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Simultaneous Policy campaign in New Statesman

Mike Brady | 06.05.2004 09:15 | Globalisation | Social Struggles | Cambridge

You probably read it on Indymedia first, but now the news weeklies are catching up! Cambridge Simultaneous Policy Adopters' Group (CAMSPAG) announced receiving its first pledge from Rosalind Gill, a LibDem candidate in the forthcoming European elections recently. This now features in an article in the 10 May issue of New Statesman on new forms of democracy.

The Simultaneous Policy (SP) is being developed by SP Adopters around the world, to set out the global rules under which we wish to live. Currently global rules are set behind closed doors and put corporate interests before human rights and the environment. Governments fear taking action against powerful vested interests as they fear disinvestment and economic collapse.

SP Adopters undertake to vote for any candidates at elections who pledge to implement the Simultaneous Policy alongside other governments when all, or sufficient, have also pledged to do so. Simultaneous implementation removes the fear of first-mover disadvantage. This is a long-term parallel strategy to bring in the changes which are necessary, not just those that will be tolerated.

SP Adopters in the Eastern region now have someone to vote for in the forthcoming European Parliament elections (10 June) as Rosalind Gill has signed the SP pledge form. The New Statesman has picked up on this development in an article on new forms of democracy entitled 'How to bring politicians to heel'. There is a similar strategy being used by a group called London Citizens, which asks candidates for London Mayor to sign up to implement their list of policies.

The New Statesman article can be read at  http://www.newstatesman.com/site.php3?newTemplate=NSArticle_Politics&newDisplayURN=200405100021 (Note: there is a subscription service on the site, but it seems you can access the article free the first time you enter).

Other candidates in the European election are invited to sign the SP pledge form. The party list with most candidates signing up will be endorsed by the SP campaign in the Eastern region (unless its other policies are viewed as too extreme).

It is free to become an SP Adopter. See the site  http://spdev.gn.apc.org/

The Cambridge SP Adopters' Group (CAMSPAG) meets on the first Wednesday of each month at Emmanuel URC Church, Trumpington Street from 7.30 pm. We hold occassional policy fora looking at issues such as 'Making all trade Fair Trade', 'Achieving sustainable energy use' and 'Food security for all'.

Contact coordinator Mike Brady on 07986 736179 for further information or for leaflets to promote the campaign.

Mike Brady
- e-mail: mikebrady@babymilkaction.org
- Homepage: http://spdev.gn.apc.org/


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