manchester foe logo

Public Transport

We campaign for an affordable, reliable and sustainable public transport service for all. Investing in good public transport brings wide benefits for social inclusion, air quality and congestion.

In autumn 2019 we backed the Better Buses for Greater Manchester campaign.

Auto Draft

Taste Before Beauty

Taste Before Beauty was a 2012 campaign on food waste, targetting the wholesale end of supply chains.

Double UK Tree Cover

Trees have the potential to play an incredible role in combating climate chaos by removing planet-wrecking emissions from the air around us. They are also invaluable because they:

As well as all these advantages, trees have immense amenity value by improving the appearance of rural landscapes and city streets and squares.

However, despite the importance of trees, just 13% of the UK’s total land area is wooded. In contrast, the EU average is 35%.

We believe one of the best solutions to protect our environment is to double UK tree cover by 2045, but government targets currently fall well short of this goal.

More information:

Real Food Guide

The Real Food Guide has been created to provide information on what ‘Real Food’ is, why to buy and eat it, and how to find it in Manchester and the locality.

See the Real Food Guide.

Plastic Free GM

After the first experience of our Plastic Free Takeaways campaign in Levenshulme, we took time to decide on a more feasible and realistic plan of action for reducing plastic in Manchester and teamed up with several interested individuals and groups to work with councils on their Plastic Free Greater Manchester campaign and encourage them to enforce tighter regulations of waste in the hospitality industry.

We researched the best eco-friendly materials, in relation to the ones with the lowest carbon-emissions at different price points, so the businesses could be fully informed and in a better position to change their packaging.

Our plans were then to visit businesses, encouraging them to make the switch. An online questionnaire was developped to engage with them and collect feedback. After an initial run of visits, the campaign was put on hold due to a lack of human resources to expand further.

The aim of this campaign, in collaboration with councils, was to reduce plastic waste in the hospitality industry across Greater Manchester, not just one concentrated area. This is one step of the many changes that we need to make as a society to reduce the catastrophic impacts of climate change and reduce our impact on the environment.

Plastic Free Takeaways

Recognising the problems of littering and ocean plastic pollution are urgent problems, our campaign Plastic-Free Takeaways was asking take-away businesses in Levenshulme to stop using plastic food and drinks containers and cutlery, and instead offer compostable eco-friendly alternatives.

As a start, we created a leaflet and spent time at Levenshulme market to raise awareness of plastic as a global and local problem. We gathered consumer support encouraging local takeaways to switch to more eco-friendly packaging. Despite the overall high number of signatures, we had only a few of them for each takeaway and encouraging change was difficult.

We took time to decide on a more feasible and realistic plan of action for reducing plastic in Manchester and teamed up with several interested individuals and groups to work with councils on their Plastic Free Greater Manchester campaign.

Feeding the 5000

Feeding the 5000 is a campaign to raise awareness of the amount of edible food wasted in a city. This event was held in June 2013 in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens with a public feast of a delicious vegan curry made from ingredients that would have otherwise gone to waste, and more often than not gone in landfill! Along with participatory cooking sessions, educational and campaign stalls and more, this day brought more than 5000 people together to enjoy good food and learn simple ways they could reduce their own food waste and petition food businesses and the government to do the same.

Quarterly Food Socials

Our quarterly food socials are generally held on the third Thursday of March, June, September and December. The idea is to learn about sustainable food, eat, drink and generally be merry. In 2016 we look forward to arranging these on a whole group basis.

In the past our food socials have included activities like bring and share dinners and picnics, trips to farms and orchards, and talks and discussions about sustainable food issues including local, organic, seasonal, vegan, food waste, packaging, food miles and lots of other topics. At the heart of it all is a desire to meet new people, share food and recipes, and have a jolly good time.

Year of Pulses

The United Nations declared 2016 as the International Year of Pulses. ..but why celebrate our love of baked beans, houmous and mushy peas!?

Pulses are the ultimate superfood and play a central role in achieving a sustainable food system. Not only are they an excellent source of protein,  and a low carbon food source,  but they also have a positive impact on soil quality through their ability to fix nitrogen in the soil.

Throughout the year we invited people to share with us their beloved bean and lentil recipes- with a small but valuable prize each month!

Parsnip and split pea soup

We will also be highlighting local food outlets which celebrate the pulse on their menus and encouraging others to do so. Please send us your favourite..

Any more ideas ? please get in touch cat@manchesterfoe.org.uk

For more information on the UN’s International Year of the Pulse see IYP 2016 and see a summary below of the reasons why the UN  celebrated the pulse.

Find out more about why we  celebrate Pulses.

Use Your Loaf

What is really in YOUR daily bread and why?

This campaign is all about what’s in our food, using our favourite staple – bread. Our recipes and links will help you buy and cook healthy, seasonal, ‘proper’ food.


Good shop bought bread contains anything from 3-5 ingredients… cheaper bread 10-20 + ingredients… So why the difference and what are all those ingredients doing in your bread and doing to you once you eat it?

Here’s a couple of links to source local real bread . . .

Trove

EveryBread

Why not have a go at making your own bread . . .

Use Your Loaf campaigner Chris has been busy baking . . .

Once upon a time, Chris’s home made bread was so heavy it could have been mistaken for a house brick, albeit without the frog and the letters L.B.C.!

With perseverance, practice, some good tips and learning from the occasional mistake, Chris’s bread making is much improved, so if Chris can do it  . . . no excuses . . . have a go yourself !

Chris has adapted a series of bread recipes for you to try, with step by step instructions and pictures of his efforts . . .

Bread recipes . . .

cwb4

Classic White Bread Loaf

 

granary loaf

Granary Bread Loaf

 

ebr4

Emergency Breakfast Rolls

 

Sourdough Bread The sourdough method uses a combination of wild yeast and an acid-generating bacteria in place of baker’s yeast. You will need to create or obtain a sourdough starter first . . .

Ingredients

Sourdough Starter

 

 

sdb4

Sourdough loaf

 

 

 

Sourdough Fougasse

 

 

chocsl4

Sourdough Chocolate Bread

 

 

Here’s another Sourdough Bread recipe . . .

Fancy some vegan pancakes?

Sourdough Pancakes

Sourdough Pancakes

 

Stale bread to use up? . . .

Bread Pudding

Bread pudding
 

 

Recipes

Our tasty recipes help you to enjoy delicious sustainable food.

RECENT

Drop scones (egg- and dairy-free)

31st May 2020

Did you know that if you open a tin of pulses and drain it, you’re throwing away a completely animal-free alternative to eggs (look up ‘aquafaba’ online). Next time you open a tin of chickpeas or butter beans, try keeping …

Seaweed, leek and mushroom pasta

31st May 2020

A tasty seasonal recipe from Cat. Seaweed is a great way for us to ensure we get enough iodine, especially if we are vegan. Be careful, though, as overindulging can be too much of a good thing! Serves 2. Ingredients …

Celery, apple and cashew soup

31st May 2020

A recipe with seasonal ingredients Cat recommends, courtesy of the Guardian. Celery and apples are both in season in winter and partner each other very well. Cashews, with their high protein content, make this soup a nutritionally balanced meal. Serves …

Banana bread

31st May 2020

If you have bananas that have gone soft and are almost black, this will use them up! With bananas often ending up in our bins at the end of the week, this recipe (adapted from the BBC’s website) will help …

Smashed white bean and avocado sandwich

27th May 2020

What’s in it? 1 can white beans, rinsed and drained 1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil Juice of half a lemon 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced ½ cucumber, thinly sliced 2 avocados, pitted and thinly sliced 150g sprouted beans …

Chickpea, cherry tomato and feta salad

27th May 2020

Chickpea, cherry tomato and feta salad What’s in it? 1/4 cup canned chickpeas 1/2 cup quartered cherry tomatoes 1/4 cup crumbled feta 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 2 teaspoons olive oil 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1/8 teaspoon salt Ground pepper …

Three bean pasta salad

27th May 2020

What’s in it? 150-200g pasta shells 300g green beans, trimmed and cut into thirds 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard 1/3 cup red-wine vinegar 2 tablespoons honey 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1 can pinto beans, rinsed and drained 1 can chickpeas, …

Mashed chickpea salad

27th May 2020

What’s in it? 1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed 1/2 cup celery, sliced 1/2 cup carrots, diced 1/4 cup spring onion, sliced 1/4 cup or so hummus or tahini 1 – 2 tablespoons mustard (stoneground or dijon) dash of garlic …

Mojito cakes

27th May 2020

This is an energy-saving recipe for the microwave contributed by Ian Cummings, finalist in the Great British Bake Off 2015, to celebrate Earth Hour in 2017. These cakes take less than 10 minutes to prepare. Ingredients: For the cakes: 60 …

Soda bread

27th May 2020

Ingredients 250g plain white flour 250g plain wholemeal flour 100g oats 1 tsp salt 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda 50g margarine 250ml soy milk 250ml rapeseed oil Method Preheat oven to 200°C/gas mark 6. Mix the flour, oats, salt and …

Dutch-style cupcakes

27th May 2020

Ingredients 200g plain flour, sifted 200g caster sugar 4 tablespoons almond meal or more flour 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda 5 tablespoons rapeseed oil 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon white vinegar 225ml water 2 apples, thinly sliced …

Beetroot and pear cake

27th May 2020

Ingredients 120g beetroot (grated) 100g chopped pear or apple 110g sultanas 60g chopped walnuts or almonds 140g self-raising white flour 180g self-raising wholemeal flour 170g sugar 1 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp ginger 100ml rapeseed oil 100ml soya milk 200ml water …

Nut roast and veg

24th Apr 2020

This recipe is one from the 8th Day Cooperative - it might take a while to make but it definitely serves more than the 4-6 suggested!

Ful medames tagliatelle

22nd Apr 2020

This is a combination of my favourite foods!

Mushroom and courgette risotto

22nd Apr 2020

Add 1 cup of risotto rice (short grain) and 1/2 tsp of dried thyme - stir in and then add 1/2 cup of white wine or beer. Stir this in until evaporated and then start adding hot vegetable stock a cup at a time, stirring constantly and adding the next cup of stock when the liquid has evaporated.

Winter salad

3rd Mar 2018

In an effort to boost the immune system, and to eat seasonally and veggie, here is a little recipe Cat made.

Recipes for your bee-friendly rapeseed oil

20th Feb 2018

Have you already bought some high-quality bee-friendly British rapeseed oil produced while avoiding the use of harmful pesticides? If you’d like more information about the issues, you can find out more here. But if you’ve already got a bottle of …

Sourdough September Logo

UYL - Sourdough September again !

30th Aug 2017

Sourdough September is when the Real Bread Campaign goes on a mission to help everyone discover that: life’s sweeter with sourdough! Have a go at making your own sourdough bread . . .

Eating Better for a Fair Green Healthy Future

How to make an energy-saving dessert in 9 easy steps

23rd Mar 2017

We can’t all star in the Great British Bake Off like eco-friendly baker Ian Cummings (pictured right) – but we can all help to save energy when we cook. Ian is celebrating Earth Hour 2017 (25 March) by sharing his energy-saving favourite recipe – delicious …

Sourdough September Logo

UYL - Ready for Sourdough September?

28th Aug 2016

Sourdough September is when the Real Bread Campaign goes on a mission to help everyone discover that: life’s sweeter with sourdough! The Campaign is encouraging Real Bread bakers everywhere to organise their own local events and activities from 1-30 September, …

Deadline for Climate Justice & Aviation Communication Training for Activists and Campaigners (Stay Grounded)

Do you want to be part of a movement for a fair and green mobility, or boost campaigns on climate justice and aviation?

Would you like to learn more about the ecological and social impacts of aviation, how to counter the industry’s greenwashing strategies and to bring about a just transition of the aviation sector? (more…)

Webinar on Ultra Fine Particles (UECNA)

The speaker is Debi Wagner, longtime activist for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

Followed by questions and discussion.  6-7 pm (CET) / 5-6pm GMT

(more…)

Call on Greater Manchester councils to respect the Stansted decision

Stansted
Planes approaching Stansted Airport. Credit: Ronnie Macdonald from Chelmsford, United Kingdom / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)

In January, Uttlesford District Council (UDC) decided to reject plans to expand Stansted Airport because of the adverse impacts on climate change, air pollution and noise.

But the airport’s owner, Manchester Airport Holdings (MAG), is now trying to overturn the decision.  

This will mean more public money wasted on legal fees, and more uncertainty for long-suffering local residents.

As MAG is part owned by the ten local authorities in Greater Manchester, our councils have real influence over what happens at Stansted.

The leader of Manchester City Council, Sir Richard Leese, and Rochdale councillor John Blundell represent the ten Greater Manchester authorities on MAG’s board.

Call on Leese & Blundell to respect local democracy and accept the Stansted decision

Live talk: How our legal team stopped Heathrow expansion

In February 2020, Friends of the Earth’s legal team won a landmark case against the government.

They argued that plans to allow the expansion of Heathrow Airport were illegal – on climate change grounds. And they won, in one of the most important environmental law cases our country has seen in decades.

This is your chance to hear the full story from the two lawyers who led the case – Will Rundle and Katie de Kauwe – and ask them your questions.

 

Webinar: Airport Conflicts – Struggles for Environmental Justice

More than 300 socio-environmental conflicts related to the expansion or creation of new airports or aerotropolis (airports surrounded by industrial and commercial zones) were mapped in a research project with 67 in-dept case studies were mapped in research project in collaboration between Environmental Justice Atlas and Stay Grounded. (more…)

Webinar: Campaigns to reduce aviation – a movement for the privileged?

When we talk about Degrowth of Aviation we often talk about the needed changes in lifestyles that come along with it. But not everyone can easily change their lifestyle or their habit of flying. Some people have family abroad, some are forced to fly for their jobs. (more…)

Airport Cities Development Conference (Built Environment Networking event)

A new urban form of development is evolving around airports – creating Airport Cities – and the leading figures from UK and Worldwide airports are all set gather for our annual Airport Cities Development Conference to discuss how to develop thriving aerotropolis, driving economic growth and business. (more…)

Government considering cut to air passenger duty – Friends of the Earth reaction

Reacting to news that the government may cut air passenger duty on all domestic flights, Friends of the Earth campaigner, Jenny Bates said: 

“It would be completely unacceptable and even reckless if the government cut air passenger duty on domestic flights. 

“These short UK trips are exactly the ones we need to avoid in the drive to cut aviation climate emissions to help prevent climate breakdown. Instead the government could invest more in our rail system, and make such trips more affordable.” 

ENDS 

For more information contact the Friends of the Earth press office on 020 7566 1649 / 07718 394786 (out of hours – please do not text this number) media@foe.co.uk

Notes to editors: 

1. About Friends of the Earth: Friends of the Earth is an international community dedicated to the protection of the natural world and the wellbeing of everyone in it.

We bring together more than two million people in 75 countries, combining people power all over the world to transform local actions into global impact. For more information visit: https://friendsoftheearth.uk/ follow us at @friends_earth, or like our Facebook page.

Court of Appeal to hear Friends of the Earth’s climate case against Heathrow third runway

Friends of the Earth and Leigh Day press release

Rally outside the Royal Courts of Justice to commence at 08:45. 09:00 photo call, 09:05 – 09:30 speeches outside the courts

Hearing due to start by 10:30 (timings will be confirmed here afternoon of 16th). Watch a live stream of the hearing here

Friends of the Earth will today (17th October) take its legal case against Heathrow’s third runway plans to the Court of Appeal. The court will hear an appeal against the High Court’s decision that the government had not breached its sustainable development duties by allowing the expansion of Heathrow. The hearing is expected to last six days.

Friends of the Earth, represented by law firm Leigh Day, are leading the challenge on climate change arguments against the expansion of Heathrow and will be the first of the appellants to present their case to the Court of Appeal.

Friends of the Earth argue in their case that the government’s decision to allow the expansion of Heathrow was unlawful as it breached the Department for Transport’s sustainable development duties in failing to mitigate climate change for future generations. This was specifically due to: not considering the Paris Agreement let alone assessing the expansion in the light of it; the absence of any climate policy beyond the 2050 target under the Climate Change Act; and the failure to factor in any impact from the non-CO2 contribution of aviation to climate breakdown.

Polling released by Friends of the Earth earlier this week found that 64% of people, after being told the potential benefits and negatives*, are concerned about the climate impact of building a third runway at Heathrow Airport. The same survey found that only 1 in 4 people support the plans for a third runway.

Interviews available with:

A third runway at Heathrow Airport would put 700 more planes into the sky each day – 50% more than the airport currently sees. This would all but blow chances of the UK meeting its targets for cutting emissions and fighting climate breakdown.

Jenny Bates, campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said:

“Declaring a climate emergency while backing Heathrow’s third runway project shows the climate hypocrisy of our government. Expanding Heathrow would lead to a huge increase in climate-wrecking emissions. It’s time the government is held to account over the third runway, and for more thought to go into what a third runway would mean for the planet. We need to be cutting down the number of planes in our skies, not giving them a massive daily boost.”

Will Rundle, head of legal at Friends of the Earth, said:

“How can ministers even consider greenlighting high carbon infrastructure projects like the third runway at Heathrow at a time of climate crisis? The government has admitted that it did not consider the Paris agreement when agreeing to Heathrow expansion. We hope the Court of Appeal will now agree with us that this is not sustainable development and ignores the needs of future generations.”

Rowan Smith, solicitor in the environmental law team at law firm Leigh Day, said:

“Since the last hearing in this case in March 2019 the government has legislated for net zero carbon emissions under the Climate Change Act which our client believes would have almost no chance of being met if the expansion of Heathrow was to go ahead. It also gives further weight to our client’s arguments that the expansion goes against the government’s own climate change goals.

“In recent months the issue of climate change has been pushed even further into the public consciousness with many thousands of people taking part in protests all around the world, including children and young people who fear for their futures if strong action is not taken soon.

“Despite his recent U-turn, our own Prime Minister once thought that the expansion of Heathrow would be so detrimental that he pledged to “lie in front of bulldozers” to stop it. It is clear that climate change cannot be ignored, and our client believes that the future of our planet should be prioritised over the needs of a small minority who will benefit from these extra flights.”

*The survey asked people about their level of concern, and whether they support or oppose the expansion, after respondents were shown the following text:

‘There are currently plans for a third runway to be built at Heathrow Airport. The additional runway would put 700 more planes into the sky each day – 50% more than the airport currently does. It has been suggested that this will bring certain benefits by creating new jobs and domestic flight routes, but it will also contribute to climate change and negatively impact those living around Heathrow Airport.’

ENDS

For more information contact the Friends of the Earth press office on 020 7566 1649 / 07718 394786 (out of hours – please do not text this number) or by emailing media@foe.co.uk.

For interviews with Rowan Smith contact the Leigh Day press office on 0161 393 3547 or email pressoffice@leighday.co.uk

Notes to editors

  1. The High Court ruled on 1 May 2019 that the government’s decision to allow the building of a third runway at Heathrow airport was lawful. This followed legal challenges brought by a number of environmental NGOs, pressure groups and local councils which were heard collectively by the court in March 2019.
  2. Environmental group Friends of the Earth, represented by law firm Leigh Day, brought one of the legal challenges, focusing on the climate change impact of a third runway. They argued that the government’s decision to allow expansion was unlawful as it failed to explain how such expansion fitted with the UK’s climate change policy.
  3. Friends of the Earth also claimed that the decision breached the Department for Transport’s sustainable development duties in failing to have regard to the desirability of mitigating climate change for future generations. This was specifically due to: not considering the UN’s Paris Agreement, the lack of any climate policy beyond the 2050 target under the Climate Change Act, and the failure to factor in any impact from the non-CO2 contribution of aviation to climate breakdown.
  4. *Survey data from YouGov Plc.  Total sample size was 2,017 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 4th – 6th October 2019.  The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).
  5. Watch a live stream of the hearing here
  6. Friends of the Earth is an international community dedicated to the protection of the natural world and the wellbeing of everyone in it. We bring together more than two million people in 75 countries, combining people power all over the world to transform local actions into global impact. For more information visit:  friendsoftheearth.uk, follow us at @friends_earth, or like our Facebook page.

Our response to the “Aviation 2050: the future of UK aviation” consultation

Earlier this year, the Government published a consultation document ‘Aviation 2050: the future of UK aviation’. This document laid out some specific policy proposals that may be included in the final aviation strategy. 

See below for a copy of the North West regional Friends of the Earth EWNI response which was endorsed by Liverpool Friends of the Earth and Manchester Friends of the Earth.

A final white paper version of the Government’s aviation strategy is due to be published later in 2019.

aviation-questionnaire-FoE-NW-Final-20th-June-2019Download

Find us on

Facebook

Support Us

Donate or join us using a standing order or PayPal.

Our Campaigns

Twitter @foemcr