“Through the courts or on the hill; Equal Marriage, yes we will!”

Green Party candidate for Botanic Clare Bailey attended the rally for marriage equality at Belfast City Hall on Friday 28^th March.
The rally was scheduled to coincide with the introduction of same-sex marriages in England and Wales the following day. Scotland has plans to introduce them this Autumn potentially leaving Northern Ireland as the only part of the UK without marriage equality for same -sex couples.

Rally for Marriage Equality

The rally was a demonstration of public support for the introduction of the legislation to Northern Ireland and was attended by over 100 people.

Clare Bailey said “I strongly support calls for marriage equality for the gay and lesbian community in Northern Ireland. The LGBT community has been consistently let down by the political leadership of this country. Their full relationship rights and their love should be recognised by the law of the land”

“Those at the rally sent a clear message to our politicians when they said ‘If you won’t vote for us or ours, we won’t vote for you or yours’ and I would encourage voters at the next election to ensure that they elect candidates who put equality at the heart of their work.”

Clare Bailey addressing the Rally for Marriage Equality

 

The rally was organised by the Equal Marriage NI Campaign, The Rainbow Project, Here NI and Cara-Friend.

 

Alternative Ms Ulster Event

Clare Bailey of the South Belfast Green Party has organised the first ‘Alternative Ms Ulster’ event which aims to highlight the barriers to full participation in public life faced by women in Northern Ireland. It will take place on International Women’s Day (Saturday 8th March) in Parliament Buildings.

She said: “A key principal of the Good Friday Agreement is equality for all people. But when we look at the statistics, it is clear that the number of women in public life is not increasing. In fact in some areas it is decreasing. Our Government is failing women and failing in its duty to promote equality for women”

The Great Hall at Stormont has a grand marble staircase that has been the backdrop for many historic photo opportunities hosting dignitaries from around the world.  The Alternative Ms Ulster evening will involve women from all backgrounds will walk down the same flight of stairs and make a statement about what they would like to see happen in the future of Northern Ireland. They will highlight changes that would benefit the lives, welfare and opportunities of women right across the country.

Clare Bailey of the Green Party said “This event is both an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of many great women here and also draw attention to the huge amount of work still to be done for gender equality.”

Clare is seeking women who are willing to actively engage in this event, to take to the staircase and speak for themselves.  The brief address from the podium can be done by an individual or a group representing their organisation, an area of interest or activity…and creativity is very much encouraged. The organisers want as many women as possible to take to this staircase and speak for themselves.

The event will be compered by Nuala McKeever and hosted by Steven Agnew MLA, Leader of the Green Party NI. Support has also been provided by the women’s collective Reclaim the Agenda. A range of Public Bodies & civil society organisations will also be represented at the event and will host information stalls to highlight the work they are doing to address gender imbalance within their sectors.

There will be a wine reception and an opportunity to network with other guests.

Places are limited at the event and women will be given preference. If you would like to discuss taking part or want to confirm attendance, email Clare Bailey at: clare.bailey@party.niassembly.gov.uk or call 07543 296 40207543 296 402 or 028 9145 9110028 9145 9110 (office hours)

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South Belfast Greens attend the ICTU protest

The South Belfast Green Party were proud to attend and support the ICTU protest at Belfast city Hall on 31st January.

The protest was organised by the ICTU to ‘demand that action be taken to end political stalemate; to end all violence and to end inter-communal strife. We need to build a new political momentum in which our politicians work together in the best interests of all the people, addressing a series of vital issues which are crucial for the social and economic well being of Northern Ireland’

The South Belfast Green Party has long made the case for the Executive Parties to better represent the broader Northern Ireland Community instead of changing their views to suit the extremes of society, which was evident for the world to see with the failure of the Haass talks.

Are you fed up with the stalemate? Do you feel we are in danger of dooming another generation to the politics of sectarianism and division? Join us and help the South Belfast Green Party bring about clean politics, for the common good.

Agnew’s bill will improve outcomes for children

Byrne (Centre for Effective Education, Queens University Belfast), Green MLA Steven Agnew, Green Party Researcher Ross Brown, and event moderator Shannon O’Connell today at the launch of Mr Agnew’s Private Member’s Bill calling for a Statutory Duty to Co-Operate on Children’s Services

North Down Green Party MLA Steven Agnew today launched his Private Member’s Bill calling for the introduction of a Statutory Duty to Co-operate on Children’s Services.

Speaking at the event held in the Long Gallery in Stormont, the Green Party Leader said: “Children are one of our society’s most valuable assets and a joined up strategy of co-operation between Executive departments when it comes to planning, commissioning and delivery of children’s services will pay dividends in the future.

New video message

There are no elections in Northern Ireland this year, but voters in England will be going to the polls to elect councillors, several Mayors and London Assembly members.

This message from the Green Party is worth watching whichever side of the Irish Sea you are on.

Successful discussion on green politics

The South Belfast Green Party recently hosted the first in a series of discussion events for people with an interest in green politics.

Belfast International Youth Hostel was the venue for an exchange of views on what first interested those present in green politics, priority issues for greens today and how to put green issues top of the agenda in Northern Ireland.

Help shape the future of green politics

During 2012, the South Belfast Green Party will host a series of discussions, starting this Wednesday (28 March) with a session on the topic ‘Green politics and the new Northern Ireland’.

This event is open to members and non-members. We hope to hear a range of views from across the green movement on why green politics matters and how the party and the movement as a whole can best work to achieve our objectives in the coming years.

Christmas ballot now on!

Great prizes are up for grabs in the South Belfast/East Antrim Greens Christmas ballot.

Tickets cost £1 each and can be purchased by cash or PayPal – contact southbelfastgreenparty@gmail.com if you would like to buy one for yourself or, even better, buy a book or two of tickets to sell on to friends.

Prizes are: Christmas hamper, selection of wines, meal voucher, bottle of whiskey, box of chocolates.

With warchests depleted by this year’s elections, the annual fundraiser represents a vital step towards re-filling the coffers ahead of a likely 2014 local government poll.

As the Green Party does not accept corporate donations, our campaigns are dependent on members and supporters getting behind fundraising efforts.