The UK government has recently introduced a whole host of measures that reduce subsidies to renewable energy and actively discourage people from going green. The effects of this are massive. Today we heard that Drax, which runs the biggest coal-fired power station in the UK, has been forced to abandon a £1bn carbon technology project that would have captured 90% of the plant’s emissions, and all because the government removed the renewable energy tax exemption which funded the project. This comes as the Chancellor, George Osborne, also unbelievably introduced a £3.9bn carbon tax called the ‘Climate Change Levy’ on wind and solar power and biogas. As these energy sources emit no net carbon, this policy seems absolutely ridiculous. He has also changed Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) so that now a Prius costs just as much as a Porsche. The AA believes this decision will discourage drivers from using less polluting cars. Other bright ideas include destroying the green homes scheme, selling off the green investment bank, and spending £24.5 bn building the new Hinkley point c nuclear power plant out of what experts have called ‘outdated’ and ‘overcomplicated’ technology. Amber Rudd, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, says the subsidy cuts are because they exceeded its £7.6bn budget for renewable energy this summer, and supposedly they will help keep household bills down, but how will increasing tax on greener cars keep families in pocket? How will removing support for green homes today help small businesses to reduce their bills in the future? And how exactly are MPs going to justify this attack on clean energy in the face of the current and future health problems caused by the hydrocarbons that they still continue to subsidise? The UK has always been a world leader in environmental policy, and now the actions of this government are putting our moral and scientific reputation at risk, as well as deterring investors and putting our health at risk. Please sign this petition now to let Amber Rudd and George Osborne know that we won’t put up with it. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-34319458 http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/sep/22/al-gore-puzzled-by-ukcuts-to-renewable-energy-support http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jul/24/the-9-green-policies-killed-off-by-tory-government http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/sep/21/the-guardian-view-on-hinkley-point-c-overcomplicated-overpriced-and-overdue http://www.carbonbrief.org/blog/2015/07/decc-amber-rudd-reduces-subsidies-for-renewable-energy/

Nothing is more important for our survival than safe water. It is basic to our health, our children's health, to the production of livestock and crops. The Government has recently granted licenses for Companies to drill for shale gas. Two of these areas cover the West Pennine Moors and parts of Bolton, Chorley and Preston. But this is an issue for domestic and commercial water users across the region. A large part of the land designated for fracking is owned by United Utilities and is the water catchment for the reservoirs at Rivington and Anglezarke. Apart from these areas being valued and visited for their beauty and recreation, they also supply water mainly to Liverpool but also Greater Manchester. Where fracking has occurred in the US & Australia, there has been widespread contamination and depletion of water sources as a result of the fracking process. Risks include carcinogenic chemicals used in the fracking process, the release of methane and also increased radiation. Locally, exploratory drilling resulted in contamination at Barton Moss and on the Fylde. . We all need to know that United Utilities is not only taking seriously the risks posed by fracking, but will take all necessary steps to protect our water.

The total destruction of the vital environment and large swathes of animal life on earth, caused by the insatiable drives of capitalism threatens the entire bio-diversity of the planet in the long term and the foundations of human civilisation in the short term. Now, that wouldn't be very nice, would it?

Free boilers are given to people on benefits but not to pensioners on low incomes who do not receive benefits. Every year many pensioners die from the effects of cold and others suffer needlessly as they shiver in their own homes. They should automatically qualify for this scheme. Benefit payments are to be capped at £500 per week for couples and £350 per week for single people. This should be the level of income to qualify pensioners for free boilers - £26000 and £18200 respectively. A new combi gas boiler could tansform, and even prolong, the lives of many people who have worked all their lives and now find themselves with the dilemma of "eat or heat".

Last month the government slashed and axed green energy subsidies because no money was left. But now the government is pushing full steam ahead with £17 BILLION subsidies for untested nuclear reactor at Hinkley. How can there be on rule for green energy and another for nuclear energy? If there is no money for green energy how can there be BILLIONS for nuclear? If there’s no money left why are we committing to subsidising a deal that’s been called as “economically insane” by city analysts and “one of the worst deals ever for British households and British industry” by Lord Howell, the pro-nuclear’ former Tory Energy Secretary. Agree with me that paying billions of pounds for nuclear energy is wrong? Please sign the petition now. There have been safety concerns over Hinkley. Two plants in Finland and France which use the same design, have been plagued with construction delays, spiralling costs and design flaws. Hinkley is under attack from not just from campaigners and community but also from one of our biggest banks. A report from HSBC on 2nd August 2015 warned that the massive cost was the new nuclear power plant was ‘becoming harder to justify.’ HSBC concluded: ‘We see ample reason for the UK Government to delay or cancel the project.’ The Hinkley deal is so outrageous and over-subsidised (£17 Billion), that ten green energy firms from Germany and Austria launched a legal challenge against it last month. Let’s not lavish the nuclear energy with billions of pounds while we’re cutting back from renewable energy because apparently the piggy bank is empty. The chorus of disapproval growing and if 38 Degrees members add our voice we could force the government to bin this bonkers plan.

For over 100 years the Tate gallery has displayed contemporary and traditional British, and contemporary international artists. It has become a cultural cornerstone in Britain's art scene and has a responsibility to defend the interests of the people to whom it represents and receives funding from. As we face the greatest moral dilemma of our age, private and public institutions alike must take responsible actions on behalf of billions of people worldwide, present and future generations. The production and consumption of oil, coal and gas is not sustainable and will have devastating effects if left at its current monstrous rate: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/ng-interactive/2015/apr/10/how-much-fossil-fuel-are-we-using-right-now As shown by The Guardian's 'Keep it in the Ground' campaign, dubbed 'the biggest story in the world' an estimated 1/3 of known oil reserves, 4/5 of coal reserves and 1/2 of gas reserves must be left untouched if we are to remain below an already dangerous 2 degree rise in global temperature. http://www.theguardian.com/environment/ng-interactive/2015/mar/16/the-biggest-story-in-the-world The time to act is now. We must divest from these archaic, destructive institutions, and we must begin by showing them that they no longer have a place in this world if it is to remain habitable. BP is still demanding that fines that are yet to be issued are cut due to a proposed lack of finances, and must be made to take responsibility for their actions. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12124830 http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/03/us-bp-trial-idUSKBN0L724420150203 Oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico and Azerbaijan are devastating symptoms of a greater, catastrophic disease, condemning the inhabitants of our planet to agricultural and financial collapse, fracturing an already fragile ecosystem on the brink of collapse. http://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2015/apr/18/bp-deepwater-horizon-oil-spill-five-years-on-gallery http://content.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,83190883001_1987392,00.html It is an industry that you subsidize, an industry at the forefront of corporate lobbying, an industry that supports undemocratic trade 'agreements'. It is time to take a stand. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/04/business/04bptax.html?_r=0 http://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/press/speeches/energy-for-europe-time-to-reflect.html This is just one small step to the greatest of victories. Your comments, suggestions and actions are welcome. Thank you for visiting.

LFTR is a safe and zero carbon form of electrical power generation. With sufficient investment, this form of power can be cheaper than coal whilst also being so much safer and better for the environment (bearing in mind coal already produces more radioactive waste than current nuclear power reactors) Compared to renewables, LFTRs require much less land than wind or solar for the same power generation, resulting in greater land area for trees or planting crops (e.g. biofuels) LFTR is liquid and requires no water coolant, whilst also being safer as a solid plug will melt during a meltdown so all of the radioactive material escapes to an underground casing protecting the environment. The waste produced has a shorter half-life so is radioactive for less time, and the waste is very difficult to turn into nuclear weapons. However, since the half life is so great, the radiation will be pretty much harmless. The reactor can be controlled a lot better, as the atoms have neutron shot at them in a canon, so in an emergency the neutron canon is shut off, so the reactor can be controlled and stopped a lot faster than the current Uranium Fast breed reactor. Nuclear Power also saves lives. Coal kills over 15,000 per trillion kWh produced in the US alone. That figure increases over 10 fold in China. Currently, Nuclear only kills 90 people per trillion kWh produced, which is lower than all forms of renewables http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2012/06/10/energys-deathprint-a-price-always-paid/