Green Party Conference

Leaving the Green Party Conference, Brighton (well, Hove, actually), I feel a bit flat, mainly because I realise that the imaginative Party Election Broadcast that I was lobbying for is probably not going to be taken up. The scenario that gets enthusiastic endorsements from non-Green Party people is received with polite "Interesting" comments from the Party's decision makers. In the last hour I have thought up an alternative use for the film, so I feel a bit better.


The Green Party is making progress, but the progress is far too slow considering the deteriorating situation in the planet's ice fields and weather patterns. I remind myself that we are a small part of a very big movement, and that a shift is taking place in peoples' consciousness, that social catastrophe theory predicts that social changes are unpredictable, and that the politicians will awake from there slumber when something like the Great Flood of London takes place, but even so, it is hard to watch our beautiful home being trashed by ignorance, greed and militarism, but even so, it is difficult to maintain optimism.

The train journey from Hove to London is occupied with a conversation with Andy Hewett, the Party's new Campaigns Coordinator, who is intelligent, committed and energetic. Good. We discuss the Police Violence problem, and hatch out a little plan.

Came home knackered, slept a long time, and today had a meeting with Fred and Olice on a YouTube scheme to help save the planet. Can't keep away from it...

Green Party l

Blogging from the Green Party Conference at Hove. It is a wonderful experience, with an enormous sense of unity, common purpose and progress. The plenary debates and workshops are crisp and clear, there is no tension at all between the old and new, the centre and the local, and everyone is happy, at one with themselves and each other. There are masses of journalists from all the major national and international outlets here, asking searching yet intelligent and balanced questions regarding our policies; they seem genuinely excited by the notion that there is a political party that is developing policies, unalloyed by corporate donations, to create a sustainable and happy future for mankind.

Outside the sun is shining, and the clouds are scudding by, bearing seagulls swooping and wheeling, pure expressions of freedom. Among the seagulls I thought I noticed a couple of round pink mammals with flat round noses joining them in the joy of flight.

The paper holds their folded faces to the floor

I feel a bit jaded news-wise today, so I amble over to BBC News to find out what's going on.
This:

1. No bomber release cover-up - PM (sure, Gordon, we believe you)
   

2. Blast kills top Afghan official (Afghan deputy Intelligence chief)
   

3. Boys 'wanted to blow up school' (and be like Columbine)
   

• Princes' 'own phones were hacked' (Wills and Harry, hacked by a News of the World hack)
  

• TV presenter jailed for two years (for using a pole on someone)
  

• Killer wins bid for birthmark op (he killed two elderly people, and his port wine stain led to him being bullied at school, hence to his violent temper. I doubt that the surgery will cure his temper.)
  

• Sixth arrest over £40m jewel raid (Yawn)
  

• Pfizer agrees record fraud fine ("Pfizer illegally promoted four drugs and caused false claims to be submitted to government healthcare programmes for uses that were not medically accepted.")

• BP in 'giant' new oil discovery (O dear God, spare us)
  

• Alan Davies 'takes 25% pay cut' (Who he?)
  

• Nude plinth man sparks complaint (I surmise that sparks from a nearby bonfire endangered his bush)

I mean, what can you say? "The paper holds their folded faces to the floor / and every day the paper boy brings more".

On the brighter side, I did enjoy the Murdoch sprog's attack on the BBC, because it shows he is worried about the future of the newspaper industry.