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Newsletter
The latest newsletter for Winter 2008 is available by
clicking here.
Group Address
The group's postal address has changed to 23 Nairn
Street, Sheffield, S10 1UL. The best way of contacting
us is by email (see
contacts). We will try to answer emails straight
away, whereas snail mail and phone messages are often
not picked up for a while.
No M1 Widening Demo
On Tuesday 29th May, Maureen from the
Sheffield group joined others from the No M1 widening
group to protest at the cost of widening the M1. The
campaigners suggested using the money to provide solar
power for homes instead. Read the article in the
Sheffield Star. The newspaper also ran a poll asking
if the public agreed with spending money on green energy
instead of widening the M1. 58% of the public agreed
with us.
Peace in the Park 2007
The Peace in the Park
event had better weather than Mayfest. We manageed
to sign up another 7 new members. We also got over
100 foe climate change postcards signed, about the
same number of No M1 widening postcards. We
hopefully convinced a few folk to respond to the
consultation on the climate bill.
Mayfest
Sheffield FoE members attended the very wet Mayfest on
bank holiday Monday (28th May) in the Don Valley Bowl.
Despite being very few people there we managed to
distribute about 10 large boxes of energy saving lights
bulbs, show off maureen's electric car and provide
leaflets to the public.
Group Development
Sheffield FoE Local Group Development Siobhan Laird has
taken on the role of developing the local group over the
next year. She will be working with Neil Kingsnorth to
help make the group more active and effective. Please
let Siobhan know if you have any ideas or suggestions.
Special screening of An Inconvenient Truth
The Co-op have arranged a number of special screenings
of An Inconvenient Truth around the country. There will
be one in Sheffield on Saturday 2nd June 11am - 1pm at
the Showroom Workstation. People can book places by
emailing
membership.northern@co-op.co.uk.
Please let Steve know if you are planning to go and
would be willing to hand out some Big Ask postcards or
leaflets
Wind farms needing support
Go to: www.brees.org.uk
It'll allow you to take a quick action to support a
proposed wind farm in Milton Keynes. We need as many
support emails and letters as possible! The wind farm
would consist of 7 turbines, supply up to 9000 homes
with electricity and save the emission of 35,000 tonnes
of CO2 per year.
Wadlow Farm windfarm, Cambridgeshire:
http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/climate/press_for_change/wadlow_windfarm/index.html
This is supported by Cambridge FOE:
http://www.cam.net.uk/home/camfoe/windpower.htm
Airfield Farm windfarm, Bedfordshire
http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/climate/press_for_change/airfield_windfarm/index.html
This is supported by South Beds FOE, Milton Keynes FOE,
and Northampton FOE.
Climate Change Bill consultation
If
you haven’t taken part in the Climate Change Bill
consultation, there are plenty of other groups willing
to lend you a hand. The deadline is 12th June.
Stop Climate Chaos has a simple way for you to send a
short response and you can sign up for regular action
bulletins on their iCount website (3 minutes):
http://www.icount.org.uk/personal_actions/222.asp
WDM will take you through the consultation questions
with model answers or just suggestions for important
points (15 minutes)http://www.wdm.org.uk/campaigns/climate/action/consultation.php
The full consultation is available on the Government’s
DEFRA site:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/uk/legislation/index.htm
Sheffield Renewable Energy
Map.
We
have created a
renewable energy map of Sheffield showing renewable
energy projects currently in operation. As this is still
under development, please let us know how it can be
improved. Please contact us of you know of any other
renewable projects we could mention.
Car Club
Sheffield’s first car club has just been launched. Check
out
www.whizzgo.co.uk for details.
AGM
We held our AGM on Monday. The
elected officials (co-ordinator and treasurer) were
re-elected unopposed, accounts were presented and the
licence agreement with national FoE was signed.
Longendale Bypass
A weblog has been set up for anyone
interested in discussion of issues surrounding the
proposal Longendale
bypass:
http://nomottrambypass.blogspot.com/
Mayfest Stall
Sheffield Friends of the Earth members have run a stall
at the very successful Mayfest event for the past couple
of years. Based, on previous attendance figures, we
expect about 20,000 people to flock to this year’s bank
holiday event. We are deliberately trying to run more
stalls where we can talk to the general public about
issues such as climate change, transport and recycling
rather than preaching to the converted at green events.
We have used £50 of the group’s money to book the stall
so thank you to everyone who has given donations. Please
let us know if you can help out for a full day or maybe
half a day. We expect to have 5 passes for free entry.
The event will take place at Don Valley Bowl, from
27th-28th May, although we will only be present on
Monday 28th. Please contact Shaun (see contacts) for
more details. If you can’t help out, why not pop down
anyway for a fun day out.
City Centre Stall - March
We
will be holding a stall in the city centre (probably
Fargate) to support the No M1 Widening campaign on 17th
March, between 11am and 2pm. Let us know if you can help
out, or feel free to just pop down and say Hi.
Climate Change Action
Ask David Miliband to make a strong Climate Change Bill.
All the major political parties say climate change is
the biggest threat we face. They all have ambitious
targets for cutting the main cause of it - carbon
dioxide gas (20% by 2010, 60% by 2050). Yet emissions of
carbon dioxide keep on rising. We need a different way.
A new law is needed to make the Government cut carbon
dioxide every year by 3% from now on.
http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/climate/press_for_change/email_bill/index.html.
Tax Carrier Bags
The Sheffield Star has started to run a campaign for a
tax on carrier bags and for people to refuse/reuse them.
You can drop them a letter if you think this is a good
idea:
starletters@sheffieldnewspapers.co.uk
Planning
Sheffield City Council will be consulting on the latest
draft of the Sheffield Development Framework until 30th
March. You can view the draft and add your comments at:
http://consultation.limehouse.co.uk/sheffield/drafts/12/index.html
Climate Change Training Days
Friends of the Earth are providing national training
days about the Big Ask campaign: Birmingham 10 March,
10:30-5.00pm (Carrs Lane Church) London 31 March,
10:30-5.00pm, (Friends of the Earth London office) These
provide a chance to share ideas and build skills in
facilitating workshops on the Big Ask with community
groups. We'll also be looking at deciding which
community groups to approach, and how to engage their
interest. If you are interested in attending either
event, please contact Jenny Thatcher jenny.thatcher@foe.co.uk
0121 643 8117
Train Campaign
Do
you (or does anyone you know) commute between Barnsley
and Leeds? Transport 2000’s Sardine Man is going to
travel around the country next month on the most
overcrowded trains. They would like to highlight the
Barnsley – Leeds journey and are happy to pay all travel
expenses to any volunteer who tests the route. See the
attached flyer or contact
julia.thomas@transport2000.org.uk
Save Swallows Wood
Save Swallows Wood is campaign running against a
proposal new road at the western end of the Woodhead
pass. We have previously objected on the grounds that it
will increase traffic volumes across the Woodhead pass.
The campaigners have set up a form on their website that
will enable you to send objections via e-mail directly
to the Secretary of State. The deadline for objections
is March 30th 2006. The form is located here:
http://www.saveswallowswood.org.uk/objections.php
Climate Change Presentations
Petra Mollet, one of 1000 people recently trained by Al
Gore to make the case for action on climate change, will
be talking at a meeting organised by the Peace
Foundation Network, on Thursday 8th March at 7.15 pm, at
the Quaker Meeting House, St James Street.
World Development Movement are holding a meeting on
Climate Change at 7:30pm on Wednesday 28th February in
Lecture Theatre 4 of the Arts Tower, Sheffield
University.
Christian Aid are holding a meeting on Climate Change at
7:00pm on Saturday 3rd March in St Marks Church,
Broomhill.
Diary Dates
Dates for the diary Friends of the Earth Northern
Gathering at the York Youth Hostel on 28th and 29th
April. For more information contact neil.kingsnorth@foe.co.uk
Sheffield Green Fair: Saturday 7th July 2007 at St
Mary’s Community Centre, Bramall Lane, 11am to 5pm. We
will be running a stall as usual.
Razorlight Invite Sheffield
Friends of the Earth to Hallam FM Arena.
Razorlight, one of the UK's biggest bands, invited Sheffield Friends of the Earth
to attend the Sheffield Hallam FM Arena on Sunday 22nd
October to promote the Big Ask climate change campaign.
People attending the concert signed over 600 post cards
which will be sent to Tony Blair asking for a Climate
Change Bill to be introduced in the Queen's Speech in
November.
Climate Change Bill
Since May 2005 Friends of the Earth has been running the
Big Ask climate change campaign. The Big Ask is the
biggest campaign ever undertaken by Friends of the Earth
and is calling on the Government to introduce a Climate
Change Bill which would commit the Government to 3%
yearly cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.
 We
need as many people to visit their MPs
during September and
October to ask them to write a letter to Tony Blair and
the Secretary of State for the Environment asking that
the Bill be introduced to the Queen's Speech for next
parliament.
Sheffield Friends of the
Earth meet with Nick Clegg MP
Latest
Update:
|
Sheffield Attercliffe |
Clive |
Betts |
Supportive and
Clive has agreed to write a letter. |
|
Sheffield Brightside |
David |
Blunkett |
Contacted us
after the Queen's Speech to let us know it
had been included. |
|
Sheffield Central |
Richard |
Caborn |
Plan to contact |
|
Sheffield Hallam |
Nick |
Clegg |
Has
agreed to write to Tony Blair and David
Milliband. He also agreed to a photo and
press release. |
|
Sheffield Heeley |
Meg |
Munn |
Emailed and
written to Meg. |
|
Sheffield Hillsborough |
Angela C |
Smith |
Plan to contact |
Climate Emergency! Everyday heroes needed!
Volunteers from Sheffield Friends of the Earth joined
forces with the Sheffield Campaign against Climate
Change on Saturday 16th September for a national day of
action on climate change.
At midday in the Peace Gardens, clowns attempted to
rescue citizens from very wet places -an alert to the
chaotic weather and flash floods that are in store for
us. Sheffield people were invited to join in with (or
without!) water wings, arm-bands, life jackets etc
We were asking people to sign our petition which calls
on Sheffield Council to set targets to reduce carbon
dioxide emissions across the city by 3% annually. We'll
also be letting people know about our campaign and
asking them to join us on the national demonstration on
4th November in London. (see
http://www.campaigncc.org/nov4.shtml for more
information on the demo). Everybody can be a hero and do
something to reduce climate change. We'll be giving out
free energy saving light bulbs to people keen to play
their part.
Interactive Climate
Solutions Map
We
have produced an
interactive map of Sheffield, the UK and rest of the
world. There are at least 45 blue circles at the moment. Each
one, when clicked, will present a solution to help
combat climate change. Examples include flywheel
storage, decentralised energy, grid frequency regulation
and more familiar solutions such as wind, solar and wave
power. If you know of any other solutions please contact
Shaun.
Climate
Change Speaker Network launched
If you
would like a Sheffield Friends of the Earth talk on
climate change then please
contact
us. If we are unable to help, a network of speakers on
climate change has been set up by Climate Concern UK.
It’s a really easy-to-use list of people willing to
speak about climate change, organised by region, and it
looks like it could be a great way for speakers to reach
out to wide audiences. Speakers are available to give
talks to schools, community groups, political parties,
faith groups, councils and any interested party. All
speakers can explain the main climate change issues,
while some are also able to talk about specialist
topics. Audiences are invited to ask questions, make
their own points, and enter into discussion.
Their website is
www.climate-speakers.org.uk, or you can call them on
01325 378452 – spread the word!
Car Club Meeting
On 21st September
Carplus is holding an evening event ‘Life Beyond the
Car’ for local communities and other interested
parties at the Royal Victoria Holiday Inn in
Sheffield. The event will run from 5-7pm with free
drinks and nibbles for all who register. It is an
opportunity for local residents and interested
organisations to learn more about car clubs and car
sharing in advance of the new schemes coming to
Sheffield later this year.
If you would like to
attend then please send your contact details to
info@carplus.org.uk explaining that you would
like to attend the Sheffield Car Club event.
Donations
Thank you to the various people in the local group who
have donated a massive £570.
Summer Stalls
Sheffield Friends of the Earth has so far attended 3
stalls. The first one was at Mayfest in Hillsborough
park and the second one was at Endcliffe park for the
RNLI gala day. The third stall was in July at the Green
Fair.
The aims of the stalls were to hand out energy saving
light bulbs, promote climate change solutions and ask
people to contact their MPs about climate change.
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