MEP to give Headstrong lecture

Dr Caroline Lucas, the radical Member of the European Parliament for the South East region and one of Britain's first Green MEPs, will be speaking in Lewes next Friday.

A guest of the Tom Paine Project a celebration of the life and works of 18th century radical thinker, pamphleteer and one-time Lewes resident Dr Lucas will bring her unique perspective on globalisation, the environment, and the use and abuse of power to the town.

She will use the platform to pronounce on national parks status, which has recently been recommended for Downs around Lewes. Her Headstrong lunchtime lecture will take place from 12.30pm to 2pm in the Corn Exchange at Lewes Town Hall, and admission is free.

Dr Lucas' visit to Lewes will be used to mark the launch of the 2002 Tom Paine Project festival. The 'Revolution to Revolution' festival runs from July 4-14, from American Independence to Bastille day, to mark Paine's direct and ideological role in both the US and French revolutions in the late 18th Century. The theme of the 2002 festival is globalisation and will include appearances in Lewes by feminist philosopher Germaine Greer and radical broadcaster, writer and comedian Jeremy Hardy.

Derek Norcross, chairman of the Tom Paine Project, will host the event and unveil further details of the 2002 festival.

He commented: 'Tom Paine was a great visionary and is Britain's most significant political thinker, but history has airbrushed him from his rightful place. What he said and wrote on democracy, citizenship, women's rights, the environment and the monarchy are as relevant today as they were 200 years ago. We are delighted to welcome Caroline to this event and are confident that she will inform, challenge and entertain us in a dangerously radical way, one which Tom Paine would both recognise and applaud.'

Dr Lucas has written extensively on trade issues and is an acknowledged expert on globalisation. She is an advisory board member of the 'Protect the Local, Globally' think tank and of New Europe, the group campaigning against Britain joining the Euro. She has a long history with CND and was an active member of the Snowball campaign against US bases. You can visit the Tom Paine Project online at www.tompainelewes.org.uk