Archbishop of Liverpool joins students to tell world leaders the:- 'eyes of the world are watching' in mass climate stunts
Photographs by Siobhan Farnell/CAFOD

ON Tuesday, 14 September 2021, students from Liverpool called on UK and world leaders to tackle the climate crisis and ensure those worst affected are put at the heart of this year's climate conference COP26, in Glasgow, by taking part in stunts outside 2 Liverpool landmarks.

Over 70 children and young people gathered with handmade images of eyes and a large banner to remind the Government that:- "The 'Eyes of the World' are watching" ahead of the UK hosting world leaders at the UN climate conference 'COP26' in Glasgow this November. 

Joined by Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor, Steve Rotheram, pupils from St Vincent de Paul Catholic Primary School and students from Boughton Hall High School met outside of the Liver Building for the 1st stunt, at 10am.

Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor, Steve  Rotheram said:- "The children I met today are our future; we owe it to them to save our planet. In the Liverpool City Region, we are taking urgent action to address the climate emergency. We are developing Mersey Tidal Power, investing in green jobs and apprenticeships, and will become net zero carbon at least a decade before national targets."

"The world needs our help! I think that Boris Johnson should set some rules and listen to other people's opinions," said a year 6 pupil from St Vincent de Paul Catholic Primary School, who explained why they got involved with the campaign run by Catholic aid charity CAFOD.

Another pupil added:- "I would like the UK Government and world leaders to stop burning fossil fuels and support the poorest countries. It's important that we make things fair for all."

At 2pm the banner headed to the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral where it was met by pupils from St Nicolas Catholic Primary School, students, from Carmel College and the Archbishop of Liverpool, Malcolm McMahon.

Archbishop Malcolm McMahon said:- "The climate emergencies that we have witnessed over recent months have demonstrated very starkly just how crucial it is that we face up to the climate crisis. The Eyes of the World campaign is a brilliant and creative way to show that we each can play our part to help in holding leaders to account, and that together, in solidarity with people across the world, we can make a difference to our planet."

Expressing how proud he was to see young people take a stand and fight against climate change, Archbishop Malcolm McMahon had this message for them:- "Continue to be courageous! With you, as the eyes of the world, we have what it takes together to ensure as Pope Francis has said, a just, equitable, and environmentally safe planet, which is protected for future generations. Being courageous isn't always easy. But your courage; your message; will change lives, and will inspire more people than you will ever know, because your message isn't just your own, but is 1 which is inspired by God."

Sharing how they felt about taking part in the Eyes of the World campaign, a year 5 student from St Nicolas Catholic Primary School said:- "It felt great to take part in the Eyes of the World campaign because I'm helping the community and changing lives, but it makes me angry that people drop litter and don't look after the planet. People are not being responsible and it's causing the world to suffer."

A year 13 student from Carmel College said:- "Taking part in the campaign has opened my eyes to the true state of climate change and our collective role in raising awareness and doing our part to reduce carbon emissions stop the temperatures from rising. Hearing of the impact of it, especially on poorer communities, proves the necessity of doing our part to resolve the issue."

The 'Eyes of the World' banner 1st made an appearance on the opening day of the G7 summit in Cornwall in June.  

Accompanied by a massive art installation, created by pupils from St Mary's Primary School, in Falmouth, over 14,000 young people have now joined CAFOD's campaign, urging world leaders to take action on issues like the climate crisis.  

Over the next 2 months, the banner will travel to the remaining landmarks across the UK; including:- Blackpool Tower, York Gateshead and Edinburgh; reaching its final destination in Glasgow at:- 'COP26' in November.

Headteacher at St Nicolas Catholic Primary School, Mr Davies said:- "Whilst we are all watching closely, those eyes of the world that belong to the next generation are indeed the most important ones, as it is this next generation who will feel the impact of leaders' actions, or inactions, in their lifetimes as they grow older."

Siobhan Farnell, Community Coordinator at CAFOD, concluded: - "We would like to say a huge thank you to the Schools and Colleges, in Liverpool, who took part in the:- 'Eyes of the World' campaign; your actions will make a huge difference to those living with poverty and injustice.   In the run up to COP26, I hope that the UK Government does listen to the voices of young people and the Catholic community and takes seriously their duty to look out for global communities already impacted by the climate emergency."  

Catholic aid charity CAFOD, who has coordinated the journey of the banner, hopes that over the coming months, thousands more young people will get involved in the:- 'Eyes of the World' campaign.
 

Crimestoppers appeals for anonymous information on those carrying weapons in the North West

WITH society returning to something closer to normal, the charity Crimestoppers has launched an urgent appeal for information on those people in the North West Region who are known to be carrying weapons. Back in November 2020, Crimestoppers ran its 1st ever Silence Won't Stop Violence campaign which saw the public respond positively and anonymously. Information on gangs rose by 17%, County Lines up by 15%, cuckooing up by ⅔ and information on firearms rose by 5% compared to the period prior to the appeal. Whilst official statistics reveal knife crime has now fallen for 4 quarters in a row, we should not become complacent. Last year across:-

► 275 people lost their life to a knife or sharp instrument in England and Wales.

► 4,620 people were admitted to hospitals in England for attacks by sharp objects.

As the Pandemic continues to impact the NHS, we should all help protect communities and health service from harm. In 2019, over ˝ of violent incidents across the UK were not reported to the Police. Crimestoppers believes that Silence Won't Stop Violence and is informing the public in the North West that everyone has the means and a voice to anonymously speak up to help stop or solve violent crime. Indeed, last year our charity passed on over 31,000 anonymous pieces of information about all crime types given to us from people across the Region.

The Pandemic has also put young people in a vulnerable position, due to a lack of employment opportunities. In 2020, referrals of children suspected to be victims of by County Lines gangs increased by 31%. Young people are at a greater risk of being exploited by these gangs due to false promises of easy money. We want to raise awareness amongst our older digital audiences of our youth service:- Fearless.Org, to ensure that anyone, regardless of age, feels comfortable speaking up and telling us what they know.

Here are some anonymised examples of information the charity has recently received nationally:-

► Heroin and crack cocaine dealers, who carried knives and guns, arrested and charged after information we passed on led Police to find thousands of pounds in cash, along with guns, ammunition and large quantity of class A drugs being found.

► Suspects arrested thanks to Crimestoppers information regarding a violent attack on groups of young people where baseball bats and knives caused serious injuries including knife wounds.

► Individual stopped in his car after anonymous information we had received over weapons which led to Police to discover a number of knives and an imitation firearm.

► Dangerous on the run individual wanted for firearms offences and for causing serious injury found thanks to anonymous information our charity received following an appeal.

For more information about the campaign, please visit our website.

Gary Murray, Regional Manager for the North West at the charity Crimestoppers, said:- "With violence and gang crime being a persistent, but preventable problem, our charity is re-launching our campaign and supporting a public health approach to tackling violence. This means recognising it requiring a society wide response, so we are encouraging people in the North West; who are in the know about those carrying weapons or involved in violent crime; to not be silenced, but to speak up anonymously. We know that you may be personally close to crime but may also want to do the right thing and bring violence in your community to an end. No matter how far down the wrong road you've gone; you can ALWAYS turn back. You do have options. You have the ability to prevent violent crime through telling us what you know in advance of planned violent attacks, or passing on information that can help solve crime and bring justice to victims and their families. Our aim is to drive people to report what they know about violent crime incidents or planned attacks using our unique anonymous reporting service, via:- Crimestoppers-UK.Org, by calling freephone:- 0800555111, or for young people to use:- Fearless.Org. Together, we can help reduce the harm caused to young lives and communities across the country."

To report what you know about crime 100% anonymously, visit the charity's website and fill in a simple and secure anonymous online form or call their 24/7 UK Contact Centre on freephone:- 0800555111, 365 days of the year. In an emergency, always call:- 999. Young people can also use our resources, find advice and use our anonymous online form at:- Fearless.Org.

Please note:- Computer IP addresses are never traced and no one will ever know you contacted Crimestoppers. For telephone calls, there is no caller line display, no 1471 facility and the charity has never traced a call.