Newsletters

The CCC held its 2010 Planning Meeting and AGM on February 20^th at SOAS attended by close to 100 of its members. Business kicked off with an overview of the achievements of 2009, a pretty remarkable year including many energetic demonstrations notably the Save Vestas Campaign, CCC’s contribution to December’s London Wave and Climate Emergency Rally in July which lead to the submission of radical Climate Emergency Demands by Colin Challen MP since signed by a further 60 MPs. The CCC Trade Union group garnered a lot of support through it 1 Million Climate Jobs pamphlet with backing from unions including CWU, TSSA, PCS, FBU and UCU, the pamphlet now in its second print run after strong demand.

 

After a short lunch members broke into 3 sub groups to discuss directions the Campaign should take in 2010. Peter Robinson, Chairman of CCC, opened the discussion session on how to build a major climate movement with a focus on working with other groups. Some interesting contributions from the subgroups included trying to partner with other groups who might have similar aims, but coming from a different agenda. For instance CCC’s aim of reducing the speed limit to 55mph to cut carbon emissions might also appeal to sustainable transport groups. Campaigning for large multinationals to reduce their carbon footprint through pamphlets received support.

 

Phil Thornhill, National Co-ordinator, continued discussion on how to get the most from the Emergency Demands with feedback from the members giving support for action on housing insulation included as part of the Million Green Jobs. It was suggested other Emergency demands could also be coupled with a solution, “Reduce speed limit to 55MPH and improve public transport”, and more local action in the form of public meetings and actions to oust support from local MPs for the emergency demands. (Get your MP to support the EDM here: http://www.campaigncc.org/edmpetition)

 

Jonathan Neale, International Secretary of CCC, spoke about how the RSPB (animal and wildlife welfare) brought 5000 people to December’s Wave and how groups from diverse backgrounds can come together to increase the fight against climate change. The breakout group discussing actions around the elections and later in 2010 felt there was a need for a large demonstration post election and also a second later in the year, possibly including a simple message “Real Climate action- Not False Solutions” and actions that would incorporate the message and support of other activist groups.

 

The day concluded with voting on changes to the Constitution, Resolutions and election of the Steering Group. Relatively minor changes went through with no objection on the Constitution, all 3 proposed resolutions were passed some with small addendums including support for CCC help in sending members to the Bolivia conference in March. As there were no contested roles on the Steering Committee, all those nominated and receiving the required support were voted into position in one group vote. Notable new members of the Steering committee this year include Deepak Rughani from Biofuelwatch and John Stewart of HACAN. A full list can be found on our website.

 

Thank you to all of those who attended the CCC Planning meeting/AGM last Saturday, and especially to those that showed interest in taking forward some of the activities discussed.

 

Unfortunately one of the clipboards went missing at the end of the day, so we no longer have a record of those that showed an interest in the “Emergency Demands” and “Upcoming Actions”. If you are interested in contributing to one of these areas, please email marina.littek@campaigncc.org.

Venue: Basement, 5 Caledonian Road, N1 9DX (below CCC office) Nearest Tube: Kings Cross

 

Provisional agenda:

 

1. Mini summary of planning meeting/AGM
2. Pre election events
3. Post election event-brainstorm
4. London group specific events & outreach activities
5. Office volunteer update
6. Anything else you’d like to discuss!

 

13th March, South Camden Community School, London NW1

The Campaign against Climate Change 3rd Trade Union Conference will take place in Camden on Saturday 13th March from 11am to 4.30pm. Previous conferences have brought together hundreds of Trade Unionists to discuss the role that the Trade Union movement can play in the fight against Climate Change.

 

Speakers for 2010’s CCC Trade Union conference include

Tony Kearns (CWU), Manuel Cortes (TSSA), Chris Baugh (PCS), Prof. Barbara Harriss-White, Jonathan Neale (Million Green Jobs Commission, CCC), John Stewart (HACAN), Graham Petersen (UCU), and Larry Lohman (Cornerhouse).

 

The failure to agree a serious strategy for dealing with climate change at the Copenhagen Climate Conference underlines this problem, and why the CCC Trade Union group will push the Government to employ a million unemployed workers to save the climate.

Registration £10 for Workers, or £5 Low-paid or Unemployed

Download registration form here http://www.campaigncc.org/tuconference2010

Or pay at the door. (Doors open at 11am)

The Climate Emergency EDM was tabled as EDM 2057 by Colin Challen MP in October 2009 and was signed by 45 MPs. It has since been retabled as EDM 189 which (as of 3rd February) had been signed by 31 MPs, including 16 who hadn’t signed it before as EDM 2057 – making 61 MPs who have signed it (at one stage or another). We want to push as many MPs as we can to sign it and we need your help. We’re targeting 300 signatures by March to force the emergency demands to be discussed in parliament. The Climate Needs You! http://www.campaigncc.org/edmpetition

 

Contact your pension fund to ask them to vote against tar sands development at BP and Shell shareholder meetings. http://www.fairpensions.org.uk/tarsands/action

 

Support a Robin Hood Tax on banking to fund action on poverty and climate change. http://robinhoodtax.org.uk/category/latest/

 

 

Another survey shows the British public's belief in climate change has declined. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/feb/23/british-public-belief-climate-poll

 

An amendment to restrict carbon dioxide emissions from new power stations has been defeated in the Commons by just 8 votes. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5jyP_fgaR8g6fKLtwF7cmpFbwMP9g You can find out how your MP voted here http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/division.php?date=2010-02-24&number=86&display=allvotes

 

The Heathrow Third Runway Judicial Review is underway. http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/blog/climate/heathrow-judicial-review-day-1-wrap-20100223

 

A biofuel power plant planned to run on palm oil has been rejected by local councillors in Avonmouth because of the wider environmental issues http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/8532017.stm

 

The Committee on Climate Change has warned Scotland needs to step up its efforts to meet its target of cutting CO2 levels by 42% by 2020. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/feb/24/scotland-emissions-target

 

£60m Climate aid from the UK to Bangladesh has been criticised for being drawn from existing aid budgets and for being channelled through the World Bank. Bangladesh initially rejected the terms but agreement has now apparently been reached. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/feb/15/bangladesh-world-bank-climate-finance

 

 

Yvo de Boer has announced his resignation from the UNFCCC.

 

The world's top firms cause an estimated $2.2tn of environmental damage. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/feb/18/worlds-top-firms-environmental-damage

 

Obama has announced money for two new nuclear reactors. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/feb/16/barack-obama-nuclear-reactors

 

Three leading corporations, including BP America, have dropped out of a coalition that had been pressing Congress to pass climate change legislation.

 

MIT analysis shows pledges submitted to the UN falls short of reduction targets by at least 11bn tonnes of CO2. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/feb/12/copenhagen-carbon-emission-pledges

 

EU biofuels are found to be significantly harming food production in developing countries. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/feb/15/biofuels-food-production-developing-countries