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First UK Pension Fund divests 100% from fossil fuels
We won! Last week the pension fund committee of London Borough of Waltham Forest became the first UK public authority to announce its commitment to go 100% fossil free. The decision to divest was unanimously agreed by both Labour and Tory councillors. Why is this important? Exactly a year ago, we published our data, showing…
28 Sep 2016 anna -
The new is being born – reflections on Paul Mason’s ‘Postcapitalism’
In these days of constant turbulence, in which what is nonsense on Tuesday becomes common sense on Wednesday, and what is common sense on Thursday becomes nonsense on Friday, I have found Paul Mason’s ‘Postcapitalism’ a valuable touchstone. This is a book profound, provocative and demanding a response. With boldness and a breadth of…
27 Sep 2016 james -
This is water defending itself – Protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline on Westminster Bridge
Forty feet wide by ten feet high the banner drapes delicately from the solid structure of Westminster Bridge. Standing at the parapet, gazing down at the brown river, we can see the upturned faces of over a hundred passengers looking up at us from the tourist vessel ‘Millennium Dream’. They are clearly trying to decipher…
22 Sep 2016 james -
Strip away the carapace – the Ice Age, BP, and the British Museum
It pushes me quickly to tears. I’m kneeling on the cold stone floor of the Great Court, legs tucked beneath me, one foot crossed under the other. I’m listening to a rendition of A Requiem to Sinking Cities – an agit-performance in the heart of the British Museum. Silent figures hold up two banners, ‘#DropBP’…
15 Sep 2016 james -
Solidarity with Black Lives Matter UK shutdown at City Airport
Platform has signed a statement of solidarity with Black Lives Matter and their shutdown at City Airport. We stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter UK and fully support the inspiring shutdown of London City Airport that they led on 6 September to oppose the airport’s expansion. We agree that the climate crisis is a…
13 Sep 2016 admin -
Power Station Giant Down… and commemorate!
Last Wednesday, at 11am, another giant landmark in the history of UK fossil-fuel power crashed to the ground. Never mind a landmark, this was also a giant seamark that aided navigation at the start of the Thames and Medway estuaries for hundreds of vessels every day. Its end came with two huge bangs that juddered…
12 Sep 2016 jane -
We need to hear Black Lives Matter on climate and pollution
Tuesday’s news was dominated by Black Lives Matter’s audacious action to shut down City Airport and to force the issue of racism into the media discourse on climate change and environment. You would think that reportedly swimming or paddling their way across a dock to reach the runway was no mean feat but their success…
9 Sep 2016 admin -
Everything in Motion – of Swallows and resistance to the Lower Thames Crossing
Looking up through the skylight I catch only a glimpse of it soon after dawn. Less than a second. The effortless power of a confident killer. The shape of the dark sickle wings against the depth of the blue. A Hobby passing over the house, flying south down the Hoo Peninsula. It is only at…
6 Sep 2016 james -
The changing wind – shedding the carbon skin
I am cramming chocolate into your mouth. I feel the dampness of your lips against my fingertips and see the brown squares tumble into the darkness. It takes seconds to complete the task, but the time draws out, slows down. All around is mayhem. The wind makes the shrouds howl. The sound thrusts a…
11 Aug 2016 james
