November 2009 Archives
If you're a regular reader, you'll know how concerned I am that the UK Government negotiates a deal at the Copenhagen climate change summit
in December. The reality of the damage climate change is doing to our
world is already becoming apparent. If we don't act now to cut our
carbon emissions, countries such as Bangladesh will disappear. A third
of animal and plant species will become extinct. Life here in Britain
will change forever too. Whether we're facing extreme weather, food
shortages or flooding, no area of our lives will be immune from the
impact of climate change if it is left unchecked. If we adapt our
lifestyles to meet this challenge, we can create a cleaner and greener
future for our children.
These issues
affect every person on this planet. That's why I think it's vital we
come together as a local community and decide how we want our
government and our local council to act to stop climate change, and
talk about what we can do ourselves. With the help of other local
residents, I've organised a special public meeting to help us start
this discussion. It's taking place between 7.30pm and 9.30pm on
Thursday 26th November at Willowfield School on Clifton Avenue. It's open to all local residents.
I'm delighted to say that joining us at the meeting will be Ed Miliband MP, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change. Ed has been leading the Government's work on building a low carbon future for Britain. He'll be leading the UK's push for a deal at Copenhagen, along with the Prime Minister. Because of their work through the Climate Change Act, Britain is the first country in the world to introduce legally binding carbon budgets. These commit us to carbon savings of 34% by 2020 and at least 80% by 2050.
If you have
questions or concerns about what the Government is doing to tackle
climate change then this event is your chance to put them directly to
Ed.
But this event
isn't just about Ed. It's about us, as residents of Walthamstow. So
also joining us at the meeting will be representatives from a number of
organisations including development charities Oxfam and Action Aid, and
our local Waltham Forest Transition Towns movement.
The event will
be a deliberative forum. That means it's a chance for us all to talk
together and share ideas, tips and plans for building a more
environmentally sustainable future for Walthamstow. It also means you
can turn up and contribute at any point during the two hours, and you
can stay for as much or as little of the meeting as you like!
There will also
be stalls and information about climate change and there'll be plenty
of refreshments. I'm extremely grateful to the students and staff of
Willowfield for hosting this community meeting. If you would like to attend, please email me or join this group on Facebook so that we can let the school know how many people to expect.
I recognise that there are many differing and complex reasons why people consider supporting the BNP. I feel it is beholden on all of us who are involved in mainstream politics to accept responsibility for addressing this and play our part in tackling them. I'm proud to live in a part of Britain that benefits from being so diverse. I don't want to see these people claim to speak for my country.
On the 7th, we'll be holding a leafleting session to gather support for action being taken by Hope not Hate. Organisations like Hope not Hate, and Unite Against Facism, are taking on the BNP and the politics of hate and fear that they stand for. They're bringing people together from a wide variety of backgrounds to say that this vile party has no place in modern Britain. If you feel the same, please come to this stall on Saturday between 11am and 2pm to take some leaflets to deliver to your neighbours. Together we can spread the message about what we can all do to help the fight against the BNP, both here in London and across England. Please email if you would also be able to help with staffing this stall during the day itself.
