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UNISON Scotland Green Network News Issue 2 January 2009 Lobby MSPs now for vital Bill Scotland’s Climate Change Bill especially keen for members whose was published in December and MSPs are on that Committee to was welcomed by green activists as take part in lobbying. a good start for world-leading leg - The union is working closely with islation. others in the However, it is vital that UNISON Scotland coalition on proposed branches and members take action amendments to meet our four urgently to lobby MSPs to ‘asks’, which are that the Bill: strengthen the Bill in key ways. • reduces greenhouse gas emis - Thousands of others keen to see sions by at least 80% by 2050. Scotland take drastic action on cut - • sets statutory targets of at least ting greenhouse gas emissions will 3% year on year emission reduc - be doing the same as part of work tions. by Stop Climate Chaos Scotland • includes emissions from interna - coalition members. tional aviation and shipping in the Already more than 21,000 re - reduction targets. sponded to the consultation on the • sets strong targets for the public proposed Bill last year. sector to lead by example, with ne - The better we can make the Scot - gotiated green workplace agree - tish Climate Change Bill, the ments. greater influence it might have on A Policy & Information Team other countries in a crucial year for Briefing on the Bill is on the UNI - action on global warming. SON-Scotland website at: United Nations talks take place in www.unison-scotland.org.uk/brief December 2009 in to ings/194scottishclimatechange determine the successor to the billdec08.pdf Kyoto Treaty. Dave added: “Climate change al - Scottish Organiser Dave Watson ready affects the lives of millions urged UNISON members to email of people and if the world doesn’t and visit their MSPs. On page 2, act this year on strong, interna - we list four ways to push for the tional legally binding emissions See a film and UNISON four main ‘asks’. cuts, we risk dangerous runaway The Bill is being scrutinised by the climate change. change the world. Transport, Infrastructure and Cli - “Please take the time to contact Full details on p2. mate Change Committee, so we are your MSPs.” Four ways to lobby Going to the cinema in March can MSPs on UNISON’s four key ‘asks’ help save the planet - how you and 1. Make sure that, as a minimum please, your branch can campaign about you contact your own MSPs asking them to support UNISON Scotland and The Age of Stupid . Join Not Stupid! Stop Climate Chaos Scotland’s calls for a stronger Bill. You can find out who A climate change film which aims to leads to the greatest ever public up - they are and email them easily by click - go global in its political influence hits rising which in turn forces the ing on the UNISON Green Workplace Scottish cinema screens in March. world's Governments to make a pages: Just by going to see The Age of Stupid binding international agreement to www.unison-scotland.org.uk/green in its first week you can hugely boost cut global emissions so as to stabilise workplace its impact in Scotland and world-wide. global temperatures below two de - 2. Visit your MSPs face to face. This is A parallel campaign called Not Stupid grees and keep the planet habitable one of the most effective ways to influ - aims to inspire 250 million viewers to for humans and other species.” ence them. Download the SCCS Brief - become virtual or physical climate ac - She says we can all play our part, ing Pack on Visiting MSPs via the tivists, focused on Copenhagen in De - starting with going to see the film in above link as well as information on cember 09, where the successor to its first week from 20 March, follow - free SCCS meetings around Scotland. Kyoto will be finalised. ing a ‘People’s Premiere’ advance Meetings are in January in Edinburgh, Organisers are keen to see local one night only screening around the Inverness, Falkirk, Glasgow and Ab - screenings set up by campaigning UK, including Aberdeen, Dundee, erdeen, with a public meeting with local groups including trade union branches. Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness MSP Roseanna Cunningham at AK Bell Oscar-nominated actor Pete Postleth - on March 15. First week figures de - Public Library, Perth, 7pm 23rd Jan. waite stars, directed by McLibel’s termine how widely and for how 3. Is one of your MSPs on the Trans - with Oscar-winning long the film is shown and if it does port, Infrastructure and Climate Change John Battsek as Executive Producer. well here, that will help it snowball Committee? If so, please try to visit The ‘documentary-drama-animation’ to success and influence internation - them, but as a minimum, do email or has six interwoven human stories ally.‘Indie’ screenings can be organ - write to them. If not, please ask your filmed in America, the UK, , ised from May 1st and a DVD will MSPs to contact Committee members Nigeria, Iraq, Jordan and the Alps. be on sale in June/July. from their own party to pass on your Pete (pictured p1) said: “The opening The Not Stupid campaign has nu - comments. The members of the Com - sequence is phenomenal. It’s Spiel - merous ideas for us all to get in - mittee are: (click on their names below berg, eat your heart out.” He plays an volved and will be ‘matchmaking’, to link to constituency and Holyrood old man in a devastated 2055 world, putting people who contact them, in - contact details on the Scottish Parlia - asking, “Why didn’t we stop cli - spired by the film, in touch with local ment website) mate change when we had the campaigners. Constituency MSPs: Clydebank and chance?” The stories highlight oil, Contact Fiona Montgomery, details Milngavie, Des McNulty MSP ; Glas - war, exploitation, inequalities, and below, for further information about gow Cathcart, Charlie Gordon MSP ; ‘human stupidity’ in ignoring facts. getting involved via UNISON. Full film details and a trailer etc are Falkirk East, Cathy Peattie MSP ; Re - Franny wants the film to “be part of gional MSPs: Glasgow, Patrick the sea change in awareness which on www.ageofstupid.net Harvie MSP ; Highlands and Islands, Rob Gibson MSP ; Lothians, Spring into action Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP ; North- On Wednesday 22 April 2009, Stop east Scotland, Alex Johnstone MSP and Climate Chaos Scotland is organis - Alison McInnes MSP . ing a Climate Change Rally and 4. Put the Climate Change Rally and lobby of MSPs. Meet outside the lobby of MSPs date in your diary and Scottish Parliament, 11am to 2pm. check for updates, building up for at - Full details will be on the UNISON tending on the day. and SCCS websites once available. www.stopclimatechaos.org/scotland This is a brief edition of Environment, Environment is produced by the UNISON Scotland aimed at supporting urgent lobbying of Policy & Information Team. Contact: Fiona Mont - MSPs. Please send us news of branch gomery [email protected] and other local work for future issues. @P&I Team, 14 West Campbell Street, GLASGOW Contact details are on the right. G2 6RX Tel: 0845 355 0845 Fax: 0141 221 8953 2