Agenda item

Motion 1 – Adopt the All Parliamentary Party Group on British Muslims working definition of Islamophobia

 

Moved by Councillor Ashraf and seconded by Councillor Paddle.

 

“This Council expresses alarm at the rise of Islamophobia in recent years across the UK, and around the world. In Barking and Dagenham alone, we have seen an increase of 15% in reports of Islamophobic hate crime since July 2018.

 

This Council is committed to fighting Islamophobia in all its forms. We welcome the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on British Muslims’ definition of Islamophobia, which has been backed by 750 Muslim organisations and institutions.  

 

The APPG on British Muslims working definition of Islamophobiaincludes the following examples in its’ definition of Islamaphobia:

 

“Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.”

 

Contemporary examples of Islamophobia in public life, the media, schools, the workplace, and in encounters between religions and non-religions in the public sphere could, taking into account the overall context, include, but are not limited to:

 

·  Calling for, aiding, instigating or justifying the killing or harming of Muslims in the name of a racist/fascist ideology, or an extremist view of religion;

 

·  Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Muslims as such, or of Muslims as a collective group, such as, especially but not exclusively, conspiracies about Muslim entryism in politics, government or other societal institutions; the myth of Muslim identity having a unique propensity for terrorism, and claims of a demographic ‘threat’ posed by Muslims or of a ‘Muslim takeover’;

 

·  Accusing Muslims as a group of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Muslim person or group of Muslim individuals, or even for acts committed by non-Muslims;

 

·  Accusing Muslims as a group, or Muslim majority states, of inventing or exaggerating Islamophobia, ethnic cleansing or genocide perpetrated against Muslims;

 

·  Accusing Muslim citizens of being more loyal to the ‘Ummah’ transnational Muslim community) or to their countries of origin, or to the

  alleged priorities of Muslims worldwide, than of the interests of their

  own nations;

 

·  Denying Muslim populations the right to self-determination e.g., by claiming that the existence of an independent Palestine or Kashmir is a terrorist endeavour;

 

·  Applying double standards by requiring of Muslims behaviours that are not expected or demanded of any other groups in society, e.g. loyalty tests; and

 

·  Using the symbols and images associated with classic Islamophobia (e.g. Muhammed being a paedophile, claims of Muslims spreading Islam by the sword or subjugating minority groups under their rule) to characterize Muslims as being ‘sex groomers’, inherently violent or incapable of living harmoniously in plural societies.

 

This Council hereby adopts the above definition of Islamophobia as set out by the APPG on British Muslims and will continue to engage with local Muslim community groups and organisations to combat this hatred. This Council calls on the government to follow suit and adopt the APPG definition, sending a clear message that any and all forms of Islamophobia will not be tolerated in our communities”.

 

A number of Members of the Assembly spoke in support of the motion.

 

The motion was carried unanimously.

 

 

Motion 2 – Declare a ‘Climate Emergency’

 

Moved by Councillor Freeborn and seconded by Councillor P. Robinson

 

This Council notes:

 

·  That a changing climate will have severe and enduring social, economicand environmental implications, and that tackling climate change is an issue of inequality as the greatest impact will be on the most vulnerable and those least able to protect themselves.

 

·  That the ‘Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C’, published by theIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in October 2018, (a) describes the enormous harm that a 2°C average rise in global temperatures is likely to cause compared with a 1.5°C rise, and (b) confirms that limiting Global Warming to 1.5°C may still be possible with ambitious action from national and sub-national authorities, civil society and the private sector.

 

·  That strong policies to cut emissions also have associated health, wellbeingand economic benefits.

 

This Council further notes:

 

·  Barking and Dagenham Council’s existing work to tackle climate change, including committing to cutting our carbon footprint by 25% by 2025, launching Beam Energy to provide cheaper fuel tariffs with energy from 100% renewable sources and committing to ending single use plastic in the Council.

 

This Council resolves to:

 

1. Pledge to do everything within its power to make B&D carbon neutral by

  2030.

 

·  Launch a review to report on delivering a Zero-Carbon B&D including publishing a new B&D Action Plan on Climate Change, with an interim draftto be presented for scrutiny by Overview & Scrutiny Committee and Cabinet.

 

·  Setting specific and measurable targets to reduce carbon emissions for the Counciland for the borough as a whole, including costed milestones to zero-carbon;

 

·  Consider systematically the climate change impact of each area of the Council’sactivities; and

 

·  Increase local resilience to climate impacts already in the system.

 

2.  Task the Director for Inclusive Growth with responsibility for reducing carbon emissionsresulting from the Council’s activities as rapidly as possible, and ensuring a coordinated approach across housing, our corporate estate, transport, regeneration, planning and other services.

 

3.  Continue to prioritise support for vulnerable residents through Beam Energy, working with partners at a community, borough wide and regional level toprovide advice services and access to funding for heating, insulation and ventilation.

 

4.  Accelerate existing programmes to deliver reductions in greenhouse gas emissions including delivery of heat networks in the borough, low carbon development and high-quality housing, an efficient and low carbon corporate estate and support for renewables and for community energy.

 

5.  Work with partner bodies across the borough and across London to ensure the climateemergency is adequately reflected in the development and implementation of all borough wide strategies and plans.

 

6.  Reaffirm B&Ds membership of UK100 and use our membership to work with other councils across the UK to meet climate change targets.

 

7.  Draw up a communications strategy to support delivery of a Zero-Carbon B&D and enable our residents to make low carbon choices, and

 

8.  Call on the UK Government to provide the powers and resources to make this possible.

 

A number of Members of the Assembly spoke in support of the motion.

 

The motion was carried unanimously.