Wilderness Festival

A fantastic photo of El (center), member of Lewisham FOE, at the Wilderness Festival last weekend. El dressed as a Bee and carried stickers to publicise the cause, and was told by someone from East London FoE that our bee meadow work is seen as an example for all the other FoEs in London. Hoorah!

Congratulations to Friends of the Earth Cymru

On Tuesday 23rd July at the Royal Welsh Show, Welsh Government Natural Resources Minister Alun Davies launched the final Action Plan for Pollinators which was a direct result of Friends of the Earth Cymru meetings with Welsh Government officials. This represents a huge victory for The Bee Cause campaign. The Plan starts off with a welcome commitment to establishing a taskforce to carry through the various proposals. Some of these proposals include working through established agri-environment schemes to provide help, advice and support to farmers in Wales; working with local authorities and other land managers to promote best practice as well as using an award scheme to promote pollinator friendly schemes. There is also a welcome commitment to establish an Urban Pollinators Initiative for Wales, to work with schools and to provide help and funding for community led projects. There is much to commend this plan and it is down to Friends of the Earth Cymru that bees in Wales may finally have something to smile about! A huge well done to all in Cymru who've been involved. You can add your thoughts and ask any questions on the Welsh plan to the Hubs thread here: http://forum.foe.co.uk/campaignhubs/index.php/topic,2069.0.html

Fracking in the news...

After Boris Johnson said this - http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/jul/02/shale-gas-energy

about fracking in London, today Lord Howell suggests that "fracking should be carried out in the 'desolate' north-east of England." Read the article in today's Guardian - http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/jul/30/fracking-north-east-england-tory-peer

Meanwhile, "excessive force" has been used against protesters in West Sussex - http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/police-accused-of-using-excessive-force-during-balcombe-fracking-protest-8738629.html. People are protesting over plans by Cuadrilla, a fracking company chaired by former BP chief executive Lord Browne, to explore for oil and 
gas in Balcombe, West Sussex.

What is fracking?
Fracking is a process used to extract shale gas from rock formations thousands of metres below the Earth's surface. A well is drilled and millions of litres of water containing a cocktail of often-toxic chemicals are forced into the rock at high pressures to fracture it and release the gas.

What are the human and environmental costs of fracking?
- Our drinking water could be poisoned

• - Our air could be polluted
• - Test fracking in Lancashire has already caused two earthquakes
• - Fracking keeps us hooked on fossil fuels and flies in the face of our country's legally binding commitments to cut CO2 emissions
• - Fracking could also threaten farming, local tourism, house prices and jobs

Click on the link below for a map that shows the areas of the UK currently licensed and under consideration for licensing. Enter your postcode and see if your neighbourhood is at risk from fracking.

https://www.foe.co.uk/help_us_pull_plug_fracking_40282.html

Bee decline: Government to introduce "national pollinator strategy"

Thanks to everyone who signed the petition at Hilly Fields last Saturday!

A message from FOE...

Environment Minister Lord de Mauley made the announcement at a Friends of the Earth Bee Summit on Friday 28th June.

It follows an intense campaign by the environment charity for a Bee Action Plan - backed by big business, over 200 MPs and massive public outcry. Shadow bees minister Huw Irranca-Davies gave Labour's solid support for a bee action plan. 

We need a plan - and fast

• An action timetable commencing spring 2014 when bees wake up from hibernation.

• Measurable targets for reversing the loss of bees and other pollinators.

• The plan must involve other Government Departments, not just DEFRA

Swarms of support - but we can't rest up

Wild honey bees are nearly extinct. Some species of bumblebee have been lost altogether.

Friends of the Earth's Bee Summit is bringing together the likes of MPs, scientists and farmers to agree how to reverse the serious decline in Britain's bees.

Executive director Andy Atkins welcomed Lord de Mauley's announcement. But the environment charity wants specific commitment from the Government - in particular:

We're delighted that enormous pressure for a Bee Action Plan from scientists, businesses and the public has stung the Government into action.

The Minister's plan of action must be in place when bees emerge from hibernation next spring - we can't afford to gamble any longer with our food, countryside and economy.

 In just one week over 20,000 of you backed our Bee Cause action asking Lord de Mauley for a strong Bee Action Plan. It was a fantastic effort.

But public concern is understandable. The University of Reading recently revealed that a third of all honeybee colonies in England died over the winter.

Please help us keep up the pressure on the Government.

Bee Summit

This Friday, 28 June, Friends of the Earth is co-hosting the Bee Summit, along with Waitrose, the Co-op and the Women’s Institute. The Summit will be a gathering of key players with a role in tackling bee decline including farmers, retailers, scientists and academics, landowners and government officials. It's likely that the Government will make an announcement about their plans to protect bees at the Summit, and so with the right pressure from us now, we think they could be persuaded to announce meaningful action on bees this Friday.

We want to make sure David Cameron knows just how much buzz there’s been across the country recently about the need to save our bees, so please sign the online petition if you've not done so already - https://www.foe.co.uk/what_we_do/bee_cause_david_cameron_petition_39395.html

UNDER CONSTRUCTION!!!

Please bear with us as we make this blog a one-stop Lewisham Friends of the Earth information hub! In the meanwhile, please click on Join Us! for more information on taking part in upcoming FOE Lewisham events!