Shell-Day 2 Saturday 22nd September
by Sara Ayech, climate campaigner
Last month saw two huge days of action against Shell in the UK in support of our international Save the Arctic campaign. On 16th July, 78 Shell garages were shut down in London and Edinburgh and on 21st July there were protests at 57 garages involving around 500 volunteers.
These UK actions were part of a global week of action against Shell, during which we hit them in 110 cities in 19 countries. I think we can safely say they’ve noticed us!
This campaign is striking such a chord in people that we have already exceeded our 2012 target of signing up one million people to the Arctic Scroll, which we’ll take to the North Pole. But we’re not stopping there. We’ve set ourselves a new target of signing up two million supporters to the scroll, so there is still plenty of time to get involved in the campaign.
All across the UK, Greenpeace volunteers are planning a second Shell Day – a national day of peaceful, legal protests at Shell Petrol stations. Last time we protested at 57 garages. With your help we can organise something bigger, better and more focused to really #tellshell we mean business. Shell Day 2 will take place on Saturday 22nd September.
Please email your local coordinator via the Getactive website to say you can help. This will be a peaceful, legal, family friendly series of protests and we need your help. Simply enter your postcode, or scroll to the bottom of the page, to find your nearest local group / network.
Get Active! If you can't attend a protest then please organise a screening of the BBC documentary Frozen Planet, for your friends and family and recruit them to the campaign to #SaveTheArctic.
Common Fisheries Policy reform
by Willie Mackenzie, head of Biodiveristy
For the last three months, local networks along the south coast of England have been campaigning for reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), by gathering fish cards signed by the public on the streets and at festivals to lobby our target MEPs. Meanwhile, our online activities are targeting the Fisheries Minister, Richard Benyon, via an interactive sea-shanty petition.
We’ve been concentrating on the south coast due to an unprecedented feature of this campaign – for the first time, we have built an alliance with part of the fishing industry, so have launched the campaign in the areas where our fishermen allies are based. We have been working with sustainable, small scale fishermen, who have fished responsibly for generations. However, these fishermen are being pushed out by a broken system which favours the powerful end of the European fishing industry, causing enormous environmental damage. A recent article and video in The Guardian explains the issues
Now the campaign is going national and we want you to get involved. Over the next three weeks, Greenpeace volunteers across the UK will be organising street surveys to poll the public about reform of the CFP. The results will then be used to pressure MEPs and the Fisheries Minister, Richard Benyon, into supporting a radical reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).
Please get in touch with your local network to help out with the surveys
Spotlight on Abi Mortimer
from Southwark Greenpeace
I became involved with Greenpeace after finishing a degree in Ethics. I started university hoping to work in the human rights field but the more I learned about environmental issues the more I became convinced that fighting to save the environment should be my primary concern. I had believed that there could be nothing more important than working to improve the quality of the lives of the very poor, but I realised that nothing is possible without a stable environment. That belief has only grown stronger the more I have been involved with Greenpeace - and the more I do, the more I want to be involved.
I’m currently involved with the ‘Stop Shell’ campaign, one that is striking a chord with millions of people. Recently, I was joined by 23 new volunteers at a protest held in Southwark. They told me they felt a great need to take action. The audacity of Shell’s plans to drill in the Arctic, exploiting the damage of climate change and threatening a pristine environment, is driving people on to the streets and encouraging them to pick up a placard for the first time. I’ve also stepped up my own involvement and I joined my first direct action this year. Before I did I was told that doing so would make me feel more like a ‘citizen’ and it really has. I feel proud to be part of a movement that is fighting back. Volunteering with Greenpeace helps me to feel that I have a voice, it helps me to feel empowered rather than defeated, and it reminds me that I’m part of a larger community of people who are not willing to step aside and remain silent while our world is destroyed – and that is both inspiring and heartening.
Forthcoming Events
Street Communications training: 8th September in Eastbourne. A one day workshop to teach everyone, new and old, how to engage people in Greenpeace campaigns. Last few places. Please email eviesier@live.co.uk
Political Lobbying training: 8th September in London, 29th September in Nottingham. A one day workshop suitable for anyone, focused on lobbying your local MP to support Greenpeace's campaign asks. Please register online for more information.
Scottish Skillshare: 6th – 7th October, an event for all active supporters in Scotland and North of England. Please register onlinefor more information.
Thank you for all your hard work campaigning with Greenpeace.
Tim, Rachael and Malcolm
Outreach team
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