Green Party Calling - My day with Shasha Khan

It’s the 20th April 2010 and an eight minute telephone conversation has just confirmed my plans for the following day. Tomorrow is the day that I shadow the Green Party candidate for Croydon North – Shasha Khan. As I click down the receiver (feeling immensely relieved – Shasha seems like a friendly, approachable sort of man) I quickly note the time and address of our meeting: 1:30 p.m. at his Croydon home.

I arrive at Shasha’s house, a small mid-terrace, at twenty past one and am greeted at the door by Gordon, a Green Party supporter. Walking through the hallway I can see piles of luminous green posters, fresh off the printing machine, emblazoned with “Vote Green Party”. When I arrive in the kitchen Shasha Khan is conversing with another supporter, who I’m later told was Jim, but breaks off mid-sentence with a wide grin to shake my hand. “Welcome to Green Party HQ Aimee.”

I settle down at the kitchen table with my notebook and a few Green Party leaflets whilst the three men discuss the plans for the day. One postcard sized leaflet displays their national and local pledges, which range from “No incinerator for Croydon”, to “Bring the troops home” and “Cut bankers’ bonuses not public spending”. The reverse of the leaflet boasts a quote from Barry Buttigieg, a former Labour Party candidate: “I joined the Green Party because I really like their common sense 21st century policies… I am much happier being a Green.” The three men conclude that they do indeed have enough posters and leaflets for a full day of canvassing (an issue which seemed to be of great importance) and Jim leaves for the day, followed closely by Gordon, fully-laden with Green Party paraphernalia.

I’m handed several more leaflets, “Vote Green Party – Change London for Good”, “Bensham Manor Matters”, which I read as Shasha makes us tea. For a political candidate I’m struck by how humble he is and ask how he feels about his chances in the upcoming election. His reply is unsurprising: “Well, the thing is, we’re punching above our weight here. We only have three candidates in Croydon. But, you know, we’re out there campaigning and giving it a go”. Before leaving to get changed, the candidate shows me www.voteforpolicies.org.uk, a website designed to help the public decide who to vote for. Shasha delightedly tells me that the Greens are topping the poll with 27% and encourages me to take it while he is gone. Thirty minutes later he emerges in a blue shirt and jeans, asking “Do you think jeans and a shirt will be okay?” Bemused, I reply “Yes… yes I think so.”
“College students won’t think I’m trying to impress them?”
“No, no Shasha you look fine…”
Looking unconvinced he gathers together his propaganda and pins his green rosette to his jacket. “Ready?”

We take his car on a ten minute drive to his canvassing area. On the journey I initiate the conversation, asking about the foundation of the party and Shasha’s own experience of it. I learn that it was founded in Coventry in the 1970s, but was named “something like the Equality Party”, and that Shasha has been a member since November 2006. We talk of university – he adored studying Politics and Economics at Wolverhampton University. A phone call from Gordon sends us on a detour; it appears he forgot a bag of pamphlets, which luckily were left in Shasha’s car. Our canvassing then begins as we pull up outside number 87. “Do you ever get nervous before going door-to-door?” I ask. Shasha explains that he was previously employed as a door-to-door salesman, “I got rid of the nerves long ago” he remarks.

Looking less confident than I would think was necessary to successfully canvass, Shasha walks up to the door. A teenage boy answers, calls for his mother, and I watch as the candidate’s demeanour changes completely. He begins by introducing me as “Aimee- a university student who is shadowing me for the day to find out about politics in Croydon” and goes on to give a fluent, confident speech. I almost forget to take notes as I stare in, for want of a better word, amazement. The woman, who seems open to discussion, is aware of the Green Party and their policies. They talk at length about the campaign to stop the building of an incinerator in Factory Lane – an industrial area of Croydon surrounded by houses and schools – which I soon realise, is the biggest local issue for the Greens. After ten minutes we leave the woman with six different leaflets and a poster to put in her window. I’m intrigued: “Is it always this successful?” Shasha chuckles, “No… no not always. I’m considering paying you to come out with me. You’re obviously good luck!” he jokes.

After knocking on two doors to no reply, Shasha finds luck with another female resident. The patter isn’t so well received this time and I get the impression that Shasha is working hard for this vote, but once again we leave a woman with a fluorescent green poster in hand. As we discuss how difficult the last door seemed to be, a man interrupts asking if we’re from the Green Party. Shasha seizes the opportunity and we stand for ten minutes going through the same, well rehearsed speech. The man, who we later learn is Sri Lankan, is sceptical, asserting that “People only bring up these issues at election time” when confronted with the ‘Stop the Incinerator’ campaign (to which Shasha acknowledges, but politely disputes: “Well yes, but actually I’ve been campaigning on this issue for three-and-a-half years”) Once again we walk away from a resident, who is left clutching a multitude of paper. “The poor man was only walking his son home from school” I joke.

Looking at the time I ask Shasha whether it would be best to leave for Harris Academy, a secondary school in Crystal Palace which forms the next stop for the day. It’s nearly 4:30 p.m. when we arrive at the school and are greeted by a teacher, who leads us down corridors and into his classroom. Shasha was invited to the school to aid the pupils in their mock election campaign and is thrust into helping the student Green Party after a mere introduction. Speaking confidently he takes the seven pupils through the ins-and-outs of a campaign, constantly referring back to his party’s own policies. After just over an hour I once again remind the candidate that he has other engagements to meet and we depart, although not before a photograph is taken – Shasha is clearly never one to miss some free publicity.

Once in the car again I remark how well received he was, noting that stereotypically young people aren’t interested in politics. Shasha aggress whole-heartedly, stating that “was really successful. Couldn’t have gone better to be honest”. When asked if today had been a typical day Shasha replies with a smile on his face: “Yes. This is what I’ve been doing, day-in day-out for a while now”.

A brief visit to Thornton Heath train station to meet Ross, a new recruit to the ‘Green Team’, and my day is coming to a close. As I considered the day as a whole, I was struck by the oxymoron that Shasha Khan is. A quiet man who was constantly dropping his reams of leaflets, had poor-time keeping (I was told by Jim and Gordon to expect to be late to everything – it would seem they were not joking) who had absolute affinity with the public – he won over every person he spoke to with his confident manner and likeable personality. My parting with him was typical of the day – jumping out of the car, whilst at traffic lights, because he was late to yet another meeting and so was unable to drop me home. I walked along chuckling to myself, as I recalled anecdotes from the day and was shocked to find that I had enjoyed myself. I was left with this final thought: Shasha Khan – a man who it is impossible to dislike – and a worthy candidate in the election.

Lib Dems vote Vince Cable for next Chancellor

The Liberal Democrats have backed Vince Cable to be the next Chancellor, should there be a hung parliament.

The possibility of a hung parliament is ever increasing as the distance between the main political parties in opinion polls is lessening.

The Liberal Democrats currently lie third in opinion polls before the upcoming elections in May.

A Lib Dem representative said:

Audio Name: Election Audio
In words: “Vince Cable”
Out Words: “next Chancellor”
Duration: 0’19’

The competition for Chancellor will be hotly contested should there be a hung parliament, with Alistair Darling, George Osborne and Vince Cable all vying for the role.

Student Housing in Winchester

Students in Winchester may soon have to find student accommodation further away from the university campus.

If Winchester City Council chooses to accept a new government scheme, which will give them the power to limit the amount of university managed properties; students could soon struggle to find affordable housing within walking distance of campus.

A local estate agent disagrees with the housing difficulties that are facing students:

Audio Name: Student Housing
In words: “Unfortunately the”
Out Words: “past years”
Duration: 0’19’

If the scheme is put in place, the Council could stop estate agents from renting family homes to students, reducing the housing options for thousands of students.

Radio Bulletin - Thursday 18th March

This is Aimee Pickering and here is the news.

A service station employee has been the victim of an armed robbery in Andover.
The robbers targeted the service station in Weyhill Road, at around 11 pm on Sunday. The three male robbers used a gun and a metal bar to threaten the employee and steal around one hundred pounds, before driving off in a blue Renault Clio.
The employee was not hurt and police are appealing for anyone who witnessed the robbery, or saw the get-away car, to come forward.
…

The investigation into a sexual assault on a 22-year-old woman in Eastleigh has developed, as police have released an efit of the attacker.
The man is described as white, aged less than twenty-five, five foot eight inches tall, with an average build and a local accent.
The attack took place in Fleming Park, in the area between Derby Road and Nightingale Avenue, between 9:30 and 10 pm on the 8th March.
…

Hampshire County Council will announce its budget for 2010 to 2011 later this month. The annual budget will be around six hundred and seventy two million pounds and is expected to see a rise in council tax of twenty pounds per year for the average family.
Local residents voiced their opinions on council spending as it stands and what they hope the new budget will improve:

Audio insert name: Council Spending
In words: “Well obviously”
Out words: “for the elderly”
Duration: 0’14’

“Well obviously it’s an enormous budget for an enormous county, so one would hope that they would be able to find some value for culture”

“Well I think they’re spending too much on the Civil Service and not enough on the public, the NHS and help for the elderly”

The council has said that there are no plans to cut service spending: which includes social care, education, road maintenance and rubbish disposal.
…
And finally…

An event is being held in Winchester to help the homeless.
The Rotary Club of Winchester is holding the event, called ‘Winchester walk for the homeless – beating the bounds’ on Sunday 9th May with hopes of raising fifty thousand pounds for the city’s homeless charities.
The Rotary Club are hoping to encourage schools, families, individuals and even businesses to join the three walks around the city’s historical sites.
The walks are set at twelve miles, five miles or a more family friendly one-and-a-half miles.

Hampshire County Council Budget

Hampshire County Council will announce its budget for 2010 to 2011 later this month.

The annual budget will be around £672 million and is expected to see a rise in council tax of £20 per year for the average family.

Local residents voiced their opinions on council spending as it stands and what they hope the new budget will improve:

“Well obviously it’s an enormous budget for an enormous county, so one would hope that they would be able to find some value for culture”

“Well I think they’re spending too much on the Civil Service and not enough on the public, the NHS and help for the elderly”

The council has said that there are no plans to cut service spending: which includes social care, education, road maintenance and rubbish disposal.

Winchester Cathedral Named as Top Hampshire Attraction

Winchester Cathedral has been named the top cultural attraction in Hampshire.

A survey by Hampshire County Council saw the historic building voted number one by people living in the county - ahead of other attractions including Portsmouth’s Dockyard and Marwell Wildlife.

Sarah Harfield, who works for Winchester City Tourist Information, spoke of the impact it will have on the city:

“I think it’s great – I think it’s great for Winchester, that’s what a lot of people come and visit so I think it’s really good news. With a bit of luck it will increase visitors to the city. People come for all the different attractions in the city as it is, but obviously with it being named as one of the top attractions then it will hopefully bring more people in.”

Seminar Paper - Mary Wollstonecraft and John Stuart Mill

A Vindication on the Rights of Women

CHAPTER IV: OBSERVATIONS ON THE STATE OF DEGRADATION TO WHICH WOMAN IS REDUCED BY VARIOUS CAUSES


Mary Wollstonecraft (1759 – 1797)

• Difficult early life – raised by a drunken, violent father and an obedient mother
• Forced to work as a governess, but became obsessed with education
• Wrote Thoughts on Education of Daughters in 1787, in which she stated that women were poorly equipped by education and needed to be taught ‘properly’ as we are born with no innate ideas (agrees with Locke)
• Therefore an empiricist
• Unitarian i.e. did not believe in the ‘Trinity’
• Criticised Rousseau for his opinions of women as made for man, but agreed with his anti-elitism and his attack on ‘modern manners’
• Wrote Vindication on the Rights of Man which claimed that ideas of aristocracy and hereditary power were mistaken
• Had several affairs
• Suicide attempts
• To put it in context, she lived in a time of turmoil and change, as demonstrated by the French Revolution (which fascinated her)
• Well read and educated – comes across through her referencing of other writers

Vindication on the Rights of Woman (1792)

• Discusses the state of female manners for middle class women (for which she is criticised as being limited)
• Her vision for women involved equality with men in the area of education and a less structured way of living in terms of fashion and etiquette for middle class women
• States that it does not matter if you are man or woman in life as there is no difference
• Begins quite balanced: Accepts that man are naturally the stronger sex, but suggests that man’s weakness is that he doesn’t use this ‘birth right’ as she calls it, but simply follows his desire to live in the present moment – assuming that tomorrow could be his last day
• Believes the soul is immortal, because, as a human, we will never be perfect but must strive to always try and perfect ourselves
• States that if women possess reason (which she clearly believes they do) we should be allowed to think for ourselves and not to take things ‘on trust’
• Suggests that the class system of manners ‘robs the female sex of its dignity’
• Speaks in a complicated manner, confusing issues of feminism with other things: Suggests that it is narrow-mindedness that cause the problems of women and states that the same problems face the rich because they will never know the ‘virtues of labour’
• Pleasure should no longer be the main aim for a woman’s life – talks of women being weak beings again
• Speaks quite poetically: Uses the metaphor of a bird – stating that women are confined to a cage with nothing to do but ‘plume’ themselves
• Dislikes male manners that are considered charming e.g. holding a door open, because they are patronising and unnecessary
• Does not understand why no women come from obscurity into the limelight – there is no reason why they can’t
• Disagrees that the highest ambition a woman should have is to marry well
• Suggests that women took on all the useless qualities from society – like an obsession with feelings – whereas men took the best and respect order and duty
• She remains quite balanced throughout – saying there are exceptions and that it does not just apply to women
• Dislikes that women turn to men for safety, when they can quite easily solve a solution themselves

• Wollstonecraft uses Rousseau to demonstrate her point: that women should have control over themselves and decide their own lives

“Educate women like men," says Rousseau, "and the more they resemble our sex the less power will they have over us." This is the very point I aim at. I do not wish them to have power over men; but over themselves

• Consistently talks of her dislike for sensibility – suggests that it ruins a woman, causing her to forget reason
• Has some unusual ideas: Asks whether negligence or indulgence is most detrimental – and decides that the latter has done the most harm
• Wants female beauty to be considered the same as male, and take into account a woman’s mind and sense of reason as well as her appearance
• Wollstonecraft goes on to talk of affairs and how a man should be responsible for any illegitimate children, followed by her ideas on love and friendship, which comes across as odd when considering the rest of the chapter, which centres around how women should be considered


• Contradicts with her own life – believed that women were not made solely for mans pleasure and yet lived her life by the men in it. For a feminist she was shaped by men perhaps more than she realised, even from her upbringing with a drunken father – perhaps this is a factor shared by feminists?

• The contradiction would not be so strange if she had not been so sure of her opinions in her writing.







John Stuart Mill

• Believed in Liberty
• On Liberty – stated that liberty protected people from tyrannical ruling
• Stated that power lies with the individual over the state
• The nature of the power that society has over the individual
• The introduction of rights
• Rulers became the voice of the nation’s will – representative
• Main principle of the essay: man can do what he wishes, even though others may try to persuade him against it, as long as it harms no-one. As soon as it does, penalties can be employed. “the individual is sovereign”

• Utilitarianism – happiness over pain
• Introduced the first bill to give women the right to vote – championed women’s rights
• Was extremely intelligent by the age of 16, which only led to a nervous breakdown by the time he was 20
• Believed strongly in freedom of speech
• Against uniformity – do and think what you want as long as it does not harm anyone
• Dismisses the Social Contract
• ‘The greatest good for the greatest number’ on the surface sounds like a perfect idea, but people are different and conflict will always arise making this impossible to achieve
• Made a hierarchy of pleasures
• Constantly considered the consequences: Acts, Moral Rules, Disposition

What is Liberty?

• Authority is located with the individual
• Laissez faire view of life
• Freedom over equality
• Religion and morality are private matters
• Pluralism – beliefs and actions are your own concern