Recently the UK government decided to allow for nuclear new build, claiming that Britain should not be dependent on imported gas for its energy supply, and that nuclear power would help us reduce our impact on climate change. But in reality, even the most optimistic estimates suggest that a new generation of nuclear power stations will only reduce our emissions by 4% by 2024, which is too little and too late.

Britain gets 20 per cent of its electricity from nuclear power, being 4% of total energy used. France obtains 75% of its energy from nuclear power, but still its CO2 emissions are rising, mainly due to transport.

Nuclear Power is NOT the Solution

Continued on Page 12

3 - Warehouse Appeal

4 - Warehouse Shops

5 - Campaigns Digest

6 - Guest Article - Centre for Life Satisfaction

8 - Eco-debate - Veganism

10 - Love God, Love Creation

12 - Nuclear Power

15 - Old Home, Super Home?

16 - Green Fingers

18 - Tesco Development

19 - Volunteer Spotlight

20 - Love Your Library

21 - Diary

22 - Membership Form

23 - Contacts

2 3

Appeal for helpThe Warehouse building has a number of different things going on as those who visit it regularly will no doubt be aware.

The Warehouse Café, One Earth Shop and Sprockets Cycles are all open to the public. There is also a meeting room available to hire, and a number of other organisations (for example, CND) rent office space from us in parts of the building more hidden from view.

At the heart of the Warehouse is Birmingham Friends of the Earth (BFOE) reception which acts as a signpost for users as well as providing a wealth of information and resources and a small gift shop selling recycled and fair trade products. Whilst we get lots of interest from people wanting to volunteer their time to work on

reception in the week, we urgently need help with Saturdays, both in the morning and afternoon, typically 10 till 1 or 1 till 5. The role mainly involves being a friendly welcoming face to visitors, directing people to the right part of the building, answering queries in person and by telephone and operating a very old till, possibly dating back to prehistoric times. It would suit someone with an interest in the environment, who enjoys working with members of the public and is happy to work independently. Induction and training would be given and we pay all travel expenses. If you’re looking to help a worthy cause then your time and energy would be much appreciated by everyone here at Birmingham Friends of the Earth. Please contact Tamsin on 0121 632 6909 for more details.

Tamsin Mosse

54

Sales, service, repairs, accessories. Bikes also built to your own specifications.

Open Wednesday to Saturday, 10am-4pm

0121 633 0730

SPROCKETCycles

We’ve been all around the city of late and covering a whole range of campaign issues. The five separate campaign sub-groups in climate change, waste/recycling, local shops, transport and aviation are specialising in their areas of expertise, which is paying off in terms of what we are managing to achieve.Back in February, local member John Newson opened up his Balsall Heath home to interested visitors to demonstrate how renovations of his nineteenth century home have led to a drop in his gas usage by some 70%, quite a considerable saving in a couple of years and an achievement that some in society are questioning whether it is possible. On the same day, Birmingham Friends of the Earth teamed up with RSPB, the new Birmingham and Black Country Greenpeace group, Oxfam and Practical Action to run a Stop Climate Chaos Valentines-themed stall on the High Street, City Centre. Passers-

by signed a huge Valentines card for Richard Burden MP, expressing their love that he would be supporting a stronger climate change bill when it comes to the House of Commons. Some 500 people signed campaign postcards on a glorious day and ITV Central News came along for a quick interview, spreading the campaign message across the region. Again, it was a great success of partnership working.On a more strategic level, Rianne ten Veen joined the East Birmingham Community Energy Company (EBCEC) Steering Group on behalf of Birmingham Friends of the Earth, and Chris Crean and Chris Williams visited Solihull Council officers to talk with them about sustainability. The duo of Chris’s teamed up for a vocal Friends of the Earth presence at the UK Youth Parliament West Midlands Conference on Climate Change, which was held at the Drum Arts Centre in Newtown. As a group, we made a detailed submission to the Centro consultation on the rail network vision for the West Midlands. The vision included a whole range of rail improvements for the county and wider region, including new stations for Moseley, Kings Heath, Stirchley, The Fort and Castle Bromwich. This does not guarantee delivery but it’s a very good start. Sadly, park and ride is a major feature of the vision.Douglas Alexander MP (International Development Secretary) was the guest of Steve McCabe MP at Swanshurst School on the opening day of the Labour Party Conference.

Campaigns Digest

Richard Burden and Louise Pedersen on the Stop Climate Chaos stall.

Established over 15 years ago in the Friends of the Earth Building in Birmingham The Warehouse Café has a reputation as a quality provider of vegetarian and vegan food in Birmingham.

“Real people serving real food with local, organic and fair trade leading the way” Guardian Unlimited.

To see the delicious menu go to www.thewarehousecafe.com

For bookings and enquires

Telephone 0121 633 0261

Email info@thewarehousecafe.com

• 100% vegetarian and vegan• A Large selection of organic

and fairtrade products, most supplied and delivered by a workers co-operative

• Vegan owners - no meat or dairy products sold

Open Monday to Saturday, 10am-5pm

The shops and companies here have all come together because they are dedicated to working towards a healthier, more organic city.

So if you want to help make Birmingham a cleaner, greener place to live, or you just want to eat some good vegetarian food, then come to The Warehouse and see what’s going on.

However, despite the simplicity of the measures used (eg asking ‘on a scale of 1-10 how satisfied do you feel with your life overall’) the result is highly correlated with judgements of that person’s happiness made by their friends and by a panel of psychologists analysing body language and particular brain activation.

Applying happiness research to public policy is an infant subject, though environmentalists should be aware of it. Extensive research shows that once someone’s basic material needs are met, generally more money does not make them happier; instead factors such as our relationships with others and our sense of control of our lives are far more important. This suggests

entirely different policies from those currently aimed at maximizing GDP growth, eg encouraging community activities and allowing people to work flexible hours, which come without environmental cost.

Many happiness researchers suggest that the first thing we should do is start measuring national happiness systematically, which would motivate politicians to tackle the happiness stagnation and serve as an alternative measure of progress to GDP. Some policy makers are coming around, including the French president who has commissioned eminent scholars to advise him on the subject. Surprisingly there are even rumblings in the UK - DEFRA has acknowledged the robustness and usefulness of happiness measures; however, this is only a start.

Peter Kunzmann

Centre for Life Satisfaction

If you want to help out, ask your MP to sign Early Day Motion 731 that calls for measurement of happiness in the UK. Even if your smooth line fails, at least you can impress the object of your desires by telling them you wanted to make them smile so much that you lobbied your Member of Parliament.

6 7

We made a representation there in order to emphasise the link between climate change and poverty. He is thankfully well aware of this and climate change is at the forefront of his mind, although he was not supportive of the UK taking unilateral action to reduce emissions from aviation and he was quite supportive of biofuels.We had a flurry of TV news coverage in March surrounding the news that local congestion charging proposals have been abandoned and that

motorway widening on the cheap will take place en masse, encouraging more vehicles on the road.In the near future, we will be working on a day of action to mark the Climate Change Bill coming to the House of Commons; another around the issue of Tesco coming to Stirchley; and a debate on the runway extension. I look forward to the arrival of sun, adding more energy to our campaigns.

Chris Williams

Campaigns Digest continued

Here’s a free pick up line: despite over half a century of economic growth the UK population is no happier now than it was in the 1950s. Even if it doesn’t get you a new partner, it usually piques people’s attention.

Environmentalists should take particular note as the statement implies the following: we have been systematically destroying the world for future generations for absolutely no pay-off for our own well-being.

Try the line for yourself but, be warned, your prospective lover may protest, most commonly, that ‘you can’t measure happiness’.

We have been systematically destroying the world for future generations for absolutely no pay-off for our own well-being.

Shock Story: Destroying the planet hasn’t

made us happy.

Take ActionPeter Kunzman

The animal farming industry worldwide causes roughly 18% of human climate change impact overall. Organic food can have significant environmental benefits. However, organic animal farming requires very large areas of pasture. If the UK shifts to organic livestock farming, there would have to be a large reduction in meat consumption. This is because there is not enough land to produce the same amount of meat by organic methods.The benefits of a food campaign for Birmingham Friends of the Earth ‘Food Actions’ can be very empowering for ordinary people. We eat every day, and shop every week. With clear advice, ordinary people can confidently cut their environmental damage with every meal and purchase. Many organisations are large food consumers. Both commercial and public sector organisations can significantly reduce their eco-impact with good sustainable food policies. Local and national Government also have a significant role to play. It is vital that the whole food chain, and all environmental aspects, are considered. Food security and sustainable food production are currently on the political agenda, which makes a Friends of the Earth food campaign particularly timely.Amanda Baker of The Vegan Society media@vegansociety.comwww.vegansociety.com

A Meat-eater’s Point of ViewAs a regular but discerning meat and dairy consumer, I welcome Friends of the Earth’s decision to launch a campaign aimed at reducing the environmental impact of the livestock industry. What form might such a campaign take? First and foremost, I would suggest, it must be a campaign that meat eaters, not just vegetarians and vegans, can support. It should avoid duplicating the work of animal welfare groups such as Compassion in World Farming, which earlier this year launched a new campaign and micro-site urging people to eat less meat. Nor should it simply promote vegetarianism and/or veganism. We already have organisations such as the Vegetarian and Vegan Societies to do this, and there is a fundamental difference between the agendas of these organisations and that of Friends of the Earth. The difference is that, for organisations like the Vegetarian Society, meat eating would still be anathema even if there were no greenhouse gas emissions associated with it. A full-page advert by the Vegetarian Society in the latest issue of Earthmatters, Friends of the Earth’s supporters’ magazine, states that ‘the only genuine way to cut down on these harmful emissions [from farmed animals] is to stop eating meat’. Contrast this with our organisation’s approach to other major sources of greenhouse-gas

A Vegan Point of View1.Food production is one of the top three causes of all ecological problems. 2.Food alone uses 90% of the UK’s fair share of the earth’s resources. 3.There are clear actions which can quickly slash our toll on the planet.

The environmental impact of foodFood has a heavy ‘eco-footprint’, in fact nearly one-third of the eco-impact of the typical Brit is from food. The issues are complex, but there are clear and effective ‘Food Actions’ which Birmingham Friends of the Earth can promote to individuals, organisations and Government. The average British diet uses roughly three times the land, water and energy of a balanced plant-based diet. This is largely because farmed animals use most of the calories from their feed for their own life processes and so the plant protein is not converted to milk, meat and eggs. Eating lower down the food chain avoids the waste involved in this poor conversion.

About 1.2 global hectares (gha) of our food footprint is animal based – due to meat, dairy products and eggs. Producing plant-based foods such as beans, vegetables and bread takes about 0.5 gha per tonne. Animal-based foods such as fish, beef and cheese use 10–15 gha per tonne. The world human population is expected to increase by 50%, to 9 billion by 2050. Then there will be only 1.2 bio-productive global hectares per person (down from 1.8 gha now). The expanding global middle classes – for example in China – are rapidly increasing their consumption of meat and dairy products to match ours. This is driving a farmed animal population explosion - numbers may double to 40 billion by 2050.A plant-based diet has a carbon footprint at least one tonne lower than the typical British diet. Ruminants such as cattle reared for meat and milk have

a particularly large climate impact, as they ‘belch’ large quantities of the potent greenhouse gas, methane.

8 9

Should Birmingham Friends of the Earth Campaign on Food?Eco-debate

A plant-based diet has a carbon footprint at least one tonne lower than the typical British diet

Carrot Rain by Yael Frankel

The Birmingham Friends of the Earth (BFoE) Multifaith Project teamed up with Islamic Relief and the Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences (IFEES) to hold a networking event centred around the theme ‘Love God, Love Creation’.

On 5th February 2008 organisations such as CSV Environment, Ulfah Arts, Interpal, Muslim Scout groups, St Pauls Trust, Unity FM and Birmingham Sustainable Energy Partnership attended The Zawiya (also known as ‘Amina Trust’) in Small Heath to meet and share experiences with those interested and committed to working towards a sustainable future. This event was part of a series of events in the week of 4-10 February 2008 to mark ‘Love God, Love Creation’ which was inspired by Stop Climate Chaos (SCC), a national umbrella organisation with members of diverse interests.

Rianne ten Veen, representing Midlands Islamic Network for the Environment (MINE) and one of the main organisers of the event, described it as a ‘discussion evening on our duty of care for the environment, and a means to show our love for God and His Creation’. It included information about what Islamic Relief, IFEES and other organisations are doing to help the environment.

Maud Grainger, Multifaith Project Co-ordinator, spoke at the event of the importance of different faiths and communities working together on environmental issues. One of Birmingham Friends of the Earth’s key campaigns is on ‘Faith and Climate Change’ and community groups are actively encouraged and supported to

undertake environmental projects from tree planting to managing allotments right through to formal presentations and training. Maud undertook to provide support and encouragement for local initiatives in whatever way she could.

Various speakers from different groups and organisations highlighted the work being done to protect the environment on a local, national and international level. This work is often inspired by personal conviction and a deep rooted belief that faith in God must be demonstrated by practical action for the benefit of all creation.

By Shahien Khan

Some relevant websites for those interested:

Birmingham Friends of the Earth Multifaith: http://www.birminghamfoe.org.uk/the-news/Multi-Faith/index.html

Stop Climate Chaos:

www.stopclimatechaos.org.uk

Islamic Relief: www.islamic-relief.com

IFEES: www.ifees.org.uk

Muslim Birmingham (Environment): http://muslimbirmingham.wordpress.com/category/environment/

Balsall Heath Forum: www.balsallheathforum.org.uk

CSV Environment: www.csv.org.uk

Love God Love Creation

10 11

One of Birmingham Friends of the Earth’s key campaigns is on ‘Faith and Climate Change’ and community groups are actively encouraged and supported to undertake environmental projects

emissions: Friends of the Earth does not, for instance, insist that the only way to reduce emissions from electricity generation is to stop using electricity; or that the only way to reduce emissions from cars is to stop driving. Things just aren’t that simple.

For sure, we may need to eat fewer livestock products, and, if farming is to survive, pay more for them. But this will require action at all stages of the supply chain, the supermarkets in particular, to ensure that the external costs of livestock products are properly reflected in the price we pay for them and that farmers receive a fair return for their efforts. A campaign aimed merely at trying to shame consumers into changing their lifestyles can only fail to do justice to a complex issue. James Botham

For sure, we may need to eat fewer livestock products

cancer cluster at Bradwell, Essex). A recent German study found more childhood cancer near nuclear power plants (British Medical Journal, 5 Jan 08). Another study has found that workers at nuclear plants who were exposed to higher levels of radiation were more likely to die from heart attacks and strokes. The researchers concluded that the chances of the trend being a coincidence were small (The International Journal of Epidemiology, 2008.) Researchers, having investigated families in the path of the 1986 Chernobyl radioactive plume, found mutation inherited by children born years later. Genetic mutations occur twice as often in children of parents exposed to the fallout (Nature 380:683-1996).

There are also financial costs to the taxpayer. Malcolm Wicks states that “Under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965, nuclear operators have strict and exclusive liability for nuclear incidents causing personal injury or damage to property. This liability is capped and in the UK is currently £140 million”. (Hansard, 21 Jan 2008, col. 1634W). Again, Malcom Wicks reports that “In the past the Government have found themselves called upon to cover the costs of decommissioning and waste management and disposal where nuclear power station operators have been unable to do so. The mechanism set out by the Government in the Energy Bill aims to mitigate in so far as possible against this risk for any new power stations that are built.....However, in paragraph 3.58 it is recognised that in extreme

circumstances the Government may be called upon to meet the costs of ensuring the protection of the public and the environment.” (Hansard, 4 Feb 2008, col. 900-901W).

The estimated cost for nuclear waste storage for the existing nuclear plants is £75 billion. The cost for the proposed new nuclear reactors is estimated to be £10 billion per reactor.

A nuclear power station is a large scale and long term investment. If the private sector is to invest in nuclear power, it will want long term guarantees for the return on money invested. The huge sums going into nuclear power starves investment in research and construction of alternative energy installations.

The first nuclear reactor under construction in Europe since Chernobyl is the Finnish Olkiluoto-3. Areva (French) and Siemen (German) offered a fixed price of

Continued from front page....

Uranium has to be imported. The shortages of uranium will seriously increase between 2010–2019 and will become more severe thereafter. The mining and extraction of uranium is a dirty, cancerous business, creating large amounts of toxic slag. In the future, in order to mine adequate amounts of useable uranium, the process will become even dirtier and demand more energy. Uranium enrichment uses large volumes or uranium hexafluoride, and other halogenated compounds (HCs). HCs are greenhouse gases with global warming potentials ranging up to 10,000 times that of carbon dioxide. There is no published data on releases of HCs from nuclear energy. (1).

There are varying estimates of greenhouse gas emissions taking account of the whole life cycle of nuclear power. The UK Government’s 2007 Nuclear Power Consultation estimates between 7 and 22 CO2 g/kWh. The estimate by Storm van Leewen and Smith includes all greenhouse gas emissions from the nuclear cycle and ranges from between 88 and 134 CO2 g/kWh. (1).

In addition, a nuclear power station uses water as a coolant, thus wasting heat and further contributing to global warming. Furthermore, most nuclear power stations are situated by water and the sea levels may be rising, resulting in more construction work to try to keep them safe from flooding.

There is no country in the world that has solved the problem relating to long term nuclear waste storage. Britain has the equivalent of about 25 double-decker busses (one bus measured to be 80 cubic meters) full of High Level Waste (2,000m3), 4,300 double-decker busses with Intermediate Level Waste (349,000m3) and 25,000 double-decker busses with Low Level Waste (1.9million m3). There is also a huge volume of contaminated soil, rubble and other waste from the cleaning up process of nuclear sites.

Nuclear waste needs to be stored for more than 100,000 years, in storage that can withstand earth tremors and ice ages. However, the more immediate concern is the continuous and permitted radioactive discharges into the air and water from the nuclear industry. There are reports of cancer clusters around nuclear plants in Britain. Such a study was called off in 2004 (to investigate a possible

Nuclear Power

12 13

is NOT the Solution

There is no country in the world that has solved the problem relating to long term nuclear waste storage.

The estimated cost for nuclear waste storage for the existing nuclear plants is £75 billion.

3.2 billion Euros and a fixed delivery time. Commercial banks arranged a syndicate loan to the Finnish utility, Teleosllisuuden Voima Oy, for 2.6 per cent interest. Olkilouto-3 was to have been finished by 2009, but the present estimate is 2011. Analysts estimate an overrun cost of 1.5 billion Euros. COFACE (Compagnie Francaise d’Assurance pour le Commerce Exterieur) has stepped in with 610 million Euros in export credit guarantees.

The subsidies received by renewable energy sources so far are dwarfed by those given to the nuclear and fossil fuel sectors. Instead of supporting mega projects it would be better to decentralise energy systems such as wave, solar, wind, hydro and geothermal. There is a wide range of renewable energy technologies in use: the most common in the UK are solar, wind and wave. Furthermore, we must not only look at what we do

in Britain, climate change is global. The technological solutions are here, but not the Government’s will to leave energy control to be managed more locally.

Going nuclear is not the solution. Neither to solve global warming nor to stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

Ulla Grant

West Midlands Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and member of Birmingham Friends of the Earth

References:

(1) The Lean Guide to Nuclear Energy, A Life-Cycle in Trouble by David Fleming, 2007.

WISE, Nuclear Monitor www.antenna.nl/WISE

Low Level Radiation Campaign (LLRC): www.llrc.org

See how close you live to a Nuclear Transport route, and sign an e-petition at:

http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/nuclear/what-you-can-do

Or join the West Midlands CND at

http://www.wmcnd.org.uk/

14 15

The subsidies received by renewable energy sources so far are dwarfed by those given to the nuclear and fossil fuel sectors. Take Action

Interested people, including members of Birmingham Friends of the Earth, were invited to visit one terraced house in Balsall Heath that has reduced its carbon emissions by 75%. The opening was part of the Sustainable Energy Academy’s ‘Old Home, Super Home’ scheme, to spread best practice among home owners. John Newson was inspired, after visiting Martin and Jane Normanton of Walsall Friends of the Earth, to become the first open house in Birmingham on 9th February.John first insulated his external walls and the loft, and installed timber-frame double-glazing to reduce heat loss. “I realised that the house was a solar collector. By insulating it, I now hold onto the day’s sun through the evening, so reducing my heating needs’’, says John. He was able to install a modest-capacity, condensing combi boiler, with new radiators and thermostatic valves. Together, the improvements showed a 70% reduction in gas consumption. By switching from regular electricity to a 100% renewable supply from Good Energy, the house completed its transition to 75% less carbon from heating and power. “Green electricity is a bit more expensive”, says John, “but I have reduced consumption with a small A-rated fridge and low energy bulbs throughout.”The energy saving measures were

part of a renewal of this house, built in 1884, for the 21st century, and John believes they have added a lot to the value of the house and are a good investment. The lower fuel bills are a bonus (which will increase in value as fuel prices rise). The house was also strengthened by the improvements - just as well as it was in the centre of the tornado of 2005. This extreme weather alerted John to the need to talk to everyone about the urgent need to take responsibility for our emissions of greenhouse gases, while there is still time.John learned a lot from the visitors’ questions and suggestions about what he could do next to save energy. He has encouraged them to make their own changes to their houses, and to consider their own open day, so we can all learn from people who are taking action at home.ReferencesOld Home, Super Home scheme see http://www.sustainable-energyacademy.org.uk/Energy Savings Trust http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk‘Home Truths’ report, for friends of the Earth sets out how the Government can reduce carbon emissions from UK homes by 80% by 2050http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/climate/news/green_homes/home_truths.html#report

Old Home, Super Home ?

16 17

Green Fingers Phacelia

Reverseside

Chives

Calendula(pot marigold)

Cut butterfly shapes from

aluminium drink cans and

suspend on garden wire to

bob in the breeze.

Grow veggies with daft names like ‘Tasty Burpless’, the comedy cucumber.

A plastic bottle cloche protects young lettuces.

Fortify with extra rings of used coffee granules, egg shell, oatmeal and/or slug defence gel.

Sweet basil

Cut d

own p

lastic

bott

les an

dth

read t

oget

her a

s han

ging h

erb pl

ante

rs. Save space & train veggies up wigwam

s or g

row in

pots.

Parsl

ey

Allotment gardening really gets going in April and its already difficult to make the time needed to execute the plans I’ve dreamt up over winter. So my first aim is to reduce time spent on gardening chores (weeding and watering) with a combined strategy of mulching (cardboard, grass cuttings) and growing green manures (phacelia and fenugreek). This is working well to suppress weeds, lock in moisture and enrich the soil for later crops. Encouraging the natural predators of veggie pests offers a colourful approach to managing healthy growth, as the flowers of companion plants brighten the plot (french marigold, calendula, poached egg plant). But, beneath the soil a slimy scourge remains hard to eradicate. As the ground warms in April the keeled slugs rise. This year I am taking the initiative and lead with an offensive of nematodes. With my usual fortifications of multiple slug prevention barriers, I hope for bountiful harvests and remain the eternal optimist as I endeavour towards my own Eden project. Good luck with yours!Hannah@WaferCreations.com

18 19

Although Tesco officially does not yet have the planning decision on its development of a 72,334 sq ft superstore in Stirchley, work has begun demolishing the old warehouses which will make up part of its new site;

the plans are still going through the planning process, but it all looks like a done deal. Also, the local Conservative councillors who were initially in support of locals opposed to the original application are now fully in support of Tesco, advocating ‘the regeneration of Stirchley has finally begun’.

If permission is granted, the new superstore will be located almost opposite the present large Co-operative store. Tesco has bought up residential properties and warehouse buildings within the site, leaving them derelict. The development will also commandeer Hazelwell Lane, which will become an entrance road into the Tesco store.

Why should we be opposed to this development?

1) Traffic: presently traffic along the Pershore Road through Stirchley is standstill at rush hour. The proposed

development will vastly increase traffic flow into Stirchley and along the Pershore Road in both directions, due to the impact of shoppers travelling to and from the supermarket from around South Birmingham.

2) Noise: the site is set between the Pershore Road and the River Rea on what is currently a very quiet road. The River Rea is a cycle route into Birmingham as well as a pleasant stroll into Canon Hill Park, and just across from the proposed development is Hazelwell Park where families come to play and relax.

3) Unnecessary: the Tesco development is not needed. Stirchley is unusual in that it has a wide variety of local shops, including greengrocers, convenience stores, pet shops, and numerous antiques shops, and it already has the large Co-operative store. This development appears to respond to the wishes of supermarket monopolies, rather than local and consumer need.

We can only hope that the councillors wake up to the fact that Stirchley doesn’t need another supermarket with the Co-op just around the corner. Birmingham Friends of the Earth will be out on the streets of Stirchley, encouraging the local residents to resist the dominance of the supermarkets and keep supporting the local shops: if you don’t use them, you lose them and Stirchley will end up a ghost town.

Emma Lewis-Gibbs

Tesco Development,

Chris Williams interviewed Rianne ten Veen

How long have you been involved with Birmingham Friends of the Earth?

I first joined the group around 3 years ago, after I had moved to the city.

What do you do with the Birmingham group?

I like coming to campaigns meetings to recharge my batteries, learn from and listen to others about their ideas for improving our environment. I

am particularly keen on the multi-faith and climate change project and am a member of the project’s steering group. I feel that faiths can play an important role in solving our environmental problems.

How did you first get involved?

Having a dad who worked for an oil company, it meant that I grew up in a range of countries, including Argentina. We lived in a compound and, to get there, had to drive past a deserted harbour that was full of oil tar and dead plants. On the other side of the road were people trying to make ends meet while living in corrugated iron shacks. While only around six years old, this taught me a lot about justice and sowed seeds for what I now consider as my green jihad.

Moving to the Netherlands, I joined the Panda Club, the youth group of WWF, but soon left when they started organising parties. All I wanted to do was save the panda! I led a green life while living in the Netherlands and Belgium and became President of the Dutch United Nations Association while I was a law student. This taught me a lot about justice and the environment. It was only too easy for me to look for a group like Birmingham Friends of the Earth when I moved to the city.

Do you like working within the group?

I love it.

Volunteer SpotlightStirchley

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APR5th April, Big Ask Day of Action – raising awareness of aviation emissions missing from the Climate Change Bill.7th April, Campaigns meeting14th April, Recycling and Aviation sub-group meetings21st April, Campaigns meeting + social28th April, Climate Change + Local shops sub-group meetings

MAY3rd May, West Midlands Friends of the Earth Regional Gathering, 10:30am – 5pm

5th May, Campaigns meeting

26th May, Faith and Environment event, Botanical Gardens

Farmers’ MarketBearwood: 3rd Saturday of the month

Birmingham University: 4th Wednesday of the month

Harborne: 2nd Saturday of the month, 9-2pm

Kings Heath: 1st Saturday of the month

Kings Norton: 2nd Saturday of the month

Moseley: 4th Saturday of the month

New St: 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month

Shirley: 3rd Thursday of the month except Jan and Feb

Solihull: 1st Friday of the month

Sutton Coldfield: 2nd Friday of the month

Visit this site for more info: http://thefoody.com/regions/centralfm.html#westmidlands

There are so many things that we could do to reduce pollution and conserve resources, but there is one simple and affordable thing everyone can do: visit your local library! This would also have the benefit of reducing the amount of books gathering dust on your shelves (including my own!).

There are many interesting and useful services provided by Birmingham libraries. One such service is to give access over the internet to all the catalogues of books held at libraries in the Birmingham area. If you get a PIN for your library card by visiting one of your local libraries, you can log on to the internet and search the catalogues of all Birmingham libraries at http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/libraries.bcc.

When you have found the book you are looking for you can then reserve it and request which library you want to collect it from. The library will then send an SMS text or email when your book is available for collection. Maybe now you are wondering what the cost of this service is? The great thing is that it is free, nothing, nada! I have made use of this service many times with great success. When I was planning for my wedding last year I requested a few books on flower arrangements and wedding planning; and unlike the books on my shelves gathering dust, I know that these books are now hopefully helping someone else plan their special day! So get out there to your local library…

Mary Horesh

Love your library,

Birmingham Central Library by Martin Hartland

Love the environment

Contact us:Friends of the Earth (Birmingham) The Warehouse 54-57 Allison Street Birmingham B5 5TH

Tel: (0121) 632 6909 Fax: (0121) 643 3122

E-mail: info@birminghamfoe.org.uk

Web: www.birminghamfoe.org.uk

Friends of the Earth is:- The largest international network of

environmental groups in the world, represented in 72 countries.

- One of the UK’s leading enviromental pressure groups.

- A unique network of campaigning local groups, working in more than 200 communities in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

- Over 90% of its funds come from its supporters.

Birmingham FoE:Campaigns at a local level to effect environmental change (in ways which feed into national and international policy) through:

- Direct action

- Lobbying

- Education

- Empowering others to take action

- Participation and representation through public fora

Chair: Benjamin MabbettCampaigns Co-ordinators: Andy PrykeMary HoreshCampaigns Support Worker: Chris WilliamsGeneral Manager: Tamsin MosseTreasurer: Margaret LynchAviation: James BothamClimate Change & Energy: Nigel BakerMulti-faith and Climate Change Project: Rianne ten Veen & Maud GraingerWaste and Resources: Kate Nancarrow & Andy PrykeLocal Food and Trade: Karen LeachPlanning: John HallTransport: Libby HaywardNewsletter Editors: Katy BarryPhil BurrowsWebsite Editor: Phil BurrowsTalks: Paul Webb and othersAll enquiries and callers welcome.Find us on page 74 of the B’hamA-Z, grid ref: 4A

23

Golden Supporter schemeI am a yearly supporter and wish to become a Golden supporter (£2 monthly minimum).

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Please return to secretary, Friends of the Earth, 54-57 Allison Street, Digbeth, Birmingham B5 5TH.

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This replaces any previous standing order in favour of Frinde of the Earth Birmingham.

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We are the only organisation in Birmingham that campaigns on Climate Change, Transport, Local Shops, Planning, Waste and Recycling. You can help us do this in a number of ways;1.) By taking part in or our campaigns

2.) By joining us 3.) BothWhich ever route you decide, you are helping to change your environment for the better. Making sure that that those who pollute, monopolise or despoil locally, nationally or internationally are accountable.

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