1. London and UK

Climate change
Jean was the Green speaker on the panel at the international climate change conference at LSE. She spoke alongside Norman Baker, Mark Lynas and others. Jean participated in a photo stunt at Deptford's Dog and Bell pub organised by Lewisham and Greenwich FoE to advertise their climate change pub quiz. 

Jean has produced a new leaflet on climate change, focusing on the work of the Greens in the European Parliament and a leaflet based on her Hothouses report, linking the issues of housing and climate change. They can be accessed at http://www.jeanlambertmep.org.uk/DocumentStore/Climate%20low%20res_final.pdf and http://www.jeanlambertmep.org.uk/DocumentStore/finalhothouses.pdf. Free paper copies are available from the London office on request.

Along with fellow UK Green MEP, Caroline Lucas, Jean published a report on the climate change impact of the European Parliament using both Brussels and Strasbourg. The report is available from the Greens-EFA website.

Jean joined the organisation Platform at their annual meeting on 'Untangling the Carbon Web', looking at the oil industry in the context of tackling climate change.

**Jean's climate change event - 6.15pm, Thursday 5 July, London School of Economics**
Jean is hosting an event on climate change, which will include a presentation by Lance Simmens from Al Gore's Climate Project. Places are still available, but you will need to make a reservation via jeanlambert@greenmeps.org.uk if you would like to attend.

Flood protection. Jean was filmed by the Environment Agency for a film about their work on the Floods Directive, which Jean has been involved with.

Unions and migrant workers rights
Jean spoke at the Strangers Into Citizens rally at Trafalgar Square on the May Bank Holiday. The event highlighted the need for migrants to be welcomed and have their rights respected and to offer a possible regularisation process. Participation was high, and included a range of church groups and unions. Jean met with organisers from the Transport and General Workers Union ahead of the rally, to discuss key migrants rights issues, and the 'justice for cleaners' campaign.

Remploy closures. Jean has been opposing these and has signed the campaign petition. The GMB union has been in contact with Jean over the issue.

Fair trade. Waltham Forest recently became a Fair Trade Borough, following a campaign involving many local Greens. Jean gave the closing address at the public event in Leyton, celebrating the Fair Trade status. She called for all boroughs to attain Fair Trade status, and for all trade to ultimately be on a fair trade basis.

LGBT issues. Following Poland's plan to prohibit discussion and materials dealing with homosexuality in education, Jean called for it to uphold EU anti-discrimination rules. Following a Green initiative, the Civil Liberties (LIBE) Committee, on which Jean sits, will continue to scrutinise developments in Poland and assess their consistency with EU rules. A debate on homophobia in Europe was held in the European Parliament in April on the initiative of the Greens/EFA group, and a resolution was adopted by Parliament, calling on the Commission to take Member States to court if they breach EU anti-discrimination obligations.

Following the banning and crackdown on Moscow Pride, Jean wrote to the Russian authorities and has condemned Russia's homophobia and abuse of human rights.

Refugees and asylum. The London Churches Refugee Fund was launched in June. Jean participated in the central London launch at Westminster Abbey. Jean raised particular concerns with the Home Office regarding their policy of returning asylum seekers to the Sudan, which puts them in danger and is counter to UN recommendations.

Age and pensions. Jean attended the 'Pensions not poverty' launch of Help the Aged/HelpAge International in central London.

Human rights and international issues. Jean supported an Amnesty International fundraising event in Blackheath with a photo-op. She continues to actively support a wide range of human rights issues. Jean spoke at a parliamentary event in the House of Lords on Bangladesh. (As a member of the South Asia SAARC delegation, Bangladesh is one of the countries Jean covers in her parliamentary work.) The event focused on the role of the caretaker government, reforms, and human rights in Bangladesh.

In Lambeth, Jean contributed to an event organised by Cageprisoners, 'Shaker Aamer, Detainee 239: A South London Man in Guantanamo'. The event marked 2000 days of the existence of Guantanamo Bay and the ongoing imprisonment of Shaker and others. Jean continues to call for the closure of Guantanamo Bay.

200th Anniversary of the abolition of slavery. In Southwark Jean participated in a cross community dialogue on the legacy of slavery.

Animal rights. Jean has written to the Commission urging that the EU ban on battery cages to kept in place. It is due to be come into force in 2012, but it risks being undermined. Jean is supporting the Compassion in World Farming campaign. Jean has signed a number of Written Declaration on animal rights, including a recent call to end all EU primate research. Following concerns from her constituents, Jean raised the issue of the possible slaughter of Shambo, the sacred bull, with the Wales Assembly Minister taking the decision.

William Morris Gallery. In Waltham Forest, Jean joined a protest event against cuts to the William Morris Gallery and Vestry House Museum.

Jean has attended a number of green fairs and other cultural events in London, including the London Pride event and Redbridge Green Fair. She will be attending the RISE anti-racism festival in Finsbury Park and the Waltham Forest Green Fair.

Education and European issues. Jean spoke to St Dunstan's College Political Society about Green and European politics. Jean still has copies of her EU4U! dvd, which explores the European Parliament, green issues and the opportunities for young people to have their say. Contact Jean's office for free copies.

Constituents' concerns
Jean's constituents have been raising concerns about homophobia in Poland and the situations in Darfur and Palestine. Other concerns have included the call for a moratorium on the Biofuels Directive.

 2. Brussels and Beyond

European Network of Anti Racism (ENAR)
As Vice President of the anti-racism intergroup, Jean hosted an ENAR lunch seminar on policy coherence in managing integration: the case of irregular migration & employment. This meeting looked at the proposal for an EU Directive providing for sanctions against employers of third-country nationals who are irregularly staying or working in breach of their residence status.

Age Inter-group
Jean hosted a second intergroup seminar later in the month when, as Co President of the AGE intergroup, Jean chaired a presentation of the results of the AGE/inc project on the 2006 National Action Plans (NAPs) on Social Inclusion. 

Climate Change
Natural England came to the Parliament in June to put on a debate on the EU’s climate change adaptation policy. This event, co-hosted by Jean, was an opportunity to discuss issues likely to be raised in the European Commission’s forthcoming Green Paper on climate change and the EU’s
options for tackling it.

Visitor Group
Jean sponsored a group visit from Kings College London (School of Law). The Group was given a one hour talk by the European Parliament Visitor Service and then had a question and answer session with Jean at which there was a discussion about the "greening" of politics in the UK.

London Councils Equality event
On the occasion of the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All, Jean spoke at this meeting which aimed to promote London boroughs’ work to create more inclusive and fairer communities and to explore the role of local authorities in promoting equal opportunities.

Youth Press
Jean was invited to take part in the European Youth Media Days which involved 270 young media producers from all 27 EU-member states. Jean attended a workshop on the relationship between the media and the institutions. As such she was interviewed and questioned by the participants.

Migration Events
Jean spoke at several external events including the European Programme for Integration and Migration conference panel on “The social integration of irregular migrants”. Jean also gave the closing speech at the Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants conference on healthcare.

Darfur
Having recommended him as a speaker to the Group, Jean was delighted to see that Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu was invited to attend the Conference of Presidents debate on Darfur along with fellow Nobel Prize winner Jody Williams. Jean attended the meeting at which Arch Bishop Tutu called for unimpeded access into Darfur both for a UN force and for humanitarian aid as well as disarmament of the Janjaweed militia.

Strasbourg
As the Green Group "shadow" on this issue, during the last Strasbourg Session, Jean attended several meetings to negotiate on current European Parliament Reports relating to the return of migrants, legal migration and the fight against illegal migrants. Jean is keen to ensure that fair treatment prevails when these reports reach the vote stage in Plenary.

Supplementary Pensions Debate
Jean spoke in Plenary ahead of this vote which watered down a Commission proposal to introduce a common set of rules that would help protect pensions and allow workers to transfer their retirement savings from one job to another. Moving pensions with jobs is banned in some countries, including Spain and Finland. In the debate Jean said "People should not have their contribution to pensions left like drying pieces of salami when they move jobs."

External Events
Jean took part in The Employment Committee Delegation visit to Portugal ahead of the Portuguese Presidency. She also attended the ETUC Congress in Seville which addressed a wide range of issues from flexicurity, the minimum wage and collective bargaining to the Lisbon Strategy and sustainable development.

 3. Comment on Current Affairs

Speaking to MEPs about EU migration policy following the unwillingness of certain countries to rescue people stranded in the Mediterranean:

"We are told that the Law of the Sea is clear: people in distress should be rescued regardless of their status. I am absolutely certain that had those people picture in our media, been cruise passengers, we would not have seen the procrastination over hours or the reluctance of captains to find them and take them on board. - not only because the lines of responsibility would have been clearer. Let us ensure that these recent events, which have shown the lack of commitment to delivering on our much vaunted European values, activate our Member State Governments to fulfil our obligations under international law and EU agreements."

 4. Dates for the diary

3 July, Basic (Citizens) Income Conference, Brussels
5 July, Climate Change presentation - Jean Lambert and Lance Simmens, 6.15pm, LSE
7 July, Live Earth, Wembley Stadium
9 July, London Older People's Assembly, City Hall
10-11 July, Global Forum on Migration and Development, Brussels
15 July, RISE Anti-racism festival, Finsbury Park
19 July, EU Year of Equal Opportunities For All - London regional event, Oval
20-21 July, Association of Green Councillors Conference, London
22 July, Waltham Forest Green Fair, Aveling Park, Walthamstow