No-one's quite clear just exactly where the candidates standing for local and Euro elections stand on fracking and climate change, so Frack Free Greater Manchester is holding an all day event this Saturday at the Manchester Mechanics Institute for voters to find out.
In the morning, from 11am until 1pm, there's an expert panel of speakers including Dr Maria Sharmina of the Tyndall Centre, Manchester University, and Jonathan Neale of the Campaign Against Climate Change and author of Stop Global Warming, Change the World…
In the afternoon, 2pm - 4:30pm, there's a special fracking and climate change election hustings panel where candidates in the local and European elections will be speaking around the title `Fracking: for and against: energy, jobs and environment', and can be grilled by the public afterwards.
Taking part from the parties are…
Conservative: Daniel Hamilton, Euro candidate
Labour: Afzal Kahn, Manchester City councillor and Euro candidate
Lib Dem: Victor Chamberlain, Manchester City councillor
Greens: Peter Cranie, lead Euro candidate
Left Unity: Stephen Hall, candidate for Wigan Council
TUSC: Matt Kilsby: candidate for Salford Council
UKIP was invited too but we understand they have yet to respond.
"Climate change is the greatest threat facing humanity and fracking is an issue which tests whether politicians are serious about tackling it" says Judy Paskell of Frack Free Greater Manchester "Direct action is important, but we also need to hold our elected representatives to account. Are they happy to subsidise fracking and so prolong our addiction to fossil fuels? Or are they for leaving the gas in the ground and developing renewable energy sources like wind and solar which can help us avoid runaway climate change?"
Go along and find out. The subject is of major significance, as Barton Moss in Salford is regarded as the front line for fracking in the north of England. All the Euro candidates speaking at the event will be looking for Salford votes, while Matt Kilsby is standing for the Trade Union Socialist Coalition in the local Salford Council elections. They all need a good grilling!
Fracking and Climate Change
Saturday 10th May 11am - 4:30pm free
John Tocher Room, Manchester Mechanics Institute
103 Princess Street, Manchester M1 6DD
For more details see also the Frack Free Greater Manchester Facebook group – click here
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