Climate Change for Trade Unionists

Saturday 19 September 10amClimate Outreach and Information Network Flier

Climate change and the green new deal
During the workshop, you'll work in groups around the big ideas for the future.
• What is climate change and why is it the next big issue for trade unionists?
• What kind of policies should trade unionists be fighting for?
• How do we keep jobs in industries that are high energy?
• What are the benefits of a low carbon society?
• Is climate change about social justice?

Saturday 19 September
10- 4pm
Brunswick Methodsit Church,
Brunswick Place,
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 7BJ
All welcome
Refreshments available

PCS is hosting a workshop created specially for trade unionists by the Climate Outreach and Information Network (COIN), working with Ruskin College. COIN is the leader in the field of communicating climate change. Ruskin College is recognised nationally for its track record of education for trade unionists.
To register call the PCS Northern regional office on 0191 222 0330. Places are limited so let us know as soon as possible if you want to attend.

Crisis is Business as Usual

The struggle at Vestas is the tip of the iceberg.

The UK government has given £52.8m to coal bosses to extend a range of mines around Britain, while the Guardian report that they have given only £2.3m to Marine Renewables.

The world's armed forces use 25% of the world's aviation fuel, 42 million tons per year.
The arms trade uses 30% of the world's aluminium.
The US military alone is the world's largest oil consumer. It emits more toxins than the top 5 chemical companies combined; half the world's CFC and two thirds of the world's CFC-113.

"With its never-ending emphasis on production and profit, and its indifference to environment, transnational corporate capitalism appears determined to stand outside nature. The driving goal of the giant investment firms is to convert natural materials into commodities and commodities into profits, transforming living nature into vast accumulations of dead capital."
Michael Parenti

The IMechE say we will be able to build artificial trees in ten years but do not advocate any immediate action such as re-foresting land currently used for meat production with proper trees.

"Government policies and economic and political inequalities, rather than human fertility, are the major causes of forest destruction, through the promotion of coffee and other export crops; colonial tax policies that stimulate migration and land clearing; and privatization of common lands for extractive concessions."
James Oldham

Share of energy from renewable sources in final consumption of energy (according to the House of Lords!)

Belgium 2.2%
Bulgaria 9.4%
The Czech Republic 6.1%
Denmark 17.0%
Germany 5.8%
Estonia 18.0%
Ireland 3.1%
Greece 6.9%
Spain 8.7%
France 10.3%
Italy 5.2%
Cyprus 2.9%
Latvia 34.9%
Lithuania 15.0%
Luxembourg 0.9%
Hungary 4.3%
Malta 0.0%
The Netherlands 2.4%
Austria 23.3%
Poland 7.2%
Portugal 20.5%
Romania 17.8%
Slovenia 16.0%
The Slovak Republic 6.7%
Finland 28.5%
Sweden 39.8%
United Kingdom 1.3%

Organising Meeting

Tuesday 18th August 7pm
Newcastle Climate Action
Organising Meeting
Free Trade Inn
Workers Climate Action North East
Organising Meeting
Wednesday 19th August 5pm
Centre Against Unemployment - Cloth Market

UK Coal: Newts and Owls will be "dealt with"

"The inclusion of particular species do not confer value... The temporary loss of these species from the site, which are mainly considered to be common and widespread, will need to be weighed up above the benefits of the development... In order to compensate for the loss of a potential barn owl nest and roost site at least four barn owl boxes will be erected in peripheral parts of the site. (Refer to Barn Owl Trust Advice Leaflets.)"

UK Coal Ltd
Bradley Surface Mine Scheme
Supplementary Ecological Information

Earth First! Summer Gathering

Ecological Direct Action without Compromise!
Earth First! Summer Gathering
18th -24th Aug 2009, Cumbria

The site is in the Lake District, Cumbria. The nearest train station is Penrith and there is a bus service to the site, there are car and living vehicle spaces outside the camp. The exact location will be announced the week before the gathering so that it doesn't turn into a festival.

Earth First! is a network of people and campaigns who fight ecological destruction and the forces driving it. We believe in doing it ourselves rather than relying on governments or industry. Direct action is at the heart of what we do, whether we're standing in front of a bulldozer, shutting down an opencast mine or ripping up a field of GM crops.

Join us for 5 days (19th - 23rd) of workshops, networking and planning actions at a low impact eco-living camp organised non-hierarchically. It's run without leaders by everyone who comes along, so come prepared to chip in!

Workshops, skill sharing and planning action, plus low-impact living without leaders.

Meet and share skills with others who care. Plan actions and campaigns. Have fun. We've got over 80 workshops, planning, strategy and 'Where Next' sessions planned, get in touch if you want to offer a workshop!

Contact email: summergathering@earthfirst.org.uk