Los Verdes de Orihuela issued the following press release, dated the 24th June 2009, following my resignation statement.
"The Los Verdes (The Green Party) of Orihuela and Orihuela Costa are very surprised by the recent resignation of Elliot Sampford as English spokesperson of Los Verdes and as a member of the Los Verdes of Orihuela Costa. We regret his decision but we respect it as a democratic decision freely taken on his behalf. We are very grateful for the time he dedicated to the Party.
As most people living in Orihuela Costa realise, there are many issues and problems that require solutions. Most, if not all, of these will not be solved overnight and Los Verdes will continue to press both the ruling party and other interested organisations to ensure a satisfactory outcome.
Los Verdes will continue fighting and proposing those improvements that the citizens transmit to us, in order that Orihuela Costa gets the services and quality of life that it, and they, deserve. In this sense, one of our present concerns is the negotiations taking place regarding the proposed recycling depot adjacent to the Entre Golf urbanization, since no decision has been taken by the Ayuntamiento until now. We are involved in an ongoing discussion process with the neighbours/owners and the authorities about this issue, in order to advance and emphasize the Los Verdes environmental principles.
In addition, we would like to highlight that at the European Parliament, the Group European Greens advanced from 43 MEPs in 2004 to 47 MEPs in 2009; this is also as a direct result of our commitment at local level according to our policy " think globally, act locally ". We commit to monitor the work at the European level of our Spanish (based in Valencia) MEP Pura Peris during the legislative period 2009 - 2014.
Los Verdes are presently the third political force in the Ayuntamiento of Orihuela, and we will continue to serve those who live in the district; this is our main goal. Our 3 Councillors and the Orihuela Costa Working Group are at your disposal for any requirement.”
There are three main points in the document that need clarification.
"are very surprised by the recent resignation of Elliot Sampford”
If they were surprised they obviously didn't read the emails I sent them properly and in addition chose to ignore the views I expressed to the other members of the Orihuela Costa Working Group and Councillor Monserrate Guillén (in relation to the recycling collection depot).
On the 3rd June I sent them the following letter in relation to the European elections and the meaning of the penultimate paragraph is quite clear.
"In answer to the email from Valencia about the article on the blog. At least it shows they read it.
I wrote and posted, as the editor, the article onto the Los Verdes in Orihuela Costa blog.
Nowhere in the article do I suggest people vote for another party. The 'Europa de los Pueblos - Verdes' is an electoral coalition list of candidates, from different parties, who want to become MEPs, it is not a single party list. It is not a Los Verdes list. I am not suggesting people vote against the Green Party in Spain or the European Green Party. I am pointing out that if people want to vote for a list of only Green Party members then 'Europa de los Pueblos - Verdes' is not the answer.
What is Valencia afraid of, if they are right.
At the request of Ulla y Gérard I have removed it. I do not want them to suffer any consequences as a result of my action in expressing my views, as a member of Los Verdes, on the Los Verdes in Orihuela Costa blog. There is no other reason.
The article will continue to appear on my personal blog as my right of free speech in a democracy.
On a personal basis I will not be supporting or recommending the coalition of Europa de los Pueblos-Verdes in the European elections for the reason stated in my article. I am not aware that I stated any facts that were untrue.
It is all very well Valencia being absolutely outraged, but so am I. As a member of Los Verdes my opinion was not sort by any representatives of the party either locally or regionally in the making of the decision to form this coalition.
I note that you say that Los Verdes de Orihuela is not campaigning for 'Europa de los Pueblos - Verdes'. Why not?
It is not logical to maintain a prudent silence. If you believe in the coalition then you should be speaking out to promote and support the coalition list, as I understand Torrevieja is..
I do not believe in the coalition and have said so, and will continue to say so if asked. I support the European Green Party principles and policies. I do not and will not support policies of the other parties in the coalition list. I will not ask voters to cast their votes to help to elect members of the other parties as MEPs.
I have been asked personally and by email several times how Orihuela Costa voters can vote to get Los Verdes (The Green Party) candidates elected as MEPs. In my opinion I have answered them truly. I will not mislead them into thinking they are voting purely for the Green Party if they vote 'Europa de los Pueblos – Verdes'.
I believe in the Green Party policies and principles, I believe in telling supporters of Los Verdes the truth, I do not believe in misleading them by omission of facts. I will not compromise my principles to support the aims of the coalition.
I will be reviewing any future involvement and membership I may have with Los Verdes de Pais Valencia. This may naturally have an effect upon my future work with Los Verdes de Orihuela here in Orihuela Costa. Before the suggestion is made that there is any "chantaje" intended on my part, there is not, it is fact.
I trust you will pass on my comments, including your statement that "Una cosa es que no hagamos campaña a favor de "Europa de los Pueblos-Los Verdes", to Valencia”
In a further email on the 5th June I wrote:
"We are not in agreement on this matter. If Los Verdes Orihuela are not in agreement with the coalition then we should make this known to the public of Orihuela municipality and not just keep quiet. We should not let them think our silence is a sign of approval.
I believe the best action is to close this debate and move on to whatever the future holds, I hope you agree.”
"proposed recycling depot adjacent to the Entre Golf urbanization",
At least Los Verdes now state that "no decision has been taken by the Ayuntamiento until now” whereas during the meeting with residents of Entre Golf R6B on the 4th May 2009 they stated through Gérard Perret that "The proposal to exchange the two areas of land has been put to the PP party and it has now been accepted,” which misled the neighbours/owners.
Los Verdes state that “We are involved in an ongoing discussion process with the neighbours/owners”. This is not true. I have spoken to Mr Wally Stewartson, Chairman of the Community of Owners R6B, today (29th June 2009) and he confirmed that there has not been any communication from Los Verdes since the meeting on the 4th May 2009.
How is this an ongoing discussion?
Los Verdes have not bothered to communicate with the residents even just to say 'we are sorry to tell you that the information we gave you during our one and only meeting with you was unconfirmed and almost certainly wrong'
"our Spanish (based in Valencia) MEP Pura Peris during the legislative period 2009 – 2014."
Los Verdes de Orihuela is a member of the Los Verdes de Pais Valencia region which in turn is a member of the Confederation of Los Verdes in Spain. In the European elections campaign the Confederation joined the Europa de Pueblos – Verdes coalition.
The following shows the first ten names of the 50 prospective candidates of the EdP-V coalition election list.
EUROPA DE LOS PUEBLOS-VERDES
1. Don Oriol Junqueras Vies (ERC).
2. Doña Ana Miranda Paz (BNG).
3. Don Inaki Irazabalbeitia Fernández (ARALAR).
4. Doña Pura Peris García (LOS VERDES).
5. Don Sabin Intxaurraga Mendibil (EA).
6. Don Miguel Martínez Tomey (CHA).
7. Don Ramon Àngel Quetgles Ramis (ENTESA PER MALLORCA).
8. Doña Marta Rovira Vergés (ERC).
9. Don Alberte Souto Souto (BNG).
10. Doña Leticia Crespo Mir (CHA).
The coalition received sufficient votes on the 7th June 2009 to elect ONE and only one MEP and that automatically in a “closed list” is the first candidate Sr. Oriol Junqueras. He is the MEP not Pura Peris as stated by Los Verdes. A point to note is that the candidates in position 2 & 3 would be elected before Sra. Peris.
These three examples clearly show that Los Verdes have a tendancy to be economical with the truth when it serves their purpose; thereby misleading the public. They are very quick to criticise other political parties for doing the same.
Edit update 3rd July 2009: As at 13.30hrs 3rd July 2009 Mr Wally Stewartson, Chairman of the Community of Owners R6B, confirmed that he still has not received any communication from Los Verdes about the recycling collection depot since the meeting on the 4th May 2009.
Monday, 29 June 2009
Thursday, 25 June 2009
Longer Life Linked To Specific Foods In Mediterranean Diet
Some food groups in the Mediterranean diet are more important than others in promoting health and longer life according to new research published on the British Medical Journal website.
Eating more vegetables, fruits, nuts, pulses and olive oil, and drinking moderate amounts of alcohol, while not consuming a lot of meat or excessive amounts of alcohol is linked to people living longer.
Eating more vegetables, fruits, nuts, pulses and olive oil, and drinking moderate amounts of alcohol, while not consuming a lot of meat or excessive amounts of alcohol is linked to people living longer.
However, the study also claims, that following a Mediterranean diet high in fish, seafood and cereals and low in dairy products were not indicators of longevity.
ScienceDaily (June 24, 2009)
Sunday, 21 June 2009
Recycling Collection Depot - Entre Golf/PAU26
Following my article announcing my Resignation from Los Verdes it seems further clarification is needed in respect of my stance on the subject of the establishment of a recycling collection depot on land next to the Entre Golf residential urbanization and the policy and actions of Los Verdes.
What I find unacceptable is the policy decision of the Executive Committee of 'Los Verdes of Orihuela' to put forward a proposal that is based on the continuation by the Ayuntamiento, and its new contractor UTE-SUFI-LIASUR-GOBANCAST, of the use of land in sector PAU 26, which was agreed in writing in 2007 by PP Councillor Abadia as being illegally used for a rubbish transfer depot. The land in question is designated in the Plan General for Orihuela as a Green Zone, not for industrial or Town Hall use. In order for the location of the recycling depot to be moved to the illegal tip site there would have to be a change of use of the land agreed by the full Town Council. I do not believe that Los Verdes should have suggested or be part of this action. Under no circumstances should the party be prepared to accept either a recycling depot or rubbish tip or both being sited in the centre of a residential area.
In addition to this I believe that the treatment of the residents of Entre Golf R6B, who will be drastically affected by the location of these facilities, by Los Verdes is not acceptable. The basis for this view are as follows.
On the 22nd April 2009 an article was posted onto the Los Verdes in Orihuela weblog announcing the proposed action of the Town Council and the alternative proposal put forward by Los Verdes. I was asked to post a translated version of the article onto the Los Verdes in Orihuela Costa blog which I did under the title Another Environmental Barbarity by the PP . This article was picked up by some of the local English press and published the following week.
On learning of the proposal for the first time through the article on the 22nd April I asked who was the originator of it. It was confirmed to me that it was Gérard Perret, Coordinator of the Orihuela Costa Working Group. As a member of the group I was surprised! (The significance of who originated the idea is relevant when considering the first meeting with the residents of Entre Golf R6B on the 4th May)
On Sunday the 3rd May 2009 the President of the Entre Golf R6B, Wally Stewartson, called at my home to seek clarification of the information on the weblog and in the papers as this was the first the residents had been made aware of the future problem. He asked if representatives of Los Verdes could attend a community meeting to be held the following day to explain the situation to the residents. I confirmed that Los Verdes would attend.
On Monday the 4th May 2009 I, my wife Natalie, Gérard and Ulla Perret, as members of the Orihuela Costa Working Group, attended the meeting on behalf of Los Verdes. The following is a copy of the relevant section of the minutes of the community meeting.
"Visitors: Elliot & Natalie Sampford and Gerard & Ulla Perret (from the Los Verdes party);
The President opened the meeting at 7.30pm by welcoming and introducing the four representatives of Los Verdes (the Green Party), who had been invited to address the committee following the recent press announcement that the ruling PP party on Orihuela council had approved the construction and installation of an ‘ECO-PARK’ on a parcel of tree-covered land, registered as I-EQ-1, on the East side of Calle Ebro, and only a road’s width away from our urbanisation. The building and operation of the Eco-Park is to be carried out by the council’s new refuse contractor, UTE-SUFI-LIASUR-GOBANCAST, who have contracted to have the facility operational within 6 months of their commencement of contract, i.e. by November 2009.
Gerard, ably assisted by the translating capability of his wife Ulla, first explained that the Eco-Park was a municipal facility for the recycling of unwanted household items such as furniture, white goods, television sets and the like, and NOT a refuse dump for domestic and garden rubbish, as had earlier been feared by many people. (Note: The reference to domestic and garden rubbish was based on the unsubstantiated assumption that the illegal refuse transitional dump being carried out on the PAU 26 plot of land would cease and be moved to another location)
As it was now a virtual impossibility to obtain a reversal of the council decision, the way forward was to achieve the best possible situation available to all concerned which, Gerard explained, was to try to get the PP to agree to ‘swap’ this parcel of land with an adjoining area of similar size next to the motorway AP-7, which has already been ecologically destroyed by the illegal activities of the previous refuse contractor, Colsur SL. The proposal to exchange the two areas of land has been put to the PP party and it has now been accepted, much to the relief of everyone. This now means that the site will not be visible from Entre Golf, as it is at a lower level than the original area, and the trees and associated wildlife can remain.
Whilst the detailed plans have not yet been made available to Los Verdes, they understand that the entire site will be fenced and secured at night, with daytime operations during normal working hours only.
The representatives of Los Verdes answered several questions from the members and, after being thanked for their time by the President, left the meeting at around 8pm."
I said in my resignation letter; "During a later meeting with some of the concerned residents, unconfirmed assurances were given by Los Verdes that the Ayuntamiento had accepted the suggestion. This led the residents to believe that the sighting of the recycling collection depot would not have the high level of detrimental effect on their lives they feared and that the illegal rubbish transfer point within PAU 26 was to cease. This I believe gave them a false sense of hope." and the highlighted quotes in the minutes of the meeting clearly show that the meeting was given unconfirmed assurances by Gérard Perret, originator of the Los Verdes proposal, on behalf of the party. Natalie and I were only informed of the supposed decision of the PP a few minutes before the start of the meeting. Had we been given greater notice and the opportunity we would have strongly advised against stating uncomfirmed information to the meeting.
On the 5th May 2009 I sent the following email to Gérard and Ulla Perret (members of the Orihuela Costa Working Group);
Hi, Is Monserrate going to issue a press release about the change of location of the ecoparque and the removal of the illegal tip to a new site, or are you going to write something for me to put on the blog? Elliot
No press release or draft article was ever received. I was not prepared to personally write an article based on unconfirmed information.
On the 15th May I sent an email to my erstwhile colleagues asking them if;
Is the intended action of the PP Council to locate the rubbish transfer dump and the recycling collection depot on this site the thin end of the wedge?
Once a precedent has been created to use this land in the middle of residential areas for industrial use will it become a MEGA RUBBISH COLLECTION AND HANDLING CENTRE for Orihuela Costa?
I most sincerely hope my fears for this area are wrong but knowing how the PP Council works I don't believe I am! Please let it be that I am wrong.
What I find unacceptable is the policy decision of the Executive Committee of 'Los Verdes of Orihuela' to put forward a proposal that is based on the continuation by the Ayuntamiento, and its new contractor UTE-SUFI-LIASUR-GOBANCAST, of the use of land in sector PAU 26, which was agreed in writing in 2007 by PP Councillor Abadia as being illegally used for a rubbish transfer depot. The land in question is designated in the Plan General for Orihuela as a Green Zone, not for industrial or Town Hall use. In order for the location of the recycling depot to be moved to the illegal tip site there would have to be a change of use of the land agreed by the full Town Council. I do not believe that Los Verdes should have suggested or be part of this action. Under no circumstances should the party be prepared to accept either a recycling depot or rubbish tip or both being sited in the centre of a residential area.
In addition to this I believe that the treatment of the residents of Entre Golf R6B, who will be drastically affected by the location of these facilities, by Los Verdes is not acceptable. The basis for this view are as follows.
On the 22nd April 2009 an article was posted onto the Los Verdes in Orihuela weblog announcing the proposed action of the Town Council and the alternative proposal put forward by Los Verdes. I was asked to post a translated version of the article onto the Los Verdes in Orihuela Costa blog which I did under the title Another Environmental Barbarity by the PP . This article was picked up by some of the local English press and published the following week.
On learning of the proposal for the first time through the article on the 22nd April I asked who was the originator of it. It was confirmed to me that it was Gérard Perret, Coordinator of the Orihuela Costa Working Group. As a member of the group I was surprised! (The significance of who originated the idea is relevant when considering the first meeting with the residents of Entre Golf R6B on the 4th May)
On Sunday the 3rd May 2009 the President of the Entre Golf R6B, Wally Stewartson, called at my home to seek clarification of the information on the weblog and in the papers as this was the first the residents had been made aware of the future problem. He asked if representatives of Los Verdes could attend a community meeting to be held the following day to explain the situation to the residents. I confirmed that Los Verdes would attend.
On Monday the 4th May 2009 I, my wife Natalie, Gérard and Ulla Perret, as members of the Orihuela Costa Working Group, attended the meeting on behalf of Los Verdes. The following is a copy of the relevant section of the minutes of the community meeting.
"Visitors: Elliot & Natalie Sampford and Gerard & Ulla Perret (from the Los Verdes party);
The President opened the meeting at 7.30pm by welcoming and introducing the four representatives of Los Verdes (the Green Party), who had been invited to address the committee following the recent press announcement that the ruling PP party on Orihuela council had approved the construction and installation of an ‘ECO-PARK’ on a parcel of tree-covered land, registered as I-EQ-1, on the East side of Calle Ebro, and only a road’s width away from our urbanisation. The building and operation of the Eco-Park is to be carried out by the council’s new refuse contractor, UTE-SUFI-LIASUR-GOBANCAST, who have contracted to have the facility operational within 6 months of their commencement of contract, i.e. by November 2009.
Gerard, ably assisted by the translating capability of his wife Ulla, first explained that the Eco-Park was a municipal facility for the recycling of unwanted household items such as furniture, white goods, television sets and the like, and NOT a refuse dump for domestic and garden rubbish, as had earlier been feared by many people. (Note: The reference to domestic and garden rubbish was based on the unsubstantiated assumption that the illegal refuse transitional dump being carried out on the PAU 26 plot of land would cease and be moved to another location)
As it was now a virtual impossibility to obtain a reversal of the council decision, the way forward was to achieve the best possible situation available to all concerned which, Gerard explained, was to try to get the PP to agree to ‘swap’ this parcel of land with an adjoining area of similar size next to the motorway AP-7, which has already been ecologically destroyed by the illegal activities of the previous refuse contractor, Colsur SL. The proposal to exchange the two areas of land has been put to the PP party and it has now been accepted, much to the relief of everyone. This now means that the site will not be visible from Entre Golf, as it is at a lower level than the original area, and the trees and associated wildlife can remain.
Whilst the detailed plans have not yet been made available to Los Verdes, they understand that the entire site will be fenced and secured at night, with daytime operations during normal working hours only.
The representatives of Los Verdes answered several questions from the members and, after being thanked for their time by the President, left the meeting at around 8pm."
I said in my resignation letter; "During a later meeting with some of the concerned residents, unconfirmed assurances were given by Los Verdes that the Ayuntamiento had accepted the suggestion. This led the residents to believe that the sighting of the recycling collection depot would not have the high level of detrimental effect on their lives they feared and that the illegal rubbish transfer point within PAU 26 was to cease. This I believe gave them a false sense of hope." and the highlighted quotes in the minutes of the meeting clearly show that the meeting was given unconfirmed assurances by Gérard Perret, originator of the Los Verdes proposal, on behalf of the party. Natalie and I were only informed of the supposed decision of the PP a few minutes before the start of the meeting. Had we been given greater notice and the opportunity we would have strongly advised against stating uncomfirmed information to the meeting.
On the 5th May 2009 I sent the following email to Gérard and Ulla Perret (members of the Orihuela Costa Working Group);
Hi, Is Monserrate going to issue a press release about the change of location of the ecoparque and the removal of the illegal tip to a new site, or are you going to write something for me to put on the blog? Elliot
No press release or draft article was ever received. I was not prepared to personally write an article based on unconfirmed information.
On the 15th May I sent an email to my erstwhile colleagues asking them if;
Los Verdes had had a meeting with PP Councillor Abadia about the recycling collection depot;
had he confirmed the change of location from the I-EQ plot of land to the PAU 26 sector and the removal of the illegal rubbish tip / transitional depot;
does Los Verdes have a letter of confirmation or only a verbal assurance (noting that in September 2007 Clr Abadia wrote a letter stating that the illegal tip on PAU 26 would be closed and yet is still open);
are we going to issue a press release with all the details yet, so that I can write an article for the weblog. We don't want to say something that isn't the truth
On the 16th May 2009 I received the following email from Councillor Monserrate Guillén, spokesman for Los Verdes de Orihuela in reply to mine of the 15th May 2009.
¡Hola Elliot!
No. No hemos tenido todavía esa reunión. El Sr. Abadía es un concejal muy "ocupado" y no me ha recibido aún. Espero que el lunes podamos tener la reunión. Hasta que no sepamos cuáles son sus verdaderas intenciones no heré un comunicado de prensa; quizás es lo que él está esperando, pero no podemos caer en su juego. El lunes te diré cómo ha ido.
Un abrazo.
This translates as:
Hello Elliot!
No. We still have not had that meeting yet. Sr. Abadia is a very 'busy' Councillor and he still hasn't met with me. I hope that on Monday we can have the meeting. Until then we don't know what their true intentions are, we will not issue a press release, perhaps that is what he is waiting for, but we can not fall into their game. On Monday, I will tell you how it went.
Regards.
This clearly shows that 12 days after the meeting with the residents Los Verdes still did not know what the actions of the Town Hall would be. Yet the minutes of the meeting with the residents states; "The proposal to exchange the two areas of land has been put to the PP party and it has now been accepted" I believe that statement should never have been made to the residents during the meeting by Gérard Perret on behalf of Los Verdes.
As far as I am aware at this time it would seem that the Ayuntamiento has not accepted the Los Verdes proposal and is intending to continue to operate the illegal rubbish transfer depot and the planned recycling collection depot from the land currently occupied in the PAU 26 'Green zone' land. With the two functions being carried out at one location this will result in a 24 hour a day operational site not as the residents were told "daytime operations during normal working hours only."
In conclusion the reasons for my dissatisfaction with Los Verdes de Orihuela on this matter are:
Los Verdes should pursue the closure and removal of the illegal rubbish dump and transfer point in the PAU 26 sector.
Los Verdes should have discussed the planned site of the recycling collection depot on the I-EQ-1 plot of land with the property owners of the Entre Golf urbanization, and others close by, who will be affected before putting forward their alternative proposal. It is their (residents) lives that will be directly and drastically affected and they weren't consulted.
Los Verdes should have rejected outright the planned site of a recycling collection depot (industrial site) on land next to peoples homes.
Los Verdes should not have told the residents at the meeting on the 4th May that the PP Council had agreed to their proposal, and other assumptions, without factual confirmation. This led the residents to a conclusion of a false sense of hope and security.
Los Verdes should not be adopting a 'prudent silence', as they did with the European election campaign, but should report back to the residents to warn them that they (Los Verdes) have reason to believe that the PP Council is in fact looking to operate both the rubbish transition depot and the recycling collection depot from the land close to their properties 24 hours a day. (As at the 16th June Los Verdes had still not warned the residents that the information given on the 4th May was most probably, in my opinion almost certainly, invalid. On that date, having resigned from Los Verdes, I was free to inform the President of the community the latest information I had received from my former colleagues.)
Is the intended action of the PP Council to locate the rubbish transfer dump and the recycling collection depot on this site the thin end of the wedge?
Once a precedent has been created to use this land in the middle of residential areas for industrial use will it become a MEGA RUBBISH COLLECTION AND HANDLING CENTRE for Orihuela Costa?
I most sincerely hope my fears for this area are wrong but knowing how the PP Council works I don't believe I am! Please let it be that I am wrong.
Tuesday, 16 June 2009
Resignation from Los Verdes de Pais Valencia
Yesterday was important in my life in Orihuela Costa. I have worked on a voluntary basis for the Los Verdes de Orihuela (local Green Party) since early 2007 and a member of the party, and for approximately the last year and a half I have acted as the English contact and spokesman for the Orihuela Costa Working Group of the party. I now find that I am unable to continue to offer my time and work for the party because of recent policy decisions made by the local and regional executive management committees. I have therefore resigned as a member of the Los Verdes party.
The following is the wording of my resignation email.
Further to my recent correspondence in relation to the appalling actions of the Executive Committee of Los Verdes de Pais Valencia, and the ineffective campaigning decision of the Executive Committee of Los Verdes de Orihuela, in respect of the European elections, I have had to re-appraise my future involvement with Los Verdes.
The following is the wording of my resignation email.
Further to my recent correspondence in relation to the appalling actions of the Executive Committee of Los Verdes de Pais Valencia, and the ineffective campaigning decision of the Executive Committee of Los Verdes de Orihuela, in respect of the European elections, I have had to re-appraise my future involvement with Los Verdes.
In the light of the recent policy decision of the Orihuela Executive concerning the proposed location by the Ayuntamiento of a recycling collection depot within the plot of land registered as I-EQ-1 within the PAU-26 Sector 2 of Orihuela Costa, and the continued functioning of the illegal rubbish transfer point within PAU 26, I have had to re-appraise my future involvement with Los Verdes.
I find it extremely difficult to be a member of a regional Los Verdes party whose Executive Committee was prepared to damage the Green Party policies, principles and name throughout Valencia and Spain for I believe various dubious, unsustainable reasons by joining the Europa de los Pueblos – Verdes, (leftist, separatist and nationalist) election coalition. If they wanted to promote the Green Party as a credible political united force in Spain then they should have been part of the Los Verdes – Grupo Verde Europeo campaign. A truly Green Party movement campaign.
I find it extremely difficult to be a member of a local Los Verdes party whose Executive Committee whilst not being in agreement with the Edp-V coalition, was not prepared to speak out to the electorate, but was prepared to make a decision to sit on the fence, do nothing and say nothing, so as not to upset the regional leaders. The policy of 'prudente silencio' was unacceptable. It was a non-policy. Los Verdes de Orihuela failed, through fear of contradicting the Mesa de Valencia, to promote the European Green Party policies during the election campaign. It was the action of an ineffective Executive Committee.
I do not agree with the alternative location proposal for the recycling depot put forward to the Ayuntamiento by Los Verdes, without I would point out any prior consultation with the residents that will be directly affected, for the recycling depot. The proposal fails to protect either the quality of life of the residents or the environment of the area. It is an unacceptable compromise of principles. During a later meeting with some of the concerned residents, unconfirmed assurances were given by LV that the Ayuntamiento had accepted the suggestion. This lead the residents to believe that the sighting of the recycling collection depot would not have the high level of detrimental effect on their lives they feared and that the illegal rubbish transfer point within PAU 26 was to cease. This I believe gave them a false sense of hope. Time has now indicated that the Ayuntamiento has not accepted the LV proposal. I believe, as I stated at the time of learning of the proposal to fellow members of the Orihuela Costa Working Group and to Monserrate Guillén, that Los Verdes should have rejected outright the placing of the recycling depot within a residential area, and should be insisting that the rubbish transfer point is closed and the environment restored to its natural state, in accordance with the letter received in September 2007 from the Ayuntamiento.
I believe that the work I have carried out with Los Verdes of Orihuela since early 2007 in Orihuela Costa has in the first instant, which was the main objective, improved the quality of life for the residents and in the second, as a consequence, built a reputation in Orihuela Costa of Los Verdes as a party whose work and word can be respected. I believe all the policy decisions mentioned above contradict this view of the party.
I have come to the conclusion therefore that as I am in strong disagreement with the decisions of the current Executive committees at both the regional and municipal levels in recent times there is no alternative but to inform you of my decision to terminate my membership of Los Verdes de Pais Valencia and therefore Los Verdes de Orihuela. I am no longer prepared to offer my time and voluntary work to the current Los Verdes party.
Monday, 15 June 2009
Summer Jellyfish Threat
It seems that it doesn't matter whether holiday makers visit the beaches of the UK or Spain the threat of the jellyfish is there!
Jellyfish head for UK in bumper numbers
Dangerous and even deadly jellyfish are poised to enter British waters in bumper numbers this summer, scientists are warning. Bathers on UK beaches are being warned to watch out after an unusually high number of early sightings, ahead of the usual summer peak.
Blooms of jellyfish covering 62 square miles (160 sq km) – or the size of 22,167 Wembley football pitches – have already been spotted off the coast of Wales. Experts believe the number of jellyfish in UK waters has increased sharply in recent years, possibly as a result of warming seas linked to climate change, or a decline in some fish stocks which reduces competition for food.
Jasper Copping, Daily Telegraph
Spain warns of summer jellyfish invasion on Mediterranean beaches
Visitors to Spain's beaches have been warned of an influx of stinging jellyfish off the Mediterranean coast this summer. Holidaymakers are being warned to be vigilant when they take to the water and beware of the stinging menace in the shallows.
For the first time in a decade the potentially deadly Portuguese Man o' War, which are not strictly jellyfish but floating colonies of microscopic hydrozoans, has been spotted close to the beaches of the Costa del Sol. Scientists fear the creatures could spread along the coast of Spain and invade waters around the Balearic Islands after venturing away from its north Atlantic habitat and through the Strait of Gibraltar.
Fiona Govan, Daily Telegraph
Jellyfish head for UK in bumper numbers
Dangerous and even deadly jellyfish are poised to enter British waters in bumper numbers this summer, scientists are warning. Bathers on UK beaches are being warned to watch out after an unusually high number of early sightings, ahead of the usual summer peak.
Blooms of jellyfish covering 62 square miles (160 sq km) – or the size of 22,167 Wembley football pitches – have already been spotted off the coast of Wales. Experts believe the number of jellyfish in UK waters has increased sharply in recent years, possibly as a result of warming seas linked to climate change, or a decline in some fish stocks which reduces competition for food.
Jasper Copping, Daily Telegraph
Spain warns of summer jellyfish invasion on Mediterranean beaches
Visitors to Spain's beaches have been warned of an influx of stinging jellyfish off the Mediterranean coast this summer. Holidaymakers are being warned to be vigilant when they take to the water and beware of the stinging menace in the shallows.
For the first time in a decade the potentially deadly Portuguese Man o' War, which are not strictly jellyfish but floating colonies of microscopic hydrozoans, has been spotted close to the beaches of the Costa del Sol. Scientists fear the creatures could spread along the coast of Spain and invade waters around the Balearic Islands after venturing away from its north Atlantic habitat and through the Strait of Gibraltar.
Fiona Govan, Daily Telegraph
Monday, 8 June 2009
European Election Results - Orihuela
I would like to thank all those residents in the municipalities of Orihuela, Torrevieja and surrounding towns who voted for the Green Party by voting for Los Verdes - Grupo Verde Europeo in the elections on the 7th June 2009.
Unfortunately Los Verdes - Grupo Verde Europeo (LV-GVE) were not succesful in getting a MEP elected. A excellent total of 87,088 votes were received on Sunday. This would have been considerably higher, if it were not for the presence of some regional Green parties joining the coalition of the Europa de los Pueblos-Verdes (EdP-V {ERPV-EV}) and wasting Los Verdes votes by campaigning for it.
I hope the Green Party throughout Spain learns from this damaging lack of unity in these elections and gets its act together for future national elections.
Unfortunately the history of politics in Spain, and in particular the Green Party, results in the 'Old Guard' of the regional groups clinging to the protectionism of their positions, to the detriment of the Green Party as a strong and effective political force throughout the country.
The effective actions and reputations of local municipal Los Verdes parties, such as in Orihuela and Torrevieja, can so easily be diminished or negated in the minds of the electorate, by the regional separatism of the 'old world thinking' , supposedly, leaders of a modern forward looking Green Party. It is time to give way to the up and coming younger party members who are seeking for this national united Green Party.
Below are the results for the Orihuela and Torrevieja Municipalities for your information. You can see that the LV-GVE received more votes than the Edp-V coalition in both towns
Orihuela Results
Torrevieja Results
Unfortunately Los Verdes - Grupo Verde Europeo (LV-GVE) were not succesful in getting a MEP elected. A excellent total of 87,088 votes were received on Sunday. This would have been considerably higher, if it were not for the presence of some regional Green parties joining the coalition of the Europa de los Pueblos-Verdes (EdP-V {ERPV-EV}) and wasting Los Verdes votes by campaigning for it.
I hope the Green Party throughout Spain learns from this damaging lack of unity in these elections and gets its act together for future national elections.
Unfortunately the history of politics in Spain, and in particular the Green Party, results in the 'Old Guard' of the regional groups clinging to the protectionism of their positions, to the detriment of the Green Party as a strong and effective political force throughout the country.
The effective actions and reputations of local municipal Los Verdes parties, such as in Orihuela and Torrevieja, can so easily be diminished or negated in the minds of the electorate, by the regional separatism of the 'old world thinking' , supposedly, leaders of a modern forward looking Green Party. It is time to give way to the up and coming younger party members who are seeking for this national united Green Party.
Below are the results for the Orihuela and Torrevieja Municipalities for your information. You can see that the LV-GVE received more votes than the Edp-V coalition in both towns
Orihuela Results
| Partidos | Votos | Porcentaje | ||
| PP | 15789 | 65,64% | ||
| PSOE | 6668 | 27,72% | ||
| UPyD | 431 | 1,79% | ||
| EUPV-IR | 234 | 0,97% | ||
| LV-GVE | 233 | 0,97% | ||
| CDL | 71 | 0,30% | ||
| AES | 51 | 0,21% | ||
| ERPV-EV-(Edp-V) | 45 | 0,19% |
Torrevieja Results
| Partidos | Votos | Porcentaje | ||
| PP | 9267 | 53,72% | ||
| PSOE | 6421 | 37,23% | ||
| EUPV-IR | 365 | 2,12% | ||
| UPyD | 313 | 1,81% | ||
| IZAN-RG | 204 | 1,18% | ||
| LV-GVE | 199 | 1,15% | ||
| ERPV-EV-(Edp-V) | 47 | 0,27% |
Sunday, 7 June 2009
Greens make further progress in county elections
In the county elections in the UK on the 4th June the Green Party continued to make steady progress.
The party made its breakthrough onto four county councils - Cambridgeshire (1 seat), Devon (1), Gloucestershire (1) and Suffolk (2).
In Norfolk the Greens held 2 seats and gained 5.
In Lancashire the party successfully defended 1 seat and gained a second. Lancaster Greens also held a city council seat in a by-election, and continue to hold 12 seats on the city council.
Unfortunately the Greens had effectively lost 4 seats before the campaign began, due to council reorganisation and boundary changes (in Eastern and North East regions). The only unexpected loss was 3 out of the 5 Green Party seats on Oxfordshire County Council.
Greens gain most at Labour and LibDem expense
The Green Party ended the campaign with 123 councillors on 42 councils, up from 119 on 41.
Of the Green Party's gains, 7 were from Labour, 2 from the LibDems and 1 from the Conservatives. This too continues a familiar pattern.
The party's steady progress in the 2009 elections was reflected in recruitment, with an 8.5% growth in membership during the six weeks of the campaign.
Greens look forward to the general election
The single most encouraging result was in Norfolk, where the Greens won more votes than any other party not only in the Norwich South parliamentary constituency, but also throughout the Norwich City Council area. This bodes well for the target constituency of Norwich South, which will be contested by Adrian Ramsay, the Green Party's deputy leader and currently leader of the opposition on Norwich City Council.
And in Lancashire, in the Lancaster and Fleetwood target constituency the Greens outpolled everyone except the Conservatives.
World Environment Day 2009
World Environment Day (WED) was established by the UN General Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment.
Commemorated yearly on 5 June, WED is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action. The day's agenda is to:
- Give a human face to environmental issues;
- Empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development;
- Promote an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues;
- Advocate partnership which will ensure all nations and peoples enjoy a safer and more prosperous future.
The theme for WED 2009 is 'Your Planet Needs You-UNite to Combat Climate Change'. It reflects the urgency for nations to agree on a new deal at the crucial climate convention meeting in Copenhagen some 180 days later in the year, and the links with overcoming poverty and improved management of forests.
This year’s host is Mexico which reflects the growing role of the Latin American country in the fight against climate change, including its growing participation in the carbon markets.
Mexico is also a leading partner in UNEP's Billion Tree Campaign. The country, with the support of its President and people, has spearheaded the pledging and planting of some 25 per cent of the trees under the campaign. Accounting for around 1.5 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, the country is demonstrating its commitment to climate change on several fronts.
Mexican President Felipe Calderon states that the WED celebration will “further underline Mexico's determination to manage natural resources and deal with the most demanding challenge of the 21st century – climate change.”
Monday, 1 June 2009
How to Vote for 'Los Verdes' on the 7th June
I have been asked by many people over the last few days how they can vote for Los Verdes (Green Party) in the European elections here in Spain as the two main parties the PP and the PSOE have been sending out voting lists and they are concerned that nothing has been received from Los Verdes.
As you may be aware in Spain each party puts forward a 'Closed Party List', for the whole of the country, of candidates for the election, made up of candidates selected from different areas of the country. The PP & the PSOE being the two biggest and riches parties in the country have the funds to spend an enormous amount of money on campaign literature. This includes sending out copies of the party lists.
The LOS VERDES - GRUPO VERDE EUROPEO campaign unfortunately does not have the same level of funds.
On the 7th June, when you vote, in the polling stations there will be election lists for every one of the parties throughout Spain that are included in the election. When you vote you select the party list of your chose, put it in a voting envelope, and this is then put in the ballot box. It is the same procedure as the local elections. (Remember to take your passport as identification with you)
If you wish to vote to elect true Los Verdes (Green Party) MEPs then select the 'LOS VERDES - GRUPO VERDE EUROPEO' list. The first name on it will be Kristien Lesage, followed by Esteban Cabal Riera and then Josep Lluís Freijo Lizan. You can see the full list at the bottom of this webpage.
Unfortunately in this election there are coalition party lists that may purport to be Los Verdes (Green Party) but are not pure green. They are nothing but a coalition between what some may consider as leftist, separatist, or nationalist parties plus some regional Los Verdes parties who have come together to try to get elected using the green banner.
One such coalition under the name of 'Europa de los Pueblos-Verdes' (Castellano) or 'Europa dels pobles - Verds (Valenciano), comprises of the parties, ERC, BNG, Aralar, Los Verdes (some of the regional groups), Eusko Alkartasuna, Chunta Aragonesista and Entesa per Mallorca.
Do not be fooled this is not a pure Los Verdes (Green Party) list. There are some Los Verdes candidates on the list, from different parts of the country, but only 6 out of a total of 50 are Los Verdes. The first Los Verdes member, Pura Peris, is only in the 4th position of candidates, after the candidates for the ERC, BNG, and Aralar parties. The remaining 5 are allocated much lower in the list.
Under the propotional representation voting system, if this coalition list was to receive sufficient votes to be included in the Spanish national allocation of MEPs, which is very doubtful, in my opinion, then the other party's candidates in positions 1 to 3, with leftist, seperatist or nationlist ambitions would be elected before Sra. Pura Peris.
Don't be fooled by their use of the word 'Verdes' or 'Verds'. They may also use the sunflower logo to tempt you.
In my opinion if you want to vote for the European Green Party policies, and you want your vote to count, and not be wasted, then choose the pure Los Verdes (Green Party) list headed 'LOS VERDES - GRUPO VERDE EUROPEO'. on the 7th June 2009.
As you may be aware in Spain each party puts forward a 'Closed Party List', for the whole of the country, of candidates for the election, made up of candidates selected from different areas of the country. The PP & the PSOE being the two biggest and riches parties in the country have the funds to spend an enormous amount of money on campaign literature. This includes sending out copies of the party lists.
The LOS VERDES - GRUPO VERDE EUROPEO campaign unfortunately does not have the same level of funds.
On the 7th June, when you vote, in the polling stations there will be election lists for every one of the parties throughout Spain that are included in the election. When you vote you select the party list of your chose, put it in a voting envelope, and this is then put in the ballot box. It is the same procedure as the local elections. (Remember to take your passport as identification with you)
If you wish to vote to elect true Los Verdes (Green Party) MEPs then select the 'LOS VERDES - GRUPO VERDE EUROPEO' list. The first name on it will be Kristien Lesage, followed by Esteban Cabal Riera and then Josep Lluís Freijo Lizan. You can see the full list at the bottom of this webpage.
Unfortunately in this election there are coalition party lists that may purport to be Los Verdes (Green Party) but are not pure green. They are nothing but a coalition between what some may consider as leftist, separatist, or nationalist parties plus some regional Los Verdes parties who have come together to try to get elected using the green banner.
One such coalition under the name of 'Europa de los Pueblos-Verdes' (Castellano) or 'Europa dels pobles - Verds (Valenciano), comprises of the parties, ERC, BNG, Aralar, Los Verdes (some of the regional groups), Eusko Alkartasuna, Chunta Aragonesista and Entesa per Mallorca.
Do not be fooled this is not a pure Los Verdes (Green Party) list. There are some Los Verdes candidates on the list, from different parts of the country, but only 6 out of a total of 50 are Los Verdes. The first Los Verdes member, Pura Peris, is only in the 4th position of candidates, after the candidates for the ERC, BNG, and Aralar parties. The remaining 5 are allocated much lower in the list.
Under the propotional representation voting system, if this coalition list was to receive sufficient votes to be included in the Spanish national allocation of MEPs, which is very doubtful, in my opinion, then the other party's candidates in positions 1 to 3, with leftist, seperatist or nationlist ambitions would be elected before Sra. Pura Peris.
Don't be fooled by their use of the word 'Verdes' or 'Verds'. They may also use the sunflower logo to tempt you.
In my opinion if you want to vote for the European Green Party policies, and you want your vote to count, and not be wasted, then choose the pure Los Verdes (Green Party) list headed 'LOS VERDES - GRUPO VERDE EUROPEO'. on the 7th June 2009.
Buoyant Greens launch last big push
Green Party campaigners will be be pulling out all the stops this week, encouraged by the, 31st May 2009, Sunday Telegraph/ICM poll which puts the Greens on 11% - ahead of UKIP nationally for the first time this campaign.
With 11%, the Greens would expect to return two or three new MEPs, as well as holding their existing seats in London and the South East.
In the county elections, the Greens remain confident of gains in Norfolk and Lancashire, capitalising on the strength of city council Green groups in Norwich and Lancaster. But in the South West, Devon Greens may be about to bring off a surprise result, a party spokesperson said today.
A poll published in the Daily Express two weeks ago, commissioned by UKIP and conducted by ComRes, put the Greens on 16% in the South East (including Eastern region) - in third place ahead of both UKIP and the LibDems - but the Sunday Telegraph/ICM poll is the first of this campaign to put the Greens ahead of UKIP nationally.
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