GND Media

Safe to say that he Economy as we formally know it has taken a nose dive. Britain has lost 20% of GDP over the course of lockdown as businesses closed up and demand slumped to save the population from Covid-19. But what is the British economy actually made of? Is GDP representative of the actual production of everyday people in the UK? Has chasing these golden numbers skewed the british economy into a place where traditional working class jobs are less important that they used to be? If there is to be a recovery and a green recovery at that, what does it look like under a Conservative government?To discuss the effects of finance on the environment and the working class  we are joined by economist and writer Grace Blakeley (@graceblakeley). Grace is the author of Stolen: how to save the world from Finacialisation. **links**Stolen: How to save the world from Financialisation https://repeaterbooks.com/product/stolen-how-to-save-the-world-from-financialisation/Still The Enemy Within https://the-enemy-within.org.uk/The New politics of Class: The Politics Exclusion of the Working Classhttps://www.waterstones.com/book/the-new-politics-of-class/geoffrey-evans/james-tilley/9780198755753Graces article on state monopolismhttps://tribunemag.co.uk/2020/06/the-era-of-state-monopoly-capitalism**Shout outs**Harriet L-S@harrielspencerDianne Abbot MP@HackneyAbbottSimukai Chigudu@SimuChiguduAnd his article on the Rhodes must fall campaign from a few weeks ago. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jun/12/oxford-black-professors-cecil-rhodes-british-empireIf you like the show tell your comrades!Find us on all the socials Twitter:@MCRGND_PODInsta: ManchestergndpodFB:MCRGNDPODSupport the show

If you want to support the show, please leave us a review on Itunes.Local councils. Not your usual starting point when it comes to dealing with world wide crises like climate breakdown. Normally you'd associate them with the mundanity of bin collections and road works, tax bands and planning permission. Local councils however are our first interaction with democracy and thus our first opportunity to change the direction that our carbon cramming country is heading in. Joining us this week to discuss how local councils can be at the for-front of decarbonisation and greening the economy is Councillor Jon Burke from Hackney (@jonburkeUK). Speaking truth to power about how labour councils are locked together with the aviation industry and how environmentalism intersects with all parts of local government. If you like the show tell your comrades!Find us at Twitter:@MCRGND_PODInsta: ManchestergndpodFB:MCRGNDPOD*Links*Gresham College lecture on Aneurin Bevan https://youtu.be/3vgye4SvAzQThe making of the the working class- E.P Thompsonhttps://uncomradelybehaviour.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/thompson-ep-the-making-of-the-english-working-class.pdf*Shout outs*Practical ways to support the Black Lives Matter movement https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1x65xLdIUDWMUl4_nkuD-EeP98UuJ2nuknUDsqUm7R9s/htmlviewClyde Loakes @Labourstone Waltham ForestClaire Holland @Clairekholland LambethSophoe McGeevor @SophieMcGeevor LewishamAdam Harrison @AdamDKharrison CamdenUpping it Mosside environmental community group@UppingItSupport the show

Here is a list of resources to support the BLM movement https://bit.ly/2MCdcKaCovid-19 has resulted in a 17% drop in global emissions over the length of the crisis. How do we hold on to this silver lining after the economy starts back up and we return to "The new normal"? With transport being a whopping 3rd of emissions we have to look to other means of getting about that are better for the environment and better for us. This week on the pod we talk to Nick Hubble, otherwise known as the Prestwich Pootler (@pootlers), about cycling in Greater Manchester. We discuss how you don't have to reinvent the wheel (sorry not sorry) to make cycling accessible to all and what we can learn from our comrades on the continent. If you like the show tell your comrades!Find us on all the socials Twitter:@MCRGND_PODInsta: ManchestergndpodFB:MCRGNDPODShout OutsBrian Deegan - Advisor to Manchester cycling and walking commissioner @bricycleNandini Mitra@_nmtrWheels for all- making cycling accessible for all. https://cycling.org.uk/wheels-for-allManchester Bike Hirehttps://manchesterbikehire.co.uk/**Links**Manchester Critical Mass Cycling grouphttps://www.manchesterfoe.org.uk/events/event/critical-mass/Walk Ride GMhttps://walkridegm.org.uk/Support the show

From humble seeds do oak trees grow, from twitter frustration can a movement emerge. Labour for a Green New Deal had only been around for 6 months when it engaged in the longest composite meeting of the Labour Party conferences history. With now over 50 local groups across the country, demanding the Labour Party do better we sat down with co-founder of Lab4GND Chris Saltmarsh (@Chris_Saltmarsh). To discuss the movements beginnings, it's strategy and where we go next.  Our previous episode with Angela Brown on the 2019 Labour conference. https://www.buzzsprout.com/919177/2944135Chris' article on Extinction Rebellion https://novaramedia.com/2018/11/18/5-reasons-im-not-joining-the-extinction-rebellion/**Shout Outs**Angela Brown @Angel4Brown598If you would like to get involved in Angelas' work in North Manchester follow the link belowhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/211148843589816Acorn Housing unionhttps://acorntheunion.org.uk/Mersey Labour GND @MerseyLGNDRutger Bregman new book HumanKind @rcbregmanhttps://www.waterstones.com/book/humankind/rutger-bregman/9781408898932Support the show

Last year Manchester council declared a climate emergency to the adulation of the city and the environmental movement. Two days later they decided to build a brand new car park in the heart of the city, a stark slap in the face to that same declaration. This week we talk to Trees Not Cars on their efforts to make more green space in the city center, the affects on the already disastrous levels of pollution on our health and what we can do to fight back against a contradicting council.https://www.treesnotcars.com/Trees not cars fundraisershttps://www.gofundme.com/f/trees-not-cars-mcrDefra pollution monitor and forecasthttps://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/Support the show

It's very easy to concentrate on the national news cycle. Big flashy stories and scandals that drip from the teleprompters of Sky and the BBC. But underneath cocaine habits and duck islands, local government ticks over with a slither of the amount of coverage. With the perception it's just about bin collection and bus time tables, councils and local government have substantial power still on how we support our ecosystem and where money is invested.This week we are joined on the Pod by investigative journalist  Andrea Sandor (@wordstoseeby). Andreas  coverage includes the stripping of cycling provision across the city, the gentrification of the Northern Quarter and  Manchesters pollution crisis. We discuss why local journalism is more important than ever, how philosphy is keeping people from cycling  and how the Manchester Meteor is building a truly independent media.Shout outsNick hubble cycling activist. https://nickhubble.bike/Build back better campaign@BuildBckBetterhttps://www.buildbackbetteruk.org/IPPR study on the furlough schemehttps://www.ippr.org/files/2020-05/1589291707_who-wins-and-who-pays-may20.pdfDeansgate pedestrianisation https://aboutmanchester.co.uk/deansgate-set-for-partial-pedestrianisation-from-this-weekend/If you like the show tell your comrades!Find us on all the socialsTwitter:@MCRGND_PODInsta: ManchestergndpodFB:MCRGNDPODSupport the show

The Green New Deal is a plan to vastly transform our society. Through bold economic and social change it's a plan to save the Earth from the destructive forces of capitalism. that is going to cost a lot of money to do, and as the age old attack on the Left goes "how are you gonna pay for it?". 7.8 Trillion Dollars is estimated to be in tax havens and offshore accounts worldwide. Sounds like a good start to me. Joining us this week is journalist and author Oliver Bullough (@OliverBullough) to discuss his most recent book “ Moneyland: the inside story of the Crooks and kleptocrats who rule the world and how to take it back**Shout outs**Catherine Belton Author of Putin's People @CatherineBeltonKevin Anderson Professor of Energy and Climate Change for his work at the Tyndell Center advising Manchester council@KevinClimateMentioned LinksSouth Dakotas Tax Haven https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/nov/14/the-great-american-tax-haven-why-the-super-rich-love-south-dakota-trust-lawsTreasure Islands by Nicholas Shaxsonhttps://www.penguin.co.uk/books/108/1085201/treasure-islands/9780099541721.htmlDark Money by Jane Mayerhttps://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/215462/dark-money-by-jane-mayer/Democracy in Chains by Nancy Macleanhttps://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/533763/democracy-in-chains-by-nancy-maclean/If you like the show tell your comrades!Find us on all the socials Twitter:@MCRGND_PODInsta: ManchestergndpodFB:MCRGNDPODSupport the show

It's time for a moment of respite. With the planet in turmoil we must take a moment to envisage how it could be better. To have the imagination to design a more equitable world. How can we resolve the conflict between ourselves and the planet. This week we are joined by Will Stronge the director of Autonomy, a progressive think thank researching how we can change the world of work. We take on two big ideas that can reshape the world ; Universal Basic Income and Universal Basic Services.https://autonomy.work/Mentioned linksWatch the documentary about the Mincome Trailhttps://www.bigexperience.org/filmUCL Report on UBShttps://www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/igp/sites/bartlett/files/universal_basic_services_-_the_institute_for_global_prosperity_.pdfcampaign for public ownershiphttps://weownit.org.uk/ shout outsRob Palmer at Tax Justice UKhttps://www.taxjustice.uk/@robertnpalmereveryone involved in pushing back on the GM councils planning committee suspension Andrea Sandor @wordstoseebyGreater Manchester housing action@gmhousingactionManchester Bee sanctuary with Highfiel Country Markhttps://twitter.com/HighfieldCP_LevSupport the show

Even with a pandemic, the climate crisis rages on. In a time when it feels like so much is out of our control what can we do to fight against the ticking down of the U.K's Carbon Budget? This week we talk to Charlie baker the founder of Red Co-op. A organisation putting the agency back into peoples hands in the fight against climate change. We discover the immense potential of retrofitting the 25 million homes in the UK in tackling climate breakdown and what are the challenges with doing so.What to get involved with the show? Fill out the Manchester Labour GND survey below  to join ushttps://bit.ly/2SaTI2iIf you wanna get in touch with Charlie to learn more on retrofitting contact him at charlie@red.coop discussed links2050 Carbon pathway calculator https://bit.ly/2W3farbHomes as energy systemshttps://retrofitworks.co.uk/haes/https://bit.ly/3aDUsn7Retrofitworkshttps://retrofitworks.co.uk/**Shout outs**Tyndall center for Climate Changehttps://tyndall.ac.uk/B4box contractors https://b4box.co.uk/Manchester friends of the earthhttps://www.manchesterfoe.org.uk/Annette wright Labour Hulme councilor @AnnetteWrightJon Burke Labour Hackney councilor@jonburkeUKIf you like the show tell your comrades!Find us on  Twitter:@MCRGND_PODInsta: ManchestergndpodFB:MCRGNDPODSupport the show

Education, Education, Education! It's as true now as it was then the only way to take on the biggest challenges in the world is through empowering our future generations to tackle the problems ahead of us. This week we are joined by Lydia Meryll from Manchester Environmental Education Network (MEEN) and Fi a primary school teacher from South Manchester to discuss how schools are coping with COVID-19, How the children are educated on climate change and we speculate at what Rebecca long Bailey will now do in her shadow education role. If you like the show tell your comrades!Find us on all the socials Twitter:@MCRGND_PODInsta: ManchestergndpodFB:MCRGNDPODhttps://www.meen.org.uk/**Shout out Links**my mini mathshttps://myminimaths.co.uk/The Writing Squadhttp://www.writingsquad.com/Greater Manchester Community Renewableshttps://www.gmcr.org.uk/The Kindling Trusthttps://kindling.org.uk/Pesticide Action Network UKhttps://www.pan-uk.org/Support the show