Not sure how many of you are aware of the world premiere of 'The Age of Stupid' (docu drama) recently which involved the reminiscing of an old man (Peter Postlethwaite) 50 years into the future about whether we could have prevented climate change.
Liverpool Green Party are organising a meeting at 'The Fact' cinema 88 Wood Street (behind Bold Street Liverpool) on 31st March 6pm to 8.30pm to discuss what we can do about the issues raised in the film.
John Coyne Liverpool Green Party councillor in a press release sums up what the meeting will be about:-
"We are running out of time if we want to avoid an irreversible climate catastrophe.
Many of us are already taking steps in the right direction to change the way we live. The Green Party offers the challenge to do more. There are political routes to avoid climate chaos..
Using your vote is a low-carbon action. Working to elect more Greens in local, national and European government sends an eloquent message to today's decision makers and serves notice on them that they will be replaced by tomorrow's Green decision takers.
There can be plural political routes. Sincere activists in other parties can use the credible electoral threat from the Greens to move their own parties' programmes in the right direction.
There are fundamental differences. In the current economic crisis, the other parties are desperate to have us rescue the world trading system by buying more stuff – and accepting the extended debt to do that. On the contrary, the Green Party sees no future in endless economic growth – the planet cannot sustain it. We need to find ways to have more fun with less stuff.
Because the climate crisis is so urgent, the Green Party is entitled to ask any environmentalist to suspend their dislike of party politics and, for a few crucial years, to lend their support to the Greens.
Some people will not be comfortable with engaging in party politics of any persuasion. Maybe the imminent threat of climate chaos changes our comfort zones?
Our meeting will explore all political routes to avoid climate chaos".
The issue of climate change was one of the main reasons I became involved with the Green Party and this continues to be the case.
I shall be going along to the meeting. If any one else is interested in attending please let me know. I reckon its going to be a really interesting and creative event!
Derek 0151 423 1692
Wednesday 25 March 2009
Tuesday 10 March 2009
Landscaping what do you want? me moaning!
Halton council are going through a process, presumably like several other north west region authorities, of developing areas of their landscape ensuring that it 'fits in' and dovetails with regional needs.
They had a meeting, open to residents, which I attended a couple of weekends ago. A presentation was given about the aims of the project and then participants were asked for their views about their local area, what landscaping features they wanted maintaining and future developments etc.
The event had been publicised in the local press and various relevant organisations had been contacted about it. There were 10 participants!
It's a shame that so few people attended. However I'm not sure whether this figure could have been increased substantially by for example mailing all residents about the event even if it were viable in terms of costs. When we tried to get people involved in a Lorry Watch scheme in Halton View recently by leafleting and personal contact, out of approximately 200 residents we got one response!
Of the people who were present there were none from areas that perhaps were more in need of landscaping and improvements in street furniture. The environment we live in effects us on so many levels and according to research is fairly crucial in relation to our feelings of well being.
It was a case of the voices being listened to being the ones who had more direct access to the resources available. I thought of one estate area in Halton - Halton Brook were apparantly there are no landscaped garden areas only a run down green area in the centre of the estate. Maybe there are plans for some initiatives in Halton Brook but the council reps did not give me the impression that any were planned.
It seems that the development team, a private consultancy agency plus the council's 'landscaping' section will be talking directly with other groups in Halton. Lets hope they get to the parts others can't reach.
Having said all that another feeling I had was that it was good to be living in a community were you did have an opportunity to have your say - we need to take care of our democracy by supporting it!
They had a meeting, open to residents, which I attended a couple of weekends ago. A presentation was given about the aims of the project and then participants were asked for their views about their local area, what landscaping features they wanted maintaining and future developments etc.
The event had been publicised in the local press and various relevant organisations had been contacted about it. There were 10 participants!
It's a shame that so few people attended. However I'm not sure whether this figure could have been increased substantially by for example mailing all residents about the event even if it were viable in terms of costs. When we tried to get people involved in a Lorry Watch scheme in Halton View recently by leafleting and personal contact, out of approximately 200 residents we got one response!
Of the people who were present there were none from areas that perhaps were more in need of landscaping and improvements in street furniture. The environment we live in effects us on so many levels and according to research is fairly crucial in relation to our feelings of well being.
It was a case of the voices being listened to being the ones who had more direct access to the resources available. I thought of one estate area in Halton - Halton Brook were apparantly there are no landscaped garden areas only a run down green area in the centre of the estate. Maybe there are plans for some initiatives in Halton Brook but the council reps did not give me the impression that any were planned.
It seems that the development team, a private consultancy agency plus the council's 'landscaping' section will be talking directly with other groups in Halton. Lets hope they get to the parts others can't reach.
Having said all that another feeling I had was that it was good to be living in a community were you did have an opportunity to have your say - we need to take care of our democracy by supporting it!
Monday 2 March 2009
Council response: Multi-recycling blue bins in Moorfield Rd
I got this response from Halton council regarding the multi-recycling blue bins situation in Moorfield Rd Widnes (see blog 24th February).
It seems that residents in a part of Moorfield Rd are able to multi recycle but not so in another part.
However as stated in the text below the council will be writing to residents not covered once they know more about availability.
"Many thanks for the information regarding Mr...
I have spoken to the section once again and they have confirmed that at present the only collection for Mr .... is the paper and green waste collections and NOT the multi recycling. We needed the address to be totally sure of this.
As yet there are no definate plans to extend the multi recycling to specific areas but we are hoping to acheive this is the near future.
I apologise for not being able to give you a more positive answer but we will write to the residents of Moorfield Road once we know more information on plans to extend the service to them.
Kind regards
Customer Service Advisor
Halton Direct Link"
I think we'll have to keep asking the question!!
It seems that residents in a part of Moorfield Rd are able to multi recycle but not so in another part.
However as stated in the text below the council will be writing to residents not covered once they know more about availability.
"Many thanks for the information regarding Mr...
I have spoken to the section once again and they have confirmed that at present the only collection for Mr .... is the paper and green waste collections and NOT the multi recycling. We needed the address to be totally sure of this.
As yet there are no definate plans to extend the multi recycling to specific areas but we are hoping to acheive this is the near future.
I apologise for not being able to give you a more positive answer but we will write to the residents of Moorfield Road once we know more information on plans to extend the service to them.
Kind regards
Customer Service Advisor
Halton Direct Link"
I think we'll have to keep asking the question!!
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