It’s time to take action against fuel poverty and energy company profiteering. On the 3rd of May, join the Climate Justice Collective and take to the streets of London to stand up against the Big Six.

Get in touch with Tidal if you’d like to travel down from Leeds: info[at]leedstidal.org

We’re getting the megabus down on Wednesday 2nd May at 13.30 and returning on Thursday 3rd at 18.00. Come along!

info from the Climate Justice Collective:

THE IDEA:
Climate Justice Collective takes to the streets to block the energy monopoly going on behind closed doors at the UK Energy Summit. Companies from the Big Six including EDF, Npower, EON and Scottish Power, as well as oil giants like Shell and BP are conspiring with government to line their pockets at the cost of climate crisis and millions of people locked in fuel poverty. The Big Six energy companies are an obstacle to a democratic energy system that could keep the sea levels down and get the heating on in fuel poverty homes. We want a socialised grid not a corporate monopoly – the UK Energy Summit cannot go ahead!

THE PLAN:
Be in Central London on Thursday 3rd May.

Be ready to go at 11am.

Keep an eye out on our Twitter (@CJ_Collective) for updates on meeting points and live and instant action plans.

UK Energy Summit website: http://www.economistconferences.co.uk/event/uk-energy-summit-2012/5964

THE REASONS:

1. People not profit
This conference is all about the people who should NOT be making decisions about our energy. It is about corporate elites, of which the government is now just one, colluding to make money, impose austerity, keep control and retain their privilege. We’re here to say that we see a different possibility: a world where people come first. We say that the needs of communities and the environment come before the needs of corporations.

This conference is an attempt to keep the status quo of high energy prices, soaring profits, dependant consumers, growing climate insecurity and disaster capitalism. This conference is a classic 1% stitch up. This conference is the wrong people asking the wrong questions and proposing the wrong solutions.

2. Climate justice
Climate change is already affecting millions of people around the world, as weather patterns become more unpredictable and natural disasters become more frequent and severe.

The self-serving agendas of rich corporations and governments, as represented in the UK Energy Summit, perpetuate and exacerbate climate change, whilst preventing any meaningful attempts to stop it, and those least responsible for causing the crisis suffer most as a result of it.

3. Energy democracy
This summit exemplifies how putting profit before people will only cause ongoing chaos. There is a positive solution to these problems, and it is a community-controlled energy system.

Together, we can organize a new, democratic, decentralised, social and renewable energy system. Because access to clean energy is a right, not a commodity. Clean energy and a liveable world for all are possible if energy is taken out of corporate control.

For more info on the Big Six Energy Bash: www.climatejusticecollective.org

To find out about Fuel Poverty in Leeds see http://www.leedstidal.org/initiatives/fuel-poverty-campaign/

email Tidal (info[at]leedstidal.org) if you’d like to join a group traveling down from Leeds

Thursday 19th-Monday 23rd & Saturday 28th-Monday 30th April | All day | nr Hebden Bridge

For more info, or to let them know you’re coming call 07733 784795. Note, this number may not be the number to call on the day – please call in advance if you can.

For more info on Treespnsibility: http://www.treesponsibility.com/

On Thursday 3rd May, join the Climate Justice Collective and take to the streets to protest against profiteering by the Big Six energy companies.

*There will be a group travelling down from Leeds, getting the megabus at 1.30pm on 2nd May, returning 6m on 3rd May. Email info[at]leedstidal.org for more info*

THE IDEA:
=======================
Climate Justice Collective takes to the streets to block the energy monopoly going on behind closed doors at the UK Energy Summit. Companies from the Big Six including EDF, Npower, EON and Scottish Power, as well as oil giants like Shell and BP are conspiring with government to line their pockets at the cost of climate crisis and millions of people locked in fuel poverty. The Big Six energy companies are an obstacle to a democratic energy system that could keep the sea levels down and get the heating on in fuel poverty homes. We want a socialised grid not a corporate monopoly – the UK Energy Summit cannot go ahead!

http://climatejusticecollective.org/

THE PLAN:
========================
Be in Central London on Thursday 3rd May.

Be ready to go at 11am.

Keep an eye out on our Twitter (@CJ_Collective) for updates on meeting points and live and instant action plans.

UK Energy Summit website: http://www.economistconferences.co.uk/event/uk-energy-summit-2012/5964

THE REASONS:
========================

1. People not profit
————————–
This conference is all about the people who should NOT be making decisions about our energy. It is about corporate elites, of which the government is now just one, colluding to make money, impose austerity, keep control and retain their privilege. We’re here to say that we see a different possibility: a world where people come first. We say that the needs of communities and the environment come before the needs of corporations.

This conference is an attempt to keep the status quo of high energy prices, soaring profits, dependant consumers, growing climate insecurity and disaster capitalism. This conference is a classic 1% stitch up. This conference is the wrong people asking the wrong questions and proposing the wrong solutions.

2. Climate justice
————————–

Climate change is already affecting millions of people around the world, as weather patterns become more unpredictable and natural disasters become more frequent and severe.

The self-serving agendas of rich corporations and governments, as represented in the UK Energy Summit, perpetuate and exacerbate climate change, whilst preventing any meaningful attempts to stop it, and those least responsible for causing the crisis suffer most as a result of it.

3. Energy democracy
————————–

This summit exemplifies how putting profit before people will only cause ongoing chaos. There is a positive solution to these problems, and it is a community-controlled energy system.

Together, we can organize a new, democratic, decentralised, social and renewable energy system. Because access to clean energy is a right, not a commodity. Clean energy and a liveable world for all are possible if energy is taken out of corporate control.

Why: The Big Six energy companies:  British Gas, EDF, E.ON, RWE Npower, Scottish & Southern and Scottish Power control 99% of our energy supply –  making obscene profits from burning fossil fuels, trashing the planet and pushing people into fuel poverty.

On the 23rd of February, the EU will vote on the EU Fuel Quality Directive. This would effectively ban Tar Sands from the EU, but the UK is opposing it and is actively lobbying other countries to vote against the measure (under pressure from Canadian lobbying).

What can you do about it?

Stop Climate Chaos and People & Planet are targeting Norman Baker and Nick Clegg to support this crucial legislation.

On February 17th they want to get as many emails as possible sent to Nick Clegg and Norman Baker. They’ve made it easy for you by creating a model email on their website:

http://www.stopclimatechaos.org/tar-sands-action
You could try tweeting to get all your friends, family and followers on board too.

Sample tweet: Join a new push to keep dirty #tarsands oil out of Europe – crucial vote next week http://ow.ly/95ePO

On February  20th try tweeting Nick Clegg directly to ask him to back the legislation.
For more info and a direct link to the P&P action:
http://peopleandplanet.org/tarsands/takeaction/eu-ban
http://peopleandplanet.org/news/tar-sands-ban-push

Date: 27th January
Time: 10AM
Location: To be disclosed, meet outside Leeds City Museum
What? Responding to a national call to action by Fuel Poverty Action to warm ourselves up this winter!

It’s January. It’s freezing. Christmas emptied the coffers and now the bills are starting to bite. As the Big Six energy companies rake in profits of 700% and the government freezes the fuel allowance, it’s time to tell the Big Six and the government that we’ve had enough!

Fuel poverty is a public issue, not a private pain. One in four families in the UK is shivering, out of sight, behind closed doors. The government and energy companies may want to keep it this way, but we say this can’t go on.

In the UK, six companies are deciding how 99% of our energy is sourced, produced and priced. Under this monopoly, we have no say in these decisions, despite them having a major effect on our health and our climate.

From 27th to 29th January Leeds Fuel Poverty Action is joining up with other groups all over the country to heat things up!

We’re calling for people to come out of their cold homes and into the warm offices of the Big Six: E.ON, EDF, Scottish Power, Scottish and Southern, Centrica (British Gas), and Npower.

We can also warm-up at the town halls and housing associations, which are putting profit and cuts before people’s welfare.

Bearing flasks of tea and our own experiences of landlords that won’t listen, unaffordable bills, tuition fees, and debts, as well as cuts in services, benefits and working conditions, our winter warm-ups will be taking place wherever cuts are biting and warm spaces look inviting.

This is a call to anti-cuts groups, local youth and pensioner organisations, and anyone suffering in the cold this winter because they can’t afford the heating.

We can find ways forward, collectively, by making ourselves heard by the government and the energy companies. But what do we demand? Some things are clear: Decent shelter and warmth are a right, not a privilege. We should all have well insulated, warm homes and affordable bills that don’t make us choose between eating and heating. But how do we achieve this? What alternatives are there to a corporate controlled energy industry? How do we shift to sustainable, renewable energy? As we Warm-up we’ll be discussing these important questions and forming a plan to achieve it, come and join us!

Stop shivering in silence, let’s warm-up together!

For more information, get in touch with Jon at jon.owen[at]leedstidal.org

Fuel Poverty Action marching to the 'die-in' 22nd November 2011

Key details
Date: Saturday 10th December
Time: Meet at 12 midday
Place: Leeds City Hall

What’s this all about?

As the UN climate change talks and COP are currently taking place in Durban, South Africa, one thing politicans never agree on is how to fill the $100 billion proposed to fill the climate fund.

One solution is a Robin Hood Tax or Financial Transactions Tax.

A Robin Hood Tax is a 0.05% tax on international bankers transactions that would create $400 billion globally a year to help fight climate change and poverty in the UK and in developing countries- there is a lot of information about the Robin Hood Tax on the website: http://robinhoodtax.org/

Many countries already support this solution; France, Brazil, South Africa, for example, as well as some key figures, such as Bill Gates and the Archbishop of Canterbury. This is making David Cameron look increasingly isolated in his rejection of the idea. It is a vital time to be campaigning about the RHT and a petition of 80,000 signatures that was sent into David Cameron was recently mentioned on Question Time.

The plan is to get as many people as possible dressed up as Robin Hood in Leeds city centre on Saturday 10th December from 12pm. We will be meeting on the steps at Leeds City Hall at 12pm for a briefing and then we will march through the city centre using a pre agreed route, carrying a large banner, signs, handing out flyers and badges and using megaphones. Anyone wishing to join the march is encouraged to dress up as Robin Hood, however, there will be about 8 robin hood hats and lots of green jumpers available to lend so if people could just try and wear green then that would be great. There will also be posters on sticks for people to carry.

Join the facebook group to get updates.

If you’re coming along you are very welcome to just turn up, but it would be helpful to know numbers. So get in touch with Kathryn Roche on 07929189339 to let her know you’re coming.

See you there!

On Tuesday 22nd November the the statistics for ‘excess winter deaths’ are being published. These are the stats that show how many more people died last winter as a direct result of being cold in their homes. We think it’s completely unacceptable that over 200 people die each day during the winter months from cold when we have the means to stop it [1].

Moreover, the government seems inclined to decimate funding from all renewable energy projects that may be able to solve the problem [2], and seems content to let the so-called ‘Big Six’ energy companies make a real killing – this year their profits rose 733% per customer! [3] How is it that as the world’s sixth largest economy, we can’t find the funds to provide for one of the most fundamental of human needs, the need for warmth? With 1 in 5 private tenants in Leeds already living in fuel poverty [4], we think it’s time to take action to rise the profile of what is, in all senses of the word, one of the most vital issues facing us, our neighbours, and our communities.

We cannot let this happen again this winter!

At 1pm on Tuesday 22nd November we are going to say enough is enough by holding a die-in in or around one of Leeds’ more opulent shopping centres to draw attention to the absurdity that in a country of such spectacular wealth, people still die from cold homes while the government dismantles any sensible attempt to tackle the issue.

Come along at 12.15 at Occupy Leeds in City Square for a quick briefing and discussion before heading over to the action location for a 1pm start. PROPS: Bring blankets, hot water bottles, flasks, anything that you would use to keep warm on a cold winter’s night at home. Email info[at]leedstidal.org if you have any questions or to be updated with any further plans.

[1] http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/oct/22/older-people-cold-energy-bills?INTCMP=SRCH and http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011/oct/19/fuel-poverty-2700-victims-winter)

[2]http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011/nov/11/solar-panels-feed-in-tariff-halved?INTCMP=SRCH and http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/briefings/solar_cuts_guide.pdf

[3] http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011/oct/14/energy-firms-profits-rise-ofgem?INTCMP=SRCH

[4] http://www.leeds.nhs.uk/Your-health/fuel-poverty.htm

On Friday 11th November tents sprung into action and City Square in Leeds was occupied. Since then there has been a flurry of activity setting up and running the camp, sparking debate on capitalism and global change. This action joins Leeds with hundreds of cities all over the world who have taken up the occupation meme.

What are Leeds occupiers saying?

“We believe that the current political system is undemocratic, unjust and fundamentally flawed. We believe it is time for ­significant, radical change. It’s time for normal people to stand up and demand a fair and sustainable system that doesn’t place all the power and money in the hands of a corrupt and self-serving top 1%.”

Want to join in? Grab a tent, something to keep warm and head on down.

They have a website, a facebook group and a twitter account so you can keep updated with what’s going on. There is also a wish list on their site so check it out an see if you can locate any of the items to donate. But the most important thing is to get down there.

To celebrate one week of occupation, on Saturday 19th there will be a day of music, talks and discussion, so is the perfect opportunity to check it out and get involved, especially if you haven’t been down yet.

You can also read about it in the Mirror and the Yorkshire Evening Post have filmed some of the campers to make a short video to accompany a write up.

Land Grabs are a particularly nasty method of removing small farmers from their land, by leasing large areas of countryside for decades and either leaving them fallow or ploughing them up for biofuels. Weak governments and poor laws are leaving thousands of poor farmers without land and forcing them to move away from their homes and familiar surroundings.

To tackle the issue, Leeds Oxfam is staging a Land Grab in Millenium Square next Wednesday lunch time and would like as many people as possible to come along and join in.

The plan is to tape off a part of the square, put up notices to explain what they are doing and why. There will be green hard hats and T shirts to wear and lots of leaflets to hand out. The group has permission from the Council and staff from the Manchester Oxfam office will be there to support the action. If you would like to come along, please let the group know via the facebook page or website.

If you would like to find out more about land grabs, this is a very good article on the whole issue, or go to the Oxfam webpages. There’s also a three an a half minute film you can watch: Glen, Gary & Ross – a film about land grabs.