In Kingston, the Greens are set to build on their gains in the last three elections are set to be part of this 'breakthrough' election for the Greens, increasing on their current tally of 100 elected Councillors nationally.

In January, the Government's own National Equality Panel reported that the difference between the richest and poorest in society is now wider than it was 40 years ago. Women also continue to be paid (20%) less, in spite of having equivalent qualifications to men.

'The Labour Government should be ashamed of the findings of this report, but the really frightening thing is the prospect of how it would get even worse under the Tories', said Chris Walker, Parliamentary Green Party Candidate.

A recent book 'The Spirit Level' by leading academics Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett highlight that inequality such as we see in Kingston cause shorter, unhealthier and unhappier lives, higher rates of teenage pregnancy, violence, obesity, imprisonment and addiction, it destoys relationships within society as well as a disproportionate amount of the world's resources.

Only the Green Party's 'Policies for a Sustainable Society' set out a well thought through way to create a fairer and more equal society which will benefit everyone.   

Obligatory cliched pictures of babies and / or hospitals on almost every page were given a new twist by 'at home' photos of Ed Davey, a Sudoku page and a feature on Floella Benjamin! Presumably trying to hide the lack of any meaningful policies, even Ed Davey himself looks worried by this patronising turn of events on the cover!

Whilst the statistics show that we live in a very affluent area, they also show that if you're not well off, politicans are letting you down. For example,

- One third of Kingston's Council homes do not meet minimum housing standards

- Kingston has the lowest rate of affordable housing in London

- Kingston is likely to miss it's targets on temporary housing

- Young people with low income backgrounds are very unlikely to go to University (Kingston is in the worst 5% of areas nationally on this measure)

- Achievement amongst children on free school meals is well below the national average

- Kingston is amongst the worst 20% of areas nationally in terms of ecological and carbon footprints 

- Only 58% of residents are satisfied with doorstep recyling (against 69% nationally)

So, work to be done in 2010. Only the Green Party offers a workable alternative set of policies which address growing inequality in Kingston within a more balanced approach to the environment.

It was all set up for an historical landmark agreement when countries put aside thier own agrendas for the good of the planet and future generations. But, with the possible exception of Brazil, no-one was big enough to do what they knew was right.

It was hard not to draw parallels with the Stop the War protests back in 2005, when over a million people took to the streets of London to try and stop Tony Blair in his misguided support for America's invasion of Iraq. This time, Kingston Greens again joined a march through central London on 5 December and public opinion was again ignored. The difference this time however was that there is also a consensus in the scientific and political community that global warming needs to be stopped. The problem is that no-one is prepared to make the necessary short term sacrifice to make it happen.    

So, did we waste our time on 5 December trying to make our voices heard? Definately not, and the job of the Green Party continues in shaming our current political leaders into action on Climate Change. 

The problem Kingston faces is a legacy of complacency by Labour, the Tories and Lib Dems in getting their act sorted out on waste reduction and recycling. Now however, the Landfill Tax is starting to bite, hence the flurry of half-hearted recycling initiatives (too little too late) in the past 12 months. For good reason, landfill is increasingly not an option, so the choice is simple: recycle or burn?

Recycling is tricky and perceived as expensive, it requires strong political leadership - missing from all the main 'grey' parties. Burning is seen as the easy fix, framed in technical euphemisms like 'thermal management', 'pyrolysis' and 'gasification' and dominated lucratrive long term private contracts loaded with penalty clauses.

We need more transparency around major decsions like these that have massive long term environmental impacts. We need the big questions debated first like 'recycle or burn?' rather than focussing on the management of residual waste and who's back garden waste sites might or might not be located near. We certainly need to have tried much harder to reduce our waste before resorting to incineration.

In the meantime, please make your voice heard in the current consultation on the South London Waste Plan (to 16 October), including a public meeting at Kingston Guildhall on Wednesday 16 September @ 7pm.

For an excellent overview of the issues surrounding the current consultation see: http://www.croydongreens.org.uk/wasteplan/

Chris Walker, 16 August 2009

So, it was refreshing to see a letter from Chris Walker, Green Party Parliamentary Candidate for Kingston, offering some well-meaning advice to all that 'people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones' and urging the Tories and Lib Dems to stop throwing mud and start having some serious debates about how we tackle the big issues facing us on the economy, the environment, health and education.

For full European Election Results in Kingston, go to: http://www.kingston.gov.uk/information/your_council/elections/results/euro_2009_results.htm.