Time for real change: democracy and climate justice
Do we truly have the kind of democracy in our country which is fit for the challenges of the 21st Century? Does our government fairly represent the views and aspirations of voters? How can we best tackle and mitigate the effects of climate change?
All these questions, and more, will be up for debate in an open conversation at the Civic Hall, Totnes, on Friday 14 November, 7-9pm (doors open 6.45pm).
“Time for Real Change: Democracy and Climate Justice” is an event organised by the Totnes & South Devon Make Votes Matter group.
Make Votes Matter is a national campaign calling for the electoral system in UK General Elections to be made proportional – so that votes match seats. There are growing levels of support for this proposition, and many organisations are now campaigning for change. There is also a growing movement calling for greater citizen participation in government, in the form of Citizen Assemblies. How would different ways of doing politics help us to feel more “heard” and, crucially, how would they improve our climate and nature policies in a way that does not disadvantage the most vulnerable in our society?
Come and listen to our speakers, and join in the conversation:
- George Monbiot (environmental journalist, campaigner and political commentator.)
- Klina Jordan (co-founder and former CEO of Make Votes Matter)
- Jonathon Porritt (former Director of Friends of the Earth, author and activist)
- Anthea Simmons (journalist and co-founder of the South Devon Primary and founder of Common Ground Org)
Rick Gaehl, who will be chairing the event, says, “The number of people who recognise the urgent need for decisive action on climate change is growing daily, yet governments continue to do too little, too late. We need to find better ways of holding power to account, and getting governments to make better, long-term, strategic decisions.”
There is a sliding scale of donations from £1 to £10.
Tickets are available via Eventbrite.
A limited number of tickets will also be available at the door.
When I was a boy, the world was existentially endangered, we were told, by the ‘population explosion’. Now the growing fear in many countries is a falling population, and a growing proportion of elderly people having to be supported by a shrinking number of youngsters. Then we were all frightened by ‘holes’ in the ozone layer. They seem to have been exaggerated and little is heard of them these days. I suspect the climate panic will turn out to be something else we have worried ourselves to death with for no great reason. Extreme variations of climate are observable in human history, even before the industrial age. It’s just the pattern of the universe. There are, of course, always people ready to exploit these fears for extremist political reasons.