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media release everyone - Scotland's environment groups campaigning together (500,000 supporters, 26 organisations, ONE voice) Election news: student leaders back climate campaign Monday 2 May 2005
Despite workload, students to take time out to 'press politicians'
Have you taken action yet?: http://www.everyonecan.org
With only four days to go until the general election, thousands of Scottish students are being mobilised to help ensure that those who get elected commit to action to tackle climate change. The call to action comes on the day student representative body, NUS Scotland, and student campaigning group, People and Planet, gave their full backing to Scottish Environment LINK's everyone campaign. [1]
The everyone campaign is an initiative from Scottish Environment LINK, the umbrella body for Scotland's environmental organisations. Using the slogan 'cut climate change - turn the heat up on your MP' the groups are pressing candidates to pledge, if elected, to deliver year-on-year cuts in climate emissions.
President of NUS Scotland [2], Melanie Ward, said:
"Students are hugely concerned by environmental issues and particularly by the threat posed to us all by climate change. To this end, NUS Scotland is fully behind this campaign and will be encouraging all students to support it, engage in the political process and lobby their local candidates."
Gary Glass of People and Planet [3] in Scotland, said:
"We are living in a time when environmental issues such as climate change will become critical in a time not very much longer than the four-year political cycle, so it is essential that we use voter pressure to make politicians wake up to climate change. We are the future generation and we need to show politicians that we have a voice and are not afraid to use it: this is our planet and it is not for sale. We are happy to join the everyone campaign to show that young people do care about our future."
President of Scottish Environment LINK and spokesman for the everyone coalition, Fred Edwards, said:
"It is great news that NUS Scotland and People and Planet are to support this vital campaign. Many students now have to combine a busy workload of study, as well as employment. Therefore, we are most grateful that so many of them will take a little time out to help press all the parties on their commitments on climate change. It is imperative that the next government promise and then deliver year-on-year cuts in climate emissions. It only takes two minutes to support the campaign via www.everyonecan.org".
ENDS
For more information:
NOTES TO EDITORS:
[1] The everyone campaign is an initiative from Scottish Environment LINK, the umbrella body for Scotland's environmental organisations. Campaigning together as the everyone coalition, the groups plan to mobilise their collective half a million supporters to challenge politicians to step up action to cut global climate change. Using the slogan 'cut climate change, turn the heat up on your MP' the groups have published a series of election demands they wish politicians to take action on.
The everyone campaign is demanding that politicians come forward with policies that will deliver year-on-year progress toward a cut of at least 20 per cent in carbon dioxide emissions by 2010, and put us on a path to a 60 per cent cut by 2050.
• The campaign is providing user-friendly information packs and has launched a campaigning website: http://www.everyonecan.org with briefing materials and information on contacting candidates.
• The campaign has contacted every candidate standing for election in the new Scottish constituencies on what they will do to cut climate change if elected. The results can be found on http://everyonecan.org/survey
• Campaign postcards and an e-mail advert will be circulated widely to encourage people to get involved.
The everyone cut climate change campaign is open to any group which agrees with the campaign aims and is currently supported by: Association of Regional and Island Archaeologists, Badenoch and Strathspey Conservation Group, Biological Recording in Scotland, Butterfly Conservation Scotland, Cairngorms Campaign, Friends of the Earth Scotland, Greenpeace UK, Hebridean Whale & Dolphin Trust, John Muir Trust, Marine Conservation Society, Mountaineering Council of Scotland, The National Trust for Scotland, NUS Scotland, North East Mountain Trust, People and Planet, Plantlife, Ramblers' Association Scotland, Reforesting Scotland, RSPB Scotland, ruralScotland, Soil Association Scotland, Scottish Countryside Rangers' Association, Scottish Wild Land Group, Scottish Wildlife Trust, Sustrans Scotland, TRANSform Scotland, Woodland Trust Scotland and WWF Scotland.
[2] NUS Scotland: While maintaining strong links with the National Union of Students of the UK, NUS Scotland is an autonomous body which forms its own policies twice a year, at NUS Scotland Conference and Council. NUS Scotland's affiliates represent 76% of all the students in higher education and over 90% of students in further education in Scotland. It was formed in 1971 out of the Scottish Union of Students. See: http://www.nusonline.co.uk/scotland/
[3] People & Planet: People and Planet (P&P) is an activist network for young people, with school, student and youth groups campaigning across Scotland and the UK on poverty, human rights and the environment. See: http://www.peopleandplanet.org/
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