Here are dates for your diary and news updates following our September meeting at The Cornubia. Contact Richard L if you can help with any of the forthcoming events. Do note our change of venue for our next meeting on 11th October - see below.
Notes from Bristol East Greenpeace Meeting, Thurs 13th September 2012, held at The Cornubia.
Welcome from Facilitator Richard B
Attendees: Carol, Fi, Ian, Joanne, Lauren, Laurence, Madelaine, Mark, Natasha, Richard B, Sue
Apologies: Paul, Richard L
Report on activities since last meeting.
10th/11th August - Arctic Campaigning at Bristol Zoo
Fi reported on the two successful days at Bristol Zoo where we had the use of GPHQ’s bear costume and trialled the use of ipads to sign people up to the Save the Arctic campaign. The bear costume was a huge attraction for the children and over the two days we achieved 420 sign-ups. Other sign-ups may have come about from the leaflets given out. The use of ipads was popular with most people, though it was noted that the number of sign-ups was less than if we had got cards to sign. With only two ipads in operation it did mean the rest of the team resorted to handing out leaflets and stickers. It was felt that a good relationship was fostered with the Zoo and it is hoped that this will prove to be useful in the future. http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/groups/bristol-east/blog/look-whos-zoo
b) 18th August - Arctic Campaigning at College Green
The original plan for a street survey on the Common Fishing Policy had to be changed as the materials got delayed in the post. So the team consisting of Natasha, Stacy, Lauren, Carol, Loz and Sue campaigned for the Arctic. The organiser of the Cultural Olympiad’s full size bouncy Stonehenge (called Sacrilege) was happy for the group to campaign nearby. 120 ipad sign-ups were achieved and a bouncing Paula the Polar Bear was a great hit too! http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/groups/bristol-east/blog/sacrilege-sanctuary
27th Aug - Newlyn Fish Festival
Richard L, Carol and Sue spent the Bank Holiday at the Newlyn Fish Festival to campaign for reform of the Common Fishing Policy. The team were joined by other Greenpeace members from Cornwall and received a good reaction from the festival-goers despite the very wet conditions in the afternoon. Fronted by Clarence the Cod and Millie the Mackerel, the campaign got some good media attention from the local radio stations! http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/groups/bristol-east/blog/greenpeace-falmouth-east-bristol-newlyn-fish-festival
1st Sept - Arctic Campaigning Harbourside
Richard B, Carol, Lauren, Ian and Loz operated a stall near the fountains and gained 111 sign-ups for the Save the Arctic campaign using ipads. Numbers of people passing by was slow during the morning, but the area was certainly busier towards the afternoon. It was noted that the GPUK bear costume and the ipads had been passed to the Bristol Central group. http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/groups/bristol-east/blog/thoughts-within-bear-suit
7th Sept – Common Fishing Policy - Meeting with Ashley Fox MEP
Mark reported on a very successful meeting between Greenpeace members from both Bristol groups and Dorset and the local MEP, Ashley Fox. Mark estimated that some 6,000 fish cards were handed over and Ashley Fox made it known that he was very much in favour of reform of the Common Fishing Policy. This was good news for the forthcoming discussions in Brussels that will be taking part during the Autumn, though it was noted that the task will be to persuade other member states who have large fishing industries to accept reform. Mark recommended the website CFP Reform Watch for more up to date information. http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/groups/bristol-east/blog/local-mep-supports-greenpeace-cfp-reform
Future Activities and Possibilities
15th Sept - Energy Bill street campaigning in Chippenham
In the absence of a Greenpeace group in Chippenham, GPHQ had asked Bristol East to campaign in the town to remind MP Duncan Hames of the Lib Dem election promise for a green economy. The campaign is scheduled in only 9 key constituencies ahead of the Liberal Democrat conference and the forthcoming Energy Bill debate that is occurring in Parliament this Autumn. Fi, Loz, Natasha and Richard B volunteered to travel across on the Saturday to campaign from clipboards in the High Street.
16th Sept - MCS Beachwatch Big Weekend
Richard B offered a lift to Sand Bay (Weston-Super-Mare) to anyone interested in picking up litter and recording the debris as part of the Marine Conservation Society’s Beachwatch Big Weekend.
21st Sept – CFP Meeting with Giles Chichester MEP Richard L has agreed to attend a meeting in Exeter with MEP Giles Chichester to hand over fish cards supporting the need for reform of the Common Fishing Policy.
22nd Sept – Shell Day #2
Richard B has agreed to co-ordinate Shell Day 2. Although the idea was to group branches together to make sizable ‘regional’ protests it transpired that other groups had made alternative plans, so Bristol East would be the organising the event. The venue would be a return to Silvey’s M32 Services as it was felt that a sizeable protest would get good exposure from passing vehicles and possibly some media attention. Meet between 10.00am and 10.15am at Portland Square with an aim to start protest at 10.30am. Those attending would need to observe the injunction that Shell has served on Greenpeace which would mean that no one should step on the forecourt except for the person delivering the letter from John Sauven. Jo said she worked for the Bristol Evening Post and may be able to arrange publicity. It was not sure if emails to supporters and subscribers were being arranged by GPHQ.
Those planning to attend included Fi, Madelaine, Ian, Lauren, Loz, Natasha, Jo, Richard B – maybe Mark, Sue and Paul. Details at http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/groups/bristol-east/event/shell-day-2-protest
Weekend 6th – 8th Oct. No New Nuclear March and Mass Trespass
On Saturday 6th Oct a protest march and rally against new nuclear build is being organised in Bridgwater with a proposed ‘Die-in’ at the gates of Hinkley Point before sunset. On Monday 8th a mass trespass is proposed on the site designated for Hinkley C. There is a risk of arrest for those who propose to trespass, but passive supporters (non-trespassers) are encouraged to attend also. Richard B will be attending the march on Saturday – get in touch if you are interested in attending. richard.baxter200@virgin.net Full details at the Stop New Nuclear website
27th Oct - Non-Violent Direct Action training day in Bristol.
Please contact Richard L ASAP if you would like to attend. For some more information click here
29th Nov - Wiltshire College Carbon Roadshow, (Lackham)
It was decided to offer this date to the Salisbury group.
Next meeting. New venue for Thurs 11th or 18th October
The pros and cons of future meeting dates at the proposed new meeting venue was discussed at length. The new venue is going to be the Quaker Meeting House off River Street. BS2 9DB and it was eventually agreed to keep to the 2nd Thursday of the month and use the smaller room rather than meet later in the month. Mark would contact the venue and confirm arrangements.
AOB
It was noted that when searching on the Internet for Greenpeace in Bristol the other group’s website would come up as the first result. It was felt that we would have to tolerate the situation as there was little we could do to change it.
Richard B would be ‘tweeting’ while Carol was travelling in Australia.
The group gave best wishes to those members attending court hearings in the next few weeks.
Date of Next Meeting:
Thursday 11th October at The Quaker’s Meeting House, River Street. BS2 9DB. 7.45pm for 8.00pm start. Tea and biscuits. Details at http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/groups/bristol-east/event/october-meeting-new-venue.
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