• Save Keir Hardie Hall
    This September, historic yet run-down Keir Hardie Hall is being put up for auction. Most people today know it as a working men's club, but it was actually named in 1915 to honour posthumously of one of Britain's lesser known, but arguably most important, statesmen. Keir Hardie was unusual, both in his own era & our own: a politician who rejected the self-interested pursuit of power & money. His life's work was an attempt to bring about equality, justice and freedom for the poor and marginalised: men, women and children, regardless of ethnicity or religion. During the brutal years of the late Victorian era and the early twentieth century, ideas he advocated (universal healthcare; equality for women; universal state education; countries of empire being entitled to national sovereignty; state pensions; decent housing; employment rights & even animal welfare) were largely ridiculed. After the carnage of two world wars, successive governments were able to realise many of them. Ninety-nine years after Hardie addressed his final great anti-war speech to an audience in Norwich, we seem to have come full circle: Many of the benchmarks of late twentieth century civilisation are under threat -both nationally and globally. Ninety-nine years from now they may have been written out of history altogether. Our city, which appears affluent to visitors, is actually blighted by hidden poverty. It's of huge importance that Norwich City Council (run by a Labour majority with a strong Green opposition) acts now to ensure Keir Hardie Hall's historical context is not lost, whilst simultaneously helping to meet our current need for decent, energy-efficient, genuinely affordable, housing for all. Let's give this building a future befitting its past.
    547 of 600 Signatures
    Created by Lucy Howard
  • STOP MOORSIDE: "Biggest Nuclear Development in Europe"
    Cumbria already has Sellafield. The Sellafield site has the biggest amount of radioactivity on the planet. A major accident involving the liquid high level waste tanks would have catastrophic consequences and make the area uninhabitable for many generations. The area around the Sellafield site should be an untouchable buffer zone to: a) provide a measure of safety for surrounding towns and villages b) to accommodate the documented leakage of radiation from the Sellafield site into groundwater. c) to minimise the target area for terrorist attack (instead of doubling it) Instead of honouring a beautiful wildlife diverse landscape bought by the public purse and guaranteeing a buffer zone around Sellafield the UK government are planning to sell off a vast area. The land stretches to the villages of Beckermet, Braystones and Calder Bridge. Not only this but the companies who are being wooed to buy the land are the very same companies responsible for Fukushima. "The Moorside Project" is being promoted by NUGEN a company 100% owned by Toshiba. Toshiba’s proposed three new reactors are AP1000s. These are the next generation of the same old uranium burning technology. The difference is that these reactors burn the uranium for longer and harder. The resulting radioactive wastes are much hotter and have to be cooled for decades longer. The NDA have told Radiation Free Lakeland that the fresh water resource for cooling is “a matter for the operators.” Currently Sellafield uses over 4 million gallons of water daily to abstracted from Wastwater, the River Ehen, the River Calder and boreholes in the area. Sellafield stopped producing electricity in 2003. The elephant in the room is of course Toshiba’s track record in nuclear safety. Toshiba supplied the steam generator, architecture and reactor for Fukushima reactors numbers 3 and 5, while Hitachi (merged with Toshiba) supplied the reactor, steam generator and architecture for Fukushima reactor no 4. The beautiful wildlife diverse land: http://mariannewildart.wordpress.com/2014/08/10/stop-moorcide/ Contaminated Groundwater - Sellafield https://attachment.fbsbx.com/file_download.php?id=773168039435386&eid=AStZ3li3tSP5MQf_c8WSzWkcyXiQmeST9PaQWg1eXJj-piwqsP2voi22A76xtKEBQRc&inline=1&ext=1434548939&hash=ASuZJtM5OwSjtXCA http://www.oecd-nea.org/rwm/wpdd/rcd-workshop/C-2___OH_The_Sellafield_contaminated_land_and_groundwater.pdf.pdf After– Fukushima – Daiichi - Toshiba looks for new orders overseas http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/03/us-toshiba-nuclear-idUSBRE99204I20131003 Hitachi, Toshiba and GE Merge Nuclear Operations http://www.modernpowersystems.com/news/newshitachi-toshiba-and-ge-merge-nuclear-fuel-operations http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/news/Blogs/makingwaves/how-can-the-nuclear-industry-profit-from-nucl/blog/44192/ Escalating cost of ‘clean up’ http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/feb/11/sellafield-consortium-cost-clean-up Not enough Fresh water to cool new build wastes http://mariannewildart.wordpress.com/2011/11/18/why-has-the-wettest-place-in-england-not-got-enough-freshwater/ http://enenews.com/watch-top-economist-nuclear-power-is-over-frankly-i-think-from-a-business-perspective-its-over-i-think-its-over-video What the industry is gleefully saying about 'Moorside' http://www.spyghana.com/moorside-nuclear-power-project-course/ MOORSIDE REPORT by Radiation Free Lakeland 19.9.14 http://mariannewildart.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/moorside-rafl-report-19-9-141.pdf NEW report commissioned by Radiation Free Lakeland is critical of the AP1000 reactor design. The report has been written by the Edinburgh Energy and Environment Consultancy. The report says that "The AP1000 reactor design is not fit for purpose and so should be refused a Design Acceptance Confirmation (DAC) and Statement of Design Acceptability (SDA)″. http://www.theecologist.org/blogs_and_comments/commentators/2988356/ap1000_reactor_design_is_dangerous_and_not_fit_for_purpose.html The AP1000 Nuclear Reactors proposed for Moorside in Cumbria and their Environmental Impact - Edinburgh Energy and Environment Consultancy July 2017 https://issuu.com/radiationfreelakeland/docs/moorside_-_environmental_impact_by_
    13,002 of 15,000 Signatures
    Created by Marianne Birkby
  • SOS: Save Refuges, Save Lives
    Two women are killed every week in England by a partner or ex-partner. These are the women who desperately need these specialist refuges. Last year Women's Aid member organisations supported nearly 10,000 women and over 10,000 children in refuge accommodation. However, on one day alone in 2013, 155 women with 103 children were turned away from the first refuge they approached, primarily due to a lack of available spaces. From 2010 to 2014 the number of specialist refuges declined from 187 to 155, leaving many more vulnerable women and children at risk and without specialist support. Closures of specialist refuges will cost lives. Help us to keep these services open for the women and children who need them. Help us Save Refuges to Save Lives.
    40,234 of 45,000 Signatures
    Created by Women's Aid
  • Target Thomson's cruise ship slave labour.
    Would you think twice about going on a Thomsons cruise ship holiday if you knew the facts about it`s labour force? Non-EU citizens employed as housekeepers work long hours, without a single day off, over a seven month cruise season. A housekeeper's pay equates to about £2 an hour for back breaking hard work with as many as seventeen cabins and their passengers to look after. Living below decks in cramped, hot conditions, which are in stark contrast to the luxuries enjoyed by passengers above . Thomsons reported a "record" profit last year of £471 million. Thomsons need to improve standards and pay for its non-EU crew. Thomsons can boast its "record " profits but fail miserably in their duty to their non EU-staff .
    6 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Barbara Evans
  • Lower University Tuition Fees to reduce UK debt
    Students cannot afford tuition fees. It's not ok for them to have to pay huge debts when they start to earn a living wage. It is not ok for graduates to have to stay living at home for many years after graduating because they cannot afford to rent or buy.
    70 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Joanna Crane
  • Reverse the Beeching Cuts
    It will encourage many people to commute by the railways to get quicker travel and cheaper payments. In addition many people are asking for their railways to be brought back especially in North Wales. My Dad would use the railways more then he would use the car.
    427 of 500 Signatures
    Created by D George
  • Stop Referring to Migrants as 'Illegal'
    It has been almost forty years since the UN recognised that referring to migrants as 'illegal' is dehumanising, discriminatory, and above all, incorrect. Since 1975, the UN has used either 'undocumented' or 'irregular' to refer to migrants that 'do not fulfil the requirements established by the country of destination to enter, stay, or exercise an economic activity'. As Editor-in-Chief of the BBC Tony Hall has the mandate to implement this change and correct inaccurate reporting. The BBC continues to use the term 'illegal' with no justification. A headline as recent as 15 May 2014 reads: 'Illegal migration to EU rises by nearly half'. As a public service broadcaster and influential media organisation the BBC ought to abide by its own clear editorial guidlines that say: 'We...are committed to achieving due accuracy in all our output...Impartiality lies at the core of the BBC's commitment to its audiences'. Unfounded discrimination against migrants is a clear breach of these standards. Human Rights Watch recently observed, 'The term “illegal”...reinforces prejudices about nationals of a particular country or persons of a particular race.' The term incorrectly suggests that migrants are criminals and encourages prejudiced views about those individuals. Cecilia Malmström, European Commisioner for Home Affairs clarified the issue in 2010. She said, 'Let me be clear about my vocabulary...illegal migrants do not exist. People may come to the EU and might be required to use irregular ways...but no human being is illegal'. This petition supports the use of the word 'undocumented' instead of 'irregular' as 'irregular' retains connotations of otherness and deviation from a perceived norm, marking individuals as abnormal and continuing to estrange migrants. For more information see: http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/06/24/dispatches-why-we-should-outlaw-illegal http://picum.org/picum.org/uploads/file_/TerminologyLeaflet_reprint_FINAL.pdf http://www.un.org/esa/population/migration/index.html
    14 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Matthew Bevington
  • Save Our Cirencester
    As part of the CDC’s allocation of an extra 3,360 new homes in Cirencester their intention is to build an estate of 2,500 houses on the fields to the south west of Cirencester. We believe Cirencester’s residents have not been made fully aware of CDC's plans, which would fundamentally change the character of our market town. Cirencester’s population of 19,000 would be increased by nearly 40% In contrast, other Cotswold towns will be proportionately much less developed, and most villages, despite their needs, will only have minimal, or no, new housing. Focusing development on Cirencester, and specifically on one large site, risks dwarfing the existing historic town, and diminishing its distinctive character. The distance from the planned estate to the town centre is too great to walk. Many will opt for the car, thereby exacerbating the existing traffic congestion and parking problems in the town Sustainable housing development should be distributed throughout the whole Cotswold region, and not disproportionately concentrated on one site in Cirencester. If you are local, or work in Cirencester, and share our concerns please sign the petition. (If you have already signed the paper petition please do NOT duplicate here) Thank you.
    951 of 1,000 Signatures
    Created by Save Our Cirencester
  • Care UK staffing contracts, fair deal.
    Everyone has parents who may need care as they age. Unless you die young you will all get old and may need care. The cost of caring for old or disabled people and children is for the most part payed for with taxpayers money. It is outrageous that private equity companies can profit from need, financed by tax money of ordinary people and pay poverty wages.
    9 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Prue Handley
  • Declare Neath Port Talbot a Frack Free Zone
    Neath Port Talbot has for centuries been an industrial area but now in the 21st century, the surrounding countryside is starting to return to its former glory with much of the area now supporting a thriving tourist industry. The people of Neath Port Talbot would like to keep it this way and do not want any form of shale gas or oil extraction by any method whatsoever, namely by Hydraulic Fracturing (Fracking), Coal Bed Methane or Underground Coal Gasification.
    2,173 of 3,000 Signatures
    Created by Neale Evans
  • save the Duke of Lancaster
    The Duke of Lancaster is the last passenger only steam turbine ship left in existence. She is listed on the Historic Ships Register. When she was open as the Funship she became the third most popular tourist attraction in Wales, creating many jobs. She could do this again regenerating the area, bringing so many benefits to the local and surrounding area. The Council should allow the ship to be restored and reopened as a Funship.
    5,310 of 6,000 Signatures
    Created by ashley gardner
  • Great Britain to help stop religious persecution in Iraq
    Britain has unfinished business in Iraq, from the errors of 1914 to 1932 and the debacle of 2003 to the religious genocide against Christians and other groups right now.
    75 of 100 Signatures
    Created by mark dury