Grannies in action Light blue text = a clickable link. To highlight pictures please click themOn Thursday evening I saw a brief item on a TV news programme about elderly Swiss women in a climate court case, so I decided to find out more by going to Aljazeera, a website to which I quite often refer. I found this: 'Europe’s top rights court has ruled in favour of a group of elderly Swiss women who argued that their government’s efforts to combat climate change were inadequate and put them at greater risk of death from heatwaves. 'On Tuesday, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that Switzerland was not doing enough to tackle climate change and that weak policies violate fundamental human rights, in its first such verdict against a state on the issue.' Who are these women? Aljazeera further said: 'The case was brought by about 2,500 women, aged 73 on average, of the Senior Women for Climate Protection (Verein Klima Seniorinnen Schweiz.) Four of its members (on behalf of all} complained about the “failings of the Swiss authorities” in terms of climate protection that could “seriously harm” their health. 'The ruling could have a ripple effect across Europe and beyond, setting a binding precedent for how some courts deal with the rising tide of climate litigation argued on the basis of human rights infringements.' TenaciousI admire these women's tenacity. They began their crusade in 2016 but had to proceed one by one through the various levels of Swiss courts before the ECHR would even consider accepting their case. Their leading lawyer, Cordelia Bähr said after the verdict was announced: “I am absolutely overwhelmed and extremely proud that after nine years of intensive work, the senior women have finally got their due. This is an indescribable moment. The significance of this decision cannot be overestimated. It will be of great importance for further climate lawsuits against states and companies worldwide and increase their chances of success. The judgement shows citizens, judges and governments across Europe what is needed in terms of climate protection in order to respect human rights.” Youth strike to protest poor climate change policyFriday 5 April saw many student climate protests in cities and towns throughout Aotearoa, New Zealand. Here's part of what TV 1 said in reporting the story: 'Organisers School Strike 4 Climate said their aim is to "raise awareness about the urgent need for climate action and to demand meaningful policy changes to combat the climate crisis". Demands of those marching included that the oil and gas exploration ban remaining in place, upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi, ending fast-track consenting legislation, protecting New Zealand's oceans and conservation land, climate education for all, and making the voting age 16.' And in a NZ Herald report: 'Sacred Heart College student, Rachel Collins, told the crowd in Wellington, they want the Government to declare a climate emergency. Collins said Government's target of reducing net emissions to zero by 2050 wasn't ambitious enough. "The land can't work for us – we need to work for her. We need to look after her, we need to plant trees, we need to reduce the amount of waste we're putting out there," she said. EncouragedI take encouragement from the fact that two widely spaced groups, the young and the old, are both working to save the earth from money minded policies. But I think something like the talked about 1.5% or even the 2% reduction in emissions will only be brought about if the middle people – the ones I sometimes call those beset by the 'cult of comfortability' – will move outside that cult and by word and act join the young and the old. What do you think? □ John McInnes Friday 12 April 2024 ##########
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