Rupert's Read

Here in the Eastern Region we are on the verge of another reactor at #Sizewell, as well as one Bradwell, the technology is far from safe, with the waste generated being left for generations to come. Sadly, the Green Party is now the only political Party opposing nuclear power in this country. While public opinion here and across the world is swinging strongly against nuclear.  East of England Green Party Co-ordinator Rupert Read said, "Nuclear power is a toxic timebomb. It is the very opposite of green. It is crazy to be contemplating building new nuclear, while the situation at Fukushima in Japan is still spiralling out of control."     Green Party national Deputy Leader Adrian Ramsay, speaking in Norwich, has responded to the  government's announcement that up to eight new reactor sites have been  designated for development on behalf of the national Green Party.  Mr Ramsay said:  "While the Conservatives and LibDems often tal...

You can listen again to me on BBC Radio Norfolk this morning, here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/p00hcksk   Go 1 hour 8 minutes in. Let me know what you think!

Sustainability and social democracy A seminar to debate how the centre-left and the environmental movement can share goals, policies and approaches. Progressives have been torn by how to respond in principle, in practice and politically to increased global temperatures and the rise of environmental politics. Compass has produced an e-book looking at whether and how the traditions of social democracy and sustainability might be squared. A range of authors examine exactly how social democracy should respond to the imperative of sustainability. Compass with the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung is holding a morning seminar of key Labour, union and environmental politicians, thinkers and activists to discuss the e-book and begin a more fundamental debate about whether and how the social and democratic can be reconciled with the sustainable. This UK focused seminar is a precursor to a bigger European seminar being planned for the Autumn 2012 in London as part of the Compass/FES ongoing Building the ...

What lesbians don't understand about straight men: http://blog.talkingphilosophy.com/?p=2962   See what you think!  

FORTHCOMING SEMINAR Thursday 14 th July 2011, 1300-1400 45B AZ 04 University of Surrey Dr Rupert Read UEA (Philosophy) A policy proposal to take future generations seriously: Strong guardians     Plato said that, if we are to have a just society, we should be ruled by guardians. Habermas and other deliberative-democratic philosophers of course abhor such autocracy. But: what if the guardians were selected democratically, by sortition? And what if their deliberations became in turn a high-profile model of what deliberation in a democratic society could be? Still, there seems little case for substituting guardians for normal elected representatives, for decisions which can be made about us, by us ourselves or by people who represent us. But: what about cases where the people who ought to be heard in or even to be making the decisions have no voice -- even over matters which are life or death matters for them? Future people are the most...

You know that you are making an impact when they threaten to kill you...: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/jun/06/australia-climate-scientists-death-threats

From our local paper, the  Eastern Daily Press: 1. Thursday June 15th :   Public to "have their say" on 40Mw Snetterton biomass plant using straw and wood chip:  See http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/biofuelwatch/message/4818   [I will be going to a preview of this public exhibition.] 2. Friday June 16th :  Shortage of straw fears for pig farmers (as below) reported by NFU ... A need for joined up thinking about resources ?! ... http://www.edp24.co.uk/lifestyle/food-and-drink/norfolk-food-features/shortage_of_straw_fears_for_pig_farmers_1_922359 Shortage of straw fears for pig farmers By MICHAEL POLLITT, Agricultural editor Friday, June 17, 2011 8:16 AM A shortage of straw from drought-stricken crops across eastern England will cause headaches for livestock farmers, the National Pig Association warned last night. As arable farmers gathered for the industry event, Cereals 2011, the Natio...