GREENS ACTIVE LOCALLY

The Green Party in Cornwall is fielding four candidates in this election.  Party members are also active in their local communities - serving on town and parish councils and, also, active in local organisations such as transition towns and climate-friendly communities.  The Green Party ethos is that government should be as near to the people as possible and decision making should be bottom-up, not top-down.  In Cornwall they support residents' representation on Local Community Networks and believe that Cornwall Council's activities need to be open and transparent, as well as responsive to local opinion.

Given the acute need to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and the impending fuel shortages, the imperative to localise the economy, in particular food and energy production, is    urgent.  Cornwall is blessed with many natural resources that could be sustainably used to create a vibrant, low carbon economy.  To this end, Green Party members in Cornwall have been gearing their activities towards local food production - lobbying for increased allotment provision and promoting community gardens and orchards, gardening in schools and community supported agriculture.  This has the dual benefit of increasing local food provision and, also, community involvement.

"People are becoming increasingly enthusiastic about local food", said Howard Newlove of Truro, who has been working with local schools on food growing projects. "It is good to use people's skills and knowledge and it is beneficial for physical and mental well-being to be involved in these projects.  It is healthy exercise and promotes social inclusion".

"Greens are active in all walks of life; politically as well as through practical action",added Ian Wrght, Green Party candidate for Truro/Falmouth. "I recently visited Woodland Valley Farm in Ladock where a local farmer has completed excellent work in planting trees, and is enabling the local community to use some of his land so they may grow their own food.  Also the market in Truro, and numerous farm shops around the county. are excellent initiatives which shows we can produce and sell our food locally, ensure the supermarkets do not have a total monopoly, revitalise our communities as well as cutting down our food miles. This is the kind of Green lifestyle we wish to promote, and see as the future in the 21st century. I am also in total support of the Transition Movement which is helping to promote a Green Revolution in our communities and how we live'.

"There is a massive upsurge of interest in local food and where our food comes from" said Godfrey Allen speaking after a 'Food for the Future' evening in Saltash. "We really need some Green MPs who will pursue support for local food initiatives here in South East Cornwall at a national level. In the transition movement we are working well at a grass roots level, but we need political support to help us make lasting improvements."

Roger Creagh-Osborne, Green Party candidate for South East Cornwall said "It is tremendously encouraging to see all the excellent work being done by people starting to take control of their own lives. As a Green MP helping these vital initiatives will be one of the most valuable things we can do."