EU PLAYING POLITICS ON CLIMATE FINANCE COULD JEOPARDISE UN DEAL, SAY GREENS

The European Commission today published its proposals setting out a framework for financing of international climate efforts, including the role of the EU. Commenting on the Commission's international climate finance proposals, UK Green MEP Caroline Lucas said:

"With around 100 days to go to the end of the UN climate summit in Copenhagen, the EU urgently needs to adopt a concrete position on climate change financing for developing countries. Unfortunately, the proposals published by the Commission could jeopardise the negotiations by trying to heap a disproportionate share of the burden onto developing countries.

"The Commission's estimations on the required amount of climate financing for developing countries are on the low side (€66-80bn per annum) compared with other recent estimations. On top of this, the Commission claims that only €22-50bn per annum (by 2020) should be accounted for by public financing. This figure is clearly artificially low and smacks of politicking, with the negotiations in mind. Setting the figure too low could jeopardise the commitment of developing countries to a UN climate deal.

"The Commission calculates that EU share of the responsibility for international public financing for climate efforts in developing countries could be 10-30%. Clearly, it needs to be close to the top end of this scale to realistically reflect the responsibility of the EU, based on its historical emissions and its ability to pay, not just its share of current emissions.

"Overall, the underlying assumptions show that the Commission sees most of the global emissions reductions by 2020 taking place in developing countries. This is a clear renouncement of EU's purported leadership on climate change and ignores the EU's responsibility.

"The EU has committed to the goal of limiting global warming to less than 2 degrees. If it is serious, it will need to urgently step up its effort, committing to domestic emissions reductions of at least 40% by 2020, as well as climate financing in the region of €35bn. Anything less risks making the 2 degree goal completely unattainable and thereby opens the door to dangerous climate change."

Green conference to call for national rape crisis hotline

At the Green Party's annual conference next week, party leader Caroline Lucas MEP will urge the Greens to toughen-up aspects of their social policy platform ahead of the general election.

And one of the party's new policies should be a government-funded national hotline for victims of rape and sexual abuse, she will say.

Caroline Lucas said today: "Rape crisis centres are struggling for funding. Some have closed; others provide phone services for a few hours a week. 40% of adults who are raped tell no-one. 31% of children who are abused reach adulthood without speaking of it. They may need help at any time."

"Vital services must be funded from taxation"

Dr Lucas, who is widely tipped to become the party's first UK MP in the coming general election, added: "These are absolutely vital services, and it's entirely appropriate that they be funded from taxation." The cost for such a hotline is estimated by the Green Party to be between £4 million and £5 million per year. (1)

"This is not meant to replace existing services, which also deserve better government support than they are getting now. Their knowledge of their own community and ability to meet its needs is irreplaceable. But there needs to be a overall and referral service open at any time a victim needs it."

If the motion passes, the Green Party's new policy would be to fund a national rape crisis hotline, to be operated by an NGO, to provide 24-hour, seven day access to immediate support and referral for victims of sexual crimes. This would direct callers to local services, including local phone lines.

Caroline Lucas added that she expected the motion to win strong support.

Greens join Camp for Climate Action

The Camp for Climate Action will took place in London from today onwards. Activists gathered at six locations:

- the head office of BP in London's St James' Square

- the Bank of England

- Stratford railway station, near the 2012 Olympics site- outside mining company Rio Tinto, in Aldermanbury Square

- Stockwell Tube station, to mark the death of Jean Charles de Menezes

- cyclists massed outside the headquarters of Shell on the South Bank, near Waterloo railway station

By text message, activists were then told to converge on the site for the week-long camp.

A number of leading Greens will be at the Camp for Climate Action, among them:

- Molly-Scott Cato, our economics spokesperson, will be on a panel on Friday to debate whether capitalism is sustainable and if not what should replace it.

- Caroline Lucas will be in workshop on Saturday, looking at growth/wellbeing issues.

Jenny Jones, the Green Party home affairs spokesperson, will attend the camp, and was highly critical of the policing around the G20 protests in London. Jones said, in advance of the Camp for Climate Action:

"Anyone who cares about civil liberties will understand how important peaceful gatherings and protests are, and how increasingly difficult the police have made it. So we will be judging the police's behaviour at the Climate Camp."

"Much has been promised by the Met, in terms of a softly softly approach, which includes giving the camp their own safer neighbourhood team, but now they have to live up to those promises, and hopefully regain some of the respect they've lost recently."

Isle of Wight's Green Euro-MP to submit workers' co-op proposal to save Vestas jobs

The Isle of Wight's Green Euro-MP is to submit an urgent proposal to the Leader of the Isle of Wight Council for support for a workers co-op at the Vestas wind turbine manufacturing plant to be established under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007.

Dr Lucas's submission, which offers a practical and sustainable solution to the current dispute over the proposed closure of the plant, will be delivered tomorrow at 4pm to Cllr David Pugh by Brian Lucas from Isle of Wight Green Party and a representative of the workers at the Vestas plant.

Under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007, councils and communities have the opportunity to put forward proposals on sustainable improvements to local economic, environmental and social wellbeing. Once established, individual councils' proposals are sent to the Government via the Local Government Association. The deadline for current submissions to the LGA is 31st July 2009.

In a last ditch attempt to keep the Vestas plant open, Dr Lucas will call on the IoW Council to ask for Government support under the terms of the 2007 Act to ensure that:

- The workers of the wind turbine company Vestas are permitted to form a Workers' Cooperative, and are supported in doing so by the government.

- Financial support (at the very least unemployment benefit) is paid to the workers of Vestas until such time as the proposed Workers' Cooperative is financially viable.

Dr Lucas commented: "If the government is serious about tackling climate change, helping to protect the future of UK manufacturing, and safeguarding local jobs, it must act now to keep the Vestas facility open for business.

"By submitting a proposal under the Sustainable Communities Act for a workers' co-op, the Council can demand that the government provides the investment and assurances necessary to save this facility - on the basis that it plays a crucial economic and environmental role in the local community.

"Failure to keep the Vestas plant open will represent a spectacular failure by the government to match its rhetoric on green jobs with real policy action. It should be seizing the opportunity to create a renewable energy revolution that can see us through a transition towards a more environmentally and economically stable economy. Allowing the IoW plant to close now would be a massive embarrassment for ministers - and devastating for the IoW's workers."

Green Party celebrates 40th anniversary of Stonewall riots at Brighton Pride

The Green Party is gearing up for Brighton Pride. Greens will celebrate the legacy of the Stonewall riots with a public meeting on the 31st of July (at 630pm, The Eagle, 125 Gloucester Road, Brighton, BN1 4AF).The meeting's theme is: "Stonewall 40: The Unfinished Battle for LGBT Freedom".

Green Party leader Caroline Lucas and Peter Tatchell (the party's human rights spokesperson) will be at the public meeting, and will both join the Pride march.

Phelim Mac Cafferty, LGBT Greens National Spokesperson explained:

"We are delighted to be proudly celebrating the legacy of the Stonewall riots, which saw New York 's LGBT population burst forward in a show of defiance against continuous state harassment and persecution. Our meeting will relate to the lessons of Stonewall but will also importantly focus on what needs to be done still.

Phelim concluded:

"We have won important battles but until we have respect and equality the lessons from Stonewall mean we should never let up! Trans, bi and homophobic persecution, oppression and murder are still prevalent throughout the world. Now is the time to prepare ourselves for the unfinished battle for LGBT Freedom. Join us for our meeting to celebrate Brighton Pride 2009 and march with us as we mark 40 years from Stonewall!"

Put people ahead of GDP when managing swine flu

The Green Party is calling for Labour to put people ahead of GDP in their plans for managing swine flu.

Joseph Healy, the Green Party's parliamentary candidate for Vauxhall, and the deputy chair of the London Ambulance Service Patients Forum, said:

"In a meeting with the flu planners for London -- which the London Ambulance Service Patients Forum had over two years ago -- we were told that large scale public events would not be closed down because of the economic impact. The chair of the Forum, Malcolm Alexander, and I are due to meet Dr Simon Tanner, the Regional Director of Public Health for London, later today (the 28th of July), when I will be raising more of these issues."

Caroline Lucas, leader of the Green Party, said: "Leading experts are saying that school closures may stem the spread of the disease. If health experts tell us it is time to stop gathering in large crowds, we must heed their advice."

Lucas continued: "If it means that sports fixtures are affected or business conferences don't go ahead, then so be it. The economy may well have to take a temporary hit to stop unnecessary deaths."

The Green Party also wants the government to ensure that people get clear and consistent messages about what they should and shouldn't do during the swine flu epidemic.

Lucas remarked: "The government, by issuing contradictory advice to pregnant women on staying away from crowds was at best unhelpful. If public information is still in a muddle and mess in the autumn, it could lead to many excess deaths."

Hove by-election win opens way to Green Westminster victory

Greens in Brighton and Hove are jubilant at winning the strategically important Goldsmid by-election in Hove, taking the seat from the Tories.

The result sees the election of the first Green councillor, Alex Phillips, from Hove, to Brighton and Hove City Council. It also deprives the Tories of their majority on the council. Labour and the Greens are now tied for being the 2nd largest group.

Caroline Lucas, national Green Party leader, and parliamentary candidate for Brighton Pavilion, said, "This is a spectacular win. It signals an unstoppable surge to elect the first Green MP at Westminster, whenever Gordon decides to go to the country. With this result, we're on the threshold of taking Green politics to the heart of Westminster."

Alex Phillips said, "Thank you to all the voters who put their faith in me. It's a ringing endorsement of Green policies and the work of Green councillors locally. I will be hard working and unswerving in my task of representing local people and delivering positive Green change."

Councillor Bill Randall, convenor of the Green councillors on the city council, said, "With my council colleagues, we'll be reviewing the options and consulting our membership to ensure that we get the best and greenest deal for local residents. Between us, we will do what is right in these very difficult times."

Alex won 38.5% of the votes - an increase of 17% over the last time the seat was contested with a swing of more than 12% from Labour to Green.

Full result

GRN 1,456 - 38.5% (+17.6%) GRN GAIN FROM CON
CON 1,104 - 29.2% (-0.9%)
LAB 816 - 21.5% (-6.8%)
LD 280 - 7.4% (-7.32%)
UKIP 129 - 3.4% N/A (others 6% last time)

Honduras: UK, EU must take action following coup d'état

Green Party leader Caroline Lucas MEP today added her voice to those calling for sanctions against "the new illegal regime" in Honduras.

Dr Lucas said: "It's simply unacceptable to remove a president at gunpoint, and I want to see the UK and the EU make this absolutely clear.

"Gordon Brown needs to take appropriate action. He might consider withdrawing the British ambassador.

"It would also be appropriate for the EU to cancel next week's planned trade negotiations with the Honduran authorities."

Business as usual, despite the coup?

EU "association agreements" with other countries contain democracy clauses that represent a condition for the EU's trade dealings with the country in question. Where a country is suddenly being ruled by an unelected president following a coup d'état, there are clear grounds for refusing an association agreement, said the Green Party leader.

Dr Lucas continued: "For Gordon Brown to do nothing would send entirely the wrong message. For the EU to attend trade talks as though nothing had happened would be even worse."

She concluded: "Removing an elected leader at gunpoint and expelling him from his country without trial is completely unacceptable, and the international community must make this clear to the temporary, illegal government of Honduras."

GREEN EURO-MP URGES ISRAELI AUTHORITIES TO ALLOW SAFE PASSAGE FOR 'FREE GAZA' BOAT

Green Party leader and MEP for the South East Caroline Lucas today responded angrily to the news that Israeli soldiers have boarded a Free Gaza boat 24 miles off the shore of Gaza and cut all of its official communication.

In an email to the Israeli embassy, Dr Lucas MEP called on the Israeli authorities to guarantee the safety of the human rights campaigners onboard and to prevent violence being used against the Free Gaza boat or any individuals sailing upon it.

The boat was on its way to deliver urgently needed supplies to the people of Gaza when the Israeli Navy boarded and told the Free Gaza activists to return to international waters, warning that they "will not be allowed to proceed to Gaza". The boat's navigational equipment was electronically jammed overnight by the navy.

Dr Lucas MEP, who is a member of the European Parliament's permanent delegation to Palestine, said:

"I am deeply concerned that the Israeli military has deemed it necessary to storm the Free Gaza 'Spirit of Humanity' boat, which is carrying only unarmed human rights workers and journalists – including Nobel peace prize laureate Mairead Maguire and former U.S. Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney.

"The boat is now completely unable to communicate with the outside world, even via its emergency radio designed for safety purposes. Free Gaza is a humanitarian peace organisation and I am seeking guarantees from the Israeli embassy for the safety of those on board."

Key by-election called - Green Party leader visits Norwich North

The leader of the Green Party, Dr Caroline Lucas MEP, will be in Norwich today and tomorrow (Tuesday 30 and Wednesday 1 July) to campaign in the Norwich North by-election.

In the 2009 European elections, the Green Party secured more votes than any other party in the Norwich City Council area, gaining 25% of the vote. Local councillor and university teacher Dr Rupert Read, who narrowly missed election to the European Parliament this month, has been selected as the party's candidate for Norwich North.

Rupert Read said today:

“After the gloom of the economic downturn and the scandal surrounding MPs expenses, which has sullied all three main parties, the Greens are offering a fresh new approach.

“For the first time ever, the national spotlight will be on the Green Party in a byelection campaign and our prospects are being taken extremely seriously. The big three parties hav

e everything to lose. The Green Party has everything to gain.”

Caroline Lucas' schedule for the day includes a visit to an NHS walk-in centre threatened with closure.

Labour is "losing the eco-war," says Sustainable Development Commission

The government's own sustainability commission has once again vindicated the long-standing Green Party critique of the Labour government, said the Greens today.

According to media reports, a new document to be published this Wednesday (1 July) by the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) will argue that the government is "winning a few battles but losing the war" on matters like climate change.

Sir Jonathan Porritt, outgoing chair of the SDC, yesterday issued a powerful parting salvo against the government in the pages of the Independent on Sunday. Sir Jonathan said: "We have a terrible record of leading the world on rhetoric and then failing to deliver in our own backyard, and that's particularly true on climate change."

Responding today, Green Party leader Caroline Lucas MEP said the SDC's remarks were entirely justifiable:

"Tony Blair came to power promising the first ever green government, but it took him four years even to make a major speech about sustainability. By that time he was forging ahead with a £30 billion roadbuilding programme and encouraging airport expansions everywhere. One of his flagship green policies was a plan for 3,000 solar roofs within three years, at a time when Germany was aiming for a million and delivering thousands every month.

"Movement on the sustainability agenda has always been hindered by Labour's business-as-usual mentality. A lot of problems could be solved if only the government would accept responsibility for making sure things happen that urgently need to happen, instead of using market forces as an excuse for the failure of policy. For instance, we still produce little more offshore wind energy than Denmark, a country one-tenth of our size, and England's only wind turbine factory has just announced its closure. Labour is talking big and acting small, as always."

"Labour doesn't get it"

The Green Party leader, who hopes to win the Greens' first Westminster seat in the coming general election, said the Labour government had never understood the need to green the economy - nor the potential benefits of doing so. She said:

"Labour simply doesn't get it. Gordon Brown launched a so-called green stimulus package, but as the New Economics Foundation quickly pointed out it was in fact only 0.6 per cent actual new green investment. It was supposed to tackle the recession, but it included nuclear and so-called "clean coal," neither of which will deliver jobs in time to help deal with the recession. Green policies for renewables would start delivering large numbers of jobs immediately and in the long run would create far more jobs per megawatt than either nuclear or coal."

Seven years ago ago the Green Party published a critique of Labour's eco-policies titled Far More Spin Than Substance - and the Greens would say this still sums up Labour's eco-policy.

It's not just eco-policy but social and economic policy too...

The Greens believe Britain needs MPs at Westminster, partly to deliver the strong critique of the government's sustainability policy from within the House of Commons - but also because Labour no longer represents a progressive option. Dr Lucas said today:

"Labour has always lagged behind both the climate science and the Green Party's policies for tackling climate change. Significantly, the Green Party is also proposing far more job-creation through our million-jobs manifesto than Labour is through all of their proposals. While Labour has failed to get its head round sustainability, it has also lost its original principles about a fairer economy. Anything that used to be radical and progressive about the Labour Party can be found at the core of Green Party policy, while Labour is still way behind the Green Party on modernising the economy for a sustainable future."

She concluded: "The raison d'etre that Labour used to have now belongs to the Green Party."

South East Euro-MP Challenges Health Secretary's 'Vested Interests' In Southampton's Water Fluoridation Scheme

Green MEP for the South East Caroline Lucas has challenged the Secretary of State for Health Andy Burnham over his position as vice president of the British Fluoridation Society - at a time when health authorities in Southampton were giving the green light to a "mass medication" water fluoridation scheme.

The Health Secretary was instrumental in proposing the inclusion of compulsory water fluoridation in the Government's 2003 Water Act. He resigned from this position in recent weeks, but Dr Lucas MEP today joined with UK Councils Against Fluoridation (UKCAF) to question why Mr Burnham's links with the Society were not included in his register of interests, despite strict Parliament regulations stating such interests must be declared.

Dr Lucas MEP said: "It is of great concern that the Health Secretary was able to closely align himself with a body whose sole business it is to promote water fluoridation, at the same time that he was due to make key decisions about the future of the UK's water supply. Parliament's regulations on MPs' interests are supposed to prevent alliances which can fundamentally inform policy - but clearly they are not fit for purpose."

Earlier this year, the Green MEP warned that the region's health authorities were setting a "reckless precedent" for future fluoridation schemes in the South East with their decision to press ahead with fluoridation plans in Southampton.

Although 72% of people in Southampton voted against fluoridation in a poll conducted by the Strategic Health Authority, the SHA is pressing ahead with the scheme. A legal case regarding the highly criticised consultation process has been announced and legal aid has been obtained by the person bringing the case against South Central SHA.

Dr Lucas MEP commented: "The ill-advised decision to implement water fluoridation in Southampton demonstrates contempt for the views of many local people - and for the evidence against fluoridation itself.

"Water fluoridation has simply not been proven to be effective for teeth, and some studies have indicated links between fluoridation and serious ill health effects, including thyroid problems, skeletal fluorosis, bone cancers and mental problems.

"The scheme in Southampton amounts to a mass medication of the population. I have made a formal complaint to the European Commission regarding the failure of the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to properly classify hexafluorosilic acid, used in fluoridation of drinking water under the UK Water Act 2003, as a medicinal product. The correct classification would likely mean the UK's water fluoridation schemes would contravene EU law.

"In place of mass fluoridation, the UK Government could be improving the health of our teeth through targeted schemes such as providing free toothpaste for poor families. This decision in Southampton sets a reckless precedent for future fluoridation plans in the South East, and we must be vigilant of further attempts to affect our water in this way."

Warning From Green Euro-MP As EU Governments Keep Door Open For Cloned Animal Meat

EU agriculture ministers meeting in Luxembourg today have agreed to include meat and food products sourced from cloned animals in the proposed 'Novel Foods Regulation', which is a potential stepping stone towards legislation to authorise such products.

UK Green MEP Caroline Lucas commented:

"It is deeply worrying that EU governments are keeping options open regarding the possible sale of meat from cloned animals on the European market. This flies in the face of consumer concerns and a European Parliament vote in favour of an outright ban.

"Cloning is an incredibly wasteful way of producing food, requiring the loss of many animal lives just to produce one successful clone. Animals that do survive suffer dramatically high rates of illness and premature death.

"A green light to produce food from cloned animals would ultimately lead to a reduction in breed and genetic varieties of livestock, which have already become restricted through current practices. Such variety offers an essential safeguard against epidemics and food scares.

"In upcoming negotiations, the European Parliament must stand firm in calling for a ban on meat from cloned animals. Animal welfare, food safety, consumer confidence and the future direction of agriculture are at stake.

The Green Euro-MP for South-East England concluded: "Today agriculture ministers also refused to take on board Parliament's demand to label products from GM-fed animals. If an animal is given genetically-modified fodder, then its milk, meat and eggs should be labelled accordingly."

Peace for Israel and Palestine must be on fair and equal terms, says Green leader

Commenting on the Israeli prime minister's announcement that he would be prepared to recognise a Palestinian state alongside Israel, Green Party leader Caroline Lucas MEP said today:

"Anything that brings Israelis and Palestinians closer to a permanent peaceful settlement must be applauded.

"However, I can understand why Palestinians would be very unhappy with Mr Netanyahu's preconditions. For a new state to have no control of its borders or its airspace would simply not be fair. To recognise a state on condition that it has no armed forces and is not allowed to make defensive military alliances is not really recognising its sovereignty."

Dr Lucas added: "The Green Party obviously recognises Israel's need for security. We unequivocally condemn all acts of terrorism against Israelis. We vehemently oppose anti-semitism."

"And by exactly the same reasoning, we cannot support the idea that a government with a track record of illegal aggression and illegal occupation should be allowed to impose conditions like these on its neighbour."

She added: "We note that Benjamin Netanyahu continues to support the building of homes and infrastructure in territories that do not belong to Israel. We must therefore question his sincerity."

"A peaceful future for Israelis and Palestinians must be built on the basis of mutual respect and equality between nations. You can't have a normal, respectful relationship between two states where one of them insists on the right to be able to dominate the other, and to recognise its existence only with unreasonable conditions attached."

Green leader speaks out against Islamophobia

Green Party leader Dr Caroline Lucas MEP spoke out today against the growth of Islamophobia in the UK:

"The Green Party's view is clear: everyone in Britain must be free to follow their chosen faith, or none, fully confident that their right to do so will be vigorously upheld by government."

"Racism is a blot on the face of civilisation, and must be wiped out."

"Singling-out a particular racial or religious group and victimising them is completely unacceptable and must not for a second be tolerated."

Dr Lucas, who was recently re-elected as an MEP for South East England, and who will contest the Brighton Pavilion constituency in the coming general election, signed up to a statement issued by a number of politicians and other prominent figures.

The full statement reads as below:

"Muslims in Britain are facing attacks on many fronts. These include:

* The high-profile arrests under terror legislation of Muslims who are subsequently released without charge, creating a climate of fear and harassment

* An increase in violent attacks on Muslims in the streets and on Muslim places of worship;

* The targetting of Muslims by the far-right British National Party;

* Aggressive policing of Muslims on demonstrations, apparently designed to deter them from participating in peaceful protests;

* The racist misrepresentation of Muslim views and practices in the mass media;

* The political harassment of Muslim leaders by government ministers.

These and other developments threaten to create a climate of hostility towards Muslims in Britain in contradiction to traditional tolerance and damaging to community cohesion.

We believe that all people should come together in support of Muslims in Britain, and not leave them to confront these challenges alone. We call for a broad-based campaign to confront the growth of racist attitudes towards Muslims and rising governmental and state harassment of Muslim citizens."

Peter Tatchell wins Observer Campaigner of the Year

Green Party spokesperson on human rights, Peter Tatchell, won Campaigner of the Year at the fourth _Observer_ Ethical Awards in London last night. The runners up at the newspaper awards ceremony were celebrity chefs and TV presenters Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Jamie Oliver.

TV and movie actor Colin Firth, one of the judges, presented Tatchell with his award.

In his acceptance speech, Mr Tatchell paid tribute to "the many human rights campaigners worldwide who risk their lives and freedom, in countries like Russia , Iran , Zimbabwe, Iraq and China. It is an honour to work with and support them," he said.

Speaking after the event Mr Tatchell added:

"During the 1980s and 1990s I was often demonised by the popular press, lambasted by the political establishment and targeted for violent attack by neo-Nazis. Undeterred, I carried on campaigning. After more than 40 years of activism for gay rights and for other human rights causes, it is immensely gratifying to receive this accolade. My transition from public enemy number one to campaign award winner has been extraordinary.

"I want to thank everyone who supported me through the difficult, turbulent years when I was a minority voice and frequently reviled. Their kindness and solidarity is treasured. It gave me the strength to carry on the fight for justice and has helped bring me the recognition I have won today.

"During the last year, my campaign schedule has included arrest at the recent Gay Pride parade in Moscow, support for persecuted ethnic minorities in Iran and Pakistan, publicising the murder of LGBT Iraqis by Islamist death squads, challenging homophobia in football, assisting asylum seekers fleeing persecution, lobbying against the ban on same-sex marriage and helping secure the acquittal of two Baluch human rights campaigners who were framed on terrorism charges in London.

"I do my bit for human rights, as do many others. Together, we make the change," he said.

_Observer_ Politician of the Year was won by Caroline Lucas, Member of the European Parliament and leader of the Green Party of England and Wales.

Naturalist and TV nature programme presenter, Sir David Attenborough, was given a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Green Party leader wins ethical politician award - again!

On the eve of the European elections, with the Greens showing at a record 15% in today's ComRes poll, the Green Party is proud to announce that Dr Caroline Lucas MEP is to be named as the Ethical Politician of the Year in the fourth annual Observer Ethical Awards.

Caroline Lucas beat Liberal Democrat shadow chancellor Vince Cable and Conservative leader David Cameron to the top spot - picking up the prestigious award for a second time.

Caroline, a passionate campaigner on social justice, green economics, the environment and animal welfare - at both the grassroots level and in the European Parliament - also won the title in 2007 against David Cameron and Gordon Brown, and is delighted to have been chosen to receive the award once again by readers of the Observer.

Dr Lucas said: "I am honoured that Observer readers have chosen to recognise my work in this way - it means a great deal. At a time of serious political malaise, economic upheaval and environmental challenges, the Greens' positive vision for the future has never been more important. The party's policies to create up to a million new green jobs, tackle climate change, protect public services and safeguard civil liberties are at the forefront of efforts to create a new political landscape in which people and planet are always at the heart of decision making.

"I am proud to be a member of a political organisation with strong principles and clear ideas, which is driven by a determination to bring progressive, engaging and ethical politics into the mainstream."

Make it more than a protest - vote for a million jobs, says Green leader

On the day that a ComRes voter-intention poll puts the Green Party on 15% - ahead of the LibDems for the first time since 1989 - Green Party leader Caroline Lucas made a final appeal to the public to make tomorrow's vote more than a protest vote.

Dr Lucas, who was first elected to the European Parliament in 1999, said:

"A Green vote is much more than a protest against the big three. Let's remember they've been discredited not just by the expenses scandal but by their lack of commitment to putting social and environmental justice at top of political agenda."

"It isn't just about where the protest vote goes, it's what it achieves when it gets there. Britain has had Green MEPs for a decade now, so you know we've always stood up for public services, for protecting people's rights and for making the EU more democratic, more transparent and more accountable to the voters."

"You know if you elect more Green MEPs they will fight for all those things, and also for the economic policies that could create a million green jobs in the UK, to help tackle the recession and the climate crisis."

[Green Mail] Labour's failure on job-creation

Despite Labour's promise to "put the environment at the heart of the government," it has repeatedly failed to take the steps necessary to tackle climate change and create "green collar" jobs, says Caroline Lucas in today's Guardian.

In a searing analysis in The Guardian's Comment is Free pages, Green Party leader Dr Caroline Lucas MEP details Labour's broken promises on the environment, and how the failure to drive the new eco-industries forward is costing Britain huge numbers of jobs.

In particular Lucas criticises Gordon Brown's current stimulus package - billed as a "green new deal" but demonstrably poor in both environmental and job-creation terms.

"We're looking at far too few jobs, far too late," she says, "and the government's proposed emissions reductions won't happen in time to meet meaningful targets either."

Dr Lucas points out that:

* Only 0.6% of Brown's £20 billion recovery plan is being spent on green measures.
* Brown's "green' new deal earmarked more money for high-carbon than for low-carbon projects, setting aside £2.3 billion for the car industry and just £100 million worth of green stimulus.
* Despite a commitment to boost renewables, Britain's only wind turbine factory is closing down due to a lack of investment.
* The government's proposed jobs in nuclear and coal power won't be delivered for 10-15 years, whereas renewables create several times as many jobs per megawatt than either nuclear or coal, and in a much shorter time scale.
* After 12 years of labour rule Britain still has the highest rail fairs in Europe.
* Not only is Labour expanding major airports. It has also given tax breaks possibly worth as much as £100 billion during the first decade of this century to the aviation industry - money that could have been invested in improving public transport.

Caroline Lucas draws attention to the continuity between Conservative and Labour governments on issues where the social, economic and environmental agendas strongly overlap. "Labour have followed Thatcherite transport policy to the letter. They've persevered with the Tory policy of de-regulated buses and privatised railways leaving Britain with the highest rail fares in Europe," she says.

"When it comes to a Green New Deal, there's still only one real deal. If the policies in the Green Party's 2009 manifesto were implemented we'd slash CO2 emissions while creating more than a million UK jobs within 2-3 years. If Labour really was green, that's what Labour would be doing."

Greens in battle for third place

A poll to be published the day before the European elections will suggest the battle for third place will be between the Green Party, the Liberal Democrats and UKIP.

In the new poll, conducted by ComRes (1), the Greens display their best ever Euro-election poll results.

If the poll proves accurate, the Greens will win a number of extra seats, as well as holding their current seats in London and the South East.

A ComRes poll in today's _Independent_ newspaper puts the Green Party on 8% for a general election - the highest the Greens have ever polled in a survey about Westminster elections.

**Consistent high polling**

While opinion polls during the 2009 election campaign have produced varying results - for example, with UKIP oscillating between 7% and 19% - the Green Party has consistently polled well.

Last Sunday's _Telegraph_/ICM poll showed the Greens on 11%, ahead of UKIP nationally for the first time in the campaign. The _Sunday Telegraph_ suggested that "the resurgent Greens" might win eight seats.

And in an earlier Green Party/YouGov poll, 34% of respondents said they would either definitely vote Green or consider voting Green if they knew more about the party.

Caroline Lucas, leader of the Green Party, said: "It's not all protest vote. I think our manifesto for a million jobs, aimed at tackling the recession and the climate crisis at the same time, has probably struck a chord with a lot of people."