Manchester

Around 3,000 people marched through Manchester to protest against the Labour Party’s support for fracking on 21 September. The demo was part of an international day of action on climate change (see page 3).

The demonstration finished with a rally just across the road from Labour conference. Speakers called upon Miliband and the Labour Party to push for a ban on fracking.

Greater Manchester Police kept a relatively low profile – which is in sharp contrast to the aggressive approach towards protesters up at the nearby Barton Moss fracking site.

The youth contingent on the demonstration, alongside Socialist Party members, chanted anti-capitalist slogans. This was despite stewards from the pro-capitalist Green Party objecting to them.

There is overwhelming evidence coming out of the United States to show that fracking poisons water and air for communities close to the drilling.

Over the next year the big oil and gas companies will seek drilling licences all over the country. The workers’ movement should put time and resources into combating this growing threat from the fossil fuel industry.

Dylan and Jo Murphy, Huddersfield Socialist Party

London

In London on a day of global climate changes protests, 21.09.14, photo Paul Mattsson

In London on a day of global climate changes protests, 21.09.14, photo Paul Mattsson   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Thousands attended a demonstration in London against climate change on 21 September, in solidarity with events taking place around the world. The global day of action coincided with the United Nations climate change summit in New York, where 400,000 demonstrated.

Socialist Party members took part and argued for the nationalisation of the energy companies and other socialist policies to tackle the climate crisis.

Twenty four people gave their details to find out more about the Socialist Party and 28 copies of the Socialist were sold.

Sarah Wrack, Waltham Forest Socialist Party