"All great causes involve a tension between collective belief and individual action."
Read The Guardian leader yesterday before the official launch of 10:10. The word 'campaign' is thrown about too often for things that are little more than a press release. 10:10 isn't a campaign - it's a movement. A collective of like minded individuals and organisations - frustrated with broken promises and rhetoric - passionate to make a real and tangible difference.
Fabian, Brigid and myself attended the launch yesterday at the Tate Modern in London. Many celebrities were spotted, but among them was a distinct lack of other student unions. It is early days yet for this, but I was dissapointed not to be joined by many more of our colleagues. We were joined though by the likes of Liverpool Guild, Newcastle, Reading, LSE and UEA. Good times were had by the student contingent who were moved from the bar area by the event organisers with great haste.
The idea is simple, the Guild is committing to make efforts to cut its CO2 emissions by 10% by the end of 2010. I myself am making that same pledge and I urge all of our members to do the same by signing up at http://www.1010uk.org where you'll find lots of tips to help you on your way.
Over the next couple of months the Guild will be planning and working out what concrete things we can do to achieve the cut. I think it'll be hard work but if, through our efforts, we can inspire a significant number of our members to do the same then I will be extremely happy indeed.
Please, any ideas that you have to cut our CO2 feel free to post them here or email me at vpdr@guild.bham.ac.uk. "No idea is too stupid", a favourite mantra of mine, especially being a lifelong holder of stupid ideas.
