Dear Reader,
Climate change has absorbed most of our time since March.
The Climate Emergency Forum in Coventry Council House on March 15, the day of the first Global Student Strike for Climate, was probably the most important event we have ever organised. Around 40 students attended. They explained passionately how they feel about climate change and produced some clear and constructive actions they want schools and the City Council to take. Watch a short video of these demands here.
Unfortunately only one councillor Roger Bailey, was able (or willing) to attend but he contributed significantly to the discussion. So on 24 April we organised a second meeting which was attended by leader of Coventry City Council Councillor George Duggins as well as Councillor Jim O’Boyle, Cabinet Member for Jobs and Regeneration, Councillor Patricia Hetherton Cabinet Member for City Services and two members of staff who gave very useful presentations.
But the councillors did not take any action to move forward on the student's main requests. So, as we reported here, the Branch revived an earlier initiative by the University of Warwick called Coventry Climate Action Network (CovCAN). Our first meeting will be on 7 June. Details here.
CovCAN now has its own website at CovCAN.uk. You might like to subscribe to the CovCAN newsletter.
On a separate topic, arts organisations and human rights charities invite you to Fly The Flag for Human Rights on 24 – 30 June 2019. The Coventry Branch has a large flag that we are willing to lend to any organisation who wants to fly it. Please let Philip Brown know if you are interested.
Selections of our other news and forthcoming events are given below. Visit our website to see everything we are doing.
Philip Brown
Secretary, UNA Coventry Branch
philip@unacov.uk
