Leading the way to oblivion?

On Saturday, I joined several thousand people on the climate change march from outside the US embassy to Parliament square.
It was a good humoured affair in spite of the seriousness of the issue, timed to coincide with talks in Potsdam.
The media found other things to focus on that day – football, Greek riots and Xmas shopping statistics.
What they missed was a curious political phenomenon.


Two leaders were present at the rally.
One came across well, projecting her voice. She was on familiar territory – this was after all a core party issue and even said so in her speech, complaining about how the same speeches and rallies had been done so often, but fallen on deaf ears in Parliament.
Caroline Lucas, the green party's recently elected leader, had "relaunched" the party with the Green New Deal. This mini manifesto was a populist document. In comparison to the other New Deals out there, it is still the best roadmap out there - though it is not clear how it sits with the real party manifesto.
Easy to understand, it is meant to allow GP activists to engage with re public on serous issues. And show the Party has a plan for jobs and the wider economy. It can be criticized for trying to revive Capitalism and its backdrop of Roosevelt and Churchill quotes from an imperial era.
Pre-Lehman Brothers it might have looked radical early in September. Now as even Cameron acknowledges, the world has changed.
Whatever its merits, the eager beavers expecting a media blitz with a New Green party will be chastened by the damp squib of a campaign since September.
It seems the media feel the environment can be discarded as we worry about the Great Recession 1.
The Greens face an uphill task to be heard in 2009. No change there, then.


The real story on Saturday was about the other leader.
Nick Clegg had sent out a clarion call to Lib Dem activists to turn out in large numbers
After a week of build up in the Independent, this was to be his bid for leadership of the green movement - at least the so-called Middle England voters. In a way, one could say he was suggesting there was no need to vote Green, when the Lib-Dems (a more ‘serious’ party!) was available.




What a fiasco for Clegg. In a sea of green, there was hardly a yellow banner or badge to be seen.
The Lib Dems snubbed Clegg and the grassroots probably now realize they have elected the wrong leader. He has moved the party to the right in one of the worst political blunders this decade. His timing was atrocious.
In reality, the cult of the leader might have been appropriate for the anodyne politics in the era of the credit boom. Politics was bunched up in the Right, though we called it the centre-ground. The only differentiation was presentation and ‘personality’.
The electorate is now polarizing - to Left and Right. Times are tough.
The last thing they want is another Blairite chief executive, focusing on marginal seats and searching for the holy grail of the Centre.
The world has indeed changed.
Will the courtiers to all leaders understand that fact quickly enough?


Farid Bakht

Event: Ecosocialism for the 21st century

Wednesday 10 December @ 7.30


Ecosocialism for the 21st century
A socialist response to climate change and the financial crisisS


Speaker: Sean Thompson (Green Left)


Venue: Indian YMCA, 41 Fitzroy Square, W1 (Warren Street tube)


Public borrowing, public spending and tax cuts to inject money into the economy so that people will spend, spend, spend. And of course most of what is bought is either useless, thrown away or environmentally harmful.


It is possible to have a society in which everyone's needs are met and which does not follow Gordon Brown's route of production, profit making and environmental degradation. Sean Thompson will explain how it is possible for working people not to pay the price for the capitalist crisis and to have an ecologically sustainable future.

greenwich mural workshop presents an exhibition of artworks 1975 to 2008

we are moving soon from macbean centre ....so
greenwich mural workshop presents an exhibition of artworks 1975 to 2008
macbean centre macbean street woolwich
parks
tiles
gardens
posters
playgrounds
mosaics
murals
banners
PRIVATE VIEW
15 DECEMBER 6 -9pm
come by overground to woolwich arsenal - 5 mins walk
come by tube from north greenwich by 272 or 161
come by any number of buses to woolwich to the stop by the station
come by vehicle via the A206 to macbean street - then into centre car park
tel: 020 8854 9266
email: carol@greenwichmuralworkshop.com
now! mon15th to sat 20th december
1 to 6 pm

See Pdf flyer at gmwexhibition3


URGENT - PRESS RELEASE


MAJOR PUBLIC ART EXHIBITION


1 December 2008




After 20 years, Greenwich Mural Workshop is closing down its Woolwich premises in December.


In one last splendid retrospective, an exhibition of its artistic production including posters, banners, mosaics, carnivals, playgrounds, parks and gardens can be seen at its Woolwich studio in the MacBean Centre, Macbean Street, from Monday 15th December to Saturday 20th December, 1 to 6pm each day. The exhibition is free and all are welcome.


The artist’s co-operative, which started in 1975, has worked with community groups all over Greenwich Borough, making murals to brighten estates, posters for events, banners for unions and action groups, playgrounds, gardens and parks for schools and tenants associations.


Carol Kenna and Steve Lobb founded the workshop, but during its 34 year history, dozens of other artists came to design and fabricate pictures, prints, constructions, and environments with them. Many fabulous artists, designers and craftsmen who worked with GMW, have gone on to establish great organisations of their own. But it was not only professional artists, countless apprentices were trained, residents of all ages learnt art skills, many going on to begin new careers. National Community Arts and Murals conferences were also organised by the group, and a national touring exhibition “Printng is Easy” – showed posters from community printshops from all over Britain.


GMW’s first project was designing and painting murals with people of Meridian Estate in Greenwich. Three landmark murals were created; “Peoples River” and the anti-nuclear “Wind of Peace” on Creek Road and “Towards the Good Planet” on Thames Street, opened by Oscar winning actress, Glenda Jackson. A courtyard scheme and a park - converted from a junkyard - was devised with the tenants and carried out by Greater London and Greenwich Councils.


More mural projects followed: Floyd road and Rathmore Youth Centre murals in Charlton; Anti Racist and Kingsman Green murals in Woolwich; Glyndon Estate murals in Plumstead; and Yarnton Way, Binsey and Limestone Walks’ murals in Thamesmead. Many began to be made in tile, and in mosaic; a visually stunning and hard-wearing medium. These materials were used in skills courses for young unemployed and in dozens of Greenwich primary schools, some of which, James Wolfe, Timbercroft, Boxgrove and Cardwell schools, will be on show at the exhibition.


The community printshop began in a flat rented from the GLC on the Meridian Estate. Graphic artists Lulu Ditzel and Rob Finn joined and ran the printshop, which grew quickly, advancing in techniques and skills in new premises at The Albany. When GMW moved to The Macbean Centre, Rob and Lulu left to set up on their own. Rick Walker took over the printshop and with new photographic facilities and satirical flair, brought a different, distinctive style to poster-making in the borough. With Carmen Diaz, Bernadette O’Donoghue, Lyn Medcalf and Howie Jeavons, the printshop produced hundreds of posters calling for social and political action and advertising events and meetings and entertainments. These posters are now highly valued and will soon become part of the national collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum.


Banners made for local community action, protest marches and tenants groups concerned a wide variety of issues and campaigns; anti-poll tax, anti-racist and domestic violence being amongst the most prominent. Also important were banners promoting women’s rights, welfare rights and solidarity with the miners. Banners both traditional and new in style were made also for several major trades unions.




GMW artists were greatly committed to the environment and devised “Vision for Woolwich” and “Where Land Meets Water”, grand scale conferences at the University and the Town Hall leading to specific development and planning proposals for the town. Gardens and playgrounds were designed and realised for several local primary schools, and two run down, neglected parks - Twinkle Park and Charlotte Turner Gardens in West Greenwich, brilliantly resurrected by GMW working with local people.
Recently the Workshop, with David Ireland Landscape Architects, has prepared designs for Plumstead Gardens and St Nicholas Churchyard and Gardens in Plumstead, for which first stage work is due to commence next year.






For more information and pictures
CONTACT: CAROL KENNA OR STEVE LOBB ON 0208 854 9266
email: carol@greenwichmuralworkshop.com

Jean Lambert's letter to Press re Campaign Against Climate Change March

Letter sent to London papers


Dear Editor,


On Saturday 6th December, many thousands of Londoners will be joining millions around the world to voice their concerns about climate change.


Climate change is a global problem with local consequences, some of which we are already witnessing, such as increased flooding, storms and droughts, leading to higher insurance costs, problems with food production and water scarcity.


This December, critical decisions will be made on the future of climate change policy. UN negotiations are now underway in Poznan to agree international plans to follow Kyoto and crucial votes will take place in the European Parliament on a new climate package.


The global day of action is an opportunity for all citizens to demand leadership from their Governments and elected politicians to achieve the best outcomes.


We need rapid action on climate change and I encourage everyone to take part in the climate march in London, which is likely to be the biggest event in Europe. The action will begin at Grosvenor Square at 12pm, with several high profile, inspirational speakers. For more info go to www.campaigncc.org


Regards,
Jean Lambert
London's Green Party MEP