Conference

I've just got back from the Green Party conference in London. There's been some good coverage of Caroline's election, and I don't think we could have chosen a more capable or inspirational leader. Have a look at her speech here.
I was particularly pleased that the motion on the "right to rent" got through. The Greens' new policy states that any house owner who could not pay their mortgage and is threatened with repossession would have the right to sell to the council and then continue to live in the property and pay rent. With so many people in Sheffield hit by the credit crunch this is a realistic solution.

The Greens now have a new home to bring together Green Bloggers. You can find it at http://greenpartyblogs.org.uk

Where are you on the Political Compass?

I love this video!
http://www.youtube.com/user/legoactivist

If you're looking for an interesting website, do you know where you are on the political compass? I am proud of my position on the Libertarian Left, in the same quadrant as Mahatma Ghandi and Nelson Mandela! The political compass adds a new dimension to the traditional left -right political spectrum. The second dimension is Libertarian-Authoritarian. It is no real surprise to find both the Conservatives and Labour in the Authoritarian Right quadrant, and the Lib Dems quite near the middle but just in the Libertarian Right quadrant, along with Adam Smith and Milton Friedman. The BNP come out slightly left wing on the Left-Right access, but of course their racist policies put them as extreme authoritarians, in a similar position to Robert Mugabe and Nickolai Caucescu. The Greens are in the Libertarian Left quadrant. To find out where you are on the compass you just have to spend a few minutes answering some interesting questions. It's well worth a few minutes, and may make you rethink who you should be voting for!

Residents furious at continued proposals to "gate" the railway station.

East Midlands Trains complain trains are too overcrowded for ticket collectors!

I joined a group of local people who represent a wide range of interests, such as access for people with disabilities, the City Council, SYPTE and local residents last week at the station. We met with 4 reps from East Midlands Trains (EMT)on Thursday 31st July. The group presented a united front and gave EMT a hard time about their proposal to install ticket barriers.

EMT claim that this will tackle fare “dodging” although they have no information on the current level. It was established early in the 2 hour meeting that EMT had no alternative suggestions to discuss other than the installation of gates. EMT insisted that this was consultation and they wanted to listen to local views but despite the total rejection of ticket barriers they had nothing else to offer. They managed to get the group to discuss other ways of solving their, unquantified, problem of fare evasion, but went on to reject all suggestions as unworkable. For instance the suggestion that they should put more staff on trains to collect fares was ruled out as impractical as trains were already "over- crowded, sometimes eight deep!"

The group was shown around the proposed sites for locating gates. The current plan is approximately thirteen barriers in the front hall consisting of 10 standard size and 3 wide aisle to be located between the arches and probably 5 at the back entrance, two standard size going in, and two standard size going out with one wide gate off to the side where the lift is. These ideas are subject to change as a result of a computer modelling exercise to check safety. One look at this layout makes it clear that if gating is introduced all free movement through the station would be at an end. Even people meeting passengers from trains or help them with their departure would only be able to do so at the discretion of staff on the barriers. It is also likely that wheel chair users who find the system of lifts in the station the most convenient way of getting to the city centre from the communities on the hill above the station would be blocked.
There are no arrangements in place for tram users getting off at the back of the station to go into the city centre, or walking from the bus station to the tram stop at the back of the station to be able to use the footbridge.
There was some talk of enabling local residents to be able to walk through and EMT suggested the possibility of developing a token or pass system for Residents. When informed that there are 70,000 residents in the Central Constituency alone there was no response. EMT were unable to define the meaning of "local resident".
There are a number of large organisations and proposed developments on either side of the station. Staff and Students at Castle centre of the Sheffield College; Sheffield Hallam University; a number of secondary and primary schools in the immediate vicinity and the residents of the huge Park Hill development, in addition to people who already live here, would all be prevented from using this award winning listed building which the city has spent millions of pounds to refurbish.
If readers have concerns about EMT's proposal that can email them to getintouch@eastmidlandstrains.co.uk
or write to Tim Shoveller, East Midlands Trains, FREEPOST DY940, Derby, DE1 9BR

For further information contact Residents against Station Closure at RASC2008@live.com

Vote for Caroline!

As someone who supported the Green Empowerment campaign, I was opposed to the recent changes the Green Party has made to its constitution to enable us to elect a leader. However, now the candidates for the post have been announced I have no hesitation in recommending that people vote for Caroline Lucas. Her excellent record speaks for itself. She is a formidable speaker and she has always managed to combine her politics with direct action, showing those with power that there are alternatives to the unjust system we have at present. Her excellent book, Green Alternatives to Globalisation, is a must read for all Green activists. Do have a look at her website, http://www.carolinelucas.org.uk/biography.php and support her campaign. When the General Election finally comes along, I believe Caroline will become the first Green MP in the House of Commons.

Station access/ Sheaf Valley Park

Earlier this week I attended the Manor Castle and Woodthorpe Area Panel. Two representatives attended from East Midlands trains, who are still going ahead with plans to "gate" the station despite opposition from all the local political parties and many organisations and individuals.I will be attending a meeting at the station next Thursday, 31st July, to discuss the plans.If you would like me to convey a message to the train company (that I can repeat!) please get in touch.

There are also developments with the plans for Sheaf Valley Park. The council has released plans for the section of the park that they will be responsible for- Urban Splash will be developing the section in front of Park Hill flats. There will be various consultation opportunities in the near future, so you can let the planners know what you think. I remain to be convinced about the "event space" and grass terraces, and would prefer money to be spent on disabled friendly paths (the paths all seem to have steps on the plan) and lighting, to encourage people to walk this way to town. There is no funding at present for the Park Cafe, which would be at the top of the hill opposite Claywood Road. What do you think?

Assist coverage in the Guardian

Many congratulations to Assist for the excellent coverage they got in G2 this week.
See http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/jun/13/immigration.immigrationpolicy
The bits about Sheffield are at the end of the video and article.

We're all Green now, aren't we?

At the count I got chatting with some Conservative ladies. Much as I am opposed to Conservative policies, I did feel sorry for them- they had seen their poll rise to 20% of the vote, but their reward was to have the last Tory Councillor ceremoniously booted out of the Town Hall. I have a lot of respect for Anne Smith as she has been a hard working councillor and has always been open to discussions and debate.Our ridiculously unfair electoral system has now thrown her out of office. However the conversation soon became much more heated when one of the Tory ladies said, "but of course, we're all Green now!" How I wish that was true, then I wouldn't have to bother with politics! But the truth is all the 3 main political parties, at local and national level, still haven't grasped the serious situation we are in. I believe the next decade will determine whether or not we save the planet from catastrophic climate change. We are not just talking about looking after our parks and keeping the streets clean (important though these issues are) we are talking about changing our economic system so that life can continue on this planet. I am currently reading Mark Lynas's new book, 6 degrees. See http://www.marklynas.org/ In it he catalogues what climate scientists predict will happen to the planet as it warms by each degree. It should be required reading for all politicians and business people. It shows how we are already very close to various "tipping" points, which when we reach them will further speed up climate change- for instance as the artic melts, the ice cap, which acts like a massive mirror that currently reflects the suns energy away from the north pole will disappear. This means that the energy will be absorbed by the dark sea, further warming the planet and speeding climate change.

Politicians that say they are green, while proposing new airports, new roads, encouraging wasteful consumption, opposing sustainable energy solutions and encouraging massive hypermarkets while local shops and post offices are shut down should be voted out of office as soon as possible!