Vestas workers and supporters will, naturally, be in London tomorrow, Saturday 5 December, for the Wave national climate march. Many will first attend the Climate Emergency Rally, organised by Campaign Against Climate Change, at Speakers Corner, Hyde Park at 12 noon (nearest tube Marble Arch), which precedes the Wave.

Publicity for the rally is below, and gives some background to the – not uncontentious – politics of the day’s events.

Speakers will include Michael Meacher MP (Lab), Simon Hughes MP (Lib Dem), John McDonnell MP (Lab), Caroline Lucas MEP (Green), Maria Souverin (Bolivian ambassador), John Stewart (HACAN – campaign against Heathrow 3rd runway), Chris Baugh (PCS – Public and Commercial Services Union) and Ellie Hopkins from the UK Youth Climate Coalition (UKYCC).

The Rally will be a chance for demonstrators to put concrete demands to government for emergency action on climate (see below), many of which formed part of the radical EDM 2057. Speakers will include MPs who have signed this including John McDonnell MP (Lab) and Lynn Jones MP (Lab)

Musical interludes will be provided by Seize the Day.

This day, Saturday 5th December will see the biggest UK demonstration on climate so far with greater commitment than ever before from a wide range of NGOs, brought together by the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition for the main event, called “The Wave” which will leave Grosvenor Square at about 1.00 pm to surround parliament for the ‘wave event’ at about 3 pm. The Climate Emergency Rally will precede “The Wave” and rally-goers will feed into it as it leaves Grosvenor Square.

We are holding the Rally because we want to make sure there is no chance that the Government will ‘spin’ the climate demo as simply in support of their position at the Copenhagen Talks – whilst we support all the ‘Wave’ demands for a fair and effective international agreement we also want to demand much more action on climate from the UK government, here at home. We believe that in any case there is no chance of an effective agreement until the North wins the trust of the South and it will only do that if Northern countries like the UK match words with action and take radical emission-reducing measures at home.

And we mean real concrete ‘emergency’ measures. We will demand:

Declaration of a Climate Emergency
10% cuts by end 2010
A million green jobs by end 2010
Ban domestic flights
55 mph speed limit – scrap the roads programme
End Agrofuel use

Most of these demands (and more) are in Early Day Motion 2057, now (re-tabled as EDM 189), signed by 45 MPs . There is a growing movement for emergency climate action in the UK. Lets make sure it continues to build! Join us at the Climate Emergency Rally!

For the “Million Green Jobs” demand see the new pamphlet from the Campaign against Climate Change Trade Union Group.

Cyclists will want to join the CLIMATE EMERGENCY BIKE RIDE assembling at 10 am at Lincoln’s Inn Fields. It will finish at the Climate Emergency Rally, around 12 noon.

Earlier this year I decided to enter a photography competition hosted by Wightlife, a local lifestyle and tourism magazine.  Locals and holidaymakers were invited to submit up to two photos per month, which must have been taken here on the Isle of Wight during this year.  Each month a winner and runner-up were chosen; and at the end of the tourist season the best entries were to be exhibited, first at a venue in Newport and then on permanent display at the local hospital. 

This was the first time I had ever entered a photography competition, and I knew I had no chance of being one of the overall finalists, or even achieving one of the monthly prizes.  So I set my sights on having one of my images in the final exhibition.  It worked!  I was delighted when I found out three weeks ago that one of my photos had been selected.  This was the one they chose:

The opening exhibition was last night.  We were treated to local wines, beers, cider, ginger wine and other produce, and a selection of canapés prepared by a local Michelin-starred chef.  As for the photography – I can only say that my efforts were not worthy of being alongside many of the other exhibits.  It was fascinating to see original ways of photographing landmarks I know well, alongside fresh ideas for places to go on safari with my camera.  There were wildlife shots to marvel at (I am completely unable to capture wild birds) and some wonderful perspectives and compositions that made for truly stunning photography.

Apart from my own photograph, there was another image in the exhibition that I’ve already shown you - this one of Jill the donkey having a good laugh (officially entitled He Ha!) by my friend Judith.  If you click on either of these images you’ll be taken to the post in which they originally appeared.

Dodging the showers rather unsuccessfully the other day, a trip to Seaview Duver was rewarded by a breath of fresh air and views of birds on both the beach and at nearby Hersey Nature Reserve.   Presumably the large section of pipework in the photo is one of those left on environmental grounds following the attempt by Southern Water to remove old piping from the beach earlier in the year.  At least the Little Egret brings interest to the image.

You might think that the eviction on Friday 27 November of the ‘magic roundabout’ Vestas camp, Newport, Isle of Wight, would be a sombre occasion but these pictures by David Smith show that it was anything but. We have a lot to celebrate, even if the owners have got a court order to have the camp removed. The camp has been a mainstay of the campaign by Vestas workers for their jobs, and a place where valuable lessons in campaigning, politics and camaraderie have been gained. Not everyone gets it, of course, but if you spent time there this summer and autumn you will know what we mean!

Last day on the magic roundabout, Newport, Isle of Wight

Arbo and Missi the dog

Arbo and Marina's last stand as the bailiffs move in

Flags still flying on the magic roundabout, Vestas factory, Newport, Isle of Wight

VentnorBlog’s reports of the decision by the planning committee of the Isle of Wight not to recommend building of three wind turbines on Cheverton Down. This on the so-called eco-island which has lost 400 jobs making wind turbine blades because ‘the market is not big enough’ for this product.

http://ventnorblog.com/?s=cheverton+down