No Fracking Way - Day 2. North Yorkshire

March 9th.  The stalwarts cross the Ure at Boroughbridge, gather more walkers at Market Cross, progress to Staveley, Knaresborough and over a crocus- covered Harrogate Stray.....

Corrina's new PAYF (pay as you feel) cafe - Harrogate

Congratulations to Corrina and friends on the opening of  the cafe yesterday. What a great idea!  Corrina and friends have set up this wonderful volunteer-run cafe in Mayfield Grove where you can get delicious meals and drinks, pay what you can afford, and, if you like, you can pay for someone in need to get a meal or drink later (the post-it notes represent meals and drinks for later).  It builds on Corrina's Homeless and Vulnerable Project which provides a meal every sunday for those in need in the town. This is a really fantastic example of sharing and cooperation in the community, and it uses food in danger of going to waste as well - Brilliant!!  Note the light shades made of empty food cans - and that town cryer again! ...just felt it was somewhat ironic for the ex Tory MP to cut the ribbon when his party has widened the gap between rich and poor so that projects like this are so necessary!

A flurry of Hustings

Harrogate Chamber

Bilton WMC

Never a dull moment these days.  All the five candidates have slugged it out in a succession of well organised hustings.  As well as those illustrated, we sparred at a Joint Knaresborough Chamber with Churches Together event at King James' and the Harrogate Over-50s Forum yesterday.  The conduct of all has been well mannered and mainly non confrontational, but clear water is opening up on Corporate power, TTIP, NHS sell-off and the Austerity programme:  One (Green) v Four (greys)

NHS march: Jarrow to London

This is the Ripon to Harrogate leg, with Shan speaking at the
evening meeting on 21st August along with marchers,  Lindis Percy and
Richard Turner. Pic here with Richard and Rajan Madhok  (who did the whole march!)

Fracking - Harrogate

I was one of the speakers on wednesday at the FOE event in  Harrogate at the Friends Meeting House. This activity is unnecessary, unpleasant, unwanted and being unrolled in an underhand way.. the only benficiaries are the fossil fuel companies and their shareholders.  They will drill and run away, too oily to be prosecuted for the damage they will do to our land and water....we have to stop it before it starts.  The Greens are the only party opposing fracking.  Vote Green May 22