I went to a meeting of Global Justice Now last night and came away with some urgent actions:

1) Stop CETA. This is the Canadian version of TPP/TTIP and it looks like it might go through BEFORE Brexit, assuming that happens. Even if we do leave the EU, the UK could potentially be sued for a period of up to 20 years. These deals have been agreed in secret between governments and big business and it’s high time the negotiations were out in the open. There’s a website that allows you to contact your MEP(s) and it’s here:

https://stop-ttip.org/cetacheck/

2) #freetheseeds: take action against the New Alliance, which is a similar stitch-up between corrupt governments and big agri-business. As I understand it, the initiative, which is funded by taxpayer’s money, aims to take away land from small farmers and give it to large corporations to grow crops for export, possibly re-employing the farmers as cheap labour. There is no NGO support for this initiative, as far as I can tell. More info is here:

http://www.globaljustice.org.uk/new-alliance-food-security-and-nutrition

Thanks for your help!

1. The Queen calls for implementation of Article 50, as a majority of her subjects have voted for it
2. Parliament calls a general election in the Autumn
3. An alliance of progressive parties emerges, with a platform that includes electoral reform
4. The progressive left wins, soundly beating the Tory/UKIP/DUP alliance in all regions
5. A people’s constitution is created which, among other things, replaces the House of Lords with a proportionally-elected chamber
6. ?

Well, I tried. Time for breakfast.

Dear Jeremy,

I strongly believe that the Labour Party — and the movement that is coalescing around you — best represents the people of the United Kingdom’s interests going forward into the post-Brexit era. I also believe that, given the current divisions within the party and the situation in Scotland, it is now impossible for Labour to win against the Tories, UKIP and the rest of the right wing on its own. I therefore call on you to join with the Green Party, the Liberal Democrats, the SNP and other progressive parties, to join in a new alliance of left-leaning parties: a Progressive Left for a United Kingdom. In my opinion the following precepts must be followed:

1. The majority of the British electorate voted to leave the EU, and we must accept their verdict
2. We must work together to ensure a fair and just deal for the people of the UK and for the wider world

I urge you to call for your members to support this initiative and to encourage interested people to attend the various exploratory meetings that are taking place next week. We need a new approach to politics in this country and you are the best person to lead the way forward.

Kind regards,
Chris Brody

In the wake of last week’s referendum decision, MPs from the Green and Labour parties are initiating exploratory talks about how an alliance of progressive parties might be formed. Caroline Lucas (Green Party) and Clive Lewis (Labour) with additional speakers Amina Gichinga (Take Back the City) and John Harris (Journalist) will meet in London on Tuesday 5 July in London to discuss what shape such an alliance might take. Representatives of the Liberal Democrats, SNP & Plaid Cymru have been invited.

The meeting’s location has been changed to allow more people to attend, and will now take place at the Emmanuel Centre (Google map).

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/post-brexit-alliance-building-with-caroline-lucas-mp-clive-lewis-mp-more-tickets-26347951432?aff=eac2

This just in from AVAAZ:

Christiana Figueres is f***ing awesome — she’s the one who led the world to the incredible Paris climate deal, against all odds. And now there’s a rumour that she’s thinking of running for the head of the United Nations.

This would be so, so good for the world: Christiana literally got Saudi Arabia to sign an agreement ending fossil fuels(!); imagine what she could do with the power and influence of the UN on Syria, refugees, poverty, and all the other crises we’re facing.

But she’s got to enter the race right now, before the doors close on nominations in days. And she has to do it with a public mandate that’s bigger and bolder than the other, more traditional candidates who simply won’t be able to give us the global leadership Christiana offers.

Sign to help build a massive people’s call for this amazing leader — and give us our best shot at a strong, inspiring, functional United Nations empowered to help deliver everything from a green future to global peace.

This is possible if we act right now. Let’s come together behind Christiana and win a leader with the power and promise to make the United Nations soar. Click below to join:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/draftchristiana_51

Here’s the text of a letter I sent to my MP:

Dear Mr Dowd,

I am writing to urge you to advocate for a General Election to be called before triggering Article 50, i.e. before formal negotiations with the EU begin. Continue reading →

Today, an article entitled “The World Will Run out of Breathable Air Unless Carbon Is Cut” came up on my feed. We live in worrying times: how are we going to avoid going down a path of even deeper gloom? Continue reading →

I was asked some questions by a friend on facebook who is thinking of voting to Leave the EU. My answers follow.

“1 can we sack or veto a decision by the top eu boffs ?”

Who do you mean by “we”? If you mean British citizens, we can’t sack our own government, but we can elect representatives at all levels, from local councils up to the EU level. If we did it my way we could also directly elect members to the UN, which would be a global decision-making body, affecting all life on our shared planet.

“2 if the European court over rules our supreme. Court can we ignore their decision ?”

Again, who are “we”? If I personally disagreed with a decision, I guess I could make a principled stand, and possibly go to jail for it. That’s how law works, you delegate powers upwards. I’m all for a European court and a Global court of law, to overrule bad decision-making at lower levels.

“3 immigration if allowed at an absurd rate can not work how can it be that if you have a flat it’s illegal to house 20 people !! Yet we can continue to let people in when there are not enough houses to home them !! Maybe we should build the houses first then let them in !! Notice in not being racist just giving a solution to the problem !!”

Your own ancestors immigrated here, or didn’t you realise that? Humans originated in Africa. Migration happens, everyone has to deal with it. We have to share this planet with lots of people, the vast majority of them far worse off than those living on this tiny island.

“My question still stands if hypothetically the US was offered membership would you basically agree to join on the basis that we currently are ???”

It’s a moot question. The point of the EU is that it is based primarily on location, surely? But yes, I would join up if I were the President, Congress and Supreme Court put together (which I’m not) and if the EU would let the US in.

“Would you give up control of your borders as I don’t see the US letting in all Mexicans ??”

Yes, I would advocate an open borders policy. Most Mexicans are probably better off in their own country anyway, due partially to the rising xenophobia (i.e. racism) in the US. Also they have better food, weather, beaches and forests.

“Would you give up your right to bare arms and the death penalty and your rights to make your own laws ??”

I would happily secede my rights to make laws to those more qualified to do so (e.g. elected representatives.) I also strongly disagree with the 2nd amendment and the death penalty, and would rewrite the constitution to abolish both.

“Would you agree to be overuled by an unelected group of people who can not be held to task of things go wrong !!!”

No. Absolutely not.

“Would you then pay for the privilege of losing these rights !!”

I would pay for the privilege of belonging to an association of like-minded organisations, who can work together to ensure that mutual profits and benefits can be gained. Larger groupings of people who share a common interest can accomplish more than smaller groups acting alone. Such as protecting our shared environment, for example.

“NO one knows if we’d be better off in or out of the EU !! Otherwise the politicians would have had much better arguments and the referendum would never have been needed !!!”

That may be true, but it’s a dangerous game to play. There are serious problems with the EU, but we can’t help to fix them if we leave. It would be a great shame to abandon the project in my opinion. It’s taken a long time to get this far, and despite needing a lot more work, it’s the best vehicle we currently have for working with our neighbours.

The referendum represents a failure of the Tory party to convince its own members. The rise of separatist (e.g. nationalist) agendas is very scary to me, whether it’s the SNP, UKIP, Britain First or Donald Trump. I lost relatives in the second world war, which happened largely because of rhetoric similar to that used by leaders of the Leave campaign.

“But seriously Chris would you give up the independence of the US in order to sign a deal that we are !! Put your hand on your heart and tell me as I always thought America was the land of the free ??”

Yes. As a child I always refused to pledge allegiance to the US flag. Nations are becoming an outdated concept in this age of instant communication and free movement of people.

Vote Remain, and let’s improve things together.

I’m moving my money out of Barclays Bank due to their ongoing support of the fossil fuel industry, including the majority funding of Third Energy, which is planning to frack in Yorkshire. Let’s all do the same!

Move from the bad to the good.

Source: Divest – Move Your Money

On February 10, 2016, Peace Action — the largest peace organization in the United States — announced its endorsement of Bernie Sanders for the Democratic nomination for President.

Source: History News Network