Response to the Green Engage post about me

I was not wanting to give this story any more publicity, but as Greens Engage have decided to attack me and not post my response I will post the letter I sent to the student magazine Nouse who wrote the story:

In response to your story of 13 February, I would like to reiterate my regret that one of the 246 pictures of York Palestine Solidarity Campaign’s public activities posted to the Facebook group has caused offence.

When I found out from the University that this image was causing offence I immediately removed this picture and made it clear that I do not support any anti-Semitic displays and would not have posted the picture if it had occurred to me that it would cause offence. To be clear, this image was not on a University website or uploaded through the University network. The image was clearly found by an individual searching for a reason to label me an anti-Semite. I regard this as the latest move in a campaign to harass me at work because of my connection to the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.

When I saw the Nouse headline on Friday evening I was deeply offended and upset by the accusation that I was a racist. I am a member of the York Palestine Solidarity Campaign as a private individual. The York Palestine Solidarity Campaign is a non-racist organisation which in no way espouses anti-semitism.

I have spent many years campaigning against racism and anti-semitism in York, and helped launch the York Unity group in 2004 to campaign against racism and the BNP in York. Anyone who knows me will vouch for my commitment to tackling racism and vouch for my belief in tackling harassment, in whatever form it takes.

To be clear, Harassment advisors are individuals at the University who have volunteered to provide confidential assistance to anybody concerned about harassment. I am not carrying out the role for personal gain but to assist anyone who feels they are harassed, which is a cause I am passionate about. I am quite capable of offering this advice to anyone who comes to me, as I am there to provide advice and not make a judgement on the accusation.

Vote for Jerry Hicks

There were several reasons behind my decision to move from Amicus to UCU a couple of years ago. One of those reasons was my distaste for Amicus leadership who supported the arms industry, nuclear power and blocked the motion for a boycott of Coca Cola at the War on Want conference. Things have not changed in Unite, only recently Unite spoke out in favour of runway 3 at Heathrow.

It is therefore refreshing to see a candidate for General Secretary who speaks out against Heathrow expansion and nuclear power. Furthermore he is committed to only taking the salary of an average skilled worker, rather than the £100,000+ salary enjoyed by current General Secretary Derek Simpson.

The Green Party Trade Union Group have produced the following statement:

The Green Party Trade Union Group does not seek to instruct Amicus members how to vote in their internal ballot, but notes that Jerry Hicks HAS made statements on environmental policy that GPTU would support. GPTU therefore asks Amicus members to consider this when choosing how to vote.

Find out more about Jerry's campaign at http://jerryhicks.wordpress.com/

UCU NEC elections

The University and College Union's NEC election's are upon us. Please consider voting for the UCU Left candidates. Below is an extract from their website:

UCU Left - NEC Candidates - 2009


We believe UCU members need representatives on the NEC who will fight alongside them, and that our NEC should be made up of the best local and regional activists who stand up for and mobilise UCU members.

The UCU Left candidates standing in these elections meet those criteria. They are representatives who will truly make themselves accountable to the members and they reflect the dynamism of our union, women and men, black and white, gay and straight, disabled and non-disabled. They include many leading members who have a proven record as fighters in the union. They also include new younger activists who’ve emerged out of the recent battles in Higher and Further Education. We believe all of them will bring with them commitment to creating a democratic, member led, progressive union to the new NEC.

For details of the candidates visit http://www.uculeft.devisland.net/nec-elections-2009.html

DEC petition

Unfortunately it took a while for Downing Street to approve this
petition. It is however still not too late for the PM to call on the
BBC to change its mind:

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/decgaza/

We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to call on the BBC to
broadcast the DEC Gaza appeal.

The BBC has broadcast appeals from the Disasters Emergency Committee
since 1963. In a rare breach of the agreement it has decided not to
broadcast DEC's Gaza Appeal.

We urge the Prime Minister to call on the BBC to reverse its decision.

Holocaust Memorial Day - Statement from York Green Party

Greens support Holocaust memorial

Cllr Andy D'Agorne joined other party leaders at York's annual Holocaust Memorial Day.

Cllr Andy D'Agorne spoke alongside the other party leaders at the Holocaust Memorial Day event on Wednesday. Standing at the foot of Cliffords Tower where 150 Jews perished in 1190 he said, "Whether (the victims are) Jews or people in Dafur, Zimbabwe or the Middle East, we must speak out in defence of human rights and provide humanitarian aid to the victims of war, whichever 'side' they are on" The event later that evening included songs, drumming and personal accounts from a Holocaust survivor and an Ethiopean refugee.