A new global democracy takes off in Cambridge
(Read
an article prompted by this press release in the New
Statesman)
A
pledge form signed by a Cambridge-based LibDem candidate
in the forthcoming European
election, Rosalind Gill, is claimed by campaigners to be the first
crack in a political system which has failed the people
and
turned
the majority away from voting.
The Simultaneous
Policy (SP) campaign is bringing together people around
the world to decide the global rules under which they
wish to live, rules which are
to replace those putting the interests of transnational corporations and
financial markets first. 'SP Adopters' agree to vote
only for candidates who pledge to
implement the Simultaneous Policy alongside other governments. Simultaneous
implementation is intended to remove the threat of
disinvestment.
Now that the
first candidate's pledge has been signed in Cambridge,
the pressure is on for other candidates
to make the same pledge. |
CAMSPAG Coordinator, Mike Brady, with the first election
candidate's pledge to implement the Simultaneous Policy
- with John Bunzl's book, The Simultaneous Policy, and
an SP t-shirt with the question SP Adopters around the
world are coming together to answer: "How do you want
the world to be?"
Click here for a high resolution version for printing.
|
Cambridge SP Adopters' Group (CAMSPAG) Coordinator,
Mike Brady, said:
"We
are very pleased to have received the first
candidate's pledge form from Rosalind. SP Adopters
in the Eastern region now have a candidate to vote
for in
the forthcoming
election.
But our votes are still up for grabs - other candidates
can sign the pledge.
We want to see the European Parliament, and later our national
government,
supporting the Simultaneous Policy. If candidates don't
support SP, we
simply won't vote for them."
Speaking of her support for SP, Rosalind Gill
said:
"I am pleased to
support the Simultaneous Policy which has the potential
to achieve measures
for trading which focus on the wider issues of social
justice and regeneration, rather than just profits and
business expediency. More and more people are realising
that fair trade,
sustainable production, and consideration of workers
rights is the only way to
maintain the welfare of our world long-term and offer
a fair deal to all."
With the party list system
used for the European elections, the party with
most candidates pledging support for SP will be endorsed.
It is free to
join the campaign as an SP Adopter by filling
in a form via the CAMSPAG
website or at the regular meetings held at Emmanuel URC
Church, Trumpington
Street on the first Wednesday of the month from 7.30 pm.
Or call Mike Brady
on 07986 736179.
When the Simultaneous Policy was first proposed
in John Bunzl's book with
that title, veteran campaigner and author Noam Chomsky
commented: "It's
ambitious and provocative. Can it work? Certainly worth
a serious try."
CAMSPAG is the first UK SP Adopters'
Group and is being joined by others
working to make the vision a reality. It has been meeting
since September
2003 and has held policy fora on 'Making all trade Fair
Trade', 'Achieving
sustainable energy use' and 'Food security for all.' It
is becoming
increasingly apparent that such goals cannot be achieved
when global rules
as they presently exist promote competition between nations.
SP promotes
cooperation and the building of a world community by linking
citizens of all
countries to develop, and ultimately approve, the global
rules under which
they wish to live.
For further information contact Mike Brady on 07986 736179
and see the Local
Group Network site http://spdev.gn.apc.org/
Notes:
-
The UK Simultaneous Policy Organistion (Simpol-UK)
was incorporated on 22
March this year and SP Adopters around the country
are beginning to form
local groups. The Founding Declaration for Simpol-UK
(click
here) provides additional information.
Adopters in other countries
are also active and network
through the International Simultaneous Policy Organisation
(ISPO) - see
http://www.simpol.org/
-
SP's starting point is that we live
in pseudo-democracies because
governments are limited in the action they can take as
they fear
disinvestment and loss of jobs if they introduce policies
which are
distasteful to transnational corporations and financial
markets. Human
rights and the environment take second place to what
is best for 'the
economy' and voters become increasingly apathetic, it
is argued. SP puts
'we, the people' in charge of deciding the global rules
which shape our
world and the campaign strategy compels politicians to
implement that
package of policies when all, or sufficient, other governments
have also
pledged to do so. Simultaneous implementation removes
the threat of
disinvestment.
-
It is not
yet possible to present what the Simultaneous
Policy package will contain as the process of development
is at an early stage. As greater numbers become involved
in the campaign the primary issues to be addressed
will emerge through policy fora held around the world
under the guidance of National and Global Policy
Boards. The Simultaneous Policy package will be put
forward
for approval by the people of all countries prior
to implementation.
-
Endorsements
for the SP strategy can be found on the website
http://www.simpol.org/ Last week it was announced that
Jose Ramos-Horta:
Foreign Minister, East Timor and winner of the
Nobel Peace Prize, 1996, had given his support, stating: "I am pleased
to
confirm
to
you
my
interest
in
endorsing
the SP campaign and to be as active in its support as I can."
-
SP Adopters in Cambridge and elsewhere
are delivering leaflets
door-to-door with the message: "Had enough
of politicians? At the European
elections why not vote for yourself? SP - how to
use democracy to put the
people in charge. Only vote for candidates who pledge
to implement the
Simultaneous Policy."
-
CAMSPAG
has contacted all parties known to be fielding candidates
in the Eastern Region for the European Parliament
election and will issue updates as additional candidates
sign the candidate's pledge. Click
here for the latest
details.
|
|
