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Penguins migrate to Ashton in search of new home

news release

Photo Opportunity: Campaigners will be dressing up as penguins at Ashton Market to raise awareness of climate change from 10am – 2pm on Sunday 30th September.

Campaigners from Manchester Friends of the Earth [1], accompanied by a penguin who has been forced to search for a new home due to the melting ice caps, will be coming to Ashton on Sunday to answer questions about climate change and encourage people to write to local MP, David Heyes, to demand strong action on climate change.

A draft Climate Change Bill was published by the Government earlier this year [2], but since then three influential committees of MPs have all agreed with Friends of the Earth that the Bill in its current form contains some serious flaws [3]. The Bill is due to be debated in Parliament this autumn, and Manchester Friends of the Earth is working with over 220 other local groups across the country in support of The Big Ask campaign [4], which is asking MPs to toughen up the Bill and ensure it can make a real difference to climate change.

Manchester Friends of the Earth campaigner Ali Abbas said:

“Climate change is a threat not only to the homes of penguins and polar bears, but also to our homes and the homes of the millions of people around the world who are at risk from drought and flooding.

Parliament will be debating a new Climate Change Bill this Autumn. If the Bill is going to work, it needs to set the right long-term targets, count emissions from international aviation and shipping, and include annual targets to keep us on track.

MPs like David Heyes in Ashton hold the future of the planet in their hands. Log on to www.thebigask.com and urge them not to let us down.”

As well as the local action, Manchester Friends of the Earth are also encouraging people to join celebrities like Jude Law, Gillian Anderson and Stephen Fry on an “online march”, by recording a short video message to their MP and posting it up on The Big Ask website [4].

ENDS

Notes to Editors

[1] Manchester Friends of the Earth is an award-winning environmental campaign group, raising awareness and lobbying for policy changes at a local, regional, national and international level. The group consists entirely of volunteers, and its campaigns are funded by membership fees and individual donations. Up-to-date information is available on its website: www.manchesterfoe.org.uk.

Manchester Friends of the Earth is part of a network of over 220 local Friends of the Earth groups (further information can be found at www.foe.co.uk).

[2] www.defra.gov.uk/news/latest/2007/climate-0313.htm

[3] www.foe.co.uk/resource/press_releases/
joint_committee_on_draft_c_03082007.html

[4] Further information about The Big Ask campaign can be found on the Friends of the Earth website www.foe.co.uk or www.thebigask.com.

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