Food and Drink Issue

Distributed by the Green Party to thousands of homes in Brighton and Hove Food and drink

issue

Find out more about the local Green Party on-line at: www.brightonandhovegreenparty.org.uk Number 29, Autumn 2006 CLONE CITY? Slow cooking? p.6 Our city is losing its independent businesses The rise of ‘slow food’: food as landlords increase and drink festival hits town rents. Starbucks have HIV/AIDS services p.3 opened up on Western Road opposite a local cafe and further east St James’s Street is about to get a brand new Government’s 30% cuts for Sainsbury’s Local. city’s HIV/ AIDS services Are we in danger of War in Lebanon p.8 becoming just another ‘clone city’ like Vanishing shopfront: Bobby Pugh, owner of the renowned Hemp Shop on Gardner Street, says he had “no choice” but to close the shop because of the anywhere else? rising rents now being charged in Brighton’s North Laine shopping area. His business is moving to internet mail order instead: www.thehempshop.co.uk Green campaigner Ben Duncan who first raised Clean-up: the effects of the war the issue of a new on people and ecology supermarket in Brighton’s St James’s Street righton and Hove is in danger of becoming a ‘clone city’ of bland supermarkets and multinational chains while independent retailers are forced out of business, traders warned after BGreens revealed Sainsbury’s is to open a local store on Brighton’s St James's Street. The Sainsbury’s Local outlet, which Street - and Brighton and Hove - the planners had initially thought would be vibrant place that it is.” operated by rival retail giant Tesco, will be Greens agree that people want the firm's fifth store in the city. more convenient retail services with Independent traders and small food man- longer opening hours, but they say local ufacturers are already feeling the pinch. businesses should be protected from One local trader told GreenLeaf: "I'm supermarket giants. “We believe the city alarmed to read about the opening of a council should be working with residents new [chain] supermarket on St James's and traders rather than the multinational Street. When it opens I will be out of giants it seems comfortable doing busi- business overnight.Why hasn't the coun- ness with,” Ben explained. cil made the proposal public knowledge?" For some businesses, it’s already too Greens are angry that the three late. In August The Hemp Shop claimed it Labour councillors who represent the St was forced to close its doors in North James’s Street area of the city failed to Laine because of rising rents fuelled by object to the planning application or tell the big business development of nearby residents and traders what was going on. Jubilee Street. Ben added, "There's more Queens Park Green spokesperson to life than shopping in chain stores - but Ben Duncan said, "The city council should the Labour city council doesn't seem to protect local traders from the onslaught think so. It’s sitting on the sidelines while of multinational big business, but I'm we become another ‘clone town’. I think afraid it seems it doesn't give a fig for the that we deserve much better than this.” independent traders who make St James's page 2 GreenLeaf Autumn 2006 Council ignores residents

Lebanon - Blair’s shame is our shame over city centre parking reen councillors say the city’s Labour-led adding to car traffic. ilitary might will never bring a lasting council has deliberately ignored local Green councillors are also questioning how resolution to the Middle East so long as Gresidents as it presses on with plans to effective the consultation has been, with many con- merge the eight city centre parking zones into stituents saying they were unaware of the changes. politicians fail to understand that human M two large ones despite strong local concerns. As Labour councillors have the support of their suffering and environmental harm will continue, as our The proposal has proved unpopular with many LibDem colleagues, the plans are likely to article on page eight highlights. Shame on US President city centre residents and hundreds of people have be agreed. signed petitions in opposition. Greens say that the The areas most affected are North Laine,West George W. Bush for his sponsorship of the war and for large zones will cause congestion, pollution and Hill, Clifton Hill and streets near Western Road in his $2.2bn per annum military aid to Israel. Shame, increase pressure on parking spaces in the most Brighton. What do you think? Let us know. central areas. People who live further away in the More information is available at the Regency also, on British PM Tony Blair for once again blindly zone may be tempted to drive into the city centre Green website: www.regency-greens.org.uk backing the Bush administration. We are the only country in the world to do so. Labour’s unquestioning appeasement of the Bush administration brings shame on us all. City’s HIV/AIDS budget cuts righton and Hove has just been confirmed as the city with the highest prevalence of BHIV/AIDS in the country. To cut HIV services by a third and substance misuse services by 10% in this context is the act of a callous bureaucracy which our elected politicians - MPs and councillors - should stop.

If you have any comments or would like to advertise, call us on Fun-ttucstic travel 01273 766670 or visit us at W.: www.brightonandhovegreenparty.org.uk E: [email protected] A solution to Brighton & Hove’s traffic problems? City residents are getting used to or write to: GreenLeaf Editor, Brighton and Hove Green Party, the Tuc Tuc, the colourful and low-emission three-wheelers now on our streets. 39-41 Surrey Street, Brighton, BN1 3PB, Opinions expressed in GreenLeaf are not necessarily those of Brighton and Hove Green Party. Copyright is Brighton & Hove has been chosen as Europe’s launch city for this new service, which affirmed. No articles or images to be used without permission. is due to be rolled out across the rest of the UK and Europe by 2008/09. Seals are safe at last Greens and animal rights campaigners are celebrating after the Brighton Sea Life Centre abandoned its plans for a captive seal and otter pen at the aquarium. Brighton & Hove City Council had granted opposed the development that this is planning permission for the pens in May, despite absolutely the last place that these animals strong opposition from campaigners. But as should be housed. reported first in The Argus, the Sea Life Centre has “They would be living in the middle of a withdrawn its plans to build the pens. busy visitor and traffic hotspot, and in a semi Green city councillor Georgia Wrighton said, basement area where they would never expe- “I’m delighted plans for the seal and otter rience the sea.” enclosures have been dropped. Georgia explained that the coalition of Relieved: Councillor “I am glad that the Sea Life Centre seem to campaigners would continue to press for Georgia Wrighton have listened to the concerns raised, and which we clarity on the issue of whether the ‘function’, were told could not be taken into account under the plan- as a place to house animals, could be taken into account ning and licensing regimes. under the planning system for similar developments up and “This was especially frustrating for objectors, who down the country. “There’s clearly a massive gap here that could see no way for their concerns to be considered needs addressing and we will do all we can to press for through the planning process. this.” According to The Argus, the seals have now been “There was a strong feeling among those who housed in another part of the country. GreenLeaf Autumn 2006 page 3 News in Brief Local HIV/AIDS £1k grants for solar heating budget cut by a third £1,000 grants for solar water heating are available from overnment spending cuts Brighton and Hove City Council that have seen the HIV/Aids for homeowners. Gsupport programme in The grants help with the cost of Brighton & Hove slashed will be the installing solar water heating sys- subject of a motion of censure from tems. Full advice and guidance on Green councillors at the next meet- the grant application process is ing of the city council in October. available from trained advisors free The cuts, which have taken spending on 0800 107 4100. from £437,000 in 2002/03 to £307,380 for this financial year, total more than 30% of Caroline Lucas’ the budget if inflation is included. This fol- animal welfare award lows a change in government policy over the past four years to reflect a national The RSPCA has awarded Green increase in HIV/Aids among women and Euro-MP Caroline Lucas The Michael children and a greater concentration of Cllr Bill Randall Kay Award for her contribution to resources to meet their needs. European animal welfare. However, Brighton and Hove, which is Government cuts in the city’s health budget could mean some The UK’s largest animal welfare group home to a lesbian and gay community of patients miss out on life-saving drugs or services singled out the South-East England MEP for about 30,000 people, bucks the national her work to introduce bans for live trend. The annual increase in HIV/Aids in threat to the welfare of those with In another cruel cut, the New exports, animal tests and the sale of cat and the city's gay community is 12%. HIV/Aids in Brighton and Hove," said Labour Government has reduced dog fur. Dr Lucas, who is a vice-president According to a recent report released at Green health scrutiny councillor Bill the city's substance misuse service of the European Parliament’s animal welfare the International HIV Conference in Randall. budget for 2006/07 by 10%. The cut group, said: “I am delighted to receive this Toronto, Brighton and Hove has the high- "It's only the fantastic efforts of the award, and hope I can use it to further my of £267,000 in a city that has been est prevalence of HIV infection in the UK. public and voluntary sector workers work to stamp out animal cruelty.” Last year 920 clients used the servic- involved that keep the programme going. described as the “drug capital of the es of groups supported by the pro- Any further cuts could prove disastrous. UK” means three major projects gramme. The groups include Brighton Like the Terrence Higgins Trust and others, have been shelved: Body Positive, which provides help and we are deeply concerned at Government support to people newly diagnosed with plans to scrap the funding altogether in * A support scheme for young parents with HIV/Aids, Sussex Beacon Day Care and two years time. alcohol and drugs problems. the Terrence Higgins Trust, which offer “We’ll be urging councillors of all * New work with ‘dual diagnosis’ patients practical support to people with the parties to join us in lobbying the who have both mental health and drug use condition and the organisations that work Government to restore and maintain the problems. with them. The programme also funds the allocation for HIV/Aids work in the city. * A new communicable disease initiative that social work element of the city's integrat- This will not be at the expense of women would have focused on Hepatitis A and C ed HIV/Aids team. and children who need support, but in an among substance users. "New Labour's cuts are a serious expanded and funded programme.” Greens campaign for city centre Local Green activists are hard at is a great place to live and work but, work around the city raising issues because it's the heart of the city, it also that matter to people. has special challenges. These include pol- Several areas have announced their lution, parking congestion, community Green prospective candidates for the May safety and late drinking issues. I'm really 2007 city council elections when Greens pleased to have been chosen to contest hope to make major gains on the these council seats alongside my colleague city council. Hermione. One team is in the city-centre Sven Rufus Hermione Roy “We were barely 40 votes off last Regency area which stretches from the time getting a Green councillor elected Palace Pier in the east to the Peace Statue chiatrist, hope to win the area’s two seats so let's make it happen this time." near Hove Lawns in the west. Here, from Labour and the LibDems. Visit the Regency Greens’ website: Green candidates Sven Rufus, an ecology Sven said, "Everyone knows consultant, and Dr Hermione Roy, a psy- Brighton's Regency and sea-front district www.regency-greens.org.uk Neighbourhood Green Nimrod Ping - in memory websites launched

reenLeaf and was about to be declared a Green Visit the recently launched local Green notes with candidate for the Queen’s Park area of websites with news for specific Gsadness the the city in next May’s local elections. neighbourhoods of the city. More death of Nimrod Ping, a Green councillor Simon Williams local sites to be launched soon. former Labour councillor, said,“Nimrod will be sorely missed by who joined the Green Party everyone who knew him in the party. He www.prestonpark-greens.org.uk at the end of last year. Nimrod died of a was relishing the prospect of getting back www.queenspark-greens.org.uk digestive illness in July. Well-known in into active politics and contributing to a the city as a campaigner on social justice city that he loved and believed in.” www.regency-greens.org.uk and urban design issues, he represented Nimrod is survived by his brother Citywide Green Party: the central Regency area in the 1990s who lives in Brighton with his family. www.brightonandhovegreenparty.org.uk page 4 GreenLeaf Autumn 2006 Open schedule Paint our conference highlights The public are welcome to city Green the Council Chamber National Green Party conference comes to Brighton and Hove Town Hall, Norton Road, Hove Hove 21-24 September, Hove Town Hall, Norton Rd. For latest information visit the Green national website: www.greenparty.org.uk/nextconference Please note this programme this will examine the social and envi- may alter after publication ronmental impacts of dwindling oil Thursday 21 September reserves and spiralling oil and gas Half life: a journey to Chernobyl prices on our food system Exclusive screening followed by a Keith added,“It will provide a further boost to our city's reputation as Q&A session with one of its the pre-eminent political conference directors Phil Grabsky 8pm - 9pm resort in the UK.” (see opposite page for more info.) Human rights Another public meeting is on campaigner Peter “Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender Promoting children’s emotional wellbeing Tatchell will address National Green Party equality in the UK: a new era for Educational psychologist Paul Myszor principal speakers a public meeting on sexual equality - or is there more to explores current trends towards well-being Caroline Lucas (left) Saturday 23 do?” It sees prominent human rights through education 7pm - 7.50pm and Keith Taylor (above) September (see left). will address conference. “Brighton and Hove is Friday 22 September t’s appropriate that Brighton speakers of the Green Party, Brighton already the Greenest city Peak Oil and Climate Change’ and Hove’s Car Free Weekend & Hove City Councillor Keith Taylor, with Caroline Lucas MEP, Chris Skrebowski Icoincides with the annual and Green MEP for the South-East in the UK for votes, so it’s Editor, Petroleum Review, and other conference of the Green Party Dr Caroline Lucas. speakers tbc. A panel discussion 8pm - 9pm when it visits the city Thursday Cllr Taylor said,“It is fantastic to appropriate we host the 21 September to Sunday 24. welcome the Green Party of England most important event in Anti-vivisection presentation And unlike the big security and Wales to our city. Brighton and Four experts on animal rights issues cordons and courting of big Hove is already the Greenest city in the Greens’ year” discuss this provocative subject 12 businesses carried out at the confer- the UK in terms of voting, so it's activist Peter Tatchell take to the noon - 12.50pm ences of other political parties, the appropriate that we host the most podium. The meeting takes place on Green conference welcomes the important event in the year for the Saturday 23 September 7pm with a Saturday 23 September general public. People can attend Greens in our city.” panel discussion. many of the cultural and political There are a range of panel and LGBT equality after the Equality Act For more information on the events scheduled over the four-day fringe sessions (see left for confirmed Human rights activist Peter Tatchell on conference please contact Anna Baker conference in the open areas of the highlights) on topics such as faith Conference Coordinator tel: 07789 equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans- event, to be held at Hove Town Hall, schools, nuclear power, civil rights and 742 031 or e: [email protected] or gender people after the Equality Act plus or even purchase a day-delegate pass. the war in the Middle East. There will call the Brighton Green Office 01273 panel discussion with Green Party politi- The conference will see key also be a special session on the issue 766 670 e: info@ cians 7pm - 8.15pm speeches from the two principle of 'Peak Oil' - hosted by Dr Lucas, brightonandhovegreenparty.org.uk Admission is free to the Council Chamber Shopping heaven or hell ather than try to discourage big business from turning Brighton and RHove into a ‘clone town’, the Labour- run council seems to be doing exactly the opposite. A study conducted for the council by consultants GVA Grimley (at a cost of £30,000 to local taxpayers) predicts that retail spending on non-food goods in the city will grow by more than 70 per cent in the ten years. While Labour councillors enthused over the prospect of such massive retail growth, Greens are contesting its findings. Green Party environment spokesperson Cllr Georgia Wrighton said,“If the council were to act on this report, we'd see another five superstores the size of the Lewes Road Sainsbury for food shopping and another whole new shopping mall the How much extra shopping will be funded by credit size of Churchill Square for non-food items. We card debt? need to protect the city from yet more ‘retail size of the city by 73 per cent in ten years, I'd pre- sheds’ which threaten independent local businesses fer them to concentrate on cutting housing waiting and offer poor employment prospects.” lists or increasing secondary school provision in Queens Park Green council candidate Ben central and east Brighton than rolling out the red Duncan added,“If the council wants to increase the carpets to yet more supermarket chains.” GreenLeaf Autumn 2006 page 5

Seventh Art Productions presents Half Life n 26 April, 1986, reactor four at OChernobyl Nuclear HALF LIFE Power Plant explodes, sending an enormous a journey to Chernobyl radioactive cloud over northern Ukraine and neighbouring Belarus. The danger Exclusive public screening at the Green Party is not immediately conference of a film that relives the lives communicated and the local population go about their affected by the world’s worst ever nuclear business as usual. May Day accident on its twentieth anniversary celebrations begin, children play, and the residents of Pripyat, the town built to including an exclusive Q&A house the workers at with director Phil Grabsky Chernobyl, marvel at the 21 September 8-9pm at Hove Town Hall spectacular fire raging at the Norton Road, free admission reactor.After three days, an area the size of England filmed & directed by Phil Grabsky becomes contaminated with and David Bickerstaff radioactive dust, creating a poetry by Mario Petrucci 'zone' of contaminated land.

Based on Mario Petrucci's award-winning book-length Poem for Chernobyl, this film tells the GM: is organic food at risk? story of the people who dealt en Duncan reports: admitting there can be no 'safe' buffer time, the prevalence of GM in locally-grown with the world's worst nuclear The Government seems between GM and non-GM crops, but sig- produce will massively increase the demand disaster at ground level: the fire- fighters, the soldiers, the 'liquida- determined to ignore public nalling it will give GM the all-clear anyway. for truly organic imports. In a desperate bid B tors' and their families. opposition and give the go-ahead to New Labour has yet again ignored a clear to pretend cross-fertilisation won't harm growing Genetically Modified (GM) weight of public opinion and is leading us organic or non-GM production, the Petrucci's poetry, based on eye- crops in the British countryside - even down a dangerous path. Government says it will allow any food with witness accounts of the disaster, if it spells the end of organic food and Growing GM crops is bad for bio-diver- less than 0.9 per cent GM content to be forms the backbone of the film's poses a threat to human health. sity (according to the government's own labelled GM free - so the only way to avoid narrative. For more info: In July it announced yet another consul- studies) and may pose a direct threat to GM food will be to never eat British-grown www.seventh-art.com/ proddetails.asp?ID=187 tation on the issue, after its last one - the human and wildlife health too.Millions in the produce again. 'GM Nation' debate in 2003 - came up with UK just don't want to take the chance. And The Government is signalling clearly the 'wrong' answer: that the British public if GM farmers can't prevent the cross-con- that it doesn't care about the risks to biodi- Advertise to over were resolutely opposed to the technology, tamination of neighbouring non-GM crops versity. It is also signalling that it doesn't give 50,000 households in and that just two per cent of people said (which they can't), then the commercial a hang for the view of the majority of peo- Brighton and Hove they'd be happy to eat it.True to form, the planting of GM crops spells the end for the ple, who are opposed to GM and also for Government has already made up its mind, booming UK organic industry. At the same the already-beleaguered British farmers Contact Amy Kennedy on who will lose business once the ‘grown in 01273 766670 or by email at greenworker@ Britain’ label becomes a by-word for so brightonandhovegreenparty.org.uk called ‘Frankenfood’. This is nothing less than a subversion of democracy which will prove disastrous for British farmers, con- sumers and the environment. Government GM consultation ends on 20 October 2006 espond to the consultation on proposals for managing the coexistence Rof GM, conventional and organic crops. Access their consultation document at: www.defra.gov.uk/ environment/gm/crops/index.htm Or write to: the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, GM Policy Team Zone 4/E5 Ashdown House123 Victoria Street London SW1E6DE E-mail: [email protected] page 6 GreenLeaf Autumn 2006 No to £25b new Trident Forget fast food - take Hello Slow Food! Slow Food is the buzz phenomenon at Brighton & Hove Food watering events include the Glynde Fine Food Festival - the ‘piece de la resistance’ Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 September at Glynde Place, near Lewes. So what low Food emerged in Italy sumers through conviviality. in 1986 as a welcome anti- Promoting a food and wine culture Sdote to the emerging global to support regional food, biodiversi- domination of McDonald’s and ty and the encouragement of sus-

Keith Taylor with the Archbishop of York their ilk in the fast food industry. tainable food systems.” You find out Dr John Sentamu. They discussed the Since then, the movement has more at www.slowfood.com. proposed renewal of Trident grown at an impressive pace for a The Brighton Convivia of Slow With mounting opposition to Labour’s non-commercial organisation and Food has been up-and-running for a £25bn nuclear missile upgrade, two currently has 83,000 members, couple of years now and is involved important public meetings will provide city featuring 800 local branches - in the Brighton & Hove Food and residents an opportunity to discuss the issue. There will also be a council debate on 19 known as Convivia - in Drink Festival. There are currently October.Cllr Keith Taylor,who has recently been 50 countries. over 60 members, and their last appointed the city's UN Peace Messenger Granted, such a growth rate is event was a barbeque held in June Representative, will call for the city to adopt a nowhere near as prolific as the fast at Jeremy’s restaurant in Borde Hill. strong anti nuclear weapon pledge. "Nuclear food behemoths, but - like the agricul- The convenor of the local weapons have been responsible for the indiscrimi- tural practices the movement champi- Convivia is the extremely convivial nate deaths of hundreds of thousands of civilians worldwide, and their use has been declared unlaw- ons - Slow’s expansion is destined to Henry of Butlers Wine Cellar, who ful by the International Court of Justice in The occur at a sustained and sustainable will have a stall at Glynde with the Hague," Keith explained. "The justification for rate.The movement's goal is “to link Brighton and Hove Food Partnership. under the Slow brand from South nuclear bombs used to be as a deterrent in the pleasure and food with awareness and They have been active in expanding Africa, a number of local Sussex wines Cold War. That's over now, and those who may responsibility by spreading the educa- the notion of real and slow food and an assortment of specialities. threaten our security aren't likely to be deterred tion of taste, through the linking of beyond the level of the enthusiast, by such weapons. As such, these armaments are Glynde will be the Brighton unnecessary and their use indefensible. There must producers of such as putting produce from local Convivia’s largest and most impressive be no replacement and no renewal.” Keith will excellent allotments on to the school dinner event to date.The intention is to run address Greenspeak, the monthly series of Green food to con- table. Henry will have some wines it annually thereafter. It will feature a public meetings on Trident replacement on 10 October. Visit www.greenspeak-brighton.org.uk for more information on Greenspeak contact Foodie lifestylers fight back Martin e: [email protected] Receive your 20% annual upermarkets stack up food New Roots toil the soil at the 10 Oct - 7.15pm GreenSpeak Meeting:‘Madness in a discount for Rocks Magazine miles, encourage the use of Moulsecoomb allotments in Natal Road Nuclear Age’ - Speaker: Keith Taylor and others with token (see left) Sdamaging pesticides and have and is just one of an increasing commu- 19 Oct - 4.30pm Full Council No to Trident Petition been blamed for dwindling nity of growers, all supported by the Oct 25 - 7:30pm Sussex Coalition for the Retirement of crop diversity. Have you ever Brighton & Hove Food Partnership.So Trident Public Meeting; Brighthelm Centre, North Road noticed just how many organic and what's all the fuss about? "Getting away local food cafes there are in Brighton? from the hustle and bustle," says Jan, ROCKS MAGAZINE SPECIAL How we have a local farmers market "and having the buzz of seeing what has OFFER! £2.50 OFF ANNUAL SUBS Sarah Lewis, every week? Even this year’s Brighton & grown during the week - the sight of a FOR GreenLeaf READERS. Hove Food Festival is focusing on the broad bean pushing its head above the importance of local food, with a rash of soil is actually pretty amazing, especially Rocks Magazine is available free around the editor of Rocks local foodie events throughout when you've added your kitchen com- city but it’s so popular it’s gone almost as September. post to the soil, aerated it, and planted soon as it hits the streets. A yearly sub- Magazine, looks That's all pretty good going. the seeds with care a few weeks scription costs just £10 with this token and What's even more impressive is the before." you never need miss out again. Send a number of people locally who grow With waiting lists closed, what cheque for £10 with the token and your at Brighton’s their own food. The city council has can you do if you want to grow your name & postal address to Rocks Magazine, been so swamped with requests for own but lack the space? Greenspeak's 24 Norfolk Square, Brighton, BN12PD. foodie lifestyles allotments in recent years that the wait- Kat Neeser says "I grow my lettuces in ing lists for all 37 council run sites have a window box that sits on my balcony had to be closed until 2007. but equally it could sit on a window Jan Goodey from the New Roots ledge and I borrowed a muddy corner organic co-operative says,"With the from my downstairs neighbour's garden. growing awareness of the damage I've barely bought a lettuce all summer supermarkets cause through food miles and we've been overrun etc, people want to grow their own and with courgettes." have less impact on the environment. New Roots open day, Sunday 1 We need to support local growers October, 2-6pm, Moulsecoomb against the standardisation of food in Allotments, corner of Natal and Nesbitt the hands of the supermarkets.Where's Rd. 01273 605313/693247 for more the sense in buying your pesticide-coat- info. All welcome, including dogs ed apple from New Zealand when we on leads. have native varieties which are 100 More information about the impor- times more tasty? Why do we need so tance of localising the food system as many supermarkets? They artificially well as the festival can be found in lower the price of food, they result in September's issue of Rocks Magazine. the concreting over of the countryside Visit their website at: and they encourage more car use." www.rocksmagazine.co.uk GreenLeaf Autumn 2006 page 7 it slow... Celebrate the Jubilee Since its opening last year, the Jubilee Library has and Drink Festival this September. Mouth- become a hub of Brighton and Hove’s cultural life of the programme. It will take place on he area had been derelict for long learning.” exactly is Slow Food? Andy Knott reports over fifty years, and a visit to That programme includes a range of Tthe Prince Regent sports workshops for children and adults, as well centre always felt a chore (and not as walks (the Brighton Boozers Tour is a just for the exercise). But today it gem of city trivia and adventure, ending up, Is slow feels as if Jubilee Square was always as you’ve guessed, in a pub), book launches the open, lively space it has become and poetry readings. One particular since the £14m event Sarah is very rebuild of proud to have organised Brighton's central is The Word’s involve- food library. ment with Black History It isn’t just the Month.“I’m really look- books, well-stocked ing forward to hearing reading areas or Al-Saddiq Al-Raddi,” says helpful staff that are Sarah. our the attraction. The Al-Saddiq Al-Raddi Jubilee Library is fast is a Sudanese poet writ- becoming an events ing in Arabic, and his venue to rival any work will be translated other. live.“I’m a poetry lover,” The Word Project, says Sarah,“and I can't future? Brighton & Hove’s wait to hear this world Images copyright Tasha Poynton season of literature class poet speak in his www.tashapoynton.com / [email protected] talks, workshops and native tongue. But ironi- Poet Al-Siddiq Al-Raddi reads during series of stalls, demonstrations, talks available on www.glyndefinefoodfes- events is now in its cally one of the home second year at the Black History Month at the library on grown events is the one and events, showcasing the wares of tival.com or tel: 858224. Friday 27 October at 7pm local artisan producers and manu- If you receive this copy of Jubilee Library. Sarah that has proved over- Hutchings is The Word Project manager. whelmingly popular. “It’s the Pub Book facturers. GreenLeaf in time, there is an “We all love libraries,” says Sarah, Quiz,” explains Sarah,“which we include in These will include co-hosts ‘English-tapas’ evening at Terre à “there's just something special about every season of events. Next one is Butlers Wine Cellar of Queen's Park Terre restaurant, 71 East Street, on them. This city waited a long time for Thursday 23 November.” Road Brighton, and Say Cheese of Wednesday 13 September at 7pm. Jubilee’s arrival. Its innovative design has It is a book-lovers’ paradise, after all. Hove, along with the much lauded It will feature local dishes from this already won several awards. I want to Montezuma’s demonstrating the art award-winning restaurant’s suppli- encourage people to experience the build- Greens call for library ing’s versatility and to use the library as a of fine, organic chocolate. Also ers, producers and growers, many of shared community space.” hours extension present will be South Downs Lamb & whom will be present to answer What is she hoping to achieve now Green councillors have asked for the Beef, showing all things ovine and your questions.There’ll also be a the Library is established in the minds of central library to be open on Sundays and to bovine, Chilli Pepper Pete spicing up tasting menu of local wines; tickets Brighton and Hove residents? 7pm on Wednesdays and Fridays (it currently proceedings, and Downsview available on www.terreaterre.co.uk “I’m hoping to firmly establish the shuts at 5pm on those days and is shut all day Farmhouse Ice Cream to cool things or tel: 729051. Jubilee Library as an arts venue,” says on Sunday). They are also asking for more Sarah,“by programming high quality events bicycle stands. down. Demonstrations include Ian that are accessible to all, within a new cul- Dowding’s Garden to Kitchen show Contact Henry for more tural area of the city. The community- and local food writer, Hattie Ellis, on info. on 698724 or e: henry@ focused programme offers an inclusive shared experience of literature in the city honey and bees.There will also be butlers-winecellar.co.uk the opportunity to picnic in the which celebrates reading, encourages delightful surroundings.Tickets are debate and forwards the concept of life page 8 GreenLeaf Autumn 2006 War in Lebanon Environment pays the price Along with the devastation sea to keep their windows closed and stay away from the oil and fumes. to people’s lives, the recent Israel’s environment has also been affected. Hezbollah rockets fired into conflict between Israel and Israel have ignited hundreds of fires in the country's forests in the Galilee Lebanon has taken its toll on region.As much as 9,000 acres of land, the fragile Middle East including 3,000 acres of forest, have been damaged. Because Israel is a largely environment.Trees in Galilee arid country, many of the forests that are now burning were planted by in the are burning, and oil spills have 1950s during the Greening Israel incen- tive to preserve the country's ecosys- destroyed Lebanon’s beaches. tem. It has been argued that these Alex Lockwood examines forests were planted over land taken from the Palestinians. However, at least the price paid by a land that one major forest in northern Israel has lost up to 75 percent of its trees. In cannot fight back southern Lebanon, forest fires also rage after being hit by Israeli bombs. In the n the 13 and 15 of July, Israeli dry heat of summer the land is especial- air strikes hit Lebanon's Jiyeh ly vulnerable. Opower station, about 20km While a large amount of damage south of Beirut. Over 10,000 tonnes of has been done, it remains unclear how oil spilt into the Mediterranean Sea after severe the long-term impact will be. the station's fuel tanks were hit.The "The ecological system is used to living leaking oil was pushed north by winds, with fires," Raanan Boral, from the and a thick sludge now coats much of Society for the Protection of Nature in the Lebanese coastline. Israel, told the New York Times. "It is part Such targeting of civilian infrastruc- of life for the system. Some trees get ture is illegal, and both the people and burned and so do some nests. Some ani- the local environment are now suffering. mals don't have the time to flee, but the Nearly 80km of the 200km coastline is system can rehabilitate itself. It takes affected.The spill threatens the coun- Environmentalists clear up the oil spill along the Lebanese coast time and it is not nice to look at but it try's income from tourism and fishing, as is not an irreversible disaster." well as Lebanon's marine life and endan- environmental organisations, writing in has called the damage as serious as the In Lebanon the situation is more gered species such as the Green Turtle The Guardian, said “A group of environ- 1989 Exxon-Valdez spill in Alaska. urgent.The Lebanese Government has and the Blue Fin Tuna. mental activists, Arif Hala, an employee at estimated it may take US$200m The thick cloud of smoke that has including myself, “...The UN Environment a café on the Ramlet al-Baida (£130m) and over a year to clean up the risen from the fire at the power station have been assess- Programme has called the beach in Beirut, said the sum- oil spill. And while the security situation is, ironically, a blessing in disguise. "It's ing the beach the damage as serious as the mer trade had been ruined remains uncertain, it is impossible for good in a way because air pollution is last three weeks. 1989 Exxon-Valdez spill in by both the war and the oil environmental organisations to begin the better of the two evils," a Lebanese Every time we go, Alaska...” spill. "The situation is terri- the clean-up in earnest.While the loss Government spokeswoman told the our eyes fill with ble… normally during the of life remains the most tragic conse- press.Although the fire poses an envi- tears.What first appeared to be a small summer season we would make 10 or quence of this latest conflict, the environmental hazard, it is less damaging contamination of a sandy beach in 15 million Lebanese pounds (US $6,666) ronment, on which people depend for than the spill into the sea. Beirut turned out to be the worst envi- a week, but that is finished now," he their livelihoods, must be protected if Wael Hmaidan, coordinator of the ronmental crisis in Lebanon's history." told the IRIN news network. Officials both Lebanon and Israel are to rebuild oil spill working group for Lebanese The UN Environment Programme have warned people who live near the their homes along the troubled border.

GO FOR IT! I/we enclose a subscription of £ ...... JOIN THE GREENS I/we enclose a donation of £ ...... I/we accept and wish to further the aims of (cheques payable to The Green Party) the Green Party and do not belong to any Name(s): ...... other political party. Address: ...... I/we apply for national party membership ...... (please delete as applicable) ...... Post Code: ...... Tel: ...... ANNUAL NATIONAL PARTY SUBSCRIPTION: Email:...... Please return to: The Brighton & Hove Green Party, Single waged: £31 Eco Centre, 39-41 Surrey Street, Brighton BN1 3PB low/unwaged: £10.50 (P&P Membership Secretary, Brighton & Hove Green Party, student £5 ECO Centre 39 - 41 Surrey Street, Brighton BN1 3PB) Joint waged: £41 low/unwaged: £14 Green Party: Tel: 01273 766670 [email protected] www.brightonandhovegreenparty.org.uk Published by Brighton & Hove Green Party,The Eco Centre, 39-41 Surrey Street, Brighton BN1 3PB; Printed by Newsquest, Crowhurst Rd, Hollingbury, Brighton