• Vets fees and charges
    As a pet owner myself I am disgusted by the amount of money being charged for a consultation with the vet. This can range from £25.00 - 30.00 depending on which practice you visit. On top of this fee you have expensive medication to buy which is often over priced compared to buying online and this can leave you with an extremely hefty bill at the end of the visit. Surely vets fees need to be regulated and made to decrease in order for pet owners to get a fair deal at the end of the day. Some may argue that if you have pet insurance this covers your bill but as every pet owner knows with most companies you have to pay the vet upfront and then after paying off excesses not to mention an increase in your premiums for claiming you never get back what you have forked out. As a result pet owners are finding it hard to keep up with medical care for their animals and vets and insurance companies are raking the money in.
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    Created by julia stockdale
  • Stop axing green policies
    The UK government has recently introduced a whole host of measures that reduce subsidies to renewable energy and actively discourage people from going green. The effects of this are massive. Today we heard that Drax, which runs the biggest coal-fired power station in the UK, has been forced to abandon a £1bn carbon technology project that would have captured 90% of the plant’s emissions, and all because the government removed the renewable energy tax exemption which funded the project. This comes as the Chancellor, George Osborne, also unbelievably introduced a £3.9bn carbon tax called the ‘Climate Change Levy’ on wind and solar power and biogas. As these energy sources emit no net carbon, this policy seems absolutely ridiculous. He has also changed Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) so that now a Prius costs just as much as a Porsche. The AA believes this decision will discourage drivers from using less polluting cars. Other bright ideas include destroying the green homes scheme, selling off the green investment bank, and spending £24.5 bn building the new Hinkley point c nuclear power plant out of what experts have called ‘outdated’ and ‘overcomplicated’ technology. Amber Rudd, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, says the subsidy cuts are because they exceeded its £7.6bn budget for renewable energy this summer, and supposedly they will help keep household bills down, but how will increasing tax on greener cars keep families in pocket? How will removing support for green homes today help small businesses to reduce their bills in the future? And how exactly are MPs going to justify this attack on clean energy in the face of the current and future health problems caused by the hydrocarbons that they still continue to subsidise? The UK has always been a world leader in environmental policy, and now the actions of this government are putting our moral and scientific reputation at risk, as well as deterring investors and putting our health at risk. Please sign this petition now to let Amber Rudd and George Osborne know that we won’t put up with it. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-34319458 http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/sep/22/al-gore-puzzled-by-ukcuts-to-renewable-energy-support http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jul/24/the-9-green-policies-killed-off-by-tory-government http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/sep/21/the-guardian-view-on-hinkley-point-c-overcomplicated-overpriced-and-overdue http://www.carbonbrief.org/blog/2015/07/decc-amber-rudd-reduces-subsidies-for-renewable-energy/
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    Created by Priyanjalee Perera
  • Involve the British Army in the Global Refugee Crisis
    This is important as the actions of the British Government has added to the number of refugees coming from countries including Syria and Afghanistan but the response thus far to take care of them has been appalling. People are calling for tighter controls, these facilities built at bottle necks throughout Eastern Europe would allow for that. People want to see these refugees sheltered and not punished for being forced to leave their homes, these facilities with basic service would provide that. Charities want to be able to get items to refugees in an organised fashion, these facilities would allow for that. The British Army have a long history of defending the rights of those who are suffering oppression - in this case the oppressors are the likes of cold, hunger and apathy so the specially trained forces (the vast majority of which are not currently in action) can do what they do. Camp Bastion was an example of British Army Engineering at its best and I am proud of every man and woman that puts themselves in harms way to protect another human being. Refugees want some hope that they are being taken seriously, these facilities would show that we do care.
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    Created by James Ranson
  • Stop the obscene wage of £750,000 to the Chief Executive of HS2
    HS2 is a political vanity project which is costing the UK over £50 billion pounds of public money - the equivalent of the entire deficit which could otherwise be spent on much-needed services and communities. There is, as yet, no parliamentary authority to build this railway, and this flawed project has been repeatedly questioned and criticised by economists, parliamentarians and the many communities, families and individuals who will be impacted by this most socially and environmentally damaging scheme. Above all, HS2 is a totally unnecessary 'folly' which will see a generation of children growing up surrounded by construction and spoil lorries, and many of our older residents living out their lives in the shadow of the destruction caused to their homes, communities and landscapes.
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    Created by Ian Evans
  • How safe is your water in North West England ?
    Nothing is more important for our survival than safe water. It is basic to our health, our children's health, to the production of livestock and crops. The Government has recently granted licenses for Companies to drill for shale gas. Two of these areas cover the West Pennine Moors and parts of Bolton, Chorley and Preston. But this is an issue for domestic and commercial water users across the region. A large part of the land designated for fracking is owned by United Utilities and is the water catchment for the reservoirs at Rivington and Anglezarke. Apart from these areas being valued and visited for their beauty and recreation, they also supply water mainly to Liverpool but also Greater Manchester. Where fracking has occurred in the US & Australia, there has been widespread contamination and depletion of water sources as a result of the fracking process. Risks include carcinogenic chemicals used in the fracking process, the release of methane and also increased radiation. Locally, exploratory drilling resulted in contamination at Barton Moss and on the Fylde. . We all need to know that United Utilities is not only taking seriously the risks posed by fracking, but will take all necessary steps to protect our water.
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    Created by alan gibbs
  • South Devon Cycle Link
    There is currently no safe way to cycle between Totnes and Newton Abbot. The A381 is the only route over the river Dart and it is simply too dangerous for cyclists. Access to footbridge, the only other bridge over the river, would enable cyclists and walkers to travel safely out of Totnes to the north east and west. This would ease congestion and improve the health and wellbeing of the residents of Totnes and Newton Abbot and all the villages that lie between. In addition, this route would serve to complete the missing link in the National Cycle Network. The route in question is called NCN2 and runs from Dover to St Austell. The missing link lies between Totnes and Newton Abbot. However, Devon County Council want to sign off an alternative route that bypasses Totnes altogether. We believe that this is a huge missed opportunity as it will have a negative impact on the town in the form of lost revenue from cycle tourism. Please help support our campaign by asking Devon Council not to bypass our town but to directly liaise with South Devon Railway to appease their concerns regarding security. The bridge was part funded by public money and is a valuable asset to Totnes and its transport infrastructure. However, it is only being used exclusively for customers of the railway and not for the overall benefit of the community. We need the council to help us convince the railway that we can secure their important tourist attraction and that opening up access to the bridge would actually benefit their business going forward. We have had discussions with both South West Water and the only private landowner involved, and neither have any serious objections to our proposal. Our petition has generated almost 3000 signatures, many with comments expressing the importance of the scheme to the local and wider community. What we are missing is support from Devon Council. We do not need another study, we do not need any more consultants, there are no other routes that offer value for money. Our proposal is a valid practical solution with many benefits to the local community in terms of congestion, health and tourism. Our proposal is backed by the community, Sustains, all the local schools, local businesses, local and regional MP's and is backed by South Hams District Council. We appreciate the cycle path will require an estimated £300,000 (although we believe this estimate to be excessive). We are happy to co-ordinate the funding process going forward, however this option will never come to fruition if we don't get agreement in the first place. So please Devon County Council - please don't sign off the National Cycle Network Route 2 so that it bypasses Totnes. Instead please get on side and help negotiate with the South Devon Railway to open up a public resource for the benefit of us all.
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    Created by Nick Oldridge
  • Protect Oldway Mansion for Future Generations
    Oldway Mansion is an important grade II listed historic building and a key piece in the history of Paignton and Torbay. It should be able to be enjoyed by members of the public both now and in the future.
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    Created by Adam Field
  • Holyrood free votes for ALL funding outwith Scotlands Borders
    Such a bill is necessary because: The Scottish government must be seen as being 100% fiscally transparent and accountable to it’s Scottish electorate Westminster must not dictate how our monies are spent, only Scottish voters have that right. Increasing reliance on charity, especially food banks, mandates monies should be directed first and foremost to improve the lot of the Scottish people. Cuts to disability and other benefits are impacting the Scots disproportionately. Scotland should not subsidize projects that do not directly improve the life of her people e.g. HS2 or building repairs for either Westminster or Buckingham palace. These are expenses with no merit. Subsidising any part of the Royal family at any level is unconscionable when 20% of Scots face life in poverty.
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    Created by Dr Ivan Bishop
  • Allow us to research Medicinal Cannabis
    This is important as many people myself included suffer needlessly as a result of poor health which could be managed much more effectively with medical marijuana and the oils that could be made from the derivatives of the Cannabis plant.... People are made into criminals for growing or purchasing a herbal remedy... I think we are all becoming aware of the Benefits of Marijuana or Cannabis and I believe that there's simply too many bits of evidence in support of Legalisation
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    Created by Danny Nicholson
  • Refugees Welcome in Ashby de la Zouch
    David Cameron announced we’ll welcome 20,000 more Syrian refugees. But there’s a catch. This will take 5 years, leaving thousands of refugees in limbo. It’s now up to us to show that in cities, towns and villages all across the country we’re ready to welcome people now. Aylan, the toddler who drowned fleeing Syria, was just three years old. His town was under attack by Isis. His five year old brother and his mum also died trying to reach safety.We don't want Britain to be the kind of country that turns its back as people drown in their desperation to flee places like Syria. So let's stand up for Britain's long tradition of helping refugees fleeing war. Let's show the Prime Minister that we, the people of the UK, are proud to do our part and provide refuge to people in their hour of need. Please sign and share, or start your own petition for your town or city here: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/efforts/refugees-welcome
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    Created by Samantha fletcher
  • Sweat Shop Free Bath
    Between April 24 and May 14 2013, three young workers at Foxconn electronics factory in Zhengzhou, China, jumped from buildings to their deaths. 24 others have committed suicide since 2010 because of appalling conditions, such as being sacked if you speak at work, and ritual humiliations in front of hundreds of colleagues. Foxconn are making computers for Dell, Apple, Acer, HP and others. Computers for universities are made in factories like this. A new organisation, Electronics Watch, will work with public sector bodies and electronics workers, to investigate factories making our computers, and start to improve rights and working conditions. The Workers Rights Consortium is a similar body with a focus on the clothing industry.
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    Created by william bonnell
  • Pressure Indonesia to hold a referendum on self-determination for West Papua
    There is daily evidence of individuals being killed, tortured and imprisoned without trial by the Indonesian military and police. Since 1963, an estimated 500,000 West Papuans have died at the hands of the Indonesian occupying forces, more than 25% of the population. Earlier this year there were mass arrests and torture of 116 Papuans in the Timika area. Villages were burned down and a number of villagers were shot and tortured. All this was committed by the Indonesian police and military. In May the Indonesian police opened fire on West Papuans in Yahukimo who were peacefully fundraising for Vanuatu after Cyclone Pam. The police tortured and murdered a 17 year old West Papuan boy (also in Yahukimo) just for peacefully demonstrating for freedom. Even the raising of the West Papuan national flag is prohibited under Indonesian law and Papuans are imprisoned indefinitely for carrying out this act. There are daily examples of the brutal genocide still being committed against the people of West Papua and if left on unnoticed, soon there will be no more Melanesians (indigenous people) left. Please raise this issue on the floor of parliament and urge the government to support the plight of the people of West Papua and their fight for freedom. To me it feels that our politicians only ‘care’ about human rights when there is political gain. In the same time 500,000 West Papuans have been butchered by Indonesia (and this is a conservative estimate), 20,000 have died on both sides of the Israel Palestine conflict (of which 40% were combatants). Now every loss of life that is avoidable is tragic, but if you consider the amount of time spent debating the latter in Parliament, let alone various votes on statehood etc., how can one consider this proportionate or fair? Whilst there are mass demonstrations and threat of boycotts against Israel, just 20 people turned up outside the Indonesian embassy earlier this year to protest. All were of Melanesian origin. We have full open diplomatic & trade relations with Indonesia, without so much of a whiff of boycott. I have absolutely no link to West Papua but since learning of their plight, I have been appalled at the lack of awareness or action both by our government and by the public at large. We are talking about the most vulnerable members of the human race, some whose only encounters with ‘foreigners’ have been marked with violence and hatred. Is their case any less valid than those of the refugees seeking asylum? Unfortunately most of the Papuan’s have nowhere to go and the Indonesian government ensures a wall of secrecy around West Papua. No foreign press are allowed to enter the area.
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    Created by Adam Perry