Newspaper column - June 2009
Posted by Mike Wood, MP for Batley and Spen, at 15:45, Fri 19 June 2009:
Every month I write a column in the Batley News and Spenborough Guardian. Please find this month's column below:
Best wishes,
Mike Wood
INSIDE POLITICS
Next month Batley and Spen will host a major international conference on climate change and low carbon futures.
The event will be unique and low on what you might normally expect to see and hear at this sort of thing. Dry, academic presentations have been banished in favour of a visual feast that will project the views and activities of local young people.
A year long project to capture the personal responses of primary and secondary school pupils to the issues surrounding climate change will be central. Schools from across Kirklees have contributed to this but two from Batley and Spen - Birkenshaw First and Batley Girls - have led the way. The latter has organised the event in conjunction with Kirklees Environment Partnership.
Paul Hudson, Look North's weatherman, has been supporting the work and was actively involved with pupils at Birkenshaw and will take part when the three day conference is held at Howden Clough.
Seminars, stalls and workshops and a host of supporting organisations will come together over the weekend of July 3, 4 and 5 to explore themes such as the politics of climate change, bio-diversity and conservation; Fairtrade and global economics; and science and technology. There will also be an internet web conference between ‘five women from five continents' featuring politicians, writers and campaigners and their views on achieving a low carbon future.
One of the most interesting themes for me will be an exploration of what power the individual has. Climate change is one of those issues where the role of the individual is central. While not ignoring the vast contribution national and local government must make, the battle to address the rise and effects of climate change will be won as much in the kitchens and on local kerbsides as it will be at summit meetings and in boardrooms.
For many people, myself included, climate change is what the Americans call a ‘no-brainer'. There is no dispute, no question in my mind: this is an issue that needs addressing and acting upon urgently. The action we take contributes to the cause and by making green choices we are leading by example - a lead that can be built upon by our council and our government.
Whether we are concerned about the melting of the polar ice caps, erratic global weather patterns or the way we dispose of our waste here in Batley and Spen, the events at Howden Clough will be relevant, interesting and impressive. And it will be well worth getting involved with. There are events being held across the weekend and the public is invited.
I'm looking forward to playing a full part in this event. Congratulations and thanks to all who have worked so hard to put us on the map.
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