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Shan OAKES stood for the Green Party
Real security means addressing climate change, food and energy security, growing inequality and destruction of our environment – together. Prioritising growth above these things is not working. Instead we must prioritise quality of life for all within environmental limits. We are standing for our children’s future. It’s Time for Change.
Shan lived in Beverley, East Riding at the time
and was aged 54, you could have read more on http://shanoakes.b...
Shan's top issues throughout this campaign were:
Polling has closed on this profile as the election has past.
| Issue 1. | Real Civil Liberties and Justice - “Civil liberties are not just about the difference between 28 and 42 days of detention without trial. Crime is not the only social issue. Civil liberties are about the wider relationship between the state and all people. Should we live in a society forever held in fear of terrorists – or does real security require a government to deliver a society where we have true freedom – equality, civil and human rights, the right to a decent environment and a future for our children? The Counter Terror Bill removes far more civil liberties than an extra two weeks detention without trial. Not 28 days, and certainly not 42 days! This insults the ancient right of Habeas Corpus and is unacceptable in a civilised society. Greens reject this, and ID cards and the surveillance society. We oppose extraordinary rendition (kidnap and torture) flights and waterboarding (simulated drowning). We are also deeply opposed to the bizarrely named Constitution Renewal Bill that is also going through Parliament now and is another affront to civil liberties. But we reject, too, fake terror like the so-called Ricin Plot, and police actions such as the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes. We also reject fear being used as a tactic to brand schools achieving low exam results as “failing” as a way to privatise them to “academy status”. The Green Party knows that any policy on terror must get to the roots of it, whether it’s what Britain has done abroad such as in Iraq or Afghanistan, or how Britain treats ALL of its citizens at home. If the attack on civil liberties continues then the terrorists have won. If the voters in this constituency truly believe in the reason Davis Davis resigned to call this by-election then they should vote Green. It's time for change. [Report Post] |   |
| Issue 2. | Environment - “As we make the rich richer and the poor poorer we are destroying the very natural world on which we depend. Our wasteful and polluting consumerist lifestyle in Britain must change. The war in Iraq has this week led to contracts for oil resources being drafted for BP and Shell. We must reconnect our lifestyles to sustainable use of environmental resources – and reconnect to each other. We need better, stronger communities to have a better relationship with our earth – our one life support system. The Green Party was formed 35 years ago in response to the threat of oil running out. Now with climate change an even more urgent issue we must cut our oil addiction and shift to a green economy, affordable and providing real security for our future. There is a real option for a future. But the mainstream parties do not give us this choice. We must change now. Only together is another future possible. It's time for change." [Report Post] | |
| Issue 3. | Food and Energy Security – dealing not dodging the issue of High Oil and Food Prices “Our food production currently depends on oil. Ten calories of oil are used to produce every calorie of our food. The rising price of oil makes organic food and farming our best choice, so our food security is not dependent on dwindling oil supplies. Energy security requires us to be self reliant on food and renewable energy – a strategy for a Zero Carbon Britain. Stopping our huge exploitation of natural resources and further resource wars is essential for peace and long-term security. Greens are campaigning for renewable sources of energy across the country, for organic food and farming, for affordable and attractive public transport, for localization of food and markets - eliminating thousands of unnecessary miles. Greens will ensure the sustainability of Britain’s food and energy needs. That’s real security. It's time for change." [Report Post] | |
| Issue 4. | A Secure Future requires more than empty promises - “We all want a new way of living in relationship with the environment and in real peace with other countries and within our communities. No-one believes main party politicians when they say they are serious about climate change yet continue to support more motorways and airport runways, and build new coal fired power stations! No-one believes we are serious in eliminating the threat of poverty from high oil prices, volatile house prices and high food prices while we ignore the fat-cat salaries of corporate bosses and the rich get richer. No-one believes the pretend promises of peace when our government promises to deliver “democracy” to other countries means to hand their public companies to the private sector and annex their resources and their oil! We want real democracy at home. We want the government to stop ignoring us. We want a government that is accountable to us – not big business priorities. The government ignored the voice of millions in polls and demonstrations in the UK against the war on Iraq and ongoing occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan, Trident, ID cards, and GM crops in Britain. It is time we had representatives who represent us. There is also still no referendum on Europe. There should be. It is time for real democracy. It is time for change.” [Report Post] | |
Shan's responsed to your questions as below.
Question ... 'Have you got a link to the Green Party manifesto?' |
Shan said ... 'Please go onto www.greenparty.org.uk
many thanks for your question. Please ask all your friends to vote for us today - we may even be in with a chance for a real change at Westminster
Shan oakes' [Report Post] |
Question ... 'A hundred new faith schools coming on line in the next 2 years. Good thing or bad thing?' |
Shan said ... 'I am a member of the GP education working group. This issue is very important and GP does not support state funding of faith schools because it is divisive. Schools should be good, local, child and community focused, and my personal view is that GP should make policy that schools should NOT be expected to hold 'a compulsory act of religious worship of a broadly Christian nature'. Worship should not be compulsory - it is a matter for individuals.' [Report Post] |
Question ... 'How would you stop the rampant fraud and corruption in Britain?' |
Shan said ... 'I would argue for more transparency in all fields, more public engagement in public life, more support for activity, dialogue and planning at local level. Corruption is a culture which spreads from the top down, hence the desperate need to stop government making policy which is oppressive , short-sighted and Whitehall-centric.' [Report Post] |
Question ... 'Hi
Do you think MPs should get an extra £24,000 per year to fund a second home?
' |
Shan said ... ' There needs to be some allowance for living so much of the time in London if your home is away from London. This, along with the expenses issue and salary needs to be consulted and reviewed.
Personally, I have made clear that if elected I would take only half the salary, giving the rest to the Green Party. I am not in this for money, but for the future of my grandchildren.' [Report Post] |
Question ... 'I wish you all well and thank you for using your right to stand as a candidate.
Who ever wins can you push for the dealth penalty please. Or at least allow the population the right to a referendum on the death penalty.
If you need a hangman I would be willing as this would cut the prison population by a thrid and save money.
' |
Shan said ... 'Thank you for your offer, but I would not push for the death penalty. I remember when I was about 9 years old seeing something on TV about an innocent person being convicted wrongly to death and the horror of that is still with me.
' [Report Post] |
You can no longer ask Shan questions as this election has past.