“First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win.” – – Mahatma Gandhi
I don’t really know if he did or not,but what ever it’s true. Last year we where ignored today they ridicule,tomorrow we prepare for the fight.It’s getting like the early days with the Liberal Democrats before their transition to Tories.If any one feels they would like to help the door is open.
I must admit that I do enjoy the experience of a good debate, the adrenaline rush, the give and take with a qualified adversary, the thrill of victor and hopefully the expanse of ones views.
So often though many of us fall back on cheap tricks, emotional triggers, and framing points of view in extremes or black and white terms – all of which result in polarising, as opposed to elevating the discussion.
This is not a new phenomenon and has been used through the years by some of the most prolific personalities in history. In some cases the result is for the betterment of all and sometimes it is to the detriment of many.
What is new is social media, such as twitter, blogs, face books, etc., which provide an excellent mechanism to reach a large population of geographically dispersed people – that is good.
Unfortunately the speed at which information is disseminated as well as the lack of detail and time used to build an argument that can facilitate healthy communication is severally impacted in these mediums – that is bad.
I don’t know how many of you have tried to carry on a debate in 140 characters, but it is a poor forum for anything beyond where one should eat dinner and even that can quickly border on contentious if not bounded properly.
He speaks about not being able to have a rational debate with me.and yet writes “ i am not going to comment on your site” strange i think he needs to say which way he wants to go. If he as an issue then lets debate it. I have no fear,i am really beginning to find his comment amusing.
@JohnDMerry Salford Green Party are as dense as the trees they hug! about
I really find this one hard to take on Board coming from the success at Children’s services,i wonder how long before Adult social care goes the same way.
The poverty figures are taken from the year 2008. We can only assume that since then, due to Condemn Government and Salford Council cuts, the child poverty £53million rates are getting worse.
1. Broadwalk North/Strawberry Road (Irwell Riverside) 74.4%
2. Clarendon (Langworthy) 69%
3. Lower Broughton/University (Irwell Riverside) 67.8%
4. South Clarendon (Langworthy) 65.7%
5. Lower Kersal (Kersal) 63.1%
6. Lower Broughton (Broughton) 62.8%
7. Amblecote (Little Hulton) 59%
8. Whit Lane (Irwell Riverside) 58.8%
9. Kenyon (Little Hulton) 58.2%
10. Brindle Heath (Langworthy) 57%
11. Moss Lane East (Winton) 56.6%
12. Westwood (Winton) 53.7%
13. Great Cheetham Street East (Broughton) 53.5%
14. Ordsall (Ordsall) 53.1%
15. Charlestown South (Irwell Riverside) 52.3%
16. Alder Forrest (Winton) 52.3%
17. The Valley (Swinton South) 52.2%
18. Broadwalk (Langworthy) 52.2%
19. Pendlebury (Pendlebury) 50.9%
20. Madamswood (Little Hulton) 50.1%
These figures are part of an excellent story from the Salford Star-concerned you should be,pop on the Salford star site for the full story
• Name of ward in brackets.
• Source: HMRC 2008
What is incredible is that many of the areas with the worst child poverty have actually had hundreds of millions of pounds worth of regeneration money pumped into them.
For instance, Whit Lane (58.8% child poverty), Charlestown South (52.3%), Lower Kersal (63.1%) and Broadwalk North/Strawberry Road (74.4%) were actually within the Charlestown and Lower Kersal New Deal For Communities area. This ten year £53million project which finished last March was specifically aimed at reducing such factors as child poverty. To say it’s been a failure would be an understatement.
Sustainability Citizenship by Andrew Dobson
Why should you recycle your rubbish? Because the government might fine you if you don’t? Because you are nudged into re-cycling by your Council providing you with a nice new green plastic bin. Or because you believe as a citizen that you owe it to your fellow human beings – in short that it is the right thing to do. In this provocative short essay Andrew Dobson argues that government obsession with financial incentives, or more recently with the politics of nudging people to do the right thing, is undermining the creation of an ethically-based sustainability citizenship. And it is only with the latter that we will make long-term changes to how we live.
To download Sustainability Citizenship click here. (pdf, 686 K)
Mutual Security in a Sustainable Economy by Molly Scott Cato and Brian Heatley
Welfare reform has been in the news for the last thirty years. In this stimulating discussion, Molly Scott Cato and Brian Heatley argue that it needs to be taken out of the context of a neo-liberal market economy and re-considered afresh against the reality of the coming sustainable economy. The results are radical, calling for a new definition of poverty, a system based on individuals, and the abolition of a retirement age. But there is a return too to traditional Green themes like a Citizen’s Income paid to all, thrift and more emphasis on traditional skills for self-reliance.
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PEEL HOLDINGS TO APPEAL SALFORD COUNCIL HOUSING REFUSAL |
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Star date: 21st July 2011 Source Salford Star SALFORD TAX PAYERS TO PICK UP THE BILL FOR PEEL HOLDINGS BURGESS FARM HOUSING APPEAL…As Council document reveals a further 200 houses on the green field site… Peel Holdings is to appeal against the recent refusal by Salford Council’s planning panel to grant permission to build 350 houses on the green field Burgess Farm site in Walkden. The £multi-billion company is demanding that Salford tax payers pick up the bill. Meanwhile, Salford Council documents show plans for a further 200 houses on the Burgess Farm site. |
For many people living within the area they would have had no idea there was a residents meeting being held last night at the Swinton Masonic Lodge.I understood from one local activist that there had been a leaflet drop from them. so at least with luck there would have been some attendance.Of course some people would have read the Press release on Salford Online from the Local Labour Group which in reality was nothing more than a shot across the bows for the Liberal Democrat leader, the meeting started promptly at seven and to honest i was pleased that it did not fall into one more Political Bandwagon,but i think in reality it will turn out to be one.I was concerned with the anger being shown and the opinion from many of the residents that they had been kept in the dark.Of course consultations in reality from bodies like the council are not what you and i deem to be, a few hundred people get letters, and the advertiser gets a small piece some where in the back and the legal process seems to end,only when it’s to late and there is no turning back do the masses seem to find out how the issue will effect them. I don’t just blame the council i think some times we don’t take enough interest in issues around us until it’s to late.If i am wrong in my facts i offer my apologise only i struggle to do short hand.The site looks to be developed by Barrett and Wimpy,a cross section of homes will be available.and some affordable housing! what they deem to be affordable i wait to see with great interest.The number of homes will be in the region of 234 a reduction from the first plan.I think what would concern me is of course the number,we in reality in Salford need homes to meet the growing need of the people who live here,but the facts are finding the right space and a plan that makes it a viable option for the developer. The site at first glance suffer one major problem access. If you live within Swinton and Pendlebury you would have first hand experience of issues regarding traffic at peak times of the day, the top and bottom of the roads to access the site are grid locked,both made worse with the Chapel street issues,one resident raised the the issue of the stabbing that took place early this year and how the roads where not a viable option in the event of any emergencies. I would be worried that what we are creating is a car park at certain times of the day, and in reality the environmental issues have not been thought out clearly.I find it strange that the traffic survey quoted last night was done in 2008 well before the Chapel street grid lock came into fruition,again the information used was out dated and not realistic.One more thing that i found very worrying was with the questions being asked and the depth of knowledge needed to reply, i would have hoped that the people there would have thought out how they would deal successfully with peoples concerns, if i had been a resident i would have come out of the meeting with more concerns than i went in with. Across Swinton and Pendlebury there where issues raised over lack of School places,doctors and key services to service the site, no one seemed to have the answer,also in regard to the look and feel of the site. Drawings where the only thing available,i would have liked to have seen sample materials to be used,there where none. The plans look to have buildings overlooking homes that were in the past not overlooked little interest was shown. One person said it just looks like one more Barrett development with little thought.I would have made one suggestion last night that the chair took more time to listen to peoples questions and offer time to have them put in to the minutes,in regard to the meeting splitting people up in to groups it was a bad idea it takes away the whole meaning of a public meeting,it takes away the chance for people to listen,make judgement and participate,i stood for 10 minutes last night outside the building taking to residents they are unsure,concerned,and unhappy,when there is a failure to communicate on issues that effect more than the small numbers around the Hospital and the process is flawed, we have problems and those must be rectified as a matter of urgency.This site could have knock on effects across many wards.it needs more than one public meeting to clarify and rectify the issues raised.
Well this is the Flurry of activity i received yesterday,it worries me,i saw a Twitter on the MEN web site which i print below
In hospital for urgent attention to my foot hope to be at council later Men Twitter
I wonder? as he put his foot in it some whereMY RESPONSE
Now the fact is councillor Merry did make it on the same day to council, i wrote the comment after he came back, no where did the Men say that the issue was life threatening,and at no time would i wish ill of Cllr Merry.What i say on this Blog is and always will be Politicly based,i have met with him on many occasions and we have fought over many issues, and although i disagree with how he runs this city i find his comments baffling.If he is under some form of stress i don’t have a clue,but if i attack him 99% will be political and 1% a little dig.If he wishes to take this tone i won’t lose any sleep.If he wishes to attack me i can except anything he as to say,because in reality the game we choose puts us in the firing line and if you can’t take it then i suggest getting out of the kitchen.
COMMENT FROM Cllr Merry
@mole45 hit a new low tonight as he states on his blog on hearing that I been admitted for treatment for a foot ulcer
you should be ashamed of yourself what do you do for relaxation laugh at people in wheelchairs . I would like to hear from the Green Party as to whether it considers it acceptable for you to say my emergency admission to Hospital was a laugh
ok that has to be the lowest comment from you. To laugh at a serious ulcer on someone’s foot that could have been dangerous is taking political comment too far. You can take this as my last post on your site . I hope the Green Party disclaim responsibility for this appalling lapse made you laugh
