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Minister wants global mass protests on climate change
Nicholas Cecil, Chief Political Correspondent08.12.08
MILLIONS of people need to unite in a global protest movement to force governments to tackle climate change, a Cabinet minister urged today.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband called for "popular mobilisation" along the lines of Make Poverty History to heap pressure on world leaders to sign a new deal to combat global warming.
"When you think about all the big historic movements, from the suffragettes to anti-apartheid to sexual equality in the 1960s, all the big political movements had popular mobilisation," he told the Guardian.
"Maybe it's an odd thing for someone in Government to say but I think there's a real opportunity and a need here.
"I think back to Make Poverty History and that was a mass movement that was necessary to get the agreement. In terms of climate change, it's even more difficult."
Mr Miliband's intervention comes as international ministers are preparing for UN talks in Poznan, Poland, on a successor to the Kyoto Protocol with a view to securing a final agreement next year in the Danish capital, Copenhagen.
Mr Miliband, whose ministerial responsibility includes climate change, acknowledged that there were "legitimate concerns" about the impact of a deal, especially in the face of a global economic downturn.
Britain faces major social changes to try to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 80 per cent by 2050. Millions of motorists must switch to electric cars.
Experts argue that the UK will not be able to meet this target if the Government does not do a Uturn on its aviation policy of allowing airport expansion.
Make Poverty History, which was supported by a string of celebrities including Bob Geldof, Bono and Richard Curtis, was a huge campaign to force world leaders to channel £34 billion into tackling global poverty.
Reader views (18)
Does that mean we can have mass protests at Heathrow and Stanstead over their expansion?
- Jeremy E, London
If dinosaurs hadn't been driving their Alfa Romeos and smoking packs of camel light we'd never been in this mess now.Expect lots more distraction action from a bankrupt rudderless "government" that knows it will be reduced to 3 seats in Scotland at the next election.
- A Moreno, Luxembourg
Let's be clear. Climate change is the biggest threat facing humankind. Our present ecomonic conditions will seem insignificant if we fail to redirect our political, economic and intellectual efforts towards finding long-term solutions to this challenge.
Surely, the Minister was right in saying that global change requires a global, grass-roots movement to effect intergovernmental opinion. Anything less will very likely be too little, too late.
- David Balcombe, colchester
So Miliband considers mass protest a requirement. Then let him be the first to feel a mounted police officers baton.
'Make Poverty History' has fallen flat, and the likes of Geldof and co. have made their point clear on that. Perhaps if some of the so called carbon offsetting were to be seen for what it is, then those underdeveloped countries might be able to drag themselves out of disease ridden shanty towns.
Climate is not changeable by mankind, if it were, would we not have cold that claim tens of thousands each winter? Or need to use Sun block on a summers beach? The stupidity and folly of this nonsense with a ministerial department and bill speaks for itself.
OUT - OUT - OUT!
- Derek, St Albans, UK
Another brainless airhead Minister. What with the greatest threat to the world RIGHT NOW, with all the economic problems we are facing, never mind in 2050, we need to tackle this problem first.
Also, with many companies going out of business, and others cutting back on production, that should reduce pollution in itself.
And, let's have figures on what MPs carbon footprint is, starting with Cabinet Ministers. I bet theirs is in the top 20% if not top 10%.
- Ralph, GB
What planet is this man on? Particularly after all the criminal damage by the nutters at Stansted.
When the government has been faced with genuine mass popular protests, such as the Countryside Alliance march, Stop the War coalition or Peter Roberts' petition against road pricing, it is amazing how quickly the fingers get
stuck in the ears...
Others will make the same observation about the government's plans for airport expansion and night flights, neither of which are exactly good for the environment (noise levels).
I didn't hear Silly Mili support these protests.
- Jools, London
Empty rhetoric from Mr Miliband-it's a sound idea-but while this Government is in the pocket of corporate power such as the aviation industry, such a protest would be, at best, hypocritical.
- Jon Kent, Hertford. UK
how about a mass campaign to "Make Labour history" Mr Balls-up
- Malcolm, London
This is the Gordon Brown inspired take on New Labour: whip the population into a frenzy until they are begging the government to do something for them and begging the government to raise taxes.
- Bloke, London
When did Andy move to Reading? More than 50 years ago? No didn't think so. Anyone in the flightpath of Heathrow knew it was there that's why your house was cheaper. muppet.
- Jon, london
Until ministors actually undersatnd what they are talking about they should stick to the business they know...hmmm
"Britain faces major social changes to try to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 80 per cent by 2050. Millions of motorists must switch to electric cars."
comments like this dont help......
maybe after a few basic science lessons and a look at there maths they can understand what they are talking about.....
Im all for recycling and reducing waste globaly but unfortunately as soon as you involve some sort of politics......
lies lies lies and alteria motives
- K Smith, Liverpool
When Ministers tell us the voters to protest you'd better prepared for a mighty, mighty hike in all your taxes. The Govt is skint and they are so desperate to have more of our disposable income they are willing to stir the people to protest. Can't anyone see the hypocrisy and the frenzy for more of our cash as they lead us by the nose into pauperisation? Be afraid, be very afraid of Ministers bearing protests....
- Chris Williams, Bridgend UK
What an excellent idea Ed and can we unite in our condemnation of your government’s handling on everything from the economy to the orchestration of the descent, if not fall of this country and its introduction to an Orwellian state. Climate change is the biggest deception used by governments since the illegal invasion of Iraq to orchestrate disraction and stage manage the massess. Create the problem, lead the masses to the solution. Climate change is intrinsic to the earth itself; man's contribution to the current changes that are occuring are miniscule to those evolving from nature itself. Are you open to regime change ED? If a thousand or so come and sit in Parlaiment Square for week, will you and your colleagues promise to go?
- Lr, London
Bring on the global warming. Sick of this crap cold whether. I for one will keep driving my gas guzzling 3.2L luxury car no matter how much it costs. All you tree hugging hippies can blow me in you ECO friendly POS match boxes.
- John Smith, bedford UK
Hang on - this government has outlawed peacful protest anyway, pretty much, as we all saw recently in Oxford Street and Mr. Haw's protest in Westminster. We'll need to march on Parliament first, break in and string up these muppets. Then maybe we can worry about environment issues.
- Yoof, London
Fair enough, let's start by having a mass protest of the entire population within 10 miles of heathrow to have the airport removed. It was turned into a civilian airport illegally, it should never have been there, and now it threatens to bulldoze an entire village so that the UK can enjoy more through traffic of passengers who contribute nothing to the economy, and in return we get to keep europe's "delta hub".
Tear down heathrow. It's time to turn it back into a farm.
- Andy W, Reading Berkshire
I think there should be a mass protest to get these so called ministers out of office.They have wrecked England over the past 11 years,sold everthing off and now expect the English to pay for it,well they would,wouldn,t they being scotch.
- John, benidorm,spain
No doubt it will be as successful as Make Poverty History. Feels more like Make History Poverty at the moment. I suggest he sticks to his job and stops pontificating about what other people should do. The successor to Kyoto looks deeply flawed, and will have little effect on climate change.
- Paul Freeman, London, England
