Brighton-hove peoples assembly November 2015 Newsletter

November 2015 Newsletter View this email in your browser

Hello friends, It feels hard to find the words to start this newsletter, coming after very recent horrific violence - some near to us, some further away, some made more visible than others. But people continue, near and far, to be compassionate, kind and courageous in resisting terror and oppression in all its forms. This newsletter tries to bring you a slice of this activism happening on your doorsteps - people coming together to try to make things better. Please support where you can.  Welcome to those new to this email list- we send out local news with details of campaigns and meetings once a month. All details are on our website at: http://www.brightonpa.org.uk/  If you have any ideas or want to help, please email pplsassembly.brighton@gmail.com. Also if you have any stories you want to share on the website - please get in contact! Brighton People's Assembly Against Austerity News NEXT Organising Meeting: Wed 2nd December 7.30pm @ Brighthelm Centre  First Wednesday of every month is now set as our regular meeting. Thanks to Mike for taking the minutes at our November meeting -click here to see what was discussed - including reports from the working groups Tenants Resistance Group, Council Tax Reduction, Anti-Austerity Festival and Voluntary Sector/privatisation. Our next open meeting will be  facilitated by Jake and minuted by Dani. All members are welcome to suggest items for the agenda in advance, or to bring suggestions on the night. The agenda will be planned at the Admin group meeting on Wednesday 25th November - please send any items by email before then. The Brighton People's Assembly Against Austerity AGM 6th January 7.30pm @ Brighthelm Centre. An opportunity for all members to review the last year's accounts, elect a Treasurer and Secretary and make any changes to the constitution if we want to. It will take place just before a main organising meeting, so if you come along you'll also be able to take part in a more interesting action planning discussion! In order to allow volunteers to prepare an agenda before the Christmas break, we request, if possible, any proposals to amend the constitution are sent topplsassembly.brighton@gmail.com by 14th December. Any proposals received after 27th December cannot be considered at the AGM. The constitution can be viewed here. Lobby Brighton & Hove Council - No Poor Tax!   Policy and Resources Committee, Thurs 3rd December 3.30pm @ Brighthelm Centre Following on from last week's meeting, the campaign continues on local council tax benefit proposals. Please support the 15,000 poorest households in our city - one in 12 - who are set to be hit by another big increase in the council tax they have to pay from April 2016. People on very low incomes will have to pay at least 33% more council tax next year, while the general council tax bill is likely to increase by no more than 2%. We think this is unfair - please join us on December 3rd to let the councillors know it's not OK to take money from the poorest people in the city to plug the gap in council funding.   For further information on this campaign, see our campaign page. like the campaign on Facebook, follow on Twitter: @NoPoorTax, and sign our petition:bit.ly/PoorTaxPetition. Who wants to attend the national conference? We've had a brilliant year, we've achieved so much, but we still have a ruthless Tory government we have to resist, so we have to step up the struggle yet again. The People’s Assembly in Brighton & Hove has worked with many of you, on the streets, at demos and rallies, at meetings small and large and we know that in the next few months we will need to do more. Our website  provides details of everything that’s going on in  but there’s also huge advantages in finding out what’s happening elsewhere in the country, in linking up with other local groups and hearing from and discussing with national figures how we can all work together even more effectively.  The People’s Assembly National Conference on Saturday 5th December in London is an opportunity for this and Brighton & Hove can send up to ten delegates to this conference. Speakers at the conference will include the Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell MP, Francesca Martinez the campaigner and performer, Dr Rory Hicks from the Junior Doctors Campaign, Christine Blower – General Secretary of the NUT (the teachers union), Dave Ward from the postal workers union and Natalie Bennett – leader of the Green Party. More speakers are to be confirmed. I’ve volunteered to co-ordinate the Brighton & Hove delegation. If you’re interested in going to this conference, please email me and I can provide you with details. Solidarity Aidan Pettitt aidan.pettitt@ntlworld.com Local Campaigns: Actions & Events Time to Act  - Week of Action 15th-22nd November After lots of planning and fundraising, the week of action begins today! 2015 is a crucial year for the climate. In December, governments will come together in Paris to strike a new deal for the climate - we must make our voices heard in the lead up to the COP21 conference in Paris, there will be a range of actions locally and nationally to put pressure on the government to take action. Week of action local events are on Brighton CAN comprehensive calendar & includes: 'Cowspiracy' screening and book discussion Tuesday, 17 November 6pm @ Onca Gallery, 14 St Georges Place ~ The Radical Book Group hosts a double header Power through Paris and Climate Justice Training Wednesday 18 November 2015 6pm @ Onca Gallery ~ Training session with representative from 350.org  Howard Johns 'The Energy Revolution' plus panel on Energy Generation Thurs 19th November 7pm @ Wagner Hall ~ unique opportunity to meet with the leaders of renewable energy generation in our region Finale: Climate Conference & Afterparty at the Synergy Centre,Saturday 21st Nov 10:00am - 2am! A whole day and evening of talks, events, films, stalls, music and dancing. Join, share and get updates about the schedule via the Facebook event. Time to Cycle - join the mass cycle to COP21 by cycling Brighton to Newhaven section on Monday 7th November ~ details here National Demo Sunday, 29 November 2015 - 12pm London Demonstration called by the Campaign Against Climate Change, also occurring in Scotland, Wales & Paris - details here.   Dancing for Syria Wed 25th November 7.30pm @ Latest Music Bar A fundraiser for Calais Acion.  Performances by Tribal and Tribal Fusion Belly Dancers Hilde Cannoodt, Charlotte, Masmoudi, Ter'zím ATS UK / SA and many more. Tickets £8 and on sale here. Screening of The Fourth Estate Mon 16th November 5pm @ Cockcroft Building, Lecture Theatre 1(G24) University of Brighton Lewes Road ~ This event marks the launch of the Brighton Radical Film Festival. Hosted by School of Art, Design and Media.A film about the media, corruption and us. The screening will be followed by Q&A with the director, Lee Salter, over a glass of wine. Brighton & Hove Council Workers Speak Out Against The Cuts Tuesday 17th November 7.30pm @ Brighthelm Centre ~ Organised by Brighton and Hove Unison. Speakers will be staff directly affected by the cuts whowill explain how the cuts will affect local communities. Plenty of time for all at the meeting to discuss how unions and communities can unite to stop them. Join the facebook event here Brighton Benefits Campaign meeting Wed 18th November 7.30pm @ The Old Ship Hotel ~ All welcome Women, austerity and the cuts Thursday 26th November 6.30pm @ Friends Meeting House ~ Public meeting organised by the National Assembly of Women. Speaker: Anita Wright, NAW President. All welcome. Love Activists Brighton are consulting to find the most progressive, practical and radical solution based proposals to end homelessness. Deadline for proposals is Fri 20th Nov - Watch the video here to find out more.  ‪#NoMoreDeathsOnOurStreets The 'Love Kitchen' is still being set up every Sunday where possible. See the facebook page for details. Donations of food and equipment welcome. No cash donations accepted. If you would like to be part of the Love Kitchen Crews or Coordinate please Email loveactivists@riseup.net Blyth Power& John Hegley - Bring Back British Rail benefit gig Sunday 20th Dec 7.30pm @ Green Door Store This benefit gig will not only raise funds for the group, it will also see bands, poets and performers joining up with activists, trade unionists and trainspotters to celebrate the railway and raise awareness about an issue that is fast gaining traction in the UK. All this is taking place at the Green Door Store, underneath Brighton Train Station. Tickets £8 available here. More details on Facebook event page.

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