Shepway Friends of the Earth Activity Bulletin - October 2002

Dear Concerned Member, Despite the lack of response to our first Activity Bulletin, we are assuming that you are all concerned at the state of the environment and wish to do something to keep the green agenda at the forefront of the minds of both local newspaper readers and the decision-makers in local and national government. Here are a few updates on our current topics, to which we hope you will feel moved to respond: " Wind Farm Michael Howard has informed us that, following the receipt of correspondence from his constituents protesting about the proposals for the wind farm at Cheyne Court, he has decided to recommend the Government to oppose them. We have obviously not made our feelings clear to him, and probably too many people assume that proposals so patently sensible have no need of supporters. It appears that this is not so. Please, please write now to Mr Howard either at: House of Commons, London SW1 OAA or his local office at 4 West Cliff Gardens, Folkestone CT20 1SP. " Energy Review Parliament reconvenes after the summer recess on Tuesday 15 October. Greenpeace has suggested that as many supporters of renewable energy as possible should lobby their MP's in London on that day to state their opposition to the building of new nuclear poser stations. If you can manage that, please give us a call. Even if you travel independently, it would be useful to know you are going, and also Greenpeace have suggested that they might contribute to travel expenses. If you can't go, but you can spare some time to collect names on a petition form relating to support for renewable power in general and the earliest possible phasing out of nuclear power, please call us. " Ministers are under increasing pressure from the biotech industry and the US to allow more GMO's into Europe. During the meeting in October they might even decide to lift the ban on GMO's - please keep up the pressure from FoE that the ban should be upheld until full safety regulations are in place and the consumer has a clear choice in the shops. If you couldn't manage time off to go with Barrie to Brussels, please write to one or all of our 11 MEP's. Addresses are available at libraries, Shepway Council or Rhona or Barrie. " Stop Esso Campaign. The indefatigable Phil Thornhill is organising a "Wedding March" on Saturday 16 November to publicise the union between George Bush and the Exxon/Esso Company. The March will take a (by now) familiar route through London to the American Embassy. We shall try to have a presence on the March or at the Embassy and would be delighted to see some more people. Ring us for details. " Phytophora What? It's a disease of the alder family of trees, particularly some species of chestnut - pronounced "fie-toffra". Dennis Franklin blew the whistle when he noticed some chestnuts in Shorncliffe Road in Folkestone looking a bit "seedy". Our contact in Shepway Council, Chris McCreedy, has assured us that the problem is fairly local to the Shorncliffe Road area and is caused by the activity of a scale insect. It is not usually lethal to the tree, but when an individual tree droops beyond being attractive, the Council will replace it with a London Plane, which thrives in a traffic-ridden street, rather than a beastly Sycamore. Let's hope so. " Jumble Sale Our proposed date for the biannual extravaganza is Saturday 2 November. Please ring us nearer the time to confirm, and to volunteer your services either on the day or the night before, when, naturally, all the wonderful bric-a-brac and expensively labelled garments are up for grabs during the sorting process.Why not give us a ring? We need to know you're there! Barrie and Moira - 01303 257046 Rhona - 01303 258022 (on hols until after 18 October) Next meeting at The White Hart on 21 October 2002 7.30pm

Secretary: Treasurer: Membership: Campaigns Coordinator Moira Stuart Penny Wright Rhona Hodges Barrie Botley Shepway FoE Steering Group

Mission Statement Shepway FoE Constitution Local Campaigns What you can do Welcome letter to new members

Friends of the Earth are working for lasting change on all these vital fronts Genetic Engineering We have long had concerns that genetic modification of food breaks nature’s safety barriers. Now not only has Prince Charles publicly agreed that genetically modified foods reduce consumer choice and damage the environment, but all the major supermarket chains have now banned their use in their own-brand products. Friends of the Earth are calling for a five-year moratorium on their use, and there is increasing public concern about the possible dangers. Nuclear Power After five years of campaigning, we have won our campaign against Nirex’s plans to site a nuclear waste dump at Sellafield. The expansion of civil nuclear power has been discredited and brought to a halt, but there will be more battles to fight to protect local communities and the environment from the possible dangers of nuclear waste Traffic Reduction Our Road Traffic Reduction Act is only a start. We now have to work with government, local councils and industry to develop sustainable transport patterns - including improved public transport, safe cycle routes, improved pedestrian facilities, and new ways of organising work to reduce unnecessary travel. Air Pollution Our recent report Prescription for Change exposed the appalling effects of air pollution, which kills some 10,000 people in England and Wales every year, and helped to alert the public. We now plan to lobby at European level for effective controls over nitrogen dioxide and ozone emissions, and for targets to be set for reducing them. Achieving this may take a great deal of time and effort, but it is essential for the nation’s health. Saving the Forests The recent Presidential decree banning new mahogany logging concessions in Brazil is a welcome step forward, but it is only one step on a long road. Climate change Climate change, caused by increasing levels of carbon dioxide and the release of other ‘greenhouse’ gases into the atmosphere, is a global disaster in the making. We played a big part in drafting the Home Energy Conservation Act, which is helping to reduce emissions. We intend to step up research into practical solutions based on the replacement of fossil fuels by alternatives such as wind, wave and solar power. Cutting down on waste In Britain, we bury 5 million tonnes of paper every year in landfill sites. Not only does this accelerate forest destruction and create growing pressure on land use; it also contributes to global climate change because rotting paper releases methane, a climate-changing gas.

Would you like to know more, or perhaps become a member of Shepway Friends of the Earth? Annual membership costs £6 (waged) or £2.50 (unwaged); you will receive a regular newsletter and have the opportunity to join in our campaigns. We can be contacted at: 3 Abbott Road, FOLKESTONE, Kent CT20 1NG Telephone (01303) 257046

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