HSBC proves to be a controversial sponsor of Big City Bike Ride

We were both celebrating and protesting at the HSBC sponsored Big City Bike Ride. HSBC are the UK’s biggest investor in fossil fuels but they claim that they are helping to create ‘a happier, healthier, greener Britain’. We are calling on HSBC to put their money where their mouth is and move their money from dirty energy to renewables.

In the morning, four of us were dismayed to be asked to leave De Montfort University campus by security. We were protesting peacefully to highlight HSBC’s hypocrisy in sponsoring this event but the security told us we were not welcome. Compared to our four or five little signs, HSBC were allowed to adorn the entire campus with their branding and advertising. We will be contacting the university to discuss their decision to ban free speech.

The episode was widely discussed on social media. Reece Steven Stafferton, a DMU student, said: ‘Why does it seem like DMU are protecting HSBC’s investment in fossil fuels? They claim to be about sustainability but then do this? As a student, I'm ashamed!’

During the afternoon, we invited cyclists and passers-by to take a selfie with messages such as: ‘HSBC: Stop pedalling fossil fuels’. People were offered a tool to tell them how they can influence the big banks to dis-invest from fossil fuels and invest in renewable energy instead. We also cycled around the route with bespoke banners displayed on our cycle pannier racks in order to carry the message throughout the city.

Additional information:

1. Ethical consumer: Christian Aid:Our Future in their Plans: Why Private Finance is the Public’s Business (November 2016); Rainforest Action Network (RAN) Reports: Shorting the Climate: fossil fuel finance report card 2016 (2016) ; www.banktrack.org:banktrack.org (30 April 2011)

A recent Christian Aid report found that, following the Paris Climate Agreement, the big four banks are still investing far more in fossil fuels than in clean energy, therefore putting our health and the health of the planet at risk, and also taking unacceptable risks with customers’ investments. Specifically, the report stated that, HSBC Bank had no timeline for a transition plan; was still financing coal, oil and gas; and did not have measurable targets for increasing financing to renewables.

Rolling Resistance in Lancashire

Report by Sara Thornton, Leicester Friends of the Earth member.

From the 19th to the 25th of July, I stayed at the Maple Farm camp by Preston New Road (PNR) to take part in the peaceful protests against Cuadrilla and their efforts of fracking in Lancashire. This week was part of Reclaim the Power’s month of ‘Rolling Resistance’ at PNR. It was a week of spending almost 12 hours a day out on the road in the sun and rain, taking part in sit-ins, singing songs, sharing food, documenting the events of the week and supporting those that had decided to lock themselves into arm tubes in their efforts to stop Cuadrilla’s work for the day. There was regular violence from both Cuadrilla’s security guards and police officers, but the spirit of those protesting endured in their conviction of protecting the environment their children and grandchildren would grow up in, protecting the health of the local communities as well as our global climate.

The food we shared was absolutely delicious (vegetarian and vegan) and cooked by volunteers. I also helped in the kitchen, cleaning the dishes after meals, and for those who do not want to be on the front lines of PNR by Cuadrilla’s gates, there is plenty of support work to be done back at camp. The weekend was spent with different workshops including workshops on Direct Action, Activist Meditation and organic farming. We listened to live music, and regained energy for the following week.

Until the day comes when Cuadrilla halts its work on Preston New Road, peaceful and determined resistance will surely continue. I would recommend anyone who has the chance to take a trip up to Blackpool and meet this inspiring group of local community members and activists. Sincere thanks go to all those who are at PNR, keep up the amazing work and keep the love in your hearts! You are an inspiration to us all and I hope I can join you again soon.

Refugee Week event: Stories of climate change and migration

As part of Refugee Week, an event was held at City Hall to address the impact of climate change on people from around the world.

‘Stories of Climate Change and Migration’ was an evening of talks and discussion hosted by Leicester City Council, Leicester Friends of the Earth and Global Justice Leicester. The event highlighted the link between ongoing climate change phenomena and the movement of people.  

Speakers gave their personal stories of how climate change is affecting people in different regions of the world, from Nigeria, the Caribbean, Nicaragua, Bangladesh and the Philippines. The evening was introduced by Cllr Manjula Sood, assistant city mayor responsible for communities and equalities, with a closing speech from Cllr Adam Clarke, assistant city mayor responsible for the environment.

Refugees and migration are rarely far from the headlines but not all refugees are fleeing conflict. As global temperatures increase at rates exceeding most scientific predictions, more and more of the global population are feeling the impacts of climate change. Drought and extreme storms are forcing people to leave their homes in search of a better existence, increasing the risk of communities clashing over precious natural resources such as water.  It is estimated that since 2009, one person every second has been displaced by a disaster, with an average of 22.5 million people displaced by climate- or weather-related events since 2008*.

Mel Gould, member of Leicester Friends of the Earth who chaired the panel, said:

“Tonight we heard heart-rending stories of how climate change is affecting people around the world. Global warming creates extreme weather events, from typhoons in the Philippines to flooding in Bangladesh, which destroy people’s livelihoods and force them to move. But we also heard inspiring stories of people taking action to tackle climate change, like the reforestation project in Nigeria that is fighting the encroaching desert and enormous investments in renewable energy in Nicaragua.

As one of our speakers said tonight, climate change is a social justice problem but it is also a solvable problem and we must deal with it now so that more people are not forced to leave their homes.”

Photograph by Ambrose Musiyiwa, Civic Leicester. Dr. Shofiqui Islam Chowdhury is shown in the centre, who spoke about climate change in Bangladesh.

Festival of Renewable Energy

We held our third protest outside Barclays on Humberstone Gate on Saturday 6th May to express our opposition to the bank's investment in dirty energy. We celebrated clean, renewable energy and called on the bank to move their money and invest in a sustainable future.  

Members of Leicester Friends of the Earth and Leicestershire Against Onshore Drilling organised the ‘Festival of Renewable Energy’ to show Barclays where they should invest their customers’ money and tell them to stop funding shale gas extraction in Yorkshire. Barclays own 97% of Third Energy, the company that is planning to frack in Kirby Misperton, where the community are strongly opposed to having dirty energy extraction on their doorstep.

The festival began with an unannounced flash mob inside the bank. Red Leicester Choir walked into the bank quietly and then suddenly began singing a version of ‘Bella Ciao’, calling for action on climate change. At the end of the song, campaigners unfurled a giant banner that read ‘Toxic Bank’. The flash mob was streamed live on Leicester Friends of the Earth’s Facebook page and the video has since been shared widely on social media. Red Leicester Choir then sang several other songs about fracking and climate change outside the bank.

During the day, we talked to Barclays customers, to ask them if they realise that their money is invested in dirty energy, and asked passers-by to sign a petition calling for a moratorium on fracking. Children were invited to make a paper windmill and everyone was able to dress up in the anti-fracking selfie kit and take photos to spread awareness on social media. During the afternoon, a giant model wind turbine was constructed, to show Barclays where they should invest their money.

Renewable energy is growing around the world, particularly wind and solar. In many countries, solar is now cheaper than fossil fuels and prices are predicted to keep falling. A 100% clean energy future is possible and it should be our goal.

Here in the UK, we have colossal renewable energy resources from wind, wave and sun. We are already the world leader in offshore wind power and there is huge potential for growth. There are half a million solar installations on UK rooftops, which is creating jobs and boosting the economy.

We ask Barclays to invest their customers’ money in a clean, sustainable future

March Against Racism

On Saturday 18th March, members of Leicester Friends of the Earth went to London to take part in the March Against Racism. An estimated 30,000 people joined the march to protest against the wave of populism that led to Brexit and the election of Donald Trump. We joined the Climate Bloc, which highlighted how climate change is affecting those who have contributed least to the problem. We are now planning a local event as part of Refugee Week in June, to raise awareness of the way that climate change is forcing people to leave their homes.

Springtime Frack Free Festival

Barclay's are still funding fracking and we are still not happy about it. We held another festival outside Barclay's Bank on Humberstone Gate to protest against fracking in Yorkshire and stand in solidarity with the people of Ryedale. We collected signatures on a petition for a moratorium on fracking, we gave out lots of information, we sang, we made a collage of flowers to give to Kirby Misperton Protection Camp to stand in solidarity with them.  We also ate lots of cake and cookies. It was a good afternoon, very productive – raising awareness of what the fracking industry are trying to do around the country.

Preston New Road Protest

A group of LAOD supporters arrived in Leicester at 8.00am to get on the coach to Lancashire on a cold February morning.  We travelled to Preston New Road to march peacefully in solidarity with the people of Lancashire as a sign of support to them and a way of showing Cuadrilla our opposition to fracking in Lancashire.  It was a lovely supportive group and we had a very proactive/productive day.

The people from Preston were very welcoming with tea and cake. There were fantastic speeches and a long walk down Preston New Road to the fracking site accompanied by masses of police. We threw red roses over the fence onto the working site in memory of the beautiful field it once was, with cows grazing peacefully in it. 

A big highlight was the singing – we sang all the way down PNR to the site and standing in front of a line of police and security guards sang songs of peace – ‘We are a gentle, angry people and we are singing, singing for our lives. We are an anti-fracking people and we are singing, singing for our lives…’  We were very lucky to have members of Red Leicester Choir with us – it was beautiful and brought tears to my eyes and to a few other people's as well. The songs are still reverberating in my head.  An amazing day!  Highlights of my day were the number of people driving past honking their horns as a sign of support to the rally - it was constant all day - even after people had been in long queues of traffic, they honked down the entire road and waved and shouted out of windows.  

Report by Melanie Wakley, Leicester Friends of the Earth anti-fracking co-ordinator

Anti-nuclear Flash Mob

On Saturday 18th February, we joined Leicester CND in a flash mob to protest against nuclear weapons. A member of Leicester CND had made three banners that read 'Leicester against nuclear weapons because they cost the earth'. We unfurled these and stood silently, wearing black, to mark our objection. Other members of the group gave out leaflets and talked to passersby about why we are against nuclear weapons. Several people stopped to remark that they were glad to see our protest and we even received a spontaneous round of applause! It seems the general public have understood that nuclear weapons are pointless and dangerous, even if our government has not yet got the message.

Don't frack Robin Hood

A group of anti-fracking supporters from Leicester drove to Sherwood Forest in Nottingham on Saturday 7th January 2017, to join a public gathering in the forest.  Frack Free Notts and Friends of the Earth had been shocked out of their Christmas lunches, to learn from their latest investigation into fracking that chemicals giant INEOS wants to carry out seismic surveys in Sherwood Forest - the first step towards fracking in an ancient woodland.  Hundreds of people arrived in the forest at very short notice (including us) to show solidarity with Nottinghamshire. The people walked from the visitor centre to the Major Oak tree then listened to speeches and sang songs of support – showing in no uncertain terms that we would all stand together to stop such an atrocity!  The people said NO!!