'Warm Ups' occupations to call for 'energy for all' on Saturday

 

From Fuel Poverty Action

 

This Saturday, December 3rd, Fuel Poverty Action, Don’t Pay UK and a number of climate and community groups will hold ‘Warm-Up’ demonstrations in towns and cities across the UK. The mobilisation is in support of the Warm This Winter coalition’s Day of Action on fuel poverty, which will involve alternative protests including rallies, banner drops and crafts workshops.

‘Warm-Ups’ are a direct action tactic used by Fuel Poverty Action throughout its more than 10 year history, where campaigners enter and occupy a public space to keep warm due to unaffordable bills and poor housing conditions at home. The group have joined forces with, amongst others, the Don’t Pay UK movement which sprang into life in 2022 gathering over 250,000 pledges from members of the public to strike on their energy bills from December 1st.

Sam, a spokesperson for the Don’t Pay campaign, said:

 

We aim to empower the millions who already can’t pay their energy bills by turning this mass default into mass resistance, with grassroots groups across the UK coming together to protect their communities, keep each other warm and defend the strike.

Warm-Ups are expected to take place on Saturday in Brighton, Bristol, Glasgow, Hastings, Islington, Liverpool, Manchester, Oxford and Stratford. The groups believe that further action will follow in weeks to come as people struggle with high energy costs this winter.

As well as supporting the Don’t Pay strike and WTW Day of Action, the Warm-Ups form part of Fuel Poverty Action’s Energy For All campaign. The campaign calls for a universal, free amount of energy to cover people’s necessities like heating, lighting and cooking; paid for by an end to all public money subsidising fossil fuels, a more effective windfall tax on energy companies and higher tariffs on luxury household energy use.

Stuart Bretherton, Fuel Poverty Action, Energy For All Campaign Coordinator, said,

 

Energy For All would achieve what our energy system and economy should ultimately be geared towards, ensuring everyone’s basic needs are met. Ordinary people cannot keep footing the bill for crises created by the wealthy, it's time for the big polluters and profiteers to pay their share. Through this we could also incentivise much needed climate action on home insulation and a transition to renewables.

 

Further details LINK

Locally Brent Friends of the Earth will be publicising the issue:

All are welcome to join Brent Friends of the Earth and the 'United for Warm Homes, Brent' coalition to distribute leaflets and display our placards.

Come to Kilburn Square, Kilburn High Road  on Saturday from noon until 2pm. Between W.H. Smith's and Kilburn High Road.