Rupert's Read

This is crucial information, from the great people at EcoEquity:   After Copenhagen: On being sadder but wiser, China, and justice as the way forward   It's been a while since Copenhagen, but not too long, perhaps, to send out another reflection on its significance.  So here's After Copenhagen , wherein Tom Athanasiou spends most of his time considering Copenhagen as a turning point for the climate justice movement, and replying to the new vogue for China bashing.  Mark Lynas in particular. After Copenhagen is at http://www.ecoequity.org/2010/01/after-copenhagen Note, if you've seen an earlier version of After Copenhagen , that its comparison of US and Chinese pledges has been reviewed and strengthened.  This is definitely not "apples and oranges."   Also, After Copenhagen has a few things to say about emissions trajectories, both the "G8 style" trajectory that didn't make it into the Copenhagen Accord (a fact we probably...

Go 40 minutes in for my debate live on the BBC today with UKIP MEP and Ian Gibson, on the UEA emails controversy, and after that about the prospects for smaller Parties at the General Election... http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00r0srl/The_Politics_Show_East_21_02_2010/    Let me know how you think I did! (I was fairly pleased with how it went... ...I think Mr. Agnew may not be quite as pleased... Just a shame that he pipped me by 1% at the Euro-election last June, such that we now have a scientifically-illiterate climate-denier in Brussels representing us, rather than your's truly... Better luck next time, Eastern Region!)

I will be on the Politics Show (East) in an hour's time, debating those hacked emails with Stuart Agnew of UKIP in Brussels and Ian Gibson formerly of Labour in Westminster.

I'm going to this; James is very well-tuned into what is sick in our society:   Oliver James Clinical Psychologist, Best Selling Author and Broadcaster Why It's A Mad World How Selfish Capitalist-Induced Affluenza is Driving the English-Speaking World Crazy and Destroying the Planet Saturday 27 February 7.30pm at UEA (Room CD Annex 0.01, at the foot of Chancellor's Drive) Entrance free, contributions welcome Organised by North Norfolk & Norwich Green Parties More information 01263 761471

My manifesto idea [Future inhabitants' policy-veto] is part of LeftFootForward's selection which they're putting to the vote. The list is by no means exhaustive but LFF are trying to get an indicative view of which are the most popular so '  please take our  1-minute survey ' and vote for your favourite three ideas: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CRGX9L3

This is an encouraging development. [My "A green philosophy of money" is reprinted in volume 4, btw.]   Book Launch from Series Edited by IT Sligo Lecturer Dr. Liam Leonard Series News: The Transition to Sustainable Communities: News from the Emerald Environment Portfolio To launch the new Emerald book series Advances in Ecopolitics (first published in December 2009), the series editor, Liam Leonard (IT, Sligo) and regular co-volume editor, John Barry (QUB, Belfast) are hosting a one day workshop at Queen's University Belfast, Monday 29 th March.   'The Transition To Sustainable Communities : Justice, Resilience and Practices of Sustainable Living' sem...

Here's the press statement that we have just put out on this. This confirms the prediction that I made this morning, and it is exciting news! It will mean that on important issues such as the pedestrianisation  Westlegate, where distant County Tories have firmly stood in the City's way (because of their desire to keep driving through the city centre), the City will finally be able to decide its own destiny...: Norwich Green Party For immediate release                                       UNITARY NORWICH STRENGTHENS LOCAL DEMOCRACY SAY GREENS     Today’s announcement that Norwich City Council is to become a unitary authority, responsible for all local services, has been welcomed by the Green Party.   A unitary council for Norwich will strengthen local democr...

How tragic that we are apparently becoming a nation of ignorant doubt-addicts, at the very time when strong action is needed to save the future: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8500443.stm

Disturbing news, at www.howestreet.com/articles/index.php?article_id=12227 . The foolish strategy of relying on buying and selling gilts to print money, rather than printing it directly into people's hands and into a Green New Deal, is it seems coming home to roost. [ The second graph can also be found, in a slightly different form, at http://ftalphaville.ft.com/blog/2010/01/27/135551/could-uk-money-supply-collapse-post-qe/ ] [For the philosophical background, cf. my ECO-POLITICS article, "Towards a green philosophy of money".]

Interesting comment by local political commentator 'Bunnco' recently, on the POLITICAL BETTING blog...: 'One of the areas in which the Greens might also do well [as well as in Brighton Pavillion] in is Norwich South , where Charles Clarke is defending a 3500-ish majority. A university seat, the Greens are just behind Labour on the city council and are widely expected to take control of the City Council on May 6th. But stand-by for one of the most disgraceful gerrymanders since the Great Reform Act of 1832. Bunnco has previously spoken about the possibility of Local Government Reorganisation [LGR] in Devon, Suffolk & Norfolk. After a tortuous four year process, an announcement is expected today or early next week. If the proposals are not laid before Parliament by Wednesday, they fall. The Conservatives have pledged to reverse such Partisan legislation pushed through in the dying days of the Government. Labour knows this but the rumour mill is now suggesting that the Cab...

Went to see THE ROAD last night. It felt very apt travelling there and back by the power of our feet only, in sub-zero temperatures, on strangely deserted and desolate streets... Very moved by it, almost as much as I have previously been by the book... _Everyone_ should see it; it motivates action to stop something like it from happening... Had a great dream this morning, about being in a room with about 30 self-selecting like-minded people, a few years from now, planning how we were/are going to get ourselves through a possible looming crisis, without making things worse, and (rather) helping to make things better and maybe, just maybe, contribute to the crisis not happening at all (although that felt like a slim hope). Talking collectively through the options: buying a smallholding, or a farm, etc; becoming a company, or (as I argued) a co-op - for it is companies, I piped up and said, who have of course played a key role in getting us into this mess in the first ...