Friday 30 September 2011

Weekly compilation 30.09.2011

Here's the latest update on what's been happening over the past 5 days:

Energy & Climate Change
RT @guardianeco: Renewable Heat Incentive withdrawn by government hours before launch http://gu.com/p/32a7n/tf

One of BCC's better ideas, definitely: Birmingham City Council plans to offer cheaper gas and electricity for families:http://bit.ly/oJB0KH

RT @Martin_Abrams: Fracking in Mendips 'may threaten Bath hot springs' http://gu.com/p/328dv/tw #Climate #CO2 #Fracking

People who understand about battery technologies say this is v good news for electric cars & intermittent renewables:http://bit.ly/pvUiDc

Planning
Caroline Lucas talking sense on #NPPF & why it's even worse than forests sell off as indictment of greenest govt ever:http://bit.ly/oSI3kD

RT @mcrfoe: Stonehenge gets sponsored by tesco #localismbillhttp://mypict.me/m8qB6

We know the countryside isn't yet safe with #planning reforms - what about urban open spaces? NPPFhttp://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23992395-save-londons-playing-fields-from-the-bulldozer.do

Even if #planning protects #environment (?) Ministers now find new #housing is low quality + not low #Carbon http://bit.ly/oqgpCm #NPPF

Transport
Our press release on the cooking oil (or not) biofuels fiasco at Birmingham airport. Out of the deep fat fryer... : http://bit.ly/r7yXcq

RT @RichardHebditch: Our trustee John Stewart (chair of airport watch) has been refused entry to US for speaking tour on aviation campaigning:http://bit.ly/qbEhFr.

RT @RoadPeace: 80mph - flawed cost-benefit analysis and skewed priorities puts people and planet at risk - again:http://bit.ly/o61ePx

Freedom to let your dog poo everywhere, smoke where you want and drive like a madman #libertarianismgonemad:http://bit.ly/pKmUEU

400,000 women & their families could have their lives destroyed by biofuel used in Thomson flights from Bham airport:http://bit.ly/nGuoLs

For all the details on the biofuels flights from Bham airport, see@airportwatch: http://bit.ly/rkK9vg

Much needed in Birmingham: RT @livingstreets: Protect your pavement from inconsiderate #pavementparkinghttp://bit.ly/pavementparking

In this article they talk about damage by APD to inbound tourism, then give example of family flying to Florida - doh!http://tgr.ph/nZqK3X

Baker simplifies 20mph zone rules: http://bit.ly/qxSUde - need a lot more of these in Birmingham for people to feel safe cycling/walking

Free #Carbon permits for airlines worth €20bn. And the aviation industry claims it's not subsidised. #climatehttp://tinyurl.com/4yw336m

Waste & Recycling
Why doesn't he give local choice? RT @guardianeco: £250m weekly bin collections fund is what people want, says Pickleshttp://bit.ly/n11bQG

"Feeling sickened? Just lean over the wheelie bin, and Pickles will be along to collect it within the week." http://bit.ly/qRBBGk

For some reason we've been asked to comment more on 5p bag charge than other stories: http://bit.ly/nJI81b - need tougher laws on packaging.

Speaking about #talkingrubbish - why would anyone think we need more incinerators? We need a tax on incineration: http://bit.ly/quv3qJ

RT @leohickman: I'm assuming @EricPickles never read my article about German town with nation's best recycling rateshttp://bit.ly/fhQFUJ

Others
Very nice and great to see garden flourishing RT @northfieldeco: Pop in and see... RT B31blog New mural at eco centre -http://goo.gl/hYit9

RT @mwarhurst: New #EU study: conflict areas linked to natural resources: http://bit.ly/qq1elv #war 3#africa #jrc

RT @LocaliseWM: Just finished LWM autumn newsletter. Hope you can find a moment to enjoy reading it. http://s.coop/5lmh - well worth it.

If you thought Greece's economic debt was bad, what about the world's ecological debt: http://bit.ly/piUcC8

Friday 23 September 2011

Weekly compilation 23.09.2011

This week's top stories relating to our campaigns can be seen collected from twitter below:

Energy & Climate Change
More and more concerned about this RT : Fracking industry will be minimally regulated in UK, letters reveal

RT : Tariffs so complicated we can't understand them Tell us your stories

RT : Blog: Is a fair transition to a low carbon economy possible?: Can carbon emissions be cut fast...

RT : Launch event & discussion for our Green Deal & Fuel Poverty report on11th Oct 5pm at BMI. All welcome.

How can we be subsidising climate change? RT : Leaked report: ditch fossil fuel subsidies

We need negative emissions not mad, bad, dangerous solar radiation management, see and listen to 9pm

RT : Blog: Councils and climate: good things come to those who huff and puff: A new role for the CCC:

RT : Birmingham considering £23m schools PV package

Very odd that suddenly wind power means we're giving money to foreign firms. I thought that was fossil fuels & nuclear:

Good letter from on high energy prices in today's: . Gov must do more to incentivise renewables

Planning
Trader Dave Everett and Cllr Paul Tilsley cross swords :

RT : Comment on the planned controversial changes to planning regs

Good blog on what will happen to urban areas if we allow developers to just focus on easier, more desirable Greenbelt:

No More - especially a popular pub! RT Protests at plans to turn Bham pub The Navigation into supermarket

Transport
Catch the piece on Bike Trains at 19 minutes into Midlands Today - thanks to Ben Godfrey for covering it:

Our Press release on yesterday's Bike Trains:

RT : is the place to be for cycling this Autumn.

Cheers Mandy RT : Blog: Car Free Day in Birmingham: join a bike train to work: Saddling up in the city

A final reminder for everyone to get on your bike this Thursday: RT All Aboard —

Waste & Recycling
RT : - future transport, waste, food, & alternative energies – 3 October -

Look who's in Birmingham Mail's Go Green section calling for separate food waste collections - it's only us: bit.ly/p7iLpl

Ten top tips for a beautiful food waste bin - let's hope people in Brum will be needing these soon - file away:

This is crucial, not just measuring carbon: RT : EU Resource efficiency roadmap published -

Others
RT : Ultra-disingenuous of Vince to praise stimulus & Keynes while supporting Treasury-constrained Green Bank:

Friday 16 September 2011

weekly compilation 16.09.2011

This week was full of news, so here's our digest from what we picked up on twitter by campaign:

Energy & Climate Change
RT @LocaliseWM: Our new report: Solving Fuel Poverty: opportunities from Green Deal & Localisation s.coop/5kc1.

"Once you've proved it's definitely not happening, jump aboard the cheap flights" David Mitchell on climate change: http://bit.ly/q17MEI

RT @wwwfoecouk: Move the planet beyond fossil fuels: Be part of the global day of action on 24 September. http://goo.gl/fb/ptr4I

RT @leohickman: WSJ: Shell may be prosecuted for the UK's worst oil spill in a decade http://on.wsj.com/qp0DI7

RT @AirportWatch: ‘Serious’ Error Found in Carbon Savings for Biofuels. EEASC finds there is double counting of savings http://bit.ly/n2QiLI

RT @PhilBeardmore: Private landlords to consider green deal | News | Inside Housing: http://bit.ly/qcUb7S #greendeal

Explosion at nuclear power plant in France http://tinyurl.com/4xuvhqv

"It [was] like looking into the Grand Canyon full of ice and coming back two years later to find it full of water,": http://bit.ly/pyPOsM

Planning
RT @AndrewLainton: We wont win #NPPF battle unless we say how policy must change -check out suggested redraft & comment http://bit.ly/nua2cs

Birmingham’s Bull Ring market sites: are Hammerson and REITs still interested? http://bit.ly/mT9M0f

This is a brilliantly funny piece by Jonathon Porritt in the form of a letter to Greg Clarke about #NPPF: http://bit.ly/mWEYC7

RT @WoodlandTrust: #NPPF just bust 5,500 opinions on our poll - lets make it 6000 by the end of today Thanks everyone ;-)http://ow.ly/6u59u

RT @pauldezylva: Busted: @CommunitiesUK so-called #planning'mythbuster' exposed; #NPPF is way off being #sustainablehttp://bit.ly/qNyvAI

Stirchley group offer alternative local vision: http://ht.ly/6rBd1

"A deregulated approach to planning might sound attractive to some, but the reality is that it will lead to chaos." http://bit.ly/qP0ysy

Ministers are hypocrites to push for planning reform - they opposed developments in their own constituencies http://gu.com/p/3xnzc/tw #NPPF

Revelations in @MailOnline about house builders' involvement in drawing up #planning reforms http://bit.ly/pNLCXQ #nppf

Brilliant campaigning idea - disguise the markets as the Frankfurt German xmas market that the council really values:http://bit.ly/r9CF2n

Transport
RT @daveharte: London Midlands trains doing their version of an Oyster card http://ht.ly/6wgkW - shame it only works on their trains

RT @Bham_carfree: 2 away from 50 signed up for Bike Trains! Come on we can do that today & then double it by Thursday:http://bit.ly/n3LPxt

The theme of European Mobility Week this year is "Alternative Mobility" - Bike Trains are perfect for this: http://bit.ly/oPjkgr

"MPs warn APD rise will stop families flying" - this is good for the economy. Do they not want to cut the deficit? http://bit.ly/oUPGu2

Warning after latest child collision in West Midlands:http://bbc.in/qINKe2 - why is the onus always on kids to be careful, not drivers?

RT @christianwolmar: My take on suggestions in response to Hammond's 'rich man's toy' jibe about railways: http://bbc.in/ncbVen

Bike Trains News: Treats Courtesy of Birmingham's Great Independent Coffee Shops: http://bit.ly/nDi0Rz @SixEightKafe @Brewsmiths_JQ@urbancoffeeco

RT @AirportWatch: Bimingham airport to get subsidy from public funds for its runway. While huge spending cuts elsewherehttp://bit.ly/oTPAWl

The latest tempter for people wavering as to whether to go join us next Thursday: Reasons to join a Bike Train #4: http://bit.ly/niT4TO

@Bham_carfree: Copenhagen's cycle lanes are so popular, they're becoming congested...if only we had this problem!bit.ly/riOhxN

Waste
RT @mwarhurst: #EU Resource Efficiency Roadmap due on Tue 20th - but will it have words or actions? http://bit.ly/mjDD6n #potocnik

'Come and collect my scraps': Majority want councils to run 'slop bucket' service alongside bin collections: http://bit.ly/qLDJTQ

Our Press Release with the local angle on new FoE research: Public Back Separation Of Food Waste: http://bit.ly/ow06Nv

RT @foecumbria: Survey reveals strong support for UK food #wastecollection from public http://bit.ly/rgOgAK - @wwwfoecouk - #talkingrubbish

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p00k3l1c/Adrian_Goldberg_14_09_2011/ Listen to Joe talking about food waste on Adrian Goldberg's show just after 48 minutes

Others
Hmm, let's see the action: RT @jonwalker121: Nick Clegg says Britain must look to Birmingham, Newcastle etc to drive economy, not "fat cats of the city of London" http://twurl.nl/rbpqby

Luxury brands must wake up to ethical and environmental responsibilities: bit.ly/oVYlUq - surely all brands should!

RT @LocaliseWM: Award winning Eastside cafe under threat from 80% rent increase. Can anyone help? http://s.coop/5kbr

RT @guardianeco: Amazing timeline of birthdays of @wwwfoecouk,@greenpeace and @wwf http://bit.ly/rfopdp

RT @KingsHeathRF: We're warming up for 'Future of Kings Heath' event at the church opposite Asda on Sat 24th. Drop in and learn/contribute

RT @aweebirdytoldme: Well done David Walliams -you & London deserve a better river @wwwfoecouk @sportreliefhttp://bit.ly/qb0ONF #thamesswim

RT @digbeth: DiG blog post, Reclaim The Spaces - discovering Digbeth's secret garden - http://tinyurl.com/5whh3na

RT @mwarhurst: Great oxfam video on land grabbing -http://bit.ly/oOa9u1 #EU #Land

Fantastic blog about @peopleandplanet's #greenleague and how it helps students choose which unis to study at: http://bit.ly/pcgWdy

If you want to read what people were saying from Friends of the Earth conference last week, look up twitter #foeconf