Climate strike demo backed
A parliamentary candidate in the West Midlands has called for urgent action to avoid a global climate catastrophe.
Gill Ogilvie, Labour's candidate for Walsall North, addressed students and campaigners in Walsall town centre as they gathered for an international climate strike demonstration.
She told them: "We can no longer sit quietly and hope that someone else will solve the problem. It will be too late. We all have to do something – and do it now."
Ms Ogilvie said Labour's 'green new deal' would help to eradicate climate damage by "hammering" polluting companies and investing in green energy.
"To avoid a global catastrophe society needs to be changed, and an acceptance that growth and endless consumerism cannot continue without having a devastating impact on climate," she added.
"However, in all of this, there is hope.
"The green new deal will reshape Britain, taking jobs away from the gig economy of low paid and precarious employment, into decent well paid, well skilled jobs, which will improve people's lives, as well as make the planet sustainable for future generations.
"Today is not the end it is a start, it is important that you all take the arguments back into your workplaces, schools and colleges and make sure that we have a government and council in place that will put the environment and the people first, and not sacrifice everyone’s futures for the sake of profit.”
