‘Iv ‘@165 .» F R E E A BREATH OF FRESH AIR No.41 June 1995 2 gggggétitkti tiéillié Inside... Nottingham Women’s Environmental Network The National WEN campaign ‘Ease the Wheeze ’ ...‘..._..._..‘.'._._. _ . ‘ . _ . I . I . I. ...--.-...-.|-...<. (NWEN) is increasingly concerned about the aims to - h . ._._._._. ._._1_._. - Transport Focus effects of air pollution on our quality of life and ~ promote affordable and reliable - Green Videos health, and is focusing its effortsthis summer on alternatives to the car A - Composting Offer - promote traffic-free routes within the a ‘Breath of Fresh Air’ Campaign. /' community -_ "‘ -\ K 1/» Vehicles are now the greatest air polluters in the - encourage women’sinvolvementinlocal ' "', \ ,___.,~ r GLOBAL FUTURE UK. Recent research has clearly demonstrated planning and decision making processes P ’ I -\...F-_.__. links between the alarming increase in respiratory / /s“ _-J“? illnesses such as asthma (especially in children) WEN will be informing people about the effects /T.» ‘§. \’_ .--"""_ The ‘Our Global Future’ festival for the and the ever increasing amount of air pollution of air pollution and how they can reduce their I ’ _. __, \\\__- environment took place from 18-21 May at caused by vehicle emissions. exposure to pollutants, reduce their impact on is __.--‘"5’ I‘ /; 5 the Harvey Hadden Sports Centre in the environment, and campaign for change. J __ Bilborough. More than 150 exhibitors =§ -;. \ Despite this evidence, there is still no real ' )\ -"1 provided over 10,000 square metres of commitment from the govemment to reduce the Nottingham WEN’ s own demonstration will take entertainment and information. The festival causes of these health hazards. place during Green Transport Week, on Saturday ‘ T was attended by more than 4,000 children 17th June, and will involve women and children 7 -a.g.:' "'.;r<f-~’-‘I from local schools. Official transport policy is biased in favour ofthe marching back and forth across the pedestrian t P \ /3J? car, and the Department ofTransport forecasts a crossing outside the clock tower entrance to the / A ,-\\\I. rs»-'"*-~ I as T‘ A permanent result ofthe festival will be the doubling in traffic by the year 2025. Victoria Centre, carrying banners and placards t “"\' _" ’ -‘"7 -“P” . ‘Global Garden’ at the site, which has been to bring to the attention of both car drivers and ~:~, ‘l j, , »)\\ *4/' planted with trees, herbs and other plants :21-. I I.’/4/1". & -I T’? Women and children are particularly 4;:- pedestrians the health risks from vehicle _____ _____;_..qi}...-- ____ "T ( ' I Ill.‘ .., Q ,/ ' from around the world. disadvantaged, as they are less likely to have --—--'______ r _, '_ _ I... _ __’ F ‘- ‘*0 .-= In3 ‘,1 ' emissions. There will also be an initiative to get . .T~ I »\ \3 \\/F‘? " /" / access to good transport systems, and have to 6*-.\ -s--1"-"\s\\‘* ~ .61» The July issue of GNN will include a full people to sign pledges to use their cars 10% less \ '\_,- I ' . live in a car dominated society. Q“-_ T I». - — --"_"-'-'§- report on the event. in the coming year. ‘ . ‘ K I ll Every day children, who are down at car exhaust The impact oftrafficfumes on women & Forfurther information on howyou can become WE'RE 1>¢>eMEJ> -freer was Tl-r’éJL§.§-r QF -r-1,5 F:/QCTTOQ Q0 level much of the time, and women, who make involved with Nottingham Women ’s up the majority of pedestrians, breathe in a children is being highlighted by WEN in their current campaign. EnvironmentalNetwork, please contactMargaret INSTRUMENTS polluting cocktail of toxic gases. Vince on 960 5843 or Chris Vincent on 975 3603. 3 ‘ NEEDED Do you have any musical instruments which GREEN TRANSPORT WEEK WILDLIFE WEEK you no longer need? If so, they could be used by Nottingham Music Space, a local \ charity which offers music therapy to The national launch of Green Transport Week City Council. thing of the past. In the meantime, please try to children and adults around the county. They (17-25 June) will this year be hosted by play your part by choosing to walk, cycle, use National Wildlife Week takes place this Several local wildlife reserves will be holding are looking for items such as acoustic guitars, Nottinghamshire County Council. Special additional rides and walks have been public transport or car-share journeys wherever year from June 10th-1 8th, and more than 20 ‘Wildlife Days’ on June 18th - at Attenborough, arranged for the week, and their will be an Air possible. special events have been planned by Chilwell Farm Cutting and Bunny Old Wood. drums and portable keyboards. Collection Green Transport Week isprimarily about Pollution Advice ‘Clinic’ on 2lst June, from 7- Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. One ofthe The Attenborough event will include a wide can be arranged. persuading people out oftheircars, and preferably 9pm at Nottingham County Library. A panel of Please watch the local press nearer the time for range of activities for all the family, including key events will be the Brackenhurst Open If you have an instrument in reasonable not just for a day or a week, but how do you go experts will help interpret traffic-related air details of activities during the week, or call 977 exhibits of some of the plants, creepy crawlies, Day and Wildlife Fair, to be held at condition which you would like to donate, about persuading people to leave their cars at quality information for those concerned about 4338 for a free information pack. Peter .laggar, etc that are found on the reserve. There will also Brackenhurst Agricultural College near contact Paul Douglas at Music Space on home? The short answer is that it is not easy, but their health. Notts County Council. be lots ofactivities for children and guided walks 967 9930. this does not mean that we should do nothing. Southwell on June 1 lth. The college will be for all. 7 The national launch will take place at County Green Transport Week is co-ordinated by the open for inspection, together with many The message of Green Transport Week is Hall (West Bridgford) on the morning of l6th ETA Trust, with supportflom the Environmental more attractions - including entertainment, Opportunities forpractical conservation and other tempered by the reality that the majority will stay June, with Dr Brian Mawhinney (Secretary of Transport Association, Britain 's only provider craft demonstrations, tractor rides and activities are not limited to Wildlife Week - Notts CLEANING IDEAS behind the wheel regardless of the congestion State for Transport). In his speech to mark the of breakdown and recovery services - which displays. Admission prices will be £2 for Wildlife Trust own more than 50 nature reserves launch, we hope to hear more ofthe government’ s campaignsfor environmentally sound transport. aroundthe county, which need volunteer support and pollution consequences. ‘Drive Less, Relieve adults and £1 for children. WANTED the Stress’ is the theme ofthe leaflet produced by commitment to green transport - so that the need ETA owns the copyright andtrademarks ofGreen throughout the year. An events calendar is regularly published by the Trust. the County Council in collaboration with the for such campaigning will perhaps become a Transport Week and its logo. A series of guided walks will take place during Do you have any brilliant cost and environment saving ideas that you can share the week, at a variety of locations around the Forfurther information about the events with WENDi - the Women’s Environmental county, including Colwick woods, the Lambley planned for National Wildlife Week, CRITICAL MASS Network’s consumer information service‘? dumbles and a walk along the Trent from Stoke contactNotts Wildlife Trust on 958 8242 _|. Or would you be willing to try out someone Bardolph. There will even be a chance to observe during ojfice hours, or write to Notts Critical Mass is a monthly organised coincidence and nitrogen oxides (which contribute to acid Market Square, and proceeding around the bats and moths after dark, using special moth else’s ideas for WENDi? Ideas include using rain) are choking our cities. Boulevards to the Forest Recreation Ground. Wildlife Trust, 310 Sneinton Dale, - just a group of cyclists riding around together lights at Wollaton Hall. r Nottingham‘NG3 rorv. lemon juice to descale kettles, and from point A to point B. But why? Well you’ll bicarbonate of soda to clean surfaces. have to ask the people on the bike ride! Some Critical Mass started as an informal bike ride of Nottingham Critical Mass is now in its seventh want more bike lanes, some want a car free zone 50 people in San Francisco, and has now spread month, and is growing, simplybecause people If you would like to share or test ideas, or in Nottingham City Centre, whilst others want to around the world. Regular Critical Mass rides realise how much fun it is. When we are really you would like a copy of the WEN create a little breathing space for themselves. are now happening across Britain, in cities such doing is riding on our bikes from here to there, it information sheet on altemative cleaning as Aberdeen, Birmingham, Cambridge, London, is amazing how many provocative and Green Network News is a monthly publication aiming to methods, call 0171 704 6800 between l lam The cycle ride highlights the problems generated Bristol and Leeds, as well as in Nottingham. challenging questions occur. share information and build links between all individuals and 2pm, or 3pm and 6pm. bythe car culture, pollution being amajorconcem. and organisations in the Nottingham and South Notts One child in seven now suffers from asthma, and In Nottingham, the ride takes place on the third For more information, Contact Box CTM, This item is based on an article in Green exhaust fumes containing greenhousegases, lead Friday of every month - starting from the Old Rainbow Centre, 182 Mansfield Road, area with an interest in the environment.