JDC’s message for COP 26: Climate Justice rally

COP26 is just around the corner and rich country governments should get the message that debt justice is essential to dealing with the climate crisis. 

Join the event: Global Day of Action – Saturday 6 November

John Nightingale (Chair JDC Birmingham) invites all to  join the rally and march which begins at 12 noon at Millennium Point in Birmingham and ends there at 2pm. There is an urgent need for stewards, first aiders and legal observers: will any one who can help please contact him at johnbnightingale@hushmail.com  Those attending are invited to join a block; there will be one for trades unionists, one for health workers, one for campaigners and one for faiths, to give a few examples. 

The Jubilee Debt Campaign team from London send this message about their call to the government and an important seminar tomorrow Wednesday October 27th at 6.30pm:

On the eve of the summit, we’ll be calling on the government to:

* Give climate finance as grants, not loans, so that climate vulnerable countries do not have to go into more debt
* Cancel the debts of all countries that need it and make sure it doesn’t build up in the future so they can deal with the climate crisis
* Set up a fund for climate disasters, and when disaster hits, automatically suspend debts.

Join our webinar on the eve of the COP26 summit to hear more about how the climate and debt crises are linked, why so many leaders from lower income counties are calling for action on debt.

Register at:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cancel-the-debt-for-climate-justice-tickets-192187436797

 

 

 

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Revisiting the Midlands Engine and the Northern Powerhouse

Five years ago Andy Bounds (FT) wrote: “Hype pervades the city amid talk of a regional boom driven by the ‘Midlands Engine . . .  with hoardings boasting of its prolific job creation, abundant businesses, Michelin-starred restaurants and upscale shops”.

The Midlands Engine, which was set up in 2017 and supported financially by the European Union, funded the Midlands Engine Observatory a year later. It was intended to deliver the regionally focused research and analysis needed to develop knowledge needed to fully understand the region’s economic strengths and inform policy choices.

Its achievements –  celebrated at the first Midlands Engine All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) Annual General Meeting (May’21)- include relocating several Government departments into the Midlands region.

In March 2021 the Midlands Engine Investment Fund reported that it had invested £100m in the region’s small businesses – making 481 investments in 350 businesses located in the West Midlands and East and South East Midlands.

The Northern Powerhouse was set up to boost the local economy by investing in skills, innovation, transport and culture and devolve significant powers and budgets to directly elected mayors. Its investment fund (NPIF) also received substantial support from the European Regional Development Fund,

Dr Andy Sloan (Guernsey Finance, formerly Guernsey Chief Economist) commented: “Ten years since inception, the Northern Powerhouse has achieved little other than demonstrate that half-measures are no measures for a regional levelling up agenda.

“Regional industrial policy over the last 30 years has been one long forlorn hope that expensive quangos and supply side investment will make a difference”.

IPPR North, a think tank said in 2019 that the government had “undermined” the Northern Powerhouse by making cuts in public spending while south-east and south-west England saw a £4.7bn rise.

The UK government is now seeking to reinvigorate its plan to “level up” prosperity across the country by creating a new Northern Powerhouse “growth board” to drive economic growth in the north of England.

The Financial Times reported that Jim O’Neill, the former Goldman Sachs economist and Treasury minister, currently Vice-Chair of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, is in talks with the government to chair the new Northern Powerhouse “growth board”.

The Northern Research Group of MPs – founded by MPs which won ‘red wall’ seats from Labour in the 2019 election – has been lobbying for an independent and private sector-led board to suggest policies and initiatives for powering growth across the North and help to realise Boris Johnson’s election promise to narrow the UK’s north-south wealth gap.

Dr Sloan stresses that the English regions require a degree of fiscal federalism

They should have an independent capacity to levy taxes to finance the public services they provide for their citizens – to be able to exert autonomy over their economic policies and influence their own economic destiny. He adds that the Swiss Cantons and German Lander provide a guide to how such empowered regions work.

George Morran, whose working life has been spent in local government, commented by email: “Devolution has to be rooted in the local. The Northern Powerhouse like the Midlands engine are creations of Whitehall. They are not rooted in the local or region”.

He stresses that a framework is needed which can then be worked on and adjusted at the local, regional and national levels, reaching consensus on how to recast constitution in favour of the local, nations and regions and forming a coalition of support for it.

George’s submission to the Labour Party’s devolution and constitution commission to further develop these ideas may be read here.

 

 

 

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In the grounds of St Philip’s Cathedral at 3pm on Mon Aug 23

JDC BIRMINGHAM NEWS 43

AUG 23^RD – 27^TH:

A WALK THROUGH BRUM TO GLASGOW

RELAY TO COP26:

JUST FINANCE FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE

 

Leading up to COP26 in Glasgow in November

COP 26: How much is the developing world getting to fight climate change?

It’s time to turn the climate agenda toward finance – POLITICO

Developed countries must meet their pledges, while the climate-vulnerable must restructure their debt to adapt.

Newsletter 43, emailed by John Nightingale, Chair, Jubilee Debt Campaign Birmingham,  explains that one of the key questions for countries adapting to climate change and trying to become greener is where to get the money and on what terms.

If the only response to those trying to rebuild after disaster is loans at a high rate of interest their problems may get even worse.

Furthermore, the present debts particularly affecting poorer countries after Covid need to be cancelled, or at least reviewed. It’s tragic that the countries which have historically contributed least to global warming are suffering most from its effects.

As a protest, young people from 18 to 30 are walking to Glasgow from Carbis Bay in Cornwall and are due to arrive at the grounds of St Philip’s Cathedral, Birmingham at 3pm on Mon Aug 23^rd.

There will be a meeting to lobby local politicians on Tues 24^th and a display in St Philip’s Square on the Wednesday with a blessing (from, in turn, the six main faiths in Birmingham) of the boat the walkers are bringing with them.

These events are open to people of all ages, all faiths and none; readers are invited to come and support them.

Contact: johnbnightingale@hushmail.com or 07811 128831 

 

 

 

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Sticks of rock to remind G7 about the need for debt cancellation

John Nightingale, Chair JDC Birmingham, passes on a message from Jubilee Debt Campaign and a link to this song: Sing2G7! Bringing Children’s Voices Everywhere To The Heart of G7!

The town of Carbis Bay in Cornwall will host the G7 leaders’ summit from June 11-13. JDC wants to make sure their message about debt cancellation will be in the mouths of all the people attending. Literally.

So they’ve decided to make some very special versions of everyone’s favourite seaside treat to hand out stick of rock to as many people attending the G7 as possible to make sure their message gets across. Sponsoring a stick with ‘cancel the debt’ message on it will help to make sure the G7 gets the message about the importance of debt cancellation.

Click on https://act.jubileedebt.org.uk/stick-it-g7 to do this.

Many lower income countries are crying out for debt justice so they can fight Covid. JDC has chosen a light-hearted way to present the urgent need for debt cancellation. 

 

 

 

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The Common Good Party’s policies

When interviewed by the Birmingham Mail, Northfield’s Dick Rodgers (left) said:

“For me, participating in the political process isn’t about winning, it’s about getting my ideas across to the public . . . I’m trying to do something different, I’m trying to find an outlet for my ideas. What is needed in this country is a challenge. A way is needed of seeing Britain as having a collective role in the modern world so that each person could see themselves as part of a team that is achieving something. If we all play a part in that project then the country would be much easier to govern.

“If you look at Britain during the last war, there was a widespread perception that everybody was playing a specific role in a common mission and people were willing to accept that role – even if their own role wasn’t particularly glamorous or substantial. And I think that’s the sort of ethos we should be looking for today. I don’t think that electoral success in itself is essential for what I’m trying to do.”

The nine policies – and note this week’s news that the fourth is being implemented in Wales

1. Turn back the tide of privatisation to have a nation of people keen to work, inspired by the honour of public service and because they want our whole national project” to succeed. With a shared enlivening spirit, things will start to work.
2. Make the nation’s money the property of the nation not of the banks. Today’s system hurts people, makes houses unaffordable and starves industry of investment.
3. Establish the NHS on a public service model not a commercial one. Crucially, true to Bevan’s original vision, include elderly care within the NHS.
4. Nationalise the railway, modernise it, cut the fares.
5. Abolish student fees.
6. Set up elected regional government for the regions of England – ie the EU constituencies.
7. Take infrastructure into public ownership, especially tidal power generation.
8. Have a lively industrial policy eliminating the last 30 years’ negative balance of trade.
9. Use our influence to nurture a fairer world system.

Trending: post-Covid-19, the desire for unity and beneficial change.

 

 

 

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Protest: 78 NHS staff died from COVID-19 & low pay deters recruitment

NHS vacancies are putting patients and staff at risk. Keep our National Health Public, KONP, reports that in Birmingham and across the country, thousands of NHS workers have taken to the streets across the UK to demand better wages for staff left “on their knees” by the coronavirus pandemic.

Acknowledgments to Mish Rahman for his photo taken from the NHS workers’ pay rally in Birmingham

In London, health workers who have missed out on a public sector pay rise fell silent for two minutes as a mark of respect for colleagues who lost their lives fighting Covid-19.

Health visitor Anthony Johnson, lead organiser for Nurses United, pointed out “We need to get a 15% pay rise to stop the vacancies which put our patients and our colleagues at risk.” As Mary-Jane Wiltsher, writing in Tyla, ‘the home of women’s entertainment’ reported:

“NHS staff have suffered pay freezes and real term pay losses for years. As a result there are over 40,000 nursing vacancies in the NHS, with staff leaving because they are exhausted and cannot pay the bills, and a significant decrease in student nurse applications”.

Mary-Jane Wiltsher reported: “Some 900,000 British public sector workers are getting a pay rise in recognition for their work during the pandemic – but shockingly, nurses are not included. Key workers have played a vital role in bringing the coronavirus crisis under control and now many are being rewarded for their vital contributions with a long-overdue pay rise. NHS staff in other roles appear to have fallen through the cracks and were left out of the announcement altogether.

The full breakdown of pay increase percentages:

• • • Doctors and dentists – 2.8%
    • Police officers – 2.5%
    • Armed forces – 2%
    • National crime agency – 2.5%
    • Prison officers – 2.5%
    • Judiciary – 2%
    • Senior civil servants – 2 %
    • Senior military – 2%
    • School teachers – 3.1%

The Nursing Times reported that Care minister Helen Whatley said that, under the current three-year AfC deal, which was agreed in 2018, nurses had received a pay rise of at least 6.5% and their starting salary had increased by 12.5% to nearly £25,000.

When it was put to her that many nurses were actually worse off financially when inflation was taken into account, Ms Whatley repeated the 6.5% figure and added: “We will be looking at nurses’ pay again as part of the Agenda for Change cycle and there will be announcements on that next year.”

Some of 78 NHS staff who died after contracting coronavirus

The Nursing Standard (Stephanie Jones-Berry) asks:” Now the clapping has stopped, will nurses see a decent pay rise? After months of praise for ‘NHS heroes’, the government has the chance to reflect the nation’s gratitude in its pay awards, and staff will not be happy to accept any caps or freezes”.

 

 

 

 

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‘Clean tech’: repairable, reusable, upgradable batteries made in Birmingham

Battery storage is a key enabler for renewable energy, electric vehicles and other clean technologies

Birmingham-based battery technology firm, Aceleron, a ‘clean tech’ firm based in Gas Street, Digbeth, won support from the Government’s start-up funding arm Innovate UK and the Faraday Battery Challenge in 2016.

In 2019 Power Engineering reported that Aceleron, an SME, took 4000 of its unique alternative lithium-ion batteries to Kenya in sub-Saharan Africa, where up to 573m people lack access to electricity, in a bid to power people’s homes with cheap and clean energy.

Existing battery technology comes with the problem of battery waste. Most lithium-ion batteries are not designed to be reused or recycled at the end of their average 8-10 year lifespan. Aceleron’s ‘world first’ circular economy approach to energy storage designs wastage out of the battery manufacturing process.

Its batteries are designed to be repaired, reused and upgraded, rather than replaced, unlike traditional lithium-ion batteries supplied to the automotive industry. Most batteries are welded or glued together and components are very difficult to replace, so if one fails, the whole battery stops working and is usually thrown away. Aceleron battery packs are held together by compression so they can be easily disassembled and reused, enabling 99% recyclability. They are easier to service and keep working.

The Business Desk reports today that Aceleron has now secured £2m of investment to meet growing international demand, with plans to double its team over the coming year.

The equity investment of £1.45m was made by BGF (Birmingham office at the Lewis building in Bull St) and the rest came from existing investor Mercia Asset Management. It will enable Aceleron to scale up the production of its circular economy battery technology and expand its reach across global markets.

Andy Gregory, head of investments, UK & Ireland, BGF said: “Aceleron is BGF’s second investment into a pure cleantech company . . . we are now seeing cleantech firms gain greater traction within growing markets, as the spotlight focuses on net zero”.

Tom Horton, an investor at BGF, who has joined the board of Aceleron added: “As the economy takes a decidedly green turn, BGF is pleased to be supporting pioneering companies like Aceleron and playing our role in funding a green economic recovery.”

 

 

 

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The first citizens’ assembly on climate change

On Saturday, 110 members of the public gathered in Park Regis hotel conference room in Birmingham on Saturday in the first of four weekends.

The assembly —commissioned by six cross-party House of Commons select committees — aims to produce a series of recommendations about how to decarbonise sectors such as transport and housing by 2050

Invitation letters were sent randomly to 30,000 people asking them to take part in the assembly, for which they will be paid £600 in total. From the 2,000 who replied to express interest, the group was chosen by an algorithm to reflect the demographics of the UK, including age, gender and ethnic makeup. As they were a representative sample they included 19 who identified as “not at all concerned” or “not very concerned” about climate change.

That should reassure the Spectator’s Melanie McDonagh who assumed that people willing to give up their time (‘six months of their life”) are more likely to be activists than normal members of the public.

A panel of experts introduced the members to the background of climate change and the chief executive of the government’s advisory Committee on Climate Change, Chris Stark, told the assembly they should think about how the burden of climate change could be shared and how much government intervention would be acceptable. He found the members engaged and interested and hoped the final report would provide “compelling evidence for the government to act on”.

Melanie’s verdict: “If politicians want to decide to put up the price of petrol, or spend billions more on public transport, or ban powerful vacuum cleaners, fine. That’s what a government is entitled to do””

And so it will: the recommendations which will go to the cross-party committees that commissioned the assembly will be non-binding.

 

 

 

 

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Good, affordable homes for Druids Heath? Eastington shows the way

There are few views in Birmingham like those in Druids Heath – an eye-catching estate with undulating grassy slopes and a wide open landscape – often quite breath-taking – not least when seen from the top deck of the 50 bus. The following photo gives some idea of the green spaces – but is far from doing justice to its subject. The writer often visited friends in a house there in the 80s and was impressed by the standard of building and level of   accommodation – higher than private developments in the area at that time.

Gentrification afoot?

Residents rightly fear that as ‘the location is excellent’ (council website) on the edge of the city, close to the M42 motorway and Kings Heath nearby, they will be priced out and the area ‘gentrified’. The area will be commandeered for “beautiful little starter homes” which none of them could afford to buy – and current residents will be sent to far-flung parts of the city.

In 2018-19 these fears were confirmed by an announcement that the estate was due to be redeveloped in a £43 million scheme, with 100 homes made available for sale on the open market and more to follow at a later stage.

The council estate was built in the 1960s and does need repair and renovation. It has suffered, in the words of one of its residents, ​“deliberate decline” due to decades of underinvestment regionally and nationally. In 2017 Druid’s Heath’s only secondary school, was closed and some of the children were never reschooled.

The excellent concierge system which did much for the buildings’ maintenance and the neighbourhoods well-being was taken away with the most well-known consequence being the eventual deaths of newborn twin girls after ambulance crews spent half an hour trying to get into her locked tower block after she dialled 999. The trades entrance had been deactivated and the police who arrived later took around 20 minutes to get through the front door.

Play the video and listen to the words of a resident, Alice Hicks

Druid’s Heath is home to a strong and diverse community which provides essential support networks, friendships and stability to any resident who needs it.

Residents say hundreds of units of social housing will be lost, as well as their community, their friendships, and the place they and their children call home. Some have been there since it was built. Tamika Gill questions the wisdom of demolishing 500 flats only to replace them with 250 homes. Like many, she would like to see some low-rise blocks to increase the numbers of properties available. She said: “We want to be here, we want to stay in the community. They should put us somewhere temporary and then, when there are new buildings, bring us back.”

Tenants have organised to oppose the council’s regeneration, with support from organisers at the New Economics Foundation.

They want their own community-led regeneration which allows them to stay in the area, provides sustainable housing built for their needs, avoids gentrification, and builds on the current number of social homes rather than scaling back. They have so far won the right to return to equal or better properties after the regeneration is complete, and are continuing to fight for their other demands.

Resident and community worker the local Spearhead Trust voluntary group, Anne-Marie Alder told Birmingham Mail: ​“They are going to destroy this community. They are demolishing far more properties than they are building. I don’t think they realise the impact and the community connections there are.”

For seven years, local volunteers in Eastington, near Stroud in Gloucestershire, opposed five planning applications and formed a Community Land Trust. Stroud District Council secured £443,000 in infrastructure funding for the site through Homes England, allowing them to buy the land and put in their own planning application.

Would Druids Heath campaigners and the New Economics Foundation consider this way forward and upscale Eastington’s achievement?

 

 

 

 

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The Population Issue (3): WMNEG meeting, 22nd August

West Midlands New Economics Group

Thursday 22^nd August 5-7 pm

Open meeting: FOE Warehouse, 54 Allison St, B5 5^TH

This meeting will discuss points 4-10 of the notes circulated by John Nightingale earlier this month – arising from the ‘The Population Issue in Context’ a paper presented at the June meeting.

Those present will prioritise the points they wish to address in the time available.

Some time will be allowed to consider other topics, such as current developments in UK politics, and the relevance of China to the UK’s future (Andrew Lydon to speak on this).

A round table discussion 

All welcome. 

Contributions of £2 to cover the cost of room hire

 

 

 

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