Climate Emergency News

 

 

 

Stories of the week 22 September

 

Environment

This week saw the largest Climate Strike so far with millions marching around the world to stop the rapid destruction of our planet.   As thousands are choking on smoke from the fires in the Amazon and Pacific islands are disappearing under rising sea levels, school children inspired by Greta Thunberg and adults inspired by Extinction Rebellion took to the streets in cities around the world.

This in a week that also saw proof that toxic air and micro-plastics are crossing through the placenta and affecting unborn children.

But in good news, American citizens are waking up to the Climate Emergency and in the UK 85% of adults are concerned by the Climate Crisis.  In the UK, Labour has pledged to plant a million trees on NHS property.

 

 

Politics

This week saw the culmination of the Supreme Court’s review of whether Boris Johnson acted unlawfully by misleading the Queen over the prorogation of Parliament.  Brexit and Tory press tried to push this as unelected judges standing in the way of the will of the people but they didn’t try too hard. All other press viewed this as a fight for democracy and freedom against a dictatorial executive.  The Supreme Court is expected to reveal its decision in the coming week but legal experts are expecting a shock for the Government. They say that the fact that the judges talked about potential remedies at length and also refused to announce their judgement with reasons to follow means that that are going to find against Boris Johnson, now a Prime Minister who misled the Queen.  In the summing up, Lord Pannick said the Mother of Parliaments had been silenced by Boris Johnson, the father of lies.

Boris Johnson came in for more public humiliation this week at the Mercury Music Prize ceremony when prize nominee rapper Slowthai performed brandishing a severed Boris Johnson head and encouraged the audience to sing ‘F Boris’.

The Liberal Democrats launched ‘the fight of our lives for the heart and soul of Britain’ as they pledged to revoke Article 50 and remain in the EU without a referendum if they were in power.  The party led by Jo Swinson saw a wave of new support with their decision to remain.

 

Brexit

This has not been a good week for Boris Johnson at all. He faced international humiliation as he refused to take part in a press conference because there UK protestors angry at his No Deal Brexit stance. Johnson had met the Prime Minister of Luxembourg who continued with the press conference and pointed repeatedly to an empty podium. More international embarrassment for the UK.

 

 

Stories of the week 5 May

 

 

Politics

Local Elections took place this week and in no uncertain terms it was a Remain backlash against pro-Brexit parties particularly the Conservatives and the Labour Party.  Pro-Remain parties the Liberal Democrats and The Green Party surged ahead at the polls. The Conservatives lost hundreds of seats and control of numerous local Councils in what was seen as voter rejection from both Remainers and Leavers who have been dissatisfied with how Brexit has been dealt with by the Government. In no uncertain terms, voters across every region have shown their opinion and their voice by this overwhelming landslide victory for Pro-Remain parties in the clearest signal yet that the mood and the opinion of the country has changed in the almost three long years since the referendum.

In more bad news for the Government and for Leavers, Gavin Williamson was instantly dismissed by Prime Minister Theresa May for potentially breaking the Official Secrets Act and certainly for failing to adhere to the Ministerial Code. Williamson was found guilty of leaking vital security information over the possible inclusion of Huawei technology in the UK’s infrastructure. The highly embarrassed Prime Minister wants the matter close but not so Gavin Williamson who continues to plead his innocence despite having admitted he talked to the Press soon after the high level security meeting but didn’t mention this. MPs want a Police probe. The Government are saying that’s up to the Police. The Police are saying actually it’s the Government’s decision. Williamson could face up to two years in prison if found guilty.

In bizarre news for the UK’s now verging on comedy government, Boris Johnson was forced to delete a tweet claiming that he had voted in the local elections wher there wasn’t any voting taking place at all in his constituency. Also, Scottish Tory Leader, Ruth Davidson, has prevented Boris from appearing at the Scottish Tory Party Conference. Boris is anything but potential leadership material for a great many Conservatives.

 

 

Environment

At last some great political news for the UK. Jeremy Corbyn, after the Labour Party expressed report for Extinction Rebellion, begged MPs to declare a Climate Emergency which they dutifully did. The Climate emergency is the first official recognition of the huge and devastating impact climate change is having on our planet. It’s hoped that more governments will do the same and a number of environmental decisions can now be taken in the UK with this as its official position. A report was also released stating that the UK should target zero carbon emissions by 2050.

 

 

World

Venezuela’s President Maduro survived an attempted coup this week led by his political rival Juan Guaido. Donald Trump supported the coup whilst Putin supported the President, both leaders taking the world back to the 1960s with violent clashes with the military all over the country.