

acknowledgements to  http://wembleymatters.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/stonebridge-adventure-playgroudn.html

10 Feb 2015

News for Brent Greens: february 2015

Greetings to all and a special welcome to new members.  I hope you will be able to join us at some of the forthcoming events so that we can all get to know each other.

Reminder: FRIENDS OF THE EARTH MEETING TUESDAY FEBRUARY 10TH 7.30PM
FLOODS COMING TO A HIGH STREET NEAR YOU?
Talk and discussion with Guy Shrubsole, Climate Campaigner
Watling Gardens Community Meeting Room
97/135 Watling Gardens, Shoot Up Hill, NW2 3UB (5 mons from Kilburn Jubilee line station)

BRENT GREEN PARTY STALL - SATURDAY FEBRUARY 14TH 11AMWe will meeting outside the Methodist Church in Harlesden High Street to talk to local residents and find out about the issues that concern them as well as talk to them about Green Party policy.
It will also be a chance to meet other Green Party members.  The refurbished Jubilee Clock will be unveiled in its new position at the same time.


INTRODUCING MICHAELA LICHTEN OUR CANDIDATE IN THE KENTON BY-ELECTION
Michaela was the only person who came forward as a result of our recent call for candidates. Due to the short notice (papers had to be in by last Friday), Brent officers took Officers' Action to select her as our candidate.

This is what Michaela had to say about standing in the election:

I have been a Kenton resident for 19 years (and a Brent resident for 38). 

Having raised my children in local schools and taught basic literacy skills to adults, I am particularly interested in education within the borough and advocating equal educational opportunities for all. 
I am at present time a carer for my husband who has Alzheimer’s and so have an interest in elderly care delivery which at present is, worryingly, earmarked for cuts. Many of the people who will be effected by these cuts are in the difficult position of increasingly needing help whilst being decreasingly able to access that help. 

Being lucky enough to live in  Brent with the wonderful resource of our many parks and Fryent Country Park, I’d like to focus on the issue of fly tipping and litter which affects everyone's enjoyment of these open spaces and blights the streets where we live. This can only get worse with the introduction of selective payment for rubbish removal and proposed cuts in residential street sweeping.  The cost of removing illegally dumped rubbish will far exceed the revenue raised and makes no sense. 

As a Brent parent I’m anxious to see opportunities for young people to get into employment. New approaches have to be made to help them, we have to see that it is an asset to us all for our children to make the transition from education to the workplace as productively as possible. Apprenticeships, continuing education and help to set up their own businesses are ways in which this can be achieved. 

I support the building of affordable homes which are truly affordable. I would like to see the estimated 3000 empty houses in Brent brought back into use and and an end of the Right to Buy scheme which further depletes the housing stock. 
As we all become more budget conscious under austerity most of us are becoming greener through necessity, but being green has a relevance to our lives in the wider world and it’s my understanding that it’s only The Green Party that has put the individual at the centre of their policies and is committed to a fairer society.  That is why I’m standing as The Green Party candidate in this by-election. 

We will let you know later how you can help Michaela in her campaign.

BRENT FIGHTS BACK - PUBLIC MEETING TUESDAY 17TH FEBRUARY 7PM TAVISTOCK HALL, HARLESDEN
Against Council and Coalition Cuts. Speakers include Owen Jones (journalist), Our West Hendon Housing Campaign, Save Stonebridge Adventure Playground Campaign, NHS Campaign - contributions from the audience welcome. Brent Greens are involved in Brent Fightback an anti-cuts, anti-privatisation campaign.

CLAIM BACK OUR CASH - RECLAIM OUR SERVICES SATURDAY FEBRUARY 21ST 
Fightback protest presenting an Invouce for the amount of money taken from Brent residents by the Coalition Cuts. 2pm outside Sarah Teather's Office, 70 Walm Lane, Willesden Green. Them tube to Preston Road to present an invoice to the Conservative Office at 271 Preston Road (a short distance from Preston Road station) at 3pm

HELP US RAISE FUNDS FOR OUR GENERAL ELECTION DEPOSITSWe have set up a CrowdFunder account to raise cash for our £500 deposits for Brent Cwentral and Brent North. Donations welcome. Pease spread the word via social media.

http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/brent-greens-deposits


LOCAL BLOGS etc
Twitter @BrentGreens @WembleyMatters
Shahrar Ali @ShahrarAli Scott Bartle @MapesburyGreeen

www.brentgreens.blogspot.co.uk
www.wembleymatters.blogspot.co.uk (environmental and social justice activists)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Brent-Green-Party/144500357475?ref=bookmarks
YouTube: www.youtube.com/brentgreens

9 Feb 2015

Why Vote Green 2015



Green Party Included In Election Book Series

The Green Party is pleased to announce its inclusion in the Why Vote book
series, aimed at introducing the general reader to party policies ahead of
the general election 2015. In the Greens’ edition, out on 29 January, Deputy
Leader Shahrar Ali has recruited some of the Greens’ leading thinkers and
activists to explore how the party provides a credible left-wing alternative
to Labour in 2015.

Darren Johnson, Green Party London Assembly Member said:

“Green politics in the UK has been gaining rapid momentum in recent times.
Membership and public support for the party is growing and voting Green is
becoming a viable option for more and more people. Read Why Vote Green 2015
to find out what makes the Green Party tick and what its vision for the
future looks like.”

Among the contributors are Molly Scott Cato Green MEP for the South West on
Economy, Sarah Cope, Chair of Green Party Women on Women's Politics, Deputy
Leader Amelia Womack on Young People and Politics, Adam Ramsay on
Constitutional Reform, and former Labour minister Tony Clarke on
International Affairs.

Baroness Jenny Jones, writing of the three crises in the Foreword, said:

“Increasing numbers of people are mobilising against climate change.
Increasing numbers of people reject the austerity agenda. Increasing numbers
of people see the inadequacies in our political system. These people often
think that all the parties are the same and that there is no one to vote
for. Fortunately, they are wrong. The Green Party sees the crises clearly
and has the policies to address all three of them.”

Shahrar Ali, Green Party Deputy Leader and editor of Why Vote Green 2015
said:

“It’s vital for Greens to be included at every turn, from the leader debates
to an election book series. I feel proud to share with you our party’s key
policies, commitments and ambitions in the voice of some of our leading
spokespersons and activists. Why Vote Green 2015 creates a compelling case
for the Greens as a party of government.”

Dame Vivienne Westwood said:

“There’s absolutely no other choice but Green. The others are all the same.”


NOTES

1. Full list of chapters and contributors: Foreword – Jenny Jones, Green
Values - Shahrar Ali, Climate Change - David Flint, Economy - Molly Scott
Cato, Education – Martin Francis, Women’s Politics – Sarah Cope, Welfare –
Noel Lynch, Home Affairs – Peter Cranie, Young People and Politics – Amelia
Womack, Constitutional Reform – Adam Ramsay, Housing – Tom Chance, Transport
– Caroline Russell, Environment – Shasha Khan, International Affairs – Tony
Clarke, Animals – Caroline Allen.

2. Why Vote Green 2015
https://www.bitebackpublishing.com/books/why-vote-green-2015

COPIES AVAILABLE from The Green Room, 192 Archway Road, N6 5BB  Price £10.

Also at the following meetings:

11/2:Tower Hamlets GP

13/2: Fundraising Group meeting in Development House.

15/2: Hounslow Dinner.

16/2: London fed meeting

7 Feb 2015

FORTITUDE

Brent Green party members leafleting Harlesden high st feb 7th 2015