World first action on climate change
Plus indefinite strike looms, protest in the dock, and listings for the week ahead.
Hello! Good morning!
Want to start this newsletter with an apology for being a bit quiet over the last week or so. There has been a lot going on both professionally and personally (more on the former later, the latter I’m afraid will remain between me and my spotify listening history).
It’s meant this space, which I feel very excited about creating, has been slightly squeezed down my priority list so my apologies. Output may remain a little light for the next couple of weeks as I sort through some stuff and also earn money to pay pesky things like “rent” and buy stuff like “food for the children”, but I’ll still try and bring you something at least once a week!
You can of course help with these endeavours by taking out a paid subscription using the button below or by sharing this newsletter by clicking somewhere that I can’t remember where but you’re all smart people so I trust you to work it out.
Anyway, thank you for your patience, thank you for being here, lots of you are new so sorry it got deep in like the first two sentences. It’s not normally like this x
Polluters on Trial
This week, in a first of its kind action, New Weather Institute and Adfree cities (represented by lawyers from Doughty Street Chambers) have reported the world’s largest advertising firm, WPP, to the OECD for breaching rules on climate and human rights through its advertising work with big polluters.
The complaint alleges that WPP has breached internationally respected OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct. These are government-backed recommendations to multinational enterprises on how to do business sustainably and responsibly.
WPP has said their policy is “not to take on any client work, including lobbying, designed to frustrate the objectives of the Paris Agreement”. But many of WPP’s energy clients are actively still expanding their fossil fuel operations. Just yesterday BP announced it would scale back renewable investment and up production of gas and oil following a drop in their profits to a measly $8.9bn last year (which to be fair is about as much as a bowl of pasta and a bottle of wine in central London these days).
In 2024, WPP had at least 79 active fossil fuel contracts, more than any other advertising company in the world. WPP also works for three of the world’s four worst plastic polluters: CocaCola, Danone, Nestlé, who together are responsible for 17% of branded plastic pollution globally. Experts warn that plastics pose a ‘critical human health crisis’.
Below, you can find out more about the campaign around the complaint from my good friend Fran (in a majestic coat).
Indefinite strike looms
I want to talk very briefly about the incredible and brave organising going on by Independent Domestic Violence Advocates (IDVAs) working at Solace Women’s Aid in Tower Hamlets.
The workers, who are members of the United Voices of the World union, announced indefinite strike action in response to devastating job cubs that threaten life-saving services across the borough. The workers delivered a vote of 100% in favour of industrial action on a 92% turnout after management refused to scrap plans to cut their team by a third.
Tower Hamlets has the second-highest rate of domestic abuse cases in London, while 70% of all domestic abuse victim-survivors are women. One of the Solace workers and UVW members, who wishes to speak anonymously, said, “We have worked tirelessly to support the community of Tower Hamlets. Domestic abuse is a national emergency, as the recent report by the National Audit Office – as reported by The Guardian- says: “The epidemic of violence against women and girls” in the UK is getting worse despite years of government promises and strategies.”
“Cutting one third of our team will result in further harm to victims of domestic abuse in Tower Hamlets. Our main priority with this strike is to highlight the importance of our service and the impact on the community if the team is reduced.”
The charity is contracted to provide support to survivors of domestic abuse with the council. The value of the contract has almost doubled to £1.4m from 2024 to 2026, up from the £783,452 it received between 2021 and 2024. Solace claims the council withdrew expected funding.
Last week in an incredible show of support and solidarity, community members gathered in their hundreds outside Tower Hamlets town hall to show support for the workers.
Today workers enter their second day of talks to try and reach a deal before strike action is due to begin on Friday 14th February.
Protest in the dock
A few weeks ago I reported on the national Palestine demo and the fall out from it which has seen two prominent members of the anti-war movement charged under the Public Order Act and saw two sitting MPs interviewed under caution.
Tomorrow Chris Nineham, convener of Stop the War and lead steward for the national Palestine Demos has his first court hearing at Westminster Magistrates. Stop the War have called a demo outside the court tomorrow from 12:30pm.
Listings
February
London: Support museum strikers!
United Voices of the World say, “🚨 STRIKE ALERT: Museum Guards to strike all of February! 🚨
Starting this Saturday, 1 February, over 100 security guards at the @sciencemuseum , @natural_history_museum and @vamuseum will begin a month-long strike, running every day until 28 February.
Outsourced to security contractor Wilson James @wj_ltd under inferior pay and conditions, they’re demanding dignity, equality, and fair treatment. And now security guards at @young.vam and @vam_east have joined the fight to secure the same terms as directly employed museum staff.
Support their fight:
💥 Share this post
💥 Send a message to Museum bosses – 🔗 in bio
Let’s stand in solidarity with these workers fighting for justice! ✊”
Saturday 15th February
London: National Palestine demonstration,12 noon, Whitehall
Organisers say, “Donald Trump is planning to commit ethnic cleansing in Gaza. It’s more important than ever that we stand up for the Palestinian people and demand our government oppose this plan. Let’s make this the biggest march yet.”
Dates for your diary:
Thursday 27th February
Manchester: Solidarity forever — 40 years of LGSM, 6pm- 9pm, M3 3ER
Host Jamiee Star says, “I am SO excited to be hosting a Q&A with Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM) legends Mike Jackson and Jonathan Blake at @phmmcr this @lgbthistorymonth! Solidarity Forever is a special ticketed event taking place 6pm-9pm Feb 27th to mark the 40th anniversary of the 1984-85 Miners' Strike and the founding of LGSM. Tickets are going fast, so grab yours through the link in my bio!
Join us to discuss the importance of solidarity campaigns between communities, memories of the strike, the legacy of LGSM and what impact their campaign had on the progression of LGBTQ+ rights in the UK.
On the night you can also visit the galleries to see the original LGSM banner in our 2025 Banner Hang, and for the first time at PHM, see LGSM's travelling exhibition which was created to continue fundraising to support mining families after the strike.
Don't miss this chance to hear about this pivotal moment in LGBTQ+ history from the incredible activists who made it happen, and to ask them your questions!”
Tuesday 11th March
London: Support immigration raid resistance, TBC
In May last year, as the Conservatives ramped up rhetoric around the Rwanda plan they announced they would begin ‘rounding up’ those who might potentially be on the flights. A stunning community response in Peckham saw hundreds come down to block the coaches and declare that refugees are welcome here.
The coaches did not go that day. Those at risk of being offshored in the evil Rwanda plan stayed put in the community where they’d started to develop support networks, friends etc. Many brave members of the community (allegedly) sat in the road to block the coaches and were arrested. There have been a number of court dates already for those accused, with most being acquitted. There are still a number of future court dates, one of which is on 11th March.
In the coming weeks, I’ll write more about the stunning community resistance on that day, but for now, save the date for a rally outside the court (details TBC) in support of those who stood up that day and refused to be complicit in the horrors of the immigration system.
Something completely different…
And finally, as promised at the top of this newsletter, in my day job I’ve been working with Ralph Magazine around the launch of their new issue and some incredibly exciting new digital offerings. Ralph magazine launched last summer and focuses on "pop culture for the fun of it". It celebrates all things pop culture (as you'd expect with that strap line), and looks for uplifting, interesting and fun stories.
Issue 3 of the mag launches tomorrow (I’m bias but it’s incredible) with announcements on the digital side coming in the next few weeks. If it sounds like something that you might be into, then I’d love if you followed the insta (below) or subscribed to the newsletter to be the first to hear about all the stuff I’ve been a part of working on!
Thanks so much for reading. As ever if you would like your event, protest, fundraiser etc. included here or if you have any tips, press releases or save the dates please do drop me a line!
Hope to see you on the streets soon,
ben x