Here is todays story, also been working on a response to the economist editorial on why ethical food is unethical, i will argue that while we need radical change, ethical food is in fact ethical...especially the organic leeks I grow in my garden!
NEWS: Green Party in England & Wales
Green Party Principal Speaker attacks "energy apartheid"
In a major speech to the London Federation of Green Parties at the University of London Union on Monday 11th December, Dr Wall will call for an end to 'energy apartheid' along with demands for a carbon neutral future.
Dr. Wall, speaking after the recent pre-budget report, commented: "We have to offer positive low cost alternatives to prevent global warming, otherwise the emerging consensus over green taxes will lead to energy apartheid. Those on lower incomes will see their cost of living fall as their tax burden rises, while those on higher incomes will continue to consume carbon as if there was no tomorrow.
"It is shocking that while road pricing is likely to be introduced across Britain, rail fares including those regulated by the government are rising sharply above inflation. Bus and rail prices are 60% higher in real terms than they were in 1975, we cannot and should not price people out of their cars and off of public transport at the same time. (1)
"We need to use the money from green taxes and from scrapping new motorways and Trident to build crossrail and other vital projects, we need to be slashing fares for bus and rail. The Green Partys' plans to phase out VAT and replace it with ecotaxes would be one way of reducing our collective environmental impact without making the poor pay more.
"Globally we must defend those with the most ecological lifestyles from enclosure, while making sure that carbon off set schemes do not lead to injustice and ecological damage.
"We need to promote diverse, ecologically sustainable, localised economies. We can meet the needs of future generations without making the poor pay, but this will demand imaginative policies and practical solidarity.
"Market-based instruments, essentially involving carbon taxes and global emissions trading, are blunt as a means to achieve environmental sustainability. This is because they do not address the need for deeper social changes, let alone offer a framework for social justice.
ENDS
Notes for Editors
Dr Wall will be speaking at 6.30 at ULU, for further information please contact London Fed Co-ordinator Noel Lynch on 07961 441722
(1) After Stern: Towards a Climate Change Budget Pre-Budget Report 2006, FOE, p 6
Green Party Press Office
020 7561 0282
http://www.greenparty.org.uk
Published and promoted by Jim Killock for the Green Party, both at
1a Waterlow Road, London N19 5NJ.
10 Dec 2006
PARTY FOR VENEZUELA
VIC Post-election Update
Dear Friend,
Please find below an update following Hugo Chavez's re-election last Sunday.
All the best,
Gordon Hutchison
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1) HUGO CHAVEZ WINS WITH MASSIVE VOTE IN VENEZUELA'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
Hugo Chávez has been re-elected as president of Venezuela, receiving 63% of the vote - and winning a million more votes than at the recall referendum in 2004.
- More information on the election here: http://www.vicuk.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=162&Itemid=29
- Leading campaigners call re-election a victory for democracy and social progress. Read their statements here:
http://www.vicuk.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=159&Itemid=30
2) LOBBY YOUR MP TO SHOW SUPPORT IN SOLIDARITY WITH VENEZUELA
Colin Burgon MP and Jeremy Corbyn MP have put down Early Day Motions in Parliament in solidarity with Venezuela following President Chavez's landslide re-election.
Venezuela Information Centre encourages you to write to your MP asking them to add their name.
More information at:
http://www.vicuk.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=160&Itemid=30
3) PARTY FOR VENEZUELA - CELEBRATE CHAVEZ'S VICTORY
Come and celebrate the re-election of Hugo Chavez as Venezuelan president with sounds from Latin America and an eyewitness account of the election!
Get details of the VIC fundraising party at:
http://www.vicuk.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=161&Itemid=30
4) JOIN THE VENEZUELA INFORMATION CENTRE
Support VIC’s solidarity activities by becoming a member. Read the membership appeal from Tony Benn, Harold Pinter, Bruce Kent, Caroline Lucas MEP, Rodney Bickerstaffe and Ann Pettifor at
http://www.left-click.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=155&Itemid=30
Dear Friend,
Please find below an update following Hugo Chavez's re-election last Sunday.
All the best,
Gordon Hutchison
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1) HUGO CHAVEZ WINS WITH MASSIVE VOTE IN VENEZUELA'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
Hugo Chávez has been re-elected as president of Venezuela, receiving 63% of the vote - and winning a million more votes than at the recall referendum in 2004.
- More information on the election here: http://www.vicuk.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=162&Itemid=29
- Leading campaigners call re-election a victory for democracy and social progress. Read their statements here:
http://www.vicuk.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=159&Itemid=30
2) LOBBY YOUR MP TO SHOW SUPPORT IN SOLIDARITY WITH VENEZUELA
Colin Burgon MP and Jeremy Corbyn MP have put down Early Day Motions in Parliament in solidarity with Venezuela following President Chavez's landslide re-election.
Venezuela Information Centre encourages you to write to your MP asking them to add their name.
More information at:
http://www.vicuk.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=160&Itemid=30
3) PARTY FOR VENEZUELA - CELEBRATE CHAVEZ'S VICTORY
Come and celebrate the re-election of Hugo Chavez as Venezuelan president with sounds from Latin America and an eyewitness account of the election!
Get details of the VIC fundraising party at:
http://www.vicuk.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=161&Itemid=30
4) JOIN THE VENEZUELA INFORMATION CENTRE
Support VIC’s solidarity activities by becoming a member. Read the membership appeal from Tony Benn, Harold Pinter, Bruce Kent, Caroline Lucas MEP, Rodney Bickerstaffe and Ann Pettifor at
http://www.left-click.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=155&Itemid=30
Green activist in Palestine blog
Many Palestinians who I talk to ask what people in England think of them and almost beg me to make sure you all know that they are an intelligent, articulte group who feels their labnd has been taken and feel they have the right to resist. But they are not monsters, whatthey want is justice and peace
Greg sent me this from Palestine, read it and judge for yourself...he is a Green activist with a blog on his experience with the International Solidarity Movement.
hey there
sorry for spam email just went through my address book and clicked a few peoplewho might be internested about Palestine, am curently out here with ISM basically protecting the human rights of the palestinians
Yesterday went to a demo, the wall has been built across these peoples land and so they have little access so every friday they demonstrate and ask for internationals to go and document any Israeli Occupation force abuse. The march went up to the top of the hill with no problem and at the fence we were told we were here illegally, stating this was a controled military zone - something which an officer can decare at anyrime. we did not leae but protestd by trying to remove barbed wire at various points of the wall. Israeli soldiers roughed up one paesintian man who had not done much - they dont bother arresting internationl and israelis as these people come up under Israeli law and it takes an age to prosecute.Eventually they arrestd this man, a few people including myself tried to hold on to this man to stop them taking him away (they can be detained for 8 days without seeing a judge and then held for 6 months in order toprevet them committing crimes, although they haev a right to a defence they are not tod what cries they allegedly might have comttd so its obviously a little difficult - 2,000 people are held like this). they pulled people off often by the neck or hair and then held the man blindfolded him and took him away. Aftera while the demonstration finished but there were running battles between youths throwing stones and soldiers firing tear gas and rubber bullets. We followed the sodiers and kept asking them what ehy were doing, which means we narrowly missed the odd stone.
I travelled from there t Tel Rumeia where there is an Israeli settlement, these settlers are nutcases, there are no other words for it. Very few of them work but they are funded by Israeli Jews who basically believe that they are reclaiming the holy land and they constantly attack Palestinians. two weeks ago they bottled one of my colleagues and almost blinded her, her vision is still not perfect. ( http://www.telrumeidaproject.org/Proposal_Background.html for info about another group working here). Our job is to make sure that they let the children get to shcool and back and generally be a presence to make the Palestinians feel safe. the street iam on was deserted but was once the main street, a checkpoint and the forced shutting of al shops (for security obviously). Many shops have been grafittied by pro Israel support. Although there was litle trouble today when the children left school, one settler got a ittle close, I was threatened by Israeli soldiers.
They were on a patrol and opne of them walked towards me but was caled off, he then proceeded to kick stones and make remarks, he then came over to me and asked waht i was doing. i said i was loking around, he then said thatsa lie, we went on and he searched my bag of oranges (3 times!) and asked what was in my pcoket (a video camera) - he then said it is dangerous here for you, you leave tomorrow. i had ben intending on doing that but now im going to bloody stay. he kept repeating this while getting clsoer and closer to me and repeating this saying look into his eyes, its not safe. he then asked whatithought of jews, whatmy jewish friends thought of me and then kept repeating its not safe. its very threatening and with 4 soldiers with guns its not particulary nice.
Settlers continued to spit and shout a little but there were lots of foreign ones (come to see how their millions are spent) who would say hello to us and were quickly told nt to - obviopusly we dont look like the devil we are made ot to be! The settlers hate us and i feel little compassion for them, i sdaw one bittenby a dog and thought it was great. i can see how easiy the Palestinians can see these people as subhuman, most ofthe soldiers dislike then. this settement is guarded by 400 soldiers, there are 100 settlers! One soldier we\hen questiond b a friend said he idn't want to pull out of te west bank as een though they should neer have invaded it would destroy the fabric of Israel. when questioned a bit more essentially his views are: if we pull out these nutters mve back to Israel!
Many Palestinians who I talk to ask what people in England think of them and almost beg me to make sure you all know that they are an intelligent, articulte group who feels their labnd has been taken and feel they have the right to resist. But they are not monsters, whatthey want is justice and peace
Anyway, hpe eeryone is well , if you dont want to recieve these emails let me know as might send a few more (am here for about 4 weeks in total)
Sorry forthe spelling, the computer is not very good!
Greg
Greg sent me this from Palestine, read it and judge for yourself...he is a Green activist with a blog on his experience with the International Solidarity Movement.
hey there
sorry for spam email just went through my address book and clicked a few peoplewho might be internested about Palestine, am curently out here with ISM basically protecting the human rights of the palestinians
Yesterday went to a demo, the wall has been built across these peoples land and so they have little access so every friday they demonstrate and ask for internationals to go and document any Israeli Occupation force abuse. The march went up to the top of the hill with no problem and at the fence we were told we were here illegally, stating this was a controled military zone - something which an officer can decare at anyrime. we did not leae but protestd by trying to remove barbed wire at various points of the wall. Israeli soldiers roughed up one paesintian man who had not done much - they dont bother arresting internationl and israelis as these people come up under Israeli law and it takes an age to prosecute.Eventually they arrestd this man, a few people including myself tried to hold on to this man to stop them taking him away (they can be detained for 8 days without seeing a judge and then held for 6 months in order toprevet them committing crimes, although they haev a right to a defence they are not tod what cries they allegedly might have comttd so its obviously a little difficult - 2,000 people are held like this). they pulled people off often by the neck or hair and then held the man blindfolded him and took him away. Aftera while the demonstration finished but there were running battles between youths throwing stones and soldiers firing tear gas and rubber bullets. We followed the sodiers and kept asking them what ehy were doing, which means we narrowly missed the odd stone.
I travelled from there t Tel Rumeia where there is an Israeli settlement, these settlers are nutcases, there are no other words for it. Very few of them work but they are funded by Israeli Jews who basically believe that they are reclaiming the holy land and they constantly attack Palestinians. two weeks ago they bottled one of my colleagues and almost blinded her, her vision is still not perfect. ( http://www.telrumeidaproject.org/Proposal_Background.html for info about another group working here). Our job is to make sure that they let the children get to shcool and back and generally be a presence to make the Palestinians feel safe. the street iam on was deserted but was once the main street, a checkpoint and the forced shutting of al shops (for security obviously). Many shops have been grafittied by pro Israel support. Although there was litle trouble today when the children left school, one settler got a ittle close, I was threatened by Israeli soldiers.
They were on a patrol and opne of them walked towards me but was caled off, he then proceeded to kick stones and make remarks, he then came over to me and asked waht i was doing. i said i was loking around, he then said thatsa lie, we went on and he searched my bag of oranges (3 times!) and asked what was in my pcoket (a video camera) - he then said it is dangerous here for you, you leave tomorrow. i had ben intending on doing that but now im going to bloody stay. he kept repeating this while getting clsoer and closer to me and repeating this saying look into his eyes, its not safe. he then asked whatithought of jews, whatmy jewish friends thought of me and then kept repeating its not safe. its very threatening and with 4 soldiers with guns its not particulary nice.
Settlers continued to spit and shout a little but there were lots of foreign ones (come to see how their millions are spent) who would say hello to us and were quickly told nt to - obviopusly we dont look like the devil we are made ot to be! The settlers hate us and i feel little compassion for them, i sdaw one bittenby a dog and thought it was great. i can see how easiy the Palestinians can see these people as subhuman, most ofthe soldiers dislike then. this settement is guarded by 400 soldiers, there are 100 settlers! One soldier we\hen questiond b a friend said he idn't want to pull out of te west bank as een though they should neer have invaded it would destroy the fabric of Israel. when questioned a bit more essentially his views are: if we pull out these nutters mve back to Israel!
Many Palestinians who I talk to ask what people in England think of them and almost beg me to make sure you all know that they are an intelligent, articulte group who feels their labnd has been taken and feel they have the right to resist. But they are not monsters, whatthey want is justice and peace
Anyway, hpe eeryone is well , if you dont want to recieve these emails let me know as might send a few more (am here for about 4 weeks in total)
Sorry forthe spelling, the computer is not very good!
Greg
9 Dec 2006
Greens demonstrate against Putin tommorrow
GREEN MEP CALLS FOR PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN RUSSIA AT EMBASSY DEMO
The death of Alexander Litvinenko and Anna Politovskaya has left many
fearing that human rights violations in Russia have reached a crisis point.
On Human Rights Day this Sunday (10th December 2006) Green Euro MP, Jean
Lambert, will call for a common strategy across the EU to protect Human
Rights in Russia when she joins the London branch of the Green’s series
of protests outside Russian Embassies across Europe.
Jean, who has been awarded for her work on justice and human rights,
today said that, along with the European Green Party, the protest would
be making a number of demands from the Russian Government.
Jean commented; “Human rights violations by the Government, justice
system, police and military in Russia are of grave concern. Europe’s
Greens find this intolerable and on Sunday we will demand that the
President and the Government of the Russian Federation change their
approach.
“We demand the investigations of human rights violations committed by
state organs and punish the perpetrators; clarify politically motivated
assignations; guarantee freedom of the media and the freedom to hold
public assemblies and make it possible for organisations of civil
society to do their work – even if they are critical towards government.
That is democracy.”
The demonstration, taking place outside the Russian Embassy in London
between 11am and 12 noon, will run simultaneously with other
demonstrations in Brussels, Vienna, Berlin, Paris, London, Dublin,
Ljubljana, Kiev, Luxemburg and Chisinau.
ENDS
For more information please contact:
Media Officer
tel: 020 7407 6280
email: media@jeanlambertmep.org.uk
www.jeanlambertmep.org.uk
Notes to editors:
Jean Lambert: In October 2005 Jean was named MEP 2005 for Justice and
Human Rights. Jean was first elected Green Party Member of the European
Parliament for London in the 1999 European elections. She was re-elected
in 2004. She is one of nine MEPs representing London and one of two UK
Green representatives in the European Parliament.
--
Office of Jean Lambert MEP - London's Green MEP
Suite 58, The Hop Exchange
24 Southwark Street
London, SE1 1TY
The death of Alexander Litvinenko and Anna Politovskaya has left many
fearing that human rights violations in Russia have reached a crisis point.
On Human Rights Day this Sunday (10th December 2006) Green Euro MP, Jean
Lambert, will call for a common strategy across the EU to protect Human
Rights in Russia when she joins the London branch of the Green’s series
of protests outside Russian Embassies across Europe.
Jean, who has been awarded for her work on justice and human rights,
today said that, along with the European Green Party, the protest would
be making a number of demands from the Russian Government.
Jean commented; “Human rights violations by the Government, justice
system, police and military in Russia are of grave concern. Europe’s
Greens find this intolerable and on Sunday we will demand that the
President and the Government of the Russian Federation change their
approach.
“We demand the investigations of human rights violations committed by
state organs and punish the perpetrators; clarify politically motivated
assignations; guarantee freedom of the media and the freedom to hold
public assemblies and make it possible for organisations of civil
society to do their work – even if they are critical towards government.
That is democracy.”
The demonstration, taking place outside the Russian Embassy in London
between 11am and 12 noon, will run simultaneously with other
demonstrations in Brussels, Vienna, Berlin, Paris, London, Dublin,
Ljubljana, Kiev, Luxemburg and Chisinau.
ENDS
For more information please contact:
Media Officer
tel: 020 7407 6280
email: media@jeanlambertmep.org.uk
www.jeanlambertmep.org.uk
Notes to editors:
Jean Lambert: In October 2005 Jean was named MEP 2005 for Justice and
Human Rights. Jean was first elected Green Party Member of the European
Parliament for London in the 1999 European elections. She was re-elected
in 2004. She is one of nine MEPs representing London and one of two UK
Green representatives in the European Parliament.
--
Office of Jean Lambert MEP - London's Green MEP
Suite 58, The Hop Exchange
24 Southwark Street
London, SE1 1TY
8 Dec 2006
Environmental leadership for free
You and I have less need to fly than say a working class mother who has promised her kids a holiday in the sun.
We must strive to solve the crisis on this planet with clear thinking and practical action but if you want my advice I am online like all good greens who don't fly.
Dear Larissa,
Anyone sincere environmentalist would discourage you from flying around the world, it is wrong for greens to fly around the global emitting greenhouse gases and driving demand for runways that slice through wildlife habitats, while telling the rest of humanity to fly less!
I have decided not to fly while I am a Green Party speaker and I hope you will do the same, somewhere someone will need to fly to visit an elderly mother in Marrakesh or to help refugees after a tornado.
You and I have less need to fly than say a working class mother who has promised her kids a holiday in the sun.
We must strive to solve the crisis on this planet with clear thinking and practical action but if you want my advice I am online like all good greens who don't fly.
best wishes,
Derek Wall,
Green Party of England and Wales male principal speaker
>
> Dear Derek Wall
>
>I am writing to ask if I may interview you so that you can be featured in a book I am writing on environmental leadership.
>
>I am the founder and director of Australia’s top environmental leadership program, Future Sustainability Leaders. I have recently received a scholarship to conduct a world study tour of environmental leadership. Through this study tour I aim to inspire and improve the quality of leadership amongst the next generation of environmental leaders.
>
>I am young, passionate and knowledgeable about environmental solutions, but like so many of my peers, I am struggling with the question of how to enact these solutions in our current world. This is an example of one of the many questions I aim to answer by interviewing the world’s greatest environmental leaders. I will subsequently be writing a book and a producing a documentary aimed at paving the way for young people who have a vision for a sustainable world, but who don’t know how to enact the vision in our current social, economic and political reality. I believe this book will be the first of its kind and is desperately needed.
>
>I have identified you as one of the world’s greatest environmental leaders and it would be a great honor if you would allow me to interview you. I know your stories and experience will inspire, empower and build the capacity of all those who want to make the world a more sustainable place.
>
>Next year my organisation will be creating a free online comprehensive sustainability leadership training program for young people across the globe. As well as training in specific leadership skills it will give trainees access to video interviews with the world’s best sustainability leaders. If you would allow me to, I would also like to record my interview with you on video for this purpose. If you prefer, the interview will not taped.
>
>My research is taking me to 30 cities across five continents and my full schedule can be found here . Below is my schedule for the Europe leg of my trip.
>
>Geneva, Switzerland 4th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th January 2007
>Paris, France 12th, 15th, 16th January 2007
>Amsterdam, Holland 17th, 18th January 2007
>Stockholm, Sweden 22nd, 23rd January 2007
>Moscow, Russia 25th, 26th, 29th, 30th January 2007
>Budapest, Hungary 1st, 2nd February, 2007
>Istanbul, Turkey 5th, 6th, February 2007
>London, UK 9th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th February
>
>
>
>
>I hope that our paths with cross and we can make a time to meet. The interview would take around one and a half hours. The opportunity to speak with you would have a substantial impact on my work of improving environmental leadership.
>
>Also I would love to know who you think are the greatest environmental leaders driving sustainability in your city and any other cities I am visiting.
>
>I look forward to meeting you in person.
>
>Regards,
>
>Larissa Brown
>
>
>
>--
>-------------------------------------
>Larissa Brown
>Executive Director
>Center for Sustainbility Leadership
>PO BOX 316, Torquay 3228, Australia
>
>Please consider the environment before printing this email.
We must strive to solve the crisis on this planet with clear thinking and practical action but if you want my advice I am online like all good greens who don't fly.
Dear Larissa,
Anyone sincere environmentalist would discourage you from flying around the world, it is wrong for greens to fly around the global emitting greenhouse gases and driving demand for runways that slice through wildlife habitats, while telling the rest of humanity to fly less!
I have decided not to fly while I am a Green Party speaker and I hope you will do the same, somewhere someone will need to fly to visit an elderly mother in Marrakesh or to help refugees after a tornado.
You and I have less need to fly than say a working class mother who has promised her kids a holiday in the sun.
We must strive to solve the crisis on this planet with clear thinking and practical action but if you want my advice I am online like all good greens who don't fly.
best wishes,
Derek Wall,
Green Party of England and Wales male principal speaker
>
> Dear Derek Wall
>
>I am writing to ask if I may interview you so that you can be featured in a book I am writing on environmental leadership.
>
>I am the founder and director of Australia’s top environmental leadership program, Future Sustainability Leaders. I have recently received a scholarship to conduct a world study tour of environmental leadership. Through this study tour I aim to inspire and improve the quality of leadership amongst the next generation of environmental leaders.
>
>I am young, passionate and knowledgeable about environmental solutions, but like so many of my peers, I am struggling with the question of how to enact these solutions in our current world. This is an example of one of the many questions I aim to answer by interviewing the world’s greatest environmental leaders. I will subsequently be writing a book and a producing a documentary aimed at paving the way for young people who have a vision for a sustainable world, but who don’t know how to enact the vision in our current social, economic and political reality. I believe this book will be the first of its kind and is desperately needed.
>
>I have identified you as one of the world’s greatest environmental leaders and it would be a great honor if you would allow me to interview you. I know your stories and experience will inspire, empower and build the capacity of all those who want to make the world a more sustainable place.
>
>Next year my organisation will be creating a free online comprehensive sustainability leadership training program for young people across the globe. As well as training in specific leadership skills it will give trainees access to video interviews with the world’s best sustainability leaders. If you would allow me to, I would also like to record my interview with you on video for this purpose. If you prefer, the interview will not taped.
>
>My research is taking me to 30 cities across five continents and my full schedule can be found here . Below is my schedule for the Europe leg of my trip.
>
>Geneva, Switzerland 4th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th January 2007
>Paris, France 12th, 15th, 16th January 2007
>Amsterdam, Holland 17th, 18th January 2007
>Stockholm, Sweden 22nd, 23rd January 2007
>Moscow, Russia 25th, 26th, 29th, 30th January 2007
>Budapest, Hungary 1st, 2nd February, 2007
>Istanbul, Turkey 5th, 6th, February 2007
>London, UK 9th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th February
>
>
>
>
>I hope that our paths with cross and we can make a time to meet. The interview would take around one and a half hours. The opportunity to speak with you would have a substantial impact on my work of improving environmental leadership.
>
>Also I would love to know who you think are the greatest environmental leaders driving sustainability in your city and any other cities I am visiting.
>
>I look forward to meeting you in person.
>
>Regards,
>
>Larissa Brown
>
>
>
>--
>-------------------------------------
>Larissa Brown
>Executive Director
>Center for Sustainbility Leadership
>PO BOX 316, Torquay 3228, Australia
>
>Please consider the environment before printing this email.
7 Dec 2006
Thinking like a mountain?
Thinking Mountain is an interesting blog with a good detailed account of Brown's budget plans, a bit of red green crossover with lots of good reports.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
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Well with over 30,000 members the Green Party of England and Wales is reviewing its structures, do we need to change Green Party Ex... -
'The Geneva Mosque was vandalised on Thursday when someone threw a pot of pink paint at the entrance. Earlier this month, a vehicle with...
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The Irish delegate to the committee of the European Green Party failed to be elected at the weekend and, I am told, only received a handful ...
