Central Lancashire Friends of the Earth ............. supplement

An Action Plan for Central Lancashire Friends of the Earth

WHERE? Principally the Boroughs of Preston, South Ribble and Fylde but in the absence of another FOE group we will also cover Blackpool, Chorley and Wyre.

WHY? To make a difference, to secure the future, to change the world by, “thinking global and acting local”.

WHEN? March 2008-2009

HOW? By campaigning and speaking out, by promoting and publicising solutions.

A. To support current FoE National Campaigns:

1. Sustainable Economics

  • Companies Act 2006
  • Encourage the World Trade Organisation to be more equitable
  • Curb supermarket power
  • Reduce resource use
In partnership with others such as the World Development Movement.
By writing to our Members of the European parliament as well as MPs at Westminster.

2. Environmental Justice

  • Citizens rights
  • Genetically modified-free food in Britain
By campaigning against the use of GM crops in our area and in the British Isles as a whole.

3. Environmental Limits

  • Challenge transport growth
  • Climate Change
Continuing the Big Ask Campaign via the postcards and by contacting our MPs.
Promoting sustainable, including low carbon, modes of transport.

4. Grassroots Campaigning
Youth and education

  • Supplying information to schools and youth groups
  • In the absence of our own speakers, to pass on requests for talks from schools and youth groups to FOE regionally or to other suitable speakers on climate change.
B. Globetrotting ...international work eg: Shell, Nuclear Power and European parliament.

Circulating petitions, consultation documents and standard letters to individual members who can decide whether or not to personalise the letters and send them in under their own names.

C. Local Issues and Actions e.g.

Commenting on the new system of Local Plans, Local Development Frameworks and Area Action Plans as well as individual planning applications (Cottam Brickworks, Redscar Industrial Estate, Lostock Hall Gasworks.)

Maintain a watching brief in support of the Save the Ribble Campaign. Promoting the use of renewable energy in new public buildings, (e.g. the Lytham development.)

Continue to encourage alternatives to plastic carrier bags wherever possible.

Ask permission to visit Leyland Recycling plant for ideas and information.

Commenting on the Strategic Documents for Lancashire and the North West e.g. waste and minerals.

To attend North/Northwest FoE meetings and events.

As a local group to attend local shows, Galas and Fayres if manpower allows. To begin consultation with other local green groups with a view to combining efforts to produce Green Manifesto for Preston Guild 2012.

To recruit and retain more members. To produce a new members Welcome Pack, To hold regular meetings and to engage active members.

To improve publicity and promotion by writing press releases, producing and distributing leaflets, flyers and posters.

To maintain our Central Lancashire FoE Website (www.foe-centrallancs.co.uk) keeping it up to date, and using it as a medium to attract further members.

D. Other

To hold an Annual general Meeting in order to elect committee members and to send minutes and accounts to the FoE Head Office.

To send at least one representative to the FoE National Conference each year.

Central Lancashire Friends of the Earth. July 2008.