Global Justice Leicester and Leicestershire

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Summer campaigning

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From July 24-26 we had a stall at the National Justice and Peace Network conference

The theme of the conference was ‘Just talk’, encouraging honest conversations about inequality and injustice. Topics included the right to peaceful process (Billy Vaughan gives talk highlights on the Quaker blog), the importance of including all of society in discussions (input from Citizens UK and PeaceJam). We also explored and practised the art of courageous conversations: listening and disagreeing with respect.

Photo by Ann Farr, used with permission

Enthusiastic discussions at the Global Justice Now stall

There was lots of interest in our Global Justice Now stall. Issues that particularly caught people’s imaginations were Get Palantir out of UK public services  and about how secret corporate courts are being used to stop the UK government take action over Climate Change.

Conference participants were shocked to learn that a fossil fuel firm is suing the UK for halting a controversial coal mine. Have you asked your MP to help stop companies suing over climate action?

Planet over Profit

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Global Justice Leicester and Leicestershire supports the Planet over Profit campaign

We have joined Leicester Friends of the Earth to call for parliament to act now and introduce a new law to hold companies to account for harm to people and the environment. Greedy UK compare are wrecking the world’s forests through their international supply chains. Last year was the hottest on record. Global deforestation, one of the leading causes of climate breakdown continues to rise.

Some companies buy palm oil and timber from areas where rainforests have been destroyed. Others finance the soy trade that forces people from their land. Their products end up in our shops and on our plates without us realising it.

UK law must be changed to stop them getting away with it.

Representatives from local groups met with MP Shokat Adam to call for a new Business, Human Rights and Environment act.

Shockat Adam, MP for Leicester South, has already signed the Good Business Matters Pledge. On 5th June, we asked him to act on his pledge and back the campaign for a new law to hold UK companies to account for harm to people and the environment. Read more about our meeting with Shockat Adam on the Leicester Friends of the Earth blog and in the Leicester Mercury.

Call on parliament to act now – add your name to the Friends of the Earth petition

Celebrating Sir David Attenborough’s birthday

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Happy 100th Birthday Sir David

On 10th May Leicester Friends of the Earth organised a special birthday party at the Attenborough Arboretum.  1500 people celebrated the plants and wildlife in the arboretum and spoke of the importance of protecting nature.  There was pond dipping, mini beast hunting, craft workshops to make all sorts of animals and stalls from Leicester environmental and wildlife groups. People enjoyed picnics, ate birthday cake… and sang Happy Birthday.

On the Global Justice Leicester and Leicestershire stall there was a quiz to identify animals that are at risk due to loss of their natural environment… and identify where they live.

We also spoke of the importance of Climate Justice. The need to support people worldwide who are suffering the impact of extreme weather.  Communities who have not contributed to human created global warming are losing everything due to extreme weather. It is time to make polluters pay – sign the petition to the Prime Minister.

Everyone we spoke to was shocked to learn that the UK government has signed trade agreements that include secret Corporate Courts. Corporate Courts give companies the power to sue governments outside of the normal legal system.

Find out more about Corporate Courts and sign a petition to your MP. A fossil fuel company is using a secret corporate court to suing the UK for halting a controvesial coal mine.

Online screening: Two Worlds – how big pharma divides the planet

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You are welcome to join an online screening on Tuesday 3rd February at 7.30pm.

The screening has been organised by Global Justice Nottingham and Global Justice Leicester and Leicestershire.

Titled ‘Two Worlds’, these short films expose the big pharma companies that are putting profit before helath around the globe – and the people fightin back to make medicines accessible to all.

The short films last for 27 minutes and they will be followed by a discussion with Tim Bierley of Global Justice Now.

If you would like to join the screening, please email globaljusticeleicester@gmail.com for the Zoom link.

public health not private wealth