Camden Friends of the Earth

Be unpackaged

2008-09-19T12:27:00.005+01:00

Unnecessary packaging forms a huge part of our waste. A new shop in Islington provides a place for you to shop, without the packaging. Just bring your own containers, and fill them up with what you need.

For more information, see http://www.beunpackaged.com/

Watch your Waste Week

2008-09-19T12:27:00.002+01:00

"The amount of waste produced in North London, like everywhere, is growing year on year and although recycling it is great, preventing it is even better…"

Camden Council together with the North London Waste Authority are challenging residents to reduce their waste to zero. The challenge forms part of the Watch your Waste Week which is running from 4-12 October.

For more information about the week and the Challenge, including information packs full of useful tips
http://www.nlwa.gov.uk/html/watchyourwasteweek.asp#TheWatchYourWasteChallenge
and
http://www.camden.gov.uk/ccm/content/leisure/news/2008/september/watch-your-waste-week.en

A week of local, organic, unpackaged food

2008-09-06T08:07:00.003+01:00

6 – 21 September 2008
Join others for a week of eating only local organic food, free from plastic packaging to demonstrate to Government urgent action is needed to transform our food system. This is a ‘pilot’ in preparation for a bigger week next year!

Most of us would love to eat more locally grown food that has been grown in ways that are good for both our health and the environment. But how many of us feel we could actually do it with our current globalised and industrialised food system? Well three people, all with their different takes on local food, have decided to do just that and are asking you to join them for a week!

Between Saturday 6 and Sunday 21 September, during Organic Food Fortnight and when food is at its most abundant in the UK, we ask you, for one week, to only eat food from a selection of the following sources:

- Organically grown UK food without plastic packaging – if it is organically grown on British soil, it qualifies, but obviously the more local the better. Plastic packaging is out.

- Foraged food – food growing wild and abundantly all over the UK – free rich pickings!

- Self-grown food – any food you, your friends or family have grown.

Visit http://eatthechange.org for more information and advice on how to do it.

Sign up at www.pledgebank.com/eatthechange - if you are taking part please sign up even though we’ve already reached our target so we can show how many people are taking part: we need as many people signed up as possible to make an impact.

Group Meeting

2008-03-04T19:30:00.004Z

Check our website: www.camdenfoe.org.uk for details of our next meeting.

Carton Recycling in Camden

2007-11-05T16:35:00.000Z

Camden Council has recently introduced recycling of beverage cartons for residents. Seven collection points have already been set up around the borough where residents can bring their clean, flattened cartons. Camden Friends of the Earth would like to thank the Council for setting up the scheme. Further information, including the location of collection points, can be found on the Camden Council site

Bag Free Belsize

2007-11-04T08:21:00.000Z

As part of our campaign on waste, members of Camden Friends of the Earth went out to interview people on the streets of Belsize Park regarding their views on throw-away shopping bags. Shoppers were asked whether they supported the idea of Belsize Park going “Bag Free” and how they think this should be achieved. The majority of shoppers support measures to reduce the use of plastic bags, and wanted this to be carried out by a combination of charging a levy and an area to drop-off and collect old bags.

Public meeting - 13th November

2007-10-26T22:34:00.001+01:00

Camden FOE is hosting a public meeting to raise awareness about climate change and to encourage local MPs, Glenda Jackson and Frank Dobson, to back a strong climate change bill.

The bill will be introduced to parliament in November and FOE has concerns that the draft did not include...
- targets that reflected the latest scientific evidence
- the environmental impact of international aviation and shipping
- a requirement for annual reporting

The meeting will take place at Haverstock School, on Haverstock Hill, by Chalk Farm tube, on 13th November from 7.15pm.

Speakers include the 2 local MPs and Carbon Coach, Dave Hampton.

Contact us if you want to find out more.

Bin Bags

2007-10-26T22:32:00.000+01:00

Camden Friends of the Earth today responded to London Council’s consultation on throw-out shopping bags.

The group supports the introduction of a levy on all throw out shopping bags, whether paper or plastic, together with restrictions on the types of bags that shops can supply.

Bags use finite resources in their manufacture and distribution. Additionally, on disposal, often after only one use, they create litter, add to the UK’s landfill problems, and endanger wildlife on land and in water. While throw out shopping bags form a small percentage of our waste, such a levy will send a strong message to consumers and businesses about the need to reduce our impact on the environment.

Paper bags are not the answer as lifecycle analysis has shown that their environmental impact, although different to plastic bags, is still damaging. The group believes that the answer is a return to reusable bags, and that we should not wait for this legislation to make that change.

On 17th November the group is holding a joint event with Highgate LEAF (Local Environment Action Forum) to help people make bags. javascript:void(0)Material, sewing machines, and lessons will be provided. Please contact camdenfoe@gmail.com for more information.

Heathrow: Getting local residents voices heard

2007-08-21T19:10:00.000+01:00

Last weekend members of Camden FOE joined with Greenpeace, WDM, and the National Trust to ask West London residents for their views on the expansion of Heathrow airport.

As thousands of people gathered at the nearby Climate Camp we wanted to back up their action with evidence of local opinion. A thousand people were questioned, and the results of the poll showed:
- over 95% supported government action to make rail travel a more affordable, easy, and pleasant alternative to air travel within the UK;
- 62% opposed the expansion of Heathrow, with only 24% in favour of the plans (14% were unsure);
- 64% would be willing to holiday more in the UK than abroad to protect their local area from airport expansion, and help combat climate change

Polling was being conducted at locations across West London, including Richmond, Kew, Ealing Broadway, Houslow and Osterley Park: a historic National Trust house, green space and recreational resource for local people., already blighted by aircraft noise and pollution. Sarah Kramer, MP for Richmond Park was presented with the results at Kew Gardens following polling (pictured). She told us how frustrating it was trying to make her constituents' opposition heard - BAA won't even attend a public meeting to hear their concerns.

Steve Huxton, a volunteer for Camden Friends of the Earth, who assisted with carrying out the poll said “The results of this poll show that people are prepared to change their own travel habits in order to protect the environment, preserve green spaces and tackle climate change. Government policy needs to catch up with public opinion and abandon plans for expanding aviation, instead focusing on providing viable alternatives for people’s travel needs.”

Learn more about the issues at http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/transport/case_studies/heathrow.html

Peak Oil goes mainstream

2007-07-17T10:55:00.000+01:00

This week sees the theory of peak oil going mainstream with the International Energy Agency’s Medium Term Oil Market Report predicting a global oil “supply crunch” by 2012.

The theory of Peak Oil is that world production will peak and plateau at an undefined point in time and then begin to decline while demand continues to rise. Wars are already being fought over petroleum resources - imagine how much worse it could be if we do not respond to the decline in production with a similar decline in our use.

The IEA, which advises the world’s largest consumers, said this week that the world could face an oil crunch in five years’ time because producers outside the Middle East are unable to increase supplies at the rate demand is growing, meaning consumers will all be depending on the Opec cartel to pump out more from its fields. And there are doubts about the reliability of Opec's reserves...

This decline in supplies is not necessarily good news for climate change - alternatives such as heavy oil in Canada and biofuel have their own negative impacts on the environment. These 2 challenges need the same response - consume less, but can we show the restraint necessary, or is just human nature.

Read The Last Oil Shock to learn more.

The Big Green Curry - 14th June 2007

2007-06-14T19:49:00.000+01:00

As part of London Sustainability Weeks, Camden Friends of the Earth is hosting a Curry Evening to raise awareness of action on climate change – locally, nationally and internationally – with the opportunity to hear about FoE’s progress from Suzy Edwards, a Friends of the Earth Board Member.

The event will take place at the award-winning Elephant Walk restaurant in West Hampstead from 7.30 pm on 14th June.

Tickets for a three course meal, including the first drink, are on sale for £25 and profits will be used to purchase educational equipment for use by the group at the many events they attend each year.

We approached the restaurant after their enthusiastic participation in last year's Local Food Festival. The owners are well aware that climate change will hit their country of origin, Sri Lanka, hard and are also taking part in the Camden Green Fair on 3rd June.

Please register your interest by writing to camdenfoe@gmail.com, calling Liz on 07730 30 40 30 or by calling in at the restaurant. We look forward to meeting you!

Camden Green Fair

2007-06-03T21:30:00.000+01:00

Camden FoE was out in force for the start of London Sustainability Weeks at Camden Green Fair. It was a beautiful sunny day and we spoke to people from all around London and beyond. Over 300 people signed up to the Big Ask campaign, and we managed to raise some funds for future educational initiatives.

BBC Breakfast Bags

2007-05-31T21:17:00.000+01:00

Our guerrilla bags project was featured on BBC Breakfast today, with me (Liz) on the sewing machine in a corner of Television Centre to show how easy it is to create something that does so much good in so little time. Whilst I doubt that I was using green energy for the creation of those 6 bags, the impact that they had is more than worth it. We got a wonderful comment on our previous blog entry abou the bags project, inspiring a textiles teacher to use the idea in her classroom, and 1000s of hits were generated on www.morsbags.com - the site for guerrilla bagging.

Guerrilla bags

2007-05-25T15:38:00.000+01:00

Camden FoE has always looked out for ways to engage people on the street in discussions about the environment, but often actions speak louder than words. So, when we wanted to challenge people's use of plastic bags we wanted to offer a practical solution. We're concerned about the use of these bags as they kill millions of animals, cause floods, fill the remaining landfill sites and litter cities, countryside and oceans alike.

We've been making bags from old material (old dresses, curtains, duvet covers, and a couple of Steve's shirts) and giving them out on the street to encourage people to give up plastic bags for good. Today we gave out about 40 and got 50 plastic bags in return.

It was shocking to see the amount of plastic given out unnecessarily by shops - Woolworths had provided one shopper with 2 bags - 1 for a bottle of hair product and one for a (plastic-wrapped) birthday card.

Unfortunately we can't make people never use plastic again, but we will have got people thinking about why they should avoid using them, and everyone we asked agreed that there should be a ban or a tax on bags to help reduce their use.

- In the UK we use an average of 290 bags a year, and 1.2 trillion are used worldwide
- On average we use each bag for about 12 minutes before disposing of them
- Ireland's 15p PlasTax has resulted in a 90% reduction in use of plastic bags since its introduction in 2002
- In 2002 Bangladesh became the first country to ban plastic bags. A movement against them began in the 1980s in Dhaka, where bags were found to clog drains in the monsoon rains, causing flooding. Since then plastic bags have been banned in countries such as Rwanda, Tanzania and in the UK they've been banned from Modbury (Devon).

Supermarkets are saying that they will cut usage, but so far we've seen very little meaningful action. It is not enough to have the odd plastic-free day, and bags for life are still made of plastic. In fact, the plastic bag industry are using the harm done by these longer-lasting bags as a way of arguing against the implementation of a tax on plastic bags in the UK. As for promises regarding the introduction of degradable bags - consumers need to be aware that 'degradable' bags are not the same as biodegradable. They break down into smaller and smaller pieces which contaminate earth, waterways and oceans.

Some of our happy customers saying 'No' to plastic bags

If you want to make your own bag go to www.morsbags.com, even better make one for a friend as well. We were surprised how much we've enjoyed this project - working together to make these bags has resulted in some group members learning new skills, a lot of laughs, and some great job satisfaction. But if sewing really isn't your bag (pun completely intended) you can get really useful bags at www.onyabags.co.uk or something a bit more glamorous at Cheeky Leopard.

Eco Wars!

2007-05-19T14:41:00.000+01:00

The Camden New Journal reported on 10 May of an Eco War breaking out in the borough. We've taken the bait and dived in to the melee.

The supposed war concerns plans by the Council's Sustainability TaskForce to revolutionise energy supply and demand in the borough, by supporting local energy generating stations in housing estates.

But at the same time the Council's Planning Department has refused a local resident planning permission to put solar panels on his roof, because his house is in a conservation area, where the look of the houses must be maintained at all costs.

Both Camden Friends of the Earth and Camden Greenpeace responded to the CNJ's article. Here is our letter, with comments about energy efficiency being more important edited out by the CNJ:

IT'S not often we can take heart from war breaking out, and yet here we are in Camden with different groups vying to be the greenest! (Eco War Declared, May 10).
Camden Friends of the Earth supports Councillor Alexis Rowell’s intentions to push Camden into the forefront of green councils. We support what is called de-centralised energy generation. This includes the combined heat and power systems for housing estates that Cllr Rowell mentions.
What we believe is more important, however, is a move away from dependency on other people to supply energy, and a positive move towards each home producing its own energy.
We recognise that there are barriers to changing our energy use habits. Cost is one: solar water heating, solar cells and rooftop wind turbines can be expensive.
But one of the biggest barriers is the planning system. There remains a tension between the policies that protect London’s best architecture, and the more important and urgent need to drastically reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.
When we think of the tension between conservation and tackling climate change it is often incumbent on groups like ours to frame the issues non-politically. In this case: do your readers want old, inefficient, but nice looking houses with unadorned, uninsulated roofs greedily using energy, while householders swelter in another summer scorcher, and find that crops have failed again raising prices for staple foods like potato (and coffee for most Londoners), that there is a drought order in place for the fifth year running, and water is being tankered in to London?
Or, do we allow householders to sensitively adapt the look of their houses, even in conservation areas, to fight against this future?
You quote Cllr Rowell’s plans to supply an eco-audit for each of Camden’s homes. This service is already available – the council has been funding it for years.
If you call [0]800 512 012 the North London Energy Efficiency Advice Centre can guide you through the easiest and most cost effective options.
GRAEME MAUGHAN
Co-ordinator, Camden Friends of the Earth

Big Questions Asked

2007-04-16T20:00:00.000+01:00

Camden FoE has held it's first Big Ask pub quiz - raising awareness and funds for the Big Ask campaign

Camden Friends of the Earth has hosted a "Does my Ask look Big in this?" Pub Quiz at the Adelaide Pub, Adelaide Road, NW3 on Monday 16th April. Every entrant received a free low energy lightbulb thanks to the Islington Energy Efficiency Centre and there was a jackpot draw for prizes including wind-up radios, DVDs and an energy efficient desklamp!

8 teams entered, not bad for a Monday night in April, and were tested with green-tinged questions on politics, sport, and celebrities.

We're now looking for other pub quizzes that we can slot an environmental round into - get in touch if you can help.

Rubbish recycling?

2007-04-10T19:41:00.000+01:00

Camden Friends of the Earth recently wrote to local papers The Camden New Journal and The Ham & High about the recycling services in Camden. Here is our letter:

Sir,
With regard to recent articles on Camden’s waste collections. Residents are complaining that their two rubbish collections per week are being changed to two recycling collections per week. It may be useful to have some objective information to allow us to understand how significant this change is.
Camden has recently removed its door-to-door recycling service for housing estates. People who live on estates will have to carry their waste long distances to recycling bring banks. Meanwhile people who live in houses have waste trucks turning up to their door up to four times a week, once for recycling (soon to be twice), once for green waste and twice for the remaining rubbish (soon to be once).
There is a clear inequality here. Camden Council’s Equality Policy clearly states “We [the Council] are committed to ensuring that our services are accessible to all and responsive by ensuring our customers are aware of our services and that we deliver our services in ways that are sensitive to customers’ needs.”
By supplying a huge amount of services to those in houses and removing them from those on estates, Camden is clearly in breach of its own policy. Its recycling service is now less accessible to estates residents.
I suggest that home owners recognise the favourable treatment they receive from Camden. Other Boroughs supply just one rubbish collection per week. Some councils are now collecting rubbish and recycling on alternate weeks – a significant difference to the four collections to Camden’s houses.
Interestingly, Camden Council could also be in breach of its own Environmental Policy, in which they state “We are committed to setting a good example to other organisations [and] will cut down on unnecessary travel”. By providing more waste services than are needed to households, the Council deploys extra trucks on the road, clogging up traffic and belching out carbon dioxide and other pollutants.
This certainly sets an example, which seems to be: remove environmental services from those with least money, and lavish it on those with most. This is a social injustice and an environmental injustice.
Sincerely

Graeme Maughan
Coordinator, Camden Friends of the Earth

The Only Way is Up?

2007-03-29T18:07:00.000+01:00

As Yazz famously (?) sang in 1988, the only way is up, and that certainly seems true of UK CO2 emissions ...

Figures published by the DTI today show that UK CO2 emissions in 2006 rose 1.2% over 2005 levels, and are only down 5.3% over 1990 levels - compare that to the government's target of a 20% reduction on 1990 levels by 2010. Emissions are now higher than at any other point during the current Labour administration.

The domestic sector was one of only two with an emissions reduction over 2005 (of 2.5%), but standby (pardon the pun) they are still up 3.4% over 1990 levels.

All the facts and figures can be found here.

So, do we need annual targets as part of the Climate Change Bill, or is the government record on long-term target setting (remember that target of 20% reduction on 1990 levels?) doing the trick? Get ready for them turning the national grid off in December 2010 ...

... or support the FoE campaign for a strong Climate Change Bill here.

Consumers welcome junk mail. Does the Earth?

2007-03-28T19:34:00.000+01:00

According to research released by Royal Mail today, 7 in 10 consumers used a free sample that they received through the door and 37.6 per cent redeemed a money-off voucher or coupon.

This equates to more than 31.1 million free samples or money-off vouchers mailed by stores and brands in 2006 that were welcomed and used by consumers.

But as 550,000 tonnes of paper, equivalent to 3.3 million mature trees, are used for junk mail each year - this means that more than 1/10th of a tree was used for each 'offer' that is actually taken up.

Junk, or 'direct' mail, makes up 4% of all paper waste in the UK. Newspapers account for 20% of all paper used.

The difference is that those who are trying to reduce their paper use can choose not to buy newspapers, and the glossy nature of a lot of junk mail makes me think it's not as reliant on recycled content as newspapers are (average 41.2% recycled paper) but I'd be happy to hear I'm wrong on this!

You can opt out of addressed direct mail through the mail preference service, and opt out of unaddressed mail by sending your name and address to optout@royalmail.com.

Green Eggs and Sham

2007-03-27T07:23:00.000+01:00

Shoppers are being urged to choose Easter eggs with the minimum of packaging after research by Camden Friends of the Earth (FoE) found that plastic and cardboard makes up more than a third of the total weight of some products.

From a random sample, the group was particularly impressed by Sainsbury’s approach – the proportion of the egg’s packaging came to a total of only 11% of the total weight, less than half of the closest competitor Duchy Organics.

Sainsbury’s also scored well on its advice to consumers about recycling and, as the cellophane wrapping is plain, it can be reused again and again to wrap other gifts. Green and Blacks are the only supplier surveyed who specifically mention that the packaging they use is recycled board. Other suppliers such as Nestlé and Marks and Spencer do mention that their cardboard packaging is recyclable; but if they do not use recycled board for their products, the recycling process cannot be completed.

The worst offenders in terms of over-packaging were Green and Blacks and Marks and Spencer, both for their organic eggs. Over 35% of the total box weights were down to the packaging rather than the egg! Organic farming processes are beneficial to animals and the environment but some of these benefits can be undone by marketing decisions outside the farm gate.

Are consumers also willing to pay for the 'luxuries' of increased Council Tax and overflowing landfill sites to pay for the disposal of all this waste? Camden Council has recently cut recycling services in its estates to reduce costs, as waste disposal charges rise beyond inflation. And very soon they will be cutting the second weekly refuse collection to private householders. The UK's landfill sites are under pressure and it is up to everyone to minimise the waste now going into them.

Bill responds to Big Ask

2007-03-14T12:53:00.001Z

Who's this Bill you ask, he always seems to be mentioned by Friends of the Earth but we've never seen him....

On March 13th 2007 the Government introduced the draft Climate Change Bill which should transform our economy and lead the world in tackling climate change. It will:

Set a long term target for CO₂ cuts.
Require annual reports to Parliament.
Form a group to advise what sectors should cut emissions - and by how much.

Camden FoE has been particularly active in getting MP support for this Bill and will continue to campaign for further improvements to this draft through campaigning on the streets of London and at events such as the recent Lee Valley Bird Fair (pictured)

We want to see the following improvements to the Bill at the end of the current 3 month consultation process:

Bigger cuts
The Government proposes a 60 per cent cut of carbon dioxide by 2050. We need reductions of at least 80 per cent.
Annual targets
The Government wants five year budgets for CO₂. We want shorter targets - to hold the current Parliament to account.
Aviation and shipping
International flights and shipping emissions are excluded. We want these included.

Please help us make the case for these changes.

Fairtrade Fortnight

2007-03-11T10:48:00.000Z

Camden FoE again ran its annual stall at the Queens Crescent Market on 10th March as part of Fairtrade Fortnight. We noticed that customers were much more aware of the issues involved in fair trade and climate change than in previous years, which is really encouraging.

There is now a wide-range of Fairtrade goods available, and the hits of the day were the dried mango, chocolate, and coffee.

But why should we seek out the Fairtrade symbol?

Buying a fair trade product contributes directly to the community that produces it.
For example, in 2003, Fairtrade producer groups were receiving between two and three times the international price for coffee beans. They are no longer subject to the uncertainties of the international 'free' market that has most impact on those who can afford it least. The resultant 'fair' wages and work conditions improve the lives of about 1 million farmers and workers, and also have a postive impact on their communities. Education, health care and the environment all benefit from the empowerment of and investment in local communities. See the Fairtrade website for more information on the benefits.

March 2007 Meeting Minutes

2007-03-05T17:19:00.000Z

A copy of the minutes from our March meeting can be found here.

Inconvenient Truth Screenings - Launch night

2007-03-01T07:32:00.000Z

This week saw the launch of a series of screenings of 'An Inconvenient Truth', attended by 'leading' politicians, campaigners and businesses. The launch night was attended by David Miliband MP, Sec of State for the Environment as well as most of DEFRA, a lot of MPs' researchers, and journalists alongside us mere citizens.

Camden FoE members went along to collect support for the inclusion of annual targets in the upcoming Climate Change Bill. Our favourite exchange of the night was the statement by a Financial Times reporter that she didn't believe in annual targets for carbon emission reduction. Graeme's response was to ask her if she had questioned the validity of targets for inflation. I don't believe she was able to give a response to that.

On a more depressing note, there was little sign of meaningful action from the Government. David Miliband gave good green chat - but can't phase out incandescent lightbulbs, thinks taxes will get people out of gas-guzzlers and isn't questioning the UK's road-building and aviation policies. He's blogged about the night, examining the selection of 60% as a target for carbon emission reductions. It appears he recognises that this isn't enough, but if he can't get people to change their lightbulbs, how are we even going to get there?

Future screenings will be attended by David Cameron and Menzies Campbell, keep an eye on the Prince Charles cinema website for more details.

Response to Camden's Waste Strategy

2007-02-27T15:26:00.000Z

Camden FoE was recently invited to attend an Environment & Culture Scrutiny Committee meeting at Camden council, and to provide feedback on Camden's draft Waste Strategy, which can be viewed here. Our response document can be viewed here.

Ban the Bulb

2007-02-23T17:13:00.000Z

This week Australia has announced its intention to phase out incandescent bulbs. Why has a country that won't sign up to the Kyoto protocol beaten the UK to this simple step?

- this will help Oz reduce its annual carbon dioxide emissions by 800,000 tonnes by 2012
- the same move in the UK could reduce our annual emissions by 2-3 million tonnes
- that's equivalent to 6 months worth of emissions from the Didcot power station
- Lighting consumes about a fifth of the world's electricity production
- Fluorescent bulbs are typically five times more energy-efficient than incandescent bulbs

At an individual level, Dr Matt Prescott (founder of the Ban the Bulb campaign) has said, "Lighting accounts for about 15% of the average home's electricity bill. Each fluorescent bulb saves you about £9 a year, or up to £150 over its lifetime. If they stuck £150 in cash on the packet of a £5 fluorescent bulb then there would be hardly any quibbles from consumers."

If the UK can be persuaded to change all its televisions to a digital service, surely it can cope with this money (and carbon) saving option?

Petition the government here

Better Climate for Camden

2007-02-23T16:41:00.000Z

On 19th February, Camden FoE hosted a visit from Camden's Environmental Policy Officer to learn about how the Council is tackling businesses' impact on the environment.

It appears that there is no lack of takers for their 'better climate for camden' programme, which provides advice and hands-on assistance for all businesses in the borough. However, there is a worry that this is not reaching the more reticent businesses. Due to the level of interest from local companies the team does not have the resources (time or people) to proactively approach others - who potentially need more help.

Camden FoE is now considering how it can complement this work, but first of all wants to see affordable recycling schemes rolled out to all the Borough's businesses. This is only the first step to greener business and it's time to move on...

Camden FoE Response to Camden Tube Redevelopment Consultation

2007-02-20T20:27:00.000Z

Camden FoE have submitted a formal response to Camden Council's public consultation on the redevelopment of Camden tube station and Camden market.

You can view the response document here.

Recycling Rubbish?

2007-02-06T12:36:00.000Z

This group is attracting a lot of new members at the moment, and the reason why? Frustration with Camden's recycling service.

To be fair some households appear to get an excellent service, and residents welcomed the wider rollout of plastics recycling, but this does not extend to larger blocks and estates in the borough. And given that this type of housing is prevalent in the area, a lot of people are feeling frustrated about the service.

We want to know more about your experiences of Camden's recycling service (good or bad) so please post a comment on this blog so that we can take your case to the Borough's recycling officers in March. If you could name the street and area that you live in that would really help.

Thanks!!

February 2007 Meeting Minutes

2007-02-05T19:30:00.000Z

A copy of the minutes from our February meeting can be found here.

Camden FoE launches Green Informer Newsletter

2007-01-13T11:47:00.000Z

Read the inaugural issue of the Camden Friends of the Earth newsletter - Camden Green Informer here and let us know what you think.

Green Electricity Tariffs - Reality or Rhetoric?

2007-01-11T21:31:00.000Z

Whilst we should all be choosing a "green" electricity tariff to do our bit to help avert climate change, it is always worth doing a bit of research to make sure the tariff you select is delivering what you believe it is. An excellent new report by the National Consumer Council exposes some of the tariffs as being a lighter shade of green. You can access the report here

For details of the fuel mix of your supplier's electricity, look here

Jan 2007 Monthly Meeting Minutes

2007-01-08T19:30:00.000Z

Following the success of 2006, the group has agreed to focus on the following themes for 2007:

i. Aviation
ii. Camden Town Tube Re-development
iii. Domestic Recycling
iv. Business Environmental Management
v. Domestic Energy Efficiency

Full minutes from our January meeting can be found here.

Eco-Design Christmas Fair

2006-12-02T11:00:00.000Z

On Saturday 2nd December the group were out in force campaigning at the Eco-Design Christmas Fair in Camden. The stall attracted lots of interest, and particularly popular was the Christmas Card to Tony Blair, thanking him for a climate change bill in the Queen's Speech. Members of the public signed the card and added their own personal messages; many demanding tougher action on Climate Change in the New Year.

We now hope to get an opportunity to hand the card over in person before Christmas. If we manage to do so you can be sure there will be photos posted back here, so watch this space....

The London Letters on Climate Change

2006-07-11T22:17:00.000+01:00

An exciting new project in support of the FoE Big Ask Campaign incorporating all London local FoE Groups is being co-ordinated by Camden FoE Group members Graeme Maughan and Anisa Jadwat-Reinecke.

The aim of the project is to get as many London MPs as possible to sign up to an open letter, setting out their concern about climate change, and proving their commitment to show political leadership, by supporting the development of a Climate Change Bill.

You can find out more on the dedicated London Letters Blogspot here.

Beat the Drought

2006-07-09T16:20:00.000+01:00

London, along with much of the UK is currently suffering drought conditions, with a hosepipe ban in force, and a drought order now applied for. Why is there a drought? Quite simply, there hasn't been enough rain. The south of England is experiencing its driest period since 1933, with low rainfall over the last two winters, when traditionally reservoirs and underground aquifiers are replenished.

Whilst it is easy, and perhaps justifiable to a certain extent to blame Thames Water for contributing to the problem with their poor record on repairing leaks, having missed their own targets for three consecutive years, whilst still managing to increase profits each year, consumers also have a part to play. Fifteen years ago we each used around 139 litres of water a day; now we use 150 litres.

We can all help alleviate the problems by taking some simple steps to conserve water. To find out more about the problem and what you can do to conserve water, visit www.beatthedrought.com.

And if you spot a leak in the street, call Thames Water's leakline free on 0800 714614, or report it online here.

West Hampstead Local Food Festival 2006

2006-06-14T15:00:00.000+01:00

This year's event was even bigger and better than last year's inaugural event. Being held over a fortnight from 14th to 27th June, the Festival was launched with a Local Food Fair on West End Green on Wed 14th June, and there a second fair on Sat 24th. Both events were very well supported, with locals enjoying the fine fare from the local farmers market, live jazz, cookery demonstrations, fun and games for the kids and lots, lots more!

During the fortnight nine local restaurants featured specials on their menus using fresh produce from the local farmers market, which yet again turned out to be tremendously popular.

And on Thurs 22nd we held a sell-out screening of the film McLibel, which was followed by a Q&A with the film's director and Camden resident Franny Armstrong.

Here are some photos from the launch event.

The Camden FoE stall was a centre for discussion and debate

Event organiser Nikki prays that the farmers will deliver the goods ...
Steve goes quietly...for a change!
The tomatoes were very popular
Would you buy a raffle ticket from these two?
Local jazz, nice ...
The produce was far better quality than the photography; me and my shadow...

Camden FoE soak up the sun at Camden Green Fair

2006-06-04T11:00:00.000+01:00

Summer arrived just in time for the Camden Green Fair and the Camden FoE team were there in force to promote the upcoming West Hampstead Local Food Festival, and sign people up to the Friends of the Earth Big Ask and Company Law Reform (CORE) campaigns. Final scores on the doors:-

CORE - 268 postcards
Big Ask - 285 postcards

We also collected plenty of sunburn ...

And here's a picture of our lovely local food hamper used to publicise the upcoming West Hampstead Local Food Festival ...

Camden FoE Response to the DTI "Our Energy Challenge" Consultation Paper

2006-04-14T11:24:00.000+01:00

A subset of the Camden Friends of the Earth group formed a study group during early 2006 to review and respond to the DTI's consultation paper "Our Energy Challenge". The resulting response document can be found here.

Camden FoE Members Pay a Flying Visit to Gordon Brown

2006-03-22T18:25:00.000Z

On Budget Day, the Campaign Against Climate Change staged a protest against the Chancellor's pro-aviation growth remarks in his Pre-Budget Report. The protest was organised by Camden FoE member (Captain) Jim Roland, and he was ably assisted on the day by Camden FoE coordinator (Cabin Services Director) Suzy Edwards.

Here are some more photos from the protest...

Suzy gets up close and personal with big GB

Suzy again? Who organised this...?

Jim and Suzy dance GB into the ground

Friends of the Earth BIG ASK campaign

2005-06-11T19:31:00.000+01:00

Camden FOE took part in the launch of the National FOE BIG ASK campaign. This is FOE's big climate change campaign that is asking "Is the Government doing enough on climate change?". We had local group members positioned at 3 locations in Camden and were successful in obtaining over 500 signatures for the campaign - the resounding view was no, the Government certainly isnt!

West Hampstead Local Food Festival

2005-06-08T14:47:00.000+01:00

Camden Friends of the Earth launched the West Hampstead “Local Food Festival” in West End Lane.

The festival was a unique collaboration between West Hampstead cafes and restaurants, London Farmers’ Markets and the Camden Friends of the Earth Voluntary Group.

The week of events started on Wednesday 8th June with an event at West End Green with residents and restaurant-goers sampling and buying a great variety of local food, watching cookery demonstrations by a local chef, and enjoying live jazz.

10 local restaurants produced a local produce dish for the entire week, creating considerable interest amongst the West Hampstead community.

The camden FOE 'BIG ASK' stall.

Learning about local food

Aiden provides a cookery demonstration - strawberries and pepper, quite a combination!

A local family enjoying the food available.

The local produce stalls were swamped - could you ask for more?

Tim and Judith doing the 'BIG ASK'

The West Hampstead Food festival was a real family day.

Camden Green Fair

2005-06-05T19:35:00.000+01:00

Camden FOE were out in force at this event in Regents Park on a beautiful sunny day. We used the event to promote the upcoming West Hampstead Food Fair and to support national FOE in the BIG ASK campaign (more elsewhere in this blog).

Fair Trade Event at Queen's Crescent

2005-03-12T17:47:00.000Z

Camden FOE members staffed a stall selling products as part of Fair Trade fortnight.

Conchi selling the tea.

Another networking opportunity for Suzy!

Joe doing only what only Joe can do - playing the geetar!

You've got to get them while they're young!

Anyone for a banana?

Joe by the FOE banner

Alliance Against 4x4 School Run Demo

2005-01-12T23:48:00.000Z

Members of Camden FOE descended on mass to Belsize Park to demonstrate again Urban 4x4s on the first day back for many schools in London. We dressed up as Lollypop men and woman and school teachers and gave out school reports to 4x4 drivers - D minus for environmental record, E for road safety.

The action was in conjuction with other members of the Aliance Against Urban 4x4s see http://www.stopurban4x4s.org.uk/ The event received fantastic news coverage - featured on BBC London and in The Independent as well as other local papers.

Eco Design Christmas Stall

2004-12-11T13:29:00.000Z

Camden FOE had a stall at the Eco Design Christmas Market in Camden.

We managed to get over 70 people to complete energy efficiency surveys of their homes and provided information on the groups activities including the Alliance Against Urban 4x4s.

A long time environmentalist visits the stall

Suzy and Steffi doing some erm market research

Suzy 'networking' with an American environmentalist

Chatting with friends of Camden FOE

Steffi tries on a new eco pom pom hat

Jumpstart Land Rover Action

2004-11-13T18:24:00.001Z

Posting a parking ticket on a 4x4

Alliance Jump Starts Rover!

2004-11-13T18:24:00.000Z

The Alliance against Urban 4x4s held a major demo outside a Land Rover dealership in West London. Mock parking tickets were placed on 4x4s to get the message across. The action received considerable press attention including: articles in the Scotsman, The Evening Standard, NY Herald and NY Times, and radio interviews.

The group jump starting land rover

2004-11-13T18:23:00.000Z

not safe not clean not cool - stopurban 4x4s

2004-11-13T18:22:00.000Z

Suzy makes the message clear

Somerstown Festival

2004-07-10T13:39:00.000+01:00

Camden FOE attended the Somerstown Festival.

We had a stall to enable children to get close to nature by planting organic lettuices. We also gave away low energy light bulbs and information on energy efficiency measures for local people.

the free lightbulbs sold well!

Suzy discusses organics with local children

Steffi lights up the stall!

local residents fill in an energy efficiency questionnaire

check out Lora's flaires

saving the planet makes you feel good

Camden Green Festival

2004-07-04T09:24:00.000+01:00

Camden FOE had a stall at the Camden Green Fair. We encouraged children to plant organic lettuices whilst informing them and their parents about climate change.

local children planting lettuice leaves

Danny folding leaflets

floral tribute!

sign up sign up!

Getting your fingers dirty

Steffi helps with the planting

another happy customer!

More details of Camden Green Festival can be found at:

Camden Council Website

Groundwork Trust Website

GM Tractors against Trolleys

2003-10-13T16:58:00.000+01:00

GM Tractors against Trolleys
Here's a selection of photographs from the 'tractors against trolleys' demonstration in central London, which Camden FOE took part in. The demonstration was in opposition to the use of GM foods and the growing of GM crops in the UK Camden FOE created the wonderful cow you can see which got lots of publicity.

Camden FOE members prepare for the demo

Local green activists at Camden Town Hall

Camden's GM cow!

The demo reaches Trafalgar Square

Message is clear

Walking down Whitehall

Forget the Gherkin - here's the sweetcorn!