Rupert's Read

It is less than a month now to Christmas. Metaphorically speaking, that's the time of year when we hope that a child of hope will be born into this world, and the days will start to become lighter again, and the future brighter... My biggest memory of 2008 will be this: that, back when the days were still long, in July of this year, in Norwich Quaker Meeting House, I got married. It was, of course, lovely to see lots of my family and friends there: old people, young people, babes in arms. It was especially good to see those who will still be here after I am gone. Everyone wants their kids to be OK. And their kids. And their kids too… Think about this. You never want this to stop. Would it be OK if after you were gone your great-great-grandchildren all lived short, miserable lives and died excruciating or terrifying deaths? Of course it wouldn't. And so now I have to mention what we don't tend to like to think about… The way we as a species live right now, the size of our ec...

Cllr. Dr. Rupert Read, Prospective Green Party MEP for Eastern Region will be visiting Bedford on Monday 1st December as part of a tour of the six counties of the region ahead of the European Elections which take place in June next year Cllr. Read will be meeting with local Greens and members of the public at 8.15am (until 9.15) at Bedford Central Bus Station. They will be leafletting bus passengers, and engaging in conversation about the Green Party's plans to improve public transport services. The Greens are mounting a strong campaign to gain an MEP in Eastern Region where they have steadily increased their number of Councillors to currently stand at 27. There are now Green Party Principal Authority Councillors in every county in Eastern Region. Dr. Read said: "Bedford is a town that could benefit greatly from improved public transport infrastructure to ease traffic problems and give people more choices about the way they travel. One of my top priorities, if I get...

My answers to the Rackheath 'eco-town' consultation, for readers' interest:   Question 1: What are your first impressions of the proposed design and do you have any suggestions for improvement? The plans look first class but in reality Rackheath could only be considered an eco-town WITHOUT the NDR.   Transport within, to and from the community should be based around public transport and safe walking and cycling routes. Question 2: Do you have any thoughts on how residents and the current community could benefit from the proposals? Being part of an exciting new development and benefiting from clean air and top quality public transport. Question 3: What can be done to make the whole of Rackheath a low carbon community? There are numerous building techniques available to make existing housing stock low carbon and these should be used extensively.  An easy quick move would be to provide insulation to all existing buildings.  Wind and solar power power...

The Conservatives are in serious trouble -- their underlying deregulatory narrative has been totally blown out of the water by recent events. But that still leaves Labour in big trouble too -- for their underlying narrative was barely different. Brown was a high-priest of light-touch financial regulation: it is frankly sickening now to see him posturing as a saviour. ...It is deeply premature to think that there has been a death of New Labour. For Brown isn't doing enough to save us from financial and economic ruin. As I have argued repeatedly (see various posts below), this government's continued neo-liberal instincts are still hobbling it at almost every turn. Still, LIBOR is high; still, small businesses (and large ones!) are going to the wall without access to credit lines; still, the banks are being allowed to operate at arm's length... There is a pitiful failure of nerve in the government, a pitiful failure to grasp the historic opportunity here, w...

http://new.edp24.co.uk Last Sunday, I was privileged to attend a large ecumenical memorial service at Norwich Cathedral, to honour the too-many precious men, women and children killed in road crashes. This event was part of the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims creates a link between victims of road crashes, who deserve to be alive today to fulfil their hopes and dreams instead of having been killed, prematurely and violently. Witnessing the tears during the service, and speaking with people afterwards, I got a strong sense of how the lives also of those closest to road traffic victims have been traumatically affected by their loss. One of the vital purposes of an organisation like RoadPeace is to bring together those close to those who have been killed on the roads. Because losing a loved one on the roads can bring a terrible sense of isolation. There just isn't the same kind of network of support that exists for, ...

As feared, ITV is to carry out major cuts in regional news across the UK, with mergers of outlets and over 400 jobs going. There will be 30 staff losses in news and politics at Anglia TV, including many well known presenters (1). Strong statements have been issued by current and past staff at Anglia and the local NUJ. Eastern Region Green Party shares those concerns. Prospective Green MEP, Councillor Rupert Read said: "ITV has been reducing its local news focus enormously since the Conservatives passed the 1990 Act, paving the way for deregulation of the industry and making ITV a business dependent on shareholder profit instead of a protected localised service and alternative to the BBC. And now ITV has announced a further downscaling. This is a regressive step and further jeopardises ITV's role as an important local news outlet. There is a greater, not lesser, need for regional media in today's 24 hour news world. Local news, like Anglia News, scruti...

http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/2008/11/24/the-case-for-supporting-greens-at-euro-elections/

This is well worth a read. Perhaps, with Obama soon to take over, and a Democrat-controlled Congress, we can dare to hope that some of this might become reality?: http://www.nytimes-se.com

I travelled recently (see pic in post a little below!) to Brussels at the invitation of Green Party MEPs Caroline Lucas, Leader of the England and Wales Green Party, and Jean Lambert, Green Party MEP for London. Along with lead candidates from the Greens' other target Regions and with my candidate from Eastern Region (Peter Lynn of Colchester), I toured the European Parliament, meeting key officials, and taking part in a conference on climate justice. The conference also featured Lord Stern, author of the influential Stern Review on the economics of climate change, and Pascal Lamy, Director General of the World Trade Organisation. The aim of the day was to prepare we Green candidates to take up office and become effective MEPs after next June's elections. We want to be ready to become MEPs and to be able to make a difference from day one following the election. With the electoral system being proportional, just 10% of the vote here in the East would be enough to g...

Memo to progressives: The case for voting Green at the Euros Last week, alongside Caroline Lucas MEP, our Party's recently-elected first-ever Leader , I helped launch the Green Party's European election campaign , and spoke with the nation's media about our plan for a ' Green New Deal ' to get Britain and Europe out of the dreadful economic and environmental crisis that we have got ourselves into, as a society. Victories at the Euro-elections next June for the Green Party will make it more likely that this Green New Deal will happen. I want to be in Brussels, giving more power to Caroline's arm, helping make this historic and sorely-needed change really start to happen all across the E.U. I'm the lead candidate for Eastern Region , one of our two top target Regions (the other being NorthWest) for the Euro-elections. Now led me add to this a tactical consideration: the electoral system that the Euro-elections are fought under; the arithmetic. In p...

  Prospective Green Party MEP for the Eastern Region, Councillor Rupert Read, will be speaking at the Green Fair to be held at The Corn Exchange in Bury St Edmunds on Saturday 22 November 2008.    Cllr. Read, who attends Green Fairs regularly in the county, said   "These fairs certainly have something for everyone, from all age groups and backgrounds.  There are a wide range of stalls ranging from energy saving devices to educational stalls from councils.  At the Green Fair in Eye on 8 November, power saving devices were given away, as well as free reusable bags. There are art and craft stalls too and plenty of creative activities for children, both fun and educational. This is the green lifestyle in action: affordable, enjoyable, accessible to all."    There will be live Folk and Jazz music at the event, with refreshments and meals available.    The event is being a...

Here is the Green Party's 1999 Euro election broadcast, which was enormously popular. See why, for yourself: http://studentmedic.wordpress.com/2007/02/28/party-election-broadcast/

Norwich Green Councillors to attend Memorial Service as part of ...WORLD DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR ROAD TRAFFIC VICTIMS On Sunday 16 th November 2008 at 3.30pm, at Norwich Cathedral, there will be an ecumenical memorial service to honour too-many precious, unique, irreplaceable men, women and children killed in road crashes. World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims creates a link between victims of road crashes around the world, all of whom deserve to be alive today to fulfil their hopes and dreams instead of been killed, prematurely and violently. Norwich Green Party Councillors are proud to be part of this event – Councillors Read (Norwich Green Party Transport Spokesman) and Boswell (Green County Councillor) will be among those attending. As part of the act of remembrance, there will be a display board for photographs of loved ones who have been killed in road traffic crashes. There will ...

Here is me, Jean Lambert (Green MEP for London) and my no.2 on the list Peter Lynn, inside the European Parliament at a Green group meeting... It wasa good experience... Hopefully I'll be back!

Click here to see a short youtube video made at the launch of the Green Party 2009 European Election Campaign on Monday.

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/letters/letters-politicians-pasts-1009596.html Your front-page headline (7 November) speaks of the banks being "ordered" to pass on the interest-rate cut to borrowers. But what does this really mean? Can a government that is avowedly running the banks that it now owns or part-owns on our behalf on a commercial and "arm's-length" basis "order" them to do anything? The Government's policy on the banks is incoherent. It is desperately trying to avoid calling what has happened by its true name: nationalisation. The Green Party believes that the banks that are owned or part-owned by the public ought to be controlled accordingly – "No taxation without representation". Our tax money has bailed out these institutions; the least that we should ask in return is for our needs and values directly to guide their lending policies. It is time that the Government started to take a serious role in controlling the banks...

To work as a volunteer with Rupert Read (Lead Green MEP Candidate) and Simon Sedgwick-Jell (Campaign Manager) between now and June ‘09. Minimum Hours: Half a day per week or equivalent. Minimum Period: One month. The position would ideally be taken by someone living in or near Eastern Region, but we will also consider those living elsewhere in England. Job involves: Research and co-ordinating surveys etc in order to provide stronger real news than we usually have (not just opinion). Most of your quality time will be spent creating opportunities for the extra coverage that we need if we are to win a seat in the 2009 Euro Elections. If you think that you would like to take on this task then please get in touch (contact details below). Now that the Green Party has officially launched its European election campaign, your help could significantly extend Rupert Read’s ‘reach’ and that of the Green Euro-campaign, increasing the chances of us breaking through in Eastern Region, one of our two...

 The Government's policy on the banks is incoherent. It is desperately  trying to avoid calling what has happened by its true name:  nationalisation. We in the Green Party believe that the banks that are  owned or part-owned by us, the public -- this nation -- ought to be  controlled accordingly. 'No taxation without representation' ought to  be the motto: Our tax-money has baled out these institutions; the least  that we should ask in return is for our needs and values directly to  guide their lending policies.  It is time that the Government started to take a serious role in  controlling the banks that it owns. It is quite absurd -- it is a grave  danger to the prospects of stabilising our economy and avoiding  Depression -- to have some banks hoarding money and refusing to lend and  profiteering through maintaining high interest rates, even after the  Bank of England has cut its rate by such an unprece...

  I'm giving my full backing to the NUJ's campaign to stand up for ITV's local and regional news services (1); the proposed sweeping job cuts and local service mergers are a regressive step for the fourth estate and a dangerous road to be on. ITV has announced it will cut 429 of its editorial staff from its local and regional news programmes across the country - in the process merging newsrooms and creating enormous 'mega-regions'.  ITV has been reducing its invaluable localised focus enormously since the Conservatives passed the 1990 Act, paving the way for deregulation of the industry and making ITV a business dependent on shareholder profit instead of a protected localised service and alternative to the BBC.   It is a dangerous road to be on. And now ITV has announced a further downscaling of local input and planning.   This ...

(From ' The Cambridge Student Online ', Thursday, November 6th, 2008) Students from four universities and members of various political factions joined forces to protest against tuition fees. The demonstration - made up of students from Cambridge University, the University of East Anglia (UEA), Anglia Ruskin, and Sussex University - was part of the East Anglia Day of Action. About 150 protesters carried bunches of red balloons and home-made cardboard placards with slogans demanding that the government 'Make Tuition Fees History' and that they 'Bail Out the Students, Not the Bankers'. Many wore home-printed red t-shirts reading 'broke and broken'. The demonstration began on Christ's Pieces with a speech by NUS Vice President for education, Aaron Porter. He told the crowd: "We are faced with a massive problem in the UK; the 2006 introduction of variable fees was an absolute disaster. We need to stand up to the Government and say no to the marketisa...

Norwich Councillor Rupert Read, prospective Green Party MEP for Eastern Region, has today pledged that, if elected to the EU Parliament next summer, he will support War On Want's 'Rough Trade' campaign to stop the European Union exploiting developing countries around the world. War On Want is fighting to end the EU's unfair and aggressive trade tactics that help perpetuate poverty for hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Rupert Read strongly supports the Fair Trade movement and this Saturday is attending the Eye Green Fair which includes the sale of many Fair Trade products. The Fair takes place in Eye Town Hall on Saturday 8th November: http://www.greenfai rs.org.uk/ [Cllr. Read will be there from 10 a.m. til about 3 p.m.] Cllr. Read will also be speaking from the floor in favour of Fair Trade at a debate this Friday 7th November at the UEA in Norwich. UEA Conservatives are holding a debate titled 'Free Trade Vs Fair Trade, which will...

 I will be speaking to a large gathering of schoolchildren at the Norwich (Goat Lane) Quaker Meeting House tomorrow morning (Fri 7., starting 10 a.m.) about working for peace in Norwich and about what first drew me to peace work. I'm looking forward to it!

  As you (as a reader of Rupert's read) probably know, the new Planning Bill is very bad news for taking away the rights of objecting to new nuclear proposals and such major projects as incinerators or airports, and needs to be amended.  Here is an action which you could take to persuade MPs and Hazel Blears to support the amendments that FoE are proposing in this direction:    Write to be heard   The new Planning Bill is about to become law, and will remove the right of communities to have a meaningful right to be heard. This will result in a system that is undemocratic, and which makes it very hard for you to get involved in planning decisions about big projects like roads, airports and nuclear power stations being built where you live. Write to Hazel Blears, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, asking her to re-think the new Bill - see http://www.foe. co.uk/phplist/ l...

What is needed now is a mass movement to keep Obama from being as dodgy as he has been much of the time since the Primaries ended. Take foreign policy: Outflanking Bush on Afghanistan is a pretty worrying sign. Never forget the very dangerous thing about Democrats: they generally spend ages (and money and lives) trying to prove their virility. Biden is a likely case in point. Having said all that: if I were in a swing state today I would definitely have voted for Obama. McKinney [the Green candidate] has performed poorly in the campaign.: she has disappointed. There is some chance that tonight is a new start, and not merely a false dawn. The hope that has been generated by Obama's extraodinary and mostly very clever campaign might yet be its own salvation: if it can be leveraged into a movement that stops Obama from selling out more than he already has, and maybe even pull him back some. [A lot of course will depend on the Senate -- that is what one should really watch...

  Cllr. Dr. Rupert Read, 2009 Green Party prospective MEP for the East, is lending his support to students from Cambridge, Norwich and across the Region protesting against the £100 million cut in student grants, announced by the Universities Secretary John Denham (1) last week.  The cuts will affect thousands of students from middle-income families in the East. Cllr. Read described the cuts as 'penny-pinching our students' futures', and instead called for the return of free, universal higher education. On Wednesday, November 5th students from the University where Dr. Read teaches, the University of East Anglia (Norwich) will be joining students from all over East Anglia to demonstrate in Cambridge over this important issue that affects the wallets of many families here. Dr. Read played a leading role in the (just-unsuccessful) campaign to stop top-up fees being introduced under Charles Clarke, then Education Secretary. Dr. Read will be travelling tomorrow with s...

RR's talk on 'Green Politics and Green Philosophy', 16 Oct. 08 - Enjoy!