Today, is the last day that UK nationals can register online to vote in the European Elections.  If you are not already on the electoral register, you can still make the deadline by filling in the online form here: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.  

Please make extra sure that young people you know are registered to vote.

There are nearly 8 million people in the UK who are eligible to vote, but are not registered – shockingly, that equates to the entire population of London!

To learn more about the candidates standing in your constituency, wherever you are in the UK, click here.

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On 9 March 2019 I hosted a day conference to launch our book ‘Greens for a Better Europe – 20 years of UK Green influence in the EU’.  The event also looked ahead to discuss the important issues and challenges that will be a focus for Greens and other campaigners in 2019 and beyond – in London and across Europe.  

‘Greens for a Better Europe’ assesses the work of the UK Green MEPs in the European Parliament over the past two decades, in the context of Green influence in European politics more generally. My contribution covers my time as London’s Green MEP, from becoming one of the first UK Greens to enter the institution back in 1999, to navigating the catastrophic Brexit mess we find ourselves in today.  The book tells the story of the UK’s four current and former MEPs – including chapters written by me, Caroline Lucas, Molly Scott Cato and Keith Taylor.

The book provided the jumping off point for the conference, and many of the speakers who shared their insights on the day also contributed chapters to ‘Greens for a Better Europe’. Speakers included: Nick Dearden, Director of Global Justice Now; Caroline Russell, Green London Assembly Member; Monica Frassoni, Co-chair, European Greens (via video link); Natalie Bennett, Green European Journal and former Green Party Leader; Samir Jeraj, journalist and author of ‘The Rent Trap’; and Jamila Schaefer, International Co-ordinator for the German Greens.

In this, my last few months as an MEP, my team and I were delighted to welcome so many engaged Greens and other activists, including European Green friends, in London.

My closing remarks to the day were that, if Britain leaves the EU, it will bring an end to 20 years of UK Green influence in the European Parliament and other EU institutions. We would be shutting out so much of what makes the UK a strong country. It should be unthinkable to choose not to sit at the table and play a role shaping our shared future. I think that’s giving away control, not taking it back.

Our final speaker was Hannah Graham from the London Young Greens who highlighted that young people are particularly passionate about politics, engaging with environmental and social issues, and pushing for change. In recent months, they have seized control of the agenda via the inspiring school and youth strikes for climate and Extinction Rebellion protests.

The future is indeed Green.

If you would like a free copy of the #GreenMEPBook (and whilst my office is operational) click here to email us and let us know your full name and postal address.  

Alternatively, you can also download ‘Greens for a Better Europe’ as a free eBook here.

Photos of the event are below

Right to Left: Nick Dearden, Jean Lambert, Danny Bates and Natalie Bennett

Hannah Graham from London Young Greens

Right to Left: Molly Scott Cato MEP, Keith Taylor MEP and Jean Lambert MEP at Europe House ‘Greens for a Better Europe’ press launch

The post What next for Greens? Achievements and challenges in London and Europe appeared first on Jean Lambert MEP.

On average 26 million people are forced to leave their homes each year due to climate related disasters such as floods and storms. Women and girls are particularly vulnerable in these contexts – often exposed to violence, exploitation and human trafficking.

Today Jean Lambert MEP co-hosted an event in the European Parliament to explore this issue further and call for meaningful action at UN level.

Speakers included former Irish President and leading climate justice campaigner Mary Robinson, representatives of UNHCR and UNFCC, and environmental journalist Fiona Harvey.

Jean Lambert, London’s Green MEP and the Green Party’s migration spokesperson, said:

“It’s time to stop thinking of climate change as something that will happen in future. Climate change is here, and it’s happening now.

Some 26 million people are forced to flee their homes every year, increasingly linked to humanity’s destructive actions. Within the next thirty years, this is expected to rise exponentially with 200 million people being displaced from their homes annually. While the devastating impacts of climate change will touch all of our lives – regardless of race, ethnicity, age or gender – the sad truth is that women and girls are acutely vulnerable once displaced.

We can’t simply ignore this issue and hope it goes away. It won’t. Instead the international community needs to face up to reality, heed the warnings outlined in the IPCC’s recent report, and push world leaders to act immediately to prevent more climate catastrophes in the very near future.

This must involve developing a comprehensive global strategy to address climate displacement, with specific provisions for the protection of vulnerable groups, including women and girls.”

You can watch a recording of the full event here.

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You can watch here for a live streaming on Wednesday afternoon of a conference called “Remembering Rana Plaza: The road ahead”. It’s happening in the European Parliament at 15.00 – 17.30. (GMT+2) so if you are watching from the UK please tune in at 2.00 pm, but if you are in Brussels, it will be live at 3.00 pm.

Jean Lambert, as Chair of the South Asia Delegation will open the conference, and speakers will include Professor Jennifer Bair, University of Colorado, who will present on the technical aspects of the global supply chain.

Commissioner Malmström will speak on the Global Sustainability Compact, Deputy Director General Sandra Polaski, ILO, will talk about the inclusion of labour rights in garment supply chains.

Ambassador Ismat Jahan, Embassy of Bangladesh to the EU, will provide an update about the steps the Government and other civil society actors in Bangladesh have taken to improve the garment sector

Sam Maher, of Clean Clothes Campaign, will speak about how raising consumer and brand awareness in Europe can help improve the situation of garment workers worldwide.

The conference will then wrap with a debate. This is a comprehensive and incisive look at the entire supply chain, and the work that is being done as well as progress  made – while making sure that lives are not cheaply lost to supply Europe (and the world) with high-street clothes.

The post Remembering Rana Plaza: conference live streaming appeared first on Jean Lambert MEP.

The ‘green’ sector is already worth £25.4bn a year – and employs more than 163,000 people – in London alone, according to a recent report from the London Assembly.

“Ensuring the UK’s speedy economic revival and responding to the climate crisis present a double challenge – but the solutions are linked,” said Ms Lambert.

“We need to create good, skilled, well-paid jobs – but a truly sustainable economic recovery must tackle climate change.

“The answer must lie in investing in key industries and the new skills – required to make the UK a world leader in the renewable energy and ‘green’ construction industries.

“How this investment is funded – directly by Government or via a so-called ‘Green Investment Bank’ – is a debate we need to have, but it’s clear that this Government is failing to promote the discussion – or, sufficiently, green jobs and environmental industries.

“That’s why I’m hosting a day conference with trade unions, European policymakers and leading industry figures to discuss how we can work together to meet the economic and environmental challenges we face here in the UK and help deliver the EU commitment to a low-carbon future.”

Other speakers at the event include TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady, EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion Laszlo Andor and Executive Director of the Aldersgate Group Andrew Raingold.

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Investment in green technology could boost growth and create hundreds of thousands of high quality jobs. But just at the point at which government needs to step up this investment it is considering cutting off vital support provided through green levies.

“We need to make the case that green investment will create jobs, boost growth, reduce fuel bills, improve the UK’s energy security and help to reduce carbon emissions.”

Other participants include Maria McCaffery of RenewableUK, Stephen Radley of EEF, Terence Hogarth of the Warwick Institute for Employment Research, Andrew Warren, of the Association for the Conservation of Energy, Sue Ferns, Prospect union and Reinhard Butokifer MEP, German Greens.

The event, which will take place at the TUC Congress Centre in London next Friday, November 29, is free – but places are limited, so it’s necessary to register in advance at www.greeneconfuture.eventbrite.com

Ms Lambert, a member of the European Parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs Committee, added: “We have the potential here in the UK to create thousands of new jobs and lead the way in tackling the great environmental crises the world faces in the 21st Century. I hope we can rise to the challenge, and that this conference can play a role in that.”

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Leading banker Douglas Flint, Chairman of HSBC Holdings, will go head to head with Green banking spokesperson Philippe Lambert MEP – author of the controversial EU ban on excessive bonuses for bankers.

The event, entitled ‘Making Banks Work For Us: , will be moderated by Jonathan Rosenthal, Banking Editor with The Economist.

The event, which will take place at Bishopsgate in the heart of The City of London next Monday, November 4, is free – but places are limited, so it’s necessary to register in advance here.

Ms Lambert said: “The economy is in a mess – with unemployment rising, banks failing, public sector pay freezes and access to credit for small businesses drying up – and this has exposed the banking sector as under-regulated and failing to serve society’s economic or social needs.

“That’s why I have decided to bring some experts to a public discussion on the doorstep of London’s financial district to discuss what regulations we need to really make the banks work for us – and which are achievable at EU level.

“We will discuss the separation of investment and consumer banking, the public ownership of the banks, changes to the way banks invest in society and lend money to individuals and small businesses, making the ‘Robin Hood Tax’ a reality – and limits to bankers’ bonuses.”

The debate will be the second in a series: the last, with Tony Greenham of the new economics foundation, took place in the summer.

The post Green MEP and HSBC chief to discuss future of banking appeared first on Jean Lambert MEP.

Ms Lambert will highlight the relevance of her recent work – including demanding that residents are given a say in fracking proposals, calling for a ban on caste-based discrimination, trying to maintain passenger and pilot safety in the face of proposals to extend flying times and the safety of refugees following the Lampedusa tragedy – to Londoners.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, she said: “As one of the capitals MEP’s, I work on behalf of Londoners every day,representing them on complaints about London’s poor air quality or long working hours for low pay, and in the legislative work I do.

“This week, for example, I have worked on a wide range of everyday issues for those living in the capital, from the size of our health warnings on cigarettes to the public’s right to be consulted on major developments near their homes – as well as visiting a food bank in Deptford to see for myself the effect of harsh austerity measures in South-East London.”

Ms Lambert and Mr Johnson will be available for interview – and their meeting will take place at the Lewisham Green Party AGM in Brockley from 7.30pm to 8.30pm. Photographers are welcome.

The post MEP to meet Chair of London Assembly at Lewisham Green meeting appeared first on Jean Lambert MEP.

WITH the banking sector in crisis across Europe after the UK and Luxembourg lodged legal challenges this week to a planned EU tax on financial transaction (a so-called ‘Robin Hood Tax’), London’s Green MEP Jean Lambert is to bring some of Europe’s top banking experts together for a City debate to examine how to make banks work better for all of us.

Ms Lambert will chair the debate, which will also feature former investment banker Tony Greenham, banking expert at the new economics foundation and the author of controversial proposals to cap bankers’ bonuses at EU level, banking spokesperson for the Greens in the European Parliament, Phillippe Lamberts MEP.

Ms Lambert said: “The economy is in a mess – with unemployment rising, banks failing, public sector pay freezes and access to credit for small businesses drying up – and this has exposed the banking sector as under-regulated and failing to serve society’s economic or social needs.

“That’s why I have decided to bring some experts to a public discussion on the doorstep of London’s financial district to discuss what regulations we need to really make the banks work for us – and which are achievable at EU level.

“We will discuss the separation of investment and consumer banking, the public ownership of the banks, changes to the way banks invest in society and lend money to individuals and small businesses, making the ‘Robin Hood Tax’ a reality – and limits to bankers’ bonuses.”

Although the event is free, places are limited, so participants are asked to register to secure a place.

For further information on the speakers, click here: Phillippe Lamberts and Tony Greenham.

The post Green MEP brings banking reform debate to The City appeared first on Jean Lambert MEP.

Now London’s Green MEP Jean Lambert is to host an event to bring together EU citizens and experts from around the capital for a discussion on accessing the services, benefits and work to which they are entitled as EU citizens.

“The million-or-so Londoners who identify themselves as nationals of another EU country have rights in the UK in terms of work, social security and political participation,” said Ms Lambert.

“But it’s clear that not everyone knows the rules – and I have decided to host an event to kick off a debate about the rights of everyone living in London, and the benefits to all EU citizens of community participation.

“Hopefully many Europeans will attend, and discuss their individual experiences – good and bad – of life in our vibrant city.”

Entitled: ‘Your London? Europeans in London – rights, challenges, opportunities’, the debate will take place at Europe House in Westminster from 5.30pm on Wednesday, April 10th.

As well as Ms Lambert, speakers include: Anthony Valcke (European Citizens’ Advice Service – ECAS), Oli Henman (National Council of Voluntary Organisations – NCVO), Christine Korcz (Solvit UK) and Anna Komaruk (Broadway Homelessness and Support).

“We are really pleased to have managed to get such high-level speakers,” added Ms Lambert, “but the emphasis of the debate will be on the everyday experiences of many of the Europeans living in London.

“Everyone who comes along will leave with practical knowledge that’ll help them access all their rights as EU citizens.”

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If you would like to share your story, find out about advice or support services or get more involved in you local community, please come along. Join Jean and her guests to explore the issues raised as we ask, what is Your London?
With Guest Speakers

Anthony Valcke: European Citizens Advice Service (ECAS)

Oli Henman: National Council of Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)

Christine Korcz: Solvit UK

Anna Komaruk: Broadway Homelessness and Support
Registration, teas and coffees from 5.30

The event will be followed by a drinks reception

Venue is fully accessible

Order your tickets via Eventbrite: yourlondon.eventbrite.com

The post Green MEP hosts discussion event for EU nationals living in London – April 10th, 2013 appeared first on Jean Lambert MEP.