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Thousands march in London to urge leaders to tackle wildlife crisis

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https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jun/22/thousands-march-london-urge-leaders-tackle-uk-wildlife-crisis

Thousands of people marched through central London to urge political leaders to take more decisive action in tackling the UK’s wildlife crisis.

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Demonstrators descended on the capital wearing glittery outfits, elaborate animal costumes and intricate face paint. Protesters were calm but the placards they held up revealed an undercurrent of frustration and anger. One read: “We have been swimming in shit.” There were also chants of “less faeces more species”.

The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, with one in six species in Britain at risk of extinction.

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A total of 350 environmental groups came together to pressure the government to act more robustly and decisively against the biodiversity crisis. Charities including the National Trust, the Wildlife Trusts, the RSPB and Friends of the Earth stood side by side with direct action groups such as Just Stop Oil, Extinction Rebellion and Animal Rising.

Henry Swithinbank from Surfers Against Sewage. Photograph: Sophia Evans/The Observer

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Article continues at https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jun/22/thousands-march-london-urge-leaders-tackle-uk-wildlife-crisis

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‘We will not vote for those who normalise massacres’

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/we-will-not-vote-those-who-normalise-massacres

People take part in a national demonstration for Gaza from Russell Square to Whitehall in London, June 8, 2024

Hundreds of thousands protest across Britain demanding end to Gaza bloodshed

OVER the weekend, hundreds of thousands of people flooded Britain’s streets, calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and warning political parties to stop arming Israel if they expect support in the upcoming election.

On Saturday, over 150,000 gathered in London for the 15th national march for Palestine.

The march took place as Israel carried out a murderous assault on Nuseirat refugee camp in Gaza.

Israeli forces killed at least 274 Palestinians and injured 698 more, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

Four Israeli captives were freed during the raid.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ignored the horrific death toll, instead describing the release of the captives as a “huge relief.”

Two days before, an Israeli air strike hit a UN school, murdering 33 people, including nine children.

Speaking at the rally, Palestine Solidarity Campaign director Ben Jamal accused political leaders of having “normalised massacres.”

He said: “Now our political leaders are coming before you asking for your vote. Your answer needs to be clear.

“We will not vote for those who normalise massacres.

“We will not vote for those who greenlight genocide.

“We will not vote for those who collaborate with systems of apartheid.”

He emphasised that justice for Palestinians needs to be forced onto the election agenda like never before.

Lindsey German from Stop the War said the massive demonstration, which stretched along Whitehall, sent “the loudest possible message to our politicians that the public support an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza.”

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Article continues at https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/we-will-not-vote-those-who-normalise-massacres

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Six medics on trial after raising alarm about climate change’s danger to public health

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/six-medics-trial-after-raising-alarm-about-climate-changes-danger-public-health

ACHARITY director has questioned whether putting medical professionals “behind bars” is in the public interest as six medics face imprisonment for raising awareness of climate change’s impact on public health.

The medics, who in 2022 cracked panes of glass at JP Morgan’s offices in Canary Wharf, London, could lose their professional status.

They plastered posters on the office reading: “In case of medical climate emergency break glass,” during a record-breaking heatwave.

Despite acknowledging in a leaked report that climate change was a threat to the human race, JP Morgan has poured £339 billion into the fossil fuel sector since the 2015 Paris Agreement.

Psychiatrist Dr Juliette Brown, dementia nurse Maggie Fay, GPs Dr David McKelvey, Dr Patrick Hart, consultant Dr Alice Clack and mental health specialist Ali Rowe are on trial this week for criminal damage at Snaresbrook Crown Court.

The medics have been denied all legal defences by the judge, echoing clampdowns on other climate protesters.

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/six-medics-trial-after-raising-alarm-about-climate-changes-danger-public-health

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London seeing more days above 30C, experts say

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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx9wprd0kw9o

The capital is seeing an increase in extreme heat events, a researcher said

London is seeing an increase in the number of days where the temperature climbs above 30C (86F), new analysis shows.

The International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) analysis shows the capital has experienced 116 days higher than 30C in the past three decades – more than half of which occurred in the last 10 years.

Really extreme temperatures have become more frequent too, with seven days above 35C in the past three decades, five of which occurred within the last five years, statistics from 1994-2023 show.

A researcher behind the study said London must adapt to the “new reality”.

The analysis found consecutive days above 30C were becoming more common – in the 1990s and 2000s there were two years in each decade with three or more days in a row where temperatures soared over 30C.

But since 2017, every year except 2021 has seen the temperature climb above 30C in London for three or more consecutive days each summer.

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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx9wprd0kw9o

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New survey reveals more Londoners affected by lack of photo ID than previously thought

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https://leftfootforward.org/2024/05/new-survey-reveals-more-londoners-affected-by-lack-of-photo-id-than-previously-thought/

Over 10% of potential voters lack photo ID in some areas of London

Controversial voter ID requirements introduced by the Tories will affect more people in London than previous polling has indicated, a new survey finds. 

Latest analysis carried out by research organisation Survation found that 5% of registered voters in London lack a valid form of photo ID, with the figure rising up to 11% in the north-east London ward Becontree, where the highest number of voters lacked voter ID. 

The data results, published at the end of April, showed more people in London are affected by the new Tory law than previous polling has indicated, according to Survation. As these figures reflect a percentage of those on the electoral register, rather than of all UK respondents. 

New requirements make it compulsory to bring an approved form of identification when casting a vote at the polling station, affecting voters in the local elections today, Thursday 2 May. Polling by YouGov last September found that one-in-four London voters were unaware of the new requirements. 

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https://leftfootforward.org/2024/05/new-survey-reveals-more-londoners-affected-by-lack-of-photo-id-than-previously-thought/

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