Global Justice Leicester and Leicestershire

Event

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?

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

Two events to join this week

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There are two events that may interest you:

Thursday 7th December at 6pm, Nick Dearden will be giving the annual lecture of the Nottingham University based Centre for the Study of Social and Global Justice. The talk is entitled ‘Pharmaeconomics: How Big Pharma Destroys Global Health’. You are invited to join this Zoom-only  event.

Here is the link to register for the talk. Please join us.

Saturday 9th December at Noon – Now We Rise (organised by Leicester Friends of the Earth)

Meet at Leicester Clock Tower for a short march to the Town Hall Square where we’ll form a human oil slick for a mass photo, calling on the UK government to stop extracting fossil fuels and support the people most affected by chimate change. Dress in black if you can.

This is the Global Day of Action for the COP28 UN Climate Summit. People across the world will be calling for climate justice and human rights.

More information can be found here.