The world is an interesting place when viewed through the mouth of a giant polar bear. But even the restricted sound and vision of an increasingly warm and furry suit couldn’t mask the buzz of political excitement that surrounded the Arnolfini in Bristol on Thursday evening. And while a sensible bear may have remained still, I felt it was far more important to growl loudly about climate change, and Ask the Climate Question.
Along with my fellow Oxfam activists from Bristol, we gathered outside the Sky News Leader’s Debate venue, in an attempt to make our voices heard amid the mêlée of activists and police officers; all of us marking the historic election event with a determined presence and a mission to get our own issue on the agenda.
As I clutched my ‘Save Humans Too’ placard and attempted to keep at least two paws on the ground I hoped that even if I was struggling to make out the figures that bustled past me, everyone could clearly see me and my Ask The Climate Question sign. After all, although a polar bear always enjoys an outing by the river, our presence was not only to remind the leaders that climate change needs to be put firmly on the election agenda, but also to urge the public to ask that question. Research shows that one in five voters in marginal seats now place climate change in their top three or four priorities. Therefore I remain hopeful that all those who left the harbourside yesterday with a small pink Ask the Climate Question sticker on their t shirts will attend their local hustings and convince their prospective MPs that climate change is an issue that must be addressed. Many hustings allow you to submit a question, or vote for questions to be asked, giving local residents the ideal opportunity to get thier voice heard. Why not submit a climate question to the Bristol West candidates for the Bristol Students Union Debate?
Ask the Climate Question is a coalition of the UK’s leading environment and development groups who recognise that climate change can and needs to be tackled. Any new government has a crucial role to play – developing clean energy, a low carbon economy fit for the future, and committing funding for climate adaptation and mitigation in poorer countries. Roger James, Oxfam South West regional campaigner, was quoted in Bristol’s Evening Post saying “We are here because we think climate is a major international issue that will affect everyone across the world. We are calling for the world leaders – and whoever gets elected here – to negotiate a new global climate deal.”
Despite our presence, when the leaders answered a climate related question during the leader’s debate, they all failed to make any major commitments to a future global deal. Perhaps then, Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg may not have spotted a large white polar bear asking the climate question as they entered the Arnolfini yesterday. But there is no way the leaders can ignore the human and economic costs of climate change in the immediate future. Now is the time for them to show their potential in leading the UK towards a safer, low carbon future.
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