Dear Sir
Andrew Rawnsley is spot on regarding the need for our Prime Minister to be bold enough to leave a positive and long-lasting legacy, especially in terms of our nation’s infrastructure (If we’re going to spend, then let’s invest in Britain’s future – Observer, Comment, last week).
For too long successive governments have lacked vision in their policy making and, instead of investing in long-term initiatives, merely offer short-sighted, short-term, and wholly inadequate quick-fix solutions to address our need for the high quality public transport, energy and communication systems that Mr Rawnsley suggests.
However in order to be politically bold you have to be politically brave and make decisions, for the common good, that may well require political sacrifices. This would involve having to challenge influential groups such as the road lobby and airline, energy and communications companies, while making some tough choices that may well upset part of the electorate into the bargain. Sadly there is no politician on our political horizon prepared to make the ultimate political sacrifice, which is to relinquish power.
Yours faithfully
Ashley Gunstock
Leading Spokesperson
The Green Party - Redbridge
Thursday, 18 December 2008
Redbridge's rubbish recycling record - Wanstead & Woodford Guardian letter 15.12.08
Dear Mr Yeatman
The Green Party figures quoted in your newspaper of December 4 – which Councillor Mark Aaron refers to as being out of date (Guardian, December 11) – were those that were available to it at the time of writing.
However, compared to this minor error on our part, what is quite disturbing is that Mr Aaron is proud to boast a 7.8% composting waste rate for the borough of Redbridge.
The Greens have been campaigning for a fully integrated and co-ordinated national waste management scheme for almost 40 years, of which re-cycling is just one part. We have been trying to educate individuals, schools and businesses to understand the principles of the waste management cycle: reduce (the need for unnecessary goods & packaging), re-use (goods & packaging where possible), repair (whenever possible mend goods, instead of merely discarding them) then recycle (including composting) before dumping what remains for landfill.
In view of this and the fact that the ‘recycling’ rates of many other European countries far exceed ours, especially in light of the need for at least a 90% reduction of all waste, the government’s national strategy in general and that of the London Borough of Redbridge in particular is, despite the hard work of some of its employees, quite frankly, a load of old rubbish.
Yours sincerely
Ashley Gunstock
Leading Spokesperson
The Green Party - Redbridge
The Green Party figures quoted in your newspaper of December 4 – which Councillor Mark Aaron refers to as being out of date (Guardian, December 11) – were those that were available to it at the time of writing.
However, compared to this minor error on our part, what is quite disturbing is that Mr Aaron is proud to boast a 7.8% composting waste rate for the borough of Redbridge.
The Greens have been campaigning for a fully integrated and co-ordinated national waste management scheme for almost 40 years, of which re-cycling is just one part. We have been trying to educate individuals, schools and businesses to understand the principles of the waste management cycle: reduce (the need for unnecessary goods & packaging), re-use (goods & packaging where possible), repair (whenever possible mend goods, instead of merely discarding them) then recycle (including composting) before dumping what remains for landfill.
In view of this and the fact that the ‘recycling’ rates of many other European countries far exceed ours, especially in light of the need for at least a 90% reduction of all waste, the government’s national strategy in general and that of the London Borough of Redbridge in particular is, despite the hard work of some of its employees, quite frankly, a load of old rubbish.
Yours sincerely
Ashley Gunstock
Leading Spokesperson
The Green Party - Redbridge
Pious pronouncements - Letter to the Observer 09.12.08
Dear Sir
I must confess that my 'eyebrows were amongst many other pairs that were probably raised' on reading of the Vatican’s recent declaration, by Pope Benedict XVI. ('Pope attacks tax havens for robbing the poor', News, last week).
It would be fascinating for us all to know the true extent of the investments (offshore or otherwise) owned not only by the Roman Catholic Church, but indeed by all of the ‘major religions’ of the world.
The revelations of the relative wealth of these Faiths, I am sure, would make their pious pronouncements, regarding the poor, all sound rather rich.
Yours faithfully
Ashley Gunstock
I must confess that my 'eyebrows were amongst many other pairs that were probably raised' on reading of the Vatican’s recent declaration, by Pope Benedict XVI. ('Pope attacks tax havens for robbing the poor', News, last week).
It would be fascinating for us all to know the true extent of the investments (offshore or otherwise) owned not only by the Roman Catholic Church, but indeed by all of the ‘major religions’ of the world.
The revelations of the relative wealth of these Faiths, I am sure, would make their pious pronouncements, regarding the poor, all sound rather rich.
Yours faithfully
Ashley Gunstock
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