Meeting held at 7.45pm on Monday 19th August 2019
12 people were present. Six sent their apologies.
There is much enthusiasm in the Hope Valley with the recent formation of Hope Valley Climate Action (HVLA), which involves a number of village and thematic groups. We reported a strong desire of people wanting to do something (although we noted that the Peak Park and National Trust were absent). This feeling seems to contrast with a general air of frustration, despondency and powerlessness when it comes to the issues of Brexit and Climate Change at a national level. Is power shifting from established national organisations to local initiatives?
The Whats Left group is equally concerned with political issues locally and nationally. It appears that local action empowers and raises political awareness even though the issues addressed may seem to be small and parochial. It was also observed that local action enhances one’s identity as a Global Citizen.
Our attention was also drawn to the extent of reactionary attitudes (to Climate Change in particular) at both local and national level. The actions of many organisations may appear contradictory. For example the local Cement works has supported progressive developments while at the same time producing cement, creating enormous CO2 output. Local farmers are perhaps threatened by requirements to be sustainable and dialogue is important if we are to support change to their practices. We noted the particular value of small scale food production (eg allotments on roundabouts). We also noted that farmers have an increasingly elderly demographic as their children often leave farming to work elsewhere.
We briefly discussed PM Johnson’s emerging policies which appear to appeal to his ‘base’. However the ‘base’ of both main parties appears to be shifting as voting becomes more tactical and party loyalty less significant. In the light of this, parties feel a need to develop ‘simple’ political messages in order to gain support. This was the strength of the Vote Leave campaign. Their ’taking back control’ was eye-catching. Emerging Labour Party messages, in preparation for an expected General Election (GE), might be ‘Johnson can’t be trusted’ or ‘Johnson lies’. But something more positive is also required. Ending austerity worked well for the last GE. What is it now to be?
We noted the next general open meeting of HVLA: 7.30pm on 9 Sept at The Bamford Institute and, for the west end of the valley, on 12 Sept at the Old Hall Hotel, Hope. Our next meeting will be on Monday 16th September.