Star Letter
Submitted by Craig Barnett on Mon, 30/07/2007 - 11:08.
This letter by Graham Wroe of Sheffield Green Party was published in The Star recently:
"Dear editor,
"Many people in South Yorkshire recently faced the traumatic experience of having to leave their homes, either because of actual flooding or the threat of Ulley dam breaking. Our thoughts are very much with the people who still can't return to their homes and have lost most of their possessions.
"Imagine for a moment how worse the situation would have been if we didn't have our excellent emergency services and there had been no engineers to save the dam or firemen to pump the water away from flooded streets. Imagine if our houses were not made of brick, but of sticks and mud, so easily washed away by the torrents. Imagine how the floods would have affected us if we lived in an Asian or African village.
"As climate change brings more and more extreme weather we will all suffer from the consequences. In South Yorkshire those that are suffering most are the people that couldn't afford insurance. In future those that suffer most from climate change will be the poorest people in the poorest countries, but no one will be immune to the severe weather that we can expect. There will be more and more environmental refugees fleeing homelands that have been flooded or ruined by drought.
"I am really pleased that Sheffield is to become a "City of Sanctuary" - this means that the City Council is publicly committed to working to promote a welcoming city for asylum-seekers and refugees. I think the people of South Yorkshire will now be even more understanding to these folk that have such traumatic stories-after all, many now understand from personal experience a little of what it is like to be a refugee.
"Graham Wroe,
Sheffield Green Party"
Hopefully Mr Wroe of the
#195. Anonymous, replying to original post.
Mon, 30/07/2007 - 18:12
Hopefully Mr Wroe of the Green Party will eventually realize that his councilors were voted in by the people of Sheffield,including myself, and not,as he seems to think by the people of Africa.
I notice that the Green Party has done absolutely nothing to help the people his councilors supposedly represent, except to remind us all that it would have been a lot worse if they lived in Africa.
Unhelpful and inaccurate comment
#212. Rob Unwin (not verified), replying to #195.
Sun, 05/08/2007 - 21:42
Perhaps the writer of the above comment has chosen to remain anonymous for fear of being recognised as an activist from another party (despite the claim of having voted Green). Any quick browse of our local website: ( http://www.sheffieldgreenparty.org.uk ) will illustrate that the Greens are all about thinking globally and acting locally for the people they represent. How else would it have been possible to have had our first Councillor re-elected for another four years this May?
Rob Unwin, Sheffield Green Party.
I object most strongly to
#213. Anonymous (not verified), replying to #212.
Mon, 06/08/2007 - 18:17
I object most strongly to been talked down to in this way, if as a political individual you can not take on board genuine voters grievances, then you have no credibility in the world of politics.
What I was most disturbed about was the accusation that I am some sort of an "Activist", exactly which party did you have in mind Mr Unwin ? The tone of that remark, in my opinion , can only mean one thing.
I can not find the words to describe my horror of been accused of such a thing, and for the sake of my children I am glad that the system did not give my name, hopefully the National arm of the Green Party will distance itself from such remarks when this letter is made public to them.
The main point
#237. Jonathan Cook (not verified), replying to #213.
Wed, 08/08/2007 - 10:12
The main point of Mr. Wroe's letter, posted by Craig Barnett, is surely that we as human beings can feel for others in a similar or worse position. The age-old right of sanctuary and the principle of asylum-granting is based on this.
If it takes the Green Party, which has been pointing out the trends in 'climate change' since the 1970's, to also make the public aware of the idea of 'environmental refugees', perhaps we should listen.
Jonathan Cook.
No offence intended
#242. Rob Unwin (not verified), replying to #213.
Wed, 08/08/2007 - 20:08
I apologise if you have misinterpreted my remark and if my assumption was wrong. The phrasing of your response to the letter reminded me of press critique we have received from mainstream political parties (e.g. Lib Dems and Labour - not whoever you might be thinking of) and I felt a response was needed. I appreciate and agree with Jonathan's comments.
Rob
Annonymous is wrong!
#280. Graham (not verified), replying to #195.
Sun, 12/08/2007 - 21:08
It is very wrong to say that the Green Party have done nothing to help the people that we represent. Regular canvassing sessions discover the problems people in Sheffield Central face and our Councillors work tremendously hard with casework.If annonymous is a Green voter but doesn't think we are doing enough, s/he should get involved and help us!
Misguided
#396. Anonymous (not verified), replying to #237.
Wed, 19/09/2007 - 11:47
I think the electorate of Sheffield would rather monies be spent on improving their lot - unless of course Public Services there are a beacon of greatness to the rest of the world already and Social Depravation does not exist. This is a limited size island which is already overpopulated and frankly encouraging more refugees/asylum seekers/travellers/immigrants is taking the p*ss.
I agree, the people behind
#399. Anonymous (not verified), replying to #396.
Sun, 23/09/2007 - 18:08
I agree, the people behind this dubious scheme wont do a damm thing for the people who have lived in Sheffield for generations who fall on hard times, but give them people from thousands of miles away, and they cant help them enough, literally trampling on the people of Sheffield as they rush to help.
The people of Sheffield face
#403. Anonymous (not verified), replying to #399.
Thu, 04/10/2007 - 16:49
The people of Sheffield face many problems, but they're unlikely to be bombed, tortured and executed by their own government (Independent 4-10-2007, p.14). So I'm delighted that this city is reaching out to people who have fled the most appalling suffering, and I'm equally delighted that other cities across Britain are doing the same. In the American Civil War, the industrial towns of northern England boycotted American cotton and helped to end slavery. If your fellow human beings are in need, you help them - it's that simple. People come from thousands of miles away, but that never used to matter, and it doesn't matter now.
And for what it's worth, for all anyone knows who wrote the above comments, those involved in City of Sanctuary are working just as hard in other ways for the benefit of Sheffield.