FW: Introducing the Big Six Energy Bash

[ac0...@surrey.ac.uk]

Hi all

 

I don't know if this event would be of interest to either Transition Woking or Transition Guildford.  It is organised by someone involved with Transition Heathrow.

 

All the best

 

Alexia

 

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From: Ian W [pend...@yahoo.co.uk]
Sent: 10 April 2012 15:07
To: Coke AC Ms (PG/R - C, C & E Eng)
Subject: Introducing the Big Six Energy Bash

Dear Alexia,

I’m contacting you as a member of the Climate Justice Collective (CJC). CJC are a grassroots UK network of individuals and groups taking action against the root causes of climate change: our economic and political systems, which prioritise profit over the needs of people and the environment. Our network is newly formed, having built itself up from Climate Camp, which you may have been aware of over the past few years.

We’re getting in touch to let you know about our upcoming actions, to offer whatever support we can to your group, and to see how we can learn from you, share resources, and potentially work alongside you.

Linking up Energy Struggles
One of the key aims of CJC this year is to “link up Energy Struggles”. We are challenging the corporate controlled energy systems that we currently have, and are calling for ‘Energy Democracy’: where communities control their own energy. We believe that transition initiatives such as Transition Guildford are part of the solution. So in the medium/long term we would like to learn more about your projects and see how we can work together. And in the short term there are a few things we could do - see below.

The Big Six Energy Bash: 3rd May
We are organising an event in London on May 3rd called ‘The Big Six Energy Bash’ . On this day, CEOs from the UK’s ‘Big Six’ energy companies will be meeting with government ministers at the ‘UK Energy Summit’. At the Summit, behind closed doors, decisions will be made on the basis of what will secure the energy companies’ profits, whatever the costs in terms of poverty and climate change. In response, we are organising a mass demonstration to challenge the corporate control of energy and to speak out for a democratic energy system. The event will have a focus on direct action, as we believe this is one of many diverse tactics that are valuable in achieving our aims. We want the event to be accessible to all: it will incorporate a chance for people to share ideas and experiences around fuel poverty, climate justice, corporate control and energy democracy, and will feature a family friendly, carnival atmosphere. However, the event is still in its early planning stages, so you can get involved and help make it what you would like it to be. See the website for more information about the action and the reasons for it. There are several ways that you could get involved with the Big Six Energy Bash:

Sign up to express your support for the event
Transition Guildford could sign-up to express your support for the Big Six Energy Bash and it’s aims. This would mean a link to your website and info about your group on our website and publicity.

Guest blogging
You could write guest blog posts for our website, promoting your work and explaining how it links into the messaging and themes of the Big Six Energy Bash.

Media
There will be opportunities for you to gain media exposure by doing interviews about your work and how it links into the Big Six Energy Bash.

Networking on the day
There will be plenty of opportunity to, for instance, give out flyers and information on the day. We plan for the event to include a big family friendly carnival space – if you would like to bring a stall for this space, then that would be great.

Workshops and speakers
We hope to organise a series of workshops at the main carnival space of the event. Specific workshops are to be confirmed, but it would be fantastic if you would like to put on a workshop or send a speaker to be part of a panel discussion.

Possible next steps
- We could meet up, face to face, to discuss these things and how we could work together into the future
- A couple of people involved with CJC could attend one of your meetings and explain who we are and what we’re doing
- You could, as a group or as individuals, get involved with CJC and the Big Six Energy Bash!

Coming up we have:

Tuesday 10th April, 7pm at Freedom Bookshop, Whitechapel: ‘Working Meeting’ to set up working groups and get moving on organising for the Big Six Energy Bash.

Sat 14th April, all day from 10am, ‘The Big Creative Bash’: Prop & banner making day at Grow Heathrow (Vineries Close, Sipson, West Drayton, UB7 0JG) and a chance to meet others going to the Big 6 Energy Bash.

Sunday 15th April: The Big Six Energy Bash national organising meeting, venue and times tbc, check the website for updates.

Tuesday 17th April, 7pm at the Grayston Centre, 28 Charles Square, N1 6HT: CJC London meeting.

Please do get in touch if you have any questions, would like to meet in person or take up our offer of having a couple of members of CJC attending one of your meetings, or would like to get involved in CJC or The Big Six Energy Bash in any of the ways listed above.

Many thanks and I look forward to hearing back from you,

Ian Westmoreland

Transition Heathrow and the Climate Justice Collective

Email: climatejusti...@gmail.com
Twitter: @CJ_Collective
Facebook: Climate Justice Collective
Website: climatejusticecollective.org