Sheffield FoE Meeting Notes - Monday 16 June 2025
7.30pm - 9pm University Arms
Business
Members attending – Bee; Sue; Julia; Julie; Shaun; Saul; Ashwini; Claire; Liddy
Yorkshire Summer Action Gathering in Hull 14 June – Liddy, Claire, Saul and Ashwini all attended and had the opportunity to join workshops on the current campaigns in the morning (Planet over Profit; Climate Plan) and skills sessions in the afternoon – resources and presentations will all be available so we can share with the whole group. Liddy gave a short presentation on our February re-launch and the group received an Earthmovers Award “for your contribution to local activism in our grassroots network”. There will be online Summer Gathering on 26th and 28th June which members of all groups are welcome to join (further information in 16th June email).
Google Drive - Shaun introduced our Shared Google drive. He has given those on the Activist list editing rights and created both Public and Private folders for group members. He has sent an email with a link to the folders and everyone is encouraged to start using them to share documents and information.
Mass Climate Lobby and campaign for the Climate Plan
Claire reported on Hull workshop and her attempts to contact with Clive Betts as her MP.
Current timeline has publication pushed back to the autumn, with changes on more wildlife related initiatives, support for nuclear power; concern about impact of Reform UK.
Mass Climate Lobby to meet MPs in Westminster is on 9th July and funding is available for travel if you register with FoE and the Climate Lobby. 2000 people already registered nationally. There is also a rally at Sheffield Town Hall on 9 July at 11-1pm and Sue will bring some leaflets and the banner.
MPS may be available in Sheffield on Friday 11th July after the Mass Lobby. The suggestion when meeting with an MP is to focus on a specific aspect of the plan of local relevance eg Transport or Warm Homes.
Planet over Profit campaign
7.30pm - 9pm University Arms
Business
Members attending – Bee; Sue; Julia; Julie; Shaun; Saul; Ashwini; Claire; Liddy
Yorkshire Summer Action Gathering in Hull 14 June – Liddy, Claire, Saul and Ashwini all attended and had the opportunity to join workshops on the current campaigns in the morning (Planet over Profit; Climate Plan) and skills sessions in the afternoon – resources and presentations will all be available so we can share with the whole group. Liddy gave a short presentation on our February re-launch and the group received an Earthmovers Award “for your contribution to local activism in our grassroots network”. There will be online Summer Gathering on 26th and 28th June which members of all groups are welcome to join (further information in 16th June email).
Google Drive - Shaun introduced our Shared Google drive. He has given those on the Activist list editing rights and created both Public and Private folders for group members. He has sent an email with a link to the folders and everyone is encouraged to start using them to share documents and information.
Mass Climate Lobby and campaign for the Climate Plan
Claire reported on Hull workshop and her attempts to contact with Clive Betts as her MP.
Current timeline has publication pushed back to the autumn, with changes on more wildlife related initiatives, support for nuclear power; concern about impact of Reform UK.
Mass Climate Lobby to meet MPs in Westminster is on 9th July and funding is available for travel if you register with FoE and the Climate Lobby. 2000 people already registered nationally. There is also a rally at Sheffield Town Hall on 9 July at 11-1pm and Sue will bring some leaflets and the banner.
MPS may be available in Sheffield on Friday 11th July after the Mass Lobby. The suggestion when meeting with an MP is to focus on a specific aspect of the plan of local relevance eg Transport or Warm Homes.
Planet over Profit campaign
We discussed the recent stunt – the action worked well but there was little press interest.
Update from regional gathering workshop- Ashwini reported on the Hull workshop and the suggested actions to get local communities on board through having stalls and talking about products and local supply chains, such as Drax. The campaign is supported by a major coalition of organisations including Unison.
We discussed how to take the campaign forward including getting petition signatures and getting support from local businesses.
Stalls
Potential stalls are the Sunday monthly Pollen Market at Castle Gate 20 July; 17 August (£60); Peddlers Market (£80 + VAT) or the Vegan Market (13 July; £90)
Stalls
Potential stalls are the Sunday monthly Pollen Market at Castle Gate 20 July; 17 August (£60); Peddlers Market (£80 + VAT) or the Vegan Market (13 July; £90)
Claire will book a stall for Sunday 20th July Pollen Market so we can raise awareness of the Planet before Profit campaign and get signatures for the petition. Shaun to provide masks and Sue to get postcards/leaflets and the mural for painting.
Julie is going to start contacting businesses; Shaun to get name for local Unison contact for Liddy.
Support for Palestine
Friends of the Earth is standing in solidarity with our sister group in Palestine by calling for a ceasefire and for an end to the sales of arms from the UK to Israel.
Actions with Palestine Solidarity Campaign include their forthcoming protests at arms manufacturers with a protest on Tuesday 17 June (11am-1pm) at Forged Solutions in Meadowhall, who produce parts for the F-35 jets that have been used in air strikes in Gaza.
FoE members are encouraged to attend if they are able to.
An article from the day of action is here and here.
Green Belt
We have had a few requests to help with this issue and Shaun has signposted people to other groups; we can also add these links and information to our website.
Date of next meeting
Support for Palestine
Friends of the Earth is standing in solidarity with our sister group in Palestine by calling for a ceasefire and for an end to the sales of arms from the UK to Israel.
Actions with Palestine Solidarity Campaign include their forthcoming protests at arms manufacturers with a protest on Tuesday 17 June (11am-1pm) at Forged Solutions in Meadowhall, who produce parts for the F-35 jets that have been used in air strikes in Gaza.
FoE members are encouraged to attend if they are able to.
An article from the day of action is here and here.
Green Belt
We have had a few requests to help with this issue and Shaun has signposted people to other groups; we can also add these links and information to our website.
Date of next meeting
Monday 21st July 7:30pm University Arms
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