People’s Climate Rally – Why should you bother?

It’s very difficult to write about climate change. The enormity of the problem, combined with its scientific nature, serve to switch most people off instantly.

Unless you are one of a handful of influential leaders, personally you really can’t do anything to stop it, so why engage?

When we feel powerless we tend not to bother. Why would we? However much I want the UK Government to take in more refugees I can’t make them. So I’ll grumble to my friends about it, maybe sign a petition or two, but let’s face it; in reality I’ve done nothing.

It’s incredibly frustrating. Global warming is the biggest problem of our generation, and as individuals we can’t do anything to stop it. If I pack up everything right now, cycle to the forest and live an eco-friendly life all I will do is give myself a front row seat to nature’s decline.

We can only force change together. It’s a well laboured point, but it’s true.

We need to educate ourselves on the issue, to talk with one voice. Only collectively can we force decision makers to appreciate the immensity of the problem and – more importantly – to do something about it.

Climate change is a global issue, which makes it seem impossible to fight. It’s not. We can start small; make Edinburgh more environmentally friendly, stop our universities investing in fossil fuel companies, inform our colleagues, friends and relatives. At the same time we can support nationwide change, pressing the Scottish Government to invest more in renewables and less in subsidies for the oil industry. Collectively we can help push the UK, Europe and the World to come together and create a comprehensive and binding plan to preserve the planet for generations to come.

The Climate Rally on Saturday is a great place to start. There will be stalls from businesses and organisations that are coming up with innovative, and socially responsible, ways to tackle the problem. A strong line-up of speakers on a range of climate issues, and the opportunity to meet and engage with those leading the fight against global warming.

Climate change will affect us all. Just because we live in Edinburgh and not in Haiti doesn’t mean that we are somehow isolated from its far-reaching and devastating effects. However much we want to ignore the issue because we feel powerless, we must resist that urge. The problem is too serious, the timeline too short. Separately we will not be heard.

Come along on Saturday, and together we can speak with one voice.

The End of Dirty Energy – Let’s Celebrate!

The People’s Climate Rally, this Saturday 26th September, will be opened with the symbolic demolition of the chimneys at a nearby coal fired power station at 12 noon.

Well not quite – the 2 events are coincidental but a very appropriate coincidence it is!  Blowing up buildings as part of an opening ceremony doesn’t always go down very well – plans to demolish the iconic Red Road flats as part of the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth games were scrapped on the grounds that it was bad taste to cheer on the razing of people’s homes.

However, if the People’s Climate Rally had the budget, it’s harder to think of a more fitting way to kick-start the movement to demand a strong and binding global agreement in Paris, and to celebrate the work already being done in Scotland to reduce emissions, than to explode the power station that in 2005 WWF identified as the most carbon-inefficient in the UK. An era of dirty energy reduced to rubble, then People’s Climate Rally to celebrate the start of a new era of community action on climate change that’s already taking place.

Cockenzie Power Station was built in 1967 and by the time it had closed in 2013 it had generated over 150,000 TW of electricity – keeping the lights on in a million homes for 45 years.

So at 12 noon take your place at Portobello beach, or on Arthur’s Seat and watch the spectacular show and say good bye to the past. Then come over to The Mound at 1pm to see what the future looks like. There’ll be speakers on the need to act, stalls showing you how you can make a difference, information on how you can join the climate movement in Scotland and music and face painting.

What’s On at the People’s Climate Rally?

With the date approaching, you may be wondering – what will be happening at the People’s Climate Rally?

The afternoon won’t be your average protest – more of a celebration of actions communities and individuals in Scotland are already taking to tackle cliamte change.  We want to send the message out that Scotland’s communities are doing what they can, and are ready to do more.  Our leaders at the UN Climate talks should listen to us and know that we support them to strike the kind of deal that is needed to avert disastrous climate change.

As well as speakers and entertainment, there’ll be stalls showcasing community groups, campaigns and organisations that are working towards lowering carbon emissions.

On the Stage

Compered by Rachel Amey

• Alison Johnstone MSP – Scottish Green Party
• Richard Dixon – Stop Climate Chaos Scotland/Director Friends of the Earth Scotland
• Tommy Shepperd MSP – Scottish National Party
• Gill Davies – On Divestment from Fossil Fuels
• Eleanor Dow – Healthy Planet
• Chris McGuinness – 2050 Climate Group
• Leslie Hinds – Edinburgh City Council Transport and Sustainability committee chair – Scottish Labour Party
• Jess Pepper and Ruby (12yr old activist) – Climate Reality Project and youth climate activism
• Alex Robertson – Pedal on Parliament
• Paul Glynn – Mondo Loco
  
• Interfaith Scotland – Climate change and faith
  
• Keith Barnham – Emeritus Professor, Imperial College and renewables expert

Plus more TBC

Musical entertainment will be provided by ‘The Irresistible Urges’ and ‘Protest in Harmony’ and the ‘Open Community Singing Group’ will lead us all in song.

In addition to the main speakers we’ll have 20 minutes of ‘Turbo Talks’ where you can have a slot to announce your campaign or project.  Contact us on pcm.edinburgh@gmail.com if you’d like a spot.

Stalls

• Medact – Medical professionals for a safer, fairer world
• 2050 Climate Group – Scotland’s Youth Climate Group
• Critical Mass – monthly festival of cycling!
• Edinburgh Solar Co-Op – Installing solar panels on public buildings in Edinburgh for community benefit.
• Friends of the Earth Scotland – the leading organisation in Scotland working for environmental justice, campaigning for the planet and its people.
• Big Switch Stall – Information on switching your energy supplier or your bank to a more ethical and cliamte friendly option.
• Stop Climate Chaos Scotland – Stop Climate Chaos Scotland (SCCS) is a diverse coalition of organisations in Scotland campaigning together on climate change.
• Transition Towns – Transition Edinburgh and St. Andrews on moving to low carbon, resilient communities
• Climate Reality -Face painting and making stall!
• Stop TTIP – TTIP is a deal being struck in secret between the EU and the US that could make it more difficult to create the regulation needed to curb fossil fuel extraction and carbon emissions.
• Mondo Loco – Climate Challenge Funded project reconnecting young people to where their food comes from and environmental issues.
• Assemblies for Democracy – the movement for real democracy
• People and Planet – students campaigning to end world poverty, defend human rights and protect the environment.

We look forward to seeing you there!!

A Year On – The Indy Ref and a Global Movement for Change

September 2014 was a month that will last long in the memory of people living in Scotland.  As the date of the Independence Referendum approached an unprecedented political debate was taking place in all corners of public life – workplaces, pubs, street corners, homes.  But it also saw the start of a worldwide movement, demanding  action on climate change.

People’s Climate March

For months the momentum of the referendum had been building and in September, as polls had the contest too tight to call, the contest was getting in turns passionate, and nasty.  Emotions ran high because for many at stake was an opportunity to completely rethink how we ran our society and economy.  An opportunity to start from scratch, shake off the burden of business-as-usual, and do things differently to benefit people and planet.  A once in a lifetime opportunity.

A year on and the impact of that summer rumbles on.  People in Scotland are more politically engaged, the SNP made history in May and the phenomenem of Corbynmania feels like the aftershocks of that awakening are still being felt even south of the border.

Over 3000 people turned out to show they care about climate action Photo by Polli Isherwood

This September also marks the anniversary of the start of a worldwide movement – on the 21st September millions around the world marched in the streets to demand world leaders took action on cliamte change.  Over 3,000 people turned out in Edinburgh for the ‘People’s Climate March’ demanding ‘Action, not Words’.  Despite bitter dissapointment for many, just 4 days after the referendum, the spirit of civic engagement helped overwhelm the volunteers who organised the march – who had high hopes for a turn out of 500!

The same hope and vision that energised so many people in Scotland in the run up to the referendum is now needed to galvanise a popular movement to put pressure on world leaders to forge a strong and binding agreement at the UN climate talks in Paris this December.  Last September, Scotland, through public debate, if not at the ballot box, showed the world it had the self-confidence and spirit to imagine a different path.  To avoid dangerous climate change, the world needs to do the same.

Join us to kick start the movement in Scotland to demand action from world leaders in Paris, and to mark the anniversary of the People’s Climate March.  People’s Climate Rally, Saturday 26th September, 1pm – 4pm, The Mound, Edinburgh

Celebrating Community Climate Action – People’s Climate Rally 26th September 2015

To solve climate change we need nothing short of a third industrial revolution.

Last year 3000 people marched through the streets of Edinburgh in solidarity with millions of people in cities all over the world calling on World Leaders to take the required political action to solve the climate crisis.

This year we’re teaming up with Stop Climate Chaos Coalition Scotland and Take one Action Festival to Celebrate Community Led Climate action. Come help us lead by example and demonstrate to our politicians that the climate crisis is in fact a climate opportunity.

Hear from speakers about how this issue is impacting communities and inspiring innovative solutions, meet passionate campaigners and green fingered growers working to build the sustainable society we need, take part in fun activities for all ages to help spread the word and keep climate change on the political agenda and enjoy opportunities to take one climate action on the day such as switching to a clean energy supplier or joining an existing project.

So come join us for this celebration of all the brilliant work people in Scotland are doing to drive the third industrial revolution.

See you there!

More Details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/440949952754226/

On twitter: @climateedinburgh

http://www.takeoneaction.org.uk/event/peoples-climate-rally-edinburgh-26th-september/

http://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/sustainability-climate-change/climate-challenge-fund/events/other-events/peoples-climate-rally-celebrating-community-action/

http://www.stopclimatechaos.org/events/peoples-climate-rally