Introduction & Notice of Intention to Stand for Election in Rushen
Isle of Man General Election – 22nd September 2016
Dear Resident of Rushen,
I have to decided to stand for election to the House of Keys in September, because I believe we have the chance to create a society where all people feel engaged, empowered, valued and can live in peace with their surroundings. For far too long we have had an unfair playing field for businesses, where large corporations dominate our markets with their products and make no other contributions to our society and where good ideas are defeated by the power of big businesses. I am standing in the election because our travel links are a monopoly and they advertise in the papers and tell us how great the service is. I am stepping up because we do not have enough staff to fill our hospitals. I am stepping up because our society should not be defined by the car you drive or the house you live in. I am stepping up because government is not a transparent organisation in its decision making process or in the contracts it makes. I am stepping up because it is not a question on how we treat the elderly in society, but that we will look after them because we are a caring, engaging society. I am stepping up because we fail our creative & tourism industries by not supporting them to export their products. I am stepping up because education is the future of a sustainable society. I am stepping up because we don’t have enough housing that is affordable, yet there is always room for one more Mansion. I stepping up because for far too long we have been told there is no money. We are a society where everyone makes a contribution in proportion to their ability. Where opportunities exist for disabled, and the vulnerable. Where equal pay and transparency in our dealings is available to all. I am stepping up because for our lives to have meaning the expression that ‘we are all in it together’ has to be taken back and reclaimed by each and every one of us.
My full Manifesto will be sent shortly before the election, if you are not registered to vote or are unsure if you are, please contact me for clarification. I will be calling at every house in the Rushen Constituency over the next month. If I happened to miss you. I am usually available from 10am to 12pm most days except Sunday by visiting Ken Quine’s in Port Erin.
If you have any questions or wish to arrange a private meeting or help my election campaign in any way please do not hesitate to contact myself.
Very best regards,
Leo
Please Contact Leo Cussons, Ken Quine’s, 15 Station road, Rushen IM9 6AE. Tel : 406750 – Mobile
Website : www.leocussons.com Email Available on : Linkedin & Twitter:@leocussons
Profile Background
Born in Glen Maye in 1971, I have been raised on the island studying at the Isle of Man Technical College. I have a LLB (Hons) in Law from Lancaster University and a Legal Practice Certificate from Manchester Metropolitan University. I have set up several businesses over the years, including an environmental friendly industrial cleaning business, Website design and I am currently the proprietor of Ken Quine’s hardware shop in Port Erin. I have lived for ten years in the Netherlands working as an ERP computer consultant before I returned to the island in 2004. I have two children and I live with my partner.
Sustainability
So a few weeks ago I went along to talk by Jason Lewis who is the first person to circumnavigate the world using only his man powered devices. It took him 13 years to do it, he spent a hundred and 13 days crossing the Atlantic in little more than a large sealed kayak. In world where it possible to fly London to New York in a few hours why would he do it. Maybe it is not about the speed but about the Journey. His trip is something so unique most of us/all of us will never experience it. So what did he learn from his trip. Well he now gives talks/training on sustainability.
After this talk I took the decision that my Business would no longer stock polystyrene cups or plates. On Jason travels he came across island’s where this sort waste was washing up on the beaches. Business can do more I am always surprised that more people do not use rechargeable batteries, Led lighting where there are considerable savings to be made. We always make a point of getting Eco friendly solutions into the shop and staff are trained to explain the difference in the products.
I would go one step further though and encourage customers or readers of this to write/email their local politician to encourage a ban on such products being sold at all. While they are cheaper in the long-term they enormously harmful for future generations use of the environment. The Isle of Man is long way behind recycling compared to the UK and the UK is far beyond Europe.
JASON LEWIS is
recognized by Guinness World Records as the first person to circumnavigate the Earth without using motors or sails – ie, walking, cycling, skating across land, and kayaking, swimming, rowing, and pedalling a boat across the rivers, seas, and oceans.
Music to Play
In Norway they have been for the last couple of years promoting an idea where the government pays local bands to perform live for their first three gigs in one year.
The effect of this on Norwegian society is immense. One it encourages the creative industry in Norway. Oslo is already known as a center of excellence in design and creative arts. The second effect is that it involves anyone that is interested in playing or forming band. From youngster into rap music to the elderly into classical. As music is one of the unknown sciences, the emotional development of a society and the result of such a move is more than interesting. On a practical level it encourages and gives the youth a chance of a high form of development and learning that is open to all. As music is the bedrock of social gatherings from Weddings, Births through to Funerals. Of course critics would argue that it can be misused as a scam to get money from the state. Given the number of mis-managed government projects and corruption where there is no benefit, the risk of this in comparison would seem to be low.
Where governments and people start to question economic imperatives of the their society. The wish to do something that can have a direct effect upon the quality of society, should be encouraged.