This newsletter covers Jean's activities from mid November to mid December 2005
Unions and working time
Jean was a speaker at the ETUC's London conference "Innovative ways of organising working time: the role of trade unions". The conference was addressed by ETUC General Secretary, John Monks and the UK's TUC General Secretary, Brendan Barber.
EQUAL
Jean gave the keynote speech at the EQUAL London conference on volunteering for asylum seekers. She gave one of the closing speeches for the European Anti-Poverty Network's 2005 General Assembly meeting, held this year in Liverpool.
Community
With local elected Green, Cllr Andrew Stringer, Jean appeared in Ipswich as part of a Green 'Question Time' style public event.
Jean opened the North London LEAParts Community Arts day seminar in Edmonton Green.
Climate change demonstration
Jean attended the demonstration and helped mobilise public participation in advance. Copies of Jean's publication, MEPs in Action, were disseminated on the day.
'Resolving the European Crisis' launch
Jean contributed a chapter to this book, published in late November by Middlesex University Press. She participated in the launch event in Westminster, where she outlined her contribution.
Citizenship ceremonies in Brent
Jean was the guest of honour at one of Brent's citizenship ceremonies. 25 citizens form 16 different countries around the world including Jordan, Jamaica, Iraq, Eritrea, The Netherlands, Algeria, Zimbabwe, Yugoslavia, Kenya, Turkey, Palestine, India, Nigeria, Sri Lanka and Uganda took part in the ceremony to become UK citizens.
Halkevi AGM
Jean spoke at the annual general meeting of Halkevi, the Kurdish and Turkish Community Centre, based in Stoke Newington, Hackney. Jean has been a supporter of Halkevi for many years, and regularly participates in their events.
Thames Gateway
Jean's London assistant attended the Thames Gateway Forum event for Jean, liaising with RSPB and London Wildlife Trust, who are looking to ensure biodiversity protection in the development. The event was also an opportunity to explore the question of sustainable/energy efficient building and how sustainability can be 'valued into' the property investment chain.
Sustainable Procurement
Jean's assistant also participated in a Forum for the Future sustainable procurement event for Jean. The Sustainable Procurement Task Force is working to mainstream sustainable procurement and reports to Defra and the Treasury in April The event aimed to seek out good and bad examples as part of its fact finding for this report. The question remains as to how far their recommendations will be compatible with the current Gershon public sector efficiency drives.
Winter newsletter
Jean has produced a winter newsletter. Contact the London office if you would like to receive a copy. A large print version is available on request.
Constituents concerns
In the past six weeks Jean's offices have been overwhelmed with unprecedented numbers of constituent emails on the topics of REACH, data retention and bear bile farming. Such pressure is very important. Jean's position on these issues can be found on the home page of her web page.
Strasbourg
REACH
The vote on the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH) Directive took place in Strasbourg on 17 November. The public campaign on REACH was one of the most extensive and impressive that the European Parliament has ever seen. While some aspects of current legislation were strengthened, a number of loopholes mean that the protection of human life and the environment is not guaranteed. Jean was forced to abstain from the final vote in order to remain true to her original and personal support for new regulation for toxic chemicals, while at the same time refusing to support a directive which was drafted to cut the costs for industry at the expense of human health and the environment.
Police visit
Jean visited The Common Centre of French-German Police and Customs Cooperation which is located in Kehl Germany. The centre pools resources related to security issues in France and Germany and was set up in 1999 to increase cross border co-operation. The centre is significant given the historical friction between the two countries.
Brussels
Services
In addition to co-ordinating a leaflet on the Services Directive aimed at new member States, Jean was involved in two significant conferences aimed at the unions.
Jean co-hosted a seminar with the European Federation of Public Services Unions (EPSU). Jean outlined the Green position on services to public service journalists from across Europe.
At the UNI Europa Group conference, Jean addressed trade unionists representing workers in the commerce, telecom, post, finance, IT and business services, personal services, private security, cleaning, graphical and printing, temporary work agencies, and gambling sectors. Discussion focussed on the role that unions play in influencing European services policy.
Beer Club
As Vice President of the British Beer club, Jean attended the annual Christmas Reception where parliamentarians were treated to the wide selection of beers that the UK has to offer.
Anti Poverty Event
Jean wore her "Vice President of the Anti-Poverty Intergroup" hat when she spoke in French while reflecting on the British social model and its impact on social inclusion. While speaking to this local Brussels anti-poverty group, Jean highlighted the high number of working poor in the UK and the worrying number of children living at risk of poverty in her own constituency.
Trade Justice
Jean's Stagiaire Elaine Mahon met with delegates from the Trade Justice Lobby who were keen to have their views heard as well as learn about effective ways to influence policy at the European Parliament.
Ceuta and Melilla
Jean and several other delegates from the Civil Liberties Committee visited holding centres at Ceuta and Melilla, the Spanish enclaves in Morocco. Unlike in Lampedusa, the delegates found a substantial number of asylum seekers residing in the camps. While their conditions were clearly acceptable, concerns were raised about treatment before and after their stay there. The visit was particularly significant due to its proximity to Human Rights Day.
Following a discussion on Green Jobs and a sustainable London 2012 Olympics at the European Parliament Green Group Conference, Jean was interviewed on Time FM and gained further coverage in local and environmental press.
Local coverage was also gained when Jean supported the ‘Stop Deporting Children’ and National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaign (NCADC) demonstration in London and called for action to stop the deportation of children from the UK.
The Walthamstow Guardian featured Jean when she spoke on climate change at the General Assembly of the Churches Commission for Migrants in Europe.
Jean took part in a live discussion on nuclear power and the energy crisis with Michael Meacher and Tim Yeo on Sky TV’s Adam Bolton Show. Jean also had an opinion piece article published in European Voice opposing nuclear power.
A letter on Tony Blair’s decision to go nuclear was sent to The Times from Jean and was published the next day. Another letter was published in The Guardian following the news that Barbar Ahmad, a British citizen, would be extradited. Jean also sent a letter to The Metro regarding the fact that our recyclables are being dumped abroad.
When the Polish Prime Minister Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz made his first official visit to the UK since his election, Jean spoke out in anger against his homophobic policies and received coverage in UK Gay news, pinkuk.com and other Gay press.
Comment on Current Affairs - Seasons Greenings!
It is that time of year again! Whatever your plans for the festive period, here are my top tips to help reduce the mountain of waste we produce every December:
Christmas Shopping
· Buy recycled content gifts. There are plenty of quirky and exciting recycled gifts available such as stationery made from recycled tyres! Gifts from flea markets, antique fairs or vintage shops also make really unusual and individual presents.
· More than 8000 tonnes of wrapping paper will be used on Christmas presents this year, using the equivalent of 50,000 trees so make sure it's recycled content when you buy it and recycle it after use! It may just end up back under your tree next year!
·Plastic bags are everywhere and most end up in landfill where they will take up to 1000 years to decompose. When you go Christmas shopping try using your own re-usable bags.
Food and drink
· Support local markets by opting for organic, locally produced and seasonal British food. Buy loose fruit and vegetables (not pre-packed) and cut down on waste packaging.
· Around 4000 million sprouts are bought in the week before Christmas so no doubt here will be some left overs! Try composting any vegetable peelings or left over food waste in a wormery or the garden.
Christmas decorations
· Buy a potted Christmas tree and plant it in the garden after Christmas. If you have a cut tree you can easily recycle it in to wood chips.
January 2006, Start of the Austrian Presidency of the EU (6 months)
3 January, European Parliament Resumes, Brussels
17 January, Debate on the Future of the EU, Strasbourg
21 January, RMT Conference, London
23-27 January, LSE Environment Week
27 January, Holocaust Memorial Day
!Your next newsletter will be available at the end of January 2006!