Help needed: EDM 1453 - ENERGY AND FOOD PRICES AND PEAK OIL

eatyourveg · Post by **eatyourveg** » 08 May 2008, 11:51

Got a reply from my MP this morning, he doesn't sign EDM's because the are 'parliamentary graffiti'.
He also wanted me to know that he is particularly interested in 'micro-generation as a tool to combat climate change' and 'will continue to advocate and promote innovative projects to reduce dependence on fossil fuels: for example my party is committed to a policy of encouraging decentralised energy schemes'.
There is more, but I don't have time to type it right now.

UndercoverElephant · Post by **UndercoverElephant** » 08 May 2008, 12:51

greg wrote:Got a reply from my MP this morning, he doesn't sign EDM's because the are 'parliamentary graffiti'..

If that was my MP I would respond by telling him he'd lost any chance of me voting for him.

UndercoverElephant · Post by **UndercoverElephant** » 08 May 2008, 13:42

This is a gem, from my thread on peak oil:

http://www.politicsforum.co.uk/forum/vi ... 117#555117

Sorry but this is a politics forum, so I think you're wasting your time talking about peak oil on here.

Why do I have to share this beautiful world with so many idiots?

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 08 May 2008, 13:45

My MP, Peter Tapsell, was a little more polite:

I never sign Early Day Motions because they are never debated or voted upon. I always prefer to write direct to Ministers so that I can get an authoritative statement of Government policy. If you care to write me a letter making any specific proposals, I would be very ready to send your letter to the responsible Minister and would forward the reply to you.

Anyone fancy drafting a letter?

fifthcolumn · Post by **fifthcolumn** » 08 May 2008, 15:29

UndercoverElephant wrote: Why do I have to share this beautiful world with so many idiots?

You did yourself a disservice by posting duncan's unproven graph.
As soon as you do that you cause people's brains to switch off and think "loony".

I don't happen to (any longer) buy into the whole dieoff thing and especially not the olduvai gorge thing but I think you'd get a better response if you talked about supply and demand etc rather than
WE'RE ALL DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMED!!!!!

But this is my opinion only and I'm perfectly sure you think you know best.

Neily at the peak · Post by **Neily at the peak** » 08 May 2008, 18:33

I also had my response from Geoffrey Cox MP, who is the same as Greg's, he clearly does not get peak oil even though he is interested in Climate Change and alternative energy. I am irritated by the response but feeling encouraged to send him another letter. I shall be interested to see if it is a standard letter that Greg and I have received, because if it is then that shows a lack of respect.

Mmmm whats the question, er peak oil, energy, climate change,

then send standard letter 3CC and that will tell them why I am a good MP but not a lot else

Mean Mr Mustard · Post by **Mean Mr Mustard** » 10 May 2008, 13:41

"Dear Mr Mustard,

Thank you for your email of 5th May. As I said in my last letter to you, I realised that the Minister's words would not be enough, but at least he clarified the Government's policies for you.

I appreciate your highlighting of David Strahan's book, and if I have the oppertunity, I will read a copy over the parliamentary summer recess.

As for John Hemming's EDM, I do not generally sign EDMs, as they are not the most effective way of highlighting issues such as this to Ministers. Instead, I have again written directly to Mr Wicks to ensure that he is aware of the strength of feeling on this issue. I shall write again when I receive a reply.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact me."

My reply will be along the lines of asking for just 10 minutes of his time in his next MPs surgery that I can attend. There, I'll gladly brief him, and give him my copy of David Strahan's book - (the best by far on PO imho), and quickly show him the poster with Hubbert's curve. As a Tory in a safe seat, his political horizon may be longer than beyond the next election. Like Jim Kunstler recently wrote regarding the US Presidential elections, wiinning political office now may be a booby prize...

The reason I'll ask for just 10 minutes of my MP's time is that I do appreciate that there are many people needing to see him with desperate immediate issues like house repossession and so on. But credit where it's due - as he has at least had the courtesy to have replied (twice) and appears to have engaged on the issue, this means he will very likely get my vote, even though my place on the political compass (see the other recent thread) is right there with Nelson Mandela!

PowerSwitchJames · Post by **PowerSwitchJames** » 15 May 2008, 15:47

This EDM now has 40 signatures, which isn't bad at all!

mididoctors · Post by **mididoctors** » 15 May 2008, 22:33

I got a letter from Dianne Abbott saying she would support the EDM

good call putting out these email notices to Power switch members

My first post here btw.

I hang out at TOD and PO.com mostly

civ101 I recognize from elsewhere.. hi to anybody else

Boris
London

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 16 May 2008, 07:51

Welcome, Boris.

In the light of replies from MPs who say they never sign EDMs, does anyone know what an EDM is and whether they can be of any use?

SunnyJim · Post by **SunnyJim** » 21 May 2008, 11:57

Is it too late for me to urge my MP to look into this as the EDM is dated 29.04.2008? Is that the date of the motion? When does the motion take place or get closed? How do these EDM's work?

Adam1 · Post by **Adam1** » 21 May 2008, 12:08

My MP (Diane Abbott) has replied to my letter saying she has signed it.

sentiententity · Post by **sentiententity** » 22 May 2008, 10:27

I got a reply from my MP (Alistair Darling, Chancellor of the Exchequer) yesterday. He says he can't sign EDMs as he is a member of the Government, and they are effectively petitions to the Government, so fair enough. However, he says he will look into this EDM and get back to me, so we'll see where that goes.

s.

Post by **admin2** » 23 May 2008, 14:23

http://www.appgopo.org.uk/index.php?opt ... view&id=30

50 MPs warn government that global oil production may be peaking
London, 23rd May 2008 - A cross-party group of MPs including former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell have signed a Commons motion urging the government to review its estimates as to when global oil production will peak and begin to decline.

As crude oil hit another record high of $135 a barrel on Wednesday, and as UK motorists notice the impact of sustained high prices at the petrol pumps, MPs are beginning to mobilise around the idea that current high oil prices may just be the beginning of a permanent trend. Experts at the Association for the Study of Peak Oil (ASPO) have warned of an overall liquid fuel peak likely between 2010-2012, while the International Energy Agency (IEA) have predicted an oil 'supply crunch' in 2012.

John Hemming MP, who tabled the Early Day Motion (1453) said that 'the government is failing to address the reality that we are reaching the limits to growth in global oil production. The implications for the way we run our society and economy are profound, but the government refuses even to initiate a contingency study. Rather than making futile appeals to OPEC to raise production, Gordon Brown must recognise that we cannot carry on with the same old assumptions of endless growth in world oil production'.

Hemming chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group on Peak Oil (APPGOPO) which was founded in July 2007 to review estimates of future oil production and consider the consequences of declining world oil production for the UK and world economy.

Link to the EDM here: http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetai ... ESSION=891

Andy_K · Post by **Andy_K** » 29 May 2008, 11:14

I got a reply. Better late than never!

Thank you very much for your recent correspondence regarding the recent rises in energy and utility prices. As you are probably aware, oil, gas and commodity price increases are due to global factors.

In the last budget the Government decided not to proceed with an increase in fuel duty recognising the pressure being put on family budgets. We also recently announced a tax cut for all middle and low income earners, which should also help.

As a Government Minister, I cannot sign EDM's; however, I have now written to the Treasury to ask what more the government is doing to address this issue. As soon as I receive a reply I will contact you again.

In the meantime if I can be of any further assistance please do not hesitate to get in touch.

With very best wishes,

Ben Bradshaw MP

Has rather a cookie cutter reply feel to it, but at least it's some acknowledgment.