The ESG is very pleased to announce the arrival of Professor Olle Johansson in Gibraltar next week who will be delivering a number of private and public talks. Professor Johansson is a world-leading authority in the field of EMF radiation and health effects.

We have invited him over to share his expert views on the hazards of Mobile Phones, masts and Wi-Fi as part of our wider campaign of promoting best and safest use of such technology, so popular and essential in our lives today.

Whatever your views, don’t miss this chance of hearing Professor Johansson on Tuesday 7th October  at 7pm, at the Charles Hunt Room, John Mackintosh Hall. Entry is free.

Please see his biography below:-

ESG PRESS RELEASE

Re POWER STATION 30/09/14

 The ESG wishes to take up an important issue raised during a GBC interview with Deputy Chief Minister, Dr. Joseph Garcia recently, regarding the expected completion of the next state of the art, compliant, power station for Gibraltar.

The group has lobbied for the past 14 years for such a facility and it regrets that in spite of assurances given repeatedly by the present Government:  that a new station would, in fact, be completed within the same time frame as the previous GSD project, that we now hear this is not going to happen.

The Department of the Environment is now spending money on a year long campaign to reduce power use, this unfortunately won’t move the new power station along, reduce pollution from the ageing power stations or indeed reduce energy use given that all the new government housing will now come on line before the new power station is completed. Despite this campaign the energy demand in Gibraltar will unfortunately substantially increase in the next few months and we can therefore expect more pollution and noise from our ageing power stations.

The wisdom of placing further load on our aged infrastructure, and more demand on an obsolete power generation infrastructure, does not bode well for the future.

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!

Press Release 16^th September 2014

CUTW and I-CARE ELECTRIC RALLY

I-Care, led by Xavier van de Stappen, is visiting Gibraltar for a series of workshops and events in partnership with the ESG’s CUTW flagship campaign. The I-CARE is an exciting project that is currently building a number of prototype electric vehicles, made from sustainable or recycled materials that are then used in exhibitions and rallies around the world reinforcing the benefits of electric mobility. During his stay in Gibraltar, Xavier and his team will be holding a number of public workshops as well as addressing a number of schools.

The ESG, together with I-CARE, from Belgium, will be holding an electric transport rally on the 21^st September. I-CARE visit is also supported by the Government of Gibraltar as well as private sponsors. Those interested are invited to gather from 10am at Casemates for a departure and short tour at 12.00 midday.

With participation from private firms, agencies and government vehicles confirmed in the rally so far, we hope to raise awareness about existing use of green transport in Gibraltar today. Of course, having the I-CARE team and their striking vehicles with us will help raise the profile further and, we hope, attract the public’s attention and interest.

If you own, drive, cycle, or ride, electric vehicles or hybrids, please contact organisers at: 54960000 to register your interest in taking part in the rally. Although you are welcome to turn up at the event on the Sunday itself, it is advisable to contact us beforehand for logistics sake.

Please click on:

www.icare-green.eu

www.icarenest.eu

www.brussels-electric.eu

www.coptocap.org

for more info and background

         NEWS ALERT CUTW 11^th September 2014

2014 Campaign

The global Clean up the World takes place on the 20^th September and will see millions of people in over a hundred countries taking action on this same weekend. From replanting, to clearing of vital waterways, to picking up rubbish, the scale of the campaign means that the impact is global while clearly inspiring at a local level. It will be the 22^nd year of the global campaign, while, here in Gibraltar, 2014 is the tenth year of local action organised by the ESG.

Things are now rolling for our clean up this year. Team and site details were finalised at Tuesdays’ well-attended meeting. There will be a total of 30 teams with support coming from further entities. Twenty areas have been identified.

With our clean up teams tackling: green, seafront and upper rock sites, underwater and boat access only areas, the local environment will see direct benefit and awareness will be raised about litter problems and the need to implement further solutions.

CUTW 2014 will also see:

• Volunteers will carry out work on the vegetation along Europa Advance Road providing support for the World Heritage project
• A CUTW Exhibition at the Main Guard at John Mackintosh Square from the 18^th to the 29^th of September

(displays from schools, ESG, I-CARE, Gibraltar Heritage Trust, RAF fod Campaign, and more)

• International campaigner Xavier Van de Stappen, director of I-CARE in Gibraltar between 17^th-22^nd September. Xavier’s great work will feature in a number of public displays during the week with his electric cars and mobile exhibition. Watch out for Xavier and his team in Casemates on Friday 19^th and Saturday 20^th September. Workshops and school visits are also in his itinerary. His films will be on show at the Main Guard
• The addition of an RAF “fod campaign” will also form part of the awareness promoted by CUTW in 2014. Foreign Object Debris (litter of every type) is a daily challenge to airport safety. It is vital to promote the need for greater care by all
• Plans are underway for a “green car rally”, to include electric and hybrid vehicles, on Sunday 21st as from 10.00am, departing midday from Casemates– we are putting out a call for interested participants and numbers will determine if this goes ahead- to be confirmed on the Saturday Parade (contact 54960000 if you are interested to take part for more details)

The Clean up Parade on Saturday the 20^th launching the campaign gathers at Casemates as from 10am and departs at 11am on its journey to John Mackintosh Square where displays and information will be set up. CUTW organisers and the Minister for the Environment will briefly address those gathered and this year will also be joined by Xavier Van de Stappen: international campaigner for green transport and sustainability. We encourage everyone to come along and support this event.

ESG on Western Beach Reclamation

The ESG would like to clarify its position on Western beach reclamation project brought before DPC at the last meeting.  Although media coverage confirmed our opposition to this large loss of coastal water, it did not detail the many well-considered reasons why. Given public interest and our own members calling for clarification of our position, we would like to make these views public as stated at the DPC meeting.

• The ESG would have expected the MoD, as key stakeholder affected by this project, and tasked with the responsibility of the safe running of our airport, to have been thoroughly consulted ahead of any DPC discussion

• Fact that if our airport was of civilian status only it would not be allowed to operate due to the nature of activity around and on the runway itself (therefore all new activity needs to be heavily scrutinized in this context)
• Airport security issues – although all involved do their best to manage and control activity around and through our airport today, this remains a very challenging situation already. Adding substantial use and increase of people and traffic movement right alongside the runway is increasing risk significantly; an issue that has to be studied at the highest level ensuring that we provide the safest flight scenario possible adhering to all International standards of safety and airport security
• The question is now being discussed about the need for a global sporting policy for Gibraltar’s community to include UEFA stadium, Victoria Stadium Complex and all other facilities to fully gauge not just demand, but what is actually deliverable in a place the size of Gibraltar where there are many other demands for land -(Education, Eco Park and many more)
• All studies show that this large reclamation will significantly impede water movement, flushing capacity and reduce water quality. This area is already badly contaminated and registering off the scale levels of sewage pollution outside of bathing season due to the so-called storm drain from La Linea carrying raw sewage from illegally connected pipework. In fact a second storm drain is going up as we speak at the old car park site in La Linea that will also enter Western Beach waters, worsening water quality further
• Unless these discharges from La Linea are tackled, a large reclamation at Western Beach will create greater concentration of contamination in the area. This will create strong odours perceptible by residents, “kiosk” users, and users from the proposed reclaimed area. Indeed all signs are that Western Beach is slowly being condemned to no future public use
• The fact that this reclamation signifies a major loss of coastal water and amenity important to many cannot be disregarded. The border difficulties have made such amenities all the more important as the majority of our community stay home in our time off. This infill also impacts on marine biodiversity and is in contrast to steps taken to improve/protect the environment by placing blocks to encourage marine life. The ESG would instead prefer to have the area cleaned up by finally seeing the La Linea discharge CLOSED and the gradual and sensitive expansion of the original programme for marine protection and conservation in the area that began with the dropping of the blocks

In summary:- The ESG ends by stating it does not have an “in principle” issue with sport development in Gibraltar. It is also clear that in this case, the area was earmarked for development for some time now. However, under the previous Government, the plans for this project were secret, behind closed doors and never sought public feedback or approval. With the new public planning system in place today Government will note that important projects like Western Reclamation will provoke reactions from across the community. In this case, widespread opposition on serious grounds of airport security, need for greater environmental protection, loss of an important amenity and actual exacerbation of pollution present at Western Beach. It is hoped that Government will take the time needed to reconsider this project and convene a series of high-level meetings to rethink this proposal in light of the key issues presented at the DPC by several parties.

“Our mission is to fight for a clean and green Gibraltar”

Al Gore’s visit in 2012 got the world talking about the Rock’s green agenda. Actually, says Janet Howitt of the Environmental Safety Group, activists on the Rock have been looking out for the environment for a long time.

BY NEW STATESMAN PUBLISHED 2 SEPTEMBER, 2014 – 09:34

New Statesman: What’s the history of the Environmental Safety Group (ESG) as an NGO in Gibraltar?

Janet Howitt: We formed in 2000 from a group of citizens who were concerned about the repairs in Gibraltar to a British nuclear submarine, HMS Tireless. The group contained teachers, scientists, engineers and activists. Most of the original group is still with the ESG today. Our mission is to fight for a clean and healthy environment, and to promote environmental issues. We run responsible, effective campaigns to help bring about positive green changes in our community. We have always maintained an apolitical stance: our independent voice is one of our strongest assets.

NS: Would you describe Gibraltar as a “green” place?

JH: Our community is certainly changing. When we first formed, the “environment” was handled as one of 15 separate portfolios under one minister. It was therefore not resourced enough to move forward. One of the biggest efforts we made has been to give a voice to the value of a healthy environment, as well as the need to adhere to environmental legislation and best practice. We organised protests and took to the streets, the schools, industry, wherever we could be heard, and gained considerable membership and public support.

These days, environmental awareness is becoming easier because the internet and social media let people learn about problems and hear about possible solutions. Change is moving faster locally because of action in Europe too. Gibraltar is becoming greener, but we are quite way off to becoming a “green place”.

NS: What are the most pressing environmental issues at the moment?

JH: Gibraltar’s key environmental issues include local and regional factors. Impeding Gibraltar’s easy passage to a greener world is the ongoing political conflict with our neighbour Spain. This means that access to resources and facilities, and developing effective, cross-border management of the Gibraltar Bay environment, is simply not possible.

Traffic issues are a serious problem. There are more cars than people registered in Gibraltar, and our cheap fuel attracts further thousands into Gibraltar each day simply to fill their tanks. This causes roadside pollution and exacerbates an already difficult situation at the border.

We have struggled to meet growing energy demands, which have resulted in dependence on three ageing, fossil-fuelled power stations, well past their sell-by date. Gibraltar also runs a significant bunkering business that has seen year on year growth. It is operated with strict standards, but it’s still an area that we have focused many of our campaigns on, mainly because of noise and air pollution.

We have also lobbied to the European Commission (EC), with the help of international law firm Hassan’s, to draw attention to harmful pollutants produced by the oil refinery and petrochemical plant across the bay in San Roque, and concerns about the health impact this was having. Together with Spanish groups, Hassan’s and, from 2006, the first MEPs to represent Gibraltar in Brussels, we are slowly starting to get the EC to listen. We continue to lodge complaints as and when necessary with the EC.

NS: Do you believe Gibraltar’s political mood is shifting towards greener thinking?

JH: With an ex-activist as Minister for the Environment, there is a lot more discussion and demonstration of intent on a number of environmental measures and initiatives. We are starting to see change filter through the system. It’s early days, but we are more optimistic today than ever before that Gibraltar can “green up”. The Commonwealth Park, opened in the centre of the city this year, is a great achievement. So too are the beginnings of schemes for people to access and install renewable energy systems. More needs to be done to increase ordinary citizens’ access to clean energy, full-stop. But we have started.

NS: Al Gore made a newsworthy visit to Gibraltar’s Thinking Green Conference in 2012, where he applauded the Rock’s environmental commitments. Did his visit have a big impact?

JH: I’m not sure that Al Gore’s visit accomplished what wouldn’t have happened if he hadn’t come. It was obviously interesting to have him visit – at quite a cost. The fact is that our government had already embarked on a policy of intent on various environmental issues. The important thing now is implementation, and this is where we continue to monitor.

NS: Is Gibraltar’s size a hindrance or a help?

JH: Size is definitely a double-edged sword. A small community means you can pull together and literally involve almost everyone in campaigns. You can also access government in a way that is practically impossible in larger countries. However, the fact that it is a small community means that solutions to some problems require things like enforcement and fines, which can be very hard to carry out.

NS: What sort of benefits could “going green” have for a place like Gibraltar? Could there be benefits for nearby Spanish communities?

JH: Going green is already creating economic possibilities. More and more small businesses are gaining confidence to start up in Gibraltar because of the knowledge that new laws and measures are encouraging investment in green solutions. Even recycling, a practice that was never deemed profitable in the past, is now being run at a more substantial level, meaning more opportunities to those wishing to make a living in the trade. This growth will equate to more green jobs, and that means positive spin offs to suppliers and providers in Spain.

NS: Where does Gibraltar see itself in the international agenda to preserve the planet?

JH: The ESG maintains close links with NGOs on both sides of the border, including Greenpeace Spain. We’ve created cross-border groups like the Bay Bucket Brigade, which operated for a number of years collecting air samples to back up our complaints again the CEPSA Oil Refinery in San Roque to the EC. As a long-term member of Clean up the World, the ESG forms part of a global campaign supported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

We are more confident today of positive green change than we were five years ago. However, many things have to shift in the way our community behaves – from the main economic pillars that support us, to the decisions we take on development issues and planning. We need a holistic plan for a Gibraltar that embraces best available technology and we need to do this as quickly as possible.

Press Release re CUTW 2014

 A planning meeting for this years Clean up the World has taken place and arrangements are now firmly underway. A second meeting will be held on Tuesday 9^th September at the John Mackintosh Hall at 7pm. It is a compulsory meeting for all team leaders.

Joining us this year and adding international flavour will be I-CARE, from Brussels, with an exhibition on renewable energy and sustainable living, bringing a fleet of electric cars for various displays. The ESG is also working closely with the Gibraltar Heritage Trust.

The Clean up action takes place on Saturday 20^th September and it is important that volunteers register with the ESG well before as sites are allocated and teams equipped. Organisers of CUTW claim that in spite of the fact that many local hotspots have been tackled through the years of campaigning, littering persists, which mars and degrades our beautiful environment. “It is frustrating that the message is not getting through to a significant minority,” says key organiser, Janet Howitt, “We aim to highlight these prevailing problems once again via this public campaign, which we feel is important and necessary to do, but also recommend solutions and ways to improve this situation.”

The ESG says the campaign will be calling for Litter Wardens and more priority to be given to enforcement, but also for positive signage encouraging the community to respect and look after our homeland. A year round radio and tv campaign, extended to all type of social media, would also reinforce this principle. A Keep Gibraltar Tidy campaign aimed at both locals and visitors is also necessary.

The campaign also believes the present cleaning programmes must be stepped up and a sharper follow up to tackle problems as they appear is also necessary. “Gibraltar is our home therefore we want to see it respected. It is depressing when you see dog fouling, urine stained roads, and litter tossed about. Its not only bad for tourists,” says organiser Howitt who in spite of having run 9 years of Clean ups in Gibraltar, strongly believes we can and must achieve a litter free, clean environment. “We must find and apply solutions, to give up is not an option.”

The ESG is equally concerned about the impact our plastic waste in particular has on the marine environment. The impact from micro-plastics on the food chain is well known, quite apart from the immediate danger posed to wildlife. Welcoming the netting enclosure finally erected at the main refuse depot at Europa Advance Road this year, the group states this will reduce the litter blown out of the quarry for years, into the cliffs and water environments. The steady increase in recycling facilities is also positive and it is hoped that commercial volumes of waste will also be handled before the end of 2014.

Apart from the Parade and Clean up itself on Saturday 20^th there will be a range of environmental events, workshops, and rallies from the 18^th through to the end of the month and the community is invited to engage and support these. A detailed programme will be made available to the schools and public via local media.

ESG Committee

Organisers of Clean up the World Gibraltar

Go to:      www.esg-gib.net   www.icare-green.eu

ESG Radio Broadcast:

Key terms: Balloons – Nuclear Submarines – Bathing Water Quality – Bathing Pavilion – North Gorge – CUTW 2014

• ON BALLOONS – Further to National Day and the release of thousands of environmentally damaging balloons to demonstrate our national pride in Gibraltar. The ESG reiterates its concerns about the impact of this practice also expressed by the Blue Planet and many of our citizens. The group does not suggest there should be no visual display, rather that alternatives should be found. Gibraltar wants to be seen as a responsible environmental player and releasing thousands of pieces of latex into the surrounding marine environment goes against that aspiration. The group urges Government to act quickly on this issue 

• ON NUCLEAR SUBMARINES – The ESG would also like to reiterate its opposition to the berthing of nuclear submarines in Gibraltar. The recent increase in submarine visits has prompted a statement by our group which has always maintained that Gibraltar is too small to accommodate such vessels with the potential risk these pose to the safety of our community.

• ON BATHING QUALITY DATA – August is a month where temperatures soar and many go on vacation. Those that don’t need to cool down, and this happens at our beaches, which are fuller than ever before due to chronic border delays, and many disinclined to visit Spanish beaches.

The ESG is concerned that there have been large gaps on the environmental agency website on bathing water quality, down, we are told, to the GHA public analyst being away for the whole month on vacation. That although alternate labs are being used in Spain there is additional delay in turning results around.

There were assurances given by Government at the start of the summer that frequency of sampling would be strictly followed to allow beaches like Western, that can suddenly become very polluted, to remain open. However a visit to the website recently showed a 12 day gap in data, and this during the hottest time of the year. This is simply not good enough and the ESG calls upon Government to rectify this situation without delay.

• The ESG notes that the new Bathing Pavilion is also now being monitored for water quality. Sampling is being done to check on bacterial contamination such as Total Coliforms, E.Coli and Fecal Streptococci (all sewage contaminants) as is done for all beaches. The group would like to see other contaminants, such as hydrocarbon, monitored in these waters, given the close proximity to industrial activity such as refueling carried out at nearby jetties.

• NORTH GORGE and other PLANS – The ESG is also concerned about the numerous developments occurring in Gibraltar today. We have been here before:  An escalation of new and proposed developments throughout our small footprint, at the same time, posing significant and accumulative impacts on everyone’s quality of life and the environment. This also stretches supporting services and various human resources. The ESG advocates measured and sustained development carried out in a manner that allows for a good quality of life and where every new development is paced and given the necessary time and consideration. The DPC agenda this week contains several transformational projects such as Mid Town Development, Western Reclamation and North Mole Reclamation. All raise significant issue which need to be very carefully reviewed.

Clean up the World 2014- Finally, a reminder that the main Clean up the World planning meeting will take place on Friday 29^th August at 6pm. Location is the Main Guard, Gibraltar Heritage Trust, which is at John Mackintosh Square

ESG and Green MEP visit to the Rock

 The ESG regrets the missed opportunity of meeting with SW’s first Green MEP, Molly-Scott Cato, who now also represents Gibraltar in Brussels, on her recent visit here.

In a climate where most MEPs can enjoy meeting directly with Government, something that was not the case in the past, the ESG reiterates the need for all MEPs to include meetings with important stakeholders such as NGOs, actively taking on issues at European Commission level.

We intend to make direct contact with Ms Molly-Scott Cato and will draw her attention to the sustained campaigns run by the ESG in Brussels, hoping to enlist her support. This is crucial to maintain the efforts by her predecessors, Conservative Neil Parish, and later, Liberal MEP Sir Graham Watson, who have recognised and supported our work with considerable time and use of their resources.

We will brief her on the facts that since 2002, the ESG, assisted by local law firm, Hassan’s International, has had official complaints lodged with the EC against serious breaches of environmental legislation by multinational petrochemical plants in San Roque, given its size and scale of operation affecting the entire bay, population and living environment. The group has repeatedly flagged numerous incidences of a regional, cross border, environmental nature, progress on which is impeded by long-term political troubles.

Over the years our group has been instrumental, via public and behind the scenes campaigns, in seeing through fundamental improvements at the Oil Refinery as a result of using EU pressure, cross border campaigns and gathering of scientific data. It is still necessary for the ESG to highlight particular episodes of heavy contamination to the EC as they occur, as well as periodically check that ongoing improvements are indeed happening to bring the plant up to modern environmental standards, as it is realistically impossible to shut down this monster.

That is one example of the need for our MEPs to be fully briefed by us on our long-term work and aims. Secondly, our Western Beach complaint fronted by Sir Graham Watson is also far from over. We have organised protests and met with several MEPs on this issue, as it is not only a matter of inconvenience that La Linea is dumping raw sewage right next to our public spaces and nearby local residential area, but also a matter of public health concern. Spain has repeatedly lied to the EC about this problem being over. Data gathered by local environmental agency demonstrates this contamination outside of the bathing season to be pretty much a constant with illegal levels persistently recorded.

Many files with anecdotal information and data have been submitted to all MEPs over the years and it is through this pressure that the EC, at least, is claiming to be looking at the issue. It has not taken legal action or instructed Spain to act on this within a deadline. There certainly has been no inspection to verify what the ESG has been consistently telling the EC.

It is important therefore that the Green MEP informs herself of these issues also so that she can support our work in Brussels. Another area where we are active is in highlighting major environmental developments to the EC by Spain, for example, the giant fuel tank farm with no cross border environmental study or notification taking place. Another example is where Spain was recording dangerous levels of nickel in the bay area caused by heavy industry. Even though EU legislation is frighteningly slow, pressure must be maintained by NGOs, and support must come from every sector of society, including government and MEPS.

The MEP expressed interest in marine conservation and we will highlight how the heavy industry in the bay has, for years, dumped large volumes of toxic waste into the bay waters causing toxic contamination to build up in the area. The rampant urbanisation and large-scale reclamation, wherever it occurs, must also come under the microscope regarding its clear impacts on marine conservation.

Finally, and most importantly, we will definitely share with her, as our MEP, bay wide concerns about the mortality rates in the area that are much higher than elsewhere in the Iberian peninsula. There are numerous studies that show a correlation between industrial emissions and health impacts and European citizens living on each side of the border are deeply concerned that we are falling foul from these toxic emissions.

The group would also like an opportunity to share its views on the concerns raised by the Green MEP when in Gibraltar and give our independent views as an apolitical, grassroots, environmental NGO.

ESG Committee