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Christian Aid Cut the Carbon March

Christian Aid's "Cut the Carbon" March will involve 10 'core marchers' from the UK joining 10 marchers from the global South. Beginning in Northern Ireland, passing through Scotland, Wales and England, the march will last around eleven weeks from 14 July to 2 October culminating at the London Stock Exchange.

Posted on Apr 25, 2007

Christian Aid is looking for 10 ‘core marchers’ from the UK to join 10 marchers from the global South in their 2007 Cut the Carbon March. Core marchers will gain valuable campaigning, lobbying, and media skills, and an insight into the campaigning strategies of a large UK NGO.

Most importantly, the marchers will contribute to Christian Aid’s ‘Cut the Carbon’ campaign, sending a message loud and clear to the UK government and UK companies that we MUST cut carbon emissions, radically, and we must start now.

Beginning in Northern Ireland, passing through Scotland, England and Wales and culminating at the London Stock Exchange, the march will last around eleven weeks from 14 July to 2 October. Marchers will need to be available from 12 July in order to travel to the start of the march and prepare.

Core marchers will be raising awareness about Christian Aid’s Cut the Carbon campaign along the route by talking to the media, lobbying key MPs and ministers, and speaking at public events, including some church services. As one of a team of around twenty, marchers will share speaking responsibilities.

Christian Aid will arrange accommodation and food along the way. This will often be sleeping in church halls, or sometimes in the homes of volunteers.

Marchers must be able to walk on average 15 miles per day, 6 days a week, for 11 weeks (with one day off a week).

Interested parties will be asked to fill in an registration form giving details of their relevant interest and experience. They will also be asked to attend an information and selection day in London on 17 March (Christian Aid will pay travel expenses). This will be an opportunity for people to find out more about the march, to meet other potential marchers, and to hear from others who have marched long distances. It will also be an opportunity for Christian Aid to consider the balance of marchers. We want to achieve a good mix of core marchers who are all able to fulfil the various requirements of the march including media and speaking work. As a result, and depending on numbers of applicants, Christian Aid may have to ask some applicants to contribute to the campaign, and the march, in other ways.

A second information and selection day may be arranged in May, depending on demand for places on the march.

Marchers will also be required to attend two briefing days on Saturday 21 April and Saturday 9 June in London. Christian Aid will pay travel expenses.

BACKGROUND

The Climate Change Campaign

Climate change is not just an environmental crisis – it is a global injustice on a scandalous scale. It is the world’s poorest communities who are most vulnerable to climatic extremes, who are already suffering and who are likely to suffer the most in future, even though they contribute so little to the carbon emissions which are causing the crisis.

Most people in the UK believe that climate change will dramatically change our lifestyles. But many are not aware of poor communities’ disproportionate vulnerability. The UK public also lacks a clear sense of ways in which to influence their government and companies to make the urgent cuts necessary to halt climate change.

The essential messages of our campaign will be:
o The world’s poorest are suffering now due to climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions from the rich world
o The UK government must take action to reduce UK carbon emissions immediately and dramatically - by 5% year on year.
o UK Companies must transparently declare their carbon emissions and commit to reduce them by 5% year on year.

In more detail, we will be calling for the following:

The UK Government:

We will call for legislation that would:
1) enshrine average cuts of 5 per cent per annum over half decade periods in law
2) set up an independent body to monitor and recommend policies to achieve the targets
3) legally require companies to disclose their carbon emissions

UK Businesses

While the UK is responsible for 2% of world carbon emissions the companies listed on the London Stock Exchange are responsible for 12 to 15%. Our initial popular campaign would aim to lower carbon emissions by targeting businesses in general, and LSE listed companies in particular.

We will demand that companies:
1) calculate and disclose their total annual carbon footprint
2) do so to an agreed standard
3) commit to a minimum reduction of 5% per year (for some firms this may need to be higher)

Why march?

Historically, when people of faith and goodwill have seen and experienced monumental injustices, they have taken to their feet and marched. Marching is a part of the culture of campaigning in the UK and elsewhere, and long distance marches have been used to raise awareness of a variety of causes. The Jarrow March for jobs in 1936, when 200 unemployed people from the North of England marched for 22 days to London to present their demands to the UK government, may be seen as seminal in this regard.

Christian Aid’s Cut the Carbon march will inform people all over the UK and Ireland that climate change is not just a future problem, it is a current crisis for millions of poor people.

The march will send a loud and clear message that the time for procrastination is over. People around the world are suffering now because we have waited too long. We must cut carbon emissions radically, and we must start now.

The Cut the Carbon march

The march will last eleven weeks beginning in Northern Ireland on 14 July, passing through Scotland, England and Wales and culminating at the London Stock Exchange. It will take in various targets relevant to Christian Aid’s campaign, for instance major carbon emitters such as airports and power stations and the head offices of companies that have not declared their carbon footprint. We will also hold major rallies in Scotland, England and Wales, before the final rally in London. Throughout the march, smaller events will be hosted in local venues such as church halls with films, food and discussion.

Core marchers will be staying in locally arranged accommodation – such as church halls and houses of Christian Aid supporters. Food and medical care will be provided based on your requirements.

Person Specification

Essential:
o Commitment to Christian Aid and its Cut the Carbon campaign
o Basic knowledge about climate change and international development
o Physical ability to walk for an average of 15 miles per day, 6 days a week, for 11 weeks. (NB wheelchair users would also be able to undertake the march as it will be on roads. Wheelchair users must be able to cover the same distances as the marchers)
o Ability to lobby MPs, company officials and other decision-makers about cutting carbon emissions to mitigate climate change
o Ability to speak English
o Capacity for some public speaking

Desirable
o Campaigning, lobbying and media experience
o Ability to speak about climate change with a theological perspective

Availability
You will need to be available for preferably the whole of the march, from 12 July to 2 October. However, we would also consider a ‘relay’ of people, in which case, you would need to be available for at least a month, mid-July to mid-August, mid-August to mid-September, mid-September to mid-October

Cut the Carbon
Marching to end the climate of poverty
14th July-2 October 2007

Route:

Set sail from Belfast 14 July

Kilmarnock-Glasgow 15 July -18 July

Glasgow- Edinburgh 18 July -22 July

Edinburgh- Berwick 22 July - 28th July

Berwick-Northallerton 29 July - 7 August

Northallerton-Leeds 7 August – 12 August

Leeds- Huddersfield 12 August - 15 August

Huddersfield- Manchester 15 August - 17 August

Manchester- Derby 17 August -22 August

Derby – Birmingham 22 August - 28 August

Birmingham – Hereford 28 August – 2 September