fbpx

Friends of the Earth Scotland statement on the inauguration of Donald Trump as US President.

Trump will not stop us.

We won’t sugar coat it – Trump becoming President is bad news for climate action, for gender justice, racial justice, social justice and for people who want a fairer, safer world.

His selfish, racist politics aims to remove vital safeguards and put the greed of US businesses above all else. He will likely dominate the mainstream media and will embolden imitators here in the UK.   

But we must not let him distract us. 

We have the power and the potential to make change.  

We have already made changes.  

We have, together, won campaigns and fights here at home that have had vast, positive consequences. People power stopped fracking from ever getting started in Scotland. People power stopped the Cambo oil field from being drilled, and the consequences of that rippled out and now the UK Government has committed to banning new oil and gas licences.  

Yes, we have more to do. Scotland was falling behind on its climate commitments before Trump won the election. Trump doesn’t make the decision on new fossil fuel burning at Peterhead. Trump isn’t building unnecessary new incinerators across Scotland. Trump hasn’t failed to deliver a transition plan for the workers at the Grangemouth oil refinery.  

These are choices that are being made here in Scotland. These are campaigns that are within our power to win. By focusing our energies on important issues that are within our control, we can reduce his negative impact and put our hope into action.  

Every positive change matters. Every fraction of a degree of global warming averted saves lives, communities and nature. Speaking up, coming together, building power – it all matters.

We know another world is possible and we know it will be built from the ground up – led by the very people, communities and workers affected.

Action is the antidote to despair. And we invite you to get involved and take action with us.

We will keep on working, building our power and demanding transformative action from Scottish decision makers. We know are collectively stronger when we work together across communities and across issues.

We know that people power can win.