Below is a copy of the press release co-written by Paul Chapman (S40 Local) and Rodger Green- local journalist. It was sent to a number of local publications in Chesterfield.
Source: Wikipedia
Source: RSA
MORE than 60 people attended Chesterfield's first Climate Emergency People's Assembly (Sunday, July 21).
The day-long event gave those attending the opportunity to voice their concerns on climate change and work together to draw up strategies for taking positive steps as individuals and in communities towards a sustainable future.
97% of Scientists Agree... that human impact on the planet is steering us towards a climate emergency.
From Greta Thunberg's school strikes for climate change to Extinction Rebellion's activism and Sir David Attenborourgh's awareness of plastic pollution, the attention being given to human impact on climate and the environment is high on many people’s agenda.
The event was orchestrated by Clare Gage, a local mum and ceramicist, who through her membership of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) has been supported to bring people together to form a 'Peoples Assembly' and put action into the hands of individuals.
A group ranging in age from 8 to 80 and including individuals new to community action, as well as members of local campaign groups, came together for the day. The activities were led by Martin Yarnit and Perry Walker from Talkshop who specialise in making sure that everyone has a voice in the matters that concern them.The morning session was used to tease out key issues and establish areas of interest. Groups focused on specific issues such as transport, biodiversity, food production, simple ways to tackle climate change, challenging the consumer society, environmental education and holding to account politicians and corporate business, all to encourage people to adopt new practices to help lessen our impact on the planet.
Some groups agreed to continue meeting to develop action plans and a follow-up People's Assembly meeting will be held in September.
Toby Perkins (MP for Chesterfield), Amanda Serjeant (Deputy leader of Chesterfield Borough Council), who had proposed a climate emergency motion last week made appearances, a reassuring sign for the attendees that local council and central government alike are recognising the concern from local people about the issues.
Clare said afterwards: "As the organiser of the People's Assembly I found it fantastic to see so many people from our town gather together.
"We tackled tricky questions about how we could make a difference in the face of the climate emergency. Difficult issues were discussed, and we looked for practical solutions.
"I am proud of how respectful our community was of one another and pleased to see what progress can be made when we come together as a team. This is just the start. Our town can be a place where people are empowered to create positive change.”
Follow up activity will take place in September with a meeting arranged for 15th September 11am. Find out more at www.facebook.com/createchangechesterfield
Notes to editors:
Greta Thunberg: Greta Tintin Eleonora Ernman Thunberg is a Swedish activist who, at age 15, began protesting outside the Swedish parliament in August 2018 about the need for immediate action to combat climate change.
Source: WikipediaSource: Wikipedia
Source: RSA
Extinction Rebellion: Extinction Rebellion is a socio-political movement with the stated aim of using civil disobedience and nonviolent resistance to protest against climate breakdown, biodiversity loss, and the risk of social and ecological collapse.
RSA: The mission of the RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce) is to enrich society through ideas and action.
Talkshop: Talkshop’s mission is to invigorate democracy by involving ordinary people in informed conversations that enable them to have greater influence over the decisions that affect them.
Citizens’ Assemblies, People’s Assemblies and deliberative democracy
If you've heard of citizens’ assemblies it may be thanks to Brexit. If parliament can't make sensible decisions maybe ordinary people should be entrusted with the job. After all, jury service assumes that citizens, randomly selected, can find their way through a complex web of evidence to reach thoughtful decisions.
Citizens’ assemblies are like criminal juries, but for public policy decisions. The third demand of Extinction Rebellion is that government must create and be led by the decisions of a citizens’ assembly on climate and ecological justice, That’s the other reason you may well have heard of them.
In a citizens’ assemblies, members of the public, chosen to be a cross-section of the population at large, are brought together to consider a public issue and make a recommendation on what action should be taken on that issue.
They do this by listening to evidence, discussing the evidence they hear, and reaching a conclusion together on what steps the government should take next. The Assembly's recommendation is then given to political decision makers who decide what will happen next.
Members of assemblies are taken through a structured process of learning, deliberation and decision-making. This process is designed to provide members with the evidence they need to make informed decisions
The discussions are supported by trained, neutral facilitators. Their role is to make sure everyone can be heard and feels comfortable, as well as to explain each of the exercises
The event in Chesterfield was a PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY. The main point of difference between a people’s assembly and a citizens’ assembly is that the group is not representative of our society as a whole. It is self-selecting because those that came along chose to attend.
Both types of assembly are examples of 'deliberative democracy' where citizens consider evidence and deliberate together to come to collective decisions. Other examples are citizens' juries, planning cells and consensus conferences.
Deliberative democracy is the process through which people form and modify their opinions. It complements representative democracy, bringing together citizens, decision makers and good quality information. Far from replacing representative democracy, deliberative processes inform politicians' decisions and give them greater legitimacy. Around the world, many politicians are starting to realise that deliberative processes can empower them to act on the thorniest issues they face.
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