Would your Parliamentary Candidates stop funding climate change?

Earlier this month we contacted all but three* of the 32 Parliamentary candidates for Brighton, Hove and East Sussex with three simple questions about climate change and fossil fuels: would they support the Divest Parliament pledge; would they back the calls for East Sussex County Council to divest the East Sussex Pension Fund from fossil fuels; and would they support the phasing out of the UK’s subsidies to the fossil fuel industries (estimated at £10.5bn / year)?

Pension Committee suspends meeting as “suffragettes” deliver climate change ultimatum at County Hall

Press Release
Divest East Sussex [1]
25 November 2019
More info: 07596 483 272

Image: https://tinyurl.com/dnwcountyhall (CAPTION: “Suffragettes” launch the ‘Deeds Not Words’ pledge outside County Hall on 25 November)

PENSION COMMITTEE SUSPENDS MEETING AS “SUFFRAGETTES” DELIVER CLIMATE CHANGE ULTIMATUM AT COUNTY HALL
‘Deeds not words’ action pledge launched for nonviolent campaign to get East Sussex County Council to stop funding climate change

Monday 25 November, County Hall, Lewes: The East Sussex Pension Committee suspended its meeting at County Hall this morning after campaigners dressed as suffragettes delivered it an ultimatum calling on the Committee to agree to stop funding climate change or face a campaign of nonviolent action.

‘We can no longer wait for you to act’ – our ultimatum to the East Sussex Pension Committee

The following letter was delivered by Divest East Sussex to the five members of the East Sussex Pension Committee at  meeting on 25 November 2019. You can sign the pledge to take part in the ‘Deeds Not Words’ nonviolent action campaign here: https://tinyurl.com/deedsnotwordspledge

“Suffragettes” to launch ‘Deeds Not Words’ pledge outside County Hall

Press Release
Divest East Sussex [1]
23 November 2019

“SUFFRAGETTES” TO LAUNCH ‘DEEDS NOT WORDS’ ACTION PLEDGE OUTSIDE COUNTY HALL
Nonviolent action campaign will follow if East Sussex County Council continues to refuse to stop funding climate change

9.15am, Monday 25 November, County Hall, Lewes: Campaigners dressed as suffragettes will launch a ‘Deeds Not Words’ action pledge outside County Hall this Monday (25 Nov). The pledge – which can be signed online at https://tinyurl.com/deedsnotwordspledge – allows members of the public to commit to taking part in various forms of action, including ‘arrestable actions’, if East Sussex County Council continues to refuse to stop funding climate change.

Hand-embroidered ties used to deliver climate message to Councillors

Press Release
Divest East Sussex [1] and Climate Craftivists [2]
19 November

HAND-EMBROIDERED TIES USED TO DELIVER CLIMATE MESSAGE TO COUNCILLORS
Members of the East Sussex Pension Committee invited to stop funding climate change and join fossil fuel divestment “club”

19 November, 2019: Five hand-embroidered ties are being delivered to the five members of the East Sussex Pension Committee today, alongside a formal invitation for them to stop funding climate change and join the fossil fuel divestment “club”. The ties, which have been hand-embroidered by members of the Climate Craftivists, each bear the Divest East Sussex logo, the Councillor’s initials and an image of something close to the heart of the Councillor concerned.

The 3 questions we’re asking all Parliamentary candidates in East Sussex, Brighton & Hove

According to one recent poll, nearly two-thirds of the British public believe that climate change is “the biggest issue facing mankind”, and over half say that this issue will either “greatly” or “somewhat” influence who they are likely to vote for in a general election.

Ho, Ho … No! Santas and elves protest @ County Hall on 3 December

ESCC won’t be getting any toys until they stop funding climate change!

Join us in Lewes on Tuesday 3 December (the date of the next Full Council meeting) for a ‘Santas and elves against funding climate change’ protest outside County Hall: 8.30 – 10am, County Hall, St Anne’s Cres, BN7 1UE.

Bring santa and elf hats, signs (eg. ‘Climate change is bad for your elf!’) and your best carol-singing voices …

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/554026275395945

More info: divesteastsussex@gmail.com or 07596 483 272.

Deeds Not Words! Join us at County Hall on Monday 25 November!

East Sussex County Council (ESCC) has declared a “climate emergency” but continues to invest £145m of local peoples’ pensions in the giant oil and gas companies that are driving our current climate crisis – companies like Exxon and BP.

Divest East Sussex is now launching a nonviolent direct action campaign to put further pressure on the Council to stop funding climate change.

On 25 November we’ll be launching a ‘Deeds not words!’ action pledge for folk who want to take part in the campaign. Join us outside County Hall in Lewes on Monday 25 November (the date of the next East Sussex Pension Committee meeting) for the official launch / photocall: 9 – 10am, County Hall, St Anne’s Cres, BN7 1UE.

If you have a ‘suffragette’ costume (sash, hat etc…) then please come wearing it!

Help spread the word via Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/445875959674723/

More info: divesteastsussex@gmail.com or 07596 483 272

Find out how YOU can get involved!

On 15 October East Sussex County Council declared a “climate emergency” at the same time as it rejected calls to stop funding the oil and gas companies that are driving the climate crisis. Nonetheless, Councillors were under enough pressure feel the need to claim that they were “moving in a similar direction” to those calling for the East Sussex Pension Fund to divest from fossil fuels.

With almost two-thirds of the UK public agreeing that the climate emergency is the biggest issue facing humankind and the Council on the back foot, now is the time to increase the pressure on the County Council to stop funding climate change.

Join us at the next Divest East Sussex meeting (7 – 9pm, Thursday 7 November, White Rock Hotel, 1-10 White Rock, Hastings, TN34 1JU) to learn more and find out how YOU can get involved (Facebook: https://bit.ly/36qlldz)