Hello, how are you? 🖐

Below is our weekly round up of news and commentary, plus links to support services if you need them... hope you can manage to keep positive and healthy.

More next week.

💚 Hackney Green Party
http://www.hackneygreens.org.uk/

To subscribe to receive this email in your inbox sign up at: hackneygreens.org.uk/greenvine

Reading Room

Johnson forced to drop NHS surcharge for migrant health workers
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/21/johnson-forced-to-drop-nhs-surcharge-for-migrant-health-workers

Unions accuse Hackney Mayor of ‘hypocrisy’ over sick pay for outsourced council cleaners
https://www.hackneycitizen.co.uk/2020/05/19/unions-hackney-mayor-hypocrisy-sick-pay-outsourced-council-cleaners/

Hackney Council has called on the government not to miss out on a ‘once in a generation’ opportunity to end rough sleeping.
https://www.hackneycitizen.co.uk/2020/05/20/government-miss-chance-end-rough-sleeping/

Hackney voluntary sector calls for ‘monumental shift’ to tackle health inequality
https://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-hackney-council-for-voluntary-service-on-health-inequality-1-6658860

Hackney Council Coronavirus budget gap equivalent to half of austerity cuts, report reveals
https://news.hackney.gov.uk/coronavirus-budget-gap-equivalent-to-half-of-austerity-cuts-report-reveals/

Government Covid-19 Response

Firms given £1bn of state contracts without tender in Covid-19 crisis
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/15/firms-given-1bn-of-state-contracts-without-tender-in-covid-19-crisis

“No hand sanitiser, no procedures”: Social workers on protecting children in the pandemic
https://www.newstatesman.com/spotlight/coronavirus/2020/05/no-hand-sanitiser-no-procedures-social-workers-protecting-children

Coronavirus: know your rights
https://www.libertyhumanrights.org.uk/advice_information/coronavirus-know-your-rights/

BMJ: The UK’s public health response to covid-19
https://www.bmj.com/content/369/bmj.m1932

Green Party Comment

Caroline Lucas: Forcing MPs back to Parliament sets a dangerous precedent for the rest of the UK
https://inews.co.uk/opinion/comment/parliament-uk-mps-return-coronavirus-lockdown-caroline-lucas-2860271

Natalie Bennett: Government should warn public of danger of ‘false negatives’
https://leftfootforward.org/2020/05/natalie-bennet-government-should-warn-public-of-danger-of-false-negatives/

Green Party: Building A Community Shield To Suppress The Coronavirus
https://coronavirus.greenparty.org.uk/

Alternative Responses

Afua Hirsch: Why are Africa's coronavirus successes being overlooked?
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/21/africa-coronavirus-successes-innovation-europe-us

Nudge theory could heal Brexit Britain's divide over lockdown: Lee de Wit
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/20/nudge-theory-brexit-divide-lockdown-coronavirus

Winning the new world - building a radically democratic society after lockdown.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/democracy-gathering-tickets-104995743094

Wales moves to deny Covid-19 support to businesses based in tax havens
https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/wales-moves-to-deny-covid-19-support-to-businesses-based-in-tax-havens/14/05/

Why journalists don’t need to be more “positive” or “supportive” of the government
https://www.newstatesman.com/science-tech/coronavirus/2020/05/media-journalists-supportive-negative-positive-alan-sugar-briefings-government

Reclaiming Work: The Cycle Couriers Subverting The Gig Economy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0Z5PBgwu60&feature=youtu.be

Recovering from this crisis we need bold, ambitious change for migrants
https://www.jcwi.org.uk/news/recovering-from-this-crisis-we-need-a-new-deal-for-migrants

Coronavirus is not fuel for urbanist fantasies. This moment should be about reassessing our broken cities
https://www.curbed.com/2020/5/20/21263319/coronavirus-future-city-urban-covid-19

Car Free Cities

StreetSpace: We are hospitals calling on all UK councils to ensure that our staff and the populations we serve can get to work safely in the coming months.
https://keyworkerspace.ghost.io/streetspace/

Manchester becomes latest UK city to delay clean air zone
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/may/21/manchester-becomes-latest-uk-city-to-delay-clean-air-zone

Other Links

Save Lea Marshes: Application for the Waterworks Festival REFUSED!
https://www.saveleamarshes.org.uk/

Mind the gap: 2 metres apart and masked in Hackney – a photo essay
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/may/21/mind-the-gap-two-metres-apart-masked-ridley-road-hackney-a-photo-essay

'I don't want to be seen as a zealot': what MPs really think about the climate crisis
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/may/21/i-dont-want-to-be-seen-as-a-zealot-what-mps-really-think-about-the-climate-crisis

£4bn overhaul of Houses of Parliament could be scrapped because of public hostility to spending during crisis
https://inews.co.uk/news/exclusive-4bn-overhaul-houses-parliament-scrapped-public-hostility-coronavirus-2856123

Remarks by Michel Barnier following Round 3 of negotiations for a new partnership between the European Union and the United Kingdom
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/SPEECH_20_895

US town rejects solar farm because it will 'suck up all the sun'
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/us-town-rejects-solar-farm-because-it-will-suck-up-all-the-sun

Stop blaming each other for the climate crisis – coronavirus shows what we can achieve together
https://theconversation.com/amp/stop-blaming-each-other-for-the-climate-crisis-coronavirus-shows-what-we-can-achieve-together-136013

Covid-19 Info, Advice & Support

We've put our help and advice sections on our website now for easy access whenever you need them.

Donations and Help Wanted
Local organisations that need money and support, plus volunteer opportunities.

Supporting Local Business
No need to shop in supermarkets or with Amazon please support local businesses 

Local Support in Hackney
Mutual aid and neighbourhood groups information.

General Advice Pages 
For artists, local businesses, the self employed, renters, how to claim grants, protect your rights etc. Government advice and virus mythbusting

Organisations Offering Support 
Get the help you need here in Hackney

Self Care and Mental Health
Advice on how to look after yourself and others

Activities for Isolation
Highlights from our weekly round up of activities you can do online.

Advice and links is updated regularly and often, so always worth a look, full page here
https://www.hackneygreens.org.uk/covid19_coronavirus_support_listings

And finally..

Hackney Green Party members are hard at work all year round - campaigning on local issues, sweating over press releases, delivering leaflets and canvassing for support in forthcoming elections.

We would love for you to help us make a difference either by coming to one of the events above or by simply donating here.

https://www.hackneygreens.org.uk/donate

If you have any feedback on this newsletter or suggestions for items to include next week then email Graham Woodruff at graham@claymallet.net 

Deadline for content for the Friday email is Thursday 1pm, only Hackney Green Party items will definitely be listed, others may be if they fit our values and there is enough time and space to add them.

Trying to remember that link? Past issues can be found here
https://www.hackneygreens.org.uk/greenvine_archive

Not a member?

We are proud to do politics differently but we need determined, caring people like you to help us make it happen. Join the thousands of people who are already members and stand up for what matters.

https://join.greenparty.org.uk/

To subscribe to receive this email in your inbox sign up at: hackneygreens.org.uk/greenvine