Our first meeting of 2011 was overshadowed by the worrying news that our wonderful hosts The Crown and Goose pub in Camden were under threat of being ‘developed’ into yuppie flats. A few days later Neil and a few others went to the public meeting where councillors voted on the proposals - and hooray, they unanimously rejected the plans to demolish it. Local democracy in action! A fab start to the year.
So here’s a wee round up of what we discussed and some dates for the diary coming up between now and our next meeting - in the Crown and Goose - on Tuesday 8th February.
In summary we’ve two campaigning dates for your diary so far: evening of Tuesday 18th January for some tuna related campaign action (contact Neil for details) and Saturday 5th February afternoon street campaigning (details TBC but keep a few hours free if you can).
1. REVIEW OF 2010
Ben is going to kick off a blog of our highlights from 2010 - a year of excellent campaigning on coal, Heathrow expansion, climate change, tar sands and nuclear weapons, as well as a General Election and some fantastic fun festivals from Camden Green Fair to Glastonbury. Keep and eye out and add your favourite memories as a comment at the bottom.
2. RAINBOW WARRIOR 3 FUNDRAISER GIG / OUR GROUP’S 10TH BIRTHDAY PARTY
Lisa and Barri gave an update on plans for this, date TBC but likely end of Feb / early March. Live music, comedy and djs in the mix. Should be a great night to bring friends along - and not just our green mates! More details to follow. Find out more about the new Rainbow Warrior here http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/rainbow-warrior
3. NEW TUNA CAMPAIGN
Last week Greenpeace launched the new oceans campaign, focused on the new Tuna league table. But before it went public, Tesco, who were at the bottom, did a spectactular u-turn and agreed to all demands - specificailly to stock 100% pole and line-caught tuna by 2012. So, now Princes are at the bottom of the league table and we’ve started campaign activities to get them to end destructive fishing practices too.
Check out the tuna league table and email Princes here http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/tunaleaguetable
And there’s Hugh’s Fish Fight campaign that you sign up to also (and watch the progs on 4od if you missed them...) http://www.fishfight.net/
DATE FOR DIARY: initial fishy action in evening of Tuesday 18th January - contact Neil for more detials.
4. GO BEYOND OIL / ENERGY BILL
The government’s energy billl was introduced into the Lords in November, whihc means we’ve got a few months to lobby our MP to support amendements to strenghthen the bill. We’ll be doing more street cmapaigning, and arranginging meetings with MPs, before the bill enters the Commons probably in April.
DATE FOR DIARY: Saturday 5th Febraury. Street campaigning in Camden exact time and location TBC but c. 12.30pm - 3pm. Keep an eye out for details and let Laura or Neil know if you can make it.
More on go beyond oil here http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/oil and we’ll get a full briefing from Greenpeace on the energy bill soon, but if you’re keen to read more in the meantime try our friends at WWF http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/campaigning/one_planet_homes/the_uk_s_e...
We’ll also be having a joint public meeting with FoE and the other organisations in Stop Climate Chaos (thanks to Natasha from FoE for coming along to explain all of this) in March. Panel debate style - get you thinking caps on for potential panel members alongside our local MP(s) who’d make a good contribution AND attract not just the usual suspects...
There’s another lobbying training day on 22nd January. Great fun as well as very helpful. Email lobbying@uk.greenpeace.org if you’re interested.
TWO AONBS:
Next date for Street Campaigning Training is Saturday 5th February: a great introduction to Greenpeace as well as fab for picking up skills for campaigning on the mean streets of Camden and engaging with the hard-nosed Saturday shoppers in Hampstead... Contact Neil or Laura if you’re keen for details.
Local council stuff but possibly of interest: Camden Green Summit 29th Jan www.camden.gov.uk/greensummit
Contacts: Neil 07549 924765 neiljones78@gmail.com, or Laura 07909071454 mslauramackenzie@gmail.com
As ever, please add any thoughts / points missed from this note that you’d like to share with others as a comment below!
Comments