Central Lancashire Friends of the Earth ............. news and activities
Just been shopping in Booths (Longton) and been pleased to discover they have now placed all their free plastic carrier bags beneath the counter in an effort to discourage excessive use. If you're pleased to see this sort of progress in your local supermarket, do tell them so!
The next meeting of the Central Lancashire group will be on Monday 17th November, 7.30pm at the Angel Hotel, Lune Street, Preston.
For further details about CLFOE meetings, e-mail Dot Kelk at kelky@tkelk.freeserve.co.uk
‘Climate change controversies: a simple
guide’ is the Royal Society’s online response to some of the most
persistent arguments raised by climate change sceptics. The guide challenges
six of the most popular arguments against anthropogenic climate change
(e.g. climate change is just natural) with rigorous scientific evidence.
Click here to take a look.
Thankyou to E. H. Booths for detailed information about what becomes of their recycled plastic bags. It's good to know that at least one local supermarket takes its responsibilities seriously.
If you would like to make your views known on Radioactive Waste Management, or find out more information, you can contact CORWM (Committee on Radioactive Waste Management) at - contact@corwm.org.co.uk, or write to:
Corwm Secretariat,
4/F8 Ashdown House,
123 Victoria Street,
London S1E 6DE.
Find out how the production of palm oil is destroying rain forests and threatening the survival of the orang-utan. Please click here to find out more. and give your support by contacting this site: www.savetheorangutan.org.uk
Check out how eco-friendly you are by looking at
www.earthday.net
Check out the new Friends of the Earth on-line shop at
www.foe.co.uk/shop
Did you know that the Preston FOE group (now Central Lancs) has been in existence for at least 27 years? Details of early minutes and accounts can be found in the Lancashire Records Office catalogued at DDX 2467. Our thirtieth anniversary will be in 2008!
The New Internationalist has given the Ray Hammond novel Extinction a four star (very good) rating. It is a "sharp, futuristic novel" which is "a tightly written thriller (with) the message that we are meddling with the fragile systems of our planet at our peril and the ecological clock is ticking."
The long-awaited final results of the GM trials for Britain's biggest crop, winter oil seed rape, show that wildlife and the environment would suffer if the crop was grown in the UK. For details see www.defra.gov.uk/environment/gm/crops
and www.guardian.co.uk/gm
Important changes were introduced on January 1, 2005, when the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Environmental Regulations (EIR) became English Law.
Information about the FOIA is on the Government’s website at www.foi.gov.uk.
The Campaign for Freedom of Information’s site is at www.cfoi.org.uk.
The Information Commissioner, who regulates appeals for information if they are refused, has a site at www.cfoi.org.uk/foiact2000.html.
Friends of the Earth have an excellent guide, “The Right to Know Handbook”, which is available at http://community.foe.co.uk/tools/right-to-know/index.html.
We suggest that you check these pages and the Handbook if you’re thinking of making an application. You can apply for environmental information in person or by phone. Unwritten requests have the same legal status as written ones. You can also ask private companies, utilities, airport operators and others; the EIR are not restricted to public bodies.
Another site worth checking is at www.freedomofinformation.co.uk.
We advise you to be firm, polite and persistent. The more your rights are exercised the greater will be the effectiveness of FOIA and EIR.
Have a look at the FOE Handbook as your starting point and good luck!
Richard Hammond, freelance journalist for the Guardian asks
How can we be responsible when we travel? There are now tour operators and accommodation owners who are committed to a new way of doing tourism. They abide by the codes of Responsible Tourism. Have a look at the website responsibletravel.com.
On the subject of shopping, you can buy health foods and alternative natural products for household and health care from Aphrodite in Priory Lane, Penwortham....or make an appointment to see an alternative medical practitioner....telephone 01772 746555.
Searching for locally produced food? Log on to www.madeinlancs.co.uk, and also
www.localfoodweb.co.uk.
Another good idea! Cut down on plastic waste by taking your empty washing-up liquid bottles (any sort) to be refilled with Ecover washing products at Aphrodite, Priory Lane, Penwortham.
If you want to purchase plants from an environmentally friendly garden centre, try Ribblesdale Nurseries, Newsham Hall Lane, Woodplumpton, Preston.(e-mail: Angela@psadunnett.freeserve.co.uk)