Before we get to the text, this:
Manchester City Council keeps making wonderful promises about climate change and then not delivering. They are able to do that because there is not regular (month in, month out) scrutiny of what they are (not) doing.
We need to break that cycle.
We need a seventh scrutiny committee that looks at the climate emergency month in, month out.
You can help us get that committee. We need four thousand signatures from people who live, work or study in Manchester City Council’s boundaries.
We need those 4000 by November 10th 2020.
As of 1st September, we have 903.
Here is a list of 15 ways you can help us get the signatures. The short version is this – sign and then ask your friends/family/work colleagues to sign. Get the petition mentioned in email bulletins, newsletters etc. Invite us to speak at events (online and real life)- email us on contact@climateemergencymanchester.ne, Take part in our social media blitzes” on Monday 7th September and Wednesday 7th October.
Put this poster in your window so people walking buy see it. Put it up on noticeboards. The QR code leads to this page…
The online petition is here (you have to register here) to sign it – and can only sign it if you live, work or study within Manchester City Council’s boundaries.
Right, now that letter.
Climate Emergency Manchester has always been consistent about the causes of climate change. After repeating his baseless accusation to the contrary, John Douglas (Viewpoints, 29 August) complains he is bored of hearing about climate change and the Council’s failures to deal with it.
Firstly, we are trying to prevent catastrophe, not ignore or deny it like some. Extreme weather events, disruptions to agriculture, political and economic chaos are already affecting frontline communities. Ignoring this will not make it go away, just as refusing to test people doesn’t make a pandemic go away. Being bored is a luxury and privilege available to those who aren’t already struggling.
Secondly, democracy is more than elections. We at Climate Emergency Manchester are inspired by John Keane’s notion of monitory democracy, Robyn Eckersley’s ecological state, the work of Charles Mills, Carole Pateman and others. We will explain more on a blog post, for the benefit of readers, on our site www.climateemergencymanchester.net
Finally, yes, Manchester needs monthly scrutiny of climate action by elected councillors as well as by boring citizens. How else do we prevent further harm to our most vulnerable? People who want that scrutiny, who want to prevent further harm to the vulnerable, their families and communities, can sign the petition for a seventh committee. It’s on the Council’s website.
Adam Peirce
Climate Emergency Manchester
