WHY CLIMATE AND ANTI-WAR CAMPAIGNERS HAVE COMMON CAUSE

by Chris Coppock

I recently attended Oxfordshire Peace Campaign’s day-school exploring common ground
between the anti-war and climate campaigns. Speakers included Dr Larch Maxey, a co-founder of XR, and Dr Rebecca Johnson, a leading international campaigner against nuclear weapons. However, rather than simply precising their talks, I set down a few thoughts on arriving home:

Tackling climate change depends on international co-operation, not competition or
conflict. CC doesn’t respect borders.

The colossal financial and human resources wasted on weapons and warfare could
instead help to combat or ameliorate CC. In the UK for example as military budgets increase overseas aid is cut.

The scramble for fossil fuels drives great-power tensions, e.g. the Arctic Ocean, pipeline
routes anywhere and, as one speaker argued, the war in Ukraine. Fossil-fuel producing states generally lack human rights/democracy, with troops used to suppress unrest e.g. the Gulf states, Iran. In poor countries CC impacts (e.g. drought or floods) drive displacement, tension and war. The former colonial powers (e.g. UK, US or France in C. Africa) respond with special forces, drones and securitizing our borders against refugees. “National security” trumps human security. Militaries have a huge Carbon-footprint even when not at war—an estimated 6% of the global total—yet this is excluded from C-accounting (e.g. Paris Agreement) and poorly reported, if at all.

The US military (over 800 bases worldwide, 13 in Britain) is the world’s largest C-emitter and a major polluter. The F35-A fighter now arriving (with new US nuclear bombs) at “RAF” Lakenheath, Suffolk, burns an unprecedented 1,480 gallons per hour. “Greening” the military, if at all, aims purely at tactical advantage. Wars—including post-war reconstruction–greatly increase the C-bootprint, also pollution and ecosystem disruption.

Even a “limited” or “localized” nuclear war (e.g. the 40 x 100kT warheads on one UK Trident sub) could cause massive CC by injecting soot into the stratosphere and wrecking the ozone layer. Global average temperatures could drop eight degrees (a “nuclear winter”) crippling global food production so billions—if they survived–would starve. Nuclear power is not peaceful: it was developed to provide weapons-grade material and creates a requirement for military-style security. It is also—as shown in Ukraine—incredibly vulnerable in a war zone.

November 2022 – update

To view the PDF version of this update, click here.


Community Action MK climate change info

For a whole host of local information and resources https://communityactionmk.org/climate-change/


LINKS FROM TRANSITION TOWN MK

https://www.facebook.com/groups/TransitionMK/permalink/5207280692705625/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/TransitionMK/permalink/5212626108837750/
https://mailchi.mp/e702e76ec310/eco-design-consultants-news-9513169?e=7797e3c1eb


NEXT UK REBELLION

For information – extinctionrebellion.uk/next-uk-rebellion/

To volunteer – volunteer.extinctionrebellion.uk

If you are thinking of going to any protests and would like to travel with the MK group then please email us.


JUST STOP OIL

JSO has attracted significant attention of late with its blockades of fuel depots and motorways. JSO also held two meetings in MK recently, and is running NVDA (non-violent direct action) workshops across the country.

Arrestable roles and plenty of support roles are available. To register for one of the Zoom talks (Tuesdays at 7pm and Sundays at 5pm) and for the current JSO event calendar click here.

To follow JSO for the current JSO event calendar click here.


CLIMATE CAFE MK

Are you Dreamin’ of a green Christmas? The next CCMK event is a Green Fair on Saturday November 19th from 2-4:15pm at The Old Bathhouse in Wolverton. See here for the event flyer.

Volunteers needed – for details email climatecafemk@gmail.com


Greta Thunberg to skip ‘greenwashing’ Cop27 climate summit in Egypt

www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/oct/31/greta-thunberg-to-skip-greenwashing-cop27-climate-summit-in-egypt


LISTENING CIRCLES AND ACTIVE LISTENING SESSIONS

If you are interested in finding out a bit more and organising or joining a circle or session, please contact Christina (for listening circles) at sparklingmind@hotmail.com or Patricia (for active listening sessions) at patricia@goleencottage.com. “With the gift of listening, comes the gift of healing.”


NEXT XRMK meeting and outreach/leafletting dates for 2022

Next regular monthly meeting – Monday November 14th from 7-8:30pm – please email us for details.

Our next outreach is on Saturday 19th November at the Climate Cafe MK event – please see details above.


Why climate and anti-war campaigners have a common cause (by Chris Coppock)

  • CC doesn’t respect borders: tackling it depends on international co-operation, not competition or conflict.
  • The colossal financial and human resources wasted on weapons and warfare could instead go to combat or ameliorate CC. In the UK for example, as military budgets increase overseas aid is cut.
  • The scramble for fossil fuels drives great-power tensions, e.g. Arctic Ocean, pipeline routes anywhere and arguably the war in Ukraine.
  • Fossil-fuel producing states often lack human rights/democracy, with troops used to suppress unrest e.g. the Gulf states, Iran.
  • In poor countries CC impacts (e.g. drought or floods) cause displacement, tension and war. The former colonial powers (e.g. UK, US or France in C. Africa) respond with special forces, drones and securitizing our borders against refugees. “National security” trumps human security.
  • Militaries have huge C-footprint even when not at war—estimated at 6% of the global total—yet this is excluded from C-accounting (e.g. Paris Agreement) and poorly reported if at all. The US military (over 800 bases worldwide, 13 in Britain) is the world’s largest C-emitter and a major polluter. The F35-A fighter now arriving (with new US nuclear bombs) at “RAF” Lakenheath, Suffolk, burns an unprecedented 1,480 gallons per hour. “Greening” the military, if at all, is purely for tactical advantage.
  • Wars—including post-war reconstruction–greatly increase the C-bootprint, also pollution and ecosystem disruption.
  • Even a “limited” or “localized” nuclear war (the 40 x 100kT warheads on one UK Trident sub are enough) could cause massive CC by injecting soot into the stratosphere and wrecking the ozone layer. Global average temperatures could drop eight degrees (a “nuclear winter”) crippling global food production so billions – if they survived – would starve.

(Nuclear power is not the answer: it was developed to provide weapons-grade material and requires military-style security.)

October 2022 – update

To view the PDF version of this update, click here.

COMMUNITY ACTION MK CLIMATE CHANGE INFO

For a whole host of local information and resources https://communityactionmk.org/climate-change

XR MK MONTHLY MEETING

October regular monthly meeting – Monday October 17th from 7 – 8:30pm – please email us for details.

NEXT UK REBELLION

From October 14th – 16th in London, and for 2023 information https://extinctionrebellion.uk/next-uk-rebellion/.

If you are thinking of going and would like to travel with the MK group then please email us.


JUST STOP OIL

JSO has attracted significant attention of late with its blockades of fuel depots and motorways. JSO also held two meetings in MK recently, and is running NVDA (non-violent direct action) workshops across the country.

Arrestable roles and plenty of support roles are available. To register for one of the Zoom talks (Tuesdays at 7pm and Sundays at 5pm) and for the current JSO event calendar click here.

To follow JSO for the current JSO event calendar click here.


CLIMATE CAFE MK

Are you Dreamin’ of a green Christmas? The next CCMK event is a Green Fair on Saturday November 19th from 2-4:15pm at The Old Bathhouse in Wolverton. See here for the event flyer.


THE GREAT BIG GREEN WEEK

September 24th to October 2nd – for more information click here.


LISTENING CIRCLES AND ACTIVE LISTENING SESSIONS

If you are interested in finding out a bit more and organising or joining a circle or session, please contact Christina (for listening circles) at sparklingmind@hotmail.com or Patricia (for active listening sessions) at patricia@goleencottage.com. “With the gift of listening, comes the gift of healing.”


OUTREACH/LEAFLETING DATE FOR SEPTEMBER

Saturday September 10th from 10:30am-12:30pm outside Marks and Spencer in the city centre. Join us!


OUTRAGE & OPTIMISM – PODCAST

Searching for something new to listen to? Look no further than Outrage & Optimism – featuring interviews with leading figures in the global climate change movement, from politicians to activists, this entertaining, enlightening and always inspiring podcast lives up to both parts of its name. Available wherever you get your podcasts.

HS2 ACTION – HELP!

Where do I start… despite COVID-19 restrictions and the guidelines from a government that people should only attend for essential work, HS2 is still ploughing ahead.

In a call with the complaint line duty manager the justification for this is that it is deemed to be “essential work for the company”. What!!.

Well, this essential work takes the form of destruction to ancient woodland, removal of ancient soils felling of trees and tearing up of hedgerow with associated wildlife crime being committed routinely.
Not to mention, HS2 itinerant workers are sent in from all areas of the country to the HS2 sites, a  virulent vector for the transmission of COVID-19.

People within walking distance of the sites are taking their daily exercise to document the destruction and to protest stop the works wherever possible.

For those of you who cannot get out to the sites there is plenty that you could do to stop this heinous project which still does not have notice to proceed from the government.
Given the dire social and economic situation the country is now facing it is increasingly unlikely that this project will ever be finished.

Social Distancing??

Yet every day more money is being thrown at it more of our environment is being destroyed more wildlife is being lost and people are being placed in danger of COVID-19 infection.
on Thursday, 26th bailiffs moved in to evict a protection camp in Crackley Woods despite the government guidelines that no evictions should be taking place. this was an unexpected move as licence for HS2 to enter the wood has not been granted until the 1st of April, the campus and tree dwellers were taken unawares. these campers have been living as an isolated family unit for several weeks. get bailiffs and HS2 security invaded their home. Those who occuoy the tree houses are now being denied food and water.


What can you do – Make contact, complain MAKE A £$%@ NOISE!!!!!


Follow this link to XR call to action for remote rebels.

In it you will find all useful links to:

  • HS2 main construction contractors
  • Sub-contractor company names,
  • Phone numbers and addresses.
  • Ministerial Twitter accounts.

And don’t forget to include your MP in communications where appropriate.


Make your concerns and objections known!

Further HS2 background can be found at StopHS2.org

FEBRUARY MEMBERS MEETING & PEOPLE ASSEMBLY

We will be hold the meeting in the Crown pub in Stony Stratford on the evening of Tuesday 11 Feb. See the list on the event page for details

As normal we will do the new member welcome and induction in the first half an hour and followed by the main meeting. In this meeting we will also run a Peoples Assembly Session to help XR establish its 2020 strategy.

  • 7:00 – 7:30 New Members Welcome and Induction
  • 7:30 – 9:30 Main Members Meeting & Peoples Assembly
  • 9:30 – Drinks in the Pub

The exact agenda is being worked out and will be posted here. Please use the comments section on this page to add any requests.

Hope to see you there!