SCC Leeds Newssheet
Welcome all to the November Stop Climate Chaos Leeds newsletter. Hot from the success of the Great Unfreeze, we've turned our attention to the National Climate March on the 6th December. We've organised a coach to take activists from Leeds to London, all we need is for you to book your place! As if that wasn't enough, we're co-hosting a special pre-march Climate Chaos Cafe with LUU People and Planet. Read on to find out more...
Happy Campaigning,
The Stop Climate Chaos Leeds Team
National Climate March - LEEDS COACH
This winter's hottest climate action, the National Climate March will see thousands descend upon London to demand NO new coal, NO 3rd runway at Heathrow, NO expansion of agrofuels, and YES to renewable energy. Organised by the Campaign Against Climate Change, the march will culminate in a rally at Parliament Square. Speakers already confirmed include Nick Clegg (leader, Liberal Democrat Party), Caroline Lucas (leader, Green Party), Michael Meacher (ex-Environment Minister) and George Monbiot (Honorary President, Campaign Against Climate Change).
Naturally, we've organised a coach to help you get down there! Leaves at 7AM, back at 10PM, and at a meagre £16 waged, £12 concession it's easily the cheapest and most enjoyable way to travel. Find out more and to download the booking form, check out our Climate March webpage;
Climate Chaos Cafe - Climate March Special
Our next Climate Chaos Cafe will be on Wednesday 3rd December, 6:45PM - 9PM, and as it's a mere three days from the Climate March, we're going to use it to make Leeds the most stylish region on the march! Co-hosted with LUU People & Planet, the session will be a social and a prop-making session. We'll kick off with a brainstrom about what we should make, then devote the rest of the time to making props before settling down to some tasty home-cooked vegan food. It's a great opportunity to meet fellow marchers, or simply to flex your creative muscles.
Human Freezers Stun Briggate
100 Stop Climate Chaos Leeds supporters turned up to create a giant “global warming sculpture” entitled “The Great Unfreeze” as part of the city’s Light Night on 10th October. We coordinated out watches and then froze on the dot of 6pm for exactly five minutes causing astonished reactions from people walking through Briggate. Some phoned friends, others walked round frozen people and a few tried to ignore the fact that they were surrounded by people behaving very oddly!
SCC Leeds used coverage by the YEP and Radio Aire to draw attention to the fact that we have less than 100 months in which to avert runaway global warming, and to the recent demonstration by politicians that money is no obstacle when the situation is grave enough. What could be more serious than the thermostat of the entire planet running out of control?
The YEP also made a film of the event, and our very own film-making supporter, Izzy Arrieta, came up from London especially to film the event. She’s going to make us a film we can use to promote SCCLeeds and to raise awareness of the issues. Thanks Izzy!
Finally, many thanks to Bethany Clarke for the photos of the event that you can see peppering this article!
- Matt Carmichael, SCCL Chair
Climate Bill victory
WE DID IT! Climate campaigners across the UK are celebrating the news that the UK Government has conceded to ALL their key demands for the Climate Change Bill. After the initial victory of securing the Bill in the first place, campaigning turned to strengthening the Bill in key areas; raising the overall emissions reduction target to 80% by 2050, including yearly targets for emissions reductions, and including aviation and shipping in the target. All three of these demands have been conceded, making the Bill one of the strongest in the world and proving beyond a doubt that campaigning - your efforts - make a difference. A huge thanks to all who took action as part of this campaign - your time spent campaigning was absolutely worth it.
Now we've laid the foundations for a major effort at home, our attention will turn to the international stage in 2009 as we campaign to secure a binding global climate treaty. Keep your eyes peeled to find out how you can join this crucial campaign in the New Year.
Bolivia's climate challenge
At the recent Christian Aid TRANSFORMATION event, we were lucky enough to have Marco Nordgren, climate change advisor for CIPCA, lead a workshop in climate change campaigning. Since the event Marco has written a piece for guardian online in which he discusses the challenges that Bolivia faces to develop in an environment-friendly way - for a look at the article, click here.
EVENTS
Climate Chaos Café: Climate March Prop-making & Social
Wed 3rd Dec | 6:45-9pm | The Common Place, Wharf Street, LS2 7EQ
LUU People & Planet and Stop Climate Chaos Leeds hosts the Climate Chaos Café, the perfect opportunity to learn more about climate change in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. The format is simple; an hour of talk and discussion led by a facilitator, followed by a freshly prepared sit-down meal. See above for more detail.
Public Meeting with Fabian Hamilton MP: What is parliament doing to preserve the planet and its people?
Fri 5th Dec | 7:30pm-9:30pm | Lidgett Park Methodist Church, Corner North Park Avenue / Lidgett Place, LS8 1HG
Economic Justice for All have organised a public meeting with Fabian Hamilton MP to discuss what the UK Parliament is doing to protect people and the planet in the current economic climate. Other panelists include Matt Carmichael, Chair of Stop Climate Chaos Leeds, and Claire Bastin from Economic Justice for All. For more information, please contact
National Climate March - Leeds Coach
Sat 6th Dec | 7am-10pm | Leeds-London
The key climate action of the winter - join us on the National Climate March to demand action on climate change. To find out more and to download the booking form, visit www.sccleeds.org/climatechange
Stop Climate Chaos Leeds Monthly Meeting & Social
Mon 8th Dec | 6-10pm | The Common Place, Wharf Street, LS2 7EQ
Our monthly meeting, plus an end-of-year meal afterwards to round the year off! All are very welcome, for more info contact Lizzie at
ACTION
The Stop Climate Chaos Coalition is running a YES/NO energy campaign at the moment. The movement demanding the UK Government say YES to a massive investment in renewable energy, and NO to a new generation of coal power plants. This policy shift is crucial if we are to have any chance of reducing our emissions enough to avert dangerous climate change - please sign up at the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition website and take the actions below;
YES to renewables:
Right now, Government has a crucial decision to make: it either makes clean green renewables the UK’s No1 energy choice or it gives new coal power stations without carbon capture the go ahead. Help stop climate chaos and tell your MP to get on board by using their influence to ensure that the Renewable Energy Strategy commits to finding at least 15% of our energy from UK renewables by 2020.
TAKE ACTION: YES to renewables
NO to new coal:
If we're serious about climate change, we must stop burning dirty coal, and fast. If Government goes ahead with plans to build new coal power stations, the UK’s emission targets will go up in smoke along with the UK’s position as a global leader in tackling climate change. Tell the Prime Minister to kick start the carbon clean up by saying no to coal without carbon capture.
TAKE ACTION: NO to new coal