ESG Radio Newsletter 4^th December 2014

In a week that we learn that the world is on course for the hottest year ever in 2014, summits such as the one currently underway in Lima have gained a deepening sense of urgency around climate change negotiations.  The difficulty is that unless we make fundamental changes in the way we run our societies, the solutions are unlikely to come from such meetings.

Politicians need to protect jobs and growth, regardless – corporations widely believed to be the real decision makers are driven by profit, but not just from greed; also on the need to satisfy investment from shareholders.

One fears that the scale of the changes demanded to address climate change is so massive, that we shall need to hit a wall before rebuilding our communities on sustainable values, and sustainable industry. However, there are global campaigns out there offering new ideas on how we can make meaningful change, especially in the energy sector. One such campaign that caught our eye recently is called Fossil Free started by the 350 campaign.  The call is for divestment away from fossil fuel companies and this is attracting hundreds of churches, universities, pension funds, states and city councils around the world that have made the commitment to go fossil free.

So maybe, just maybe, there are practical steps we can take ourselves, within our modern society today, to push investment away from fossil fuels and towards renewables, and press governments also to realise that the time for continued subsidy and support for the fossil fuel industry is fast running out. Check out gofossilfree.org for news and updates of this campaign that will see a global day celebrated in February 2015.

Back to Gibraltar: 

Locally there are a few issues we would like to draw attention to:

The Oil Refinery in Spain has been polluting quite heavily recently during daylight hours and we are concerned that this pattern, largely absent during daytime in recent years, could once again become the norm, which is totally unacceptable. The ESG is taking this up with our MEPs and the European Commission. A new fuel farm planned for the Guadaranque area prompted a protest by Spanish environmental groups and families last weekend. They have had enough of toxic industry in their back yard and hope to stop the farm from going up. Wish them luck with that one.

In Gibraltar we appear to be gripped in a planning explosion where so many decisions and plans are going forward almost simultaneously for construction of large developments. Gibraltar is being transformed once again at a very fast pace and this is something that we, at the ESG, feel very uncomfortable with given the obvious impact this will have on our overall quality of life.

It is difficult to appreciate the value of any one project when the accumulated impact from building sites, noise and heavy construction traffic becomes part of our day-to-day lives. We are also concerned about the long-term impacts such dense development will have on our community. Gibraltar needs a holistic plan supported and clearly understood by the community, which then needs to be implemented by an independent DPC that can assess ALL applications on their individual merit.

We urge Government to release the long promised revised Town Planning Act for public feedback and comment. This is where, we have been told, we can make real changes in the planning process. So please lets have this out without further delay. Another publication avidly awaited is the Traffic and Transport Plan.

Finally we, at the ESG, together with Petitioner for beach users, Karen Everett, feel totally vindicated over the news that Spain has finally admitted to the European Commission that it has caused sewage pollution at Western Beach, including during the bathing season. We ask, what next? Only a month ago the petitions committee replied to campaigners that they still awaited clarification from Spain, then Gibraltar etc. before taking any further action.  Now this admission has been made officially we expect urgent steps taken by Spain to divert the raw sewage away from Western Beach and is managed by a suitable collecting system that will eliminate this 4 year long disgraceful pollution in this area. We shall of course, be following up on the official complaint we lodged with the European Commission a few years back.

Thanks for listening!

20^th November 2014

The ESG welcomes the recent publication of the Fishing Regulations. As an environmental organisation we value our living environment and so measures seeking to protect and preserve biodiversity and the health of our natural heritage, receives our support.

However, there are issues of concern raised by this first phase of the regulations.

The big question is on enforcement of the new controls being announced. As we know from our experiences in other issues, eg littering, which in theory should be much easier to control, enforcement has not been at all effective to date. How much more difficult will it be to control fishing, a 24 hour practice, which is often clandestine, and in remote areas?

If, as has been announced, the Department of Environment is going to “lead on enforcement”, (while not able to make arrests themselves), this will require a dedicated team, also on a 24hr basis, to cover monitoring and enforcement duties. It is critical for the success of any fishing regulation that its enforcement is applied robustly.

The ESG hopes that, in applying enforcement measures, fishing enthusiasts are also encouraged to take greater care of their equipment and tackle, as shore based sites are, at times, left in filthy conditions – albeit by a minority.

Another point brought into focus during the Viewpoint programme on this subject last week was continued permission under the new regulations for the “600-hook, long line fishing practice” which is carried out in Gibraltar. In the interest of wildlife conservation and preservation of our fishing stocks – and, in the spirit of the fishing regulations aims to ensure sustainable fishing practices, it would seem sensible to stop this indiscriminate practice.

The ESG recognises the difficulties faced by local enforcement entities to stop harmful Spanish fishing practices at sea. Given the Bay is one large ecosystem it is hoped that cross border regulations can be the next target to move this issue from being a political one to an environmental one and ensure that our rich marine life can be jointly preserved for future generations.

ESG Radio Newsletter  13^th November 2014

 Hello – well some general news update now.  The Litter Committee chaired by the Minister for the Environment met last week, the first session since our clean up in September. We presented some of our findings and raised a number of points related to general litter issues in Gibraltar that are addressed in a comprehensive report we are finalising and will be publishing very soon. Copies will be on our website for download as from end of November.  Among our recommendations are for a litter strategy to be created so that all agencies and departments can work towards a common list of aims with improved cohesion in place. Naturally enforcement is high on our list as are dedicated Litter Wardens.

Some positives from the meeting are news that the compactor purchased to increase paper and cardboard recycling by Government to be able to handle commercial quantities is closer to being in operation. We know there are several businesses in Gibraltar that want to recycle their high volume of waste so the sooner the compactor is up and running the better.

On another matter another wave of Wii bins, that’s right, the bright shocking pink bins are now in place in various corners of Gibraltar. With a mobile recycling service also on the cards you should contact the Dept. of Environment at mhe@gibraltar.gov.gi, to check where the services will be provided in relation to where you live and work.

The ESG welcomes the start of the long awaited trial for the explosion that occurred at the North Mole, Nature plant site. It has taken a few years to get here but an incident that caused serious levels of air and water pollution as well as injuries, even leading to the death of a contract worker, is clearly an important issue that needs to be tackled.

Climate Change talks at Beijing. Mixed reports are running online on the outcome of this high level conference in Beijing. Some say that China is finally setting out its carbon cutting plans and going further even than the USA! This is seen as good news; however many are highly critical of the USA that continues to put corporate growth and vested interests before responding as required on climate change targets and on curbing its own carbon output.

These giants are the ones that will ultimately make the real difference.

More news on this big subject in more detail in our next newsletter.

Thanks for listening

Re-Posting- 22nd September 2014

ESG Press Release re CUTW 2014

      ESG, organisers of CUTW since 2005, initial comments on the weekends efforts…..

What a great job done once again by ALL CUTW volunteers yesterday! Exhausting and very hot work and a lot of awareness raised. Over twenty sites were picked clean and a massive pile created at the quarry. Green areas, coastal sites and even underwater cleaning was underway yesterday and organisers, ESG, wish to thank everyone who took part (around 500!) for rolling up their sleeves and helping restore these natural habitats to their ideal conditions – albeit temporarily in most areas…

Our local comprehensive school teams and others also tackled diseased and non-endemic vegetation along Europa Advance Road as part of Gibraltar’s World Heritage Bid.

A CUTW Parade and Electric car Exhibition at Casemates launched the teams this year, supported by many of our younger schools creating an energetic and impacting presence in the heart of town. With Minister Cortes, Xavier Van de Stappen and Janet Howitt addressing the rally at John Mackintosh Square.

A report made up of feedback from teams and photographs will be published online as soon as completed. 
Gibraltar continues to see litter in many public places and the clean up campaign reminds us of this ongoing problem. These issues are highlighted in an exhibition being held at the Gibraltar Heritage Trust for the next week with proposed solutions offered. We need to get our littering under control.

Personal pride, improved waste management, enforcement of anti-litter laws and a sustained litter campaign all form part of what we think are part of the solutions. For more please visit CUTW Exhibition at the Main Guard, John Mack Square up until the 29th September.

Meanwhile, our local campaign was definitely made even more special this year with the presence of I-CARE, a European team promoting clean, green energy, transport lifestyle that has been very busy in their 6 day stay on the Rock. They plan to return next year and build on their contacts and projects discussed while in Gibraltar this time round.

Huge thanks to all volunteers in whatever role they played yesterday for helping ensure a successful, safe and inspiring 2014 CUTW Day. 
Thanks also to the steering team who volunteer their time in the week leading up to the Clean up day for the considerable logistics, preparations and hard work involved!

The ESG was recently quoted in a Chronicle article writing about how Tall Buildings pose tough questions for Town Planners.  (see Monday edition 27th October)

This came about after the last DPC (Development and Planning Commission) meeting where an application was approved for a developer to restore two historic buildings on Town Range with the further permission to construct several more storeys above them. Reasoning came from the need for costs to be generated in order to be able to do these restorations successfully.

However, many feel, including the ESG, that the current Development Plan is granting permission outside the city walls for high rise buildings because it takes the pressure out of building these within the old town. Still, although a number of buildings have been and are being restored pretty much to their original size, a few have got through the net with Town Range, following the Risso Bakery fiasco. Care must be taken to control these anomalies and hopefully prevent others from suffering similar fate.

The key points made by the ESG to the media when asked are as follows:-

The situation is a complex one  and there is a need for a proper public debate with all stakeholders  to ensure that the issue is tackled properly.

ESG Radio Broadcast 30^th October 2014

“Tomorrow morning the ESG co-ordinates the removal of several one ton sacks of waste from Seven Sisters, and we are reminded, once again, of the very positive way that the Clean up the World campaign pulls together the necessary muscle and community resources to get these difficult jobs done.

The large volume of plastic and other marine debris that piles up on the shores of this very beautiful part of Gibraltar’s coastline, in between each Clean up, is collected, sorted and set aside for a suitable time that GibDock can assist in craning this out of the area.  We therefore thank all those concerned whose efforts and collaboration make this possible each year.

In 2014 this has involved the Gibraltar Defence Police marine transport, the Dept of the Environment, GibDock, Gibraltar Community Support Services and Master Services.

So it brings me to an important announcement, and one, of which we are very proud, is that at last nights Heritage Trust Awards, the ESG was one of those chosen to receive a group heritage award for our efforts these past ten years in campaigning and working for a better environment in Gibraltar under the Clean up the World banner.

I was very pleased to accept this on behalf of the ESG and all those hundreds of hard working volunteers over the past ten years, from every sector of our community, who come back, time and again, to support this hands-on campaign. One that raises much awareness, transforms some hotspot areas, or starts a chain reaction in others, which subsequently receive badly needed, and long-term attention. This campaign works because of its cross-community nature.

We are grateful to the Heritage Trust for recognising the value the Clean up the World Campaign represents for Gibraltar’s built and natural environment with this special award.

Finally, just to say that teams have already started to sign up for 2015, and although it is yet to be confirmed, we are looking at the weekend of the 19^th/20^th September as potential key dates.

PHOTOS WILL BE POSTED SHORTLY

You can register by emailing: esg@gibtelecom.net  or calling 20048996.

More information will soon be published on our website which you can find at: esg-gib.net.

Thanks for listening.”

PLEASE SIGN FOLLOWING PETITION IN SUPPORT OF PROFESSOR OLLE JOHANSSON TO ALLOW HIM TO CONTINUE HIS IMPORTANT WORK:-

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/petition/Ceccatelli_Ingvardsson_and_Garmager_at_The_Karolinska_Institute_Sweden_Let_Professor_Johansson_continue_his_valuable_res/?nLDpYgb

THANKS, PLEASE PASS ON, SHARE ETC.

Lecture by Professor Olle Johansson         9^th October 2014

The ESG wishes to publicly thank the eminent Professor Olle Johansson for giving Gibraltar the opportunity to hear his authoritative delivery on the question of EMF radiation and impacts on health; and on how the world is dealing with this important matter, if at all.

The talk began at 7pm, in the Charles Hunt Room, which was filled to capacity, and the audience listened avidly to the lecture for a couple of hours. This was followed by a further hour of question and answer session from an animated and clearly informed public audience. Indeed, it was only the closure of John Macintosh Hall itself that curtailed further questioning of the professor. We were all left certainly wanting to hear more.

With the help of community donations, the ESG has also been able to commission the filming of the entire lecture that will be posted online and should satisfy many who have been in touch concerned they were missing the talk.

The ESG wish to announce that further talks are planned and it will be maintaining its public awareness campaign on this and other related issues, which affect us all.

The ESG is also grateful to the Caleta Hotel for their kind hospitality of this important visitor to Gibraltar.

The ESG welcomes Governments’s announcement yesterday that it has awarded the contract for proper treatment of our sewage waters. This has been on our wishlist for many years and an issue we have long campaigned on. Therefore we are very pleased to hear of this development and further hope to see the completion of this project as soon as possible.

• There is so much to report on today that we won’t have enough time to cover everything.  As usual, we shall refer you to follow up on issues that may interest you on our website – esg-gib.net … : BUT! Due to unforeseen circumstances and really bad timing our website went down during the clean up and we are presently restoring it. Should be back to normal by the weekend. Reports on the success and efforts by our CUTW volunteers, the inspiring visit by Xavier Van de Stappen and his push for electric power, the hugely attended Airport Display, the first electric car rally on the Rock, CUTW exhibition and more will be posted in neat summaries with pictures on the website and Facebook pages very soon. Thanks to everyone who supported all these events. The Chronicle will hopefully soon publish their usual great spread showing the community support for all Clean up related events, this time also actively supported by Ministers Cortes, Garcia and Linares.
• Also in the news today is that finally, after decades of debate about the enormous energy potential in the great Saharan desert, the news agency Reuters, has announced that tenders are just days away from being awarded to an agglomeration of countries and companies, funded by European and global institutions to build two massive solar plants with a combined output of 300MW in Morocco – its an incredibly interesting story with lots of positive implications and you may like to catch up on this at: planetark.org. Great when investment meets the right policy and technology
•  Locally we would like to remind listeners of the next DPC meeting-taking place on the 22^nd October at the Charles Hunt Room at 10.00am. Its possible that the application by Vemaoil to permanently set itself up at the Detached Mole will be on that agenda – all items will be confirmed a week beforehand and also available online. Nearby residents have already been in touch with the ESG to express concern about the potential environmental impacts this could bring. The ESG is preparing its own submission on this for the DPC meeting
• The ESG expressed concerns about the lack of a clear timeline for the new power station recently – an issue, which has been making headlines this week. The group will be meeting with the Minister on this very soon to urge, as we did back in April, for technical reports and a clear timeline for completion to be made public to demonstrate the level of focus this issue is getting behind the scenes.
• The ESG will be commenting separately on the recent visit by the Minister of the Environment and his team to the Climate Change Conference
• Finally we would like to announce the visit next week of an eminent scientist and world-leading authority in the field of EMF radiation and health effects. Professor Olle Johansson of the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm Sweden, will be giving a public talk at the Charles Hunt Room, John Mackintosh Hall at 7pm, on the 7^th October. This forms part of the ESG’s effort to raise awareness about the need for safe use of all modern, electronic technology, as well as the need for the precautionary principle when setting up the servicing network via the mobile masts. We urge you to come along and hear what the Professor, who is world renowned, has to say on the issue of “does this affect our health? Burning issues that will be debated on Tuesday, hope to see you there. Everyone is welcome!! ESG will also be outside Morrison’s on Sunday during the lunch hour to provide more information on the lecture.