carbon dating event

Participants lobby MPs at the first public Stop Climate Chaos event

More than 700 participants lobbied 70 MPs at the Stop Climate Chaos carbon dating event on March 1st.

Attendees included Conservative leader David Cameron, Liberal Democrat leader Menzies Campbell and Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett.

Each table had ten minutes to 'date' their MP, asking them to support the Stop Climate Chaos proposal for a limit on carbon emissions, to use their influence on an international level and to provide aid to help the poor adapt.

It was a great opportunity to show our politicians the level of concern about climate change, and to demonstrate the solidarity among the organisation that are part of Stop Climate Chaos.

"It was a fantastic chance to meet MPs, discover where they stood on environmental issues and discuss how we can make a difference in the political world as well as in our own lives." said Tim Malcolm from Hampton.

Click here to sign the Stop Climate Chaos pledge

Tearfund supporter Patricia Friel gave us her thoughts:

Starting the day with the Tearfund prayer and praise session was great; it set the focus on God and helped us think about His view on climate change and the poor. After some passionate praying everyone was filled with excitement and anticipation for the day ahead, discussing which topical questions they would try to stump MPs with!

There was an amazing sense of community and purpose as campaigners and supporters from so many organisations sat together in one hall, sharing their stories and passions around tables.

Before long it was time to meet the politicians. With five MPs to question, and only ten minutes per MP, we knew it was important to get to the heart of this issue as quickly as possible. As usual, MPs answers were round about and they tended to use a lot of rhetoric. But it was clear that climate change is a concern for them and that they did want action to be taken before it was too late.

Ending the day, we were treated to a truly inspirational talk, challenging everyone to make stopping climate change a lifestyle decision rather than just about this one afternoon.

The highlight of my day has to have been the pre lobby rally speech by Tearfund president Elaine Storkey. To see a Christian stand on such a legitimate platform and call for people to love God firstly and most importantly was a massive encouragement to my personal faith. I can't help thinking that as people from all backgrounds and faiths applauded her comments there was surely an even bigger applause in heaven!