On July 4, declare independence from corporate rule

Every year, on July 4th, the US celebrates its independence from Britain. And every year, campaigners try to 'take ownership' of the holiday to make a call for a different kind of independence.

Peace campaigners, for example, have long known July 4th as the day that the UK should 'declare independence' from the US, by getting rid of their military bases littering the British countryside.

But this year, I think the best July 4th call comes from the inspirational Canadian media campaign group the Adbusters Foundation: 'On July 4th, Declare Independence from Corporate Rule'

As we contemplate the bizarre fact that the multi-national coffee chain Starbucks has won its appeal against Brighton and Hove City Council and been allowed to give local democracy - and people - a slap in the face in the pursuit of profits, this campaign could hardly be more timely here in Kemp Town.

A corporation is not a person. It’s an organisational structure that has no morality and feels no remorse.

Yet the modern corporation enjoys the same rights as you or I: free speech, the ability to own property, the right to lobby government officials and protection against self-incrimination.

Decades of deregulation and laissez-faire capitalist ideology have allowed corporations to steer the world's political, economic, environmental and cultural agendas.

Are you happy about that? I'm not - I think we deserve better. Rights - tempered by responsibilities - should be ascribed only to living beings, and I think it's the duty of every elected politician to make this argument at every opportunity.

And if local democracy is to mean anything, then, when it comes to setting planning rules, the wishes of a properly-elected council should always prevail over the wishes of big business. That it didn't in St James's Street just shows how far we have to go to ensure local people make the decisions that affect them here.

Democratic deficit isn't just the preserve of Iran, Zimbabwe or other 'usual suspect' countries in the developing world.

'Sage of Sussex' predicts 'electoral tsunami' in Goldsmid

The Argus columnist Adam Trimingham, know as the sage of Sussex in a previous incarnation, has upset council officers and both Labour and Tory councillors by predicting that a Green Party win in the July 23rd Goldsmid by-election would cause shock waves around the country.

He thinks a Green win is looking increasingly likely, and could pave the way for the first Green MPs to be returned here in Brighton.

Personally, I think 'electoral tsunami' is a bit over the top (I guess the sub-editors will have come up with that one, to be fair to Adam) - but it is always heartening to open your local paper in the morning and read that such an experienced and influential columnist thinks your time has come!

The article's here.

Blow for St James's Street as Starbucks wins planning appeal

I've just heard that US coffee giant Starbucks has won its appeal against residents and the council and will now be allowed lawfully to sell coffee from the former British Bookshops store on St James's Street.

Big Business one - residents and local democracy nil.

If the council doesn't have the right to set its own planning priorities in conservation areas, I do wonder about why so many of us waste so much time on planning matters. They're vitally important, but it seems the ultimate decisions aren't made by elected councillors, residents, or even planning officers - but multinational businesses.

It's a sad day for democracy, and an even sadder one for independent, local traders.

More later when I've read the full inspectors report.

Fair pay for all is how the council can avoid a devastating summer bin strike

Any summer strike by bin men or any other staff will be devastating to both residents and Brighton’s vibrant tourist industry.

The council really must prevent it, by ruling out pay decreases, and finding the political will to pay all staff a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work.

It’s great that the Tory Council has tried to sort out the mess left by its Labour predecessor, who simply ignored the equal pay issue for years, but the answer must lie in increasing the pay of those at the bottom of the pile, not cutting the pay of those earning a little more. Both Labour and the Tories will be to blame if this mess spills onto our streets this summer.

The council is proposing pay cuts at the same time as advertising for a £170,000 a year Chief Executive: what kind of message does this send out?

Of course, increasing pay for the council’s lowest paid staff (including the 1,000-odd who are earning less than £7 an hour) will cost money – but the council simply must find it.

It’s all about priorities: we Greens introduced a motion in a recent meeting to cap the salaries of senior staff, which would enable the council to give the lowest paid more. It wasn’t even debated, as it was ruled out of order by (guess who?) senior staff.

Of course, it’s a difficult financial time for everyone, but I believe that the council should not implement pay cuts for existing staff at all: any wage cuts will hit those who can least afford it.

I hope there is no strike, but if there is we must remember: it’ll be a failure of the Tory council and not the CityClean staff trying to defend their pay working conditions.

Celebrating public service heroes

Yesterday I joined millions around the country - and hundreds in Brighton - in commemorating the first Armed Forces Day.

For me the events were a perfect backdrop for thinking about the remarkable sacrifice made by so many in the struggles against fascism and for peace and stability.

The noblest of aims, perhaps, and I salute those who have given up so much in their pursuit, especially men like 113-year-old Ovingdean resident Henry Allingham, who served in both world wars and has been an informal ambassador for peace ever since.

For Sammy, it was a lovely day out complete with parachutes - trucks and even tanks. Five-year-old boy stuff.

I'm looking forward to next year already: and I hope the powers that be will extend the commemoration to all public sector workers who give so much, and sometimes risk life itself, to make our lives a little easier.

Brighton Tory wannabe quits after party MPs forced to hand back £260,000

So Tory hopeful David Bull has decided to throw in the towel as the party's parliamentary candidate for Brighton Pavilion.

Only David will know the real reason why: but the news comes hot on the heels after the latest chapter in the MPs' expenses saga.

Tory MPs have been ordered by cuddly leader David Cameron to hand back £260,000 to the taxpayer after being caught living the high life at our expense.

I've no idea whether this latest development influenced Mr Bull's decision: but it's certainly not a very lucrative time to be a Tory MP - and his website makes pretty clear he's a man with pretty expensive tastes.

Maybe he just doesn’t think its worthwhile now that the expenses are being reined in?

Whatever the reason, it leaves a void where the Tory candidate will be. Perhaps this will herald a return to Brighton politics for self-publicist David Van Day?

Perhaps he'll be able to enjoy earning a place in history by being the first person in the UK to come second to a Green MP - in the way that neither Lepper nor Bull have wanted to.

Oh and it'll save the local Tories a few bob on 'Vote David' stickers...

Goldsmid By-election latest: Labour mudslinging could be criminal offence

Oh dear - things aren't so looking rosy at Labour HQ. It looks like their latest wheeze - to spread a few lies about the Green Party candidate - might just have backfired, spectacularly.

The party's latest leaflet could see both Goldsmid candidate Lis Telcs and her election agent in breach of electoral law: both could end up being prosecuted and either paying large fines or even being debarred from standing in the forthcoming election.

The leaflet in question dedicates half a page to a cursory analysis of the Green Party candidate Alex Phillips and her Tory rival Andrew Wealls.

The trouble is - most of it is nonsense, and appears to be made up for the sole purpose of discrediting Alex with the electorate.

It states, for example, that the Greens' Alex Phillips is a student, hasn't worked with local councillors, and hasn't attended community events. All nonsense, and clearly designed to damage her electoral prospects.

Politics can be a dirty game. Telling a few lies might seem clever - though I doubt the electorate will be very impressed with a leaflet dedicated to talking about the other candidates rather than positive policies.

But it's not just electorally stupid, it's a criminal offence.

Section 106 of the The Representation of the People Act 1983 makes it illegal to publish any false statement of fact in relation to the candidate's personal character or conduct.

Since Alex has attended local events, worked with local councillors at a LAT meeting, and is not a student, the law is breached in at least three places.

If the police decide to take any action (prosecutions are rare but not unheard of) the leaflet bears two names: A. Dean and L. Telcs.

I imagine their lawyers will be busy clocking up some overtime this weekend!

Reaching for the stars...

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Election stories: three come along at once!

1. Goldsmid latest: Labour resort to lies about other candidates in latest leaflet

2. Goldsmid latest II: Full candidates list published: UKIP are standing

3. Brighton Pavilion: Tory candidate David Bull quits

More later...

Time to stop US aid to Israel?

I know Israeli politics is a fraught arena, and one in which logic hardly has a central role to play.

But in recent days US President Barack Obama has had the courage to enter the maelstrom, and has placed his opposition to Israeli settlements on Palestinian land on record.

Such illegal settlements undermine the likelihood of bringing peace to the region - and constitute unlawful human rights breaches in their own right.

Meanwhile, the Israeli government has just given Obama the finger: not merely refusing to criticise further settlements but actively continuing to support - and fund them.

But Israel receives millions each year in direct aid from the US, some of it in the form of the weapons and military aid necessary to maintain its grip on power in the region.

So can't Obama put his money where his mouth is - and threaten to withdraw all aid to Israel unless it stops the settlements, pulls down its 'apartheid wall' and begins respecting all UN resolutions - and the human rights of its neighbours?

Taking the pledge for Recycle Week

This week I've taken the pledge - well, a pledge, anyway: to recycle all the piles of old newspapers and magazines littering my flat - or else I won't allow myself to buy any more.

Since I'm such a boring news junkie that's going to be almost impossible: I'd better hope I stick to it (hey, even with The Tories running things it's easier to recycle paper in Brighton than run a marathon around it, and I'm determined to do that too).

The pledge is in aid of Recycle Week.

The annual event, now in its fifth year, seeks to draw attention to the sea of waste in which we're drowning, promote recycling and waste reduction.

This year the week's theme is 'let's waste less...', "encouraging all of us to try something new in an effort to go greener and cut back on the waste we all produce".

Of course the best way to reduce the amount of rubbish we throw away is to cut down on the amount of stuff we buy in the first place - but unless we're to be buried under trash or choked by new waste incinerators we'll need to recycle what's left.

The Government has set targets to make sure we do recycle about half of what we throw away.

That's pretty poor: I think we should be aiming for a zero waste society like those in parts of Canada and Australia.

But meanwhile (until we get that Green party government!) the council here in Brighton and Hove doesn't even hope to reach even this paltry target.

The council is set to adopt a new Waste Mangement Strategy in the coming weeks, and early drafts suggest our long-term recycling targets will be lower than the national average or Government target.

I think that's not good enough. We should be exceeding these targets - setting an example on how to cut waste, in line with the green aspirations of so many living here.

It could start with introducing food scraps and garden refuse collections, improving recycling collection at communal bins sites.

Even more easily, the council should recycle all waste from our parks, beaches and town centre locations, especially at and after events - and scrap the dubious contract with Veolia to burn a steady stream of Brighton's waste at the Newhaven incinerator for the next 30 years.

Then perhaps the council could say it had made a Recycle Week pledge of its own.

Taking a new role too seriously?

Last night a regular Green party councillors group meeting ratified our roles, responsibilities and 'briefs' for the next year.

As well as continuing as the Greens' spokesperson on community safety and policing, and speaking for the group on Human Rights, I have a new job: group spokesperson on sport.

As soon as it convenes I'll sit as one of the council's representatives on the City Sports Forum.

Meanwhile I've hit the ground running - literally - and signed up to run the first Brighton Marathon, which takes place next April.

I’ve never run a marathon before, but I’m hoping running a route round a city I’m so familiar with will help me make it to the finish line!

Greens believe the council should be doing all it can to encourage and provide support for participation in many different sports across the city, and at all levels.

Getting involved in some kind of sport isn’t just great for improving fitness levels: team sports can also help foster a real sense of community, and getting fitter can really help improve people’s self esteem.

Greens believe schools should be aiming to provide a full, unbroken half day per week of sport for every child, in addition to daily opportunities for physical exercise.

Watch this space for regular updates on how my training's going!

Goldsmid update: Lib-Dems feeling the Green heat

The Liberal Democrats in Goldsmid must be feeling the Green heat: they've just sent residents a detailed Environmental Survey and suggested that voting Lib is the best bet for a political party committed to tackling climate change.

I can't imagine many people will bother taking the time to fill it in - let alone return it.

Most local voters know perfectly well that the Lib Dems are, frankly, too yellow to be green.

With only two seats on Brighton and Hove City Council to the Greens' 12, it's no wonder they want to emulate the Green Party, and try and apply some quick greenwash to their policies.

But the reality is that the Lib Dems are all too confused about their policies on aviation - they are all to supportive of new runway building when it comes down to it (they supported expansion of John Lennon Airport in Liverpool, for example).

No-one knows exactly where they stand on waste incineration, nuclear power, road-building (they claim to be against it,m but seem to vote for new, improved roads at almost every opportunity: most lately the M74 Extension) or animal protection.

It's not that they don't say anything on these matters: they do, and it usually sounds great.

But once in power they tend to vote in different ways in different areas.

I hope whoever wins the by-election will be absolutely committed to delivering a fairer, safer and more Environmentally friendly Brighton and Hove. I wouldn't trust the Lib Dems tyo deliver one though, whatever they say.

Buck Off - great film teling the tale of the campaign against the St James's Street Starbucks

This film, narrated by Louis Louzou, tells the story of the unlawful St James's Street Starbucks up to the public inquiry into its future that took place at Brighton Town hall earlier this month. I'll post on that in a few days: meanwhile, two facts to remember:

1. The inquiry will announce it's result in September. It's rumoured though that the chain has secured an option to lease the former John's Camping shop on the other side of the street - and will simply move over the road and start the whole process again if they lose.

2. This film contains the startling revelation that the nearby Cherry Tree Deli and Cafe has suffered an 18% drop in coffee sales since Starbucks opened its doors - so the impact on the local community is already being felt, and hard.

Act now to protect Iranian political 'bloggers and twitterers...

Last night I received an urgent request for help from an Iraqi 'blogger: please reset your location details to Iran or Tehran on your 'blog and twitter accounts, and the time to GMT +3.30 (Tehran time).

According to my Iranian blogger contact, secret police are rounding up 'bloggers and twitteres who are describing events in the country, using a list of everyone registered in Iran and with this unique time zone.

If thousands of us around the world (and therefore out of reach of the Iranian secret police!) make these settings our own, the hope is that the secret police will be overwhelmed and free blogging and twittering will continue in Iran a while longer.

Freedom of speech on the 'net - and for journalists in general - must be preserved: it's only if people know what's going on that they can make an informed decision, and no-one will know what's going on if the police are arresting everyone who's trying to tell us!

So please change these details, even if just for a day or two: it takes less than a minute, costs nothing, and could prevent an innocent 'blogger from a night (or more...) in the cells, and help preserve the free flow of information about political events both inside, and beyond, Iran.

WHO: Cars set to kill more than AIDS or TB within two decades

According to a report in the New York Times, traffic incidents are the ninth leading cause of death worldwide.

A new survey from the World Health Organisation reckons 1.3 million people die each year on the world's roads, and about half of them are pedestrians, cyclists or motorcyclists.

And it's getting worse: the report reckons traffic will be the fifth biggest cause of death within 20 years, killing more people than either AIDS or TB.

The public health argument for making our streets safer couldn't be clearer.

We need to persuade more people to leave their cars at home by improving access to affordable, improved, public transport networks.

We need safer road networks for cyclists and pedestrians.

But perhaps most importantly of all, we need the Government and council to find the political courage to take on the motorists' lobby and adopt road safety and improving public transport as top priorities.

To paraphrase the late MP Gwyneth Dunwoody, 'the car is the weapon of choice by which the rich kill the poor in this country'.

We can, and really must, change that.

By-election update: Labour priorities - abandon Goldsmid and head to Kemptown

Labour have unwittingly revealed their Brighton and Hove Council by-election strategy: to abandon Goldsmid and concentrate on holding onto their parrliamentary seat here in Brighton Kemptown.

According to Facebook, local Labour big-wigs are to spend the Saturday just before the July 23rd by-election at a Brighton Kemptown Action Day.

I'd think it was Labour punishing Ms Telcs for seeming to abandon the party in her recent letter to voters, except even she plans being in Kemptown rather than Goldsmid herself.

What's going on?

The result of the Goldsmid by-election is of crucial importance to the city: if the Tories lost the seat they'll have lost control of the council - and the short Mary Mears leadership will come to an end.

Is this a tacit admission that Liz Telcs doesn't really mind if she wins or loses, as long as the Tory administration falls?

Caroline Lucas: Forget the BNP. What about the planet?

In today's Independent on Sunday, Green Party leader Caroline Lucas claims the real story of the EU election earlier this month, was the nationwide rise of the Green Party.

She rightly observes that most media attention has been focused on either the BNP winning its first seats at Brussels, or the demise of Labour. Neither of which, the local re-elected MEP says, offers us as much hope as the nationwide rise in the Green Party's support.

She's spot on: those in Moulsecoomb, Whitehawk, Kemp Town, Rottingdean, Telscombe, Peacehaven and all points in between have their best ever chance to elect a Green MP and ensure both a strong Green voice at Westminster and Brighton Kemptown's place in the history books.

Goldsmid by-election latest: Tories waste taxpayers' cash and Labour's candidate abandons party and adopts Green policies

I thought that missing Tory Paul Lainchbury's resignation might mean an end to national focus on the forthcoming by-election in Goldsmid.

But no, Private Eye (excellent as always, please subscribe!) has taken a final (?) look at the way the Tories' handling of the saga has cost the local taxpayer dear.

Under the headline 'The Curse of Gnome', the Eye has, as usual, found a new angle in its 'Rotten Boroughs' column: the outrageous £10-20,000 cost of the Tories' cynical attempt to put off Lainchbury's resignation until after April's annual council had approved Mary Mears' leadership for another year.

Here's their take on things:

SO, FAREWELL then Paul Lainchbury, Skidrow-on-Sea's absentee Tory councillor, who resigned on the day of last week's local and Euro elections.

After Lainchbury, who had missed every Brighton & Hove council committee meeting and community/resident group for a year, was exposed in the Eye, Tory council leader Mary Mears insisted he stay on long enough for Skidrow Tories - who now lose their overall majority - to select the new mayor and cabinet unopposed last month.

This meant the ensuing by-election could not be held on the same day as the Euros, prompting a special poll in Goldsmid ward costing an extra £10,000 - £20,000. Trebles all round!

That would have been enough to fund Green proposals the Tories said were just too expensive: supporting the Albert Kennedy Trust's work with young LGBT homeless men in the city, for example, or introducing an integrated travel plan for students attending the Varndean campus.

I imagine voters will be furious: the Tories can't really be expecting to win at all.

Meanwhile, the latest leaflet sent out to householders in the area by Labour Party candidate Liz Telcs seems to abandon the party (presumably in the wake of seeing the party's city-wide vote share slump to barely 15% in last week's election to the European Parliament) - though it does boast that she's being supported by local celebrities including a couple of Labour councillors and someone she knows from work.

It does boast some policy ideas too: remarkably they are almost identical to those announced by Green Party candidate Alex Phillips a couple of weeks ago: safer cleaner streets and more local school places.

Of course it's high praise for Alex that Labour are so impressed by her policies that they just want to adopt them for themselves, but I can't imagine voters will be so impressed.

Queen's Park ward surgery

Just to let you know I'll be holding a Queen's Park ward surgery, with my colleague Paul Steedman, today from 6-7pm, in the Community Room at St James's House, High Street.

All residents are welcome - do come along if there's anything we can help with, or for an informal chat, or just to say hello!

Afterwards I'll be hoping to meet more residents with a spot of summer street canvassing until dark.

The three of us hope to get round everyone in the ward eventually, so if we haven't called, and don't tonight, we will soon.