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?

6-lane M42 the alternative! So HS2 does make sense!

The standard of debate around the HS2 plan has been pretty poor and overly sensationalist a lot of the time. Both sides are really avoiding a proper examination of what the UK's transport system is like now and what we should be aiming for over the next 15 years.

What we have been left with is a very polarised battle over one badly designed route that doesn't fit into any kind of integrated transport strategy, seems more intent on linking up airports and promoting speed at any cost rather than dealing with promoting alternatives to the car or plane and is unlikely to be more affordable than the current over-priced rail system.

This is why our points are less likely to hit the headlines, but deserve a lot more attention. They are concerned with the need for a proper strategy to deal with reducing the UK's carbon emissions from transport, as well as a future where there will be a lack of oil, which should be the first step and then High Speed Rail plans fit into that, rather than the other way round.

Lately, the pro-HS2 lobby have been getting more and more active on twitter, jumping on any remotely negative post and accusing people like ourselves as being anti-public transport. The latest one from @AntiAntiHS2 read “@Bham_FOE I despair of FOE NO HS2 4 extra lanes on M40 both sides Wishing and idealism gets U nowhere.” and this is not the first time I have had such responses.

Now this is just so ridiculous. Although there was a stupid suggestion in the Birmingham Post today that the government should spend over a billion pounds buying up the M6 toll and making it free for everyone to use!!! Generally, there is more acceptance now that just building more motorway capacity is not the way forward and has not solved problems, but just caused more over the past 50 years of following such a strategy.

The price of oil is only going one way (up) and electric cars are good for shorter journeys, but not able to take over the burden of transporting people over long distances yet. It would be lunacy of the highest order to be basing a transport strategy on cheap oil and continued use of private motor vehicles now.

If the government is saying there is £2bn a year to spend on transport, we should not be arguing over the cost of HS2 and saying we can't afford to spend the money, we should be arguing for the best possible use of that money to transform our transport system and future-proof it and our economy.

See these articles on our website for more details on our views:

http://birminghamfoe.org.uk/transport-news/is-hs2-the-way-to-create-sustainable-transport-and-jobs

http://birminghamfoe.org.uk/transport-news/should-we-spend-30bn-on-high-speed-rail

and the problems we foresee with HS2 specifically as a rail plan are outlined in the Right Lines charter that FoE is signed up to:

http://www.cpre.org.uk/what-we-do/transport/rail/update/item/1683-a-charter-for-high-speed-rail

So, should we support HS2, just because it's currently the only public transport scheme being proposed for the £2bn a year? No, we should continue our campaigns for the best possible deal for everyone and the highest possible standards of sustainability in the government's transport plans.

Will this lead to more motorways being built or a better transport system to benefit the country and the planet? That's up to the democratic processes of the country, but we'll fight for the latter every step of the way.

Joe Peacock

28th April news round up

Here's my collection of stories from our twitter feed over this week. Putting the last one up on here had some good feedback, so I'll post it again:

Energy & Climate Change

ACTION: http://www.foe.co.uk/what_we_do/nuclear_27386.html

ACTION: http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/climate/press_for_change/energy_bill_30433.html

ACTION: http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/climate/press_for_change/nuclear_loophole_30408.html

Blog: Cameron's Climate Change Act under threat?: UK deregulation drive threatens Cameron's Climate Change Act: http://goo.gl/fb/1626k

RT @scccoalition: Fuel poverty has increased in recent yearshttp://cot.ag/hHGXch Is your MP working to banish #coldtimes ?#energybill

RT @wwwfoecouk: We've blown up a huge white elephant outside Parliament to say no to nuclear power - check it out:http://twitpic.com/4q2s5x

New post on our blog by Soraya about keeping it hot in the bedroom:http://bit.ly/eyrmKM

RT @HallGreenCND: Excellent Candlelit vigil for #Chernobyl, Victoria Square, yesterday. Blog post appearing soon.http://twitpic.com/4pqsn1

RT @carbonbrief: Carbon emissions 'hidden' in imported goods, the Beeb reports on Carbon Trust research http://cot.ag/gh2b9d

RT @foeint: [Blog] Say no to increase in 'safe' levels of radiation for children. http://bit.ly/eSXKI7

Food, Waste and Local Shops

ACTION: http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/biodiversity/press_for_change/rubbish_27135.html

News of our Big Green Spring Fair on 28th May is now up on the website: http://bit.ly/hoEQ7O

RT @buynothingday: Its OK for the free market to work for Tesco, but not for savvy shoppers? http://bbc.in/j3Ecye

RT @LocaliseWM: Just what we need. More CPOs wiping out BVSC & indie shop in Digbeth - for a **** #Tesco. Why can't BCC learn from past: http://s.coop/15ut

RT @wwwfoecouk: Supermarkets still using too much packaging – Govt must aim to halve waste by 2020 http://bit.ly/iLl9bS #talkingrubbish

Missed @res_publica report on localism & high street earlier this month. Good ideas on protecting retail diversity http://bit.ly/jcehWX

If Copenhagen are burning too much plastic, what about us? "Plastic surgery for Copenhagen’s recycling policy" http://bit.ly/iirZIm

RT @TheB44: @Bham_FOE you may like this article about local shops in Kingstanding: http://bit.ly/gwVVSt - Thanks, yes we do.

Transport

ACTION There is a ready-made response to the #HS2 consultation on the @wwwfoecouk website: http://bit.ly/efxFD5 - please use it if you agree.

The end of the age of speed? http://bit.ly/m3TDbD - would be nice for people to slow down and think about sustainability more.

A sign of the times for regional airports, hopefully; Plymouth airport is closing as financially not viable: http://bbc.in/ltShrE

Are any schools in Birmingham taking part in "Free Your Feet" week? http://bit.ly/dRIaBt

RT @RichardHebditch: Campaign for Better Transport press release on today's changes to transport appraisal system:http://bit.ly/gkL5Dk

RT @ptegSupportUnit: Abolition of Cycling England threatens cycling investment http://gu.com/p/2zk8x/tw see www.pteg.net for report & event

RT @BirminghamPress: Are parts of our public transport network a no-go zone? http://bit.ly/dG6m8x #transport #buses #midlandstravel

RT @the_ecologist: How trams could save us from the ‘tyranny of the car’ http://bit.ly/icNKgv

Birmingham Airport reported to the Serious Fraud Office:http://bit.ly/enERmE

£570 000 = a lot to add extra 164 parking spaces? RT @BBCBirmingham: Station near Birmingham gets park and ride revamp: http://bbc.in/gLlGLc

Others

RT @wwwfoecouk: Why we need stronger planning laws and a localism bill that allows local people to have their say http://bit.ly/ivSkHh

RT @peopleandplanet: Bham Anti-Sweatshop training days: learn, live link up with Dominican Republic activists, act.http://bit.ly/h5qMOb

Pleased to see that #donaldtrumpisabellend is trending. Very well deserved after what he says here: http://youtu.be/f6hsm81VXKY

The next social media surgery in central Birmingham is on 10th May:http://bit.ly/kjfxQ8

Please vote yes to AV and then we can all go to the pub to celebrate:http://bit.ly/frvwHn #yestoAV

This seems like a real shame: surely, some of the equipment would have been reusable: http://s.coop/15uh #castlevale #bcc

RT @jonwalker121: Interesting read from @politicalhackuk First fruits of the LEP - the Birmingham Enterprise Zonehttp://is.gd/qCT8oN

RT @LocaliseWM: 'Beyond Con-dem-nation' 24th May, B'ham. Planners Network UK meeting: future of planning & how to deal with it http://s.coop/qxf All welcome

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

Scrutiny Cttee Meeting on sustainability, Friday 9th April

I was invited along to give evidence to the scrutiny committee of Birmingham City Council last week. There was a pre-meeting in the week before, which is kind of like a rehearsal so you understand what to do on the day when it's in public and as it was my first appearance of this kind, I was quite glad of that and also the briefing I got from the helpful staff members - I certainly am not one to dismiss the worth of public servants.

Our work on the core strategy had certainly not gone unnoticed - our 25-page response to the consultation is available in the downloads section on our website - so I produced a summary of this for the committee and was asked to speak in response to what Sandy Taylor (Head of Sustainability and Climate Change) said to the committee in his report.

There is work to congratulate the city council on - their work on Combined Heating and Power (CHP) has been very good in the centre of the city and there was also a report on this, while the Birmingham Energy Savers project is truly pioneering and not only will it have a great effect on the homes concerned, but should also sustain a considerable number of local jobs, too. I saw my role at this meeting partly as one of saying "look what can be done when you show some ambition, so let's have more of it".

The biggest areas of controversy in what I said turned out to be on supporting local shops v supermarkets, the incinerator (which some councillors still believe is green!!) versus other forms of dealing with waste and transport, as these are the areas on which the council is doing worst in terms of sustainability.

After so many defeats in fighting off supermarket planning applications recently, the council had to be challenged on why they talk about boosting local shops, but do nothing to protect or support them. There was some support for this amongst the elected representatives, but Cllr Deirdre Alden took issue with this "idealistic notion" that we can go back to have corner shops within walking distance as most people can't afford to shop there! We're not just talking about corner shops, though, but vibrant local shopping streets with different types of independently owned retailers. People would in fact, find that overall this would be just as affordable and if you take out the need for a car to get there, that's even more money saved. See Tescopoly on food poverty.

The same councillor also challenged me on the incinerator, as she'd had a tour of it and been informed by Veolia that it was in fact very green as it generates electricity. In fact, I informed them that from a climate change perspective, incineration is worse than gas- or coal-fired power stations for generating electricity! I suggested that what we need is a truly ambitious programme of community recycling ventures all over the city, dealing with our resource use to make sure nothing is wasted, creating jobs and stopping the health-damaging emissions from Tyseley.

Cllr Alden also seemed to think that because there are places with no reliable bus service now and because the roads are too dangerous to cycle on (she fell off once and will never cycle again), that we won't be able to get people out of cars. Fortunately there are other people on the council with a better understanding of integrated transport, but unless the most ambitious parts of the city's vision for movement, connected city and cycling strategy are out in place urgently, not only could we suffer more gridlock as recently, but when oil prices rise even further, some people are going to be really stuck!

Are we going to get more ambitious measures from the council to hit their CO2 reduction targets? I really hope so, but it needs to be an ambition that is taken on by the whole cabinet, not just the officers and one or two members.

Gridlock City

Yesterday a problem with a crane caused chaos. One incident in town and all the streets are gridlocked. Buses are nose to tail and can't move the queues of people who are waiting.

Birmingham is in transport crisis because it is the largest city in Europe without a mass transit system. It has failed to create this over the last 30 years and is dying as a result. People can't get around reliably and its fatal for any city. Our transport system is worse than 60 years ago. We should be bloody furious.

I don't want to go to Leeds or Manchester, particularly. I don't want 30 minutes trimmed off the journey to places that I don't go anyway.

Birmingham people deserve an effective convenient public transport system in this city. London has underground and suburban rail stations within walking distance of most streets. That's why it gets the investment and jobs, not Birmingham. We don't need a faster link to London. We need faster links to other parts of Birmingham. Let's forget HS2 and get onto the real business, before the price of oil goes through the roof and people can't get to work. It's urgent.

John Newson