Jun202017

Greens call for Dubs scheme to be reopened as legal challenge launched

Green Party
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20 June 2017

*Co-leader Jonathan Bartley: “We believe that when someone comes to your home seeking your help, you do not point them to the exit”

The Green Party has called for the Dubs scheme to be reinstated as a High Court challenge is launched today, on World Refugee Day [1].

Charity Help Refugees has accused the Government of failing to properly assess councils’ capacity to take in unaccompanied minors under the Dubs Amendment [2].

Jonathan Bartley, Green Party co-leader, said:

“In the last few weeks the British public have thrown open their doors to stranded strangers, defended people from heinous attacks, and rallied round to give donations of clothing, food, and money to those left homeless. So I know that when this Government turns away child refugees seeking sanctuary, they do so not as representatives of the beliefs or values of the British people.

“At a conservative estimate, 90,000 child refugees are believed to have been forced from their homes by wars in the Middle East – wars, let’s remember, that we have a played a part in. Of those this Government promised to accept 3000 but have closed the door at just 480. That’s 0.5% of the total numbers seeking refuge. 0.5% accepted to the fifth biggest economy in the world. It’s cruel and it’s shameful.

“The Green Party fully supports Help Refugees’ call for the reinstatement of the Dubs Amendment to allow child refugees a safe passage to Britain because we believe that when someone comes to your home seeking your help, you do not point them to the exit. When you have promised to do your bit to help the global community, you do not drop the ball and shrug your shoulders. Having witnessed the incredible spirit of the British public over these last few weeks I know that we will win this fight and we will create, together, a more caring Britain representative of its people.”

Notes:

  1. http://www.unhcr.org/refugeeday/
  2. http://helprefugees.org.uk/dubs/

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Jun202017

News story: Cutting industrial waste in India: apply for innovation funding

HM Government
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Innovate UK, the Biotechnology and Biological Research Council (BBSRC) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) have up to £8 million to invest in joint UK-India projects that reduce industrial waste and pollution in India.

The investment is part of the Newton Fund, which uses science and innovation to promote economic development and social welfare of official development assistance (ODA) partner countries. The competition is funded in India by the Government of India’s Department of Biotechnology (DBT).

Projects can target 5 key areas

Projects must use biotechnology to aim to reduce waste and pollution and improve the recovery of value from waste in 5 areas:

  • leather, tanning and/or textiles
  • municipal solid waste
  • paper and pulp
  • sewage
  • sugar cane

Projects must aim to increase economic development and have a positive social or environmental effect on wider Indian society.

India has experienced rapid industrialisation

India has experienced strong growth in recent decades leading to large-scale industrialisation and areas of dense population.

It produces 13% of the world’s leather, has 51 million people employed directly and 68 million employed indirectly in the textile industry. It is also the world’s second largest producer of sugar cane, and has a rapidly growing pulp and paper industry.

Cities need new solutions to reduce landfill and the incineration of waste. Only around 30% of the country’s sewage is treated, and the existing centralised sewage systems have failed to achieve the country’s required discharge standards.

Competition information

  • the competition is open, and the deadline for applications is at midday on 18 October 2017
  • projects must involve at least one UK business, one UK higher education or research council institute, and one Indian academic institution or research organisation
  • a UK-based business or research organisation can lead the project
  • we expect total grants for the UK element of projects to range up to £2 million and to last between 30 months and 3 years
  • businesses can attract up to 70% of their total project costs
  • a briefing event will be held in York on 12 July 2017