A busy weekend from politics to singing

Last Friday I went up to London for a conference for parliamentary candidates organised by DODS and chaired by Robert Worcester of MORI. There were a lot of Greens there and a surprising number of independents, plus a few Labour and Lib Dem - not to my knowledge any Tories. It was free and we were given lunch, but to me it wasn't worth the eye-watering cost of the train fare from Lewes to get there for a 9 am start. The main message I took away was that Green thought is a long way away from the thinking of the establishment and it is going to take a positive revolution to overturn the establishment view that all that is needed is a bit of tinkering with the existing system. I went to a session on financial services and asked about the possible introduction of a Tobin tax. It'll never happen, was the consensus on the platform. Being active in the Green Party and transition town one is surrounded by people questioning the establishment paradigm of continuing economic growth on a finite planet, so to go to an event like this really brings one up against the hard reality that most people - and especially not the establishment - don't share that perspective at all - however much lip service they pay to the need for action on climate change.

Still back in my comfort zone on Saturday, helping to exchange Lewes Pounds at the Do at All Saints, a festive event organised by TTL, the Lewes Pound CIC, etc. It was a lovely event and very well attended, certainly during the afternoon when there were lots of stalls selling local and eco-friendly festive goodies. I wasn't there for the evening when it became more of an entertainment event as we had tickets to see Alan Bennett's version of The Wind in the Willows at Lewes Little Theatre. This was most enjoyable, lots of great lines and excellent acting for all the main parts - local amateur theatre at its very best.

Sunday, right outside my comfort zone, taking part in the Lewes bit of Sing Hallelujah - a nationwide event for communities to sing the Hallelujah chorus from Handel's Messiah. You didn't be to 'be able to sing' or to read music, so we - over 300 of us us in a very cold Foundry gallery - were led gently through it by conductor John Hancorn and Pippa Danes during an afternoon rehearsal and performance early evening. We also sang Leonard Cohen's song Hallelujah - which I love - and also a slightly jazzy version of Handel, which was definitely the one I found hardest to sing. Roger is a keen amateur singer, but it was an unusual way for me to spend a Sunday. I really enjoyed it. The icing on the cake was to discover that Artemis Arts, who run the Foundry , were planning to give 50% of the profits to Landport Youth Centre - all income desperately needed. I look forward to seeing the cheque!

Cap and Trade

With the Copenhagen talks now under way it is worth following the link to The Story of Cap and Trade - below - to see just how they are barking up the wrong tree!

Here's a fabulous piece from the people behind the Story of Stuff - they have released the Story of Cap and Trade ahead of the climate talks in Copenhagen.It's worth taking the time to watch. Pass it on.

End the Siege

Palestine Solidarity Campaign

I just signed a petition calling for the UK government to act to end the devastating siege on Gaza, with Israel blocking even food and essential medicines to 1.5 million Palestinians, and creating a humanitarian disaster. I also asked the UK government to act to bring those responsible for the deaths of over 1,400 Palestinians during Israel's war on Gaza to justice.

Please Sign the Petition too – Britain Must Implement the Goldstone Report

One year since Israel launched Operation Cast Lead, raining bombs on 1.5 million Palestinians, killing over 1400 and wounding over 5,000, the Israeli government has tightened its blockade on Gaza, creating a dire humanitarian disaster. Appallingly, the British government abstained on the votes at the UN on the Goldstone Report, which called for an end to the blockade, and for war criminals to be brought to justice.

Please sign the petition here www.iparl.com/petition-psc calling on the British government to implement the Goldstone Report – PSC will be presenting the petition to Gordon Brown in January.

RethinkTrident

I've just signed up to the following statement issued jointly by CND and Compass.

Rethink Trident!

With Britain facing its biggest economic crisis since the Second World War and much debate on public spending levels and priorities, the country can ill-afford to be spending in excess of £76bn on replacing Trident with a new generation of nuclear weapons.

Britain's security needs are not met by nuclear weapons which can do nothing to combat the threats posed by global terrorism or climate change. The more that countries such as Britain justify their retention and replacement of nuclear weapons on the grounds of an uncertain future, the more likely it is that non-nuclear states will seek to use the same rationale to justify developing their own weapons systems.

Instead of wasting tens of billions of pounds on new nuclear weapons there are many forms of socially useful spending to which the funds could be put; combating child poverty and youth unemployment, providing affordable homes, investing in education and mental and physical healthcare as well as addressing the climate crisis, to name a few. Whilst some are considering cuts to these areas, it is instead Trident that should be cut in their place.

We believe the Government should cancel the replacement of Trident. This would allow for the existing skilled manufacturing base to be reorientated towards providing for the needs of a post-carbon future, with the potential for significant investment in green jobs.

The Government must be a leading participant in current global initiatives to significantly reduce holdings of nuclear weapons, with the aim of achieving a nuclear-free world. Cancelling the programme to replace Trident would have a transformative effect on the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in May 2010, greatly boosting the chances of agreeing a timetable for multilateral global disarmament.

Hope Not Hate

I've just co-signed a letter to delegates in Copenhagen as a result of the following from Hope Not Hate:-

Hi Susan, Next week the world's leaders will meet in Copenhagen to bang out a deal to counter the dangerous effects of climate change. It's a critical moment for all of us - and it's one that Nick Griffin is hell-bent on ruining. Griffin is attending the climate summit. He's said that he's going to expose the "somewhat dodgy" evidence surrounding climate change. It's important that the Copenhagen representatives know that Griffin doesn't speak for the UK. I've written a letter to all of the representatives at Copenhagen - the people that really matter - denouncing Griffin and the BNP, and urging the need for a comprehensive deal. And Susan, I want you to sign it too. It'll only take a moment or so but it's important that we all act together: http://action.hopenothate.org.uk/copenhagen The BNP claim that climate change is a "global Marxist mantra" designed to "impose a one world government." It gets even worse. The BNP's website currently describes the Copenhagen Summit as an "anti-white guilt hatefest which will see billions more taxpayers' cash poured into the Third World." We can't let their words gain an ounce of credibility - that's why it's so important that thousands of people rebut the BNP's vile lies wherever and whenever they're spread. With your help, we'll show the world that Griffin doesn't represent us. You can do that right now by signing my letter: http://action.hopenothate.org.uk/copenhagen