Do you like fish and chips? Do you like the sound of birds singing? Do you like summer sunshine?
If so, here’s some news that you might have missed.
This week, the world’s oceans reached an all-time temperature high, which will cause more extreme weather – storms, hurricanes, flooding.
The fish that form part of many people’s diet will disappear as algae take over.
Also, this week, it was reported that the UK bird population is crashing, with 48% of species declining.
Woodland birds have been hit hardest, losing their homes as trees are felled. Birds are an indicator of the state of health of all our wildlife.
And in July and August last year, UK temperatures rose above 40 degrees for the first time. It was reported as a ‘fun in the sun’ story but there were wildfires in open country and inner cities, widespread drought and 3,000 more deaths in the over-65s than usual. What will this summer bring?
These community gardens will be open to the public this month
Yes, I want to see a future that includes birds. Or, to put it another way, I want a happy, healthy life for every child born in Southwark this month. What can I do as an individual about these scary news stories?
As Dr Charlie Gardner puts it, individual action ‘doesn’t just mean addressing our footprints, as important as that is. It also means talking about it, it means pushing for change at work and in our communities.’
So this weekend I’m going to ‘The Big One’, organised by XR and supported by unions, Operation Black Vote, Fuel Poverty Action, Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace, among others.
People will be coming to London from all over the UK but Southwark residents are lucky – we can hop on a bus, cycle or even walk there.
There’s an opening event on Friday at 3pm outside Parliament, and events continue all weekend.
The programme is at extinctionrebellion.uk/the-big-one/programme
If you go along for an hour, you might hear from Chris Packham or Green MP Caroline Lucas, or from XR writers, doctors and scientists. You might join a discussion or listen to live music, decorate a t-shirt or go on a guided walk.
You’ll meet other people who are grappling with what to do in their own lives and communities. On Monday, Parliament will be sitting. Simply by turning up, you will be giving MPs the message that you want serious change – clean energy, insulation and an end to new fossil fuel projects.
Eleanor Margolies writes about theatre and on environmental issues, and is an active campaigner for urban green spaces and clean air.
www.eleanormargolies.co.uk @ellanOrnell