[risingtide] RISING TIDE NEWS SHEET 47
markb at gn.apc.org
markb at gn.apc.org
Tue Mar 29 11:13:32 CEST 2005
RISING TIDE
CLIMATE ACTION NEWS SHEET 47
29 March 2005
CONTENTS
1. PLAN B - the campaign to end UK government support for new oil development
a) ACTION - write to your MP asking them to
support EDM 650 - development aid for oil
b) INFO - 'Pumping Poverty: Britain's Department
for International Development and the oil
industry' - report
c) INFO - 'Beyond Oil: the oil curse and
solutions for an oil-free future' - booklet
2. CLIMATE OUTREACH INFORMATION NETWORK -
a) INTRODUCTION
b) EVENT - Joanna Macy talk on "Facing climate
change and other great adventures', Oxford 9th
May
----------
In January 2005, Rising Tide moved to London and
the former co-ordinators George Marshall and Jo
Hamilton are now focusing on exciting new
projects. Here is some information on their work.
(A separate news sheet containing other general
information will follow shortly, and then we will
settle into a more regular monthly rhythm.)
1. PLAN B - THE CAMPAIGN TO END UK GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR NEW OIL DEVELOPMENT
Plan B (formerly called 'No New Oil') is a
project of Rising Tide, Platform Research and
Friends of the Earth. Arising from our joint oily
concerns from the angles of climate change,
development and social justice, we have been
working together to highlight the UK's role in
supporting the oil industry.
a) ACTION - Write to your MP asking them to
support EDM 650 - Development Aid for Oil
With the G8 leadership we have a prime
opportunity to highlight the government's
hypocrisy of professing action on climate and
development in Africa, whilst continuing to
support oil extraction. Since its launch on
February 3rd, Early Day Motion 650 (Development
Aid for Oil) has been signed by over 97 MPs. The
EDM calls on the Government to end support for
harmful fossil fuel subsidies given through
international institutions like the World Bank,
and instead pioneer investment in sustainable
energy.
Please take a moment to write / email your MP as
we only have until April 8th to get as many
signed up as possible. We are also willing to
give talks and workshops on these issues
We are aiming for 150 signatures by 8th April (as
after a general election is announced MPs can't
sign EDMs).There's an online action on:
www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/corporates/press_for_change/oil_edm/index.html ,
or www.planb.org You can check if your MP has
signed, and the EDM wording by looking at
http://edm.ais.co.uk/weblink/html/motion.html/ref=650
b) INFO - Pumping Poverty: Britain's Department
for International Development and the oil
industry. This major new report has been produced
by Plan B to coincide with the EDM and has been
endorsed by nineteen other organisation. It
investigates the role of British overseas
development aid in facilitating oil development
and finds that - far from helping the world's
poorest people - such aid often serves its
wealthiest corporations, leaving the poor worse
off than before and aggravating global climate
change. Pumping Poverty can be viewed online on:
www.planb.org or www.carbonweb.org or ordered for
£10 from jo at planb.org .
c) INFO - Beyond Oil booklet: Beyond Oil - the
oil curse and solutions for an oil-free future
This 32-page A5 booklet brings together
background info on oil and conflict, repressive
regimes, development, oil industry workers, and
climate change. Together with info on the
revolving doors and mutual support between the
oil industry, government and the International
Financial Institutions which fund new oil
projects, it lays out the UK's involvement in the
oil curse, and the action we can take to
challenge it.
For further info about any of Plan B's work or
publications, or to make a donation, please
contact Jo Hamiton on 01865 241 097 jo at planb.org
2. CLIMATE OUTREACH INFORMATION NETWORK (COIN)
a) INTRODUCTION: COIN is a new charity which
works directly with individuals and households to
give them information on the impacts and
challenges of climate change, and the practical
ideas on ways they can reduce their impacts. We
aim to create a powerful and vocal community of
carbon pioneers, working together to move
technology, government, and business to make real
and lasting changes to the way they work.
The executive directors are George Marshall and
Richard Sexton. The patron is Rt Hon Michael
Meacher, and the trustees and advisors include
the climate change author Mark Lynas and the
award winning journalist George Monbiot. We are
currently the only UK charity dedicated solely to
educating the public about climate change.
Former COIN projects include:
The Yellow House Guide to Eco Renovation a
website and CD ROM of the principles and
technologies for low energy housing based on the
renovation of a former 1930's council house. See
www.theyellowhouse.org.uk
Carbon Challenge an 18 month partnership with the
Centre for Alternative Technology to follow the
experiences of eight households attempting to
reduce their household emissions to sustainable
levels. The draft website is
www.coinet.org.uk/motivation/challenge
Current projects include:
Oxford Speaker Series. A series of seven public
meetings between May and December 2005 by the
scientists, politicians and campaigners at the
forefront of thinking on climate change- see
below. More information www.coinet.org.uk/speakers
Incubation Programme. COIN provides free advice
on communications, strategy, and funding to small
new organisations building public awareness of
climate change.
Climate Change Motivation Network.- A learning
network of activists, academics, and
environmental organisations exchanging
information and experience on the successful and
unsuccessful strategies for motivating
individuals.
"One Stop Shop Solutions to Climate Change" COIN
is working with renewable energy suppliers, major
retailers, and membership organisations, to
provide the public with an integrated package of
information, advice, and carbon reduction
technologies.
For more information on COIN contact George
Marshall on 01865 241097, info at COINet.org.uk or
visit the website www.coinet.org.uk
b) EVENT - JOANNA MACY- "FACING CLIMATE CHANGE &
OTHER GREAT ADVENTURES" OXFORD 9TH MAY
Joanna Macy, Ph.D., is a world-renowned activist
and theorist in finding ways to counter our
despair and disempowerment in the face of global
environmental problems. Her wide-ranging work
addresses psychological and spiritual issues of
the nuclear age, the cultivation of ecological
awareness, and the fruitful resonance between
Buddhist thought and contemporary science. This
is the first event in the 2005 Oxford Climate
Change Speaker Series.
Wesley Memorial Church, New Inn Hall street,
central Oxford, Monday 9th May, 6pm-9pm
Price £5 / £2 concessions
For more information on this visit www.COINet.org.uk/macy
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