The Stop Climate Change Coalition (SCCC), the combined climate change voice of over 100 campaigning, community and faith organisations, supported by over 11 million people, are basing their East of England operations in Norfolk. The Greenhouse, Norwich's Environment Centre will be the host office from which the Eastern Regional Mobiliser will manage campaigns and mobilisation in East Anglia, including a Climate Change Exhibition which will be opened on 26 November by Simon Wright MP. This will be followed by a full on African drumming set outside the Forum at 12noon.The SCCC Eastern Regional Mobiliser, Michael Uwins, said "Norfolk is the obvious place to be. There is a great deal of awareness in the area of the threat of climate change. Numerous SCCC member organisations including RSPB, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, UNICEF, Women's Institute and Christian Aid, work and campaign here. Each has their own agenda but all are united in demanding urgent and stronger action from Government to tackle runaway climate change. Our aim is to build bridges with politicians and we'll be working alongside local campaigning and community groups, unions and schools to make things happen."
On November 28th, the next round of the United Nations climate talks (COP 17) will open in Durban, South Africa. After nearly two decades of negotiations, including the disappointing Copenhagen conference (COP 15), international deadlock has resulted in a failure to establish a binding agreement to curb the release of harmful greenhouse gas emissions.Former Norwich MP Dr. Ian Gibson, President of the Norwich and District United Nations Association, also a SCCC member organisation, said: "There was no significant mention of climate change issues at conferences held by the major political parties. The deniers of man made climate change are winning. A fresh political campaign needs to be resurrected to put the issue to the top of the agenda. The scientists have retreated back to their models and laboratories. A summit of concerned individuals needs to be set up. No more Copenhagens please".
To mark the Durban conference, SCCC will be staging a number of African themed events around the country, including many in the Eastern region. Grassroots groups will connect with each other to show local MPs and Government the strength of public concern on climate change.
For more information, please contact: Michael Uwins, Regional Mobiliser (Eastern) SCCC. email: east@stopclimatechaos.org tel: 07530 533747 or 01953 601624 www.stopclimatechaos.org
http://transitionfreepress.org/subscribe/