Rebalancing Society - reviewing the economic costs

We need a major economic shift as we emerge from the pandemic lockdown, which was put in place for health reasons but has inevitably had huge financial and economic repercussions. This is going to need more fundamental change than most current politicians seem ready to contemplate. It is certainly going to require change on a scale a Boris Johnson Government will not readily embrace. But then I wonder whether, or for how long, Johnson can stay in charge - as it would seem the long knives are already out of the drawer and being sharpened.

We've always had buzzards up in the Chilterns where we live. But as when larger, elegant kites arrived, our plumper friends, the buzzards, seemed to gradually get fewer in numbers.

Then, after 10 years or so, just as gradually, we seemed to be noticing them more frequently - sometimes catching a glimpse of one sitting on a branch, or hearing their mewing calls in the woods.

I've just watched 'Planet of the Humans' produced by Michael Moore and released 4 days ago.

I generally like Moore's material, but not this. Sadly I've noticed that amongst the supporters of the film are fossil fuel industry reps and an old foe of mine - the anti-wind-farm-brigade. Those opposed to wind farms love the film and are promoting it on social media.

The Times they are a` changin' … Part 3

Not only are the times a`changing` - they seem already to have changed. And, I suspect that some of the changes will have become a "New Normal" before we ever get to the point of relaxing the lockdown. In the last ten days or so we have seen the Chinese lockdown of Wuhan become far less severe and the news in the last week is that Austria is opening garden centres and DIY stores. Even Italy is experimenting with some shops being allowed to open - though not cafes or restaurants. And, most recently, Germany and New Zealand are tentatively starting to open up.

As Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson claimed the English liberal thinker and politician John Stuart Mill would have been a supporter of Brexit. In his Brexit speech in February 2018 he said:

"[Brexit] is to fulfil the liberal idealism of John Stuart Mill himself, who recognised that it is only the nation - as he put it, "united among themselves by common sympathies which do not exist between themselves and others". Only the nation could legitimate the activities of the state."

GreenLibDems Newsletter 17 April 2020

This GLDNEWS is online at: http://grn.lib.dm/a71bSJ

In this exciting issue:
* Letter from our new Chair, Keith Melton
(scroll down here)

* Earthday 22 April The Story of Plastic video premiere at GLD
http://grn.lib.dm/a91bTn

* Victory against fracking in Salford, Trafford, Warrington, Cheshire West and Chester
http://grn.lib.dm/a81bTl

Whilst we are in 'lockdown', it is a perfect opportunity for all of us to take a calm look at our 'normal' lives.

Most of us are not travelling to work. We are either working from home (thanks to the wonders of technology and the internet) or are furloughed. Some of us will be in the unfortunate position of either not being able to work from home, or have been made redundant.

It seems IGAS has finally given up on fracking in the Northwest of England, at least for the time being.

This month IGAS announced it has "written off" four of its petroleum exploration and Development licences PEDL 145, PEDL 147, PEDL189 and PEDL193; but still retain the licences. according to www.drillordrop.com "They are no longer spending money or time in the Northwest for the time being as They are concentrating on the Gainsborough Trough….." on the Yorkshire side of the Pennines.

As V/Chair campaigns, I'll be helping to define the focus of our policy and presence into support and action. I hope we'll be able to choose a series of campaigns, relevant to local activists, candidates, and to our national politicians. Similarly, we need to find short-term campaigns, and long-term goals.

I'll be tracking the impact of our campaigns, and working closely with regional groups to help design, provide and share campaign assets.

This is an exciting time, after a few years at the helm of GLD, I get to put some of my campaign experience to the test. We had some success with the plastic-free banners at the London Europe demonstrations, as well as winning an award for our stand at Bournemouth Conference last year,.

Expect a more visible presence, collaborations with ALDC, LGA, our Parliamentary Party, and others - watch this space!