We are reminded this week that we must all fight systemic racism and racial injustice, actively, immediately and with vigour ✊💚💪. Without true justice and equality there will be no climate justice.
This fight starts with listening and education and we have included a number of links below to help you on your journey. 🙏
More next week.
💚 Hackney Green Party
http://www.hackneygreens.org.uk/
We Call for Cancellation of Covid Rent Arrears
Our campaign for the cancellation of Covid-19 rent arrears continues...
We have had some local press coverage here
https://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news/hackney-green-party-calls-for-rent-arrears-cancellation-amid-coronavirus-1-6679962
https://www.hackneycitizen.co.uk/2020/05/29/demands-greater-support-renters-as-union-collectives-take-shape-across-hackney/
Video from Alex, crunching the numbers
https://twitter.com/alexjarmitage/status/1268492634747801600
and the Guardian are taking up the story
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/jun/04/thousands-of-uk-tenants-face-losing-home-when-eviction-ban-ends
View the Hackney Green Party Letter Here
Find out more about the Hackney Green Party policy on housing here
London Renters Union Campaign Link, if you are struggling topay rent they have lots of useful information that may help
https://londonrentersunion.org/cantpaywontpay/
https://londonrentersunion.org/coronavirus-qa/
Green Party Comment
Greens demand inquiry into institutional racism and Covid deaths
https://greenworld.org.uk/article/greens-demand-inquiry-institutional-racism-and-covid-deaths
Greens of Colour, Jarelle Andre Francis: Black Lives Matter
https://greensofcolour.greenparty.org.uk/2020/06/01/black-lives-matter/
George Floyd murder: Solidarity in pain and fear
https://greenworld.org.uk/article/george-floyd-murder-solidarity-pain-and-fear
Caroline Russell: Risks to BAME transport workers are unacceptable
https://www.london.gov.uk/press-releases/assembly/caroline-russell/risks-to-bame-transport-workers-are-unacceptable
Watch Again: Gren Party Digital BBQ Resilient Communities
https://livingroom.greenparty.org.uk/digital-bbq-1-resilient-communities/
Caroline Russell: Response to TfL changes to congestion charge level and hours
https://www.london.gov.uk/about-us/london-assembly/assembly-members/publications-caroline-russell/publication-caroline-russell-response-tfl-changes-congestion-charge-level-and-hours
Greens accuse PM of misleading Parliament over care homes
https://leftfootforward.org/2020/05/exclusive-greens-accuse-pm-of-misleading-parliament-over-care-home-deaths/
Reading Room
Racial Injustice - News
Salena Godden Poem: While Justice Waits
http://www.salenagodden.co.uk/2020/06/poem-and-justice-waits.html
Systemic racism and police brutality are British problems too
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jun/04/systemic-racism-police-brutality-british-problems-black-lives-matter
The Government’s Reaction To BAME Deaths Tells Us Everything We Already Knew About Our Society
https://bylinetimes.com/2020/06/04/the-governments-reaction-to-bame-deaths-tells-us-everything-we-already-knew-about-our-society/
Samir Jeraj: What Public Health England’s report on BAME deaths says – and what it doesn’t
https://www.newstatesman.com/science-tech/2020/06/what-public-health-england-s-report-bame-deaths-says-and-what-it-doesn-t
Afua Hirsch: The racism that killed George Floyd was built in Britain
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jun/03/racism-george-floyd-britain-america-uk-black-people
Gary Younge: We Can't Breathe, What connects the most brazen forms of state violence against black people and the struggles of BAME coronavirus patients is systemic racism.
https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2020/06/we-cant-breathe
Flash grenades, rubber bullets and pepper balls: A look at "less than lethal" devices that can sometimes be fatal
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/flash-grenades-rubber-bullets-and-pepper-balls-the-police-weapons-used-against-protesters/
UK protesters accuse police of targeting black people during lockdown
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/01/uk-police-accused-of-targeting-black-people-during-lockdown
Racial Injustice - Education
The Black Curriculum
https://www.theblackcurriculum.com/ourcurriculum
Put our colonial history on the curriculum – then we’ll understand who we really are
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/dec/05/britain-colonial-history-curriculum-racism-migration
10 Books About Race To Read Instead Of Asking A Person Of Color To Explain Things To You
https://www.bustle.com/p/10-books-about-race-to-read-instead-of-asking-a-person-of-color-to-explain-things-to-you-8548796
A brief history of police brutality in the UK
https://www.huckmag.com/perspectives/opinion-perspectives/a-brief-history-of-police-brutality-in-the-uk/
Syllabus for MPhil class 'Race and Empire in Modern British History'
https://twitter.com/freddyfoks1/status/1268608332891185152?s=19
Netflix: When They See Us
https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/80200549?trkid=13747225&s=a&t=cp
Netflix: 13th
https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/80091741?trkid=13747225&s=a&t=cp
Benjamin Zephaniah - Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night by Dylan Thomas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaH2XO7z4l4&app=desktop
"The New Jim Crow" - Author Michelle Alexander, George E. Kent Lecture 2013
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gln1JwDUI64&feature=share&app=desktop#menu
Pluto Press: 50% off books by our BAME authors until the 21st June.
https://www.plutobooks.com/bame-authors/
Good collection of resources here
https://home.38degrees.org.uk/2020/06/04/a-collection-of-anti-racism-resources/
No more cops: Resource guide
http://bright-green.org/2020/06/03/no-more-cops-resource-guide/
Racial Injustice - Action
Fundraiser: Support UKBLM’s work with black communities across the UK. This is an evolving fund to support black life against institutional racism and enable radical reminaging/knowledge production from within our communities.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/ukblm-fund
Email Your MP: Teach Black History
https://www.theblackcurriculum.com/action
Donate: Newham Bookshop is raising £5,000 to help distribute free books that fight for racial justice
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/fight-inequality
Petition: Suspend UK export of tear gas, rubber bullets and riot shields to USA
https://www.change.org/p/suspend-uk-export-of-tear-gas-rubber-bullets-and-riot-shields-to-usa
500 Women Scientists: Communicating Your Support For #blacklivesmatter: Dos, Don’ts, And Resources
https://500womenscientists.org/updates/2020/6/1/take-action
Ways You Can Help: When You’re Done: Educate Yourself. This Doesn’t Go Away Once The Topic Isn’t, “Trending.”
https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/
Campaign Zero: Actions to end police violence in the US
https://www.joincampaignzero.org/
Movement to defund police gains 'unprecedented' support across US
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jun/04/defund-the-police-us-george-floyd-budgets
Covid-19
How Germany got coronavirus right
https://www.ft.com/content/cc1f650a-91c0-4e1f-b990-ee8ceb5339ea
Whitehall on trial: how the government is preparing for the Covid inquiry
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/whitehall-on-trial-how-the-government-is-preparing-for-the-covid-inquiry
NHS test-and-trace system 'not fully operational until September'
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/jun/04/nhs-track-and-trace-system-not-expected-to-be-operating-fully-until-september-coronavirus
Australian Government response
https://www.thejuicemedia.com/derp/
Visa fears mean Filipino nurses ‘feel unable to say no’ during crisis
https://www.nursingtimes.net/news/coronavirus/visa-fears-mean-filipino-nurses-feel-unable-to-say-no-during-crisis-25-05-2020/
BMJ - Covid-19: Questions of conscience and duty for scientific advisers
https://www.bmj.com/content/369/bmj.m2102
Climate Change
Black Environmentalists Talk About Climate and Anti-Racism. It’s impossible to live sustainably without tackling inequality, activists say.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/03/climate/black-environmentalists-talk-about-climate-and-anti-racism.html
The UK’s tax system promotes inequality and fails to prevent environmental degradation. Here’s how we can change it.
https://neweconomics.org/2020/06/redesigning-tax-for-a-just-green-recovery
Trump signs order to waive environmental reviews for key projects
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2020/06/04/trump-sign-order-waive-environmental-reviews-key-projects/
Walking, rolling or cycling will be a vital part of a better London
https://www.standard.co.uk/comment/walking-london-cycling-coronavirus-a4458776.html#gsc.tab=0
Air pollution in China back to pre-Covid levels and Europe may follow
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jun/03/air-pollution-in-china-back-to-pre-covid-levels-and-europe-may-follow
Top business leaders call on Boris Johnson to set out green recovery plan
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/jun/01/top-business-leaders-call-on-boris-johnson-to-set-out-green-recovery-plan
Sixth mass extinction of wildlife accelerating, scientists warn
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jun/01/sixth-mass-extinction-of-wildlife-accelerating-scientists-warn
Christiana Figueres: Covid-19 has given us the chance to build a low-carbon future
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jun/01/covid-low-carbon-future-lockdown-pandemic-green-economy
Other Links
Police Chief urged Priti Patel to use Extinction Rebellion ‘opportunity’ to curb protest rights
https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/met-police-chief-urged-priti-patel-to-use-extinction-rebellion/
Ministers considering renationalising England and Wales probation service. Move is latest attempt to unwind ‘disastrous’ 2014 changes under Chris Grayling
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/jun/04/ministers-considering-renationalising-england-and-wales-probation-service
Petition: Demanding humane treatment for Asylum Seekers
https://www.change.org/p/priti-patel-home-secretary-we-demand-asaferway
Donate: NRPF Solidarity Hardship Fund, making direct payments to families
https://www.gofundme.com/f/nrpf-covid19-hardship-fund?
Government ready to open British markets to chlorinated chicken for US trade deal
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/chlorinated-chicken-british-markets-us-trade-deal-trump-a9548431.html#gsc.tab=0
Refugee Bike Project - Fundraising Quiz
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/kerry-godliman-jen-brister-present-bike-projects-lockdown-virtual-quiz-tickets-107072550882
George Monbiot: Britain's claims to being a functioning democracy are only skin deep
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jun/03/britain-democracy-tories-coronavirus-public-power
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 [email protected]
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.