Media release
VAN -- Valley Action Network
31 July, 2007

Valley Action Network announces policy for a Green City

VAN -- Valley Action Network, a new grassroots coalition standing for Hutt City Council in elections this October, announced its policy for a Green City today.

"We don't plan to stand big name or high-flier candidates", said VAN organiser Grant Brookes. "We'll be campaigning on issues, not personalities.

"We say, people should vote VAN if they want:

* A Human City -- Putting people before business interests
* A Green City -- Action on climate change. Zero tolerance for polluters
* Grassroots Democracy -- Community Boards for all, with extra powers
* Rates Justice -- Reductions based on need. Low-income families before
greedy corporations
* Free Council Services -- Not just protected but extended
* Free and Frequent Public Transport -- It makes climate sense and
serves the people."

VAN will be releasing details of each of these policies over coming weeks, starting with the policy for A Green City, printed below.

"The long-running saga over the Exide battery recycling plant in Petone has highlighted to many Hutt residents what's wrong with the Council's approach to polluters", commented Grant.

"The first meeting of the new Carbon Reduction Action Group in Eastbourne this evening shows that climate change is an issue for Hutt City residents, too."

In order to vote in the Hutt City Council elections, people need to be on the electoral roll. Hutt residents who are eligible to vote and who have not received an enrolment pack in the mail will need to enrol or update their enrolment details.

Enrolment forms are available at PostShops, by calling 0800 ENROL NOW (0800 36 76 56) or by freetexting your name and address to 36 76. Those who haven’t enrolled by 24 August will need to request a ‘special declaration’ voting paper from the electoral officer at Hutt City Council.

Postal voting takes place from 21 September to 13 October.

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A Green City -- Action on climate change. Zero tolerance for polluters

Human-induced climate change concerns everyone.

Rising levels of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere are threatening to bring more extreme weather, more flooding and higher sea levels.

Many Hutt City residents live on low-lying land beside a major river.

So for us, climate change is a special concern.

Three quarters of New Zealanders now have councils committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through a scheme called Communities for Climate Change Protection -- New Zealand (CCP-NZ).

In our region, Wellington City Council, Kapiti Coast District Council and the Greater Wellington Regional Council have all signed up.

Yet Hutt City Council has ignored calls to join with CCP-NZ and start curbing greenhouse gases.

Decades of industrial pollution have already poisoned our land and rivers. Hutt City has the most polluted urban waterways in the country.

The clean-up is urgent, but the Council is dragging its feet.

Polluters like Exide are still producing huge amounts of toxic waste that's a risk to human health -- especially children and pregnant women. Council leniency to these polluters must end.

Making Hutt City a green city means confronting powerful corporate interests. Strong public pressure, as well as Council action, will be needed.

We will support grassroots campaigns by Hutt City residents to put people and planet before profit. What could be more important than that?

We say, the Council must get out of the dark ages when it comes to climate change, clean up our environment and get tough with habitual polluters like Exide! VAN -- Valley Action Network will:

* Push for Hutt City Council to join Communities for Climate Change Protection -- New Zealand and start curbing greenhouse gas emissions.

* Campaign for free and frequent public transport to tackle the biggest source of urban emissions.

* Urge Hutt City Council to clean up polluted land and rivers now.

* Demand enforcement of environmental regulations and prosecution of breaches to the full extent of the law.

ENDS

www.huttvan.org.nz

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