On the day that the government of the Maldives held a cabinet meeting underwater to highlight the threat of climate change to their low-lying nation, and 50 days before December's crucial climate change summit in Copenhagen, SCAN supporters joined Swindon Churches Together and others at the Cenotaph in Swindon town centre to lobby South Swindon MP Anne Snelgrove as part of the Great Persuasion.

Anne was presented with an extract from the BOND manifesto, which she promised to deliver to prime minister Gordon Brown personally:

A recent report stated that 300,000 people die in developing countries every year as a result of climate change – a problem they did not create. In December 2009 the world’s governments will gather in Copenhagen for global climate change talks. This is our best chance yet to secure a fair, ambitious and binding agreement.

This requires:

1. Deep emissions cuts by industrialised countries to keep global warming below 2°C. Rich countries must commit to cutting emissions by at least 40 per cent by 2020.

2. A fair and equitable outcome for poor people and developing countries. The deal must reflect the concerns and protect the rights of the poor and vulnerable, not only the interests of the economically powerful. Rich countries must provide all the resources needed by developing countries to cut their emissions, develop cleanly and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

We call on the UK government to show real global leadership and push other industrialised countries to go further. It must be much more ambitious at Copenhagen if we are to avoid dangerous climate change and support those who are already feeling its effect.

After some short speeches everyone assembled for a group photo. Photos from similar events all round the country will be delivered to the Copenhagen summit.

Finally the assembled crowd was encouraged to join the Wave in London on 5th December, a blue river of people flowing through the streets to surround Parliament in a show of support for a strong and fair deal at Copenhagen. SCAN is working with Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and climate change groups in other Wiltshire towns to arrange coach transport on the day. If you would like to join the Wave, please contact viv [at] swindonclimate.org.uk