Today world leaders start the COP26 climate talks in Glasgow and in response over 30 Nottingham groups are joining forces to demand immediate radical action on climate change and climate justice.
Next Saturday (6 November), hundreds of concerned citizens from doctors groups, churches, wildlife groups, unions, climate action groups and many more will demonstrate together at 1pm on The Forest Recreation Ground.
Nottingham will be one of dozens of large demonstrations around the UK and the world.
The event is organised by the COP26 Coalition for Climate Justice, a coalition of local groups and organisations.
The coalition is welcoming everyone in Notts who wants to make their voice heard to come down and join the event on Saturday.
Volunteers have been distributing posters to shop windows and handing out flyers in the centre of town and surrounding suburbs.
“Climate change is the most catastrophic threat to humanity we have ever faced. I’ve never spoken in public like this before, but I feel a commitment to speak on behalf of not only my generation but future generations.” said Rhona, 17, a student from West Bridgford, who will be a speaker at the event.
People interested in finding out more and everyone who wants to stand up and be counted is welcome to come along to listen to the speakers and take part in the march. Speeches are at The Forest Recreation Ground before a march down Mansfield Road to an event at the Old Market Square at 3pm.
Speakers at the event will include former Nottingham South MP Alan Simpson, as well as representatives from Nottingham community groups such as Stand up to Racism , DIY Poets and the Pythian Club .
The police and the City Council have been informed of the event and the route taken by the march.
After speeches in the square the event will end with a ‘die-in’ led by 2012 Olympic canoe champion Etienne Stott, who will explain in his speech “a die-in represents the lives being lost, right now across the world in forgotten and unseen tragedies. Our bodies will also represent the lives at risk in the future if our leaders, currently at COP26, do not act boldly and rapidly”.
Last week, Etienne was involved in a direct action protest under the banner of Extinction Rebellion at an oil refinery in Hampshire and appeared on the Jeremy Vine show on Channel 5 to talk about effective ways to protest.
A statement from the Nottingham COP coalition says “2021 has seen floods and hurricanes to some of the biggest wildfires in history. The poorest people in the world and the Global South are disproportionately affected by these events, and this is already forcing a rising number of children from their homes with no way back.
The COP26 coalition is calling for an end to fossil fuel extraction and the immediate emergency decarbonisation required for us to stay within a 1.5°C
global temperature rise, as well as an end to the political and economic systems built on injustice and exploitation that have led us to this terrible point”
Full List of Coalition Groups:
Global Justice Nottingham
Nottingham Friends of the Earth
Notts Momentum
Extinction Rebellion Nottingham
Nottingham Climate Assembly
Nottingham Unite Community branch
Unite EM/NG58 Nottingham Central Branch
Nottingham Stand Up To Racism
Nottinghamshire, Mansfield and Nottingham Trades Union Council
Nottingham Green Party
Climate Action Nottingham
Nottingham Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
Nottingham Climate Emergency Centre
New Lucas Plan
Christian Aid
Five Leaves Bookshop
Shop Zero
Nottingham Fixers Repair Cafe
Nottingham Organic Gardeners
Wild NG
Beeston Wildlife Group
Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust
The Woodland Trust
Medact East Midlands
Nottingham SWP
Nottingham Socialist Party
East Midlands UNITE Community Branches
Nottinghamshire Labour for a Green New Deal
Greenpeace Nottingham
Green Libdems
Stop Ratcliffe Incinerator Campaign
Nottingham and Notts Keep Our NHS Public (KONP)
Unison UoN Branch
Nottingham Pedals
DIY Poets
Pythian Club
