We should be in national uproar at the Infrastructure Bill ... where's the protest?

Something inside me just snapped.

I have finally been driven to anger by George Monbiot's latest article. He writes:

"As you read this, a monster of a bill is passing smoothly and quietly through Britain's parliament. It's so big and complex, and covers so many topics, that it makes a mockery of democracy. ... Bills like this are good places for burying bad news, and this one is a graveyard.' (my emphasis)

I have known about the Infrastructure Bill for months but nobody else seems to. Nothing appears to be happening. It sailed through the House of Lords with only minor changes from criticism that still do not reflect what needs to be done. It ignores the general public's views. And as Monbiot asks, why is Labour not doing anything? I have been involved with actions against the Bill as part of my role in my recent internship.  So yes, there is some work against it, working behind the scenes. A few trends on Twitter, unpublicised petitions and comments on Guardian articles.

But the Infrastructure Bill is possibly the biggest threat to the environment of our time in the UK!

But I'm hearing more about the ban on plastic bags in a distant land than I am about the threat on my doorstep. There should be public unrest and protest, MPs should be quaking in their boots in the wave of public opinion. Here's why:

• The Bill poses a huge threat to Britain's wildlife. Firstly, it lists wild boar as 'not ordinarily resident' in the UK. At the last census there were 819 wild boar living in the Forest of Dean. Their population was first established in 2004. I fail to see how that's not 'ordinarily resident'. As a result, it would be even easier for wild boar to be culled or completely removed by government. The Bill also poses an issue for any reintroduced species that previously became extinct. So, for example, red kites and sea eagles that have been reintroduced (with thousands of pounds of charities' money and public support) could be removed. The beavers peacefully living in Devon would be gone too. It could also work to prevent any future reintroductions of previously resident species. What's worse, if other species (previously resident or not) begin to colonise in the UK naturally they would be controlled too. This is likely to happen with the effects of climate change as our weather gets warmer and other places become too warm.
• And this is the climate change that the government, using the Infrastructure Bill, will only make worse. This is with the move to allow fracking. Whilst there is an uproar that I welcome on fracking, I fear that this is not being linked with the deceivingly named Infrastructure Bill which is being discussed now. By allowing the digging up of people's homes and fuelling the search for oil (instead of spending these resources on clean energy dare I say) they are acting against the Climate Change Act 2008. Our government is happy to go against democratic principles and against the law apparently. Fracking has been banned in some places in the USA, a country not exactly known for its consideration for the environment. The science behind fracking is very negative, fracking is polluting and dangerous. It is suggested that Defra has a report on fracking made almost unreadable by the amount of censorship. MPs have not seen this report. Censorship in a democracy? What is going on? Homes and habitats will be destroyed and emissions increased only for short term gain. This should not be acceptable.
• The Infrastructure Bill could wreck what little remains of our forests. I know less about this then I should but here the Woodland Trust examines it in detail.

As someone who was working within an environmental NGO when the Infrastructure Bill emerged, I can tell you that it made NGOs fearful. They have the expertise to fight it but they do not have the public support and outcry to build upon. Not yet anyway, but there is time to bring a fight.

If you care about the environment, if you care about what happens to the people and wildlife in this country, if you care about democracy, I beg of you to join the fight to create the uproar about this that should be happening. Write to your local MPs, write to ministers, write to Defra, Facebook it, tweet it #BintheBill, petition them, protest, anything you can think of. Let us create an uproar worthy of our nature and our people.

Action

Here's some links to give you a head start:

• Parliament information on getting your views heard
• Join the Twitter trend
• Petition to exempt forests and public land from Infrastructure Bill
• Petition to protect native species that have been reintroduced to the UK
• Petition to remove fracking from the Infrastructure Bill
• Petition to end the fracking report censorship
• Join the lobby against the Infrastructure Bill on 14th January (a few days time!) (Thanks to @frackfree_eu for letting me know about this, you should also give them a follow)
• I am in the process of writing a letter to send out, watch this blog as I will post a copy of it to provide a guideline/some ideas if you're uncertain what to write.

UPDATE: The vote on the Infrastructure Bill went in favour of fracking. There were some promises on preventing fracking in national parks, and protected areas and preventing water contamination but David Cameron is trying to go back on those. It may have passed but the Bill is in the process of being amended by both houses. So pressure is still desperately needed to direct these amendments the right way and the above actions you can take still apply. Also, preventing the Conservatives from winning the election would prevent David Cameron going back on those promises ... Just sayin' 

Brilliant Environmental Issue Ads ...very thought-provoking

A friend posted a link on Facebook to a page of 40 powerful social issue adverts. I have picked out the environmental ones and posted them here, I find them shocking and thought provoking, even for someone who already has vested interests in helping our environment and its biodiversity. I think they are really brilliant as they truly capture the inherent wrong of some of our actions and help to open our eyes to issues we tend not to think about in our everyday lives.

'Exploiting the ecosystem also threatens human lives.'

Deforestation

Save Paper. Save the Planet

Air Pollution is the silent killer, causing many deaths in the UK, especially London, from cancer, asthma and heart attacks.

I have posted a video about this in one of my previous posts (Feb 2013, 'We are killing nature... It is time we stopped'), please check it out. This happens on a small island where tons of plastic from the sea ends up settling here. The seagulls eat the plastic until it kills them, this photo shows just how much they consume. 

'Every 60 seconds a species dies out. Each minute counts. Each donation helps: BUND.net'

'Plastic bags KILL. Keep our oceans clean.'

'What goes around comes around. Keep the sea clean.'

When You See a Tuna, Think Panda. ...This is similar to a poster WWF did, with a tuna fish wearing a panda mask. Tuna are seriously under threat from unsustainable overfishing. As a terrestrial species we struggle to identify with them, and therefore tend to have little interest in their plight. Tuna are just as important as any other species on our planet. 

Trees are the lungs of the world 

Earth Hour Tonight 8.30

Tonight is WWF's annual Earth Hour event from 8.30 until 9.30. Please join in, turn off your lights and electrics, and show your support for protecting our planet!

Millions of people in over 150 countries, 7000 cities, across 7 continents are getting involved from turning off their lights to many other exciting events and campaigns. According to WWF, it's the largest grassroots environmental movement in the world, which is extraordinary and a very exciting thing to be a part of. Some of the projects occurring today include: a voyage to Antarctica by UAE 17 year-old environmental ambassador, Spiderman is showing that everyone can be a superhero in helping the planet in Japan, Taiwan is holding a 4 km night run and many many more. I am very sad to be missing out on WWF's current panda invasion of Southbank in London! If you're around you should go check it out.

As part of the grand finale for ‪#‎passthepanda‬, WWF have unleashed 60 pandas along Southbank to help raise awareness for Earth Hour. They’ve been taking selfies with the public and even broke out into a bit of dance! Let them know if you spotted any!

The UK is doing its bit by donating all of the money raised through Earth Hour UK to support work in the Mau Mara Serengeti, one of the most spectacular places on Earth. The Mau Mara Serengeti’s vast and open grasslands are home to one of the richest collections of wildlife in the world. This incredible landscape also supports the livelihoods of more than one million people - from the many communities who depend on the natural resources around them to the semi-nomadic Maasai, who have long lived in harmony with nature.
Earth Hour is a brilliant reminder that together we can make change happen!

Sign up to be a part of Earth Hour here, and follow today's events here. Do whatever you can to join in, no matter how small! My plans are being in my room with all lights and electronics off, reading an environmentally supportive novel (Wolf Totem by Jiang Rong) by wind-up torchlight. Let me know what you are up to if you are participating later, would be great to hear from you. Good luck!

You can help the rainforests and orang-utans this Easter

Palm oil has become the most used vegetable oil globally. It is used in a wide range of products, from use in cooking to chocolate and shampoo. It is easy and cheap to grow and therefore has become a major source of income for companies in countries such as Indonesia. As a result even more rainforest is being cut down, not only is this contributing to global warming, it's destroying the homes of many endangered species. Once rainforest is cut down, it cannot be replaced so these animals are losing their homes forever, ultimately resulting in extinction. No amount of palm oil should be able to justify this.

Sir Terry Pratchett presents the plight of the noble orang-utan, due to palm oil and rainforest destruction, in the very moving and enlightening programme Facing Extinction. I highly recommend you watch it. It has motivated me to do something, so I hope it can motivate you too.

When buying chocolate this Easter, and in the future, consider buying chocolate that hasn't been made with palm oil. If the demand for palm oil isn't there further rainforest will not be cut down to make room for palm trees. The list below outlines chocolate that does contain palm oil. Go here for a list of palm oil free chocolate.

Let's work together to protect the rainforests to combat climate change and protect the beautiful orang-utan.

Vote for Nature ... Help Farmers to Protect Wildlife

The European Union has to decide every seven years what to spend its money on.  A large part of this budget goes towards agriculture. This is a key area for promoting sustainability and protecting biodiversity. However, only a very small amount ends up contributing to nature friendly farming methods that will help the countryside to remain full of wildlife. One of my greatest joys in life is horse riding through the country, surrounded by animals of all kinds. To think that these animals may be harmed or killed due to a lack of funding and understanding from farmers, many of which are keen to protect wildlife, is upsetting. These animals have a right to life in the countryside and a right to food and habitats as much as we do so we should be helping to protect them. This funding is also one of the few sources that protects nature conservation sites in the UK.

Due to the current economic climate securing funding is a challenge. The RSPB are fighting to save the funds that support farmers who work to make space for nature as well as food production. We have to work together with nature as, after all, we are part of it ourselves. Help the RSPB by signing the petition to tell David Cameron to fight for nature.





If we don't work to protect nature then who will?

Sign Petition

What's so wrong with fighting for a better, greener world?

Another picture post to get you thinking :)

Consumerism isn't making us any happier so why do we do it, especially when it's so harmful?

Just because we can't see the damage we're doing, doesn't mean it isn't there

The issue with trying to 'fix' environmental problems with technology

Why it is important to have a mult-disciplinary approach, particularly with regards to the environment.

This is what I don't understand about climate change deniers

Is the environment a national security issue? Surely fighting for clean energy and sustainability  makes more sense than fighting each other over fossil fuels?

I just find this one amusing!

So what do YOU think about these?

Land Grabs ... A Poverty and Environmental Issue

How would you feel if a foreign company claimed your home, your land and your livelihood as theirs and then sold it off? You would not be able to do anything about it or have any say. Your rights count for nothing, you are not even seen to have rights. No home, no money, no source of food and likely to have a large family depending on you, what would you do? This happens to thousands of people everyday, in third world countries, it needs to be stopped.

Oxfam are campaigning against Land Grabbing and I have been involved in this campaign with my local Falmouth Oxfam group. Oxfam have been claiming land and well known landmarks across the UK to raise awareness and encourage everyone to help their battle against land grabbing.

Our 'Sand Grab' at Gyllyngvase Beach in Falmouth

Governments, food exporters, tourism providers, Wall Street speculators and many more have seized land of all kinds and sizes for various resources in many poor countries including Honduras, Indonesia, Liberia and Sudan. Most of the investors are using this stolen land to export food back to rich countries. Others have used it to reach biofuel targets in the developed world. These companies are making the hunger and poverty issues we are already struggling to deal with much worse.

Land grabbing could also be a huge environmental problem. These large companies, as well as some of them using the land for mining and likely deforestation, are using the land to grow crops to export. But this is in a very unsustainable way, using large areas to grow just one crop with the use of pesticides and fertilisers. As a result in these harsh delicate environments, within a few years the land is ruined and no longer usable. Then these companies, no doubt, will seek to steal more farm land that is yet to be ruined, therefore, continuing the land grab process. It has been suggested that farming in this way is contributing to climate change and that the farming on small areas of land done by local people is sustainable and actually able to work against climate change. Vandana Shiva, Indian environmentalist and writer, discusses this in the video below. Definitely worth a watch and I agree with Shiva's suggestions. This video is actually focusing on geo-engineering, however, it considers similar issues to that of land grabbing and unsustainable farming by large foreign companies, especially in India.

 

The World Bank has begun to listen to Oxfam, however, we still need more support to bring it to an end.

Sign the Petition

Email your MP

It takes up about 2 minutes of your time :)

It's time we opened our eyes...

Here are some interesting images that really got me thinking, I hope they get you thinking too.

Consumerism - are we not just needlessly damaging our world, its people and it animals with this way of thinking?

We can make a difference if we work together

The U.S.A. leads the way in many aspects of Western culture, let's not follow its extreme consumerism

I know which one I'd rather be, how about you?

Perhaps it's time to work with nature and not against it before time runs out?

Can we not see the foolishness ad selfishness of our arguments against clean power? I personally think wind turbines are very attractive and quite serene in their own way

It's time we stopped being so naive, wouldn't you agree? 

How can one species cause so much destruction? 

The Climate Paradox. I already knew some of the issues this video depicts. However, I was mainly shocked and horrified. How are these actions justified in any way?

The Climate Paradox from Watson Institute on Vimeo.

And, finally, a wonderful quote that I discovered on the internet which I think people need to remember (no idea who came up with, please let me know if you do!)

"We often forget that WE ARE NATURE. Nature is not something separate from us. So when we say we have lost our connection with nature, we've lost our connection with ourselves."

KillTheTrade

WWF are doing a campaign to stop poaching and wildlife trade of some of the most unique, beautiful, charismatic and intelligent animals in the world.

So far this year around 430 rhinos have been killed in South Africa. Thousands of elephants are killed just for their ivory. This could never be a justifiable reason for them to die. There are only as little as 3,200 wild tigers left. These are unacceptable facts that are only going to get worse if government action isn't taken. Please show your support and help WWF.

Show your support on Twitter or Facebook here

Find out more here

Save The Arctic

Please help Greenpeace in their current campaign Save The Arctic. The Arctic is vital to our planet and us. It will be even more difficult to combat climate change without it. On August 28th 2012, a new record for the amount of Arctic ice melt was announced and it has beaten the record three weeks before sea ice will reach its minimum extent this year. This shows that climate change is occurring for more rapidly than climate scientists predicted. This is possibly one of the most significant events of our lifetime and yet it was barely mentioned in the news and people continue to deny global warming is a serious problem. Just as George Monbiot writes (I have used information from his article in this post, link below at the bottom of this post) the date 28/08/2012 "marks the day when the world went raving mad."

There are 3 crucial reasons why we need to save the Arctic:



1.It is the home to many amazing species that exist in few other places in the world. It is also home for many people. We have no right to take this home from them just because we refuse to stop our reliance on fossil fuels.

2. Melting Arctic sea ice is going to increase the already rising sea level. Islands have already been lost, such as the Locahara Island that used to be near India. Low lying land will continue to be lost, for example Bangladesh, displacing thousands of people and species with it. These are major problems that the world's future governments will have to deal with. And those most affected are likely to be those with the least resources to manage the disaster.

3. The Arctic's survival is vital in helping us slow down global warming. The ice reflects the sun's light and sends it back into space. Where there is land without ice, far less light is reflected and it is instead caught by greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, and contributes to heating the world's atmosphere. The more ice that melts the less sunlight is reflected back and the more heat is retained and therefore the more ice melts. Basically it's a downward spiral that we need to stop if we have any hope of combating further climate change.

Find out more about the campaign on the website Save The Arctic and please sign the petition, help us try to make a difference.

Also, check out George Monbiot's interesting article 'The Day the World went Mad'.

"Where we are would be Paradise to me, if you would only make it so."

Welcome to my blog, and this is my first ever post so here's wishing me luck!

So here's a bit about why I decided to start this blog:

If you only do one constructive thing today let it be watching this video, it's what made me realise that we have to change our ways and inspired me to set up this blog.




I have always loved and enjoyed nature but it wasn't until I studied a university module on Climate Change for history that I became really passionate about making a difference, however small. I want to be able to say to my grandchildren, when we can really see the negative effects of our actions on this world, that I tried to make a difference and that I wanted to bring change. In this blog I want to share with you my own personal experiences with trying to become a greener, better person and hopefully encourage you to attempt this also!  Also I'm going to explore all kinds of issues surrounding the environment, wildlife and other world problems and examine the various ways we (individually and as group) can address these. I want to show to you that Anthropogenic Climate Change (man made climate change) is a real and very serious problem and like all the issues illustrated in the video needs to be addressed by us now. If I can convince just one other person that climate change is real and that action needs to be taken I will be satisfied!

I'll try not to be too serious though, I want this to be a fun, personal, educational and interesting blog!

P.S. The quotes are from Thomas Hardy, one of my all time favourite authors. He had an appreciation of nature and I felt these quotes (my blog title and this post title) fitted quite well.