Dom Tristram's Soapbox

In the last episode Dom went to the first ‘Solidarity for Greta’ vigil in Bath which took place in October 2018. This vigil has been repeated every week with another on Saturdays, and the number of people involved has been steadily growing. Extinction Rebellion is now quite a large and dynamic movement. The school strikes, inspired by Greta Thunberg, have spread and now take place around the world. Today, the 15th of February, was the first nationally co-ordinated ‘School Strike 4 Climate Action’ in the UK. School children around the country walked out to take part in protests and vigils, with organisers claiming more than 10,000 took part. The largest protest was in London where around 3,000 children participated, with other large gatherings in Oxford, Exeter, Leeds, Brighton, Bristol, Sheffield and Glasgow. Being close to Bristol many children from Bath opted to attend the larger demonstration there, but a good number came to the Guildhall for a lively demonstration in the city. Dom went along to take part

At the end of November Dom went along and joined the first Extinction Rebellion ‘Solidarity with Greta’ event outside the Guildhall in Bath. Extinction Rebellion is social movement using non-violent direct action to try to avert catastrophic climate change. It is quite new, being formed at the end of October 2018, but is growing rapidly. Many areas have their own groups, and the one in Bath is active and growing quickly. ‘Greta’ is Greta Thunberg, a 16 year-old student in Sweden who has made international news for starting the first school strike for climate outside the Swedish parliament building, inspiring many other school children around the world to follow her example. As well as her school strike Greta has participated in UK extinction rebellion events and addressed the United Nations climate change summit. In December 2018 she was named one of Time Magazine’s most influential teenagers of the year. Dom spoke to some of the people attending the Bath event and asked them why they were there. This is a pu

Some policies which other parties are presenting as radical today in 2018 have been Green Party policies for a long time. This is a recording of a 2013 public meeting in Bath featuring Natalie Bennett and Molly Scott Cato talking about how the Green Party is the real alternative and presenting our radical manifesto for change. The meeting was held as part of the campaign for the 2014 European elections which saw Molly elected as an MEP for the South West. All of the points and topics discussed remain just as important today. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit domtristram.substack.com

With the developing crisis in Syria, Syrian refugee families in Bath have organised an event to draw attention to what is happening in their home country. Dom goes along and talks to the people there about what the event means to them, including Bernie Howley, chair of Bath Welcomes Refugees and Tim Warren, leader of Bath & NE Somerset Council. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit domtristram.substack.com

It's spring 2017 and after years of 'austerity' the cuts are really starting to hit home. Many local authorities have or are planning to cut services. In Bath this includes plans to dramatically alter libraries. With a population already angered by a completely unsuitable park and ride proposal, even people who had never protested before are beginning to take to the streets. Dom joins in and chats to other protesters about their reasons for being there. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit domtristram.substack.com

Yesterday was International Women's Day. In Bath a march was organised to 'reclaim the night' for women. Dom went along to talk to those who came out and ask them why it was important for them. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit domtristram.substack.com

In this episode, Dom heads to his local hospital, Bath's RUH, to talk to striking junior doctors about why they are taking industrial action. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit domtristram.substack.com

As negotiations for the UK's departure from the EU draw towards the date set for our supposed departure, here's a recording from possibly the last European Election campaign. Soon-to-be MEP for the South West, Molly Scott Cato, presents the Green Party vision for Europe. She then takes questions along with me (I'm there in my capacity as the parliamentary candidate for Bath in the 2015 General Election). The work of MEPs does not receive the media attention it deserves, and in part that resulted in the vote to leave the EU. The packed hall that came to listen to Molly, as well as the questions asked, shows that there is a large appetite for normal people having a directly democratically elected voice on the international stage - something that may well be taken away from us all in a few months time. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit domtristram.substack.com