2006 - The Big Ask year in pictures1 December 2006
The last twelve months have been amazing. Here are just some of the highlights.
Postcards to MPs came flooding in throughout the year. By the end of 2006 over 130 000 messages had been sent to MPs.
In March the Stop Climate Chaos coalition organised a Carbon Dating event. A bit like speed dating - but with MPs.
Radiohead's Thom Yorke and Johnny Greenwood played a special Big Ask gig in London. Other Big Ask Live gigs also took place in Manchester, Cardiff, Cambridge, Leeds and London.
Over the summer The Big Ask was out and about at festivals around the country. Wychwood, Leicester Summer Sundae and Fruitstock were just a few of the places where The Big Ask silhouettes could be seen.
Public meetings with local MPs took place all over the UK. The Winchester meeting (above) was so popular it was standing room only.
Next on The Big Ask calendar - the Conservatives announce their support for a Climate Change Bill. Tony Juniper and David Cameron discuss the issues at a press conference in Devon.
At the Labour Party Conference, the Environment Minister David Miliband took part in our Big Ask quiz. Janet Street Porter (above) looks less than impressed as her team gets a soaking.
Having spent the last three weeks at the party conferences, it was really clear that all the work people have done to visit their MPs was paying off. I don't think I met a single MP who didn't know we wanted a Bill in the Queen's Speech. All those visits have really got the message home.
Martyn Williams, Senior Parliamentary Campaigner,
Friends of the Earth
The pressure reached a climax during The Big Ask, Big Month, Big Lobby. Across the country hundreds of people met their MP to ask for a Climate Change Bill to be included in the Queen's Speech.
Bryan Atkinson (left) from South Tyneside went to lobby his MP, Environment Minister, David Miliband.
Thom Yorke discussed the Climate Change Bill with Dr Evan Harris MP.
By the end of the Big Lobby every single MP across the UK had been contacted by their constituents. Messages were flooding in to Tony Blair calling for a Climate Change Bill.
Young members of the Stop Climate Chaos coalition paid a personal visit to Tony Blair to reinforce the message.
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And to really make the point, 25,000 people joined the I Count event in central London in November. Razorlight left the crowd on a high.
After all the postcards, phone calls and personal visits to MPs, the big day finally came. On November 15 the Government announced it's plans for 2007 in the Queen's Speech.
My government will publish a bill on climate change as part of its policy to protect the environment, consistent with the need to secure long-term energy supplies.
Her Majesty the Queen,
opening of Parliament, 15 November 2006.
We did it!
All the hard work paid off when a Climate Change Bill was announced. Whether you signed a postcard, sent an email or even visited your MP - thank you so much. We couldn't have done it without you.
Looking forward
Even though the Government has announced a Bill, it is vital that we make sure it's strong enough.
Numbers count. Encourage everyone you know to join in and sign up to Climateonline.
Thank you.
© Friends of the Earth
