Lambeth Conference / Green Leadership

I won't go over the arguments about hypocrisy again which I outlined when the Lambeth conference started. http://thelifeofmrandyc.blogspot.com/2008/07/let-he-without-sin-throw-first-stone.html I will just say that it has come as no surprise that the Archbishop of Canterbury has put appeasing the bigots above gay rights.

Peter Tatchell concisely sums up the situation:

“The Lambeth Conference seems more interested in appeasing homophobes within the church than in defending the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people,” said queer human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell of OutRage!

“The Archbishop of Canterbury is putting church unity before gay equality. There should be no collusion with anti-gay bishops who support the imprisonment of gay people and the banning of gay churches.

“Dr Rowan Williams would never appease racists or anti-Semites. Why, then, is he seeking to accommodate within the Anglican Communion boastful homophobes like the Archbishops of Nigeria and Uganda?”

http://www.petertatchell.net/religion/lambethconferenceanglicanshomophobes.htm

The problems of internal democracy in the Green Party has now made the national press - http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-leadership-election-takes-a-nasty-turn-for-the-green-party-882620.html You will not be surprised to learn than I was one of the members who signed the letter of protest.

Weather: Cooler, a little bit of sun and rain
Listening to: Planet Rock

The nominees are announced

The Green Party leadership, deputy leader and GPEx nominees are announced.

Caroline Lucas MEP and Ashley Gunstock are nominated for Leader, Norwich Councillor Adrian Ramsay is sole candidate for Deputy Leader.

I will be supporting Ashley Gunstock and RON for deputy.

The GPEx nominees can be found at http://www.greenparty.org.uk/executive-elections

There is a disappointingly low level of interest in the posts with only 1 candidate and in some cases no candidate. I wish I could have put my name forward, but I did not feel I had the time to commit to the post on top of a full time job, study and other commitments, as well as not being put off at the prospect of having to keep traveling to London frequently.

I am also quite surprised at the amount of interest in my only recently started blog. Yesterday I had 28 visitors!

Weather: Tue/Wed sunny and hot, today very wet and hot
Listening to: Skid Row (yes, incredibly cheesy). In my defence I have also listened to Muse and Future Sound of London today.

Ashley now has a blog

http://ashleygunstock.blogspot.com/

No longer a coronation

I am very pleased to see that Ashley Gunstock will be running for the leadership of the Green Party. I was concerned that the election would end up just being a coronation of Caroline Lucas.

Ashley signed the Green Empowerment statement and I believe he is the best choice for strengthening grass roots democracy within the party.

GP Leader Candidate statement - Ashley Gunstock

Ashley Gunstock
If you are looking for a Leader – who will unite the Green Party in preparation for government – then I am the ideal candidate for the post.

Now in my twentieth year as a GP activist, I have continually promoted the fundamental values of the Party and worked hard to help these to evolve with the continual changes that affect our society. This has enabled me to more easily express to all, regardless of their original political persuasion, the need to embrace our Green vision for the future. Such long-term thinking has ensured that my vote has risen by 50% at each recent Council, GLA and Parliamentary election.

As GP Leading Spokesperson in Redbridge I am regularly consulted by the borough’s residents, campaigning groups, opposition Councillors and the media, as I was when a member in Barnet.

I am a committee member of: Fairtrade Redbridge, about to receive its accreditation; LA21 and FoE groups, with whom I influenced borough recycling and planning improvements and peace, anti-war & anti-fascist movements, seeking my Green Party endorsement.

Lately I was instrumental in ensuring that the Council, TfL and The Corporation of London implemented much needed road traffic safety measures (especially for the elderly and school children) and am at present involved in the ‘Tube re-zoning’ campaign that I established to start making travel on the London Underground more affordable.

In Barnet I was active on the Homeless Action committee – which oversaw the building of a day centre for the homeless – and remain Chair of Barnet Green Co-op, having been largely responsible for setting up The Green Room Environmental Centre.

All this has been achieved mainly due to excellent communication skills, acquired during my 30 years experience as a professional Producer, Director & actor and teaching & FA coaching in a variety of schools, attuning me to what is happening with today’s youth. This invaluable ability coupled with my assured knowledge of our Green agenda enables me, authoritatively and confidently, to maintain successful dealings with the televisual media and also appeal to the readerships of both broadsheet & tabloid press.

Therefore if you are looking for true leadership – based on compassion, knowledge and an understanding of the make-up of the electorate, our membership and our agenda, which must be delivered with resolute confidence – I urge you to elect me as Green Party Leader.

Contact details – Telephone: 020 8530 3900 or 07989 255061 or e-mail:

July 2008

Weather: It's been sunny and warm all week :-)

Today I'm of a sunny disposition

More wonderful sun and heat, must make the most of it before it escapes again.

Went to see The Dark Knight today. Really enjoyed it, my only complaint is that they could have shaved half an hour of the 2hr 30 running time. Heath Ledger was fantastic the Joker.

Still disgruntled at the goings on with the party. Unless thing change I imagine I will be gone by the autumn.

Weather: Sunny and hot since Thursday :-)

Gordon is not the problem

After the disastrous result for New Labour in Glasgow East is there is the inevitable talk about whether Gordon Brown is the right man to lead their party.

GB is not the problem and replacing him will not improve their electoral prospects, as at the end of the day it is Labour's policies which cause their unpopularity.

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the constant attack on civil liberties, the pointless and expensive creation of markets in the education and health systems, the abolition of the 10p tax rate, a growing gap between rich and poor and below inflation public sector pay offers are just some of the many reasons why New Labour are growing increasingly unpopular.

Meanwhile, the Green Party are becoming the obvious choice for public sector trade unionists. Yesterday's press release the GP came out with their strongest statement yet in support of public sector workers:

Greens support united strike action over public sector pay

24th Jul 2008


Greens call on public sector unions to work together to defeat pay cuts.

Derek Wall, the Green Party's Male Principal Speaker, has called for trade unions to put increased pressure on the Government and public sector employers by uniting to carry out strike action, in opposition to attempts to impose pay cuts.

Last week over 500,000 local government workers across the country - including care assistants, refuse collectors, cleaners, teaching assistants and social workers - took industrial action because employers are attempting to impose pay cuts. The employers "final offer" amounted to just 2.45 per cent, whilst food prices have risen over 9 per cent in the last year and energy bills by 15 per cent.

In the wake of a national two-day walkout by UNISON and Unite last week, many union activists are discussing the potential for joint action between unions across different sectors.

In Scotland, a local government dispute is likely to lead to strike action, whilst a decision by the National Executive Committee of the National Union of Teachers resolved to ballot for further discontinuous strike action in late September. Civil servants union, the PCS, is also to ballot its public sector membership for twelve weeks of discontinuous action. In June, delegates of the Communications Workers Union voted unanimously for strike action against pension cuts, post office and mail centre closures, and up to 40,000 job losses.

Derek Wall stated, "What public sector workers are asking for is entirely fair - that they are not forced to pay for economic problems which they are not responsible for."

"Further strike action is being planned now and Greens believe that this should be coordinated between trade unions as much as is possible."

"United action can force the hand of the employers and overturn their plans to impose pay cuts. All public sector workers deserve a pay rise not only to cover inflation, but to make up for 10 years of below inflation pay deals, which are pay cuts in all but name."

The Green Party has a record of championing trade union activism, from defending attacks on public services to advocating the repeal of the anti-trade union laws introduced by the Conservatives and left in place by Labour. On the London Assembly, Green Party Members were integral in establishing the Living Wage Unit aiming to lift London's lowest paid workers out of the poverty trap.

Weather Yesterday: Sunny and overcast and very warm.
Listening to: Planet Rock

Summer has finally arrived

Great to finally see some sun and warmth. It makes such a difference to ones mood, let's just hope it lasts.

Still rather concerned about what is happening in GP. I've got a feeling the leadership election is going to cause a permanent rift in the party. I've seen several emails from people considering whether to stay in the party, and to be honest I am rather apprehensive about the future and would not like to put money on being in the party in a years' time.

Weather: Pretty crappy Sunday & Monday - overcast and rain. Began to warm up yesterday and today we have sun :-)

Watching: Caroline in the City

What is happening within the Green Party?

When the results of the referendum on whether the Green Party should have a leader last year I was apprehensive about the future of the party. One of the attractions of the Green Party was the fact it wasn't overly centralised and still controlled by the grass roots.

My faith has not been restored with the way the election for the leader and GPEX positions is being carried out, for the following reasons:

- Candidates can spend up to £2500 on campaigning. This does not create a level playing field.
- Despite close of nominations being at the end of the month, members' who do not have email still may not be aware of the timetable. There is supposed to be info going out with Green World, which has still not landed through the letterbox.
- Candidates will be given access to members' contact details. If you do not wish to be bothered by campaigning you need to opt out, which is a questionable interpretation of the data protection act.

Let's hope the campaign can be put back on track and the rules revised.

Weather: Wed-Sat: Mainly cold, wet and overcast, with a small amount of sun.
Watching: Caroline in the City

Public sector workers are right to strike

Although there will be many criticising the two day strike by public sector workers tomorrow, I would hope the majority of the country are behind them.

They have been offered a 2.45% pay rise, which even to the most financially challenged of commentators will be seen as a pay cut. Inflation figures today announced that June was 3.8%, and more importantly the RPI, which is a more accurate measure of cost of living rises is currently 4.6%

With continuing food and fuel rises, you cannot expect the workforce to sit back and accept such a lousy offer. If the government persists in offering below inflation pay rises it is going to face strikes across the whole of the public sector.

Weather: Yesterday overcast with a tad of sun, today is the same.

Let he without sin throw the first stone

So the Lambeth conference is once again up on us. One of two things can now happen, the bigots (sorry traditionalists!) will get their way on gay priests/bishops and women bishops with the modernisers wimping out rather than standing up to them, or the traditionalists will form a break away sect. Personally, as an atheist I am not too bothered either way, and am quite happy to see the demise of the Church of England.

What does annoy me is the hypocrisy of the right wing of the church, with their selective interpretation of the bible. Yes, you can find passing references to homosexuality in the bible, and it is not the most progressive on women's rights. But there are plenty of other ludicrous passages which are no longer followed, such as the following references made in a letter to Dr Laura:

Dear Dr. Laura,

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and I try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind him that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate.

I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the specific laws and how to best follow them.

a) When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord (Lev 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

b) I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

c) I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev 15:19-24). The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

d) Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

e) I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?

f) A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an Abomination (Lev 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this?

g) Lev 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?

h) Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev 19:27. How should they die?

i) I know from Lev 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

j) My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? (Lev 24:10-16) Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)

I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help.

Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.

Your devoted disciple and adoring fan.

http://www-users.cs.york.ac.uk/~susan/joke/laura.htm


Weather: Thursday - Saturday, mainly overcast and heavy rain. Today cloudy and some sun. Still very low temperatures for the time of year.

Can you blame Iran?

There is a wave of condemnation against Iran for testing its long range missiles. Where was the condemnation of Israel recently when it carried out an air rehearsal of an attack on Iran (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7465170.stm).

With such aggressive sabre rattling by Israel can you really blame Iran for flexing its muscles to prove it has the power to fight back, and maybe make Israel and the US think twice about attacking.

Weather: Today - rain and overcast, Yesterday - rain and overcast

Listening to: Newsnight

The expensive tedium of train travel

I have just purchased a single ticket to York costing £78. Is thie value for money? I would have to say no. For the price you get dumped in cramped second class accommodation, you are not guaranteed a seat and quite often face delays along route. With such a service being offered is there any wonder that people chose less environmentally friendly options. If more than one person is travelling it works out cheaper by car, and this week I saw plane operators offering one way tickets on internal flights to various destinations for around £25.

So what is the answer. RE-NATIONALISE. Any profits made by the operators should be pumped back into the system to increase the number of trains, improve reliability and reduce fares. It is ludicrous that the tax payers are paying more into the system now than when it was a nationalised service, while at the same time share holders are receiving their dividends. Train travel is the most logical and environmentally friendly method for travelling long distance and it should be improved to meet the demand.

Weather: Overcast and rainy again
Listening to: Whatever Itunes randomly throws out at me, currently South Pacific OST

Back home tomorrow

Enjoyed my time in London, back to grim rainy Yorkshire tomorrow. Managed one cultural activity by visiting the Wallace Collection yesterday. Not my favourite gallery, as it was rather militaristic, but did get to see Poussin's 'A Dance to the Music of Time'

Today I briefly visited Pride, as I'd never been before. Not really my scene, but did enjoy watching the Dr Who finale in Trafalgar Square. (Little disappointed I did want a new Doctor, at least we got rid of Catherine Tate).

I've found summer

It is in London. I am really warm, and have got some real sun today, I forgot what that feels like. Although there were a few passing showers, once they were over the sun was back again, unlike the crappy overcast climate I have become used to. Is the weather generally better down here than in York or am I just lucky to catch it?

Briefly popped into Marxism this afternoon and listened to a lecture entitled "Is queer politics radical?". The speaker had some interesting ideas, but did pump out the usual SWP line of mass action, disparaging Peter Tatchell's work which is important. So what if it is only a few activists, he has drawn attention to some serious issues, and was on Mugabe's case long before the British media paid any attention.

Tomorrow I'll do a bit more Marxism, a bit of Oxford street and a gallery. Not sure yet whether to do the Wallis Collection on Tate Modern. If I'm really energetic I may try and get a ticket for Candide in the evening.

Listening to: The Verve live at Glastonbury on BBCi

How do you solve a problem like Mugabe?

I don't have the answer, but just have arguments against a lot of the proposed actions:

1) Sanctions: The brutal sanctions against Iraq in the 90s prove this doesn't work. UNICEF announced that 500,000 Iraqi children died as a result of the sanctions. Saddam's position was not weakened as a result of the.

2) Military action: We have bombed the crap out of Iraq and Afghanistan and 5 years later they are still in a worse position than before the military action. Thousands would die as a result of any action.

3) Wait for Mugabe to die: He is 84, hopefully he will snuff it soon. But who is to say that there is not another brutal dictator waiting in the wings of ZANU.

The best we can hope for is a mass uprising like there was again likes of Ceauşescu, although that is not looking likely at the moment.

Weather: Finally summer is here. Warm and sunny. Yay

Listening to: Planet Rock