Global Green Congress Reportback

Members Business Meeting - July

Newington By-Election Result
LDM: 27.9% (+15.4)
GRN: 9.0% (-6.2)
CON: 5.6% (-3.9)
Newington By-Election

Global Greens Congress
Why Global Greens Congress matters
As a long-time member and passionate advocate for the Green Party, Catherine understands that the Global Greens Congress is a crucial opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals from around the world, share best practices, and develop new strategies to fight climate change, promote social justice, and
Petition for Safe Crossing on Lausanne Road
As many of you have told us, there is no pedestrian crossing along the length of Lausanne Road between Queens Road Peckham and Evelina Road. Many parents in Nunhead and Queens Road, as well as Telegraph Hill, send their children to Edmund Waller Primary School in Lewisham. In order to get there, children have to cross either Lausanne Road or Gellatly Road. Both are very busy, with fast moving traffic. While there are traffic islands, there really is no safe crossing for people to use!
The contrast with some other local primary schools is striking: there's a zebra crossing and often a school crossing patrol close to Hollydale School (on Evelina Road), and the same for St Mary Magdalene School (on Consort Road).
Both Southwark and Lewisham Green Party have spoken to many residents along the road itself and in the area and we know it has been a long standing issue – no safe crossing has been implemented as of yet. We have contacted both councils to try and get this resolved and need your support to get things done. The more people who lend their voice to this issue, the more likely we can get a safe crossing in place.
So please sign our petition to get a safe crossing for Lausanne Road!
Dear Councillors,
We, the undersigned, are writing to request the installation of a safe crossing on Lausanne Road. This area is heavily used by pedestrians, particularly school children walking to and from Edmund Waller Primary School. However, the current lack of a crossing or other safety measures makes it difficult and dangerous for pedestrians to navigate.
We believe that a safe crossing would greatly improve the safety and convenience of this area for all users. It would also encourage more people to walk and bike, which has numerous benefits for the community, including improved public health and reduced traffic congestion.
We urge you to take action on this important issue and install a safe crossing on Lausanne Road as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Say No to Bus Cuts
Southwark Green Party stands against Transport for London and Sadiq Khan's proposed cuts to buses in Southwark.
If these cuts go ahead, it will harm many residents of Southwark who can least afford to lose these services. Many of us will find it harder to get to work, see family and friends, or attend essential services. During a climate emergency we need to encourage and expand these vital public transport options, not cut them and at the same time support and promote active travel options.
Local campaigner in Nunhead & Queens Road, Richard Taylor says "The loss of the 12 and 78 services would have a particularly bad impact on
Read more
Show your support
On Thursday May 5, elections take place for Southwark Council.
Show your support for the Green Party by displaying a poster in your window.
Downloand and print in colour or print the black & white version onto your brightest green paper!
If you want to learn more about the Green Party's vision for London, see the most recent London-wide manifesto here and statements on some key topics from local candidates here. For a national perspective, the Political Programme truly is a vision of a better world.
Find a full list of Green Party candidates standing across Southwark here. And if you want your community represented by councillors that will work tirelessly for your community - Vote Green on May 5th.
Greens working hard all year round
Take a look at what three local Green activists have been doing in just one area of Southwark. Catherine Dawkins, Claire Sheppard and Richard Taylor are standing for election to Southwark Council as Green Party candidates in Nunhead and Queen's Road.
Catherine, Claire and Richard surveyed voters in the area to understand local issues and took action. The top issues included: fly-tipping, littering, safer streets, and support for local businesses.
In response to this, they have:
- participated in regular litter picks
- installed dog poo bag dispensers
- reported fly-tipping to Southwark Council and got the mess cleared up
- organised a regular speed watch on Queens Road Peckham and Consort Road
- helped local traders find out about support from the council
Greens are standing in the local elections right across Southwark. Vote for hardworking local Greens on Thursday 5 May.
Greens speak at hustings organised by Black and Latin American communities
Peter Baffoe, Green candidate for North Walworth, and Lina Usma, Green candidate for Newington, represented Southwark Green Party at local election hustings held at Peckham Levels.
The event was organized by Southwark Latin American Network and Southwark's Race, Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage (R.E.A.C.H) Alliance, organisations campaigning for Latin American and black communities in Southwark.
Peter spoke about the Green Party’s long-standing and continuing support for the traders at Elephant and Castle. Southwark Green Party supports the efforts of the Latin American community to develop an official Latin Quarter at Elephant and Castle as a cultural hub for the community, and support the official recognition of Latin Americans as a separate ethnic group. It is estimated that more than 8,000 Latin Americans live in Southwark. It is a young community (two thirds are under 40) with many “highly skilled individuals with large numbers in work, but unable to obtain jobs in line with their professional skills” (Trust for London, Towards Visibility report).
Peter said the Green Party would actively involve minoritised communities in the design of council programmes and policies, and use council resources to support the work of local 'by and for' Black, minority ethnic and Latin American organisations.
His responses to questions from the public were very well received, not least a commitment to reinstate the Carnaval Del Pueblo, a Latin-American festival held in Burgess Park. Peter said: “We will do everything we can do to ensure the celebration can continue.”
Discussion after the formal part of the evening continued in both Spanish and English. Lina emphasised the Green Party's progressive policies, such as the universal basic income, four-day week and protection for tenants, and its commitment to work hard for and with local communities.
Hear from Lina at the Peckham Levels hustings in this lively video en Español.
Peter Baffoe grew up, and lives in Southwark. He is currently the Interim Director of South London Mission, providing strategic leadership and vision for the charity which provides support to those who are in extreme poverty or are marginalised and vulnerable in other ways. Prior to his work in community development, Peter managed a patient complaints and liaison service in the NHS. He has been a school governor and is now a non-executive director of Peabody Housing Association, a trustee of the Peabody Community Foundation, and trustee of the Maudsley Charity.
Lina Usma was born in Colombia and moved to London with her husband and young daughter in 1996. She runs Extra International, the largest largest newspaper in London for the Spanish-speaking Latin American community. Lina studied business management in Colombia and then Media and Journalism at the University of East London.