Continuing struggle: post climate week action

So what now the weeks over? It was certainly very intense at times..the end of the week means little in itself.

Action on campus is ongoing students are organising and fighting for justice in many shapes and guises, The week was only as good as it was because these groups came together and it is only through sustained collective action that we can continue to have the same level of impact.

The grassroots network we formed organised the week needs to be sustained. By grassroots I mean a network based on collective action and solidarity and support for each other’s initiatives.

I have a few idea of how we can do this however; I would like to discuss it openly at the E&E forum this Friday at 8pm in the guild council chambers. I think good ground to cover would be “Network building, how will our networks work, what relationships will they have with the guild and uni?” it is on the agenda so come armed with ideas.

The rest of the agenda can be found here


Don’t forget the wave on November the 5th part of a global day of action and what is shaping up to be one of the biggest rallies in Britain in recent years. If you are interested in getting a coach to London for wave contact asap .... oxfamoutreach@guild.bham.ac.uk

If you want to go to Copenhagen the cheapest way to get there at this point is the coaches climate camp are organizing here

Also coming up this week:
Movie night: 'Waltz With Bashir
Tuesday, 24 November 2009
Time: 19:30 - 21:30
Location: UG33, Education Building-Filmsoc, JSoc and UN Society are showing 'Waltz With Bashir': an animated film discussing the 1982 Lebanon war. IMDB Review

And

Fruit of the Loom boycott: STITCHED UP IN HONDURAS!
Date:
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
Time: 19:00 - 21:00
Location: Guild of Students Council Chambers
People and Planet Society and the Guild of Students have helped tackle the exploitation of the factory workers who make clothing often bought in bulk by organizations, including Universities. After making thousands of workers unemployed from a factory in Honduras after attempting to unionize, Fruit of the Loom have become targets of a global boycott. The Guild of Students was quick to respond in solidarity and a motion was passed at Guild Council for the Guild and student groups to boycott Fruit of the Loom products. This was followed by many other UK unions.

This is significant victory for the student movement as reported in the new York times; “Additionally not only did Russell agree to reinstate the dismissed workers and open a new plant in Honduras as a unionized factory, it also pledged not to fight unionization at its seven existing factories there.”

This Wednesday at 7pm in the Guild Council Chambers, come and hear Reyna Martinez tell her story of mistreatment, death threats and illegal firings that accompanied her attempts to unionize and get better conditions for the workers at Fruit of the Loom’s Jerzees de Honduras factory. Reyna and Rod from United Students Against Sweatshops will be available for further discussions.

Ethical and Environmental forum

Last guild council the ethical and environmental forum was given new terms of reference, new powers to influence the ethical and environmental implications of the guilds practices.

It directly feeds into several guilds and university sub committees via the EEO, all students at the forum can now vote can now add things to the agenda.

I was hoping this forum

We would

Feedback as to what I’m up too..
Start by, questions to myself what I am doing , what should I do differently
Co-ordinate our campaigns, requests for help notifications of what we are up to.
Network building, how will our networks work, what relationships will they have with the guild and uni?
Suggestions for changes around the university
Suggestions for changes in the guild
Talk about how we are going to use the E&E committees: new facebook group, website and blog
Discuss an ethical and environmental investment policy to be taken to next GC
Start a reviewing the guilds ethical and environmental policies
Look at more proposed changes to ethical and environmental structures
Any other business

Anyone can add anything to the agenda if you have a point either comment after this post or e-mail me at e.bauer@guild.bham.ac.uk

Waste management and recycling group minutes

Present: Trevor Shields, Donna Willmetts, Dave O Driscoll, Edd Bauer, Tom Guise and Peter Larkin
Apologies: Niki Constantinou

No. Item. Action
1. Terms of Reference
To be responsible for the development and implementation of strategies to promote and communicate initiatives across both campuses to University staff and students
2.
Matters Arising/Update on Current Initiatives
(i) Binless Office Sceme
The scheme had started well in the Muirhead Tower and Main Library receiving overall positive feedback. A few concerns had been raised over changes in working practices. TCS had offered to discuss the scheme with UCU members but had so far received no enquiries. A similar scheme had been highlighted by the TUC as good practice.
Discussions were ongoing to extend the scheme to Geography, Finance, HR, Munrow, Arts and Staff House. It was also hoped to recruit the VC’s office.
The TUC document ‘gogreenatwork’ to be circulated to the group.
(ii) Rocket Composter
Logistical problems had been encountered at its current location at the Business School.
The Conference Park to be investigated as a potential location.
(iii) Grounds and Gardens
Leaves are now been collected by Birmingham based Biofuels International Limited to produce leaf logs. Around 70-90 tonnes of wet leaves were collected last year.
10 recycling bins for paper/cardboard/glass cans had been placed on the Vale for collection by the City Council, along with one by the terrace huts on campus.
The council to be contacted for information on the number of bags collected.
(iv) Guild Initiatives
The possibility of the Guild joining the University waste and recycling contracts was discussed.
The proposal to be put to the Guild Trustees again.
(v) Batteries
A trial was ongoing in ‘Living’ in the University Centre as part of the ‘batteryback’ scheme.

The City Council to be contacted about implementing the scheme at the Vale.
The possibility of Shackleton and Jarratt to be pursued.

3. Waste and Recycling Figures
The general waste contract was now due for retender. Landfill figures are decreasing year on year. The trend of increasing paper recycling figures suggested that there could be an increasing amount of paper being purchased.
Procurement to be contacted regarding data on paper purchasing.



TCS
5. Awareness and website
The environment website to be updated with recycling figures.
The Guild and environment websites to be cross linked.
The potential of staff student forums to be investigated.
TCS
TCS, TG, EB
TCS, EB
6.
AOB Targets
The group to discuss ideas for potential targets.

7.
Date of Next Meeting
Wednesday 20th January 2009 @ 11.00 am, S252 Health & safety Unit

Liberty in North Korea! Free award winning film at the guild

This event is being put on by the UN soicety and I would really recomend attending,

this is the blurb from the UN societies group

"LiNK is a non-profit organization with a two-fold mission: To protect and educate North Korean refugees who are endangered and to tell the world about the injustices happening in and around North Korea. If you do not know much about the crisis, check out this short piece of media we created to explain it better:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyYilOhGw40

The organization is launching a 3-month tour with the primary focus of screening the award winning documentary called “Seoul Train” on college campuses starting this October."

Join the UN societies FB group for more updates here

How old will you Be in 2050?

Check out the FB group here
and the website here

if you want to do something to support the week e.g be a event helper, hand out leaflets, get inovled in the planing don't hesistate to contact me at e.bauer@guild.bham.ac.uk

aslo do something right now invite your friends to the FB group and post a link to the website on your wall.

Various student groups are organising events during this week. For more information about the where and when of events, please see the events page

The aims of this week are:

1. Raise awareness of the upcoming climate change summit at Copenhagen
2. Discuss the deals which may, or may not be made
3. Encourage activism and for people to come to ‘The Wave,’ a climate change protest being held in London on the 5th December
4. Encourage everyone to lead more ethical, carbon neutral lifestyles

Please come along to as many events that you can and give your full support to ensure a fair, equitable deal is made among world leaders at Copenhagen this December. This will ensure that the worst effects of climate change are avoided.
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****************TIMETABLE********************
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Monday 16th November

Avon Room – University Centre – 1800-2130
Introduction to ‘How Old Will You Be in 2050′ and Film Showing of ‘The Age of Stupid‘

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Tuesday 17th November

13:00 – 15:00 Climate Picnic outside the Oil Bank (natwest on campus) open, informal chat and about the Royal bank of Scotland (who own NatWest) and the role the banking sector have to play in a transition economy, food drink provided. Pop along say hi, chat have a drink..

17:00 - Guild of Students – Green room
Students Mobilize Students – A platform for students who want to start taking action to green up our community weather in halls, on campus or regionally and chance to network and meet other interested students. An open session not hosted or run by any group or individual.

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Wednesday 18th November

University Square – 1100-1600

Cycling Road Show - Bring along your bike . Come and receive a helping hand for reducing your Carbon Footprint.

Activities include a free of charge cycle surgery so have those brakes checked, tyres pumped and chain oiled! If you are interested in taking part in the free adult cycle training on any of the days please email Caroline Radnor at c.s.radnor@bham.ac.uk
Cycle security coding will be available from the West Midlands Police to those who bring their cycle along on the day. The Police will also be helping you secure your cycle by selling quality Squire D-locks at a heavily subsidised rate (£9 instead of the retail price of about £30) in an effort to reduce the number of cycles on campus with inadequate locks. The majority of cycles stolen on campus have been secured with cable or chain style locks which can easily be cut. High visibility jackets and waistcoats will also be on sale at a discount for staff and students when showing ID cards.

Guild of Students – 14:00-1600 activist legal training: Activists Legal Project www.activistslegalproject.org.uk This workshop aims to arm you with information about the legal implications of taking direct action, the likely charges and penalties, stop and search and what happens at the police station. It aims to help you decide whether direct action is for you and helps give you the confidence to deal with the police and the arrest process.

Chaplaincy Worship Room 16:30 – 6:30 Seeds For Change Oxford www.seedsforchange.org.uk Come to this workshop if you want to check out if direct action is for you or if you want to share ideas and learn some new techniques. The emphasis will be on practical tips and sharing ideas about how to make our actions safe, fun and effective.

20:00 - 21:30 Faith and Climate Change: With representatives from Christian, Hindu and Islamic Societies, we will explore how these issues are directly relevant to living out our faith on a day-to-day basis.


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Thursday the 19th of November

University Campus 1100-1600
Go blue in the face for Climate Change. Give your support for a fair, equitable deal to be made at Copenhagen. Sign the ‘Here & Now‘ petition.

Joes Bar – 1800-2300
Lunar Society Informal Debate. Come along to debate the issues which matter in a fun casual informal way over drinks.

19:00 - 21:00
CLIMATE JUSTICE NOW!- UK SPEAKER TOUR - The climate crisis has been caused by rich industrialised countries, but it is the world’s poorer majority who are paying the highest price, as extreme weather events become more common, freshwater glaciers melt, and droughts increase. We believe that this means rich countries owe a ‘climate debt’ to the global south.

The Climate Justice UK speaker tour this autumn will see public meetings held around the country. Join us to hear why we need a global climate agreement which is both effective and delivers justice for the global south, and how you can make this happen.
Speakers are:
* Mohammed Shamsuddoha (Equity Bangladesh)
* Asad Rehman (Friends of the Earth)
(plus more tba)
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=167771642379&ref=ts

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Friday the 20th of November

main lecture theatre - Arts – 1700-1830
Question Time Debate, looking at the political aspects of climate change and the summit in December
Saturday 21st November –
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Saturday the 21st of November

Guild of Students – 1030-1600

Model UN Copenhagen – A mock up of the real conference taking place in December.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=174436363920&v=info&ref=ts
Welcome to ModelCOP15, a 1-day conference organised by the University of Birmingham’s United Nations Society to take place on Saturday 21st of November 2009. It is a simulation of the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference, which will be held in Denmark from 7 December to 18 December, and aims to establish a hopefully ambitious successor of the Kyoto Protocol.

ModelCOP15 aims to raise awareness about the significance of the Copenhagen Conference, and to inform at a very practical level about the topics at stake and the way in which these international negotiations are conducted. Each delegate (participant) will get the chance to represent one of the countries, or any of the organisations, which will be present at the negotiations in Copenhagen. In debates delegates will represent their respective country’s/ organisation’s position, and as a whole the committees will offer a productive ground for political, scientific, economic and social debate. SIGN UP HERE http://www.modelcop15.com/

Ethical Investmeant policy?

Just to clarify to anyone who may think this is ultra vires, or has as has been said in guild council illegal… this is not the case the legal stand point for ethical investment for charities is below.

These are where:
1. investments conflict with the aims of the charity
2. investments might hamper the charity’s work, either by making potential recipients of aid unwilling to be helped because of the source of the charity’s money, or by alienating some of those who support the charity financially.
3. some supporters or beneficiaries consider that on moral grounds a particular investment would conflict with the objects of the charity, so long as the trustees are satisfied that the course would not involve a risk of significant financial detriment.
4. the charity has express powers to invest ethically.

The guild is required by charity law to endeavour to make sure that none of its actions alienate its members. Not having an ethical investment policy is a relatively major hole within this work, most charities or public intuitions’ now have one (including the university).

Next GC I’m submitting a motion for an ethical investment policy I have based it on the criteria that the ethical consumer magazine use, as they are well established and respected.

Although from this criteria, I have removed items that I think that some in GC would object to. These are a for the record Armaments (as GC has already given its thoughts on this), Nuclear Power and Genetic Engineering (I thought this maybe similarly contentious, for similar reason to the arms), Politics (Political Activity does the company attempt to influence government policy), Boycott Call (if there is a campaign group against it, this could be put in because the guild may want to avoid being associated with a company that has a negative image), Anti-Social Finance, Company Ethos), Animal testing (I have left in cosmetic animal testing).

The ones I have left in are in line with guilds current ethical policy, however I would like to emphasise that things can be taken out and put in by GC and I hope this will be the subject of debate there.

The Guild should attempt were feasible to minimise its negative impacts on the Environmental where ever feasible, including Climate Change (embed emissions), Pollution & Toxics, Habitats & Resources. The Guild should attempt were feasible to protect animal rights (Cosmetic Animal Testing, Factory Farming). The guild should attempt where feasible to maximise its Sustainability (Organic, Fairtrade, and Positive Environmental Features). The Guild should work to protect where feasible People (Human Rights, Workers' Rights, Supply Chain Policy, Irresponsible Marketing)

We can also debate what should or should not be in the policy here and I am happy to meet up with anyone to discuss so hopefully by GC we have a policy that everyone can agree on.

Aslo in the motion I have included this “For any new banking contract, the approval of Guild council is required. With the exception of a urgent need of change of banks in which case the officer team will take the decision to be ratified at a later date.”, I fully believe that as many decisions as possible should be given directly to students, the guild doesn’t change banks very often so I think the debate every five or so years would be something that guild council can take on.

am I not representing students?

I’m doing my best to represent students, over the last few days I have recived a lot of criticism for doing the opposite. Listening and building democratic structures has been one of my keys objective so far, I’ve set up a new environmental forum in halls, and held its first meeting, passed through guild council a rigorous framework to hold the EEO to account regularly see the new terms of reference here.

I’ve also passed with help from my mentor tom guise a new terms of reference for the environmental working group that brings more students directly into to make sure GC mandates are directly carried on. I’m also lobbying to get a ethical working group set up that is open to students so, that the guild in its dealings with ethical issues can do so to the degree that students wish.

As for not representing students because I submitted motions to GC which would get the guild to lobby on behalf of individuals from other unions or people in the third world. I don’t thinks that fair; I could use my position as EEO to lobby for these things anyway. I’m not I tried to get guild councils permission to do so and GC decided rightly or wrongly against and I’m not doing so. Certianly officers in past have lobbied for things with there permission without going via GC using their executive power and thats something I always said I wouldn't do and I'm not.

Being representative and democratic is important to me and all my actions either come from my manifesto that students voted me in on or from GC mandates. I certainly see that there are horrible flaws in the guilds representative democracy the guild but I don’t try to abuse them to my own ends, after all I am personally attending protests as EEO? I am sending e-mails to the uni from my EEO account? No I’m not and if anyone is interested you’re more than welcome to go through my e-mails, any takers?

I’m working very hard to improve and build the guild democracy as are all the sabbatical team I’m very happy to meet up with anyone or talk about what I’m doing via e-mail or this blog.

RECYCLING WORKING GROUP

Sorry this so late in being posted however I only just got the agenda, if there anything you want brought don't hesitate to contact me.


RECYCLING WORKING GROUP

11:00am Wednesday 4th November 2009, S260 Metallurgy & Materials Building

AGENDA

1. Apologies and Introductions

2. Update on Current Initiatives
(i) Binless Office Scheme
(ii) Rocket Composter
(iii) Grounds & gardens initiatives
(iv) Guild initiatives
(v) New battery recycling scheme

3. Waste and Recycling Figures

4. Awareness, including website

5. Green Impacts Scheme

6. Any Other Business

7. Date of Next Meeting

Replies to criticism....

I apologize for being so late to reply to the criticism here, (it’s been a heavy weekend). I’m always happy to debate and justify my actions and meet up with anyone interested to talk about what I am doing.

Amusingly over this I been accused, of being everything that is wrong with the guild, which is faintly ridiculous. Being as my critics point out “a tiny minority” who can only take up minutes of a guild council time in meetings that for lasts hours and hours. I’m impressed that I manage to singly ruin everything that is good.

I wouldn’t disagree that the situation doesn't immediately affect students, beyond the decrease in the service to students that the reforms to the royal mail would entail.

However The longer term of affects of the postal workers losing the strike are far grimmer than a slightly decreased service. The loss of paid hours, the loss of safeguards guaranteeing welfare in the British workplace will affect our generation in the near future.

We should support the postal workers and other workers in their fight for fair hours, fair pay and decent and safe conditions, because we as students are about to enter this very same work place.

I would contest the fact that this is meaningless gesture, the royal mail want to advertise 30,000 temporary positions; strike breaking workers, these jobs will be advertised at the guild. Although it may be the easy thing to take these jobs now, doing so would directly undermine the CWU and could come back to haunt us later when we enter a far poorer workplace.

So I’m fighting to protect the interest of a select political minority am I? In your writing steven you've shown your true colours “an environment very few Graduates would be entering I would guess” , there will many students around the entire country who will, you may be lucky at a well off and affluent university taking part in elite politics at the guild of students. I’m happy to be taking flak from people like you, people who are only interested with the immediate needs of their own elite group.

As for BAE, are you kidding? What about students worldwide the victims of this company? By supporting it we are supporting its actions and as a student union we have duty to support other students were ever they are in the world be it Coventry or Riyadh.

Frankly if these are your opinions I think you should reconsider being in a union because it entails mutual aid and working together. Not the kind of self interested, “we only care about ourselves” syndicalism in which we are constantly played off against each other to mutual detriment.

I’m not a threat to Guild democracy, the Independent Chairs are

I was censured last guild council and nearly forcibly removed for speaking out against the chairs. In their resolution to not allow an ethical emergency motion on the agenda and subsequent silencing of opposition to their decision, they injured guild democracy perhaps irretrievably for their tenure.

While it’s entirely the chairs decision, they do not have a free hand. In ruling the emergency motion the ignored several years’ worth of guild council motions as to what is the “key” work of the guild of students. See the guilds ethical policy “key duties of any Guild officer of member of staff.”

While the chairs themselves may have personal feelings against the motion (certainly two of them have spoken out against similar motions in the past), if guild council is function democratically then these are feelings need to be put aside. They failed to put these feelings aside and rode roughshod over guild council.

Not only did the chairs dismiss this motion, but they smothered my attempts to challenge this decision.

I first asked them if they would allow guild council to discuss if issue should be on the agenda. Their reaction was not as I hoped, after some uncertainty they resolved cleanly to tell guild council why they had not allowed it on the agenda and spent two minutes listing the pros to having it off the agenda. The chairs denied my requests to be allowed to list to pros to having it on the agenda. I also requested that if I wasn’t allowed to respond to their speech then for it not to be discussed at all, to let neither side have any say is more democratic than one side’s domination.

When I attempted to list the pros they shouted me down and attempted to carry me out of the chamber by force. The chairs have powers that are not democratic in nature i.e being able to decide what is on the agenda, the power to silence individuals and groups and to have people removed. When these powers are abused the guilds democracy is destroyed.

does a guild motion mean nothing? Can it all be wiped away by a independent chair are students who would object to having years of motions they have worked hard to see put in place wiped away, going to be carried out the chamber?

Apologies to the executive team

In my last post, I accused the executive of forcing an item of the agenda. I was wrong to do so, many of them have since come up to me and said they would be fully supportive of it and if they had been consulted would have said it should be on the agenda.

I was informed by the independent chairs that they consulted the executive a claim that if you were at guild council you would have heard repeated.

If your upset by the re designating the status of ethical issues and there importance to the guild of students don’t blame the exec.