Over 50 people came to this trade union sponsored event in Preston on 20th September. Climate Action Preston were invited to speak on “Make Polluters Pay” and climate reparations. Climate campaigners and anti-fracking activists were among the speakers and attenders.
Climate change was a theme running through both morning and afternoon sessions, in terms of –
- the threat from Reform and the far right in general to any climate-friendly policies (including Reform’s links with the fossil fuel industry)
- how we counter that threat and climate denial
- what strategies and visions we can offer, compared with mainstream parties and the far right
- the impact of climate change on ordinary people here and round the world
- the different kinds of responses possible to that impact
There was a discussion about a campaign to counterpose green jobs to BAE and similar jobs. Preliminary work would gather information about climate jobs – what is needed locally, how many can be sustained – alongside spotlighting the human and environmental cost of the arms trade. A “swords to ploughshares” proposal like the Lucas Plan would be a great medium term goal.
CAP had a small stall with some demand for leaflets and stickers. Helen Rimmer the NW FoE regional organiser was there, and we spoke to Green Party members as well as a range of supportive trade unionists. These included Clara Paillard from Tipping Point, also founder of the UNITE Climate Caucus which has been fighting the fossil fuel supporters within that union, and Chris Baugh former PCS leader and cofounder of the original Climate Jobs report. A special mention also to Toby McKenzie-Barnes a young but experienced member of the Workers’ Climate Project.
And finally big thanks to Andy Cunningham (Secretary of Chorley Trades Council) for calling the event, and to all those who helped to make it useful informative and welcoming. We understand that further events and actions under this banner will be called.
