25 January 2017

*Caroline Lucas: Trump is signalling his intent to put rocket boosters behind the fossil fuel industry

Theresa May is being urged to raise the issue of climate change with President Donald Trump when she meets with him later this week. In a letter [1] sent to the Prime Ministers, politicians from the Green Party urged the Prime Minister to ‘seek firm assurances that he [Trump] will not withdraw from the Paris Agreement, and that he will remain committed to domestic climate legislation, such as the Clean Power Plan’.

The call to Theresa May comes after President Trump signed two executive orders yesterday aiming to push ahead with major pipeline projects in the US [2]. Both the Dakota and Keystone pipelines are regarded as extremely damaging by environmentalists and climate-scientists [3]. 

The United States is responsible for 15% of global carbon emissions – and their actions are crucial in shaping international climate policy. Donald Trump has previously cast doubt on climate science [4]– and has consistently called for policies designed to fast-track the burning of fossil fuels.

Caroline Lucas, the co-leader of the Green Party, said:

“Donald Trump’s first few days as President have revealed his contempt for environmental protection. By pushing ahead with the Dakota and Keystone pipelines he is signalling his intent to put rocket boosters behind the fossil fuel industry. Theresa May has a duty to make a stand – and to demand assurances from President Trump that he will not abandon the Paris climate change agreement. Failing to bring up climate change with President Trump would be a dereliction of duty from Theresa May, and we urge her to put this global challenge at the top of her agenda for their meeting.”

[1] Full letter to Theresa May:

Dear Theresa,

We are writing concerning your visit to the United States tomorrow to visit President Trump.

As you will know, President Trump and senior members of his new team have systematically cast doubt on climate science, whilst supporting polluting energy sources and downplaying the need for the transition to a low-carbon economy. As a clear statement of his intentions, at the moment of his inauguration, all mentions of climate change were removed from the Whitehouse website – instead, there appeared a raft of policies designed to fast-track the burning of fossil fuels.

With 2016 now confirmed as the hottest year on record, and the world heading for 4 degrees warming by the end of the century, there has never been a more dangerous time for the scaling back of climate action anywhere in the world. The United States is responsible for 15% of global emissions and its leadership is vital in setting the path to a zero-carbon future.

Given the urgency of the climate crisis, and the importance of the United States in global efforts to tackle it, we are writing to ask you to raise climate change with President Trump when you see him on Friday. More specifically, we are asking to you seek firm assurances that he will not withdraw from the Paris Agreement, and that he will remain committed to domestic climate legislation, such as the Clean Power Plan, that form an important part of US international commitments.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,
Jonathan Bartley, co-leader

Caroline Lucas MP, co-leader

Amelia Womack, deputy leader

Keith Taylor MEP, South-East

Molly Scott Cato MEP, South-West

Jean Lambert MEP, London

Sian Berry, London Assembly Member

Caroline Russell, London Assembly Member

Andrew Cooper, Energy spokesperson

[2] http://edition.cnn.com/2017/01/24/politics/trump-keystone-xl-dakota-access-pipelines-executive-actions/ 

[3] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jan/24/keystone-dakota-access-pipeline-executive-order 

[4] http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/jun/03/hillary-clinton/yes-donald-trump-did-call-climate-change-chinese-h/

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Baroness Anelay, Minister for Human Rights, said

Good morning and welcome to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. I would like to thank those of you who have helped to organise this event today, in particular Ambassador Mark Regev and his team at the Embassy of Israel.

Importance of Holocaust Memorial Day

The Holocaust was one of the darkest periods in our history. Sometimes we would prefer to forget, because what happened is too painful to remember. But it is only by remembering that we can learn from the past and ensure that history does not repeat itself.

Continuing to raise awareness in this way is essential because intolerance and hate still afflict our societies today. Antisemitism in particular is still an issue. That is why the UK has led the international community in adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of Antisemitism. We will use it to guide our work and to make clear that antisemitism has no place in our society.

How Can Life Go On?

The theme of this year’s Memorial Day is “how can life go on?” It explores the immense obstacles that must be overcome when rebuilding communities torn apart by hate. It focuses on the world’s Jewish communities after the Second World War, but it is a theme that remains highly relevant today.

Today’s event will focus in particular on antisemitism. I believe that the value of remembering the Holocaust comes when we think about the conditions that allowed such horrors to prevail. When we recall it was the existence of widespread antisemitism across Europe, that meant the Nazis’ desire to purge society of anyone who did not fit their ideal found fertile ground. When we reflect on what we might possibly have done in the same circumstances. And when we examine our own prejudices and seek to combat them, and to prompt others to do likewise.

This year’s theme reminds us that, even as the world’s Jewish communities began to rebuild their shattered lives, they continued to suffer antisemitic attacks. Shockingly, there were a number of pogroms immediately after the Holocaust, for example one in Poland where 42 Jews were murdered. Sadly, even today we cannot declare that antisemitism has been defeated. We all of us need to be vigilant in standing up against it.

That is why I am delighted that we are joined today by inspirational individuals who have dedicated their lives to raising awareness about the causes and consequences of the Holocaust.

Professor Yehuda Bauer is the author of the Stockholm Declaration and has worked tirelessly to ensure that the world remembers the Holocaust and learns lessons from it.

Dorit Oliver-Woolf survived the Holocaust and went on to enjoy a successful musical career. She has dedicated her life to educating others about the Holocaust.

We will also hear from Dr Dave Rich of the Community Security Trust, and from our Young Ambassadors from the Holocaust Educational Trust, Iqra Arshad and Toni-Ann Cover.

Conclusion

I would now like to invite Ambassador Regev to the podium, to introduce Professor Bauer. While he makes his way up, I will conclude using the words of the Stockholm Declaration:

Our commitment must be to remember the victims who perished, respect the survivors who are still with us, and reaffirm humanity’s common aspiration for mutual understanding and justice.

Thank you.

The Environment Agency is reminding anglers of the importance of having a rod licence after a County Durham man was fined for fishing illegally.

Dean Ferguson, 49, of Browning Hill, Coxhoe, failed to appear for his court hearing at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 23 January.

In his absence he was fined £660, ordered to pay £127 costs and a victim surcharge of £66.

Intelligence-led patrols

Shortly before midnight on the night of Saturday 6 August 2016, Environment Agency Fisheries Enforcement Officers were carrying out intelligence-led patrols on the River Wear in Durham city.

They saw Ferguson start fishing in the river using a double-handed salmon rod, and almost immediately he had foul-hooked a sea trout, which means the fish was hooked somewhere other than in the mouth.

He was stopped by the officers who searched his vehicle, and found the foul-hooked fish. Ferguson also admitted he did not have a valid rod licence.

He was summonsed to appear at court for the offences. It’s illegal to fish without a licence, and to fail to return to the water any fish that is foul-hooked.

‘Vital’ that anglers abide by law

Kevin Summerson, Fisheries Technical Specialist for the North East, said:

It’s vital that anglers abide by the law to protect the future of the sport and the quality of our rivers and fisheries.

We won’t hesitate to take action to stop illegal fishing and hopefully this will act as a deterrent for any angler thinking of cheating the system.

All the money raised from rod licence sales is used to protect and improve fish stocks and fisheries, benefiting anglers.

Rod licence income funds improvements

During 2016 in the North East there were six serious fisheries offences resulting in £460 in fines and £600 costs, plus forfeiture of equipment and a crushed vehicle.

There were a further 54 offenders prosecuted for 59 rod licence offences resulting in fines of £14,327, with four offenders also given conditional discharges.

Anyone discovered committing offences could face a substantial fine at court.

All income from rod licence sales is used to fund Environment Agency work to protect and improve fish stocks and fisheries, including improving habitats for fish and facilities for anglers, tackling illegal fishing and working with partners to encourage people to give fishing a go.

Buying a rod licence is quick and easy – you can buy them online at the Post Office.