The eviction of the Mainshill Solidarity Camp has come to an end after five days of intense resistance. A total of 45 people have been arrested, making Mainshill the biggest protest site eviction in 11 years. The eviction is not an end, but merely a beginning - the struggle continues!

I was recommended this book while being slaughtered in an argument about climate change and renewable energy. I was expounding the ‘green new deal’ idea, where the state could invest in wind power and other renewables while the recession is on and unemployment high. My opponent responded that wind power was not sufficient to meet our needs. Now, I’d heard it said that meeting our energy requirements with wind power would require covering most of the British Isles in wind generators, but this nay-saying had been shoved into the back of my mind. However, I had no figures to defend my position with, so the discussion moved on to other things.

Ahead of the UN climate summit in Copenhagen and global demonstrations to demand action on climate change this December, the Scottish Socialist Party hosts a discussion on the environmental crisis that faces us. We’re bringing together radical socialists, environmentalists and greens to discuss what solutions are needed to avoid enviromental disaster and ask the question… IS IT TIME FOR AN ECOLOGICAL REVOLUTION?
It is more important than ever for socialists and environmentalists to work together to challenge the system that puts profit and greed before the needs of people and planet, and to avert the potentially catastrophic consequences that climate change will have.

PUBLIC MEETING: Monday 30 November, 7pm. The Piper on the Square pub, corner of George Sq

with speakers:
Dan Glass - Plane Stupid
Justin Kenrick - environmental activist, 350 campaign
Liam Young - SSP environment spokesperson
Danny Alderslowe - Green Party councillor

 More info. on The Wave climate change demo - taking place in Glasgow on Dec 5th is available here: www.the-wave.org.uk/scotland

Yesterday a march in Edinburgh took place to highlight the need for the upcoming Copenhagen summit to pull its finger out and come up with meaningful action on climate change, viz. to limit the amount of atmospheric CO2 to 350 parts per million.

Early this morning residents of the Mainshill Solidarity Camp in South Lanarkshire stopped logging for the day by putting their bodies and ingenuity between machinery and the trees.

[Coal Action Scotland | Mainshill Solidarity Camp ]

For Immediate Release:
Human Banner for the International Day of Climate Action, Sat Oct 24th

Contact:
Dr. Keith Baker
07884 125540
350humanbanner@googlemail.com

SCOTLAND JOINS GLOBAL DAY OF CLIMATE ACTION TO SPREAD MOST IMPORTANT NUMBER IN THE WORLD

One of Over 2,000 Simultaneous Events in Over 150 Countries

On Saturday October 24th, hundreds of campaigners and drummers will gather outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, to form a human banner in the shape of the number 350. Participants will join more than 2,000 communities in over 150 countries as part of a International Day of Climate Action coordinated by the international NGO, 350.org, to urge world leaders to take bold and immediate steps to address climate change and reduce carbon emissions.

Around the world, from capitol cities to the melting slopes of Mount Everest, even underwater on dying coral reefs, people will hold rallies to focus attention on the number 350 because scientists have insisted in recent years that 350 parts per million (ppm) is the most carbon dioxide we can safely have in the atmosphere.

“Unless we are able to rapidly return to 350ppm this century, we risk reaching tipping points and irreversible impacts such as the melting of the Greenland ice sheet and major methane releases from increased permafrost melt”, said Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org and author twenty years ago of the first major book on climate change. “And that's why we need a huge worldwide movement to give us the momentum to make real political change.”

Citizens’ Action is Best Response for Disaster.

Saying that the country needs to unite in order to confront and address the calamities brought about by typhoon Ondoy, Akbayan Party-list Rep. Walden Bello on Monday asked every Filipino here in the Philippines and those overseas to summon their Bayanihan spirit and help the victims in any way possible.

President Grimsson of Iceland discusses ten new security issues facing the world because of climate change, including increased drought, flooding, and migration, and the opening up of new sea routes caused by the melting of the Arctic ice. Carnegie Council talk, April 1, 2008.

 Climate Camp Scotland and Coal Action Scotland have released a 'Targets Brouchure'

Scotland's Camp for Climate Action taking place at the site of a proposed open cast mine at Mainshill woods near Douglas. A protest camp has already been in place for six weeks campaigning against the plans which have gone through despite strong local opposition. The area is already one of the most heavily mined in Europe.