The government's cuts to welfare now amount to £23 billion a year. Millions of people have been thrust into deeper hardship while poverty porn television whips up hatred against them. Hundreds of thousands have been made penniless by sanctions, delays and ATOS. Thousands have died in the process.
Yet there have been some victories for our side. The hated ATOS have been forced to with draw from their contract assessing disabled people. The bedroom tax is on the way out. Is there a way to turn round the assault of our welfare state and come out with something better?
If you have any views or experiences, or if you just want to know more, please come along
LOGO
Friday 16 May 2014
Sunday 27 April 2014
MAY DAY AND OTHER ACTIONS ...
Actions coming up ...
WEDNESDAY 30TH APRIL, FROM 5PM - lobby and protest outside Cheshire West Council's Executive meeting, at HQ. The Council are trying to get round local opposition to fracking - see here for details - https://www.facebook.com/events/802973053046501/
SATURDAY 3RD MAY, 11-2 - West Cheshire TUC's second May Day Fair and Rally in Chester Town Hall Square. Lots of stalls (including Left Unity), talks and activities on the 30th anniversary of the Great Miners Strike - full details here:https://www.facebook.com/events/1390637031161153/
SUNDAY 4TH MAY, 11-1, starting at the Waggon and Horses, Western Avenue, Blacon. Hope not Hate are staging a Chester Day of Action against the racists and fascists of the BNP and UKIP standing in the Euro elections - details here:http://action.hopenothate.org.uk/page/event/detail/2014weekendofaction/4jr7m
And don't forget the continuing fracking protection camp at Duttons Lane, Upton ...
WEDNESDAY 30TH APRIL, FROM 5PM - lobby and protest outside Cheshire West Council's Executive meeting, at HQ. The Council are trying to get round local opposition to fracking - see here for details - https://www.facebook.com/events/802973053046501/
SATURDAY 3RD MAY, 11-2 - West Cheshire TUC's second May Day Fair and Rally in Chester Town Hall Square. Lots of stalls (including Left Unity), talks and activities on the 30th anniversary of the Great Miners Strike - full details here:https://www.facebook.com/events/1390637031161153/
SUNDAY 4TH MAY, 11-1, starting at the Waggon and Horses, Western Avenue, Blacon. Hope not Hate are staging a Chester Day of Action against the racists and fascists of the BNP and UKIP standing in the Euro elections - details here:http://action.hopenothate.org.uk/page/event/detail/2014weekendofaction/4jr7m
And don't forget the continuing fracking protection camp at Duttons Lane, Upton ...
Monday 10 March 2014
NHS + SOCIAL CARE MEETING
The next open meeting for Cheshire West Left Unity will be on Wednesday 19th March, 7pm, Quaker Meeting House, Frodsham St, Chester
A meeting for people working in the NHS and social care, and users of their services, to discuss:
- the spread of privatisation
- the impact of NHS and local authority cuts
- the state of services today
and what we can do to build up opposition to what is happening.
Join on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/events/291199211029008/
A meeting for people working in the NHS and social care, and users of their services, to discuss:
- the spread of privatisation
- the impact of NHS and local authority cuts
- the state of services today
and what we can do to build up opposition to what is happening.
Join on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/events/291199211029008/
Thursday 6 March 2014
COMING UP IN MARCH...
COMING UP ... activities in West Cheshire
SATURDAY 8TH MARCH - INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY FESTIVAL, 11-4, Hoole Community Centre
SUNDAY 9TH MARCH - SOLIDARITY DAY AT FARNDON DRILLING SITE - from 11.00 at CH3 6NF
SATURDAY 15TH MARCH - UNITE March and Rally - Defend Public Services, from 10.00 at Pier Head Liverpool
WEDNESDAY 19TH MARCH - CHESHIRE WEST LEFT UNITY MEETING, 7pm, Quaker Meeting House, Frodsham Street, Chester. Public meeting on 'What's Happening to the NHS?'
SATURDAY 22ND MARCH - NUTstall in Chester town centre in preparation for their strike day
WEDNESDAY 26TH MARCH - NUT STRIKE
SATURDAY 29TH MARCH - LEFT UNITY POLICY CONFERENCE, Manchester
SATURDAY 29TH MARCH TO 5TH APRIL - NATIONAL WEEK OF ACTION AGAINST WORKFARE, incorporating ATOS II day on Wednesday 1st April
SATURDAY 8TH MARCH - INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY FESTIVAL, 11-4, Hoole Community Centre
SUNDAY 9TH MARCH - SOLIDARITY DAY AT FARNDON DRILLING SITE - from 11.00 at CH3 6NF
SATURDAY 15TH MARCH - UNITE March and Rally - Defend Public Services, from 10.00 at Pier Head Liverpool
WEDNESDAY 19TH MARCH - CHESHIRE WEST LEFT UNITY MEETING, 7pm, Quaker Meeting House, Frodsham Street, Chester. Public meeting on 'What's Happening to the NHS?'
SATURDAY 22ND MARCH - NUTstall in Chester town centre in preparation for their strike day
WEDNESDAY 26TH MARCH - NUT STRIKE
SATURDAY 29TH MARCH - LEFT UNITY POLICY CONFERENCE, Manchester
SATURDAY 29TH MARCH TO 5TH APRIL - NATIONAL WEEK OF ACTION AGAINST WORKFARE, incorporating ATOS II day on Wednesday 1st April
Thursday 27 February 2014
CHESHIRE WEST LU MEETING, THURSDAY 27TH FEBRUARY
Decent Cheshire West LU meeting tonight, nine attending, despite doing NO WORK for the meeting (which showed rather in the organisation, sorry). Nonetheless a good discussion from all sides about the state of education, the rapid privatisation of the system through academies, and the NUT strike on March 26th - thanks to Greg Foster, from the local NUT.
Plus a load of other local organisation including launching a UNITE Community branch in Ellesmere Port. We should really minute these meetings and post them up here. Instead of which, see the pinned post above, for the coming months activities.
Next Cheshire West LU meeting was provisionally set for WEDNESDAY 19TH MARCH, 7PM, QUAKER MEETING HOUSE, CHESTER, 7 PM when we will be discussing the state of the NHS, or what is left of it, and the prospects for fighting back.
Oh, and for the record, we nominated Terri Conway for the National Executive (or whatever it's called).
Plus a load of other local organisation including launching a UNITE Community branch in Ellesmere Port. We should really minute these meetings and post them up here. Instead of which, see the pinned post above, for the coming months activities.
Next Cheshire West LU meeting was provisionally set for WEDNESDAY 19TH MARCH, 7PM, QUAKER MEETING HOUSE, CHESTER, 7 PM when we will be discussing the state of the NHS, or what is left of it, and the prospects for fighting back.
Oh, and for the record, we nominated Terri Conway for the National Executive (or whatever it's called).
Wednesday 12 February 2014
COMING UP ...
Coming up:
Wednesday 19th February, 12 noon - Chester protest against ATOS- https://www.facebook.com/events/353276264814195 - part of the national Demo against ATOS
Thursday 27th February - next Cheshire West Left Unity public meeting, a forum on what's going wrong with our education system - 7pm, Quaker Meeting House Frodsham St, Chester.
Saturday 1st March - NW Left Unity meeting in Manchester to discuss that Euro elections
Wednesday 5th March - Cheshire West TUC meeting for Internatioinal Womens Day - 7.30pm, Quaker Meeting House Frodsham St, Chester.
Saturday 8th March - International Womens' Day event at Hoole Community Centre, 11-4 - organised by Chester Womens Aid
Saturday 29th March - Left Unity national conference, 11-6, MOSI, Manchester
and watch this space for more...
Wednesday 19th February, 12 noon - Chester protest against ATOS- https://www.facebook.com/events/353276264814195 - part of the national Demo against ATOS
Thursday 27th February - next Cheshire West Left Unity public meeting, a forum on what's going wrong with our education system - 7pm, Quaker Meeting House Frodsham St, Chester.
Saturday 1st March - NW Left Unity meeting in Manchester to discuss that Euro elections
Wednesday 5th March - Cheshire West TUC meeting for Internatioinal Womens Day - 7.30pm, Quaker Meeting House Frodsham St, Chester.
Saturday 8th March - International Womens' Day event at Hoole Community Centre, 11-4 - organised by Chester Womens Aid
Saturday 29th March - Left Unity national conference, 11-6, MOSI, Manchester
and watch this space for more...
Tuesday 11 February 2014
LATEST IN THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST FRACKING
To keep up to date with the campaign against fracking and other extreme energy techniques, which are threatening the environment and water supply of our entire area, follow these Facebook pages:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/frackfreedee
This page is trying to pull together local opposition from all around the Dee estuary, especially given the threat of underground coal gasification underneath the whole of the estuary
Frack Free Upton https://www.facebook.com/groups/1394777480782876
A group to oppose the development of the drilling site in Upton - which is starting already.
We need more groups, for instance in Ellesmere Port and south of Chester and more campaigning and publicity - watch these pages (and this one).
https://www.facebook.com/groups/frackfreedee
This page is trying to pull together local opposition from all around the Dee estuary, especially given the threat of underground coal gasification underneath the whole of the estuary
Frack Free Upton https://www.facebook.com/groups/1394777480782876
A group to oppose the development of the drilling site in Upton - which is starting already.
We need more groups, for instance in Ellesmere Port and south of Chester and more campaigning and publicity - watch these pages (and this one).
Thursday 30 January 2014
FRONT PAGES
Our meeting last week has certainly given a kick start to opposition to fracking and coal bed methane extraction in Cheshire West! The front page of the Chester Chronicle is given over to the issue - http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/ - andcovers our meeting in some detail (without mentioning Left Unity) while a companion article features opposition from Paula Dixon, headmistress of Upton High School, near which exploratory drilling is taking place.
The council meanwhile has been forced onto the back foot. In the Chronicle they deny 'cheerleading' for fracking - untrue: Tory Council leader Mike Jones is on record as supporting it, as is his party nationally - while on the front page of the Leader -http://www.chesterfirst.co.uk/ - the council denies having received any planning applications for 'fracking' around Chester.
This last denial needs careful treatment. It is strictly true that there have been no applications involving the particular technique of fracking around Chester. There have however been a slew of applications for exploratory drilling and two licences granted - in Ellesmere Port - for the equally environmentally destructive techniques involved in coal bed methane extraction. The process of opening up the whole of Cheshire West to these 'extreme energy' techniques is well under way.
The next stage agreed at the meeting was to get together and produce a general leaflet explaining the dangers of all these techniques and, armed with this, to build a broad based campaign - especially in Ellesmere Port - against the threat posed by all these techniques, which will at best make a few oil companies rich, while leaving the rest of us to pay the price in compromised water supplies and other environmental damage.
The council meanwhile has been forced onto the back foot. In the Chronicle they deny 'cheerleading' for fracking - untrue: Tory Council leader Mike Jones is on record as supporting it, as is his party nationally - while on the front page of the Leader -http://www.chesterfirst.co.uk/ - the council denies having received any planning applications for 'fracking' around Chester.
This last denial needs careful treatment. It is strictly true that there have been no applications involving the particular technique of fracking around Chester. There have however been a slew of applications for exploratory drilling and two licences granted - in Ellesmere Port - for the equally environmentally destructive techniques involved in coal bed methane extraction. The process of opening up the whole of Cheshire West to these 'extreme energy' techniques is well under way.
The next stage agreed at the meeting was to get together and produce a general leaflet explaining the dangers of all these techniques and, armed with this, to build a broad based campaign - especially in Ellesmere Port - against the threat posed by all these techniques, which will at best make a few oil companies rich, while leaving the rest of us to pay the price in compromised water supplies and other environmental damage.
Thursday 23 January 2014
GOOD START FOR ANTI-FRACKING CAMPAIGN
Twenty-seven people CAME TO our open meeting to start a local anti-fracking campaign on Thursday 23rd January, twenty-eight if you count the local press - excellent turnout and a good, productive meeting.
This a vital local issue with eight exploration licences already issued and two sites (Ince Marshes and North Road, Ellesmere Port) already approved for coal bed methane production. The meeting heard from:
- a local farmer concerned about drilling below his land (which he is legally powerless to stop)
- a geologist who explained that the porous sandstone below most of Cheshire, source of much of our water, made the area entirely unsuitable for these methods of extraction
- an accountant who detailed how Dart Energy, the main local concessionaire, conducted its operations through shell companies with very little capital, which could easily be made bankrupt in the event of any environmental liabilities arising, with no loss to the parent company
- a Barton Moss campaigner about the ongoing fight there and how to build the campaign
and a wide range of other local voices, all in agreement in opposing the oil industry's spoliation of our environment.
The meeting agreed to prepare a detailed leaflet for mass local distribution, dealing with all the arguments around fracking and coal bed methane - including the bogus economic arguments promising jobs and cheap fuel whereas the truth is it will mean bonanza for a few and environmental disaster for the rest of us. We challenged Dart Energy and the local council,who are cheerleading and covering up for Dart Energy, to debate these issues openly instead of making secret deals.
However we expect a long hard fight given the financial interests involved and the support of government and the council (and Labour's silence on the issue). So it was good to have pledges of support from the Green Party and Socialist Students. Watch this space for further developments, which will included a dedicated webpage and Facebook presence.
This a vital local issue with eight exploration licences already issued and two sites (Ince Marshes and North Road, Ellesmere Port) already approved for coal bed methane production. The meeting heard from:
- a local farmer concerned about drilling below his land (which he is legally powerless to stop)
- a geologist who explained that the porous sandstone below most of Cheshire, source of much of our water, made the area entirely unsuitable for these methods of extraction
- an accountant who detailed how Dart Energy, the main local concessionaire, conducted its operations through shell companies with very little capital, which could easily be made bankrupt in the event of any environmental liabilities arising, with no loss to the parent company
- a Barton Moss campaigner about the ongoing fight there and how to build the campaign
and a wide range of other local voices, all in agreement in opposing the oil industry's spoliation of our environment.
The meeting agreed to prepare a detailed leaflet for mass local distribution, dealing with all the arguments around fracking and coal bed methane - including the bogus economic arguments promising jobs and cheap fuel whereas the truth is it will mean bonanza for a few and environmental disaster for the rest of us. We challenged Dart Energy and the local council,who are cheerleading and covering up for Dart Energy, to debate these issues openly instead of making secret deals.
However we expect a long hard fight given the financial interests involved and the support of government and the council (and Labour's silence on the issue). So it was good to have pledges of support from the Green Party and Socialist Students. Watch this space for further developments, which will included a dedicated webpage and Facebook presence.
Monday 6 January 2014
NO FRACKING - OPEN MEETING THURSDAY 23RD JANUARY
Left Unity is a new party, a socialist, environmentalist and feminist party, for everyone who wants to fight the coalition government's neo-liberal attacks but is appalled by Labour's adaptation to them. We are trying to establish a radically democratic, activist, campaigning organisation in Chester and Cheshire West.
Gas companies like iGas, Cuadrilla & Dart Energy only need a piece of land the size of a football pitch to potentially start exploratory drilling, and if they find what they're after, to begin fracking near you. It needn't be in a field and could even be at an old factory site. Don't say you haven't been warned!
For our first action we have invited Left Unity founding member Stephen Hall to lead the discussion and organisation at an Open Meeting to decide how we can stop the use of fracking and similar dangerous, polluting and futile techniques in our area. Stephen Hall has played a leading role in the militant and effective actions taking place against fracking at Barton Moss, west of Manchester.
Cheshire West is a prime target for companies wanting to use fracking and other extreme energy recovery methods because we live over old coal beds stretching from Ellesmere Port down to Wrexham. Extensive test drilling has already begun. Stephen Hall explains that:
Gas companies like iGas, Cuadrilla & Dart Energy only need a piece of land the size of a football pitch to potentially start exploratory drilling, and if they find what they're after, to begin fracking near you. It needn't be in a field and could even be at an old factory site. Don't say you haven't been warned!
The meeting is on Thursday 23rd January, at 7pm, in the Quaker Meeting House, Frodsham Streeet, Chester. It is an open meeting for anyone who wants to oppose fracking, whether or not you sympathise with Left Unity - the Green Party have been invited to join the meeting as well - with the sole aim of getting a local anti-fracking campaign started. Please come of you can.
WATCH THIS SPACE FOR FURTHER LEFT UNITY ACTIVITIES OF FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AT https://www.facebook.com/LeftUnityCheshireWest.
LEAFLET FOR THIS MEETING NOW AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT AT:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vUqh3OZO1GK7lmi8QIbdr7-SQaGOz28jsgOg-cOxu9U/edit?usp=sharing
LEAFLET FOR THIS MEETING NOW AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT AT:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vUqh3OZO1GK7lmi8QIbdr7-SQaGOz28jsgOg-cOxu9U/edit?usp=sharing
(pdf)
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