In today’s edition we shall talk about current environmental issues as well as look ahead to World Earth Day on the 22nd April. It seems that we are never too far from witnessing or being affected by air or noise pollution. Certainly bunkering fumes seem to be on the rise with many reporting such problems this past week. On investigation there appears to have been a number of possible causes; the Refinery was seen to be belching noxious fumes during N.Westerlies, and closer to home, which is likely to affect us the most, rupturing aging pipe work at the Western Arm led to exposure of acrid diesel product that released fumes throughout the residential areas on the western flank of Gibraltar, causing a serious smell nuisance. While this was reported as having being repaired last Thursday, bunkering type fumes continue to pervade our airspace even these past few days. We continue to report these incidents and ask the public to also send in their reports to the relevant agencies: admin@environmental-agency.gi and gibunksupt@port.gov.gi. Plse also cc us at the esg@gibtelecom.net.

Another matter of growing interest now the hot weather is here is Western Beach and sewage pollution. Anyone visiting official websites on water monitoring know too well the disastrous levels of sewage entering our beach from la Linea right up until a few weeks ago. There was no mention of Western Beach being raised in the recent visit by the Gibraltar Govt to Brussels. We are following up the matter directly with the European Commission once again.

Back to the Refinery again- we were interested to read in a Spanish publication recently the fact that the new owners of the past three years, the Abu Dhabi Sovereign Wealth Fund, has publicly stated it wants to completely overhaul and modernise the plant to bring it up to modern day stds. Wouldn’t that be great? Its clear from recently witnessed flaring that this clean up hasn’t yet started. We are now contacting the new owners to verify any truth in the public statement and also to ask when we can return with our bucket to take air samples. The bucket grabs a bagful, or lungful of air using EPA approved equipment. Sample is sent to an accredited laboratory in the US and analysed for chemical content. Will update on this important issue soon.

Now to Earth Day. This year we are launching an awareness and information campaign on this global environmental day to raise the profile of an issue which affects us all, both inside and outside the home and office – that of radiation exposure from mobile phone masts, cell phones, and general electronic equipment. Our intention is to “have a conversation, locally,” that is taking place throughout the world. How this equipment, as well as providing an ever more versatile service, is also exposing us and our families to unknown health risks from invisible and unknown levels of radiation. We shall use World Earth Day to launch the campaign in Gibraltar, where, today, there is a temporary moratorium on the setting up of new mobile phone masts. Let’s have the conversation. Press releases, Main Street stall and talks are planned. More information and dates released soon.

Thanks for listening- call 54960000 or email esg@gibtelecom.net for more information.

NB; SEE BELOW INFO FOR REPORTING LITTER AND VANDALSIM ISSUES, AND FOR FUMES AND EXCESSIVE POLLUTION. TWO DIFFERENT CONTACT DETAILS –

FOR LITTERING/VANDALISM/DUMPING

Feedback Section based at New Harbours: 200-65964 daytime number -report to be copied to: env.feedback@gibraltar.gov.gi

For FOUL SMELLS which could come from industry/shipping/port/dockyard/sewage etc.
you are to call:

Environmental Agency daytime : 200-70620 and 58297000 for outside working hours– you are advised to copy report to email addresses: info.environment@gibraltar.gov.gi and admin@environmental-agency.gi.

So now we have three separate emails to use- plse use them all and remember to copy us on everything at esg@gibtelecom.net!!

Reports received by the ESG last week continue to come in today with the familiar “bunkering”, rotten egg smells filling our air space, affecting the southern and north western flanks of the Rock. Upon investigations last week we were informed by the official Environment Agency that old disused piping carrying diesel had ruptured at the Western Arm area resulting in old fuel spilling into harbour area. We were informed that the piping had been repaired last Thursday – 4th April – over weekend diesel fumes continued to affect. pretty much everywhere on the western side of Gib -and today we once again detect the nauseating fumes. Naturally we shall follow up with all relevant authorities and see if these offensive fumes can be stopped once and for all.

REMEMBER YOU CAN ALSO CONTACT AGENCIES RESPONSIBLE FOR ACTING ON THESE ISSUES- COPY INFO ONTO YOUR COMPUTER AND USE THEM
Last week Government published new reporting protocols which we welcome. These affect issues such as dumping and severe littering/vandalism as well as numbers for the public to use when affected by foul smells.

There are two separate places/numbers to call as follows:

For littering/vandalism/dumping contact:

Feedback Section based at New Harbours: 200-65964 daytime number -report to be copied to: env.feedback@gibraltar.gov.gi

For foul smells which could come from industry/shipping/port/dockyard/sewage etc.
you are to call:

Environmental Agency daytime : 200-70620 and 58297000 for outside working hours– you are advised to copy report to email addresses: info.environment@gibraltar.gov.gi and admin@environmental-agency.gi.

So now we have three separate emails to use- plse use them all and remember to copy us on everything at esg@gibtelecom.net!!

ESG Radio Newsletter Feb 14th 2013
Hello- in today’s newsletter we continue our focus on our election wish list of 2011.
Last time we looked at issues ranging from climate change to bunkering and how these need to be addressed from a local perspective. Today we look at: sewage treatment, conservation, planning, the environmental action management plan, cross border issues and epidemiological studies. By the way, if you miss any of these bulletins you can always find radio scripts and press releases on our website at: esg-gib.net.
Our environment is precious to us all, it is life giving, and its own health is crucial to our very own quality of life. It is the fundamental premise that drives the ESG in pursuing our aims through lobbying, campaigning and generally promotion of these issues.

• We begin this week with Sewage- not a savoury topic, we know, but a growing problem: to our north, we suffer direct discharge of Spanish sewage into still waters affecting an important beach, to the south, we discharge our entire sewage into open water, untreated, and illegal. The good news is that at recent meetings with the authorities, we understand that we will see action on this front for Gibraltar’s sewage management, at long last but we shall continue to monitor this. Our compliance should hopefully have a bearing in Brussels taking a firmer stand with Spain over La Linea’s sewage problems but we shall continue to keep up the pressure.
• Conservation- the protection of our natural environment is very important to the ESG. We have lobbied for some years now to see tree planting programmes throughout Gibraltar and for the expansion and upkeep of green areas within the urban environment. The Commonwealth Park will provide such a haven in the town centre. It is important that 2013 doesn’t go by without the implementation of recommendations made in the Upper Rock Management Plan produced by GONHS some 8 years ago. We shall continue to lobby for this.
• On Planning the ESG welcomes our seat on the DPC as we have been able to present concerns and recommendations directly within the decision making process. We have called for a review of the planning procedure- the current open nature of the DPC meetings addresses some of our concerns that previously existed. However, with various statutes and aged practices still in place, a new Town Planning Act is overdue and needs to go out to public consultation. Today we are still seeing the fruits of bad planning decisions made in the past. Such bad decisions will have long-term repercussions on our quality of life and that of our children so it’s critical to get the new Town Planning Act just right. For info, next planning mtg on the 19th Feb at 9.30am at the John Mack Hall.
• Next we come to Gibraltar’s Environmental Action and Management Plan. This was first published in February 2011 after the signing up to an Environmental Charter in 2005. At the time we said it did not address all core issues with enough urgency, intent or transparency. Two full years later, and after mtgs and discussions along the way a new, revised version of the Plan is due to be published. We call upon Government to release this without further delay.
• Next in our list is Cross Border issues – a big one, for sure. Just today looking south a thick band of smog sits upon the horizon, to the north, a thick sulphurous band of fumes is discharged from the refinery into a beautiful blue sky, beginning the filthy cycle of daily pollution into the bay environment once again. We had reached an important point some time back with a cross border group of NGOs lobbying a team of politicians apparently willing to listen under the Tripartite Process. Like a house of cards, this collapsed, and we are very much back where we started. We cannot and will not give up. We are in touch with some NGOs in Spain and are discussing joint strategies to continue the fight against bay pollution. This has to be tackled together and we shall persevere.
• Now for Epidemiological Studies. After the Govt funded Epid Report was published, our advisers found the conclusions seriously lacking, and various recommendations were made to Govt at the time, and repeated again to the new administration. Discussions continue on this and we are now of the mind that long-term studies are an integral part of public health understanding and management but that reducing pollution to start with, is probably the more immediate way of bringing about a healthier society – we shall continue to lobby for both.

For more information plse contact us at 200-48996 or 54960000. You can also join up and become a member. Check out our website for more local environmental news and also for a snapshot view of the biggest environmental stories making headlines in Europe today. That’s on esg-gib.net

ESG Radio Broadcast January 31st 2013

In today’s broadcast we re-visit our wish list presented to all political parties at the last election. The core issues contained on our list have been in our sights since we first began campaigning for environmental change. We look v briefly at what progress and change has taken place so far. The full Wish list, published on our website, contains twelve core issues. Today we look at the first six: climate change, energy, pollution, traffic, recycling and bunkering.

• Climate Change: It’s vital that we have regular public debate on this critical issue which affects every single citizen of the planet. We would like to see Government hold open meetings when presenting its reports on climate change and invite public input and participation. Businesses, NGOs, all political parties and the public at large should be encouraged to participate. In our view the debate should look at Gibraltar’s long term sustainability, and consider alternative strategies to move us away from our fossil fuel reliance and economic stability.

• Next is Energy – though Government is looking at alternative energy options for Gibraltar, and inclusion of green technology is now compulsory in new housing developments, we still await the announcement of the new energy plan by Government which has been mentioned publicly several times. Many local citizens would also like to install solar equipment and facilities for this should be set up without further delay.

• Pollution – this has always been one of our strongest issues; we have invested a lot of time and energy as a group in trying to reduce pollution both locally and in the Bay area. Because of our size, population spread and lack of buffer zones to any industrial activity, we have campaigned vociferously for higher than EU stds to be applied to protect public health and quality of life. We advocate the Precautionary Principle be used when assessing environmental impact from any industrial activity because, no matter how important economically an activity may be, our health and that of our families, is priceless. The ESG notes that although some progress is being slowly achieved to reduce excessive pollution locally there is still a long way to go and we shall continue to campaign for a cleaner Gibraltar.

• Next is Traffic: we have seen various traffic consultation plans over the years looking at ways to address the problems caused by the high numbers of cars and motorbikes on our roads. Apart from improving traffic flow and better equipment to support this, cycling must be made safer, and a pavement study Gibraltar-wide should also be carried out to ensure that walking is provided for, even if this means some loss of parking spaces. Plans to rule out two stroke motorbikes and incentivising low emission vehicles are seen as welcome measures.

• For our fifth issue we look at Recycling- The recently expanded recycling service now provided by govt brings us more up to date with the rest of Europe and is long overdue! Recent complaints on the street now refer to bins being too full –clearly services have to be stepped up but this is at least positive compared to years of virtually little recycling activity on the Rock. There continues to be an urgent need for netting to be installed at the City Dump to prevent airborne waste, and for a dedicated Eco park, a one-stop shop, to be created to encourage the public to dispose of all waste responsibly. This is also long overdue. On littering also there is a growing problem with cigarette smuggling related waste, visible in almost every corner of our town. Perhaps the ubiquitous black plastic bag could be banned as its impossible to trace the retailer who could be brought on board with guidelines on what their customers should do with their rubbish!!

• Finally, we look at Bunkering. ESG concerns of fumes from bunkering have been taken seriously and measures implemented to reduce these within industry. Not all fumes or risks to the environment are eliminated however, and so we hear plans by current administration to move fuel storage to land based installation. While not supporting the oil industry per se, our group presses for best available technology and the precautionary principle to be applied in any planned installation to ensure minimal impact and maximum public safety.

OK – that’s all for today! If you have found anything you have heard of interest and would like more information please contact us on : esg@gibtelecom.net or call us on 200-48996.Join us in a fortnights time when we shall be looking at: Sewage Treatment, Conservation, Planning, the Environmental Action Management Plan, Cross Border issues and Epidemiological Studies.
Thanks for listening!

ESG Radio Broadcast on 17th January 2013

• The New Year will hopefully bring greater advances locally for Gibraltar’s environment, and in turn, for our quality of life. As an NGO that has been fighting for such advances for the past 13 years, the palpable improvements of 2012 provide room for optimism. For instance, when one considers Gibraltar’s record on recycling, it’s clear that within a short space of time, you and I are now able to recycle much more of our daily waste than ever before…this is good news.

• While south and west district residents wait to feel the full benefits of reduced noise and air pollution at night with closure of engines from the OESCO and GIBELEC power stations, they can take heart that steps are finally being taken to address their long-term suffering. The ESG hopes to visit the North Mole site in early February when we hope to learn more about what the temporary generators can deliver and the impact on the surrounding area.

• Last year was also significant in terms of efforts made to better manage our territorial waters and marine environment with the fresh enforcement of local fishing laws and practices. The ESG believes that if the result leads to greater environmental protection and management of all activity in the Bay then we naturally support these efforts. However, this issue is being driven from one side only and is looking at one of several regional, environmental problems.

• When the Tripartite Forum was at its peak the environment featured highly on the agenda coinciding as it did with maritime accidents and the strongly supported cross border campaign for a bay-wide epidemiological study. Env NGOs from both sides of the border tabled a number of critical environmental issues that affect Bay citizens and the common environment; for example, the impacts from the Oil Refinery and Petrochemical Industry, and the need for greater cross border co-operation to safely manage the busy Bay and Strait environments. We hope to see a resumption of such talks (Tripartite Forum)

• For those who think that Spanish environmental NGOs only scream about Gibraltar, we urge you to visit: www.apuntanoticias.com and www.algecirasalminuto.com for online articles on the work carried out by AGADEN, an Algeciras based NGO, to highlight their local environmental issues. These include: sewage contamination, protection of green areas, lack of environmental monitoring in the Campo area due to cutbacks, and also about spills and slicks in the Port of Algeciras area. Contact us for the links and we are happy to forward you these: that’s at email esg@gibtelecom.net or call 200-48996.

• The trouble, as many of us know, is the censorship within the campo mainstream press of the voices of NGOs and citizen groups especially when it comes to the environment. Its only when such groups criticise Gibraltar that they get mentioned in the mainstream press often making headline news!!

• Of course some groups are less objective with an article in the Spanish press only this week claiming that Gibraltar is planning to build a new Incinerator!! This was NEWS to us and on verifying the story with the Minister for Health and the Environment, we were immediately reassured that this was totally untrue and not the policy of the current administration.

• The ESG welcomes the long planned objective currently being discussed by Govt of bringing fuel storage to shore in Gibraltar. We trust, however, that prevailing issues of land and water oil contamination from aging infrastructure linked to the decommissioned Fuel Depot inside the Rock will be fully addressed before any new Depots are considered. We also hope that any such project will carry widespread public consultation.

• Finally we were interested to hear Government and the Opposition in Parliament discuss particular DPC applications. The new Tank Farm for lubricant oil in the Port area is one such example. The ESG believes that 2012 was a far less stressful year all round because of the major shift in planning policy to hold all DPC meetings in the public domain. We congratulate Government for taking this bold but necessary and democratic step.

• Happy recycling! And thank you for listening…………………………………………………………………..

ESG Press Release
Dated 20th December 2012

WESTERN BEACH SAGA

The ESG has been following up the issue of ongoing sewage discharge into Western Beach area with the European Commission. The EC advises they are following up the matter with the Spanish authorities who claim they no longer discharge sewage into this area from as far back as December 2011.

The ESG has corrected this misinformation from Spain by sending evidence from the local Environmental Agency’s water sampling records to the EC. The data clearly confirms the continued presence of illegal levels of sewage in Western Beach waters outside of the bathing season period.

The group spoke to Sir Graham Watson last week who, back from attending the Climate Change talks in Qatar, was already knocking on doors in Brussels on this issue.
The ESG believes this issue must be resolved before the next bathing season in 2013 and will do whatever it can to help bring about this outcome.

Last week Government published new reporting protocols which we welcome. These affect issues such as dumping and severe littering/vandalism as well as numbers for the public to use when affected by foul smells.

There are two separate places/numbers to call as follows:

For littering/vandalism/dumping contact:

Feedback Section based at New Harbours: 200-65964 daytime number -report to be copied to: env.feedback@gibraltar.gov.gi

For foul smells which could come from industry/shipping/port/dockyard/sewage etc.
you are to call:

Environmental Agency daytime : 200-70620 and 58297000 for outside working hours– you are advised to copy report to email addresses: info.environment@gibraltar.gov.gi and admin@environmental-agency.gi.

So now we have three separate emails to use- plse use them all and remember to copy us on everything at esg@gibtelecom.net!!

ESG Radio Newsletters: 31st May round up!

• Concerned about the rising levels of air pollution from our power generating stations– situation can only get worse during the hot summer months and the ESG is meeting with Government regularly but knows that a decision for a replacement, clean solution continues –see ESG PR for more details:
http://www.esg-gib.net/esg-power-station-pollution-may-2012/
• Another Planning meeting took place on the 24th May. Here there were some items of interest: more mobile phone mast applications demanding the need for a protocol to establish criteria when permitting such applications to go through; another “hot” topic is the proposed new Tank Farm in the Port area which is going through with an EIA screening report and not a full blown EIA. The ESG has issues with this as this additional tank farm will add to the heavy industry in the region which has seen residential areas grow ever closer. The potential impact also on the water intakes for the desalination plant nearby is another reason why we are concerned about no EIA. We continue to lobby on these issues
• For bunkering fumes and other air pollution issues we have been providing a number for the public to call, that of the bunkering superintendent- this is 56001652. We are told this is about to change but the ESG does not have the replacement contact number – so do use the number here and the official can always give you the new number if that is operational
• Many of you will be aware of the CUTW Campaign which we have organised on the Rock for the past seven years. While the campaign has undoubtedly achieved a lot over the years we still wait for proper enclosure at the City Dump, enforcement on littering and better coordination between all agencies and NGO’s so that Gibraltar’s physical, urban and natural spaces can be better managed. The revival of a Litter Committee including all the main bodies called by the Minister for the Environment was another milestone achievement for our group. Date for 2012m is 22nd September for the clean up with a week- long exhibition following on at the John Mackintosh Hall.
• World Environment Day was celebrated by our local schools this week with energetic musical renditions of carefully crafted songs and dance focusing on environmental messages. Was very impressive, well done to all involved and organisers: Dept of Environment
• Sewage pollution at our beaches continues to result in a closed Western Beach and two Spanish beaches also closed on the eastern coastline, just north of Eastern beach. ESG is busy exchanging information with MEP’s and others on this latest situation and has also been in correspondence with the EC. It is truly astonishing how long it takes for problems such as these to be tackled by the EC. Even when they acknowledge there is a case their ability to take action appears limited and long drawn out. Still, we shall persevere until this situation is resolved
• Fishing etc. Talks continue and it’s possible that with the help of the UK Govt the latest effort by the Gibraltar Government to enforce nature protection laws will prevail and some changes will be seen in the fishing practices of the Spanish vessels. We continue to wait alongside everyone else to see what transpires and hope that a more sustainable outcome will result from all the effort.

Thanks for listening

ESG Radio Newsletter Thursday 3rd May 2012

Today’s radio Newsletter is busy with lots of different items of environmental news so hope you find something that will interest you.

• the ESG is now launching its CUTW 2012 Campaign and is asking volunteers to register directly with us. You can do this via email, at esg@gibtelecom.net, or by calling 200-48996 and mobile 54960000. Since we began our Clean Ups in 2005, much has been achieved, and a lot of awareness raised. The Campaign remains vital as a focal point in the year when new projects can get a big push with help from our volunteers, and these then continue on through the year we hope with a greater chance of success. Education is central in encouraging respectful behaviour towards our environment and so once again we aim to work closely with all our schools. The date for 2012 CUTW is Saturday 22nd September. Plse contact us with any questions and we can provide you with more information.

• For those of you who enjoy your fruit and vegetable the next item should interest you. An environmentalist and good friend of the ESG, Simon Cooper, has together with a colleague, embarked on a farming project with a difference these past two years. The result is a steady crop of organic fruit and veg which they now deliver on a weekly basis to customers in Gibraltar. The reason this is so exciting is that Local Organic, as the Farm is called, produces entirely organic produce at an equitable price to local supermarkets for non-organic fruit and veg. The range of produce is extensive and the guys running this project are extremely helpful. If you are interested and want more details plse contact Simon and James at Local Organic on their email: local.organic.gib@gmail.com. You can also find them on Facebook. Sustainable farming at long last!

• Moving on we need to mention the great effort made by volunteers at the Northern Defences last weekend. This area is also known to many as the Jungle. Three hours of backbreaking work ensured that several hotspot sites within this great, unused resource of ours, were left pristine. However, without steps taken to avoid the usual and gradual degradation that follows a cleanup of this type, the area will soon revert to the filth that confronted volunteers on Saturday. There are also harder to get at areas within the “Jungle” also being accessed by some and left predictably trashed. This must be tackled by the authorities. The ESG shall be taking the matter up with Government.

• The ESG notes that sewage contamination of the eastern and western coastline of La Linea is being reported almost on a daily basis in the Spanish press. With our own data showing high levels of sewage at Western Beach, this does not bode well at all. We are following up with Brussels and trying to raise the pressure there too. We shall also press Govt to erect a fence at Western Beach to make the official closure more visible to the public. Yet another of our resources out of reach for the community

• The ESG helps many in our community by providing information and advice on local environmental issues or problems. As an NGO and registered charity, we also need support from the public so plse, join up and help us continue to do our important work. Go to esg-gib.net for a membership form today!

Thanks for listening!