Newsletter     
Autumn 2001

You may have expected a few comments about the horrific events of September 11 and the subsequent mayhem now ensuing in Afghanistan - but I suspect you are already receiving enough daily detail on this topic, to make further exposition pointless.
Nevertheless, conflict will be the theme of this piece, because conflict is and always has been part of human life. Anywhere, anytime throughout man's existence, people have warred with one another, for reasons varying from territorial disputes to clashes of ideology, whether of a religious or political nature. And it is a sad fact that mankind will probably never cease to do so.
No doubt erudite people could explain this inherent aggressiveness in the human psyche - an in-built desire to "knock the stuffing" out of equally intransigent rival factions. Perhaps it has to do with an anomaly, of which we are all aware, in that the gift of life is part of a package, which also contains death. "Because we live, we know we have to die." It might well make for a certain recklessness and/or intolerance in our actions and reactions with each other.
Be that as it may, conflicts will continue, whatever the underlying cause or causes. By the year 2050 they will encompass another issue, which will become of primary importance - the fight for fresh water. According to a recent UN population survey, the world's humanity will have increased from the present-day 6.1 billion, currently using 54% of available fresh water, to 9.3 billion, who will require at least 70% - but if each person is to receive the basic 50 litres per day, calculated by the UN as necessary for drinking, washing and cooking, then 90% will be needed.
The report does not make it clear whether it is referring to fresh water relatively 'ready-to-hand' to the populations in need of them, or is talking of global resources - but either scenario makes for a gloomy prospect. If the former applies, it means a great increase in the damming of rivers, drainage of natural lakes and underground reserves and construction of artificial reservoirs. We have enough evidence of the disastrous effects of these practices, in environmental and ecological terms. Many river systems on the western side of the USA - and California in particular - have been so plundered of their waters, they dry up long before they reach their natural outlet - be it sea or lake. The Aral Sea, in Russia and the Sea of Galilee, in Palestine, are now reduced to half their former size. Natural underground reservoirs in various parts of the world are rapidly drying up. The boreholes tapping them have to be drilled ever deeper. The damming of rivers is already causing bitter disputes between peoples or nations being deprived of water further down the system. Additionally, there are many harrowing tales of habitat destruction for all species when vast areas are drowned by the formation of artificial reservoirs. An escalation of these practices can only spell disaster!
If the report encompassed global reserves, the prospect is no brighter. By far the greatest volume of fresh water is locked up in the ice sheets of Antarctica, with the rest situated in regions equally hostile to habitation. Water would therefore have to be transported to areas of settlement. There has already been much talk of harnessing loose icebergs and towing them to places in need. Even if viable they would not fulfil future needs. And so we are into the scenario of 'mining' pristine ice sheets for their water content. This would have a disastrous effect, particularly upon the vast and strange wilderness of Antarctica, and would no doubt spark off catastrophic climatic changes, as the ice sheets shrank. It is often said that global climate is initially generated and subsequently driven by conditions pertaining to that region. Whether or not this is the whole truth, I wouldn't want to put it to the test.
There is also talk of building mammoth desalination plants in coastal regions. At present this technology is relatively inefficient and production costs are high. Technical innovation will eventually make the process much cheaper but the water still has to be taken to where it is wanted and water is a heavy, bulky commodity, costly to transport. So, who will foot the never-ending bills? By far the largest population increases are predicted in the undeveloped and poorest nations of the world - those least able to afford it.
And you can bet your boots, water won't be given away for free, from whichever source derived. Therein lie the seeds of further bitter conflict. Where will it end?
David Horsley

HERE WE GO AGAIN!

It was July, and George Bush had still not ratified the Kyoto Treaty. Clearly it was necessary to get out the banners and make our views known at the next COP6 Conference venue, in the prosperous and dignified town of Bonn in Germany. Having had a thoroughly good time in the more raffish atmosphere of the Hague in November, our hopes were high for adventure and media coverage.

Preparations followed the usual pattern - huge overestimate of people hoping to come, leading to cancellation of chartered train, then fleet of buses, then minibus…a slight exaggeration, but the Friday dawn found five hard-core protesters ready to face the perils of the sea then a long drive in Barrie's battle-wagon.

WILKOMMEN IN BONN

Of course, the German version of FoE (Bund fur Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland) had everything highly organised, and having learned from experience in The Hague we found ourselves a very select square of hard floor in a gymnasium (exercise mats are such a comfort) as our billet for the weekend. Again painful experience led us to be wary of the cheap and nourishing vegan fare on offer in the HQ and so we set off to find some excitement in the town. We had not wandered far before we found a bar called "Muckyfuck" - how could we pass it by? It proved to be a very friendly place with a good line in goulash and delightful beer. It transpired that the name of the place related to a particular way of preparing coffee. Oh yes? And so to floor.

DAS BOOT IST COLOSSAL!

The next morning we were ready for action, which was to build a lifeboat 30M long, 6M wide and 4M high - truly vast. The inner skeleton of the boat was already erected in a huge market square, and consisted of bow and stern sections at either end of three segments, designed for manoeuvring around corners. The construction by hundreds of environmentalists from all over the world was done by each person hammering on a pre-prepared light plank to the side of the vessel, each plank containing a message to the climate conference, although naturally enough most people chose to send their message to George Bush. Our message was spread over three metre-long planks, so we were able to be fairly coherent: "Climb on board with the rest of the world, George, don't sink the treaty". Other messages suffered in translation, others still were written in mystifying hieroglyphs, while some seemed to make sense at the time, though that time was unfortunately under the influence of a lot of Duty-free.
Rhona Hodges

A variety of news on the cycling front, and some, for a change, positive. Cyclists who regularly use the sea wall between Dymchurch and Hythe, and again between Hythe and Folkestone, will have been encouraged to note the new ‘shared route’ signs which have gone up along the promenade from the Imperial Hotel to Seabrook Point (along with a Sustrans route marker). One of the great joys about the growing realisation by the council that cyclists aren’t actually a danger to civilisation. We no longer have to scuttle along this section feeling that we really ought to be using the designated route on the other side of the road, despite the complete lack of lighting, road signs in the middle of the pavement and curbs like the north face of the Eiger. ‘Shared route’ markers have also appeared on the seawall between Dymchurch and the Redoubt, along with a cycle route marker on Ladies’ Walk in Hythe. These are great steps forward which all cyclists will welcome. Riding as I do from Dymchurch to Folkestone and back most days, it’s a relief to know that I’m not breaking the law at every turn of the pedals as I was formerly! Next challenge - the Leas!

The lighting along the seawall beyond the Redoubt is as always problematic now that the evenings are dark so much earlier, but my new set of 10w lights makes me feel safe cycling at night for the first time. I cycled down from Sandling station earlier this week: a bit challenging under the trees but again, safe with powerful lights. As far as the train journey is concerned, however, there’s worrying news connected with the forthcoming transfer of the Connex franchise to a company called GoVia. The Government’s stated policy is to ‘increase the number of bicycles carried by train’, but unfortunately the Strategic Rail Authority, or SRA, don’t seem to be taking this into account when awarding franchises. They have the power to require franchisees to provide a certain number of cycle spaces on trains, but the new generation of trains are about to come on stream in this area and it appears that they are likely to provide only two spaces per train - spaces which can also be taken up by wheelchair users and baggage. Train journeys with a bicycle are already a bit hit or miss, depending on how each train company views the importance of providing space for cycles. Our job now is to write to the various stakeholders to make our views known - with an emphasis on the needs of cyclists for at least ten bike spaces per train to ensure that existing usage can be maintained. Let’s face it, the Government wants ‘joined-up thinking’ in relation to transport - here’s an opportunity for them to live up to that commitment.

The people to write to, and what they do, are:

Wendy Toms, Chair

Rail Passengers’ Committee (RPC) for Southern England

3rd Floor Centric House

390/391 Strand, LONDON WC2R 0LT

The RPC is the statutory body representing rail passengers and they need to know how many cycle spaces we think are needed

Olivier Brousse

Managing Director

Connex

3rd Floor,

41-45 Blackfriars Road, LONDON SE1 8PG

Connex currently operate the service. They need to hear the views of cyclists so that we can maximise the use we can make of their trains.

Toby de Burgh

Director, Rolling Stock & Commercial

Strategic Rail Authority (SRA)

55 Victoria Street, LONDON SW1 0EU

The SRA need to hear from existing and potential passengers to understand how cyclists would be affected by limiting the number of cycle spaces available on trains.

Keith Ludeman

Chief Executive, Rail

GoVia

Floor 1, Friars Bridge Court

1-45 Blackfriars Road, LONDON SE1 8NZ

This is the company who will be taking over the Connex franchise. If we don’t make our views known they won’t have any reason to take them into account, and when in the future the new whizzy trains don’t take cycles we shall have only ourselves to blame!

Finally, those of us who work should be putting pressure on our employers to adopt an environmentally aware transport policy with clear objectives linked to a reduction in car use. This has a whole raft of benefits: improved staff health & welfare, reduced demand for space for car parking, reduction in the cost of travel, benefits to the community from reduction in congestion, benefits to the environment from improved air quality and reduced noise and dirt, and a wider national benefit from helping the Government achieve its targets and thereby work towards the Kyoto agreement. So communicate with your employer - outline the benefits, both financial and in PR and employee relations terms, and see whether you can achieve a different awareness in your organisation which could spread to others. Think globally - act locally!

Ginnie Gledhill

18th October, Folkestone Herald
Post 9/11/01, in the United States, all transports of nuclear cargoes have been banned as they are deemed to be legitimate terrorist targets. Following this revelation Shepway FoE demanded that the weekly, highly radioactive nuclear transports from Dungeness to Sellafield also be banned.
Robin Thornton press officer for Dungeness Nuclear Power Stations commented, "Used nuclear fuel has been transported through London and the rest of the UK in complete safety for nearly 40 years." This question obviously did not have a stock answer in his 'nuclear industry black book of replies to awkward questions' the first page of which states that you must always give an answer, not necessarily the right answer as long as you give an answer. So he gave the closest answer he was allowed to give, missing the point completely.

25th October, Folkestone Herald/ Kentish Express
MEPs in Strasbourg raised concerns about the possibility of terrorist attacks on nuclear power plants in the UK. We reciprocated and asked for increased no fly zones around Dungeness and asked what precautions, if any, had been taken there bearing in mind that Lydd Airport is only just over two miles from four reactors at Dungeness A & B.

Stock answer number two from the black book:
"They are scaremongering."
Bill Root, the station manager for Dungeness A said:

"Security had been tightened, but an aircraft crashing into the stations would not be a real threat to the reactors. "The reactors are quite small in relation to the stations as a whole and are shielded by thick concrete walls.
Followed by stock answer number three:
The Americans have tested some of their concrete shielding by flying a Phantom F4 jet into it and the damage was slight"

8th November, Folkestone Herald
No fly zones unenforceable
In the wake of September 11th the UK Department of Trade and Industry has asked for no fly zones around nuclear plants. The zones are to be enforced by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). A CAA spokesman admitted to the Herald that, in the case of Dungeness it is impossible to monitor whether aircraft are staying clear because their radar does not cover the area. A DTI spokesman said that no aircraft may legally come within two miles of the site or lower than 2000 feet.

It is now generally accepted that;

1) No one has calculated what would happen if a Jumbo jet laden with thousands of gallons of fuel crashed into a nuclear power plant.
2) If such a crash were to happen at any of the world's 400 + nuclear power plants there is no doubt that a significant amount of radioactivity would be released.
3) The 2 mile 2000 ft no fly zone gives the operators approximately 14 seconds to protect the station.
4) It would make no difference whether the reactors were operating or shut down. If the cooling systems were disabled the reactors would go critical.

GREENPEACE recently published an advert in a national newspaper showing a map of the nuclear rail routes throughout the UK with the heading, "In 4 weeks this advert will be illegal". The government's proposed anti terrorist bill would prevent the publication of any information deemed detrimental to the safety of the nuclear industry.

How many of you have visited a nuclear power station visitors centre and been given a bundle of literature to take home? Take a second look at the A2 glossy and you will see a detailed plan of all the buildings in the station showing the position of the reactors, cooling ponds and the switchgear building (they all publish them). Each and every one of the thousands of people who have passed through any of the highly popular visitors centres throughout the country may have information that would be illegal to publish!

The Carbon trust - Nuclear Power not needed.
Nuclear power is not needed for the UK to meet its international obligations to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases according to a new report. The study was carried out by the Carbon trust, a company established by the government to help businesses reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Nuclear power has been described as a 'red herring' and unnecessary to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Barrie Botley

The nights are drawing in, winter is beckoning and it is at this time of year that the holes in my shoes become a bit draughty. Imagine my surprise when buying my new pair at Walters and Co in Folkestone that my old faithfuls were not to grace themselves at some landfill site somewhere in our beautiful countryside, but were destined for higher things once handed over at the shop.
Did you know that every year in the UK alone there are over 260 million pairs of shoes bought which will later be discarded? The materials used in making them are not normally biodegradable and if incinerated, release harmful dioxins.
To my surprise, my old shoes that I discarded at the shop will be examined for their condition and sold into third world countries where they are locally reconditioned and resold at affordable prices.
For those shoes that cannot be reused, pilot research being carried out in Germany is creating techniques for reprocessing the material into alternative products such as, sound insulation board.
It provides a means of earning a living in countries where opportunities are sparse; it is creating employment opportunities in the UK; and, most importantly, it is helping to conserve the environment by removing shoes from scarce landfill space or being incinerated when there is still useful life in them or where they can be reprocessed into alternative products.
Hats off to all at Walters and Co for supporting such a scheme.
For further information contact The European Recycling Co Ltd on free phone 0500 827198.
Tom Backlog

Following the successful Clean Folkestone Sands Campaign in 1999, Shepway FoE decided to celebrate National Marine Week with an information stall at Folkestone Harbour. Members of our local group made their presence felt by handing out leaflets and talking to passers by, explaining how important it is to look after our beaches, seas and the wildlife, which inhabit these areas.
As a district we are lucky to be surrounded by water but did you know that nearly half of this country's wildlife lives in the sea and less than 1% of our seas are adequately protected; definitely food for thought.
The week was celebrated up and down the country by various organisations including The Marine Conservation Society, The World Wildlife Fund and Surfers Against Sewage.

The Friends were invited to have a stand at an environment fair run by Dover District Council (DDC) at the National Trust property at Langdon Cliffs, overlooking the harbour. The event was being run in response to an LA 21 initiative to promote environmental issues in the local community.
The weekend began early on Saturday morning with Ginnie, Rhona, Barrie and Moira setting up the stand in a large marquee alongside the National Trust's Visitor Centre. At midday, Jane, Vicky and Ray joined us for the afternoon shift.
There were twenty stands, ranging from a low-maintenance - and astonishingly beautiful - garden set up by Dover District Council's horticultural department, to KCC's 'War on Waste' caravan promoting the efficient use of resources and a very interesting stand using waste material as a form of art. The Saturday was bright and sunny, and 800 people were attracted to the event. The children were entertained by making grass sculptures which were supposed to look like stoats but ended up at the end of the day looking more like shaggy highland cattle. The crowds were entertained by a folk group, guided walks and 'twitcher's corner' for the birdwatchers.
Sunday brought the rain, which reduced numbers to about 600, with Rhona valiantly occupying the Friends' stand. Even so, there was plenty to keep people interested and those manning the stands were kept occupied as frequent showers drove people into the marquee. DDC's stand showed ways in which people could save energy in the home, with free low-energy light bulbs being given away; a company from Faversham showed their range of environmentally friendly flooring and paints; and a stand demonstrating a range of household items made from recycled packaging drew much interest. Attempts to create a sun oven were abandoned for the day because of the rain, and a woodturning demonstration proved too difficult in the conditions. The musical entertainment was provided by our old friends Busker Du, whose drums and brass instruments livened up the crowds.
The weekend came to a close with most stand-holders happy with the number of people who visited them to discuss wide-ranging environmental matters. More such events are needed to keep awareness of the more pressing issues, such as waste recycling and climate change, on the public agenda.

CANTERBURY CITY COUNCIL RECYCLED PLASTIC BOTTLE COLLECTION

I was interested to discover recently that, whilst our local council has abandoned its scheme to collect plastic bottles for recycling, Canterbury City Council still collects and apparently recycles their plastics. Intrigued by this anomaly, I duly phoned the Recycling Officer at Canterbury City Council to find out if this was true.
Canterbury City Council collects plastic bottles and containers, but only through their kerbside collection scheme. Contractors sort the bottles by type, and separate them. The white milk bottles (HDPE) and lemonade bottles (PET) are the easiest to recycle. They go to a company in Milton Keynes where they are flaked into large lumps then steamed and shredded. They are then turned into plastic pellets and injection moulded. There is not a ready market for yoghurt and margarine tubs, but they are shredded and mixed with paper and turned into pellets to fuel power stations, which is very unsatisfactory and probably polluting.
Eco Interiors, the company displaying items made from recycled packaging mentioned in the above article on 'Wild Weekend,' had fruit bowls, PC mouse mats, placemats and coasters made from, among other things - yoghurt pots - which were very attractive and reasonably priced.
There are no facilities for recycling plastic in this area. Apart from Milton Keynes, the nearest other company is on the Isle of Wight. A company in Lancashire recycles fabric softener (Lenor) type bottles.
Moira Stuart

South Coast Corridor multi modal study

Several members of Shepway FOE attended a study group at the Leas Cliff Hall on 12 July. This event was organised by a company called Halcrow who are setting up study groups along what is termed the South Coast Corridor. It seems that Halcrow are making a study of all the transport options for the South Coast on behalf of the government. Why Halcrow? They are a private engineering firm, but perhaps they have special skills in making this type of study and no doubt they would want to tender for roads and railways when the time comes.

How did this come about? Have the government once again decided that a main east-west route is necessary and are these studies a preliminary? A number of organisations were invited: Town Councils, Chambers of Commerce, Environmental and Amenity Groups, and so on.

We were asked to form groups at round tables and pool ideas about what has been successful, and what are the problems. Needless to say, the problems outweighed the successes. Strict time limits were imposed and findings were set out on flip charts. The findings are to be summarised in a newsletter issued in the autumn.

Mr David Plumstead reminded the organisers that a Public Inquiry had been held in 1994, concerning a plan for bypasses for New Romney and Dymchurch, which were abandoned. All the parties who had submitted evidence after much time and expense would expect to be informed about the present study which is to be known as the South Coast Corridor Multi Modal Study, or SoCoMMs for short.

The organisers promised that if Mr Plumstead gave their names they would be informed. The latter might have replied that it was up to the organisers to find out all about the 1994 inquiry and inform everyone who took part. At the time it was proposed that there should be an east-west motorway from the M20 at Folkestone (ie Channel Tunnel) to Devon. There were inquiries held at other parts of this long route. The cost of those inquiries and now this present study is mind-boggling.

As Shepway FOE members, perhaps we should try to keep our observations fairly uncomplicated as follows:

1. Rail Travel. Needs to be improved. It should be possible to go from Ashford to Southampton in reasonable time and expense, in comfort and without changing.

2. Road Travel. Needs improvement of existing routes not motorways. New Romney and Dymchurch could have been improved without a bypass, which would have destroyed the Lympne escarpment (listed as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty). The A2070 would have taken traffic from the west to the Channel Tunnel. Enormous sums of money would have been saved which might have been spent on cycle routes and local distribution of food.

3. Air Travel. With airports at Exeter, Southampton, Brighton, Lydd and Manston it should be possible for there to be local flights at reasonable cost.

4. Sea Travel. Folkestone, Shoreham, Portsmouth, Poole, Weymouth, Southampton and Exeter are all ports. Why is sea transportation not feasible? In considering a coastal corridor this must surely be of prime importance.

Our countryside must not be despoiled.

Jeff Davies

Round 2 of The South Coast Corridor Multi Modal Study (SoCoMM) local workshop took place at Dover Town Hall on the 4 October 01 and again there was a strong attendance from Shepway FOE. This second phase was to reflect on issues brought up in round 1 and more importantly focus on solving the transport difficulties within the south coast corridor.

After splitting into separate discussion groups, solutions were discussed on how to improve our transport links along the coast with suggestions ranging from a motorway all along the corridor to using the English Channel as a means of carrying goods and people.

The findings suggested that although transport links seemed to radiate from London, there is an infrastructure in place but integration is practically non-existent ie; to take a train from Thanet to Southampton would involve 3 - 4 changes and would take considerable time.

The end findings highlighted that short term road solutions were not the answer but long term investment and improvement of current public transport could not only improve our environment but perhaps increase prosperity and promote regeneration within town centres and rural areas if it was clean, cheap, safe, affordable and accessible.

Lets hope these workshops will highlight to the government the need for long-term solutions rather than short term fixes. Common sense surely should win the day!
Tom Backlog

Our star letter of the month goes to Mrs Miggins, who is concerned about her husband's recent behaviour. She receives a copy of "The Environment Starts Here", by Angela Royston, priced at £9.99 (available at all good bookshops).

Dear Marge…

I feel compelled to put pen to paper and write to your green selves explaining my fears concerning my husband's recent behaviour. He has developed a rather unhealthy fixation with recycling all our household waste. What started as an innocent past time has now developed into a full-blown obsession. It all started with simply leaving piles of newspapers out for the dustmen, and has now escalated into recycling all of our glass, foil, metal, cardboard, cans, tins, clothes, plastic bags, bottles and even composting our kitchen waste. Where will it end!! I feel I have nowhere to turn, please help.

Yours concerned,

Mrs Miggins of Hythe

Marge writes…

Mrs Miggins,

You have every right to be concerned; it appears that your husband is suffering from what is known as "Compulsive Recycling Disorder", a condition that is becoming increasingly more common in this part of Europe. Try not to worry, there are numerous help and support groups specialising in counselling sufferers of this type of affliction. Such as Shepway Friends of the Earth (which will be holding their next meeting on 19 November) who can be contacted on 01303 257046. Don't forget instant relief can be found at Ross Way Recycling Centre and all good participating car parks and supermarkets.

Don't be a Gannet Save the Planet!!