Make you mobile ex-directory

As you may have heard in the news there is a new service called 118800 which acts as a directory for mobile phone numbers.

In my opinion this service is an infringement of civil liberties as it is giving out phone numbers without the permission or registration of phone owner.

To go ex-directory go to http://www.118800.co.uk/. The service is down at the moment, presumably from the avalanche of requests from people to be removed.

Class snobbery over Afghanistan deaths

Today the news that Lt Col Rupert Thorneloe has died in Afghanistan has been given much coverage because he is the highest ranking officer to die since the Falkland conflict.

It is of course very sad that he has died in battle, but why should his death be treated any differently than the other 170 deaths of UK soldiers in Afghanistan since 2001. Each death in Afghanistan is a tragedy and another reason why we should leave now. We have been bogged down in there for nearly 8 years now, with no sign of an end to the conflict.

I urge Green party members to support the following motion at autumn conference:

C27 Afghanistan
Synopsis (edited) In 2006 the party passed a motion calling for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan and their replacement by UN forces within months (RPD06.1 The Middle East). However, no further policy details were listed.

Motion The war being conducted by the UK and NATO forces in Afghanistan is according to all informed military sources an unwinnable one. Furthermore, it has had the effect of destabilising the entire Afghanistan and Pakistan region, with the consequent danger of the collapse of the Pakistani state itself. It is taking the lives of countless UK troops and diverting resources at a time when the government should be concentrating resources into job creation, health and the educational sector among others. Furthermore, the government supported by NATO and backed by the military forces is widely discredited and corrupt and has lost the trust of the Afghan people. The continuation of the current military intervention increases the risk significantly of a terrorist attack on the UK and a massive increase in refugees fleeing from war and oppression

Since that time the war has escalated and claimed the lives of many more Afghan civilians, UK and other NATO troops, as well as those of civilians working for NGOs. There is now a need to reiterate this call as the war is now being stepped up by the new US administration and there is widely recognised to be a need for a new regional peace agreement, as without the co‐operation of the regional powers, any secure peace and administration will be impossible to secure in Afghanistan.

We therefore call upon GPEx and our elected representatives in the European Parliament to campaign for:

(1) An immediate withdrawal of all UK forces from Afghanistan.
(2) The withdrawal of all NATO forces from Afghanistan .
(3) An regional agreement with the powers bordering Afghanistan – Pakistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, together with Russia and China, to hold a peace conference as soon as possible with the aim of establishing a new Afghan government which will have the support of all the Afghan people.
(4) Continued support from the EU, UN and other international bodies to support the rebuilding of Afghanistan and the provision of international aid.
(5) The protection all women and minorities in Afghanistan and the upholding of human rights to be an essential part of any peace agreement reached with the regional powers, the UN and the people of Afghanistan.
(6) The issue of Afghan refugees in neighbouring states and elsewhere, and their long term settlement and humanitarian support to be a central feature of any peace agreement.
(7) And to amend ROPS (Record of Policy Statements) accordingly.

Proposed by: Joseph Healy (**), Andrew Collingwood, Martin Deane, Noel Lynch and two others.

Keep it nationalised

I was not sad to see that National Express East Coast line had gone into public ownership. Apparently falling profits are due to a drop in passenger numbers. This does not surprise me, as I have traveled a lot less with them this year due to the lack of cheap advance tickets. Even if you book months in advance you can still end up paying £70 for a return from York to London, which is twice the price it used to cost me with GNER.

Now the line is in public ownership it should remain so and become a not for profit operation. If the government are serious about getting people onto public transport they should make it a lot more affordable than it currently is.

The 66p myth

The following is from Republic:

Help us smash the 66p myth - forward this to a friend!

The Buckingham Palace finance reports will be published on Monday - we need your help to challenge the royal spin. Please forward this email to a friend (you can use this simple form) and help spread the word.

Once again the royal PR machine will come up with an official cost, divide it by 60 million (that's every person in Britain, not just taxpayers) and tell us the monarchy costs just under 70p - the same as a loaf of bread or an iTunes download.

This is exceptionally dishonest. Dividing any cost by 60 million will make it seem small - but Republic has calculated that last year the monarchy cost British taxpayers in excess of £180 million.

That makes a royal 21 times more expensive than your MP!

Here's how that figure breaks down:

The Queen's civil list £12.7m
Parliamentary annuities (Prince Philip) £0.4m
Palaces and castles £15m
Travel £6.2m
Expenditure met by gov depts £4.9m
Security £100m
Duchy of Cornwall lost revenue £16m
Duchy of Lancaster lost revenue £13m
Costs to councils £10m
Unpaid tax £2m (?)
Travel and accomodation for Prince Charles £3m
Total £183.2m


There's more detailed information on our Royal Finances Campaign page.

You and I know that the royals will do everything they can to conceal the truth. That's why it's so important that you forward this email to a friend and help us spread the word.

MPs have been pilloried for their abuse of the Westminster expenses system. Now the BBC has revealed the expenses claims of its executives. Yet the royal finances, with the support of the Government, are still shrouded in secrecy.

While we continue to demand the abolition of the monarchy, we believe that for as long it remains the Palace must be fully transparent in the way it manages its funding and must be accountable to Parliament.

You can make a real difference by telling your friends.

Next steps in smashing the 66p myth

If you want to get more involved in our campaign to expose the true cost of the monarchy, there's lots you can do:

* Visit the Royal Finances Campaign page on our website.
* Join our Facebook page to keep up-to-date on developments.
* Use Twitter to spread the word (use the hashtag #royalfinances).
* Join Republic's Urgent Response Network and help strenghten our media presence.
* Make a donation to Republic's campaign fund.

Netanyahu supports a Palestinian state as long as it has none of the characteristics of a state

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has said he will accept a Palestinian state as long as it is demilitarised. (See BBC News)

He wants it to have no army and no control of its airspace.

Can this be seen as a fair solution? To have one of the most militarised states in the world demand that its neighbour has no means of defending itself.

If the Palestinians ever achieve statehood they should recognize Israel's right to exist and ensure attacks are not made against Israel, but they should also be allowed to defend themselves from attack.

The unreported nuclear accident

Channel 4 news reported last night about a nuclear accident at Sizewell A which has been secret for the past two years, only recently coming to light after a freedom of information request.



Read more on the Channel 4 News website

LGBT Greens: Pride is about our Human Rights

NEWS FROM THE GREEN PARTY of England and Wales LGBT GROUP

http://www.lgbtgreens.org.uk/

LGBT Greens: Pride is about our Human Rights
Get to Doncaster Pride 16th August

For Immediate Release

11.6.9

Peter Davies, the newly-elected English Democrat mayor of Doncaster has threatened to cut cash from Doncaster ’s annual Pride event.

Mr Davies had been quoted by the BBC saying: "I have nothing whatsoever against gays and lesbians, what they do in their private lives is absolutely fine… I don't think councils should be spending money on them parading through town advertising their sexuality."[1]

But appearing on Radio Sheffield on Monday, it is not clear if Mr Davies can fulfil his manifesto. On an interview with BBC Sheffield Mr Davies admitted to not knowing the annual turnover of the event in Doncaster .[2]

Phelim Mac Cafferty, National Spokesperson for LGBTGreens stated:

“Peter Davies, the English Democrat mayor of Doncaster insists that Pride in Doncaster is some sort of sexuality advertisement. The language of his comments should worry everyone who campaigned against the Tories hated homophobic Section 28 with its insidious language prohibiting the ‘promotion of homosexuality’. The logical conclusion of his comments is twofold: it conforms to the lazy stereotype of gay men needing to promote their sexuality to lure willing ‘victims’, and that LGBT people shouldn’t be allowed to have a Pride parade at all.

“Pride events throughout Europe were born out of the LGBT community being repeatedly instructed to be ashamed of the un-christian paths they had ‘chosen’. Pride is now about the LGBT community’s right to be visible. Pride is an important part of our struggle to be given the rights of a human being. Of the 365 days of the year, yes one and even if it is just one of those days should be about the LGBT population of Doncaster.

“Only last week, police authorities announced that the reported number of homophobic hate crimes is on the increase. With the BNP in office for the Yorkshire and Humberside region in Brussels now is the time to state unequivocally: lgbt people deserve the right to dignity and the right to lives free from harassment. For every person who is not yet out, events like Pride help them understand that they are not alone and are an incredibly important part of being visible.

“The reassuring news at this time from Doncaster Pride is that the manifesto commitment from Peter Davies of cutting funding belongs to him and not Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council. As far as the Pride organisers in Doncaster are concerned, the council is still supportive of their Pride event.

Phelim concluded:

“Like Belfast Pride last year, it took Iris Robinson’s calls for the lgbt community to 'see a psychiatrist' that led to the best attended Pride in Belfast ’s history. I’d hate to think that it will only take a similar tactic to convince Mr Davies that the LGBT community of Doncaster deserve equality and respect.

“In the meantime LGBT Greens say: get to Doncaster for Pride on 16th August!”

ENDS


[1] http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/8086919.stm

[2] http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/toby

Not a good week to be from Yorkshire

If electing an English Democrat mayor on Thursday was not bad enough, we now have the racist BNP representing us in the European parliament. I am not going to make excuses for the people voting for them by saying they are disillusioned Labour voters, or protest voting. The people who vote in the BNP know exactly what they are and don't care. It is shameful that 9.8% of those who voted went for the BNP, that equates to over 3% of the Yorkshire electorate supporting racist policies.

What is more disappointing is that this election saw an increase in the Green vote of around 50% giving us a national share of 8.7% compared to the BNP's 6.5%. But despite this we have not seen an increase in MEP's. Green candidates and activists have put their all into campaigning over the past few months, and in some cases we have only narrowly lost out on sending some good candidates to the European parliament.

Let's hope that those who stayed at home on Thursday wake up with morning and feel as dismayed as we do and feel guilty for not voting. After all, fascism suceeds when good people do nothing.

This week I am ashamed to be a Yorkshireman.

New English Democrat mayor starts his attack on 'Political correctness'

Peter Davies, the newly elected English Democrat mayor of Doncaster has wasted no time in his attack on 'Political correctness'.

BBC News reports that he is threatening to cut funding for Doncaster's pride event. He is quoted as saying:

"My policy on gays and lesbians is very simple.

"I don't think councils should be spending money on them parading through town advertising their sexuality."

I'm sure this is only the start of a campaign of homophobia and racial prejudice.

It is beyond my how this man got elected, and I am ashamed to be from Yorkshire when such individuals gain the majority vote.

English Democrat becomes Mayor of Doncaster

This is very disappointing news. The English Democrats policies are based on negative attitudes and prejudice. For example here is their policy on 'Political Correctness'

It is time common sense prevailed. The various quangos promoting political correctness should be closed and those laws promoting political correctness repealed. We want English freedoms and values, not multiculturalism.

Although this group are not in the same league as the BNP, their election is an unwelcome political advancement.

Vote positive, not negative

It is very difficult to find anyone who is not disgusted by the MP claims scandal. I am among those who is ready to scream at the radio if he hears another MP claim their expenses were 'within the rules'. This is not justification for the ludicrous claims we have seen, whether it be claims on second homes or duck islands. The public have finally grown tired of the three main parties and Gordon Brown's cabinet reshuffle is no more than moving deck chairs on the Titanic.

Cameron's Tories offer no solution. Their recent interviews and broadcasts shallowly try and steal Obama's clothes by constantly throwing the word 'Change' in ad nauseum, which most voters will immediately see through. The logo on their website says 'Vote for change' when they offer the same tired neo-liberal policies offered by New Labour, and the party is just as tainted by the expenses scandal as Labour.

This scandal does however pose a real threat with minority extremist parties getting voted in on a wave of apathy and protest votes.

The Green Party is the only party which is going to the voters with a positive message based on saving the planet, jobs and the economy, and genuinely protecting human rights.

It is great to have seen so many Green Party activists working tirelessly over the past few weeks to get this positive message out there and to persuade those who are put off politics that there is a genuine alternative, whose elected representatives have a proven record of fighting for radical solutions to today's problems.

So on Thursday persuade as many of your friends and colleagues as possible to get down to the polling station to make their vote count. Otherwise we could find that Britain is represented by little Englander's, racists and fascists as the results are announced, who have crawled in on manifesto's of lies and low voter turnout.

The US needs to stop foreign aid and arms exports to Israel

It was announced today by Hilary Clinton that Barak Obama had told Benjamin Netanyahu at their recent meeting that there should be a stop to all settlements. Hilary Clinton said "Not some settlements, not outposts, not natural growth exceptions,".

According to Israeli spokesperson Mark Regev Israel will continue to allow some settlement expansion.

The answer is simple. If the US is serious about getting Israel to halt settlement expanision it should stop foreign aid and arms exports.

Since the 1970s Israel has been the largest recipient of foreign aid from the US. A halt in this aid would seriouslly curtail Israel's expansion plans and military operations.

Letter published in local press

• THERE is a lot of disillusionment with the main three UK political parties at the moment as a result of MPs’ expenses being published. Such disillusionment is understandable, and the record is no better in the European Union.

Many of you will be thinking about voting for a different party this time round and I urge you to vote for the Green Party, who have a proven record campaigning for democracy and transparency.

The Open Europe think-tank recently produced a league table based on MEPs’ commitment to promoting transparency and reform in the European Union, which rated Green Party MEP Caroline Lucas, along with an SNP MEP and an independent MEP, at the top of the UK list and joint tenth across Europe’s 785 MEPs. The same table also placed UKIP’s Yorkshire and Humberside MEP at number 405 and close to the bottom of the list of UK MEPs.

There is a credible alternative at the European Elections. I urge you not to remain at home on June 4, but to go out and vote Green and help us increase our number of MEPs.

The alternative is to allow the usual three tired parties to get back in or to have the likes of UKIP or the BNP representing you in Europe.

http://www.thepress.co.uk/news/analysis/readersletters/4398345.Election_too_vital_to_ignore/

BNP quote Porritt and the OPT

The BNP are now using the environment as a cover for their anti-immigration stance.

The most recent edition of their disgusting rag Voice of Freedom has Jonathan Porritt pictured on the cover and using his statements to try and add respectability to their policies.

This has always been the danger when environmental groups start calling for tough measures on population and immigration.

It is important we distance ourselves from such thinking. And I hope when Mr Porritt finds out that he is being used by the BNP that he issues a statement strongly distancing himself from their policies.

The Wall

Last night Radio 4 broadcast 'Wall:An Essay by David Hare'. This was an excellent piece of work by playwright David Hare painting a vivid picture of how life currently is in Palestine.

It is available on iPlayer at http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00kjb73/Wall_An_Essay_by_David_Hare

Of course, for balance Israeli historian Benny Morris was interviewed on The World Tonight later that evening.

(Picture taken from the Stop The Wall website)