Charles Graham, Bridgwater (& West Somerset), Green Party

 link / contact details for potential supporters
 charles.graham@phonecoop.coop


 i.
 what do you think is the most important issue in this election?

Climate Change

 ii.
 why did you make the decision to stand in this constituency and for this  party (as an independent)?

to represent and give voters the chance to vote for the Green party, which is the only party to have policies that address the needs of justice in society and the environment and to action real progress to a better fairer
world.

 iii.
 what kind of vote are you expecting on May 5th?
 optimistically - to save our deposit, otherwise to win this Tory seat.

 iv.
 aside from the vote what are you hoping to get out of this campaign?

 Awareness of Green party policies on Climate change, Public Services and Peace.   Would like to attract new members and activists interested in furthering social justice and stopping the corporate abuse of the global
environment.

 v.
 in your view what is the greatest threat to our civil liberties at the
 moment?

The lie put out by other parties and corporations that restricting civil liberties is a solution to preventing terrorism.

 vi.
 Blair has taken us to war three times since coming to power (not including  the occasional ad hoc bombing raid) in the Balkans, Afghanistan and Iraq. Can war ever be justified?

No, it advertises a failure of communication.   As a VERY last resort, a defensive action may be necessary, but the decision to take part or provide finance/taxes must be individual with a conscientious objection right.

 vii.
 There is very little left to privatise in this country, if you had your way what would be brought into public hands.

Public transport and public services.  These must be owned and operated by and for the benefit and interest of communities and the environment.  This will include e.g. railways, regulation of buses, water, national grid and
communication infrastructure, health, education and social service provision.

 viii.
 Some environmental campaigners have started talking about nuclear power as a  way to bring down CO2 emissions - what do you think of this?

This argument stems from ignorance.  All other factors ignored, the operation of Nuclear facilities could take 8-10 years to achieve a positive CO2 saving balance.   To effect action soon enough to avert global climate change catastrophe, this is too long and preposterously  expensive.   However this aspect is irrelevant when put against the immorality of the industry's other effects and its dependence on the nuclear weapon industry.   There are
considerable dangers, including death, to the mining and preparation of the uranium ore.  The escape in the UK of nuclear particles into the environment currently presents a real and increasing threat to human health as aging
reactors are falling to pieces or being decommissioned.  The storage of waste materials is an unsolved and lethal problem that has yet, is unlikely to be, solved.   The deposit of spent and contaminated fuel, as well as other
contaminated wastes, into long term facilities will require constant monitoring and be vulnerable to any geological or terrorist activity to which the whole of the UK is vulnerable.   The long term storage is also criminal theft, as it institutionalises the commandeering of resources from
future generations to pay for the mistakes of our own.


 ix.
 Asylum and immigration will be central issues in this election.  What action on this issue would you like to see the next government push through?

Educating the public that asylum seekers and immigrants are victims of circumstances beyond their control.  the introduction of policies designed to alleviate the causes of poverty, exploitation and war which are the main drivers for people seeking refuge in this and other countries.


 x.
 What question do you wish was on this list but doesn't appear?

If elected, would you resign if you voted against the principles you have stated in this questionnaire.


 

April 2005