BBC Breakfast Bags

Our guerrilla bags project was featured on BBC Breakfast today, with me (Liz) on the sewing machine in a corner of Television Centre to show how easy it is to create something that does so much good in so little time. Whilst I doubt that I was using green energy for the creation of those 6 bags, the impact that they had is more than worth it. We got a wonderful comment on our previous blog entry abou the bags project, inspiring a textiles teacher to use the idea in her classroom, and 1000s of hits were generated on www.morsbags.com - the site for guerrilla bagging.

Guerrilla bags

Camden FoE has always looked out for ways to engage people on the street in discussions about the environment, but often actions speak louder than words. So, when we wanted to challenge people's use of plastic bags we wanted to offer a practical solution. We're concerned about the use of these bags as they kill millions of animals, cause floods, fill the remaining landfill sites and litter cities, countryside and oceans alike.


We've been making bags from old material (old dresses, curtains, duvet covers, and a couple of Steve's shirts) and giving them out on the street to encourage people to give up plastic bags for good. Today we gave out about 40 and got 50 plastic bags in return.

It was shocking to see the amount of plastic given out unnecessarily by shops - Woolworths had provided one shopper with 2 bags - 1 for a bottle of hair product and one for a (plastic-wrapped) birthday card.

Unfortunately we can't make people never use plastic again, but we will have got people thinking about why they should avoid using them, and everyone we asked agreed that there should be a ban or a tax on bags to help reduce their use.

- In the UK we use an average of 290 bags a year, and 1.2 trillion are used worldwide
- On average we use each bag for about 12 minutes before disposing of them
- Ireland's 15p PlasTax has resulted in a 90% reduction in use of plastic bags since its introduction in 2002
- In 2002 Bangladesh became the first country to ban plastic bags. A movement against them began in the 1980s in Dhaka, where bags were found to clog drains in the monsoon rains, causing flooding. Since then plastic bags have been banned in countries such as Rwanda, Tanzania and in the UK they've been banned from Modbury (Devon).

Supermarkets are saying that they will cut usage, but so far we've seen very little meaningful action. It is not enough to have the odd plastic-free day, and bags for life are still made of plastic. In fact, the plastic bag industry are using the harm done by these longer-lasting bags as a way of arguing against the implementation of a tax on plastic bags in the UK. As for promises regarding the introduction of degradable bags - consumers need to be aware that 'degradable' bags are not the same as biodegradable. They break down into smaller and smaller pieces which contaminate earth, waterways and oceans.








Some of our happy customers saying 'No' to plastic bags

If you want to make your own bag go to www.morsbags.com, even better make one for a friend as well. We were surprised how much we've enjoyed this project - working together to make these bags has resulted in some group members learning new skills, a lot of laughs, and some great job satisfaction. But if sewing really isn't your bag (pun completely intended) you can get really useful bags at www.onyabags.co.uk or something a bit more glamorous at Cheeky Leopard.

Eco Wars!

The Camden New Journal reported on 10 May of an Eco War breaking out in the borough. We've taken the bait and dived in to the melee.

The supposed war concerns plans by the Council's Sustainability TaskForce to revolutionise energy supply and demand in the borough, by supporting local energy generating stations in housing estates.

But at the same time the Council's Planning Department has refused a local resident planning permission to put solar panels on his roof, because his house is in a conservation area, where the look of the houses must be maintained at all costs.

Both Camden Friends of the Earth and Camden Greenpeace responded to the CNJ's article. Here is our letter, with comments about energy efficiency being more important edited out by the CNJ:

IT'S not often we can take heart from war breaking out, and yet here we are in Camden with different groups vying to be the greenest! (Eco War Declared, May 10).
Camden Friends of the Earth supports Councillor Alexis Rowell’s intentions to push Camden into the forefront of green councils. We support what is called de-centralised energy generation. This includes the combined heat and power systems for housing estates that Cllr Rowell mentions.
What we believe is more important, however, is a move away from dependency on other people to supply energy, and a positive move towards each home producing its own energy.
We recognise that there are barriers to changing our energy use habits. Cost is one: solar water heating, solar cells and rooftop wind turbines can be expensive.
But one of the biggest barriers is the planning system. There remains a tension between the policies that protect London’s best architecture, and the more important and urgent need to drastically reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.
When we think of the tension between conservation and tackling climate change it is often incumbent on groups like ours to frame the issues non-politically. In this case: do your readers want old, inefficient, but nice looking houses with unadorned, uninsulated roofs greedily using energy, while householders swelter in another summer scorcher, and find that crops have failed again raising prices for staple foods like potato (and coffee for most Londoners), that there is a drought order in place for the fifth year running, and water is being tankered in to London?
Or, do we allow householders to sensitively adapt the look of their houses, even in conservation areas, to fight against this future?
You quote Cllr Rowell’s plans to supply an eco-audit for each of Camden’s homes. This service is already available – the council has been funding it for years.
If you call [0]800 512 012 the North London Energy Efficiency Advice Centre can guide you through the easiest and most cost effective options.
GRAEME MAUGHAN
Co-ordinator, Camden Friends of the Earth

Big Questions Asked

Camden FoE has held it's first Big Ask pub quiz - raising awareness and funds for the Big Ask campaign

Camden Friends of the Earth has hosted a "Does my Ask look Big in this?" Pub Quiz at the Adelaide Pub, Adelaide Road, NW3 on Monday 16th April. Every entrant received a free low energy lightbulb thanks to the Islington Energy Efficiency Centre and there was a jackpot draw for prizes including wind-up radios, DVDs and an energy efficient desklamp!

8 teams entered, not bad for a Monday night in April, and were tested with green-tinged questions on politics, sport, and celebrities.

We're now looking for other pub quizzes that we can slot an environmental round into - get in touch if you can help.

Rubbish recycling?

Camden Friends of the Earth recently wrote to local papers The Camden New Journal and The Ham & High about the recycling services in Camden. Here is our letter:

Sir,

With regard to recent articles on Camden’s waste collections. Residents are complaining that their two rubbish collections per week are being changed to two recycling collections per week. It may be useful to have some objective information to allow us to understand how significant this change is.

Camden has recently removed its door-to-door recycling service for housing estates. People who live on estates will have to carry their waste long distances to recycling bring banks. Meanwhile people who live in houses have waste trucks turning up to their door up to four times a week, once for recycling (soon to be twice), once for green waste and twice for the remaining rubbish (soon to be once).

There is a clear inequality here. Camden Council’s Equality Policy clearly states “We [the Council] are committed to ensuring that our services are accessible to all and responsive by ensuring our customers are aware of our services and that we deliver our services in ways that are sensitive to customers’ needs.”

By supplying a huge amount of services to those in houses and removing them from those on estates, Camden is clearly in breach of its own policy. Its recycling service is now less accessible to estates residents.

I suggest that home owners recognise the favourable treatment they receive from Camden. Other Boroughs supply just one rubbish collection per week. Some councils are now collecting rubbish and recycling on alternate weeks – a significant difference to the four collections to Camden’s houses.

Interestingly, Camden Council could also be in breach of its own Environmental Policy, in which they state “We are committed to setting a good example to other organisations [and] will cut down on unnecessary travel”. By providing more waste services than are needed to households, the Council deploys extra trucks on the road, clogging up traffic and belching out carbon dioxide and other pollutants.

This certainly sets an example, which seems to be: remove environmental services from those with least money, and lavish it on those with most. This is a social injustice and an environmental injustice.

Sincerely

Graeme Maughan

Coordinator, Camden Friends of the Earth

The Only Way is Up?

As Yazz famously (?) sang in 1988, the only way is up, and that certainly seems true of UK CO2 emissions ...

Figures published by the DTI today show that UK CO2 emissions in 2006 rose 1.2% over 2005 levels, and are only down 5.3% over 1990 levels - compare that to the government's target of a 20% reduction on 1990 levels by 2010. Emissions are now higher than at any other point during the current Labour administration.

The domestic sector was one of only two with an emissions reduction over 2005 (of 2.5%), but standby (pardon the pun) they are still up 3.4% over 1990 levels.

All the facts and figures can be found here.

So, do we need annual targets as part of the Climate Change Bill, or is the government record on long-term target setting (remember that target of 20% reduction on 1990 levels?) doing the trick? Get ready for them turning the national grid off in December 2010 ...

... or support the FoE campaign for a strong Climate Change Bill here.

Consumers welcome junk mail. Does the Earth?

According to research released by Royal Mail today, 7 in 10 consumers used a free sample that they received through the door and 37.6 per cent redeemed a money-off voucher or coupon.

This equates to more than 31.1 million free samples or money-off vouchers mailed by stores and brands in 2006 that were welcomed and used by consumers.

But as 550,000 tonnes of paper, equivalent to 3.3 million mature trees, are used for junk mail each year - this means that more than 1/10th of a tree was used for each 'offer' that is actually taken up.

Junk, or 'direct' mail, makes up 4% of all paper waste in the UK. Newspapers account for 20% of all paper used.

The difference is that those who are trying to reduce their paper use can choose not to buy newspapers, and the glossy nature of a lot of junk mail makes me think it's not as reliant on recycled content as newspapers are (average 41.2% recycled paper) but I'd be happy to hear I'm wrong on this!

You can opt out of addressed direct mail through the mail preference service, and opt out of unaddressed mail by sending your name and address to optout@royalmail.com.

Green Eggs and Sham

Shoppers are being urged to choose Easter eggs with the minimum of packaging after research by Camden Friends of the Earth (FoE) found that plastic and cardboard makes up more than a third of the total weight of some products.

From a random sample, the group was particularly impressed by Sainsbury’s approach – the proportion of the egg’s packaging came to a total of only 11% of the total weight, less than half of the closest competitor Duchy Organics.

Sainsbury’s also scored well on its advice to consumers about recycling and, as the cellophane wrapping is plain, it can be reused again and again to wrap other gifts. Green and Blacks are the only supplier surveyed who specifically mention that the packaging they use is recycled board. Other suppliers such as Nestlé and Marks and Spencer do mention that their cardboard packaging is recyclable; but if they do not use recycled board for their products, the recycling process cannot be completed.

The worst offenders in terms of over-packaging were Green and Blacks and Marks and Spencer, both for their organic eggs. Over 35% of the total box weights were down to the packaging rather than the egg! Organic farming processes are beneficial to animals and the environment but some of these benefits can be undone by marketing decisions outside the farm gate.

Are consumers also willing to pay for the 'luxuries' of increased Council Tax and overflowing landfill sites to pay for the disposal of all this waste? Camden Council has recently cut recycling services in its estates to reduce costs, as waste disposal charges rise beyond inflation. And very soon they will be cutting the second weekly refuse collection to private householders. The UK's landfill sites are under pressure and it is up to everyone to minimise the waste now going into them.

Bill responds to Big Ask

Who's this Bill you ask, he always seems to be mentioned by Friends of the Earth but we've never seen him....

On March 13th 2007 the Government introduced the draft Climate Change Bill which should transform our economy and lead the world in tackling climate change. It will:

• Set a long term target for CO₂ cuts.
• Require annual reports to Parliament.
• 
• Form a group to advise what sectors should cut emissions - and by how much.

Camden FoE has been particularly active in getting MP support for this Bill and will continue to campaign for further improvements to this draft through campaigning on the streets of London and at events such as the recent Lee Valley Bird Fair (pictured)

We want to see the following improvements to the Bill at the end of the current 3 month consultation process:

• Bigger cuts
  The Government proposes a 60 per cent cut of carbon dioxide by 2050. We need reductions of at least 80 per cent.
• Annual targets
  The Government wants five year budgets for CO₂. We want shorter targets - to hold the current Parliament to account.
• Aviation and shipping
  International flights and shipping emissions are excluded. We want these included.

Please help us make the case for these changes.

Fairtrade Fortnight

Camden FoE again ran its annual stall at the Queens Crescent Market on 10th March as part of Fairtrade Fortnight. We noticed that customers were much more aware of the issues involved in fair trade and climate change than in previous years, which is really encouraging.

There is now a wide-range of Fairtrade goods available, and the hits of the day were the dried mango, chocolate, and coffee.

But why should we seek out the Fairtrade symbol?

Buying a fair trade product contributes directly to the community that produces it.
For example, in 2003, Fairtrade producer groups were receiving between two and three times the international price for coffee beans. They are no longer subject to the uncertainties of the international 'free' market that has most impact on those who can afford it least. The resultant 'fair' wages and work conditions improve the lives of about 1 million farmers and workers, and also have a postive impact on their communities. Education, health care and the environment all benefit from the empowerment of and investment in local communities. See the Fairtrade website for more information on the benefits.

March 2007 Meeting Minutes

A copy of the minutes from our March meeting can be found here.

Inconvenient Truth Screenings - Launch night

This week saw the launch of a series of screenings of 'An Inconvenient Truth', attended by 'leading' politicians, campaigners and businesses. The launch night was attended by David Miliband MP, Sec of State for the Environment as well as most of DEFRA, a lot of MPs' researchers, and journalists alongside us mere citizens.

Camden FoE members went along to collect support for the inclusion of annual targets in the upcoming Climate Change Bill. Our favourite exchange of the night was the statement by a Financial Times reporter that she didn't believe in annual targets for carbon emission reduction. Graeme's response was to ask her if she had questioned the validity of targets for inflation. I don't believe she was able to give a response to that.

On a more depressing note, there was little sign of meaningful action from the Government. David Miliband gave good green chat - but can't phase out incandescent lightbulbs, thinks taxes will get people out of gas-guzzlers and isn't questioning the UK's road-building and aviation policies. He's blogged about the night, examining the selection of 60% as a target for carbon emission reductions. It appears he recognises that this isn't enough, but if he can't get people to change their lightbulbs, how are we even going to get there?

Future screenings will be attended by David Cameron and Menzies Campbell, keep an eye on the Prince Charles cinema website for more details.

Response to Camden's Waste Strategy

Camden FoE was recently invited to attend an Environment & Culture Scrutiny Committee meeting at Camden council, and to provide feedback on Camden's draft Waste Strategy, which can be viewed here. Our response document can be viewed here.

Ban the Bulb

This week Australia has announced its intention to phase out incandescent bulbs. Why has a country that won't sign up to the Kyoto protocol beaten the UK to this simple step?

- this will help Oz reduce its annual carbon dioxide emissions by 800,000 tonnes by 2012
- the same move in the UK could reduce our annual emissions by 2-3 million tonnes
- that's equivalent to 6 months worth of emissions from the Didcot power station
- Lighting consumes about a fifth of the world's electricity production
- Fluorescent bulbs are typically five times more energy-efficient than incandescent bulbs

At an individual level, Dr Matt Prescott (founder of the Ban the Bulb campaign) has said, "Lighting accounts for about 15% of the average home's electricity bill. Each fluorescent bulb saves you about £9 a year, or up to £150 over its lifetime. If they stuck £150 in cash on the packet of a £5 fluorescent bulb then there would be hardly any quibbles from consumers."

If the UK can be persuaded to change all its televisions to a digital service, surely it can cope with this money (and carbon) saving option?

Petition the government here

Better Climate for Camden

On 19th February, Camden FoE hosted a visit from Camden's Environmental Policy Officer to learn about how the Council is tackling businesses' impact on the environment.

It appears that there is no lack of takers for their 'better climate for camden' programme, which provides advice and hands-on assistance for all businesses in the borough. However, there is a worry that this is not reaching the more reticent businesses. Due to the level of interest from local companies the team does not have the resources (time or people) to proactively approach others - who potentially need more help.

Camden FoE is now considering how it can complement this work, but first of all wants to see affordable recycling schemes rolled out to all the Borough's businesses. This is only the first step to greener business and it's time to move on...

Camden FoE Response to Camden Tube Redevelopment Consultation

Camden FoE have submitted a formal response to Camden Council's public consultation on the redevelopment of Camden tube station and Camden market.

You can view the response document here.

Recycling Rubbish?

This group is attracting a lot of new members at the moment, and the reason why? Frustration with Camden's recycling service.

To be fair some households appear to get an excellent service, and residents welcomed the wider rollout of plastics recycling, but this does not extend to larger blocks and estates in the borough. And given that this type of housing is prevalent in the area, a lot of people are feeling frustrated about the service.

We want to know more about your experiences of Camden's recycling service (good or bad) so please post a comment on this blog so that we can take your case to the Borough's recycling officers in March. If you could name the street and area that you live in that would really help.

Thanks!!

February 2007 Meeting Minutes

A copy of the minutes from our February meeting can be found here.

Camden FoE launches Green Informer Newsletter

Read the inaugural issue of the Camden Friends of the Earth newsletter - Camden Green Informer here and let us know what you think.

Green Electricity Tariffs - Reality or Rhetoric?

Whilst we should all be choosing a "green" electricity tariff to do our bit to help avert climate change, it is always worth doing a bit of research to make sure the tariff you select is delivering what you believe it is. An excellent new report by the National Consumer Council exposes some of the tariffs as being a lighter shade of green. You can access the report here

For details of the fuel mix of your supplier's electricity, look here