Green Party leader Caroline Lucas MP today welcomed a court's decision to heavily fine Trafigura, the company which was this year at the centre of a major controversy in the UK concerning an alleged cover-up of a toxic waste scandal in Africa (1).

Now, in a separate case brought in the Netherlands over toxic waste dumping in Ivory Coast, an Amsterdam court has ruled that Trafigura must pay a fine of 1 million euros.

In her maiden speech to parliament this year, Caroline Lucas spoke out against the way British courts had then been used to silence criticisms in the UK of Trafigura's dumping of toxic waste in other countries. Today, the Green MP expressed her satisfaction that Trafigura was being held to account.

"Thousands were made ill and at least 15 people killed by this toxic waste"

In the latest case, the ship, the Probo Koala, chartered by Trafigura, attempted to offload caustic soda and petroleum waste in Amsterdam. Port officials refused to treat the waste, as it turned out to be far more toxic than had been assumed. The ship then sailed to the Ivory Coast, where the waste was dumped on tips in and around the city of Abidjan. Thousands fell ill, and a UN report ruled that the death of at least 15 Ivorians has been attributed to chemical poisoning by the waste.

Caroline Lucas, Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion, commented today: "We must continue to hold companies to account when they dump toxic products in developing countries. We must deal with our own waste, not export it."

Notes

1) In October 2009, a "super-injunction" from Carter-Ruck, Trafigura's legal firm, tried to prevent the Guardian from reporting on a parliamentary question from Paul Farrelly MP. Farrelly's question was on the publication of the Minton report on the alleged dumping of toxic waste in the Ivory Coast, commissioned by Trafigura. The ban on reporting parliamentary proceedings on legal grounds appeared to call into question privileges guaranteeing free speech established under the 1688 Bill of Rights.

In a ceremony at the Brighton Dome, today at 330pm, Peter Tatchell will receive an Hon D.Litt (Sussex), for his services to human rights, from the Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar.

Green Party Leader and MP for Brighton Pavilion, Caroline Lucas commented:

"We are incredibly proud of the work which Peter continues to bring in human rights and that he is a member of the Green Party. Whether it is his advocacy on behalf of LGBT asylum seekers or his ongoing campaign for gay marriage, we are thrilled that the staff and students of the University of Sussex have decided to thank him in this way. Peter is truly one of our greatest LGBT heroes."

Councillor Amy Kennedy, Alumna of Sussex University, and a Green Party councillor in Brighton added:

"Peter brings invaluable work to often overlooked areas of human rights: the citizens of our city, our country and our world are indebted to him for his work. We celebrate with him for an award which I am proud to say has come from my alma mater."

Phelim Mac Cafferty, National Chair of LGBT Greens concluded:

"This honorary doctorate recognises Peter's ongoing, tireless work of over 4 decades. It is only apt in the same year in which we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Gay Liberation Front that Peter receives this award- whether it his staunch defence of the rights of LGBT people abroad or his ongoing investigative work to deliver fairness on our own shores- his work continues to inspire all of us to fight for a better world."

Commenting on his Honorary Doctorate, Mr Tatchell said:

"I was hesitant about accepting this honour. After all, my contribution to human rights is very modest. I am a long way from being a brave and effective campaigner. Many others are much more deserving than me. I would never agree to a royal honour but this award is different.

"My decision to accept was partly because the initiative for this honorary doctorate was a grassroots one, from the staff and students. I am honoured by their recognition of my human rights work.

"I accept this award in solidarity with the many heroic, inspirational activists who I support in countries like Uganda, Somaliland, Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Baluchistan, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Western Sahara, Iraq, Palestine and West Papua.

"The message which I will deliver in my acceptance speech is this: Be sceptical, question authority, be a rebel. All human progress is the result of far-sighted people challenging orthodoxy, tradition and powerful, vested interests. Don't accept the world as it is. Dream about what the world could be - then help make it happen. In whatever field of endeavour you work, be a change-maker for the upliftment of humanity.

"I do my bit for social justice, but so do many others. Together, through our collective efforts, we are helping make a better world - a world more just and free.

"I began campaigning in my home town of Melbourne, Australia , in 1967, aged 15, with my first campaign being against the death penalty, followed by campaigns in support of Aboriginal rights and in opposition to conscription and the Australian and US war against the people of Vietnam.

"My key political inspirations are Mohandas Gandhi, Sylvia Pankhurst, Martin Luther King and, to some extent, Malcolm X. I've adapted many of their ideas and methods to the contemporary struggle for human rights - and invented a few of my own.

Notes

Peter will have his Honorary Doctorate conferred on him on Friday 23rd July, at a ceremony at Brighton Dome 3:30PM

Reacting to the Crown Prosecution Service deciding that the police officer involved in the death of Ian Tomlinson will not face criminal charges, Jenny Jones, Green member of the Metropolitan Police Authority, said:

"This decision by the MPS won't please anyone. It won't satisfy the family, who don't have justice. It won't satisfy the officer, as he hasn't been officially cleared, just not prosecuted. And it won't satisfy the police as their reputation will be damaged yet again. "

"Time and again, the police appear to get away with serious assault or even manslaughter. From Blair Peach to Jean Charles de Menezes, they aren't being held to account for their crimes, and it's damaging to their public image."

"A trial for the officer would have tested the reputations of the medical experts involved. I am confident that a judge would come down on the right side of justice."

Notes

Ian Tomlinson, a newspaper seller, died following demonstrations around the G20 summit, on 1 April 2009 in central London. Video footage obtained by the Guardian showed a riot officer striking the 47-year-old with a police baton, and pushing him to the ground, shortly before he collapsed and died. The CPS today cited conflicting medical evidence from two post-mortems. The first post-mortem ruled that Tomlinson died from a heart attack, whilst a second, conducted on behalf of the Independent Police Complaints Commission, found Tomlinson died from internal bleeding.

Commenting on revelations in today's Observer newspaper (1) regarding violent practices used against inmates of Britain's young offender institutions, Dr Caroline Lucas MP, leader of the Green Party, said:

"You might have expected behaviour like this in the Soviet Union at its most brutal. But in twenty-first century Britain, this is a national disgrace.

"The manual approved by the Labour government in 2005 describes the gaining of compliance through inflicting pain. This amounts to torture. That this could be happening in Britain, involving children as young as twelve, is truly sickening."

PM must give "urgent assurances" of immediate end to "mediaeval treatment of offenders" - and officials must face court

The MP for Brighton Pavilion continued:

"The prime minister must give urgent assurances that practices like these will immediately be ended.

"But we must go further. There must be a full public inquiry into these barbaric practices. And ultimately, anyone who has broken the law and infringed human rights must be brought to justice.

"We cannot allow practices like this to continue and call ourselves a civilised nation.

"It's a disgrace that the Ministry of Justice has fought for so long to keep this savagery secret. Now the public must be told the full story of what has been done in their name - and Britain must leave this kind of mediaeval treatment of offenders behind once and for all."

HMP manual amounts to "institutionalised child abuse" and "clear breach of human rights", say children's organisations

Today's Observer article by Mark Townsend cites Carolyne Willow, national coordinator of the Children's Rights Alliance for England (CRAE), which forced the Ministry of Justice to publish its manual Physical Control in Care, which prescribes a range of violent techniques for handling young offenders in institutions.

Ms Willow says: "The manual is deeply disturbing and stands as state authorisation of institutionalised child abuse. What made former ministers believe that children as young as 12 could get so out of control so often that staff should be taught how to ram their knuckles into their rib cages? Would we allow paediatricians, teachers or children's home staff to be trained in how to deliberately hurt and humiliate children?"

And Phillip Noyes of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) comments: "These shocking revelations graphically illustrate the cruel and degrading violence inflicted at times on children in custody. On occasions these restraint techniques have resulted in children suffering broken arms, noses, wrists and fingers. Painful restraint is a clear breach of children's human rights against some of the most vulnerable youngsters in society and does not have a place in decent society."

The techniques in the manual are so violent that the manual itself warns of fractured skulls, "temporary or permanent blindness caused by rupture to eyeball or detached retina" - and even asphyxiation.

The manual authorises measures such as:

- Driving straight fingers into the child's face and groin.

- Raking shoes down the child's shins.

- Forcing knuckles into the child's sternum, and,

- Making a child kneel, with his forehead held on the floor, while handcuffs are applied behind his back.

The Observer article also describes how the court of appeal has recently declared illegal the "distraction technique" of repeated sharp blows to a child's nose, used in young offender institutions.

Notes

1. The Observer, 18th July 2010, "Revealed: brutal guide to punishing jailed youths"

Caroline Lucas, with other Green Party leaders in the Commonwealth, is urging action after the killing of the deputy leader of the Rwandan Green Party, Andre Kagwa Rwisereka.

In the lead-up to Rwanda's presidential vote on the 9th August, the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda has been subject to harassment, intimidation, and death threats. Police have broken up party meetings, and the party has been barred from registering or putting up candidates for the election. (1)

A letter was sent yesterday to the Commonwealth's Secretary-General, Kamalesh Sharma, co-signed by Green Party leader Caroline Lucas, Sen. Bob Brown (leader of the Australian Greens) and Russel Norman (leader, New Zealand Greens).

It calls on Sharma to take urgent steps to enforce the Commonwealth's standards of human rights and democracy in Rwanda. (2)

In part, the joint-letter from Lucas, Brown and Norman reads:

"The death of Green Party Vice President, Mr. Andre Kagwa Rwisereka, who was found dead on 14th July 2010, is a tragic event and we are extremely concerned for the other members of the Rwandan Green Party.

"Mr. Rwisereka's death follows on from a series of events in the last few months that suggest that the Rwandan government is creating or allowing an extremely hostile environment for opposition political parties in the run up to Presidential elections on 9 August.

"Rwanda's membership of the Commonwealth requires that it honors and complies with the Commonwealth's fundamental political principles which include respect for civil society and human rights.

"We urge you to immediately send a team of Commonwealth representatives to Rwanda to ensure the Government is taking all steps possible to ensure respect for rights to freedom of expression, freedom of association and peaceful assembly of opposition parties."

Notes

1) 15th July 2010, The Independent

2) This week, Reporters Without Borders also called on the European Union and other donors to suspend financial support for the election because of "a series of grave press freedom violations."

Adrian Ramsay, deputy leader of the Green Party, has endorsed TalkTalk and BT's challenge of the recently ratified Digital Economy Act. The two Internet Service Provider (ISP) companies are seeking a judicial review of the legislation.

The Digital Economy Act places an obligations on ISPs to block sites accused of hosting copyrighted material. ISPs are also being asked to retain and manipulate data on its subscribers' internet activity.

Ramsay said:

"The Digital Economy Act contributes to a society of surveillance. The DEA threatens to severely infringe civil liberties, as well as presenting problems to businesses and the economy. It could result in many people having their internet connection cut off through no fault of their own and in restrictions to accessing open wifi networks.

"At the time of the bill's passage, the Green Party strongly argued that it was being aggressively pushed through, at the last-minute, in the run up to the general election. Proper debate and considerations were neglected.

"The EU demands a minimum three-month investigation period, and this was ignored outright, giving people very little chance to evaluate the implications and suitability of the DEA.

"The Liberal Democrats initially seemed to oppose the Digital Economy Act. Frustratingly, their coalition agreement with the Conservatives made no mention of the DEA. Repeal of the DEA is obviously not a priority for Nick Clegg, and this poses a problem for the thousands of people we know to be contacting their MPs with concerns about the Act."

Notes

1) 14 July, PC Pro Magazine - BT confident Digital Economy Act will be thrown out

Caroline Lucas, Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion, has co-sponsored a bill designed to increase support and quality of life for carers and young carers.

Caroline Lucas said: "Brighton and Hove, at the last census in 2001, had 21,800 people who self-identified as carers. With an aging population generally, that figure is likely to have increased. As well, in a city the size of Brighton and Hove, 8000 new people become carers each year. It's vital that we make sure that they are properly supported."

The 10 minute Rule Bill, Carers (Identification and Support), would ensure that doctors and other health bodies identify patients who are carers or who have a carer, and that they are referred to sources of help and support, as necessary. It also makes provisions for schools and local authorities to take into account the needs of young carers and their families.

Caroline Lucas continued:

"We need to improve the quality of life for carers and young carers. Six million people in the UK care for a relative or a friend. And research this year by the Princess Royal Trust for Carers and the Children's Society found that young carers looking after a disabled or sick family member can often feel stressed, bullied, and misunderstood at school. This bill should be part of a wider effort in changing how we support carers who are shouldering heavy responsibilities." (1)(2)

The bill, introduced by Barbara Keeley MP, will receive its second reading in November.

Notes:

1) www.carersuk.org/Newsandcampaigns/Media/Factsaboutcaring

2) Sky News, 17 May 2010 - news.sky.com/skynews

Adrian Ramsay, deputy leader of the Green Party, in responding to today's "Manifesto for a Networked Nation" report from Martha Lane-Fox, said:

"David Cameron may say that 'promoting digital inclusion is essential for a dynamic modern economy' -- but he will need to put government funding towards Internet access in every Jobcentre Plus centre, and engagement projects to reach the 10 million not currently on the Internet, for that rhetoric to become a reality.

"We must ensure universal access to broadband. It is a matter of social equality. 47% of those people living in households who earn less than £11,500 do not use the Internet, and yet we have an economy where job adverts are increasingly placed online, and where 90% of new jobs require computer skills. Lack of access to fast broadband is an obstacle to many businesses and employees, especially in rural areas.

"BT should have an obligation to provide broadband capable infrastructure to every household. The principle of universal access at the same base price to the household should prevail as with post and telephone services. We agree with Martha Lane Fox's 'Manifesto for a Networked Nation' when it says that 'we should work towards ensuring that people have easy and affordable access to the Internet in the same way they can access water, electricity or gas.'

"BT is making massive profits from broadband connections in urban areas. It should be forced to use some of this money to ensure everyone has access to broadband."

Today (12th July), the coalition's health secretary, Andrew Lansley, will announce a major re-organisation of the NHS in a White Paper.

The NHS Confederation, which represents primary care trusts, has warned that the reforms could lead to the health service looking more like the "gas and telecom market" than the NHS, and that the proposed changes will create "a market dynamic." (1)

Caroline Lucas, leader of the Green Party, said today that:

"Increasing the role of the market in the NHS will not make it more efficient, nor make the NHS more responsive to patients needs.

"Instead, an increased role for the market will fragment care and increase the costs of provision.

"As any economist will tell you, markets need mechanisms to operate. For the NHS, that means increasing the number of managers and accountants, which will result in a cut in front line services, just the opposite of what Andrew Lansley announced he wanted a few weeks ago.

"By expanding the role of the market, handing powers to consortia of GPs, privatising hospitals, and scrapping important targets, Andrew Lansley is creating the perfect conditions for high costs, poor practice, unaccountability and long waiting lists.

"Andrew Lansley's plans will also ensure that there is even less health care to go round with our aging population."

Notes

1) The Guardian, 9th July; Radio 4 Today, 9th July

Jean Lambert, London's Green MEP, has welcomed the European Parliament's overwhelming support for a report calling for strong initiatives to promote youth access to the labour market.

The report, produced by Emilie Turunen MEP (Denmark, Socialist People's Party) for the Employment and Social Affairs Committee, and voted on last week, also calls for strengthening of traineeships, internships and apprenticeships.

Jean, who is a member of the Parliament's Employment and Social Affairs Committee, said: 

"Such strong support for the initiatives proposed in Emilie's report is enormously encouraging. Youth unemployment is where it should be, at the top of the political agenda. With 5.5 million young people under 25 unemployed across the EU, youth unemployment is one of most pressing problems facing Europe today.

"Just this week, figures released showed that the number of graduates chasing every job has surged to nearly 70, while the number of vacancies available is predicted to fall by 7 per cent. This has far-reaching social and economic consequences, from the increase in welfare costs to the erosion of the tax system, with young victims of the recession more at risk of long-term social exclusion and health problems.

"It is high time to act. Through the series of progressive and affirmative initiatives set out in this report, I believe we can begin to turn Generation Lost into Generation Hope."

Emilie Turunen added: "Youth unemployment is so critical. We risk losing a generation to social exclusion while gambling with the economic and social future of the EU. Through this vote, a large majority in the parliament have called for very concrete initiatives. It's now up to the European Commission to put it into practice. 5.5 million young people are waiting for action."

The report includes calls for:

- A European Youth Guarantee securing the right of every young person in the EU to be offered a job, an apprenticeship, additional training or combined work and training after a maximum period of 4 months' unemployment

- A European Quality Charter on Internships that sets out minimum standards for internships

- An expansion of the European Social Fund and an earmarking of a minimum of 10% for projects targeting young people, and,

- A permanent EU youth taskforce to monitor developments on youth employment, share best practice examples and initiate new policies

The Green Party has welcomed the resolution adopted today by the European Parliament calling for Iceland to stop all whaling as a prerequisite to joining the European Union.

The resolution also calls for Iceland to drop the reservation it has lodged with the International Whaling Commission.

The call was made as part of an amendment to a resolution on Iceland's application to join the European Union tabled by the Green/EFA group.

Jean Lambert, the Green Party's MEP for London, said today: "This is a big victory for all those who have campaigned long and hard against the premeditated, deliberate and unnecessary practice of whaling.

"The resolution sends a strong signal to Iceland that if they are serious about membership of the European Union, they must respect international standards. I hope that Iceland will now join the rest of the EU in seeking to put an end to this inhumane practice in the rest of the world.

"Such a positive result follows the positive outcome of the talks at the International Whaling Commission, where the ban was crucially upheld. It's important that we act now to capitalise on this wave of international condemnation and stand together to put pressure on those countries who continue to practice this barbaric slaughter of animals." 

UK political parties should be funded by the state, the Green Party’s deputy leader Adrian Ramsay (1) will tell the Standards Committee at its hearing on Party Political Finance today. And providing a level playing field for party funding will be an important part of the clean-up of British politics, Mr Ramsay will say.

Adrian Ramsay said today:

“Fixing British democracy isn’t just about ending the abuse of expenses. It’s about facilitating choices for the voters, and restoring people's faith in politics.

“So it simply shouldn’t be the case that parties are so reliant on wealthy donors to fund their activities. That inevitably means that some parties can afford huge PR campaigns, while the voters don’t get to hear about alternative policies put forward by parties that are less well-heeled.

“Reliance on wealthy donors also inevitably leads voters to question whether the decisions the big parties make, whether over policy or appointments, are influenced by the wishes of donors. State funding will help refocus politics on principles rather than fundraising.”

The Greens believe that party funding should be calculated and administered on a regional basis, with funds allocated in proportion to the number of votes cast in the region in the last round of proportional representation elections held across the entire region. Parties would need to exceed a threshold of 3% of the vote to become eligible for this funding.

Notes

1. As well as being the party’s deputy leader, Adrian Ramsay is a city councillor in Norwich, where the Greens are joint first in councillor numbers and hope to become the first ever Green Party group to take control of a city council in the UK.

2. See below for further information on the questions to be addressed by the hearing, at the Church House Conference Centre, Dean's Yard, Westminster.

COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS OF PUBLIC LIFE

PARTY POLITICAL FINANCE

PUBLIC HEARING: 8 JULY 2010

PROPOSED THEMES TO BE ADDRESSED IN QUESTIONING

Party political finance in general

Transparency – has it worked?

Effectiveness of the regulatory framework

Public trust/confidence in how political parties are funded and spend their money

Phillips’ Report

Is it a basis for a long-term settlement?

Why was agreement not reached?

Donations

What has changed since PPERA that there no appears to be a consensus among the parties about capping donations?

Why £50,000 as a limit?

How to deal with the trades union issue?

Expenditure

Is there an expenditure arms race?

Evidence that spending money wins elections

Should expenditure be controlled?

Should parties not be living within their means?

State Funding

Why has there been a shift among the political parties towards the acceptance of state funding?

Positive/negative effects of state funding

Why are the political parties finding it difficult to secure funding from a wide base of support?

Alternatives to state funding

Current streams of state funding both direct and indirect

Smaller Parties

Where do the smaller parties fit into the funding and expenditure picture?

Referendums

Are the current funding rules fair?

UK political parties should be funded by the state, the Green Party’s deputy leader Adrian Ramsay will tell the Standards Committee at its hearing on Party Political Finance tomorrow. And providing a level playing field for party funding will be an important part of the clean-up of British politics, Adrian Ramsay will say.

The Greens believe that party funding should be calculated and administered on a regional basis, with funds allocated in proportion to the number of votes cast in the region in the last round of proportional representation elections held across the entire region. Parties would need to exceed a threshold of 3% of the vote to become eligible for this funding.

Further information on the questions to be addressed by the hearing is below.

COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS OF PUBLIC LIFE

PARTY POLITICAL FINANCEPUBLIC HEARING: 8 JULY 2010

PROPOSED THEMES TO BE ADDRESSED IN QUESTIONING

Party political finance in general

Transparency – has it worked?

Effectiveness of the regulatory framework

Public trust/confidence in how political parties are funded and spend their money

Phillips’ Report

Is it a basis for a long-term settlement?Why was agreement not reached?

Donations

What has changed since PPERA that there no appears to be a consensus among the parties about capping donations?

Why £50,000 as a limit?

How to deal with the trades union issue?

Expenditure

Is there an expenditure arms race?

Evidence that spending money wins elections

Should expenditure be controlled?

Should parties not be living within their means?

State Funding

Why has there been a shift among the political parties towards the acceptance of state funding?

Positive/negative effects of state funding

Why are the political parties finding it difficult to secure funding from a wide base of support?

Alternatives to state fundingCurrent streams of state funding both direct and indirect

Smaller Parties

Where do the smaller parties fit into the funding and expenditure picture?

Referendums

Are the current funding rules fair? 

A Green Party spokesperson said:

"Norfolk County Council, controlled by the Conservatives, initiated this judicial review. The review has overturned the previous Labour government's legislation for a unitary council for Norwich. This is a terrible decision for the people of Norwich and for democracy.

"It causes great difficulty for the councillors and the council, but Green councillors in Norwich are ready to step up to the plate. We hope that elections can be held 'as soon as is reasonably practical.' It is outrageous that so many voters have had their electoral choices overturned.

"On the other hand, the Greens are now joint first place on the council. It shows again that Norwich remains the place where the Green Party stands its best chance of taking control of a local authority for the first time."

Speaking ahead of the Pride London parade (which begins Saturday, at 1pm at the junction of Wigmore Street with Portman Square), Jean Lambert MEP commented: "I am proud to support this important celebration of equality, diversity and freedom for all. It is a great opportunity to showcase the achievements of the LGBT community, while also pay homage to a city which allows you to be whoever it is you want to be, regardless of your sexuality.

"Of course, events such as Pride London would not be possible if it wasn't for the courageous, ambitious and revolutionary work of the Gay Liberation Front and other such organisations. And this year we celebrate 40 years since the founding of this ground-breaking organisation and the freedom it has afforded the LGBT community.

"However, we must not be complacent about fighting for equal rights for all. In many countries across Europe people still face discrimination and abuse as a result of their sexual orientation.

"What we need now is for political leaders at EU and national level to take a firm stance against homophobia and discrimination against LGBT individuals to help create a positive shift in public attitudes and behaviour."

Notes

1) The Gay Liberation Front was born in New York in 1969 following the infamous Stonewall Riots which saw clashes between the police and gay community. It was brought to London in 1970 by Bob Mellors and Aubrey Walters, with founding members including Peter Tatchell. Although it wasn't the first gay organization in Britain, it is widely regarded as the beginning of the modern movement for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender freedom and human rights

2) For more information visit: www.pridelondon.org

Jean Lambert, the Green MEP for London, has been named as one of the new ambassadors for the European funded carbon reduction building project Build with CaRe.

The aim of the three-year project (1), which was launched in 2008, is to facilitate, stimulate and strengthen the market in order to go from a few "good examples" to energy efficient design as mainstream. The core message of Build with CaRe is that energy efficiency is no longer an "if-question" but a "how-question".

Speaking about her voluntary post (2), Jean, who will serve as an overall figure head in Europe acting as a spokesperson for the project and promoting the aims of the partnership, said: "It is an honour to be asked to serve as ambassador on such a progressive, innovative and important project as Build with CaRe."

"With the building sector accounting for almost 40 per cent of the European Union's emissions (3), Build with CaRe's mission to make energy efficiency in building design the norm is not only hugely commendable but a necessity if we are to reach our EU goals for cutting carbon emissions.

"The project's commitment to implementing the European Performance of Buildings Directive so that the public sector will be owning and renting buildings with 'near zero' energy standards by the end of 2018, has secured far-reaching benefits for climate change, energy and the economy that future generations will be able to enjoy.

"Furthermore, their pioneering work educating the industry about the paramount need to set energy targets on existing building stock is key if we are to stand any chance of hitting European and global climate targets by 2050.

"Clearly, the market will not achieve these objectives without substantial policy intervention, so Build with CaRe must engage in dialogue with policy makers at both European and national level and inform legislation. Hence, in my capacity as a Green MEP and the ongoing work I am engaged in on energy efficiency in the built environment, complements the goals of Build with CaRe. I look forward to helping raise the profile of this important project in the European Parliament and beyond."

Notes

1. Build with CaRe is a partnership made up of 18 public and private organisations across five countries (Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK). For more information visit: http://www.buildwithcare.eu/ .

2. The post will run until August 2011 when the project comes to an end.

3. Carbon Efficient Building Solutions study by Miimu Airaksinen and Pellervo Matilainen for the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland http://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/2/3/844/.

Jean Lambert and Keith Taylor, the UK's two Green Party MEPs, say it's time G20 countries in Europe put a European Green New Deal into place. This would involve an end to coal industry subsidy, an international agreement for a Robin Hood Tax, and strategic continent-wide investment in renewable energy industry.

- The European Union is considering 12 more years of state aid for coal, despite renewable energy sustaining more jobs per MW than either nuclear or fossil fuels.

- The Robin Hood Tax is a tiny tax (as low as 0.005% and average 0.05%) on hedge funds, banks, and other financial institutions which would raise billions to tackle global poverty and climate change.

Jean Lambert, London's Green MEP since 1999, said: ""It is sheer lunacy that £2.64 billion in EU subsidy goes to the carbon-spewing coal industry each year, when we could be investing this money in tackling climate change and global poverty. Coal should have been shown the red card years ago. We need to play a clean energy game."

Keith Taylor, South East England's new Green MEP, said: "A financial transaction tax has been Green Party policy for years. We endorsed the Robin Hood Tax campaign at our spring conference in February 2010. What we want is a game of two halves - the first half ending our subsidy for coal, and the second half substituting a Green New Deal to win."

Notes

1. The current EU subsidy regime for coal industry expires this year. Affected regional labor markets could be regenerated by a focus on youth unemployment and employment in renewable power industries. State aid for dirty industry has been extended six times since 1965, in contrast to G20 pledges last year to phase out subsidies for fossil fuels to slow climate change.

2. 3.2 billion euros (£2.64 billion) of subsidies will go to six EU states this year -- Poland, Spain, Germany, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia - according to a draft European Commission impact assessment, seen by Reuters.

The co-spokespersons of the European Green Party, Monica Frassoni and Philippe Lamberts, have outlined the Greens' demands for the G20 Summit which will take place in Toronto, Canada, on June 26th and 27th.

"Past G20 meetings have failed to agree on adequate measures to ensure that the global economy better serves the interests of the world's people, rather than privileged elite.

"In Pittsburgh in 2009, the G20 leaders shied away from effective reform of the financial system while the London summit in April 2009 failed to grasp the opportunity to tackle the economic crisis and combat climate change by launching a global Green New Deal.

"If this summit is to be more than a photo-opportunity for the leaders of the world's most powerful economies, binding commitments must be made, particularly in terms of the urgent need for a financial transaction tax.

"While the EU governments present in Toronto claim that they will be pushing for an agreement to introduce a financial transaction tax, the reality is that they are in a very weak position and will have almost no influence because the EU allowed the UK to veto the introduction of just such a tax at the EU summit in Brussels last week."

Frassoni and Lamberts concluded: "We also share the anger of our colleagues in the Canadian Green Party at the Canadian government's determination to keep climate change as low down on the summit's agenda as possible."

Commenting on today's "budget for pointless austerity," the UK's first Green MP Caroline Lucas said:

"In spite of the Chancellor's protestations, this budget was neither unavoidable nor fair. Instead it was a massively failed opportunity to shift the economy onto a fairer, greener pathway.

"Devastating public spending cuts of the sort announced today are not ‘unavoidable.' They are not an economic inevitability - they are an ideological choice.

"Nor was this budget fair. A VAT rise, benefits cuts for all, a public sector freeze, and swingeing cuts in most government budgets of 25%, will all of them hit some of the poorest hardest."

Cuts are "unnecessary and destructive"

This week Caroline Lucas published a new report (1, 2) arguing that the cuts are both unnecessary and destructive - and saying that by cracking down on tax evasion and avoidance the government could raise tens of billions of pounds a year.

"It's been demonstrated that any efforts that are needed to address the deficit, once the economy is back to better health, can be paid for through progressive tax reform, so that the poorest are not forced to pay the highest price for the excesses of the bankers."

The Green Party leader and Brighton Pavilion MP continued: "We need a Green New Deal - a major investment package to rapidly modernise the UK economy for a low-carbon future, while seeing off the recession through large-scale job-creation. That's the kind of policy the new government should have put centre-stage."

Vote Blue, get Blue 

Caroline Lucas concluded: "Any notion that by voting Blue you get Green was nailed today by the stark absence of any serious measures to promote urgently needed environmental measures."

Notes

1. See http://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/2010-06-19-callous-cuts-report.html.

2. The full report - called Cuts: the callous con trick - can be read at http://www.financeforthefuture.com/TaxBriefing.pdf.

3. A briefing on the main points of the budget can be seen at http://www.greenparty.org.uk/assets/files/reports/Budget_response_June_2010.pdf.

Green Party leader Caroline Lucas MP will this week tell the coalition government there is “no good reason for any cuts in public expenditure during the life of this parliament.”

On Monday 21 June Britain’s first Green MP is to issue a new report – Cuts: the callous con trick (1) – in which she will make the case that cuts are unnecessary “because the economy could instead be rebalanced using additional tax revenues.”

The report, written jointly with tax expert Richard Murphy and Colin Hines of Finance for the Future, condemns the government “for failing to put to the electorate the option of fair tax instead of cuts,” and accuses ministers of increasing the likelihood of a double-dip recession.

Cuts “are not an economic inevitability but an ideological choice”

Caroline Lucas said today:

“Cuts are not an economic inevitability. They are an ideological choice. Politicians of all parties are now sharpening their axes to slash public spending, forcing those on lower incomes, who depend on public services the most, to pay the highest price for the recent excesses of the bankers.

“There is a choice. We should ask those best able to pay to foot the bill through fairer taxation. That’s the challenge I’m issuing: for that political choice to be made. It must be clearly asserted that we are not all in this together: that some had more responsibility for this crisis than others, and some benefited more from the boom that preceded it. Those who enjoyed the largest benefits must pay up now. For that to happen, fair taxes, not cuts, must become the new big idea to replace today’s callous and uncaring cuts fanaticism.”

Tax avoidance and evasion “truly staggering” – could be as high as £100bn a year

The Brighton Pavilion MP continued:

“The UK is currently one of the most unequal societies in Europe. But the financial crisis offers us an opportunity to rebalance the tax system. We could do it, for example, by applying the 50% tax rate to incomes above £100,000, abolishing the upper limit for national insurance contributions, raising capital gains tax to the recipient’s highest income tax rate, and helping lower earners by reintroducing the 10% tax band.

“Moreover, the huge extent of tax avoidance, tax evasion and unpaid tax in the UK economy is truly staggering.  HM Revenue & Customs themselves admit that tax evasion and avoidance together come to at least £40 billion a year, whilst in November 2009 they also admitted there was £28 billion of unpaid tax owing to them. Shocking as these numbers are, some experts have suggested that tax evasion – that’s deliberately breaking the law to not pay tax – might be as high as £70 billion a year, and tax avoidance – in other words, exploiting loopholes in tax law – might be £25 billion a year. That would take the total target for necessary action to collect tax due and owing to more than £100 billion a year”

Cut tax abuse, not tax-collectors’ jobs

Caroline Lucas continued:

“Whilst these appalling losses to the nation’s coffers are occurring, HM Revenue & Customs are pursuing a programme of job cuts which will ultimately reduce their own staff by 20,000 – close to one quarter of the total. This makes absolutely no sense.  This programme should be reversed, staff re-employed, and local tax offices re-opened in order to tackle tax abuse. It has been calculated that at least £15 billion of extra tax could be collected each year as a result.  That could prevent a massive range of cuts."

Richard Murphy, tax expert, chartered accountant and co-author of the report said:

“Our report sets out a range of additional options for changing the tax rules for the UK so that more than £40 billion of additional taxes could be raised each year by the end of the life of this parliament. That, together with the tax collecting efficiency savings already noted, would together deliver more than £60 billion of tax revenues for the UK – so preventing the need for any cuts at all.”

Richard Murphy added:

“A government really can spend to save the economy when in a recession. During this one, borrowing has been smaller and unemployment lower than forecast because of the measures taken by the last government to stimulate the economy. This report argues that a Green New Deal involving public and private investment in a massive labour intensive UK wide energy saving programme and a rapid shift to renewables should be the basis for continuing that programme of support for our economy. This would ensure that we come out of the recession better equipped for the future we’re going to face."

Caroline Lucas concluded:

“Fairer tax not cuts must become the real battleground of this new Parliament. It is the debate the Coalition and Labour alike must embrace. As the full ghastliness and unfairness of the cuts become ever clearer, the public clamour for fairer taxes rather than cuts can only grow."

Note

1.    The report can be read at: http://www.financeforthefuture.com/TaxBriefing.pdf.