26th September 2004

21 August 2008

Our plans for the week

Hello from Brighton!

Want to change the world?

Labour's Conference is a good place to start. We need to take our vision to MPs and government Ministers.

Which is why thousands have descended on Brighton for the next four days from the Labour Party faithful, to all manner of campaigning groups.

What's going on?

• Fringe meetings run outside Conference sessions, during lunch and in the evenings, and are where most serious lobbying takes place. Groups run fringe meetings to ensure their message reaches those in power.

• Senior MPs and ministers speak on the fringe, so the most interesting part is often questions after speeches - when people like you and me can grill the politicians

Rising tide: Brighton beach

The good stuff

• Monday 27th - 5:15pm
  Xpose Awards celebrating the confusion between corporate rhetoric and reality. Spoof ceremony where companies win awards based on how well they are ruining the planet! Our big event at Conference.

• Tuesday 28th Breakfast
  Wake up to Climate Change - fringe meeting discussing the environmental justice (PDF format) challenges of climate change.
  Speakers include Gareth R Thomas MP from the Department for International Development and Dr Camilla Toulmin from the International Institute for Environment & Development.

• Tuesday 28th Lunchtime
  Weighing up GM through the UK food chain
  Debate on GM's impact on food businesses.
  Speakers include Environment Minister Elliot Morley, Mike Barry from M&S, Suffolk farmer John Sanderson and Pete Riley from the Five Year Freeze campaign.

In addition we will be attending other meetings to air the Friends of the Earth message and pressure MPs and Ministers with our tough questions!

Lots of work and planning has gone into our presence in Brighton I can't wait to get into the thick of it.

Best wishes,

Tricia

Tricia Phelan, our Parliamentary Campaigner is sending daily updates direct from the Labour Party Conference in Brighton.