JOIN THE VIGIL OUTSIDE PARLIAMENT:

Members of CCA are taking part in a multi-faith vigil outside the Houses of Parliament each Friday from 11 – 3pm, when Parliament is sitting in October and November. We are part of XR’s weekday presence and protest outside of Parliament, keeping up the pressure as we move towards COP26 in November 2021.

Rev Vanessa Elson was part of the vigil. She said ‘it feels really appropriate to be in prayer and meditation as the government is in the process of rushing through bills on agriculture and trade in preparation for Brexit, all of which could have a negative impact on our environment and food standards.’

She said ‘we are asking for MP’s to support the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill as part of our vigil. The government’s own Environmental Bill has not yet made an appearance and is very limited in its scope and ambition, without the enforcement required, which is why we need the CEE bill which would really hold the government to account and make the UK a leader on a true and just transition from a carbon economy. Come and join us if you are able.’

WHAT IS THE CEE BILL?

We know we are in an emergency and that the government isn’t doing enough.

The Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill can change our course—making the government act with the urgency we need and involving everyday people in a Citizens’ Assembly that has  real bite. If the CEE Bill is made law, the government would have to act fast, accounting for our entire carbon footprint while actively conserving nature here and overseas. We hope that this bill will set a precedent that can be replicated across the world.

The CEE Bill is a brand new initiative starting on its path as a grassroots campaign to build an alliance around this proposed law. It has been developed with members of XR alongside members of the successful Big Ask campaign that led to the Climate Change Act in 2008.  

You can find out more about the CEE Bill here: https://www.ceebill.uk/ or here: https://extinctionrebellion.uk/go-beyond-politics/cee-bill/.

WRITE TO YOUR MP ABOUT THE CEE BILL:

Like many others, Rev Elson has also written to her MP about the CEE Bill. You can also through this link: https://www.ceebill.uk/writetoyourmp

Here is what Vanessa said in her email: ‘Thank you for supporting the amendments to the Agriculture Bill.  I was very disappointed that these were defeated in the House of Commons.

I am writing to ask you to support the two amendments that are still being proposed for this bill – one of food standards for imports and the other asking for parliamentary and expert scrutiny of trade deals.  These will be coming back into the House early in November. 

I believe we need to give much greater importance to healthy food and sustainable farming that works with nature, as part of creating green jobs and a complete re-balancing of our economy away from fossil fuel dependent growth to one which values health, care, well being and the natural world.  This is why I am taking part in a prayer vigil outside the House of Commons today as part of Christian Climate Action.  We want the government to act as if we are in an emergency, that the issues of Justice, Climate and Ecology have to be looked at together.  I believe the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill deserves wide spread support, and hope that many MPs will give it their backing, or at the very least engage much more seriously and urgently with these fundamental issues on which all our lives depend.

We will be outside Parliament praying today and all the Fridays that Parliament is sitting this October and November  between 11 – 3 pm.  You are welcome to come and say hello.’.