- The Tesco is huge even by their standards and will sit close to sports grounds where there are already massive traffic problems on match days.

- it goes against Trafford Council's own strategy to support local shops

- even the planners admit it would have an adverse impact "on the vitality and viability of Stretford Town Centre"

The Campaign group 'No Mega Tesco' are calling for people to write to the Government Office of the North West, urging the Government to 'call-in' the application; see here for a sample call-in letter.

The link with the Old Trafford cricket ground improvement has clearly had an effect, but the views of local residents should have a far higher value than the sports fans miles away who have been canvassed with a biased view by the Cricket Club. Local petitions against the development have about 1000 signatures against around 340 in favour.

Green Party candidate for Withington constituency, and Chorlton ward, Brian Candeland (pictured discussing the matter with a local resident), said:

"This is a disgrace. It appears local residents have not been sent copies of the committee report despite requests and the submission from the 'No Mega Tesco' campaign group seems to have been ignored completely.

Along with other campaigners I am not against improving the Cricket Ground - indeed I attended the last Ashes test to be held there. But improvements need not, and should not, be done on the back of a project that will damage local shops for miles around. There are other cricket ground improvements taking place around the country, but none are being done on the back of this sort of development. Given the general support for a test ground in the North-West I am sure an alternative route could have been found, had the will been there."

The Financial Transaction Tax would impose a very low tax on financial products such as stocks, bonds and derivatives but raise around £250 billion for investment in international development and climate change.

Gayle (pictured at conference with Green Party Leader Caroline Lucas) said: "This simple tax would have enormous global benefits and I was proud to be one of the proposers of a motion to the Green Party's Spring Conference that the Greens should support the campaign.

"We have all watched as the banks suddenly get profitable again and start to award themselves huge bonuses, yet the rest of the world remains in financial turmoil. Aside from the urgent need to curb the bankers' bonuses, there is a real opportunity to benefit those in most need around the world."

Brian Candeland, Green Party candidate for Manchester Withington, who was also at the Party's spring conference, added "The Green Party has been a long-time supporter of a tax of this nature; it's good to see its growing support as more and more people realise the massive gap between the financial elite and the rest of us"

The motion was passed unanimously by the conference.      

Gayle O'Donovan is Secretary of Manchester Green Party. As an active campaigner on community and green issues, she was involved in the set-up of a number of campaigning groups including 'Call to real Action' and 'Stop Expansion of Manchester Airport'. She is also a member of the Green Party's national campaigns committee.

Currently a geography student at Manchester University, Gayle is concerned about traffic congestion, the lack of quality green spaces and the low level crime currently blighting our community.

Brian Candeland has been an active member of the Green Party for 28 years, and has lived within the Withington constituency for 23 of those years, first in West Didsbury, and now in Chorlton. He was Chair of Manchester Green Party for four years up until January of this year.

Married with two sons, Brian works in information technology, has stood for the Party in elections at all levels and has been involved in numerous green campaigns both locally and beyond.

Justine Hall is now a final year PhD student at the University of Manchester, where her research is looking at the distribution of trees in urban areas. She has run the Young Greens group at the University of Manchester, and wants to see improved liaison between students and the wider community.

Justine has been part of a number of successful campaigns both locally and nationally, ranging from saving parks and open spaces to defending the rights of refugees

Gayle, Brian and Justine join over 250 other candidates around the country; this will be the highest number yet by the Party. They will be standing on a platform of 'Fair is Worth Fighting For' , with policies to create a million green jobs in response to the threat of climate change and protect public services.

The proposal, to build football pitches across the Hardy Farm part of the Meadows, including floodlighting, and an all-weather pitch, had been vigorously opposed by local residents and environmental campaigners in the area. See here for earlier post.

The meeting was witnessed by about 80 members of the Save Chorlton Meadows campaign. As the topic was discussed the councillors on the committee voiced a range of objections to the scheme, and unanimously asked the planning officers to overturn their earlier consideration to approve, and provide reasons for rejection. Before the final decision, which would clearly have been rejection, the developers withdrew their plans and stated that they would not take it to appeal.

Green Party Candidate for Chorlton, Brian Candeland, (pictured at the Meadows) was present at the meeting, and said:

'This is a great victory for people power, and a huge tribute to the enthusiasm and hard work of the Save Chorlton Meadows campaign. Of the very many responses raised in the planning process 87% were opposed to the plans, and the Facebook Group for the campaign achieved over 6000 members. As a result a beautiful local amenity has been preserved for all the community. The cross-Party support in the Chorlton area has also been a great help.

This isn't necessarily the end of the matter however; the developers can always return with revised plans. We support the establishment of a village green on the meadows, to provide future protection.'

Dear Sir Richard,

At the full Council meeting on the 2nd December, you dismissed objections to the decision to expand Manchester Airport, and you down-played the future impact aviation emissions will have on our climate. You erroneously claimed that aviation only accounts for 2% of the UK’s CO2 output and re-confirmed your enthusiastic support for the continued expansion of Manchester Airport. Intentionally or not, you have allied yourself with climate change deniers and the Aviation industry, whilst your opponents are scientists, public opinion and your own government – this is not where you should be.

In 2006, the Centre for Air Transport and the Environment at MMU published a report commissioned by DEFRA which calculated that aviation emissions would contribute between 86% and 128% of the country’s total CO2 budget by 2050, if allowed to expand in line with the 2003 Air Transport white paper. In other words, aviation alone would take up most, if not exceed, our total carbon budget by 2050 if allowed to fully expand.

Last week the world was dismayed when our leaders failed to reach a legally binding agreement at the Copenhagen Climate Change summit. Although you travelled to Copenhagen and presented Manchester City Council’s Climate Change plan, we regard it as flawed as it does not recognise the dangers of expanding Manchester Airport. What’s the point in Manchester City Council attending the summit, only to tell everyone that whilst we are expanding our biggest polluter, the rest of the world should cut back?

You are in a unique position as leader of Manchester City Council and chair of Manchester Airport’s Shareholders Committee to reduce Manchester’s contribution to aviation emissions by halting any further expansion. We urge you to announce a moratorium on any future expansion at Manchester Airport, and cancel the recently approved plan to double air freight capacity.

Yours sincerely,

Peter and Holly Johnson – Threatened residents of Hasty Lane
Jon Harcourt – Threatened resident of Hasty Lane
Anthony Lowe – Rose Cottage, Hasty Lane
John Stewart – Chair, Airport Watch
Liz Snook – Plane Stupid
Robbie Gillett – Stop Expansion at Manchester Airport group
Gayle O’Donovan – Green Party Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, Manchester Central
Dr Mary Di Mauro – Chair, Wythenshawe and Sale East Liberal Democrats
Cllr Martin Eakins – Lib-Dem Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, Wythenshawe and Sale East

James Alden,

Manchester Green Party

Welcome to the new format Manchester Green Party website!. This is now in a similar format to the National and North-West Green Party sites.

At this point special thanks are due to:

• Rachel Wilson, who built and maintained the previous site, which served the Party well over three years.

• Arteth Gray, who migrated the historical content across on to the new site, so all previous news items are available here (under 'News).

The site is likely to see further enhancements and refinements over the coming months, particularly as we head up to the next round of local elections and the general election.

On Thursday the 19th, however, the Council Planning Department approved the demolition of 200 year old cottages, and a neighbouring beauty spot at Hasty Lane; this to make way for an extra airport freight hanger.

This is in spite of the fact that airfreight has been falling for 2 years (and in the low-carbon city promised in the action plan it should fall much further), and that Wythenshawe councillors (of all Parties) unanimously voted to opposed the plan.

MGP Chair Brian Candeland said

"It is hard to have any confidence in the City Council's ability to make the changes it promises, when it commits such blatant acts of vandalism in almost the same breath. The action plan talks of more green spaces in Manchester, yet this is only one of several examples of threats to existing green spaces across the City. In particular if the Council is serious on climate change, it must wake up to the true impact of the airport."

"It seems almost daily now we hear of more British casualties in Afghanistan. Our armed forces have suffered the bloodiest year of action since the Falklands War and we still have nearly two months to go.

But yet none of the three front benches will have the courage to admit the war in Afghanistan was a mistake from the outset.

There is no moral justification for squandering any more precious lives and resources on this vain colonialist campaign. Bring our troops home now."

The public meeting on "Women, Work and the Recession" was organised by the Green Party's women's group.

Bea Campbell, well-known writer and broadcaster, and Green Party candidate, began by speaking about why women, work and the recession are inherently Green issues. She also said that while capitalism was in crisis, it was women who will suffer most, because of the impact on public services.

Rachel English, Co-ordinator of Women Working Worldwide provided an insight into the effects of the global recession and how it has increased exploitation of low paid female workers; wether it's the veg we eat or the clothes that we wear, chances are it was manufactured or grown by a woman. Zoe Smith from Oxfam spoke about women's poverty in the UK, and described women as the "economic shock absorbers for families"

Sue Bond - national Vice President of the PCS Union said: "Women workers should not have to pay for an economic crisis which is not of their making. PCS is appalled that all three mainstream parties support cuts in public spending in response to the recession, at a time when public services are needed more than ever."

Gayle O'Donovan, (pictured) who chaired the meeting, and who is the Green parliamentary candidate for Manchester Central, said: "The discussion around the recession has tended to be led by men, not least bankers and the politicians who tend to take their lead from bankers. Government response to the recession has prioritised male-dominated sectors, like the car industry. Sectors dominated by women, like retail and caring, are being neglected."

Gayle's blog on the meeting

The EDL claim to be defending English "culture". This is entirely mythical, however - one of their promotion videos invokes the following in doing so: St George (Palestinian), The "English" Lion (African), a Teutonic Knight (German). The EDL version of Englishness is primarily racial, masquerading unconvincingly as a defence of Christian values.

Gayle O'Donovan, Green Party candidate for Hulme, said, "the EDL are culturally illiterate regarding England. What makes them think they are qualified to comment on anyone else?"

"There are problems with how all religions can be interpreted by believers and opponents, this goes for atheism too. However that is no basis for vapid bigotry or hatred against any one faith group."

Brian Candeland, Chair of Manchester Green Party, commented, "the EDL is seeking to build its branding and support on football. They represent an unfair picture of both football and England. The Green Party came 3rd in Manchester at the Euro elections. The BNP were a dismal 6th. Manchester has a proud history of radical politics and mixed communities. Fascist rallies are not welcome here."

Green Party member and UCU environment rep Nigel Woodcock has had his facility-time revoked, as have all UCU reps at the College.

Educational provision is desperately needed in our communities at a time of recession and job losses. Forcing through redundancies and attacking trade unions while boasting of financial security is simply unacceptable.

Manchester Green Party joins huge numbers of residents in the area in opposing the plans (a Facebook Group to Save Chorlton Meadows already has over 1,200 members and is growing by hundreds every day).

MGP Chair (and Chorlton resident), Brian Candeland said "One of my sons formerly played for a local football team and I do understand the need for sports facilities for young people. However, I do not accept that there is an overall shortage in the Chorlton / Didsbury area which would justify this proposal. I know the meadows quite well; this is one of the main accesses to the Mersey Valley and the scheme would have a massive impact on the area.

We call on the council to reject the plans".

For further information on the area see Friends of Chorlton Meadows

Manchester Green Party is saddened by the statements coming out of Manchester Airport this week. Several hundred jobs to go due to the loss of nine of Ryanair’s routes from October. Manchester Green Party campaigns against reckless airport expansion not against the workers, who are in our thoughts at this difficult time. We campaign against those bosses intent on unlimited economic growth at the expense of our planet. As a party keen to push positive long term solutions, we strive to work with unions and workers to develop more sustainable jobs; jobs which maximise quality of life for all.

Over 200,000 people a year are already suffering from the effects of Climate Change due to the ‘go-for-growth’ attitude of the minority. It will be the workers, not the bosses who are hit the hardest by the effects of climate change. These bosses show as little regard for the wages and working conditions of their staff as they do for our planet and this is most evident when they are faced with a choice between their profits and people’s welfare.

Manchester City Council, who have a 55% share in the airport, agree that global rates of air traffic growth are unsustainable in the long term* and they are aware that it faces an uncertain future burdened with rising fuel costs and taxation as well as national and international regulations to combat climate change. Yet knowing all this Manchester City Council support the Airports Master Plan to double passenger numbers and will continue on this path once this recession passes.

We must move our economy away from carbon intensive industries such as aviation. We must make that move now rather than continuing to invest in jobs with no future. We can solve both our economic and environmental crises at the same time by investing in green jobs.

*p45 Call to Action, MCC

Look at causes of swine flu

SWINE flu hysteria is well and truly upon us. Sir Liam Donaldson tells us it is ‘the biggest challenge in a generation for the NHS'. Services like the National Flu Pandemic website are overwhelmed and anyone with a runny nose or sore throat is running to their GP demanding Tamiflu. The chair of the BMA complained ‘most of my time is spent reassuring patients about swine flu than diagnosing them with it'.

The government can slap themselves on the back then. For months they have bombarded us with a lurid advertising campaign and every household has been sent a leaflet explaining what to do if a family member is struck down with the dreaded virus. Fortunately swine flu is actually proving rather mild compared to its related hysteria although there have been some deaths as with any flu outbreak.Having reduced us to a nation of hypochondriacs, perhaps the government could now do something useful.

What is well overdue is a proper investigation into the origins of these animal based viruses that can jump the species barrier to humans. A commission of inquiry was called for by the Green Party as long ago as the avian flu outbreak of 2006 but our advice was not heeded. Still the scientific evidence mounts which strongly points the finger of blame at intensive industrialised farming techniques.

The current swine flu outbreak originated in the Mexican town of Perote which boasts one of the world's largest industrial pig farms holding 950,000 pigs. Factory farms are perfect breeding grounds for lethal strains of virus to evolve. They are not just a threat to world health but also cruel and inhumane. Do we have to wait for millions to die before we do something about them?

(About 25 non unionised staff are occupying the Isle of Wight plant against a planned 625 jobs cut. Vestas say they are shutting down because of lack of demand for wind turbines from the British market and low profit margins!)

Gayle said "We need to demand action from our government. Climate Camp and other supporters have set up camp outside the Isle of Wight plant but we can make a difference here in the North West. Vestas HQ is in Warrington-lets keep the pressure up.

Demand Green Jobs not Dole! Demand Deeds not Words from this Government!

Our future is in renewables! At a time when we urgently need to be investing in renewables we cannot let our most significant manufacturer of wind turbine parts to shut down".

"Many thanks to UAF for inviting a Green Party speaker, it's good to see such an impressive turnout.

I've only a short time and among the things I was asked to mention was The Green Party position on the BNP. Well, they're beneath vermin, and I think I can move on. There are probably some of the twisted misfits in the hall today, and it's as well they know that they are the traitors to this country. They despise freedom and the true diverse character of British people and history.

Not all their voters are racist, but a fair number are. We may as well accept that. We also have to accept that fascism has a mandate now, and this brings many new challenges. If anti-fascists can't be candid about strategic shortcomings now then we are failing in our duty to oppose the menace as well as we can.

Here in the Northwest, the Green Party lost out to the BNP in the race for the last seat by 0.3%. With just 5 more votes in every ward we simply would not be dealing with this sense of urgency today. A key part of The Green Party campaign was based around keeping the fascists out. This was partly due to the anti-racist background of our number 1 candidate. I think I'm typical in the party for being far more gutted that they got in than that we didn't.

We are deeply grateful for local support from Respect and faith communities like The Sikhs who recognised that The Greens had a better chance than larger parties of keeping Griffin out. Respect members worked hard with us as well as UAF, as our members worked with UAF beyond our own campaigning.

In areas like Lancaster with a strong Green presence the BNP didn't do very well. In Manchester the Greens came 3rd in the city, the fascists a poor 6th. That makes me a lot happier about living here. But the region is now contaminated by these filth. The curse arrived via the ballot box and whatever anti-fascist actions take place over the next 5 years, it will only be lifted via the ballot box. The playing field will be very different 5 years from now, but aside from our other strong issues I expect The Green Party will present ourselves as the chance to boot Griffin out, and that will be a well founded claim.

If Greens can win a seat at the general election, most likely Caroline Lucas in Brighton, it will hopefully balance the propaganda effect of 2 fascist MEPs.

The main electoral threat now is clearly at local level. I will speak to the Greater Manchester area, knowing less of the region beyond. In bye-elections shortly before the Euros the BNP had mixed results. Horrifyingly 2nd in Moston, 10 minutes on a bus north of here; But less well in Salford Riverside and only as expected in Newton and Hyde.

Things have changed now. With much more resources than they used to have, and wind in their sails, the fascists will be after a breakthrough seat and there are a disturbing amount of wards that fit the profile.

The difficulty is that the BNP have to be beaten by another single party. If they do the groundwork then at least 2 other parties should to be properly active in that ward, so that there is a non-fascist alternative to any unpopular incumbent. If the fascists get 2nd place in a ward then that is way too dangerous, they'll be the protest vote and will plough resources and activists in.

It is consistent community work that will hold off these people. The fascists are in at the grassroots in quite a few areas. But the truth is that even big parties don't sustain the kind of necessary activity across every danger ward. Not nearly.

Every person here who lives in or near an area of fascist activity needs to be aware of what alternative grass-roots groups exist, and assist where they can. This could be based on politics, culture, environment, faith and more. Anyone who lives in or near a ward with such a threat needs to constantly badger ALL of their councillors to be doing the job properly. Complacency is a great aid to menace. A foundation of community work means that the hugely impressive mass UAF leafleting actions at bye-elections are building on something.

I want to raise one common concern and critique. I trust it can be accepted in the constructive spirit with which it is meant: UAF is definitively non-partisan, that is understandable. But the electoral system is definitively partisan. If we tell people not to vote fascist and to use their vote, it isn't really saying enough to say "anyone" when asked who to vote for instead. To make things worse, the best anti-fascist bet is often an unpopular incumbent party.

It's a circle we have to try and square. For example, during the Euros there could have been more positive information available to people on what other parties stood for, especially the huge range of non mainstream parties. There are other questions about strategy that must be faced up to. I hope we do that today, but I don't have the time for them now and I don't want to be perceived as negative in any way.

That said, we're all gutted. Political reality is harsh, and no matter how well anti-fascists did, we didn't do well enough in these parts. But without the UAF, things could easily have been a lot worse, as in West Midlands where many thousands came out for Hope Not Hate in the fascist stronghold of Stoke, and the BNP failed to take a seat.

The Green Party can augment the struggle against fascism through helping at community level, as well as presenting an alternative programme and analysis which is critical of the economic insanity and political corruption that have aided the fascist so much in recent times.

We all know the credibility of establishment parties is in a mess. It's notable that the BNP made a lot of the bankers having politicians in their pockets. They have always indulged in left rhetoric when it suits them. The threat will continue to grow as hardship mounts, caused by the unsustainable casino and debt economics of mainstream parties.

Beyond our activism we all have to challenge the acceptability of fascism anywhere it rears it's vile head. This could be among neighbours, colleagues and family. But the media has a huge part to play.

The BBC certainly played up the chances of the BNP and gave The Greens much less mention even though we got more votes nationwide. I have strong suspicions that there was a specific high level decision that the BNP were a good story and worthy of hype.

When the establishment is in crisis, a reactionary or a progressive narrative can fill the vacuum. History shows the establishment tend to prefer the former.

All the more reason why progressives must be devoid of sectarianism. We can disagree but we must unite in common cause against the menace. We have had a wake-up call, the anti-fascist movement needs to be broader and stronger than ever. I think activists across many issues at least realise that now."

"Conditions at the prison are appalling, 14-20 to a cell measuring 7m by 7m. Nobel Laureate Mairead McGuire forcibly removed in handcuffs and status unknown."

Among them is Rusholme based Human Rights activist Adie Mormech.

Mr Mormech, 30, was among 21 solidarity activists on board the FreeGaza boat Spirit of Humanity, who were taken prisoner by the Israeli navy after they attempted to take humanitarian aid to Gaza from Cyprus on Monday.

Their boat was surrounded by 6 Israeli warships and the crew and passengers forcibly removed.

The full text of the email received by British supporters is as follows: "sending this fortuitously, could pass this on to relevant contacts pls thx 02/06/09 Now at Ramla prison, Givon, separated from Arab and Al-jazeera passengers, after being kidnapped by Israeli special forces supported by 6 navy gunships in Palestinian waters 18 miles off the Gaza coast.

Unaware of the status of 2 Palestinian Israeli citizens separated on arrest. 4 British nationals including the Captain of the Spirit of Humanity Denis Healey and Adie Mormech, Ishmahil Blagrove and Fathi Jaouadi are being held in the high security Ramla Givon prison where they are also holding former US Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney who was also on board the boat.

Conditions at the prison are appalling, 14-20 to a cell measuring 7m by 7m. Nobel Laureate Mairead McGuire forcibly removed in handcuffs and status unknown. Please raise as much awareness as possible of this injustice."

We also found out where the car park would be situated. Clearly, they responded to the many residents who emailed them with their concerns about the 750-space car park, which was going to be plonked right next to Hornchurch Court. Thanks to residents' pressure, the car park has shrunk to 400 spaces and has been moved over to the other side of Princess Parkway.

Local resident Nigel Woodcock, who is the Secretary of the Hornchurch Court residents' association and Green Party member, said,

"The car park victory is small but significant. However, the plans still involve the removal of the last of our green space, including the destruction of many beautiful mature trees. I want to try to save as much green space as possible, and on the consultation leaflet they've not even given an option for ‘green space', which is highly biased in my opinion.

I'd urge all Hulme residents to fill in a consultation form and to write ‘green space' after ‘Other' on the form - see what they do about that!"

For more information on the plans see here and click here to take part in the survey

According to Amnesty International the weapon has caused over 300 deaths in the USA alone (see here). Many people were shocked by a recent video showing a man in Nottingham being repeatedly tasered and kicked in the head whilst lying on the ground.

MGP Chair Brian Candeland said "I appreciate that the Police have difficult situations to deal with but I am very concerned at this development. Yet again we seem to be sliding into more violent US style policing.

In parallel with this we seem to have a Police force which is becoming less accountable. Already this year we have seen the disgraceful behaviour of Police at the G20 demonstrations and the violent treatment of protestors who merely asked Police to identify themselves. There is a real concern that these weapons will be used against legitimate protestors.

We urge Greater Manchester Police to think again on this."