Alicia Hull

Now 83, I am a long time campaigner against nuclear weapons, roads, etc.   

 BSc Psychology and Social Anthropology from UCL in 1965.

MPhl in local consultation about roads from UEA in 2000.  

 Several years as a Special Needs Teacher in 80s and 90s

Long term member of the Green Party, locally active for over 10 years.

Published a political fable on Kindle ‘The Roar of the Wind through the Trees’.

 Self-published after lockdown, ‘It’s All Up To Us Now’ The ABC of Democratic Failure in the UK and What Civil Society Can Do About It’ (ISBN 978-1-9196037-0-4).  It traced the way monetarist policies had allowed capitalism to destroy our democracy and our services and led to corruption, incompetence and disregard for the law or human rights. Given the environmental and social crises, it concluded that only civil society – public and experts together – could tackle the crises in time to avert catastrophe.  It called for the development of formal grass roots policies for a public manifesto to be voted on and a Government of National Unity directed by Citizens Assemblies.  The first vital step is to get the public involved, contributing their vast knowledge and values and learning what the real dangers and possibilities are in contrast to current government and media’s versions.  At this late stage our lives ae going to have to change so much that the public must understand why and lead the way. Doing the work will educate us, empower us and teach the values of co-operation and tolerance.  While a public manifesto voted on by significant numbers will by itself put huge pressure on any government in power to comply.  The book pointed out that strikes could bring the country to a standstill, but without a clear vision of where to go they would achieve nothing.

Now working with the Citizen Network to put on a series of webinars on ‘farming food and wildlife’ to promote the widespread conversations needed.  Our fifth is planned for 21 September at 6.30. We will then use that information along with lots of existing reports ignored by governments, and the work of Diem25 the grassroots European movement, to form principles and policies to be commented on and contributed to, by anyone.

We started with ‘farming, food and wildlife’ because food is of vital interest to everyone, because current practice is a major factor in our problems; and because there are already so many good initiatives providing solutions. Solutions known for decades. Our role is to bring all this knowledge and action together into formal policies.  We will make use of the many helpful expert reports which have been ignored by government as well as the grassroots policies developed across Europe by Diem25 (Democracy in Europe Movement). 
 

It is clear that all policies, including governance, need to be radically changed, and that funding is essential to them all. I very much hope you will join us in this work, to describe the sustainable economy we need AND how to use the present one to get us there without market disaster. In the webinars so far, UBI has been mentioned and Anna Pick has given Positive Money’s recipe for change, but the public must be thoroughly informed on all aspects, or they will not engage with developing policies or trust the manifesto. 

For example – given the ignorance about how near we are to tipping points that will make environmental disaster inevitable, and the way wildfires are destroying trees which have been seen as a major tool to mitigate problems, must we now focus more on stopping human activity?  Would a moratorium on all unnecessary human activity until carbon levels are significantly reduced be the wisest thing to do and is it possible? Or would paying people to stop work, a generous UBI, be enough or better, to enable people to stop work, support voluntary work and give people time to engage with decision making? However detailed a public manifesto, there will be lots to decide in this very unpredictable era. 

Given the freedom of Brexit – can we go ahead with either of these policies or will it lead to market disaster?  Could quantitative easing pay for UBI?

We really need your help.