Write your COPlets for COP27: 6-18 Nov 22
After our cascade of river sewage couplets last month, how about a rhyming #COPlet surge to accompany this year’s UN conference on climate change?
With a new UK Prime Minister in Rishi Sunak it’s not clear at this stage what the UK approach to COP27 will be BUT we’re sure you’ll find plenty to write to our representatives about!
How do I take part?
A COPlet is a rhyming couplet – two lines of poetry about the environmental issues being covered at COP (or not!) that matter to you. You could write one (or more) for each day and post it on Twitter.
Be sure to tag us so we can retweet you – @poets4theplanet – and also tag the UK’s COP26 President, Alok Sharma, who will be at the conference – @AlokSharma_RDG. Use the hashtags #COP27 and #COPlets and post between 6 and 18 November, aligned with the themes in the conference calendar. We’d especially love to have as many poets as possible tweeting on Saturday 12 November for the COP Coalition Day of Action.
Here’s an example tweet (thanks Emma Hibou):
Climate change is in the air
Save our children’s future there
#COP27 @AlokSharma_RDG #COPlets @poets4theplanet
More about COP
COP27 follows on from Glasgow’s COP26 last year and will take place in Egypt from 6-18 Nov. Themes include biodiversity, agriculture, energy, youth, oceans; and decarbonisation, adaptation, finance, science and solutions.
While Poets for the Planet won’t be at this year’s UN Climate Summit in Egypt – COP27 – we’ll be watching world leaders and the proceedings closely from wherever we are and raising our voices about the issues.
The Guardian is a good source for COP27 material – here’s a list of recent articles to inspire you, or listen to these podcasts from the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies.
We look forward to seeing your Tweets!
Write rhymes to tell Sunak and Truss how you feel about the sewage crisis!
Poets for the Planet is outraged that the Government’s new sewage reduction plan weakens rather than strengthens the regulations for sewage releases into our rivers and seas.
We’re calling on poets to write rhyming couplets to tell Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss to rethink the plan and #endsewagepollution and post them on Twitter on Monday 5 September, the day of the leadership election.
Include the hashtag #EndSewagePollution and tag @trussliz, @RishiSunak, @poets4theplanet, @sascampaigns, and @theriverstrust to make our campaign as visible as possible. We’ll retweet your couplets throughout the day.
If you’re not on Twitter, feel free to share your couplets with our Facebook group, and we’ll post them on Twitter for you. Simply tag Carrie Etter in your post to make sure she sees it.
#EndSewagePollution
Here are a few examples from Jacqueline Saphra to get you thinking:
Here’s effluence, here’s gold and greed.
I speak for oceans: Intercede!
It’s not too late, the seabirds call,
a quick U-turn might save us all.
Who caused this grief, who made this smell?
Who sent our waterways to hell?
Past news items
Poets for the Planet at COP26
Poets for the Planet will be performing their ecopoetry show Earthsong at COP26, the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow on Monday 1 November, 1pm – 2pm. Earthsong features live and filmed poetry performances in 12 different languages (subtitles provided in English and original language). Many of the poems were inspired by conversations with environmental scientists from Imperial College London’s Grantham Institute and beyond. Book your free ticket.
Join us at Gloucester Poetry Festival
Poets for the Planet will be performing at the Gloucester Poetry Festival on Monday 25 October, 7.30pm. Register for free.
Hear poems from around the world ahead of COP26
Poets for the Planet will be performing their ecopoetry show Earthsong at the Great Exhibition Road Festival on Sunday 10 October, 2.45pm – 3.45pm. Earthsong features live and filmed poetry performances in 12 different languages (subtitles provided in English and original language). Many of the poems were inspired by conversations with environmental scientists from Imperial College London’s Grantham Institute and beyond. Book your free ticket.
A short film about Poets for the Planet and our COP26 proposal was provided with Spanish subtitles by Cultura Planetaria and shown on 24 April 2021 at Mass Mobilisation without the Mass, an event organised by COP26 Coalition as part of their From the Ground UP II festival. A longer version of the film is also available on YouTube.
We’re planning for COP26
Poets for the Planet has submitted a proposal for COP26, the UN’s climate change conference. Read more about our proposal.
Poets of the Planet meeting February 2021
Minutes of AGM held on Zoom on 14 February 2021.
Spring Bloom Ecopoetry event
FRESH: Spring Bloom – Ecopoetry Open Mic. Headliner Bella Cox. Hosted by Robin Lamboll. Saturday 6 March, 7pm–8.15pm. We have space for 15 poets, eight slots are reserved for under-represented groups and all slots are released on a first-come-first-serve basis. For inclusion, please email debra@poetsfortheplanet.org with your name, a bit about yourself/bio and your social media links.
Poems by Jacqueline Saphra and Tamar Yoseloff and an interview with Poets for the Planet are now available on Climate Fringe’s website. Climate Fringe provides a platform for activists to connect around Climate Change and COP26. It has been built by Stop Climate Chaos Scotland to join together all the activities that are happening in the run-up to, and during COP.
Following our successful launch event in September, Poets for the Planet are back this December with FRESH: Wintergreens – Ecopoetry Open Mic. Headliners are Rakaya Fetuga and Gboyega Odubanjo. Hosted by Robin Lamboll. Saturday 12 December, 7pm-8.30pm.
Poets for the Planet meeting October 2020
Minutes of general meeting held on Zoom on 5 October 2020.
Introducing FRESH: Ecopoetry event
Poets for the Planet are excited to present our first online event – FRESH: Ecopoetry Open Mic, with headliners Neelam Saredia-Brayley and Jamal Hassan, hosted by Robin Lamboll. Saturday 26 September, 7pm-8.30pm.
Poets for the Planet meeting August 2020
Minutes of general meeting held on Zoom on 4 August 2020.
Ecopoetry workshop with Marvin Thompson
Marvin Thompson will be delivering a Poetry Wales ecopoetry workshop on Saturday 22 August. Tickets £15 – £20.
Poets for the Planet’s next general meeting is on Tuesday 4 August via Zoom. If you wish to attend, please RSVP via the Facebook event page.
Poets for the Planet meeting July 2020
Minutes of general meeting held on Zoom on 7 July 2020.
Poets for the Planet’s next general meeting is on Tuesday 7 July via Zoom. If you wish to attend, please RSVP via the Facebook event page.
Solidarity with Black Lives Matter
Poets for the Planet express our solidarity with anti-racist movements around the world in response to the shameful killing of George Floyd. As poets, it is our job to speak out. Black lives matter. We are anti-racist and we stand with Black poets, members and friends at a critical time in our shared history. On World Environment Day we recognise that the degradation of our Earth is linked with the systemic oppression of BAME people. We call for structural change as we raise our voices for climate and social justice. As a group, we are in a continuous process of self-examination on white privilege and diversity. We are actively working to expand our BAME membership, educate ourselves and take action.
Poets for the Planet meeting May 2020
Minutes of general meeting held on Zoom on 6 May 2020.
Poets for the Planet’s next general meeting is on Wednesday 6 May via Zoom. For login details, please send us a message via our pledge form.
Activism in Poetry discussion with Jacqueline Saphra
Jacqueline Saphra will be discussing activism in poetry at The Society of Authors on Saturday 28 March (2pm – 6pm).
Tower Hamlets fundraise for the planet
Ian McLachlan and Steve Walter will be representing Poets for the Planet at Hercules Fisherman and The Poets, a fundraiser organised by XR Tower Hamlets, which is being held on Wednesday 25 March (7pm – 10.30pm) at Gallery Cafe, London E2 9PL.
Catch us at Lyra
Poets for the Planet will be performing at Lyra Bristol Poetry Festival on Sunday 15 March (5pm – 6pm, Storysmith Bookshop). Poets: Miranda Lynn Barnes, Rachael Clyne, Dominic Fisher, Deborah Harvey, Simon Williams and Susan Taylor.
Join us at Music and Poetry for the Planet
Sunday 8th March, 2.30-4.30pm at Christ Church, 1 The Green, Southgate, London N14 7EG. The readers are members of Poets for the Planet: Cheryl Moskowitz, Julian Bishop, Maggie Butt and Sarah Doyle. Music by: Liz Partridge (violin); Mary Weigold (voice) and Peter Arnold (piano). Free. Donation boxes for eco-charities.
Poets for the Planet at Rebel Jam
Ian McLachlan will be representing Poets for the Planet at Extinction Rebellion Tower Hamlets’ Rebel Jam on Saturday 29 February (6pm-11.55pm, Jamboree, E14 8HH). Entry by optional donation, £12 suggested.
Poets for the Planet meeting February 2020
Minutes of general meeting held on 18 February 2020.
Fundraising announcement
We’re delighted to announce that Poets for the Planet has raised £6,835.47 for our charities Bees for Development and Earthwatch via our Verse Aid event’s Poem-a-Thon and eco-themed workshops. Huge thanks to our poets and sponsors for helping us reach this figure.
Poets for the Planet’s next general meeting is on Tuesday 18 February at The Poetry School, 1, Dock Offices, Surrey Quays Rd, Rotherhithe, London SE16 2XU, 6.30pm – 8.30pm. If you wish to attend, please RSVP via the Facebook event page.
Join us at Faversham Literary Festival
Poets for the Planet are delighted to present a reading and Open Mic at Faversham Literary Festival on Saturday 22 February (8-10pm). The reading will feature eco-poems from Cheryl Moskowitz, Julian Bishop, Maggie Butt and Sarah Doyle. Readers from the floor are encouraged to bring eco or nature poems.
Poems for the Planet event
Seren Cardiff Poetry Festival are running Poems for the Planet with Carrie Etter (The Weather in Normal), Jane Lovell (This Tilting Earth) and André Mangeot (Blood Rain, forthcoming) on Saturday 15 February at The Temple of Peace. More information at https://cardiffpoetryfestival.com/event-11/ and on Twitter: @CardiffPoetry
Announcing Verse Aid: Poems for the Earth launch event
Check out our events page for information on Verse Aid: Poems for the Earth, our launch event at The Society of Authors (London) on Saturday 8 February. You can also find out about other Poets for the Planet events happening that day around the UK.
Poets for the Planet meeting January 2020
Minutes of general meeting held on 6 January 2020.
Next general meeting for Poets for the Planet is on Tuesday 6 January at The Society of Authors, 24 Bedford Row, London WC1R 4EH, 6.30pm – 8.30pm. If you wish to attend, please RSVP via the Facebook event page.
Poets for the Planet arrives
Minutes of general meeting held on 18 November 2019.
Next general meeting for Poets for the Planet is on Monday 18 November at The Society of Authors, 24 Bedford Row, London WC1R 4EH, 7pm – 9pm. If you wish to attend, please RSVP via the Facebook event page.
SAVE THE DATE. Our Big Event will be taking place in London at a perfect venue on 8 February 2020. We’ll have a Poem-a-thon open to all, micro workshops and some starry guests for an evening performance. We hope our friends in other parts of the country will organise simultaneous events. Join our mailing list to keep yourself posted and to give yourself a chance to participate.
Poets for the Planet members including Caroline M Davies, Claire Potter, Ian McLachlan and Jacqueline Saphra will be performing at Extinction Rebellion’s International Uprising on Sunday 13 October. Performances to run from 2pm – 4pm at the Love and Rebellion site, Stage 4, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ.
Poets for the Planet artist Henny Beaumont has been curating The Society of Authors’ Instagram page this week.
The Society of Authors has filmed an interview with Poets for the Planet members Jacqueline Saphra, Susie Campbell and Jessica Taggart Rose in which they discuss the group and its aims.
Poets for the Planet member Julian Bishop will be performing eco poems at Torriano Meeting House, 99 Torriano Avenue, NW5 2RX on Sunday 29 September. Event starts at 7.30pm.
Debra Watson and Ian McLachlan to represent Poets for the Planet at the ArchWay with Words festival on Saturday 21 September. Performances to run from 12.30pm in Navigator Square, N19 3TD.
Poets for the Planet are joining the general climate strike on Friday 20 September in solidarity with the youth climate strikers. We will be protesting with Modern Poetry in Translation in Central London and members will be joining with local strikes around the country. Placards with quotes from poems are encouraged. London poets who wish to join us, we will meet at the Millicent Fawcett statue on Parliament Square (SW1P 3BD) at midday. Please post on Facebook or Twitter to say you are coming and we’ll keep in touch with you on those channels.
Minutes of general meeting held on 16 September 2019.
Next general meeting for Poets for the Planet is on Monday 16 September at The Society of Authors, 24 Bedford Row, London WC1R 4EH, 6.30pm – 8.30pm. If you wish to attend, please RSVP via the Facebook event page.
Julian Bishop and Maggie Butt represented Poets for the Planet at Extinction Rebellion’s North London Uprising on Saturday 7 September.
Article by Jude Cowan Montague in The Sunday Tribune about Poets for the Planet.