At the weekend, 350 groups and partners around the world kicked off a month of ‘Power Up’ actions, demanding a cleaner, more sustainable and more equitable renewable future for all. Check out the beautiful images and videos from the weekend, and find out about events happening soon or sign up to organise one yourself, on the global Power Up website.
Here in the UK, it couldn’t come at a better time as we enter what will be a tough winter for thousands of households, and energy companies like BP and Shell publish their stomach-wrenching profits.
350.org and youth activists take part in Power Up Month of action in Nepal to demand government to power up renewable energy.
We elect politicians to represent our best interests and to work to make our lives better and easier while we do the hard work to ensure society keeps ticking over. That’s the deal and the fact is that this government time and time again fails to hold up their end of the bargain.
Instead, they continue to lend their ear to and side with fossil fuel giants at the expense of the people and planet. One household every ten seconds was cut off from the energy they needed in the winter of 2022 as well as seven million households unable to heat their homes. Also, giving energy companies like British Gas the power to enter properties and forcibly fit pre-payment meters.
At the same time, fossil fuel companies make billions in profits and take billions in subsidies from taxpayers while new oil fields like Rosebank are being approved. This flies in the face of reason, given climate experts say we can’t have any new oil and gas if we want to keep below 1.5 degrees of warming. We are in a climate and cost of living crisis that’s making us poorer while oil barons are getting richer.
Climate activists from 350 Aotearoa, ActionStation, Oxfam Aotearoa took action at the New Zealand Parliament in Wellington, to call on the new government to Power Up climate solutions.
Everyone in the UK deserves to live comfortably with access to enough heating and electricity to warm or cool our homes. We should all be able to power the appliances we need to live dignified lives. This isn’t the reality currently, but it could be.
We’re teaming up with organisations like Fuel Poverty Action to make visible the link between solving the energy bill crisis and protecting our planet. Instead of relying on expensive, unreliable and harmful oil and gas causing bills to rise. We’re campaigning for a clean, reliable energy system that’s owned by us and run for us, the people.
That starts by us coming together to demand this Government wipes household energy debt, bans pre-payment metres (PPMs), guarantees permanent access to our basic energy needs and ensures big fossil fuel companies help pay for the implementation of a renewable energy system.
Together with Fuel Poverty Action, 350 supporters across the UK joined a digital day of action just over a week ago – calling for a ban on PPMs which are the leading cause of people being disconnected from their energy supply. Public pressure last year helped to suspend this practice but now the government is lifting the suspension. Thanks to everyone who participated in the action! We are keeping the pressure on the government and will let you know what happens.
If you want to get involved further in this campaign and find out more about the issues involved, Fuel Poverty Action are running an online collective learning sessions this week that you can join! (Please note: this registration is hosted on an external site, not owned by 350.org)
Onwards,
Kennedy – 350 UK Organiser
P.S Find out how you can be part of the ‘Power Up’ month of action here. We’re still looking for event organisers across the UK and we’re planning a big action in London – more information on this coming soon!