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	<title>Fuel Poverty Action</title>
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	<description>a campaign group of the Climate Justice Collective</description>
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		<title>Fuel Poverty Action</title>
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		<title>The Warm-up weekend comes to an end as the movement for energy justice grows&#8230;.</title>
		<link>http://fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com/2012/02/01/the-warm-up-weekend-comes-to-an-end-as-the-movement-for-energy-justice-grows/</link>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:34:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>fuelpovertyaction</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[On Friday 27th &#8211; Monday 30th January, hundreds of people in cities across the country came out of their cold homes to Warm-up together at the buildings and offices that house those responsible for fuel poverty. People warmed-up at the &#8230; <a href="http://fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com/2012/02/01/the-warm-up-weekend-comes-to-an-end-as-the-movement-for-energy-justice-grows/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com&amp;blog=21447091&amp;post=214&amp;subd=fuelpovertyaction&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>On Friday 27th &#8211; Monday 30th January, hundreds of people in cities across the country came out of their cold homes to Warm-up together at the buildings and offices that house those responsible for fuel poverty. People warmed-up at the offices of the energy companies raking in record profits from the thousands of people in the UK that die from fuel poverty, and the hundreds of thousands worldwide that die from climate change. The weekend also saw Warm-ups at local council offices and town halls. Local governments are failing to take action to rectify the shameful state of the UK&#8217;s housing and insulation, and are implementing welfare cuts that are making the bills bite even harder this Winter, leaving millions with a choice between heating and eating.</p>
<p>The Warm-ups brought a glimpse of the  community action that will be needed to tackle the Big Six&#8217;s monopoly and the government&#8217;s complicity. The weekend came as part of a growing movement for energy democracy and energy justice, emerging across the world from Nigeria to Russia to Greece. As corporations continue their drive to extract profit at all costs and governments sit comfortably in their pockets, people are becoming ever more cold and ever more angry. Together, we will Warm-up and build a democratic alternative that works for people&#8217;s needs, not corporate greed&#8230;</p>
<p><span id="more-214"></span></p>
<p>****</p>
<p>Day 1 (Friday 27th) of the Warm-ups saw Warm-ups at EDF HQ, NPower HQ, Leeds town hall, Lewisham town hall, RBS and cheeky anti-Big Six subvertising in Manchester. For a round-up of day 1, see <a href="http://fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com/2012/01/27/friday-warmup-roundup/">here</a>.</p>
<p>****</p>
<p>On day 2 (Saturday 28th), whilst Cambridge warmed-up in theatrical fashion, protesters from Disabled People Against Cuts, Disabled People’s Direct Action Network and UK Uncut came together to block Oxford Circus in protest against the government’s Welfare Reform Bill. Find a round-up <a href="http://fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com/2012/01/28/saturday-28th-january-what-went-on/">here</a>.</p>
<p>****</p>
<p>Day 3 (Sunday 29th) saw Warm-ups in both Haringey and Hackney&#8230;.</p>
<p>15 Haringey residents take part in a <strong>Haringey</strong> Fuel Poverty Warm Up action in Wood Green Shopping City mall (first floor), N22. The Warm-up was organised by Haringey Solidarity Group, supported by Haringey Housing Action Group and the Haringey Alliance for Public Services.<a href="http://fuelpovertyaction.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/10375b1.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-215" title="10375b1" src="http://fuelpovertyaction.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/10375b1.jpg?w=640&#038;h=474" alt="" width="640" height="474" /></a></p>
<p>Throughout the hour-long lunchtime event the activists set up an advice stall on the first floor, held banners [NO MORE DEATHS FROM COLD and GAS BILLS KILL - FUEL POVERTY ACTION], distributed 500 leaflets and created a friendly space to encourage people to come and sit and share free hot drinks and snacks. There was a very positive reaction from the general public there, and the activists ignored attempts at harassment by security managers. The activists then visited the Wetherspoons Pub en masse to leaflet all the customers and talk to the manager there about these issues.</p>
<p>A spokesperson for the organisers said: &#8216; Fuel poverty is a public scandal causing thousands of excess deaths each winter as the Big Six energy corporations rake in massive profits. People&#8217;s welfare must come first. We call on all shops, pubs and public buildings to welcome in all those who wish to get warm. &#8216;</p>
<p>Several <strong>Hackney</strong> residents also Warmed-up at the Hackney Town Hall. Protestors gathered with their sleeping bags and duvets,  joining thousands of other people nationwide accusing the government and energy companies of a “deadly obsession with making money.”</p>
<p>Caroline Allen, a Warm-up participant, said: “6.3 million homes are in fuel poverty in the UK, and it is estimated that around 2,700 people died last winter as a direct result of being ‘fuel poor’ &#8211; this is a shocking figure.</p>
<p>“What makes me even more angry is that these companies are making hundreds of millions of pounds of profit and paying their executives millions, while at the same time trying to push the blame for price rises onto much needed investment in green energy,” she added.</p>
<p>Photos of the Hackney warm-up can be found <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/75472513@N02/6785103049/in/photostream/">here</a>.</p>
<p>****</p>
<p>Day 4 of the Warm-ups (Monday 30th January), the weekend&#8217;s finale, saw seven-hour occupations of meeting rooms on two floors of British Gas&#8217;s HQ. Read more <a href="http://fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com/2012/01/30/breaking-news-british-gas-offices-occupied-in-protest-over-fuel-poverty-profiteering/">here</a>. <a href="http://fuelpovertyaction.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/bg-for-website-2.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-217" title="bg for website 2" src="http://fuelpovertyaction.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/bg-for-website-2.jpg?w=640" alt=""   /></a></p>
<p>After police were unable to break through the occupiers&#8217; barricades, British Gas management offered the protesters the opportunity to negotiate. Read their response <a href="https://network23.org/heatoreat/2012/01/30/british-gas-negotiations-statement/">here</a>.</p>
<p>Outside the occupation, British Gas CEO Phil Bentley came out to meet protesters that were flyering British Gas workers. Read about Bentley&#8217;s shocking admission of the unfairness of his massive salary earned from leaving millions to freeze <a href="http://fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com/2012/01/30/heatoreat-phil-bentley-british-gas/">here</a>.</p>
<p>****</p>
<p>The Warm-ups are just the beginning. Fuel Poverty Action will be continuing to challenge the Big Six&#8217;s monopoly and the government&#8217;s complicity, and keeping up the push for a democratic energy system that works for people&#8217;s needs, not corporate greed. Plans are already afoot for a day of mass action against the Big Six&#8217;s power in May. Follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/FuelPovAction">Twitter</a>, find us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fuel-Poverty-Action/272943569430814">Facebook</a> and email fuelpovertyaction@gmail.com to get involved.</p>
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		<title>&#8216;Our Chat with Millionaire CEO of British Gas Phil Bentley&#8217;</title>
		<link>http://fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com/2012/01/30/heatoreat-phil-bentley-british-gas/</link>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:34:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>fuelpovertyaction</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[Faced with a threatening police presence, the occupiers of the British Gas offices have now decided to leave on their own terms. But while they were inside, British Gas MD Phil Bentley decided to come out and talk to the protestors outside. The writeup &#8230; <a href="http://fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com/2012/01/30/heatoreat-phil-bentley-british-gas/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com&amp;blog=21447091&amp;post=209&amp;subd=fuelpovertyaction&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://fuelpovertyaction.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/lnp_britishgas_protest_ssi_0011.jpg"><img class="alignright  wp-image-210" title="Chatting to Phil Bentley. Photo credit : Stephen Simpson/LNP" src="http://fuelpovertyaction.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/lnp_britishgas_protest_ssi_0011.jpg?w=461&#038;h=328" alt="Chatting to Phil Bentley. Photo credit : Stephen Simpson/LNP" width="461" height="328" /></a><em>Faced with a threatening police presence, the occupiers of the British Gas offices have now decided to leave on their own terms. But while they were inside, British Gas MD Phil Bentley decided to come out and talk to the protestors outside. The writeup below is from the <a href="https://network23.org/heatoreat/2012/01/30/heatoreat-british-gas-ceo-phil-bentley/">#heatoreat </a>blog. </em></p>
<p>There are times during protests where you feel those in power aren’t listening. That they shut themselves away in a cocoon of expensive lunches, executive meetings and fancy cars. Today, in response to Fuel Poverty Action’s occupation of his offices, Phil Bentley (CEO of British Gas) broke that mould and is probably now wishing he hadn’t.</p>
<p>As Fuel Poverty Action activists stood outside in the biting cold leafleting this morning, out strolled the suited figure of a man who looked very much like the millionaire CEO. That’s because it was. Bentley, whose floor had been occupied by a group protesting against the 2,700 preventable deaths last year from Fuel Poverty, looked like he had a point to prove.</p>
<p>As he introduced himself, our man on the door asked: “<em>Do you think its unfair that when you’re paid £600,000 plus even more in bonus that people are dying of cold in their home?</em>”<br />
What was to be the media-trained, experienced CEO’s answer? Surely he’d have a pre-prepared script to read from on this, some kind of skilfully meaningless mediaspeak</p>
<p><em>“Yes of course</em>”, replied to well paid CEO.<span id="more-209"></span></p>
<p>Bentley then reeled a list off of who was to blame [apart from him of course].<br />
Firstly the Government, who had denationalised our energy provision back in the 1980s, allowing all the juicy profits to go to CEOs and Investors, said the CEO and investor in British Gas.<br />
He then blamed investment in renewables for the exorbitant rise in prices in recent years. Our very well informed man on the door quoted back figures that showed that between 2005 to 2010 the average duel-fuel bill went up by £455 (a 75% increase) and of this rise, 84% was un-related to low-carbon measures [1].</p>
<p>Bentleys answer to this; <em>he didn’t have one</em>.</p>
<p>So what do we take from this encounter? Well, for one the CEOs of big companies are criminally out of touch with the day-to-day realities of the Six Million homes that live in fuel poverty in the UK alone. Indeed Bentley seems to suggest some of their lives are worth sparing for the comfy life he leads. On a more whimsical note we’ve learnt why the rich and powerful don’t tend to show their faces and speak their minds, because half the time they just don’t have a clue.</p>
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			<media:title type="html">Chatting to Phil Bentley. Photo credit : Stephen Simpson/LNP</media:title>
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		<title>Breaking News: British Gas offices occupied in protest over fuel poverty profiteering</title>
		<link>http://fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com/2012/01/30/breaking-news-british-gas-offices-occupied-in-protest-over-fuel-poverty-profiteering/</link>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:44:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>fuelpovertyaction</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[Six activists have barricaded themselves into meeting rooms on two floors of British Gas offices in Staines, Middlesex, as part of the &#8216;Winter Warm-Up&#8217; weekend called by the campaign group Fuel Poverty Action. British Gas is being targeted as one &#8230; <a href="http://fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com/2012/01/30/breaking-news-british-gas-offices-occupied-in-protest-over-fuel-poverty-profiteering/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com&amp;blog=21447091&amp;post=206&amp;subd=fuelpovertyaction&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Six activists have barricaded themselves into meeting rooms on two floors of British Gas offices in Staines, Middlesex, as part of the &#8216;Winter Warm-Up&#8217; weekend called by the campaign group Fuel Poverty Action. British Gas is being targeted as one of the Big Six energy companies making profits out of rising energy bills. It is planned to stream the occupation live on the internet, with a &#8216;Heat or Eat&#8217; comedy quiz played by the occupiers, and audience participation over Twitter.</p>
<p>Hannah Edler, 27, a Heat or Eat contestant, said</p>
<p>“Heat or Eat is a choice no-one should have to face. The Big Six energy companies are raking in record profits while our bills rise, and thousands die unable to heat their homes. We&#8217;re here to put ourselves in the way of this shameless profiteering.”</p>
<p>Edler added: “Instead of paying billions to Big Six bosses every year, we could have a fairer system where our energy is owned by communities who decide how it is priced and produced. Money could be better spent on giving homes proper insulation, and investing in moving away from the dangerous fossil fuel system which the Big Six have trapped us in. To provide for everyone&#8217;s needs and stop wrecking the planet&#8217;s climate, we need democratic control of our energy system!”</p>
<p>This action is part of a national weekend of protests called by campaign group Fuel Poverty Action targeting energy companies, local government and housing providers over fuel poverty and corporate greed. The protests, dubbed ‘Winter Warm Ups’ and organised by community, environmental and Occupy groups, also took place in Lewisham, Haringey, Hackney, Swindon (outside RWE Npower office), Leeds, Manchester, Cambridge, and the City of London. They demand a fair democratic energy system which provides warm housing for all and a safe climate for our future [1].</p>
<p>Live footage and photographs available<br />
Livestream of the occupation will appear at http://livestre.am/1gaxQ<br />
Twitter feed: @heatoreat</p>
<p>Interview opportunities<br />
For direct contact details for occupation participants please contact Fuel Poverty Action:<br />
Phone: 07864350440<br />
Email: fuelpovertyaction@gmail.com<br />
Twitter: @FuelPovAction</p>
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		<title>Saturday 28th January: what went on&#8230;</title>
		<link>http://fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com/2012/01/28/saturday-28th-january-what-went-on/</link>
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		<pubDate>Sat, 28 Jan 2012 20:29:20 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[Day 2 of the Winter Warm-up Weekend saw a theatrical Warm-up in Cambridge that featured the Big 6 &#8216;beating up&#8217; the Earth and its frozen inhabitants. Meanwhile, 200 protesters from Disabled People Against Cuts, Disabled People’s Direct Action Network and UK &#8230; <a href="http://fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com/2012/01/28/saturday-28th-january-what-went-on/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com&amp;blog=21447091&amp;post=200&amp;subd=fuelpovertyaction&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Day 2 of the Winter Warm-up Weekend saw a theatrical Warm-up in Cambridge that featured the Big 6 &#8216;beating up&#8217; the Earth and its frozen inhabitants. Meanwhile, 200 protesters from Disabled People Against Cuts, Disabled People’s Direct Action Network and UK Uncut came together to block Oxford Circus in protest against the government&#8217;s Welfare Reform Bill.</p>
<p><span id="more-200"></span></p>
<p>Today, in day 2 of the Winter Warm-ups, Cambridge joined the list of cities across the country to have Warmed-<a href="http://fuelpovertyaction.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/energy-companies-strangling-cold-people.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-201" title="energy companies strangling cold people" src="http://fuelpovertyaction.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/energy-companies-strangling-cold-people.jpg?w=300&#038;h=225" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>up this weekend.</p>
<p>Anti-poverty campaigners from Cambridge performed a street theatre protest to call attention to the 5000 Cambridge households suffering from fuel poverty.</p>
<p>The campaigners performed a short improvised sketch in Market Square and outside the Lion Yard shopping centre, in which those dressed as large energy companies &#8216;beat up&#8217; other campaigners dressed as the Earth and as local Cambridge residents. They highlighted the predicted deaths of 2700 people in the UK due to fuel poverty this winter, as well as the five-year record profit of over 700% per customer of the Big Six energy companies.</p>
<p>Ted White, who dressed as British Gas, explained: &#8220;It&#8217;s bad enough that the government has cut the Winter Fuel allowance while our bills are soaring  &#8211; but energy companies invest their massive profits into climate destruction across the world. There are cheaper and much less destructive alternatives to fossil fuels which Cambridge County Council is failing to exploit, particularly for those who can least afford their bills&#8221;</p>
<p>The protesters gave out leaflets on fuel debt from the Citizens&#8217; Advice Bureau, and their own leaflets offering alternative solutionsto the fuel poverty crisis. Ellie McIntyre explained that &#8216;Islington Council is fitting its council houses with solar panels &#8211; we think that residents of Cambridge should be given the capability to democratically discuss and decide how they want to keep their houses warm &#8211; with long term sustainabiltiy in mind, both for us residents and for people across the world&#8221;</p>
<p>At one point, Julian Huppert, MP for Cambridge, came upon the protesters outside Lion Yard. He took a leaflet and claimed &#8220;We&#8217;re doing all we can&#8221;, but failed to stop when protesters asked him how he planned to take on the Big Six companies.</p>
<p>****</p>
<p>Meanwhile, whilst people were Warming-up in Cambridge,  in London, <a href="http://www.ukuncut.org.uk/blog/protesters-shut-down-oxford-circus">Oxford Circus was </a><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-202" title="Aukuncutgood" src="http://fuelpovertyaction.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/aukuncutgood.jpg?w=225&#038;h=300" alt="" width="225" height="300" /><a href="http://www.ukuncut.org.uk/blog/protesters-shut-down-oxford-circus">completely blocked</a> today as a group of people from Disabled People Against Cuts, Disabled People’s Direct Action Network and UK Uncut came together to protest against the government&#8217;s Welfare Reform Bill. 20 wheelchair users chained themselves together to block Regent Street, and were joined by 200 supporters, resulting in Oxford Circus and the surrounding area being brought to a standstill.</p>
<p>Recent reports have shown that as a result of the bill 500,000 families stand to lose their homes while others will become ‘imprisoned in them’. Nearly half a million people would lose their Disability Living Allowance, including disabled children. People with terminal illnesses would be forced into work, and 3.2 million will be put through demanding tests that have already pushed some to take their own lives. The government&#8217;s own research admits that this flagship reform will push 100,000 children into poverty.</p>
<p>Fuel poverty already disproportionately affects disabled people as the cold worsens many impairments, meaning that high energy bills have serious health consequences. The government&#8217;s proposed Welfare Reform Bill will worsen this situation &#8211; the combination of rocketing fuel bills and savage benefit cuts would prove deadly.</p>
<p>DPAC supporter Cerys Williams said &#8220;Bankers are continuing to reap massive bonuses and over £25 billion is uncollected in taxes. We say that disabled people should not be forced to pay the price of these austerity cuts&#8221;</p>
<p>That the government is attempting to push through this unfair and unnecessary legislation whilst it refuses to get tough on the profiteering energy companies or tax-dodging banks and corporations, demonstrates its commitment to private profit over people&#8217;s basic needs.</p>
<p>****</p>
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		<title>A round-up of Friday&#8217;s Warm-ups</title>
		<link>http://fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com/2012/01/27/friday-warmup-roundup/</link>
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		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:29:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>fuelpovertyaction</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[An exciting start to the Fuel Poverty Action Weekend of Winter Warm-ups&#8230;Hundreds of people across the country came out of their cold homes to get warm at the buildings of institutions that have a hand in creating fuel poverty, to challenge &#8230; <a href="http://fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com/2012/01/27/friday-warmup-roundup/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com&amp;blog=21447091&amp;post=182&amp;subd=fuelpovertyaction&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>An exciting start to the Fuel Poverty Action Weekend of Winter Warm-ups&#8230;Hundreds of people across the country came out of their cold homes to get warm at the buildings of institutions that have a hand in creating fuel poverty, to challenge the Big Six&#8217;s monopoly and the government&#8217;s complicity.</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s a round-up of some of today&#8217;s actions &#8211; there will be more updates throughout the weekend. If you participated in a warm-up, or couldn&#8217;t come but have related experiences to share, please tell us your story in the comments!<span id="more-182"></span></p>
<p>****</p>
<p><strong>The Lewisham Town Hall Winter Warm-up</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://fuelpovertyaction.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/lewisham-warmup1.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-195" title="lewisham warmup" src="http://fuelpovertyaction.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/lewisham-warmup1-e1327707240158.jpg?w=300&#038;h=225" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p>
<p>30-40 activists and residents from Lewisham occupied and Warmed-up inside Lewisham Town Hall. They staged a peoples&#8217; forum inside, where people shared their experiences of unaffordable energy bills and expressed their anger at the profiteering energy companies and complicit government. People discussed the many examples of community controlled renewable energy projects across the country and how we might transition Lewisham and, more broadly, the UK, to a democratic energy system that works for people&#8217;s needs, not for corporate greed.</p>
<p>After the peoples&#8217; forum, people moved outside and got even more toasty around a bonfire of burning energy bills!</p>
<p>****</p>
<p><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>Leeds residents warm up outside council offices</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#000000;"><strong><a href="http://fuelpovertyaction.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/leeds-warmup.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-183" title="leeds warmup" src="http://fuelpovertyaction.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/leeds-warmup.jpg?w=225&#038;h=300" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a></strong></span></p>
<p>A group of a dozen activists from Leeds Fuel Poverty Action and local residents staged a Winter Warm Up protest today at Leeds City Council&#8217;s Leonardo Building which houses the Sustainable Development Unit. The group used the morning to discuss how to achieve a fair and more equitable energy economy that no longer forces bill payers to choose between ‘eating or heating’. The group later moved to the Merrion Centre where they handed out leaflets and talked to members of the public, but were forcibly removed within minutes.</p>
<p>Activists attempted to occupy the foyer of the building with thermoses of tea and coffee, an array of biscuits and snacks, as well as the more traditional protest signs and banners, but were prevented from entering by security personnel. The protestors claimed that they wanted to ‘warm up’ together in the office of civic organisations and energy companies which are “putting profits and cuts before people’s welfare”. In addition, the Leeds Fuel Poverty Action campaign has linked up with church, resident and community groups across the city to involve those who are most affected by the issue.</p>
<p>Laura McFarlane-Shopes of Tidal and Leeds Fuel Poverty Action said:</p>
<p><em>“Warmth seems to be becoming a privilege available only to those who have the ability to pay. Fuel poverty is social problem stemming from greedy energy companies, cowardly politicians and burgeoning inequality. It’s time to stop sitting at home, shivering and grumbling about extortionate bills.  We need to come together to say enough is enough: we can’t pay, shouldn’t pay, and won’t pay.”</em></p>
<p><em><strong>****</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>Npower plays Monopoly</strong></p>
<p><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-185" style="border-color:initial;border-style:initial;" title="npower warmup" src="http://fuelpovertyaction.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/npower-warmup.jpg?w=300&#038;h=225" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></p>
<p>A game of giant-sized Corporate Monopoly was played right outside Npower Headquarters in Swindon. The puzzled employees and passers-by received a flyer that read:</p>
<p><em>Hello! We are a group of friendly energy customers from Oxford who are feeling the cold because we can’t afford our energy bills &#8211; so we have come in here to warm up!</em></p>
<p><em>We say Npower is hiking prices whilst failing to invest enough in  green energy. Through community action we can all get out of the cold and create an energy system that works for people&#8217;s need, not for corporate greed.</em></p>
<p><em><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Come and play!</span></em><br />
<em> Whilst we are here we hope to entertain ourselves by reconstructing the game “Monopoly” to demonstrate that we could all have a better, fairer energy system by managing affordable fuel for ourselves. There are examples across the country of renewables that are owned and controlled by towns and neighbourhoods designed for public interest and not for private gain. Npower is playing Monopoly with our homes!  &#8230;</em></p>
<p>****</p>
<p><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>Manchester billboards tell it like it is</strong></span></p>
<p><a href="http://manchesterclimateaction.wordpress.com/2012/01/27/diy-subvertisers-attack-big-six-energy-companies-on-fuel/"><img class="alignright" title="Subvertised billboards in Manchester in protest at the Big Six domination of energy supply" src="http://manchesterclimateaction.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/fuel-poverty-action-subvertising-photo-3.jpg?w=450&#038;h=295&#038;h=295" alt="Subvertised billboards in Manchester in protest at the Big Six domination of energy supply" width="450" height="295" /></a></p>
<p>Billboards in Manchester were transformed today in protest over the Big Six energy companies&#8217; pricing and climate policies.</p>
<p>Jane Simpson, 34, from Manchester Climate Action group: <em>“I just wanted to come out and say it. The energy companies are ripping us off big time and making a fat buck off it. But it’s about much more than prices. It’s about big corporations dominating our energy supply. We need democratic community control over how we heat our homes.”</em></p>
<p>James Terry, 26: <em>“It’s not just people in the UK who are dying because of the energy companies selfish obsession with profits – people around the world are dying from climate change resulting from the government and energy companies refusing to make the change to renewable energy.”</em></p>
<span style="text-align:center; display: block;"><a href="http://fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com/2012/01/27/friday-warmup-roundup/"><img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/bMd5Zdi0KUo/2.jpg" alt="" /></a></span>
<p>****</p>
<p><strong>Anti-nuclear Warm-up at EDF hq</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://fuelpovertyaction.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/photo_a877f499-ad2e-8bbf-4ac6-416a434d18cf.jpeg"><img class="alignright" title="Photo_A877F499-AD2E-8BBF-4AC6-416A434D18CF" src="http://fuelpovertyaction.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/photo_a877f499-ad2e-8bbf-4ac6-416a434d18cf.jpeg?w=225&#038;h=300" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a></p>
<p>Anti-nuclear campaign group, Boycott EDF (<a href="http://boycottedf.org.uk/">http://boycottedf.org.uk/</a>), today targeted the UK headquarters of EDF Energy in central London. French energy giant EDF Energy are making record profits from pushing up our energy bills while spearheading the government’s drive to build eight new nuclear power stations around England, starting with Hinkley Point in Somerset. Activists grouped outside EDF’s HQ with banners and leaflets entitled: EDF Energy: exploiting the poor, polluting the planet.</p>
<p>Boycott EDF spokesperson Nancy Birch said:</p>
<p><em> </em><em>“We need a new model of energy production that provides for people’s needs without costing the earth, economically or environmentally. This can be done. Countries like Germany are starting to move in the right direction. The UK must move quickly to mobilise against the tyranny of the Big Six if we are to prevent further suffering and environmental destruction.”</em></p>
<p>****</p>
<p><strong>Occupy-ers warm up at RBS</strong></p>
<p>At 1pm, in the first of the London warm-ups, a dozen cold occupiers made themselves at home in a carpeted Fleet St branch of RBS, enjoying its leather chairs and even an open fire.  The event was organised by the Energy, Equity and Environment group of Occupy LSX and most participants were occupiers.  Equipped with blankets and hot water bottles, they held an impromptu assembly in the bank, pointing out that while RBS, bailed out with billions of pounds of public money, was handing over a million in a bonus to their chief executive, thousands of people were dying of cold because they couldn&#8217;t afford to heat their homes &#8212; or couldn&#8217;t afford a home in the first place!  RBS is the biggest financial investor in fossil fuels, including the notorious Tar Sands project which is devastating vast areas of Canada.  Death from fuel poverty and death from climate change were two sides of the same filthy RBS coin.  When warmed up, the occupiers left for a photo-call on the steps, chanting, &#8220;Don&#8217;t let the old die of cold&#8221;.  They were standing right opposite the Royal Courts of Justice where a week ago, Judge Lindblom ruled that the nuisance of having tents at St Paul&#8217;s outweighed any need for Occupy London to remain there.  They returned to the camp, where an aggressive police presence and the threat of eviction had earlier made some occupiers nervous to leave their tents and join the fuel poverty protest. Many said they were sorry to have missed it &#8212; and hope to be involved next time!</p>
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		<title>Press Release: Hundreds protest across the country in anger over fuel poverty and corporate greed</title>
		<link>http://fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com/2012/01/27/press-release-hundreds-protest-across-the-country-in-anger-over-fuel-poverty-and-corporate-greed/</link>
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		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:28:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>fuelpovertyaction</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[Campaign group Fuel Poverty Action has called for protesters to target energy companies, local government and housing providers this weekend as anger builds over fuel poverty and corporate greed. The protests, dubbed ‘Winter Warm Ups’ and organised by community, environmental &#8230; <a href="http://fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com/2012/01/27/press-release-hundreds-protest-across-the-country-in-anger-over-fuel-poverty-and-corporate-greed/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com&amp;blog=21447091&amp;post=172&amp;subd=fuelpovertyaction&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>
<p>Campaign group Fuel Poverty Action has called for protesters to target energy companies, local government and housing providers this weekend as anger builds over fuel poverty and corporate greed. The protests, dubbed ‘Winter Warm Ups’ and organised by community, environmental and Occupy groups, will take place in Lewisham, Oxford, Leeds, Cambridge, Haringey, Hackney, the City of London and elsewhere. They demand a fair energy system which provides warm housing for all and a safe climate for our future [1].</p>
<p>Elizabeth Ziga from Fuel Poverty Action explains:<br />
“Hundreds will be out protesting this weekend to challenge the ‘big 6’ energy companies who control 99% of the energy industry and make record profits off our rising bills. Thousands die each year in the UK because they cannot afford to heat their homes, and hundreds of thousands die globally due to climate change. The government is in bed with these companies, is doing nothing to deal with the poor quality of housing many of us experience, and to make matters worse has just cut the winter fuel allowance.”</p>
<p>Groups have called publicly for ‘warm-ups’ at Town Halls [2] criticising councils for not providing decent quality housing and insulation. Other groups are expected to be staging protests directly aimed at energy companies over the course of the weekend.</p>
<p>Jessica Ahmad, Lewisham resident, said:<br />
“Our current energy system puts over 6 million homes into fuel poverty in the UK. Many have to choose between heating or eating, while CEOs of the energy companies pay themselves millions. We want our communities to control our housing and energy so that we can provide warm, insulated homes for all and a fair energy system that serves people’s needs, not corporate profits, and doesn’t rely on fossil fuels that destroy our climate and our futures.”</p>
<p>Interview, photo and filming opportunities: Friday 27 – Monday 30 January<br />
For more information, or to be put in contact with warm-up participants please contact Fuel Poverty Action:<br />
Phone: 07864350440<br />
Email: fuelpovertyaction@gmail.com<br />
Twitter: @FuelPovAction</p>
<p>Footage and images available as events unfold – please contact us and/or follow us on Twitter to access.</p>
<p>NOTES TO EDITORS:<br />
A more detailed Press Pack on fuel poverty and who’s responsible is available on request.</p>
<p>[1] Fuel Poverty Action (http://fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com/, Twitter @ FuelPovAction) was set up in 2011 as part of Climate Justice Collective. It aims to support and give a voice to people who can’t afford to pay mammoth fuel bills, and to take action against the energy companies, private and social landlords, and corrupt governments, national and local, that are leaving people in the cold. In November 2011, Fuel Poverty Action held a ‘die-in’ protest at EDF offices in London to mark the thousands of deaths due to fuel poverty in the UK annually.</p>
<p>[2] A list of public ‘warm ups’ with more info on each can be found here: http://fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com/events-coming-up/where-are-people-warming-up/</p>
<p>Recent Press Coverage on the issues:</p>
<p>http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2084919/Energy-bills-Millions-complain-charging-err</p>
<p>http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/city-news/2011/07/06/a-quarter-of-brits-are-living-in-fuel-poverty-as-energy-bills-rocket-115875-23250279/</p>
<p>http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/finance/ianmcowie/100013377/fuel-poverty-and-cold-weather-the-deaths-that-shame-britain/</p>
<p>http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/jan/24/companies-ministers-networking-events http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/3882387/Fuel-poverty-kills-2700-a-year-Shock-report-as-Sun-calls-for-fair-deal-on-energy.html</p>
<p>Key Facts:</p>
<p>⁃ According to the government-commissioned Hills Poverty Review, 2,700 people – a conservative estimate – will die this winter as a direct result of being ‘fuel poor’. As of April 2011, nearly 1 in 4 households (6.3million homes) in the UK were in fuel poverty.</p>
<p>⁃ While between 2005 and 2009 the number of UK people in fuel poverty doubled, the profits of the UK’s ‘Big Six’ energy companies – EDF, Centrica, Eon, RWE Npower, Scottish Power and Southern &amp; Scottish Energy – have soared to a record five-year high.</p>
<p>- 4 million people filed complaints against their energy company last year</p>
<p>⁃ The 5% price decreases announced by EDF and British Gas go back only a short way against the overall 15-20% price rises in the past two years.</p>
<p>⁃ The government is making matters worse by delaying compulsory landlord-installed insulation, undermining the solar power feed-in tariff, and cutting the Winter Fuel Allowance.</p>
<p>⁃ Failing to make a rapid transition to a low-carbon economy will have huge environmental, human and economic costs. The German Institute for Economic Research (DIW) found that if greenhouse gas emissions continue, annual global economic damages could reach US$20 trillion by 2100, or 6-8% of global economic output at that time.</p>
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		<title>Occupy London are Warming-up&#8230;</title>
		<link>http://fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com/2012/01/26/occupy-london-are-warming-up/</link>
		<comments>http://fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com/2012/01/26/occupy-london-are-warming-up/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:16:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>fuelpovertyaction</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[The Occupy London Winter Warm-up&#8230; Friday 27 January &#124; Meet 12noon on the steps of St Paul&#8217;s &#124; Bring hot water bottles, flasks, and your ideas for a better world. Since October 15th, hundreds have been occupying the forecourt of St Paul’s Cathedral, &#8230; <a href="http://fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com/2012/01/26/occupy-london-are-warming-up/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com&amp;blog=21447091&amp;post=165&amp;subd=fuelpovertyaction&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>
<p style="text-align:left;" align="center"><strong>The Occupy London Winter Warm-up&#8230;</strong></p>
<p style="text-align:left;" align="center"><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Friday 27 January | </span>Meet 12noon on the steps of St Paul&#8217;s | Bring hot water bottles, flasks, and your ideas for a better world.</strong></p>
<p style="text-align:left;" align="center">Since October 15th, hundreds have been occupying the forecourt of St Paul’s Cathedral, next to the London Stock Exchange, alongside other London spaces and buildings, as part of the global Occupy movement for economic justice. Occupy London now say that it&#8217;s time to take it to the corporations that are freezing us out.</p>
<p>One in every four people in the UK will struggle to heat their homes this winter. In 2010 over 2,700 people died in the winter because of high bills, low incomes, and draughty, poorly insulated housing.  Meanwhile climate change from fossil fuels is already killing 300,000 a year, and impoverishing many more. more.</p>
<p>That’s why the Energy Equity and Environment working group of Occupy London are taking part in a long weekend of “<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&amp;v=evCznb0057U#!" target="_blank">winter warm-ups</a>” organized by Fuel Poverty Action.</p>
<p>Anyone who can’t afford to heat their home should be able to go into a nice warm place and make themselves at home. That’s just what people will be doing, from tomorrow, in Leeds, Cambridge, Oxford, and several parts of London.</p>
<p>We will not stand aside while unaccountable companies rake in the profits and allow our human right to energy to be privatised and turned into a commodity.  We strive for a world where sustainable energy sources are the norm, where solar and other forms of responsible energy are encouraged and the corporate greed-driven companies that are putting profit before people are a thing of the past.</p>
<p>As Occupy London <a href="http://occupylsx.org/?page_id=2843" target="_blank">has said</a>, “With its relentless pursuit of profit at all cost, the present corporate system fits the definition of a psychopath, driving the rapid destruction of our society and the natural environment. This is done only to benefit a small minority and not the needs of the 99 per cent.”</p>
<p>Keeping warm in winter is not a luxury, nor is preserving a planet we can live on. However, energy companies amassed £9 billion in unearned profits under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme and we spent £850 billion on bailing out the banks. We just need to change our priorities: instead of lining the pockets of banks and corporations, we need to keep people warm and the climate safe.</p>
<p>From the steps of St Paul’s Cathedral we will move off to warm ourselves up inside.  You might like to dress for a nice warm place at the heart of the establishment.  Don’t forget to bring your hottie and a flask, and maybe a shawl to help keep you warm…</p>
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		<title>Another Warm-up confirmed in Hackney&#8230;</title>
		<link>http://fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com/2012/01/25/another-warm-up-confirmed-in-hackney/</link>
		<comments>http://fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com/2012/01/25/another-warm-up-confirmed-in-hackney/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:54:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>fuelpovertyaction</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com/?p=154</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Hackney Winter Warm-up Sunday 29th January  Assemble at 5.30pm in front of Hackney Town Hall, Mare Street, London E8 1EA We will be assembling in front of Hackney Town Hall, Sunday 29th January from 5.30pm for an hour. We ask &#8230; <a href="http://fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com/2012/01/25/another-warm-up-confirmed-in-hackney/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com&amp;blog=21447091&amp;post=154&amp;subd=fuelpovertyaction&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>The Hackney Winter Warm-up</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>Sunday 29th January </strong></p>
<p><strong> Assemble at 5.30pm in front of Hackney Town Hall, Mare Street, London E8 1EA</strong></p>
<p>We will be assembling in front of Hackney Town Hall, Sunday 29th January from 5.30pm for an hour. We ask all potential attendees to bring candles and tealights as well their sleeping bag/duvet.</p>
<p>There is also a pre-event meeting at Pogo Cafe, 76 Clarence Road, London E5 8HB, from 12pm &#8211; 2pm, where we&#8217;ll be discussing fuel poverty.</p>
<p>For updates on where else people will be Warming-up, see <a href="http://fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com/events-coming-up/where-are-people-warming-up/">here </a>and follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/FuelPovAction">Twitter</a>.</p>
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		<title>Two more Warm-ups confirmed&#8230;</title>
		<link>http://fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com/2012/01/21/two-more-warm-ups-confirmed/</link>
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		<pubDate>Sat, 21 Jan 2012 17:34:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>fuelpovertyaction</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[As well as the Warm-ups announced in Lewisham and Leeds this week, two more Warm-ups have been confirmed in Haringey and Cambridge. It&#8217;s all heating up&#8230; Keep checking the website, Facebook and Twitter for more announcements this week&#8230; **** Cambridge Saturday &#8230; <a href="http://fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com/2012/01/21/two-more-warm-ups-confirmed/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com&amp;blog=21447091&amp;post=126&amp;subd=fuelpovertyaction&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>As well as the Warm-ups announced in Lewisham and Leeds this week, two more Warm-ups have been confirmed in Haringey and Cambridge. It&#8217;s all heating up&#8230;</p>
<p>Keep checking the website, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fuel-Poverty-Action/272943569430814">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/FuelPovAction">Twitter</a> for more announcements this week&#8230;</p>
<p>****</p>
<p><strong>Cambridge</strong></p>
<p><strong>Saturday 28th January, Meet 12 noon outside the Guildhall on Market Square<br />
</strong></p>
<p>This is an event to fight:</p>
<p><span style="color:#000000;">- fuel poverty and rising energy bills in Cambridge and across the country </span><a href="http://fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com/the-facts/" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com/the-facts/</a></p>
<p><span style="color:#000000;">- the monopoly on energy held by mega-corporations that prohibits cheaper and more environmentally friendly energy options </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#000000;">- and their actions that actively destroy livelihoods and lives across the world<br />
<a href="http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/un-confirms-massive-oil-pollution-niger-delta-2011-08-04" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/un-confirms-massive-oil-pollution-niger-delta-2011-08-04</a><br />
<a href="http://www.offshore-environment.com/gasimpact.html" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.offshore-environment.com/gasimpact.html</a><br />
</span></p>
<p><span style="color:#000000;">More info to follow, check the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/372630002753887/">Facebook event</a>.</span></p>
<p><span style="color:#000000;">****</span></p>
<p><strong>Haringey, London</strong></p>
<p><strong>Sunday 29th January</strong><br />
<strong>12 noon, Meet outside Boots, Wood Green High Road (next to Shopping City), N22</strong></p>
<p>* No more deaths from hypothermia<br />
* Reduce fuel bills now<br />
* No to cut-offs<br />
* Expose energy companies profit scandal<br />
* Yes to renewable energy &#8211; Phase out fossil fuel dependency to prevent climate catastrophe</p>
<p>We will be calling on all shops, pubs and public buildings to welcome those who wish to get warm. Come and join us &#8211; don&#8217;t sit in the cold alone.</p>
<p>Part of nationwide weekend of action, see below for details. If you would like to help prepare and publicise this event attend the open planning meeting at 5pm Sunday 22nd January, at the Piazza Cafe next to Turnpike Lane Tube, opposite Ducketts Common. All welcome.</p>
<p>Organised by Haringey Solidarity Group, supported by Haringey Alliance for Public Services, and Haringey Housing Action Group.</p>
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		<title>First Warm-ups confirmed&#8230;</title>
		<link>http://fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com/2012/01/18/first-warm-ups-confirmed/</link>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:46:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>fuelpovertyaction</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com/?p=119</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The first two Warm-ups have been confirmed in Lewisham and Leeds! Watch this space for more announcements soon&#8230; **** Lewisham, London Friday 27th January. Meet at Lewisham Town Hall, 6pm. Facebook event Poverty, poor housing, no insulation, social isolation, debts&#8230;all &#8230; <a href="http://fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com/2012/01/18/first-warm-ups-confirmed/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com&amp;blog=21447091&amp;post=119&amp;subd=fuelpovertyaction&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>The first two Warm-ups have been confirmed in Lewisham and Leeds! Watch this space for more announcements soon&#8230;</strong></p>
<p>****</p>
<p><strong>Lewisham, London </strong></p>
<p><strong>Friday 27th January. Meet at Lewisham Town Hall, 6pm. </strong></p>
<p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/175041379262622/">Facebook event</a><strong><br />
</strong></p>
<p>Poverty, poor housing, no insulation, social isolation, debts&#8230;all these conditions affect our ability to pay the bills. None of them are accidental.</p>
<p>With six energy companies controlling 99% of our energy supply in the UK, giving us the &#8216;choice&#8217; of over 400 different tariffs, whilst hitting us with price hikes of over 15% last year, it&#8217;s clear we have no power to decide where our energy is sourced and how much it costs.</p>
<p>This has to change. Access to warmth, decent housing, and health should be rights not a privilege. At the moment, government and energy companies are preserving the market over peoples&#8217; needs and our environment.</p>
<p>As part of the Fuel Poverty Action winter-warm up weekend of January 27th-30th, community activists in Lewisham will be gathering outside our local seat of government &#8211; Lewisham Town Hall for a creative, cheeky, awareness raising &#8220;warm-up&#8221; aiming to build momentum towards future activity on fuel poverty and other issues.</p>
<p>We&#8217;ll be bringing tea, blankets, our experiences of fuel bill nightmares and ideas on how to find ways forward together.</p>
<p>Let&#8217;s not shiver behind closed doors, come out and warm-in at Lewisham Town Hall, Friday 27th January, 6pm&#8230;</p>
<p>****</p>
<p><strong>Leeds </strong></p>
<p><strong>Friday 27th January, Location tbc</strong></p>
<p><strong></strong><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/292967387417013/">Facebook event</a></p>
<p>Fuel poverty is a public issue, not a private pain. One in four families in the UK is shivering, out of sight, behind closed doors. The government and energy companies may want to keep it this way, but we say this can’t go on.</p>
<p>In the UK, six companies are deciding how 99% of our energy is sourced, produced and priced. Under this monopoly, we have no say in these decisions, despite them having a major effect on our health and our climate.</p>
<p>So, we&#8217;re coming out with thermoses of tea and coffee, biscuits and snacks to hold a coffee morning. Together we will ‘warm up’ in the office of civic organisations and energy companies which are putting profits and cuts before people’s welfare.</p>
<p>Will you be there too?</p>
<p>Check back here or on the Facebook event for a location nearer the time&#8230;</p>
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