Turning the wheel slightly and easing off from the accelerator are not signs that Andrew Lansley will steer the NHS away from the cliff edge of privatisation (Report, 23 May). His plan must be stopped before we lose our NHS to market management. Of course, the true driver for this sorry state of affairs is the prime minister, who has overall responsibility for the actions of his cabinet colleagues. If Cameron and Lansley are able to turn the NHS into a full-blown insurance scheme, it will be a car crash.
Stuart Jeffery
Green Party health spokesperson
Saturday, 28 May 2011
Friday, 27 May 2011
Green concern at BNP involvement with London Ambulance Service
27 May 2011
The Green Party today expressed concern that former BNP member, and current independent London Assembly member, Richard Barnbrook, attended a meeting of potential governors for the London Ambulance Service (LAS).
Green Party activist Joseph Healy is chair of the LAS Patients' Forum. He has long been concerned with the LAS's lack of staff diversity, with only 9% of frontline personnel from non-white backgrounds, and an all-white board of directors. This reflects a failure on the part of the LAS to improve Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) representation.
Joseph Healy said: "40% of London's population come from a BME background, so the LAS's paltry 9% representation is nothing short of disgraceful. A person with views like Richard Barnbrook has no place in an organisation that must improve in this area."
Barnbrook has spoken out specifically against mixed race individuals, saying that the children of mixed race marriages are "washing out the identity of this country's indigenous people".
The Green Party have serious concerns at the prospect of Barnbrook becoming a governor of the LAS, and the damage this would cause to the LAS's commitment to rectify its record on BME representation.
Healy continued: "The Green Party calls upon the LAS to demonstrate that equality and inclusion will be proactively promoted in its frontline workforce, on its board and during its appointment of new governors."
The Green Party today expressed concern that former BNP member, and current independent London Assembly member, Richard Barnbrook, attended a meeting of potential governors for the London Ambulance Service (LAS).
Green Party activist Joseph Healy is chair of the LAS Patients' Forum. He has long been concerned with the LAS's lack of staff diversity, with only 9% of frontline personnel from non-white backgrounds, and an all-white board of directors. This reflects a failure on the part of the LAS to improve Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) representation.
Joseph Healy said: "40% of London's population come from a BME background, so the LAS's paltry 9% representation is nothing short of disgraceful. A person with views like Richard Barnbrook has no place in an organisation that must improve in this area."
Barnbrook has spoken out specifically against mixed race individuals, saying that the children of mixed race marriages are "washing out the identity of this country's indigenous people".
The Green Party have serious concerns at the prospect of Barnbrook becoming a governor of the LAS, and the damage this would cause to the LAS's commitment to rectify its record on BME representation.
Healy continued: "The Green Party calls upon the LAS to demonstrate that equality and inclusion will be proactively promoted in its frontline workforce, on its board and during its appointment of new governors."
Monday, 23 May 2011
No to Public Spending Cuts, Yes to One Million Climate Jobs
Sheffield Campaign Against Climate Change
with Sheffield Right to Work Campaign
“No to Public Spending Cuts –Yes to One Million Climate Jobs”
Solving the economic and environmental crises
A half-hour film produced by Campaign Against Climate Change Trade Union group and Reel News
Followed by discussion
Thursday 7th July 7.30pm
Old Sharrow Junior School
South View Road (off Sharrow Lane)
Sheffield
S7 1DB
Margaret Stone
Tuesday, 17 May 2011
Fascists, racists and the London Ambulance Service
From Joseph Healy's blog http://thecabbagesandkings.blogspot.com/2011/05/fascists-racists-and-london-ambulance.html
Last Wednesday evening I turned up for a meeting of potential governors of the London Ambulance Service in the Board Room of St Thomas' Hospital and was faced with a situation which I never expected to have to face - a Fascist and racist member of the London Assembly, Richard Barnbrook, was present at the event. What followed and my feelings about it I placed in the following email to the Press Office of the LAS last Friday:
Dear Angie,
I am about to issue a press release as the Chair of the Patients Forum regarding an incident which occurred this Wednesday night at the Foundation Trust event for future patient governors organised at St Thomas’ Hospital. Richard Barnbrook, a former BNP member of the London Assembly, was present, and I raised my objections to his presence with both Peter Bradley (Chief Executive) and Sandra Adams (Head of Corporate Services). Sandra Adams replied that he was a member of the Foundation Trust and that there was nothing she could do. The seriousness of the incident was compounded by Peter Bradley specifically welcoming him during the opening address, which I found very objectionable.
During the break I also raised my concerns with Margaret Vander, Head of PPI, and I was asked not to raise the issue during the workshops, although by that stage he had left the meeting. I told Margaret that there needed to be firm equal ops policies embedded in the conditions for the election of any future governor and now there is a distinct possibility that he may be standing as a governor of the LAS.
At a time when 96% of LAS employees are white, and this was painfully obvious in the staff photo presented at the event, and when there are no BME people whatsoever on the board of the LAS, representing the emergency service of Europe’s most diverse city, this is hugely insulting to BME patients and users of the ambulance service.
The Patients Forum has for some years now been expressing its concerns to the LAS about a lack of diversity in both workforce and board and about racist incidents which have occurred in the LAS and has written several times to both the CRE and its successor, the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
For me having a Fascist and racist attending an event for future governors of the LAS, being welcomed by the Chief Executive and with the prospect of standing for election as a governor is a grave cause for concern and protest and is a clarion call for the LAS to set its house in order.
Regards
Dr Joseph Healy
Chair of the LAS Patients Forum
Unfortunately as I had to spend most of Friday at work without the opportunity of compiling a press release, I sent out the following press release today to all of the major papers, BBC London, the Voice newspaper and the Health Service Journal. I sincerely hope that the LAS does something about this but the Patients Forum has been fighting this battle for too long on its own and now needs external support. There is no way that we can allow an avowed racist and Fascist to run London's Ambulance Service and the LAS has got to get its house in order.
Monday 16th May 2011.
Press Release
“The Patients Forum of the London Ambulance Service is seriously concerned about the involvement of the former BNP, and now Independent, Assembly Member, Richard Barnbrook, in the forthcoming election for governors of the London Ambulance Service, when it becomes a Foundation Trust later this year.
At an event last Wednesday at St Thomas’ Hospital, organised for potential governors, Barnbrook attended and was personally welcomed by the Chief Executive of the Trust, Peter Bradley. The Chair of the London Ambulance Service Patients Forum, Dr Joseph Healy, objected to his presence and passed these objections on to both the Chief Executive and the Director of Corporate Services, Sandra Adams, but was told that Barnbrook was a member of the Foundation Trust.
At a time when the London Ambulance Service, which serves the most diverse city in Europe, has a 96% white workforce and a Board of Directors, which does not include one black or ethnic minority member, facts which the Patients Forum has continued to point out to the LAS and to the Equality and Human Rights Commission, we consider this a serious development.
The LAS needs as a matter of priority to put in place safeguards around equal opportunities which will prevent Fascists and racists standing for election as governors of one of London’s main emergency services. Furthermore, we call for the LAS to urgently address the lack of black and minority ethnic representation within both its workforce and its governance system. Only when this issue has been properly addressed can the LAS truly claim to represent all of the patients and users of the LAS in Europe’s most diverse city.”
Dr Joseph Healy
Chair
Patients Forum London Ambulance Service
Last Wednesday evening I turned up for a meeting of potential governors of the London Ambulance Service in the Board Room of St Thomas' Hospital and was faced with a situation which I never expected to have to face - a Fascist and racist member of the London Assembly, Richard Barnbrook, was present at the event. What followed and my feelings about it I placed in the following email to the Press Office of the LAS last Friday:
Dear Angie,
I am about to issue a press release as the Chair of the Patients Forum regarding an incident which occurred this Wednesday night at the Foundation Trust event for future patient governors organised at St Thomas’ Hospital. Richard Barnbrook, a former BNP member of the London Assembly, was present, and I raised my objections to his presence with both Peter Bradley (Chief Executive) and Sandra Adams (Head of Corporate Services). Sandra Adams replied that he was a member of the Foundation Trust and that there was nothing she could do. The seriousness of the incident was compounded by Peter Bradley specifically welcoming him during the opening address, which I found very objectionable.
During the break I also raised my concerns with Margaret Vander, Head of PPI, and I was asked not to raise the issue during the workshops, although by that stage he had left the meeting. I told Margaret that there needed to be firm equal ops policies embedded in the conditions for the election of any future governor and now there is a distinct possibility that he may be standing as a governor of the LAS.
At a time when 96% of LAS employees are white, and this was painfully obvious in the staff photo presented at the event, and when there are no BME people whatsoever on the board of the LAS, representing the emergency service of Europe’s most diverse city, this is hugely insulting to BME patients and users of the ambulance service.
The Patients Forum has for some years now been expressing its concerns to the LAS about a lack of diversity in both workforce and board and about racist incidents which have occurred in the LAS and has written several times to both the CRE and its successor, the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
For me having a Fascist and racist attending an event for future governors of the LAS, being welcomed by the Chief Executive and with the prospect of standing for election as a governor is a grave cause for concern and protest and is a clarion call for the LAS to set its house in order.
Regards
Dr Joseph Healy
Chair of the LAS Patients Forum
Unfortunately as I had to spend most of Friday at work without the opportunity of compiling a press release, I sent out the following press release today to all of the major papers, BBC London, the Voice newspaper and the Health Service Journal. I sincerely hope that the LAS does something about this but the Patients Forum has been fighting this battle for too long on its own and now needs external support. There is no way that we can allow an avowed racist and Fascist to run London's Ambulance Service and the LAS has got to get its house in order.
Monday 16th May 2011.
Press Release
“The Patients Forum of the London Ambulance Service is seriously concerned about the involvement of the former BNP, and now Independent, Assembly Member, Richard Barnbrook, in the forthcoming election for governors of the London Ambulance Service, when it becomes a Foundation Trust later this year.
At an event last Wednesday at St Thomas’ Hospital, organised for potential governors, Barnbrook attended and was personally welcomed by the Chief Executive of the Trust, Peter Bradley. The Chair of the London Ambulance Service Patients Forum, Dr Joseph Healy, objected to his presence and passed these objections on to both the Chief Executive and the Director of Corporate Services, Sandra Adams, but was told that Barnbrook was a member of the Foundation Trust.
At a time when the London Ambulance Service, which serves the most diverse city in Europe, has a 96% white workforce and a Board of Directors, which does not include one black or ethnic minority member, facts which the Patients Forum has continued to point out to the LAS and to the Equality and Human Rights Commission, we consider this a serious development.
The LAS needs as a matter of priority to put in place safeguards around equal opportunities which will prevent Fascists and racists standing for election as governors of one of London’s main emergency services. Furthermore, we call for the LAS to urgently address the lack of black and minority ethnic representation within both its workforce and its governance system. Only when this issue has been properly addressed can the LAS truly claim to represent all of the patients and users of the LAS in Europe’s most diverse city.”
Dr Joseph Healy
Chair
Patients Forum London Ambulance Service
Sunday, 15 May 2011
Caroline Lucas speaking at Gaza demo 14/5/2011
See Martin Francis' video of Caroline Lucas speaking at Gaza demo 14/5/2011
http://wembleymatters.blogspot.com/2011/05/carline-lucas-speaks-out-for-freedom.html
http://wembleymatters.blogspot.com/2011/05/carline-lucas-speaks-out-for-freedom.html
No backtracking on climate targets! EMERGENCY DEMO
Campaign against Climate Change
www.campaigncc.org
No backtracking on climate targets!
EMERGENCY DEMO
Next week: Monday 16th
8.00 am at Lib Dem HQ, at 4 Cowley Street, Westminster
Demand the Lib Dems stand up for their environmental principles! Or are they just poodles to the Tory right?
8.45 am Move on to Downing Street
Demand that Cameron stick by all he argued for when he supported the Climate Act. Or was that all just green posturing? Is this the most green-backtracking government ever?
This looks like crunch time for this government, and for the country on whether we will have any meaningful targets on emission cuts, or whether they will be watered down in the interests of the business lobby and short term economic interest every time…
See:
www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/may/09/climate-defining-green-moment-cameron
www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/may/09/friends-earth-ipcc-proposals-policy
www.monbiot.com/2011/05/09/shaking-the-tree/
www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/may/09/vince-cable-chris-huhne-carbon-emissions
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-13343055
The crucial decision will be taken at a meeting on Monday… hence the timing of this demo
Never mind that the targets - even before they are watered down - are not stringent enough in the light of the latest science, anyway. Never mind that the UK’s whole carbon-cutting strategy will rapidly unravel once regular budgets for cutting emissions like this are not maintained. Never mind that delaying emissions cuts risks putting a fatal amount of carbon in the atmosphere before we ever get to making those cuts anyway. Never mind that the fate of billions hangs on us actually getting to grips with the climate crisis and making it our number one priority. Never mind that we will never be able to influence other countries effectively if here at home we are seen to put our own economic welfare before the global environment we share with the rest of the world….
…still it looks like short sighted, short term, economic considerations are threatening to take us down the path to misery and suffering on a colossal, unimaginable, scale…
Don’t let them get aw ay with this, without any visible opposition! Join us outside the Lib Dem HQ and Downing Street on Monday morning!
Check the website for updates: www.campaigncc.org
PLEASE FORWARD THIS E-MAIL TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW!
www.campaigncc.org
No backtracking on climate targets!
EMERGENCY DEMO
Next week: Monday 16th
8.00 am at Lib Dem HQ, at 4 Cowley Street, Westminster
Demand the Lib Dems stand up for their environmental principles! Or are they just poodles to the Tory right?
8.45 am Move on to Downing Street
Demand that Cameron stick by all he argued for when he supported the Climate Act. Or was that all just green posturing? Is this the most green-backtracking government ever?
This looks like crunch time for this government, and for the country on whether we will have any meaningful targets on emission cuts, or whether they will be watered down in the interests of the business lobby and short term economic interest every time…
See:
www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/may/09/climate-defining-green-moment-cameron
www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/may/09/friends-earth-ipcc-proposals-policy
www.monbiot.com/2011/05/09/shaking-the-tree/
www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/may/09/vince-cable-chris-huhne-carbon-emissions
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-13343055
The crucial decision will be taken at a meeting on Monday… hence the timing of this demo
Never mind that the targets - even before they are watered down - are not stringent enough in the light of the latest science, anyway. Never mind that the UK’s whole carbon-cutting strategy will rapidly unravel once regular budgets for cutting emissions like this are not maintained. Never mind that delaying emissions cuts risks putting a fatal amount of carbon in the atmosphere before we ever get to making those cuts anyway. Never mind that the fate of billions hangs on us actually getting to grips with the climate crisis and making it our number one priority. Never mind that we will never be able to influence other countries effectively if here at home we are seen to put our own economic welfare before the global environment we share with the rest of the world….
…still it looks like short sighted, short term, economic considerations are threatening to take us down the path to misery and suffering on a colossal, unimaginable, scale…
Don’t let them get aw ay with this, without any visible opposition! Join us outside the Lib Dem HQ and Downing Street on Monday morning!
Check the website for updates: www.campaigncc.org
PLEASE FORWARD THIS E-MAIL TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW!
Saturday, 14 May 2011
The Manchester launch of Michael Lavalette's new book "Voices from the West Bank".
Michael will be introducing the book, together with slides and film from his time in Palestine, at a special event on Tuesday 7 June, at 6.30pm in the Manchester, Friends Meeting House.
Over 60% of the Palestinians living in the West Bank are under 20 years old. It is from their experiences and stories that Voices from the West Bank explores this besieged society and the Palestinians' enduring resistance to a ruthless occupation. We hear the voices of ordinary Palestinians about life under siege.
"Palestine is one of the most analysed areas in the world, much of it in one dimensional headlines. Jones and Lavalette decided they were going to live with the Palestinians, to discover and to understand the meanings of oppression and occupation, and to learn about daily life and Palestinian dreams in the west Bank. It is more than book, it is also like a diary that demands to be read, especially by Palestinians."
Firas Helou, Abnaa El Balad, Nazareth
I hope that you will be interested in attending the launch. Please contact me if you would be interested in having a stall.
I have attached a PDF of the flyer for the event, and there is a Facebook group online at http://on.fb.me/jmMshL We are charging £1 to cover the cost of room hire, but this will be refunded for those who purchase the book on the night.
I hope that you can publicise the event to anyone who might be interested.
Martin Empson
079 585 35231
swpmre@yahoo.com
__._,_.___
Over 60% of the Palestinians living in the West Bank are under 20 years old. It is from their experiences and stories that Voices from the West Bank explores this besieged society and the Palestinians' enduring resistance to a ruthless occupation. We hear the voices of ordinary Palestinians about life under siege.
"Palestine is one of the most analysed areas in the world, much of it in one dimensional headlines. Jones and Lavalette decided they were going to live with the Palestinians, to discover and to understand the meanings of oppression and occupation, and to learn about daily life and Palestinian dreams in the west Bank. It is more than book, it is also like a diary that demands to be read, especially by Palestinians."
Firas Helou, Abnaa El Balad, Nazareth
I hope that you will be interested in attending the launch. Please contact me if you would be interested in having a stall.
I have attached a PDF of the flyer for the event, and there is a Facebook group online at http://on.fb.me/jmMshL We are charging £1 to cover the cost of room hire, but this will be refunded for those who purchase the book on the night.
I hope that you can publicise the event to anyone who might be interested.
Martin Empson
079 585 35231
swpmre@yahoo.com
__._,_.___
BRENT FIGHTBACK NHS MEETING 12 May 2011
http://brentgreens.blogspot.com/2011/05/brent-fightback-nhs-meeting-12-may-2011.html
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