Kew Garden is the largest oldest and biggest repository of plants and plant research in the world. The Governments and Defra's irresponsible action in cutting its grant aid and nudging it towards privatisation is a sacrilege, when we are dealing with the world's greatest. Rather our Government fund our own world ranking expertise than waste money on funding countries like India with overseas aid.It has achieved fame for being the world's greatest centre for botanical research, a place where the planet's rarest plant and tree species are preserved and studied. But now Kew Gardens, established more than 200 years ago, is set to become the focus of an international battle following an intervention by renowned biologist Jane Goodall, who has denounced a recently inflicted budget cut as "unbelievably stupid". Goodall, who carried out pioneering work on the behaviour of chimps, has written to the environment secretary, Owen Paterson, urging him to hand out £5m to restore the centre's budget in the wake of financial cuts imposed by the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs. "To read that 125 professional staff members are set to lose their jobs because of cuts in government funding is shocking," Goodall says. In an interview with the Observer, she revealed that she had made contact with several Kew scientists while researching her book, Seeds of Hope. "There is a tremendous feeling of anger and frustration there and I share it. This an unbelievably stupid thing to do. This is the mother of all other botanical research centres. Britain should be proud of it, not dismantling it. It is like tearing up the union jack. That is why I wrote my letter. I want my protest to go viral. I want thousands and thousands of people to protest as well." Last month a petition demanding the restoration of Kew's budget – signed by more than 100,000 people – was handed to 10 Downing Street, while 34 MPs signed an early-day motion expressing alarm "that vital international conservation work would be threatened should further cuts take place" at Kew.

The government commission on Digital Democracy is investigating "the opportunities digital technology can bring for parliamentary democracy in the UK" and will make recommendations in January 2015 (Google "Commission on Digital Democracy" - on their site you can see all the submissions so far to the commission). This submission proposes a form of e-consultations which provides an approach to e-democracy that is genuinely democratic, with people rather than politicians controlling the process. It also may help to get more young people involved in democracy and provide a means of youth constructively expressing its views and perceptions (which were certainly very relevant in the fable of The Emperor's New Clothes!) Whereas e-petitions, e.g. as organised by 38degrees, go a long way in e-democracy, they can be dismissed as un-representative of the population as a whole. An "official" e-consultation mechanism would be less dismissible - it becomes the MP's job to convince his constituents to support his "party line" on each issue raised by himself or by others. If there is a "Silent Majority" then the proposed e-Consultations would help them to be less silent. The "campaign website" (linked to above) contains a draft detailed presentation of the idea, based on the principles of "liquid democracy", for eventual submission to the commission - comments welcomed. An outline of the proposal is- • Govt. consultation websites on which anyone can include their issue, e.g. a petition on which citizens can vote. • Any activist group (from a local community assoc. to Greenpeace or a political party) can include their viewpoint on any issue, including links to supporting evidence. • There is a web page listing all the issues, each linking to: A page on which all the viewpoints on that issue are listed, each linking to: a page presenting that viewpoint. • Like Google search results – what matters is the order in which entries for issues and viewpoints are listed on these web pages - their relative position. • All citizens have equal “units of influence” which they have delegated to activist groups which they think should be listened to. At any time they can change how their influence is delegated. • An activist group applies the influence units delegated to it - to vote on the relative position of issues and of viewpoints on the web page listings. • Thus each citizen directly influences which issues and which viewpoints are most strongly presented to their fellow citizens.

We fear that privatisation could critically endanger the quality of Dorset County Hospital's pathology service and put patients at risk. We have been fighting an intense campaign against this privatisation in many different modes. Town centre petitioning events have provided 8000 signatures on paper. We need your help to lift this number as the campaign enters is last stage, so as to show the hospital the the Dorset public say NO to their important pathology laboratory being sold off. Where pathology labs were privatised elsewhere there were quality problems seen in the ensuing services and eventually financial problems had to be corrected. Where finance becomes tight then there is a temptation to cut corners. Over 100 people work at the Dorset County Hospital Pathology Laboratory, carrying out tests whose results guide the treatment of patients throughout a good part of Dorset and its surroundings. Private companies have been invited to bid to deliver this service in place of the existing NHS Pathology Laboratory. Should the service be moved away from Dorchester, there would no longer be the possibility of carrying out rapid on-site testing for patients in danger at the Dorchester hospital; moreover consultants would lose the valuable ability for close cooperation with the expert testers in cases of difficult diagnosis. The users of Dorchester Hospital Pathology Lab have no complaints about the service. It was being developed as a centre of excellence for cancer testing. The Dorset Health Campaign group was formed in late 2012 as a result of the 38 Degrees NHS privatisation campaign.

The political climate is currently so bad traditional labour voters have been voting Ukip or EDL as a protest vote; racist, far right extremism as opposed to Ed Miliband. That's the sickening truth! People would rather UKIP were in charge than Labour. Why? Because Miliband has failed to inspire any faith or belief in the British public. But someone else on in the labour party has. And that person is Glenda Jackson. The people need somebody they can believe in, somebody they can trust, and that is what she has demonstrated herself to be. In her recent speech in the house of commons, she stood up for the welfare state, she stood for those who are suffering, and her stand has not gone unnoticed. The apathetic, disenfranchised but otherwise good people of this country stood up and took notice. They shared that video clip, indicating a glimmer of hope and inspiration to take an interest in politics. She was telling the truth, she was saying something I agree with. She was standing up for me and you. The only female Prime Minister we ever had in this country was a moral abomination. The current government are following in Thatchers ghastly footsteps, and if we keep following that path who knows what hell we'll end up in. Let's bring in another woman, a strong and intelligent woman who clearly cares about this country, who cares enough to stand in a room full of toffee nosed tories and tell them how it is. If Glenda Jackson were a labour candidate for Prime Minister, she would have my vote. Would she have yours? Sign this petition and lets show them how we feel about her, and about the future of the labour party being in the hands of somebody we believe in.

Please see the body of the petition

This is a public service, created by the hard working people of the UK in past generations, which has been sold off to make money for the government - but sold at a low price to ensure the certain people and agencies made money on the sale of the shares after going private. This is illegal, against the wish of the people, and a complete sham from a government who are supposed to represent and work for the will and welfare of the people. A full investigation should be held, and those who are found to have made money by insider knowledge held accountable.

Harrow Council has proposed two very similar choices for changes to the use of Pinner Park Farm in a recent informal public consultation; luxury housing with a country park that includes a large 'events field'. Whilst the link below offers a chance to share ideas, the two proposals were championed as the only options. http://www.harrow.gov.uk/info/200143/public_notices/1255/pinner_park_farm Converting the farmhouse and building new properties would change the character of the site forever. It is therefore important to consider a wide range of options before a final decision is taken regarding this historically important green belt land with listed buildings, that is also the last working farm in the borough. In summary, Pinner Park Farm is a much loved, important local space. We ask the council to extend the consultation period and publish criteria for alternative proposals so that the best option can be developed and supported. If we collect 2000 signatures by 22 July, the matter has to be considerd by full council. In order for your signature to be valid, please ensure that you work, study, or live in the Borough of Harrow. The address given must be a home, work or study address in the Borough.

Fracking is quite possibly one of the most dangerous forms of creating energy ever invented. Whilst drilling chemicals are released into the ground with the water that get released into the environment. The chemicals are supposed to stay in the concrete pipes but they rarely do... The pipes crack and the chemicals leak into the environment and into our drinking water. Also the chemicals are released into the atmosphere leaving people and animals to breath this toxic mixture of chemicals into their body. The result is illness, disability, cancers, unable to drink tap water, our animals dying and our plants dying. The result is a whole toxic mess... And then there's the earth tremors and earthquakes. "Fracking for Gas threatens us all. A fracking drill goes down vertically up to 2 miles, then horizontally up to 2 miles...possible under your house and then it is FRACKED." Source: RAFF - Residents Action Group on Fylde Fracking (2014) "Fracking is a controversial and potentially dangerous method of extracting oil and natural gas. Hydraulic fracturing involves injecting a mixture of sand, water and chemical into the ground at high pressure causing rock to fracture and release trapped oil or gas." Source: The Green Party (2014) Fracking is being held as a solution to our energy needs. It is claimed that it will bring down the cost of oil and gas. However, the sheer size of the world markets mean that the relatively small amounts to be recovered in the UK are unlikely to have a noticeable impact on the price we pay. Leaving at least two-thirds of fossil fuels in the ground avoids a two degree rise in global temperatures. We therefore need to invest in renewable energy in order to combat climate change, not extract yet more fossil fuels by fracking. Don't let the Government win this one!!

More time is needed to ensure proper laws are discussed and agreed. We do not live in a policed state... Maybe there is law firm out there that would take on a mass case of legal challenges by the public to force telecoms companies to destroy the data now and thereby force the government into proper dialogue with people they are representing!

Carers save the country an estimated £119 Billion pounds a year, and yet achieve no recognition for their work. Like myself a full time carer for my wife most carers are unable to escape the stresses of placed on us by the continuous need to be on duty 24/7 and the assistance provided by GPs Social Services and Charities, is severely limited by the cuts inflicted by this government. In general most governments and public service unions prefer to ignore us, and are content to allow us to take the brunt of spending cuts full on. These stresses are increasing day by day, causing both physical and mental problems thus increasing the workload on an already over stretched NHS. This must stop right now. Home Carers should be supported by the government and not be pitched from one charity to another like orphans looking for a new home. The government must stop abdicating it's responsibilities and do something positive.

Glasgow 2014 has touted how sustainable the Games are, yet there are glaring inconsistencies in the way the Games have been organised.[1] The Commonwealth Games is a showcase for Glasgow. Right from the beginning sustainability has been a key issue for the organisers. Yet they chose to partner up with BP [2]. In recent months Glasgow has been the focus of a high profile campaign by Friends of the Earth Scotland on air pollution [3]. The City has the worst record for air pollution in the UK next to London and the 5th worst in Europe [4]. Part of the Games policy was to introduce low emissions zones around venues. This policy has just been dumped [5]. In the run up to the Games, Glasgow City Council has rolled out charging points around the City for electric cars. 'Sustainable Glasgow has installed new charging sites in the city centre and at sporting venues around the city. In total, the new sites will be able to accommodate 22 cars at a time. 'The council itself has 36 electric vehicles including four Nissan Leaf pool cars and two electric street sweepers. Two of the Nissans have been branded with eye-catching Sustainable Glasgow artwork. ...Electric vehicles help reduce air and noise pollution. Making Glasgow a more sustainable city makes it a more pleasant place to live, which benefits residents, visitors and businesses alike.' [6] In view of the above, why then has BP been invited - as a partner - to provide fuel for Glasgow 2014 Games vehicles? [7] Dirty fossil fuel companies like BP need sporting events and other high profile events in order to legitimise their brand. Its the same strategy that tobacco companies used to use. Its called 'Social Licence'. [8]. Tobacco advertising is now outlawed and the writing is on the wall for dirty fossil fuel companies. There is no room in sport for dirty oil. Lets sent this message loud and clear to Glasgow 2014. 1 - http://bit.ly/1sxhwIU 2 - BP GETS SET TO FUEL THE GLASGOW 2014 COMMONWEALTH GAMES http://bit.ly/VKidnr 3 - Air Pollution: A Silent Killer http://bit.ly/TSKDKi 4 - Glasgow has highest level of toxic pollution in UK http://bit.ly/1mIWqHY 5 - Glasgow 2014: Low emission zones promise 'broken' http://bbc.in/1sxhIYx 6 - Glasgow to offer free charging for electric cars http://bit.ly/1je1d3j 7 - BP joins sponsors of 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games http://reut.rs/1qjGutZ 8 - Obtaining a social licence to operate – a challenge for the industry http://bit.ly/1negam1

The City of London’s proposed dam works on Hampstead Heath will: • Permanently disfigure the Heath • Not eliminate the risk of downstream flooding or loss of life which the City of London claims these proposals will address We call on Camden Council to reject the City of London’s Planning Application. The proposed works specify massive dams, spillways, concrete walls and embankments. They include: • Construction of a huge 40m wide by 5.6m high embankment in the Catchpit Valley; • Construction of a massive 2.5 m dam at end of the Model Boating Pond; • Felling at least 160 trees; • Taking 2 years to complete; • Estimated costs of at least £17 million; • Inevitable and irreversible damage to the Heath and its wildlife. The City’s rationale for these works involves a dubious interpretation of the law. It refers to a computer model of a 1 in 400,000 year “probable maximum flood” and works that would “virtually eliminate” the risk of dam collapse in the event of this flood. The works would contravene the Hampstead Heath Act of 1871 which requires that Hampstead Heath be preserved in its “natural aspect and state”. The City became custodian of the Heath in 1989. It is now making a planning application to Camden Council to carry out the proposed works. You can also help in other ways: • Details of the planning application and your opportunity to object directly to Camden Council can be found on the council's website. • Donations can be made towards legal costs by the Heath & Hampstead Society (a charity) to apply for a judicial review via their website.. • Details of the DamNonsense campaign and alternative proposals to the works can be found at http://www.damnonsense.org.uk/. Please sign this petition and forward the details to your friends, family, colleagues, colleges, trade unions, faith groups and anyone else you can think of! Supported by: DamNonsense Hampstead Heath Winter Swimming Club Highgate Men’s Pond Association Kenwood Ladies’ Pond Association Mixed Pond Association Protect Our Ponds The Hampstead Heath Anglers’ Society The Heath & Hampstead Society United Swimmers’ Association of Hampstead Heath