The WDM delegates updated Jean on their campaign to end excessive financial speculation on food commodity markets which has seen price volatility increase dramatically in recent years for staple goods such as maize and wheat. They also presented Jean with a photo-petition book entitled The Future of Food and Farming We Want, which contained messages from thousands of European farmers, citizens and young people outlining their positive vision of sustainable agriculture.

The Greens/EFA group at the European Parliament, of which Jean is a member, has been fighting to replace the current outdated CAP with one that supports small farmers in making the transition to sustainable agricultural practices, and ends export subsidies which lead to the dumping of agricultural products on fragile developing world markets. Capping the maximum subsidy per farm to €100,000 would free up €7 billion which could be redistributed to promote sustainable farming and long-term secure employment in rural economies. More details on the Greens/EFA vision for the CAP can be found here: http://www.greens-efa.eu/fileadmin/dam/Documents/Publications/CAP_reform/CAP_reform_EN.pdf

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The First European Semester and its contribution to EU2020

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Click here for more information.

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Jean, who is London’s Green MEP and has continued to campaign for the protection of local economies and services, has welcomed the Bill as a step forward in giving local power back to local people.

Speaking ahead of the rally, which over 1000 people are expected to attend, Jean said; “The Sustainable Communities Bill is a positive development in terms of environment, social inclusion and democracy.  Not only does it give more power to local authorities but it gives power back to local people and ensures that their views really are listened to.  Local Government’s therefore must have a very good reason to override such opinions.

“Without such a Bill we are in danger of being left with a ‘mono-high street’ throughout the UK.  The disappearance of local, independent shops and services, is removing the social glue keeping communities feeling that in a world of Globalization local really does matter.

“Complaints about today’s Political agenda continue to echo the concern that although people are consulted, public opinion is not listened to.  The Sustainable Communities Bill begins to reverse this feeling of isolation and says that ‘politicians do listen to you, you do have the power and you are important in determining what sort of future you have.”

The Sustainable Communities Bill Rally takes place in the Methodist Central Hall, Westminster on Monday 26th March 2007 from 7.00pm – 9.00pm.

ENDS

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Jean who has been the capitals Green Euro MP since 1999 was the main speaker of the evening and with years of experience as a local activist made the link between local action and international policy.

Speaking after the meeting Jean said;  “There is a feeling of growing consensus on what needs to be done, but there is still a real frustration that the speed at which things happen is just too slow and the different bits of policy just don’t match up properly.

“Informed local activists can however be the people to make that vital difference in seeing that policy is put into practise and change happens at every level.  When a local community pulls together they are an unshakable force that can ultimately make changes on a national scale.  They make politicians act.”

London 21 Sustainability Network promotes, supports and networks community based initiatives for a greener, healthier and more sustainable Greater London.

ENDS

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If we are to have long-term sustainability and develop a truly Green economy, we have to take care that we foster environmentally-friendly businesses which use resources efficiently: that includes its workforce.

If we are demanding that businesses provide social and environmental audits, we need the accountants and other professionals that can do that.

If we want builders who can construct energy-efficient buildings, we need to train them. Hence our call for all EU funded training initiatives to take the environmental dimension into account.

Social inclusion is a key component of a sustainable society: hence the need for a guaranteed minimum income to provide for basic needs: we need to combat discrimination and poverty and hence the Social Agenda has a role in creating a sustainable society.

Hence our call for rapid progress on enabling people to work efficiently through effective consultation and participation, reduced working hours and good quality work in safe working conditions, supported by an effective system of social security.

Strong local economies have a vital role to play in, for example reducing transport requirements and maintaining social cohesion so we want to see the budget lines maintained to support that

Sustainable development is about creating a world in which there are no losers. As the Commission’s Communication points out:

“Sustainable development offers the EU a positive long-term vision of a society that is more prosperous and more just and which promises a cleaner, safer, healthier environment – a society which delivers a better quality of life for us, for our children and for our grandchildren.”
(It’s a pity the Nice Treaty missed this opportunity!)

We cannot achieve this if we continue with policies that pull in different directions and even undermine each other: we have to find an effective way to ensure integration and sustainability.

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Mr President, I welcome the statement that future spring summits are going to be sustainability summits, and thank the Swedish presidency for their real leadership on this. But if we were looking at the world properly, all our summits would be about sustainability. The environmental and social effects of the liberalisation of the energy sector, for example, are sustainable issues. Liberalisation alone will not help us reach our pretty meagre Kyoto targets. How will liberalisation ensure that all people can afford warm homes if they do not have an adequate basic income?

Will the development of our trade with Russia simply strip that country of its natural resources for the lowest possible price? How will this ensure its sustainable development in future?

Sustainability is not just a domestic issue. It is an international and inter-generational concept. If we are to take it seriously it will radically reform the European Union agenda, which will make it a far more relevant and exciting one than people find at present.

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