Somerset Lib Dem MEP tells Somerton U3A members that the EU provides the only tool to fight climate change

11.11.04am GMT Thu 25th Jan 2007

Graham Watson MEP will tell the members of Somerton U3A that the EU provides the only vehicle for tackling climate change. Speaking just a week after the most wide spread storm in living memory, the MEP will report to his constituents on the series of action programmes run by the European Commission to change our life styles in order to save the planet.

From 1030 - 1200 on Friday 26th January Graham Watson, the Somerset Liberal Democrat MEP will be in Somerton at the invitation of the Somerton Branch of the University of the Third Age (U3A). The Group will meet in the United Reform Church Hall in West Street. Any members of the Press wishing to attend would be most welcome.

Speaking ahead of Friday's meeting, Graham Watson said:

"I am very pleased to have the opportunity to speak to members of Somerton U3A. The U3A is invaluable in encouraging and enabling older people no longer in full-time paid employment to help each other to share their knowledge, skills, interests and experience. We should do whatever is in our power to promote life-long learning."

The University of the Third Age is a self-help organisation providing educational, creative and leisure opportunities for people no longer in full time employment. It consists of local U3As all over the UK, which are charities in their own right and are run entirely by volunteers. Local U3As are learning cooperatives which draw upon the knowledge, experience and skills of their own members to organise and provide interest groups in accordance with the wishes of the membership. Between them U3As offer the chance to study over 300 different subjects in such fields as art, languages, music, history, life sciences, philosophy, computing, crafts, photography and walking. A typical U3A has about 250 members but could be as small as 12 and as large as 2000.

The Somerton U3A Group has 160 members and Graham will be speaking to the members at the invitation of the European Studies Group Leader, Janet Aram, about his work as an MEP, the role of the EU Institutions and Corpus Juris. He will also take questions from members.