We’re a small, dynamic organisation and we have a lot to say. Here we share our latest organisational news and our reactions to news in the wider world. We crosspost most on Medium, so follow us there too.
Following much attention to the climate crisis, and the passage of a binding net-zero emissions target here in the UK, we’ve had quite a couple of weeks promoting the Right to Repair. Leaders of two political parties that experienced a surge of support in recent elections read and endorsed The Manchester Declaration, a document drafted by 59 community repair activists.
With the latest policy discussion on the “net zero” UK targets, we feel the need to contribute to the conversation about a whole economy shift to a green economy, including the repair economy.
We believe that community events like Restart Parties create a special, radical space for people to connect with others. A guest post by a participant attending a Restart Party run by a local group in Kilburn, at Abbey Community Centre illustrates how.
We are celebrating, as we’ve reached over 10,000 devices recorded through our database, affectionately known as the Fixometer. We are collecting this data together with our network, which consists of 60 groups in 12 countries.
After months of campaigning for the Right to repair, we welcome the historic precedent set out by new ecodesign regulations, despite some disappointments the repair movement will have to focus on in future.
We appeared today on BBC Breakfast and various BBC radio shows, talking about the importance of repair and changes we need to be able to repair the stuff we own and keep it longer.
We joined forces with Brussels-based partners to organise a flashmob to ask EU member states to stand for our right to repair our appliances and prevent unnecessary waste. Final votes on repairability criteria for dishwashers and washing machines can set crucial precedents.
Together with a broken fridge and broken appliances, we took part in what must have been the first-ever protest for spare parts, in front of the EU institutions this morning. An excellent start to a multi-year campaign to ask Europe to defend citizens’ right to repair.