Hundreds have Signed up to the 1000 Voices campaign so far!
We’re bringing together 1,000 Voices in Northamptonshire to highlight local inaction on Northampton’s toxic air - shown in recent studies to be among the worst in the UK.
We’ve held peaceful gatherings at Northampton Guildhall during West Northamptonshire full council meetings. These have been powerful and well-attended, causing WNC to commit to a “Clean Air Summit” (which they’ve actually abandoned for a broader “Climate Summit”) and draft a woefully inadequate action plan - decisions we don’t think go nearly far enough while the lives of their constituents are being lost. Our next peaceful gathering for Clean Air will be on September 26th.
1000 Voices has also launched the “Free Daniel Shaw” campaign in support of the plight of a Northampton man and member of our campaign who has been imprisoned for his involvement in peaceful protest. More info here.
Tell West Northamptonshire Council you care about this issue by adding your name and joining us at any of our events. We’ll send you all the details:
Daffodil Dan
Daffodil Dan
‘When, in the midst of a triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, a peaceful environmental protester like Mr. Shaw faces an extended prison sentence in the United Kingdom, alarm bells should go off not just across the United Kingdom, but across the international community also. It signals that fundamental pillars of a democratic society are right now in grave peril in the United Kingdom.’
‘peaceful protestor’
‘Denied a right to a fair trial’
Quotes from the public statement of Michel Forst UN Special Rapporteur on environmental defenders under the Aarhus Convention - 24 June 2024
Before Daniel became aware that Climate change is an “existential threat to humanity” and “without global action to limit greenhouse gas emissions, the climate will change catastrophically with almost unimaginable consequences”, Daniel worked for over 10 years in adult social care and had zero criminal convictions.
Daniel has been sentenced to four years in prison for exercising his right to protest, he has risked his freedom to help in the survival of his fellow beings.
We believe that the common sense of local people is a greater power than the absurd rules laid down by those in power, those with ulterior motives and motivations which put profit before people.
1000 Voices is to launch a campaign to gather local support for Daniel’s plight. Join the 1000 Voices campaign to be part of a local group calling for Daniel’s release and for action on climate & environmental issues.
CLEAN UP NORTHAMPTON
CLEAN UP NORTHAMPTON
On June 27th, we hosted a pop-up parliamentary hustings at Northampton Guildhall, where we invited all Northampton North & South electoral candidates to say how they will improve the town and save lives.
Candidates from the Green Party, the Liberal Democrats, the Trade Union & Socialist Coalition, the Worker’s Party of Britain, the Climate Party and Independent candidate Paul Clark showed up to share their views.
Candidates from Labour, the Concervative & Unionist party, Reform UK and one Green Party candidate were not in attendance.
You can see a live stream from the event here.
This campaign is not associated with any political party and maintains absolute neutrality.
wHAT DO WE WANT?
“ We call for West Northamptonshire Council to publish by 1st July 2024 a fully costed, timeframed, Air Quality Action Plan which meets World Health Organisation clean air standards and is implemented within 3 months of publication. “
- 1000 Voices
wHY DO WE WANT IT?
Northampton has the worst air quality in the whole of the UK, according to a 2023 report.
The British Heart Foundation have linked 1 in 20 deaths in Northampton to air pollution.
The former Northamptonshire County Council received notice of sthe first Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) in Northampton in 2003. The council were given 18 months to respond, 21 years later, they still fail to fulfil their legal obligation to develop an action plan.
Tackling air pollution in Northampton would save lives. It would also help West Northamptonshire Council achieve their pledge to reach Net Zero carbon emissions by 2030 and show that they’re taking our health seriously.
The science is clear: air pollution is an invisible killer that is cutting people’s lives short, worsening existing lung conditions, and creating new ones. It significantly contributes to health inequalities and is hitting the following groups hardest: pregnant women, children, those living with a lung condition, older people and those living on the lowest incomes - as well as potentially those experiencing long-term breathing problems from COVID-19.
- The Invisible Threat report from Asthma UK & the British Lung Foundation.
RESOURCES
We’ve put together a number of resources to help you get stuck in to the campaign: