• Stop Community Composting Being Crippled by Disproportionate Government Agency Fees
    Otter Rotters provides supported volunteer, training and job opportunities for learning disabled and disadvantaged people. Community Composting Groups used to operate under an exemption. The exemption ceiling for the new permit regime has been set too low and community groups have been forced to stop their operations whilst calling for a review. Environment Agency stated in April 2012 “ we recognised that a significant number of composting operations were likely to be disproportionately affected by the changes. Such operations would move from exempt status to full bespoke permitting as they could not take advantage of our light-touch standard rules approach” and bespoke fees were reduced but not to a level that would enable the community schemes to be able to afford the application process. Community Composting is about local communities composting their green waste locally. The introduction of this permit regime has meant that green waste is now being transported out of area and a disposal fee having to be paid to commerical operators. It will reverse the trend of green waste being diverted from landfill sites if Otter Rotters is forced to give up their composting site resulting in job and training opportunity losses for its learning disabled team.
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    Created by Otter Rotters
  • Bring Back GuilFest
    Since the unfortunate and sad end of GuilFest last year, organisers have been inundated with requests and offers of support in helping to reinstate the festival. Organisers have been busy and in continuing discussions with each other throughout this year looking at as to how and whether the festival could reinstate itself again next year (2014) . Organisers want to bring back the experience that has been appreciated locally by both young and old for 21 years. The festival provides an important role in the community and it is invaluable with regard to businesses and employment, not to mention local artists and performers. It is felt that 21 years of hard work in building this yearly family focussed independent event, which has seen a vast array of the world’s finest musicians and performers visit Guildford, cannot just be lost. Please show your support in bringing back the local treasure that is GuilFest by signing this petition.
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    Created by Justin Coll
  • Keep the cycle lanes in Wandsworth Common and Tooting Bec Common
    Even the analysis used by the Council to justify the change suggests that cycling speeds will only be reduced by 1 or 2 mph. In the space of a couple of hours, over 120 users of Wandsworth Common signed a petition to oppose the change. The Council chose to ignore them, to ignore their own policy, to ignore the needs of disabled people and ignore common sense. The Council used money from Transport for London to put the lines in. They now plan to use more money from TfL to take them out! Doing nothing would be infinitely preferable to this crazy scheme. By spending a fraction of £85,000 on simply improving the existing lanes and signage, the safety of all users could be improved. (NB funding amount was originally stated in this petition to be £82K).
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    Created by Simon Shields
  • Stand UP for LGBT Community : Boycott the Russia Olympics
    Since Putin's re-election in May the LGBT have suffered great injustices including banning the wider world Community from adopting, attacks on Community members at Pride marches,The law also includes a provision that allows the Russian government to arrest foreign tourists for up to 14 days for supporting LGBT equality. It is now illegal for LGBT people to publicly display affection, to tweet positive messages about LGBT people and their relationships, to broadcast positive news stories about LGBT people or to wear or display a rainbow flag or any other symbol of LGBT equality. Earlier in June, Mr. Putin signed yet another antigay bill, classifying “homosexual propaganda” as pornography. The law is broad and vague, so that any teacher who tells students that homosexuality is not evil, any parents who tell their child that homosexuality is normal, or anyone who makes pro-gay statements deemed accessible to someone underage is now subject to arrest and fines. Even a judge, lawyer or lawmaker cannot publicly argue for tolerance without the threat of punishment.
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    Created by James Austin
  • Stop government-specified internet filtering and search blacklisting
    As you may be aware, there are already numerous methods of blocking access to pornography where parents wish to do so. A block at the ISP level takes what is and is not blocked out of the control of parents, with potentially dangerous results. Video chat sites aimed at teenagers and certain social media sites are (as identified by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre, CEOP) some of the places paedophiles go to prey on children, but as these are not 'adult' in nature they will most likely not come under the block. Parents being told their internet connection is being filtered for adult content to protect their children will therefore believe their children are 'safe' when they are in fact being left exposed to serious risks. The emphasis should be on educating parents about dangers like these, helping them to set up their own restrictions so their children are protected, and highlighting the fact that no blocking software or filters are a substitute for parental supervision. Restricting access to information based on blacklists and filtering at the ISP level represents a severe curtailment of civil liberties. Such practices are typically employed by governments wishing to restrict access to information and ideas they find threatening or undesirable (the aforementioned People's Republic of China being a good example). Prime Minister Cameron took the opportunity to also state that certain 'extreme' fantasy material (involving no illegal acts) would now be made illegal in all of the UK, signalling his intent to restrict access to material that is currently legal. Sure enough, one week later it was revealed that the ISP filtering may cover far more than just pornography; categories of materials that may be blocked include violent material, extremist related content, anorexia and eating disorder websites, suicide related websites, alcohol, smoking, and even web forums and so-called "esoteric material" (see http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-07/27/pornwall). I would urge you to carefully consider these points when and if these issues are debated in the house. The CEOP previously identified other priorities for protecting children from abuse such as finding ways to monitor hidden and encrypted networks, and greater inter-country law enforcement cooperation. I believe these approaches should be selected in preference to the measures mentioned by the Prime Minister, measures that will ultimately fail to catch the most serious perpetrators and are themselves open to serious abuse.
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    Created by Mark O
  • Save The Vale 2013
    It is Public Open Space and, by law, the proposed sell-off should have been the first proposal to be publicised. Even the councillors were not told until all the following decisions were made.The area in question is recognised on the council's own documentation in 2002 as "A Site of Importance to Nature" also as "the least disturbed woodland in the entire Country Park" The Country Park Boundary (set by Stockport MBC) was conceived and made public to make sure that the urban sprawl did not ruin the Country Park and to conserve wildlife and places of importance to Nature. If such concepts are obsolete in less than eleven years , what hope is there for our children?
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    Created by Pat Ruaune Picture
  • Save the Wheatsheaf - Tooting Bec
    Since the Wheatsheaf has been refurbished the pub has become a real magnet for local people, showing that in the right hands it is very much a viable business. On Friday 19th July rumours were circulating that the lease had expired and the present tenant Gregarious (formerly Antic) were on 24hr closure notice. There was also concern that whilst Gregarious want to buy the lease they were being outbid by Tesco. On Saturday 20th July this petition was launched. Some 10 days later, over 8,000 people had signed the petition. Early wins - but there is still work to do: Sadiq Khan MP received a letter from Enterprise Inns (the owner of the freehold) on Tuesday 30th in the afternoon stating that they are no longer selling the pub. Tesco have also, via our MP, confirmed that they are no longer looking to purchase the pub. There are a few on-going actions to ensure that we can secure the pub should Enterprise Inns change their minds. An application to get the pub listed as a community asset has been made, an application to get an article 4 listing has been made, and we are also looking to get the building listed as a 'Wandsworth Borough Council Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest'. Tooting is fortunate to have a diverse range of shops, and a lot of independent traders. We need to show the council the amount of support that exists to keep this community asset. On the blog you can find out more about how you can help to make sure that we win this battle. Tweet: #SavetheWheatsheaf and link to the petition please.
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    Created by Jon Irwin Picture
  • Bring back the Aberystwyth to Carmarthen Rail Line
    This will support the local economies and create a more fluid connection between North and South Wales. At present the only rail connections from North to South Wales must divert through England.
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    Created by Rhodri Evans
  • Save Local & Live
    Local & Live has become a fixture in the town over the last six or seven years. It encourages and empowers young, emerging artists and gives them the opportunity to perform their own original compositions to a large and appreciative audience. By refusing the necessary level of assistance TWBC has killed a vibrant and necessary arts event that benefits local musicians & performers, provides a rich cultural event for thousands of local people and over £250,000 in revenues for local businesses. Instead, the council has granted permissions to a few local businesses to operate a sub standard 'Entertainment' event featuring covers bands and tribute acts, the purpose of which is to benefit the businesses involved financially, regardless of the wishes of local people. Tunbridge Wells Borough Council must be made to understand that the town has a vibrant and exciting arts community which it should be encouraging and supporting. They must not be allowed to let croneyism and business interests override local opinion.
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    Created by David Lofts
  • Keep Lincolnshire Libraries Open
    The Council plans to cut £2 million from the library budget by 2015. This will lead to the closure of 70% of our permanent libraries, and a reduction in opening hours, mobile library and home library services. Libraries are a focal point for the whole community. They are a diverse space where children learn to read, pensioners can go to socialise, and free internet access is provided for everyone. They provide access to education and the arts for everyone. We cannot afford to lose them. The County Council is currently holding a consultation to find out the experiences and opinions of local people. Once you’ve signed the petition, please fill out this Council survey to let the Council know how important your library is to you: http://apps.lincolnshire.gov.uk/snapsurveys/llc/lincolnshire_libraries_consultation.htm For more information about the consultation and events where you can have your say, please check out this website: http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/residents/discover-libraries/libraries-consultation/ The Council plan to make their decision in September so we still have time! Please sign this petition now to show the Council how much we value our libraries and to apply pressure before the final decision is made.
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    Created by alan parker
  • Stop using eggs in Quorn
    Eggs are not needed and cost more money to use, than not at all. Every single Quorn product contain eggs.The egg industry kills hens when they get to be 18 months old and cannot lay as many eggs any longer, they breed more chicks and gas or shred male chicks as they cannot lay eggs. This should not be supported. Please sign this petition to ask them to stop using eggs.
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    Created by Becca Harvey
  • Save Aireborough's green spaces
    There are many potential sites for new houses around Leeds which could be developed to create affordable homes within short distances of the City Centre where most employment is found. By allowing development of green fields on the outskirts of Leeds, the Council are increasing the congestion on local routes and public transport, as well as destroying some of Aireborough's most beautiful resources and it's uniqueness of character.Say NO to thoughtless and ill-concieved solutions to demand for homes. Say YES to a more careful and considerate approach to housing which respects and enhances Aireborough as a beautiful place to live.
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    Created by Andrew Steer