If anyone would like to read more about the Srebrenica Genocide, we have linked the “Remembering Srebrenica” website that has a wealth of resources: https://srebrenica.org.uk/what-happened

Claire Hunt’s Speech:

Remember Yesterday, Act Today

I want to start by thanking Imam Idris and Worthing Islamic Society for honouring each year the anniversary of the genocide against Bosnian Muslims and inviting us to reflect on the terrible events that took place 30 years ago. I’m grateful for the excellent, but often harrowing-to-read resources that have been produced by Remembering Srebenica for this memorial that remind us that genocide isn’t an event, it’s a process, a systematic destruction of people because of their identity that happens over a long period of time, and that involves a series of social and political steps that begin long before mass killing. And the theme of the event tonight, to let our remembering lead us to action, is an urgent challenge to us all. Because in the 80 years since the Holocaust, even with the introduction of the Genocide Convention 75 years ago to which 152 governments are signatories, and despite remembering Srebrenica for 30 years, genocide has not been prevented and governments remain far from achieving that goal. 

Experts on genocide prevention stress that governments need to learn to recognise the early stages of the genocide process when there is more opportunity to intervene and save lives. In Bosnia, Serbian leaders and forces executed an inhumane plan to terrorise, persecute and ethnically cleanse Bosnia of Muslims for 3 or 4 years between 1992-95, destroying almost all the infrastructure of Sarajevo. The international community seemed powerless to stop the forced displacement of people or to protect the UN Safe Areas, including Srebenica, where people fled to. When the Serbian forces attacked Srebenica in July 1995, I remember a photo of UN peacekeepers passively watching women and children being separated and expelled, shortly before the execution of 8000 men and boys in just a few days and their burials in mass graves. This appalling atrocity was officially recognised as genocide in 2004, but it was the culmination of a long incremental process of genocide that took close to 100,000 mainly Muslim lives, 2 million people forcibly displaced, and 20,000-50,000 women raped. Subsequent investigations have exposed that the UK, US and French governments and UN leadership knew 6 weeks before the Srebenica massacre that they would abandon the enclave to the Serbs as part of a peace settlement. They may not have known the exact nature and extent of the atrocities that would happen, but they knew the Serbian leader’s stated intention to have the population of the enclaves ‘vanish completely’ and were warned of the risks. 

Given this catastrophic betrayal, the only fitting way to honour the 30th anniversary of Srebenica is to implore and demand our governments do better. Firstly, they must identify the risk of genocide and the progression towards it at the earliest possible moment and have the courage to name it. Secondly, they must take on the moral responsibility to effectively act to stop it. Because, heartbreakingly, governments are accused of carrying out genocides as we speak, eg in Myanmar against the Muslim Rohingya, in Sudan against various ethnic groups, in China against the Uyghur, and by Russia against the Ukrainian people. And, especially deeply felt by many in our community, with 800 people demonstrating their anguish on the streets of Worthing in June, we are over 21 months into a genocide unfolding in Gaza. Our government and media still won’t name what is happening in Gaza a genocide, although it has been judged as such by the International Court of Justice, and a former EU diplomat says “Seldom have I heard the leader of a state so clearly outline a plan that fits the legal definition of genocide.” Three times more explosive power has been dropped on Gaza than the Hiroshima bomb, most of the houses and infrastructure obliterated and according to independent experts over 80,000 people have been killed, over half of them women and children. People are being starved, being shot trying to access what little water and food is provided, there is little electricity, fuel, or medical services. 

And it was clear even in October 2023 that Israel was not just targeting Hamas in response to the atrocities they committed, but was bent on disproportionate and collective punishment of all Palestinians. One of Netanyahu’s ministers said “All of Gaza’s infrastructures must be destroyed to its foundation and their electricity cut off immediately. The war is not against Hamas but against the state of Gaza.” 

Nissim Vaturi, deputy speaker of Israeli parliament said “To wipe out Gaza, Nothing else will satisfy us. Don’t leave a single child there”. By February 2025, he was saying “The children and women must be separated and the adults in Gaza must be eliminated”. Hecalled Palestinians “subhumans” and Israeli Channel 14 TV has systematically broadcast interviews and statements that normalise genocide, eg “Only a few are possibly human there. Over 90 % are terrorists.” One even said,

“The 2.6 million terrorists in Gaza deserve death. Men, women and children – in every way possible we must simply carry to a Holocaust on them…”  I can’t read out the rest of that statement because it is too vile to repeat. 

More recently outrageous interventions by Trump have legitimised and accelerated Netanyahu’s ethnic cleansing programme, now set to culminate in forcing Palestinians into a so-called ‘humanitarian city’ at Rafah which has all the signs of becoming an internment camp and a blueprint for further crimes against humanity.

Ellie Chowns, one of our Green MPs, said at the beginning of July “Every day that the UK government fails to act on the horrifying evidence from Gaza, we fail in our duty under the Genocide Convention. We must act — now — to prevent genocide, centre Palestinian humanity, and end the suffering. We cannot look away”. 

Worryingly our government seems more determined to take action against people and organisations protesting against genocide rather than taking the decisive, meaningful actions needed to stop the systematic starvation and killing.

But hundreds of thousands of people here and around the world continue to press governments to do more. And I think today, we need to really consider what each and every one of us can do to pressure our government and to pledge to take our own very specific and urgent personal actions to bring about change. We often conclude these events with generalised reflections, absolutely admirable in intention, to work together towards unity and harmony, to prevent any shift towards the ‘othering’ and de-humanising of groups of people that allow tensions to be exploited. But the people of Gaza, and those suffering illegal bombing in Lebanon, Iran, Kyiv and elsewhere, can’t wait and mustn’t be left to pay the price of tyranny on their own. 

There are lots of different, positive examples in our community of people taking action. I mentioned the recent demonstration in Worthing organised by a coalition of local groups including Parents for Peace, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, WS Divest, Taarof Table, Worthing Solidarity, Stand Up to Racism, Worthing Community Independents and Worthing Green Party. The focus is, rightly, on pushing Worthing’s MPs to back calls for a permanent ceasefire, an end to the blockade and starvation of Gaza, hard-hitting economic sanctions, an end to all arms sales to Israel, including UK-supplied weapons parts, an end to 75 years of illegal occupation and apartheid. 

There are also regular demonstrations at the L3 Harris factory in Brighton which makes components of the F-35 Fighters used in ways that violate international law and exacerbate the humanitarian crisis. 

And there are other ways of exerting pressure.

Labour councillors on West Sussex council are challenging the council on Friday to divest pension funds from 10 companies aiding and profiting from Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza and illegal occupation of Palestinian land.

We can practice ourselves boycotts and divestment from 48 corporations investigated by UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Palestine, Francesca Albanese. Other faith and community groups raise awareness and much needed funds for Palestine.

The other lessons from history is that prevention isn’t over when a genocide stops. Long term, we need to abandon systems and mentalities that result in apartheid and genocide – imperialist, settler governments that grab land and resources and justify themselves by spreading hatred and othering. The third stage of prevention, after recognition of risk and taking action, is to bring perpetrators to justice, make reparations to victims, and through truth and reconciliation work for just and lasting peace. 

We have a lot of work to do ….

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The first was a motion on anti-racism (including against Islamophobia, antisemitism and Gypsy/Roma/Travellers), sanctuary and community cohesion, advanced by Green Councillor Claire Hunt. “We want Worthing to be a town that welcomes, includes and engages with our neighbours, wherever they are from, however long they’ve been here and however long they are staying.”

Claire said, “I am so pleased that our joint Worthing Greens and Worthing Independents motion on anti-racism (including against Islamophobia, antisemitism and Gypsy/Roma/Travellers), sanctuary and community cohesion was voted for unanimously at Worthing council last night.”

The second was a motion asking the government and MPs to reinstate the Winter Fuel Payment and abolish the two child benefit cap, proposed by Independent Councillor Carl Walker and seconded by Green Councillor Ian Davey.

Ian said, “I am delighted that Worthing Council agreed the motion from Worthing Independents and Worthing Greens asking the government and our MPS to reinstate the Winter Fuel Payment and to abolish the two child benefit cap.”

Worthing Greens are working hard all year round for real change in Worthing.

The post Two Motions from Worthing Greens and Worthing Independents Passed at Worthing Borough Council appeared first on Worthing Green Party.

“Thanks for asking me to speak and to everyone who has come here tonight to stand together and show that we reject racism, Islamophobia and hatred. We were all appalled that the far-right opportunistically used the shocking murders of three young girls in Southport to organise and target horrendous violence against Muslims and refugees so quickly and frighteningly, across the whole country. But just as quickly tens of thousands of people rose up and refused to be intimidated, to help protect and support communities facing those disgraceful attacks. And that overwhelmingly demonstrated that unity is more powerful than hate and it brought hope to everyone who had been feeling powerless or afraid.

But the threat hasn’t gone away. At the general election Reform with their anti-immigration position took over 7000 votes in both our Worthing constituencies. Their success everywhere makes the far-right bolder and Farage and his like keep on with their divisive and hateful rhetoric about small boats, homes for the English, two-tier policing, and other rubbish. And misinformation especially on social media is a very powerful force. So now the task of all of us here is to keep on countering those narratives and any attempts to spread fear and division in our communities. We need to tell different stories that celebrate and value diversity and inclusiveness and the enormous contribution to the social, cultural and community life of our country by migrants from all parts of the world, many of whom are Muslim.

In November 2021 Worthing Climate Action Network, SUTR and XR Worthing organised a candlelit vigil to honour the 27 people seeking sanctuary who drowned attempting to cross the Channel. This beautiful banner carries messages of solidarity and welcome from community groups and individuals in Worthing and calls for an end to violence targeted at refugees and for Safe and Legal Routes for asylum seekers. Anti-racism and immigration justice go hand-in-hand with climate justice, ever more so as people from the Global South, who are least responsible for climate breakdown, are forced to leave unliveable conditions and start a new life elsewhere. Ending racism has to be integral to our response to the climate and nature emergencies. We must create resilient communities that work together and want to support the most impacted. You are welcome to add your message to this banner tonight.

I’m one of two Green Party Worthing councillors and together with Worthing Community Independents, we’re going to bring a motion to Full Council in October to ask the council to commit to working with the community to send out a clear message, backed up with tangible actions, that our diverse communities are valued, we want them to feel safe and to hear their voices, and that we want Worthing to work towards becoming an anti-racist town and a Borough of Sanctuary where new arrivals feel safe and welcome. Currently 33% of all UK councils are in some way involved with the City of Sanctuary movement to create a culture of welcome, inclusion and empowerment, and we think Worthing should be one of them. We welcome input to shape the Motion from the amazing groups that have organised and support this evening and we hope you will come and support the debate and engage with the council in other ways to make your voices heard and show what you expect and want. In all our different ways and together let’s keep building a united movement to make our communities fairer, kinder and better for everyone.” 

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Long time Worthing resident Claire Hunt has been elected to Worthing Borough Council in the May elections, the second Green councillor to ever sit on the local council, and the first to be elected in Goring.

By the numbers: From a vote share of only 9.5% in 2021, the Greens received over half of the vote share in the ward in the May 2023 elections, defeating the conservatives by almost 500 votes. Claire Hunt received 1597 votes, the highest vote of any candidate across Worthing in these elections whilst Goring also had the highest turnout of any ward in the local elections at 46%.

Claire is a local campaigner actively involved with many community projects, including volunteering for Breathing Spaces, a Transition Town Worthing project. As lead volunteer she co-manages a community garden at Maybridge Keystone Centre, a wildflower site in Sompting, and Garden Club sessions at CREW Climate Resilience Centre. She also runs a volunteer community garden. Claire has actively campaigned against the development on Goring Gap and sewage pollution.

Claire says: “I’m delighted that we were able to do this for the dedicated Green voters who stayed loyal for so long, and deeply grateful to everyone who would normally vote for a different party for choosing to have a change in Goring. It’s thrilling to be part of the break-through that sees Greens gaining seats on loads more local councils where we didn’t have one.”

People want change from politics as usual and Greens are stepping up. The Greens have gained a record number of seats across the country in the recent local elections: 200 seats – the highest ever growth in the party – and 155 of those gains were from Conservatives.

The post Historic win for Greens in Worthing! First Green Councillor Elected in Goring-By-Sea appeared first on Worthing Green Party.

Claire Hunt, Worthing Borough Councillor for Goring, and Ian Davey, a local Green campaigner, have launched a petition to make Goring’s streets safer.

Goring Road, Mulberry Lane and Goring Way are residential streets with nearby schools, shops and a library. They form part of the local route to school for many children of all ages.

The current speed limits that switch between 30 and 40 mph and back again are confusing for drivers and contribute to speeding traffic, poor road safety and an intimidating environment for active travel. This is evidenced by more than 50 collisions between George V Avenue and Aldsworth Avenue over the last 5 years according to the WSCC Road Safety data.

We ask West Sussex County Council to adjust the speed limit on Goring Road and Goring Way to a consistent 30mph, This will make the roads safer for everyone.

SIGN NOW.

The post Petition to West Sussex County Council: Reduce the speed limit on the 40mph sections of Goring Road and Goring Way to 30mph appeared first on Worthing Green Party.

WE DID IT. 

Thanks to your hard work, support and votes, there is now a Green voice on Worthing Borough Council. Claire Hunt has been elected as a local councillor for Goring Ward. 

Claire says: “I’m overwhelmed by the result today! I’m delighted that we were able to do this for the dedicated Green voters who stayed loyal for so long, and deeply grateful to everyone who would normally vote for a different party for choosing to have a change in Goring. Now I’m looking forward to working with everyone to maintain what’s good about Goring and to fix what could be better.”

Let’s keep this going. 

Full election details, and more about Claire and her priorities as a local councillor, will be forthcoming. 

GREENS DO WIN IN WORTHING. 

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To bring attention to the appalling sewage overflows that could be harming the seafront (and our health), Worthing Green Party Goring candidate Claire Hunt recently helped organise a spoof ceremony to unveil a satirical Blue Plaque. Local families and beach goers gathered to hear about the government’s ongoing failure to tighten laws that would make profit-hungry water companies, including Southern Water, clean up their act.

Claire says: “The Government lets the polluters carry on treating the ocean like a toilet. A Goring resident told us they can smell raw sewage by the outflow pipe near Aldsworth Avenue. Southern Water won’t stop its dirty habits unless we show them we won’t stand for it. This is just the beginning, so do contact me if you want to get your voice heard”.

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Local residents were very concerned that the council was planning to build even more beach huts in Goring. They contacted the Worthing Greens who were delighted to support the local campaign and help secure a “No more beach huts” pledge from the Council.

Local campaigner Claire Hunt says: “Sea views are already patchy from the seafront, filling in the few remaining gaps was a step too far. We were glad to step in and do something to help.”

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