last updated 8th December 05
by 4ecotips.com

London march "successful" but poor press coverage

Although nearly 10,000 people chanting slogans, waving banners and blowing whistles marched through London last Saturday calling on the Government to tackle climate change, it didn't seem to spark the media's imagination. As a result press coverage seemed to be disappointingly sparse for an event that should have captured the attention of the entire country.

Nevertheless deemed a "success" the London demonstration coincided with other events in 32 countries and with the critical United Nation talks in Montreal, Canada.

The London march was organised by the Campaign Against Climate Change plus many of Britain's leading social, environmental and political groups including Friends of the Earth.

Keith Taylor, Green Party principal speaker, said: "The march on was a tremendous success. Thousands protesters from a variety of organisations came together in a tangible affirmation that climate change demands attention and action by world leaders.

Taylor explained: "It was invigorating to see so many people united in shared concern for our global environment, and to indicate to our Government that their inaction is
unacceptable.

"The Green Party advocates the 'Contraction and Convergence principle,' as the only serious scientific framework in which to tackle climate change. Emissions would be contracted to an acceptable level and these levels would gradually converge on every nation equally.

"The logical corollary to this is that richer, more polluting nations who have contributed more to the problem must reduce emissions faster than developing nations; this also allows for the possibility of trading surplus emissions allowances."

On the march, Dave Hampton, The Carbon Coach, was conspicuous by his familiar "trademark" - the purple balloons!