Shop for eco products and donate to Rugby Green Party at the same time!

Shop for eco products and donate to Rugby Green Party at the same time!
Louisa Taylor, who is a Rugby Green Party supporter is working as an independent distributor for a company that sell eco friendly products for the home and family called Wikaniko and will donate 10% on every purchase made through her to Rugby Green Party.
Please visit Louisa website to see what products they sellhttp://loutaylor.wikaniko.com/
Contact Louisa Taylor for more details at louisataylor81@gmail.com for more details.
Plus for December a 5% discount is available.
Just use code ‘Rugby Greens’ when contacting Louisa.
Please note, that when purchasing your agreement is not with Rugby Green Party as this is only an informal agreement with Louisa Taylor.

Did pressure from Rugby Green Party stop Mark Pawsey, Tory MP for Rugby, voting for the Bedroom Tax yesterday.?

Rugby Green Party is pleased to say that despite the majority of Tories and especially shameful Dem MPs voting down a motion to scrap the bedroom Tax by 26 votes, our Tory MP. Mark Pawsey, for marginal Rugby, perhaps found it prudent not to make an appearance in the House of Parliament voting lobbies last night this after receiving our open letter – that was sent to him and the local press.

We have to say, if all the Labour MP’s had turn up, then today their would no longer be a bedroom tax in existence – something that will not be lost on a fair few people.

NO SHOW FROM TORY MARK PAWSEY MP

Captain SKA - Nothing Nothing Nothing

http://www.youtube.com/v/KGIlsYUZoCc?autohide=1&version=3&autohide=1&feature=share&attribution_tag=LqyFpengfoYSgi3W5samGQ&showinfo=1&autoplay=1

Rugby Greens calls on Pawsey to vote against cruel Bedroom Tax

Mark Pawsey MP for Rugby who asked Tax  Payers  to pay £80 towards his heating bills

 as people face eviction due to the cruel Bedroom Tax

Open letter to Mark Pawsey, MP for Rugby from Rugby Green Party regarding Bedroom Tax

Dear Mark,

On Tuesday, 12^th November, all MP’s can vote on the need to scrap the Bedroom Tax.

Nearly 900 households in Rugby,  including many people struggling on low wages, and/or disabled people , have been hit  by one of the most uncaring acts of the Tory and Lib Dem Government, by cutting from 14% to 25% of the Housing benefit contribution to keeping their home.

 It’s not a "life style choice" to be chronically sick or disabled, and it’s not a matter of choice to be one of the estimated 4.8 million Britons (20% of all employees) working below a living wage of £7.20 per hour, and so needing to claim housing benefit to keep a roof over their head.

Mr Pawsey, the Bedroom Tax was rushed through in the knowledge that the supply of smaller accommodation needed ( without the so called luxury of a spare room) , does not exist in reality.

The tax makes the poor bear our public financial burden, and will not achieve redistribution of public housing.

It seems to many of us in the Green Party that the sick, disabled and low paid are still being made to pay most heavily for the British bankers' gambling debts ; in stark contrast to the proposed ill timed and unjustifiable big pay rise for MP’s.  Rugby people will also note the £80 you personally got paid as an allowance to cut your own heating bill.

Also, before you  try to claim that the Government has provided a cushion fund for councils, it would be only fair for you to admit that any possible grants in this small fund can only be one-off, only last up to  3 months , and are very much discretionary – so little help in reality!

The Green Party- led Brighton & Hove Council has a "no eviction policy" for their tenants who are thrown into arrears by this tax, and you may be interested to know that we persuaded both Tory and Labour Councillors to vote for our stance in Brighton.

Rugby Green Party will be writing to the leaders of the Tories, Labour and Lib Dems on Rugby Council to ask them to follow  Brighton's position, and stand up for the most vulnerable people in Rugby.

A growing numbers of other Councils have now followed  Brighton's lead, and are gaining support from more politically aware Tory Councillors who have come out against the Bedroom Tax, and want to see it scrapped.

 Rugby Green Party have also provided a Facebook site ’Rugby Against the Bedroom Tax - Protest and Advice’ for current information, and  have produced a guide to appealing against the tax, by using definition of a bedroom including the room size limits, the need for a room for a disabled person to store equipment, when and if it is a good idea to take a lodger in.  Also how to claim for the 3 month additional housing support. 

Mr Pawsey, do you want to prevent sick and disabled tenants from living (and in some cases ending their lives) in inadequate rented housing, or even living rough on the streets of our town?

Rugby is a marginal seat; if you  really believe that voting to keep the Bedroom Tax would be a sensible way to proceed, you will not only be acting in an uncaring manner, but also will likely lose your seat at the next election.

The people of Rugby care about our neighbours and friends and we trust that you will vote to scrap the Bedroom Tax.

Regards

Peter Reynolds

Chairperson - Rugby Green Party

BONFIRE OF AUSTERITY | 5 NOVEMBER

BONFIRE OF AUSTERITY | 5 NOVEMBER

#BurnAusterity

We want to make this Firework Night one which David Cameron will remember and remember for a long time!

The Peoples’ Assembly is calling for a day of protest in every town and city in the country.

The actions will be many and various, ranging from occupations of public space to occupations of banks, from online petitioning to blocking roads, from leafleting with the rail unions against the privatized rail companies to student occupations.

We are hoping for three waves of action: one in the morning, one at lunchtime and one in the evening. And at the end of the day the local out-sourcing contracts, the welfare legislation, the loan company adverts will all make a splendid bonfire…and you can choose whether the guy is Cameron, Gove, Clegg or Osborne.

Get in touch with your local group to find out what’s being planned near you.

Bonfire of Austerity – Local actions

London – Block Westminster Bridge – Assemble at Jubilee Gardens at 6pm, contact office@thepeoplesassemblyorg.uk/ FacebookBring your energy bills: we will be burning our energy bills on the bridge to highlight the massive rise in energy prices which have left people choosing between heating and eating.

Anonymous – Trafalgar Square, 6pm

ACTION FOR RAIL Leafleting across the country on NOV 5 – check here for details

Join us at stations across the country, meeting passengers and letting them know about our campaign for a national, integrated railway under public ownership.

Barnet – Assemble at 6pm outside Hendon Town Hall, the Burroughs, NW4 4BG, see here for more details

Birmingham – Assemble at Waterstones, High Str. at 5pm, contact birminghampeoplesassembly@gmail.com

Bolton – Campaigning against Zero Hours Contracts, Bedroom Tax, Pay Day Loans & NHS Cuts, organised by Bolton Trades Union Council

8AM – 9AM Leafleting, petitioning at the Bolton Railway Station

12:30PM – 1:30PM Leafleting, petitions, mock Bonfire outside Sports Direct (Bolton Town Hall Square)

Blackpool – 16:20 outside the Town Hall,  Anonymous Protest

Bridgwater -  ”Democracy? They’re Having a Laugh” A mass binning of Tory policies at the Cornhill, Bridgwater (TA6 3BY) 17:00 – 18:00

Brighton – Assemble at the Clock Tower at 12pm, contact pplsassembly.brighton@gmail.com / Facebook

Bristol – 5th November, 5 PM, 5 Campaigns
Assemble at The Fountains opposite Hippodrome

Come along and burn some austerity policies. Bring a placard with a policy you want to burn! We’re going to being making some noise and a presence in the centre of town so as well as placards, some will be in fancy dress, bring drums, whistles, horns or anything else that will grab attention.
Contact bristolpeoplesassembly@gmail.com / 07971630005 / Facebook

Cambridge - Contact cambridgepeoplesassembly@outlook.com
“Break the Chains of Austerity” – Time 5/6PM, details TBC.
We will form a chain gang led by David Cameron, dragging behind him various victims of austerity: a schoolboy/girl, a nurse, a train conductor, a fireman/woman… and march through Cambridge singing the old union song “Which Side Are You On?”
Rehearsal on Nov 4 at 7.30pm, we will meet at the University Centre (Grads Cafe, 3rd floor).
Contact cambridgepeoplesassembly@outlook.com / https://www.facebook.com/events/570519243017788/

Darlington – Assemble outside at 4.30 pm outside the Town Hall for a protest organised by Darlington Against Cuts and supported by the Teesside Peoples Assembly Against Austerity. Contact TeessidePA@gmail.com / Facebook

Doncaster – Set up a food bank in a bank, Meet at 11am, Clock Tower, Doncaster  contact doncasterpeoplesassembly@gmail.com/ 07587697028

Durham – Protest, 12:30 PM at Market Place, https://www.facebook.com/events/157323847811577/

Dundee – March and Rally
Assemble at Hilltown Park 11.45 am
March to City Square for Rally 12 noon
Followed by Picket of Home Scotland
Contact: 07894901688 /raymond.mennie@googlemail.com /https://www.facebook.com/dundeepeoplesassembly

Ipswich – Contact: suffolkpeoplesassembly@runbox.com
7.00 -8.30 Ipswich Station
Action for Rail - Leaflet to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Rail Privatisation and support public ownership of rail.

11.30 am – 1.00 pm Silent Street, Ipswich
Vigil outside ATOS and Job Centre.

1.00 pm – 3.00 pm near  Boots in Tavern St
Living Wage Activity.  Joint activity with NAPO members on strike.

6.30 pm  Bonfire of Austerity
Consign Austerity to the Bonfire on the Green by Felaw Maltings (assemble in Mather Way)

Kings Lynn – “Pin the blame on Cameron” 11AM – 15pm outside Boots/ Wimpey/ Burtons - If you’re mad at the Coalition, here’s your chance to let them know.
Come and meet Mr Clegg Cameron, your two-faced government.
Let him know how you feel… and why. Contact  jackiemulhallen@btinternet.com / Facebook

Kingston upon Hull – Assembly 12:30pm, Queen Victoria Square - Dress up, bring placards, whistles, drums! Make some noise, get your voices heard! Let’s show the people of Hull that there IS an alternative to the government’s damaging policies of austerity. Facebook / Contact

Lambeth – Contact 07913496012 /  lambethpeoplesassembly@gmail.com

Leeds –  4pm in Dortmund square (outside the St John’s Shopping Centre). Action jointly organised by the West Yorks People’s Assembly and Unite Community Branch

Morning action –  7:30am, Leeds train station for a leafletting action with Action for Rail. Contact: west-northyorkshirepeoplesassembly@live.com

Leicester – 4PM – Assemble outside De Montfort University’s Hugh Aston Building
Planning 2 demonstrations – one around the NHS and one around the Bedroom Tax. Contact: Leicester.PA@gmail.com / Facebook

Liverpool -  Contact andrea@merseysidepeoplesassembly.org/ Facebook
10AM – Assemble at St George’s Hall - there will be actions throughout the day.
Join the email list to keep updated (http://www.merseysidepeoplesassembly.org/join-us/)

London (Brent) – 9AM at Brent Magistrates Court  - “No Council Tax Benefit Cuts” Facebook
Protest called by Unite the Union – Community Members, West London Peoples Assembly, Kilburn Unemployed Workers Group, Brent Housing Action, Zacchaeus Trust (Z2K)
Brent Council has summonsed 12000 people for non-payment of council tax .   Many  of these cant pay as their council tax benefit has been cut in the new council tax support scheme.  Come and voice your objections to the cuts to the benefit and show support to those who have been summonsed. Debt advice charity Z2K will be at the court giving advice to those who have been summonsed.

London South – Contact peoplesselondon@gmail.com / text 07806545279 / www.carnivalagainstcuts.org.uk / Facebook

10AM – Deptford High Street / New Cross Road  - An action against poverty, led by the local Foodbank
1:30PM – Deptford Lounge public square – A performance against austerity politics
4:30PM – Catford Town Hall to Lewisham High Street – A procession against austerity, the bedroom tax and local cuts. Finishing with
6PM – The grassy Knoll, opposite Lewisham DLR – Bonfire of Cuts with music, speakers and effigies

London West - 12PM – protest against loan sharks – H&T Pawnbrokers and The Money Shop, 22 Uxbridge Rd, Shepherds Bush

Manchester - 5PM – Anti austerity torch lit tour of the city  Assemble at ATOS HQ Albert Bridge House Bridge street M60 GAT  More info

At 8 am we will be leafleting workers as they arrive in the city and local tram and bus depots.

Medway – contact medwaypaaa@gmail.com / Facebook
7am – Chatham Station, leafletting action with RMT
12pm – outside the ATOS centre on Bachelor Street, Chatham
2pm – Picket at the Jobcentre

Middlesbrough  – flashmob-style sing-a-long protest against austerity in the town centre around lunchtime/early afternoon in a location where we suspect it will be noticed. Contact the Teesside People’s Assembly: TeessidePA@gmail.com / Facebook

Newcastle - Assemble from 5pm outside Haymarket metro station.
Actions begin at 5:30pm which will highlight local examples of tax-dodging, loan-sharking and zero-hour-contracting
Contact peoplesassemblyne@gmail.com/ 07515676025/ Facebook 

Norwich – Planned vigil outside the Town Hall, Facebook

Nottingham – Assemble at 5pm, Brian Clough Statue, Market Square – Firesculpture, Fire Breathers, NHS petition. Contact shalforty@gmail.com/ Facebook

Oxford – Contact oxfordpeoplesassembly@gmail.com / 07954365186
9.30 am Lobby County Council
11 am Austerity on Trial: Bonn Square
12 noon Probation officers’ strike begins: St Aldate’s
5.30pm Bonfire of Austerity: Bonn Square
6.30pm Where next? Town Hall Contact oxfordpeoplesassembly@gmail.com / 07954365186

Pembrokeshire – Saturday 2 Nov –  Dress up as politicians for a symbolic bonfire – actions will focus on post offices, NHS, fire stations. Contact pembrokeshirepeoplesassembly@yahoo.co.uk / Facebook / Website

RCT/ Bridgend – “Unite Against Austerity” – Rolling demonstration – Actions focused on workfair and zero-hour contracts, the Bedroom Tax and local cuts proposed in RCT. Contact bridgend_rct.peoplesassembly@outlook.com / 01443 227996

10:30AM – Bridgend Valleys2Coast housing association. Meet outside the entrance to the shopping centre, Caroline St in the centre of Bridgend.

13:00 – McDonalds on Llantrisant

14:30 – Pontypridd Job Centre

From 16:00 – Pontypridd town centre by the fountain to oppose the RCT cuts.

Salford – Assemble 2PM at Stott Lane by Meadowbrook and Salford Royal hospitals.
Protest against the closure of mental health wards in Salford and Bolton by Gtr Mcr West NHS Trust. The protest is organised by United Service Users Committee and Salford Against Cuts, and supported by Keep Our NHS Public.

Sheffield and South Yorkshire –  4pm at the Town Hall for a celebration and a demonstration – Actions also planned during the day, contact sheffieldpeoplesassembly@gmail.com/ 07814420319 / Facebook

Shropshire – ‘Sit-in’ at the banks in Shrewsbury. Meet at The Square, Shrewsbury between 12-12.15pm. Contact  shropsfightback@virginmedia.com /Facebook

Southampton – contact spaaa4ever@gmail.com / Facebook
12.30 outside the local ATOS centre
1.00pm outside the Job Centre
5.30pm we will be holding a demo at the local BBC studio, Opposite the Civic Center

St. Albans – Contact stalbanspaaa@btopenworld.com

Stroud - Stroud Against the Cuts is joining  @pplsassembly Nov 5th ‘Bonfire of Austerity’ protests:
Assemble outside the Stroud Jobcentre at 12.30PM
and @ Neil Carmichael’s office 4.00 – 6.30PM

Tameside – Contact NIGEL 07709056079
DAYTIME
OCCUPY A PUBLIC SPACE TIME: 12.30PM
ASSEMBLE OUTSIDE GOLD MEADOW FISH & CHIP CAFE, OLD ST, ASHTON-U-LYNE

EVENING
TAMESIDE’S BONFIRE OF AUSTERITY TIME: 6.00PM
JOIN US AND BURN THOSE AUSTERITY BLUES AWAY
ASHTON MOSS ALLOTMENTS, MOSS LANE, OL7 9LA
FREE AND OPEN TO ALL
REFRESHMENTS PROVIDED

Wilts and Dorset - Sunday 27 October – “Balls to the Cuts” – Gather at 12pm at Cerne Abbas Giant in Dorset for a photo of people in a No Cuts formation. Contact wiltsanddorsetpa@gmail.com / Facebook

Wrexham – Gather at Queens Square Wrexham at 10am for a day of rolling action / 12PM for a rally. Contact redmolotov21@googlemail.com / Facebook 

Wokingham - 12:30 – 13:30 Lunchtime protest, Town Hall

York – City centre from 1pm – Model bonfire of austerity measures

Assemble at 4pm at St Helens Square for ” A festival of free speech against austerity” – an open mic event so bring speeches, poems, songs and anything else, dress up, bring props and join in a festival against austerity. Contact yorkpeoplesassembly@gmail.com / website

Natalie Bennett leader of the Green Party Part1 interviewed by the Taxi driver

Rugby Greens support Teachers strikes and urge parents to demand a say over Academies

PRESS RELEASE – 01/10/2013

Recent protest by local parents in Rugby to defend their school from Michael Gove's Academy plans.

Rugby Green Party are supporting the teachers strikes today as we believe that teachers have been given no choice by Michael Gove and the CONDEM Government.

Steve Wright (Rugby Green Party Spokesperson) says” We believe teachers are standing up to defend the rights of children to a decent education.”

“Over £9bn has been spent on the academy school programme while buildings decay and LEA's lose money.”

“Local schools like Newbold Riverside Primary School have been given to a private company based in London on a 25 year lease – without the agreement of parents, teachers and the local community”

“Other schools in Rugby are being forced down the same uncertain academy route.”

“Rugby Greens would urge parents to come together to support teachers defending their children’s education and also visit the ‘Rugby Academy Watch’ Face book site https://www.facebook.com/rugbyparentsagainstacademies that is updated daily and provides information to parents about academies and their rights to a say”

Back ground information

Cllr Will Duckworth, the Green Party's deputy leader (and lead Euro candidate for the West Midlands in 2014), will be speaking to striking teachers in Stourbridge on Tuesday during their one day action over pensions, pay and conditions.

Will Duckworth said: "I was a mathematics teacher for 30 years. Teachers care about children and only take strike action as a last resort."

Michael Gove's continuing attacks on teachers pensions, pay and conditions of service are demoralising the profession on which we all rely for educating the next generation.

Forcing schools to become academies began under Labour. Academies are setting school against school, introducing competition instead of cooperation.

The pressure for heads to bully their staff has also meant increases in stress and anxiety amongst teachers.

We need to work with trade unionists and sympathetic groups and individuals to tell this government that we need to save our vital services and keep them in public ownership.

Notes

The NUT and NASUWT will hold a strike rally in Birmingham, 11am to 12pm on Tuesday, at ICC, Broad Street, B1 2EA.

The Green Party now has 18 council seats, on 9 councils, across the West Midlands, 4th behind the Liberal Democrats.

Excerpts from the Green Party's 2010 general election manifesto on education:

- Move gradually to smaller class sizes by spending a further £500 million on 15,000 more teachers to get classes down to an average of 20 pupils by the end of the Parliament.
- Phase in the abolition of student tuition fees in higher education.
- Move towards ending the need for private education by creating a programme of voluntary assimilation of private schools into the state sector. Schools that remain in the private sector would have charitable status removed and would pay all relevant taxes, such as VAT.
- Phase out City Academies and Trust Schools. It is wrong to allow business and other outside organisations to have too great an influence over schools.

For more information, Rugby Green Party recommend parents visit the Local Schools Network website - http://www.localschoolsnetwork.org.uk/