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The Bradworthy Wind Turbines
Spring '06 News |
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Greens research real solutions to TB in cattle Nuclear power would increase consumer bills, according to new energy report |
Locating Renewables in Community Contexts & Renewable Futures |
Greens research real solutions to TB in cattle
Greens from North Devon have helped to research the South West Green Party's newly launched policy document on Badgers. The document investigates effective ways of tackling bovine tuberculosis in cattle, which is an increasingly significant problem for farmers in South West England.
Charlie Graham, coordinator of the SW Green party, said: "We fully oppose any cull of badgers in the UK. It makes no scientific (or economic) sense. We recognise that bovine tuberculosis is a significant problem for farmers in South West England, but like many other groups who are concerned about both cattle and badgers we have found no evidence to show that a cull would help. Indeed seven years of scientific research has concluded that badger culls could lead to bovine tuberculosis actually increasing (i)."
North Devon Green Party microbiology expert Anne Rix said: "The Green Party SW calls for a combination of improved testing, movement controls, and biosecurity measures, to be funded and imposed by the government, as immediate preventative measures known to be effective, as well as continued research into vaccines."
North Devon Green Party candidate Jon Hooper added: "The government's own research shows that cattle movements are the most significant factor in spreading the disease, and tighter controls are the obvious answer, not a badger cull (ii).
"We urge people to write with their concerns to their MPs and Defra. If we fail to make them see sense before March 10 we could literally see one of the UK's most loved animals wiped out in the South West. This would be ethically abhorrent, a pointless murder of a wild species, besides being hugely expensive and inconceivably difficult to achieve, and ineffective given that eighty percent of bovine TB outbreaks are caused by cattle (iii)"
The full report is available online at: http://southwest.greenparty.org.uk/badgers.htm
To contact your MP visit www.writetothem.com. To respond to the Government's consultation visit www.rspca.org.uk/badgers, www.stopthecull.info or www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/tb/autumn/index.htm
(i) The Government's own research highlighted that cattle-to-cattle transmission is the biggest reason for the spread of bTB and that culling badgers around affected farms does not reduce the overall incidence of the disease. By disrupting badgers, a cull would lead to greatly increased movements in badger populations, as well as a weaker remaining population, which both contribute to exacerbating the problem. This 'perturbation hypothesis' has been argued by many DEFRA scientists, long before the KREBS trials confirmed their initial findings.
(ii) According to a 2005 paper published by an Oxford University team in Nature, cattle movements “substantially and consistently outweigh” all other factors in predicting outbreaks of bTB. A tighter testing regime implemented in Northern Ireland in November 2004 has already led to a 40% reduction in bTB in the province.
(iii) Animal welfare minister, Ben Bradshaw, has himself told the House of Commons that 80% of bTB outbreaks are caused by cattle.
Nuclear
power would increase consumer bills, according to new energy report
The report, co-authored by Dr David Toke, Green Party Energy Advisor, and Dr Simon Taylor, will add to the debate surrounding publication of the government's Energy Review.
Green Party Principal Speaker Caroline Lucas MEP, commenting on the report, said: "Tony Blair is determined to push this country down the nuclear route, based on two arguments: guaranteeing affordable energy supply, and reducing carbon emissions. The Alternative Energy Review proves what anti-nuclear campaigners have long suspected - that even using these criteria, nuclear power is the inferior choice. It shows that a twin-pronged investment in renewable alternatives and energy efficiency and conservation measures will not only deliver greater emissions reductions than nuclear power, it will deliver them more cheaply, and all without the huge safety risks inherent in the nuclear option."
A range of measures are evaluated in the report, specifying how much carbon and investment capital would be saved, with a net saving economically, compared to a nuclear option that will cost billions, even by optimistic industry figures.
Dr Toke said: "The amount of carbon saved through 'fast tracked' nuclear power over the next 15 years will be around 28 million tonnes compared to 150 million via the cheaper measures mentioned. The non-nuclear measures cited constitute the equivalent of a reduction in annual CO2 emissions from the electricity sector of nearly 40 per cent of present levels."
Green Party Principal Speaker Keith Taylor added: "By implementing the measures proposed in this report we can save the present generation a huge hike in electricity bills and taxes, and the generations to come an unsolvable legacy of toxic nuclear waste."
Click here to download The Alternative Energy Report
Tidal Power on the Horizon for North Devon
Marine Current Turbines, the company that installed the world's first
experimental tidal stream device off Lynmouth in 2003, is now looking
to build the country's first commercial tidal energy farm off the North
Devon coast.
Marine Current Turbines expect their project, the Lynmouth SeaGen Array, to supply renewable electricity sufficient for up to 5,500 homes. Other renewable energy projects planned for North Devon include Npower's wind farm at Batsworthy Cross, supplying electricity for up to 8,000 homes, and Devon Wind Power's wind farm at Fullabrook Down, supplying electricity for up to 37,000 homes.
Commenting today Peter Christie a Green Party member of Torridge District Council said "we see this as another exciting step along the way to making North Devon the first all-renewable energy area in Britain. Given the spiralling costs of fossil fuels and the political problems associated with maintaining oil and gas supplies it seems ever more obvious that the renewables route is the one to follow."
The next step for the Bristol-based company is to conduct an
Environmental Impact Assessment and consult with local stakeholders,
which may take up to ten months.
Managing Director Martin Wright said: "Given the array's size and
location, it's important that we still examine the environmental impact
and the other issues associated with its possible development. We have
a healthy respect and commitment towards the marine environment, so
our investigation and analysis work over the coming months as well
as our consultations with various representative bodies and local people
are vital."
Local Greens speak out to save Badgers
The North Devon Green Party opposes any cull of badgers in the UK, and calls for all culls, current or planned, reactive or proactive, to be discontinued immediately. This is based on current scientific understanding and legislation.
The North Devon Green Party recognises that bovine tuberculosis is a significant problem in South West England. We call on the national government to fund and promote further scientific research into the causes and methods of transmission of bTB within herds; to improve biosecurity; to implement and monitor regular bTB testing; and to fund research into bacteriopahges and therapeutic bovine vaccines. We also call on the government to legislate on improved cattle management practice, and to promote a more sustainable and ethical attitude to food production in general.
The North Devon Green Party denounces DEFRA’s current public consultation on badger culling as disingenuous, in its attempt to manipulate public opinion into supporting reactive culling that has been found to be scientifically unjustified by experts. We call on members and supporters to take immediate individual and group action to prevent another governmental farce.
We quote Stephanie Hilborne, Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts:
"We must not allow a situation to develop where our native wildlife is sacrificed for political expediency…The priority is to control the spread of disease between cattle."
Locating Renewables in Community Contexts & Renewable Futures
Green MEP Challenges Cameron Over 'Green' Food
Feeding our cities this century will require a shift towards more local production and away from supermarket domination of the retail sector, Green Party Euro-MP and Principal Speaker Caroline Lucas told the Soil Association’s 60th annual conference today.
“Only through the relocalisation of our food systems can we hope to take back control of our food from industrialists and financiers and have a chance of feeding a growing population in a way that is both equitable and sustainable,” Dr Lucas said.
“Our current food system plays a large part in driving the social and environmental challenges facing Europe: transport, waste, social exclusion, urban sprawl and, crucially, the over-consumption of natural resources.”
The MEP for South-East England also told the Soil Association that radical measures are needed to protect and encourage the local food sector: new rules limiting the size of supermarkets and banning new out-of-town superstores, reforming EU and WTO rules which prohibit public procurement policies based on prioritizing local supplies, and banning GM crops across the EU.
“We need a Local Food Action Plan supported by local, regional and central government and backed by legislation. It must address the EU’s arcane procurement policies, competition laws, banning GM crops and live animal exports, reforming the Common Agricultural Policy, the EU’s single market and the World Trade Organisation.”
Commenting on an opening speech in which Tory leader David Cameron stated his support for the organic sector, Dr Lucas said he had offered ‘little more than window-dressing’.
Speaking after Mr Cameron’s address to a reception hosed by Jonathan Dimbleby yesterday (Thursday, January 5th) to mark the conference, Dr Lucas said:
“He said it is up to politicians to listen to farmers and to act accordingly. But farmers have been shouting loud and clear for years about the crisis facing the industry and he hasn’t been listening at all.
“The only concrete step he proposed was to improve labelling of British food – important, yes, but hardly sufficient. He didn’t promise to even consider imposing mandatory restrictions on supermarkets’ behaviour, banning GM foods or reforming EU and WTO rules preventing public bodies adopting a ‘buy local’ policy.
“In short, it was a warm-sounding speech almost entirely devoid of content, and I don’t think he’ll have won many converts to the Tory cause tonight.”
We are beginning to see a pattern with David Cameron: he makes all the right-sounding noises but falls well short of adopting the policies that will deliver on his overtures. His environmental ‘dream team’ of Zac Goldsmith and John Gummer have been charged with formulating long-term policies which will ‘make Britain a better place to live without constraining economic growth’ – and that’s the problem. Only by addressing the way we measure progress and shifting from the blind pursuit of ever-more economic growth to policies aimed at increasing social wellbeing will we make Britain a ‘better’ and more sustainable place to live.
By failing to realise this – and by stopping short of announcing policies which would actually make a difference to the food we eat – he is offering little more than window-dressing.
Dr Lucas made her comments on the first day of the Soil Association’s 60th annual conference, which takes place today and Saturday at the Brewery Conference Centre, Barbican, London.
The event boasts some of the most respected speakers in the field: Dr Lucas joins Jonathan Porritt, Monty Don, John Humphreys, Rosie Boycott and Soil Association director Patrick Holden.
Countdown to extinction?
by Roger of the Cornwall Badger Group
On 15th December 2005 the British Government announced a twelve week 'public consultation period' to consider whether and how to kill badgers.
Many people consider that this consultation is a sham to soften our response to what has already been decided - a mass slaughter of a ‘protected’ native wildlife species.
Leading organisations including the RSPCA and the Wildlife Trusts have already voiced their opposition, but only a massive public response can prevent the killing.
Just a few moments of your time can make a difference.
Please visit www.stopthecull.info for more information.
egroup: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/peninsulabadgers/
website: http://www.cornwallbadgergroup.org.uk
Concern regarding Supermarket Sourcing of Shrimps
The earthquake-triggered tsunami on 26 December 2004 killed over 250,000 people and injured 188,000. The Green Party has written to the main British supermarkets to see if practices have been changed in the light of the Asian tsunami.
Martin Whiteside, a Green Party councillor and freelance aid and development worker, said: "The loss of the mangroves was one of the reasons for the tsunami having had such a devastating effect; the lack of these protective coastal ecosystems meant the tsunami hit the coast much harder and left very much greater devastation in it's wake. It is our appetite for shrimps that is partly responsible for the loss of over 35% of the world's mangroves in the last 20 years. One study found shrimp farming accounted for over a third of the mangrove destruction and there are other well documented serious ecological problems associated with shrimp farming. In the light of these facts we have written to the supermarkets to see if they have reviewed their practices since the tsunami. We have asked a series of questions about the standards used in prawn farming and about the need for Fair trade standards."
Scientists are suggesting that another massive tsunami is likely within our lifetimes and possibly sooner. It is vital early-warning systems are put in place, but it is also vital we understand our roles in these disasters and how we can considerably lessen their effects. Getting serious about cutting greenhouse gas emissions would be a useful start.
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PLEASE NOTE: Not all of the material presented on this site is necessarily Green Party Policy or endorsed by The Green Party.