11 April 2022

Introducing Soody Kim your Green candidate for Harrow on the Hill

I have been a Harrow resident for over 30 years, living in both Wealdstone and Belmont.  Trained as a scientist, I spent much of my early working life working in the IT industry. I then changed direction and set up a photography business, where I focussed primarily on sports photography, mainly disability sports. For the last few years I have also been part of a gardening team, working around North and West London. Looking at using green solutions where possible, with battery powered tools rather than petrol.

In the corporate world I was heavily involved in installing the first major home working system in the company, of which I was a trialist and subsequently became a home worker. This system allowed the company to give more employees the opportunity to work from home, reducing the amount of commuting and the number of old, inefficient energy usage buildings.

I am passionate about minimising the negative impact we have on the planet as well as improving the quality of life of communities on both a local and wider scale. I am actively involved in reducing my negative impact, using public transport, walking or cycling where possible. I have also installed solar panels and no longer using gas. Planning to upgrade to even more green solutions. I am a keen recycler, getting items that need a tweak to work again via networks such as freecycle and freegle, repairing them and either using myself or offering them on.

I have watched with growing dispair at how both central and local government have been unable to properly address the upcoming climate emergency with proper energy strategies that can integrate efficiently with the wider needs of our communities. I am sick of watching the two main parties just take pot-shots at each other without dealing effectively with the issues that face us. They have no real concept of working together for the better good. Not making informed decisions and pandering to lobbyists has left the country in a position where we are rapidly heading to energy shortages due to increasing costs. I am a realist that appreciates the need to ensure we budget appropriately to fund what is needed and balance this with all the other services that our communities require. No vanity projects, no building projects where the contractors do not implement the best efficiency technologies. We do not want to leave a mess that future generations have to deal with.

I have been involved with discussions with Harrow council about their climate emergency plans and am keen to ensure they have a coherent strategy that integrates with all the services they offer in a cost-effective manner. I am also keen on seeing the council ensure it does not underfund key local health services such as The Bridge mental health facility. I also want to see a better way of using recycling facilities as part of a coherent waste disposal strategy that will help to better deal with all the fly tipping we see ruining the place we call home.

Green party councillors are already adding value in councils around the country, holding the big parties to account on a number of fronts. Even one Green councillor has shown to make a difference. We live in a democracy so those governing us should represent as many of us as possible. 

Soody Kim

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