March 2010
|
Next Meeting Wednesday 17 March at 7.45pm The Rock Room, St John’s Church, Broomfield Place, off Mattock Lane,
West Ealing W13 9LB Topics
for discussion to include plans for stalls during the summer Please
send any agenda items to Future meetings: Wednesday 21 April, Wednesday 19 May |
Animal Welfare Bazaar
We’re having a stall at the Animal Welfare Bazaar on
Saturday 6 March. This will be at a
different venue from previous years:
It will be a good opportunity to get the new Food
Chain postcards signed (see p. 3 for more on the campaign).
If you’re able to help out on our stall for an hour
or two please contact me on 020 8847 0016 or email vfassnidge@yahoo.co.uk
Recycling
Event
Ealing Recycling Team have invited us to take part in an event on
Saturday 20 March outside Christ the
Biofuel
power plant in Southall
People
may remember that back in September, Ealing council rejected the planning
application by Blue-NG to build a biofuel power plant in Southall. Despite
officer recommendation to accept, the Planning Committee rejected the proposal.
The revolt was led by councillors from Southall, but the other councillors
concurred despite the fact that some, including the chair of the committee, did
not seem too happy with the decision.
Following rejection of the application, Blue-NG
appealed and the Secretary of State, John Denham, ordered Public Inquiry. This starts on Tue 9th March
at 10am in
We asked for an evening session so that members of
the public who have to work during the day could come and make a
statement. The inspector, Mr Ken Barton,
refused this.
Worse was to come.
Food not Fuel and Down to Earth (an organisation concerned about the
effect of growing palm oil in Indonesia) were planning to give evidence on
issues such as using up land for growing fuel instead of food, deforestation if
fuel was sourced from tropical areas such as Indonesia, and biofuels not
addressing the problem of climate change.
But at the ‘pre-inquiry meeting’ Blue-NG tabled a paper saying all these
issues should be ruled out of the inquiry.
Only local issues such as air pollution and traffic should be
discussed. Despite reasoned objections
by the objectors, the inspector agreed with Blue-NG and ruled out all these
issues. Being prevented from giving
evidence on these vital issues, there was no point in ‘Food not Fuel’ and ‘Down
to Earth’ appearing at the public inquiry.
Only “local issues” are now to be considered, the
main one being air pollution - euphemistically called “air quality” by Blue-NG
and the inspector. Traffic is also an
issue, but much less significant. It is
not surprising that the process was described as a “stitch up” by Down to
Earth.
Ealing Friends of the Earth and Biofuel Watch also
considered withdrawing but as (local) air pollution is within their remit, they
decided to appear at the inquiry. We
have jointly produced evidence for the inquiry and 3 of us will be presenting
it. We will be subject to
cross-examination by Blue-NG’s barrister, but we can cross-examine Blue-NG’s
witnesses.
Ealing council, having turned down the application,
are also appearing at the inquiry. It is
a rather odd situation for the officers, who recommended approval, to now have
to argue against the plant. Although
they have, by means of a consultant, produced what looks a good ‘proof of
evidence’, we remain concerned that Ealing council’s heart is not really in it
and that they won’t oppose the application as vigorously as they should.
We would like as many people to come forward and make
a brief statement as possible. The
inspector has asked that people come at the start of the inquiry and say they
wish to make a statement. They will
probably not be allowed to make the statement there and then, but at another
time. If you cannot get to the start of
the inquiry, contact the inspectorate – Terry Scott (female) on 0117 372 8908
(email Terry.Scott@pins.gsi.gov.uk). If you do hear back quickly, do chase them
up. It is a democratic right to take
part in public inquiries! If you cannot
get to the inquiry or prefer not to make a verbal statement, you can put in a
written statement instead.
EFOE members may well know the arguments against
biofuels, but if you have any doubts as to what to say, please contact
Nic. It would in any case be very useful
to know if you have asked to appear.
Food not Fuel and Down to Earth were planning to give
evidence about the impacts at the inquiry.
But the planning inspector, Mr Ken Barton, has ruled out consideration
of “wider issues”. This means that key
issues such as sourcing of the fuel, deforestation, competition with food
production and climate change are now inadmissible. [Note 2]
Maryla Hart / Deepak Rughani from Food not Fuel said
“We are opposed to the scheme because burning vegetable oil has disastrous
consequences. Whether the plant burns
oilseed rape from
Vera Roger from Down to Earth said “We objected to
the scheme in good faith. But now the
inspector has ruled out all our grounds from consideration there is no point in
taking part in the inquiry. It will now
be far easier for him to agree to Blue-NG’s plant. It is nothing short of a ‘stitch up’ ”.
Contact: Nic Ferriday 020 8357 8426
Notes
1. In March 2009 a planning application was submitted
to Ealing council by Blue-NG to build a power station in Southall powered by
virgin vegetable oil. The application
was unanimously rejected by the Planning Committee but Blue-NG appealed and
minister John Denham (Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government)
has called a public inquiry.
2. Food not Fuel and Down to Earth were planning to
give evidence on using up land for growing fuel instead of food, deforestation
if fuel was sourced from tropical areas such as Indonesia and biofuels not
addressing the problem of climate change. But at the ‘pre-inquiry meeting’
Blue-NG tabled a paper saying all these issues should be ruled out of the
inquiry. Only local issues such as air pollution and traffic should be
discussed. Despite reasoned objections by Food not Fuel and Down to Earth, the
inspector agreed with Blue-NG and ruled out all these issues.
End Biofuel Subsidies
Did you
know that the UK Government subsidises power stations that burn biofuels –
because it’s “renewable energy”?
It doesn’t matter what kind of biofuel it is or where
it comes from. Owners of these power
stations don’t have to prove sustainability to get their subsidies in the form
of Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs). That’s why we are now seeing so
many planning applications for biofuel plants.
The EU says that biofuels have to meet emissions
reduction standards. Palm oil doesn’t.
Friends of the Earth is asking people to contact Ed
Miliband (Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change) asking
for an end to these subsidies. You can do this online at http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/biodiversity/press_for_change/palm_oil_subsidies_22636.html
Or you could write to him at DECC,
Dear Secretary of State
I am aware that
As no proof of sustainability is required from
operators, these subsidies have encouraged a wave of new planning applications.
The expansion of crops like oil palm and soya drive
deforestation in producer countries. The result is an increase in greenhouse
gas emissions rather than a reduction. Palm and soy biofuel also fail to meet
the minimum standards for emissions savings under the EU Renewable Energy
Directive.
I am very concerned about the highly damaging social
and environmental consequences of the expansion of these crops.
Please suspend subsidies in the form of ROCs for
power stations burning biofuels.
The Food Chain Campaign
We have
only a very short time to get postcards to MPs asking them to sign Early Day
Motion (EDM 194) on Deforestation, Climate Change and Livestock, since they
will only be relevant until the General Election is called.
Text of the
EDM:
That this House notes that global livestock and animal feed production
contributes 18 per cent. of global greenhouse gas emissions and is currently
the most significant driver of biodiversity loss worldwide; further notes that
the large-scale conversion of forests and other valuable habitats into
croplands for the production of animal feeds such as soy for intensive
livestock farming is a cause of particular concern; recognises the associated
impacts on small farmers and communities in developing countries who are often
forced off their land; urges the Government to undertake an assessment of the
scale and impact of this trend and the UK's role in it, and to gauge whether
the UK's livestock industry has become overly dependent on soy-based animal
feed which has such an unwelcome and unsustainable impact upon the environment;
and calls on the Government to bring forward the measures necessary to reduce
the UK's impact on global greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss from
the livestock sector whilst avoiding the export of these impacts overseas and
supporting a viable, sustainable and thriving UK farming industry.
So far,
Andrew Slaughter has signed but the other two Ealing MPs haven’t. In any case it is worth sending cards as this
is a measure of the strength of public feeling.
Can you
get people at work, your local residents’ association, church or anywhere else
to sign a card? Perhaps you know of a sympathetic shop or café who would take
some? Please call
You can
also send a message to your MP online: go to http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/biodiversity/press_for_change/chance_fix_food_chain_22686.html
Films
We are hoping we may be able to join with Ealing
Transition arrange a screening of Food Inc, a powerful new Oscar-tipped
documentary which lifts the veil on the food industry. It looks in detail at the situation in
Meanwhile here are details of a couple of other films
concerned with environmental issues:
Sunday
14 March, 7.30 pm at St Mary’s Church, St Mary’s Road,
You can watch the preview at: http://endoftheline.com/
Tea and coffee will be served as always after the
film. Entry is free though donations
will be appreciated.
Monday 15 March is the
date for the UK premiere of the much anticipated film Dirty Oil, a
powerful documentary illustrating the devastating impact that Albertan tar
sands developments are having on the environment and local communities.
It portrays the David and Goliath battle taking place
as First Nation communities and environmentalists face up to the governments of
This one night only event devised by The Co-operative
will be beamed live by satellite to cinemas across the country. Unfortunately
there are no showings very near Ealing: they’re in Kilburn,
On Saturday 20 March at 1.32pm the Sun will be passing directly over the
Equator, marking the official start of Spring in the northern hemisphere, and
the start of celebrations down by the
The Honey Bee – gateway
to biology, cultural icon and agricultural helper
Thursday 25 March, 7pm at the Jodrell Lecture Theatre, RBG Kew, Kew
Road, Richmond (65 bus).
Professor Ratnieks, a leading expert on honeybee biology and
bee-keeping, will be talking about the life of bees, how they organise
themselves and resolve conflicts, as well as honeybee diseases and
conservation. Tickets cost £5 and must be booked. For more information or to
reserve a place call 020 8332 5000. You can also download a booking form at http://www.kew.org/learn/talks-courses/adult-education/index.htm
Earth Hour
Join in WWF’s symbolic lights-out event on Saturday 27 March. Link up with one billion people across the
planet by switching off your lights for one hour from 8.30pm. Visit www.wwf.org.uk to see what people did last year, and to send
a message to your MP.
Ealing
Green Drinks
This
informal social gathering takes place at the Red Lion pub in St Mary’s Road
(opposite Ealing Studios) on the last Tuesday of each month, starting 8pm (but
you can turn up any time after). It’s a chance for members of different groups
to chat and exchange ideas.
Please send
contributions for the next issue to the Editor, 6 Willow Close TW8 8DE or email
vfassnidge@yahoo.co.uk