A small gathering of people in Dudley on a Wednesday night was not where I expected to debate the big issue of how climate change relates to the global economy and capitalism. But that's what happened.
A Dudley minister (I assume he was a minister - he was wearing a dog collar) asked if it was possible to tackle climate change within a capitalist system, as capitalism needs constant economic growth. Big question.
Globally our emissions are rising because we are consuming more, whether ipods, flights or meat. Most of our consumption uses energy from fossil fuels.
I suggested there are three things the world needs to do to break this chain of increasing emissions. The first is to waste less, which would save money. Secondly is to get more energy from non-fossil fuel sources. The third is a greater challenge to our greedy world; we (the rich) need to consume less.
The minister wondered whether anyone will ever accept "lower standards of living" in order to tackle climate change? I think that's the wrong question. We can consume less whilst having higher standards of living - more money does not equal a better quality of life.
Another minister present said: "What I call sin, you call greed and he calls capitalism."
It's interesting that we see 'greed' as bad and 'economic growth' as good. The closer you look, the more they seem to resemble each other.
Thursday, 30 August 2007
Wednesday, 29 August 2007
Golf
You miss a bit of marching and everything changes. We now have a few new marchers with us: Geoff and Kate from South Africa, and Dwijen from Bangladesh. It was good to start getting to know them on the suburban walk out of Birmingham to Halesowen on Wednesday 29 August.
As we entered Halesowen I was talking to Kate as we passed through a golf course, one of many on our travels. I commented about the number of golf courses and Kate said "Terrible aren't they."
Kate told me that there has been huge golf course development in South Africa in recent years, primarily for tourists. The golf courses often prevent local fishing communities from having access to the sea. Golf courses also take large amounts of irrigation, stealing valuable groundwater from local people.
Golf course developments are justified because they bring economic growth, but economic growth is not a measure of quality of life. Another example of the global economy acting in the interests of money, and against the rights and livelihoods of people.
As we entered Halesowen I was talking to Kate as we passed through a golf course, one of many on our travels. I commented about the number of golf courses and Kate said "Terrible aren't they."
Kate told me that there has been huge golf course development in South Africa in recent years, primarily for tourists. The golf courses often prevent local fishing communities from having access to the sea. Golf courses also take large amounts of irrigation, stealing valuable groundwater from local people.
Golf course developments are justified because they bring economic growth, but economic growth is not a measure of quality of life. Another example of the global economy acting in the interests of money, and against the rights and livelihoods of people.
Tuesday, 28 August 2007
Greenbelt
Whilst the other marchers were rallying with Lemar in Birmingham, I went with Chira to speak at the Greenbelt festival near Cheltenham. Greenbelt is an odd place; it claims to inspire activists and campaigning, yet is sponsored by a government ministry, the Department for International Development.
At the same time as our 'Meet the Cut the Carbon marchers' session, Douglas Alexander MP, Secretary of State for International Development, was speaking elsewhere on the site. Having done our usual climate change talk, we decided to arrange a little protest march of our own. Fourty people joined us as we marched past the Douglas Alexander talk and interrupted him with a rendition of "What shall we do with the carbon emissions?"
Douglas Alexander's previous job was at the Department for Transport where he was implementing the government's airport and road expansion policies. He needs every reminder he can get to cut the carbon.
Later in the day there was meant to be a panel debate on climate change. Unfortunately Douglas Alexander pulled-out of taking part, as did any other representative from the government.
The government is happy to sponsor festivals to push their propoganda, but it is unwilling to take part in real debates about government policies. Another nail in the coffin of our so-called democratic political system.
At the same time as our 'Meet the Cut the Carbon marchers' session, Douglas Alexander MP, Secretary of State for International Development, was speaking elsewhere on the site. Having done our usual climate change talk, we decided to arrange a little protest march of our own. Fourty people joined us as we marched past the Douglas Alexander talk and interrupted him with a rendition of "What shall we do with the carbon emissions?"
Douglas Alexander's previous job was at the Department for Transport where he was implementing the government's airport and road expansion policies. He needs every reminder he can get to cut the carbon.
Later in the day there was meant to be a panel debate on climate change. Unfortunately Douglas Alexander pulled-out of taking part, as did any other representative from the government.
The government is happy to sponsor festivals to push their propoganda, but it is unwilling to take part in real debates about government policies. Another nail in the coffin of our so-called democratic political system.
Friday, 24 August 2007
A conversation
Cassia, one of our marchers from Brazil, is from the Landless Workers' Movement - MST. A man walks up to Cassia as she relaxes in the sun.
Man: Where are you from?
Cassia: Brazil
Man: The problem with you lot is you are destroying the amazon
Cassia: !!?? It's your companies and consumption who are detroying the rainforest. The people of the amazon are struggling against it.
Distance covered so far: 547 miles
Marchers who have so far had birthdays on the march: 2
Man: Where are you from?
Cassia: Brazil
Man: The problem with you lot is you are destroying the amazon
Cassia: !!?? It's your companies and consumption who are detroying the rainforest. The people of the amazon are struggling against it.
Distance covered so far: 547 miles
Marchers who have so far had birthdays on the march: 2
Do they all support us number 13
Another couple of Labour MPs took a break from their summer holidays to meet us as we marched through Derbyshire: Judy Mallaber and Mark Todd (both Labour).
Rachel, our marcher from 'Newastle', spoke to Judy. Apparently Judy is supportive of the need for 80 per cent cuts and is lobbying the government to change their position. Judy is another who won't vote against the government. Climate change must not be a serious enough issue for MPs to endanger their careers.
Mark Todd responded that he's not sure about the usefulness of long-term targets (that's why we also need the government to be accountable for cutting emissions every year Mark). He queried whether 60 per cent cuts are possible, never mind 80 per cent.
We can respond that its not a question of feasibility; the impacts of climate change are too great for us to have any other option than to cut our emissions. We can also respond that their are loads of ways to cut emissions, the government just aren't doing them. Instead, they decide to build more runways.
But the main question I was left with was, if Mark Todd doesn't support radical reductions in carbon emissions, why did he pose for a smiley photo with us?
Rachel, our marcher from 'Newastle', spoke to Judy. Apparently Judy is supportive of the need for 80 per cent cuts and is lobbying the government to change their position. Judy is another who won't vote against the government. Climate change must not be a serious enough issue for MPs to endanger their careers.
Mark Todd responded that he's not sure about the usefulness of long-term targets (that's why we also need the government to be accountable for cutting emissions every year Mark). He queried whether 60 per cent cuts are possible, never mind 80 per cent.
We can respond that its not a question of feasibility; the impacts of climate change are too great for us to have any other option than to cut our emissions. We can also respond that their are loads of ways to cut emissions, the government just aren't doing them. Instead, they decide to build more runways.
But the main question I was left with was, if Mark Todd doesn't support radical reductions in carbon emissions, why did he pose for a smiley photo with us?
Wednesday, 22 August 2007
Tuesday, 21 August 2007
Do they all support us number 12
I went with Mohamed our Kenyan marcher and Lisa from the Christian Aid campaigns team to meet Patrick McLoughlin, MP for West Derbyshire and the first Conservative we have met.
We pressed him on our demands for changes to the climate bill, but he refused to commit to anything. As a member of the shadow cabinet he will "wait till we have discussed it and decide our collective decision". Whilst I was pressing him just to include aviation in the climate bill he said that "aviation needs to share in the emission reductions we make". That sounds good - first step is to include aviation in the bill then.
Distance covered so far: 513 miles
Distance to go: 487 miles - bring it on
We pressed him on our demands for changes to the climate bill, but he refused to commit to anything. As a member of the shadow cabinet he will "wait till we have discussed it and decide our collective decision". Whilst I was pressing him just to include aviation in the climate bill he said that "aviation needs to share in the emission reductions we make". That sounds good - first step is to include aviation in the bill then.
Distance covered so far: 513 miles
Distance to go: 487 miles - bring it on
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