New report argues RBS should be turned into Green Investment Bank

New research released today finds that transforming the Royal Bank of Scotland into the Green Investment Bank would kick start the green energy revolution. The research, by former Pricewaterhouse Coopers consultant, James Leaton, finds that it would bring 50, 000 new green jobs a year, increase efficiency, reduce the UK’s carbon emissions and improve international competitiveness - whilst not increasing the budget deficit. Source: Platform

Trident- who’d buy it?

Trident replacement is looking less likely today , says Greenpeace, after Chancellor George Osborne told media that the Treasury weren’t willing to stump up for the project out of central funds. Speaking in New Delhi, where he is accompanying David Cameron on his visit to India, Mr Osborne told the Bloomberg newswire: "All budgets have pressure. I don’t think there’s anything particularly unique about the Ministry of Defence. I have made it very clear that Trident renewal costs must be taken as part of the defence budget."

Farmland bird populations in sharp decline

Overall farmland bird populations in England fell by 5 per cent last year to their lowest level for 40 years, according to official figures released today (July 29, 2010). Source RSPB

Green Campaign Builds for RBS’s Capital To Be Used Productively

Campaigners have called for the Royal Bank of Scotland to be transformed into a Green Investment Bank to kick start a wave of investment in green technologies, writes Socialist Economic Bulletin’s Michael Burke.

£500 million Hawk jet deal with India aids arms companies, not the poor

Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) has condemned the sale of Hawk jets to India, a country where poverty is rife and which is situated in a conflict zone. The deal was announced to coincide with Prime Minister David Cameron leading a heavy-weight ministerial and trade mission to India from 28 to 30 July. Source Campaign Against the Arms Trade

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£500 million Hawk jet deal with India aids arms companies, not the poor

Labour Activists slam Bangladesh Garment Workers Wage Proposal

Garment-workers unions and labour-rights organisations have reacted with indignation and disappointment at the newly-proposed increase of minimum wage in Bangladesh’ garment industry. Yesterday the National Wage Board recommended an increase of the minimum wage to 3000 Bangladeshi ’taka’ (€33). Source: Clean Clothes Campaign

Sureblades rises from Vestas ashes

One year after workers occupied the Vestas wind turbines factory on the Isle of Wight in protest at the company’s decision to cease production a new organisation, Sureblades, set up by former Vestas employees, has risen from the ashes and is due to begin production of blades within two months just yards from the closed factory.

Greenest Government ever cuts Sustainable Development Commission

Will Day, Chair of the Sustainable Development Commission, today (Thursday 22 July) expressed his disappointment at Defra’s announcement that it intends to withdraw its funding for the SDC from the next financial year, and paid tribute to the Commission’s ten years of putting sustainability on the political map.

The Nonsense of Immigration Caps

The Tory policy on capping immigration from non-EU countries is both stupid and also an example of the dangerous way that mainstream politicians approach the immigration issue, says Andy Newman on Socialist Unity

IFOAM urges FAO to develop work programs based on ecological intensification

In 2009 the FAO Committee on Agriculture (COAG) concluded that an ecosystem approach should be adopted in agricultural management in order to achieve sustainable agriculture. With production in over 150 countries Organic Agriculture is the world’s leading ecosystem based farming system. It is the basis on which FAO’s strategy for the sustainable intensification of crop production should be built.

Ministers to pimp the arms trade

A Government Minister has declared that senior members of the Government will promote arms exports to compensate for budget cuts at the Ministry of Defence. Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) says that this brazen support for the arms trade by the new Coalition Government will result in existing arms controls being further overridden or ignored and arms companies gaining ever greater influence over government.

Meet 3 leading Fairtrade producers at Caffé Culture

The Fairtrade Foundation is bringing three representatives from Fairtrade regional producer networks in Africa, Asia and Latin America to speak at this year’s three-day Caffé Culture conference in Olympia, London which starts today ( 23 June ).

2 short satires from War on Want condemns ’sweatshop’ brands

Campaigners today step up their drive for a watchdog to prevent supermarkets abusing suppliers’ workers by launching new films which satirise overseas sweatshops. Source: War in Want

Britannia oils the waves

When Barack Obama referred to a major UK-based criminal organisation by its former name, British Petroleum, a storm of outrage followed in the UK’s corporate press and in the statements of Britain’s Liberal and Conservative politicians, writes 21st Century Socialism’s Noah Tucker.