October 2024
Think Global is Global Justice Now’s activist newsletter, published three times a year, with monthly email supplements (Think Global Extra)
Editing: Daisy Pearson, Guy Taylor and James O’Nions
Cover photo: from left to right, Melinda St Louis, Luciana Ghiotto and Cleodie Rickard at our national gathering, From Plunder to Solidarity, in Nottingham in June.
Maggie Mason Chair of council
In rare good news, two planning consents for new fossil fuel extraction have been quashed by UK courts this summer. A third positive result is now expected on the Rosebank oil and gas field in the North Sea.
Beyond our recent campaigning, Global Justice Now could possibly claim a little historical credit too. Sarah Finch, once a staff member, brought the Supreme Court case which confirmed that emissions from using fossil fuels must be included in the Environmental Assessment. And South Lakes Action on Climate Change (SLACC), which with Friends of the Earth had challenged Michael Gove’s decision to approve the Cumbria coal mine, was founded after Ricardo Navarro of CESTA (Friends of the Earth El Salvador) visited Kendal on a Global Justice Now speaker tour.
The ‘Cumbria coal’ case had been held back until the ‘Finch’ decision was released on the 20 June and, just five days after the general election, the new UK government accepted that Michael Gove’s approval of the Cumbria mine had been unlawful as well.
West Cumbria Mining continued to defend its planning consent at the High Court hearing and tried to argue that Finch didn’t apply because their mine would not add anything to global emissions, or alternatively, that Gove’s approval was lawful simply because he gave rational reasons.
In his judgment, Mr Justice Holgate didn’t buy either argument. Gove’s decision had been muddled and inconsistent, and the emissions claim had not been proven. The ruling, which strengthens environmental regulations in European case law, might even help Australian activists challenge the three huge coal mines their government has just approved.
Submissions from the mining company and our previous government had claimed that its coal would replace coal from older mines in other countries, supposedly have net-zero operations, using UK renewable energy and offsets and capture 95% of its methane. The court’s rejection of those greenwashing arguments gives me a little hope.
Now we need to secure a just transition that brings green jobs to west Cumbria; and a fair deal to the global south. A Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty is our next step!
Maggie Mason is the new chair of council and a member of SLACC.
In June the Scottish government missed yet another key climate target – Liz’s comment criticising this and calling for urgent action was picked up by The Times. July saw another round of staggering quarterly profits for BP and Shell – our climate campaigner Izzie McIntosh’s comments critiquing BP’s were picked up by Big Issue, Daily Record, Morning Star and Common Dreams. Meanwhile, a piece of analysis she put together on BP and Shell’s profits was covered by the Guardian.
In August, Tim Bierley wrote an article for Byline Times on how the UK’s pursuit of closer trade ties with Israel risks rewarding it for war crimes. Meanwhile, Cleodie Rickard authored an op-ed for Tribune detailing how Labour’s trade plans thus far embolden corporations at our collective expense. And with the mpox outbreak attracting long overdue attention by world leaders, Nick Dearden was quoted in the Guardian and the Mirror on why rich countries and big pharma must stop impeding global health measures.
At the end of August we launched a legal opinion commissioned from lawyer Sam Fowles, which stated that UK ministers and civil servants may be liable for aiding Israeli war crimes - this was covered exclusively by the i, with a follow up op-ed in the Guardian by Sam. Moving into September, New Internationalist published their interview with Izzie on the Fossil Fuel Treaty. As the UK implemented a partial arms ban on weapons to Israel, Nick wrote an opinion piece for Al-Jazeera on why only a full ban is sufficient.
He wrote another in August for Al-Jazeera on the danger of treating some lives as disposable in the mpox outbreak, and Tim followed this up with an article for Jacobin arguing we must learn lessons from Covid in dealing with mpox. Lastly, we published a joint letter with 20+ other NGOs we’d sent to the trade secretary calling for the UK to suspend trade negotiations with Israel, briefly covered by the Guardian.
The new Global Justice Now council met for the first time in July, and as well as hearing in some detail about all of the organisation’s areas of work, it also elected new officers. Maggie Mason is now the chair, following her stint as national secretary in the previous council. Natalia Guidorzi is treasurer, and Sally Brooks is national secretary. Together with Mohammed Elnaiem and Steve Jackson, these three make up council’s executive committee. Finally, Christine Thompson is vice chair. Brief details of each council member can be found at globaljustice.org.uk/council.
Come along to the Fossil Fuel Treaty speaker tour - if you can!
Ask your MP to sign Early Day Motion 111
Keep lobbying your local council to endorse the Fossil Fuel Treaty. Get organised for the global day of action for climate justice
Share our new briefing on the Colombia trade deal with your MP.
Circulate the new briefing amongst allies
Email David Lammy to oppose the trade deal with Israel
It’s only a few weeks until the first event of our speaker tour with renowned Filipina climate justice activist, Mitzi Jonelle Tan! Mitzi is coming to the UK to discuss what a globally just transition really looks like, and how the Fossil Fuel Treaty can help to get us there. She will be speaking at events all over the country. For full details, including how to book, see the back page.
Over the summer, Unison became the first UK union to endorse the Fossil Fuel Treaty. This was a major moment that demonstrates that this global exit plan can provide justice for communities in the global south and workers in the UK alike. We’re working with our partners to strategise how to build on this win, so watch this space! We have also drafted a model motion if you would like to campaign for your local union branch to endorse the Fossil Fuel Treaty.
Email activism@globaljustice.org.uk if you would like a copy.
One of our activists in York also recently met her local MP, Rachael Maskell, to ask her to do more to support the Fossil Fuel Treaty. As a direct result of this, Rachael tabled an Early Day Motion – a type of parliamentary petition – about the Fossil Fuel Treaty. Whether or not your MP has already formally endorsed the treaty, asking them to sign this motion is a great way to engage them and build a relationship with them around this issue. If you want to email your MP about this, you can find a link to the motion, as well as other information about how to contact your MP, at globaljustice.org.uk/ FFT-MP. You can also meet them and share the motion with them. If you want tips on how to get a meeting then check the webpage or email activism@globaljustice.org.uk – we’d be happy to talk it through with you.
Importantly, this motion was tabled because of our activist’s work. It is proof that taking action locally can achieve statements of support at
We’ve created this handy guide to help students campaign for a Fossil Fuel Treaty and a just transition at your university. It contains step-by-step advice on planning and building your campaign, how to lobby and escalate, and what to do to amplify the campaign once you’ve won. You can access the digital guide at globaljustice.org.uk/resources or email sam.lund-harket@globaljustice.org.uk to order a printed copy.
has happened. During the general election campaign, for example, some now MPs signed up to support the Fossil Fuel Treaty after our supporters wrote to all their local parliamentary candidates about it. All of this is a reminder that we need to keep up the pressure locally and nationally and that doing so can yield results!
Global Justice Now groups around the country are beginning to make headway with their local councils. Several have now met and established relationships with local councillors from various political parties who are interested in the Fossil Fuel Treaty and pushing it in the councils they sit on. This follows a range of activities, including summer stalls, attendance at party conferences and good old-fashioned letter writing.
This progress is really encouraging for the campaign and a good reminder that lots of local councils will be open to this message. You can find all the information on how to persuade your council to endorse the treaty, including a template letter to approach them with, on our website, at globaljustice.org.uk/FFT-councils
The new government’s first COP is fast approaching. We’re asking the UK government
to endorse the Fossil Fuel Treaty and demanding it backs various climate finance measures, which should be funded by corporate polluters like Shell and BP. In July, we found that the profits of these UK oil giants over the last year came to more than the combined GDP of six of the Caribbean countries worst hit by the Hurricane Beryl, a devastating tropical cyclone which made landfall in the Caribbean in June. These obscene statistics remind us why the fight for climate justice is so urgent and why the UK government has a huge role to play, at COP29 and beyond.
We’ll be sending more information about how you can help to put pressure on the government at COP29, and any actions taking place around the country, closer to the time.
overleaf
COP29 will be the new government’s first, giving us an opportunity to push for an end to all new fossil fuel projects and for the UK to pay its fair share on climate finance.
Saturday 16 November has been called by an international coalition of climate justice groups as the global day of action. We’re encouraging groups to take part in the day in any way that suits them, but this could be a perfect opportunity to organise an event, stall or protest on the Fossil Fuel Treaty, spreading the word about this global exit plan from fossil fuels.
We have a bountiful supply of materials to create engaging stalls and events, from placards, leaflets and stickers, to a template public talk. Now is a great time to be discussing in your groups what kind of action you might want to take, and finding out what local coalitions might already be planning. Feel free to email daisy.pearson@ globaljustice.org.uk to discuss any plans or ideas you may have.
On 7 November, just before COP29 starts, we’ll be handing in our petition to the First Minister calling on him to back the Fossil Fuel Treaty. Huge thanks to our local groups across Scotland, and our friends at Paperboats Writers’ Collective, for helping to get lots of signatures. We’d love to get it to 3000 by the time we hand it in! Please share it with friends and family, and take paper copies to any upcoming meetings and events. You can find both digital and printable versions using the QR code below and on our website at globaljustice.org.uk/FFT-Scotland, or you can contact Jane at jane.herbstritt@globaljustice.org.uk, who will be happy to post you physical copies.
Our national gathering was held at the wonderful Nottingham Contemporary. We had a plethora of fantastic international speakers, and a receptive and informed audience to thoroughly debate the key questions of the day on trade and climate, and on the broader questions of winning a planet free of colonialism and plunder.
Model trade union motion to endorse the FFT One page motion (NEW September 2024)
Ending the Fossil Fuel Era: Campaigning on campus A5 guide (NEW September 2024)
The Fossil Fuel Treaty: Tricky questions answered 12-page pdf (March 2024)
The Fossil Fuel Treaty Six-page briefing (January 2024)
Let’s clear the way… Two-sided A5 FFT leaflet (January 2024) (Also available in Welsh)
Fossil Fuel Treaty petition sheet (January 2024)
How to convince your council to endorse the FFT Four-page guide (January 2024)
+ Scottish-specific FFT materials
See globaljustice.org.uk/resources and order from activism@globaljustice.org.uk
This month, the UK is preparing to send a delegation to the UN Biodiversity Conference in Cali, on the west coast of Colombia. At the same time, the UK’s investment treaty with Colombia will quietly roll over from its initial ten-year term – so either party is finally able to terminate the treaty.
The UK-Colombia deal contains the same notorious investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanism found in the Energy Charter Treaty which we forced the UK to leave this year, giving corporations bespoke courts in which to sue governments. Now we’re turning to the UK’s other treaties, which are being weaponised to put corporations’ profits over the wellbeing of ecosystems and communities across the world.
As those of you who followed updates about our delegation visit to Colombia last year will know, the country has been devastated by these corporate court cases. With pending claims of $13 billion, equivalent to over 13% of the government’s annual budget, global north mining companies are suing Colombia in direct response to its policies protecting the natural world, clean water and Indigenous people’s sovereignty.
We visited the massive Cerrejón coal mine in northern Colombia, the largest open-pit coal mine in Latin America, which has dispossessed thousands of the Indigenous Wayuu people. They fought and won a ruling by Colombia’s Constitutional Court against its expansion, which mega-miner Glencore is now ignoring based on the ISDS claim it raised in response.
The UK-Colombia deal is also enabling a letterbox company to sue the Colombian government after it dared to investigate
non-payment of taxes by a huge ferronickel mine, which has caused serious and long-term health problems for the Indigenous and AfroColombian communities on whose land it sits.
We’re working with seven other organisations to call on the UK government to take this opportunity to dismantle the treaty. We have a new briefing, which will soon be available on the resources section of our website. You can send it to your MP and ask them to raise it with the trade minister, Douglas Alexander, to help us grow the pool of informed parliamentarians and put pressure on the government.
This is a first step in a new process we’ll be pushing for – a review of all the UK’s ISDS agreements as part of the new trade strategy the government is developing. This is their chance to redefine the UK’s relationship with corporate power, in line with global shifts away from ISDS. Countries from the US to Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand are committing to no new ISDS deals and exploring dropping it from existing agreements – and Colombia is making strides away from the fossil fuel past, committing to end new oil and gas contracts and review its investment treaties.
For the global action on climate we need, global north governments cannot keep other countries locked into fossil fuel dependence by maintaining the threat of investor claims through their trade deals.
Resisting green colonialism for a just transition Trade and the scramble for critical minerals. Six-page briefing (May 2024).
What’s wrong with the Pacific trade deal? Four-page briefing (March 2023).
Contact us to order these or view them at globaljustice.org.uk/resources
In September, the new Labour government announced that it would suspend 30 arms licences to Israel. The government ruled that there was a “clear risk” these weapons could contribute to breaches of international law in Gaza, and Israel will now be unable to rely on the UK for key components for their F-16 fighter jets, drones or targeting equipment.
However, the 30 arms licences suspended represent just a fraction of the UK’s total exports to Israel – and the decision doesn’t cover components for F-35 jets, despite the fact that these aircraft have been used to carry out atrocities, including an attack on Al-Mawasi humanitarian zone, which resulted in significant civilian casualties.
The suspension of some arms sales to Israel sends a clear political message, and is thanks to the relentless work of activists all over the UK. Yet its limited scope is completely unjustifiable. As Israel has continued its barbaric attacks on Gaza, with the death toll now topping 41,000
and Netanyahu’s government expanding the conflict into Lebanon, we will continue to campaign for a full arms embargo.
While the government’s decision to suspend some arms sales was a step forward, like many we were appalled to hear that it would be pursuing a new trade deal with Israel as a priority. Even aside from the fact that deepening ties with a country under investigation for genocide sends a horrific message about the government’s priorities, the UK’s trade strategy with Israel appears to be focussed on sectors involved in breaches of international law. In particular, the UK wants to increase cooperation with Israel’s artificial intelligence industry, even though the sector entrenches Israeli military rule over illegally occupied Palestine, and uses it as a testing ground for new technologies.
• In August, campaigner Tim Bierley wrote an article for Byline Times outlining some of the
problems with the UK’s trade plans, which you can read on their website
• We also joined with Amnesty International, Lawyers for Palestinian Human Rights and more than 20 other organisations to write to the government, urging it to suspend trade talks with Israel. You can read the letter at globaljustice.org.uk/news.
In July, the International Court of Justice, the world’s highest court, issued an advisory opinion on Israel’s decades-long occupation of Palestinian land, ruling Israel’s presence there is a breach international law. The court said that Israel must end its occupation “as rapidly as possible” and make full reparations for “wrongful acts”. The ruling was a damning indictment of Israel’s policies in occupied Palestine. The list of breaches was too extensive to cover fully, but here are just a few of them:
• Transferring settlers to the West Bank and East Jerusalem and illegal maintenance of their presence there
• Failure to prevent or to punish violent attacks by settlers
• Forcible evictions, house demolitions and restrictions on people’s movement and residence
• Restricting Palestinian people’s access to water
Importantly, the ICJ’s ruling placed new obligations on all states to cooperate to end Israel’s violations of international law – and not to aid or assist the occupation. With the UK continuing with the majority of its arms exports to Israel and seeking deeper trade ties with the country, it is very hard to see how the government’s actions are compliant with the court’s new order.
In August, we commissioned new legal advice from barrister Sam Fowles around possible UK liability for war crimes carried out by Israel during its attack on Gaza and its longterm occupation of the Palestinian territory.
He found that there is a ‘real possibility’ that government ministers are guilty of aiding and assisting Israel’s proven and alleged breaches of international law.
Fowles found that the UK’s arms exports to Israel and its trading relationship with the country are two areas where liability could be forthcoming. His advice was featured in an article in the i, which you can read on their website and he also wrote an article for the Guardian, explaining the possible legal ramifications of the UK’s diplomatic and material support for Israel.
We have produced a new four-page briefing on UK complicity in Israel’s war crimes, with an updated section on why we need a full arms embargo and an end to trade talks with Israel, which is included with this issue of Think Global.
We also have a two-page flyer on the arms trade with Israel, which has a QR code link to the email action to David Lammy on the back.
With Israel showing no sign of ending its attack on Gaza, we need to make sure that MPs know that the new government is not doing enough to live up to its promises on international law, so we are encouraging you to write to or meet with your elected representatives.
End UK complicity in Israel’s war crimes
Four-page briefing (NEW Sept 2024)
Stop arming Israel Two-page leaflet (NEW July 2024)
Contact us to order these or view them at globaljustice.org.uk/resources
Global Justice Macclesfield took their Another World is Possible banner on to the streets of Macclesfield and London. The group has contacted the outgoing MP and councillors from both local councils about the Fossil Fuel Treaty.
Global Justice Nottingham enjoyed their annual social and fundraising barbecue, followed a week later by a stall at the annual Nottingham Green Festival. It was well-attended and the sun shone; they talked to lots of people and got pharma and Fossil Fuel Treaty signatures.
Members of Global Justice Bradford have been busy as usual, with multiple events pressurising West Yorkshire Pension Fund to divest completely from fossil fuels.
Global Justice Worthing continue to make waves for the Fossil Free Treaty. They’ve had stalls in town, and at a good few local events. They’ve collected over 500 petition signatures, and are meeting with supportive councillors to push the council to vote to endorse the FFT.
Global Justice Leicester ran a great stall at the National Network for Justice and Peace conference at Swanick in July, with ‘more people taking a copy of the booklet on monopoly capitalism than I have ever known before!’
Global Justice Reading did a stall with a difference – inside a Lush shop! They had an encouraging response from customers and staff alike. They also held stalls at the Earley Green Fair and the Reading Cycle Festival.
Short on activists but great on results, Global Justice Herts & Beds made good links with no less than three Labour councillors from North Herts Council at the Baldock Eco Fair.
Rotherham for Global Justice have been in touch with their Labour MP and collected 55 signatures for the FFT at the Rotherham Show.
Global Justice Cambridge are relishing having two MPs to lobby after boundary changes – a
government minister and a Lib Dem. Their stall at a Refugee Week conference was brilliant for networking, while “at a local community festival, we noticed that people quickly grasped why the Fossil Fuel Treaty matters”.
Global Justice Sheffield had successful stalls at the Sharrow Festival and at the Sheffield Transformed event in July, getting signatures for the Fossil Fuel Treaty petition.
Global Justice Kingston and Richmond feel they’re making progress on the FFT with both local councils, with positive noises coming from councillors they’ve reached out to.
The Youth Summer School in June brought together young people from across the country for three days of inspiration, learning and collaboration. Participants delved into campaign strategy, grassroots organising and political education, in sessions led by staff from Global Justice Now, youth network members and guests including the author and cultural theorist Jeremy Gilbert. The event deepened the engagement of existing activists and inspired newer members to become more active, particularly in Reading, Newcastle and London
In response to the racist riots over the summer, some of the newer London youth network members are planning a fundraiser for antiracist organisations. Many across the network have also supported the student encampments for Palestine, some of which continued into the summer holidays. Our members were particularly involved in SOAS, Reading and Bristol and you can read a blog about the national encampment movement by youth network member Anna on our website.
Over the summer, Global Justice Stirling successfully lobbied the careers service to adopt an ethical careers policy. They also hope the new ethical investment policy agreed with the finance team will be passed by the uni this semester. Their first meeting of the academic year saw lots of fresh faces in attendance; they plan to campaign on the Fossil Fuel Treaty, among other things.
In August Global Justice Youth Manchester wrote to the University of Manchester’s board members and staff from the sustainability department calling on them to endorse the Fossil Fuel Treaty.
As we move into autumn, staff have been supporting activists to host stalls at freshers fairs up and down the country, and plan follow
From top to bottom: the Youth Summer School at the Global Justice Now offices in London; Global Justice Dundee spoke to St. Andrews university Geography students about activism and the Fossil Fuel Treaty. They knitted ‘red lines’ that symbolise the 1.5 ° warming limit we can’t exceed; new intern Alfie at Bristol freshers fair.
up events which focus on the Fossil Fuel Treaty, stopping EACOP and ending UK complicity in Israel’s genocidal war on Palestine.
The fossil fuel industry is stealing our future and making record profits while they’re doing it. It’s time to stop them. Activists and governments from some of the most climate vulnerable countries are spearheading the demand for a Fossil Fuel Treaty: a global exit plan from the era of oil, coal and gas. This is a fight for the future and for the transition to clean, green energy that leaves no worker, community or country behind.
From Thursday 24 October until Thursday 31 October Global Justice Now are hosting renowned Filipina climate justice activist Mitzi Jonelle Tan in the UK to discuss how to challenge plans for damaging new fossil fuel projects around the world, and how a Fossil Fuel Treaty could help us win a globally just transition.
Mitzi is on the steering committee of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty and has been instrumental in pushing the campaign forward since its inception. She has been a strong advocate for an anti-colonial and intersectional approach to the climate crisis and is committed to systemic change and collectively building a world that prioritises people and the planet, through organising, global solidarity and collective action.
Mitzi will appear alongside other exciting speakers, including Zack Polanski, Deputy Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, activist and author Tori Tsui, and Irene Vélez Torres, Colombian Consul General and former energy minister, and we still have a few speakers yet to be announced. We’re also partnering with other grassroots groups to host these events, including Stop Rosebank, Climate Justice Coalition Manchester, Fossil Free London and Parents For Future Scotland. The event in Manchester will also include a campaign planning session where we can strategise about how to fight for a globally just transition in your local area, so there’s lots on offer.
Mitzi will be in the following cities on these dates:
• Thursday 24 October Dundee
• Friday 25 October Stirling
• Saturday 26 October Glasgow
• Sunday 27 October Manchester
• Tuesday 29 October Cardiff
• Wednesday 30 October Bristol
• Thursday 31 October London
Go to globaljustice.org.uk/mitzi or scan the QR code for timings and more info about each event, and to reserve your free place. It’s only a few weeks until the first event, so get booking now!
