How can the city centre become a busy, but sustainable, heart of Birmingham : somewhere where people want to live, work and visit, and not just drive across?

The new Big City Plan from the City Council looks like the right kind of vision for the future, so Friends of the Earth has welcomed it. In fact, we have urged them to go further, and the latest version does include more environmental measures than the draft plan: better walking routes and bicycle hire points, more public green spaces and some emphasis on energy efficiency of buildings. We are urging that they all be implemented and the approach should become mandatory.

A City Centre for the Future

Continued on Page 12

Birmingham Friends of the EarthCampaigning at local, regional and national level to protect the environment

3 - Campaigns Digest

5 - Warehouse News

7 - Guest Article - Red, White or Green?

9 - Have Your Say On Local Transport

12 - Diary

13 - Membership Form

14 - A City Centre for the Future (cont.)

17 - What the Green Movement Gets Right

18 - Building Up to the Sustainable Livestock Bill

20 - Cuts vs. Climate

21 - Charity Shop Xmas

22 - Volunteer In The Spotlight

23 - Contacts

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It’s been another busy couple of months for all our campaigns groups, as autumn often is. Here are some of the great things they’ve been doing.

Local Shops and Food The group put on a great event in Kings Heath at the start of November, bringing together many people who share our ideas on the importance of local and sustainable food. We hope that this will help us to develop more alliances and be able to share good ideas across the city better, so more people can benefit.

Unfortunately, the Sustainable Livestock Bill was not passed at its second reading in Parliament on 12 November as there were too few MPs there to force a vote and the Conservative MPs talked it out. See the article later on for more details, but a big thank you should go to everyone who helped with this and see here next month for details of our next steps.

Supermarket planning applications have been recommended for approval in Moseley and Weoley Castle despite our best efforts, but we continue to look at ways to promote local shops and build resources for protecting independent retail on the high street.

Transport We are continuing our work behind the scenes, such as looking at the Local Transport Plan (LTP3). This

is a document for the region to establish what it considers the funding priorities should be for transport over the next period – see article for full details.

We are encouraged by news that schemes we have pushed for are gaining more and more support. Bus Rapid Transit is now firmly at the heart of many transport strategy documents and the opening of a new passenger line with stations in Kings Heath, Moseley and going up to the North is also high up all the priority lists we see.

We continue to push for transparency over the runway extension and state aid with an open letter to councillors published on our website demanding justification for spending tax payers’ money on this when cuts are being made everywhere else.

3

Campaigns Digest

4

Energy and Climate Change We held a 10:10:10 party in October, which was a great success, with lots of people enjoying live acoustic music at our HQ and bringing along home-cooked food. There’s a great account of it on our blog.

A few of our campaigners had a meeting with Cllr Tilsley, Deputy Leader of the Council, to talk about the Council’s action plan for reducing CO2 emissions. We hope that we will be involved in the review of this next year and can add more ideas to help the Council achieve their ambitious targets.

We organised a talk on making money out of renewable energy using the Feed-in-Tariffs, a report of which will be published online, but was too late for this newsletter, unfortunately.

The Big Climate Connection was a mass lobby of MPs organised by the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition in early November. The aim was to ensure that they passed a message on to David Cameron ahead of the talks in Cancun in December and we helped by participating in a few constituencies and spreading the word for more people to go along.

Waste – Swap Shop and Crafting The Moseley Swap Shop is still drawing in plenty of people as it approaches its first anniversary and more waste is being saved by our monthly Happily Ever Crafter Group, who have made plenty of Xmas

cards and presents out of recycled materials in the past couple of months.

Planning A few of our key campaigners are looking at the big planning documents that will shape our city, as you can see in the main article. The Big City Plan and Birmingham’s Core Strategy have both been out for consultation and we have put in a lot of work to respond to both.

Faith and Climate Change In the next newsletter, there will be a big article to say goodbye and thank you to Maud Grainger who is leaving the Faith and Climate Change project, but will continue to help with setting up the new, larger EARTH project which will come out of it. She has continued to put on great events during a busy autumn period and their website contains all the details.

Campaigns Digest continued

We held a 10:10:10 party in October, which was a great success, with lots of people enjoying live acoustic music

Following a series of successful grant applications for building related projects, we are now racing to get them completed before the funder’s deadline.

First off is the new accessible toilet, which has been widened to fit a wheelchair comfortably. This is combined with a new toilet containing a low water flush siphon, natural rubber non-slip flooring and a set of beautiful second hand cupboards for the kitchen area (which we had to move about to widen the loo). In the first week of December, we will be destroying the 20cm step that goes up to the meeting room, making the majority of the ground floor accessible.

Secondly, we are working with BEEP (Birmingham Environmental Education Project) to install a lot of natural sheep’s wool insulation into the reception area, which is part of the Victorian cottage section of our building. This, combined with extra natural daylight, motion sensors for our lighting, more natural rubber flooring, secondary glazing and some great recycled wood furniture, will turn this into a great educational resource for everyone in Birmingham.

Lastly, there is the biomass boiler, which is becoming increasingly more important to everyone in the building as the Winter chills begin to bite. We will be installing 49kw of Austrian boiler technology as well as extending the heat distribution network (pipes, radiators and zone

controllers) to supply the rest of the building with ‘cosiness’ when and where it is needed.

Fingers crossed, that it all goes smoothly. The combined total cost of the projects is near £70,000, making it the biggest investment we have ever made to the energy efficiency and accessibility of our building.

Fingers crossed, there is more to follow next year.

5

Warehouse News

6

Sales, service, repairs, accessories. Bikes also built to your own specifications.

Open Wednesday to Saturday, 10am-4pm

0121 633 0730

SPROCKETCycles

Established over 15 years ago in the Friends of the Earth Building in Birmingham The Warehouse Café has a reputation as a quality provider of vegetarian and vegan food in Birmingham.

“Real people serving real food with local, organic and fair trade leading the way” Guardian Unlimited.

To see the delicious menu go to www.thewarehousecafe.com

For bookings and enquires

Telephone 0121 633 0261

Email info@thewarehousecafe.com

• 100% vegetarian and vegan• A Large selection of organic

and fairtrade products, most supplied and delivered by a workers co-operative

• Vegan owners - no meat or dairy products sold

Open Monday to Saturday, 10am-5pm

The shops and companies here have all come together because they are dedicated to working towards a healthier, more organic city.

So if you want to help make Birmingham a cleaner, greener place to live, or you just want to eat some good vegetarian food, then come to The Warehouse and see what’s going on.

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Of the world’s population, one in a hundred is a wine grower, wine maker or wine merchant.

Of all the cultivated land in the world, roughly 1 acre in every 130 is a vineyard.

Wine production is only viable in the temperate bands between latitudes 30o and 50o in each hemisphere. In the southern hemisphere this picks up the southern tips of South America, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. This band is responsible for a tiny minority of the world’s wine but the vast majority of the wine now drunk in the UK. The reason for this imbalance is simple: over 80% of wine sold in the UK today is through the big supermarket chains. Their criteria are price and the ability to churn out huge

volumes manufactured to suit the taste of the moment. This means production has to be industrial rather than artisan.

Vineyards in Europe are increasingly moving back to traditional farming methods, some completely organic, some biodynamic, most at the least sustainable. They recognise the need to forego short term gains in order to provide a heritage for their children. They are also considerably closer to us in the UK.

The brands we see in supermarkets are mainly from 3 multinationals who now account for 90% of Australian wines. They don’t grow grapes; they buy in from vast prairies where there is hardly a blade of grass and no wildlife due to heavy spraying with herbicides and insecticides. The baron earth is fed with artificial fertilisers and irrigated heavily. Everything

Red, white or green?

The reason for this imbalance is simple: over 80% of wine sold in the UK today is through the big supermarket chains

is done by machine. Cost is everything.

There is a clear understanding of the difference between a free range turkey and a Turkey Twizzler but little recognition of the difference between real wine and industrial wine.

Take Action

Avoid Gallo (they boycott it regularly in the States).

Avoid anything from Constellation Brands.

Avoid Jacob’s Creek.

Buy European wines.

Choose wine bottled by the producer.

Instead of buying two bottles of industrial wine, buy one bottle of decent wine.

Take as much time to learn about real wine as you would about the food you eat.

Further Information

For more information on the big producers and additives in wine see the Campaign for Real Wine articles at http://is.gd/hqICD

David Perry

We are looking for people to help with our transport campaigns to ensure we can cover all areas and be as efficient as possible.

Firstly we’re looking for someone to help with communications: writing articles, doing the minutes for meetings and also possibly producing some video or audio material to go on the internet.

We also need some more help with researching, collecting data and building coalitions with other organisations to generate more support for our campaigns.

If you feel you have the skills to do

this, please contact campaigns@birminghamfoe.org.uk for more details.

8

Appeal for Volunteers

From the end of November, you will be able to have your say on the shape of local transport in the West Midlands for the next 15 years, as the public consultation on the new West Midlands Local Transport Plan opens.

Local Transport Plans (LTPs) are statutory documents which all transport authorities must submit to the Department for Transport. LTPs generally cover a five year period and set the transport policies, strategy and objectives.

Transport authorities in England range from large rural county councils to the Integrated Transport Authorities (ITAs), which cover the major urban conurbations outside London. The West Midlands ITA covers Birmingham along with the rest of the West Midlands

conurbation, consisting of Sandwell, Dudley, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Solihull and Coventry. The LTP must be approved by all seven constituent authorities before it can be issued by the ITA for consultation. At the time of writing, LTP3 is only available in draft form, but is likely to be approved and put out to public consultation towards the end of November.

Comments and responses need to be received by January 31st 2011 at the latest. However, given the tight timetable to which the ITA is working, the earlier you submit your comments, the greater the chance there is of these being taken into account.

The current LTP (LTP2), which was approved in 2006 will expire in 2011 and will be superseded by LTP3. The LTP3 strategy will extend over a 15 year period from 2011 to 2026 and will be

Gardening in the widest sense of the word is a great way to bring together people from all sorts of backgrounds

9

Have your say on local transport

10

delivered in a rolling series of Implementation Plans. The first of these, (Implementation Plan One) will run from 2011 to 2015. Given the timing of the Coalition’s Comprehensive Spending Review and uncertainty over possible changes to national transport policy, the implementation plan may need to be completely revised within the first year of its life to reflect the funding available and any policy changes.

The Comprehensive Spending Review will result in cuts of about one third to capital funding for local transport schemes. But the good news is that the Local Sustainable Transport Fund will receive significant funding to the tune of £560 million over the next four years. This means that there will be enough money to

roll out schemes such as Smarter Travel Choices which focus on

behavioural changes, encouraging people to walk, cycle and use public transport. In a landscape of financial austerity, the relatively low cost of such schemes and their effectiveness in reducing carbon emissions means that there is every reason why they should be at the heart of every LTP.

What’s in LTP3? As only the draft version of LTP3 is currently available, I cannot be too specific about what it contains. The approved version should not be too different from the draft version, but you never know!

LTP3 sets out five key objectives and as one would expect, that of facilitating economic growth is at the top of the list. Encouragingly,

Have your say on local transport

The runway extension figures prominently in the LTP3 and its role in ‘improving international connectivity’ is regarded as vital for the West Midlands

immediately beneath this is the need to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, and the role which the LTP has in helping to achieve this in the West Midlands. Health, the quality of life and the local environment also feature. LTP3 also recognises that there should be an emphasis on moving away from new road construction and making better use of existing infrastructure. Extra emphasis will also be placed on walking and cycling and promoting behavioural changes. So far so good.

On the other hand, the ITA seeks to influence and support large transport schemes over which it has little or no control but which it believes will strengthen the local economy. Thus, it sees the planned runway extension at Birmingham International Airport (BIA) as a magic bullet for all of the conurbation’s economic ills and is quite strong in its support for this scheme. The runway extension figures prominently in the LTP3 and its role in ‘improving international connectivity’ is regarded as vital for the West Midlands. But just a minute, isn’t LTP3 a local Transport Plan?

The proposed high speed rail link to London (HS2) is similarly welcomed by the ITA. LTP3 states that the scheme will attract inward investment and create jobs. Of course, the opposite could happen and HS2 could drain the economic blood from Birmingham and

turn it into a dormitory city, as commuting to London becomes a more attractive option. Despite the economic and environmental doubts surrounding HS2, LTP3 has been written on the assumption that HS2 will be operational by around 2026, and makes provision to accommodate the scheme. In fact, a significant part of the 15 year strategy is geared towards preparing for HS2, aiming to put transport measures in place to enhance the business case for the project.

As we take a close look at the finalised LTP3 consultation document, it is more than likely that a number of other policies and individual schemes will become evident which run counter to some of the key objectives of helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improving the quality of the local environment.

Birmingham Friends of the Earth will be submitting a response focusing on the Birmingham components of the plan, but everybody can make a response as an individual.

The final consultation document will be available on the West Midlands LTP website from late November:

http://www.westmidlandsltp.gov.uk/formalconsultation

Although the consultation period runs until the 31st January 2011, the earlier you can get your comments in the better!

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21 12

Campaign MeetingsMonday Night Meetings – 7:30pm at the Birmingham FoE Warehouse, Allison St 4th October – General 11th October - Electoral Reform – Discussion group 13th October - Strategy meeting (6.15pm start) 18th October - Crafting and transport 25th October - Energy and Climate change and Food and local shops

1st November - General Meeting 8th November - Transport 15th November - Food and local shops 22nd November - Speaker meeting- Feed in tariffs 29th November - Energy and climate change

Other Events2nd October - Edible Birmingham - afternoon event with workshops on local food 10th October - 10:10:10 party at The Warehouse 23rd October - Moseley Swap Shop 1st - 7th November - Islamic Awareness Week 27th November - Buy Nothing Day and the Moseley Swap Shop See Northfield Eco Centre for their many workshops www.northfieldecocentre.org/

Farmers’ MarketsBirmingham University: 4th Wednesday of the month 9am-2pm Harborne: 2nd Saturday of the month 9am-2pm Kings Heath: 1st Saturday of the month 9am-3:30pm Kings Norton: 2nd Saturday of the month 9am-2pm Moseley: 4th Saturday of the month 9am-3pm New Street: 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month 10am-4pm Solihull: 1st Friday of the month 9am-5pm Sutton Coldfield: 2nd Friday of the month 9am-3pm Jewellery Quarter: 3rd Saturday of the month 10am-3pm

12

We are the only organisation in Birmingham that campaigns on Climate Change, Transport, Local Shops, Planning, Waste and Recycling. You can help us do this in a number of ways;1.) By taking part in or our campaigns 2.) By joining us 3.) BothWhichever route you decide, you are helping to change your environment for the better. Making sure that those who pollute, monopolise or despoil locally, nationally or internationally are accountable. There are two ways to join us...

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Please return with standing order or cheque to: Secretary, Friends of the Earth, 54-57 Allison Street, Digbeth, Birmingham B5 5TH.

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This replaces any previous standing order in favour of Friends of the Earth Birmingham.

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The city centre has been re-invented in the last 20 years, with the demolition of the elevated Queensway, and extensive pedestrianisation. The Big Plan would expand that approach out to the Middleway, so reviving some run-down areas. Around the existing shopping and office core are a number of ‘quarters’, with different characters: jewellery, markets, creative industries, entertainment, etc. The plan is to enhance these different characters, and connect the quarters up with a new system of pedestrian routes

The plan offers a new park in Eastside, even allotment gardens. The buried River Rea can come back to the surface – watch out Stratford-on-Avon!

Potentially, an expanded city centre can offer space for the new small businesses that will create sustainable jobs. The plan recognises the lack of independent shops and BFOE has stressed that we want space for them and for street markets, not more bland chain stores. Locally sourced products, including local food, should be on offer, and the Bull Ring markets supported. We say that the burgeoning creative sector should not be forced out by expensive new office developments. Shopping and working via the internet casts a lot of doubt on the need for big developments and tall buildings. We asked for an audit of how many office and retail buildings are already standing empty.

The upward trend for people to live in central Birmingham would continue in the Plan. Although there is a surplus of single bed flats, family- sized homes would be added. We point out that these city centre residents should not all need to own and park cars. Car clubs should be designed in, for residents and workers to use, paying by the hour.

Streets can become lively if freed from traffic, with pocket parks, little squares and seats – more like the civilised continental city. A survey of empty parking spaces is needed, to look at replacing them with more beneficial land usage. We see 20mph as the upper speed limit for traffic, but lower where

14

Continued from front pageA City Centre for the Future

shared space with pedestrians and cyclists is appropriate. On Sundays and public holidays we propose experiments with car free streets and car free days, as happens in other European cities.

The level of cycling is abnormally low in Birmingham. However, when the Sky Ride closed some roads in September, 15,000 people rode into the city centre. Cycling is mentioned in the Plan as having ‘hubs’, where cycles can be hired. FOE points out that if cycling is to take off, as in London and Paris, then a network of cycle routes should be included in the plan, to prevent this form of transport being squeezed between traffic and pedestrians. New Street station is an obvious focus for such routes.

The High Speed Rail station at Curzon Street and lines might result

in new ‘severance’ in place of the old Inner Ring Road, if not designed carefully. Anyway, BFOE is far from convinced by the environmental or economic case for HSR – a continent-sized transport solution – for the rather short runs between cities in England. HSR might make us a suburb of London. Firms would not need to locate here, as workers could commute every day. They would then buy up the available accommodation, defeating the aim of a live-work city centre. Brummies would go to London for entertainment and shopping. Regional cities on the Continent benefit by a certain separation from their capital cities.

Getting to Birmingham is not really a problem, but getting around it certainly is, as we have a major deficit on public transport; no underground, no on-street tram system. FOE is glad to see in the plan a reopening of passenger rail services through Moseley and Kings Heath, also through Fort Dunlop and Castle Bromwich. Moor Street can become even more of a local rail hub than it is currently.

‘Connectivity’ is a key aim of the Big Plan. The expanded city centre will be too large to be walkable, so a city centre public transport system is essential. The city has waited 30 years for a return of street trams. This would actually be a light railway, and building a short stretch down Corporation Street will be a very disruptive, complex

15

Streets can become lively if freed from traffic, with pocket parks, little squares and seats – more like the civilised continental city

and expensive project. Cities all over the world are planning ‘bus rapid transit’ - a much cheaper alternative, as BOE has frequently pointed out. Buses are much easier to fit on streets, without needing steel rails, hundreds of pylons and overhead wires.

A ‘Vision for Movement’ accompanies the Big Plan including routes for ‘Birmingham Sprint’ - modern buses running on dedicated road space. They still draws Metro tram lines across the map, but Birmingham Sprint would seem much cheaper and quicker to implement. For short journeys door to door within the city centre we could make more use of shared taxis or on demand minibuses.

Overall, the Big City Plan is quite brave, considering Birmingham’s history of submission to the motor car. Friends of the Earth

urges that future risks be taken even more seriously, particularly another major oil price hike and challenging targets on carbon emissions. The real Big Plan would be for a transition to a low energy, relocalised version of Birmingham which rediscovers its own resources and makes a sustainable future for itself.

The consultation response on The Birmingham Big City Plan is being prepared between now and Christmas, and we would be very glad to hear from you with your ideas about this. Other plans will be following for suburban areas, such as the Moseley Big Plan allowing local people a say in their future shape.

A copy of The Birmingham Big City Plan can be studied at floor 6 of the Central Library, or at http://bigcityplan.birmingham.gov.uk

John Newson

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Continued from page 13A City Centre for the Future

Overall, the Big City Plan is quite brave, considering Birmingham’s history of submission to the motor car.

Streets can become lively if freed from traffic, with pocket parks, little squares and seats – more like the civilised continental city

17

What the Green Movement Gets Right

It is of course no surprise to anyone in the environmental movement when Channel 4 produces a programme like “What the Green Movement Got Wrong” as they have a track record of such inflammatory and biased reporting of green issues. While it sometimes feels a bit like beating your head against a brick wall, it’s worth discussing some of the problems with the positions taken in the programme that was shown on 4 November and whilst it also talked about nuclear power, this article will focus on the GM debate.

The section on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) seemed to be based on two questionable assumptions: firstly, that we need them to feed the world; and secondly, that our argument against them is simply the ‘precautionary principle’, that if there’s even a slight amount of doubt about the consequences of GMOs, we shouldn’t go ahead with them. The programme’s conclusion was that ‘the greens’ should simply grow up and accept the risks involved in using new technology to provide food for the world’s population.

In reality, much of the opposition to GMOs today comes not from a fear of what might go wrong, so much as a knowledge of what does go wrong when GM crops are introduced, taken from the experience of those countries that have invested heavily

in them, which provide numerous examples of why environmentalists are really so anti-GM.

From a climate justice perspective the problem is not just one of uncertain science, but of corporate power and the rights of the poor, the powerless, and the indigenous. A full list of the social and environmental problems caused by GMOs would take up far more space than I have here so please see my blog post for more details.

Most importantly, the assertion that we need to support GMOs if we are to feed the world is faulty in itself. We are already capable of growing and distributing enough food to feed all the people on this planet, without the need for technological ‘miracles’ like GMOs.

The programme’s conclusion was that ‘the greens’ should simply grow up and accept the risks involved in using new technology to provide food for the world’s population.

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What we need is the political will to grow food rather than feed, and to put people before profit. It’s this that environmentalists and other social movements around the world are calling for under the banner of social and climate justice, whatever Channel 4 thinks.

Further Information:

http://www.corporatewatch.org.uk/?lid=207

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Monsanto_and_Terminator_Technology

http://birminghamfoe.blogspot.com/2010/11/what-green-movement-gets-right.html

http://foeeurope.org/GMOs/Who_Benefits/who_benefits_full_report_2010.pdf

Steven Heywood

Building Up To The Sustainable Livestock Bill

The St. George and St. Theresa Parish Centre in Dorridge was host to a public meeting on 4 November regarding sustainable food and farming in Britain. It was an exciting opportunity for members of the public to direct any questions they had at Caroline Spelman, MP for Meriden and Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

The evening kicked off with a warm welcome from Solihull Friends of the Earth, followed by the short film “Killing Fields: the Battle to Feed Factory Farms” (watch online at http://feedingfactoryfarms.org/). The film, produced by Friends of the Earth as well as several other international organisations, highlighted how destructive soy

plantations in South America are, both to the environment and the indigenous people. The majority of plantations are owned by large multinational companies, who often use genetically modified crops and pesticides, which poison local water supplies and the natural environment. These soy plantations exist to produce feed for livestock in battery farms across Europe. The main aim of the meeting was to discuss the Sustainable Livestock Bill; a bill which will require the Secretary of State to commit to improving the sustainability of all processes involved with livestock farming in Britain.

Next up was a short talk from Martyn Williams, the Senior Parliamentary Campaigner for Friends of the Earth. Again

focussing on the Sustainable Livestock Bill, he was particularly keen to improve food labelling, reduce the amount of food wasted, and for the Government to offer alternatives to soy which are beneficial to farmers. He has been heavily involved with the Bill, and was keen to get a firm commitment from Caroline Spelman that she would attend Parliament on 12 November to support the Bill.

Caroline Spelman was next to speak. Some of her comments were not received particularly well with the audience, in particular her insistence that even if the UK commits to sustainable farming, other countries will continue not to support it. However, despite this her general message was encouraging, saying that the Government’s priority in the environmental sector was sustainability, and her number one priority was to promote British food and farming. Although she wouldn’t commit to attending Parliament to support the Bill (primarily because she’d only just

had chance to read through it), she did say the government was undecided as to whether to support it or not. This was encouraging, as rumours were abound that it would definitely be opposed. Spelman handled questions from the audience well, and her take home message seemed to be that if the British public wanted sustainable food on their shelves, they would have to be prepared to pay for it.

Sadly, Caroline Spelman did not attend Parliament on the day, and the Bill was opposed. Although the majority of MPs agreed with the sentiments of the Bill, they appeared to be more concerned with the additional legislation that it would eventually involve, as well as it damaging the export industry. They also implied that that the Bill was misleading, perhaps missing the point that the Bill aimed to promote sustainability in a way that would benefit farmers. Many MPs took issue with the fact that the Bill contained no specific legislation, which is surprising as this would surely allow the Government to work in conjunction with the relevant parties to ensure sustainability was advocated in a way which benefited all involved. It is disappointing that the Government had the chance to take the first steps towards sustainable farming but chose instead to postpone any reasonable debate.

Joe Osborne

19

Cuts vs. Climate

2017

With this government making claims to be the greenest ever, how has the environment fared in the spending cuts this month?

The spending cuts were a mixed bag for the environment, and although there were some positives, there were plenty of valuable schemes cut. Although the Government is accepting the need for an active industrial policy to push the UK towards a green recovery, and deliver a low carbon economy, there were some very damaging cuts to green measures in housing and transport, which will hit the poorest hardest.

One of the schemes that didn’t avoid the cuts was the Warm Front energy efficiency grants, and when combined with cuts to bus services and a review of fuel poverty targets, these cuts will hit those who are already struggling. However, positive news surrounds Feed-in Tariffs and the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), which has been given the go-ahead by the Chancellor. This means that from 2011 it will be easier for households, farmers and institutions like schools to slash their fuel bills by installing heat pumps, solar hot water and bio-gas systems. The benefits go much further, too: cutting carbon emissions and helping the UK wean itself off a precarious reliance on imported gas and oil.

“The proposals for a renewable heat incentive as set out in the Comprehensive Spending Review are

really good news for commercial and domestic producers and consumers.”

-William Woresley, Country Land and Business Association

In further positive news, the Chancellor re-committed in his 20th October speech to introducing a Green Investment Bank (GIB). Whilst this is a positive step forward, there are a few problems with the plan: only £1 billion was promised, and that is not till 2013. Whilst the promise of revenues from the sale of assets is welcome, figures in the range of £4- 6 billion are needed and it is uncertain how much would be raised, and when. A Green Investment Bank is critical to the UK’s low-carbon future; however, it needs more money and needs to happen fast. Further plans for the GIB will be released in May next year, with staff and office systems in place by the end of 2011 ahead of a planned launch in September 2012. Although it is positive that the Government is taking care to ensure the bank is properly designed, it needs to move forward more urgently.

“This bank will provide crucial funds for major green developments, such as off-shore wind projects, which will slash emissions, increase our energy security and create thousands of new jobs. We must do much more to build a low carbon economy – but [the] announcement is a massive stride in the right direction.”

Tom Hills

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Charity Shop XmasYou may have noticed (provided you haven’t been living in a cave for the last few weeks) that the shops are gearing up for their annual Christmas push. Lots of people will be spending lots of money in a very short period of time. For the retail industry it’s like Christmas has come early, which, in a way, it has. This kind of consumerism, however, is not kind to the environment or your pocket and let’s face it, it’s not much fun is it? I mean, who enjoys conventional Christmas shopping? Surely there must be another way? Well, there is!

Every year my family partake in what has been creatively dubbed the ‘Charity Shop Xmas Challenge’. The Objective? All gifts bought must come from a charity shop. It’s that simple. There is a set price limit (£5 per gift is a good top-limit, but how you set that is up to you) and it requires you to shop a little more creatively. In my family, my mom gives a prize-present for the best (most funny, perfect or unique) gift given. When she let slip that this year’s prize was going to be a goat, I dimly asked “Ooh, could we have chickens instead? Free free-range eggs!”. It turns out that she meant a goat to be given to an African family, which is much more in keeping with the spirit of giving. So I throw down the gauntlet to all of you: get together with your family and friends to take the ‘Charity Shop Xmas Challenge’. And hey, if your granny doesn’t like your gift, it can go straight back to the Charity

shop! It’s the ultimate recycled (and recyclable) Christmas.

In addition, you can have lots of fun with eco-friendly ways of wrapping your gifts. A pair of laddered tights can become ribbon and an old newspaper makes lovely wrapping material when stamped, drawn on or painted with a pretty, festive design. It doesn’t matter if the wrapping doesn’t sit flush or isn’t immaculately folded; you can really get creative with wrapping presents this way and your household clutter will be getting a final hurrah. Whatever you do this Christmas, have fun, get creative and enjoy the time with family and friends!

Erica Bromage

Joe Peacock interviews Philippa Webster

How long have you been involved with BFoE? I’ve been a member for years, but I’ve only been volunteering for about two and a half years.

How did you first find out about BFoE and what made you decide to get involved?

It was in my genes, I think. But seriously, I was a London member and then when I moved up here I used the Warehouse and found out more about the place. Then I saw they needed volunteers and when I went part-time I started helping out on reception.

What do you do at BFoE? I work on reception, answer the phone, do room bookings for the meeting rooms and organise the payments for it. Margaret, the treasurer, needs the records kept properly, so I try to make sure

that’s done. I like being able to talk with people on reception and the fact that you don’t get put on hold here for ages when you phone.

What do you think is the most important environmental issue and why? I think things are important at different levels and everything is linked. My not dropping litter is not going to save the planet, but reversing our lack of care for the planet is crucial to repair the damage.

The nuclear issue is really important, as that is not the way to deal with climate change.

What’s your best green tip/ advice? Join Friends of the Earth and campaign, travelling here by bus or bike. Only use a car when you absolutely have to.

My not dropping litter is not going to save the planet, but reversing our lack of care for the planet is crucial to repair the damage

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Volunteer Spotlight

Contact us:Friends of the Earth (Birmingham) The Warehouse 54-57 Allison Street Birmingham B5 5TH

Tel: (0121) 632 6909 Fax: (0121) 643 3122

E-mail: info@birminghamfoe.org.uk

Web: www.birminghamfoe.org.uk

Friends of the Earth is:- The largest international network

of environmental groups in the world, represented in 72 countries.

- One of the UK’s leading enviromental pressure groups.

- A unique network of campaigning local groups, working in more than 200 communities in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

- Over 90% of its funds come from its supporters.

Birmingham FoE:Campaigns at a local level to effect environmental change (in ways which feed into national and international policy) through:

- Direct action

- Lobbying

- Education

- Empowering others to take action

- Participation and representation through public fora

Chair: Benjamin MabbettCampaigns Co-ordinators: Roxanne Green & Richard SagarCampaigns Support Worker: Joe PeacockElectronic Design & Communication Officer:Antonio RobertsGeneral Manager: Phil BurrowsTreasurer: Margaret LynchAviation: Joe PeacockClimate Change & Energy: Melanie BrookesMulti-faith and Climate Change Project: Rianne ten Veen & Maud GraingerCraft, Recycling and Swap Shop: Beth FisherLocal Shops & Food: Nigel BakerPlanning: John HallTransport: Martin StrideNewsletter Editors: Katy BarryZoe WrightWebsite Editor: Phil BurrowsTalks: Joe Peacock and othersAll enquiries and callers welcome.Find us on page 74 of the B’hamA-Z, grid ref: 4A

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