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Warm Weather Security Tips – Redbridge Police

Thu, 23 May 2013 16:45:02 CDT

Source: Barkingside21 - Well, Redbridge Police are not the Met Office so perhaps we can’t expect them to notice that it’s not exactly “warm” at the moment ….

Now that the warmer weather is here, you want to enjoy it. It means working in the garden, enjoying sitting on the patio and opening windows later in the evening. We want you to enjoy it too but sometimes we leave our rear gates unlocked or forget to put

Fact not fiction: Renewable energy is safer than nuclear power

Thu, 23 May 2013 12:45:01 CDT

Source: Greenpeace Making Waves Blog - Take a look at what Jan Bens, chief of Belgium’s nuclear watchdog FANC, had to say about wind turbines the other day:"The harbour of Antwerp is being filled with windmills, and the chemical industry is next to it. If there is an accident like a break in one of the wings, that is a guillotine. If that goes through a chloride pipe somewhere, it will be a problem of a bigger magnitude than what can happen at [Belgian nuclear power plant] Doel. Windmills are more dangerous than nuclear power plants.”Wind turbines are more dangerous than nuclear power plants? Tell that to the people of Chernobyl and Fukushima, Mr Bens.It’s such a mind-boggling thing to say, I’m not sure where to begin. This is just a theory but it’s possible that Mr Bens is just a little confused. Maybe he watched the movie Mission Impossible 3 and mistook it for a documentary…Yes, wind turbines are clearly dangerous. If you’re a ruggedly handsome superspy flying recklessly through a wind farm in a helicopter while someone is firing missiles at you and you’re trying to save someone’s life, that is. If you’re not, you’re perfectly safe.De Morgen, the media outlet that ran the Bens/dangerous windmills story in the first place, was so surprised by his outburst that it followed up with an opinion piece that called Bens Nuclear Ali, comparing him to former Iraqi information minister Comical Ali, who steadfastly said Iraq was winning the war with the US even as American tanks were rolling into Baghdad.So why would Mr Bens say such an unbelievably ridiculous thing? Can he really mean it? Or could the actual reason for his outburst be him trying to deflect attention from the news that his organisation has just sanctioned the reopening of two nuclear reactors in Belgium which were closed after cracks were found in their reactor vessels?It’s not a handful of microscopic cracks we’re talking about here, but more than 8,000 cracks in the Doel 3 reactor and more than 2,000 in Tihange 2. There is no certainty about how the cracks occurred, only guesses and assumptions. Guesses and assumptions on emergency planning are also why Greenpeace Belgium has filed a lawsuit against the Belgian government for gross negligence. A document filed with the case refers to a review showing the emergency plans are completely inadequate.And really odd in some details. For example, emergency evacuation centres for Doel include a deteriorated, now unused slaughterhouse and other centres between 14 and 20 km of the reactor. Would you like to be evacuated to a slaughterhouse? Would you like to be evacuated to a centre only 14 or 20 km from a reactor accident, when people in Chernobyl were evacuated within 30 km and people in Fushima within 20 km, plus a few areas up to 50 km away?Experts and other nuclear watchdogs seriously doubt the safety of Doel 3 and Tihange 2, including, the French nuclear watchdog ASN, Dieter Majer, the former head of the German nuclear control agency, and Willy De Roovere, the guy Bens replaced as FANC directorWhen did you last hear a coalition of experts and watchdogs warn about the safety of a wind farm?This is how and why wind energy and nuclear power are so completely different. Talking about the dangers of wind compared to nuclear is like talking about the dangers of kittens compared to tigers.Do wind farms need “emergency contingency planning”? When was the last time we had a meltdown at a wind farm? Does wind power have the potential to cause the destruction we see at Chernobyl and Fukushima?Why am I even asking these questions? Thanks making us laugh, Mr Bens, but can we have a more serious contribution to the debate next time?

Up To 199 UK Green Tweeters

Thu, 23 May 2013 09:00:02 CDT

Source: Green Reading - 1 1475 @_Polinard. 2 5799 @AdamRamsay 3 490 @adrianhollister 4 1945 @AdrianRamsay 5 970 @adrianwindisch 6 1431 @alexforgoldsmid 7 2488 @AlisonJohnstone 8 304 @andersonkieran 9 588 @Andrew9Boswell 10 394 @andylaw31 11 3980 @Anothergreen 12 172 @AshfordGreens 13 286 @ashlizhaynes 14 806 @BarnardSteve 15 541 @BarnetGreens 16 528 @BathNESGreens 17 49 @BletchleyGreens 18 238 @bowesgreens 19 150 @bradfordgreens 20 1167 @Brumgreens 21 928 @brumguvnor 22 1590 @camdengp 23 57193 @CarolineLucas 24 230 @central_devon 25 635 @chaliekiss 26 353 @CharlieBGP 27 62 @CherwellGreens 28 1249 @ChristopherWere 29 926 @chrisw100 30 1944 @CllrChasBooth 31 588 @CllrRMallender 32 821 @cllrrobwhite 33 1120 @clrandrewcooper 34 311 @CornwallGreens 35 1201 @cowrin 36 3549 @creativecrip 37 3371 @DarrenJohnsonAM 38 313 @David_Wildman 39 165 @DellMacefield 40 284 @DerbysGreens 41 407 @DilysCluer 42 506 @DominicMHinde 43 408 @DougRouxel44 61 @Dunbarton_Green 45 410 @duncanjdavis 46 314 @DundeeGeens 47 318 @EastBerksGP 48 1557 @EdinburghGreens 49 682 @EliseDB 50 105 @EMGreenParty 51 325 @EssexWomble 52 141 @exetergreens 53 591 @fairlynuts 54 453 @FionaRadic 55 2660 @garydunion 56 574 @GateCharles 57 684 @gavincorbett 58 513 @GeorginaBavetta 59 438 @Gertiepink 60 280 @GinaDowding 61 703 @glasgowgreens 62 508 @GPEWCampaigns 63 1425 @Green_Caroline 64 361 @green_mac 65 119 @GreenbankGreens 66 1100 @greenbenali 67 1212 @greenbirmingham 68 466 @GreenFeeds 69 806 @GreenGreenwich 70 612 @GreenHighbury 71 1845 @GreenJeaMEP 72 8967 @greenjennyjones 73 1665 @GreenKeithMEP 74 111 @GreenKnight2010 75 315 @GreenLeftSW 76 656 @GreenLeftUk 77 744 @greenoxford 78 565 @GreenPartyPoppy 79 1568 @GreenRupertRead 80 113 @GreenStMichaels 81 582 @hackneygreens 82 72 @HallGreenCGP 83 488 @Hannanananahh 84 812 @HaringayGreens 85 593 @hgthorp 86 27 @HighBarnetGreen 87 446 @HulmeGreenParty 88 375 @ianbaxter_green 89 207 @IanDDriver 90 509 @islingtongreens 91 3047 @jasonkitcat 92 169 @jazznikki 93 502 @jennyhicks 94 91 @JohnPalmer8 95 519 @JonNott 96 687 @josiamortimer 97 3359 @KatieKaophonicc 98 165 @kaz4wokingham 99 68 @kazeconomics 100 43 @kemptownben 101 354 @kentgreenparty 102 364 @kevinwarnes 103 317 @KTGreens 104 366 @ladyroisin 105 676 @Lambethgp 106 278 @LanarkshireGrns 107 271 @LeedsGreenParty 108 394 @LeicsGreenParty 109 934 @leonora1 110 1245 @lewgreenparty 111 462 @LewisCoyne 112 517 @LGBTIQGreens 113 1023 @Liverpoolgreenparty 114 28 @LiverpoolYG 115 2335 @LonGreenParty 116 243 @LouisStephen 117 356 @lphainey 118 375 @mac_shivers 119 1260 @MaggieEdinburgh 120 190 @malverngreens 121 1446 @markruskell 122 218 @martinbartos 123 260 @McrGreenParty 124 450 @melaniemain125 210 @midlothiangreen 126 99 @MidSuffolkGreens 127 708 @MilesGriney 128 253 @mkgreens 129 199 @moiradunworth 130 176 @momuloe 131 101 @msandersbarwic 132 9005 @natalieben 133 559 @NewsGreenBH 134 355 @NigelAlanSmall 135 468 @nigelbagshaw 136 496 @nineveh_havant 137 1768 @NishmaDoshi 138 119 @NorthStaffsGP 139 795 @NorwichGreens 140 174 @NottsYGreens 141 129 @NWGreenParty 142 148 @PatCleary2 143 9097 @patrickharvie 144 837 @PeterCranie 145 1057 @PeterGarbutt 146 34166 @PeterTatchell 147 1568 @Phelimmac 148 251 @PooleGreen 149 1472 @PurpleGreenRob 150 169 @raphavisses 151 141 @razzclean 152 361 @reading_greens 153 244 @RobMurphy2012 154 723 @RomaynePhoenix 155 134 @RugbyGreens 156 1571 @RupertRead 157 1047 @SamCoatesCymru 158 45 @SCambsGreens 159 3637 @scotgp 160 2145 @Scott_Redding 161 210 @SGPWomen 162 543 @shanoakes 163 864 @Sheffieldgreens 164 441 @sianberry 165 845 @SimonGrover 166 722 @Sneyton 167 541 @SolihullGreens 168 638 @sophiabotha 169 881 @SouthwarkGP 170 297 @ssiah_a 171 449 @SteveGabb 172 462 @StHelensGreens 173 587 @stirlinggreens 174 89 @Stockport_Greens 175 739 @stuartjeffery 176 827 @SvenRufus 177 272 @swanseagreens 178 97 @SWDorsetGreens 179 366 @Swlgbtgreens 180 39800 @TheGreenParty 181 797 @Tom_Chance 182 95 @tommartincrone 183 6796 @TonyJuniper 184 170 @TorbayGreenPart 185 249 @verde1957 186 641 @ViridisLumen1 187 1124 @WalesGreenParty 188 139 @Warringtongp 189 795 @wavenode 190 553 @WCornwallGreens 191 90 @WestKentGreens 192 881 @WillDuckworthGP 193 270 @worcsgreenparty 194 148 @wulliedouglas 195 437 @YHGreens 196 233 @YorkGreens 197 175 @YorkYoungGreen 198 1977 @YoungGreenParty 199 901 @ZaraKitson

End of University term waste collection #rdguk

Thu, 23 May 2013 07:45:01 CDT

Source: Bloggy Blanc - As usual, the council is having a push to keep the area tidy as students move out. Let me know of any problems and I can pass them on.University Clearance Programme 2013 Refuse and recycling collections The university summer term ends Friday 28th June 2013 Domestic waste (extra bags) will be collected – W/commencing 12th June 2013 W/commencing 26th June 2013 Recycling waste (extra bags) will be collected W/commencing 19th June 2013 W/commencing 3rd July 2013 Crews will collect all domestic or recycled bagged waste adjacent to bins throughout a three week period on the relevant week, in the lead up to a single additional Saturday collection on 6 July. It is anticipated that the majority of bagged waste not collected during the preceding weeks will be presented in front gardens for collection on Saturday 6th July. Waste operations staff will collect all bagged waste from the area on this extra date. The Waste Operation Management Team will survey the area daily (excluding weekends) and identify any properties with visible excess bagged waste. The team will arrange for the crew attending that property to take extra bagged waste on the domestic week following Saturday 6th July 2013. Any complaints or councillor enquiries received by Streetcare Admin will be cleared without investigation by the attending crew on the next domestic collection after Saturday 6th July 2013. As in previous years, no bulky waste collections will be made by Waste Operation staff. These are available to residents and landlords on request at a cost. Streetcare Environment Team to deliver Bulky Waste leaflets once students have vacated properties. The University will also advertise the service as part of the build up to the end of term. Environmental Wardens will have previously visited various areas and have written to occupiers regarding items found in front gardens. Environmental Wardens on late shifts each week will be tasked to knock on known student properties if possible to ensure as much household waste is presented in good time ahead of scheduled refuse collection each week. Streetcare Environment Team to monitor properties after students move out to ensure landlords remove and dispose of appropriately bulky items and waste from gardens.

Support IWW Union In Dispute Against "Alternative" Union Busters

Thu, 23 May 2013 07:15:01 CDT

Source: Greenman's Occasional Blog - IWW members in the USA are in dispute with the "Collective" managing an "alternative" business that has sunk to employing right wing union busting legal support to try and break the union. More from Facebook below:MAY 22 UPDATE & SUMMARY from the IWW SCCUSince we have not put out any public press releases or statements recently, here is a summary and update from the IWW Sisters' Camelot Canvass Union on our struggle:SUMMARY:After months of consensus-based organizing, the canvass workers at Sisters' Camelot went public to the bosses as unionized with the IWW on Monday, February 25.On Friday, March 1 the union met with the managing collective to begin negotiations-- only to be forced to go on strike when management flatly refused to negotiate with the union. On Monday, March 4 the union went to the managing collective's weekly decision-making meeting (by invitation)-- hoping to restart negotiations. At this meeting, the managing collective offered easier access to the bosses decision-making body (the Collective) as an alternative to negotiating with our union-- then they publicly fired one of the striking union members in retaliation for union organizing. Since then, the managing collective (with the help of a group of their friends: http://libcom.org/library/statement-autonomous-union-busting-firm-twin-cities ) has run an aggressive union-busting campaign-- included aggressive character assassination of the fired union member, and many public statements full of lies about the facts of our unionization & management's refusal to negotiate. After several weeks of being on strike, the union made an offer of a package deal to the management. This deal took all demands regarding pay and benefits off the table, leaving only 8 of the original demands. These 8 demands would have simply given the workers more workplace democracy and more control over their immediate work environment. The management refused this offer to end the strike. Soon after the package deal was refused by management, the NLRB made a decision that the firing of a striking union member was illegal. Upon making that decision, the NLRB offered the management a settlement offer to end legal proceedings which would include rehiring the fired worker and paying back-pay. Instead of accepting the settlement offer from the NLRB, the Sisters' Camelot managing collective is now working with a known right-wing union-busting lawyer to fight the decision in court. Sisters' Camelot has been working with John C Hauge from the nationwide anti-union law firm Ford Harrison as their pro bono lawyer. John C Hauge has been on a personal campaign against workers rights which has included: (1) Silencing victims of workplace sexual harassment. (2) Decertifying unions. (3) Taking pension funds away from union members. (4) & making sure the family of a worker who died on the job got no compensation. UPDATE: Sisters' Camelot's management is now fighting the illegal firing in court with the right-wing union-busting lawyer John C Hauge as their pro bono lawyer. If Hauge is able to appeal this case to a higher court, it could set a precedent which would result in hundreds of thousands of misclassified independent contractors in the US losing access to their basic rights as protected by the NLRA. Trial is set for June 6, when the NLRB will be seeking a court-order to enforce their decision that the fired worker should be rehired and given back-pay. The union canvassers have now been denied their livelihood while having to endure being on strike since March 1, a hardship endured for 83 days now (as of May 22, 2013). Since refusing to respect the canvassers right to organize and forcing them to strike, Sisters' Camelot has lost the workers who traditionally raise 90-95% of Sisters' Camelot's income. Because of this lost income Sisters' Camelot has had to scale back it's program operations drastically, is moving out of their warehouse space and office, and has begun selling off their assets. It is abundantly clear at this juncture that the managers at Sisters' Camelot would see the good works of the organization scale back and suffer rather than respect their worker's right to unionize & give up some of their personal power in favor of more workplace democracy. It is also far too clear now that the managers at Sisters' Camelot would rather assist a sexist, right-wing lawyer with his personal campaign against workers rights rather than admit that they were wrong to fire a union member while on strike. We are still constantly organizing to win this campaign and assert our right to unionize. We are organizing outreach to other unions, constantly fundraising for our strike fund, organizing to prevent scabs from being able to take our jobs, and doing direct outreach to supporters in the community to prepare them for mobilization. WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP: We have been enduring economic violence in the form of lost livelihood while on strike since March 1. We depend on money from the strike fund to allow those of us who have not gotten side jobs to continue organizing with our phone bills paid, rent paid, and food on our dinner tables. Please donate money to our strike fund at: You can also creatively organize a fundraiser for our strike fund and invite your friends & family. Feel free to contact us at sisterscamelotcanvassunion@gmail.com if you are interested in organizing a fundraiser. Give us your contact information so that we are able to contact you when and if changes in this situation could allow for public involvement to help turn the tide and end this conflict. Email your name and telephone number to sisterscamelotcanvassunion@gmail.com . Your contact information will be kept carefully guarded. Even though overwhelming public opinion in support of us has failed to persuade Sisters' Camelot's management yet, you can sign our Community Support statement on our website at www.canvassunion.org . Also you can stay on top of new developments by liking our facebook page at www.facebook.com/SCcanvassunion

Fukushima Nuclear Crisis Update for May 21st to May 22nd, 2013

Thu, 23 May 2013 06:45:02 CDT

Source: Greenpeace Making Waves Blog - Here’s the latest of our news bulletins from the ongoing crisis at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.Nuclear Regulation AuthorityJapan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) announced this week that it will accept findings from a panel of experts, which determined that fault lines running beneath reactor #2 at Japan Atomic Power Company’s (JAPC) Tsuruga nuclear plant in Fukui Prefecture are active. Japanese law prohibits operation of nuclear reactors over active faults, because of the risk they could incur if a major earthquake strikes. In addition, the agency ordered JAPC to study the effects of seismic activity on the spent fuel pool located within reactor #2. It is the first time that the NRA has said a plant is unsafe to operate because of fault lines, and the decision could have major ramifications for both JAPC and the entire nuclear power industry. NRA Chair Shunichi Tanaka said, “We have accepted the report from the panel of experts, and that means that we’ve acknowledged that an active fault requiring consideration lies beneath the nuclear reactor.”Although the NRA does not have legal authority to order the permanent shutdown of the plant, the decision means that the reactor will probably never operate again. A second reactor at the plant is more than 40 years old, and most experts believe that the NRA will not allow it to restart, although a decision has not yet been made. The utility also operates one reactor at the Tokai #2 plant in Ibaraki Prefecture, but local opposition to restarting that reactor has been significant, and gaining local approval to bring it online again is unlikely. (Source: Nuclear Intelligence Weekly)JAPC has lambasted the announcement. The company insists that the fault lines are not active and plans to continue its own studies of the area. It will release a report in June. NRA Chair Shunichi Tanaka noted, “We do not deny that the conclusion may change if new data show up. So I think that I should not say anything decisive at this stage.” But most analysts do not believe that the NRA will change its decision. Because the reactor was built in 1987, JAPC believed that it would operate for at least an additional 14 years before being decommissioned. The company currently does not have enough reserve funds to cover costs, but maintaining an inoperable plant indefinitely would also be expensive. Credit rating firms in Japan have already lowered their ratings of JAPC.JAPC is owned by several regional utilities, including TEPCO (the largest shareholder, with 28.23% stock), Kansai Electric Power Company (KEPCO), Chubu Electric, Hokuriku Electric, Tohoku Electric, Electric Power Development Company (widely known as J-Power in Japan), and Chugoku Electric Power Company. The utilities have jointly pledged to support JAPC financially through next April. However, KEPCO, Chubu Electric, Hokuriku, and Tohoku are responsible for guaranteeing JAPC’s debts, which currently total approximately 100 billion yen. Moreover, analysts say that if the company folds, decommissioning and costs of storing or reprocessing spent nuclear fuel could grow significantly, placing the financial health of the shareholding utilities in jeopardy, during a time when they are already struggling themselves. “There is a possibility that the power companies will have to shoulder a total of 500 to 700 billion yen,” admitted one government official. Utilities are reportedly imploring the government to provide assistance, but have not been successful so far. In the meantime, the public is growing angry at having such costs past along to them in the form of electricity rate increases.TEPCOTEPCO’s legal woes continue to worsen. A group of 700 residents from the Hippo District in Miyagi Prefecture have filed suit against the utility, charging that they should receive the same amount of compensation as victims from Fukushima Prefecture. Parts of Miyagi, which is located just 50 km from the site of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi plant, register higher radiation levels than those in Fukushima Prefecture. Plaintiffs are demanding 70 million yen ($690,000) in damages. Currently, government compensation guidelines only guarantee compensation, radiation testing, and health checks for those living in Fukushima Prefecture. After considerable negotiation by Miyagi residents, the utility agreed to compensate those in some of the highly radioactive areas of Miyagi, as well, but they only receive about half of what Fukushima residents do, despite the fact that some of them are living in more radioactive areas. One resident, Takeo Hikichi, noted, “We in Marumori Town have been exposed to as much radiation as our peers in Fukushima, or even more, depending on the area. We cannot accept the kind of compensation scheme that discriminates against us just because of the prefectural border.” Koji Otani, one of the attorneys who filed the complaint, added, “Damages from the nuclear accident do not stop at the border. We hope that the compensation program is carried out in a way that reflects the reality of people’s lives.”In other legal news, Japan’s Lower House of Parliament has approved a new bill that will extend the statute of limitations beyond the current three years, for those filing compensation claims against TEPCO. Many victims of the Fukushima nuclear disaster have complained that TEPCO has dragged its feet in processing claims and has underestimated appropriate recompense. Some of those cases are still in mediation, which could extend beyond the current March 2014 deadline. The bill is expected to pass in the Upper House and be enacted during the current Diet session.Nuclear Politics in JapanKyodo News is reporting that the United Nations may omit nuclear crises from its upcoming disaster prevention plan, even those for which earthquakes and tsunami are contributing factors, according to insiders familiar with the topic. The UN will meet to discuss the prevention issues at the World Conference on Disaster Reduction in March 2015, but preparatory talks are being conducted this week at a three-day meeting in Geneva. The new outline (a change from the previous action plan, called the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015) was suggested by an official from the Japanese government, which is taking a central role in drafting the new plan. Some non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and anti-nuclear activists have pointed out avoiding discussion of nuclear disasters in this forum may mean that they are not addressed at all. Previously, Margareta Wahlstrom, Special Representative to the UN Secretary General for Risk Reduction, highlighted the urgency of dealing with nuclear crises, and the Chair’s Statement issued following the 2011 UN Global Platform Meeting focused on international cooperation where nuclear safety is concerned.In a new blow for nuclear power companies, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) said that it will not complete a study of rate increases requested by Tohoku Electric and Shikoku Electric Power Company in time for the utilities to impose higher rates by July 1, as they had hoped. Both companies filed the requests in February, with Tohoku requesting an 11.41% hike and Shikoku asking for a 10.94% rise in consumer rates. However, so many utilities have requested rate increases this year approvals are backed up. Analysts say that the rate increases may not take effect until September, in order to accommodate the delayed METI schedule and to avoid raising rates for consumers in August, often the hottest month of the year.As part of a three-year agreement signed at the end of last year, experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) plan to visit Fukushima for five days in July, in order to provide technical assistance with radiation and waste disposal issues. Municipal officials are still struggling with how to decontaminate forested areas that cover 70% of the prefecture. The IAEA team plans to upload radiation data to a public website for residents’ use. In addition, officials will open an emergency-response training center.Radiation ContaminationScientists from the Japan Agency for Marine Earth Science and Technology are reporting that tests conducted on plankton samples gathered at 10 sites in the Pacific Ocean, between Hokkaido Prefecture and Guam, showed evidence of radioactive cesium-134. The samples were collected in January and February 2012. The discovery is significant because plankton is a primary food source for larger fish, and the research confirms that radioactivity is affecting the food chain. All samples contained cesium-134, but the most radioactive samples, measuring 10.5 Bq/kg, were collected at approximately 25 degrees north latitude and 150 degrees west longitude. The group’s findings were reported at a meeting of the Japan Geoscience Union.Decontamination and Nuclear Waste DisposalOfficials from the Environment Ministry have announced that they plan to build permanent nuclear waste storage facilities on government-owned land in Miyagi, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, and Chiba Prefectures, but will avoid areas that may be ravaged by earthquakes, tsunamis, or landslides. Waste storage has been a thorny issue for residents, who are concerned about the health effects of living near nuclear waste.

A Sticky Situation For The Workfare Exploiters

Thu, 23 May 2013 06:00:01 CDT

Source: The Void - This pic has been going viral on facebook, Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best. Follow me on twitter @johnnyvoid

What’s Missing from this Picture?

Thu, 23 May 2013 05:30:02 CDT

Source: Monbiot.com - Somehow almost all of us have missed the real story behind the disappearance of our wildlife. By George Monbiot, published on the Guardian’s website, 22nd May 2013 Even before you start reading the devastating State of Nature report, you get an inkling of where the problem lies. It’s illustrated in the opening pages with two [...]

Meeting local ONE campaigners

Thu, 23 May 2013 05:30:02 CDT

Source: Caroline Lucas MP - I had a really interesting surgery appointment last Friday with local supporters of the ONE organisation.

ONE aims to fight extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa, by raising public awareness and pressuring political leaders to support smart and effective policies.

The group here in Brighton is very active and I was impressed by the passion and commitment to action of those who came to last week’s surgery.

Following on from the appointment I'll be supporting ONE’s campaign for greater corporate transparency.

This includes a call for the names of ultimate beneficial owners of companies to be put into public registries.

“Beneficial owners” are those that may benefit from company ownership, for example, may receive income, even though legal title of the company belongs to others.

This creates a veil of secrecy that makes theft of assets and tax evasion more likely.

Greater transparency is a crucial step in allowing citizens to track resources and enabling governments to collect revenues.

Also, tackling tax evasion is something I’ve strongly pushed for here in the UK, through measures such as my 2011 Tax and Financial Transparency Bill.

I wish the ONE campaigners all the best for their endeavours in the coming months, and look forward to working with them in future.

Turtle Recall (World Turtle Day)

Thu, 23 May 2013 05:15:01 CDT

Source: Greenpeace Making Waves Blog - Every day is Turtle Day when you're an ocean campaigner…When I heard it was World Turtle Day, I hatched a plan. I know that to an international audience 'turtle' covers a multitude of reptile species, but rather than getting all Queens' English-y over what is a tortoise, a terrapin or a turtle, I thought this was a good opportunity to focus in on the seven amazing species that roam our oceans – the sea turtles.And there are three good reasons: they are awesome; no one will dispute calling them 'turtles'; and six out of seven species are endangered, thanks to us – so they need some love.So here is everything you needed to know about sea turtles, in a handy, shareable blog.Sea turtles are ocean wanderers. Females return to the beach they were born on to lay their eggs, but males have no need to ever return to land.Some turtles are not fussy with their food, but some species really are. Leatherback turtles love jellyfish and hawksbill turtles prefer to eat sponges. Both have adapted to be able to resist stings, spikes, and toxins to let them munch down on their preferred lunch.Loggerhead turtles have big, strong heads. They need them for crushing and crunching shellfish. Back in Shakespeare's time the word 'loggerhead' was a derogatory word meaning 'blockhead'. Which isn't very nice.Green turtles are the only vegetarians in the sea turtle world. But when they are young they are less bothered and will eat anything. It's only when they become fussy right-on teenagers that they decide meat is murder.'Turning turtle' means to be upside down, or belly up. For a turtle on land this is a real problem. For a sea turtle it is merely the backstroke.The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were probably terrapins. Yeah - Teenage Mutant Ninja Terrapins. Hmm.Leatherback turtles are the undoubted record breakers. They can travel 10,000 miles each year foraging for food, dive more than 1200 metres deep into the ocean, and range all the way from Chile to Alaska. They are adapted for cold water, warm-blooded, with an insulating layer of fat.And leatherbacks are HUUUUGE. The biggest one ever recorded washed up on a beach in Wales, was 2.2metres long – that's roughly the size of a double bed. The smallest sea turtles are about 60cm long when adult.Even the biggest leatherback starts life as a tiny ping-pong ball sized egg laid in a nest on a beach. Baby turtles must make the perilous journey to the sea, without being picked off by predators, which is pretty tough going for something so ridiculously adorable.When coming onto land to lay eggs, female turtles can be vulnerable to unusual predators. In South America, jaguars are known to prowl beaches looking for a slow-moving meal.Each interlocking segment on a turtle's shell is known as a 'scute'. Oddly, ''s cute!” is what people tend to say when they see a baby turtle too.In the film One Million Years BC a giant prehistoric turtle terrorised Raquel Welch in a bikini. This awesome Ray Harryhausen monster was based on a real prehistoric turtle, Archelon, which wasn't quite as big in real life. They do say the camera adds ten pounds though…Sea turtles that graze algae keep coral reefs healthy (which is good news because coral reefs need all the help they can get), and turtles that eat jellyfish help make the beaches safer for humans who don't want to get stung.In the water, a plastic bag looks like a jellyfish. That's bad news for turtles.It's not rocket science knowing how best to start protecting turtles - you would protect their nesting beaches and the seas around them – yet growing pressure from human development means turtles are losing out across the world.Some places where turtles were traditionally hunted for meat and their shells are switching to ecotourism instead. Turtles, like whales, must be worth more alive than dead, right?Turtles are fantastic ocean ambassadors, but also indicators of the many ways we humans are screwing those same oceans up. Protecting turtles means changing fishing methods, protecting areas are needed for feeding and breeding, and for us to stop treating the ocean as a rubbish tip.Add your voice to the call for marine reserves Greenpeace is working on all of those, and actively campaigning for a global network of large-scale marine reserves – areas that are closed to all extractive uses, such as fishing and mining – covering 40% of the world's oceans, which are urgently needed to protect marine species and their habitats and that could be key to reversing global fisheries decline. Such a network would include smaller coastal reserves that could protect turtle rookeries and larger reserves offshore in ocean areas where marine turtles are at greatest risk.Join us now and share this with your friends to help spread the word.

Woolwich murder

Thu, 23 May 2013 03:15:01 CDT

Source: Stuart's Big Green Spot - The murder yesterday in Woolwich was horrific and my thoughts are with the deceased's family. Sadly the murder has sparked appalling racist comments on the internet and the knee jerk reactions from the media, police and government. As I drove home last night listening to the breaking news I passed the entrance to the barracks in Maidstone and saw two police cars blocking the exit. It went through my mind that maybe the four policemen were there to provide protection to the thousand or so regiment at the barracks but I quickly dismissed that as ludicrous - but that was exactly what they were doing.It seems too that a mosque in Gillingham was attacked last night. The people who committed the murder in Woolwich are murderers who betray their claimed links to Islam which is a good religion (for example see ISLAM for Peace).Racist attacks and murders continue up and down the country but the country doesn't react like yesterday's. This morning Moazzam Begg, a former Guantanamo Bay detainee from Birmingham posted this on Facebook: Condolences to family of murdered man. 85-year old Muslim man was also murdered in my home town a few weeks ago walking to the mosque. Police believe it was racist attack. No uproar. So two black murderers commit a horrific murder in broad daylight and the country seems to descend into a panic. The murderers have been caught and will be punished - that should be the end of it but I fear the attention that race and religious elements of the murder is getting will get more attention that the horrific act itself and will drive society in the wrong direction.

Barkingside Promotion

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:00:01 CDT

Source: Barkingside21 - This coming autumn will see the start of the 2013/14 football season and will be Barkingside Football Club’s first season at Ryman League level. Last season saw the team enjoy possibly the greatest season in the club’s 115-year history as they secured a stunning 9-1 Essex Senior League cup final win over Bowers & Pitsea to go with a club-best runners-up place in the Essex Senior League behind

Another Court Disaster For The DWP As Atos Assessments Ruled Unfair

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:45:01 CDT

Source: The Void - The DWP have lost in the courts again after a tribunal today ruled that the Atos run Work Capability Assessment (WCA) disadvantages people with mental health problems. This follows a string of legal decisions ruling against the DWP as they … Continue reading →

Herakles' Cameroon palm oil project halted

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:00:02 CDT

Source: Greenpeace Making Waves Blog - Bruce Wrobel, the chief executive of Herakles Farms, claims his company’s efforts to flatten a chunk of Cameroon’s dense rainforest to develop a palm oil plantation are borne of a desire to address a "dire humanitarian need".Yet this week Herakles has had to suspend its activities in Cameroon following a forestry ministry order for the company to halt clearing work at their Talangaye nursery in the southwest region of the country.Greenpeace has long been among those calling out Wrobel and his company over their failure to tell the real truth over their project. The suspension of work is merely the latest evidence that the proposed plantation is a mess, despite the company’s ever-present PR machine.In contravention of national law, in the face of local opposition and a huge threat to the local environment, the development is simply the wrong project in the wrong place and it needs to be stopped.Today, together with the Oakland Institute we have released a new report revealing just how big the discrepancy is between what Wrobel and his friends say publicly and what they are saying to potential investors.Compiled through confidential internal Herakles documents, here some of the biggest fibs exposed in Herakles Exposed:The reality: Herakles has yet to receive a land lease from the Cameroonian government and thus possesses no right to develop its concession area. It has been in violation of national law since 2010. The new order from the forestry ministry again proves Herakles has far from all the permissions required.The claim: Herakles does not tolerate corruption.The reality: Evidence strongly suggests Herakles has resorted to bribery, the offer of cash gifts and promises of employment to obtain the consent of some local communities and the government to facilitate the project.The claim: In a widely circulated open letter of 2012 by Herakles CEO Bruce Wrobel, the company claimed that all timber generated by the project’s massive deforestation would benefit the Cameroonian government.The reality: In direct contradiction to Wrobel’s public claim, however, Herakles’ presentations intended to attract investors has estimated the company may bank US$60 - US$90 million on the sale of timber and brags about the "profit uplift". We feel sorry for financiers that have been tempted by Herakles profit projections because Cameroonian law states that only accredited logging companies can commercialise timber. And as Wrobel himself wrote, Herakles "are not commercial loggers".The claim: Herakles will produce 34 tonnes of palm bunches (FFB) per hectare at peak production.The reality: The most experienced palm producers in Africa yield 26 tonnes FFB per hectare and most plantations yield less than 20 tonnes FFB at peak production.The reality: The company promises in an investment advisory it would clear more than 10,000 hectares of land in order to plant 1.5 million oil palm seedlings. However, internal communications from employees reveal Herakles is in no position to clear that much land and that the seedlings and nursery are already overgrown by nine months, meaning work is unable to proceed at the advertised speed. Okay, so Herakles is not the first American or international company to employ questionable business practices abroad … so why does it matter so much? Since 2008 there has been a massive land rush on the African continent as foreign companies and governments look to produce commodities, biofuels, and food staples in addition to asserting foreign control over natural resources such as timber, minerals and water. The heavily forested areas of the Congo Basin are prime targets as companies search for rich soil in areas with a low population density. If Herakles’ project succeeds – despite the illegalities, the massive deforestation, destruction of local livelihoods and false claims to investors – many other investors may attempt to do the same.That is why the project must be stopped – permanently.

Boycott Workfare Go To Brighton To Smash Benefit Sanctions

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:00:02 CDT

Source: The Void - Boycott Workfare joined the Civil Service Rank and File Network (CSRF) and Brighton Benefits Campaign in Brighton yesterday to lobby the PCS Union to take meaningful action on the brutal benefit sanctions currently driving hundreds of thousands of people into … Continue reading →

How Do Our Euro Prospects Look?

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:45:01 CDT

Source: Peter Cranie - I’ve reposted a batch of national polling that I did in 2008, nearly a year before the last Euro Elections. This weekend the poll ratings for us were as follows:3% YouGov4% ComRes4% TNS BMRB6% IPSOS-MORIThings are very much “as you were” for the Greens. We had an average poll rating across 4 pollsters of 4% in August 2008. This weekend’s average of the 4 opinion polls is 4.25% with YouGov once again providing the lowest rating of Green support.Between August 2008 and June 2009, we had the huge impact of the expenses scandal, which affected all three large parties, and we had disproportionate media coverage of the BNP (compared to the Greens). Although we got an electoral boost in the Euro Elections that year, UKIP were more successful at getting the “protest” vote and the BNP benefited from their media coverage and the “dog whistle” effect it provided to them in the North West and the Yorkshire & Humberside regions. We are seeing the same pattern much earlier on in this campaign, with UKIP getting wall to wall coverage at the moment. But it is easy to diagnose the problem, and perhaps more difficult to propose the solution. I believe we need a key idea from the Greens to impact on the national consciousness and bring us into the narrative of these European Elections. Without it, we’ll be scrapping around the fringes.We’ve spent a long time establishing our social justice credentials but we must recognise that Labour will still dominate on social justice, mainly because voters will hear so much more from them due to their size, representation and financial resources. In areas where we are strong on the ground, I think this message does resonate sufficiently for voters to make a positive Green choice on these issues instead of simply opting for Labour. However, in areas where there are no elected Greens and limited national media coverage of us as a party, there are huge barriers to us being seen as the party of social justice. Unless northern working class communities see someone they can relate to in our party at a local level, it is very difficult for us to benefit from the fact that when you purely look at our policies, we are proving more popular than Labour.My current view is that the debate on Climate Change is hardening. UKIP are hardline denialists and we are the antidote to that. What we cannot do is undersell our need for action on Climate Change and indeed the Euro Elections are the best national opportunity for people to vote for action by putting Greens into elected positions where they can have a significant effect in the European Parliament. The majority also accept that human actions are driving climate change. Part of our job is to ensure that voters of the light or dark green variety can see what it is crucial for us to get more Greens elected this time. It is not the only thing, but we are not making enough of our unique selling point as a party, and we need to do so.More from me on this in a couple of days time.

Manchester People's Assembly

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:45:01 CDT

Source: Peter Cranie - I'll be speaking tonight on behalf of Manchester Green Party at this event.In note form, this is what I am going to say:"This is the opening battle in a much longer war.We are paying for the excesses of capitalism. The people are paying.Immigrants are scapegoated while corporations skip national borders at their convenience to avoid tax.People are paying bedroom tax as bankers bag their bonuses.Customers pay through the nose for privatisation while the oligopoly utilities rake in the profits.There are fundamental problems with the system. In a political decision to pass the buck on pain, it is local government who are being tasked with implementing these cuts. The cumulative effect 3 years of cuts is starting to bite deeply into their capacity to deliver key services. £5bn worth of local services cut since June 2010, including the axing of 230,000 jobs.Meanwhile the Bank of England purchases assets from Investment Firms, Pension Funds, Insurance companies and Investment banks through Quantitative Easing. And what a surprise – the Stock Market is hitting new record levels.Quantitative Easing has also been used to buy Corporate Bonds, giving firms money to invest in their businesses. So why not local government?We need a new round of Green Quantitative Easing- To buy out the destructive legacy of PFI and end those contracts- To purchase local government bonds to support the 500 or more local councils in the country and prevent further local cuts- To finance a Green New Deal of £50 billion of public infrastructure spending to rebalance our economy and put people back into workThe only barrier to this approach is the vested interests that dominate our country. Armed with an alternative, we can rebuild our economy for the future.But this is the opening battle in a much longer war. Climate Change is with us now and the costs will be crippling. All around the world we’ve been lied to and betrayed by successive governments who have done nothing.This battle is about who will shoulder the cost in our much tougher future. We are drawing our battle line here to say that it will not be the vulnerable. It will not be the immigrants. It will not be the people. Those institutions and individuals who have caused this social and environmental mess will have to bear the cost. They will cling on to the power they have. They will fight to protect their privileges. But we will overcome them. We will innovate. We will use technology. We will bridge our differences and work together across political parties. We will win.The future will be a fairer, flatter society united to tackle the immense adaptation we need for a rapidly changing climate. We will fight for it and we will win.I look forward like you, to hearing our main speakers tonight but I welcome questions from colleagues and comrades in this open mic section."Ref: http://www.financeforthefuture.com/GreenQuEasing.pdf

1 Year to Go - The NW Appeal

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:45:01 CDT

Source: Peter Cranie - Before you read the message below, I urge you to watch this 30-second video What we are doing to the planet is dangerous and we are now seeing the impacts of our changing climate. In England in 2012 we experienced the wettest year ever, despite three months of intense drought from January to March. We also saw Hurricane Sandy hit the North East United States and an Australian summer of extreme weather that smashed 52 previous records.Most dangerously, the summer ice in the Arctic Ocean is now in a precarious state, with many scientists predicting open water at the North Pole in September of this year. The last remaining parts of the old Multi Year Ice began fracturing in February, before the sun had even risen on parts of the Arctic, as it started melting from below.The European Elections will take place on 22nd May 2014. We have just 1 year left to prepare for the Green Party breakthrough that needs to happen in our region. We've seen unprecedented coverage of UKIP and their angry anti-European, anti-immigration rhetoric and their climate change denialism. They have positioned themselves as the party of protest against the reds, yellows and blues. They will be given the media resources to do it, with rich friends and now overtures from Rupert Murdoch. To combat that we need our own paid Press Officer, rather than relying on volunteers alone. This is what we are up against (based on the last European Election year, 2009):UKIP Media spending in the North West in 2009 = £54,250Green Media spending in the North West in 2009 = £3,371 (Source: https://pefonline.electoralcommission.org.uk/Search/CampaignExpenditureSearch.aspx)The 2014 European Elections are vital. In order to address Climate Change, we need European and Global co-operation. It is no surprise that the paid up climate change denial lobby are desperate to see UKIP do well and to get Britain out of Europe. Their self interest is obvious. So we need our positive message to get across but we don't have much time left - that's why I'm writing to you today.I want a future for my two children. I want them to grow up in a world where we can be proud of a society based on fairness and social justice. I want them to grow up in a society that has found the right solutions for Climate Change and is implementing them.There are 50 Green MEPs in the European Parliament today. We need to at least double that voice next year if we are going to get the mandate to urgently implement measure to reduce and mitigate the effects of Climate Change. Our seat in the North West is at the front line - we must win it. Can you help us?Peter Cranie Prospective Green MEP for North West England How you can helpWe need 20 donations of £400 now, to fund a part-time NWGP press officer until the European Election.We also need regular monthly donations (whatever you can afford!) to enable us to develop our electoral materials and online campaign tools.If you can help, please choose from the following options:1) Make a cheque or postal order payable to North West Green Party, and send it to NWGP c/o David Jones (e-mail: david.jones_msc at yahoo.co.uk) or request Standing Order form. 2) To make an on-line donation using your credit or debit card or via PayPal, go to: www.green-action.org.uk (but note that Paypal will receive a small % of your donation).

Herakles Cameroon palm oil project starts to run off the rails

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:30:02 CDT

Source: Greenpeace Making Waves Blog - Bruce Wrobel, the chief executive of Herakles Farms, claims his company’s efforts to flatten a chunk of Cameroon’s dense rainforest to develop a palm oil plantation are borne of a desire to address a "dire humanitarian need".Yet this week Herakles has had to suspend its activities in Cameroon following a forestry ministry order for the company to halt clearing work at their Talangaye nursery in the southwest region of the country.Greenpeace has long been among those calling out Wrobel and his company over their failure to tell the real truth over their project. The suspension of work is merely the latest evidence that the proposed plantation is a mess, despite the company’s ever-present PR machine.In contravention of national law, in the face of local opposition and a huge threat to the local environment, the development is simply the wrong project in the wrong place and it needs to be stopped.Today, together with the Oakland Institute we have released a new report revealing just how big the discrepancy is between what Wrobel and his friends say publicly and what they are saying to potential investors.Compiled through confidential internal Herakles documents, here some of the biggest fibs exposed in Herakles Exposed:The reality: Herakles has yet to receive a land lease from the Cameroonian government and thus possesses no right to develop its concession area. It has been in violation of national law since 2010. The new order from the forestry ministry again proves Herakles has far from all the permissions required.The claim: Herakles does not tolerate corruption.The reality: Evidence strongly suggests Herakles has resorted to bribery, the offer of cash gifts and promises of employment to obtain the consent of some local communities and the government to facilitate the project.The claim: In a widely circulated open letter of 2012 by Herakles CEO Bruce Wrobel, the company claimed that all timber generated by the project’s massive deforestation would benefit the Cameroonian government.The reality: In direct contradiction to Wrobel’s public claim, however, Herakles’ presentations intended to attract investors has estimated the company may bank US$60 - US$90 million on the sale of timber and brags about the "profit uplift". We feel sorry for financiers that have been tempted by Herakles profit projections because Cameroonian law states that only accredited logging companies can commercialise timber. And as Wrobel himself wrote, Herakles "are not commercial loggers".The claim: Herakles will produce 34 tonnes of palm bunches (FFB) per hectare at peak production.The reality: The most experienced palm producers in Africa yield 26 tonnes FFB per hectare and most plantations yield less than 20 tonnes FFB at peak production.The reality: The company promises in an investment advisory it would clear more than 10,000 hectares of land in order to plant 1.5 million oil palm seedlings. However, internal communications from employees reveal Herakles is in no position to clear that much land and that the seedlings and nursery are already overgrown by nine months, meaning work is unable to proceed at the advertised speed. Okay, so Herakles is not the first American or international company to employ questionable business practices abroad … so why does it matter so much? Since 2008 there has been a massive land rush on the African continent as foreign companies and governments look to produce commodities, biofuels, and food staples in addition to asserting foreign control over natural resources such as timber, minerals and water. The heavily forested areas of the Congo Basin are prime targets as companies search for rich soil in areas with a low population density. If Herakles’ project succeeds – despite the illegalities, the massive deforestation, destruction of local livelihoods and false claims to investors – many other investors may attempt to do the same. That is why the project must be stopped – permanently.

ISEE Conference at UEA

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:30:02 CDT

Source: Rupert Read - ….. http://www.uea.ac.uk/documents/483130/2451561/International+Society+for+Environmental+Ethics+Poster.pdf/ee082889-900c-42cf-9035-658f75514415

Creating a debate on sustainable tuna fishing is the first step towards change

Wed, 22 May 2013 05:00:02 CDT

Source: Greenpeace Making Waves Blog - Our second ship tour of the Indian Ocean as part of the campaign for sustainable tuna fisheries ended last week. Combined with last year's tour, Greenpeace has been patrolling the region for illegal and unsustainable fishing practices for five out of the last 10 months.During the last two months we have documented illegal and destructive fishing and have used our port stops to meet with key stakeholders and staged a direct action on a South Korean vessel found to have been fishing illegally. All of this has helped spark discussion about the future of tuna fishing in the Indian Ocean.This is a long way from where we started last September when we arrived in the region for the first time with our ship the Rainbow Warrior. Our work this year has taken forward many of the conversations started last year and allowed us to start talking with many more people from different coastal states.On the Esperanza we documented some of the illegal and unsustainable fishing that is happening away from government and public scrutiny. We exposed for a second year in a row evidence of illegal fishing by Sri Lankan boats inside the protected Chagossian waters and have submitted the evidence to the relevant authorities, including the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC).We found evidence of tuna transshipments at sea where caught tuna is moved from fishing vessels into larger container ships, a practice notorious for allowing illegally caught fish into the supply chain. Back on land, we met with the Mauritian Fisheries Minister, Nicolas Von Mally, who agreed in writing to put forward a motion to ban transshipments of tuna at sea at next year’s IOTC meeting. This is real progress.While in Mauritius, the Esperanza was joined by a flotilla of local fishing boats as we sailed up the coast to the annual IOTC meeting, urging delegates to count the number of Indian Ocean tuna fishing boats and to ban the use of destructive Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) with purse seine nets.Inside the meeting, our first ever formal delegation to the IOTC worked tirelessly to highlight the need for urgent reform.Earlier, we had tracked down a vessel owned by South Korean fishing giant Dongwon found to have been fishing illegally in waters off the African coast. While the vessel was in Port Louis, Mauritius, we painted the word 'illegal' in English and Korean on the ship's hull. We also called on the Mauritian authorities to refuse permission for the vessel to unload. All of this culminated in the Mauritians refusing to let the vessel unload its untraceable and suspect catch.In Reunion, more than 1,400 people toured the Esperanza over two days of open boats. Combined with meetings with key companies, fishermen and their unions, local NGOs and many media interviews we took our message about the urgent need for reform of tuna fishing to a big audience on the island.Similarly in Madagascar we met with local fishermen to hear how the big tuna fishing boats are impacting their fishing and livelihoods. This was the first time that Greenpeace has worked on sustainable fishing issues in Madagascar and we made many useful contacts.In total, we were at sea for two months documenting fishing at sea, while we talked with politicians, businesses, scientists, NGOs and fishermen on land.In their different ways, it is clear that many of these very different groups recognise the need to change and improve the way tuna fishing is run and operated in the region. While we may not yet have agreement on what that change should be, our work over the past 10 months has ensured that a dynamic and far-reaching debate has properly begun. This is the first step towards change.Now the hard work of securing that strong and lasting change to protect tuna stocks and the wider Indian Ocean marine environment begins.Oliver Knowles, Greenpeace International senior oceans campaigner

The Never-Spotted Leopard

Wed, 22 May 2013 04:15:02 CDT

Source: Monbiot.com - Are repeated sightings of non-existent big cats evidence of a yearning for a wilder life? An extract from Feral: searching for enchantment on the frontiers of rewilding, by George Monbiot, published in the Guardian, 22nd May 2013. The setting was unimprovable. Across the fields, Maiden Castle, a turretted fortress of living rock, clawed at the [...]

International Biodiversity Day in photos

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:30:02 CDT

Source: Greenpeace Making Waves Blog - Image..On this International Day for Biological Diversity, we want to show you stunning images from one of the world’s richest places in biodiversity: Indonesia. From whale sharks, to abundant coral reefs and forests teeming with life, the Greenpeace ship the Rainbow warrior is currently documenting the beauty and fragility of Indonesia’s natural environment.The message in these images is simple: this is what we stand to lose if we don’t act now.Image..If our planet is to sustain life on earth in the future and be protected from environmental destruction, we need action by governments to protect our living, breathing oceans and forests and to halt biodiversity loss.The fragile state of Indonesia's oceans and forests are a clear reminder of how marine and forest life is at risk from industrial overfishing and relentless deforestation.Image..Indonesia has at least 20% of the world’s total biodiversity and is home to more than 30,000 recorded species of plants and more than 3,000 mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibiansImage..Approximately 10% of the world’s rainforests are located in Indonesia. Fifty years ago, 82% of the country was covered with forests but in the last decade this has dropped to 48% due to relentless deforestation for paper and palm oil plantations and mining.Indonesia’s seas are also among the most diverse coastal and marine habitats. Areas like Raja Ampat, in West Papua, are claimed to be among the richest spots in biodiversity on Earth. But the country’s coral reefs are considered to be among the world’s most threatened biodiversity hotspots, at risk from overfishing, pollution and climate change.Image..Continued inaction is not an option.We must move now to stop destructive industrial overfishing in order to restore our oceans to health and take steps to achieve zero deforestation.Check out how you can support or join us. Bustar Maitar is the head of the Greenpeace International Forests Campaign in Indonesia

East Reading Festival detailed programme and information #rdguk

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:45:02 CDT

Source: Bloggy Blanc - What’s happening at East Reading Festival 2013?East Reading Festival. Sunday 16th June, 201312 noon till 6pm. Palmer Park, Wokingham Road, RG6 1LF There’ll be:1. 3 music and performance marquees!2. Over 40 stalls! 3. Lots of fantastic food! Stalls – There’ll be . . .· Henna, facepainting and Samosas.· Organic soap, Nepalese dumplings, and Free health advice.· Jewellery, Jerk Chicken and butternut squash.· Crazy cakes, telescopes and children’s clothes.· Basket ball, books and black eyed peas. Music – There’ll be . . .· Belly dancers, break dancers and Brazilian dancers.· Circus skills, comedy and choirs.· Ukuleles, Singer songwriters, and close harmony.And much much more! Plus +++ Bouncy castles +++ Ice cream van +++ Fairground rides· It’s going to be a really fun day, there is so much going on!· We have searched through East Reading to bring you the best local acts.· There will be fun and entertainment for everyone, young and old.· The festival is a fun day for families and ANYONE who lives in East Reading. We’ve made sure there will be entertainment for everyone. East Reading Festival is a REAL community festival.We’re proud of our community and proud of our unity.We want to celebrate everything that is good about East Reading.And have a great day showing the world what we can do.We have so much talent in this area it’s unbelievable! ** Come along and see for yourself why we’re so proud of our community! ** East Reading Festival. Sunday 16th June. 12 till 6pm. Palmer Park, Wokingham Road, RG6 1LF Music at East Reading Festival 2013Wow! Look what’s on! Music Marquee12.00 – Opening Ceremony12.15 – Children from the Pakistan Community Centre – Delightful performance by local youngsters.12.35 – Bhangracise with Rajeev Gupta – Get fit and have fun at the same time!12.55 – Nepalese dance – Beautiful to watch.13.10 – Zarand of La Mort Subite – Real Hurdy Gurdy player!13.50 - St Josephs school choir – What a lovely sound!14.25 – Jack Cade - Country, Americana and Folk.15.05 – Reading Ukulele Group - Ukulele's galore!15.45 – Bear & the woods - A unique Folk 'n' Roll four piece from Reading.16.25 – The Retreat Singers – Close harmony, Andrew’s sisters, gospel and folk.16.55 – World renowned performer Rahi Bains and pupils.17.20 – The Floydian Doors – Stunning tribute band. Reading College Stage12.05-12.15 Punam-Nepalese dance12.15-12.25 Gopal12.25-12.35 Calvin Brown12.35-12.50 Andy Robbins12.50-13.05 Sean BestFrom 1 till 3 .300pm - Four bands from the level 3 music course at Reading College15.25 – C’nergi16.05 – Airlocked band16.45 – Risen Solution17.25 – Ija & the Acoustic Messengers Music & Performance MarqueeBelly dancers, Break dancers and Brazilian dancers!Circus skills and Comedy!2.30 – Anand Thapa2.45 - Savour the FlavourLocal talent - Singer songwriters from ERAPA. Please pass this information on.

Save the King's Meadows baths #rdguk

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:45:02 CDT

Source: Bloggy Blanc -