Let's reclaim Earth Day from greenwash! In 1970 the first Earth Day took place with an estimated 20 million Americans participating in rallies, marches, and teach-ins responding to toxic pollution of their air, waters and land by corporations pursuing profit in the absence of environmental regulation. Then, as now, the worst exposed to these hazards were working class and non-white Americans. The largest source of funding for the first Earth Day was organised labour, in particular from the United Auto Workers (UAW) which also provided practical support for printing and telephone communications. The national organiser for Earth Day later said "Without the UAW, the first Earth Day would have likely flopped."
Short quiz that can be used for stalls and at meetings. How much do you know about the climate crisis: how it's affecting us now, why it's a social justice issue and why drilling in the North Sea won't help our energy bills? Download as Word doc (space at the end if you want to edit to add your own union branch details). For a bit more background about the quiz answers the page here has links to further reading.
On Saturday 28th March thousands of people will march through central London in response to the far right threat to communities, responding with hope, not despair, and unity, not division and standing for a country where everyone belongs. Around 300 organisations have signed up to support the Together Alliance demonstration and over 100 coaches have been booked.
There will be a climate justice bloc on the march, standing against the far right's racism and also against their denial of the climate crisis and links to fossil fuel profiteering. The bloc is being supported by AntiCapitalist Resistance, Brazil Matters, Campaign against Climate Change, Degrowth London, Extinction Rebellion, Faith for the Climate, Fossil Free London, Friends of the Earth, Greater Manchester Climate Justice Coalition, Greener Jobs Alliance, Greenpeace, Stop Burning Trees Coalition, Tipping Point, UK Youth Climate Coalition, War on Want, WARMI and the Yorkshire and Humber Climate Justice Coalition.
If you'd like to help promote the Together demo you can request general flyers here.
