3 minute read
How we are supporting people to take action
By Kate Whitaker, Activism Organiser
In February I was sat in a crowded town hall in Lochgelly as representatives from NHS Fife, SEPA and Shell (a representative from Exxon had refused to attend) spoke about what they were doing about flaring from the Mossmorran Petrochemical Plant.
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Facing them were hundreds of residents from the local area, Cowdenbeath, Lochgelly, Glencraig, Lochore, Cardenden; other Fife residents from Dunfermline, Kirkcaldy, Burntisland and those from further afield like Edinburgh and Dundee.
As the representatives spoke there were murmurs in the audience, shaking of heads as the Shell official spoke about how safe and non-polluting the plant was and audible disgust as it was announced Exxon had decided not to show up to face the community.
Soon members of the audience began to stand up and ask questions of the panel and of the MSPs and councillors sat in the audience. People spoke of the headaches and nausea they have felt for days on end, of being kept awake all night by the bright light of the flare, pungent smells and strange vibrations shaking their homes. Others told stories of terrified children, convinced the plant would explode any moment, and one person spoke of how as someone with autism, it was becoming impossible to live in their own home.
The Mossmorran Action Group, a campaigning group run by local residents, has successfully brought the impacts faced by communities around Mossmorran into the national agenda. They have organised several public meetings where hundreds of residents speak about the issues they are facing and their alternative visions for the area. They record the social impacts online, coordinate media interest, sharing of photos and reporting to SEPA when the plant flares and recently they secured a debate in the Scottish Parliament about a just transition for the plant. Residents are now working together and planning to escalate the campaign with more protests aimed at getting the plant shut down.
The campaigns that we run together at Friends of the Earth Scotland are crucial and powerful. From securing stronger climate targets from our government, to bringing in low emission zones to protect communities from deadly air pollution. From tackling a linear economy that wastes, discards and burns crucial resources, to pushing for a just transition for workers in polluting sectors of the economy. But none of these campaigns are winnable through political advocacy alone, politicians rarely act if it isn’t clear that there is support from their constituents. The transition to a zero-carbon economy can’t be truly just without meaningful participation with communities and workers most impacted. This is why movement building and local campaigning is so important for creating meaningful change in our society, in the push for climate, environmental and social justice. Time and time again, grassroots and community activism has moved the window of what is possible. At FoES we try to empower, support and amplify the work done by local communities and campaigns. We recently launched the People Power Network – an online hub dedicated to supporting local people to build strong and effective campaigns. There you can find resources on everything from starting a group, to getting media attention, to speaking to MSPs. You will also find campaign ideas, webinar recordings on key topics and upcoming events. We are also building up a map of local climate and environmental groups in Scotland. If you are in an active group you can register so that people in your area can find you and get involved. If you are looking to get active, head to the People Power Network and check out the local campaigns in your area. Get in touch at activism@foe.scot if you have any questions or want support getting involved.
Learn more:
www.foe.scot/people-power-network
