tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-283886692009-11-25T06:10:00.500ZPhilip Booth was elected, May 2006, as Stroud District councillor for Randwick, Whiteshill and Ruscombe. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the Green Party. Use the search facility above to find a particular issue. Philip does not accept payments for posts but welcomes comments. Over 3,000 unique visitors a month to this blog - thanks!Philip Boothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135990144492521067philip.booth2@virgin.netBlogger2083125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28388669.post-43717062153318492442009-11-25T06:10:00.000Z2009-11-25T06:10:00.506Z

Some will have seen Kate Evan's excellent cartoon booklet, "Funny Weather" on climate change - now here is her new one on supermarkets - free to download at her website:http://www.cartoonkate.co.uk/It reminds me of the proposals from Competition Commission - it was a long while ago now when they listed at the back of their report particular branches which have anti-competitive covenants (eg

Philip Boothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135990144492521067philip.booth2@virgin.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28388669.post-82635893132085847612009-11-24T16:50:00.004Z2009-11-24T17:02:40.678Z

It is Road Safety Week this week - and I've been putting together a press release that went out today (available on Glos Green party website soon) - it calls for more Safe Routes to School and a default 20 mph. While putting that together I also responded to a letter in the national Good Motoring magazine - see my response below.I write in response to letters in the recent issue of Good Motoring.

Philip Boothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135990144492521067philip.booth2@virgin.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28388669.post-50841111166462999712009-11-23T18:10:00.003Z2009-11-23T18:14:35.680Z

The winners of a competition to warn children of the dangers of running up to dogs and petting them visited Ebley Mill last week to receive their prizes. The four winners of the Check B4 U Pet poster competition from Whiteshill and Longney Primary school were all presented with a £20 voucher.Photo: Poster showed to me by one of the winners, Emily Memory.The Check B4 U Pet campaign was launched

Philip Boothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135990144492521067philip.booth2@virgin.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28388669.post-22589040738038909272009-11-22T12:07:00.004Z2009-11-22T13:58:44.859Z

Ecotricity is set to use rotting food leftovers and sewage to provide a new source of "green gas" to heat our homes. From yesterday folk can register for Stroud-based Ecotricity's new tariff to buy green gas – commonly known as biogas - and being billed cheekily as 'The Real British Gas.'This looks set to be a good opportunity for those of us looking to cut our carbon footprint,

Philip Boothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135990144492521067philip.booth2@virgin.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28388669.post-6702481481872831532009-11-21T13:35:00.006Z2009-11-21T14:56:02.027Z

CRBs have been in the news recently. We have seen Philip Pullman, Michael Morpurgo and Anne Fine all announce they will not visit schools in protest against the "insulting" criminal records bureau (CRB) vetting system. Why do they object to a measure that surely is ensuring the safety of children?As folk will know the newly created Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) introduced rules that

Philip Boothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135990144492521067philip.booth2@virgin.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28388669.post-83814843360747788992009-11-20T06:07:00.001Z2009-11-20T06:07:00.532Z

Here are a couple of interesting articles I've been sent recently:Photo: Fuzzies near top of Ash LaneScientists claim junk food is as addictive as heroin - With the rumors swirling that Michelle Obama is a big fan of former FDA Commissioner David Kessler's new book The End of Overeating, it seems reasonable to check in on the science behind an "addiction model" for salty, sweet, and fatty

Philip Boothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135990144492521067philip.booth2@virgin.net1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28388669.post-72445954877086598522009-11-19T07:00:00.000Z2009-11-19T07:00:01.066Z

The more I thought about the nonsense going on over Staverton Airport the more I felt the urge to write - here is the letter I sent earlier this week:The Citizen/Echo report that Cheltenham Borough and Gloucester City Councils, who each own a 50 per cent stake in Staverton Airport, will make a decision on 14th December and 7th January on whether to borrow £2.4 million to fund runway improvement

Philip Boothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135990144492521067philip.booth2@virgin.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28388669.post-9171296231399659352009-11-19T06:36:00.001Z2009-11-19T06:36:00.044Z

The excellent Ecologist website carried an article recently about Freecycle - and where it all is now - you see changes have been afoot and I wasn't understanding where this Stroud Freegle came from and why that had replaced Freecycle - now all is clear - well you can find the article here or I've taken the liberty of copying below:What went wrong with Freecycle in the UK?Sarah Lewis 30th

Philip Boothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135990144492521067philip.booth2@virgin.net3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28388669.post-69307998205334922102009-11-18T21:54:00.003Z2009-11-18T22:17:29.072Z

I was very saddened to read news of John Barnes death in the SNJ today. I've copied the article below as it captures some of the energy and passion that I also experienced in conversations with him.Photo: John at the recent Open Homes Installers fair talking LEDIndeed it was great to meet someone with such a passion for green stuff and ideas to make it happen. John had, for example, offered to

Philip Boothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135990144492521067philip.booth2@virgin.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28388669.post-46225844733258578102009-11-18T19:21:00.004Z2009-11-18T19:32:02.267Z

Add your vote at:www.earthhour.org/It will be taken to Copenhagen to help call for positive action on climate change - all the more needed after reading Guardian - see here - a new study shows that we could be seeing a 6 degrees rise in temperatures by the end of the century - this is way serious stuff.

Philip Boothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135990144492521067philip.booth2@virgin.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28388669.post-23120393642445606332009-11-18T07:04:00.004Z2009-11-18T07:04:00.645Z

Yesterday evening it was our monthly Ruscombe Brook Action Group meeting. Amongst topics was an update on Puckshole - see below. Here was our agenda resulting from a meeting I had with some RBAG members last month. I've also included some quick comments.1. Works at Puckshole (phases I, II and III) - phase one is going ahead (see below) - phase two is tackling a water pipe that is damaging the

Philip Boothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135990144492521067philip.booth2@virgin.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28388669.post-85690178946308940772009-11-18T06:53:00.000Z2009-11-18T06:53:00.097Z

I have repeatedly called for a Tobin Tax - see most recent call here - now I see there is a petition set up by a Green colleague on the Downing Street site.Photo: Stroud 'bankers' launching the Stroud PoundIt would be great to see many folks sign:http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/TobinTaxThanks/Please sign, blog, tweet and generally disseminate this petition. Brown is going to get a huge amount of

Philip Boothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135990144492521067philip.booth2@virgin.net2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28388669.post-75916449292226963022009-11-17T15:21:00.007Z2009-11-17T18:32:26.867Z

Lunchtime today I joined the protest picnic against the Government's decision to refuse a compulsory purchase order which would have seen derelict Tricorn House transformed by energy company Ecotricity into their HQ.Photos: sent to me by other protestors and the group shot taken by Stroud Life reporter on my cameraThere were some 20 of us there including at least one protestor on the roof. Here's

Philip Boothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135990144492521067philip.booth2@virgin.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28388669.post-76019760536837189942009-11-17T10:00:00.005Z2009-11-17T13:13:01.610Z

Tesco has launched a new Greener Living site, which they say "has been set up to help shoppers become more environmentally-savvy" They wrote to me asking whether I'd "be interested in writing a review or letting your readers know about it".Pics: Left a Tesco ad and below art from Russ inspired by this blog entry!!!Well I have real serious problems with such sites - yes they may reach out to

Philip Boothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135990144492521067philip.booth2@virgin.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28388669.post-54580407633746547202009-11-17T06:41:00.000Z2009-11-17T06:41:00.440Z

Here is just a v quick blog about the 'Supported Lodging Scheme to accommodate young people aged 16-19' Pic: view across to Cashes GreenOne young person commented after a Nightstop: “They (the hosts) were very nice people and made me feel very welcome. I was grateful of their hospitality. If Nightstop wasn’t there, I would be walking the streets, cold and hungry”. Do you have a spare room that

Philip Boothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135990144492521067philip.booth2@virgin.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28388669.post-38555770582738210862009-11-16T06:54:00.002Z2009-11-16T10:48:09.312Z

Over the last six weeks I've had a dozen meetings in various guises for Scrutiny - I'm now involved in two scrutiny inquiries which I think I've mentioned on this blog - domestic energy efficiency and planning delegation plus the usual work of scrutiny and the quarterly meetings with two Heads of Service. More of all that in future blogs but for this post I wanted to cover peak oil...Photo:

Philip Boothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135990144492521067philip.booth2@virgin.net1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28388669.post-89250912518519372522009-11-15T10:04:00.006Z2009-11-15T13:20:46.296Z

A local airport campaigner attended this week the Cheltenham scrutiny meeting looking at Staverton Airport and their latest Business Plan - that outrageous meeting is covered in a moment but also below I note more on the latest plans the Airport are putting forward and Cameron on aviation.Pic adapted by local artist Russ from unknown author - as featured in the latest edition of Flying Green of

Philip Boothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135990144492521067philip.booth2@virgin.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28388669.post-50599075606223250212009-11-14T13:59:00.004Z2009-11-14T19:16:44.867Z

At Full Council of Stroud District Council meeting on 12th November 2009 at Ebley Mill (pictured) Green Cllr John Marjoram was put forward as leader of the Council by Labour leader Karon Cross and seconded by Independent Cllr Janet Woods. The motion fell by a handfull of votes and Cllr Francis Roden (Conservative) was elected Leader of Stroud District Council.John Marjoram (pictured left) said

Philip Boothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135990144492521067philip.booth2@virgin.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28388669.post-74767708961004056352009-11-13T22:50:00.003Z2009-11-13T23:13:51.590Z

Once upon a time many, many moons ago I was a Youth Officer in the British Red Cross and had many wonderful opportunities including representing British Youth at a youth camp in Sweden and a cahance to go to their HQ in Geneva. I have since then continued an interest in that organisation and it's important work.A while back I was concerned to learn that the Red Cross had to close their office in

Philip Boothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135990144492521067philip.booth2@virgin.net1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28388669.post-81240307574404042482009-11-11T21:53:00.003Z2009-11-11T22:04:00.354Z

I have talked on this blog before about blood diamonds, blood coltan and blood gold, the nightmare in Congo and covering some of the horrors of the gold industry - well now comes a campaign from Avaaz in response to Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe seizing control of his country's diamond fields and using the profits from our wedding rings and jewelry to finance a vicious political militia.The

Philip Boothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135990144492521067philip.booth2@virgin.net1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28388669.post-48685725779529601412009-11-10T19:44:00.004Z2009-11-10T23:05:20.209Z

Join the UK's biggest ever demonstration in support of action on climate change.On Saturday 5 December 2009, ahead of the crucial UN climate summit in Copenhagen, tens of thousands of people, all dressed in blue, will flow through the streets of London to demonstrate their support for a safe climate future for all......and Stroud is sending a coach to take part in the demonstration called 'The

Philip Boothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135990144492521067philip.booth2@virgin.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28388669.post-54197588342954104722009-11-09T20:05:00.002Z2009-11-09T20:25:36.330Z

A picnic is being planned to be held at Tricorn House on Tuesday 17th November at 12 noon. This is to draw attention to the misguided decision to allow the rights of a Guernsey-based property company to prevail over those of a local business. See more here. It was also good to see that Ecotricity are still game to go for the Compulsory Purshase Order - see Citizen here. Join us for the picnic!Pic

Philip Boothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135990144492521067philip.booth2@virgin.net1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28388669.post-60276965716188185512009-11-09T19:22:00.004Z2009-11-09T19:34:40.227Z

'Resilience Thinking' is an article I read while in Wales these last couple of days from the latest issue of ‘Resurgence’ - I have cheekily copied the article below from the author, Rob Hopkin's excellent blog - see here.It is a useful article - and an issue Greens have been pushing locally - one previous suggestion was instead of a Regeneration Department at SDC we need a Department of to build

Philip Boothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135990144492521067philip.booth2@virgin.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28388669.post-15265921701770579112009-11-09T15:28:00.004Z2009-11-09T15:50:25.761Z

I've just had a few days in Wales - wonderful break - but it does mean I am a little behind with emails - please bear with me - as for the blog well I'm back with a post to highlight Martin Hancox's new website about badgers which now has more information on - Martin is Stroud-based and has a huge wealth of knowledge on this issue - see more about him on the website.Photo: Tony Meeuwissen has

Philip Boothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135990144492521067philip.booth2@virgin.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28388669.post-53157469371496654882009-11-07T06:12:00.010Z2009-11-07T06:12:00.389Z

A couple of weeks ago I was in Bath for the Wessex Water Joint Customer Liaison Panel meeting on which I sit on behalf of Stroud District Council - you will see stuff re previous meetings by putting Wessex into the search facility.Photo: diatoms - read on to see why they are here.I will come to the four key questions I raised at the meeting in a mo but also wanted to cover some of the other stuff

Philip Boothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135990144492521067philip.booth2@virgin.net0