Rob
Walsh - 29-May-2008 - Climate change may
be no laughing matter but this World Environment
Day people are being invited to “Stand up
to Climate Change’ and share their best
joke on the topic.
Free comedy club tickets
are the prizes for the best climate change
joke when the Environment Agency comes to
Crossgates Shopping Centre in east Leeds
to quiz shoppers on their readiness for
climate change on Thursday 5 June.
There’ll also be free
re-usable World Environment Day shopping
bags made from jute and cotton for those
who ‘Stand Up To Climate Change’. The bag
can be folded up to fit in a pocket or handbag,
so we can cut the number of plastic bags
taken from shops and supermarkets.
The draw for tickets
for Jongleurs Comedy Club in Leeds is open
to anyone who submits a joke on a climate
change or environmental theme. Those who
can’t attend the Crossgates event can email
or post their jokes in.
Everyone is welcome
to come along for free environmental advice
at the event on Thursday 5 June, from 9am
to 4pm.
Helen Cheeseman of the
Environment Agency says: “This year’s World
Environment Day theme is all about adapting
to climate change. We all need to do our
bit to slow down climate change by recycling
and keeping our carbon footprint down, but
we also need to recognise that it’s going
to affect us all at some point in our lives.
World Environment Day gives us a great opportunity
to learn about climate change and its effect
on us all.”
Climate change jokes
for the Jongleurs tickets draw can be sent
to stephanie.reynolds@environment-agency.gov.uk
or posted to Stephanie Reynolds, Communications,
Environment Agency, Rivers House, 21 Park
Square South, Leeds LS1 2QG. Closing date
is 20 June 2008.
The main World Environment
Day messages include a list of simple steps
people can take to adapt and get ready for
climate change.
Be prepared for floods
Extreme weather is an unavoidable consequence
of climate change. Are you ready for it?
The first step is to find out if you’re
at risk from floods. Check the Environment
Agency website or ring Floodline on 0845
988 1188 to find out. Chances are you may
also be eligible for our free Floodline
Warnings Direct service.
Save water
As well as the increased threat of flooding
in winter, climate change is likely to lead
to more droughts in summer. Are you doing
all you can to conserve water? This can
be as simple as turning off the tap when
you brush your teeth. Our water is an increasingly
precious resource. It’s up to us to save
it.
Help save wildlife
Changes in climate are happening too quickly
for some species to adapt – but we can help.
For example, installing a pond in your garden
can allow the wildlife in your area to thrive.
Stay safe in extreme
weather
Extreme weather conditions can make travel
risky and unreliable. Plan how you can avoid
travelling when the weather is bad – for
example using technology to work from home
– so you’re fully prepared when severe weather
warnings are in place.
Become an asset to your
community
Emergency response volunteering – for your
local Red Cross, for example – is more important
than ever. It’s vital that you know how
to help others in case of an emergency,
like a flood. Find out more online at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/wed
Climate change? You're
having a laugh
Paul Gainey - 28-May-2008
- A humorous look at the serious issue of
climate change from three of the country's
brightest comedians ends a day of awareness
raising activity on World Environment Day.
The Environment Agency
in the South West has managed to track down
three cutting edge comics for a night of
comedy in Exeter called ‘Stand-Up to Climate
Change’ on Thursday, 5 June.
Jeff Innocent, a stand-up with the brains
of an Oxford boffin and the body of an east
end bouncer, is appearing in a must-see
comedy show at the Barnfield Theatre, Exeter,
with his Eco Worrier show, fresh from rave
reviews at the Edinburgh Festival.
Jeff will be sharing
his take on environmental issues with a
sense of humour that holds people to account
and encourages those with the power to effect
change to do so. He will be joined by Geoff
Whiting and best newcomer nominee Zoe Lyons,
who The Guardian called ‘the best new comic
for a long time’.
The Independent on Sunday
described Geoff Whiting as ‘like a miner
at the coal face, digging out nuggets of
information to fuel his comedy’.
All proceeds from this
not-for-profit show will be donated to Water
Aid.
The key message of World
Environment Day is that climate change is
already happening. Evidence shows that even
action to reduce carbon emissions will not
change the effects of increased warming
which are now ‘locked in’ for the next 30-40
years. This means people have to prepare
for the climate changes.
The comedy evening with
a green tinge will bring the curtain down
on a day of awareness raising events which
begin with a Green Fayre in Bedford Square,
Princesshay, Exeter, at 10am. It will host
exhibitions from local organisations offering
help and advice in taking a positive stand
against climate change. The Environment
Agency, South West Water, Devon County Council,
the Energy Savings Trust and others will
be offering their expertise.
Entertainment throughout
the day will be provided by the junk band
‘Weapons of Sound’, stilt walkers, and face
painters.
Visitors will be able
to learn about ways to reduce their carbon
footprint, get advice on dealing with the
effects of climate change and have a go
on our 'energy bike' to see how much energy
(and sweat) it takes to run electrical appliances.
‘We are hoping this
evening of comedy combined with the Green
Fayre will help to increase awareness of
global climate change and how they can adapot
to the affects and reduce their own carbon
footprint,’ said Ben Vizard for the Environment
Agency.
‘Climate change is happening
here and now. Whatever our successes in
curbing emissions, there is still climate
change locked into our climate systems that
will impact us over the next 30-40 years.
We must adapt now – or face the consequences.’
‘We are very grateful
to all three of the comedians and Barnfield
Theatre for their generosity in supporting
the fundraising effort for this worthy cause
by putting on this special comedy show in
Exeter. I hope lots of people will join
us on 5 June for what will undoubtedly be
a very funny evening.’
‘Stand Up to Climate
Change’ takes place at 7.30pm on Thursday
5 June at the Barnfield Theatre, Exeter.
Tickets are available from the Barnfield
Theatre box office on 01392 270891 and cost
£6.00 (concessions £4.00).
For more information on World Environment
Day visit www.environment-agency.gov.uk/wed.
Ends
Notes to editors
1. Key messages on adapting
to Climate Change
1. Be prepared for floods
Extreme weather is an
unavoidable consequence of climate change.
Are you ready for it? The first step is
to find out if you’re at risk from floods.
Check our website to find out more.
2. Save water
As well as floods, climate
change is likely to lead to more droughts.
Are you doing all you can to conserve water?
This can be as simple as turning off the
tap when you brush your teeth. Our water
is an increasingly precious resource. It’s
up to us to save.
3. Help maintain Britain’s
biodiversity
These changes in climate
are happening too quickly for some species
to adapt – but we can help. For example,
installing a pond in your garden can help
the wildlife in your area to thrive.
4. Be safe
We have seen how extreme weather conditions
can make our travel treacherous. Plan how
you can avoid making unnecessary journeys
– for example by working from home – so
you’re fully prepared to avoid travelling
if needs be.
5. Become an asset to
your community
Emergency response volunteering
– for your local Red Cross, for example
– is more important than ever. It’s vital
that you know how to help others in case
of an emergency, like a flood.
2. Water Aid
WaterAid is an international charity. The
charity’s mission is to overcome poverty
by enabling the world's poorest people to
gain access to safe water, sanitation and
hygiene education.
