Fire in Ruscombe field

A neighbour alerted me to the fire in a Ruscombe field today - within a minute of me making a phone call fire officers were there - now that's a quick response! Then again maybe someone else alerted them.

Three very different exhibitions: road kill, photos and textiles

Tomorrow is the last day of Adam Morrigan's exhibition at the new gallery at Artspace in Stroud - it is entitled 'Road Kill' - see previous BBC reports here and here - Daily Mail report here and gallery report here. The Horsley-based artist kindly lent his kitchen last night to Greens doing their last minute campaigning for the by-election in Horsley - he didn't mention his exhibition but I stumbled across it when I was in Stroud today.

Photo: Part of Mappa Mundi

Adam explores our relationship with the natural world and how we have become alienated from it - using what is seen as valueless his work can show us that it is something priceless - I had seen photos of his work before but was struck by the actual pieces - I found some of the pieces very moving indeed - particularly the Mappa Mundi - two ducklings. I highly recommend a visit or look out for his next exhibition.

The second exhibition is at the Cricket Pavilion St Georges Field in Nailsworth 9th to 16th September 11 to 4 and features Anja Liengaard and some of her textile work and writings. She died in April this year - an extraordinary woman whose life story is well....extraordinary! I think there are probably few in Nailsworth who have not been touched by her and her husband, Kelds' warmth and creativity.

Anja was born in London, married Keld in 1951 and spent the first year of marriage travelling around the Mediterranean with a cart and fiddle. In 1956 they moved to Gloucestershire where all 5 of their children were born - and moved to Horsley in 1974 - they were active Quackers and founded the Blackberry Hill Community - Anja studied and practised complimentary healing techniques and ran many craft workshops - people from all over the country came - she was particularly well known for her spinning and many will remember her at the Farmers Market with her spinning wheel. She wrote and published 'A Child in Search of the Truth' which drew on her own experiences.

Photo: Poster advertising Anja's exhibition

The third exhibition I wanted to mention was by Bread Street resident and photographer James Boosey entitled 'Deconstructing Chameleons' at Prema from 8 Sep to 27 Oct. Here's the blurb about it:

"The chameleon uses his camouflage to protect himself from predators, to hide his own vulnerabilities and frailties. In this exhibition, Stroud-based photographer James Boosey presents a series of portraits that examine the nature of how we, as humans, use camouflage. His distinctive portraits are coupled with wide frames that protrude boldly from the walls. This creates a raw, intrusive experience that demands closer inspection from the spectator. Each portrait offers a glimpse of a personal space and invites the viewer to examine each face in detail. Boosey seeks much more than just a photograph – his aim is to create a particular engagement with the viewer. One in which we look closely at the portrait and try to see beyond the camouflage."

Disappointing by-election result

Chris Harmer missed being elected today in Nailsworth by 47 votes - in May he missed by 12 and prior to that Greens have missed by similar small amounts. We did run an excellent campaign with leaflets (indeed easily the best leaflets by any standards), full canvas and more this time - plus Chris Harmer who has considerable expertise and involvement locally would have made an excellent District councillor - sadly this was not enough to win.

Photo: John Marjoram at the Green party election HQ based at Anthony Hodges studio in Nailsworth

I helped 'telling' this morning and later helped remind Green voters who were perhaps leaving it a little late to go and vote - but with the flu I had earlier this month I haven't been much help with this campaign - indeed the main workers were Chris himself, Rosie Reed, John Marjoram and Phil Blomberg - they have done an excellent job so it makes it all the more disappointing not to see us get a sixth Green councillor.

The Conservatives won the election with Roland Blackwell, a well known local farmer who is now the third of three Conservative District councillors in Nailsworth - Proportional Representation would have seen a very different result with Green votes across the District getting the representation they deserve.

Anyhow when I used to live in Nailsworth I met with Roland at his house many years ago with others to see if a Farmers Market could be started in the town - indeed soon after that a small 'Country Market' was started which has now become a Farmers Market. I wish him all the best in his new role - but now it's long past bedtime!! Mind we will get that Nailsworth seat next time!!

Ruscombe Brook meeting after floods

Last week we had a Ruscombe Brook Action Group meeting and this morning I met with Ismaila, the MSc student looking at water quality and possible solutions - here's a quick catch up to let people know where we are - first last weeks meeting...

The evening started with a film and photos by residents of Puckshole taken during the recent floods - I have a copy of a DVD of the waters at Puckshole (see photo), not at peak flow, but certainly impressive - see also photos on blog entry on 22nd July 2006 and many other entries re flooding - as locals will know Puckshole is still closed due to the landslide.

At the meeting we also discussed the feedback from the consultation at Cashes Green Fun Day on August 12th 2007 - the day went well despite poor weather - many thanks to all those who helped and the Stroud Valleys Project help in providing rain protection, display boards and more. It was also a chance to hand out some of the new leaflets which we designed with Severn Trent Water - more of those in another post.

Various other issues were discussed including the possibly newly forming Slad Valley Action Group and the Painswick flood group which both want a RBAG speaker. Plus further responses to the Memo of Cooperation which we have sent out (see previous RBAG posts for info), correspondence with Defra and the next step as Ismaila nears completion of his MSc project.

Next meeting: Tuesday 18th Sept at 7.30 in Ebley - call me on 755451 for details.

Today I met Ismaila while he was on the last day of his water quality testing of the brook - he called in to my house for a discussion about his project and also interviewed me re some of my thoughts on the brook - he has done the same to others - residents, professionals and RBAG members. He will present findings to RBAG in October - then we can look at how to implement.

Photo: Ismaila testing water quality in brook

Don't miss Ragged Hedge Fair and Hawkwood this weekend

Tricky to know what to do this weekend. Hawkwood Festival of Healing and the Environment (just outside Stroud) is always a good event and the same weekend it is the return of the Ragged Hedge Fair near Cirencester at Abbey Home Farm - last year it was a wonderful event - it was also nice to see they used a quote from this blog to advertise this years event:

"incredibly welcoming and friendly" Green Futures

"completely free of corporate commercialism" Ruscombe Green

"perfect inclusive and colourful gathering" Festival Eye

Photo: Hawkwood College

A46 latest

Here's the latest update from Highways via Julie the Ruscombe and Whiteshill Clerk - Use the search facility on this blogsite for previous more detailed posts on A46.

Photo: view of Whiteshill

1. They are still conducting tests on the A46. Once they have results of tests, they can work out a design, then they will have a better idea of timescales. At the moment, it is looking like 6 months before the road is re-opened!!

2. Highways will be considering a request that staff working on the A46 be paid to work weekends in order to speed up the process.

3. All works previously planned are currently on hold (this includes Lower Street). They have a meeting in a couple weeks time to review the works schedule (I have written to see if Puckshole could be included in updated list as that would ease traffic there).

4. They have 60 additional signs going up yesterday to encourage motorists along the proper diversions.

5. They have asked Police to enforce the weight restriction on the Main Road. Highways would like details of any lorries that are breaching the weight limit (ie company name) and they are contacting the companies to stop them using Whiteshill as a cut-through.

6. The coloured surface outside the Whiteshill school is going ahead in the next few days.

Update 30th August - replies on several issues:

1. Reply re need for Puckshole to open: "Agreed, it would be good to get it open, we've met with the Insurers/Loss Adjusters and design work is in hand, they are as keen to progress as much as we are as further slippage could mean a bigger pay-out. The problem remains that the slipped earth is still supporting the ground above, and until the bank is stabilised it would be inadvisable to move it. Unfortunately to undertake the stabilisation work, the road will need to be closed so the work can be carried out safely. It's a similar scenario to the slip on the A46, there appears little going on site, but in the background there is a lot of work being done on the design."

2. Reply re temporary 20 mph speed limit in Whiteshill: "20mph limits, and their effectiveness are currently under review. Even prior to the review, they were not implemented unless there are physical measures to keep the speeds down anyway. I wouldn't consider it to be a practical option in this instance, and would rather concentrate efforts on other measures."

3. Reply re extra 'policing' to be made available at the start of next week when schools return:
"The Police are aware of the problems of extra traffic at Whiteshill and also Wick Street, and are adding extra patrols to the area as resources permit."

4. Citizen report A46 will cost £1m to repair - see here.

Further info promised as soon as it is available.

Folk Art and Fairy tales in the park

You still have a chance to see the amazing 'Folk Art and Fairy Tales' Exhibition at the Museum in the Park (Stratford Park, Stroud) until 2 September 2007 - it really is worth a visit - especially loved the figures by Lucy Casson - see here - and see here Julie Arkell - plus 8 other artists - I know I can enthuse lots but this really is a don't miss exhibition!!

Photo: Squirrel in the park yesterday

Plus a big thank you to the Museum for organising such great craft days for children through the summer holidays - and congrats on a fourth Green Flag Award for Stratford Park - these Green Flag Awards are the national standard for parks and green spaces.

Complaint about the Suzuki ad

Most car ads are decidedly un-Green but some are worse than others - I have just submitted a complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority about an ad in this week's Radio Times. I don't know where else it appears but it can be viewed here.

Update: reply received from ASA notes they do not agree and will not be taking action.

Heres what I said:

I write re the Suzuki ad showing a very stressful scene in a London underground carriage with the caption "Time for a swift exit? The Suzuki Swift from £7,999."

This is effectively urging people to switch from public transport to private car and is highly irresponsible. Climate change - quite likely the greatest threat to life on Earth - means that it is essential that people are not discouraged from using public transport to reduce carbon emissions.

I consider that the ad breaches principle 2.3 with regard to responsibility, and principle 10.1 regarding unsafe practices. As well as producing excessive CO2 emissions, private motoring has much higher accident rates and is therefore more dangerous in terms of accident and injury.

You can also complain from here if interested:
http://www.asa.org.uk/asa/how_to_complain/

Indeed with public transport fares continuing to rise, car maintenance costs continuing to drop, and fuel costs at the same level as a year ago, it's no surprise that UK car ownership is on the up. The government is pledging to do more for the environment, but the slowing rise in the cost of motoring is at odds with this. Findings from this month's RAC Direct Insurance annual cost of motoring index also showed that the average family car's running costs are falling. Although depreciation and higher motor finance costs mean that the average motorist is losing £45.33 a week on the overall value of their car, it is still becoming cheaper to be on the road. Until more enticing financial incentives are introduced to encourage the uptake of greener transport, motorists will continue to be wedded to their cars.

Accident prone Oldbury restarts

Oldbury nuke has started again - it has only had one reactor operate for eight days since last August. Reactor 2 was shut down for two years due to concerns about its corroded reactor core and we've had the fire and a turbine failure. As I've said before it seems that an industry that hasn't even the cash to dismantle its defunct reactors is trying dangerously hard to still make some money from this 39 year old dinosaur. I again called for Oldbury to close. Read my news release here.

Meanwhile a couple of weeks ago the Professional Engineering magazine contacted me re Oldbury as they were doing a feature re the closures of various nuclear power stations across Europe - I didn't get a quote in the end but they did contact John Large - an independent nuclear scientist - and got loads of technical info re concerns from him. A copy of the magazine arrived a couple of days ago.

It has also been good to see some of the recent articles re nuclear - like The Guardian noting a worldwide expansion of nuclear power has little chance of significantly reducing carbon emissions but will add dangerously to the proliferation of nuclear weapons-grade materials and the potential for nuclear terrorism. The Oxford Research Group paper, funded by the Joseph Rowntree charitable trust, who research this issue says that the worldwide nuclear "renaissance" planned by the industry to provide cheap, clean power is a myth.

Another paper from Corporate Watch showed that throughout its fifty year history, Britain's nuclear industry has consistently failed to deliver on its promises: "Now, less than five years after the financial collapse of British Energy, the UK's commercial nuclear generator, the public, parliament, and the financial markets are being asked once again to believe that a new generation of nuclear power stations can produce electricity safely and without government subsidy. And once again, there is good reason to believe that the industry's predictions are as spurious as in previous decades."

Infact one power station is/was only available 34% of its 'life' and that the new power station in Finland is 18 months late after a build time of 2 and a half years! In fact the Guardian also covered a story re how governments pick up tab on nuclear waste costs - see here. Indeed don't get me going on nuclear waste - Greens in Glos have submitted detailed reports - indeed one re CoRWM was acclaimed as being one of the best on the topic - and what has the Government done...

First they responded that it would go ahead with geological disposal, despite the heavily qualified nature of CoRWM's recommendation, which stressed the vital role of interim storage because of concerns about disposal safety standards. Second, CoRWM'recommended an independent oversight body, similar to the Statutory Nuclear Waste Management Commission recommended by the House of Lords - this was rejected by the government.

Third it seems clear that the government's haste to approve a new generation of reactors before solving the nuclear waste problem undermines its previous willingness to respond so positively to CoRWM's widespread public consultation. The government, in order to sanction new nuclear power, appears to be looking for a geological "quick fix", without addressing the reasons why such a proposal failed a decade ago. But hey enough of this for now I'm for a coffee and croissant in the sun!

Was Oldbury threatened by recent floods?

The Channel 4 News report (still available on-line at 4m15 into the reel) had a remark by Jon Snow: "...and a nuclear installation that I'm not allowed to mention..."

Three years ago Oldbury got cut off in the floods so workers couldn't leave or enter the power station. However it seems more likely the reference by Jon Snow was to Aldermason - clearly with serious safety implications.

Whiteshill and Ruscombe Parish update re street lights

Recent posts have covered latest re A46 traffic - and on 22nd September the Parish are now organising a Coffee Morning in the Village Hall to discuss wider issues about traffic in the Parish.

Photo: Whiteshill Church

However I wanted to note an issue from this months Parish meeting - an issue I've raised several times on this blog: street lighting. Street lighting consumes almost 25% of all the County Councils energy and costs have risen and look set to rise more.

Apparently 30% of the Parish's lighting is likely to be suitable for a midnight to 5.30am switch off. The County plan to leave it on in sites that could cause problems like near speed humps. It would take a days work to alter those lights - each light costs £12 to convert - but savings in CO2 emissions and cash will be significant over years. The Parish are now looking at the plans.

It has been noted that in 5 years it will be cost effective to dim other lights on A roads - what nonsense - get on with it now I say and make the savings in CO2 and cash. Oil prices look set to rise quicker than most forecasts. Why wait? Other Councils like Essex are forging ahead with the great switch off and dim.

Thistledown: something amazing near Stroud

For some time I've been meaning to visit the Thistledown Environmental Centre just outside Nailsworth - it opened on 9th June.

Today I did make the visit - glorious sunshine and a picnic - 70 acres of Cotswold landscape with a beautiful woodland walk with woodland ponds, meadows, sculptures, a stone circle, lots of history and more - plus friendly animals to say hello to - it really is a great and inspiring place.

You'll see from my photos a new visitor centre is being built - this is particularly exciting - an environmentally sustainable carbon gain building whereby no concrete will be used in its foundations and no cement in its construction.

This innovative pole barn building has been designed to carry the weight of a turf and wildflower roof. The walls will be made of hemp, lime, straw and clay (hemp blocks) securely positioned between a wooden frame. Although these materials are not generally used in building, they make a very effective substitute for concrete products in construction, they insulate and soundproof well, and are carbon gaining.

It is believed that this is a pioneering new building system that could support agricultural revenues and environmental issues, which no one is currently promoting in the industry.

The flooring will vary from experimental organic leather hides to rammed earth, stone, oak and coppiced timber bound with modern glues to make laminates as an alternative to softwoods like pine. Underfloor heating will use latent heat from the Lodge Ground clay found on the farm. Two kilometres of pipes will supply 70% of the building's heat through a heat exchanger and the remainder of the heat will be provided by a wood burning stove. All of this will be explained within the exhibition area and large banners hanging on each side of the building will also serve to illustrate the aims of the Centre.

The Centre will house a classroom area for the use of school parties and a Research Library for universities plus cafe.

Thistledown are open throughout the summer from Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 5.30pm - visit them - there website has lots more info about their various projects:

http://www.thistledown.org.uk/

Best film to understand money: highly recommended

A little while back I got sent in the post an unsolicited DVD - a 47-minute animated presentation of "Money as Debt" by Paul Grignon - it tells in very simple and effective graphic terms what money is and how it is being created. I highly recommend it as a painless but hard-hitting educational tool and encourage the widest distribution - indeed would like to make it essential viewing for all politicians.

I have a copy which I will loan around the DVD version to those interested - email me - alternatively see it here online:
http://www.moneyasdebt.net/ Or here.

The DVD is being promoted by the Money Reform Party - their website also covers many of the issues and why we need reform - Greens have been calling for a economic reform for years - we are lucky to have in Stroud the Green Economics spokesperson Molly Scott Cato who moved here last year - she is doing a talk and leading a discussion in Stroud on 28th Sept on 'Is Capitalism Sustainable?':
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/coffeehouse

Our present money supply is responsible for so many of the world’s economic, social, political, environmental, medical and other problems - without reform we wont be able to tackle those problems. It was some time ago that I first started to understand this issue - and greatly helped along the way by "The Little Book of Money" by David Boyle. Heres some more based on what the Money Reform Party have written:

Prior to that I thought - if I thought at all about it - that money in the British economy was created by the Royal Mint and/or the Bank of England in the form of notes and coins - and backed by the tons of gold lying in the Bank of England. This is far from the truth - less than 3% of the money in the British economy has been created by the government. The remaining 97% has been created by the private banking system.

Harvard economist J K Galbraith wrote: “The process by which the banks create money is so simple, the mind is repelled.” He described the fact that banks just write money into existence when anyone - an individual, a business or a government - borrows money from them, just by tapping a few buttons on a computer keyboard. You might suppose this money that you borrow from a bank is some fellow customer’s hard-earned savings. It is not. Banks do not lend ‘real’ money when they grant you a loan. Instead they grant you credit. This credit can be spent like money and to all intents and purposes it is money.

Money is created out of thin air like this by the private banks not only when then lend to private individuals, but also when then lend to businesses and to the government. The banks have been able to extend their credit creation to its present 97% of the total money supply because in today’s economy, with increasing use of credit cards, debit cards, cheques and BACS transfers, very little of the money that we use, either as individuals or as organisations, exists in the form of cash.

It is extraordinary that the banks happily pass cheques and similar payments between each other which are ‘backed’ by nothing more than a ledger or computer entry in the form of somebody’s debt. In the minds of most people such behaviour would be tantamount to fraud. That it occurs on a massive scale is possible only through the widescale ignorance of the process on the part of not only the British public, but also of most of our politicians and commentators.

Money created as a debt by the banks bears a charge of interest - this increases the amount of money that the economy owes by an amount greater than the amount in existence - ie the economy is a saddled with a debt that can never be paid off, merely passed around like a game of Pass-the-Parcel - but someone somewhere has to lose out.

What options are there if we find ourselves deeply in debt? One course of action is to reduce our spending, to buy less, and the second is to increase our income, to sell more. Yet these courses of action are not possible within an entire economy, because if large numbers of people buy less, then necessarily the amount of sales will go down. One cannot have some people selling without there being other people buying. It is a zero-sum game. The only way that an economy can sell more without buying more is if it sells its products abroad, but every economy in the world is based upon debt-based money. Every country starts from the position of indebtedness. Every country is desperately trying to sell more than it buys to reduce its own debt.

The attempt by countries to ‘export’ their debts to each other is an absurd and quite impossible target because the sum total of the amount of money in circulation around the world is effectively a negative figure. More money is extracted from the real economy each year in the form of interest charges than new money is fed in. This extracted money, the interest payments to banks is largely siphoned off to be used for currency speculation, because that is more profitable and less risky than conventional trade and so plays no role in the trade of goods and services.

This is totally crazy - why is it only Greens and a few others trying to highlight the absurdity of this situation? Cannot Brown, Cameron and Ming see the reality?

Echo editorial on aviation shows serious lack of understanding

I have to say I was shocked by the lack of understanding in the Echos recent editorial - see here - at least Cathy Green was given space to write about the Heathrow camp and they also noted the cause was right - better than The Sun who have apparently only done 6 articles on climate change in the last 7 years!!!! No wonder so many people are so ignorant.

My response is below and below that is a letter by Nailsworth climate change protester, Kevin Lister who challenges a report by the Airport given to the Cheltenham Chamber of Commerce re Stavertons expansion plus a couple of his letters challenging views in the paper that because Staverton was so 'useful' in the floods it should be allowed to expand!!

Photo: Last years demo at Staverton

My letter to Echo today:

I read with concern your editorial about the Gloucestershire protesters who joined the Climate Change camp at Heathrow (Echo18/08/07). Several points need addressing if we are not to perpetuate seriously dangerous misconceptions.

You note that "air travel is one of the miracles of the modern age, not the total scourge which the protesters might have us believe". In fact there is no dispute: aircraft are amongst the most CO2 intensive methods of travel and CO2 emitted at altitude increases global warming by up to a factor of four. If aviation is allowed to grow at current projections it will account for all permitted greenhouse gas emissions - across all sectors - before 2045.

You note Jo Public wants holidays, but the science says we cannot expand aviation. In any case it is largely the wealthy who fly: the average salary of passengers using British airports is £48,000 and the proportion of lower income households who fly has shrunk since 2000 despite falling prices. 10% of people, mostly the better off, have accounted for fully half of all flights and we should not forget aviation is subsidised annually in this country by £10.4 billion (WDM figure for this year).

You note the ozone layer matters but that is a separate issue from climate change. You suggest the answer is "planes which are light on fuel". Even the latest planes consume only 12 percent less fuel. Indeed waiting for an aeroplane that doesn’t cause climate change is like holding out for a cigarette that doesn’t cause cancer. It’s just not scientifically credible.

Our Government is failing us: emissions are rising. We need our local press to tell us the truth: to tell us what the scientists are saying. The real irony, of course, is that a radical transformation that Greens advocate, is a win-win: warmer homes, stronger communities, tastier food, less time in traffic jams – even an end to the "status anxiety" which makes so many of us unhappy or even depressed. If we do not take these actions very soon scientists show we will make this planet uninhabitable. There is no question the Heathrow camp is the most important protest of our time.

Kevin on the Glos Airport report:

I have anonymously been forwarded a document prepared by Gloucestershire Airport which they have titled "Misconceptions." It is clearly intended to rebut the environmental concerns that I have raised about the airport. I feel that it is appropriate that I answer their claims and forward my answers to those who were on the inital circulation list. In summary the airports document presents a damning case for their stewardship of the environment, in the following ways: • They have devoted the opening section of their report to dismissing global warming by peddling unproven science. Far from demonstrating concern about the environment, they are demonstrating absolute contempt towards it. • Their report is frequently contradictory. For example, it claims that noise general aviation will be reduced following the expansion, but goes on to claim that helicopter businesses which are the noisest of all are an important client and implies that they will remain so. • Their report makes false and unsubstantiated claims, such as house prices rising in the neighbourhood of the airport. There is no evidence in the UK to support this at all. In fact in the vicinity of Heathrow, people are unable to sell their houses. • The report claims that there are no plans to expand the airport, but this flatly contradicts their statements in their business plan. I trust that you will give full consideration of the facts associated with the environmental damage that this expansion proposal will cause by not supporting its development nor be taken in by the mistruths and distortions that the airport are presenting. In the spirit of debate that the aviation industry have been calling for, I am copying my reply to the management of the airport. The airport's report and my response to it are attached. (Philip - I have those if anyone is interested).

I also point to these two letters from Kevin Lister in response to letters in the Echo praising their help in the floods:

1. Following Darren Lewington’s letter regarding the airports support during the flooding crisis, I would also like to congratulate his organisation for supporting the crisis. However, such support does not constitute a business case for the airport’s expansion which Darren Lewington's letter goes onto make (Citizen letters 9/08/07).

As I have pointed out in previous letters we face a critical danger from global warming and the recent flooding should be taken as a wake up call. The Nature magazine recently published research concluding that the flooding which has been experienced world wide is unequivocally linked to global warming.

We now face a period where food production across the world is falling due to the combined effects from global warming of droughts and floods and the desire to shift production to bio-fuels. This is coinciding with worldwide falls in oil production causing further prices rises. The total effect of these two major issues is that inflation is rising worldwide, causing corresponding increases in interest rates. All the indications are that the economic long term fundamentals are now in decline, and what we are seeing is not a simple market correction. As a result, this weekend the banks are standing on the precipice of a global liquidity crisis, and interest rates will stay painfully high for the long term.

This has a profound impact on the business case for Staverton Airport. Taking an optimistic estimate that the cost of borrowing will be 7%, and tax will be paid at 20%, then based on the airport’s business plan, it will take over 25 years to pay back the initial investment. If the cost of borrowing rises to only 8%, it will take approximately 45 years to pay back the investment, so bad is the business case. Thus the airport expansion is an extremely bad deal for the council tax payers of Gloucester and Cheltenham.

There can only two outcomes for the council tax payers of Gloucester and Cheltenham. They will either have to bail out the investment if the business fails, or they will suffer far more noise and pollution from the airport than it has claimed as it tries to ramp up the number of aircraft far beyond the current public predictions of service growth to obtain a reasonable return on investment.

As well as upholding the obligation on climate change and protecting the local environment, it is also vital that the elected councillors ensure that their constituents are not faced with unnecessary financial risk and that their taxes are effectively spent. If an important aspect of the business case for the airport's expansion will be the provision of support in the case of future flooding caused by global warming, then the council should first of all ask if the money it plans to spend on the expansion of the airport could not be better spent on investment in the appropriate emergency equipment instead; or on flood protection in the Bath Road area.

2. Gloucestershire Airports own business plan shows that the business case is virtually none existent. At present rates of interest it will take 25 years to break even. If the interest rates increases further, this will extend to 45 years. Expansion of the airport therefore represents an extremely poor investment for the council tax payers of Gloucester and Cheltenham, especially in a time of economic uncertainty. If flood response is the issue, the £2.5 million pounds to be invested in this scheme could be much better spent directly on flood prevention and appropriate emergency equipment. Furthermore, the statement "Of course aircraft pollute, but so do most things in modern-day life," is not an argument to build the airport, in fact it is the strongest argument of all not to build the airport. We now inhabit a planet which is saturated with excess CO2 because so many things are polluting. The position is clear; we can not put any more CO2 into the atmosphere. Peter should also realise that a key business sector for the airport’s expansion is “business jets.” He should also realise that European air traffic data shows recreational destinations such as Nice, Cannes and Mallorca to be among the top 20 destinations for "business aviation.” Thus business jets would be more appropriately named “recreational jets.” Thus, the most elite people of society are sticking two fingers up to climate change which is galling to those of us making sacrifices to cut our emissions. However, it might be that Peter already owns a “business jet.” He may wish to confirm this or if he has any other vested interests in the airport.

1000 slugs per square metre in Gloucestershire

It is reported that Gloucestershire's gardens have been invaded by record numbers of slugs because the wet weather has doubled their population. The combination of a mild, frost-free winter and a damp, warm summer has created ideal conditions for them and the county along with Herefordshire and Worcestershire is one of the worst affected places.

Photos: Potatoes from my garden

Experts have found up to 1,000 slugs per square metre and an average of 61. Dr Richard Meredith who has been monitoring slug numbers for years said: "These figures are unprecedented. We have never seen such high numbers before. Our counts are up by well over 50 per cent a year and, in some cases, we've detected twice as many."

My lack of success with a whole range of fruit and veg crops this year cannot be blamed only on the slugs - my net covering fruit blew off one weekend I was away and I lost all black and redcurrants to the birds, the wet destroyed tomatos and I had the flu which meant neglect of many plants over a crucial period. However the slugs and snails can take considerable blame - only one bean plant remains - although going around an allotment yesterday I was 'pleased' to see many others with canes but no beans at all! I even wanted to relent at one point and start using nasty pellets - I haven't but was sorely tempted.

Seaton: This is not Las Vegas

Last Friday night I went to a quite extraordinary show that restores ones faith in humanity - it was a musical with Elvis, Abba and more set in Seaton and revolved around the towns battle against the quite horrifyingly awful plans to develop that town.

The show opened with Elvis - played by John Swithenbank - husband of Anne Swithenbank (Gardeners Questiontime fame) who was also in the audience supporting. Chaos and mayhem followed - the show title "This is not Las Vegas" came from a headline in the Midweek Herald when the origin of developer's money turned out to be the "winnings" partly from being owners of and selling England's second largest casino in the seaside town of Westcliff-on-Sea.

The show had has its serious side - to remind people that the fight against this development continues and that we must not let down our guard. The current planning application is for a major part of the 'Seaton Regeneration area site' ie 44 acres and is the only large remaining development site in the town.

'Stand Up for Seaton' are the campaign group and their blog site has loads of info about why they exist:
http://standup4seaton.blogspot.com/2007/04/why-this-blog-exists.html

In there blurb they show how towns people developed the Seaton Regeneration Area Development Brief - however, buried on the back page of this development brief there was a killer paragraph which said: "Whilst a broad assessment has been undertaken to determine the overall viability of the development brief, this has not been able to take into account the full range of contributions which would be sought or the precise level of infrastructure costs. There will therefore need to be a more detailed appraisal of costs and values before the level of contributions can be determined. ..... The actual disposition of the uses within the site however is not prescriptive."

It transpired that the Council had known all along that the site would need to be raised and that this would require infill but had not told the town. This made the entire development brief unviable - four wasted years. Now in order to progress the current planning application, it will be necessary to:

1. Bring in 1 million tons of infill to raise the site up up to 2m - 180 lorry movements per day 6 days a week for the next 3 to 4 years through Seaton. 2. To lose the holiday village (a 400 bed village which is occupied 80% of the time, 50 weeks a year) - ie lose 90% of Seaton's overnight tourism capacity (and more than 60% of the tourist capacity in the area from Branscome to Axmouth and north to Colyton). I believe this will also impact on villages like Colyton where my parents live - it has quite a few shops that rely on tourism from the Seaton Tramway stop. 3. To lose all community facilities, none of which will be replaced (actually there has been talk of a small room - 30 sq m which could be a meeting room OR gym OR nursery but it is only talk). There will be no replacement of the overnight tourist accommodation. 4. Flood relief to the site and surrounding properties will be by means of a monsoon drain (50 ft wide, 10 feet deep, 20 feet across the bottom). This will be grassed and paved and called a "walkway and cycleway" even though it leads to a dead end. If it fills with more than 10 inches of water it will sweep a man off his feet. This will be the ONLY public open space on the site with the exception of a small paved square at the entrance to the supermarket. 5. The "iconic" visitor centre will have a footprint of only 500 sq m and will need to be 3 storeys high to accommodate interpretation material. It will be between a main road (the Underfleet) and a 5,000 sq m supermarket which itself will be next to a 2,600 sq m non-food store (our current largest shop - a Co-op supermarket - is 750 sq m). This cannot be iconic or worth a long trip for a visit. 6. The supermarket will be 6 times the size of our largest shop in the town, the non food store nearly 4 times larger. The supermarket will have 555 parking spaces which will need to be shared with tourists who will be allowed to stay for no more than 3 hours - after that they will pay a fine. There will be no links to the small, independent stores in the current high street (Fore Street). You know what I think about supermarkets and how they kill town centres - see report here. 7. On the entire site there will be about 630 houses in total - this will mean about 1,500 extra people in the town, of which some 300 are expected to get jobs with the new store and small shops. (150 will lose their jobs at the holiday village, so the net gain would be about 150 mostly part-time and low-paid jobs - that of course does not include the loss of jobs from the town centre when the superstores open. 8. Affordable housing should total about 180 homes. However, in November 2005 the developer applied to a public inquiry to reduce this to 75 due to the cost of building up the site.

Photo: Napoli info boards are now on the beach at Seaton warning of oil and more - see post on 22nd Feb 2007 when I was last in Seaton

There is more on the blog site - so far the planning application has attracted nearly 900 objections and 8 letters of support. Meetings in the town on this matter have never resulted in an audience of less than 300 and sometimes up to 600. The campaign group put forward 8 people I think in the recent town elections and got all of them elected.

There ARE alternatives - have a look at the one worked up by Seaton Development Trust by clicking here. The town have also looked at Community Land Trusts - see here - as blog readers will know I am a great fan of these. I wish this campaign every success.

Heres my letter to the local press in that area and below a letter to Sustrans and their reply:

Last Friday night I was at the extraordinary show in Seaton Town Hall: "This is not Las Vegas". The show was an inspiring and wonderfully powerful reminder of the need to continue the fight against the deeply damaging proposed developments in the 'Seaton Regeneration area site'.

My parents live in Colyton so I'm a regular visitor to the area and have been shocked to see the appalling disregard of local opinion by the developer.

How can the developer or indeed anyone even begin to entertain such a plan that looks set to destroy Seatons' independent shops and community facilities? Losing 400 tourist beds means tourism will be knocked into touch and surrounding towns like Colyton who rely in part on tourist trade will also face decline. On top of that, this plan for homes on a flood plain with only basic standards which will contribute to climate change, makes a mockery of sustainability.

Seaton has the potential for an exciting future that will make future generations proud, but not with this plan. It is however inspiring to see the strength of public opinion and the energy of those fighting this shameful plan. They will need all the support they can get. Visit their blog: http://standup4seaton.blogspot.com/

Cllr Philip Booth

Letter to Sustrans:

Re: Seaton Regeneration area site I have been a supporter of Sustrans for many years and am excited by the many projects which you have undertaken and are planning. However I am deeply concerned by the 'Seaton Regeneration area site' in Devon. There is massive local opposition to the current proposals by the developer there - and justifiable so - the plans are deeply unsustainable.

Last Thursday night I was at the extraordinary show in Seaton Town Hall - "This is not Las Vegas" - it was the story of the fight against the deeply damaging proposed developments. The serious problem for Sustrans is that your name is being linked to the development proposals. I would welcome a clear statement about your position with regards to this development. Amongst the plans are two massive retail units that are not linked to the town and look set to destroy Seatons' independent shops. The plan also involves removing and not replacing community facilities, plus losing 400 tourist beds ie lose 90% of Seaton's overnight tourism capacity (and more than 60% of the tourist capacity in the area from Branscome to Axmouth and north to Colyton) - this will seriously damage tourism in the area and local surrounding towns like Colyton who also rely in part on tourist trade. On top of that, this plan for homes on a flood plain has only basic standards for the homes and will contribute to climate change.

It seems that the flood relief to the site and surrounding properties will be by means of a monsoon drain (50 ft wide, 10 feet deep, 20 feet across the bottom) - this will be grassed and paved and called a "walkway and cycleway" even though it leads to a dead end. If it fills with more than 10 inches of water it will sweep a person off his feet - it will also be the ONLY public open space on the site with the exception of a small paved square at the entrance to the supermarket. See the campaign groups blog for more info: http://standup4seaton.blogspot.com/

Seaton has the potential for an exciting future that will make future generations proud, but not with this plan. I hope that Sustrans can play a part in supporting the local community and their more sustainable plans. I look forward to hearing your views. Cllr Philip Booth

Reply from Sustrans:

Thank you for your recent email forwarded to me by our info team.

Sustrans was consulted at an early stage on the proposals for this site and gave general guidance on the importance of permeability of the site for pedestrians and cyclists. As far as I know we have not been consulted on the plans currently before the Council, but we would give similar guidance. We publish general guidance on design of urban and rural cycle facilities, available on our web site.

Regretably we do not have the resources to monitor and comment on even every major planning application throughout the UK, though we try to when our interests, for instance when proposals have a direct effect on the National Cycle Network, are directly affected.

It would not normally be appropriate for Sustrans, an independent charity promoting sustainable transport, to ally itself to special interest campaign groups however worthy the cause. We will continue to speak for provision of good quality infrastructure within any development on this site, but it is not part of our remit to judge the merit of any particular scheme.

Rupert Crosbee, Regional Negotiator

Randwick woods: too dangerous in the rain?

On Sunday the rain was coming down in buckets but I was persuaded that a walk would be good for me. I'd not been up to Randwick /Standish woods for a while - usually a regular visitor - It was therefore my first opportunity to read the warning notice put there by the National Trust.

I don't know if the photo on this blog is legible but it states that people are advised "to keep away from trees during bad weather and very high temperatures". Well the high temps are no problem this summer!!

The notice goes onto say we mustn't dwell under large trees and must keep away from dying trees. I am afraid the rain was so hard that I remained under trees the whole walk - I do want to reassure people that it was a wonderful walk - see my attempt at atmospheric photos accompanying this blog entry - and I did arrived back safely with no incidents.

I can't make up my mind on this notice - is this over cautious- ness? A fear of a growing compensation culture? In fact I read recently we are not turning to the law - certainly the papers love to highlight cases but they really are the exception - so what is this about? Clearly there are risks and maybe people are now so disconnected from nature that they are unaware of them? Certainly I've never seen anything like this before!!

Forget Trout and Salmon: organic carp farming is the way to go

On my way down to Devon last week I stopped at a friend's home near Cullumpton - Jimmie Hepburn who used to live near Nailsworth and stood as a Green party candidate there has embarked on what I think is a particularly exciting project: organic fish farming.

Photo: Below Aquavision - Jimmies company and me talking to Jimmie as we walk around the farm

When I arrived Jimmie was on the phone organising a visit the next day by Hugh Fearnley-Whitingstall - Hugh (a Green party supporter) was hoping to do a programme on carp and I did get to see the fish he would be meeting and taking back to River Cottage or wherever.

Anyhow it's been known for many years how unsustainable most fish farming is - salmon particularly has come in for much criticism (see Green party letter here) - indeed the world's fishing industry is wholly unsustainable (read more here) - 75% of commercial fish stocks are over-exploited and close to collapse - 90% of big fish like tuna and marlin are gone - we urgently need action - and today a campaign has been launched - I strongly urge people to visit this website here and sign the petition - but hey thats all for another blog entry I want to share news of this project in Devon.

Jimmie has for years worked and studied as an aquaculturist - did I spell that right? Anyhow he has advised many different organisations and I think it is fair to say been frustrated by the current loose standards around organic fish farming. Although there have also been exciting projects which he has been involved with like at Sheepdrove Organic Farm - read more about that here.

Photos: more shots of the farm including mealworm pilot project and pond plant developments

'Carp' I hear you cry - 'Who eats that?'

It is true that it is not really eaten here in the UK - even some fisher folk I've spoken to have even been surprised by the suggestion of eating it - but it's eaten widely in other countries - a delicacy - and Jimmie's visited farms in Austria to see how they do it there - the fish can be a bit 'muddy' sometimes but a 30 min soak before hand in salt water completely eliminates the problem - there is also a special filleting tool that helps with bones - it is by all accounts great - not least because of it's sustainability (more below on that) - however there will be a challenge to market it - although with the increase in farmers markets and desires for organic local produce I cannot see a problem longer term.

Why carp?

Well basically it is one the most sustainable fish requiring the least energy inputs - salmon for example requires huge inputs in terms of protein - other fish - indeed Aquaculture already uses up over 70% of the world’s supply of fish oil and by 2010 that figure will rise to over 90%.

In contrast carp tend to be omnivorous, feeding on snails, mollusks, worms, algae, aquatic plants, seeds and detritus. Abroad they have been incorporated into rice paddies to feed on the insects and other organisms associated with rice culture. Carp are also able to tolerate less than ideal environmental conditions.

4 acres of water

Anyhow Jimmie owns 4 acres of water - 17 ponds - in 18 months I have been astounded by the amount of work he and his wife Penny have achieved there. Initially they still had goldfish there from the previous farmer and were involved in completing a sale - there are still some varieties left but his aim is to develop carp and they are coming on already.

Much work has been done in restoring the sheds and ponds and working out how to reduce energy costs by looking at water flows, filters, increasing natural light etc - how to make the whole lot more sustainable - using some of the waste from the fish to develop pond plants for sale - maybe sheep to save on grass cutting the pond edges...and how best to stop the otters and kingfishers feeding on the carp - at the moment enormous nets have been put up over several of the key ponds.

Jimmie also has a pilot project to grow mealworms for the fish to increase their protein intake. I'm afraid you'll need to contact Jimmie himself if you have any technical questions - indeed I hope I've given a fair report in this rather hurried scribble....

Already Jimmie has got the local college and schools involved and is keen on the idea of cooperatives and supporting local markets....indeed with peak oil and climate change local fish will become an increasingly important. Most current fish farming is wholly unsustainable on many fronts - here is a way forward that offers many opportunities....exciting stuff....very good luck to him.

Latest on A46 for Whiteshill residents

Glos County Council Highways have confirmed they are not promoting using Whiteshill as an alternative route to the A46. See my blog on Saturday for email I sent to Highways.

Photo: Entrance to Whiteshill

Highways have been asked to stop parking in Whiteshill, to ease traffic flows, but as this will only encourage more traffic, they have refused this request. I agree. The good news is that they've arranged for a new 7.5 tonne weight limit, with an exception for busses, to at least keep the larger vehicles away.

The VAS (flashing speed sign) at Edge has not yet been connected so this is now on a priority list. And I understand from Julie Shirley, the Whiteshill and Ruscombe Clerk that they have had confirmation that Whiteshill does not qualify for a VAS. In order to qualify for VAS it must meet three out of the four criteria: vehicle speeds, accident history, traffic flow and environmental factors (See below how Whiteshill scored).

Highways say they are also looking at any measures they can put in around the school to reduce traffic speed, but note that "so far nothing obvious is springing to mind". As we know only too well this has been the problem all along - I have asked if their might be a chance of a 20mph through Whiteshill under some temporary arrangement. Other ideas welcomed!!

As Randwick Parish councillor Martin Rendell pointed out the closure of the road at Puckshole will also have a significant impact on increasing traffic when schools start as parents and others have a long route round either via Whiteshill/Ruscombe or Cainscross roundabout. Both the A46 and Puckshole will not be fixed "for several months" - hopefully a better idea will emerge when surveys are completed.

Whiteshill scores for a VAS (flashing speed sign)

In order for a site to qualify for VAS a road must meet three out of the four criteria: vehicle speeds, accident history, traffic flow and environmental factors. On the basis of this criteria Main Road in Whiteshill does not qualify for VAS. Below is an explanation as to how this decision was reached and how we failed on 3 out of 4 criteria but were allowed traffic volumes as it was close to the 2000 required:

• Accidents
Required: 3 injury accidents over the last 3 years within 500m of site.
Main Road: no injury accidents within last 3 years ✗

• Speeds
Required: 85%ile speeds must be above speed limit + 10% + 2mph, which for Main Road would be 35mph.
Main Road: 85%ile speeds for two locations (recording both northbound and southbound flows) were between 29mph and 34mph. ✗

• Traffic Volume
Required: over 2000 vehicles per day.
Main Road: northbound had recorded flows of 1875 between 07:00 and 19:00. ✓

• Environmental Factors
Required: site sensitive in terms of accessibility, community severance and is adjacent to a school.
Main Road: close to a school and splits the community. ✓

The very last Tappfest?

Bread Street residents will be mourning the news that David Tapp will be moving to South Africa in December. His amazing parties every two years are eagerly awaited and frequently talked about - Saturday night saw the last 'Tappfest'.

Photos: enterance, chill out zone and me on bouncy castle (I was not good at it)

Heavy showers didn't dampen the spirits of those enjoying the full range of entertainments from dancing, the biggest bouncy castle in the area (yes I did have a go), the incredibly impressive firework display, the giant bubble-makers, the 'chill-out UV room' temporarily decorated in the most amazing colours, flags and banners, candles through the garden, a marquee full of drink and loads of food including a pig roast - and more....

Good luck Dave on your adventure - we'll miss you - indeed there is now talk of a 'Bread Street Street party' next year with the tag line 'formerly known as Tappfest' - not sure if you'll sell us the rights to carry on using your name?

Heathrow camp: the most important protest of our time

Mark Lynas describes the climate protesters at Heathrow as "The most important protest of our time" - that is spot on. More of that in a moment plus questions that I've been asked in last few days about aviation - but first to the extraordinary hype by the media - allegations have been plaguing the camp all week - hoax bombs, assaults on airport fence, warnings of clashes with police and more.

Photo: Our local Staverton airport that is planning expansion

Journalist George Monbiot writing from the camp in The Guardian said: "Shameless exaggerations of the climate protesters' dastardly plans have left us baffled at the camp."

His comments are echoed by reports from various friends and colleagues who have been to the camp - it is once again outrageous misreporting of the facts - the campers will certainly be breaking the law by taking direct action - all protests can now be deemed unlawful - but they will be governed by strict non-violent principles. Monbiot writes more:

As for scaling the perimeter fence, it has been ruled out on the grounds that we would probably be shot. Invading Heathrow's massive runways would put the lives of thousands at risk. So where did the story come from? It was, or so the byline claimed, written by Robert Mendick, the Evening Standard's chief reporter. One of the campers phoned Mr Mendick and asked him what was going on. "I'm very constrained about what I can say for various reasons," Mr Mendick replied. "Suffice to say I understand what you're saying and I can't go into it. Er, and I would further say it's, er, not something I was actually massively involved with and, er, I'll leave it at that." "What do you mean?" "... I really can't go into it."

So what does he mean? Why is Mr Mendick unable to say where the claims in his story came from? How did he manage to write an article that he was not "massively involved with"? Is there a computer programme at the Evening Standard that composes reporters' articles on their behalf? I left messages for Mr Mendick yesterday but was unable to speak to him.

Protests like this have two peculiar vulnerabilities. One is that anyone can claim to speak on their behalf, either in person or online, whether or not they are involved. The other is that anyone can say anything about them without fear of being corrected, let alone sued: accusations can be leveled at the collective that could not be directed at any of its members. As long as the claims remain in the plural, they can be stretched as far as public credulity will allow.

During one roads protest in the 1990s we were accused of stabbing guards with hypodermic needles filled with blood, setting pit traps lined with metal spikes in the hope of catching and killing the police and arming ourselves with catapults and crossbows to take out the contractors: all nonsense, of course. Yet when some of us were hospitalised by guards (alongside several others, I had a bone broken during an unprovoked attack), most of the newspapers wouldn't touch the story for fear of being sued by the security firm.

Scare stories about anarchist baby eaters are as old as protest. We can't prevent their publication - all we can ask is that you read them with the scepticism their authors failed to employ.

There is more in The Guardian about the protest clashes here. Update 26th August 2007: See also the excellent review of Guardian coverage by Medialens here:
http://www.medialens.org/alerts/07/070823_giving_the_climate.php

Here is how local Nailsworth climate change campaigner described a day at the protest:

Today a rag tag bunch of people armed with placards and concern for the planet dared to walk to the empty BAA offices for what is in fact a token protest. No passengers were inconvenienced, no terrorist targets were being threated. The only thing being challenged was the appalling case for expanding Britans airports against the overwhelming scientific evidence. The reaction of the police has been a violent challenge which would be worthy of the worst police states as dozens of riot vans descended on the protesters, which ranged from mothers with young children to old age pensioners....The governments cynical position on claiming that global warming is a concern whilst simultaneously expanding airports and denying the public any say in the decision leaves direct action as the only action. The police's over reaction today is a serious warning for future liberties.

See more and his photos here. And more from Indymedia:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/actions/2007/climatecamp/
And more re the camp here:
http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/

Update 21/08/07: See George Monbiot writing in The Guardian about why "the climate camp at Heathrow is materially different from protests that have taken place in Britain before." Also Cathy Green plans to put photos on her blog soon.

Protesters are inspiring example

Simply by occupying the proposed runway site, the protesters have provided an inspiring
example of how citizens can fight climate change. Climate change is happening, and the scientific evidence all points to it being man-made. See Mark Lynas' article in the New Statesman about why this protest is so important and read more below:

Now to your questions answered...

Aren't the Government taking action on climate change?

As I've noted on this blog many times our policy makers do worse than nothing. Gordon Brown is spending billions of pounds on new road construction, Heathrow is to have this new runway plus passenger numbers across the UK are planned to double and triple in coming years, new planning 'reforms' will make roads, incinerators and runways easier to build, UK is failing miserably in it's renewable energy obligations. There is even a paradoxical scramble amongst countries to grab oil reserves at the North Pole, accessible only because of predicted glacial melting caused by the very burning of the oil they're scrambling for!

Both Labour and Tories are getting good at sprouting green rhetoric but their continued support for Heathrow expansion and road widening suggests that we need deep-seated political change to get to an ecologically and socially just society. In Stroud Greens have had more success in getting arguments heard - the local District Council has officially questioned the expansion of Bristol airport and made strong statements in it's submission re the proposed climate change bill demanding that aviation be included in the calculations.

Why is a flight so bad?

Cathy Green from Cheltenham Green party who joined the Heathrow protest said to the local paper before she went: "The links between climate change and aviation are undisputed – aviation is the fastest growing source of emissions after deforestation. This is because aviation emissions are at high altitude and have to be multiplied by a factor up to 4 times the effect of the CO2 alone (see latest IPCC report). Other pollutants such as N02 and effects such as high altitude cloud formation cause this."

All scientists agree on just how important it is that we stabilise global temperature rises below the danger line of 2° - the aviation industry is key player in standing in the way. A return flight for example to, say, Thailand, means for each passenger about six tonnes of greenhouse gases entering the atmosphere - three times more than is likely to come from any other activity you do in the year, including driving and heating your house. The industry tried to play down the multiplier effect that Cathy mentions and claims the flight would "only" be 2.16 tonnes.

See my post on 7th July re clouds - I have now seen newer research showing that we have underestimated the effects of these - already night flights are said to account for only 22% of air travel over the UK but up to 80% of the greenhouse effect is attributed to contrails.

I still marvel at how these planes take off at all - a 400-tonne Boeing 747 going London to Dubai carries 57 tonnes of kerosene in its wings and tail - using 12 litres for every kilometre travelled - and if caught in a holding stack waiting for clearance it will burn 100kg of fuel for every minute!

But aviation is only a small part of UK emissions?

It is true that aviation is a smaller part but it is the growth that is the serious problem. BAA's chief executive argues that aviation accounts for only 6 per cent of UK carbon emissions and 3 per cent of those globally. These figures of course include no multiplier effect and are also reckoned to be an underestimate.

Aviation is also by far the fastest-growing source of greenhouse-gas emissions globally. If air travel goes on expanding, all carbon-reduction targets go out of the window. As the Tyndall Centre - the UK's best-known academic body specialising in climate research - reported in a 2006 study, aviation could account for 100 per cent of the UK's carbon allocation by 2050 in a climate stabilisation scenario. In other words, all other carbon-emitting sectors will need either to go zero-carbon or to shut up shop, merely to allow for the growth in air traffic. As Mark Lynas quotes in his article: "Tyndall Centre scientists are adamant that 'there is no chance for the climate without tackling aviation' - and that means stopping the expansion of airport infrastructure."

What about biofuels?

Richard Branson has pledged billions for biofuels research, but even if technical hurdles - such as biofuels' propensity to freeze at high altitude - could be overcome, there isn't enough land out there to support the volumes of fuel required without either displacing large areas of food production or further destroying tropical forests. See previous posts on biofuels. No one, not even airline PR people, claims that alternative fuels can be developed for at least another 30-50 years, much too late to help reduce climate change, which requires concerted action in the next decade.

New planes are already environmentally friendly?

The new Airbus: the A380 is dubbed as an ‘environmentally-friendly aircraft’ that consumes 12 percent less fuel that its competitors. One protester responded saying: "Waiting for an aeroplane that doesn’t cause climate change is like holding out for a cigarette that doesn’t cause cancer. It’s just not scientifically credible. These new airliners aren’t being manufactured to clean-up the aviation industry, they’re being built to significantly enlarge it."

We can offset our emissions?

Offsetting does not reduce emissions - it simply allows them in one place while trying to mop up the damage somewhere else. Clearly though it is better to offset than not - but be careful about how - there are many dodgy offsetting schemes - see previous posts on this topic.

Why are flights so cheap?

The Aviation Environment Federation has estimated that airlines pay just 18p per litre on fuel that would cost you and me 75p - helping net the industry billions in hidden subsidies. The World Development Movement calculates that this years subsidy to UK aviation is £10.4 billion! Hence the calls for a level playing field and aviation to pay its way.

Taxing aviation means poor travelers can't fly?

Infact most of the boom in low-cost air travel has been by rich people travelling more often. Surveys show that most people in the lowest social groups do not fly at all. The average salary of passengers using British airports is £48,000 and the proportion of lower income households who fly has shrunk since 2000 despite prices falling. 10% of people - mostly the better off have accounted for fully half of all flights.

We need action to make those who pollute pay for their damage and 'green' choices to be made easier if we are to avoid catastrophic climate change: travelling the same journey by train would have meant 17 to 19 times fewer CO2 emissions. Trains are also now capable of travelling at 300kph. 70% of EU flights are under 1000km and it is clear we should instead be expanding a fast rail network not yet more damaging air travel. A weekend in Prague should not be cheaper than a weekend in Bournemouth.

China plans 48 new airports by 2010?

There are all sorts of issues here about equity - and clearly we need to put this in perspective - even once these new airports are completed there will be fewer than 500 paved airports in China compared to 5,000 in the US. Plus this is less about travel and tourism and more about economic development. See my previous posts on Contraction and Convergence as a way forward.

Oil is running out?

Indeed it is - this makes it even more absurd to be developing our airports. Whatever the actual volume of oil left under the ground it is clear that, at today's level of consumption, with population growth and economic expansion, it will run out in the not too distant future. Furthermore, the imperative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions means that we cannot burn all those reserves without irreversible and catastrophic changes to our climate. Read more on this in my blog entries re peak oil.

What's at stake if we don't stop aviation expansion?

I need not go into this again in this blog entry - the evidence is overwhelming about what is already happening around the world - but I will mention that campaigners against Stansted expansion recently introduced a witness from Greenland at the public inquiry. Aqqaluk Lynge, an Inuit human rights leader - he gave a powerful speech saying: "You may say that the expansion of London Stansted Airport will play only a small part in increasing climate change, but everyone can say that about almost everything they do. It is an excuse for doing nothing. The serious consequences affecting my people today will affect your people tomorrow."

He continued saying the Inuit, "the people who live farther north than anyone else", were "the canary in the global coal mine." Some Inuit villages have already lost homes as the sea moves 300 metres inland in places, while thinning ice makes hunting increasingly difficult, even dangerous. "We don't hunt for sport or recreation. Hunters put food on the table. You go to the supermarket. We go on the sea ice."

Just after he made that speech on 9 August scientists reported that the Arctic sea ice had reached its lowest level in recorded history. With a further month of melt left to go, the experts expect that the previous record - set in 2005 - will be "annihilated".

More questions?

I am happy to answer more questions - but will also point folk in the direction of our Green party report re Bristol airports expansion - see here - and the Stop Bristol Airport expansion site with it's questions and answers - see here:
http://www.nobristolairportexpansion.co.uk/questions.php

You will also find more discussions in previous posts on this topic - see Labels below - and more re Staverton airport's proposed expansion - it cannot be allowed to happen if we are serious about tackling climate change.

A final word on the protests

The stepping up of direct-action protests on global warming has come not a moment too soon. Let us hope this camp reminds Gordon Brown, his Cabinet, BAA and others of their complicity in devastating environmental destruction. Non violent direct action to combat ecological destruction is the right thing and The Green Party explicitly supports it. It is shameful but hardly surprising that terrorist legislation is being used to try to silence protest voices at this camp.

We need to look at all ways we can get the message across - Greenpeace this last week decided to photograph hundreds of volunteers lying naked on Switzerland's Aletsch glacier - glaciers are key indicators of global warming and the signs are not good: glaciers are shrinking rapidly....Air travel is the fastest growing source of CO2. It is our children that will pick up the bill from this dangerous and ill-thought out expansion.....