General Election 

 The upcoming general election gives us all the opportunity to promote democratic choice and to make climate change a doorstep issue.

Especially if you live in a marginal seat, get involved with the "Ask the Climate Question" campaign: and http://www.stopclimatechaos.org/ask-the-climate-question

Download an 'Ask the Climate Question' poster

Whether or not you are in a marginal seat, it is still worth organising a hustings in your area.  Go to the CTBI web site: for a step-by-step guide to organising a hustings 

And go to www.churcheselection.org.uk for material produced by CTBI to help churches prepare for a General Election.

When you have organised your event, or when you go to one, here are some suggested questions from CEL for you to ask:

1. Massive reductions in energy use in this country are necessary but will not be easy.  How unpopular are you prepared to be?  Give us an example of the courage you will show in this area.

2.  Addressing climate change requires a paradigm shift in our way of being in the developed world.  What will you do to change the culture of our country from one of human-buyings to one of human beings?

More climate questions at the bottom of this page and at:
Tearfund
Christian Aid
Cafod

Post-election Service and Vigil for the Climate - 15/16 May

Service: 11pm , St Martins in the Fields, London 15th May. 

The new government may need reminding of the importance of prioritising addressing climate change above the economy, education and the EU. 

CEL is organising a service at St. Martin 's in the Fields at 11pm from which we will join the Campaign against Climate Change vigil as it processes down Whitehall to Parliament Square . 

Campaign against Climate Change are organizing the overnight vigil in Old Palace Yard, outside Parliament. It will continue through the night of 15/16 May until 5am . A venue not far from Parliament will be open all night for Taize, tea and toilets, and breakfast will be served at 6am .

Please join us. Contact Ruth Jarman on 07970 907784 or ruthj@phonecoop.coop

More suggestions for climate questions for the Hustings from CEL:

1. The Climate Change Committee said in December 2008 that to fulfil the UK 's climate change obligations we need to almost completely decarbonise the power sector by 2030. Many scientists are saying we need to move faster than this. Are you prepared to make the tough decisions required to meet this commitment and how will you do so?

Building a low carbon economy - the UK 's contribution to tackling climate change can be found at http://www.theccc.org.uk/pdf/TSO-ClimateChange.pdf . It also states that we need to establish "a clear and publically stated expectation that coal-fired power stations will not be able to generate unabated beyond the early 2020s."

EU requirements: 15% of energy from renewables by 2020 which translates to 30-35% of electricity from renewables by 2020.

Our wind generation capacity needs to be increased by a factor of 10. UK renewable energy strategy June 2008 to be found at http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file46799.pdf

2. Are your party's plans to meet climate change obligations based on i) wanting to do what is best for the UK economically, ii) fulfilling existing commitments imposed by the previous government or the EU, or iii) the moral responsibility to do what is right? Do you have the courage to put iii) before i) - to allow moral responsibility to trump maximising economic growth?

3. Have you read the New Economics Foundation's A Green New Deal ? Have you adopted any of its recommendations for massive investment in transforming our economy? If not, why not?

http://www.neweconomics.org/publications/green-new-deal

4. Do you believe that securing the continued viability of life on earth is more important than protecting economic growth? Which of your policies demonstrate this view?

5. Do you think that there is innate value in non-human species beyond their usefulness to us? Just as an example, if removing badgers completely from our countryside would eliminate bovine TB would you remove them?

6. A reasonable scientific view suggests that we may be able to burn all the oil in the ground and survive. What we cannot do is to burn the coal and the unconventional fuels such as tar sands. British companies such as BP and RBS are involved in tar sand extraction. What will you do to stop these companies, some using our money, endangering our planet so recklessly?