QUB GREENS TRIP TO STORMONT ASSEMBLY

On the 9th of December QUB Greens went to Stormont! We were given a tour and then had a talk from Steven Agnew and Brian Wilson MLA. Brian spoke about how Green issues are worldwide and cannot be tackled alone. The same policies must be in place everywhere to deal with the challenge posed by climate change. He also mentioned issues faced within the Northern Ireland Assembly, for example designation. By refusing to class himself ‘Nationalist’ or ‘Unionist’ he is ‘Other’, but due to the need for cross-community support as stipulated by the Good Friday Agreement this gives you lesser powers. Furthermore, this reinforces the politics of the past, whereas the Green Party looks forward.

Gaining a seat in the Assembly was a crucial breakthrough but he is alone there and we want to change that! We put forward some questions to Brian about his vision for the next five to ten years, his views on Copenhagen and his opinion on the current Assembly position. Brian emphasised the need for more Green MLAs but what is most crucial is implementing the Green policies themselves.

Many thanks from QUB Greens to both Steven Agnew and Brian Wilson : )

WORLD AIDS DAY 2009

QUB Greens Fionnuala (left), Bob (centre) and Mark (right)at the Green Stall, World Aids Day 2009, QUB Students Union.

http://www.worldaidsday.org/

Monday 1st December was World Aids Day and the QUB Greens took part in the global campaign to tackle the epidemic that is HIV/AIDS, raising awareness, and also the local campaign to increase awareness about sexual health as well as safe and sensible sex amongst students.

The QUB Greens along with Amnesty, Rag and the Students Union held an awareness day in the Union, distributing information on the situation here as well as around the world.

At the Green stall we handed out contact information for any students who have concerns about their sexual health, hundreds of condoms and booklets on sexual health.

The QUB Greens will also be writing to student officers asking for free, easy to access contraception to be made available on campus for students. In almost any other university around the UK this is available and the QUB Greens will work to get the same sexual health and welfare at QUB.

SEXUAL HEALTH GUIDELINES & SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS

Free and confidential sexual health helpline:

0800 567 123

Royal Victoria Hospital GUM Department

028 9063 4050 / 4054

Opening times:

Monday: 8.30am - 11.30am AND 1.30pm - 4pm

Tuesday: 8.30am - 11.30am AND 1.30pm - 4pm

Wednesday: 8.30am - 11.30am AND 1.30pm - 4pm

Thursday: 8.30am - 11am AND 1.30pm - 4pm

Friday: 8.30am - 11.30am AND 1.30pm - 4pm

Family Planning Association (free Contraception and Chlamydia testing)

The Bradbury Centre, Lower Lisburn Road
028 90 912 100

STOP HARE COURSING

QUB Green Co-Chair Mark McCormick transformed into Harriet the Hare this week at QUB to campaign against Hare Coursing in Northern Ireland and full protection for the Irish Hare.

Mark, as part of the League Against Cruel Sports Society at QUB, took part in a demonstration outside the student union which coincided with the reintroduction of a temporary ban on coursing the Irish hare which came into place on 1 December 2009. The Special Protection Order prevents the killing, taking, sale or purchase of the Irish hare, but only at certain times of the year!

Harriet the Hare said: “I live my life in constant fear that one day I will meet my fate in a coursing event – it is terrifying. If only the department would permanently protect me then I could live my life without fear.”

For more information on the League Against Cruel Sports email - maryfriel@league.org.uk

Email the Environment Minister and ask him to implement full protection for the Irish Hare! -

doe.iemonitoring@doeni.gov.uk