By Mary Chabrel, Green Party member.
Thirty years ago this month, I finished my GCSEs, Geography being one of them. I was already a conservation volunteer in the Colne Valley and in the lower sixth I founded ‘Help Earth Live Peacefully’, a still applicable maxim I think! The group collected cans in separate bins, squashed them in the woodwork rooms and sold them to an aluminium merchant. These days schools don’t have can machines, and the recycling is provided through identified commercial waste bins installed by the contractors. However, I am still the person who distributes labels for in-class recycling bins at the beginning of each academic year. The thing about being an environmental campaigner is that the problems are so vast and the chance to do things differently seems so ‘effortful’, that it can be hard to carve out a role in which you can sense that you are making a meaningful difference.
As a teacher, I am used to the idea that “We plant the seeds that one day will grow. We water the seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise.” But – 30 years!!?? And, of course, when I joined Friends of the Earth in the 1990s, they were 20 years old already..... The ‘environmental movement’ had started with organisations that we recognise today as being the ‘movement’ in the 1970s. So, how is it that the awareness has been raised over these years but society has not embraced longer-term solutions and systemic change? Partly because (to quote a 14 year old I taught once), “oh, but that’s effortttttt”! The limits we put upon ourselves: to limit our own imagination to do things differently, to valuing resources differently, to appreciating people differently; but also the environmental movement contains an ‘inconvenient truth’. As Al Gore’s documentary was entitled, based on the scientific message that he spread about climate change, near and far in 2006. We live ON a finite world, we live IN a finite world. Al Gore was so concerned that the world didn’t realise this, he produced another film, ‘An inconvenient sequel: truth to power’! The day the Paris Agreement was signed, he looked so relieved and joyous, yet of course, the work continues.
So, yes, we are prophets, speaking truth unto power, but we are now also agents of change as the scientific reality becomes part of wider vocabulary. For example, Terminal 5 was built at Heathrow Airport, but the decision to build the third runway was ruled unlawful by the Court of Appeal, on 27th February this year, because ‘it did not take climate commitments into account’. What joy, what victory, what reward for the hard work of campaigners across West London, some of whom I know have been campaigning on this issue, across those 30 years.
Of course, we still have work to do. The environmental crisis is also a crisis of power and oppression and will impact those the most who have contributed the least to the cause of climate change, and this encompasses different races, ethnic backgrounds and levels of food security to varying degrees. Until we address issues on inequality across the globe we cannot truly tackle environmental breakdown. As a teacher, I am frequently in awe of my students' ability to imagine a better future, understanding that we are all connected and must work together to achieve our common goals.
SYCAMORE AMENITY LAND – Let’s give credit where credit is due
It wasn’t ONLY the Liberal Democrat ward councillors who helped stop the recent application to build on the Sycamore Road amenity land (used by the residents of the flats), as comes across in the recent Lib Dem leaflet. My congratulations go to the many residents who objected so strongly (71 separate objections). In particular to […]
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We are prophets but we are also agents of change
By Mary Chabrel, Green Party member. Thirty years ago this month, I finished my GCSEs, Geography being one of them. I was already a conservation volunteer in the Colne Valley and in the lower sixth I founded ‘Help Earth Live Peacefully’, a still applicable maxim I think! The group collected cans in separate bins, squashed […]
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Green Party stands with Black communities
22nd June marks Windrush Day, a day which commemorates the Windrush Generation and their legacy. The first generation of workers came to the UK by invitation to help rebuild Britain after World War II but many were met with hostility and intolerance when they arrived. Since then, Black individuals have been wrongly detained, denied legal rights, […]
Damning national statistics and the role of local authorities in Public Health
Boris Johnson’s confusing messages to the nation mean lots of working people will be feeling anxious about what to do right now. The Government hasn’t yet published guidance on how workers will be kept safe. The latest slogan “Stay Alert” leaves it up to individuals to figure out what they should do and puts the responsibility of safety on individuals as […]
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Reflections from ’30 Under 30′
In early March, as part of a group of 30 Young Greens from across the country, I headed to Birmingham, to take part in a weekend of training workshops, in an attempt to learn more about, and become engaged with, Green politics. For me, and many others selected for this year’s Young Greens 30 Under […]
Litter heroes assemble at the Aquardrome
Litter heroes were out in force at Rickmansworth Aquadrome on the morning of Saturday 14th March. Local residents were invited to litter pick in a bid to keep Britain tidy. The litter pick was organised by the local Green Party as part of the Great British Spring Clean initiative which hopes to mobilise faith groups, […]
Freedom of information request shows extent of glyphosate use
A Freedom of Information request has shown that glyphosate weed killer is being used by all councils covering Abbots Langley. Below is the response to Hertfordshire County Council, Three Rivers District Council and Abbots Langley Parish Council sent by Belinda Phillips of Abbots in Transition (ALTTA). The letter is published with Belinda’s permission: Dear […]
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Press release: Three Rivers District Council declare a climate emergency
On Tuesday night (21 May 2019) at its annual meeting, Three Rivers District Council declared a climate emergency. Three Rivers Green Party support this declaration. A similar climate emergency motion was proposed to Hertfordshire County Council in March 2019 but was amended by the Conservative group so that it no longer declared a climate emergency. […]
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Three Rivers Green Party success in improving cycle route proposal
Three Rivers Green Party success in improving cycle route proposal In response to our comments and to wider public consultation, Herts County Council has decided to amend the Rickmansworth Ebury Roundabout Cycle Route Improvement Scheme: * By replacing the guard railing with new Visi-Rail guard railing which will improve the inter-visibility between pedestrians, cyclists and vehicle […]
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Record-breaking number of residents standing locally as Green candidates
Local residents have shown their dissatisfaction with the current district council by putting themselves forward as Green party candidates at the local elections on Thursday 3rd May. In a record-breaking year for Three Rivers Green Party, 8 out of the 13 seats up for election on 3rd May are being contested by residents demanding a […]
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