Tomorrow is the first tomorrow

I sat down to inspire you all. To right a piece to mean you had to vote tomorrow. To convince everyone that Green was the only way. To right the wrongs of other parties; other attempts at governance. I sat and looked at the screen.

In the end I am not that arrogant. I do not know. I have campaigned for 32 years on behalf of the Green Party. I cannot see an alternative. But I could be wrong, couldn’t I? I’d like some reassurance. I’d like you to tell me what is best.

I’m listening

I will learn from your vote tomorrow; no really

Voters top priority – Save Energy

Now where have I heard that one before? Beats me unless it was some political party formed about 35 years ago with the express intention of teaching us all to live within our energy needs and the resources of the planet. Now what was it called.. People – No; Ecology Party – No; that’s it the Green Party. So lets be clear the top priority of voters today is what the Green Party has been urging for 35 years.

Seems like the time has come.

May 3rd – see you there.

Listening

I’m reading a book called Caring for Cathy. It’s by Gil Hogg and it says its a novel but I don’t think it is. I’m only halfway through but its about listening, in this case to people with mental health problems. I just thought I ought to say cos it can sometimes seem to folk that no one is listening then you realise you’re just talking to politicians and there are people who listen out there.

Just don’t expect them to be the ones you think. Look around you and smell the diasies. See who else has stopped to smell them too. Then check the flower books. Daisies don’t smell….

Smile in the rain, the sun is in your face.

Contract and Converge

Man talking on Radio 4 this morning about the need for billions to have more and us in the developed North to use less of worlds resources. Thought I’d heard it somewhere – in fact everywhere; it’s called Contraction and Convergence. Do you think it will happen? Have you got the guts to give up something and change your lifestyle.

Went to an election hustings on Tuesday night in Kings Heath (if I were clever I’d hash tag it and twit it and all) but not so just take my word it happened OK? One of the last questions was about Allotments and time was getting on so our answers were limited. I hope no one actually noticed me kind of spluttering as i struggled to get out my response. They are so vital on so many levels that I really couldn’t put my answer strongly enough “They are vital” just didn’t do it justice but heigh that’s life. This is the basis of how we practically change our lifestyles by growing food; being part of nature and working together in groups doing enjoyable things together.

Now Radio 4 is revisiting the postal voting fiasco that happened in Birmingham in 2005. The guy who did the report identified 14 kinds of fraud possible; the subsequent action by the government addressed just one of these! So looking forward to some more fun and games in the Banana Republic of Birmingham next thursday! What has this got to do with Contraction and Convergence?

If we can’t even be trusted to honestly elect our politicians what chance have we of getting leaders to lead by example to change our lifestyles? Where do we look? What can we do? We can look to radical politics not hand in glove with any vested interest. We can vote for that version of radical politics at every chance we get.

Next Thursday you have a chance, don’t blow it. Vote Green in Birmingham as the only radical politics on the ballot.

Elections we are go

Spent 2 hours in the Elections office yesterday and what do you know I’m a validly nominated candidate for May 3rd election. I should hasten to add that as a result of mine and the election staff’s efforts yesterday so are 21 others. To become validly nominated in a local election you need to fill in 5 forms exactly right; gather the signatures of 10 registered electors in the ward you wish to star in; record their correct name (as signed) their correct register number and designated letters from the voters register and bring these together to the local authority’s elections office between two dates a week apart. Got that?

Simples, eh? Except its not and the margin for error is legion and humans being what they are they do. But yet again the wonder of people is demonstrated. The local authority staff – public servants to give them their proper title – were great. They worked away with the attitude how can we solve this problem? no “no can do” folk here. Please get out and vote, please think about it. A lot of people have put a lot of time and effort into giving you the luxury of choice; don’t through democracy away.

Elections No 3 Be aware of others

Having decided to stand, having collected signatures to nominate you the next step is to know what other candidates there are – and what they’re doing.
You may think gathering intelligence about others is tricky, calling for subterfuge, stealth and downright spying but no. Just sit on your btm and wait for them to tell you!
So yesterday I learned that the sitting Tory COuncillor had repaired the roads, built the swimming baths, cleared all the litter and still found time to be a darn nice chap! Today I learned that the sitting conservative councillor had built the swimming baths, cleared the litter and repaired the roads – but the jury’s out on the other bits.
Now I’m waiting for our (labour) MP to tell us what wonderful things the lady hopeful councillor has already done without being a councillor just because she’s a darn hard working nice chappess.
So you see it’s not difficult to infiltrate the enemy camp it just comes to you. I was going to write No 4 Keeping your plans secret tomorrow but I will be busy so here’s the brief version.
Dn’t printable leaflet, don’t talk to the press and most of all don’t tell anyone you’re standing. OK? But that’s a secret so please eat you computer now….

Elections Stage 2

Having decided to stand for election the next thing is to get your nomination papers signed. For locals you need 10 signatures of electors in the ward. You can simply knock doors and ask; surprisingly lots of people are more than happy to sign. Even those who will vote another way on election day. We as a country are actually quite proud of our plurality and diversity – half an hour on the doorstep will show you. Another way is to contact your supporters and members of your party locally. I’ve chosen a mixture and have as a result met some delightful people. One such just used the word “decency” to explain why he left one mainstream political party and joined the Green Party. It’s kind of humbling and challenging when someone has that view, don’t you think?

How to live up to it. I know my Green colleagues who control Brighton Council have great difficulties because their budget is diminishing ; their opponents are joining together and even their friends seem worried about them. I believe they are trying to do the decent thing by refusing to hand over the reigns to people who will cut welfare and help to our more disadvantaged parts of society. But it is a tall order. But how inspiring.

I just hope when I am elected I can live up to it, too.

Elections Step 1

Today I decided to stand for election so thought I’d share with you, all (both?) the easy steps to being a councillor. Step One is to decide to stand -you don’t get anywhere in life just thinking about it. Too many people moan or complain about this or that without ever doing anything about it.

If you see something wrong why not try to fix it? If you see litter in the street why not pick it up and put it in the bin? If you need to complain ask yourself why you’re complaining. If it’s just to moan – don’t. But if you genuinely want things improved think maybe that’s what the person to whom you’re complaining wants as well. With the two of you cooperating together then you stand a good chance of putting it right. But only if you’re prepared to work with that person to do something.

When I was working we introduced a new complaints procedure. The first thing we did was abolish the title. We called it service improvements because that’s what we wanted to come out of it. So don’t think moan; think do. Which is why I don’t want to spend time telling you what’s wrong. I want to get elected to put it right.

Party Conferences

Here I am at Green Party national conference in Liverpool. Wow, all these greens. Actually it’s very positive and kind of friendly – no honest. Mind you on a Sunday morning it’s pretty quiet but huddles of folk plotting the up fall of the world and our little planet. Maybe I’ll write more when I get home but for now just know its happening and it’s happening here.

Students

Went to talk to students about Green Party, Climate Change and all that. Thoroughly enjoyed myself- I’d forgotten how competent the younger generation are. They asks questions, they challenged lazy statements and had ideas of their own. I concluded by saying who my generation of 60 somethings had messed it up for them so its over to them to sort it. And I came away optimistic that they would. The world is full of wonderful people.