This blog was originally set up for a 150km walk across the North East in 2009. I have resuscitated it recently for occasional posts and to record some local events. Please leave a comment if you like (or dislike) anything here, or to add fresh ideas. If you want to get in touch, more direct communication methods are on the contacts page.
To mark IDAHO, Mesmac North East has several events on Saturday 19th May. They start with a flash mob at Monument, 11am. Wear something brightly coloured, and bring something to make a minute's noise. This will be a brief event.
This is followed by a bible bash led by the Metropolitan Community Church, and a discussion on equal civil marriage led by MESMAC.
Many thanks to all those who voted Green in last week's local elections. We achieved our best ever result in South Heaton, coming in second place, ahead of both Lib Dems and Tories. Makes a neat sequence:
4th in 2010
3rd in 2011
2nd in 2012
1st in ???
Full results for South Heaton 2010-2012 are available. But the main story of the local elections was the low turnout. Now that residents in South Heaton have a clear alternative to the Labour status quo for future elections, I hope that we'll be able to inspire many more of them to vote in the next elections in 2014.
And apologies for not having got this message uploaded before now. My excuse is a few days away, but where? Three clues
Technical - no mobile coverage
Geographical - within the North East
Pictorial - see below
Robert the Bruce is said to have been inspired by watching the determination of a spider spinning its web. Last weekend, my inspiration came from seeing so many arctic-alpine plants thriving in an inhospitable climate, having survived there since the last Ice Age. But our timescale for Greening Heaton is necessarily a shorter one!
And close 10pm. Here's how to vote tomorrow, if you live in South Heaton ward.
If you have your polling card, go to the polling station stated on it.
If you cannot find it, don't worry. You can still vote without it. Go to the pollling station for your district as follows.
If you live between the railway line and Byker Wall (Ringtons, Grafton/Addison estates or Shields Road), your polling station is at East End Pool and Library.
If you live in the Avenues, or other terraces between Chilli Road and Heaton Road, go to Chillingham Road Primary School.
If you live in the Railway terraces, Chillingham Gardens estate/flats, Rothbury Terrace or south side of Simonside (all east of Chilli Road), go to the blue portacabin at end of Spenser Street.
For the other terraces east of Chilli Road, you vote at Heaton Community Centre.
If in any doubt, call Electoral Services on 0191 277 7100.
If you have a postal vote and have not yet used it, take it to any of the above polling stations.
If you are ill and unable to vote, call Electoral Services on 0191 277 7100 as early as possible. You may still be able to appoint someone else to vote on your behalf.
Local democracy depends on much more than an annual vote, but it is part of it. So please vote tomorrow - and then stay active to hold your councillors to account.
Good company , food to share, free goods to give or take away, and hopefully lots of music making. Too good to be true?
No, because all are invited to a celebration at Hadrian Square on Shields Road (outside East End Pool and Library). It starts from 10am on Saturday 5th May. Come prepared to stay awhile, bring musical instruments and creative ideas.
On Sunday we heard of plans to put missiles on top of residential blocks in East London. The residents had been kept in the dark, and there has been apparently no assessment of the risks involved. Once again, ordinary people's normal rights are ignored in the name of anti-terrorism and security.
But more worrying still is the absence of any justification for having the missile stations in the first place. Granted, the Olympics could be a target for terrorists. Granted, the authorities should do everything possible to counter this threat. But where does firing missiles in a crowded city come into it? Do they mean to obliterate an estate if they suspect terrorists are operating from it? Will they make a split-second decision to shoot down a plane risking widespread death and injury because it doesn't respond to requests for information? It's not the residents where the missiles are stationed that I'm most worried about, but everyone else at and around the Olympic venues.
The real reason seems to be that they want to be seen to be doing something, and have no definition of security beyond weapons. Or that the MOD has seen a chance to show off expensive hardware in its constant battle with the Treasury.
Either way, we need a new debate about security, and about defence. Security from terrorism will come from increasing democracy and local involvement, not from secrecy. The best defence is not military hardware, but a more ethical foreign policy and support for civil liberties at home.
With a group of cyclists, blockading North gate at Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston, February 2010
Only the most cynical would be surprised at the results, which demonstrated:
The high regard which many shoppers had for some of the stores and local traders.
Distrust of the City Council and its plans for new retail on East Pilgrim Street.
The enthusiasm for street markets and events on Shields Road itself.
What was revealing was not just how well shoppers' views matched the
emphasis we put in our objection to the Council's One Core Strategy
plan on supporting neighbourhood centres, but also how happy they were
to share their views with Green Party activists on a Saturday
afternoon. From a personal point of view, it was as encouraging as our
recent canvassing activity, which has revealed growing levels of
support for a Green approach to the local economy.
The new ticket machines arrived at Chillingham Road last week. First observation: they no longer state Thank you for using exact fare if you do so. Courtesy of the 1970s is apparently a thing of the past.
But sorry to see no progress with drainage on approach to eastbound platform, which I raised with Nexus months ago. In fact, since the new fence has gone in, you can no longer avoid the pool by walking on a low wall alongside. So as if not being thanked by the ticket machines weren't enough, there'll have been scores of Heaton residents going home with wet socks in the last two days. Dry feet for Metro passengers - now there's a winning election slogan!
But at least the new ticket machines accept coinage better. I can confidently state that Metro users will care more about that, than their lack of courtesy.
You can't have escaped Shakespeare-mania lately, and Monday was his traditional birthday date. So for a different take on some Shakespeare text, try this video by a local artist. Fans of Jeremy Clarkson might want to look away (but I doubt any of his fans are reading this page).
The Boundary Commission has been reviewing boundaries for MP's constituencies, following Tory legislation that will cut the number of constituencies and require them to be more nearly identical in size.
Their current proposals can be viewed on their website. The bad news is that they propose splitting the Heaton area into three separate constituencies. This will reduce any chance of good representation for our locality. It could consign Heaton to the periphery of our future MPs' priorities.
To envisage the proposals for Heaton, stand at the Heaton Road/Simonside Terrace junction. Look around you. Do you see Heaton in every direction? Not according to the Boundary Commission. Here's their plan:
To the South West is Heaton Park. This is Ouseburn ward, and will form part of a new riverside constituency Newcastle upon Tyne South, stretching from here to Newburn.
To the North is Heaton parish church. This is North Heaton ward and becomes part of a new Newcastle upon Tyne Central constituency. (Despite the name, the centre of town isn't in this constituency!)
To the South East are the Avenues, in South Heaton ward. This goes into another riverside constituency stretching all the way to the coast, Newcastle upon Tyne East and Tynemouth.
My submission went off in December. A search will find it on the website. But as they have garbled the hand-shaded map a bit, I have also put it online here, with an associated spreadsheet. The spreadsheet and map cover the North East north of the Tyne, but the important bit isn't the geeky detail, but the principles within the accompanying text.
While my response does suggest an alternative configuration, the important part is the bit that will be ignored by the Boundary Commission. A proportional voting system with multi-member constituencies, like Single Transferable Vote, would make it much easier to draw boundaries that are both fair numerically, and sensible locally.
Here are details of the Green Party candidates standing in the 'greater Heaton' area.
Ouseburn: Alastair Bonnett
North Heaton: Mike Rabley
South Heaton: Andrew Gray
Brief biographical details are available online. If you want to contact any of them, email (enable images if you can't see the address). I'll ensure that any message or enquiry for Alastair or Mike is passed on to them.
I don't often agree with David Blunkett on criminal justice issues. But he was spot on in his criticism of plans by South Yorkshire police to replace professional officers with PCSOs in neighburhood teams. He condemned the plans as a return to the Z-cars era of flying squads.
This is not about arrest powers or preserving professional status. It has everything to do with preserving the primacy of community policing.
Public confidence will be undermined if we think we're being short-changed. Public confidence is essential to successful policing. Once lost, it can be hard to win back.
Neigbourhood policing requires professional skills to interact with the public, win trust and gather information. It is no less skilled than detective work or other more glamarous policing work.
Community policing must be at the heart of any good policing strategy, because without community support and a flow of local information, the police cannot do their other work.
The inquest into Revd Michael Malleson's tragic death on Heaton Road was completed last week. It confirmed that no blame can be attached to the car driver involved nor to Michael. He died shortly after being knocked off his bicycle on Heaton Road, next to the Heaton Park entrance. See the Journal story for details. Most noteworthy in this report is that the local police have already been in touch with council officers to prevent cars parking near the junction in future. That's good neighbourhood policing in action, and we must hope that the request goes to the top of the Council's priority list.
In Norway, the self-confessed perpetrator of a terrorist atrocity is on trial. He is given opportunities to make his own defence, even though this is itself offensive and hurtful. When the atrocity happened, the Norwegian Prime Minister stated that the response would be more democracy and more humanity, not repression or clampdowns. The shooting on Utoya must be one of the most chilling, evil and traumatising terror attacks witnessed in modern times, yet survivors have welcomed both the trial and the respect and human rights being shown to Breivik.
Contrast the political response to the European Court of Human Rights and the Qatada case in Westminster. He has not been charged, traditions of our legal system have been ignored, and both the previous and current governments have attempted to compromise our stance against torture in the effort to deport Qatada to Jordan.
The Norwegians have got it right. The response to terrorism should be to ensure that we don't compromise on justice, to prove that we don't do exactly what the terrorists want, to combat violence with democracy.
So instead of bashing the ECHR, or jumping through every possible hoop to deport Qatada (and bungling the attempt, as we learn today), let's put him on trial. If he's dangerous, charge him with murder, conspiracy or incitement. Let the truth come out, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
It's the only effective way of defeating terrorism. Short-circuiting the legal system will only feed more violence, and come back to bite us. So let justice be done, for all our sakes.
Yesterday's report on fracking claims that it is safe to go ahead, despite confirming that exploratory work has already caused earthquakes in Lancashire. The report went on to compare this with coal mining, stating that this had caused many tremors (true), but that none of them were ever serious enough to cause damage (false).
So here's a quotation from a letter written by the vicar of Dalton-le-Dale to the bishop of Durham in 1887:
We are experiencing serious shocks under this house and the church ... The effect in October last upon this house and upon our nerves was damaging ... Frequently 3, sometimes 4 within 24 hours ... last night were alarming.
And in relation to damage caused, he goes on:
The arches in the churrch and the walls have I may say fissures - only 18 months have elapsed since this church (Holy Trinity) was put in good order, altho' only built 9 years.
The poor chap then reveals that the colliery is attributing the tremors to the waterworks company. They, of course, blame the colliery.
So yes, earth tremors caused by mining are not new. Nor is complacency by private operators. We need to learn from the past, not repeat its mistakes.
Congratulations to the North Tyneside councillors, who last night unanimously rejected the Bellway planning application that would have decimated an esential wildlife corridor for the Gosforth Nature Reserve. And congratulations to the campaigning and research work of the West Moor Residents Association and Natural History Society of Northumbria. With 100 people packed into the planning committee room and superb presentations by their representatives, the arguments proved irresistible for the councillors, who went against the advice of their planning officials.
Contrast the excellence of the campaigners' speeches, and the honest atteempts by councillors to grapple fairly with the issues and guidance before them (they took 4 hours over the decision), with the performance of the Bellway rep. She spent most of her speech telling the councillors of a recent appeal case they had lost, with costs awarded against them. The councillors were scared, and rightly so - they couldn't fail to hear the threats behind the developer's weasel words. Doubtless they were tempted too by the huge offers of money as planning gain (s106 agreements), and the reminder (by Bellway) that new guidance meant they should take account of such financial inducements in reaching their decision. So congratulations to them all again.
Sadly I was in the overflow room, standing for lack of seats among the spare tables and computer cabinets, able to see only a few of the councillors involved. More sadly, some of those in that room left early, assuming from the officers' presentation that the application would be approved. I wish they had been able to stay and see the winning formula of democracy and principle. A great moment, and a great victory in the struggle to maintain open spaces, wildlife corridors, a sustainable nature reserve, and a continuing red squirrel population for Newcastle.
And a lesson never to be cynical. Bellway has doubtless been onto its lawyers today, preparing an appeal. If they win, and if they win costs, future inappropriate developments will be even harder to stop. But last night proved that they don't have to win. So let's ensure they don't. Both the excellent speeches and the large numbers of objectors were needed to win last night.
I've just been pointed to a video of myself on youtube, talking about issues of LGBT rights and freedom of expression. The video was done by a group of Northumbria students in 2010, in the context of confusion within Tory ranks on these two fundamental issues.
So you can judge for yourself... If the video is not shown below, you can play it direct from youtube.
A warning that it briefly shows postcards of some artworks that some may find offensive - proof that I didn't censor the film in any way!
Sorry to see an attempt to win the popular vote by attacking use of Council money to pay Trade Union officials, in latest Focus newsletter from the LibDems. They've even made it the subject of a survey. So first some basic facts.
The Council is obliged by law to give reasonable paid time off to its staff when carrying out Trade Union duties. Trade Union duties is narrowly defined and includes representing members (eg at redundancy hearings) and negotiating with management on their behalf. It does not include campaigning, recruitment, branch meetings etc. In practice, this means that the Council must allow staff reps to undertake TU duties within work time.
Paying a TU official therefore saves a lot of paid staff time (of both management and staff reps). It makes negotiations and formal procedures much easier for everyone involved, can prevent delays and helps to keep cases out of expensive employment tribunals. Council tax payers would be the losers if the Council ended the system of paying directly for a TU official. From my own experience (not in local government), TU officials and reps usually give much more of their own time on top of any facilities or time off from the employer.
I don't often congratulate both major parties at the same time, but then they don't often work together in Newcastle! But I agree wholeheartedly with their campaign against changing to an elected mayor system for Newcastle's leadership.
On 3rd May, the government has forced us to hold a referendum on whether we want an elected mayor to lead (and, if local examples are anything to go by, bully) the city. There has been little demand for this change locally. Experience from other councils (outside London) with elected mayors has been unimpressive at best.
It would certainly be less democratic to concentrate so much power in one individual. Budgets could be forced through with the support of only a third of the city's elected councillors.
Evidence from talking with Heaton residents, is that people want practical action and hard work, not celebrity and charisma. And certainly not the cronyism and corruption that so often goes hand in hand with systems of governance based on strong leaders, both here and in the US.
Of course, many are unimpressed by the current Council leadership, especially given their draft One Core Strategy. But the solution is greater democracy not an all-powerful mayor, more power for local elected councillors not less, and debate about policies for a better Newcastle, not about personalities.
If you can't wait for the leaflet to be pushed through your letterbox (if you
live in South Heaton), here's a preview.
If you prefer the poster version, that's also
available for download - you can cut off the bottom
sixth after printing on A4 or A3 paper. Please display in your window, to tell
your neighbours how you'lll be voting on 3rd May. If you want lots for your friends, please don't print a big batch of these, instead get in touch and I'll deliver them to you or your mates.
And of course any volunteers to deliver leaflets welcome! Please use the links
on the contacts page to get in touch.
Took part in a consultation on marriage reforms today. Should civil marriage be extended to gay and lesbian couples?
Well of course it should, if equality is taken seriously. 'Equivalence' in the forrm of civil partnership so clearly looks second best, and I'm not aware of any French revolutionaries chanting, "Liberty, Equivalence, Fraternity!"
But what about straight couples who want a civil partnership rather than marriage? Or churches who want to give their blessing to gay couples getting married as part of a religious service? Or elderly siblings who want to commit to each other and share a house together, but currently cannot gain any legal protection or financial advantage from doing so?
Personally, it's a yes to all three, and that was the overwhelming opinion expressed at today's consultation meeting. But those options aren't on the table (yet). The governmment is not consulting on principles, but only on how to implement the limited changes that it has already decided on.
And what about those who disagree in principle? Who want to continue arguing that my lifestyle is wrong and should never be recognised by the state as marriage?
That's an easier question. They must be free, and feel free, to keep saying so, even if it gives offence to some of us. The answer is not to weaken the principle of equality, but to strengthen the principle of freedom of thought, religion and expression. That means getting rid of laws that have a chilling effect on our freedoms.
Whether the Westminster politicians have the courage to take that approach, may be another matter. Given the fudges on the equality principle within their consultation document, it seems unlikely. So religious groups will continue to feel marginalised, and the LGBT community (and straight couples) will have to continue accepting fudges in the name of equivalence instead of full equality.
But don't let that put you off from calling for liberty and equality. We all need, and deserve, both.
The one thing I strongly concur with the government equality office on, is that everyone should take part in the consultation. Even if you only want to answer the first question (and even, or especially, if you disagree with me), please do so. You'll find it at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/equal-civil-marriage, and have until 14 June to respond.
And if you want to add your name to a petition that seeks full equality, you will find one started by a locally based group at http://www.c4em.org.uk, where you'll also find a link to the consultation pages. And there's another petition, backed by a long-standing campaign and legal challenge, launched by human rights group OutRage!, at http://equallove.org.uk.
Woke up yesterday morning to the news that the government plans to relax
Sunday trading laws during the Olympics. So rather than shouting at the radio
(as usual), I launched an e-petition on the Government website. The main
focus of the e-petition is on the damage that these proposals could do to our
local high streets, as small shops and businesses cannot compete with the
large chain stores and edge-of-town retail parks.
The e-petition had to be reviewed by a government department before it went
live for signing - a process that is meant to take a week or more. But
perhaps someone in the department for Business, Innovation and Skills agrees
with it, because it was cleared for signing by 9:30 this morning. So you
can now sign it online at http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/31526.
Here's the text of the petition:
Don't change Sunday trading rules during Olympics
Abandon plans to relax Sunday trading rules for large shops during the
two months of the Olympics in summer 2012. Allowing large stores and
retail parks to open 24/7 will harm small shops who will lose trade to
chain stores. Local economies will suffer and local shopping streets
lose business. The loss of small businesses, and of local trade and
professional contracts will increase unemployment long-term. Pressure
on shop workers will increase, causing particular problems at times of
celebration and school holidays. The special status of Sundays free
from mass-consumer culture will be eroded, and this temporary
relaxation will increase pressure from large corporate lobbies for a
permanent change in the rules. Outside London especially, these plans
are damaging and should be abandoned.
It's only available for three months - because any campaign to stop the
proposal will be won or lost within weeks. So spread the word, and share the
link at http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/31526.
It's like May Day marches in the '80s, says a neighbour from Heaton, as we walk down Shields Road. This time our focus is on the Lib Dems, who are holding their party conference this weekend. But as one side of my placard states, the difference from the Thatcherites of the past may not be that great.
But the other side of the placard is the important message.
As well as campaigning against the NHS Reform Bill, we were calling for honesty in politics. The LibDems were claiming to be against the Tory drive to privatise the NHS, but (with a notable exception from Cornwall) they all trooped into the government lobby in support of the original version of the bill last year. Deeds (or votes) count for more than words...
From the post for yesterday, I could claim an excuse for not having started this walk first thing, from Salters Lane in Gosforth. In fact, organisers from Save Gosforth Wildlife asked a group from Heaton to start from Paddy Freeman's Park, in case others who didn't know the route might be starting there.
At least we did better than the group of councillors who met up on the City Stadium for a photo shoot, most walking only from there to the Cluny. Not that this stopped them using the photo in their newsletters to voters. Doubtless they had an even better excuse than we had for not going the whole way.
Given that they're normally asleep at midday, badgers had the best excuse of all for not joining the walk. But here's one (a Green Party activist) who realised that she had to come out to safeguard her habitats from over-development.
Thanks to the kind person helping our badger across the road - car culture is dangerous for wildlife even in the comparative calm of the Ouseburn and Byker City Farm.
... Bar none, to quote George Galloway. I hope that you (and just possibly he) will forgive me for saying that it will beat even the pleasure that I'll feel if South Heaton residents elect me instead of the Labour candidate on 3rd May.
Sadly of course, not everyone would call it a marriage, and legally it isn't one. But we won't let that put us off, not least because friends and work colleagues (including catholic colleagues) are happy to call it marriage.
And where did we go the next day. On the protest walk with Save Gosforth Wildlife through the Ouseburn, of course. There's a picture of this on my election leaflet - now you know why I'm grinning on that photo!
Alex Salmond wants a referendum on independence and devolution powers after more debate. David Cameron wants to bounce the Scottish people into a snap decision, and confine the choice to in/out. Why should we care?
Perhaps because at the last election, the North East voted more with Scotland than the rest of England. Or because since then the North/South divide has worsened. Or because the Westminster government is more interested in fighting Europe to prevent better regulation of the City, than in supporting the economies of the North East.
So my proposal is a bit more radical. Before (or even after) any Scottish referendum on independence, those north of the Tyne should have our own referendum. The question?
Do we want to secede to Scotland?
Because we should be able to decide whether we want to be tied to Westtminster and its dependence on financial services, or be part of a vibrant Scotland, leading in development of
green industry. Or whether we want a fragmented and corporate-friendly health service, or one retaining local health boards. Or whether we want the benefits of a broad education system, that values Higher Education instead of encouraging private providers and forcing more debt onto students. Or (if Scotland wins independence), whether we want to live in a country free of nuclear weapons.
So roll on the referendum. Our referendum.
Shall we move the Scottish border south to the Tyne?
The shadow of bungled police investigation and institutional racism hangs over yesterday's partial justice for Stephen Lawrence's family. We have heard about how much has changed in the Met after the MacPherson inquiry. I hope it has, having witnessed for myself the brush-off given to a casual inquiry about levels of local racism at an East End police station in 1991.
But look at the failure of a senior police officer to meet the family of Mark Duggan that sparked off this summer's riots, in which hatred of police seems to have been the one common factor. Or the repeal of post-MacPherson legislation relating to stop and account, continuing excess use of stop and search against ethnic minorities, or insensitive deployments of CCTV in muslim neighbourhoods.
So a reminder of the importance of policing by consent. This principle should underpin all our policing, of both protests and communities. Our politicians are too quick to forget the lesson when legislating and looking for the 'quick fix' in response to riots or crises.
Community policing takes years to build up, but just a few bad policing decisions to destroy. The test post-Lawrence is, will we stick by policing by consent when the going gets tough.
Newcastle and Gateshead Green Parties published our objection to the draft development strategy of our councils in December, calling on them to go back to the drawing board. We believe the strategy to be a developers' charter.
Andrew contributed particularly to the employment and economics chapter. Here's a summary of objections in relation to Heaton.
Large developers will be in the driving seat of regeneration, instead of the community.
The plan repeats the mistakes of Going for growth.
During recession and austerity cuts, these proposals will generate blight and demolition in our communities, and empty shopping malls in the city centre.
It prioritises executive-style housing on greenfield land, which is neither sustainable nor affordable.
Neighbourhood centres like Shields/Chillingham/Heaton Road will be marginalised.
The Councils wrongly claim that there is no alternative when, in fact, there are plenty of examples of better initiatives in several other cities and towns. We draw attention to many in our Objection.
Andrew's leaflet, distributed within South Heaton during February, includes a summary of both our criticisms and some alternatives. If you did not receive the leaflet or would like to view it online, a copy is available for download.
As ASDA opens its new mammoth store on the old Woolworths site at Newcastle
Shopping Park, those with shops on Shields Road will be holding their breath.
Will they suffer the same fate as countless local businesses in the US, where
the arrival of a new Walmart store has meant longer hours for less trade?
Here's a reminder of the text I circulated last year, in connection with the
planned new superstore.
This breaks the promise made in 2000, that the Shopping Park would be for non-food retail only in order to protect Shields Road businesses.
The promise of jobs is an illusion: more jobs will be lost from local shops and businesses than ASDA's self-service tills will create.
Adding a food supermarket into the Shopping Park will massively increase traffic congestion on Shields Road and Chillingham Road.
American studies have linked Walmart/ASDA stores with decline in community engagement, reduced levels of volunteering and even lower voter turnouts.
CABE (the government's advisor on architecture and the built environment) has criticised supermarket-based regeneration schemes. The 2008 recession showed that shopping centres with smaller units, more local businesses and greater diversity are more resilient.
I reached the Howick Hall entrance yesterday at 3:45pm. So I had time for a visit to the gardens and to see 2nd Earl Grey's tomb in the church. The tea rooms were almost as restorative as the cool interior of the reconstructed Mesolithic house a kilometre down the coast (about 8,000 years older).
Sadly, all my limbs held out but my stomach didn't, so I'll update this more once I am home and recovered.
The route page explains the links between this issue and today's walk. After the 6th day of walking, and another long, hot day, I would love to have more of the human-powered form of energy!
When the nuclear lobby, or timid politicians, discuss our energy needs, the most important part of the energy equation is consistently omitted. They assume continuing usage at the current or greater levels. Only the Green Party has policies to tackle the more fundamental challenge, which is to reduce energy usage.
Energy reduction has two aspects: the first stage is to massively increase energy efficiency. The second is to alter our economy and lifestyles so that we need less energy. That is a longer- term task which many of our policies relate to, but the first stage could be achieved within a decade, for instance under our plans for a mass free insulation scheme. We rightly provide education and health care for free, and need to do the same for home insulation. Green councillors in Kirklees have proved that this can be done at a local level, with major benefits for employment and the local economy.
Finally, the Durham Probate mob will be pleased to know that I visited Warkworth church to view the Widdrington memorial.
Emily Wilding Davison's grave in St Mary's churchyard, Morpeth, includes the words, "Deeds not words." This commemorates the suffragettes' campaign of direct action to win the right to vote for women.
But sometimes words speak loudly too: for instance, an analysis of voting records shows that our Green MEPs have the best voting records on animal rights issues of all UK MEPs (equal with Plaid Cymru's Jill Evans). The analysis, by Protecting Animals in Democracy, states, "The Green group is now an influential force in the European Parliament, and UK Greens can rally their colleagues to help make a major difference for animals."
Timely that this analysis comes out on the day that I visited the former Cornyhaugh fur farm, which kept minks in appalling conditions to provide fur for the fashion industry. Timely also because this barbaric so-called 'farming' was banned while Elliot Morley was the minister.
Today was the longest day, and very quiet as I saw very few others where I was walking; fortunately, the bull, who was in one of the fields I walked through, was also very quiet!
Walking through fields of barley and listening to skylarks, it was hard to imagine the former use of the nearly deserted airstrip at Ouston. Only a few years ago, I visited this place late in the evening, to check whether the Trident nuclear convoy vehicles had parked up overnight. They had, and as I approached their secure vehicle compound, I spotted them: 3 large carriers parked up in the Stamfordham countryside. If I had been a terrorist, I was close enough to fire a rocket or mortar shell at the vehicles, each of which carried many kilos of Plutonium and explosives. Luckily for the residents of Stamfordham, I was not a terrorist, and withdrew quickly.
Yesterday, only tanks on exercise could be heard: reminder of 'hot' wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the fallout from the 'war on terror'. The news from Lahore and of hostages still in Iraq, reminds us that these wars have been the best possible recruiting sergeants for Al'Qaeda.
At least there was a bit of peace-making going on, as I spoke with a Sunderland supporter across the fence of the military base!
I was brought up near Stamfordham, so am able to stay with friends: apart from the pleasure of catching up with them after about 10 years, that means a 3rd night of luxury.
Yesterday's route followed the course of the water pumped from Kielder towards Teesside. And in North Korea there was more sabre rattling. What's the link?
Wars over resources look increasingly likely. We have already seen two wars in Iraq linked to oil, and we can expect other conflicts over water supplies in future. War is one result of environmental degradation.
That is another reason why we should be taking responsibility for the effects of our actions on the environment, whether to reduce energy use or cut pollution. It is also why the Green Party places so much emphasis on international issues and conflict prevention.
Yesterday was much easier walking and today I am enjoying a day off (catching up on election agent paperwork for the June 4th elections and stocking up on food).
Anybody who suspects that politicians are 'all the same', will be pleased to read the latest survey by campaign group Open Europe. This has judged Green MEP Caroline Lucas top of all British MEPs for transparency, accountability, democracy and waste.
While condemning the nuclear test, we should remember our own folly in the nuclear debate.
In 1970, the Nuclear Weapons States made a bargain with the Non Nuclear Weapons States, called the Non Proliferation Treaty. Under the NPT, the NWS would disarm, and the NNWS would not attempt to acquire nuclear weapons. We have not kept our side of the bargain. We have brought nothing to the negotiating table except plans to replace Trident, and facilities to build new nuclear weapons at Aldermaston. Our policy has been 'Do as I say not as I do', and it has failed.
How can we expect other countries to not go nuclear, when we claim that it is necessary for our security and to keep our place at the 'top table' of nations?
Nobody claims that UK disarmament would by itself bring North Korea or Iran into line. But only the NPT and the moral and political strength of non Nuclear Middle Powers can achieve this. There is no practical alternative.
Obama's summary of the NPT is excellent. He has given the world another chance to avoid nuclear free-for-all. The UK must follow by putting our own nuclear weapons on the negotiating table.
My desire for a route that moves from valley to valley made for an excellent day, but an exhausting one. Fortunately, I followed my work colleague's advice, and packed plenty of blister plasters!
The route page gives some historical background for this theme. A Green industry policy would not leave all investment decisions to the short term demands of the so-called 'free' market, but would enable industry to diversify into green technologies, both to safeguard skilled jobs and to help deliver the greener society we need.
In this context, the Green Party has welcomed the idea of 'Just Transition' championed by the TUC and now adopted by the UN, to spread the burden of moving to a low carbon economy beyond the workers currently at the 'sharp end', like those threatened with redundancy at Corus.
A long day thanks to having to walk am extra 6 Km to reach the start of the walk. But I am now enjoying a beautiful evening in Westgate, after a day of walking in meadows coloured by Marsh Marigolds, Cuckoo Pint and Birdseye Primrose. And yes, I did find several groups of Spring Gentians at Cow Green.
It is easy to understand the need to protect the tiny fragile plants at Cow Green, and to regret that so many were sacrificed by flooding of the reservoir. But the damage that a warming climate is inflicting is on another scale altogether. And not just plants are affected, with millions of people threatened by rising sea levels and desertification. The UK Parliament failed to stand up to industry lobbying in the 1960s over Cow Green. We must work hard to ensure that the Copenhagen summit in December is not so timid.
What is the difference between city and country? From my flat in Heaton, Newcastle, the only birds we hear are blackbirds singing in the middle of the night, confused by new far too bright streetlights. Here is a chorus of ground nesting birds.
Anyway, I am now (9:30am) approaching the 'official' start point by Cow Green reservoir. Will I find any Spring Gentians? I will leave it to others to look for the Rotten Boroughs, which may be easier to find!
But, as Rowan Williams said yesterday, it is now time for the media to give as much attention to policies as to expenses. The biggest problem with our politicians is not the expense claims, but their refusal to take the big decisions needed to tackle climate change. For instance, the universal, free home insulation scheme proposed by the Green Party. If the company where I stayed last night is anything to go by, ordinary people are far less timid than the big party politicians. We talked about land reform, climate change and the demonisation of young people. So please check out our website at www.greenparty.org.uk.
Fundraising for politicians and political parties can't be the easiest task
after this week's revelations about MPs' expenses. But Greens are always
ambitious about their politics. Their policy for a Green New Deal will
transform the economy, create jobs and tackle climate change. And one Green
Party member from Newcastle is about to set off on a 150 kilometre walk so
that voters have a Green choice at elections.
Andrew Gray will set off on Sunday 24th May, on an eight-day walk across
the North East, to raise funds for the Green Party's European and
Parliamentary election campaigns. His walk, dubbed the Walk for
Democracy, will start at Cow Green in upper Teesdale, home to Spring
Gentians and a myriad of rare alpine plants whose survival was threatened when
the valley was flooded to create the Cow Green reservoir in 1971. The walk
ends at Howick on the Northumberland coast, home to the Second Earl Grey, who
championed the 1832 Reform Act through Parliament, sweeping away the 'rotten
boroughs' that were the political scandal of their time.
"We have to pay £5,000 as a 'deposit', just to appear on the
ballot paper in the elections on 4th June," says Andrew, who is
agent for the North East Green Party in the Euro elections, and has been
selected as a candidate in his own constituency of Newcastle East for the next
General election. "And for each seat that we contest at a General
election, we will have to pay a £500 deposit. Those are big sums for
the Green Party, and could prevent us putting our policies in front of voters,
just when we need radical alternatives to avoid the devastation of climate
change, both locally and internationally."
Further information on the walk, including details of the route and places
visited, contact and press details (and a sponsorship form) are online, at tyneside.metapath.org/walk4democracy.
And to set a new 'austerity' example for our MPs, Andrew's second home for
much of the week will be a one-person tent.
With a group of cyclists, blockading North gate at Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston, February 2010
(enable images if you can't see the address). I'll ensure that any message or enquiry for Alastair or Mike is passed on to them.
