2011 GreenThe magazineAction of Friends of the Earth Cymru JUST GETTING STARTED 40 years and counting of green action Acting silly for serious action Community energy | Inside the Assembly | Friends of the Earth local groups A good time too Simon Williams, Editor Now is a good time to take a moment But if this is the first time you’ve great satisfaction and think about just how far we’ve thought about it, now is a really good for many, and our come. Friends of the Earth has time to get involved. It was the 1969 communities hold the power for positive campaigned in the UK for 40 years, Apollo space mission pictures of a change. But opponents of wind power and it’s Friends of the Earth Europe’s beautiful, fragile Earth which inspired a and other renewables often claim that 40th anniversary this year too. generation to realise the importance of green energy projects just benefit the Friends of the Earth Cymru hasn’t protecting our environment. And now, big companies, and don’t do enough for existed quite so long, first campaiging facing the massive threats of climate the people on their doorsteps. Possibly in Wales in 1984. But someone who change and biodiversity loss, we’re sometimes true, though somehow this has been around nearly forever is our even more aware of how fragile our is never given as a reason to oppose respected director, Gordon James, only life-support system really is. another coal or nuclear power station. who heads into a very well-deserved Campaigning for the planet and a So here’s your chance to do retirement this year. Though knowing fair future for all who live on her has something about it. Have a look at the Gordon, it’s unlikely to be the last we’ll changed in 40 years. On page 8, simple guide to getting started with a hear from him, Gordon says it seems harder now, as local energy project, and think whether There’ve been some major the problems we face can sometimes your area has the potential to produce campaign successes here in Wales, feel overwhelming, and there are difficult power – and money – to benefit the and some of them have had positive decisions that may change our lifestyles. community. And then, to find out more consequences far beyond our green But see the pictures on page 6 and go to our website www.foecymru.co.uk. country – you can see a short roundup you might think campaigning doesn’t So it’s out with the old (sorry, on page 8. Of course, none of these look like such hard work. Having a Gordon) and in with the new. Good luck would have been possible without our good time feels even better when it’s to Gareth Clubb, the new Director of supporters, local group members and doing something important, and acting Friends of the Earth Cymru. And here’s everyone else who’s got involved along silly can be a powerful way of making a to another 40 years of good times, the way. So it’s a good time to say serious message heard. making a difference to Wales, people, thank you too. Working with others is the way to and our beautiful planet. COntents 4 Monster incinerator 5 No new nuclear 8 Passing the baton Just another case of ‘what always Energy efficiency and renewable As our director retires, he looks happens to Merthyr’? Not if this power way forward for Wales back on 40 years of green action community can stop it 5 Warm homes 10 Inside the Assembly 4 International action Taking households out of fuel New government, new powers How we’re helping a region in poverty is good for jobs and health Paraguay go GM-free 11 Acting local 5 In brief News from our local groups 4 Pembs power station Environmental news in Wales breaking the law? 1 Community energy The European Commission looks 6 Acting silly A guide to generating power and into our complaint Can serious campaigning be fun? earning money in your area 6 Acting silly 8 Passing the baton 1 Community energy www.foecymru.co.uk Join us online ISSUE 4 011 Making life better for people by inspiring solutions to environmental problems GreenAction is published by Friends of the Earth Cymru 33 Castle Arcade Balcony Cardiff CF10 1BY tel: 029 2022 9577 fax: 029 2022 8775 email: [email protected] web: www.foecymru.co.uk Editor and designer: Simon Williams Welsh language editor: Haf Elgar Contributors: Gordon James, Bleddyn Lake, Richard Reast, Nathan Williams www.foecymru.co.uk www.facebook.com/foecymrucydd The Friends of the Earth Cymru ‘Like’ us on Facebook, Cover image © Simon Williams website is your hub of information and and keep up-to-date Page 12 illustrations © Kat Nicholson resources for environment issues in with green issues in the Wales, updated regularly with news, media, environmental Friends of the Earth Ltd events, local group details, press events and campaigns all Company no 1012357 releases, reports and publications. around Wales. Friends of the Earth Cymru: is dedicated to protecting the environment and promoting a Support us sustainable future for Wales is part of Friends of the Earth Friends of the Earth Cymru is If you’re concerned about the kind England, Wales and Northern a part of Friends of the Earth of world that future generations will Ireland, the UK’s most influential England, Wales and Northern inherit, leaving a gift in your will to environmental campaign organisation Ireland. There are lots of ways Friends of the Earth is one of the to get involved – from raising best things you can do. Find out is part of the most extensive money by searching the web to more at www.foe.co.uk/legacies or environmental campaigning network in the world, with almost 2 million taking part in a fundraising event call Candice on 020 7566 1606 supporters across five continents and more than 70 national If you’re not already a financial Raise extra funds for Friends of organisations worldwide supporter of Friends of the Earth the Earth just using the internet why not sign up today? Your search engine Everyclick. Register supports a unique network of local donation will help us find solutions at www.everyclick.com/ campaigning groups, working in that can protect planet and people, friendsoftheearthtrust communities throughout Wales now and in the future. Visit www.foe.co.uk or call 0800 581 Switch to get your household is dependent upon individuals for 0510. We’d be really very grateful electricity from 100 per cent over 90 per cent of its income for your support renewable electricity with Good Energy and we get a £50 donation. Printed on recycled paper made Have fun and help us - organise a Visit www.good-energy.co.uk/foe from 100 per cent post-consumer waste, using vegetable-based inks fundraising event for Friends of the or call 0845 456 1640, quoting and 100 per cent alcohol-free, by a printer Earth Cymru. Call 029 2022 9577 Friends of the Earth holding environmental accreditation ISO 14001 www.foecymru.co.uk No MoNster INcINerator! Friends of the Earth Merthyr Tydfil Massive campaign opposes monster incinerator cyfarthfa castle Millennium stadium Proposed incinerator Six months is a long time in Merthyr. printing Covanta’s views to front page expecting the over 10,000 responses Last September Merthyr Tydfil Friends headlines about the campaign. that were received in just 6 weeks. of the Earth ran a stall to tell people in Covanta officially submitted their Now we must make sure the the town about the massive incinerator proposal on New Year’s Eve 2010, decision-making process takes account proposed by an American company for confirming the massive size of the plant of the massive impact this incinerator their doorstep. No one had heard about which would need 750,000 tonnes of will have on local people, and the fact it, and many said, “There’s nothing we waste a year to feed it. Community it clearly contradicts Welsh waste and can do about it, this is what always organised meetings quickly followed in climate change policy. happens to Merthyr.” virtually every village in the Rhymney Giving the go ahead to this monster Fast-forward to March 2011 and Valley and around Merthyr, and groups incinerator would be a green light people are queuing at the same stall to came together to form the United to companies worldwide to pollute fill in the forms objecting to Covanta’s Valleys Action Group. communities in Wales. It would confirm plans. And many are asking how they Three coaches were needed to our worst fears about the IPC process, can do more to help the campaign. carry people delivering the opposition and strengthen increasing calls for Previously indifferent politicians forms to the Infrastructure Planning decisions on energy to be devolved to were now keen to speak at rallies, Commission’s (IPC) offices in Bristol. the Welsh Government. and the local paper went from only Covanta and the IPC were probably not Video: www.foe.co.uk/merthyr Los Amigos de la Tierra Gales EC investigates new Farmers, communities and pioneering opposition to GM Pembroke power station environmental groups campaigning agriculture, and strong work building The breaching of environmental law against GM crop growing. Protests a reputation for high quality food by the new gas-fired power station at against agribusiness. Lobbying production, we’ve been really pleased Pembroke is being investigated by the politicians to enshrine GM-free to be involved with Sobrevivencia and European Commission.