BREAKING NEWS...BREAKING NEWS...BREAKING NEWS

In case you have not yet read the article, these first paragraphs represent something of a "spoiler alert", so shut your eyes and jump to the next paragraph, headed "Walking the Walk" and come back to this after you have read the article!

I have just "cast my vote". My wife, Fatima, who is locked down in Brazil at the moment, cast her vote the other day - and she let me know that there were THREE boxes on the ballot. One for Ed, one for Layla and one in case you wanted to "abstain". I had not realised until Fatima told me, that there would be an option to "abstain" - so I thought I should actually register my positive abstention as per the article below. So I have just been to the voting site and put an "X" in the abstaining box.

System Change Not Climate Change

There is a growing sense that the current political system in the UK is not fit for purpose. Many newspapers have written about the broken system and the lack of accountability in Westminster to the demands of the citizens. This flawed democracy has an impact on many areas, including how we deal with the climate emergency as a country.

LibDem Leadership Green Hustings from 28 July 2020

Some GLD members support Ed, some support Layla, either will make a great leader for the party and be able to outmatch Boris Johnson in the Commons

As the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for political and constitutional reform, the whole focus of my approach is trying to demonstrate the positive change which reforms can have. Our arguments are often too theoretical. They fail to meet people where they're at. If we cannot couch the case for a different voting system in terms of how it impacts people's lives, then I think we will continue to preach to the converted only.

Jane Goodall spoke at our Online Conference and Festival on the opening Sunday evening. What a way to close the first weekend!

Before she started we were told that she had just been awarded the 2020 Tang Prize in Sustainable Development, a very prestigious international award, given in recognition of "her ground-breaking discoveries in primatology ... and her lifelong, unparalleled dedication to the conservation of Earth environment". Her reputation as one of the most influential primatologists today, the founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and through that a great educator, and as a UN Messenger of Peace, preceded her. We were not disappointed.

Rejected by the FCC

(from a very angry, and disappointed, Chair)

As many of you will know members of GLD submitted two motions for consideration for the agenda of the online autumn conference. One was in my name as mover with Wera Hobhouse MP as summator, recognising the improved air conditions due to the "anthropause" (see below for definition!) . A second, dealing with a deeper approach to a carbon tax and a carbon dividend was submitted by Stewart Reddaway and Julian Hawkins.

Hopefully you will find this interesting and stimulating in asking yourselves how you can make the world a better place. It is the question that I put to Dr Jane Goodall at the Green Liberal Democrats 2020 summer festival on Sunday, and more importantly her fulsome answer. Read on....

My question to Dr Jane Goodall and her reply:

A progressive carbon taxation policy motion, including aviation, to reduce both CO₂ and poverty

28^th June 2020, Stewart Reddaway

Please support this motion by sending the following information:

Policy motion

Conference notes:

A Reductions in man-made Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions need to be accelerated, both nationally and globally, to prevent catastrophic outcomes.

Climate change caused by rising Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions is a critical threat.
We can limit the damage by reducing emissions quickly, and there are many technologies and behavioural changes available to do this. Technically, it looks as if the world can be saved with limited impact on people's lives. For example, the Committee for Climate Change proposed that the UK could achieve net zero territorial emissions by 2050 at a cost of about 1% of GDP.

The Government has today awarded North Yorkshire County Council £52.6 million in funding to invest in walking and cycling. This comes hot on the heels of a campaign launched by Knaresborough Town Councillor, Hannah Gostlow, calling for improved cycle paths locally to allow for distancing.

Research shows there has been a significant improvement in both air and noise pollution in recent weeks, as well as a 70% increase in the number of people using bicycles.