WEMBLEY MATTERS News and views on local politics, the environment, climate change, culture and local history
Friday 28 October 2011
Wednesday 26 October 2011
Stop letting the Big Six energy companies rip us off
Friends of the Earth have launched a petition addressed to David Cameron on the six big energy companies. It reads:
Sign the petition HERETo David Cameron,I want the Big Six energy companies to stop ripping us off. The energy companies stand to make billions by keeping us hooked on expensive, imported, dirty fuel. And your Government is letting them get away with it.I urge you:
- To launch an independent public inquiry into the Big Six's power over consumers and influence over politicians.
- Not to axe support for clean British energy produced by communities, councils, business and householders.
Friends of the Earth Report - The Dirty Half Dozen HERE
Tuesday 25 October 2011
Brent Labour poll disaster predicted after library closures
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| A child puts the finishing touches to her poster at Kensal Rise library |
The Wembley and Willesden Observer is running an on-line poll asking:
Will the closure of six libraries spell electoral disaster for Brent's Labour councillors? "Will the closure of six libraries mean electoral disaster for Brent's Labour councillors?" The results at present are:
London Fire Brigade services should be under public ownership - Darren Johnson
Responding to the FBU, UNISON, GMB joint report ‘Privatisation of London’s fire service training and control centre report published on October 24th, London Assembly Member Darren Johnson said:
“I don’t believe that Londoners agree with privatisation of the fire service, and the uncertainties that come with it. I don't want to see pivotal London Fire Brigade services privatised as we have seen far too many privatisations that have been costly and ineffective. That is why I welcome these proposals by the unions for the Fire Brigade to work with staff and unions in designing improved in-house provision for training and fire control."
On the privatisation of fire engines, Darren said:
“The financial fiasco of the privatisation of London Fire Brigade fire engines has raised fundamental questions about the financial viability and safety of handing key frontline emergency services assets such as Fire engines over to the private sector. I have urged the Mayor of London to bring it back under public ownership”
Brent's library statement a 'masterpiece of political bullshit' - Pullman
From the GUARDIAN
Philip Pullman has lambasted Brent council for its comment that closing half of its libraries would help it fulfil "exciting plans to improve libraries", describing the statement as a "masterpiece" which "ought to be quoted in every anthology of political bullshit from here to eternity". "All the time, you see, the council had been longing to improve the library service, and the only thing standing in the way was – the libraries,” said the His Dark Materials author, speaking at the national conference of library campaigners on Saturday, where over 80 people from around the country gathered to share tactics on how to save the UK's beleaguered libraries.
With 600 of England’s libraries threatened with closure, Pullman called the campaigners’ battle a "war against stupidity". Citing campaigns to save libraries in Oxfordshire as well as in Brent, Pullman said "the war we're fighting is not against this party or that one, this flag or another flag, our parents or our MP or anyone else in particular: it’s against stupidity. And stupidity is not to be underestimated. The poet Schiller, whose great words on the subject of Joy were set in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, knew what a huge part stupidity plays in human affairs: 'Against stupidity,' he said, 'the gods themselves struggle in vain.'
Having worked himself as a library assistant in Charing Cross Road library in the early 70s, Pullman said "if you really want complete freedom of choice, complete openness of information, where nobody is spying on you, no one is selling your presence to advertisers, the only place to find it is a library, where they keep books."
He highlighted the Summer Reading Challenge, run by the Reading Agency, which encourages children to read six books over the summer holidays. This year a record 780,000 children took part. "Only the libraries could provide the materials and the staff to make this possible. And nothing could be more important, if we have the well-being of our children at heart," said Pullman.
After listening in on sessions at the conference – which covered everything from legal challenges to library closures to using volunteers to keep libraries open – Pullman said he "saluted everyone who's come here today, everyone who's protesting and demonstrating to save this library or that one, everyone who's devising a way of preserving one of the greatest and the best gifts any society has ever given its seekers after truth, its children, its old people, everyone who is looking for help better to enjoy life or better to endure it".
"There's nothing more valuable in the war against stupidity than the public library. These are hard times, but you are each guarding a beacon," said the author. "The book is second only to the wheel as the best piece of technology human beings have ever invented. A book symbolises the whole intellectual history of mankind; it's the greatest weapon ever devised in the war against stupidity. Beware of anyone who tries to make books harder to get at. And that is exactly what these closures are going to do – oh, not intentionally, except in a few cases; very few people are stupid intentionally; but that will be the effect. Books will be harder to get at. Stupidity will gain a little ground."
The conference’s organisers, The Library Campaign and Voices for the Library, said that one demand from the day was to take the fight to save libraries to a national level, with suggestions including a march on Downing Street. Pullman said that "if it was at all possible", he would join them.
"We already share the same determination," said The Library Campaign chair Laura Swaffield. "If councils insist on fighting us instead of working with us, we will fight back. If central government goes on shirking its duty to support libraries, we will keep on at them. We won't give up. We can’t."
Philip Pullman has lambasted Brent council for its comment that closing half of its libraries would help it fulfil "exciting plans to improve libraries", describing the statement as a "masterpiece" which "ought to be quoted in every anthology of political bullshit from here to eternity". "All the time, you see, the council had been longing to improve the library service, and the only thing standing in the way was – the libraries,” said the His Dark Materials author, speaking at the national conference of library campaigners on Saturday, where over 80 people from around the country gathered to share tactics on how to save the UK's beleaguered libraries.
With 600 of England’s libraries threatened with closure, Pullman called the campaigners’ battle a "war against stupidity". Citing campaigns to save libraries in Oxfordshire as well as in Brent, Pullman said "the war we're fighting is not against this party or that one, this flag or another flag, our parents or our MP or anyone else in particular: it’s against stupidity. And stupidity is not to be underestimated. The poet Schiller, whose great words on the subject of Joy were set in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, knew what a huge part stupidity plays in human affairs: 'Against stupidity,' he said, 'the gods themselves struggle in vain.'
Having worked himself as a library assistant in Charing Cross Road library in the early 70s, Pullman said "if you really want complete freedom of choice, complete openness of information, where nobody is spying on you, no one is selling your presence to advertisers, the only place to find it is a library, where they keep books."
He highlighted the Summer Reading Challenge, run by the Reading Agency, which encourages children to read six books over the summer holidays. This year a record 780,000 children took part. "Only the libraries could provide the materials and the staff to make this possible. And nothing could be more important, if we have the well-being of our children at heart," said Pullman.
After listening in on sessions at the conference – which covered everything from legal challenges to library closures to using volunteers to keep libraries open – Pullman said he "saluted everyone who's come here today, everyone who's protesting and demonstrating to save this library or that one, everyone who's devising a way of preserving one of the greatest and the best gifts any society has ever given its seekers after truth, its children, its old people, everyone who is looking for help better to enjoy life or better to endure it".
"There's nothing more valuable in the war against stupidity than the public library. These are hard times, but you are each guarding a beacon," said the author. "The book is second only to the wheel as the best piece of technology human beings have ever invented. A book symbolises the whole intellectual history of mankind; it's the greatest weapon ever devised in the war against stupidity. Beware of anyone who tries to make books harder to get at. And that is exactly what these closures are going to do – oh, not intentionally, except in a few cases; very few people are stupid intentionally; but that will be the effect. Books will be harder to get at. Stupidity will gain a little ground."
The conference’s organisers, The Library Campaign and Voices for the Library, said that one demand from the day was to take the fight to save libraries to a national level, with suggestions including a march on Downing Street. Pullman said that "if it was at all possible", he would join them.
"We already share the same determination," said The Library Campaign chair Laura Swaffield. "If councils insist on fighting us instead of working with us, we will fight back. If central government goes on shirking its duty to support libraries, we will keep on at them. We won't give up. We can’t."
Monday 24 October 2011
Localised business rates a potentially damaging gimmick
The Green Party has dismissed the Coalition government’s plan to “localise business rates” as a superficial gimmick – with potentially damaging effects for local government, small business and the environment.
The new plans are an example of false localisation, designed instead as a mechanism to further squeeze council budgets and services. While the proposals are portrayed as localism, both business rates and the valuations on which rates are based will be set by central government.
The proposals go further to state that any business rate growth achieved by local authorities below a centrally set growth target – adjusting for inflation – will be kept centrally. Local authorities are actually set to lose out to the treasury – if the treasury’s own targets are not met – placing further strain on the provision of already slashed services.
Jason Kitcat, Green Party Councillor and cabinet member on Brighton and Hove City Council, said: “It's absurd to even call the proposals ‘localisation’ when the key variable – the level of tax – will remain out of council control and the growth target will be set nationally for all of England.
“Small innovative businesses, such as new media and sustainability, attract little or no business rates because they are run from home or modest offices. To benefit most under the new scheme, local authorities need to favour large projects like new airports or large shopping centres. This makes a mockery of the Coalition’s pledge to support small business and will further choke an already stalling recovery.
“Business rates need to be set locally so regional authorities can adjust strategies to optimise local talent. Without this, both the local economy and the environment will suffer from corporate cherry picking”
Do these Guys know what they are doing?
In the light of my previous posts on Brent's decision to end grants for festivals it does not deem 'inclusive' I was interested to see a comment from Venilal Vaghela, Chair of Brent Diwali Advisory Board. Brent Council has said that it wants to combine various festivals together in one big 'Brent Celebrates' event. It has already lumped together Black History Month, Diwali and Halloween in the Word Up! event. LINK Its claim that Brent's Bonfire Night combines Diwali and Guy Fawkes is challenged by Mr Vaghela who says:
Our fireworks celebrate the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. The bonfire night fireworks stand for something completely different and the dates do not match. It would be like celebrating Christmas in January.Diwali is on October 26th this year and will be celebrated at the weekend. Bonfire Night at Barham Park is on November 5th. Perhaps Brent's insensitivity to the cultural meaning of events will mean that they combine Easter and St Patrick's Day in the Spring! They may even call it the 'Easter Uprising'...
Children miss out on half-term library activities
Half-term holiday and time for children to take part in the much publicised 'Word Up!' events at their local library. Except of course for those who use one of the six libraries closed by the Council. These are the events that should have happened this week:
- Monday 24 October: Create your own heritage collage – Tokyngton Library
- Monday 24 October: Create your own rangoli patterns – Barham Park Library
- Tuesday 25 October: Handa’s surprise: create your own basket – Kensal Rise Library
- Tuesday 25 October: Create your own Diwali diya lamp – Neasden Library
- Thursday 27 October: Create your own Diwali diya lamp – Tokyngton Library
- Friday 28 October: Create a 3D firework picture – Preston Library
- Saturday 29 October: Create your own scary Halloween mask – Tokyngton Library
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