Protest in Leeds highlights huge subsidies for wood-burning power station

Sheffield XR members joined climate activists from around the North of England in Leeds to express their anger about continuing subsidy of the Drax power station, which has already received £7bn of public money since 2012 (1). Accompanied by music and Extinction Rebellion’s ‘Discobedience’ dancers, they shared information with people in busy City Square aboutContinueContinue reading “Protest in Leeds highlights huge subsidies for wood-burning power station”

Council challenged on failing Climate targets

The Transport, Regeneration and Climate Committee in progress Following last week’s Full Council meeting where Jenny Patient asked a question on the occasion of the 6th Anniversary of Sheffield declaring a Climate Emergency, I followed this up with a question to the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Committee that met today challenging the Committee to amendContinueContinue reading “Council challenged on failing Climate targets”

Divestment Debate in Sheffield Council

Today (5th Feb 2025) in Full Council Sheffield Greens put a motion encouraging divestment from companies involved in supporting Israel. You can see the full motion here. (Item 11), proposed by Green Councillors Paul Turpin and Toby Mallinson. Many Palestinian supporters were in the gallery. Two people asked questions of Council leader Cllr Tom Hunt.ContinueContinue reading “Divestment Debate in Sheffield Council”

CAN Bill kicked down the road by Labour.

On Friday Parliament debated the Second Reading of the Climate and Nature Bill. Many Sheffielders have worked hard for this Bill and have persistently lobbied local MPs. We had gained the commitment of two MPs, Olivia Blake and Abtisam Mohamed, to attend and vote for the Bill. When it came to it, of the SheffieldContinueContinue reading “CAN Bill kicked down the road by Labour.”

We will not be Silenced. Write to your Councillor today.

Palestine activists gathered yet again outside Sheffield Town Hall on Saturday 25th January. The Tadhamon Singers performed We Will Not Be Silenced. https://youtu.be/78OaNbsqOXI Cllr Toby Mallinson spoke for the Green Party and emphasised the importance of writing to Councillors prior to this Wednesday’s Full Council meeting. Please write urgently to your local councillors, to requestContinueContinue reading “We will not be Silenced. Write to your Councillor today.”

No economic case for Doncaster Airport

Sam Gregory has written an excellent piece for Now Then on Doncaster Airport. In case you haven’t got time to read it all the main points are The airport has never been economically viable. South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard is about to pour millions of pounds of our money into re-opening it. Coppard believes theContinueContinue reading “No economic case for Doncaster Airport”

The Labour Party can’t have it both ways!

I have written this very short letter to the Sheffield Telegraph. Dear Editor Two recent articles in the Telegraph deserve a response from our political masters. How do Tom Hunt and our MPs respond to Ci Davis (19.12.24), who demolished their core policy of aiming for economic growth? And how does Mayor Oliver Coppard respondContinueContinue reading “The Labour Party can’t have it both ways!”

March for Gaza in Sheffield.

As Storm Darragh pounded Sheffield on Saturday, resilient protesters turned up once again to demand an end to the Genocide in Gaza. The first stop was Tesco, where the Tadhamon Singers went inside to perform to the shoppers, persuading them to join the boycott of Israeli goods. This is what happened. https://youtu.be/4Msbhzd7tEE https://youtu.be/ciNESu_tW8c https://youtu.be/4q3XUmILHAw DrenchedContinueContinue reading “March for Gaza in Sheffield.”

Tom Hunt is challenged to stand down over Gaza

The following letter from Julie Pearn to Cllr Tom Hunt, leader of Sheffield City Council, has not received a reply. On the day that the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu (Israeli Prime Minister), Yoav Gallant (former Israeli Defence Minister) and Mohammed Deif (military commander of Hamas) I am happy toContinueContinue reading “Tom Hunt is challenged to stand down over Gaza”

Every COP has been a failure

Sheffield was one of many cities that hosted a Climate Justice march on Saturday.  Record heat in our atmosphere and oceans is driving climate disasters across the globe, with those who’ve done the least to cause this crisis suffering the most. Global North countries have far exceeded their fair share of the earth’s carrying capacityContinueContinue reading “Every COP has been a failure”