Happy New Year Reflections

The old year has gone - but what a year. Even though Peter Cranie the NW Green candidate was unsuccessful in winning a seat in the Euro elections the Greens nationally did so well being one of the few parties to increase their overall vote (the BNP vote declined).

It's a real shame though that Nick Griffen took the seat with just 6000 more votes than Peter and that he is now one of our representatives here in the NW. But it's not just the fact that Nick Griffen got in but that Peter would have been an extremely hardworking and competent MEP. He has all the attributes of a caring and knowledgeable politician with the nouse of thinking on his feet!!

Then there was Copenhagen - we'll have to wait to see what happens on this one! And also the continuing economic downturn and the effect it's having on people's lives.

The good news (particularly in relation to these challenges) is that the Greens, according to opinion polls, are on course to win Brighton Pavillion in this year's general election.

Now for me this is the brightest note to start the new year on. A trully green point of view in Parliament will shake things up substantially. It'll be a concentration on real social justice issues both nationally and internationally without the constraints of big business lobbyists. For instance a Green Party input is going to assist on crucial issues like the low payed, poverty, climate change, clean and more democratic politics, getting the green economy properly up and running, and our responsibilities regarding the developing world.

Locally some of the campaigns we have been supporting have not been successful eg Bold Heath Quarry and the incinerator Inch Marsh Frodsham but others have gone well. For example Halton Lorry Watch were our contact and the police's contact with certain hauliers has tended to reduce these firms vehicles from local roads, although the problem is ongoing.

All of these issues and others that are just around the corner in this new year would have been/will be perhaps more effectively dealt with if we'd had Green representation on the council. Well we have a good chance of achieving such this year in Halton View ward were the Greens are just 130 votes behind Labour.

Also for the first time ever in Halton people will have the opportunity to vote Green in a general election.

As usual in life there are challenges we perceive as having either positive or negative outcomes. However it's never the case to say that in any given apparent negative situation that there aren't positives and vice versa - something that makes life that much more interesting and livable.

I sincerely wish everyone a Happy New Year and hope that you will consider voting Green this year for so many positive reasons.