Winter 2005 Newsletter
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The following articles are reproduced from the Winter 2005 newsletter, and so any information within this page is correct only as of December 2005. For the latest up-to-date information, please visit the relevant campaign pages using the menu on the left, or by clicking on the image alongside the title of each article. |
Kids & Climate
Young people are more concerned than ever about the effects of climate change on their and future generations. A recent survey by Friends of the Earth found that 60% of young people are worried that the world will suffer the effects of global climate change when they are adults and that more than 70% are already taking action at home or school to save energy. The 'Shout About Climate Change' week took place from the 7th to 11th November, and aimed to raise awareness and understanding about the issue in schools and youth groups across the UK.
Manchester Friends of the Earth group visited All Hallows Roman Catholic High School on Weaste Lane in Salford, spending an afternoon with a Year 10 Geography class exploring the causes of climate change, and the likely effects both locally in Salford and globally, including in the develoed world. The young people were concerned that it is the poorer countries of the world who will experience the worst effects of climate change, and felt that the adult generation and people in positions of power are failing to take the action needed now to tackle the causes of climate change, and that their generation will pay the price. To show their commitment to reducing their own contribution to climate change, the group all made pledges to do their bit to save energy. Young people know that their individual actions can make a difference and that by saving energy, persuading their family and friends to be greener or by calling for political action, they are facing up to the biggest challenge facing our and future generations. Climate Change is happening now, but young people in Salford and across the UK are showing that we can all do something about it.
The pupils were keen to show their commitment to reducing climate change emissions from their activities:
"Switching off my lights, not leaving things on standby, switching off plug sockets and recycling as much as I can." - Chelsea Smith, 14
"I will make sure I turn off all the lights when I go out." - Nicholas Winter, 14
"I will switch all appliances off at the socket so I do not unnecessarily waste electricity." - Taryn Banner, 15
"I will promote saving the environment to all my family and friends!" - Emma Williams, 14
"I will walk more instead of asking for lifts in the car." - Jason Smith, 14
"I will have shorter showers so I do not use up as much hot water." - Amy Wynne, 14
"I will conserve energy and electricity around the house and recycle as much as possible." - Jessica Hopley, 14
"I will close the doors to keep the warmth inside, and will not leave my TV and Playstation 2 on standby." - Luke Smith, 15
"I will turn off all the plugs when I have finished using things." - Chloe Woodward, 14
The Orang-Utan Speaks
On Saturday 29th October, Friends of the Earth activists across the country held a day of action on palm oil outside their local Tesco store. Here in Manchester we were fortunate to be joined by Onkey the orang-utan. Here's her account of the day...
Many human foodstuffs contain palm oil harvested from plantations in East Asia. Our local orang-utan clans are being threatened because our lovely forest is being cut down and replaced by oil palm, and it is high time for people to find out what is happening to our home.
When I left the Borneo forest, the thought of facing human beings in their own concrete settings was rather petrifying. However, as the representative of the orang-utan clan, it is my duty to contribute to the campaign by human beings who raise awareness of how their own extraordinary eating habits threaten the orang-utan habitat.
Straight from my seat in Animal Class and still suffering from jet lag, I was welcomed by the Manchester group of Friends of the Earth, and escorted to the nearest Tesco store in town. Here it was that we caught the audience in the act. A fellow ape from Malaysia had come over as well, so it was nice to groom each other, but he was very orange, and not really my type.
There were lots of humans of all kinds: small, big and everything in between. Of course, I did not exactly speak their language, and I still don't understand why some of the small ones responded with loud screams and tears down their cheeks. Others were very nice and wanted to hug me, and I could see lots of flashes from shiny little boxes. A nice little being treated me to some tasty little yellow coloured sticks too!
Meanwhile, the great people of the FoE group, spoke to lots of very big fellow people, who all kindly signed cards to your leaders, so that in future, laws may better protect us in Borneo, and our mates in Sumatra and Malaysia. One of these leaders came to see us too, and he said how important the campaign is, and how he is committed to working with Friends of the Earth to bring about action at a global as well as a national level.
It was a very successful day, and I hope that all the people who only just learnt of our trouble will help to spread the message. I am very glad to have had the overseas experience, but have returned to Borneo straight away, as there is definitely no place like home...
Oil Never Buy It Again!
It's not just orang-utans that are threatened by palm oil production. The palm oil plantations are the biggest cause of rainforest clearance in Indonesia and Malaysia. Palm oil plantations are very destructive. To set up a plantation the forest is entirely cleared, wiping out all the wildlife, with no hope of recovery. Such a large area of forest is being cleared it is feared hundreds and possibly thousand of species will be driven to extinction, including the Sumatran tiger along with the orang-utan.
As part of this deforestation, land has also been stolen from indigenous peoples by the Governments of Indonesia and Malaysia and handed over to palm oil companies. The resulting conflict has led to large numbers of human rights violations and there is irrefutable evidence that hundreds of local community activists have been tortured. Worker exploitation is another concern as plantation workers live in appalling conditions and are paid very low wages.
With such serious environmental and human rights violations it is important we take action on palm oil. Here in the UK, one in ten supermarket products, from bread, chocolate and crisps to shampoo, lipstick and soap contain palm oil. We can't avoid palm oil but we can insist it comes from non-destructive sources. However companies, such as Tesco have refused to take any effective action on palm oil.
Since UK companies won't stop sourcing their products and ingredients, such as palm oil, from places where the environment is being destroyed and human rights are being abused, the Government must legislate and force them to do so. At our day of action we were asking the public to sign postcards to their MP to ask the Government to strengthen company law by ensuring that the Company Law Reform Bill places a clear requirement on company directors to minimise the negative environmental and social impacts of their business. In the case of palm oil this would mean UK companies tracing their palm oil and ensuring it did not come from destructive sources.
You also can take action on this issue at:
www.manchesterfoe.co.uk/corporates/action.htm
And there is more information at www.palmoil.org.uk.
LTP2 - This Time It's Serious!
A member of the group reflects upon the forthcoming Local Transport Plan for Greater Manchester...
The Greater Manchester LTP2 sets out a five year programme for transport improvements in the GM area underpinned by a longer term transport strategy. It is being written as you read this.
Some background
The tone of Greater Manchester Local Transport Plan 2 (GMLTP2) was set out starkly in the Autumn of 2004 when the Greater Manchester Local Authorities launched the initial consultation on the plan at a stakeholder consultation event at the City of Manchester Stadium.
Launching the Transport 2020 vision document, Howard Bernstein Chief Exec of Manchester City Council and Clerk to the GMPTA complained that "if we don't get Metrolink then we don't have a transport plan." Whilst the continuing delays in funding Metrolink are an ongoing problem, the plan for our local transport system should consist of far more than just this...
Following the rather disappointing visioning document the tone of which was very much about transport serving economic development, GMPTE and Manchester City Council pre-empted the publication of the provisional LTP with an Integrated Transport Strategy (ITS) document. This strategy was produced in order to accompany a bid to the Transport Innovation Fund in an attempt to secure more money to fund Metrolink. Disappointingly, prior to submission to the Government there was very little consultation regarding its content with the district councils and public.
The main problem (in addition to the lack of consultation on the ITS) was that close examination revealed that it wasn't an integrated transport strategy at all but basically a public transport strategy. There was scant mention of walking and cycling in the document.
What can we expect?
In the summer the Greater Manchester (GM) authorities published the Greater Manchester Provisional Local Transport Plan 2. The provisional plan is heavily based on the ITS . Although walking and cycling are discussed more than in the ITS, there have not been updated walking and cycling strategies to accompany it. Alarmingly the Greater Manchester authorities see no potential for increasing the number of journeys by walking (in fact setting a target to "reduce the rate of decline" in walking by 15% rather than increase it. There is a modest target to increase cycling trips by 10% in five years, however other authorities are much more ambitious, (Merseyside aiming for a 50% increase ). Recently London has doubled the number of journeys taken by bike in a matter of months which just goes to show what is achievable with a carrot and stick strategy.
Disturbingly the GM plan includes a wish-list of major road schemes (defying Government guidance saying that these should be submitted through a regional prioritisation process). Apparently a blueprint for a Greater Manchester Cycle network does exist, but unsurprisingly no timescale is identified for its completion, nor is it listed as being a priority.
There are some ambitious targets on air pollution: a 30% reduction by 2011. Scepts would argue that this is achievable given the lack of radical demand management measures in place. There is also a target set for a 12.5% reduction in CO2 emissions from transport on 1990 levels but no indications as to exactly how this will be achieved.
The Greater Manchester local authorities consulted on the transport plan in November 2005. Backed by work in the media, this is what we argued should be included:
· A target to increase walking and cycling trips.
· Safe Routes to all schools by 2013.
· Completion of a GM Cycle Network by the end of the LTP2 period.
· A road safety strategy for risk reduction and a comprehensive speed
management strategy
· Smart card technology to reduce queuing on buses and aid integration.
· Secure cycle parking at all public transport interchanges and train
stations.
· The removal of road schemes from the provisional LTP2
· An expanded and properly financed travel change programme.
All the measures listed above are affordable through the LTP. However, there appears to be a lack of commitment to deliver on them. Of course it will be good to see Metrolink expanded but the reality is that this is simply too expensive to be funded through the LTP and money will have to come from other sources.
Local Views on Transport
Since spreading its wings in 2003, the Longsight Transport Project has been continuing to work hard to involve local people in finding solutions to transport problems in the Longsight area.
The new Internet site (www.allnet.org.uk/transport) is kept up-to-date with current issues. Latest additions include a 2005 update to the 2003 report "Better Buses and Safer Streets for Longsight" and the group's submission to Local Transport Plan 2, which included observations from people who live in the area.
The reaction to the recent 'environmental improvements' to the shopping area, did not seem overly positive: "So how is the pedestrian's environment improved by giving them far narrower pavements and allowing much more space for cars?", one local resident commented.
A Burning Question
We encourage readers to send in their thoughts and questions. Here is a recent question about fuel use...
Dear MFoE,
Once we were told it was green to use gas. But now I've switched to a green electricity supplier so which is most environmentally friendly? Should I boil water in the kettle or on the gas stove? Should I swap my gas cooker for an electric one (and beat the rush for when gas runs out)?
Yours,
Confused, Manchester
Dave Coleman , Manchester FoE Climate Campaigner, gives his response...
Let's reduce this question to its simplest. If you need to boil the kettle, and if you have the choice, should you use the gas cooker or use the electric kettle?
Assuming you aren't generating all your own renewable electricity or have a wood burning stove, if you already buy your electricity from a renewable electricity supplier - use electricity.
By a renewable supplier we mean an electricity supplier that uses only renewable energy sources such as wind, water and solar to generate the energy it sells. Using renewable electricity means you are not responsible for the use of any fossil fuels and not contributing to climate change. (There are a wide range of renewable electricity tariffs and suppliers to choose from, but our current tip would be Ecotricity (http://www.ecotricity.com, tel: 0800 0326 100).
But if you are only sourcing your electricity from a “conventional” supplier – use gas.
Conventional energy companies generate the electricity they sell mainly through burning fossil fuels such as coal (dirty in terms of greenhouse gas emission) or gas (cleaner but not great), with a small amount coming from nuclear (radioactive waste and CO2 emissions from processing and transport) although they are obliged to provide a very small amount (this year 5%) from renewable sources. Even disregarding the moral issues of leaving radioactive waste for future generations to deal with, burning fossil fuels at the power station and then transmitting it down power lines to your home results in energy losses. It is therefore greener to burn the cleanest fossil fuel (gas) in your home than at a power station: so go for the gas!
If you have a question that you would like to be considered in the newsletter, please send it to office@manchesterfoe.org.uk or to our postal address (see inside front cover).
Veggie Heaven
Misty's Vegetarian Café in Longsight will be celebrating its 10th birthday next April. Lynda Searby caught up with owner Phil Hardy...
How did you come to own Misty’s?
I was doing social and community work, but I didn't like the bureaucracy and organisational politics. Sometimes you reach a stage in life where there's something you've always wanted to do and you either try it now or you know you'll never have the chance to do it again. At the time people said I was mad to try and start a vegetarian café in Longsight. 10 years down the line I'm still doing it and I'm still happy.
What’s on the menu?
Curry and rice dishes, such as spinach dahl and roast butternut squash curry, moussaka with Greek oven potatoes, soups, omelettes, veggie breakfasts, salads, sandwiches. Our homemade vegan cakes are very popular. They range from German apple cake to coffee and pecan nut, orange and almond, carrot and chocolate cake. Our pricing structure is very simple. Hot meals are all £3 and cakes are £1 a slice.
What are your guiding principles?
We're very active in the local community. We're involved with the community radio station and with local projects like the restoration of Victoria Baths.
In terms of the food, everything is made on the premises, where possible from locally sourced produce. We have good links with local market traders and organic suppliers. Not everything we use is organic - we couldn't do that because it would push the prices beyond what many people can afford. If we find out that anything we're using is GM, we will stop using it, but it's difficult to know.
All our tea and coffee is fair trade and we're a member of Manchester City Council's fair traders scheme.
How 'green' are you as an organisation?
We recycle as much as we can. We'd like to recycle more but unfortunately the facilities don't exist. A lot of the stuff that can't be recycled, like egg boxes, gets taken to local schools for making models etc. The business doesn't own a vehicle - I'm a keen cyclist and do a lot of the deliveries on my bike.
Misty's features in the Real Food Guide. You can download the guide from www.realfoodguide.org.uk.
Where?
Misty's Vegetarian Café, Longsight Shopping Centre 531 Stockport Road, M12 4JH. Tel: 0161 256 3355
When?
9am-5pm Mon-Sat
Why?
Good value, ethically made vegetarian and vegan food, including snacks, breakfasts and homemade cakes.
Take Action!
If you have...
...5 minutes
Buy a friend gift membership of this newsletter for Christmas. See the below - it couldn't be easier.
...15 minutes
Write to your MP and urge him or her to support the Big Ask campaign. More info at: www.manchesterfoe.org.uk/climate
...30 minutes
If you haven't already, sort out some space for your recycling containers, contact the Council for a collection calendar (www. manchester.gov.uk/environment/recycling/form.htm) and make a New Year's resolution to recycle...!
For more money- & planet-saving tips, visit www.savecashsaveplanet.org.