Saturday 28th March - Putting People First

Marching for Jobs, Justice & Climate

On the 2nd of April, the leaders of 20 of the world’s biggest economies meet in London to tackle the recession and global financial crisis. Even before the banking collapse, the world suffered poverty, inequality and the threat of climate chaos.  Our future depends on creating an economy based on fair distribution of wealth, decent jobs for all and a low carbon world. 

On Saturday the 28th of March thousands of people will march through London as part of a global campaign to challenge the G20 leaders.

Be one of them.

Gather from 11am, Victoria Embankment, London, WC2R 2PP for the march to Hyde Park carnival

Download the flyer in pdf format from here: LINK

and also visit the website for more information:

www.putpeoplefirst.org.uk

The march is supported by the Greater Nottingham Co-Operative Party executive, and also the Co-Operative News; please help us remind the leaders of the world that people must come first.

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Annual General Meeting report

The 2009 Annual General Meeting was held on the 14th February at Hillside Club on Derby road. In attendance were Glenis Willmott MEP and Leonie Nimmo of the 'Trees for Life' campaign.

To find out more, please click on the Branch News link to the left, and also the Trees for Life link.

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Campaigning to protect Bees

The bee population is under threat, the wild bee population is already almost extinct, and diseases and viruses are life threatening to the honey bees of Britain. Not a political issue?

Honey bees don’t just produce honey but play a vital role in the pollination of plants for food and other crops, making a big contribution of £165 million per annum to agricultural output. They
also have an important environmental role, being responsible for pollinating wild plants which produce seeds and fruits on which birds and wild animals depend.

Honey bees can become sick and colonies die out. In recent years, bees have come under ever greater threat from pests and diseases which we don’t fully understand or against which the treatments available are ineffective.

There are virtually no wild honey bees left due to the effects of the parasitic varroa mite and the viruses it carries, and for which to date, there is no cure. Increased beekeeping research is thus essential if we are to find answers and be able to protect our bees and the benefits they bring to everyone.

The Government has refused to increase the £200,000 it currently puts into bee health research despite acknowledging that if we don’t act we may lose our honey bees and their massive contribution to agriculture and the environment.

The British Beekeepers' Association is campaigning to change the mind of the Government and
increase research funding, so that we can protect our honey bees, before it’s too late.

Help to support and safeguard the bees, by downloading the the petition below and getting the support of as many people as possible, whether at your Branch meeting or anywhere else.
There is also an example of a letter which you can download and send to your MP.

Download the letter to send to your MP in Word/Openoffice format

Download the petition in PDF format

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What Communities Want

Local communities deciding how their taxes are spent, planning services in their area, halting the closures of post offices and pubs were some possible outcomes of a new Act of Parliament supported by all major parties, said Steve Shaw, speaking at an open meeting organised by the Co-operative Party in Nottingham on15th November.

The Sustainable Communities Act was one of those rare occasions when all major Parties in Parliament gave support to a radical new measure that could change the way decisions are made, replacing endless 'consultations' with plans that the Government is required to negotiate on, said Steve. But first of all, local Councils have to 'opt in' to the Act. The new Act was approved a year ago but came into effect just a few weeks ago. Within days 55 national organisations ranging from the Campaign for Real Ale to Age Concern, and from the National Federation of Women's Institutes to the Co-operative Group, wrote to all local Councils urging them to 'opt in'. Rushcliffe is the first authority in Nottinghamshire to do so, but in

the next 8 months many more will be persuaded to 'opt in' – if community groups get their act together and lobby their Councillors.

Steve Shaw, who travels the country speaking on behalf of the coalition of 90+ national organisations supporting this Act, was making his first visit to the City and addressed a well attended meeting at the Hillside Club.

More information about the Act and how communities can take advantage of it can be found at the website of Unlock Democracy : www.unlockdemocracy.org.uk

You can also download information on Steve's informative talk at the link below in Openoffice/Word format

Download presentation notes

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Greater Nottingham Co-operative Party Council
Half Yearly Meeting – and Open Meeting (see below)
Saturday 15th November 2008 at 10.00am for 10.30am
@ The Hillside Club, Derby Road, Nottingham

From 10.00am to 10.30am tea and coffee will be available and we will be helping members register for our new web site.

OPEN MEETING 11am – 1.00pm
THE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES ACT
Guest Speaker - Steve Shaw
A 'bottom up' Act that gives power to people in their locality to improve services and create sustainable communities.

To get more information about the morning and for more information about guest speaker, Steve Shaw, please click the links below to download in PDF format.
 
Half Yearly Meeting Agenda

Information on guest speaker, Steve Shaw

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Spalding Branch Open Meeting
Saturday 1st November 2008, 10.15am - 12.00pm
@ the Lounge Bar of the South Holland Centre, Market Place, Spalding

Please join us for the Spalding branch meeting where we can discuss what really matters to you.
There's no commitment, other than wanting to create a better society for all.



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Latin America Day
Saturday 5th July 2008, 10.30am - 4.30pm
@ the Friends Meeting House, Clarendon Street, Nottingham

Sixty people enjoyed an enlightening and entertaining day at Nottingham's Friends Meeting House in Nottingham on Saturday 5th July. To celebrate International Co-operative Day the Greater Nottingham Co-operative Party had arranged a Latin America Day focussing on co-operatives in central and south America, accompanied by Latin American music and food.

Below are some pictures of the event, and you can also download the final list of speakers, event newsletter and copy of the leaflet at the bottom of the page.