On American Independence Day, I am writing from Menwith Hill, home to a vast US weapons base which has been the focus of an extensive peace campaign for many years. During this evening’s vigil we will be calling for Independence FROM America and speaking out against the US’s illegitimate ‘occupation’ of a part of Yorkshire.

On the train journey up here, I found time to write a letter to the Guardian urging my fellow MEPs to oppose the EU’s 10% agrofuel targets. The case against them has been strengthened further by a leaked World Bank report about the link with food security and rising prices. So far, only Greens have consistently opposed the target and voting on this aspect of the Renewable Energy Directive in the autumn will be a test of just how green the others parties have turned.

Over 500 people took part in a demonstration today to keep up the pressure for legislation banning imports of seal furs and other products into Europe. I joined several other speakers in calling on the European Commission to listen to citizens and step up efforts to introduce a ban.

I am excited to be in the Green Fields this afternoon debating whether or not the Tories are really Green (no!) and answering questions about agrofuels. Groovy Movie’s solar powered cinema is a joy to behold and the sun is out.. …for now.

I am delighted that our Green Party candidate in Henley, Mark Stevenson, beat the Labour Party into a shameful 5th place. Voters have sent a strong message that Henley wants its local economy and environment protected. It should be a warning to anyone thinking of threatening the area’s green belt, post offices, farmers’ markets, local shops or public services.

Just a few hours ago Gordon Brown made his announcement about the government’s long awaited renewable energy strategy. It contains some positive news - support for feed in tarriffs, for example, (although Greens also want them applied  to large scale facilities) and for home insulation (although this could be made available to everyone for free if we imposed a windfall tax on the oil companies). However, it’s all a bit of anti-climax because, when you look beyond the targets and promises, the only thing that’s actually happening is yet another government consultation. So it  will be at least 9 months before we see any action!  What exactly are they waiting for - the lights to go off ?

Spoke today at a Royal Society for Medicine conference about food safety and food miles. There seemed to be widespread recognition that international trade cannot deliver food security and that the intensive nature of current food production and agriculture methods increase the risks posed by disease. Both an increasing number of experts and ordinary members of the public recognise that we need to focus on local, sustainable organic food. Yet the government’s latest offering is to champion the very opposite -  genetic modification. Not only is this ecologically disastrous, it is also treating consumers like idiots who must surely have forgotten why they were so opposed to the technology last time round!

In plenary today an important Green amendment to the Electricity Directive failed to win support from Conservatives MEPs. Why is this particularly noteworthy? Well, the amendment was seeking to establish emission performance standards for new power stations - a measure that David Cameron advocated in his ‘landmark’ speech on the environment earlier this week. Shame there is such a huge gulf between the talk and the walk! For the record, Labour MEPs also opposed the amendment.

Later this week the EU heads of state are meeting to discuss upgrading Europe’s relationship with Israel. Given that the Israeli government has consistently breached the human rights clauses of the current EU-Israel Association Agreement,  I am strongly opposed to such a move and urgently emailed the Foreign Secretary about this today.

Votes and meetings in the Strasbourg parliament  have kept me occupied all day. There was a disappointing plenary result on the EU’s Waste Framework Directive, which could have been a real opportunity to put the environment at the heart of policy on waste but instead fell far short. Also, we eagerly await a vote on the electricity market, as the Greens have been trying to push through an amendment to impose an emissions ceiling on new power stations. This could have considerable implications for coal fired power stations such as Kingsnorth….

Plus tomorrow is the deadline for MPs to sign the EDM 1395 which calls for lapdance clubs to be relicensed as Sex Encounter Establishments, so I will be watching to see how successful the outcome proves.

This morning I visited Patcham House School in my constituency. They have just won second place in a regional award for sustainable schools and I was shown around by pupils justifiably pleased of their achievements. What is really exciting about the work being done at Patcham is that it encompasses social issues as well as environmental ones and students genuinely participate in decision making.

Later in the day I took part in an online interview with The Argus, Brighton and Hove’s main local paper, answering questions from constituents about everything from the extensive travelling MEPs have to do, to green taxes.

I also keep checking the news to find out the result of the Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty… at the moment it looks like a victory for the ‘NO’ campaign.