Friends of Earth - BaseCamp July

BASECAMP 2013

The Get-together for environmental activism
12-14 July, Hartington, Derbyshire

BASECAMP is one of three events we're running this year in place of our Annual Conference.
This won't be a top-down 'Conference'. BASECAMP is being developed and run as collaboratively as possible with an activist working group, local groups and the network more widely.
This is an event primarily for the Friends of the Earth network of local groups. We also very much welcome people who aren't Friends of the Earth members but are active on environmental issues. 
Join us at Basecamp to
• Skill up - share expertise, build and learn skills.
• Meet up - with a broad spectrum of people with a common goal. 
• Have your say - in how we can campaign together to achieve our ambitions.
• Rejuvenate - in the midst of some of the most beautiful scenery in Britain.
There'll be a range of creative, festival-inspired and thought-provoking activities throughout the weekend (suggestions and offers very welcome). And you can't fail to be inspired by our prize ceremony for local campaigning - the Earthmovers Awards.
Guest speakers confirmed so far include George Monbiot (Columnist and author) and Elías Díaz Peña (Friends of the Earth Paraguay) with more on the way.  
About the venue
The event will take place in Hartington - a village in the countryside between Buxton and Chesterfield, a short walk from world famous Dovedale. We hope to be inspired by this spectacular setting, so the weekend will have an outdoor feel. A lot of the sessions will be in the marquee and yurts, or rooms in the Youth Hostel with views of the nearby hills. We will be running shuttle buses from Buxton train station in time for the beginning and the end of the event. (We are looking into a shuttle from Chesterfield too).  
We have booked every bed in the area for the event, so there will be a range of accommodation for you to choose from - including riverside camping, dorm beds at the YHA, nearby B&Bs and a hotel.
Prices (all tickets are subsidised)
£30: Weekend ticket with food and camping
£60: Weekend ticket with food and dorm room
£105: Weekend  ticket with B & B
A limited number of free tickets are also available for local group members who would not be able to participate otherwise.
And if you have any questions or suggestions please do get in touch.

East Kent FOE Letter to Laura Sandys on Energy Bill

Our Colleagues in EAST KENT FRIENDS OF THE EARTH GROUP are lobbing Laura Sandys MP on The Energy Bill before Parliament

"Dear Laura.

I am writing to you on behalf of my group to urge you to amend The Energy Bill to include a target for clean power by 2030.

The Energy Bill presents a massive opportunity to set us on the path towards clean power, to get us of the hook of expensive dirty gas and to bring green manufacturing jobs to East Kent and the rest of The UK.

But without the inclusion of a 2030 target for clean power dubbed a "green jobs ammendment" The Bill will not deliver the clear long-term signal to investors needed to kick start this transformation. As demonstrated during The Bills Second Reading there is massive and growing support for a clean power target. This includes support across all the main political parties, The Governments official adviser The Committee on Climate Change and a broad cross section of business. Energy Secretary - Ed Davey recently said the vast majority of business support a target in The Bill and and he could not find any companies that oppose it.

Experts agree that the cleaning up of our power sector by 2030 is the most effective way to meet our legally binding climate change targets. The role you play on The Energy Bill Scrutiny Committee and your influence at DECC will help de-carbonise our energy future for decades to come. Please support and speak in favour of an ammendment to support clean energy and a 2030 target.

Thank you.

Stuart Cox
Group Coordinator
East Kent FOE Group."

sfcox@cooptel.net

East Kent FOC Letter Fuel Poverty

The number of families living in fuel poverty is far higher than thought and is likely to rise from 6.4m to 9m people over the next five years.

A recent survey for Friends of The Earth has revealed widespread public anger about the big six energy giants profits and rising bills. We have received overwhelming  public support for our call to
The Government to launcha Public Inquiry into the power of the big six - 86% and support for a levy on their excessive profits is alsohigh at 71%.

Over 30.000 have backed our Final Demand Campaign and signed our petition to David Cameron calling on him to launch an independent Public Inquiry. Green Party Leader - Caroline Lucas MP has tabled an Early Day Motion in Parliament calling for a levy on the big six energy giants with the support of over 100 MPs. The big six are makin massive profits while at the same time failing to make the investments needed in renewable energy The UK needs

The Chancellor failed in the budget to address the failings of the big six and their growing profits and above allgrowing national scandal of fuel poverty.

Yours Sincerely.
Stuart Cox
Group Coordinator
East Kent FOE

East Kent FOE Feb Meeting

Our next meeting will be held at 22 Farrier Street Deal on Wednesday 8th February 2012 at 7pm.

AGENDA.

1)   Coordinators Update.

       2)   Feedback from The FOE Regional Gathering

       3)   Campaign Choices for 2012..

       4)   Sholden Housing Development update

       5)   Shale Gas Drilling update.

       6)   Any other matters.

       7)   Date and Venue of the next meeting.

Stuart Cox, Group Coordinator
Tel 01304 363729, email sfcox@cooptel.net

Boris Island back on the agenda in Kent?

Government to consult on Thames Estuary airport

18 January 2012

Commenting on reports that the Government is to hold a formal consultation on controversial plans for a new airport in the Thames Estuary, Friends of the Earth's Executive Director Andy Atkins said:

"A new airport in the Thames estuary would have a devastating impact on local communities and the environment - and all for pie-in-the sky economics that simply don't add up.

"London doesn't need another hub airport - the capital already has more flights to the world's main business destinations than our European neighbours.

"David Cameron's pledge to lead the greenest Government ever will ring hollow if he gives the green light to a huge expansion in air travel."

ENDS
Notes to editors:
1. A Friends of the Earth briefing, Heathrow Expansion - Its True Costs, exposes many of the misleading arguments about the financial benefits of aviation growth.

FOE win legal case over PV FiT

Friends of the Earth has won its legal challenge against the Government in High Court.

Along with two solar companies we took the Government to court over their plans to slash support for solar energy.
After two days in court the Judge ruled in our favour calling the Government's plans "legally flawed".

These botched and illegal plans have cast a huge shadow over the solar industry, jeopardising thousands of jobs.
We hope this ruling will prevent ministers rushing through damaging changes to clean energy subsidies - giving solar firms a much-needed confidence boost.

Andy Atkins, Friends of the Earth's Executive Director

Illegal and unfair

Government proposed cutting the amount of cash-back - known as feed-in tariffs - for solar projects installed after 12 December.
But this date was 11 days before the official consultation on the plans closed.
The Judge agreed with Friends of the Earth that this approach was illegal.

Real-world impact

The Government's proposals have already caused thousands of planned or unfinished solar projects to be shelved.

Government must act

Following today's ruling the Government must act now to get solar back on track by:

• Providing more money for feed-in tariffs.
• Supporting solar projects in schools and social housing.

Take our Christmas action

Please send your MP a Christmas message asking them to help put solar back on track.

Letter from East Kent FOE

90% OF BRITS WANT PUBLIC INQUIRY INTO FIRMS - NEW SURVEY.

Politicians are being urged to get tough on the Big 6 energy companies with 90% of Brits backing a call for a Public Inquiry into their power and half believing the main
reasons for bills doubling since 2004 is energy company greed according to a new survey released by Friends of The Earth.

Martin Lewis, Creator of Moneysavingsexpert.com joined calls for politicians and regulators to make "radical changes" to the energy system following a summit last month where The Government failed to tackle the energy company rip-off.

Friends of The Earths new Final Demand Campaign is challenging The Government to launch a Public Inquiry into the power of the big 6 who are making billions in profits while an estimated 1 in 4 households are unable to afford their energy bills following recent price hikes.

FOE are asking people to sign its Petition calling on David Cameron to set up a Public Inquiry into the big 6 at -www.foe.uk/finaldemand

Stuart Cox from East Kent Friends of The Earth Group said:

"The Government is cozying up to the energy companies instead of calling time on the big energy market stitch-up.

The Big Six are making billions by keeping The UK hooked  on expensive imported fuels instead of setting us on a path to affordable, clean British energy.

Were making a Final Demand to David Cameron on behalf of families in Britain - launch an urgent Public Inquiry  into the big six and give us a fair energy system."

East Kent FOE Oct Meeting

EAST KENT FRIENDS OF THE EARTH GROUP

Our next meeting will be held at  Deal
on Monday 3rd October  2011 at 7pm.

AGENDA.

1)   Coordinators Update.
2)   Report from FOE Conference.
3)   New FOE Energy Campaign.
4)   Members/Supporters Survey
5)   Housing development at Sholden
6)   Any other matters.
7)   Date and Venue of the next meeting.


Stuart Cox, Group Coordinator
Tel 01304 363729, email sfcox@cooptel.net

East Kent FOE Letter on 'Fracking'

"A new report for The Coop warns that the full environmental impact of  Shale Gas Drilling needs to be fully assessed before any more projects are approved.

There is growing concern over the controversial technique used - 'Fracking' where the rock is fractured using chemicals.
 
In The US Texas have become the first state to pass a law requiring companies to disclose which of up to 600 substances they use in fracking. Growing disquiet has forced Texas Governor - Rick Perry to act after companies constantly refused to disclose the information. In New york State contamination of water supplies has lead to a ban on all fracking operations until the effect on their water supplies can be fully addressed.

The UK Government and Local Councils need to act now and stop all further Shale Gas Drilling at least until all the wider environmental concerns can be exposed and addressed."


Stuart Cox
Group Coordinator
East Kent FOE

East Kent FOE meeting Deal 6th June

Our next East Kent FOE meeting will be held in Deal on
 Monday 6th June2011 at 7pm.

Agenda.
1) Coordnators Update.
2) Energy Bill.
3) The Richborough Energy Park.
4) Venues for Summer Stalls.
5) FOE South East Regional Gathering in London 30/6/11.
6) FOE Conference in Nottingham 9-11/9/11.
7) Any other Business.
8) Date/Venue of the next meeting.

For meeting details contact Stuart on Tel. 01304 363729

East Kent FOE meeting Deal 4th April

Our colleagues in Friends of Earth have a local meeting on 4th April.

EAST KENT FRIENDS OF THE EARTH GROUP.
Our next meeting will be at 6 Albion Road Deal on Monday 4th April 2011 at 7pm. Albion Road is just North of Alfred Square between The Marina and Sandown Road.
  AGENDA.
1)  Coordinators Update.
2)  FOE Recyling Campaign.
3)  Canterbury Climate Fair 14/15 May.
4)  Members Survey.
5)  Future Plans.
6)  Any Other Business.
7)  Date/Venue of The Next Meeting.

Feed In Tariffs under threat ?

From FoE: 
The Government could face a legal challenge if tariffs paid to homes, businesses and communities for generating small-scale renewable electricity are cut in tomorrow's Comprehensive Spending Review, Friends of the Earth warned today.

In a letter sent to Energy Minster Greg Barker, the environmental campaigning charity points out that feed-in tariff levels have been set out by the Government, with a clear statement that they will not be reviewed - let alone reduced - until 2013.

Friends of the Earth warns that any change to tariff levels before this review could lead to a legal challenge from councils, community groups or small-scale energy producers who have planned and invested in renewable electricity infrastructure expecting that published tariff levels will not change. According to a report today feed in tariffs could be cut by 10 per cent.

Friends of the Earth's Policy and Campaigns Director Craig Bennett said:

"If Ministers try to cut agreed payments for green electricity generation they may find themselves in court.

"The Government has clearly set out tariff levels for the first three years of the scheme, and councils, community groups and businesses have planned and invested accordingly. Reviewing tariff rates could undermine these plans.

"Cutting feed-in tariff levels would risk destabilising the UK's small-scale renewable electricity market at the precise moment that it is finally starting to gain momentum, as well as undermining David Cameron's promise to lead the greenest government ever."

50,000 new jobs could be created by recycling more - new research by FOE

More than 50,000 new recycling jobs would be created across the country if the UK set more ambitious recycling targets according to a new report launched by Friends of the Earth today [Tuesday 14 September 2010].

The green campaigning charity's report, 'More jobs, less waste', shows that at least 51,400 new jobs would be created across the UK if we recycled 70 per cent of the waste collected by local councils.

At least a further 18,800 jobs could be created if we recycled commercial and industrial waste at the same rate.



But if the UK only recycles 50% of council-collected waste - the minimum required by 2020 under EU law - then we would lose out on nearly twenty-five thousand jobs.

Wales and Scotland have both recently announced that they plan to recycle 70 per cent of council-collected waste by 2025, yet Northern Ireland and England - where the vast majority of waste is generated - are still aiming to recycle only 50 per cent.

The UK Coalition Government has recently started a review of waste policy in England and as part of this Friends of the Earth is calling on the Government to set ambitious recycling targets.

Friends of the Earth's waste campaigner Julian Kirby said:

"Recycling is a win-win for the environment and the economy - saving precious resources and creating many more jobs than expensive and outdated incinerators.

"The Government must be ambitious in setting recycling rates - better product design, as well as action to stop supermarkets and producers selling products that can't be recycled, means that we could easily achieve upwards of 75 per cent recycling rates by 2025.

"If the Coalition is serious about creating a green, jobs-rich economy then it must unlock the wealth in our waste and help consumers to recycle as much as possible."

More Jobs, Less Waste publication can be found here