How the global 1% is trashing the planet and stealing your future

SUNDAY 5 FEBRUARY 2012

2 - 4 pm

Tent City University, Occupy London Stock Exchange, St Paul’s, London.

• George Monbiot
• Helena Paul, Econexus
• Claire Morris, Youth Climate Alliance
• Shahrar Ali, Green Party
• Suzanne Jeffery, Campaign against Climate Change Trade Union Group

The 1% are carrying on with "business as usual" regardless of the social and economic costs - or the environmental costs, for the 99%. This panel discussion will explore how climate change is not some abstract future threat, but is already killing thousands each year of those in countries which have no power and no voice on the world stage. Even in "rich" countries, the 99% are already paying the price of climate change through higher food and energy prices, and this situation can only get worse unless we make our economy sustainable for the long term good of all, and give ordinary people real power over the decisions which affect them.

Fuel poverty action warms up Wood Green

Haringey Solidarity Group

Fuel poverty action warms up Wood Green
- in a protest against the thousands of deaths from cold in London each winter, local activists call for fuel price cuts, and for all Haringey's shops, pubs and public buildings to welcome those who wish to get warm

On Sunday 29th January, 15 Haringey residents took part in a Haringey Fuel Poverty Warm Up action in Wood Green Shopping City mall (first floor), N22. The Haringey event was part of a nationwide week of protests against ever-increasing fuel bill charges, and the shocking 25,000 excess deaths from cold last winter. It was organised by Haringey Solidarity Group, supported by Haringey Housing Action Group and the Haringey Alliance for Public Services.

Throughout the hour-long lunchtime event the activists set up an advice stall on the first floor, held banners [NO MORE DEATHS FROM COLD and GAS BILLS KILL - FUEL POVERTY ACTION], distributed 500 leaflets and created a friendly space to encourage people to come and sit and share free hot drinks and snacks. There was a very positive reaction from the general public there, and the activists ignored attempts at harassment by security managers. The activists then visited the Wetherspoons Pub en masse to leaflet all the customers and talk to the manager there about these issues.

The demands were:
* No more deaths from hypothermia
* Reduce fuel bills now - no to cut-offs
* Insulate all homes effectively
* Reclaim public space
* Expose the scandal of energy companies' profits
* Yes to renewable energy - phase out fossil fuel energy production to prevent climate catastrophe

A spokesperson for the organisers said: ' Fuel poverty is a public scandal causing thousands of excess deaths each winter as the Big Six energy corporations rake in massive profits. People's welfare must come first. We call on all shops, pubs and public buildings to welcome in all those who wish to get warm. '

Note 1: Photo may be used by media for news reporting purposes with credit to 'Haringey Solidarity Group'

Note 2: Two key local organisations donated literature to hand out at the event, and both are planning public meetings on these issues in the coming month:
- Hornsey Pensioners Action Group is holding a 'How Can We Tackle Pensioners' Fuel Poverty' public meeting on Wednesday 15th February, 1.30pm at Hilldene Court, 11 Alexandra Park Rd, N10
- The Sustainable Haringey network is holding a 'What Is Low Carbon Living?' public meeting on Wednesday 29th February, 7pm at Wood Green Library

National info: www.fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com
Local info: info@haringey.org.uk



Background - THE SHOCKING FACTS ABOUT OUR ENERGY SUPPLIES

1 in 4 UK homes are in fuel poverty, many have to choose between heating and eating this winter. The Office for National Statistics calculates that there were 25,700 excess winter deaths last winter in comparison to other seasons. Many of these deaths were due to the fact that people could not afford to heat their homes. 6 companies have a 99% monopoly over UK energy and are making record profits from the deadly bills. The government is cutting the Winter Fuel Allowance and local councils and landlords are doing little about the shameful state of housing and insulation.

The ‘Big Six’ energy companies are: British Gas, EDF, npower, Scottish & Southern Electric, e.on, and Scottish Power. Their profits per customer rose by over 700% over the course of a few months in 2011.

Recent ‘reductions’ to energy prices of around 5% come after rises of around 15-20% last year, and so are not really reductions at all.

Fossil Fuels are running out and becoming ever more expensive. The energy companies pass this cost on to consumers, yet they blame ‘green’ initiatives for the rise in price. The profit-driven addiction to fossil fuels (oil, gas and coal) is also behind climate change, which is already killing 300,000 people each year around the world through extreme weather events, floods, droughts and crop failures.

The Big Six and Government are making all the decisions about our energy, and they’re prioritising private profits over our rights to warmth and a safe environment. We want to see decision-making by the people for the people. Instead of paying billions in profits and bonuses to energy company bosses, we should secure sustainable energy and warm homes for all.

Haringey Fuel Poverty Warm-up Action

Haringey Fuel Poverty Warm-up Action
Sunday 29th January


12 noon, Meet outside Boots, Wood Green High Road (next to Shopping City), N22
- Come and join us - don't sit in the cold alone!
- We will be calling on all shops, pubs and public buildings to welcome those who wish to get warm.
Please bring flasks of tea, nibbles, folding chairs, board games, placards etc...

* No more deaths from hypothermia * Reduce fuel bills now - no to cut-offs * Insulate all homes effectively * Reclaim public space
* Expose energy companies profit scandal * Yes to renewable energy - phase out fossil fuel energy production to prevent climate catastrophe


Fuel poverty should be seen as a public scandal, not as a private problem. One in four families in the UK is shivering, out of sight, behind closed doors. There were a shocking 25,700 additional UK deaths last winter compared with other seasons. Yet the 'Big Six' energy corporations are making massive profits. The government and energy companies may want to keep it this way, but we say this can’t go on.

In the UK, these companies are deciding how 99% of our energy is sourced, produced and priced. Under this monopoly, we have no say in these decisions, despite them having a major effect on our health and on our climate.

So, we’re coming out with thermoses and snacks, info displays and games to hold a public coffee lunch for local people of all ages. Together we will ‘warm up’ in a local venue, check our energy bills and tarriffs, have a good chat, and call for people’s welfare to come first!

Please join in!


Organised by Haringey Solidarity Group, supported by Haringey Alliance for Public Services, and Haringey Housing Action Group. Part of nationwide weekend of action: Info: www.fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com Local information: 0208 216 9651



THE SHOCKING FACTS ABOUT OUR ENERGY SUPPLIES

1 in 4 UK homes are in fuel poverty, many have to choose between heating and eating this winter. The Office for National Statistics calculates that there were 25,700 excess winter deaths last winter in comparison to other seasons. Many of these deaths were due to the fact that people could not afford to heat their homes. 6 companies have a 99% monopoly over UK energy and are making record profits from the deadly bills. The government is cutting the Winter Fuel Allowance and local councils and landlords are doing little about the shameful state of housing and insulation.

The ‘Big Six’ energy companies are: British Gas, EDF, npower, Scottish & Southern Electric, e.on, and Scottish Power. Their profits per customer rose by over 700% over the course of a few months in 2011.

Recent ‘reductions’ to energy prices of around 5% come after rises of around 15-20% last year, and so are not really reductions at all.

Fossil Fuels are running out and becoming ever more expensive. The energy companies pass this cost on to consumers, yet they blame ‘green’ initiatives for the rise in price. The profit-driven addiction to fossil fuels (oil, gas and coal) is also behind climate change, which is already killing 300,000 people each year around the world through extreme weather events, floods, droughts and crop failures.

The Big Six and Government are making all the decisions about our energy, and they’re prioritising private profits over our rights to warmth and a safe environment. We want to see decision-making by the people for the people. Instead of paying billions in profits and bonuses to energy company bosses, we could secure sustainable energy and warm homes for all – join us to discuss how to get there!

Update for Haringey's Residents Groups [February 2012]

Update for Haringey's Residents Groups [February 2012]


Some coming events [more details further down the page]

Saturday 28th January - Demonstration to save Haringey's Community Schools. Say NO to privatisation. Assemble 12 noon @ Keston Road by Downhills Primary School, Philip Lane, N15. Organised by parents, teachers and governors involved with Haringey Campaign Against Academies.

Sunday 29th January - Haringey Fuel Poverty Warm-up Action. Meet 12 noon outside Boots, Wood Green High Road (next to Shopping City), N22. Organised by Haringey Solidarity Group.

Sunday 12th February - Seed Swap Sunday at Chances Club, 399 High Rd N17. 11.00-12.30: Growing in Haringey AGM 12.30-2.00: Networking lunch. 2.00pm - 4.00pm HARINGEY SEED SWAP. Organised by Growing In Haringey.


Monday 20th February - 6pm - Demonstrate for our local public services! No to another £20m Council cuts! Assemble Wood Green Library, N22. March to Haringey Civic Centre for rally at 6.45pm. Organised by Haringey Alliance for Public Services

Wednesday 29th February - 7pm Sustainable Haringey & Haringey 40:20 present: 'What is Low Carbon Living?' public meeting. Wood Green Library, N22 6XD

Feb - March open meeetings - Digital tv switchover: how can you support the people you work with? A briefing for reps of community groups.
· Wednesday 1st February at 3pm at Hornsey Vale Community Centre, 60 Mayfield Road, N8 9LP
· Wednesday 8th February at 10.30 at The Selby Centre, Selby Road, London N17 8JL
· Wednesday 14th March at 3pm at Hornsey Vale Community Centre
· Wednesday 21st March at 10.30am at The Selby Centre

Some thoughts on restricting heavy Goods vehicles on Haringey Streets - from the Haringey Federation of Residents Associations


SAVE HARINGEY'S COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
Say NO to privatisation
Demonstrate
Saturday 28th January
Assemble 12 noon
@ Keston Road by Downhills Primary School, Philip Lane, N15

4 Haringey primary schools are under threat of being forced by the Government to become academies. This means they would be run by a private company. The campaign is being organised by local parents, governors and teachers - and the march follows a recent massive 600-strong public campaign meeting held at Downhills School.

Please join the demonstration if you..

• Do not want Haringey schools to be forced to become academies;
• Support our local family of schools and do not want them privatised;
• Demand funding justice from the government for Haringey children

http://www.hcaa.org.uk/



Haringey Fuel Poverty Warm-up Action
Sunday 29th January
12 noon, Meet outside Boots, Wood Green High Road (next to Shopping City), N22
Come and join us - don't sit in the cold alone! We will be calling on all shops, pubs and public buildings to welcome those who wish to get warm.
Please bring flasks of tea, nibbles, folding chairs, board games, placards etc...

* No more deaths from hypothermia * Reduce fuel bills now - no to cut-offs * Insulate all homes effectively * Reclaim public space
* Expose energy companies profit scandal * Yes to renewable energy - phase out fossil fuel energy production to prevent climate catastrophe

Fuel poverty should be seen as a public scandal, not as a private problem. One in four families in the UK is shivering, out of sight, behind closed doors. There were a shocking 25,700 additional UK deaths last winter compared with other seasons. Yet the 'Big Six' energy corporations are making massive profits. The government and energy companies may want to keep it this way, but we say this can’t go on.

In the UK, these companies are deciding how 99% of our energy is sourced, produced and priced. Under this monopoly, we have no say in these decisions, despite them having a major effect on our health and on our climate.

So, we’re coming out with thermoses and snacks, info displays and games to hold a public coffee lunch for local people of all ages. Together we will ‘warm up’ in a local venue, check our energy bills and tarriffs, have a good chat, and call for people’s welfare to come first!

Please join in!

Organised by Haringey Solidarity Group, supported by Haringey Alliance for Public Services, and Haringey Housing Action Group. Part of nationwide weekend of action: Info: www.fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com Local information: 0208 216 9651

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Seed Swap Sunday
Sunday 12 February
at Chances Club, 399 High Rd N17

11.00-12.30: Growing in Haringey AGM
12.30-2.00: Networking lunch & Seed Swap set-up

2.00pm - 4.00pm HARINGEY SEED SWAP
All gardeners welcome – entrance free, donation to support GROWING-iN-hARINGEY work requested.

Bring seeds to swap, if you have them – veg, herbs, fruit, flowers. Bring information and photos of your garden for our display – and find out about local community gardens. Refreshments available

Seed Swap Days aim to encourage seed-saving and growing from seed, especially of traditional and local varieties. Growing in Haringey is the umbrella network for community gardening and sustainable food projects in Haringey: directory of projects and events at www.growinginharingey.org.uk, where you can sign up for GIH’s monthly email newsletter or join GIH google-group.
.
Tottenham Chances: lively and friendly community music and events enterprise, now starting up its own community garden, in the old Royal British Legion building: 399 High Rd, N17 – five mins walk north of Seven Sisters Tube station. Lots of buses up High Rd, plus 41, 230, 123 east-west services.

GIH is part of the Sustainable Haringey network: www.sustainableharingey.org.uk

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Haringey Alliance for Public Services
www.hapsnews.net

Demonstrate for our local public services!
DEFEND COUNCIL SERVICES AND JOBS CURRENTLY UNDER THREAT OF £20m FURTHER CUTS!
SPEAK OUT FOR THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR WORKFORCE
Monday February 20th
6pm - Assemble Wood Green Library, N22. March to Haringey Civic Centre for rally at 6.45pm


Invitation to all local community organisations and trades unions to support the Haringey residents' and workers' demonstration to the next Full Council meeting

Dear Friends

The Council is currently 'consulting' the public over proposals to cut another £20m off our vital local services. This is due to the Government's determination to underfund and undermine public services as they seek to force them to close or be privatised.

The deepest and most significant public spending cuts since the 1920’s are creating widespread anger as jobs are lost and services reduced. The Government has no mandate for such a radical programme to dismantle the welfare state. The cuts threaten to turn the economic recession into a long-term depression. A downward spiral of rising unemployment leading to more cuts is now likely. Our services and jobs are being sacrificed to bail out the banking system, which caused the crisis in the first place.

However there is still everything to fight for. Throughout London and the UK local anti-cuts campaigns have mobilised to encourage local communities and workers to speak out. Over the last year in Haringey there have been many lobbies, marches, rallies, street stalls and protests - and many service user groups have organised and campaigned to defend their services under threat. In August HAPS co-organised a 3,000-strong 'Give Our Kids A Future' demonstration. Local public sector workers have also defended their jobs and conditions of work, and 1,000 attended their anti-cuts demonstration at the beginning of 2011. In addition the TUC’s national anti-cuts March for the Alternative attracted over half a million people – the largest union-organised demonstration in British history. This was followed up in June and November by 2 million public sector workers taking industrial action to defend their pensions.

Recently 600 people attended a campaign meeting at Downhills School to pledge to resist the Government's attempts to force 4 local primary schools to become 'academies'.

It is clear there is the will to resist the Government’s programme of cuts and privatisation. Let's make those who caused the economic crisis, not the public, pay for it out of their hundreds of billions of pounds of obscene profits, bonuses and tax avoidance scams. Councillors should stand up to the Government and demand adequate resources for Haringey.

Haringey Alliance for Public Services supports all these battles and we want to see the greatest possible unity against cuts. We are planning this local Haringey demonstration to pull together everyone who wants to fight back, and to build on the success of last year's mobilisations.

1. Please let us know your organisation supports the demonstration and can publicise it to your members. Leaflets are available from us (as from 28th January). Let us know if you'd like a HAPS rep to attend one of your meetings. Affiliations/donations very welcome - please make cheques to 'Haringey Trades Union Council (HAPS)'.
2. You are invited to send a rep to the next HAPS planning meeting, Thursday 2nd February, 7.15pm at the North London Community Centre, Moorefield Road, London N17 to help with the publicity and preparations
3. Note that there may be objections/deputations from some organisations regarding specific cuts at the next Council Cabinet Meeting, Tuesday February 7th at the Civic Centre, High Road, N22.

Haringey Alliance for Public Services supporters include: Haringey Trades Union Council, Haringey Federation of Residents Associations, Haringey UNISON, CoHENEL University & College Union, Day-Mer, Defend Haringey’s Health Services Coalition, Haringey Friends of Parks Forum, the Sustainable Haringey network, and a range of other community groups, trade union branches and political organisations.

For more information check out our webpages or contact: haps@haringey.org.uk / 0208 216 9651


Sustainable Haringey Network and Haringey 40:20 present
What is Low Carbon Living?
Wednesday 29 February 2012 - 7pm
Wood Green Library, N22 6XD

All Welcome

Come and hear how Prashant Vaze got his household to get clever and save money while taking action to use less energy. Prashant is advising Haringey Council on how to reduce carbon emissions in the Borough by 40% by 2020. He wrote “The Economical Environmentalist” that shows the costs of choosing a more environmentally friendly lifestyle.

Note:
Haringey Ladder Gets Sustainable
St Paul’s Church Centre, Cavendish Road, N4 1RT
Thursday 16 February 2012
6.30-8.30pm All Welcome
Organised by Sustainable Haringey Network and HarringayOnline

Find out how to give your home and lifestyle a green makeover. Learn about what your neighbours have done to insulate their homes, about installing solar pv panels and about what the Council and local groups are doing to bring down the cost of saving energy



Digital tv switchover – how can your support your members and the people you work with?
A briefing for reps of community groups...

Do you work (as a paid member of staff or volunteer) with the following people: Older people; People with sensory, mobility or dexterity impairments;People with learning difficulties;People who have experienced mental health conditions; People whose first language is not English; People who may be socially isolated? then come along to a free briefing session where you will learn about digital tv switchover, what it means for people, the support on offer and find out about the free resources that are available and information about a small grants scheme.

The briefing sessions last for between 1 and 1.5 hours and take place on:

· Wednesday 1st February at 3pm at Hornsey Vale Community Centre, 60 Mayfield Road, N8 9LP
· Wednesday 8th February at 10.30 at The Selby Centre, Selby Road, London N17 8JL
· Wednesday 14th March at 3pm at Hornsey Vale Community Centre
· Wednesday 21st March at 10.30am at The Selby Centre

To book a free place contact Lisa Charalambous, Community Outreach Officer, at lisa@elcvsnetwork.org.uk or ring 07840353551. If you are unable to attend a session but would like to discuss a session for your staff and volunteers then please contact Lisa. The Digital TV Switchover Community Outreach Programme is part-hosted by The Selby Centre


Haringey Federation of Residents Associations
RESTRICTING HEAVY GOODS VEHICLES ON HARINGEY STREETS

To Cllrs Canver and Bull bcc HFRA officers and TGRG

Please note we have been informed today (see below) that there is a consultation [with key stakeholders] about HGV vehicles in Haringey.

1. As the consultation deadline was yesterday it would have been helpful if we had been informed earlier. Please ensure HFRA is routinely informed about any key stakeholder consultations affecting local communities in Haringey.

2. It is our view (as it has been for a number of years) that we would support restrictions on HGV usage throughout the borough, or in any proposed part of the borough, particularly in any residential streets but preferably on all streets.

3. To save money, reduce clutter and help with enforcement, it would make sense for a borough-wide restriction.

4. This approach would also apply to the much-needed implentation of a borough-wide 20mph default speed limit.

Sincerely

Dave Morris (Secretary) and Joyce Rosser (Chair)
- for the HFRA

Highgate in Transition?

Thursday February 16th 7pm - 9pm at Highgate School, The Mills Centre, Bishopswood Road, N6

Highgate in Transition?

Would you like to get involved in positive, practical local solutions to climate change, peak oil and the fragility of the financial system. The Transition Movement is about creating greener, happier, more resilient communities. Join us to hear more about Transition from Alexis Rowell and neighbouring Transition groups. Watch some thought-provoking short films, share what you’re already doing and discuss Transition ideas. And enjoy a delicious wild foods buffet!

For more information and venue details/map, please see our event
poster http://j.mp/xLXMat, our event leaflet http://j.mp/wceFa7 or
visit www.hican.org.uk.

What is Low Carbon Living?

What is Low Carbon Living?

Sustainable Haringey Network and Haringey 40:20

Wood Green Library, N22 6XD

Wednesday 29 February - 7pm

All Welcome

HARINGEY

Come and hear how Prashant Vaze got his household to get clever and save money while taking action to use less energy

Prashant is advising Haringey Council on how to reduce carbon emissions in the Borough by 40% by 2020. He wrote “The Economical Environmentalist” that shows the costs of choosing a more environmentally friendly lifestyle.

Organised by Sustainable Haringey Network and Haringey 40:20 www.sustainableharingey.org.uk + www.haringey4020.org.uk

Marcin Jakubowski: Open-sourced blueprints for civilization

Consensus Decision Making, 26th January (London)

Consensus Decision Making, 26th January (London)

Harness the knowledge and imagination of everybody and make decisions that reflect the views of a whole community.

All across the UK large and small charities, companies and member owned groups are finding that involving staff and stakeholders is now an essential part of how they run their organisation. Whether working with 5 or 1500 people you need to able to make quality decisions that stick.

This course will help you to take decisions: in a way that is constructive and collaborative; that reflect the values and knowledge of the employees, members or stakeholders; and which build a greater sense of ownership of the final outcomes.

This training day will give you a theoretical framework for thinking about consensus decision-making (CDM) and the practical skills you need to put it into practice. You will be presented with two contrasting approaches to CDM, so that you can decide which aspects of each one fit your needs and resources. The day combines presentations, experiential sessions, group discussions and real life case studies.

The training session will provide:

The background to consensus decision-making

The values that underpin consensus

Common obstacles to effective consensus and techniques for how they can be avoided or dealt with

Practical techniques for you to develop your own method

Detailed case studies that show how the techniques are used

A “consensus clinic” where you work out how to use CDM in your organisation or community.

Resource packs to reinforce what you have learned on the day.

Course outcomes

Fuller understanding of what consensus decision-making is and is not

Clear techniques you can apply immediately

A sense of where and how they could be applied in your organisation

Who should attend this course?

Anyone that wants to fully engage their staff, members, stakeholders or the wider community in the decision making process.

Organisations already using CDM include: charities, businesses, campaign groups, NGOs, housing associations, community groups, the United Nations and even football clubs.

Facilitated by:

Perry Walker

Perry Walker is one of the co-facilitators. He developed Crowd Wise, the approach he will be presenting on the course, while Head of Democracy and Participation at nef (new economics foundation): he is now a fellow of nef. Organisations with whom he has used Crowd Wise include: Urban Forum; AFC Wimbledon; Transition Lewes; and the Fair Trade Foundation (working with Matthew. Perry has also invented a number of other participatory processes, especially the Democs conversation kits and the Open Up argument maps. He is an experienced facilitator and trainer.

Matthew Herbert

Matthew has been using consensus in a variety of settings for the last 18 years, and facilitating consensus courses for the last 10. He's supported groups of many kinds in its use - from co-operatives and co-housing projects to campaigning NGOs and community activist networks. He's facilitated consensus decision-making meetings with groups of 5 to 500 and co-authored several guides to using consensus. Matthew has worked with Scarman Trust, Campaign against the Arms Trade, Centre for Alternative Technology, Friends of the Earth, housing co-operatives such as Two Piers Co-op and Argyle Street Co-op, the Camp for Climate Action, Transition Towns initiatives, and the Woodcraft Folk.

Costs

£288: Large charities, public sector and businesses

£130: Smaller charities (under 15 staff) and individuals.

Concessionary rates of £20 are available for students, pensioners and the unemployed. Please contact us at info@talkaction.org for further details.

Tailored courses can be arranged for groups at a date and location to suit you.

Prices include a hot Mediterranean buffet lunch, Fair Trade refreshments and networking time.

For bookings and information please contact Jonathan on:

Email: jelliott@talkaction.org

http://www.talkaction.org/training/consensus-decision-making/