TATCHELL: “CLIMATE CHANGE IS GAY ISSUE”

Human rights campaigner has today stressed the importance of the gay community to help fight climate change. He says: “There is not much point campaigning for LGBT human rights unless we have a habitable planet on which to enjoy these rights. If global warming results in climate destruction and economic downturn, our quality of queer life will be seriously diminished. In the worst case scenario, human survival might be threatened.”

Yesterday, Tatchell helped launch the 10:10 campaign at the Tate Modern in London, together with prominent public figures, including Sarah Waters, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Sara Cox, Antony Gormley, Kwame Kwei-Armah, Andrew Motion, Ken Livingstone and Shami Chakrabarti.

“I’m supporting the 10:10 campaign to cut Britain’s carbon emissions by 10% in 2010. I urge the LGBT community to back this important initiative. Queers make up one in ten of the population. By reducing our energy consumption by a tenth, ‘pink power’ can help save the planet,” said Tatchell.

“Global warming has the potential to cause more damage and human suffering than any other threat. It is a bigger danger than war, terrorism, misogyny, racism or homophobia. All these issues are important but climate chaos is the gravest threat of all.

“Cutting our personal carbon footprint by 10% by the end of 2010 is a realistic, achievable target that will make an impact.  It isn’t hugely difficult. I found it a fun challenge and quite easy. It has reduced my energy bills and saved me money. Walking, cycling and not eating meat has also made me fitter and healthier.

“We don’t have to wait for the government and business to give us a lead. We can take the initiative ourselves by eliminating energy wastage in our homes, workplaces and neighbourhoods. By our personal example, we can pressure government and business to do the same.

“Unless we act now, global warming is likely to melt large parts of the Greenland, Arctic and Antarctic ice fields. This huge volume of melt water will lead to rising seas levels, swamping low-lying agricultural land and leading to food shortages. It could result in new wars for control of diminishing stocks of food and fresh water, as well as blocking access to low-lying vital mineral reserves needed for industrial production,” said Tatchell.

“Many major world cities, including large parts of London, may become flooded and uninhabitable, creating millions of jobless and homeless refugees – prompting riots and looting.  In these dire circumstances of lawlessness and economic chaos and depression, there could be a revival of nationalistic neo-fascist movements that use strong-arm tactics to maintain law and order, and which scapegoat ethnic, religious, sexual and political minorities.

“This grim scenario is not inevitable. Greens and people from all parties believe that we can stop climate destruction, with concerted, imaginative policies like the 10:10 campaign and by coordinated Europe Union and UK government action to fund energy conservation and to promote safe, clean, cheap renewable wind, solar, wave and tidal power,” added Tatchell.

You can sign up to support the 10:10 campaign here: http://www.1010uk.org