Yearly Archives: 2023

Dutch MP majority in favour of potential phase-out of fossil fuel subsidies

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Extinction Rebellion activists block the Utrechtsebaan of the A12 highway in The Hague to protest against fossil fuel subsidies, 26 November 2022 - Credit: Extinction Rebellion / Provided - License: All Rights Reserved
Extinction Rebellion activists block the Utrechtsebaan of the A12 highway in The Hague to protest against fossil fuel subsidies, 26 November 2022 – Credit: Extinction Rebellion / Provided – License: All Rights Reserved

https://nltimes.nl/2023/10/10/mp-majority-favor-potential-phase-fossil-fuel-subsidies

A majority of the Tweede Kamer adopted on Tuesday afternoon a motion from Suzanne Kroger (GroenLinks) and Raoul Boucke (D66) that calls for a possible phase-out plan for fossil fuel subsidies. GroenLinks-PvdA, D66, PvdD, SP, ChristenUnie, Volt, Bij1, Denk, VVD and CDA voted in favor.

NOS reported prior to the vote on Tuesday that the CDA would vote in favor of the motion, meaning a parliamentary majority would be reached. CDA MP Derk Boswijk told NOS prior to the vote that his party would eventually vote in favor because “we, as CDA, want to pass on a cleaner world to the next generation.” He believes it’s wise to explore how fossil subsidies can be phased out “in a sensible manner.”

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The climate activist group, Extinction Rebellion[NL], blocked the A12 highway in The Hague for several consecutive days, pushing the Dutch government to abandon policies that support the fossil fuel industry. They suspended the blockades on Friday in anticipation of the parliamentary vote on Tuesday.

The organization announced on Tuesday prior to the vote that they will stop demonstrations on the A12 highway until Christmas, Nu.nl reported.

Extinction Rebellion NL image reads STOP FOSSIELE SUBSIDIES
Extinction Rebellion NL image reads STOP FOSSIELE SUBSIDIES

“Civil disobedience works,” the climate activist group stated on Tuesday. A spokesperson describes the vote as a significant step. “Recently, with the A12-blockades, we caused shockwaves in society and made people look differently at fossil fuel subsidies. That social change has translated into politics today. And that is what we always wanted,” she said.

She added that the XR will now look at the implementation of the bill. “Of course we will look critically at what happens next. Should it turn out that politics fails again, we will come back with much more,” she said.

Continue ReadingDutch MP majority in favour of potential phase-out of fossil fuel subsidies

After ‘Mind-Blowing’ September, 2023 Set to Be Hottest Year on Record: EU Climate Agency

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Original article by JAKE JOHNSON republished from Common Dreams under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). 

Scientists protest at UK Parliament 5 September 2023.
Scientists protest at UK Parliament 5 September 2023.

“The unprecedented temperatures for the time of year observed in September—following a record summer—have broken records by an extraordinary amount.”

Europe’s Copernicus Climate Change Service said Thursday that 2023 is on track to be the hottest year ever recorded following a string of scorching months, including an unusually warm September that stunned scientists.

Copernicus director Carlo Buontempo toldThe Associated Press that September was “just mindblowing” and that he has “never seen anything like that in any month in our records,” echoing the sentiments of other experts.

The European climate agency said Thursday that last month was the warmest September on record globally and “the most anomalous warm month of any year” in its dataset going back to 1940.

“The month as a whole was around 1.75°C warmer than the September average for 1850-1900, the preindustrial reference period,” the agency noted. “The global temperature for January-September 2023 was 0.52°C higher than average, and 0.05°C higher than the equivalent period in the warmest calendar year (2016).”

Samantha Burgess, Copernicus’ deputy director, said in a statement that “the unprecedented temperatures for the time of year observed in September—following a record summer—have broken records by an extraordinary amount.”

“This extreme month has pushed 2023 into the dubious honor of first place—on track to be the warmest year and around 1.4°C above preindustrial average temperatures,” Burgess added. “Two months out from COP28—the sense of urgency for ambitious climate action has never been more critical.”

(Credit: Copernicus Climate Change Service/ECMWF)
(Credit: Copernicus Climate Change Service/ECMWF)

The new Copernicus data came hours after the release of a United Nations report that called on nations worldwide to end fossil fuel exploration by 2030, warning that countries are not acting with sufficient urgency to rein in planet-heating pollution.

Simon Stiell, the U.N. climate chief, said the report “puts the cards on the table—except this is not a game.”

“We know that we as the global community are not on track towards achieving the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement and that there is a rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a livable and sustainable future,” said Stiell.

Original article by JAKE JOHNSON republished from Common Dreams under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). 

Continue ReadingAfter ‘Mind-Blowing’ September, 2023 Set to Be Hottest Year on Record: EU Climate Agency

Unprecedented crises call for bold solutions

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/unprecedented-crises-call-bold-solutions

Transformative politics and a renewed commitment to democracy are needed if we’re to build a more equal, sustainable and peaceful world, writes JEREMY CORBYN MP

Image of Jeremy Corbyn MP, former leader of the Labour Party
Jeremy Corbyn MP, former leader of the Labour Party

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Devoid of solutions for the crises they have created, the Tories have resorted to punching down on the most marginalised people in our society.

Rishi Sunak’s speech was an equally spineless charade. Not a word on housing. Nothing on social care. Does he care 4.2 million children live in poverty? Does he know that we’re sleepwalking into climate catastrophe?

Having witnessed this horror show of fear, despair and division, the Labour Party has a choice this week in Liverpool.

Do we let their hatred spread unchallenged? Or do we offer an alternative of inclusion, equality and hope? Do we allow them to convince the British public that inequality and poverty are inevitable? Or do we mobilise around the possibility of a better world?

Unprecedented crises call for bold solutions. That means building a new economy that satisfies human needs, not corporate greed.

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There is a reason why these demands for a more equal, sustainable and peaceful world are not being made by the Labour leadership.

The absence of transformative ideas has been caused by a dearth of democracy. This year marks 50 years since we founded the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy.

We did this to empower party members and expand their rights. Today, these rights are under attack up and down the country.

Local branches like my own are being sidelined, party members are being silenced and democracy is being stifled. This is not coincidental to the drastic political shift away from our redistributive programme.

Our transformative policies from 2017 and 2019 were not imposed from the top. They were developed, formulated and defended by members and affiliates.

That is how it should be. Democracy is the foundation of the Labour Party. It is essential to a healthy, creative and collective movement.

And, ultimately, only a movement that empowers its members can generate the transformative policies this country desperately needs.

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/unprecedented-crises-call-bold-solutions

Continue ReadingUnprecedented crises call for bold solutions

We Own it protesters demand Labour commits to reinstating fully public NHS

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/we-own-it-protesters-demand-labour-commits-reinstating-fully-public-nhs

We Own It campaigners in masks outside the conference hall

ANTI-privatisation campaigners gathered outside the Labour Party conference today morning to demand that leader Sir Keir Starmer commit to reinstating the NHS as a fully public service.

Protesters from We Own It wore masks of the most recent Tory prime ministers and cut into an NHS box using knives adorned with private company logos while a masked Sir Keir watched as delegates began arriving at the conference in Liverpool.

We Own It director Cat Hobbs said: “In 2010, the NHS was rated the most efficient and best-performing health service in the world.

“The message of our action … is that after 13 years of cuts and privatisation, Keir Starmer has an opportunity to be a hero to the NHS by committing, in his speech to conference, to reinstate it as a fully public service.

“We want to say to Keir Starmer that the public wants a leader who will stand up for our NHS.”

Ms Hobbs said the public call is “too clear for Labour to ignore.”

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/we-own-it-protesters-demand-labour-commits-reinstating-fully-public-nhs

Continue ReadingWe Own it protesters demand Labour commits to reinstating fully public NHS