This is an account of a meeting that took place in St Agnes's Church Hall, West Kirby, Wirral on 19 September 2007, hosted by the St Agnes Justice & Peace group. Around fifty people discussed local responses to climate change and the end of cheap oil. The meeting was lead by Patrick Cleary and was attended by the Mayor of Wirral, Phil Gilchrist.
Our Response to Global Warming
Following a series of meetings in various churches in West Kirby, which included the film An Inconvenient Truth promoted by former US Vice- President Al Gore, who stood for the U.S. presidency and a meeting entitled How can we respond to the challenges of global warming and the end of cheap oil? addressed by Patrick Cleary at St Agnes RC Church, many in West Kirby agreed that global warming, the rise of sea levels from the melting of the ice-caps, changing agricultural patterns due to desertification and associated health risks were likely dangers which should be addressed not only by individuals but also by local councils, national governments and international institutions. The danger of mass forced migration within and between countries was perceived to be a threat, as well as the danger of resource wars, ever-diminishing stocks of oil and other resources.
St Agnes Justice and Peace Group decided to hold a public, ecumenical, consultation and give assistance in forming a community group to increase public awareness on these issues. St Bridget's Anglican Church had already committed itself to being an eco-parish. Over 50 people attended and reported back from about ten groups to the meeting. The Mayor of the Wirral also was there.
Personal Action
There was an abundance of ideas on personal action from turning the heating down in houses, to cutting down on car travel, or sharing cars, as well as taking the train, rather than the plane for holidays. Cycling was recommended for those who are able. Some people said they had already stopped travelling by car and had switched to low energy bulbs and others recommended buying energy efficient electrical goods, while a case was made for changing to green electricity. One group recommended the boycott of patio heaters, while another deplored the run-off created by paving gardens and the energy used in tumble drying.
Lagging houses and insulating cavity walls in buildings were seen by many groups as crucial changes. Some were eating less meat, as they perceived meat production to be an important user of energy which was required for other purposes. Some thought that people should do their own cooking and teach their children how to cook. There was a general agreement that food should be bought from local sources and if possible people should grow their own. The use of personal solar panels, wind turbines and earth heat generators should be explored.
Every family should produce its own plan in case of flooding which should range from the transport of essentials to alternative accommodation because some areas of the Wirral were perceived to be seriously at risk, from information obtained from the Environment Agency. Recycling by each household was essential to reduce energy consumption and preserve useful and expensive minerals. Any personal investment should be ethical and carefully evaluated for its effects. Most people, there, were prepared to support some community action, which included joining an environmental awareness group, working in a peace group or lobbying the authorities for the required changes in lifestyle. Everyone, it was suggested should write to their MP and outline their concerns.
Members of two groups emphasised the need to re-establish a spiritual link between the individual and the created world by meditation, inward focussing and group action, such as walking in beauty spots, or growing food.
Wirral Council and other local initiatives
Progress achieved by Wirral MBC was acknowledged but many thought additional action was required. There should be even better recycling, and much better public transport, such as an express bus service to Chester. A network of cycle paths was needed, safe from cars, accessible to children and comprehensive. Walking buses should be used for schools and children taught the basic principles of living harmoniously with their environment. The MBC should explore organising car sharing where appropriate and community gardens for children where needed. Cycle lessons should be made available to all ages. The MBC should put more land aside for allotments and provide garden advice. To encourage energy conservation, demonstration schemes and energy-free public holidays should be adopted. Swap days, to re-cycle, should be encouraged.
Revised planning controls were required to reflect changing conditions. No houses should be built on flood plains and there was a very urgent need for flood defences not only in West Kirby and Meols but also Leasowe. Local disaster plans should be upgraded as a matter of urgency which may entail education programmes for MBC staff. The business sector was using three times more electricity than the domestic sector. Therefore, the principles of energy conservation must be introduced to the sector as a matter of urgency.
Good local farmers' markets should be encouraged and even local currency/ letts schemes. Local and organic food should be used in all local authority establishments. The possibility of re-opening abandoned railway lines should be explored with the national government alongside the private sector. The National Warm Front scheme, which provides free insulation and low energy bulbs for the elderly, if they are also recognised as disabled, up to £2,700 for improvements, is helping those who are most at need. Ring 0800316 2814. That initiative and similar local schemes should be extended to cover tens of thousands rather than hundreds of households, as at present. If this required government support it should be requested.
Patrick Cleary suggestion that a committee should be formed to enable Wirral to join the Transition Towns movement was welcomed and about twenty people pledged their active support. A speaker from Energy Projects Plus, a local non- commercial body was willing to advise people - ring 0800 512 012
National
The British government, it was agreed by all groups, should do more to respond to this emergency. Planning for flood relief was urgent and required central government initiatives and support. Flying should be taxed and tax incentives used to encourage the adaptation required by climate change. Congestion charging should be extended. Legislation could ban stand-by buttons and possibly force companies to use water meters solely. The government must also be prepared to regulate business activity.
Urgent action was needed to reduce fares on public transport and introduce free travel. A national plan was needed to improve rail links and block the development of out of town shopping malls. Airport expansion should be stopped. Regulation to reduce packaging was required. If necessary this must be done by international negotiation.
The education of children was a priority and their views should be incorporated into government planning. The subject should be introduced into the national curriculum.
The creation of eco-towns as models was to be applauded and any new build town houses must be developed on sustainable principles. Energy efficiency measures should be subsidised where appropriate. Research and development in to all aspects of global warming should be supported by the UK government including the clean application of the gasification of coal products and small-scale renewable products, as well as alternative energy sources, carbon conservation and the effect of the farming of animals. The effect of a limit on car size and a reduction in speed limits should be evaluated.
The government should commit itself to co-operative international action [see below] and create a good example by establishing a Department of/for Peace.
International
Some of the most interesting ideas were in the field of international relations, for example the UN should encourage the mass planting of trees. Cash cropping depended on the export of food, often from food deprived regions to those countries with wide access to food. This should be banned. For all these reasons, the mechanisms of the UN should be strengthened.
Integrated international disaster planning and resource allocation was required to address the issues of forced mass migration brought about by desertification. The long-term needs of those requiring re-housing and relocation from floods should be researched, evaluated and put in place. Major research and development programmes were required to address health risk issues as well as the need to change agricultural methods and technology as major food production shifted to other areas, following climate change.
Furthermore, many groups recognised that there would be resource wars between countries and within countries and that this could be a major danger in any attempt at stabilisation. In addition, the manufacture of arms was a major cause of global warming so international action was required through the U.N. to create the conditions in which peace would flourish. Peace building was as important as peace keeping, otherwise international relations may deteriorate in the future into major confrontation and conflict over ever diminishing resources. Any arms races should be strongly opposed.
Article for the Shrewsbury Voice by Mary Brennan
Mary Brennan's Word file