Green New Year's Resolutions

Have you made a new year's resolution this year? If so, is it one that will benefit the environment as well as yourself?

There's no reason why you couldn't make a late one now if you haven't got round to it yet...

How about one of the following?

Transport

• Fly less, or not at all if you can help it. Flying is the most polluting activity a person can take and not doing it will make more impact on reducing your carbon footprint than anything else. The reason why it is only a small proportion of the UK's carbon emissions is because relatively few people do it still.

 

• Drive less. Per mile, driving can also have very high CO2 emissions (although people don't tend to drive as far as they fly). It also has a negative impact on the area in which you live in terms of congestion, air pollution, noise pollution and creating a dangerous environment for pedestrians and cyclists. If you can cycle, walk or take the bus/train, please do. It's good for your health and can also mean lower stress levels than driving in the rush hour.

 
Waste and Resource Use

• Think about buying things with less packaging. Plastic bags are an environmental problem, but then so is the packaging that most food (and other products) is encased in. If you buy fresh fruit and veg to cook from scratch, it almost always has less packaging and you could also make a point by unwrapping things in the shop and leaving the retailer to deal with the waste - they might re-think what they stock then.

• Try to find ways to re-use as many things as possible rather than throwing them away or putting them in the recycling. It can be fun to think of new uses for things. 

 
Food

• Buy local. Use local independently owned shops/market stalls as much as possible and try to find products that are produced locally, too. The smaller the distance between where things are produced and bought, the better for the environment, generally speaking. Also, eat less meat and dairy, as these foods have a bigger environmental impact.

  
Energy

• Ensure electrical devices are turned off when not in use, both at home and at in the work/study places you go to. Also, make sure you don't leave doors/windows open when the heating's on.

 
Campaign

• Get involved with Birmingham Friends of the Earth and help us to campaign for change and a better environment.

Do you have any other ideas you'd like to share?

Including Women Event and Neighbourhood Planning

Last week, I was invited along to an event organised by Including Women in Balsall Heath. Strangely, there were two men there, both called Joe and both with an interest in planning - what does that tell you? Anyway, I was asked to speak about our campaigns from global to local level.
I chose food, because we ran a campaign called Fix The Food Chain last year, which raised awareness of the links between what we eat, deforestation happening in South America, Global injustice and Climate Change. On the local level we have been supportive of grow-sites being developed on small pieces of derelict land in Birmingham, so that people can grow their own food, as well as attempting to protect small independent shops from supermarkets taking over the city.
Also speaking were Val from the History Society who spoke about how the neighbourhood has changed over the years and showing some really interesting pictures to illustrate it and Joe Holyoak who ran a session getting people to think about what they want to go into the neighbourhood plan.

It was great to hear people's views on what they would like to be done differently (even if not everything could be changed by the planning process) and, once again, it showed that the kinds of things we ask for in terms of safer streets for pedestrians and cyclists are actually what people with no environmental agenda also ask for.

I'll be really interested to see what comes out of the Balsall Heath neighbourhood plan. From what was said in this meeting, it's hard to imagine that it'll be as focused as the government wants on encouraging more development and more economic activity, but will be about stopping certain types of development, such as more big "shed" retail developments on the old Joseph Chamberlain site, which is positive as far as we're concerned.
I hope that mixed use and employment land is created within the plan for walkable spaces to provide something for an area with high density housing and high unemployment. I also hope that people learn about the good stuff that already exists within Balsall Heath that needs to be supported while they're having these conversations.

Joe Peacock

Weekly compilation 24.06.2011

Here's another of our weekly round-ups of news that relates to our campaigns in some way:

Transport

RT @cyclingmobility: Analysis of highway design from cyclist’s view. Let us know ur thoughts!http://bit.ly/m75Myj

RT @birminghampost: Warwickshire County Council to object to #HS2 plans http://bit.ly/keeqsD

RT @beleben: How #Bickenhill parkway station illustrates the fundamental #flaws in the #HS2 concept http://wp.me/p1j38b-tA #disconnectivity

Surprised Bham only 13th most congested city http://bit.ly/ihojfq -urgently needs investment in public transport, cycling infrastructure etc

World Bank and OECD have recommended removing support for biofuels, yet the aviation industry continues obliviously:http://reut.rs/mJ71Mb

RT @sustrans: Encouraging more people to get on their bikes should be applauded not ridiculed http://bit.ly/jDEJb5 *applauds Wales*

RT @philiploy: NHS looking for community members looking at promotion of walking and cycling http://bit.ly/j1Fj6k by Fri 8 July

RAC has revealed some great news. People starting to think about car use more. Just need to make alternatives easier:http://bbc.in/lwJCGu

RT @sustrans: Sustrans & CTC join other environment & safety groups to fight Govt plans for longer lorries on UK roads:http://bit.ly/kzrqKC

Glad that Stephen Joseph highlighted the problems with parkway stations and #HS2 yesterday - huge problems with plan:http://bit.ly/lJKWUI

Cllrs & planning officers being misled by exaggerated claims that expansion of airports will create lots of extra jobs: http://bit.ly/jofAaf

Flying in the face of the facts - FoE Europe's report on biofuels and the aviation industry: http://bit.ly/liKV6z

Many can't afford holidays this year, almost as bad for the British tourism industry as subsidised cheap flights: http://bit.ly/mvoosP

Waste

Zero waste or zero ambition - has the Waste Review delivered?http://bit.ly/l5LF8B No, but we can still push locally: http://bit.ly/iJPiNo

Energy & Climate Change
RT @wwwfoecouk: Citizens across the world oppose #nuclearpower - new poll http://bit.ly/mINURG #climatechange

@northfieldeco Are you doing anything for Zero Carbon Britain Day? http://bit.ly/mp1VXE

RT @lucianaberger: Every Tory and Lib Dem on the #energybill cttee just voted against the Warm Home and Local Carbon Budget amendments

RT @wwwfoecouk: Please sign the petition for local carbon cuts: http://bit.ly/lKGayC #energybill

RT @guardianeco: Germany's nuclear phase-out will cause UK emissions to fall, report says http://gu.com/p/3v3ma/tf

RT @wwwfoecouk: Cameron must tackle Tory MEPs over climate vote: Tory MEPs revolt over proposed 30% EU emissions cutshttp://goo.gl/fb/RB5tR

Local Shops

RT @traidcraft: Supermarkets try to delay setting up Adjudicator http://bit.ly/lZMsDL

Food

RT @wwwfoecouk: US & Brazil scupper G20 action on #biofuels http://bit.ly/j48peu - despite expert food prices warning: http://bit.ly/mMT7FC

Trial of anti-aphid GM wheat awaits government green light:http://bit.ly/l2R1uF

RT @PigBusiness: New article in local paper ahead of tomorrow's town hall meeting we're hosting with @SoilAssociationhttp://bit.ly/l2IWtV

Others

Embarrassed, at all? RT @businessdeskwm: Friday Funnies: Whitby out of tune with the times! http://ow.ly/1dqsXF

Great comment by Paul de Zylva on govt making "sustainable development" meaninglessness after this planning blog post:http://bit.ly/ioeUwv

Nice of the government to clear up what sustainability is: http://twitpic.com/5c2plx

Blog: Brum-Hilde - street opera comes to Birmingham: Opera singers highlight environment with Save the Diva http://goo.gl/fb/jF36O

The Week's News Gathered Together 15.04.2011

I send this collection of the things I've tweeted through the week to our campaigners, but thought it might be worth putting it up here too for anyone else who's interested. I hope you find it something of interest here, but please note that this is just a snapshot from what I manage to collect, not guaranteed to be fully comprehensive:

Energy & Climate Change

Excellent to see Good Energy supporting FoE's Energy Bill campaigning: http://bit.ly/hUGJW1

RT @guardianeco: Biodiversity cause still lags behind climate change - despite UN's attempts | Ben Bryanthttp://gu.com/p/2ze4n/tf

RT @TennerFilms: Ha! This made me chuckle :-) RT @UCSUSACARTOON: arguments against #nuclear, #oil, #coal & #wind energyhttp://goo.gl/ueDAM

Messages from Japanese citizens to the world.http://www.foei.org/en/blog #japan #nuclear

RT @wwwfoecouk: Join in the ongoing #nuclear debate live on @TheEconomist website http://econ.st/g9DBjj

RT @ali_mfoe: Kenneth Richer from @wwwfoecouk calls to scrap targets: RT @BBCNews EU's #biofuel targets 'unethical'http://bbc.in/gZrO22

RT @grist: Japan could rebuild faster with renewables, says reporthttp://ow.ly/4z04J

RT @HallGreenCND: Candlelight vigil to remember Chernobyl (or should that be Fukushima?) http://bit.ly/gMeroN 25.4. 8-9.30 pm, Victoria Sq.

There's a guest article from our newsletter about what Aston University are doing to go green: http://bit.ly/ghq8vT

Very strongly argued: RT @guardianeco: How nuclear apologists mislead the world over radiation | Helen Caldicott http://bit.ly/e2Y06M

Local Shops & Food

Good analysis of survey figures here: RT @bfpeas: Our Attitude to Sustainable Food: http://wp.me/p1gLkK-vW #agrichatuk

Our school children need basic food prep lessons.Unless we act NOW the gov will take off curriculum. Hours left onlyhttp://bit.ly/f3auAL

RT @the_ecologist: Milk: why the white stuff leaves a bad taste in the mouth http://bit.ly/hVY2zV

RT @birminghampost: Tesco supermarket plan for Stirchley causes fears among local residents http://tinyurl.com/44eoh4f

RT @Bebirmingham: Green restaurants: it's time to bid for awards!http://bit.ly/g0Xt7a

Good luck to Woodhouse Community Farm in their efforts "to give it sustainable and valuable future": http://bit.ly/f7O7lm

Learn more about guerilla gardening on our website:http://bit.ly/eF2UN3

Tesco Bullies its way into Moseley - article from this month's newsletter up on website: http://bit.ly/ffhGHS

A rather lovely new blog post by Roxanne our campaigns coordinator on #cider-making and tasting the fruits at last:http://bit.ly/hWG1H1

RT @wwwfoecouk: Fossil fuels and meat & dairy farming causing costly nitrogen pollution – new research http://bit.ly/gN9VEQ

Don't think this limited to supermarkets: RT @TEEB4ME: Food from the sky! The future of more sustainable supermarkets?http://bit.ly/eGPJK5

As well as rainforest areas: RT @guardianeco: Crops for animal feed destroying Brazilian savannah, WWF warns http://bit.ly/eefIu5

Transport

RT @wwwfoecouk: EU green fuel tax plans welcomedhttp://goo.gl/fb/xIsCK

“I hope the Govt’s new thinking will encourage others to take a fresh look at their travel habits” http://bit.ly/ex7LM0 - yes, fly less!

"Rising Oil Prices and the Threat to the Aviation Industry" - a new blog post by Danielle: http://bit.ly/ewSqQo

If you thought 400 km/h #HS2 trains were a bad idea, what about a 250 km/h bus? http://bbc.in/h6AFFQ

And another good post on cycling and urgent action needed to protect them from lorries: http://ind.pn/gSQsk0

Good post here on cycling, but despicable comments as usual. Some people have no sense of perspective! http://ind.pn/evcEiu

"Money is being taken from things that benefit everyone ... to benefit big corporations and business travellers": http://bit.ly/fZS9rz

Very odd figures! £2600 for each "working" family in the West Mids - how, when over what period? Need #factcheck: http://bit.ly/f1LzUI#HS2

RT @ENJOQUEEN: Public perceptions of aviation and the environment need to be turned around, says UK CAA chief on ..http://bit.ly/eu9RAW

New blog post by Danielle looking at the topic "Is Dangerous Cycling a Problem in Birmingham?" http://bit.ly/emoW2U

Good to meet @joelycett the other day and chat about buses. He's now got a blog going on his campaign - check it out:http://bit.ly/hti1EN

RT @SaveOurBuses_UK: Philip Hammond has written to tell us some bus cuts are ‘disappointing’. So what is he going to do?http://bit.ly/12Dpi

Wide ranging comment piece in @theeconomist on cycling, including the new law on dangerous cyclists and road space:http://econ.st/fly1Kb

One of many streets where traffic is travelling too fast in Birmingham: http://bit.ly/hkjWZe We need safer streets:http://bit.ly/aF1hjW

Waste
RT @wwwfoecouk: Increase in fortnightly bin collections welcomedhttp://goo.gl/fb/XWedQ #ignorepickles #talkingrubbish

Plastic-Bag Bans Gaining Momentum Around the World http://ow.ly/4vCgN #green #sustainability #zerowaste

Others

@Bham_FOE I'm organising a bike meet this Sunday, anyone welcome & bring a picnic. More info on http://renee.vanbaar.net/?p=194 pls RT?

Thanks for the promo: RT @BirminghamiNS Guerilla sunflower planting with FoE May 1st — http://is.gd/O2S8on

We agree with CBT about Enterprise Zones and ensuring they don't repeat previous mistakes: http://bit.ly/hwhGQM -tell @EricPickles if you do

Looking for growing space in Digbeth

At this point in time we have so much access to information on how to live a healthy lifestyle; how much exercise we should do, how many units of alcohol we shouldn't exceed, what foods are good for us, etc.

But with prices of fresh fruit and vegetables booming and a bag of chips still £1 who can still afford to eat a healthy diet?

It would appear that people are getting sick and tired of paying over the odds for vegetables that have travelled over seas, grown in soils that are pumped full of chemicals, when they can grow their own organic vegetables for a fraction of the price.

Communities all over England are now taking it into their own hands and working together to set up allotments and grow-sites; and now Birmingham Friends of the Earth are jumping on the bandwagon! We want to create a grow-site in Digbeth for residents and people working in the area.

We have the knowledge, we have the hands to help produce our urban allotment, but what we do not have is the land!

There is so much disused land in Digbeth, but finding a piece of land we can use even for one year is proving extremely difficult.

If anyone knows of any sites in Digbeth that may be available, even temporarily, please contact rosie@birminghamfoe.org.uk or call me on (0121) 632 6909.

Our aim is to produce a grow-site with enough space for at least 10 plots, space for 2/3 compost bins and a shed for storing tools, ideally with a water point. Which we can then open up to the public for a day and people can come and sign up for a bed.

Digbeth Residents Association 07.02.11

Last night I went to my first Digbeth Residents Association (DRA) meeting. I started at Birmingham FoE as Outreach Officer last month and am working on creating links with residents groups, as well as organising events (such as our HS2 debate) and finding opportunities for us to go out and talk to people.

I was asked if I would like to attend after sending a few e-mails to Val and Pam about the possibility of establishing a grow site in Digbeth. We have been involved in others, so it would be good to do one here where we're based.

Upon arriving at the Alcester suite of the Paragon hotel I was welcomed in by friendly faces. These included residents of Digbeth, a police officer from the area and people interested in the Digbeth area.

After all the introductions were out the way the DRA spoke passionately about Digbeth's future. They feel strongly that the Digbeth area needs more greenery. They have been given 20 Birch trees by the Eastside Projects, with the idea that they will be planted in Highgate park, although the DRA are hoping to set a few a side to be distributed around the area. Another idea was to use the abandoned Victorian rail viaduct as allotment space. We also touched on the subject of grow-sites in Digbeth; which is something I've been looking into myself. Everyone there seemed enthusiastic about the idea and I think it will be a great success... that is when the pain-stakingly long process of finding land we can use is done!

Other issues raised concern the section 106 improvements to Bradford Street, St Patrick's day parade, film nights in the spotted dog, police presence at the meetings and the Digbeth summit.

Overall it was a great insight into all the planning and hard work that goes into making Digbeth the exciting and creative place that it is today!

Rosie Cervelli

Edible Erdington Potato Day

I've just received this press release about a great sounding event coming up, so thought I'd share it with you. Eleanor Hoad, the organiser, was also involved in our Edible Birmingham event last year when she brought along her apple press from which I enjoyed some delicious fresh juice!

PRESS RELEASE

16th February 2011 for immediate release

Edible Erdington Potato Day

On Saturday 26th February between 11am-3pm visitors to Erdington High Street will be able to join in the ‘Edible Erdington’ Potato Day celebrations. Edible Erdington is a project that has successfully transformed 3 large brick planters on Erdington High Street into vegetable plots. Dreamed up by Erdington Artist in Residence Eleanor Hoad ‘Edible Erdington’ has grown over 60 different varieties of vegetables in the last year with a group of volunteers, right in the high street and local people have welcomed the unusual edible change from flowers to vegetables.

Celebrating the humble potato, Potato Day will have activities for everyone including; a display of some of the 150 different varieties of potato available in the UK, free potato themed food, the chance to taste some of the high street harvest, free seed potato giveaways, Morris Dancing, a hands on session planting potatoes and vegetable growing advice. A ‘Seed Swap’ will take place on the day, bring along your spare seeds to swap.

Visitors will also be able to enter “The Great Erdington Potato Self Portrait Competition”. Everyone will have the chance to create a self-portrait using just a potato and a variety of craft materials! Prizes are available for the best entries and a display of all the entries will be created through the day. There will also be the chance to make a seed bomb to take away. Seed bombs are used by guerrilla gardeners and are a handy portable mix of seeds, compost and clay for planting in unusual locations.

Eleanor Hoad said “ We often overlook the humble potato but they are a great source of vitamin C and fibre and there are so many unusual varieties available that we hardly ever see in the shops. Potatoes are easy to grow at home in the ground or in containers, its amazing how many you can grow even in a small space.”

For more press information, pictures or interviews please contact Eleanor Hoad on 07974 934 917, eleanorhoad@hotmail.com