A pre-election meeting to highlight local journalism & democracy hosted by the Centre for the Study of Global Media and Democracy, Goldsmiths, University of London & the National Union of Journalists
Wednesday 17 March, 2.00-4.00pm, Thatcher Room, Portcullis House,
Westminster, SW1P 3JA.
(http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/colmap.pdf
<http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/colmap.pdf> )
Speakers include: Jeremy Dear (General Secretary, NUJ); Steve Hewlett (broadcaster), Professor James Curran, (Director, Goldsmiths Leverhulme Media Research Centre), Natalie Fenton (editor New Media, Old News), Angela Phillips (founder, East London Lines), Professor Stephen Coleman (University of Leeds).
All welcome. Please arrive in good time as there are security checks.
Saturday, 27 February 2010
"Minding the gap. How poverty can really be challenged in the UK"
Video clips from Fringe meeting at Green party Conference Spring 2010
http://blip.tv/file/3277344
Part 1
http://blip.tv/file/3277811
Part 2
http://blip.tv/file/3278064
Part 3
http://blip.tv/file/3277344
Part 1
http://blip.tv/file/3277811
Part 2
http://blip.tv/file/3278064
Part 3
Friday, 26 February 2010
Post Copenhagen fringe at Green Party Conference 2/2010
John from climate camp and Jerry Hicks
http://blip.tv/file/3275412
Amancay and Derek Wall
http://blip.tv/file/3276553
Questions and discussion
http://blip.tv/file/3277190
http://blip.tv/file/3275412
Amancay and Derek Wall
http://blip.tv/file/3276553
Questions and discussion
http://blip.tv/file/3277190
Monday, 22 February 2010
Green Left meeting with Salma Yaqoob
On 30 January 2010 some Green Left activists went to Birmingham to assist with Salma Yaqoob's electoral campaign, Salma is standing for Respect but Birmingham Greens voted not to stand in the constituency that she is contesting. After canvassing in the morning, Salma spoke to a meeting of supporters from Green Left, Respect and other organisations. Here are some clips of what she said and the questions and discussion that followed.
Part1
http://blip.tv/file/get/Yrrumuk-samayacoobglmeeting465.wmv
Part2
http://blip.tv/file/get/Yrrumuk-salmayacoobq1776.wmv
Part3
http://blip.tv/file/get/Yrrumuk-salmayacoobq2700.wmv
Part1
http://blip.tv/file/get/Yrrumuk-samayacoobglmeeting465.wmv
Part2
http://blip.tv/file/get/Yrrumuk-salmayacoobq1776.wmv
Part3
http://blip.tv/file/get/Yrrumuk-salmayacoobq2700.wmv
Greens edge to the left
A Report on GP spring Conference by Sean Thompson
At its conference in London over the past weekend, the Green Party provided more evidence of its gradual evolution from a narrow environmentalist sect into a left social democratic party with a strong emphasis on ecological issues.
First, the conference passed with large majorities two resolutions drafted by members of Green Left; one pledging support for the National Pensioners’ Convention and its election manifesto, and the other calling for the imposition of a top limit to the pay and bonus differentials in all organisations, so the maximum wage that any organisation could pay would be ten times that of the lowest paid worker.
Second, the conference showed that Greens are moving away from the wooly and simplistic suspicion of science and technology that some of them have demonstrated in the past and adopting a much more rational and rigorous approach. In its revue of the Party’s health policy, conference removed all the egregious anti-science references in it that had previously been such an embarrassment, and reversed its previous opposition to the use of embryonic stem cells in medical research. In addition, the party abandoned its absurd demand that scientists and 'technologists' – alone among all citizens – be required to sign a pledge of environmental purity, and agreed to undertake a review and rewrite of the whole the science and technology section of its core policy document, now renamed ‘Policies for a Sustainable Society’.
Third, the make-up of the membership is clearly starting to change. Over the past year, party membership has increased by around two and a half thousand and is now hovering close to ten thousand (and rising). The number of young faces at the conference has clearly grown over the last year or so, as has the number of new members coming from the ranks of the ex-Labour diaspora. As one member, attending her first conference, remarked “I used to think of the Greens as single issue obsessives, but now I believe the Party represents the principles I spent thirty years fighting for in the Labour Party, informed by a realisation of the scale and urgency of the environmental crisis we face.”
At its conference in London over the past weekend, the Green Party provided more evidence of its gradual evolution from a narrow environmentalist sect into a left social democratic party with a strong emphasis on ecological issues.
First, the conference passed with large majorities two resolutions drafted by members of Green Left; one pledging support for the National Pensioners’ Convention and its election manifesto, and the other calling for the imposition of a top limit to the pay and bonus differentials in all organisations, so the maximum wage that any organisation could pay would be ten times that of the lowest paid worker.
Second, the conference showed that Greens are moving away from the wooly and simplistic suspicion of science and technology that some of them have demonstrated in the past and adopting a much more rational and rigorous approach. In its revue of the Party’s health policy, conference removed all the egregious anti-science references in it that had previously been such an embarrassment, and reversed its previous opposition to the use of embryonic stem cells in medical research. In addition, the party abandoned its absurd demand that scientists and 'technologists' – alone among all citizens – be required to sign a pledge of environmental purity, and agreed to undertake a review and rewrite of the whole the science and technology section of its core policy document, now renamed ‘Policies for a Sustainable Society’.
Third, the make-up of the membership is clearly starting to change. Over the past year, party membership has increased by around two and a half thousand and is now hovering close to ten thousand (and rising). The number of young faces at the conference has clearly grown over the last year or so, as has the number of new members coming from the ranks of the ex-Labour diaspora. As one member, attending her first conference, remarked “I used to think of the Greens as single issue obsessives, but now I believe the Party represents the principles I spent thirty years fighting for in the Labour Party, informed by a realisation of the scale and urgency of the environmental crisis we face.”
Monday, 15 February 2010
Republican Socialist Convention 13/2/2010; Report from Joseph Healy
From: Joseph Healy Date: Monday, 15 February, 2010, 10:08
I attended the meeting of the Republican Socialist Convention in London at South Bank University on Saturday representing Green Left. The event was attended by about 25 people, representing Socialist Alliance, CPGB, the Scottish Socialist Party, the Commune, Labour Representation Committee, Toby Abse (who may have been representing the Alliance for Green Socialism) and several non-party individuals. Other than Peter T who left early due to other commitments, I was the only Green present. We were also a sponsoring organisation. What I also found interesting was that about 25% of those attending were Scots.
The event has been filmed so at some point it will be available and sent to lists etc. The emphasis of the Convention was on Republicanism and Socialism and it was felt that the former is an issue which the Left seldom addresses.
A problem was that many of the speakers pulled out at the last minute for various reasons including health – Bob Crow sent a message that he was involved in industrial action! The first session was on ‘The Crisis of Democracy and a Republican Programme’ and the two speakers were Peter Tatchell and Colin Fox, Co Leader of the Scottish Socialist Party. Peter Tatchell put forward a list of demands for constitutional reform. These were: A fairer voting system and said that AV as proposed by Brown was worse than the current system, a written constitution and a Bill of Rights, an elected Head of State based on the Irish system, a fully elected second chamber (possibly based on regional lists) recall of MPs, abolition of the Royal prerogative, strengthening the powers of Select Committees, all government appointments to appear before Select Committees, abolition of quangos and a federal Britain.
Colin Fox praised the heroic work of Peter and said that he was an inspiration. He then graphically related some of the things which had happened in Scotland when the SSP were elected to the Scottish Parliament. He said that the state of corruption in the UK Parliament was incredible and that the whole system was rotten even sucking in MPs who he thought of as honourable, like Harry Cohen. This illustrated the need for a workers wage. He quoted James Connolly: “You rise with your class and not out of your class.” He decried the absence of teachers, bricklayers etc in the current parliament and said that it was quite deliberate that they were all lawyers, lecturers etc. Being an MP had become a career and not a cause. He also stated that the total budget for the Scottish parliament was a fraction of that for the banks or oil companies and that effectively they held the real power. He pointed out that in recent opinion polls only 37% of Scots supported independence but a clear majority supported a republic. He predicted great political unrest in Scotland after a Tory election victory.
The second panel was on the national question and had a contribution from Steve Freeman on English nationalism and Alan Armstrong from the SSP on the Scottish and Northern Irish perspective on the national question. Steve Freeman from Socialist Alliance pointed out how the English flag had changed over recent years from Union Jack to St George and also how the terms ‘British’ and ‘English’ differed. He also made the point that the republican issue had almost no support in England whereas in Scotland it was a burning issue because of the national question. Alan Armstrong said that Northern Ireland had demonstrated the determination of the UK state not to allow any part to break away and that Peter Tatchell’s demands would be met by violent state resistance as had happened with the Civil Rights movement in NI in the 60s. He said that the SSP called for an independent socialist Scotland and the end of the British state – he pointed out how Scotland was one of the most militarised states in Europe with submarine bases, arms manufacturing etc.
I was on the final panel with Colin Fox of the SSP. We discussed the general election and I was quite forthright on the Green Party’s republican programme and that it was also now our policy to recall MPs after a local ballot. I also stressed the need to challenge the neo-Liberal programme of cuts being put forward by the three main parties. Colin Fox argued that the SSP was going through one of its best periods and that the war in Afghanistan had led to a real rise in support in Scotland. He and other SSP speakers also pointed out that the SNP were prepared to accept the monarchy, Trident etc and that they were essentially ‘the tartan Tories’. Their recent setbacks in Scotland were due to the fact that these retreats were now becoming obvious to the electorate.
Colin Fox told me later that he had a high regard for Caroline Lucas. He said that in Scotland the SSP and the Greens were not opponents because the SSP was fighting Labour in the council estates, whereas the Scottish Greens were fighting the Lib Dems in the prosperous suburbs. Those on the list from Scotland may be able to confirm or deny this.
I think it was a useful discussion of topics not often aired. There was, of course, vigorous discussion, some of it consisting of speeches from the floor but that will be on the film. I made the point during my talk about how the Queen’s role could become a very actual topic rather than one for constitutional experts and there is a report on this today http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/feb/14/queen-power-hung-parliament
Joseph Healy
I attended the meeting of the Republican Socialist Convention in London at South Bank University on Saturday representing Green Left. The event was attended by about 25 people, representing Socialist Alliance, CPGB, the Scottish Socialist Party, the Commune, Labour Representation Committee, Toby Abse (who may have been representing the Alliance for Green Socialism) and several non-party individuals. Other than Peter T who left early due to other commitments, I was the only Green present. We were also a sponsoring organisation. What I also found interesting was that about 25% of those attending were Scots.
The event has been filmed so at some point it will be available and sent to lists etc. The emphasis of the Convention was on Republicanism and Socialism and it was felt that the former is an issue which the Left seldom addresses.
A problem was that many of the speakers pulled out at the last minute for various reasons including health – Bob Crow sent a message that he was involved in industrial action! The first session was on ‘The Crisis of Democracy and a Republican Programme’ and the two speakers were Peter Tatchell and Colin Fox, Co Leader of the Scottish Socialist Party. Peter Tatchell put forward a list of demands for constitutional reform. These were: A fairer voting system and said that AV as proposed by Brown was worse than the current system, a written constitution and a Bill of Rights, an elected Head of State based on the Irish system, a fully elected second chamber (possibly based on regional lists) recall of MPs, abolition of the Royal prerogative, strengthening the powers of Select Committees, all government appointments to appear before Select Committees, abolition of quangos and a federal Britain.
Colin Fox praised the heroic work of Peter and said that he was an inspiration. He then graphically related some of the things which had happened in Scotland when the SSP were elected to the Scottish Parliament. He said that the state of corruption in the UK Parliament was incredible and that the whole system was rotten even sucking in MPs who he thought of as honourable, like Harry Cohen. This illustrated the need for a workers wage. He quoted James Connolly: “You rise with your class and not out of your class.” He decried the absence of teachers, bricklayers etc in the current parliament and said that it was quite deliberate that they were all lawyers, lecturers etc. Being an MP had become a career and not a cause. He also stated that the total budget for the Scottish parliament was a fraction of that for the banks or oil companies and that effectively they held the real power. He pointed out that in recent opinion polls only 37% of Scots supported independence but a clear majority supported a republic. He predicted great political unrest in Scotland after a Tory election victory.
The second panel was on the national question and had a contribution from Steve Freeman on English nationalism and Alan Armstrong from the SSP on the Scottish and Northern Irish perspective on the national question. Steve Freeman from Socialist Alliance pointed out how the English flag had changed over recent years from Union Jack to St George and also how the terms ‘British’ and ‘English’ differed. He also made the point that the republican issue had almost no support in England whereas in Scotland it was a burning issue because of the national question. Alan Armstrong said that Northern Ireland had demonstrated the determination of the UK state not to allow any part to break away and that Peter Tatchell’s demands would be met by violent state resistance as had happened with the Civil Rights movement in NI in the 60s. He said that the SSP called for an independent socialist Scotland and the end of the British state – he pointed out how Scotland was one of the most militarised states in Europe with submarine bases, arms manufacturing etc.
I was on the final panel with Colin Fox of the SSP. We discussed the general election and I was quite forthright on the Green Party’s republican programme and that it was also now our policy to recall MPs after a local ballot. I also stressed the need to challenge the neo-Liberal programme of cuts being put forward by the three main parties. Colin Fox argued that the SSP was going through one of its best periods and that the war in Afghanistan had led to a real rise in support in Scotland. He and other SSP speakers also pointed out that the SNP were prepared to accept the monarchy, Trident etc and that they were essentially ‘the tartan Tories’. Their recent setbacks in Scotland were due to the fact that these retreats were now becoming obvious to the electorate.
Colin Fox told me later that he had a high regard for Caroline Lucas. He said that in Scotland the SSP and the Greens were not opponents because the SSP was fighting Labour in the council estates, whereas the Scottish Greens were fighting the Lib Dems in the prosperous suburbs. Those on the list from Scotland may be able to confirm or deny this.
I think it was a useful discussion of topics not often aired. There was, of course, vigorous discussion, some of it consisting of speeches from the floor but that will be on the film. I made the point during my talk about how the Queen’s role could become a very actual topic rather than one for constitutional experts and there is a report on this today http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/feb/14/queen-power-hung-parliament
Joseph Healy
Sunday, 14 February 2010
Unite Against Fascism conference:report by Aaron Kiely
Date: Sunday, 14 February, 2010, 16:00
Hello everyone,
I attended the Unite Against Fascism conference yesterday and it was excellent, but sadly didn't see any other Greens there apart from Zain who turned up towards the end - it was a really good and inspiring conference, shame not more people could have of made it. Speeches from Martin Smith, Ken Livingstone and Bellavia Ribeiro-Addy (candidate for NUS President) were top-notch!
After the opening session with Yasmin Alibhai-Brown going off on bizarre and ridiculous tangents (apparently Muslims must take some blame for the rise of the BNP, because they didn't control the 'hotheads' in their communities).... gotta love a bit of collective blame for an already vilified section of society. Anyway, an ex-footballer called Leroy also spoke and was one of the best speakers, he was from Kick It Out (a campaign to end racism/homophobia in football) and gave some really moving stories and was an entertaining speaker. Anyway back to that, then broke for lunch, met up with some other NUS members standing for election and received many of the same leaflet haha.
Then I attended the seminar on how to stop the rise of the EDL with Martin Smith and an organiser of a branch of UAF. It was really insightful and I learnt a lot from the various people who had organised their local communities against the EDL. An interesting thing to note was that all of the counter-demonstrations seemed to face attempts of sabotage from the police and council as they tried to get Mosque leaders to get Muslims to stay away as well as them using social workers to target young Muslims to keep them away. Also Forward-Intelligence Teams used to gather info from UAF organisers.. The importance of counter-demonstrations was argued to be vital, so that communities can feel confident defending themselves as the bootboys try and intimidate anyone opposed to them.
Then we went to the final session with people like Margaret Hodge... who went down like a lead balloon with the audience, as well as Livingstone, Bell and a woman called Edie from the Jewish Council for Racial Equality. After all the talks, Bellavia being by far the best (noone left their seats as she spoke/huge rounds of applause/many cheers in her defence of the NUS No Platform policy!) Martin Smith then told the conference that 25 members of the EDL were outside and to be careful going home. Turns out that after they realised there were about 500 or so of us (I'm terrible with numbers, but we were a lot inside) they bottled it and went away, potentially waiting for stragglers.
After that all, we went back to Kent in the minibus we had rented along with the local SWP and were discussing how inspiring the conference was and how important it is that we mobilise for Bolton on the 20th and Dudley on the 4th March.
So comrades, hope we can all get up to Bolton and Dudley somehow (managed to get our SU minibus for Dudley, just need plans for Bolton)..
Hopefully it's been an interesting read, and there is a really good write-up also on Lenin's Tomb @ http://leninology.blogspot.com/2010/02/uaf-conference.html
Aaron Kiely
University of Kent
Hello everyone,
I attended the Unite Against Fascism conference yesterday and it was excellent, but sadly didn't see any other Greens there apart from Zain who turned up towards the end - it was a really good and inspiring conference, shame not more people could have of made it. Speeches from Martin Smith, Ken Livingstone and Bellavia Ribeiro-Addy (candidate for NUS President) were top-notch!
After the opening session with Yasmin Alibhai-Brown going off on bizarre and ridiculous tangents (apparently Muslims must take some blame for the rise of the BNP, because they didn't control the 'hotheads' in their communities).... gotta love a bit of collective blame for an already vilified section of society. Anyway, an ex-footballer called Leroy also spoke and was one of the best speakers, he was from Kick It Out (a campaign to end racism/homophobia in football) and gave some really moving stories and was an entertaining speaker. Anyway back to that, then broke for lunch, met up with some other NUS members standing for election and received many of the same leaflet haha.
Then I attended the seminar on how to stop the rise of the EDL with Martin Smith and an organiser of a branch of UAF. It was really insightful and I learnt a lot from the various people who had organised their local communities against the EDL. An interesting thing to note was that all of the counter-demonstrations seemed to face attempts of sabotage from the police and council as they tried to get Mosque leaders to get Muslims to stay away as well as them using social workers to target young Muslims to keep them away. Also Forward-Intelligence Teams used to gather info from UAF organisers.. The importance of counter-demonstrations was argued to be vital, so that communities can feel confident defending themselves as the bootboys try and intimidate anyone opposed to them.
Then we went to the final session with people like Margaret Hodge... who went down like a lead balloon with the audience, as well as Livingstone, Bell and a woman called Edie from the Jewish Council for Racial Equality. After all the talks, Bellavia being by far the best (noone left their seats as she spoke/huge rounds of applause/many cheers in her defence of the NUS No Platform policy!) Martin Smith then told the conference that 25 members of the EDL were outside and to be careful going home. Turns out that after they realised there were about 500 or so of us (I'm terrible with numbers, but we were a lot inside) they bottled it and went away, potentially waiting for stragglers.
After that all, we went back to Kent in the minibus we had rented along with the local SWP and were discussing how inspiring the conference was and how important it is that we mobilise for Bolton on the 20th and Dudley on the 4th March.
So comrades, hope we can all get up to Bolton and Dudley somehow (managed to get our SU minibus for Dudley, just need plans for Bolton)..
Hopefully it's been an interesting read, and there is a really good write-up also on Lenin's Tomb @ http://leninology.blogspot.com/2010/02/uaf-conference.html
Aaron Kiely
University of Kent
Thursday, 11 February 2010
'Trade Unionists for Caroline Lucas'
Dear all
We are looking for trade union endorsements for Caroline Lucas and are asking for your help in the process.
We are now possibly only a matter of weeks from the general election and we need to demonstrate that it is Green solidarity with those in struggle, Green concern for workers' rights and our plan for a million green-collar jobs which constitute why there is so much support among trade unionists for the country's first Green MP.
Can you or your trade union activists and reps email a few sentences and a photo to myself and copy in Sven Rufus (copied here)
Also I have set up a facebook group 'Trade Unionists for Caroline Lucas'
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=284203683460 can you ensure you sign up and ask your TU contacts to sign up too.
Many thanks
Yours fraternally
Bro. Phelim Mac Cafferty
Equalities Officer, GMB Westminter Trade Union & Political Staff
Secretary, GMB Shout!
We are looking for trade union endorsements for Caroline Lucas and are asking for your help in the process.
We are now possibly only a matter of weeks from the general election and we need to demonstrate that it is Green solidarity with those in struggle, Green concern for workers' rights and our plan for a million green-collar jobs which constitute why there is so much support among trade unionists for the country's first Green MP.
Can you or your trade union activists and reps email a few sentences and a photo to myself and copy in Sven Rufus (copied here)
Also I have set up a facebook group 'Trade Unionists for Caroline Lucas'
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=284203683460 can you ensure you sign up and ask your TU contacts to sign up too.
Many thanks
Yours fraternally
Bro. Phelim Mac Cafferty
Equalities Officer, GMB Westminter Trade Union & Political Staff
Secretary, GMB Shout!
Tuesday, 9 February 2010
University of Sussex Occupation
GPTU statement
"The Green Party Trade Union Group fully supports Sussex University staff and students protesting against the swingeing cuts currently threatening Sussex University. Cuts in public sector spending, far from being examples of financial probity, are acts of short sighted and opportunistic folly and cuts in education especially so, when we need organised knowledge more than ever to build a just transition to a new low carbon economy. Our economic crisis is of capitalism and caused by capitalism, why should workers, by hand or mind and students pay for it?"
Please rush statements of support to http://www.blogger.com/sussexstopthecuts100@googlemail.comor Si on 07540 182218
University of Sussex Occupation Statement 9th February 2010
February 9, 2010
On the 8th of February 2010 over one hundred Sussex students entered and occupied the corporate conference centre in Bramber House as a display of support and solidarity for the UCU’s upcoming strike ballot. Furthermore, we stand in solidarity with all other workers at Sussex taking action against the cuts.
In a rally held yesterday we raised over £250 towards the strike fund and urge all those who value the work of staff to contribute further.
We strongly oppose the cuts and lack of meaningful consultation that management has offered students and staff.
This action is only the beginning and it is part of the wider campaign against management’s cuts at Sussex. We intend to continue to bring the fight to management.
We acknowledge that Sussex is not the only university being affected by cuts to public spending and that this is not only a national phenomenon but is affecting public spending and education internationally. We would like to express our solidarity with everyone fighting cuts all over the world.
"The Green Party Trade Union Group fully supports Sussex University staff and students protesting against the swingeing cuts currently threatening Sussex University. Cuts in public sector spending, far from being examples of financial probity, are acts of short sighted and opportunistic folly and cuts in education especially so, when we need organised knowledge more than ever to build a just transition to a new low carbon economy. Our economic crisis is of capitalism and caused by capitalism, why should workers, by hand or mind and students pay for it?"
Please rush statements of support to http://www.blogger.com/sussexstopthecuts100@googlemail.comor Si on 07540 182218
University of Sussex Occupation Statement 9th February 2010
February 9, 2010
On the 8th of February 2010 over one hundred Sussex students entered and occupied the corporate conference centre in Bramber House as a display of support and solidarity for the UCU’s upcoming strike ballot. Furthermore, we stand in solidarity with all other workers at Sussex taking action against the cuts.
In a rally held yesterday we raised over £250 towards the strike fund and urge all those who value the work of staff to contribute further.
We strongly oppose the cuts and lack of meaningful consultation that management has offered students and staff.
This action is only the beginning and it is part of the wider campaign against management’s cuts at Sussex. We intend to continue to bring the fight to management.
We acknowledge that Sussex is not the only university being affected by cuts to public spending and that this is not only a national phenomenon but is affecting public spending and education internationally. We would like to express our solidarity with everyone fighting cuts all over the world.
Monday, 8 February 2010
Women on Hunger Strike, behind the Wire @ Yarl's Wood
Demo in solidarity with Yarls Wood hunger strikers, Fri 12th Feb
8 February, 2010 - 13:54 — London NoBorders London Detainee Solidarity Network have called for a demo this Friday at 2.30pm in support of the Yarls Wood hunger strikers.
The demo will take place at Serco's offices at 18-22 Hand Court (off High Holborn), London, WC1V 6JF. Serco manage Yarls Wood on behalf of UKBA.
Please bring banners and instruments
Women on Hunger Strike, behind the Wire @ Yarl's Wood
"Detention results from political decisions that represent a "hardening attitude towards irregular migrants and asylum seekers" (*PACE)
End the Detention of Foreign Nationals Now!
Since the 5th of February 2010, we the residents at Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre are on hunger strike which involves over 84 + women, who are protesting against the period of time spent in detention and the treatment that they receive while being detained.
The strike was sparked to protest and demand that the frustration and humiliation of all foreign nationals ends now.
We are demanding the following actions
*End the frustrations, physical and mental torture at the centre
*Allow enough time and make resources available to residents who need to fully present their cases.
*To end all false allegations and misrepresentations by the UKBA regarding detainees in order to refuse bail or temporary admissions.
*Access to appropriate medical treatment and care as in the community, access to edible and well cooked food, phones with good mobile connections, with camera and recording facilities to back up cases.
*To stop the forceful removal and degrading system of deportation of detainees
*To put law into practise, European rules governing standard of conditions of detention for migrants and asylum seekers and the length of time in detention.
*The abolition of detention for asylum seeker and torture victims
*Detention should be by a standard procedure prescribed by law, authorised by judicial authority and be subjected to periodic judicial reviews.
*To end the detention of children and their mothers, rape survivors and other torture victims, to end the detention of physically, mentally sick people and pregnant women for long period of time.
*To end the separation of children from their mothers being detained whether in detention or destitution.
*To end the detention of women detention after serving time in prison.
* To abolish the fast track system, in order to give asylum seekers a fair chance with their application, while understanding the particular needs of victims of torture, and access to reliable legal representation which the fast track system denies.
*To end the repeat detention of women granted temporary admission while reporting or signing after a short period out of detention.
*To a set period of time allowed to detain women, which should be no longer than 1 month, while waiting decision either from UKBA or court proceedings.
*Finally instead of detention of foreign nationals, there are alternatives to detention stated by the *Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). 'The detention of asylum seekers and irregular migrants in Europe ', Adopted on the 28th January 2010, extracts below.
9.1.1. detention of asylum seekers and irregular migrants shall be exceptional and only used after first reviewing all other alternatives and finding that there is no effective alternative;
9.3.4.1. placement in special establishments (open or semi-open);
9.3.4.2. registration and reporting;
9.3.4.3. release on bail/surety;
9.3.4.4. controlled release to individuals, family members, NGOs, religious organisations, or others;
9.3.4.5. handover of travel and other documents, release combined with appointment of a special worker;
Full Text: Council of Europe - Parliamentary Assembly Resolution 1707 (2010)1. Assembly debate on 28 January 2010 (7th Sitting) (see Doc. 12105, report of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population, rapporteur: Mrs Mendona). Text adopted by the Assembly on 28 January 2010 (7th Sitting).
The detention of asylum seekers and irregular migrants in Europe
Please support our concerns, lobby your MPs, Councilors, MEPs, demanding our immediate release and an end to arbitrary detention.
With Thanks,
Women behind the Wire @ Yarl's Wood IRC
Messages of support/solidarity to:
WomenBehindTheWire@ncadc.org.uk
8 February, 2010 - 13:54 — London NoBorders London Detainee Solidarity Network have called for a demo this Friday at 2.30pm in support of the Yarls Wood hunger strikers.
The demo will take place at Serco's offices at 18-22 Hand Court (off High Holborn), London, WC1V 6JF. Serco manage Yarls Wood on behalf of UKBA.
Please bring banners and instruments
Women on Hunger Strike, behind the Wire @ Yarl's Wood
"Detention results from political decisions that represent a "hardening attitude towards irregular migrants and asylum seekers" (*PACE)
End the Detention of Foreign Nationals Now!
Since the 5th of February 2010, we the residents at Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre are on hunger strike which involves over 84 + women, who are protesting against the period of time spent in detention and the treatment that they receive while being detained.
The strike was sparked to protest and demand that the frustration and humiliation of all foreign nationals ends now.
We are demanding the following actions
*End the frustrations, physical and mental torture at the centre
*Allow enough time and make resources available to residents who need to fully present their cases.
*To end all false allegations and misrepresentations by the UKBA regarding detainees in order to refuse bail or temporary admissions.
*Access to appropriate medical treatment and care as in the community, access to edible and well cooked food, phones with good mobile connections, with camera and recording facilities to back up cases.
*To stop the forceful removal and degrading system of deportation of detainees
*To put law into practise, European rules governing standard of conditions of detention for migrants and asylum seekers and the length of time in detention.
*The abolition of detention for asylum seeker and torture victims
*Detention should be by a standard procedure prescribed by law, authorised by judicial authority and be subjected to periodic judicial reviews.
*To end the detention of children and their mothers, rape survivors and other torture victims, to end the detention of physically, mentally sick people and pregnant women for long period of time.
*To end the separation of children from their mothers being detained whether in detention or destitution.
*To end the detention of women detention after serving time in prison.
* To abolish the fast track system, in order to give asylum seekers a fair chance with their application, while understanding the particular needs of victims of torture, and access to reliable legal representation which the fast track system denies.
*To end the repeat detention of women granted temporary admission while reporting or signing after a short period out of detention.
*To a set period of time allowed to detain women, which should be no longer than 1 month, while waiting decision either from UKBA or court proceedings.
*Finally instead of detention of foreign nationals, there are alternatives to detention stated by the *Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). 'The detention of asylum seekers and irregular migrants in Europe ', Adopted on the 28th January 2010, extracts below.
9.1.1. detention of asylum seekers and irregular migrants shall be exceptional and only used after first reviewing all other alternatives and finding that there is no effective alternative;
9.3.4.1. placement in special establishments (open or semi-open);
9.3.4.2. registration and reporting;
9.3.4.3. release on bail/surety;
9.3.4.4. controlled release to individuals, family members, NGOs, religious organisations, or others;
9.3.4.5. handover of travel and other documents, release combined with appointment of a special worker;
Full Text: Council of Europe - Parliamentary Assembly Resolution 1707 (2010)1. Assembly debate on 28 January 2010 (7th Sitting) (see Doc. 12105, report of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population, rapporteur: Mrs Mendona). Text adopted by the Assembly on 28 January 2010 (7th Sitting).
The detention of asylum seekers and irregular migrants in Europe
Please support our concerns, lobby your MPs, Councilors, MEPs, demanding our immediate release and an end to arbitrary detention.
With Thanks,
Women behind the Wire @ Yarl's Wood IRC
Messages of support/solidarity to:
WomenBehindTheWire@ncadc.org.uk
Friday, 5 February 2010
GREEN LEFT & GPTU support Alberto Durango
GREEN LEFT STATEMENT
"Green Left applauds the undertaken by Alberto Durango as a UNITE shop steward and a leader of the Latin American Workers Association. City cleaners, mainly migrant workers undertaking vital work supporting the wealthiest and most fortunate in our society - are exploited and marginalised and Alberto's work to defend their rights is vital. To steal David C. Coates' famous quote - "an injury to one is an injury to all" - it is disgraceful that Alberto has been targeted and sacked because of his union activity and Green Left stands in solidarity in his defence, and in defence of all workers."
GPTU Statement
"The Green party Trade Union Group fully endorses the Green Left statement on Alberto Durango and supports the campaign for his reinstatement and for and end to the victimisation of migrant workers." (P.Murry GPTU Secretary pp GPTU)
"Green Left applauds the undertaken by Alberto Durango as a UNITE shop steward and a leader of the Latin American Workers Association. City cleaners, mainly migrant workers undertaking vital work supporting the wealthiest and most fortunate in our society - are exploited and marginalised and Alberto's work to defend their rights is vital. To steal David C. Coates' famous quote - "an injury to one is an injury to all" - it is disgraceful that Alberto has been targeted and sacked because of his union activity and Green Left stands in solidarity in his defence, and in defence of all workers."
GPTU Statement
"The Green party Trade Union Group fully endorses the Green Left statement on Alberto Durango and supports the campaign for his reinstatement and for and end to the victimisation of migrant workers." (P.Murry GPTU Secretary pp GPTU)
Thursday, 4 February 2010
Defend Alberto Durango
by Chris Ford, UNITE (Clerkenwell & St. Pancras 0694M branch organiser)
In an act of vindictive union busting Alberto Durango, a leading activist in the campaign to achieve justice for cleaners in London, is facing the sack. Alberto, a leader of the Latin American Workers Association and member of UNITE, has been in the forefront of a series of campaigns to organise mainly migrant workers to challenge the exploitation and dire working conditions amongst cleaners
Following a campaign at Schroeders bank the company Lancaster (part of Rentokil Initial) singled out Alberto for victimisation. He worked for Lancaster for over a decade: only when he became a union activist did they target him. A series of allegations were thrown at Alberto, they orchestrated his arrest by the Home Office based on misleading and false claims. He was released without charge. Having failed in their efforts Lancaster sacked Alberto regardless claiming he never worked for them under his true identity. After his dismissal the company then admitted following a union appeal that he had in fact worked for them in his true identity after all.
Alberto found new employment with the company MITIE at the Swiss bank UBS, he helped organise these workplaces and he is the elected shop-steward. However the contract has been transferred to Lancaster (Rentokil). Immediately on taking over the contract Lancaster have ignored the protections afforded by TUPE and set out to attack the terms and conditions of the workforce. They have suspended the UNITE rep Alberto and are intent on sacking him. Despite an ongoing Tribunal they have based this suspension on the reasons given when Alberto previously worked for this company. This is blatant persecution of a union activist. Just as in the building industry we are seeing these employers are operating a blacklist against trade unionists.
The City banks and the cleaning companies they hire to service their buildings’ are out to create a climate of fear that will deter workers from becoming reps and organising into unions. This is not an issue only for the migrant workers it is an attack on every member of the labour movement, it is the cutting edge of the agenda for cuts in pay and jobs. The workers at UBS deserve our solidarity – we must not let then succeed in victimising Alberto. It is time to stop these companies from engaging in discrimination, bullying and victimisation
MASS DEMONSTRATION
No Victimisation of Alberto – Hands Off Our Union
Friday 12 February 1:00 PM, Outside UBS 21 Lombard Street, London EC3 9AH
Initial sponsors include
Organisations
Latin American Workers Association; The Commune; La Comuna; Colombia Solidarity Campaign; Permanent Revolution; National Shop Stewards’ Network
Individuals
John McDonnell MP; Steve Hedley RMT (LUL) Regional Organiser; Professor Gregor Gall, Research Professor of Industrial Relations, University of Hertfordshire; Pete Firmin, Labour Representation Committee co-National Secretary; George Binette, Camden UNISON Branch Secretary (pc).
Please add your name and organisation to the sponsors
In an act of vindictive union busting Alberto Durango, a leading activist in the campaign to achieve justice for cleaners in London, is facing the sack. Alberto, a leader of the Latin American Workers Association and member of UNITE, has been in the forefront of a series of campaigns to organise mainly migrant workers to challenge the exploitation and dire working conditions amongst cleaners
Following a campaign at Schroeders bank the company Lancaster (part of Rentokil Initial) singled out Alberto for victimisation. He worked for Lancaster for over a decade: only when he became a union activist did they target him. A series of allegations were thrown at Alberto, they orchestrated his arrest by the Home Office based on misleading and false claims. He was released without charge. Having failed in their efforts Lancaster sacked Alberto regardless claiming he never worked for them under his true identity. After his dismissal the company then admitted following a union appeal that he had in fact worked for them in his true identity after all.
Alberto found new employment with the company MITIE at the Swiss bank UBS, he helped organise these workplaces and he is the elected shop-steward. However the contract has been transferred to Lancaster (Rentokil). Immediately on taking over the contract Lancaster have ignored the protections afforded by TUPE and set out to attack the terms and conditions of the workforce. They have suspended the UNITE rep Alberto and are intent on sacking him. Despite an ongoing Tribunal they have based this suspension on the reasons given when Alberto previously worked for this company. This is blatant persecution of a union activist. Just as in the building industry we are seeing these employers are operating a blacklist against trade unionists.
The City banks and the cleaning companies they hire to service their buildings’ are out to create a climate of fear that will deter workers from becoming reps and organising into unions. This is not an issue only for the migrant workers it is an attack on every member of the labour movement, it is the cutting edge of the agenda for cuts in pay and jobs. The workers at UBS deserve our solidarity – we must not let then succeed in victimising Alberto. It is time to stop these companies from engaging in discrimination, bullying and victimisation
MASS DEMONSTRATION
No Victimisation of Alberto – Hands Off Our Union
Friday 12 February 1:00 PM, Outside UBS 21 Lombard Street, London EC3 9AH
Initial sponsors include
Organisations
Latin American Workers Association; The Commune; La Comuna; Colombia Solidarity Campaign; Permanent Revolution; National Shop Stewards’ Network
Individuals
John McDonnell MP; Steve Hedley RMT (LUL) Regional Organiser; Professor Gregor Gall, Research Professor of Industrial Relations, University of Hertfordshire; Pete Firmin, Labour Representation Committee co-National Secretary; George Binette, Camden UNISON Branch Secretary (pc).
Please add your name and organisation to the sponsors
Tuesday, 2 February 2010
BRIGHTON BENEFITS CAMPAIGN PUBLIC MEETING
BRIGHTON BENEFITS CAMPAIGN PUBLIC MEETING
Friday 5 February 7.30pm at the Brighthelm Centre North Road Brighton
A public meeting to launch the Brighton Benefits Campaign, with speakers from a variety of backgrounds, including Caroline Lucas, Benefits & Poverty Campaigners, Trade Unionists & others
STRIKING FOR JOBS - LOCAL WORKERS SPEAK OUT
Public meeting Tuesday 9th February at 7.30, Brighthelm Centre North Road Brighton
Speakers from:
Unite at BOC Edwards - fighting local closures
UCU at Sussex University - facing 115 job losses
RMT at Network Rail - considering strike action to save 1500 track maintenance jobs
FBU at Preston Circus Fire Station - local firefighters campaigning to stop management moving the station to a less suitable location
MARCH FOR JOBS!
Jobs & services not bailouts for the rich.
Demonstrate on Saturday 6 March - assembling at The Level in Brighton at 12 noon
A demonstration has been organised by trade union activists and campaigners as a call to action to fight back against the unjustified job losses taking place across the city and the country.
Delegates and organisers put together plans for the demonstration at a meeting held by Brighton Hove and District Trades Council and are urging trade union branches, students, the unemployed, workers and their families to take part in this important march which will take place on Saturday 6 March.
Assembling at The Level at 12 midday, the demonstration will march past significant workplaces and sites in the city effected by the current threat of job losses. It will march to Brighton town hall where a rally will be held to put forward demands to defend all jobs and prevent any public service cuts as part of a fight back campaign against these unjustified attacks on working people.
Pip Tindall B&HGP
Brighton Workers Solidarity Group
http://brightonworkerssolidarity.wordpress.com/
Friday 5 February 7.30pm at the Brighthelm Centre North Road Brighton
A public meeting to launch the Brighton Benefits Campaign, with speakers from a variety of backgrounds, including Caroline Lucas, Benefits & Poverty Campaigners, Trade Unionists & others
STRIKING FOR JOBS - LOCAL WORKERS SPEAK OUT
Public meeting Tuesday 9th February at 7.30, Brighthelm Centre North Road Brighton
Speakers from:
Unite at BOC Edwards - fighting local closures
UCU at Sussex University - facing 115 job losses
RMT at Network Rail - considering strike action to save 1500 track maintenance jobs
FBU at Preston Circus Fire Station - local firefighters campaigning to stop management moving the station to a less suitable location
MARCH FOR JOBS!
Jobs & services not bailouts for the rich.
Demonstrate on Saturday 6 March - assembling at The Level in Brighton at 12 noon
A demonstration has been organised by trade union activists and campaigners as a call to action to fight back against the unjustified job losses taking place across the city and the country.
Delegates and organisers put together plans for the demonstration at a meeting held by Brighton Hove and District Trades Council and are urging trade union branches, students, the unemployed, workers and their families to take part in this important march which will take place on Saturday 6 March.
Assembling at The Level at 12 midday, the demonstration will march past significant workplaces and sites in the city effected by the current threat of job losses. It will march to Brighton town hall where a rally will be held to put forward demands to defend all jobs and prevent any public service cuts as part of a fight back campaign against these unjustified attacks on working people.
Pip Tindall B&HGP
Brighton Workers Solidarity Group
http://brightonworkerssolidarity.wordpress.com/
Monday, 1 February 2010
Dan Viesnik gets 14 days imprisonment
I was in the public gallery of Court 4 at Highbury Corner magistrates courts this afternoon (1/2/2010) with about twenty other supporters of Dan Viesnik. Dan is a peace activist and active supporter of Brent Green Party.
The facts of the case are much as reported already on http://greenleftblog.blogspot.com/ and http://wembleymatters.blogspot.com/. Dan had refused to pay a total of £515 in fines and costs imposed after his arrest for a sit down protest in the entrance to Aldermaston Atomic Weapons Establishment.
As his letter to the court (quoted on http://greenleftblog.blogspot.com/), shows Dan has decided to continue his protest against the grotesque distortions of justice caused by the British Government’s committment to Weapons of Mass Destruction. Dan continued his argument in the statement that he read out to the court which protested against the resources spent on nukes in a world where chronic poverty continued. Dan ended his statement with a quote from Thoreau affirming that an individual acting according to his/her own conscience should be a better guide to conduct than the letter of law. In this instance I agree with Dan and Thoreau.
Advised by the Clerk of the Court, the Bench decided that Dan’s explicit refusal to pay his fine or even acknowledge that he had committed a crime by giving details of his means, meant that they had no option but to imprison Dan. The fact that they gave him 14 days rather than 28 which they could have done, may indicate sympathy or may indicate a wish to minimize the prison population, but in any event, I am sure that Dan has the best wishes and support of many Green Party members and others. I hope that we will be able to find a way to let him know this.
The facts of the case are much as reported already on http://greenleftblog.blogspot.com/ and http://wembleymatters.blogspot.com/. Dan had refused to pay a total of £515 in fines and costs imposed after his arrest for a sit down protest in the entrance to Aldermaston Atomic Weapons Establishment.
As his letter to the court (quoted on http://greenleftblog.blogspot.com/), shows Dan has decided to continue his protest against the grotesque distortions of justice caused by the British Government’s committment to Weapons of Mass Destruction. Dan continued his argument in the statement that he read out to the court which protested against the resources spent on nukes in a world where chronic poverty continued. Dan ended his statement with a quote from Thoreau affirming that an individual acting according to his/her own conscience should be a better guide to conduct than the letter of law. In this instance I agree with Dan and Thoreau.
Advised by the Clerk of the Court, the Bench decided that Dan’s explicit refusal to pay his fine or even acknowledge that he had committed a crime by giving details of his means, meant that they had no option but to imprison Dan. The fact that they gave him 14 days rather than 28 which they could have done, may indicate sympathy or may indicate a wish to minimize the prison population, but in any event, I am sure that Dan has the best wishes and support of many Green Party members and others. I hope that we will be able to find a way to let him know this.
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