Plug the climate loophole: Coalition failing us?

Avaaz reports that next week, a small group of European countries are planning to create a massive loophole that would further undermine the prospects of the upcoming global climate talks. A strong stance from the UK now could halt their plan, but only a national outcry will persuade the government to step up. However as I discuss below there have been some worrying developments....

Pic: This painting of Stroud covered in turbines that seem to be killing a bird used to be displayed in Nelson Street: suspect it was an anti-turbine pic but really a few of those turbines would be great!! Infact I think consultation is still open on turbines locally - see here.

First the Avaaz petition: "Since the Copenhagen summit, global climate negotiations have been on the brink of collapse, and a breakthrough is urgently needed. Now, Sweden, Finland and Austria are leading a push for an accounting trick that would let rich countries cut down as many trees as they wanted -- without having to report the increased climate damage. The UK is well-placed to rally other European countries and stop this scam. But the new government hasn’t yet made up its mind on the issue. We know they want to be seen as the greenest government ever, and this is their chance to start strongly on the international climate stage. Let’s send a flood of messages to Climate Minister, Chris Huhne, urging him to be bold on climate and make forests count at next week’s meeting." Click below to take action:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/trees_not_tricks_uk/?vl

This will be a real test as I do have to note some very worrying developments - just last week The Guardian reported that the Government has reneged on pre-election promises to tackle illegally logged timber imports and reward green energy 'pioneers' - see here report with comments from Caroline Lucas. Indeed in another Guardian item they write: "Aside from pantomime hostility towards Labour figures who most Lib Dems feel are being too harsh in their attacks, underneath the surface activists and some MPs are worried they may struggle in election fights against Labour or the Green party."

You can see Caroline Lucas' comments about Huhne here....“a combination of half-hearted measures and bad policy.” Huhne did make some important statements about insulating homes but now it looks like his whole department is under threat - see here. As Lucas notes: "Nobody who understands the urgency and the seriousness of the climate crisis could even contemplate decimating the department that leads the effort to deal with it."

George Monbiot highlights that we are still prospecting for oil..."We can't use it – so why the heck are we prospecting for new oil? To stop runaway climate change we have to get out of fossil fuels. Drilling off Shetland and in the Arctic makes no sense." The government has even promised new tax breaks for oil companies working in UK waters in next year's finance bill. This is madness!

Meanwhile the Feed-In tariffs are now under review - see FT here - In my film this week about the Eco-Renovation Open Homes weekend I mention these tariffs and indeed in my letter this week in Stroud Life - now it seems this recent mini-boom in solar power could be in jeopardy, as the government has privately indicated that new feed-in tariffs that have fuelled the industry could be slashed.

The FT writes: "If such cuts are adopted, renewable energy experts fear that it will scare off investors with repercussions throughout the industry. To change the subsidy system just when you can see the success it has had beggars belief, said one. Renewable energy investors...will lose faith in this government. Industry insiders also accused the government of hypocrisy. They say that while Chris Huhne, the energy and climate change secretary, was promising the Liberal Democrat conference 250,000 green jobs as part of a revolutionary deal to cut emissions, government advisers were holding meetings in back rooms at which they flagged up potential cuts to the feed-in tariffs (FITs). Dave Sowden, chief executive of the Micropower Council, a trade ! association for domestic renewables, said: We are alarmed to hear the coalition may be considering the unprecedented move of unravelling policies that were not only its idea, but have only been in place for six months, and against which thousands of jobs have been created and hundreds of millions of pounds invested. Backtracking now would have a profoundly damaging effect on investor confidence and seriously jeopardise ability to meet climate change targets. Daniel Green, chief executive of HomeSun, a solar company, said his business had received 60,000 expressions of interest in the past six weeks from consumers wanting to install panels. Any change to FITs would be deeply damaging. The Department of Energy and Climate Change confirmed that the Treasury was examining FITs as part of the comprehensive spending review, even though the subsidies cost comes not from taxpayers but consumer energy bills."

Loving what I do!

Well this week is for films....after the eco-renovation open day film now comes another....back in June I was involved in a documentary to be shown as part of workshops for young people that accompany a performance called Epiphany - see my blog here. Well the results were out ages ago but are now also available on the web in the following video by Ruscombe artist Simon McCorry. The video has just the 6 interviews - the second is me - cut so that I sound even more enthusiastic than ever!

The general theme is 'people who love what they do and how they arrived at finding that out or finding themselves in that place'....each piece is cut to be only 3 mins long. Not sure I like being in front of the camera! Indeed usually try and avoid it when get requests...anyhow you can also see Simon's other films here.

Epiphany from Simon McCorry on Vimeo.

Another couple of films that Simon has been involved with or made include "Beauty and Brains", which documents a beauty contest promoting rights for gay and third genders in Nepal, info can be found here and here. And a short film here, "Venus in Transit" - which will be on in an experimental film festival in Croatia.

Eco-Renovation Open Homes: The Movie!

OK folks here is my first attempt at putting together bits of film about the recent Open Homes weekend. You will see I start off in a quiet voice as I was recording it next to a room where some folk were having a counselling session! Anyhow it's ten mins long and gives a flavour of the event. You are better off double clicking on movie to watch it on Youtube as this blog screen is too small....indeed have had comments that captions don't work so well as when in the big screen....

Stop Frankenfish

I recently covered the film about Salmon locally - see here - well genetically engineered Salmon threaten all our Salmon. A local Friends of the Earth group has highlighted to me that the biotechnology industry has genetically engineered a fish that grows at twice the normal rate, so it can get to market sooner and make more money, faster.

The FDA in the US doesn’t even do its own testing of genetically engineered animals: it relies on information provided by the company that wants approval. And because genetically engineered (GE) salmon are being considered as a new animal drug, the process isn’t focused on what happens to people who eat genetically engineered animals. So on top of the health concerns posed by raising salmon in crowded factory fish farms that rely on antibiotics and other chemicals, the FDA could be adding the unknown risks of GE salmon to the mix.

The company cannot assure the world that GE Salmon will not escape into the world's oceans and interbreed with Wild Salmon which are already in vastly reduced numbers with some of their family of fish heading for endangered species status. Up to 2,000,000 farmed fish are already reported to escape into the Atlantic each year.

Take a quick email action to the White House and learn more here.

Leek moth problem again in Ruscombe

Last year we lost many leeks in our garden due to the leek moth. I didn't know about the problem and none of my gardening books had details - indeed there is not much info as this is a fairly new problem.

Well the moth is back this year - a neighbouring allotment plot holder, Chris Tracey, has just lost all her leeks - she has kindly let me post these photos so others might be able to identify the problem. I also hear that the SCA farm at Brookthorpe also has the problem.

Apparently even the UK Moths website says this is not a pest in the UK as its status is “local or scarce” but they also say it is a pest in Europe. Also that the known lifecycle starts in October and lasts through the winter – we now know that it starts earlier than this. Another site says it was first found in the West Midlands in 2003.

The leek moth used to be confined to the south coast but it is obviously spreading quickly. What a shame - leeks where one of those veg that I have grown reliably for many years with no problems at all. More worrying is that I read that it can also spread to other alliums like garlic and chives. I would welcome

What happens is that said moth lays its eggs on the leek plants, the caterpillars hatch and tunnel their way through each leek with the aim of pupating within the leek or just outside in the roots of the plant. Then the cycle begins all over again.

I have found a picture of the moth here but we are unlikely to see the culprit as of course it will be nocturnal.

On the Saunders Allotment website, it says that “realistically, if you live in an area where leek moth is prevalent the only way forward is to provide some form of physical barrier to prevent the female moth reaching the crop”. Once the maggots turn into moths, in the autumn, they overwinter, and then next year, there they are again! So the only thing for it is fleece apparently or even better Enviromesh. No pesticide exists, but apparently traps are now available - see here. I wonder if chickens might help to get rid of the overwintering critters?

More trees pleeeeze

The Woodland Trust recently launched an initiative to double native woodland cover under the banner of More Trees, More Good. Part of this excellent initiative includes mass public consultation about where more trees should be planted through a campaign called MyView.

Photo: Randwick woods

This to me is a great idea and I wanted to publicise the details here in the hope that local folk might be interested.....here's what they say:

"MyView is a web-enabled system that allows people to take a photo of their local view that would benefit from more trees and load it onto the Woodland Trust website. People can then use our interactive, click and drag design programme to plant virtual trees and create a new 'treed' view for their community. It will enable people to visually demonstrate where they would like to see more trees and then allows them to create a written statement about why more trees in this space are important."

Once the design is finished, the programme creates an e-mail made up of images and statements of a personal MyView to share with their local councillor via e-mail. Acting like a visual petition, the software identifies the local councillor from the postcode or town name of the area people have re-designed and sends their MyView to me. The web site has lots of great info: http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/myview

Randwick Runner 2500th edition

Apparently The Times published it's 70,000th edition on 15th July but on 15th August the Runner published it's 2500th edition. I have been meaning to congratulate the team for the last few weeks - non-stop publishing every week for over 48 years!!!

It was started by the Rev and Hon Nial Morrison in 1962 as a single A4 sheet typed out and reproduced on a Gestetner machine.

BNP Office in Stroud

News that the BNP are siting their Communications HQ in Stroud has understandably provoked many strong reactions. Cllrs John Marjoram and Norman Kay have sent a joint letter to the Stroud News and Journal and the Green party were collecting signatures in Stroud on the weekend from all parties and individuals to the letter below.

Photo: tree in Ruscombe valley field

I agree with Stroud's mayor Andy Read when he is quoted saying: "Whenever the BNP has put up candidates locally, it has had no support whatsoever. However, history shows that censorship only plays into the hands of such groups. The best approach is to bring the BNP and their policies out into the open. I know many Stroud people feel strongly about the BNP and will relish this opportunity to expose and challenge its policies."

Anyway here is the letter that many of us have signed:

We would like to state here for the record that we are horrified that the BNP are planning for their communications HQ to be at Salmon Springs in Stroud (reported in the Stroud News and Journal on 15^th Sept).

The BNP’s policies of hatred and bigotry are hard for any community to stomach but they are particularly unwelcome in the progressive and open town of Stroud.

The Stroud district has a long history of tolerance. The vast majority of residents welcome and accept people of all nationalities, abilities and sexual orientations.

We would encourage anyone who feels the same to state plainly and clearly that the BNP are not welcome here.

Yours truly,

Action on invasive species

I was delighted to hear that leading experts are now calling on the EU to take action on invasive species - see BBC report here. I recently wrote about the threat to Ruscombe Brook re Himalayan Balsam - see here - and have also joined the campaign to get the sale of invasive species stopped - see my blog entry re garden centres here.

Photos: Standish woods last weekend

Anyhow these researchers want urgent action from the EU to protect Europe's indigenous species from these "alien invaders". Invasive, non-native animals, plants and microorganisms cause at least 12 billion euros of damage in Europe each year!! Our Government has failed to take this issue seriously - it would be better still if there was an EU wide plan.

As the BBC article notes "a European inventory in 2008 found more than 10,000 alien species in Europe, with 1,300 having some kind of impact. This impact was exerted either on the environment, economy or, on human health. And numbers are on the rise. Research published this year in the journal Science found alien species in Europe have increased by 76% in the last 30 years alone."

As well as the impact on biodiversity and agriculture some species are also a problem for human health - the Asian tiger mosquito apparently carries the Chikungunya virus which causes an illness similar to Dengue fever in humans. It is high time there was a coordinate response.

We need a million voices on GM

The European Commission has recently approved growing genetically modified crops in the European Union for the first time in 12 years! The commission has effectively ignored 60% of Europeans who feel we have to get the facts first before growing foods that could pose a threat to our health and environment.

Photo: Non-GM potato sprouting much earlier this year!

A new initiative allows 1 million EU citizens to make official legal requests of the European Commission. Avaaz is seeking to build a million voices for a ban on GM foods until the research is done; they will be delivered to the President Barroso of the European Commission. Sign the petition and forward this email to friends and family:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/eu_gmo/?vl

I recently wrote to our MEP Julie Girling on GM and Cloning - see here - disappointingly she has failed to respond - poor show indeed. Let's get a million voices to tell these politicians that they should be representing our views.

Stratford Park biodiversity news

This is a great new info newsletter from Mike McCrea at Wyevale who manage Stratford Park. I have been very impressed with how they have taken the issue of biodiversity seriously. I've copied the newsletter below and have asked if they can put it on a website regularly. Sadly this web version misses out on the pictures of the original.

Biodiversity Newsletter September 2010

Hi all. Firstly, thanks to you all for the kind comments about the first newsletter and particularly Steve Roberts for posting it on the festival of nature website. Well, autumn is almost upon us at the park, and with it the arrival of the first Redwings (see Redwing in Ruscombe here). These beautiful thrushes arrive from Scandinavia, along with Fieldfares, and can be seen throughout winter on the main field. During the very cold, winter weather earlier this year, these birds moved closer into the park, in search of food, feasting on yew and holly berries. Many finches are starting to flock in the hawthorn hedges above the play area, sometimes up to 100 Goldfinches can be seen early in the morning, along with Chaffinches, Great and Blue Tits.

This newsletter sees the completion of the first stage of the new wildlife pond, and Wyevale have completed the main excavations, shaping of the contours and retaining wall. Interest from the public has been very high, with families watching and asking about progress every day. Work to connect the water feed to the new pond is well underway, and we hope to fill the pond by pumping water from the adjacent stream, by the end of the month.

The park lost one of it’s largest and oldest woodland trees at the end of August, when a Willow was felled due to decay at the base. This impressive tree was popular with Great-Spotted Woodpeckers, but public safety is paramount, and therefore it had to be felled. Tree Maintenance contractors have been cutting up logs and clearing the main trunk sections, which will provide new homes for beetles and other insects.

During the coming weeks, we will be emptying and cleaning all of the bird boxes throughout the park. The bird nest box scheme has been a great success, and I will provide a full report on this year’s results in this newsletter at the end of the year. Autumn is a great time of the year to see wildlife at the park, so as well as this, enjoy the myriad of different colours over the coming months.

NEWS FROM THE SUPERVISOR’S TRAP

Red Underwing steals the show at recent moth event at the park

The recent moth event on September 3rd was a great success. The orangery, ‘illuminated beautifully’ behind our moth lamp, was the setting for this year’s final moth event, in collaboration with the museum in the park. Visitors attending were treated to a lovely variety of moths, which captivated the children present. 3 new species were added to the park’s list, including a magnificent freshly emerged Red Underwing, which alighted on some of the spectators clothes, and started a flurry of camera flashes.

We established a sugar round on the trees adjacent to the woodland, and this attracted some Copper Underwings. An enjoyable night was had by all, and well done Ann, (Taylor) for marshalling the group in her fluorescent waistcoat.

Insects ‘buzzing’ around new Buddleia at Orangery

The butterfly garden, planted in the orangery earlier this summer, is attracting lots of insects. Elizabeth Sargeant kindly donated some buddleia plants called ‘Buzz’, which are a new dwarf variety, and moths were seen feasting on them at the recent moth event. These and other flowers are attracting lots of insects during the day including butterflies and hoverflies.

Jackdaw roost at museum brings evening cacophony

Anyone visiting the museum in the park at dusk this month will be greeted by the calls of hundreds of Jackdaws that are roosting in the tall Wellingtonia tree opposite. The birds have been using this roosting site for the last two years, but numbers have increased considerably this year.

Jackdaws are very social birds, and nest in the walnut tree by the play area and in the woodland. At this time of year, they will gather in very large numbers to roost communally. The roost we have in the park is the largest roost in the Stroud area, so bring your binoculars to the museum one evening just before dusk to see the birds arriving with a cacophony of calls.
Park’s Moth Trap Reaches 200!

Moths recorded at the park have reached 200 species during the first 18 months of recording. For those that are unaware, I am currently monitoring the moth population at the park, and operate a mercury vapour lamp on mild evenings throughout the year. This is set up in Wyevale’s service compound. To my knowledge, no previous recording has been carried out on the park’s Lepidoptera, so it is exciting to know that everything we record is a first for the park. The list has turned up some interesting species, and local ones, and these will feature in my butterfly and moth report in January 2011.

Squirrels evict Little Owls

One of the main target species in our nest box scheme is the Little Owl. Our little friend has been around since April looking for a place to nest. Bullied out of the walnut tree by Jackdaws, this mercurial little bird has been viewing and considering it’s new ‘Rolls Royce’ nest box in the fork of one of our larger oaks, and during the summer it could be seen perched on top of the box. I was mystified as to why the owl was not using the box to breed, until Wyevale staff this week, inspected the box. Whilst climbing the ladder, out popped 4 grey squirrels!. We all know that the public and children love to feed the squirrels, but in doing so, they are contributing to they’re continuing increase. This winter, we will be placing the box in another Oak and hoping the squirrels keep out.

A Word of Warning for Mushroom Pickers

September is the best month to search for field mushrooms, which grow all over the main fields, and I have often picked enough myself to provide a hearty supper. However, when picking mushrooms, do not confuse these with the similar yellow-staining mushroom (Agaricus xanthodermus), which is presently growing around the bandstand. Although these appear almost identical to the common field mushroom, there is one important separating feature. When the fleshy cap is rubbed, or the stalks broken, it displays a strong yellow colouration. Although it is poisonous to most people, it is eaten by some without apparent negative effect.
On the subject of mushrooms and fungi, the Beech woodland in the park is a good place this month, to see some very interesting fungi.

Yellow-stained Mushroom

The Goldcrest (regulus regulus) Stratford Parks little Jewel. The Goldcrest is our smallest native bird. It is a species of coniferous woodland and parkland, where it is inconspicuous amongst the branches of Cedar, Larch and Wellingtonia. It’s minute size and presence is often only given away by it’s high pitched song, a continuous ‘tsee, tsee, tsee’. The park provides ideal habitat for this little bird, with most sightings around the orangery and banks below the museum. The Cedar of Lebanon below the museum is the best place to catch a glimpse of a Goldcrest, and a good tip is to stand beneath the cedar around mid morning with the sun overhead. Looking up through the canopy, the sun will illuminate all movement, and the birds are then easy to spot. Quite often though, they will feed on the lower extremities of the branches, and if you keep very still standing by the bench there, the birds will show beautifully.

Despite a cold winter this year, numbers appear stable and an autumn walk through the park during this month will usually produce a few birds.

Wildlife to look for now at Stratford Park

Birds Redwing, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, (all along the top fields, and in the trees around the orangery). Buzzard (still over the woodland), Green Woodpecker (wildflower bank), Goldcrest (good numbers amongst the conifers and cedars below the museum). Nuthatch. Kingfisher, Dipper (woodland end at salmon springs), Jackdaw (roosting by the museum), Look in the large cedars below the museum for Coal Tits.

Cormorant. 3 birds still on the lake. The first Siskins should be arriving at the end of the month. Look for these among the birch trees below the play area and the alders along the top fields.
Butterflies Late summer species such as Painted Lady and Red Admiral may be seen at the orangery flower beds and buddleias by the walled garden. Comma butterfly can be seen on ivy blossom throughout the park. Speckled Wood, A partial 3rd generation is in the woodland on sunny days. (Look in the dappled shade areas of bramble).

Small wind turbines don't work: we need Stinchcombe turbines

First up why the small ones don't work then on why it would be great to submit something to planning about the proposed turbines at Stinchcombe.

Two real-world tests performed in the Netherlands and in the UK has confirmed earlier analysis that small wind turbines are a fundamentally flawed technology. Their financial payback time is much longer than their life expectancy, and in urban areas, some poorly placed wind turbines will not even deliver as much energy as needed to operate them (let alone energy needed to produce them). Given their long payback period relative to their life expectancy, most small wind turbines are net energy consumers rather than net energy producers. Read the whole story on the Oil Drum here.

In contrast there is much to support the larger wind turbines that are becoming increasingly more efficient - indeed the original 8 proposed for Stinchcombe would have provided 25% of Stroud Districts domestic needs! Ecotricity have now ressubmitted their planning application for the wind farm at Berkeley Vale. They have reduced the number of turbines in line with comments from local people to 4 turbines.

However, there are still likely to be local objections so, if you feel able to, any positive comments could greatly help the application. The planning application number is S.10/1638/FUL and you can comment on the Stroud District Council's website here - see other comments made here. A couple of lines is all you need to do.

Have you caught a 'plonker' yet?

Folks will have heard about the Stroud campaign group that plans to give 'plonker' award to try and stop cars parking on pavements.

Photo: I've not seen any cars on the pavement since the campaign started so have to use a pic of Randwick Woods for this blog entry!

Members of the newly formed Pedestrians on Pavements campaign (POP) are inviting residents to take good-quality photos of vehicles parked on the town's pavements. The photos will then be exhibited and the public will be asked to vote on who should receive the 'biggest plonker' award.

Green County Councillor Sarah Lunnon, who is one of those who initiated the scheme says she has had huge amounts of positive feedback. It was set up as pavements are for pedestrians, buggies and wheelchairs. The Highway Code specifically forbids pavement parking in London and advises against doing it elsewhere.

POP has asked Stroud District Council to ticket and remove offending vehicles and is asking Gloucestershire County Council to pass a by-law specifically forbidding pavement parking.

David Michael, who also set up the scheme is quoted saying: "We do know how easy it can be to be tempted to pavement park, especially if you are just 'popping in' somewhere. However it really does cause great problems and danger to many pedestrians, especially those in wheelchairs, the elderly, and anyone who does not feel safe going into the road and of course carers with buggies and children. Let us work together and make Stroud a pedestrian friendly town."

David told the SNJ that some 'independent people' have decided to glue ‘pavements are for pedestrian’ notices on windscreens but said the group does not condone this behaviour and prefers the more gentle approach of giving out 'plonker' awards.

Jim Daniels, GCC parking manager is also quoted in the SNJ, responding: “The county council could impose a Traffic Regulation Order preventing parking on pavements and this is something we could consider for areas where there is a real problem. However, it would be impossible to impose a blanket ban for the whole county as this would reduce parking spaces and make the lack of availability a very real issue. We know pavement parking can be a problem for some people and we would always look at each area individually to try to address the needs of both pedestrians and motorists.”

POP ask that high quality images of cars parked on pavements, with number plates showing, be sent to POP(at)gl5.net

The next issue the group will be tackling is vehicles using the pedestrian zone in Stroud town centre.

Waste Day

Gloucestershire Friends of the Earth Network Conference Network Day on 9th October presents "Zero Waste - a Way to a Low Carbon Future" from 11.00am at Bethesda Church, Great Norwood St. Cheltenham Spa GL50 2AP. Entrance Free, Lunch £5.00. To book lunch & details www.glosfoe.org.uk

Photo: my arty shot of Randwick woods

Speakers include:
Keynote: Michael Warhurst Senior Resource Use Campaigner - EU and UK Friends of the Earth,
Welsh Assembly "Slow Waste" pilot project: Adam Kennerley Chief executive, Cwm Harry Land Trust
Co-operatives - Communities in action: Michael Pickering Social Responsibility Manager, MidCounties Co-operative

Panel from main political parties including MP’s. Chair Mike Birkin, Regional Campaigns Co-ordinator, Friends of the Earth South West.

I note that I missed publicising on this blog Zero Waste Week - there was so much going on with planning the Open Homes and other stuff - but hey folks it is not too late to participate - we should be aiming to have every week a Zero Waste week! Go to the excellent My Zero Waste for help and tips: http://myzerowaste.com/category/blog/

I did manage to cut my waste that week considerably but some of the packaging from the new Council laptop was not easy to get rid of - no food waste in the week - also had some plastic packaging from some food. Did take a pic of the rubbish but I seem to have deleted it before using....

Letter to Stroud Life: renewables more than just well intentioned

Here is my letter sent in response to the comment piece in Stroud Life this week. It is also a chance to thank the homeowners especially for sharing their homes....

Photo: getting ready for the installers fair last Saturday

Stroud Life reported on the huge interest in the Eco-Renovation Open Homes weekend which saw over 1000 visits to the installers fair and eco-homes (15/09/10). As in previous years the event was put on by volunteers and the vast majority of visitors are looking at what is possible in terms of renewables and energy efficiency measures in their homes. Huge thanks to all who helped make it possible, especially the homeowners.

The Stroud Life editor comments many of the measures suggested are 'well intentioned but still beyond the means of most'. However they are not so 'expensive' if you compare with having savings in a low interest bearing account. One recent exciting development is the introduction of Feed-In Tariffs. This means that people can now get returns of as much as 10%, by for example investing in Solar PV. However as Stroud Life points out, borrowing is still beyond the reach of many and not all sites are suitable for solar. Another option for some, might be to consider the free PV systems that are being offered: although looking at the small print is very advisable. Open Homes is also about trying to support local installers and encourage this industry locally.

Sadly Britain is third from bottom in renewables in Europe: only Malta and Luxembourg are worse. The 'pioneers' who shared their homes over the weekend are part of a revolution in energy that many of us believe must happen. If we are to tackle climate change and rising energy prices then this is where the future lies. The UK is also moving from being a net exporter to net importer of energy and the vulnerabilities of energy supply mean that it is shortsighted to not make renewables a priority investment.

Here in Stroud there is much more we could be doing. Kirklees Greens for example have successfully proposed a programme of free solar panels for Council buildings: the capital costs of PV being covered by the new Feed-In tariff. Their next step is to extend this concept to Council houses and private householders. Locally work is being done on seeing if a similar scheme is possible here: it is vital we find ways to tackle the growing number of households in fuel poverty in the District.

In the meantime many of the visitors reported that they hadn't appreciated how much they could do in terms of saving energy. It is amazing how much energy/money can be saved by measures like draft exclusion and adding more loft insulation (which is free to many). For advice, grants and discounts call the local Energy Saving Trust advice centre on 0800 512 012.

Cllr Philip Booth, Stroud District councillor and one of the organisers of Transition Stroud Open Homes

Stroud Pound: we need to spend more

As reported recently on this blog and in the local press we have now issued the 10,000th pound. I just wanted here to update on a number of activities....details of 4 events including one today. But first an appeal - people are not spending as many Stroud Pounds as we had hoped.

Photos; Randwick woods last weekend

Some members have said that they think if they spend in shops they are putting pressure on the owners, so they would rather use the same shops with sterling instead. I hav eto say I have been amongst those - but in reality, if shopkeepers do not get a regular flow of Stroud Pounds coming through then they question the value of the scheme. And the 3% they may need to pay if they trade them back is not a loss to the community, because it is invested in local charities. That is how the scheme is designed to work so that all sections of the community benefit together.

So, please buy Stroud pounds from at Stroud Valleys Project new Eco-shop in Threadneedle Street, or from Uplands Post Office or Kanes Records, in the town, or Green Spirit in Nailsworth, or Minchinhampton and Stonehouse post offices. Together we can start building up the volume of Stroud Pound trading in the build-up to Christmas.

Today, as part of the Stroud Street Festival, Stroud Pound folk will be serving Stroud Pound breakfasts, probably outside Tony's in Kendrick Street. All the ingredients will have been bought with Stroud pounds.

Saturday 9th October, a Stroud pound produce market. This will probably be held in the afternoon in the British School. People will be encouraged to bring the vegetables they can't eat or wines, jams and chutneys they have made from them. Only Stroud pounds will be accepted.

"Maybe I Should Have: Tale from the Economical Wonder Iceland"A film by Gunnar Sigurdsson 30th September, 7.30pm, Exchange

Although Iceland is a tiny economy with a smaller population than the city of Bristol, what happened to its economy in 2008 explains in microcosm the financial crisis. In this amusing and accessible film, Gunnar Sigurdsson explores how his national economy was gambled away by a few money-men and shares with us the route he followed when he decided to 'follow the money'. Gunnar's journey has involved considerable air miles as he trekked from Guernsey to Tortola in the British Virgin Islands to track down the movement on the non-existent money on which the Iceland miracle was based. There he discovered 600,000 financial companies were registered, with no regulation whatsoever, including 120,000 in just one small office block. His deeper journey of disillusion and loss of trust is one we are all embarking on, whether we choose to or not.

The film will be followed by a discussion of what the implications are for our own national economy and for Transition Stroud.

Mary Mellor: Money: From Financial Crisis to Public Resource on 2nd December, 7.30pm, Exchange

Ecofeminist economist Mary Mellor will be visiting Stroud to share her analysis of the financial crisis. Her recent book The Future of Money provides an insightful (and comprehensible!) account of what has gone wrong with money, and what we need to do to put things right. Mary's conclusion is that the state is central to the stability of the money system, while the chaotic privately-owned banks reap the benefits without shouldering the risks. She argues that money is a public resource that has been hijacked by capitalism. Mary is Emeritus Professor at Northumbria University in Newcastle, where she was founding Chair of the University’s Sustainable Cities Research Institute

This article in Red Pepper gives an idea of the flavour of Mary's talk: http://www.redpepper.org.uk/The-future-of-money

Glos Transport Plan will fail us

This last week I have been reading the Transport Plan - otherwise known as LTP3 - on Tuesday night at the local Green party meeting we also had a discussion on it. This plan really does need alot of work if it is to be fit for Gloucestershire 2011 to 2026. Indeed while it acknowledges climate change it seems to completely miss what we need to do.

Below are my notes that I hope to shape into a personal response - they maybe useful pointers to others - the local Green party will also put a response in but I urge others to add their voices.

See the Transport Plan here where you can also complete a questionnaire in response - but needs to be in by 14th October.

So to my comments:

Before looking at some of the details I note that the LTP3 consultation process has failed to fully set out the urgency of the need to move to low carbon. Councils need to take a leading role: without that the results of the consultation are likely to underestimate the need to prioritise walking, cycling and public transport. Furthermore quite a number of the multiple choice questions are unintelligible or confusing. For example:

- There is a question about the introduction of 20 mph zones in accordance with current guidelines developed by GCC yet there is a scrutiny inquiry looking at 20 mph limits on all residential areas as a better approach.
- Another says 'Contributions towards public transport and community transport will be determined using the 'Guidance on contributions relating to Accessibility''. What does it mean? Well it means you have to read the guidance to understand and even then it becomes an issue about what aspects of the Guidance could be made better.....

I accept it is not easy to engage on these complex issues but the way the questions are framed really doesn't get to the heart of the matter.

1. LTP3 talks about reducing CO2 and supporting economic growth but doesn't really spell out how this challenge can be faced. The cuts needed in CO2 are huge. Since the major source of transport CO2 is from cars any realistic reduction in CO2 will have to address car useage. It would be useful to have some quantification and timescales regarding CO2 reduction plans.

2. This plan is to 2026. LTP3 recognises uncertainty over fuel prices but this does not seem to influence the plan. Indeed most fuel commentators believe that the only uncertainty is how high prices will rise, it would seem sensible to plan for further increases in fuel prices.There is no mention of Peak Oil in LTP 3. Peak Oil is not recognised. See for example this comment piece:
http://peakgeneration.blogspot.com/2010/08/major-reports-point-to-oil-supply.html

Here’s one quote from that piece: ‘Modern society has been built on the back of access to relatively cheap, combustible, carbon-based energy sources. Three factors render that model outdated: surging energy consumption in emerging economies, multiple constraints on conventional fuel production and international recognition that continuing to release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere will cause climate chaos.’

3. There is no longterm vision to move towards electrification of the transport system. This is a serious failing in the plan.

4. There are some welcome statements in the Plan like the commitment to supporting and implementing the Stroud District Cycling Strategy (soon to be published), and the adoption and improvement of the cycle trail. However there is talk about tackling congestion but few specific plans about how this will be done, in particular how we can shift to more walking, cycling and public transport. LTP3 does not sound committed to these modes of transport when words like ‘promote’ are used rather than hard targets. There is mention of an indicator for walking and cycling but no indication of what it might indicate.

5. LTP3 mentions Smarter Choices which can have a significant impact on the number of journeys undertaken by car, but it is doubtful if this will be maintained if the road network and public transport provision is not pleasant.

6. LTP3 could say more in relation to 20 mph limits like the significant reduction in casualties and the research showing it leads to more people walking and cycling and using public transport. LTP3 looks at the piecemeal approach of 20mph zones rather than whole residential areas which can have a significant impact on communities and start to change the way we see roads. Another example is regarding maintenance and other schemes: LTP3 could spell out how these are an opportunity to incrementally improve the network for vulnerable road users.

7. The economic benefits of reduced congestion due to a shift to more walking and cycling have not been quantified: improved physical and mental health, improved perception of community safety due to more people being about etc. Given that increases in walking and cycling would meet most of the aims of LTP3, and many of the counties other aims around sustainable communities, community cohesion, healthier communities, noise reduction surely walking and cycling are more important and this should be stated.

8. There is also no recognition of the barriers to walking, cycling and using public transport and how these can be addressed. Here are some examples:
- improving our very poor bus timetabling,
- insisting all travel shops keep all transport providers time tables,
- a commitment to fix smaller potholes that discourage cyclists,
- moving towards more single entry and exit roundabouts,
- the use of the Manual for Streets for all residential areas regardless of road class,
- the deletion of the Chalford / Brimscombe canal path improvement scheme, there is no 'ring fencing' of expenditures to make it easier/safer/more direct for pedestrians and cyclists, or to keep bus services in operation.

9. There is no mention of extensions to bus running hours, not even as an aspiration. If bus are to be used more heavily they need better operating hours. The use of small minibus services to be considered to increase the timetable. Any reduction in services will impact on vulnerable members of our communities.

10. LTP3 does not note the limit on flights from the airport or reaffirm the need for one. See my letter posted today on this blog re latest developments at Staverton.

Staverton Airport: more madness from councillors!

Here is my letter to the Echo/Citizen earlier this week....

Pic by Banksy

I read with astonishment that Gloucester City and Cheltenham Borough Councils are each putting up £350,000 for Gloucestershire Airport to borrow. What on earth are our councillors doing at this time when frontline services to some of the most vulnerable members of our community are so threatened?

If the Council's invested that money in renewables they could expect as much as a 10 to 12% return over 20 years. That would help reduce reliance on energy imports, cut CO2 emissions, support local jobs and could help tackle fuel poverty. Yet here we are investing in business travel at a time when the industry is in dire straights and looking set to get worse with forecast fuel price rises. Indeed it looks like only the wealthy jet owners will benefit from this absurd investment.

Last year Staverton airport made a loss of 120K. Additionally the airport has still not completed the purchase of Blenheim House. Increased costs and the project re-phasing are said to impact on returns for shareholders reducing the anticipated dividends. Those of us campaigning against the airport's expansion have long pointed to the inadequacies of the Airport's business plan. It seems already cracks are starting to show.

The aviation lobby have long insisted that the economic benefits of expanding airports exceed the environmental and social costs. The High Court recently ruled over Heathrows' planned expansion that the government's decision hadn't properly taken into consideration climate change policy or the economic case. It is time our Council's reviewed their decision: to use tax payers money in this way, at this time, makes no sense.

Cllr Philip Booth

Hospital site plans on show

As reported here Kevin McCloud's company, Hab Oakus, is putting forward designs for affordable housing at the derelict Cashes Green Hospital site.

Yesterday there was a drop-in that I ended up spending nearly 3 hours at - good cakes! It was also a good opportunity to talk to many residents and the various architects and designers.

Photos: yesterday at the consultation drop in at the Youth and Community centre in Cashes Green

It was possibly the eighth consultation drop-in I had been to about this site over the years - and have to say I was expecting consultation fatigue from residents but many were very positive about the plans. Indeed there were very significant numbers of people going through the consultation - and many were local residents. Although one said they would accept almost anything after so many years of this site with nothing happening.

Many were excited by the green credentials and the community areas - as part of the agreement, Hab Oakus will construct all 78 new homes to Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes - plus there will be an allotment site with a community building.

Some were unhappy that the allotments were only two-thirds of the original site - an issue I made with all the folk there including Kevin - as I've noted before I think there could be room for getting land released locally not on that site for allotments - or as we have done in Ruscombe leasing land from a private landowner to establish allotments. There is also at the moment no decision over how the sites allotments could be allocated - poss the Parish would but ownership might be retained? We'll see.

Other folk were concerned that parking was very minimal, others that the site had many routes through it linking it to the other communities and that that could increase crime - both these issues while I understand them I don't go along with - indeed I have advocated long and hard at all the consultations re the need for the site to be linked to the surrounding communities.

One big issue was the old buildings - many, like me do not want to see them destroyed - it was good to hear Kevin was also wanting to retain stuff - however the economics and state of buildings present many challenges - there is talk of keeping the bricks and more to use....we'll see...

Another issue was the lovely red brick wall along the road - Highways seem to want to widen the road or keep it that wide - I want to see it narrower so that traffic is slowed down. One solution if Highways get there way - and I hope they don't is to maybe reduce the wall height and put a path on the other side of the wall.

Anyhow Kevin's company Hab Oakus was selected a couple of months or so ago as the best of eight submissions made to the site's owners, the government's Homes and Communities Agency. They will work alongside a community land trust, the Stroud-based Gloucestershire Land for People, and housing group Green Square on putting up 78 homes at the old hospital, 39 of them for affordable rent or part-ownership. The plans at the event are at a very early stage - one comment from a resident was that they didn't look nice - hopefully at the next meeting - I think 19th Oct - there will be more news re designs as these were only to give an indication of what the site could look like.

Under the proposals, Gloucestershire Land for People will own and manage 39 of these homes, which will be available for affordable rent and part ownership. The remaining homes will be made available for sale on the open market by Hab Oakus.

It is the first time a housing-focused Community Land Trust proposal will be delivered on HCA-owned land - it has been described as a flagship for delivering affordable housing in England. It is great that this project looks set to happen here in Stroud - and this time the team behind it look set to deliver - if not I'll never watch Grand Designs again - oohps - don't tell them I don't have a telly...

It is expected that a full planning application will be submitted for the site later this year....excuse the haste of this blog entry but am dashing to work and wanted to get something down here....

Local ME/CFS Support group starts

As someone who has had ME/CFS and was unable to work for quite a number of years I am delighted to publicise on this blog a new local Support Group starting. They will meet Monday 4th October in Fields cafe, Nailsworth - for details call Richard on 07814 223567.

Photo: Randwick woods

With my energy levels now it is hard to remember how ill I was - indeed for the first years I could not even walk far - and used a wheelchair for longer distances. Slowly over the time I got better - started working in a Nailsworth Bookshop a couple of hours a week then ran the Expert Patient courses - see here.

Lessons from Geese

I have long collected inspirational quotes and thought as a new feature to this blog I would share some of them here - along with others that make me smile or get angry! You will be able to see previous inspirations by clicking on the label below - but of course this is the first - so no others yet - although some might have seen the Arundhati Roy quote in the column on the right:

"Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day I can hear her breathing." Arundhati Roy

Anyway folk will no doubt have come across this 'Lessons from Geese' in various forms. I still like it, as team work is one of the key ways we can make things happen....

Lessons from Geese

Fact 1 As each goose flaps its wings it creates an 'uplift' for the birds that follow. By flying in a 'V' formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone. Lesson - The Importance of Achieving Goals People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.

Fact 2 - The Importance of Team Wor When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone. It quickly moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it. Lesson If we have as much sense as a goose we stay in formation with those headed where we want to go. We are willing to accept their help and give our help to others.

Fact 3 - The Importance of Sharing When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies to the point position. Lesson It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership. As with geese, people are interdependent on each other's skills, capabilities and unique arrangements of gifts, talents or resources.

Fact 4 The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. Lesson - The Importance of Empathy and Understanding We need to make sure our honking is encouraging. In groups where there is encouragement, the production is much greater. The power of encouragement (to stand by one's heart or core values and encourage the heart and core of others) is the quality of honking we seek.

Fact 5 When a goose gets sick, wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again. Then, they launch out with another formation or catch up with the flock. Lesson - The Importance of Encouragement If we have as much sense as geese, we will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong.

Lessons from Geese was transcribed from a speech given by Angeles Arrien at the 1991 Organizational Development Network and was based on the work of Milton Olson. It has since circulated in several organizations across the world.

Trident debate and petition

A year ago we had a debate in Stroud between the four political parties about Trident - see here - well this year we are repeating the event as a Coffee House discussion - see here about other discussions and below about the event which looks set to have Neil Carmichael MP attend to argue in favour of renewal. See also at the bottom of this blog entry an email link to sign a letter to Osbourne urging them not to renew Trident. I've already sent my email.

Photo: Banksy credited graffiti

Next Coffee House discussion - Friday, September 24th.

Do we want new nuclear weapons?

Our Government is about to take decisions on future military expenditure and our nuclear weapons:

- What is the use of nuclear weapons in tomorrow's world?

- Should the UK spend £billions to replace its Trident nuclear submarine fleet with a new nuclear system?

- How do Britain's decisions affect worldwide nuclear non-proliferation negotiations?

- What would a better defence policy be like?

7.30-9.30 Venue - Star Anise Cafe, Gloucester St., Stroud.

Over the next few weeks final decisions will be made and in the firing line are schools, hospitals, housing and disability benefits and essential support for renewable energy. Compass, who have organised a letter campaign, ask:

"How can it be that spending on building weapons of mass destruction is protected while investment in the 20 year Schools for the Future programme is scrapped? How can it be that the nuclear weapons factory at Aldermaston is given an extra £1billion funding every year to build new nuclear warheads while scientific research funding is cut?"

Tell George Osborne not to renew Trident at:
http://action.compassonline.org.uk/trident

Meanwhile CND have just released a report yesterday about the loss of jobs Trident will lead to - Kate Hudson, General Secretary of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, said "The Chancellor is demanding up to 20% cuts from the MoD and has stated that the cost of Trident replacement will come from the main defence budget. So going ahead with Trident will have a devastating impact on non-nuclear defence manufacturing. Trident is cash-hungry whilst providing relatively few jobs. Hundreds of millions are to be spent with US-based contractors, providing nothing for the UK economy. Other areas of defence spending at risk from Trident generate far more employment per pound spent. Closing RAF bases and scrapping surface-ship programmes will cause significant job losses in the coming years, whereas cutting Trident would have little impact until at least 2016. The report makes clear that with relatively small investment the key facility dependent on Trident work - BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow - could be re-aligned towards the rapidly growing needs of the low-carbon economy. Precision marine engineering skills are perfect for developing wave and tidal energy systems, where Britain could be a world leader. Diversifying into a market with strong domestic demand as well as huge export potential would provide much greater job security for shipyard workers. Relying almost entirely on a few MoD orders will always be a precarious formula."

Write to Neil to support the Sustainable Livestock Bill

The Sustainable Livestock Bill in Parliament is getting closer to reality. This blog has made several calls to support it - see here and here. The Bill, supported by Friends of the Earth, the green party and more, calls for Government action to tackle the massive climate and wildlife damage caused by current processes used in factory farming of meat and dairy.

Photo: Tesco ad: it doesn't mentioned how many times it gets sprayed!

Please join me in emailing your MP today and urge them to support the Bill. They need at least 100 MPs to be in the House of Commons on 12 November so that this Bill stands a real chance of passing into law. See more here. Neil Carmichael has not yet signed the Early Day Motion despite his farming background - I hope he will consider supporting it.

I also asked if he had read "The Carbon Fields" by Graham Harvey - it is an excellent book - see my comments re the book at the bottom of my blog re peeing in the compost here. Indeed I would like to do another blog on that sometime soon as it is such a key issue! As an aside I was delighted that Gardeners World tackled the topic of peeing a few weeks ago and also gave the advice it was good to pee in the compost!!

Greens return from conference

The Eco-Renovation Open Homes weekend meant I missed not just Randwick Horticultural Show but also the Green Party conference in Birmingham this last weekend. Below are some links to give a flavour of the weekend....this morning I also talked to a couple of Greens at a Green councillors meeting - it was good to hear about the buzz at conference but also some comments critical of Greens who are concerned that now we have a leader there is a worry about the 'cult of personality.'

Of course there is a risk but there are mechanisms in place to ensure the chances of that are reduced. I voted against a leader - see here - but hey it's time to move on - social and environmental justice are what we are working for and Caroline is one of the most effective voices we've ever had - a voice that is increasingly heard.

You can start getting a flavour of conference by seeing Caroline's keynote (spread over 2 videos) - after 30 years we finally have a voice in Westminister - see what she has to say to Greens:
http://www.greenparty.org.uk/News/12-09-2010-video-caroline-conference.html
You can also read it here - and see here Adrian Ramsay's speech as Deputy Leader and watch it here.

See The Independent leading article on the conference here: "One thing that is notable by its omission from Ms Spelman's thinking, however, is a credible mechanism for mobilising resources. Caroline Lucas, the Green Party leader and sole MP, last week compared the Government's response to a call for volunteers for the Home Guard. "Dad's Army will not be enough to prevent climate change or deal with the consequences," she said. She is right. Adapting to climate change will require more than the mere tweaking of planning guidelines and polite requests to local councils. In the long term it will need green taxes on property in vulnerable areas to pay for upgrading flood defences, for example"

Stroud's Molly Scott Cato did a quick piece on Radio Glos on Friday morning about the Green Party - you can listen again up until the end of Thursday here. Molly's piece starts around 1.15.12 minutes into the programme. See also Molly's blog on her motion she put to conference.

Some of the issues covered include:

How we need to tackle the prison population - restorative justice is long overdue. See here.

An emergency motion, passed unanimously at Green Party autumn conference, strongly criticised the privatisation of the NHS. The motion called for a campaign to have those health providers which have already been privatised brought back into the NHS, and for the NHS to be promoted as a public service free of commercial interests - see here. As Caroline Lucas said: "The White Paper spells out just how far the Tories and Liberals will go with their destruction of our essential services. They are planning on full privatisation of NHS service across England, a move utterly opposed by us."

On the heels of French deportations of Roma that have hit international headlines in recent weeks, conference passed an emergency motion urging "all Green Party elected representatives in local, national and international governments to apply maximum pressure toward improving equality and access to services for Roma people and asserting their human rights"- see here. Provision of services for travellers is an issue I have already raised locally.

Greens pledged to campaign for a publicly-owned Royal Mail - see here.

Public and delegates view of conference on a video wall - see here.

Caroline's vote on Afghanistan here.