We’re in harrowing times, there’s no denying it. Our hearts go out to all those beautiful landscapes and creatures being lost to wildfires and to all who are suffering the consequences of decades of delay and double-speak. It seems like our whole planet is RAGING at the moment in one way or another.

And yet… there is another story unfolding that rarely makes the headlines. One where countless people and communities are coming together to care for life. Let’s not forget that. Let’s hold onto that, speak up and act together, now, for all that we hold dear.

Coming up in August …

Sunday, 9th August, 7pm-8pm (online) LOVE & RAGE 💓 Open Call: join for all the up-to-date info and Q&A or see more below.

13th – 16th August: The Northern Green Gathering, Newland Park, Nr Wakefield: join us and other campaign groups in the Campaigns Area for a range of workshops, stalls, XR block printing and Climate Cafe Listening Circle, among other things. Find out more and book tickets here.

Wednesday, 19th August, 5.30pm-8pm – Green Drinks Leeds: Imagine Leeds, 9 Blenheim Terrace, Leeds LS2 9HZ. Meet up with XR Leeds members and other environmentally-minded folks and groups from across the city. This month’s speaker is Lianne Marie Mease, leader of the No Leeds Datacentre campaign (see below for more on this). There will be time for a Q&A and discussion after the talk and there’ll be the usual dastardly “pub quiz”.

Saturday, 22nd August, 12noon – XR Ilkley Summer Picnic – Ilkley Riverside Gardens, just beneath Ilkley Manor House, LS29 9EU: come along and join XR Ilkley for an informal summer social picnic in the beautiful Riverside Gardens in Ilkley. There will be a variety of vegan food to enjoy and share – any contributions are welcome. Please bring something to sit on. Meet under the tree in the park just below Ilkley Manor House, look out for a flag or two!⁨

National Emergency Briefing 🔜 People’s Emergency Briefing Film… Leeds update

With the realities of the climate crisis unfolding before our eyes this month, the calls to treat the multiple threats we face as a National Emergency continue to get louder. It’s remarkable that we are having to rely on the sterling efforts of our own networks and communities to raise the alarm, when it’s really our own Government that should be taking this initiative to the Nation.

With now well over 2,500 screenings across the country, though, they won’t be able to ignore it for much longer. Indeed, this week Zack Polanski, along with Chris Packham and experts in security, the fire service and health held a mini-version of the NEB at a press conference!

In July alone, eight screenings took place in the Leeds area, hosted by a diversity of community groups and organisations including the Canal & River Trust, the University of Leeds and even at Channel 4 HQ!

We were happy to help out at another successful community screening held at St Mary’s Church, Whitkirk in East Leeds. The church pews were packed and lively discussions and insights took place afterwards.

Richard Burgon, MP came along too and has since confirmed that he has joined the call for the Government to hold a prime-time televised emergency briefing! Great result and thanks to all the organisers and the community who made the event so inclusive, friendly and hopeful. Richard asked that we re-share his own campaign too by asking your MP to back his EDM for the Climate Finance Fund Bill to Make Polluters Pay!

Understandably, there’s a little hush in screenings during August but there are many more planned in September (at least seven in Leeds) and beyond. Check out the NEB’s National Screening Map to find out more. And get in touch if you’re planning a screening in your area – we’re always happy to offer help and support if you need it.

The NEB organisers have also now developed specific advice for anyone wanting to show the film in their workplace, school or faith group as well as screenings for Councils. You can hear all about it from their recent update webinar here.

Please keep on sharing the NEB’s Parliamentary Petition calling for a UK-wide public briefing from independent experts on the risks posed by climate change and nature loss – and the opportunities if we respond at scale and with urgency.

Say No! To Microsoft Hyperscale Data Centres in Leeds

You may recall back in our October 2025 newsletter, we flagged up the potential risks inherent in mega data centres and the rapid race towards an AI future. It’s becoming an issue for many cities and regions around the world and now, along with Drax’s Dirty Data Centre, it’s arrived right on our doorstep.

So, of course, we’re getting behind NoLeedsDataCentre, which is a new and growing collective of people from all backgrounds coming together to oppose Microsoft’s planned development for three Hyperscale AI Data Centres at Skelton Grange.

This proposed megasite, which has already been given conditional planning approval, would consist of giant warehouses full of tens of thousands of AI computer chips running constantly to power Microsoft’s AI systems. There is overwhelming evidence that this site would pose a risk to the health and wellbeing of local residents, and the surrounding environment.

NoLeedsDataCentre is inviting all people who care about this city and our planet to sign the petition and join the campaign team, if you can. Around the country people are standing up… to stop these monster data centres before they wreck neighbourhoods. Join them in calling on Jonathan Reynolds to freeze monster data centres until our neighbourhoods are safe.

Love & Rage: what’s the plan? London, 12th – 14th September

Over 3 days (Sat 12 – Mon 14 Sept) XR UK and allies will come together for a weekend of discussion, connection and action on the streets. Join us to demand the publication of the full, unredacted version of the National Security Assessment, a plan to address the existential risks it highlights and to demand a UK-wide briefing on the Climate and Nature risks. Love for the Earth, for Life itself. Rage because the Government is hiding the truth!

💓 Open Call – join for all the up-to-date info and Q&A, Sun 9 Aug, 19:00-20:00. Find Love & Rage on the Rebel Toolkit. Details, questions, accessibility here.

Join the Heat Strike!

As we continue to face record breaking temperatures, join a coalition of unions, climate groups, and many more to come together to call for climate action and a maximum working temperature. Strike while it’s hot!

  • Use our Heatwave handout and Zines to help communities prepare, stay safe and look out for vulnerable neighbours during extreme heat.
  • Download and print the outreach flyer to distribute in your community.
  • Join Heat Strike’s call for safe working conditions with the setting of a maximum working temperature.

Hope for the Future’s new “Heat of the Moment” Guide

When the UK’s second heatwave hit this summer, we knew people needed more than headlines – they needed practical ways to respond. So HFTF teamed up with Parents for Future UK to deliver a rapid-response online workshop, Heat of the Moment, helping people turn their experiences of extreme heat into meaningful conversations with their MPs. As part of this collaboration they have put together this useful guide to engaging with your MP about the causes of heatwaves, showing how you can turn your heatwave experience into a powerful tool for political engagement. Here is the Heat of the Moment Guide.

Oh FFS Andy! No new oil & gas!

Join Stop Rosebank’s Banner Action

As thousands died due to excess heat and wildfires raged this month, the pushback against reports that Andy Burnham would support North Sea oil and gas has been phenomenal. So loud in fact that the ‘Stop Rosebank’ chant was even heard in his inauguration speech at No. 10!

We need to show that opposition to Rosebank isn’t just a Westminster debate: it’s alive in every single town, city, and village in the UK. Join their 🚩📢 Local Banner Action. This action couldn’t be easier:

📥 Order a free banner
📸 Take a photo at a local spot
📲 Email the photo to your MP
📨 Send it to your local press
🗺️ Submit your photo to our map

GET YOUR BANNER & TAKE THE PHOTO ACTION

Burnham’s team WILL be monitoring reactions to inform his decision. He needs to feel the heat now before he goes too far. We need thousands of us to share these posts tagging their MPs and Andy Burnham directly. Please go to these social media posts and tag your MP and Burnham in the comments or in your reshare of the post:

You can also upload a picture of yourself holding Stop Rosebank message and tag your local MP and Andy Burnham. It’s very quick and easy to do.

No new drilling in the North Sea

As our newly appointed Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Miatta Fahnbulleh faces the first and biggest climate test for Andy Burnham’s new government – whether or not to approve new North Sea oil & gas developments.  

In the wake of the UK’s third heatwave in as many months, Fahnbulleh is tasked with the critical decision on whether to grant final regulatory approval to the Rosebank and any new North Sea developments.

Let’s welcome her previous strong commitments to a just transition and climate justice and make sure she knows that any new oil & gas is completely incompatible with a liveable climate.

Sign the Open Letter to the Rt Hon Miatta Fahnbulleh MP

A legal framework for a regenerative future… support the UK Nature Rights Bill

We need to fundamentally change our relationship with nature. Natalie Bennett has introduced The UK Nature’s Rights Bill which seeks to do just that. You can help by emailing your MP, using this handy template, and asking them to support the Bill. The UK Nature’s Rights Bill was authored by Mumta Ito, Founder of Nature’s Rights and is based on the Integrated Rights Framework she originated and developed. Find out more here.

What are my free speech rights?

In recent months, we’ve seen protesters arrested over chants and signs, and some individuals barred from entering the UK because their speech was deemed to have crossed a line. Liberty has responded in the media, calling on the Government to be transparent about how and why decisions like this are made.

Free speech is a complex topic and any restrictions imposed by the Government must meet the high standards set out in UK law. The line between lawful and unlawful speech can often feel unclear. To help, Liberty’s legal team has created a new advice and information page exploring the laws that govern free speech in England and Wales. It covers questions such as:

  • What laws limit what we can post on social media?
  • Can the police access my phone and social media account?
  • What does the law say about holding up signs at protests?

Reminder: Take Part in York University’s Climate Action ResearchIf you can spare an hour or two, please consider participating in one of York University’s current research projects. They are particularly interested in hearing from XR Leeds members. You can find all the details in their Participant Information Sheet.

Petitions

Support Electoral Reform!

The Representation of the People Bill is our opportunity to create a parliament that finally represents the people. Nearly 200 MPs listened to their constituents and have signed Leeds MP Alex Sobel’s amendment to the bill on a National Commission on Electoral Reform. But with the bill now delayed until September, we don’t want to lose any momentum.

We now need to show MPs there is real mass support for a National Commission on Electoral Reform. Joan Ruddock has created a parliamentary petition calling for a Commission, but we need it to reach 100,000 signatures before September. She has also made a video you can watch and share on Youtube or Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, TikTok and Threads.


Stop the Water Industry Rip Off!


The water industry is a national disaster. Water companies are hiking up the cost of bills, while spilling raw sewage into our lakes, rivers and beaches. And instead of investing in our safety, they’re funnelling billions to private investors.

Andy Burnham promised the public more control of our water services – but lobbyists are piling pressure on the PM and hoping he’ll back down. They might have our money but we have the numbers. Together, we’ll make sure Andy Burnham keeps his word. Will you join the fight?

Good Law Project’s new tool tells you what your water company is making you pay for pollution. Armed with the facts, we can finally hold these companies to account. Since 2021, water companies have hiked up our bills by an average of 56% and paid billions in profits to their shareholders and CEOs.

Crushed by the cost of living, rising bills are hitting families hard. Right now, 1.8 million people can’t afford to pay their bills, but can’t take their business elsewhere because the water companies have a total monopoly. Water bills shouldn’t cost us the earth – or our rivers, lakes and beaches. Will you help stop this scandal?

Good News

Wild Card Wins Ghost Woods Campaign!

The Government has set aside £5.9 million for restoring our ancient woodlands! It’s so easy to feel helpless in the face of nature and climate collapse, but this campaign reminds us just how much ordinary people can achieve when we come together and demand change.

After Wild Card’s research revealed last year that Forestry England are decades behind their restoration target, Forestry England have now committed to doubling their rate of restoration.

Wild Card know there’s still work to do to make sure these commitments are actually met. They’ll continue to hold the government to account and make sure this money is being well spent. Make sure you’re signed up to Wild Card’s mailing list and socials so you don’t miss any updates!

World’s First Octopus Farm Abandoned!

We’re delighted to bring you breaking good news for octopuses! After years of campaigning, Nueva Pescanova has abandoned plans to build an octopus farm in Gran Canaria, Spain, marking a huge victory for animal welfare. Read more about it here.