East London Food & Culture

Bushwood

Why we all need to support Leytonstone Climate Action Day

How newly formed Leytonstone Climate Collective is bringing the community together

Walking through Bushwood Forest one morning (main pic, above), I realised that no matter how much I recycle, turn off the lights and opt for public transport, individual-focused action alone is not going to solve the climate crisis.

When I die, I’d love to have prevented more carbon emission than I caused, but within our current system there is zero chance of even coming close.

Individuals can change the world. Our choices are much more powerful than we think. But do you know what really changes the world? When empowered individuals unite.

I have spent a long time grappling with the question “’What can I do?”, but new possibilities are opening up with a new question: ‘What can we do?”.

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I recently joined the Leytonstone Climate Collective, a new, inclusive project bringing together local residents, community groups, businesses and organisations in grassroots community action on the climate crisis. It’s exciting to see how a diverse group of people can unite around a common goal, and through building connections between each other we can transform the air we breathe, our streets, our shops, our whole community for the better.

The group is holding a Climate Action Day on Saturday 9th July, 12-5pm at St John’s Church. Inside the church itself there will be the powerful exhibition, ‘Seeds of Hope and Change’ hosted by the lay-buddhist group Soka Gakkai International (SGI), while talks and workshops include one on Divestment at 12:30, the radio play A Mother’s Voice by local playwright at 1:15pm, Introduction to Climate Justice Workshop at 2pm, an interview with Councillor Clyde Loakes at 3.30pm and Project 3.5 talk at 4pm.

And that’s not all. In the churchyard there’ll be live music by Mrs H and The Singalong Band (any fellow yoto player parents out there may already be big fans) and other brilliant local musicians. There will be many information stalls from local groups and organisations, tea and cakes, letter writing, games and activities for children.

Join us and see how you are not alone in wanting to create a better future, find out ways you can take individual action, and ways we can unite our energies to build a beautiful, healthier and happier Leytonstone.

Saturday 9th July, 12-5pm, St John’s Church, High Road Leytonstone E11 1HH. Find out more here Leytonstone Climate Collective.

Lily Lowe-Myers is a playwright and actress. Find out more here.

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