I recently came across an article, which has a bearing on the editorial of our last Newsletter - the impending fresh water crisis. I quote: -

"Lakes forming in the Himalayas and other mountain ranges because of global warming, threaten the lives of tens of thousands of people, scientists warned yesterday.

They are being created - mostly where none existed in living memory - as glaciers retreat and high-altitude snowfields melt in response to a one-degree rise in temperature over 25 years.

The study of lakes in Nepal and Bhutan found that 44 were filling so rapidly they were in danger of bursting their banks within 5 to 10 years, sending millions of gallons of water into populated valleys.

Engineers are considering ways and means of draining them, or lowering their levels, before they become a danger."

But I wonder whether there has been any lateral approach to the problem? In view of the coming water crisis, has no-one given thought to conservation? Admittedly, the terrain where many of these lakes are forming, may be too unstable for such measures - but some, surely, could be strengthened to form valuable future reservoirs.

The controversy about GM crops seems to have moved to the back burner recently - but an alarming report shows that the practice of genetic crop modification is very much called into question. Under the title, "Worst Ever GM Crop Invasion" an article stated:-

'The World's worst case of pollution by genetically-engineered crops has taken place in southern Mexico, the natural gene bank for maize, one of the world's staple crops, the Mexican government said yesterday. The gene modification is the same as that used in GM maize crops in the United States.

In tests, contamination varied from 1 to 35% of a farmer's crops, with a 10 - 15% average, showing that GM genes have cross-pollinated at great distances and at a speed never before thought possible, in the 4 years since GM maize was introduced into the USA.

A government spokesman said, "The contamination is alarming enough but in this case it is especially serious, as it happened in the place of origin of a major crop."

We manipulate the building blocks of life at our peril. This madness must end.

Disturbing reports about the plight of our planetary environment seem never-ending. Yet another, "How Aircraft Leave a Trail of Havoc", relates the extent to which aircraft vapour trails add significantly to the greenhouse effect. Their effect escalates as air travel continues to increase in volume. We've all seen vapour trails high in the sky. They appear to disperse fairly rapidly - but it's then they cause the damage. Moisture in the trail freezes at high altitude around particles of soot in the exhaust gases, to form sheets of ice crystals, similar to natural high cirrus cloud. These clouds reflect back heat radiated out from the earth's surface - thus 'stoking up' the global warming scenario.

Studies have shown that 10 years ago ice clouds made by jet engines near large airports, (and there are many around the world), caused about 1% of the total global greenhouse effect. At the present rate of increase in air travel, it is reckoned that by 2050, they will cause at least 10%.

Things must change - but how? Given that much of our way of life and our economy has become dependent upon air travel, just how do we set about curing this one?

David Horsley

BIG CATS WRECK THE CLIMATE !

Stop ESSO Protest

A hardcore of Shepway FOE activists braved dreadful weather on December 1st last year, outside the Esso Garage in Hythe, to join in a nationwide 'Stop Esso' protest. This action was organised by Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace and took place outside more than 300 Esso petrol stations across the country.
We stood in the wind and rain for 3 hours with banners and cards attached to lampposts, calling for a boycott of Esso, the company which is the most vigorous in undermining the Kyoto agreement, and the fiercest advocate of keeping the US out of it.

As the biggest oil donor to George Bush's election campaign, its $11m annual lobbying budget has purchased vast "scientific evidence" to deny that climate change is caused by fossil fuel burning. At the intergovernmental panel on climate change last year, Esso was the only company in the world lobbying for the removal of any reference to the human causes of global warming.

The intention of the protest was to make Esso feel the heat and send a message to other oil companies in the hope they would also take fright. Wiser companies are starting to redefine themselves, not as oil companies, but as energy companies. But, unlike the others, Esso recently made the biggest profit in history - $17.7bn - yet it spent not one cent on renewable energy.

We hoped that motorists directed away from Esso to the nearest alternative station would stay away from Esso indefinitely. The response was very heartening, with many drivers tooting their horns in support of the campaign, which had received a high profile with national media in the days leading up to the action. One person even drove into the forecourt and, seeing our banners, promptly drove out again without buying any fuel.

The manager of the local Caffyns car showroom, which is part of the garage, was very hostile, threatening to call the police if we so much as put a foot on his forecourt.

It was not very long before the local constabulary turned up, as jolly as ever. In our usual friendly way we went straight up to them and offered them a Stop Esso leaflet. "Already got one", was the reply. "Oh so you know why we are here then?" we replied. "Yes, is everything alright?" The constable enquired. We then mentioned the irate manager and assured him that we would not trespass on the forecourt and, apart from one other uptight member of the public who had just scurried off to call the police, claiming that the sight of our placard almost caused him to crash, all was well. "Obviously driving too close to the car in front" the Plod quipped. "We are off now. If you have any problems don't hesitate to call us." They smiled and went on their way. Shepway FOE's reputation for honesty and trustworthiness had obviously reached the boys in blue. We did not see them again.

ONE YEAR AFTER BUSH DUMPED KYOTO

Phil Thornhill, who has tirelessly campaigned against George Bush's decision in March of last year not to ratify the Kyoto Treaty, put out a rallying call for supporters to march from the Esso HQ in Leatherhead to the US Embassy in Central London. The reasoning behind the two landmarks was that Bush's decision was taken in direct response to lobbying from his corporate backers in the fossil fuel industry, thus putting their short-term interests before those of the world community. Chief among those backers - with a long record of aggressive opposition to the Kyoto process for the reduction in the use of fossil fuels - was Exxon-Mobil, otherwise known as Esso.

So - 20 odd miles - any volunteers? Well, there was me, but I know my limitations, and finding my way to somewhere near Leatherhead at crack of dawn was beyond them. I joined the march at Ewell just before 9am, when they were already half an hour behind schedule. They were a motley crew of some 30 souls, some in Uncle Sam gear, some tigers of varying plausibility and a splendid backup vehicle based on a bike powered trailer festooned with banners and balloons.

Phil tackled the schedule with a will, and the tigers were soon loping along at a cracking pace. The day was mercifully sunny and we were in good spirits, fortified by chocolate supplied by a Swiss "Friend" (of course). By the time we reached Morden tube we had caught up with the schedule, and were gathering volunteers at every point along the way.

We diverted into Wimbledon Town Centre for a stirring speech or two and a sit down with snacks. With the sun overhead we set off once more - Tooting with all its varied ethnic shops, Balham in all its gateway glory, and on to Clapham. We were by now ahead of schedule, so stopped on the Common to review the feet situation; some were in a painful state, with more than a few bloody socks. We had lost a few marchers by now, having done their bit and tottered off. Phil was moved to give us a bit of Henry V for the last push, so it was "On, on, you noblest English" (plus the Swiss) to the "Grand Gathering" in the War Museum Park by the Elephant and Castle.

The Gathering in the Park turned out to be more adequate than grand, and at least one walker was in more need of a cup of tea rather than more rousing speeches, but we were urged to gather our resources to push the campaign, "Globe in the Greenhouse", through the streets to Grosvenor Square, home of the US Embassy. By now the evening chill was setting in, but it was heartening to find that there were a few hundred supporters, including youngsters, who were prepared to walk the streets and listen to speeches from Kate Hampton, FoE International Climate Campaigner, Darren Johnson, Green Party GLA member, the usual Bangladeshi local councillor, the usual Save the World man, etc. And, of course, there was Phil again, almost at the end of his tether, predicting that we might have to make the march an annual event, if sense does not prevail in the White House.

We must keep up the pressure after this inspirational day. The next local event in the campaign is a "Stop Esso" day on May 18th. Please make the effort to come out and join us at the Esso station in Hythe for an hour or two - you can put on a tiger mask if you are shy, or hide behind a placard of your own making. Don't let Bush or his corporate backers forget we still care!

Rhona Hodges

GEORGE BUSH'S CLIMATE CON

President Bush's climate policy, released in February of this year, was condemned by Friends of the Earth International as his latest climate con.

The plan seeks to confuse American voters and the rest of the world by recommending a ceiling on greenhouse gas intensity [1], which will actually allow for continued increases in US greenhouse gas emissions. The 18% intensity 'reduction' target does not even require slower emissions growth. Between 1990 and 2000, US greenhouse gas emissions increased by 14%, while greenhouse gas intensity shrunk by 17.4%.

President Bush is also suggesting that revamping voluntary programmes will result in emissions reductions. After Rio, the United States ratified the UN Framework Convention of Climate Change and introduced voluntary measures, but emissions continued to grow.

The new Bush plan is simply business as usual. Under the Kyoto Protocol, the US agreed to reduce its emissions by 7% against its 1990 level. By abandoning the Protocol, the Bush administration has abandoned a mandatory system that would have resulted in real emissions reductions.

Kate Hampton of Friends of the Earth International said:

"The United States is the world's biggest polluter. It is outrageous that President Bush is still refusing to cut emissions in order to avoid upsetting the powerful US fossil fuel lobby.

This is an insult to other countries who gave their backing to the Kyoto Protocol in Marrakech last year. World leaders must not play along with this green con trick and must continue to press him to ratify Kyoto."

[1] Greenhouse gas intensity expresses the relationship between emissions and economic growth.

The recent 'Curry Report' has made the following recommendations:

· Farmers should no longer be subsidised £3 billion per year to mass produce a few commodities - instead they should supply consumers locally with high value healthy food via farmers markets and be good stewards of the environment.

· 10% of farming subsidies should be redistributed to environmental benefits, ie hedgerows and less use of pesticides and fertilizers.

· Food standards and controls should be extended to imports.

· Extension of the 'Red Tractor' quality mark.

· Business rate relief for stores selling goods directly to the public.

· Electronic tracing of livestock to help prevent disease.

· Help for farmers to diversify - growing wood for fuel, starch and oils, instead of food crops.
· Demonstration farms and a Strategic Research Board.

· A Food Chain Centre to help connect farmers to consumers.

Farmers and the NFU have so far tended to slam the report, but environmental groups will be pressing for its implementation, along with the Organic Targets Bill, to get 30% of food produced organically by 2010. Shepway FOE has lobbied Michael Howard on this issue. He has replied to the effect that the Conservative Party supports the Bill and changes that would help farmers. He claimed the Government was delaying and watering down the Bill. We will be continuing to lobby on this and the Curry Report.

In the meantime we can all do our bit by buying local and organic food wherever possible and by writing to local councillors, etc, to demand more fresh organic produce and Farmers Markets locally.
Ray Duff

GOVERNMENT PLANNING CHANGES A DISASTER FOR ENVIRONMENT

Government plans for radical changes in the planning system are disastrous for local people and the environment. The changes proposed in the Government's Planning Green Paper, released in December 2001, would lead to the biggest removal of rights ever seen in the British planning system. For example, it proposes: · removing the right for people to have their objections to local development plans heard at a public inquiry.· setting up business zones where planning regulations won't apply.Thus it: · strips away important national policy on issues such as nature conservation; · fails to address the lack of a community right of appeal, which is currently enjoyed by would-be developers, but not local people. In further plans, the Government is proposing to give powers to Parliament to approve the building of major infrastructure projects such as nuclear power stations, ports and airports. Public inquiries would only consider minor details of the proposed development. Parliament would make decisions on "the principle of, need for and location", Dr Hugh Ellis, Planning Campaigner at National Friends of the Earth said:"The Government has caved in to the demands of developers and the CBI.

This is one of the biggest blows to environmental protection and democracy in the last 50 years.""Overhauling the planning system was a golden opportunity to deliver sustainable development. But New Labour has blown it. And with plans to fast-track major infrastructure projects still to be published, things can only get worse."FOE is campaigning for a democratic, transparent and strategic planning system, which will benefit everyone.

Phone, write to or email your MP expressing your concerns at these proposals and asking their views on the Green Paper. Ask: "should Parliament take decision-making on major projects out of the hands of local people?"

For more information, contact National FOE on 02074901555 or email info@foe.co.uk or see the web site www.foe.co.uk.