Charter
The
Countryside
Take the Charter out to every town and village
County council elections May 2013 targeted 2013 is an opportunity to put the
UNITY CALL TO RURAL ACTIVISTS
countryside back in to British politics. Rural workers have been
What you can do:
left to rot for too long, the butt of
• Select a candidate asap
cuts policies and a weak ministry,
• Establish a web site and other forms of social media
pushed around between EU
• Use the Village Web site • Hold meet the candidate sessions for local electors
programmes, gangmasters, big farmers, monopoly retailers and a government of millionaires.
• Champion local issues
• Produce a regular community newsletter • Find out trade union members/ activists and get them involved • Hold a fundraising social event • Maximise postal votes especially in isolated areas • Get active in/with your local Trades Council
Founded 1935 | Vol.14 No. 1 | Summer 2012
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e F side Foorr Peac Peac e and ntrysid e and Socialism in the CCoouuntry Socialism in the “The Country Standard Collective urges you to support the TUC demonstration in London on 20 October”
WE ARE THE MANY In this issue of the Standard we talk about land and forests, food and farming, the People of Britain and resistance.
THEY ARE BUT FEW
PIC: Reproduced with kind permission John F French Hands Off Our Forests
• Try to win over key individualsParish councillors, teachers, doctors, nurses, vets and rural engineers/ mechanics
Compost the new asbestos? see page 10 Mary Creagh on food poverty Page 3
Campaign Charter Page 3 and 12
Tolpuddle Supplement Pages 7/14
Rural dwellers have a long and honourable history of standing up to despotic rulers. Proudly we hold high the Country Standard against the Tory led class warriors in Downing Street intent on destroying the Welfare State, Public Services, the NHS and Trade Unions as they misrule on behalf of global capitalism.
the Country Standard Newsletter
This issue of CS highlights the ABC of resistance.
A marks the start of our campaign to highlight the dangers of Aspergillosis to protect the health of millions of landworkers
COUNTRY STANDARD SAY
RESTORE AWB • Restore the Agricultural Wages Board • Restore the Commission for Rural Development • Unite to save local schools, post and health services - build housing
• Break with EU Common Agricultural Policy • Extend the Gangmaster’s Act • Tax super profits of the giant food retailers • THE LAND TO THOSE WHO WORK IT
READ COUNTRY STANDARD
the Country Standard Newsletter
Speak out for workers and communities The 2013 local elections followed by the 2014 EU elections are a chance to campaign for progressive change in the countryside. Step forward the tens of thousands of community and environmental activists, trade union representatives, pensioner campaigners and political activists who keep
neo-liberal programme and beware of this wolf in sheep’s clothing. We hope the Charter will enthuse the young and embolden the veterans, influence political party policy and give shape even to the voting preferences of independent councillors. If you are not yet in a union or political party we ask you to consider joining one. Do not hold back, put yourself forward for local office. Rural communities need to
our rural communities ticking. We need to gather all the forces – even
survive and thrive – you can play your part to make this happen.
those active at the base of the Countryside Alliance, which once promised to
We hope you sign up to the Charter in total. If you do not, take the bits of it you agree with
represent rural people but was hijacked at the top by the class force that has wreaked havoc in our rural areas.
and start campaigning!
How much stronger would this force be if it
coalition government throws a
could link-up with strong honest voices found in local parish council meetings, in the columns of local newspapers and on community radio, with diverse faith, women and youth groups.
challenge to the Left to re-engage
The Standard takes this opportunity to warn against voting for the UKIP - read their
The Country Standard will play its
Growing anger in rural communities against the ConDem
with rural communities and to prove that it is capable of offering leadership and hope.
part in the process.
the Country Standard Newsletter
A Countryside Charter which will change rural Britain 1. Work to convene a rural convention, involving communities, councils, trades councils, unions, faith groups and rural focussed organisations such as Woodcraft Folk, Ramblers and the CPRE to develop a vision for rural living.
allocation of council contracts.
7. Councils to be allowed to raise funds to build and provide affordable rural housing to rent and buy.
9. Access for all to highspeed rural broadband.
2. Create a ‘Rebuild Rural Britain’ bank working with the Coop bank and credit unions - to supply funds to councils and those creating jobs and services through coops in rural areas.
CALLING COUNCILLORS, TRADE UNION AND COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS
3. Turn DEFRA into a ministry for the promotion and organization of quality rural living and employment, with a focus on environment.
Use your campaigning
4. DEFRA should coordinate an emergency programme of job creation aimed at youth. 5. DEFRA to work with Departments for Transport and Employment, to establish public rural bus services. 6. Yes to a legally enforceable living wage for every rural worker - support for an Agricultural Wages Board. We oppose the break up of national pay into a
competing regional race to the bottom.
experience, your local knowledge, enthusiasm and networks to create a power for progress in the countryside so that it is never again ignored by policy makers, employers or government.
10. Provide proper resourcing for the Gangmasters Licensing Authority to enforce the law against cowboy employers. 11. Support the development of allotments, and urban gardens and food production. 12. Extend greater decision making in rural affairs to the Scottish Parliament and Wales Assembly. Support the establishment of a parliament for Cornwall. 13. Re establish national sovereignty over decision making in farming, fishing and rural affairs.
8. Promote coops as a model for small farms, animal and crop production, construction, food processing, rural tourism and retailing. Coops to be given preference in the
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