Archived press release

Celebrities urge public to join The Big Ask online march

4 July 2007

New online march launched at www.thebigask.com.

Thousands of people are expected to join celebrities including Jude Law, James Blunt and Razorlight's Johnny Borrell [1] on The Big Ask online march, which is calling for a tough new climate change law. The campaign, which also features a new advert by leading directors Kevin MacDonald (The Last King of Scotland) and Sam Brown [2], is being launched today by Friends of the Earth. It coincides with a new survey revealing that over two thirds of people in the UK want the Government to introduce a new law requiring UK carbon dioxide emissions to be cut every year.

Friends of the Earth is hoping that thousands of people - particularly the YouTube generation - will join the march over the coming months and help persuade Gordon Brown's Government that its plans for a climate law must be strengthened. Details of the Bill are expected to be finalised in the autumn.

A new GfK NOP survey for Friends of the Earth, also published today, reveals that despite the majority being concerned about climate change only around one in ten young people have ever communicated directly with their MP. The Big Ask online march is a unique and fun way for people to join The Big Ask's call for a tougher climate law. Friends of the Earth hopes that people that have never campaigned before will join the online march.

Friends of the Earth's survey reveals that:

Only 11 per cent of 16-24 year olds have contacted their MP about an issue that concerns them. By contrast a third of 45-54 year olds (33 per cent) have contacted theirs [4];

Over two thirds of the adult population (69 %), and three quarters (75 %) of 16-24 year olds think a climate law should be introduced that requires UK carbon dioxide emissions to be cut every year [5];

Friends of the Earth launched the call for a new climate change law through The Big Ask campaign in 2005 [6] because UK carbon emissions have risen under Labour, despite promises of substantial cuts. Late last year the Government agreed to introduce new climate legislation to cut UK carbon dioxide emissions. But, Friends of the Earth says the draft law must be strengthened to ensure that the UK plays its part in tackling climate change, by ensuring that emissions are cut by at least three per cent every year, and must also include the UK's share of emissions from international shipping and aviation.

A number of the celebrities taking part in The Big Ask - such at Razorlight's Johnny Borrell, James Blunt and KT Tunstall are taking part in the Live Earth concerts on Saturday (7^th July). Friends of the Earth is founding member of Stop Climate Chaos, whose I Count campaign is an official partner of Live Earth. SCC is urging people to join the call for a strengthened climate law [7].

Friends of the Earth's Director Tony Juniper said

"Friends of the Earth's online march is a unique and fun way for people to call for action on climate change. Our survey shows that the vast majority of young people have never contacted their MP. But most want the Government to ensure that carbon dioxide emissions are cut every year. We have already successfully persuaded the Government to introduce a new climate change law. We hope that thousands of people will join us to ensure that the new climate law is tough and effective, inspiring the world to see what is possible in cutting emissions while still enjoying comfortable lifestyles."

Julia Goldsworthy MP (Falmouth and Camborne), one of the UK's youngest MPs, said:

"The Big Ask online march is a fantastic way for people to raise their concerns about climate change with MPs. There is a real problem in getting people, especially the young, to engage with politics at the moment. Anything that encourages more people to contact their MP about such an important issue has to be a good thing. Friends of the Earth's campaign is an easy and effective way for people to send us a personal message - but without the hassle of having to travel."

Razorlight's Johnny Borrell said:

"It's absolutely crucial to make your voice heard by the elected government of this country; telling your MP that you care and that you want them to do everything they can to reduce carbon emissions. Go to The Big Ask website, contact your MP and tell your friends about it."

Notes

[1] Celebrities taking part in The Big Ask On-line march include: James Blunt, Jude Law, Helen Baxendale, Wayne Hemingway, KT Tunstall, Bill Oddie, Alex Zane, Darcey Bussell, Gillian Anderson and Johnny Borrell.

Their contributions to The Big Ask online march can be viewed at: www.thebigask.com

Quotes from celebrities are below.

[2] The ad can be viewed at:
www.thebigask.com/campaigns/climate/big_ask/march_film.html

[3] The Big Ask online march site: www.thebigask.com

The website has been created by CHI & Partners who have supported Friends of the Earth on a pro bono basis since 2004.

[4] GfK NOP carried sampled 1000 people nationwide between 22-24 June 2007 via a nationally representative telephone omnibus survey. Weighting was applied to the data to bring it in line with national profiles. They asked "Have you ever contacted your MP about an issue that concerns you?"

24 per cent of the adult population said yes; 76 per cent said no.

[5] GfK NOP carried sampled 2000 people nationwide between 15-24 June 2007 via a nationally representative telephone omnibus survey. Weighting was applied to the data to bring it in line with national profiles. They asked: "Do you think the Government should introduce a law to ensure businesses and households reduce UK carbon dioxide emissions every year or not?"

[6] Friends of the Earth has led the campaign for a new climate change bill through The Big Ask climate campaign, which was launched with Radiohead's Thom Yorke in 2005. The campaign called for a new law requiring UK carbon dioxide emissions to be cut by at least three per cent every year.

The campaign quickly gathered momentum, and gained support from all the opposition parties, other NGOs and thousands of people across the UK. 170,000 took action through The Big Ask campaign, including contacting their MP. 412 MPs (just under two thirds of the 646 MPs), signed an Early Day Motion - a type of Parliamentary petition - backing the call for a climate change law with annual targets. This is the third most-signed EDM in history. Late last year the Government announced that it would introduce legislation to ensure legally-binding cuts in UK carbon dioxide emissions - the first such national legislation in the world. The Government's final proposal has yet to be announced, but its draft plans show that the proposed law is too weak. Friends of the Earth says it must be strengthened to include the UK's share of international shipping and aviation emissions, and ensure that UK carbon emissions are cut by at least three per cent each year.

A detailed history of The Big Ask campaign is available at:
www.foe.co.uk/resource/media_briefing/brief_history_the_big_ask.pdf (PDF)

[7] www.icount.org.uk/

A number of celebrities and MPs have joined the online march. To view them marching online go to www.thebigask.com and click on `celebrity marchers'

Jude Law

"Join me on the Friends of the Earth web march to get our Government to take a strong lead on climate change".

James Blunt

"The Friends of the Earth web march is the best way to force the Government into a stronger climate change law."

Helen Baxendale

"Get on the web and march to your MP."

Wayne Hemingway

"I'm not really actually marching anywhere but I'm doing it."

KT Tunstall

"You have to video yourself doing this."

Bill Oddie

"You use your phone or your digital camera making a statement and send that to the Friends of the Earth web site."

Alex Zane

"Climate change is serious and you can really make a difference. Get involved in the Friends of the Earth web march."

Darcey Bussell

"Play your part - send in your film"

Gillian Anderson

"And lead the world in CO2 emission reduction. Please!"

June Sarpong

"If you thought you couldn't do anything about climate change I can assure you you're wrong."

Johnny Borrell (Razorlight)

"It's absolutely crucial to make your voice heard by the elected government of this country; telling your MP that you care and that you want them to do everything they can to reduce carbon emissions. Go to The Big Ask website, contact your MP and tell your friends about it."

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust