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In May 2009, Andrew walked 150Km, from Cow Green reservoir on the Co Durham/Cumbria border, to Howick on the Northumberland coast. Cow Green was the site of one of the first modern conservation campaigns, as the reservoir threatened an internationally important site for the Teesdale Violet, Spring Gentian and other rare alpine plants. Howick Hall was the seat of the 2nd Earl Grey, champion of the 1832 Reform Act which swept away the 'rotten boroughs' and began the extension of the parliamentary vote.
These themes reflected the purpose of the walk, which was to raise funds for the Green Party's election campaigns in the North East (Euros 2009, General 2009/10). For every region or constituency where we stand a candidate, we must pay a deposit just to be on the ballot paper. Money raised by the Walk for Democracy allows us to give more voters the chance to vote Green at these elections.
For further information, see the Walk for Democracy home page.
Sadly, all my limbs held out but my stomach didn't, so I'll update this more once I am home and recovered.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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