Early last year I had a letter published in the Christian Aid newsletter expressing my disappointment that they would not address climate change and that they would write about 'hopes for Africa' without mentioning the devastation which global warming is already bringing to the continent. Nobody could make that criticism today! Earlier this year, Christian Aid published their own excellent report 'The Climate of Poverty':

http://www.christian-aid.org.uk/indepth/605caweek/index.htm

Stop Climate Chaos groups are leafletting the opening night of An Inconvenient Truth at nearly all UK cinemas.

The participating groups are Greenpeace, Oxfam and RSPB. Some FOE people may be out as well. Ben Margolis at Oxfam Leeds (0113 394 4293) who is coordinating Stop Climate Chaos's leafleting for Nov 4th nationally says that:

-SCC hopes to get all cinemas leafleted for icount/Nov 4th on the first night. Openings on the 15th are covered. Openings on the 22nd are covered except Hammersmith, Greenwich, East Finchley and Dartford. They are working on cover for 29th Sep, 6th Oct and 13th Oct.

-SCC is not coordinating any coverage for the second night onwards. It is up to local (SCC) activists to decide what they want to do. They are expecting the film to run a week and perhaps longer in some cinemas.

Back side of flyer
Opening Dates
(PDF version available HERE)

I've written this in response to Reggie Norton of Operation Noah's notes from a planning meeting for 4th November with SCC under 'campaign news'. What do CCC think about this?:-

First up was Ken Weir, Scots. MP for Angus, and Energy spokesman for the S.N.P; he confimed they were against nuclear, and Scotland should exploit its potential for renewables much more. But Ken was there for the PR opps, and had photos taken with group after group; we really went off him when he admitted he didnt have a green electricity account, and instead of getting the sleeper train, had FLOWN down to London!

Clare Short said she would support the 3% annual emissions reduction; but wanted to know, what the enforcement mechanism be to make sure any government stuck to the plan? She also said the prospect of a hung parliament may be a good thing next election [!]; politicians would be more desperate for votes, and we should use the opportunity for increased influence.

Crisp spring sunshine lit up the Palace of Westminster as a host of lobbyists wound their way, in twos and threes, towards the venue for Stop Climate Chaos' first proper event.

The Central Methodist Hall was vast and baroque and buzzing with activity when I arrived. Milling between lines of ecologists, it was not long before I saw faces I recognised (about 0.3 seconds, in fact, as Jo was on the front door). The social side of events like these is always a major part of the fun. In the Big Westminster Villlage, it's usually MPs, policy wonks and hacks who frequent the bars and mingle like smoke along the streets. Today, unusually, it would be a green schmooze.

Bernie the Climate Change Bear and his minder were much in evidence at the Carbon Dating event hosted by Stop Climate Chaos at the Methodist Central Hall in London's Westminster today. He loved his brand new blue sash and you can see a picture of him attached. He found David Cameron's recently acquired tan a little too red, but loved Margaret Beckett's stiffly coiffured coiffure. Clare Short stopped to exchange a few words, as did Colin Challen. He found some of the other MP's and DEFRA people most engaging and pleasant, and toyed with the most wonderful keen and friendly delegates at every opportunity.

Stop Climate Chaos will urge the UK Government to take urgent and effective action on climate change when they meet with the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and an exceptional line-up of other cabinet ministers including the Chancellor, Gordon Brown, at 10am, Tuesday 28th February.

more at http://www.stopclimatechaos.org/news_pr_detail.asp?id=14

I was unable to attend the National Planning Meeting, but if I have interpreted the feedback correctly I do have some concerns about Stop Climate Chaos (SCC). I understand that SCC is just two people. They have their work cut out if an MPH size campaign is to be achieved. They will have to work very hard to get the required action and commitment from their members, given that most of the organisations in the group do not seem to be taking climate change (CC) seriously. It does not have a high enough profile in most of the organisations. The SCC coalition is made up of 25 organisations (29 with all of Airport Watch members).

Report Back from National Planning Meeting at Canterbury Hall, Cartwright Gardens, 11 February 2006, 12 noon to 5pm.
Present: about 40 activists, including Phil Thornhill, Jonathan Neale, Nick and Rosie on the platform.

Stop Climate Chaos
Event Planning Group Meeting
24th January 2006
2.30pm - 5pm