ESG Radio Newsletter – 20th September 2012

Two days to go for our 8th Clean Up and things are definitely hotting up! With 38 teams based throughout Gibraltar we are confident that our beautiful Rock will be cleaner after our huge volunteer effort. We are delighted with the community response we have and are receiving – indeed teams are signing up even now, in the eleventh hour!

What is also clear is that awareness raised by this campaign is growing and that the many issues highlighted for action are beginning to receive the important action and investment they deserve; a process that began under the previous Government and embraced with fresh energy by the current administration. There remains more to be done and this will be reflected in the exciting Parade setting off from casemates at 11.00am Saturday morning- everyone is welcome and those of you with children are especially encouraged to come along. Schools, clubs and associations as well as some CUTW teams will be on the march celebrating the efforts undertaken over the weekend by the 700 volunteers to remove unsightly and dangerous litter from green, coastal, underwater and urban areas as well as caves, a first for the CUTW campaign.

Ending up at John Mackintosh Square, also known as the Piazza, the gathering will be given a surprise presentation followed by a short statement by the Minister for the Environment, Dr John Cortes, and a brief word by the organisers of the event on the campaigns impact in Gibraltar. Some awards and certificates will be issued to thank and encourage younger members present to follow CUTW aims throughout the year. Our summer workshops will ensure that the waste models present will be hugely impactive and help deliver important environmental messages about the massive global problems to do with waste. Our waste- from our over consumptive, throwaway societies.

We continue our efforts via our hard working teams picking up rubbish or helping clear sites with different CUTW partners the rest of the day. Volunteers are also invited to another gathering, this time to the launch of an Environmental Exhibition, opened to the general public from the 25th to the 28th of September. Schools will take part in workshops during the week and its certainly an exhibition not to be missed. This will be held at the John Mackintosh Hall galleries. More information will be published on this tomorrow.

All those of you who have helped get us this far in organising what is a huge logistical exercise is publicly thanked for their support –

You will have been hearing about the ITWMC campaign who this week are campaigning for greener, healthier forms of transport as part of a European wide movement. It’s welcome to see members of the community get behind this worthy campaign –let’s hope the effort is kept up throughout the year – it is about personal choice and government policy.

Finally, a word to our team leaders to please collect equipment and information from 1st floor Plater Youth Club tomorrow Friday as from 6pm. Call 54960000 for any queries.

ESG Radio Newsletter 6th September 2012 – A quick round up of local environmental news.

CUTW updates are going out today and tomorrow via email to the many schools/associations, companies and government agencies supporting this annual environmental, community wide event. Over thirty teams are now signed up and we are absolutely delighted with the response to this campaign. Clearly, keeping Gibraltar tidy matters to many of us and we hope this year to raise even more awareness and achieve further progress in managing Gibraltar’s waste. Two considerable goals of our campaign have been realised this year with the formation of the Litter Committee driving a number of issues forward, one of these being the seven day waste facility. This will go a considerable way towards helping keep our green areas free from tipping.

However, it’s clear to anyone travelling along Europa Advance Road today, that the facilities themselves are woefully inadequate being open to the elements and results in rubbish strewn everywhere even raising the risk potential of a traffic accident as some of the waste is quite heavy, gets lifted in heavy winds and could hit windscreens etc. We have been calling for a modern Eco Park where all types of rubbish can be received in a sheltered area preventing waste from escaping and entering road, cliff and marine systems. Until such time as this is achieved however, we believe it’s important that the existing facilities be enclosed to prevent airborne redistribution of waste which has been taken there.

Back to the Clean Up weekend itself we hope that the public will support the Parade that will set off from Casemates at 11.00am on the 22nd Sept. This will be followed by some activity and stalls at the John Mackintosh Square. This exhibition and more will then be on display at the John Mackintosh Hall as from the 24th September for the week when special workshops, activities and films will also be shown. CUTW organisers would like to thank everyone who has extended help and support in these weeks.

A reminder to anyone wishing to volunteer to please attend the main planning meeting on the 11th September at Charles Hunt Room, John Mack Hall at 7.30pm.

If you would like more information on anything you have heard today please contact us on: 200-48996
Mobile: 54960000, email at esg@gibtelecom.net and we shall be happy to help.
Visit esg-gib.net for more news.

Thanks for listening.

NEWS RE CUTW 2012

Kindly note that 2012 Clean up the World – while taking place globally on the 15th September, will nevertheless take place in Gibraltar on the 22nd September.
The ESG is organising a week long exhibition on environmental issues following the weekend clean up and this will run from the 24th to the 28th September at the John Mackintosh Hall. The Exhibition with a difference will be formally opened by Minister for the Environment, Dr.John Cortes, on Monday 24th September at 6pm and CUTW volunteers are all invited to the launch. The Exhibition will host work and information from a number of different associations and NGO’s related to the environment.

Preparations for the Clean Up roll on with over thirty teams already signed up. Different projects will be tackled that follow the intrinisic aims of the global campaign of cleaning and greening up and conserving our environment. Next key logistics meeting takes place on the 11th September at the Charles Hunt Room, at 7.30pm and all team leaders and unassigned individual volunteers are requested to attend as important information will be issued and final arrangements pinned down.

Schools and associations are invited to support the Parade and Street Exhibition which has traditionally launched the clean up efforts every year. Those interested in supporting the Parade are asked to please gather at Casemates Square as from 10.15am Saturday 22nd for a start at 11.00am. The busy summer workshops have guaranteed that this years parade and exhibitions will be highly impactful helping drive home the message to young and old about the need to care for and be responsible about our environment and the planet we inhabit.

Timings and Dates CUTW 2012

CUTW Final Planning mtg: 11th September – Charles Hunt Room 7.30pm
CUTW workshops: 5th, 12th and 19th September – as from 7pm (Plater Youth Club, 1st floor)
CUTW weekend: 22nd September – CUTW Parade sets off from Casemates at 11.00am -please arrive 10.15 to 10.30am
and 22nd September – CUTW Teams Working on allocated sites as from Saturday morning onwards
ESG/CUTW Exhibition: 24th -28th September – CUTW Exhibtion John Mackintosh Hall launches Monday 24th at 6pm

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48032210@N04/7921011756/in/set-72157629473537374/

ESG Press Release 170812

Shocking levels of pollution by OESCO

The major pollution occurrence from the Oesco power station on Thursday morning, although significant because it was particularly dense and encompassing, was just another example of something that is happening very frequently, from Oesco and from the ex-MoD power station. The usual excuse being that it occurs at start-up after the correction of a minor fault. Well, the reality is that these faults – minor or otherwise – will continue with increasing regularity because these stations are well past their replacement date and 9 months after this Government has come into office, we are still waiting for notification and implementation of their replacement programme. How much longer are residents, some of them living very close to these emission outlets, expected to tolerate this degraded and harmful environment?

The GoG is concerned about making the right assessment for the next power generation programme but the community has waited long enough for this, both from the GSLP and from the GSD offices. The ESG therefore urges this government to make up its mind and to announce and implement the power station replacement programme now.

ESG Radio Newsletter

We missed our last radio newsletter due to it coinciding with the Olympics so it’s been a while since we shared news with you.

It’s always important for us to relay updates on preparations for CUTW as these also serve as reminders to those listening who wish to participate. During these past few weeks we have had workshops taking place in different parts of Gibraltar, by youngsters, creating artworks from rubbish which will be displayed at this year’s Clean Up exhibition and Parade. We are very excited as plans start taking shape to highlight serious environmental problems of a local and global nature. Make a note of the date for the Cleanup which is the 22nd September. Teams are welcome to sign up until end of August but we shall be running an open list for individuals for some time yet. Next important date is the 29th August for the clean up workshop at Plater Youth Club at 7pm, and the final and critical planning mtg on the 11th Sept at the Charles Hunt Room in the John Mack Hall at 7.30pm. Contact us at esg@gibtelecom.net or call us on 200-48996 and 54960000 for more information.

News that will resonate with some of you is the growing number of sightings of dead dolphins on our coastline these past few weeks. In early August the ESG with some of our clean up partners, reccied some of the harder to access areas we tackle each year. Seven Sisters was one such site and among copious amounts of rubbish brought in by the tide lay not one but three dead dolphins. With subsequent tragic sightings reported, this highlights a very serious problem. The ESG is following this up with local and regional NGO’s. Important please for reports to be made to the relevant NGO’s like the Museum and the GONHS.

We remain concerned about the various sources of avoidable pollution affecting people’s quality of life on a day to day basis in Gibraltar. News of eco building projects by Govt announced today at DPC is greatly welcomed of course but against a backdrop of postponed decision making on the urgent replacement of obsolete power stations is rec’d with mixed feelings. As an NGO that has fought for over a decade on this issue we have to repeatedly draw attention to the intolerable impact of all three stations as our members and many of the public expect us to do. Only last week, at OESCO, a technical problem, resulted in excessive smoke which to those in near proximity, raised great concern and fearing for their health –thankfully this was short-lived. We therefore urge Govt to please release its decision as soon as possible.

Another matter which concerns many and has great environmental impact is our traffic and we understand that Government is planning to launch a programme to limit unnecessary idling of engines as exhaust fumes are harmful to health. This happens at the frontier which affects customs employees severely and those sitting in queues extensively. But there are many other examples. Another is the coaches at the coach park, idling for hours on end, waiting for returning tourists, keeping coaches cooled in these searing temperatures. The result of this practice is choking up residents in the nearby estate who are breathing in fumes produced by the coaches.

Surely a facility can be set up for drivers to sit in relative cool while waiting for tourists to return. Doesn’t take too long for coaches to be cooled when the A/C is turned on so a little discomfort can surely be tolerated?? Car, coach and bus idling happens throughout Gibraltar and cause unnecessary harmful pollution – we urge Govt to start do something about this and for drivers listening to avoid idling whenever possible.

Thanks for listening- plse contact us if you need info or advice on anything you have heard today –also visit our website at: esg-gib.net

Shocking levels of pollution by OESCO

Dead Dolphin in Bay

FOLLOWING LINK DESCRIBES A HEAVILY POLLUTING INCIDENT IN PUENTE MAYORGA -A SMALL RESIDENTIAL AREA NEXT TO CEPSA OIL REFINERY AND OTHER ASSOCIATED PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY. RESIDENTS CALLED EMERGENCY NUMBERS WHEN EYES AND THROAT WERE BURNING DURING INCIDENT BUT WERE TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY TAKING PLACE. CITIZENS WILL BE PLACING A COMPLAINT WITH AUTHORITIES AS IT IS ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGEOUS THAT THEY SHOULD SUFFER IN THIS WAY WITH NO COMEBACK WHATSOEVER ON THE POLLUTING INDUSTRY.ITS IMPORTANT THAT CITIZENS DO SPEAK OUT AND INDUSTRY CALLED TO ACCOUNT IN THIS WAY. READ FOLLOWING LINK FOR INFO.

http://www.apuntanoticias.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1271:un-fuerte-olor-a-cloro-que-provoca-escozor-en-ojos-y-garganta-alerta-al-vecindario-de-puente-mayorga&catid=39:san-roque&Itemid=87

Over the weekend a protest was held by several hundred citizens angered by the prospect of hotels going up in an area known as “Valdevaqueros”. People will know this area as the large sand dunes at the northern end of the Tarifa beach. This strip of coastline is much admired and valued by many, including Gibraltarians. However, and possibly because of the high temperatures and time of year, the protest did not see the level of support it deserves.

Representatives of the ESG supported the protest organised by Ecologistas en Accion and other social and civic groups. The message given out by numerous speakers was that destroying pristine environments like the Tarifa coastline, itself an area of high recreational and ecological value, with the false promise of jobs – was nothing but deceit and lies; merely profit making for one or two and that this must be stopped at all costs.

The ESG understands that further actions are being planned and calls upon all those in Gibraltar who have enjoyed this magnificent area and wants to ensure its survival, intact, for future generations, to lend support.

This beautiful part of Spain is a gleaming example of what the entire southern coastline of Andalucía used to look like – Join the fight! Help stop this from happening.

ESG Radio Newsletter 260712

Hello, in today’s broadcast we look at a number of issues which have arisen recently that you will hopefully find of interest.

• To begin with and since we have formed part of Gibraltar’s Development and Planning Commission, a growing matter concerns applications for mobile phone mast installations. Over the years, the ESG has been approached by concerned members of the public regarding the siting of such equipment and it’s clear that in recent times, and reflecting current demand for services, this type of activity is on the rise. It may interest you to know that for the past four months the ESG has had numerous meetings with Govt and related agencies regarding the need for a review of the current criteria applied to such installations. The ESG hopes that a new policy will be formed without further delay.

• A word on our website which has experienced problems recently- this has thankfully now been sorted out with a backlog of postings going up as we speak – that’s at: esg-gib.net

• A few weeks ago the ESG was invited to attend a demonstration by Steelmac at Coaling Island on its Oil Spill Response capability. The professionalism and equipment on display was most impressive – however when one imagined the brightly coloured equipment in action on a major oil spill, it also took on a more depressing mantle. Clearly prevention is better than response, but still, important to know that as well as being a major bunkering provider, Gibraltar is building up its preparedness and response. There was an interesting mix of govt officials with the business world showcasing their services and equipment. Let’s hope the outcome is that we continue to invest in essential equipment to safeguard our marine environment.

• On a different note we issue a reminder of the protest planned on the 4th August at Valdevaqueras –what we call the gorgeous Tarifa stretch of coastline – this will take place near the sand dunes as from 11.00am and is essentially for the protection of the pristine area and natural environment. If you enjoy this part of the world- then try and support the protest!

• We have received a few calls recently from Gibraltar residents reporting excessive air pollution and we have acted on these as well as advised callers to notify the new Govt hotline announced recently which carries the double role of compiling a pollution picture in Gibraltar. Therefore as well as contacting us, please make a note of the following: daytime: 200-70620 and after hours mobile 58297000. Also write in yr complaint to: info@environment@gibraltar.gov.gi if you have access to a computer.

• Finally a reminder that we want your waste plastic, especially plastic bags and bottles and bottle caps…The Youth Service has kindly offered to receive these for us and we confirm this is possible so please, call 200-75020 and check someone is there first, this from Monday to Friday between 9am and 2pm.

Thanks for listening –

Extra……Next CUTW workshop on the 1st August at 7pm, Plater Youth Club 1st floor

ESG Radio Newsletter 12th July 2012 –

Much going on in the environmental scene! Minister John Cortes gave his maiden budget speech for the Environment just a few days ago and the ESG considers there are a lot of positives to be drawn from what the Minister announced. Clearly, however, the fact that the power station project, a priority according to the new government, remains unconfirmed is a cause for concern. We hope the decision IS imminent and we will not be able to rest until we hear Govts plans for energy production for Gibraltar.

This week saw the 1st of three planning sessions for the upcoming Clean up the world. Team Leaders are advised to attend the next mtg which takes place on the 7th August. Projects and sites shall be discussed one final time and allocations made so it is advisable for team leaders to attend. The final planning session is on the 11th September and important info handed out on all final preparations, logistics, etc. We are sure that this year’s campaign will take off with a bang as the Parade and Exhibitions will also add a lot of energy and create awareness about waste and other environmental issues – it also launches the hands on action by the volunteers who year on year do amazing work in helping to clean up Gibraltar. You can sign up by emailing: esg@gibtelecom.net and calling 200-48996, or 54960000.

In the run up to this year’s campaign the ESG visited the waste plant in Los Barrios which recently saw an upgrade with new equipment installed to improve recovery rates of recyclable material from the hundreds of thousands of tons of mixed waste rec’d from all the towns in the Bay, including Gibraltar. A visit to this plant makes a very strong impression on your psyche – you never see rubbish in quite the same way again. The plant is a fascinating place and one that all schools should visit. We shall be issuing a full report on our visit on our website and in the local press with lots of interesting facts and information.

The ESG has received a few complaints from members about the behaviour of some beach goers at local beaches and how careless many are when it comes to removing rubbish from the beach at the end of the day. This is an appeal to all listening to please set good examples to your neighbour on the beach and take your rubbish with you. Remember kids learn from their elders and we need to start taking real pride in our home town. The stark reality is also that even before Master Services get to these bags, seagulls will have beaten them to it, ripped these bags apart and left all types of disgusting rubbish strewn on the beach- some of this will be hazardous to humans (glass, metal, nappies), some will inevitably find its way into the sea and create serous problems for wildlife- if you are in any doubt as to the impact that plastic waste can have on wildlife you should google midway island –trailer on the net and see for yourselves how the volume of waste created by western lifestyles ends up affecting pristine habitats in the middle of vast oceans, creating unspeakable tragedy, over and again.

The importance of recycling and of managing OUR waste in Gibraltar as best we can will feature highly in this years’ Clean up the World campaign.

The ESG believes that locally we should have a litter campaign, focusing on reminding people the importance of keeping Gibraltar’s environment tidy and also applying an enforcement angle. Beaches should be a reasonably easy place to carry out such a campaign and the ESG intends to table this issue at the next Litter Committee mtg although this doesn’t take place until end of August. So in the meantime, please, take your rubbish with you and put it in a bin, and tell your friends to do the same. It could be your child who gets injured next time!

CUTW WORKSHOPS 2012

We need your plastic!!

ESG will be holding a number of workshops throughout the summer (18th July, 1st, 14th and 29th August) at the Plater Youth Club premises, first floor, as from 7.30pm. Aim will be to prepare displays and props for the Clean up the World awareness raising campaign. We shall be using plastic waste reflecting on the growing threat to the living environment from this material which has literally taken over our lives.

The impact this waste has even on wildlife thousands of miles away, in otherwise pristine environments, is a real and current tragedy and action must be taken by the West to reduce and manage this waste more efficiently.

There are exhibitions planned on this issue during the CUTW period in September where the hard work during the summer will be on display as well as projects from schools.
The Youth Centre will be holding its annual Eco workshop during the summer, from the 20th to the 24th August, in conjunction with the Summer Sports Programme and is keen to support the CUTW Campaign this year and would be grateful for your plastic.

The public is therefore invited to please deliver your plastic waste to the Youth Centre at Line wall Road where it can put to good use.
**Please note you can deliver Monday to Friday between 9am to 2pm**

Every effort will be made to take plastic artwork to dedicated recycling centres after the campaign.
Thank You.