French attempt to ban Saturday's Convoy to Calais

From the People's Assembly Against Austerity

The Convoy to Calais this Saturday is now facing a last minute ban by the French authorities. Thousands of people have collected aid from across the county and over 200 vehicles have booked to come on the convoy.

Last night we were contacted by the Metropolitan Police who informed us that the French authorities have decided to ban the Convoy to Calais from entering France and we will not be granted permission to cross the border.

We are doing all in our power to get this overturned. It is more important than ever that we go ahead and show the strength of feeling and support for refugees. If the authorities still refuse to let us cross the channel we will be holding a protest in Dover.

We will still assemble the convoy on Whitehall at 8:30am and will drive to Dover
We are in negotiations to get the ban lifted and are putting political pressure here and in France to allow the convoy to cross the French boarder

How you can help:

Sign and share the petition

Calling for a reversal of the ban and demanding that our Government get involved. Sign the petition here

Come to the London Rally - Friday 17 June
We will be holding a public rally the evening before the convoy leaves in London. We'll give a full update about the situation. Details: Refugees Welcome, Convoy to Calais London Rally - Friday 17 June, 6:30pm, Emmanuel Centre, Westminster, SW1.

Speakers include: John McDonnell MP, Gary Younge, Rufus Hound, Kate Osamor MP, Roger McKenzie & more. Please register your place here

Come on the convoy, join the demonstration - Saturday 18 June
Even if you haven't booked a place on the ferry, we now need to make sure maximum pressure is put on Governments to let the convoy through to make sure the aid can be delivered and solidarity can be shown to the refugees. We need every last vehicle possible to assemble on Whitehall at 8:30am.

If you don't have a vehicle come down and see the convoy off - speeches in Parliament Square will start at 9:30am and will be followed by an hours silence from 12pm - 1pm in solidarity with refugees.

If you have booked to come on the convoy please keep checking your emails - we will be sending out regular updates.

If you have any questions contact calaisconvoy@gmail.com

Spread the word!


The People's Assembly Against Austerity
http://www.thepeoplesassembly.org.uk/

Greens call for free public transport today to combat expected extreme air pollution

Keith Taylor, Green MEP for South East England, is calling for public transport across South East England to be made free within cities and towns today to combat the very extreme levels of air pollution that is expected across the region. 

This follows Paris’s example where the authorities made public transport free during a smog episode last year.

In previous pollution alerts France also imposed a reduced speed limit for traffic.

Alongside this the Mayor reduced city centre access for vehicles alternating with odd and even registration numbers. Similarly the Mayor is also talking about removing diesel vehicles (which are responsible for particulate emissions and NO2) completely.

Experts have recently suggested that the death toll from air pollution, usually put at around 29,000 a year in the UK, could be substantially higher because of the effect of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), emitted during fossil fuel burning, which up until now has not been taken into account.

Next Thursday 16^th April the Government are being taken to court by Environmental group Client Earth over consistently high levels of air pollution that break EU rules.

 

Keith Taylor Green MEP for South East England said:

Measures such as making public transport free for the day should be considered during serious smog episodes in Britain such as the one we’re experiencing today. Previous actions taken in Paris shows they recognise the unrest caused by air pollution and that they are prepared to take action.

The Green Party has been warning everyone for years about the serious health problems that are associated with air pollution. 

 

How many deaths does it have to take before the Government will properly act?