I
write further to your article, ‘ Recession fears grow with wave of job cuts in
region’ (8th Feb). The loss of bank jobs is, of course,
very sad for the employees concerned, but unsurprising in the current
climate of takeovers and megacorporate rule. Ethical banks, on the
other hand, such as Triodos, the Cooperative Bank and
the Ecology Building Society in Baildon are doing very well. More and
more people are looking for ‘good’ banking. Perhaps redundant bank staff
could consider starting up or supporting the growth of local credit
unions which will deal transparently and fairly with local people’s
money.
Local
authority cuts are due to misguided government policy which results in
cuts to services for the most vulnerable, as well as a reduction in tax
receipts and spending – a lose lose situation.
Regarding
a traditional firm such as Oakworth, no doubt they make good quality
products which could be used to improve energy efficiency , such as double and
secondary glazing. A shame that they were trading with one major customer
rather than lots of smaller clients. All these job losses boil down to
the need to start rebuilding relationships in communities instead of allowing
ourselves to be run by corporates and multinationals.
Now
the Bank of England has announced a new batch of quantitative easing (£50bn or
so), and the Green New Deal Group is calling for such cash to be
injected into a programme of green investment to support badly needed renewable
energy and energy efficiency projects. Rather than handing the money over to
the banks, who then sit on it and refuse to lend, green QE would put money into
the wider economy - creating thousands of new jobs, improving energy security
and tackling climate change at the same time.
Shan Oakes
Green Party (Hull
and East Riding)
