The Magnificent

NEWS FROM THE UK GREEN MEPS Riding the #GreenWave Seven Greens were elected to the in May. Photo above: The Magnificent 7 from left: This more than doubles the UK Green MEPS, who join the Greens / European Free Catherine Rowett East, Alliance group of 75 members from 16 different countries. The gender-balanced group Magid Magid Yorks and Humber, Molly Scott Cato South West, is made up of mostly Greens, with representatives from the SNP, Plaid Cymru and Gina Dowding North West, independents. As they are now the fourth largest group in the European Parliament, Ellie Chowns West Midlands, the Greens/EFA have increased their influence and are working hard to change Europe Scott Ainslie London, for the better. Alexandra Phillips South East. Championing a working together to Green New Deal in stop a disastrous response to the Climate Emergency

green new deal

From Brighton to Preston and Stroud to Cambridge, Green MEPs have taken part in Climate Strikes and supported youth campaigns demanding action on the Climate Emergency. With the world still on course to warm by at least three degrees, bold and Green MEPs have been pressing for government does.’ decisive action is needed. We need a an extension to block a dangerous The UK seven also joined around 30 plan. We have a plan: a Europe-wide No Deal crash out from the EU and other MEPs in signing a cross-party Green New Deal. Long championed by provide the space for the UK to have a Declaration which condemned the Greens, this will bring about dramatic People’s Vote. The UK seven welcomed shutdown of parliament, committed reductions in carbon emissions by a recent European Parliament resolution to working together to fight Brexit and investing in clean energy, warm homes which backed such an extension. In a urged continental colleagues to support and public transport and shifting towards joint statement in response they said the their efforts. “We are working together. sustainable farming while restoring resolution was evidence that ‘democracy We call upon our European friends and nature. in Europe is alive and well’ and that colleagues to assist domestic efforts Continued overleaf. ‘this parliament has shown it cares in keeping the door open to us,” the more about UK citizens than our own statement declared. AUTUMN 2019 Championing a Green New Deal cont. Climate Justice means an end to war As well as creating thousands of new jobs, such a plan will also combat poverty During September, MEPs joined protests at DSEI, the world’s largest and inequality and improve health and arms fair in London, to speak about the need to end war to achieve climate wellbeing. justice. They highlighted how war contributes massively to the destruction of our The influence of Greens in the new planet and demanded that the billions of pounds spent on the military must instead be parliament and pressure from Extinction invested in the transition to a zero-carbon economy. Rebellion, youth campaigns and others The MEPs paid tribute to the activists who bravely blocked the setting up of the arms has led to the new EU Commission fair and called out the UK for claiming to defend human rights while selling weapons president, Ursula von der Leyen, to Saudi Arabia and other countries with terrible human rights records. All the MEPs establishing a ‘European Green Deal’ signed a letter to International Trade Secretary Liz Truss, to express deep concerns which bears some of the hallmarks about how Brexit could ‘uncouple the UK from common (EU) standards’. Greens will of a Green New Deal. She has even continue to campaign for the UK to maintain an arms embargo on Saudi Arabia and appointed an Executive Vice-President uphold European standards restricting arms deals. to oversee this! We are still a long way from achieving the Green goal of a carbon-neutral Europe by 2030, but a combination of determined campaigning and a clear plan offered by the New Green Deal are moving us in the right direction. Block trade agreement with Brazil to help save the Amazon

As thousands of devastating fires rage in the Amazon, Greens are demanding other MEPs join them in blocking the Mercosur trade deal between the EU and Latin American countries, where Brazil is the major player. The EU has Know your MEP ... already agreed to this deal in principle. Greens argue this agreement has Region MEP Parliamentary Committees encouraged the Brazilian president, London Scott Ainslie Transport, Constitutional Affairs Jair Bolsonaro, to turn a blind eye to scottainsliemep.org.uk ScottMEPLondon @ScottMEPLondon the torching of the forest so he can West Midlands Ellie Chowns International Development, Trade appease his agricultural and industrial elliechownsmep.org.uk/ EllieChownsMEP @EliieChownsMEP paymasters who want to open up the land to beef cattle, soya and mining. North West Gina Dowding Foreign Affairs, Transport, Industry, But the deal still needs ratifying by Research & Energy MEPs. The Green group has launched a ginadowding.org.uk/ CllrGinaDowding @GinaDowdingMEP petition demanding the EU Parliament Yorks & Humber Magid Magid Civil Liberties, Justice & Home Affairs, put an end to this dangerous trade Culture & Education deal with Bolsonaro and help save the europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/197812/MAGID_MAGID/home Amazon: https://www.tilt.green/save_ Magic-Magid @MagicMagid the_amazon_forest South East Alexandra Phillips Employment, Women’s Rights, The UK’s Green MEPs also signed a letter Environment to leading supermarkets asking them to alexandraphillipsmep.com/ alexforeurope @alexforeurope carry out an audit of their supply chains to identify products on their shelves that East Catherine Rowett Foreign Affairs, Transport, Human Rights have come from the Brazilian Amazon. catherinerowett.org Catherine.J.Rowett @catherinerowett Encouraging responses have been South West Molly Scott Cato Economics, Tax, Agriculture received from Marks & Spencer and mollymep.org.uk/ MollyMEP @MollyMEP Sainsbury’s so far.

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