Tag: protest

Campaigners urge First Minister: ‘Don’t Break Climate Promise’

Climate campaigners took their anger at the Scottish Government decision to scrap its 2030 climate targets to a protest outside Bute House last night. The protest called on the First Minister and his Government ‘not to break their climate promise’.

Organisers say that scrapping these targets means a weakening of climate action, a reduction in scrutiny on Ministers and is a ‘betrayal’ of those impacted by climate breakdown.

Speakers at the rally highlighted the impact extreme weather is already having on Scottish food production, as well endangering lives in climate vulnerable countries.

Protestors are taking their message directly to the First Minister’s residence because he must take responsibility for the Scottish Government’s failure to deliver on their climate commitments.

Friends of the Earth Scotland’s Climate Campaigner Caroline Rance said: “People are rightly angry that Humza Yousaf’s Government plans to break its climate promise and slow down action in this crucial decade. Climate science is clear that we cannot allow that to happen.

“The Scottish Government’s repeated failure to act has meant not only have they missed climate targets, but they have missed tangible opportunities to improve people’s lives through providing good public transport, decent home insulation and creating good green jobs.

“The First Minister must take responsibility for this colossal climate failure because the desperately weak policy package announced last week offers no reassurance that his Ministers are serious about getting us back on track.”

Landworkers’ Alliance Scotland Policy and Campaigns Coordinator Tara Wight, who spoke at the rally, commented: “The effects of climate change are already having a devastating impact on farming in Scotland with productive fields underwater, record lamb deaths this Spring and storm Babet last year causing the most drastic loss of crop value ever recorded.

“This has a big impact on our food system, increasing the need for carbon-heavy imports and driving up the cost of food at a time when people are already struggling to make ends meet.

“Farmers and crofters urgently need support to transition their practices to improve both climate resilience and mitigation yet the Scottish Government’s policies for climate-friendly agriculture are the least ambitious in the UK, and fall far behind the EU. This lack of action on climate change and just transition is a betrayal of our farming and crofting communities.”

Stop Climate Chaos Scotland (SCCS) Coalition Manager Becky Kenton-Lake commented: “Scotland’s target to reduce emissions by 75% by 2030 was based on our fair contribution to retaining a liveable planet.

“As the First Minister himself has said, rich nations failing to deliver on climate commitments would represent “catastrophic negligence“, and the Scottish Government’s lack of sufficient climate action to date represents a major breach of trust with the people of Scotland and communities around the world who have done least to cause the crisis but whose lives and livelihoods are already being destroyed.

“The range of largely re-heated measures announced by the Scottish Government are wholly inadequate and fall very significantly short of the transformational acceleration in action needed.”

Liz Murray, Head of Scottish Campaigns at Global Justice Now said, ““We’re at the rally today to urge the First Minister and the Scottish government not to backtrack on its climate commitments.

“The First Minister has in the past spoken out about the catastrophic negligence of rich countries’ failure to act on climate change, so he should be totally ashamed of his own government’s failure to take the action needed to meet its own targets.

“And rather than pulling out all the stops to get things back on track to meet those targets, the Scottish Government is now just going to move the goalposts. This is shameful.

“Climate change knows no borders. People who have had little or nothing to do with causing the climate emergency, from communities in the global south to marginalised communities in Scotland, are suffering its serious effects.

“In a climate emergency, letting itself off the hook is the wrong thing for the Scottish Government to do, and any claims it had to global leadership on climate change now have no credibility.”

Scrap Student Flats: Living Rents to hold public meeting in Leith

10th MAY at 6.30pm in DUNCAN PLACE COMMUNITY HUB

Got concerns about purpose-built student accommodation and luxury developments in your local community?

Join Living Rent for a public forum on the redevelopment of Dalton Scrapyard, where you can bring your questions and concerns directly to your local representatives.

Hold councillors accountable and bring local planning back to the people!

Unions, lawyers and rights groups slam UK Government’s decision to reintroduce tribunal fees

Nearly 50 organisations including the TUC, Citizens Advice, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Fawcett Society, Maternity Action, Women’s Budget Group and Liberty call on government to reconsider its plans

Unions, legal networks and rights organisations have today (Monday) slammed the government’s decision to reintroduce employment tribunal fees. 

In a joint statement penned by 48 organisations and campaigners including the TUC, Citizens Advice, Maternity Action, Women’s Budget Group, Liberty, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Fawcett Society, Mother Pukka, the groups call on the government to urgently reconsider its plans. 

In 2017, after Unison brought a legal challenge, the Supreme Court quashed the previous tribunal fees regime because it “effectively prevents access to justice and is therefore unlawful.”  

The joint statement says the decision will put yet another hurdle in front of those seeking justice, highlighting the existing barriers working people face including: 

  • Lack of awareness of key employment rights and the process for bringing a claim.  
  • Strict time limits on filing claims.  
  • An under-resourced employment tribunal system leading to significant delays in cases being heard.  
  • An under-funded labour market enforcement system that doesn’t have enough inspectors to proactively enforce employment rights. 

The groups say that introducing fees will encourage exploitation of workers: 

“We believe this will deter many from lodging worthy claims and gives a green light to bad employers to exploit their workers. 

“Bad employers are being given the go-ahead to undercut good ones, safe in the knowledge they are less likely to face claims in the employment tribunal.  

“Employment rights are only real if they are enforced. Tribunal fees risk pricing many workers out of workplace justice.” 

They raise concerns about the impact on workers in the middle of a cost of living crisis: 

“Workers seeking recovery of wage theft, unpaid redundancy pay and compensation for unfair dismissal are to be asked to stump up extra money at an incredibly tough moment in their lives.  

“Fee exemption procedures are complex and difficult to understand for many, especially within the three months’ time limit for most claims. 

“Fees are also being levied at a time when rising inflation and subdued wages are putting pressure on family budgets. Access to justice must never be contingent on your ability to pay.” 

And they warn that those at the sharp end includes workers already at high risk of mistreatment 

“Tribunal fees risk pricing many workers out of workplace justice, especially workers at greater risk of employment law violations such as pregnant workers, disabled workers and migrant workers.” 

TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said: “All working people should be able to enforce their rights. But introducing fees for tribunals puts yet another hurdle in the way of those seeking justice at their most vulnerable moment. 

“The Conservatives have already tried this and failed. Last time they introduced tribunal fees, claims dropped by two-thirds. And the Supreme Court threw fees out – saying they interfered with access to justice. 

“That should have been the nail in the coffin for these cynical plans, but ministers have decided to side with bad bosses over workers and resurrect employment tribunal fees. 

“Employment tribunal fees give employers a pass to exploit workers – whether it’s discrimination, unfair sackings or withheld wages. 

“Working people shouldn’t be picking up the bill for exploitative employers’ poor behaviour. It’s plain wrong. Ministers must halt their plans without delay.” 

Rosalind Bragg, Director at Maternity Action Group, said:  “For pregnant women and new mothers in the cost of living crisis, every penny counts.  Charging fees for employment tribunal claims puts the justice system out of reach for women at a time when they are most in need of protection. 

“If the Government is serious about stamping out maternity discrimination, they should be reducing barriers to justice not increasing them. Fees will reduce the deterrent effect of the employment tribunal, reassuring bad employers that they can get away with breaking the law. 

“We have laws in place to secure equal treatment of pregnant women and new mothers at work but these are ineffective without the robust operation of the employment tribunal. 

“Fees are a step backwards in the fight for gender equality.” 

The Joint Statement reads: 

As organisations that advocate for workers’ ability to enforce their rights, we strongly oppose the government’s plans to impose fees on people who file an employment tribunal claim. 

Following a landmark victory by trade union UNISON, the previous employment fees regime was ruled unlawful by the Supreme Court due to its restriction on access to justice and discriminatory impact. 

It appears the government is intent on repeating the mistakes of the past. 

We believe reintroducing tribunal fees would block many from lodging worthy claims and give a green light to bad employers to exploit their workers. 

There are already considerable barriers to those seeking justice at work: 

  • An under-resourced employment tribunal system leading to significant delays in cases being heard. 
  • An under-funded labour market enforcement system that doesn’t have enough inspectors to proactively enforce employment rights. 
  • Lack of awareness of key employment rights. 
  • A complicated process for bringing a claim. 
  • Difficulty in accessing legal support. 
  • Strict time limits on filing claims. 

Workers seeking recovery of wage theft, unpaid redundancy pay and compensation for unfair dismissal are to be asked to stump up extra money at an incredibly tough moment in their lives. Fee exemption procedures are complex and difficult to understand for many, especially within the three months’ time limit for most claims. 

Fees are also being levied at a time when rising inflation and subdued wages are putting pressure on family budgets. Access to justice must never be contingent on your ability to pay. 

Meanwhile bad employers are being given the go-ahead to undercut good ones, safe in the knowledge they are less likely to face claims in the employment tribunal. 

Employment rights are only real if they are enforced. Tribunal fees risk pricing many workers out of workplace justice, especially workers at greater risk of employment law violations such as pregnant workers, disabled workers and migrant workers. 

We urge the government to reconsider its plans. 

Signatories: 

Trades Union Congress 

Focus on Labour Exploitation (FLEX) 

Maternity Action 

Pregnant Then Screwed  

Young Women’s Trust (Clairee Reindorp, CEO) 

Liberty 

Mother Pukka, Anna Whitehouse 

Inclusion London 

BARAC UK  

Citizens Advice 

Anti Trafficking and Labour Exploitation Unit (ATLEU) 

The William Gomes Podcast  

After Exploitation 

Latin American Women’s Rights Service (LAWRS) for Refugees 

Migrant Voice 

Kalayaan 

Work Rights Centre 

Southeast and East Asian Centre (SEEAC) 

Kanlungan Filipino Consortium 

Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA)  

Community Policy Forum 

Right to Remain 

Advice Services Alliance 

Anti-Slavery International 

Migrants’ Rights Network 

Disability Rights UK 

Legal Action Group 

Protect 

Fawcett Society 

Your Employment Settlement Service 

Just Fair 

Labour Behind the Label 

Legal Aid Practitioners Group 

Highfields Centre  

War on Want 

The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI) 

Anti-Trafficking Monitoring Group (ATMG) 

Equally Ours 

Snowdrop Project 

Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers  

Roma Support Group 

No Sweat 

Free Representation Unit 

Hope for Justice 

Greater Manchester Law Centre 

Joseph Rowntree Foundation 

Rights of Women 

Protesters call for action on one year anniversary of Edinburgh councillors voting for divestment

Campaigners staged a protest outside Edinburgh City Chambers on Friday (24 November) to call on the Lothian Pension Fund to divest from fossil fuels. The protest marked one year since Edinburgh City Council voted in favour of divestment, but the fund has still not enacted the request.

Lothian Pension Fund has at least £350 million invested in the fossil fuel industry, according to new analysis by Platform and Friends of the Earth Scotland. This is a significant increase from the £229 million investment it held when the research was last conducted in October 2021.

Lothian Pension Fund is the second biggest fossil fuel investor of all the council pension funds in Scotland. It invests in some of the world’s biggest climate polluters, including Exxon Mobil, Shell, Equinor, TotalEnergies and BP.

With virtually all oil and gas companies set to expand their operations, campaigners are calling on the Lothian Pension Fund to listen to councillors and stop funding fossil fuels.

The protest highlighted the role French oil giant TotalEnergies – that Lothian Pensions have investments worth £19 million in – is playing in worsening the climate crisis and threatening human rights.

TotalEnergies is currently developing the East African Crude Oil Pipeline, stretching 1444 km across Uganda and Tanzania. Building this pipeline is displacing communities and destroying livelihoods in Africa in order to pump oil out of the continent to be consumed by people living in the global north.

John Hardy from Divest Lothian said: “It’s extremely disappointing that as the climate crisis worsens, the Lothian Pension Fund has failed to follow the democratic will of the council to divest from the fossil fuel companies that are driving climate breakdown.

“In particular, their investments in TotalEnergies and the East African Crude Oil Pipeline harms our climate and puts local communities and important ecosystems at risk.

“The Lothian Pension Fund needs to listen to the people of Edinburgh and the Lothians and divest from all fossil fuel companies immediately. Our future is at stake, and we cannot afford to wait any longer.”

Sophie Burgess from Global Justice Edinburgh Youth Collective said: “We need to Stop EACOP for my future, the future of people in Uganda and Tanzania and the future of people globally.

“We cannot allow pensions to continue to fund fossil fuel giants like TotalEnergy, who are continuing to threaten all our futures with devastating projects like the East African Crude Oil Pipeline.”

The Lothian Pension Fund administers the pension funds of almost 90,000 members from the four councils in the Lothians and 59 other employers, including Scottish Water, Edinburgh Napier University, VisitScotland and Heriot-Watt University.

Ceasefire NOW! Rally in city centre

WAVERLEY BRIDGE at 12 NOON

📢📢📢TODAY! Please note Edinburgh will meet at the earlier time of 12pm at Waverley Bridge. Please double check your nearest demonstrations time AND location.

Ceasefire now. Stop the genocide!

As with previous weeks, there haven’t been applications to march – though people may want to on the day.

Young climate activists protest at Labour MP’s Edinburgh office

Promise to continue every week ‘Until Bold Action Is Taken’

On Friday, local climate activists from Green New Deal Rising staged a ‘sit-out’ in front of Ian Murray MP’s HQ to demand bolder climate commitments from Labour ahead of the next General Election. 

Beginning at 11am on Friday, young climate activists in Edinburgh gathered outside Ian Murray MP’s constituency office in Causewayside, urging him to commit to doing more in the face of the Climate and Ecological Emergency.

The group criticised the Labour Party’s failure to adequately respond to repeated calls from young people for rapid decarbonisation, a just transition to a low emissions economy and investment in green jobs.

Ian Murray is MP for Edinburgh South and the Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland in Keir Starmer’s Shadow Cabinet.

This action follows similar protests every Friday since 14th July. This week, the activists staged a “birthday party” for Keir Starmer outside the office, putting up decorations, playing party songs and sharing around cake to mark the Labour leader’s birthday this week.

They spoke to Ian Murray’s constituents and members of the public about what the Labour party could be doing to tackle the climate emergency and social and economic injustice.

The protest was part of a national campaign by Green New Deal Rising pressuring the Labour Party to ‘Be Bold’ in their manifesto pledges ahead of the next UK General Election, which must be held before December 2024.

They are demanding that the Labour Party commit to passing legislation which expands public ownership, taxes wealth, delivers a green jobs guarantee and a living income, enacts a National Nature Service and make polluters pay globally, in the first 100 days after the election. 

Similar protests were also staged in cities across the UK targeting other members of the Shadow Cabinet.

Paris, 20, a member of Green New Deal Rising from Glasgow said: “We are seeing unprecedented heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, floods, crop failures, famines and falling living standards.

“Labour are refusing to put in place the bold and systemic solutions required to put an end to these crises, with the party having just ruled out wealth taxes and having reaffirmed their support for a set of dangerous and arbitrary fiscal rules that top economists have said are morally and fiscally irresponsible.

“So we are back outside Ian Murray’s office for the 8th week chatting with the public and throwing a birthday party for Keir Starmer celebrating what Labour could achieve if they grant our wishes of having a livable future through public ownership of essential services, a secure income for all, and a transformative Green New Deal.”

Keir Starmer announced Labour’s ‘Green Industrial Strategy’ earlier this year, but has already U-turned on a number of issues in response to fossil fuel lobbying, by refusing to block the Rosebank Oil Field if approved and delaying the timing of green investment.

Polls consistently show that the electorate are in favour of more action on environmental issues as well as public ownership.

Paris continued: “Our wishes are highly reflected in our interactions with the public who are concerned about the destruction of our planet and deteriorating living standards. Labour need to reject austerity economics and support our demands for a Green New Deal.”

The group say they will return to Ian Murray’s office again next Friday.

For All Life: Animal rights protesters disrupt Royal Highland Show

  • At around 13:45 today (Saturday 24th June) supporters of Animal Rising gained access to the stage at the Royal Highland Show where the Golden Shears World Championship was taking place.
  • 3 individuals glued themselves to the gates behind which the sheep were kept, whilst others held posters detailing facts about the farming industry. They all wore pink t-shirts reading ‘Animal Rising: For All Life’
  • Earlier this year, the group rescued 3 lambs from a farm on Royal land [1].
  • Animal Rising says this action at the Royal Highland Show was taken to continue the national conversation about our broken relationship with other animals and nature that began in April when the group disrupted the Grand National at Aintree, and the Scottish Grand National in Ayr.

TODAY (Saturday 24th June) at around 13:45, the Golden Shears World Championship was disrupted by supporters of Animal Rising wearing pink t-shirts reading ‘For All Life’.

The competition, taking place at the Royal Highland Show in Edinburgh, involves teams from around the world sheep as quickly as possible.

Supporters of Animal Rising disrupted the championship by running onto the platform where the shearing takes place. Three individuals glued themselves to the stalls where the sheep are kept whilst others held placards, before being removed by security. Round 2 of the event, due to resume at 13:45, was delayed by at least 20 minutes as the live stream showed the same few ads on repeat

Members of the group were also sat at a table outside the event inviting conversations with farmers attending the 4-day event.

One of those establishing dialogue at the Royal Highland Show, Sarah McCaffrey, said: “We are here to engage in conversation around our broken relationship with animals and nature.

“We know that we are a nation of animal lovers, but that is not reflected in our actions. This is clear to see in Golden Sheers World Championship where sheep are put in positions where they are visibly stressed and uncomfortable, purely for our entertainment.

“It is also evident in our use of horses for ‘showjumping’ at this same event, and in our food system where we send 1 billion animals to be killed every year in the UK alone.

“That is why Animal Rising are here today taking action. But disruption is only part of the story, dialogue is key too if we are to create the lasting change we need: a safe, secure food plant-based food system and programme of rewilding”.

In 2018, comprehensive research from the University of Oxford showed that 76% of the land currently used for food production would be freed-up by a global transition to plant-based production.

This land could be rewilded and begin carbon drawdown, mitigating the worst impacts of climate breakdown. A 2019 Harvard University report on UK farmland and food production from Helen Harwatt and Matthew N. Hayek also concluded that the UK would be carbon-negative if it completely transitioned to a plant-based food system.

Animal Rising is a social movement to create a new relationship with all beings and give us a chance for a safe ecological future. The group primarily calls for the transition to a secure and sustainable plant-based food system, alongside a mass rewilding programme.

Trust in Scottish Water down the drain as Scots call for ban on bonuses

New data from Surfers Against Sewage reveals the extent of anger at polluting water companies, as charity prepares to mobilise public in first ever mass paddle-out protest later this month. 

·       A mammoth 83% of residents in the Scotland support a ban on bonuses for CEOs who fail to adhere to minimum environmental standards. 

·       Trust in water companies is at rock bottom, with less than a fifth (16%) of adults confident that Scottish Water is using their money to improve services. 

·       In response to rising public anger, volunteers backed by Surfers Against Sewage will coordinate a paddle-out protest against sewage pollution at Portobello Beach, Edinburgh on May 20, one of multiple events occurring simultaneously across the UK. 

·       Surfers Against Sewage is demanding calling for an end to sewage discharges into UK bathing waters and a 90% reduction in sewage discharges by 2030. 

New data from charity Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) has revealed the extent of public distrust in Scottish Water amid ongoing outrage at the levels of pollution occurring in Scottish and UK waterways.  

The UK Government and regulators have also come under fire, with 7 in 10 (69%) saying the UK Government should be doing more to tackle sewage pollution. An even bigger proportion (80%) think water company regulators need to do more to make sure water companies reduce sewage pollution. 

The survey data also reveals the issues that are most likely to inform the public’s vote at the next election. A quarter (23%) of Scots report that environmental issues will be their most important factor for voting. Among these people, 6 in 10 (62%) said they cared about water pollution the most. 

SAS are seeking to convert public outrage into action by staging a mass paddle-out protest against sewage pollution, featuring simultaneous events at beaches and rivers across the UK on Saturday 20 May. 

Josh Harris, Head of Communications at Surfers Against Sewage, said: “Last year water companies paid out a combined £1 billion to their shareholders while dumping sewage into UK waterways almost 400,000 times.

“It’s time to put an end to this shameless profiteering. Water companies should not be allowed to profit from pollution, and our data shows that the public agree, with a huge majority calling for an end to industry fat cats pocketing bonuses whilst failing to meet minimum environmental standards. 

“And it’s not just the water companies that need to clean up their act. The Government and regulators should be enforcing high standards and holding water companies to account, but it’s clear to the public that they’re not doing enough. We’ve suffered decades of broken sewers because of our broken system, and now the public have had enough and are demanding an to end this sewage scandal.” 

The data also reveals the importance of river and sea spots for Scots’ physical and mental health.

Over half in Scotland (56%) say access to blue space is beneficial for their physical health, whilst nearly half (41%) go so far as to say that having limited access to blue space is detrimental for their mental health. Despite this, nearly two thirds (62%) say sewage pollution puts them off going in the sea and rivers in the UK. 

Josh Harris, Head of Communications at Surfers Against Sewage, continued: “We’re urging anyone who feels passionately about protecting our blue spaces to join us on 20 May as we rise up against the polluters and stage a mass paddle-out protest across the UK. Water companies are wreaking havoc on our precious rivers and seas, and we refuse to stay silent. Head to your nearest protest and make your voice heard.” 

At least 12 protests will take place across the UK on 20 May, at key locations covering each water company catchment. Swimmers, paddlers, surfers, canoers, kayakers, paddle-boarders, windsurfers and anyone who cares about the health of their local blue spaces will take to the water, beach or riverbank to make their demands heard. SAS are also urging the public to sign their ‘Dirty Money’ petition, which demands an end to water companies profiting from pollution. 

Kim Travers, a volunteer who is organising the paddle-out protest in Edinburgh, said: “We are calling for year-round water monitoring and an end to sewage pollution by 2030.” 

To mark the protests, SAS have worked with Niall Jones – a Cornwall-based product designer and owner of Benthos Surf – and creative agency Mr President to develop a surfboard to represent the extent of sewage pollution in UK seas and rivers.

Jones collected raw sewage from the sea and turned it into resin that soaked into the board, creating unexpected patterns. To maximise the impact of the design, he included two transparent windows in the top of the board that display the two litres of sewage water contained within. 

Mr President have created a video highlighting the extent of the sewage scandal in the UK, and featuring interviews with and footage of Ben Skinner, 11x European Longboard Champion, and other surfers riding the waves on the Floater. 

SAS’s new data comes just weeks after data from water companies and the Environment Agency revealed that sewage was dumped into UK rivers and seas in England, Scotland and Wales just under 400,000 times last year, despite 2022 being one of the driest years in decades.

Last year SAS found evidence of 143 ‘dry spills’ – sewage overflows that occurred when there had been no rain for two days – indicating potentially illegal activity by water companies.

The charity is calling for an end to sewage discharge into UK bathing waters and a 90% reduction in sewage discharges by 2030.

Abortion Rights Scotland – supporting safe, legal, NHS abortion services

Saturday 22nd April Edinburgh 11am-1pm

THIS MORNING (Saturday), Abortion Rights Scotland is celebrating the fifty-fifth anniversary of the date the 1967 Abortion Act became law in England, Scotland, and Wales, from eleven am to 1pm on Lothian Road Edinburgh – Usher Hall side – because on the other side of the road, SPUC (the Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child) are holding their protest against access safe, legal, local abortion, provided and delivered by the NHS. 

The SPUC protest against safe legal abortion and the feminist celebration of the Abortion Act, are both now in their tenth year – two years missed because of lockdown.

Audrey Brown, retired NHS abortion care consultant, says: “NHS Scotland has long supported women to make their own choices about pregnancy.

 “Abortion care is extremely safe, and in fact is safer than continuing a pregnancy. NHS doctors, nurses and midwives working in abortion care are trained to provide a safe and supportive service.

“The majority of women now choose early medical abortion in the privacy of their own home. Restricting access to abortion won’t stop abortion, it will push it underground and make it less safe. We must continue to support free, safe and legal NHS abortion care.”

The counter-vigil against the anti-abortion protest, is both in support of the continuing right to safe, legal, local abortion in Scotland, provided and delivered by the NHS, but also standing with people in countries like Poland and the United States, where the anti-abortion movement has achieved its goal of denying free access to safe legal abortion.

SPUC’s frequent assertion is that they want to make this essential reproductive healthcare “unthinkable” – and most people in Scotland oppose that goal.

SPUC has organised a ‘Pro Life Chain’ event from 11am – 1pm

Organisers say: ‘Remember the lives hurt and lost through abortion by attending SPUC’s 2023 Pro-Life Chain. This peaceful act of witness spreads the message that abortion kills unborn children and hurts women and families.’

Divestment Day of Action

Climate campaigners in Edinburgh join national protests against fossil fuel investment

– Demonstration took place in Edinburgh yesterday (24 March) as part of UK-wide divestment day of action
– More than 30 groups across Britain joined “Divest from Crisis, invest in our future” events to call for an end to council investments in fossil fuels
– Climate campaigners highlight the Lothian and Falkirk Pension Funds’ investment in big polluters by staging a theatrical depiction of the love triangle between the Pension Funds, fossil fuel companies and green investments outside City Chambers

Climate justice campaigners from Edinburgh and Falkirk staged a theatrical demonstration outside Edinburgh City Chambers today (24 March) to call on the Lothian and Falkirk Pension Funds to stop investing in fossil fuels.

Local campaigners from Divest Lothian, Friends of the Earth Falkirk and Stop Rosebank staged a short period-costume drama, taking inspiration from Martin Scorsese’s classic film ‘The Age of Innocence’, to depict the love triangle between the Lothian and Falkirk pension funds, big polluters and green investments.

The Edinburgh protest is one of over 30 demonstrations taking place across the UK today as part of a “Divestment Day of Action” to urge councils, pension funds, and financial institutions to take action to address the crises of fuel poverty, climate breakdown, and energy security by removing investments from fossil fuels.

The Lothian Pension Fund, administered by the City of Edinburgh Council for the four Lothian councils, invests an estimated £229 million in fossil fuel companies which are driving climate breakdown, including BP, Shell, ExxonMobil and Equinor.

The Falkirk Pension Fund, which is run by Falkirk Council, invests an estimated £123 million in some of the world’s biggest polluters, including BP and Shell.

Joan Forehand, campaigner with Divest Lothian, said: “All paths to a livable and economically viable future start with ending the exploration for, and development of, new sources of fossil fuels and instead investing in the rapid development of clean energy.

“The last year has shown fossil fuel companies doubling down on further expansion of oil and gas whilst continuing to distract the public with greenwashing. All responsible investors have a part to play in recognising that they hold great power, via divesting, to signal to policymakers that these companies are on a path that is no longer morally or economically supportable.”

In 2022, both the City of Edinburgh Council and East Lothian Council passed motions calling on the Lothian Pension Fund to divest from fossil fuel companies, but the fund has not yet changed its policy.

Sally Clark, divestment campaigner at Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: “The spiralling cost of living and the breakdown of the global climate are both symptoms of an unstable and unjust fossil fuel energy system that is devastating communities around the world.

“By continuing to invest in big polluters like BP and Shell, the Lothian and Falkirk Pension Funds are literally gambling with our futures. It’s time for both funds to end their investments in climate-wrecking fossil fuels and instead invest in warmer homes and renewable energy that can help ensure we have a liveable planet for future generations.”

Luke Henderson, Chair of Unison West Lothian Branch, said: “More and more public sector and private sector pension funds are making the switch to fossil free investments. The Lothian Pension Fund needs to catch up with them.

“Fossil fuel companies are not effectively responding to the fact that they need to move to renewable energy in the future and currently invest only a tiny fraction of their investments in green energy. History is littered with once dominant companies that did not respond to changes and who suddenly disappear.

“Companies like Olivetti refused to move from typewriters to computers or Kodak who refused to move to digital photography. We should switch our investments before it is too late and the fossil fuel companies stock value plummets.

“Furthermore, in the face of extraordinary economic challenges ahead, we need to reset and create a new economy that places the health of us all above the wealth of a few. Local government pension schemes can play a part in this by mobilising the money they move out of fossil fuels into socially useful investments in the local economy.”