SEAD (Scottish Education and Action for Development)

Since the Government bailout of the Royal Bank of Scotland in 2008, UK taxpayers now own an 84% share. Yet the Government is ignoring its own guidance by allowing RBS to continue using our money to finance projects and companies who actively ignore and exacerbate the dangers of climate change and human rights abuses, for short term profit.

RBS is holding its Annual General Meeting in Edinburgh on 28th April 2010.  But we are not invited, despite being the majority shareholder. We want RBS to listen to the public, so we are holding an RBS Public Shareholder Meeting at the Mercure Point Hotel, Bread St, Edinburgh at 6:00pm, on the same day, which anyone can attend.

Read the rest of RBS 28th April – Public Shareholder Meeting: Because It’s Our Bank Now …

Tar sands extraction in Canada is devastating Indigenous communities, wildlife and vast areas of boreal forests, as well as being many times more carbon-intensive to produce than ‘conventional’ oil.

“We are seeing a terrifyingly high rate of cancer in Fort Chipewyan where I live. We are convinced that these cancers are linked to the Tar Sands development on our doorstep. It is shortening our lives. That’s why we no longer call it ‘dirty oil’ but ‘bloody oil’. The blood of Fort Chipewyan people is on these companies’ hands.” –  George Poitras, former chief of Mikisew Cree First Nation. Read the rest of New report reveals RBS is UK bank most involved in financing loans to tar sands companies …

In December 2007 six people got together in the town of Forres to discuss climate change. In the year since then, they’ve developed a strong Transition Towns group with a clear programme for achieving energy descent in their community. Oh, and they’ve just been awarded £184,119 from the Climate Challenge Fund to carry out their community projects. Read the rest of In Profile: Transition Town Forres …

The Climate Challenge Fund has £27.4 million to help communities across Scotland to tackle climate change. Here, Becky Smith from the fund explains a little more about what it’s about, and talks about some projects that have already benefited. Read the rest of The Climate Challenge Fund: supporting community-led action on climate change …

Alyth Climate Action town formed when two people from Alyth were making a banner for the G8 held Gleneagles in 2005. Find out about what they’ve been up to since then, which includes producing what is perhaps the first romantic comedy to be written about climate change! Read the rest of Community Engagement Ideas: Alyth Climate Action Town …