Greenpeace today expressed strong support for Islington MP Emily Thornberry, one of very few MPs prepared to stand up for our seas. An Islington Tribune article supports some bizarre accusations, made on separate occasions by the SNP and Liberal Democrats, following a speech by Ms Thornberry at the Commons fisheries debate last year, that because Islington is not by the sea, she has no right to defend our oceans.
Greenpeace campaigner Willie Mackenzie said: "Greenpeace UK is based in Islington; I seriously hope nobody is suggesting we have no right to call for the protection of our shared oceans. Emily Thornberry should be congratulated for being one of very few MPs with the guts to call for the desperately-needed measures to protect our seas, and the future of our fishing industry. Instead we see some very ignorant and misinformed attempts to discredit her commendable work in this area, on the ridiculous grounds that Islington is not by the sea.
"There are fish and chip shops all over Islington. In her excellent work with local schools Ms. Thornberry has been trying to ensure that by the time these kids grow up, these haven't been reduced to simply being chip shops."
Ms. Thornberry made a joke about using CCTV to monitor coasts, but everything else she said is deadly serious. Despite clear scientific warnings, including EU scientists calling for a zero North Sea cod quota for the seventh year running; there has been a staggering failure by politicians to pursue marine protection. Greenpeace are calling for politicians to heed this advice and urgently establish a network of large scale Marine Reserves, to protect the future of our oceans.
Even fisheries minister Ben Bradshaw applauded Ms. Thornberry's contribution to the debate, asserting that her speech was "refreshing because these debates are dominated by members who represent mainly commercial interests. Generally they want me to go to Brussels and bring back more fish for their fishermen."
Islington residents and others can make efforts to protect our oceans by checking out the Greenpeace supermarket seafood league table at www.greenpeace.org.uk/oceans/supermarkets.
Greenpeace UK press office 020 7865 8255
Greenpeace today expressed strong support for Islington MP Emily Thornberry, one of very few MPs prepared to stand up for our seas. An Islington Tribune article supports some bizarre accusations, made on separate occasions by the SNP and Liberal Democrats, following a speech by Ms Thornberry at the Commons fisheries debate last year, that because Islington is not by the sea, she has no right to defend our oceans.
Greenpeace campaigner Willie Mackenzie said: "Greenpeace UK is based in Islington; I seriously hope nobody is suggesting we have no right to call for the protection of our shared oceans. Emily Thornberry should be congratulated for being one of very few MPs with the guts to call for the desperately-needed measures to protect our seas, and the future of our fishing industry. Instead we see some very ignorant and misinformed attempts to discredit her commendable work in this area, on the ridiculous grounds that Islington is not by the sea.
"There are fish and chip shops all over Islington. In her excellent work with local schools Ms. Thornberry has been trying to ensure that by the time these kids grow up, these haven't been reduced to simply being chip shops."
Ms. Thornberry made a joke about using CCTV to monitor coasts, but everything else she said is deadly serious. Despite clear scientific warnings, including EU scientists calling for a zero North Sea cod quota for the seventh year running; there has been a staggering failure by politicians to pursue marine protection. Greenpeace are calling for politicians to heed this advice and urgently establish a network of large scale Marine Reserves, to protect the future of our oceans.
Even fisheries minister Ben Bradshaw applauded Ms. Thornberry's contribution to the debate, asserting that her speech was "refreshing because these debates are dominated by members who represent mainly commercial interests. Generally they want me to go to Brussels and bring back more fish for their fishermen."
Islington residents and others can make efforts to protect our oceans by checking out the Greenpeace supermarket seafood league table at www.greenpeace.org.uk/oceans/supermarkets.
Greenpeace UK press office 020 7865 8255
