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WDM asks tough questions on climate change

World Development Movement | 07.05.2008 11:25 | Climate Chaos | Globalisation | Workers' Movements

The World Development Movement is running a series of high profile debates on climate change which are set to get your heart beat racing. In London, on Thurs 8 May, Caroline Lucas green MEP and speaking for the globalisation agenda is Clare Fox. In Cardiff, on Sat 10 May, we're talking about biofels and whether they can still be part of the mix in light of the global food crisis. Wrapping up in Manchester on Tues 13 May, Pro flying, anti-environmentalist Brian Wilson, chair of the pro-aviation lobby Flying Matters takes on John Stewart, who is leading the fight against airport expansion at Heathrow and beyond, as chain of Airport Watch.

London - Can big business stop climate change?

Panel - Claire Fox, Institute of Ideas; Caroline Lucas, MEP; Walden Bello, Focus on the Global South; Peter Hardstaff, World Development Movement

Chair – Stewart Wallis, New Economics Foundation

Video contributions include – John Redwood, MP; KT Tunstall, singer; Rob Newman, writer and activist; Leo Murray, Plane Stupid; and many more.

London 8 May 7.30 – 9.30pm Amnesty International Human Rights Action centre, 17-25 New Inn Yard, London EC2A 3EA

Anti-globalisation activists and proponents of economic growth will be battling it out over climate change at a free event organised by the World Development Movement. The debate, which will also be streamed live on the web, will examine whether economic growth and big business have a positive role to play in tackling climate change.

Extolling the virtues of economic growth is the well-known commentator Claire Fox, director of the Institute of Ideas and John Redwood MP. On the opposing side are Caroline Lucas MEP, Peter Hardstaff from the World Development Movement and Walden Bello from Focus on the Global South. Both John Redwood MP and Patrick Bond, a South African activist and writer are giving their thoughts in pre-recorded interviews.
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Cardiff - Biofuels: saint or sinner?

Panel - Asad Rehman, Friends of the Earth; Deepak Rughani, Biofuelwatch; Camila Moreno, Landless Rural Workers’ Movement

Chair – Murray Benham, World Development Movement

Pre-recorded video contributions include – John Redwood, MP; KT Tunstall, singer; Rob Newman, writer and activist; Muzammal Hussain, London Islamic Network for the Environment, Simon Retallack, Institute of Public Policy Research

Cardiff University Saturday 10 May 2.30 – 4.30 pm

The World Development Movement is holding a free debate, which will also be streamed live on the internet, examining whether the use of biofuels will deliver a much-needed low carbon economy? And if ’food’ for cars becomes the priority, what are the implications for food security, human rights violations and the environment in poor countries?

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Manchester - Worried about climate change but still want to go on holiday?

Panel - Rt Hon Brian Wilson, Flying Matters; John Stewart, Airportwatch; Ricardo Navarro, Friends of the Earth El Salvador;

Chair – Juliette Jowit, The Observer

Pre-recorded video contributions include – Nick Clegg, MP; KT Tunstall, singer; Rob Newman, writer and activist; Leo Murray, Plane Stupid; and many more.

Manchester Conference Centre Tuesday 13 May 7.30 – 9.30pm

The World Development Movement has lined up pro-flying, former energy minister and current chair of the lobby group Flying Matters, Rt. Hon Brian Wilson to go head-to-head with John Stewart, chair of the anti-airport expansion campaign group to debate the rights and wrongs of flying in light of the impending climate crisis.

All of the conferences will be streamed live onto the internet giving people at home the opportunity to watch and ask questions on line.

To find out more, please go to www.wdm.org.uk/heat

Book a free place and to register to watch online, email  register@wdm.og.uk or call 020 7820 4900

The London debate takes place at Amnesty International Human Rights Action centre, 17-25 New Inn Yard, London EC2A 3EA on Thursday 8 May between 7.30 – 9.30pm.

The Cardiff debate takes place at Cardiff University, Main Building, Shandon Theatre, Park Place, CF10 3 AT on Saturday 10 May between 2.30-4.30pm

The Manchester debate takes place at Manchester, Cockcroft Theatre, Sackville Street, M1 3BB on Tuesday 13 May between 7.30 – 9.30pm

World Development Movement
- e-mail: register@wdm.org.uk
- Homepage: http://www.wdm.org.uk/heat