Free concert in Millennium Square to build support for negotiators at COP15

@ Millennium Square 3-9pm Saturday 24th October

Tim Barker Writes: On the 24th October some of Bristol’s top musicians, including Babyhead, Kid Carpet and Bizali, will join Jonathan Porritt to call on global leaders meeting at December’s UN climate change talks in Copenhagen to take strong action to keep global warming below 2° and protect the world’s poorest.

The action-packed day features bands, dancing, films, painters and speakers – from internationally celebrated experts to local heroes - highlighting the increasing threat of climate change. The action day will bring together Bristolians to send a message to the world’s leaders that a global agreement to reduce CO2 emissions is urgently needed. All musicians have given their services for free – and the whole day of action at Climate Countdown is completely free to the public.

To join in with the international 350.org day of action, everyone who comes along is being encouraged to dress completely in blue clothing, symbolising the ‘human wave’ of pressure on leaders before the Copenhagen talks. Jonathan Porritt will speak at 3pm and then at 3.50pm the Climate Countdown organisers will get together 350 people to join hands in Millennium Square and make a giant ‘350’ aerial picture, while marking a minutes silence.

The 350 figure symbolises the maximum number of parts per million of CO2 we can allow in the atmosphere to avoid runaway climate change. All around the globe on October 24th millions of people will join this day of creative action and protest to raise awareness on climate change.

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Should Bristol fluoridate the waters supply?

Unsafe mass-medication or public health boon? Since it's introduction in the 1940s, fluoridation has always been a contentious issue. Robin Whitlock writes; Bristolians Against Fluoridation are holding regular meetings aimed at fighting the plans to fluoridate Bristol's public water supply. We now have a press officer and a committee set up and plans for information stalls and public meetings in order to spread the word around the city, and beyond! If you are concerned about the dangers of water fluoridation, then please join us. Full article.

| Keep Fluoridation off the agenda in Bristol | Related News/Links A Critique of the York Review - fluoridealert.org ("Fluoridation of Drinking Water: a Systematic Review of its Efficacy and Safety" by the NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, the University of York, York, UK, ) | Opposition to water fluoridation (wikipedia.org) |

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Climate activists plan Wales’ first Climate Camp

Direct action camp to open near Merthyr, 13-16th August

Monday 13th July 2009: Climate activists have announced their plans to set up a family friendly ‘Climate Camp’ near Merthyr Tydfil, site of the controversial Ffoss y Fran opencast coalmine next month.

The camp is part of a dynamic movement for action on the root causes of climate change. According to campers, the endless pursuit of economic growth on a finite planet is the driving force behind climate change.

Following Climate Camps near Drax, North Yorkshire (2006), Heathrow (2007), and Kingsnorth, Kent (2008), Climate Camp Cymru will draw international attention to UK government hypocrisy on climate change and ensure Wales plays its part in the growing global movement of camps for climate action. Experts agree that globally emissions must peak by 2015 or earlier if we are to avoid runaway climate chaos .

“Coal is nearly all carbon and should be left in the ground” said Angharad Jones, one of the campers. “The opencast coalmine at Ffos-y-Fran is a big black hole in the climate change policies of our governments! The mine supplies coal to Wales' biggest emitter of CO2: the coal fired power station at Aberthaw.”

Every aspect of the camp will demonstrate that solutions to climate change are available right now: from lights and computers powered by wind and sun, to water-less compost toilets and delicious low-carbon recipes cooked on efficient wood stoves. The camp will show how reversing the climate crisis can be mouth watering and fun!

Full article
Join the Bristol Contingent going to Climate Camp Cymru

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The issues of climate change and class struggle unite over UKs only wind turbine factory.

Updated! The meeting on Friday July 31th has resulted in a solidarity action plan.

Vestas Blades UK on the Isle of Wight is due to close on 31st July with the loss of 600 jobs. The situation is all the more serious as the company is the only UK manufacturer of wind turbine blades. The government has just announced a major expansion of renewable energy including wind power. Some are asking; if they can bail the banks out, why not the workers? stuffing writes: It seems people are needed to show solidarity with the workers on the Isle of Wight who have occupied their factory (the only one in the UK producing wind turbines..) trying to prevent its closure. Getting there doesn't seem too tricky. Anyone up for it? .... It is now vital that the occupiers receive concrete support from organisations and individuals. There has been a picket line 200-strong outside the factory, which has been described as ‘crucial’ to the morale of the occupying workers. If you would like to join the picket, or the environmental camp reported to have been set up near the gates, or the community campaign being set up on the island to support occupiers and their families, details on travel to the Isle of Wight are at the bottom of this update. If you cannot make it to the Isle of Wight yourself, try to convince other people who can – support at the factory itself is vital to the moral of the workers who in occupying the factory still have the power to force the government to step in. ... Full article.

| Bristol Vestas meeting results in solidarity action plan | Vesta Worker talking in bristol this friday | Bristol solidarity with the Vestas occupiers? | Related News/Links Save Vestas Blog (including more things you can do to help...) | Film Night - Garbage Warrior | By 2020, Bristol Airport to have more emissions than the all of Bath and North-East Somerset | UK Indymedia Feature |

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