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So what did we do in 2009?

Posted by Neil Jones - 8 February 2010 at 6:37pm - Comments

I’ve just been looking back at the activities that our group was involved in last year, and it’s been quite a shock! It was a busy year, but for me, more than remembering all the campaigns we have contributed to, and all the places we’ve been, it’s the people we have met along the way who really stick in my mind.

From the locals, shoppers and tourists on the bustling streets of Camden, to the friendly people we met at a festival in rural Suffolk who've all leant their support and wished us well; the politicians who have listened to what we’ve had to say; the visiting Greenpeace activists and ship crew from around the world who have shown us we’re not on our own for believing that a cleaner, healthier and more peaceful planet is possible; and most importantly, the members of our own group who have made the last year such a success and so enjoyable!

In 2009, we:

· held 22 campaigning events. There were stalls at garden centres, farmers’ markets, on canal banks and street corners – as well as Apple Days, conferences and concerts (Annie even performed onstage with U2 at Wembley!). All good fun, and we helped hundreds of people to support our campaigns and say NO to more runways, coal fired power stations and new nuclear weapons facilities, and YES to clean renewable energy, peace, and a better future for people here in the UK and elsewhere.

· joined 4 demonstrations, including The Wave: 50,000 people demanding international leadership on climate change, flowing through the streets of London - and the Mili-Band: a human chain of 1,000 people around the Kingsnorth power station in Kent.

· campaigned at 2 festivals: Glastonbury and the Waveney Greenpeace Fair, recruiting thousands of new beneficial owners for Airplot, while kicking back and enjoying some fine music and even finer ales.

· had 4 film nights, and put on 1 public screening of ‘A Time Comes’, raising over £100 for Greenpeace, and squeezing more people in to Camden’s Inspiral Lounge than we thought possible!

· lobbied 6 politicians in person, including the key target prospective parliamentary candidate, Chris Philp (Con), who immediately signed up to Airplot!

· planted 5 apple trees, at two separate events on the same day, together with 5 politicians and lots of local people to help us.

· helped with 1 Open Boat day as the famous Rainbow Warrior visited London. We helped with tours around the ship and manned the campaigns and merchandise stalls.

· attended 4 talks and debates, including one at Climate Camp on Blackheath.

· helped with 1 action at the Houses of Parliament. Unfortunately we weren’t on the roof with the other 50 Greenpeace activists, but we did ensure MPs and civil servants got the Greenpeace Manifesto, as we waited for them outside their offices on their first morning back after the summer break.

Phew! Like I say – a busy year, and one we can all be proud of! Don’t put your feet up just yet though, there’s even more to do in 2010, with new campaigns on Trident and Tar Sands to get stuck into, a general election, festivals to go to and new people to meet. It’s going to be a good year!

Apple Day at Alara Wholefoods