There had to be an EGM to delay the AGM until after the General Election &, as a result of his relatively successful Mayor of London campaign, some members encouraged Ken to 'declare' for the presidency. Just the type of venture that would appeal to someone now experienced in using the Internet, he put up a web site. Only about 60 people have so far 'nominated' him but there is plenty of time & other political events have intervened. This is essentially, another public education string to Republic's bow. Unfortunately, our administrative genius suffered a job change, a house move, a divorce & cancer all at the same time & we had to divide the work among five of us. Ken is now the Treasurer, an extra job he did not really need. This year's Republic AGM was the best yet, with several good speakers & Ken advertised his president campaign. Here is Stephen Haseler, the Chair, addressing the AGM.

Ken attended the February Council meeting as a full member for the first time since 1991 but the June date was moved to during his mountain trip because of Pam's maternity leave, during which, nothing seemed to happen. It is unfortunate that the organisation depends so much on its admittedly charismatic Director. There was an emergency in September, because of the threat of Identity Cards, which the Charter strongly opposes & the press took little notice. However, the government did back down.

There was little excitement for or generated by, this year's election, demonstrated by the pathetic turn-out. This was partly the Tories fault, for not putting up a fight & partly Blair's, for failing to enthuse the activists, whom he seems to regard as a nuisance. Ken was looking forward to a great row at the conference because of the authoritarian Jack Straw's unmandated enthusiasm for Bush's stupid Star Wars scheme but the September 11th affair muted all criticism. But Bush is the biggest menace on the Planet at the moment, not just tearing up the CND-type treaties but failing to ratify Kyoto before he moronically stumbled into a war. And all this after cheating his way into a Presidency he is too dim to sustain.

It is not very easy to find effective ways to campaign for this but we have a home made truck sticker saying 'Euro now!' & are pointing out the fact that Euros will be circulating in this country from January 1st 2002, whatever the profiteers against it say or do. Ken is inputting to the 'Britain in Europe' campaign as best he can & stirring things up locally.

Owing to the lack of Americans, the theatre project may be in jeopardy, this being the worst year for the West End for ages. Avis on the Islington Society Planning, Transport & Environment Committee & the Angel Association Committee.

Run by Virginia in memory of her schizophrenic son, this at last received some funding and there are regular meetings at the Cross Street Baptist Church plus trips for sufferers & carers. We go with Richard & this is turning out to be a successful organisation. Richard gave a talk.