Andy D'Agorne

The UN response to Burma just shows how two faced our so called 'defenders of democracy' are - Russia even suggested that it might call for censure of France next time there are riots in Paris! China of course has the blood of Tiannamen Square protesters on its hands. In our small way, I have tried to put forward an emergency motion to York Council for next week. However our Lib Dem council leader has responded that 'there are already 6 motions' and 'I am not convinced that it is urgent in the sense that there is anything immediate that the York Council could do to influence the situation in Burma'.

THE MOST IMPORTANT thing for the Burmese people now is for the army to know that the world is watching- including the good people of York. SO what is happening?

A group called the Alliance of All Burmese Buddhist Monks has emerged to co-ordinate the protests, and on 21 September it issued a statement describing the military government as "the enemy of the people". They pledged to continue their protests until they had "wiped the military dictatorship from the land of Burma", and they have called on people across Burma to join them. One rally marched past the house of detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, clearly linking the monks' movement with a desire for a change of government. Today it is reported nine monks have been killed after troops burst into monasteries and dragged away hundreds of innocent monks.

This could be the turning point, it is certainly the biggest protest since the repression of protests in August 1988 when 3000 where killed by the military regime. If you do nothing else, please sign the petition on www.burmacampaign.org.uk or whatever action they are urging when you read it.

Power corrupts, so they say, and all the evidence I have seen leads me to support the 'Green empowerment' rather than 'Yes to a Leader' camp in the internal discussion currently underway in the Green Party. The referendum of the membership later this autumn might have to be delayed if Gordon Brown calls a snap election. What is certain is that the debate is drawing away a lot of energy and focus that we should be giving to getting our first MPs elected. If you want an antidote to party conferences, try this little rap, made up of real extracts from the recent party conference in Liverpool (party hacks will be able to recognise a few voices of our lead activists who are always on their feet at conference). A certain ex councillor who supports the notion of a single leader was a little lost for words for once when asked to explain the meaning of 'full responsibility' - it does take a while to load but is worth it!

http://ntt.dyn-o-saur.com/gpconfliver/THE_MIX_AsAtConf.mp3

 www.greenempowerment.org.uk

Two hundred years ago, William Wilberforce was a key mover behind the British legislation to outlaw the practice of trading slaves. A visit to the Wilberforce museum in Hull this weekend showed that there was as much debate then on the subject of 'fair trade' as there is today - thousands campaigned against the trade and boycotted sugar from the plantations in which they worked. Wilberforce's election campaign for his Yorkshire seat also featured real debate on the issue. The new institute for Slavery Education features a wall inscribed with names ranging from Mandella to Ang San Sushi - the campaign against repression in Burma is building again with thousands risking oppression by taking part in protest marches led by Bhuddist monks. The work begun by WIlberforce goes on: see www.wilberforce2007.com  for details of what you can do to support the anti slavery International campaign.

The day out in Hull with 'Chechelele' coincidentally came the week after I had been to Liverpool for the first time (for Conference) staying close to the docks where many of the slave trading ships set out from. Our performance in Hull at Holy Trinity Church  was part of the 'Songs of Freedom' concert - which followed on from our outdoor performance in the square. The picture was taken while we sang 'Dibule' a song which says 'our church doors are open to all' from the apartheid era when segregation was enforced - the actions symbolise the struggle to open the doors when the authorities kept 'closing' them.

If you want to come to a performance in York, we are on at the Winning Post pub Bishopthorpe Rd 8pm on Oct 5th, along with Adrian Spendlow (poet) Paula Ryan (singer) and Abelungu (drumming). Its in aid of Oxfam. We also will be performing as part of the anniversary celebrations for York's Global Development Education Centre on Oct 13th.

The first attempt at establishing a comprehensive Climate Change Strategy for the City of York is on the agenda for our Executive next week. The weight of evidence that climate change is happening faster than some predicted is growing - the deniers are trying hard to confuse people but the floods of June and July bring home a taste of what it is already meaning to people in Bangladesh and other parts of the globe. Dont believe that Channel 4 programme about it all being down to solar cycles - try this link to Rowenna's blog (Rowenna was a Tory councillor in Forest Row with very green credentials, but I read still lost her seat in May to a Green Party candidate) http://rowenamoore.wordpress.com/2007/03/19/climate-change-human-activity-induced/

          Last night I was trying to think about how all these policies and strategies in the paper prepared by our Sustainability Officers (since January Kristina is no longer a lone voice!) could be 'made real' for the people of York. We had a very effective year long campaign in York in about 2002 (shortly after the unprecedented floods) called 'Planet York' where many people were introduced for the first time to the concept of 'carbon footprint', a few years before it became universally used. 

What I feel is needed is a similar shared sense of purpose for us now. My idea when I woke this morning was to propose a Citizens Panel that might draw people together (in reality or virtual terms) from all walks of life - both ordinary people and experts - to understand how they can go into their workplace or community and make the changes that are needed. I would include local journalists - Stephen Lewis (feature writer) Emily Bailey, Elli Fiorontini (Radio York) Gary Haq (Stockholm Environment Institute) celebrities/ council employees like PR Willey (street cleaner who wrote to the press so many times that they gave him his own occasional column!) and people nominated by their own communities as opinion formers in their area. We would then work on different 'themes' each month that would be reflected in council activity and perhaps a monthly 'climate action' day the first Monday of the month. This could be taken up in major workplaces and schools a bit like the 'Walk on Wednesday' or Walk to school week idea.

This would need to be supported by hard budget decisions and priorities in the council but would also move forward on 'winning hearts and minds' on whatever issue of the month. Now I need to see what people think and try to sell the idea!

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