Village Children Plea to Local MP: 'Protect our Future' (7 July)

Press Release

The primary school children of the Hampshire village, Hartley Wintney, unfurled a giant petition for their local MP James Arbuthnot on Friday, calling on the Government to protect their future.  The children presented the petition at St. John’s Church, in Hartley Wintney, as part of a community climate change weekend event called Operation Noah Day. The petition calls on the Government to cut the UK’s carbon footprints by 90%.

The Chair of the Hartley Wintney Operation Noah Group, Ruth Jarman, took the petition – made of recycled bed sheets - to all four primary schools in the area and collected hundreds of brightly coloured signatures as well as hundreds of paper footprints, each with a child’s pledge to do something to cut their carbon footprint which were strung around the church on Operation Noah Day.  Supporting her was St. John’s Church Careforce volunteer, Josh Parmar.

Operation Noah Day took place on Saturday 5th July.  Mr Noah welcomed people into the ‘Ark’, requesting that they enter “two-by-two”. Inside the ‘Ark’, strewn with footprint pledges, a variety of stalls showed ways to cut carbon footprints and the petition, together with an official petition, both of which will be taken to Number 10 Downing Street later this month, were available for signatures.  Opportunities for prayer and reflection were provided with a Taizé style service in the afternoon.  There was plenty for children, with face painting and craft activities using recycled materials, a puppet show and a youth and children’s session including songs and drama.  The film An Inconvenient Truth was screened in the afternoon, and also in the evening when it was followed by a discussion chaired by The Reverend Canon Robin Ewbank.

Ruth Jarman said, “The best antidote to climate despair is climate action.  And who better to take the lead on this greatest moral and spiritual issue of our time than people of faith?  It is highly appropriate that this is a children’s petition as it is they who will see the physical result of this generation’s actions – either of our moral and spiritual bankruptcy, or of our courage, vision and integrity.” The aim of both petitions is to urge the Government to strengthen the Climate Change Bill.

James Arbuthnot, MP said “Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing the world today. It is as much a social and economic threat as it is an ecological one. We all need to do our bit as individuals, businesses and Government and I am grateful to Ruth and everyone involved with Operation Noah for organising this fantastic event which is helping raise awareness of climate change.” 

Taking part in Operation Noah Day was the Energy Efficiency Advice Centre, the Hart Countryside Rangers, Friends of the Earth, Christian Aid, the Thames Valley Vegans and Vegetarians, West Green Fruits and Livingstones Bookshop.  Supporting the day with beverage tasting and lunch were the Hogs Back Brewery, Mr Whiteheads Cider Company, Denbies Wine Estate and Waitrose.

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. The adults will sign an official petition saying “To the UK Government from the community of Hartley Wintney. We want to protect our beautiful world from any more thoughtless damage. To play our full part in this, we must each strive to cut our carbon footprint from 10 tonnes to 1 tonne before 2030. We will do our bit. We need you to do yours and make the laws to protect the future”.
2. The wording of the children’s giant petition is “To the UK Government from the community of Hartley Wintney.  We want to cut our carbon footprint from this (large footprint) to this (10x smaller footprint).  We will do our part.  We need you to do yours”.
3. The adults signed an official petition saying “To the UK Government from the community of Hartley Wintney.  We want to protect our beautiful world from any more thoughtless damage.  To play our full part in this, we must each strive to cut our carbon footprint from 10 tonnes to 1 tonne before 2030.  We will do our bit.  We need you to do yours and make the laws to protect the future”.
4. The wording of the leaflet sent to all village parents is: “Change the way you live because of who you love.  I will stay grounded whenever possible – air travel is the fastest growing source of climate changing gases.  I will give my car a day off once a week – walking and cycling is healthier and more fun.  I will go veggie once a week and cut down on dairy as well – 18 of our global climate change gases come from livestock farming.  I will turn things off at the wall, use low energy light bulbs and dump the tumble dryer (preferably not on the Heath).  I will sign the Operation Noah petition at St. John’s Church, on Operation Noah Day – DIY global repairs will not save the planet.  WE NEED OUR GOVERNMENT TO GOVERN AND MAKE POTENTIALLY UNPOPULAR DECISIONS FOR THE SAKE OF OUR CHILDREN’S FUTURE.”
5. The Hartley Wintney Operation Noah Group is a local branch of Operation Noah, the national charity which is urging the UK’s churches and local and national Governments to radically transform our culture and economic system towards simpler, less consumerist lifestyles that will increase genuine happiness and well-being, whilst safeguarding the whole of God’s Creation for future generations.  The aim of Operation Noah is to ensure that the UK Government enacts legislation that will fairly and equitably cut average carbon dioxide emissions from 10 tonnes to 1 tonne per person by 2030.

CONTACT DETAILS

Mrs Ruth Jarman

ruth@sjarman11.wanadoo.co.uk

Tel: 01252 849904 or m. 07970 907784