The proposal:

EN704 currently reads as follows: “If sufficient supplies are available, an increased role to be sought for fuels producing less carbon dioxide, particularly natural gas.”

Part 1 – We propose that the last three words be deleted.

Given the current controversy regarding hydraulic fracturing (fracking) for shale gas and coal bed methane, we feel that it is inappropriate to be seen to encouraging such developments.

Part 2 – We propose adding the words: ” so long as there are no other significant adverse environmental consequences.”

This would give the grounds to oppose shale gas and CBM developments on the basis of the adverse consequences of fracking.

EN704 would end up reading: “If sufficient supplies are available, an increased role to be sought for fuels producing less carbon dioxide, so long as there are no other significant adverse environmental consequences.”

PROPOSED BY: Andy Chyba,

SECONDED BY: Delyth Miller
Additional signatories: Ruth Brophy & Laurie Brophy

EN704 is found within the Energy Policy: http://policy.greenparty.org.uk/en

Caroline said, Given the serious concerns outlined in this report, it is astonishing that the Energy and Climate Change Committee fails to reach the logical conclusion of recommending a moratorium on Shale Gas.

Dismissing concerns, for example, on the grounds that UK regulations are stronger than in the States, while taking a wait and see approach here is highly irresponsible.

The report itself admits that the benefits of Shale Gas are limited, stating that although it believes climate emissions from gas to be lower than from coal, they are still far higher than from many low-carbon technologies and can therefore contribute little towards our long term emissions reduction targets.

In fact, research cited by WWF suggests that the greenhouse gas footprint of shale gas may even exceed that of coal.

The report also states that onshore Shale Gas is unlikely to increase our energy security very dramatically, while offshore reserves are expensive and difficult to access.

And perhaps most importantly, Committee chairman Tim Yeo MP acknowledges that exploiting Shale Gas may divert much needed investment away from genuinely low carbon technologies such as wind and solar, thanks to its effect on gas prices.

The Brighton Pavilion MP concluded, So instead of caving in to fierce lobbying by the gas industry, the UK government should follow the example of France and several US states by agreeing a moratorium on new Shale Gas exploration, at least until the environmental effects are fully understood while urgently prioritising the development of renewables and energy efficiency measures.

Notes

1) http://www.parliament.uk/eccpublications

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13592208

Key section:
Greens boosted
Germany’s nuclear industry has argued that an early shutdown would be hugely damaging to the country’s industrial base.

Before March’s moratorium on the older power plants, Germany relied on nuclear power for 23% of its energy.

The anti-nuclear drive boosted Germany’s Green party, which took control of the Christian Democrat stronghold of Baden-Wuerttemberg, in late March.

Shaun Burnie, nuclear adviser for environmental campaign group Greenpeace International, told the BBC World Service that Germany had already invested heavily in renewable energy.

“The various studies from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change show that renewables could deliver, basically, global electricity by 2050,” he said.

“Germany is going to be ahead of the game on that and it is going to make a lot of money, so the message to Germany’s industrial competitors is that you can base your energy policy not on nuclear, not on coal, but on renewables.”

FRACKING CAMPAIGN – IMPORTANT PRECEDENT SET BY SURREY COUNTY COUNCIL

Europa Oil & Gas refused planning permission for onshore Holmwood-1 well in PEDL143

http://www.energy-pedia.com/article.aspx?articleid=145589

What are Smarter Choices?

Smarter Choices is a range of initiatives aimed at reducing the impact of transport on the environment. Developed by the Welsh Assembly Government, these include advocating the use of public transport, car sharing and cycling to work.

The aim is to encourage more sustainable transport choices by directly informing people about their personal travel options.

The Welsh Assembly Government has published a guide to Smarter Choices that is available to download here.

http://gettravelwise.com/smarter-choices

I am a particular fan of Car Share schemes – I used to be involved in a pioneering scheme in London many years ago and it is great to see the idea being revived and promoted again.

As far as Bridgend is concerned, we happen to be close to the border of two WAG funded schemes.
For those who travel regularly into Cardiff, Newport and the Valleys to the north of them, this is the scheme to register an interest with:
http://www.sewtacarshare.com/welcome.asp?lang=en&uxi=&cr=check

For those that travel west, towards Swansea say, then this scheme is for you:
http://www.swwitch2share.com/Default.asp?uxi=&cr=check

What are the benefits of sharing a car?

• Saves you money – travelling with others enables you to reduce your transport costs by up to £1000 a year.
• Reduces the number of cars on the roads – resulting in less congestion, less pollution and fewer parking problems
• Provides a real solution to the transport problems of rural areas
• Gives employees and employers more transport options
• Reduces the need for a private car

For all other frequently asked questions please click here.

Please take a few minutes to register any regular or one-off journeys that you are planning, and see for yourself how easily you can be put in contact with other travellers going your way

ANOTHER VERY SMART IDEA: Traveline.txt

I have to be honest and admit that I am not a big fan of bus travel – but that could be about to change.

I hate going along to bus stops and finding that the next bus is an an hour’s time. I could have stayed indoors or done something more useful in the meantime. Even worse is when there is no timetable at all to refer to.

But now each bus stop has a 7 Letter code (generally on a green circular sticker) that you text to 84268, at your normal text rate) and you will then receive a free reply via text message within 30 seconds showing:

The times of up to the next four buses due at that particular stop
The service number of each bus
The destination of each bus

Real time information will be given, so you know exactly when your next bus is due to arrive!

If there are no buses running after the time you text, you will get a reply with a telephone number for a taxi company approved by the Department for Transport.

Dont forget to keep the bus stop code for next time!

If you don’t want to go to the bus stop for the code, or don’t know where the nearest bus stop is, you can get the information online by visiting the Traveline Cymru website on www.traveline-cymru.info and click on ‘Find Your Bus Stop’. Or you can get the information by calling 08712002233 (10p/min line)

There is even an app for you smart phone users – called NextBuses.mobi

Full details here: http://www.traveline-cymru.info/bus-times-on-your-mobile-phone/

Subsequently, the title of the photograph was used by Sagan as the primary title of his 1994 book, Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space.

The words in this video are taken from the book. Having him read to you is something else. Enough said. Take a listen and leave comments please. Share it. Please.

The NSS claims even organ players in hospital chapels are on NHS payrolls.

NHS guidance notes all patients have a right to religious observance and that trusts should provide both faith representatives and places to pray.

However, the Catholic Church in Scotland said it agreed that spiritual carers should not be funded by the NHS.

‘Pressure on services’

The NSS said it contacted 233 acute and mental health trusts which spent a total of £26.72m on chaplains, at an average of £48,953 each.

The society extrapolated these figures for the whole of the UK to produced a national average of £32m per year.

But the NSS said this took into account only the salaries of the chaplains, and excluded national insurance contributions, pension payments, administration costs, office accommodation, training, and the upkeep of chapels and prayer rooms.

NSS president Terry Sanderson told BBC Radio 4′s Today programme that the £40m figure was equivalent to employing 1,300 nurses or 2,645 cleaners.

“I think if people were given the choice they would choose the latter [nurses or cleaners] because frontline services are under pressure, they are going to be increasingly so as the recession bites, and it’s important that savings are made wherever they can be,” he said.

Alan Rogers, of Charitable Chaplaincy Cymru , contacted me and all WAG candidates in the run up to the WAG elections. I was happy to offer my wholehearted support. As part of this, Alan asked me to set up a Facebook page for them. You can find this here:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Charitable-Chaplaincy-Campaign/122810751132197?sk=wall&filter=2

Please ‘LIKE’ it and answer the three survey questions – which are the ones asked of the WAG candidates.

Andy

Experts all agree that the most sensible policy is to regulate, but politicians are afraid to touch the issue. In days, a global commission including former heads of state and foreign policy chiefs of the UN, EU, US, Brazil, Mexico and more will break the taboo and publicly call for new approaches including decriminalization and regulation of drugs.

This could be a once-in-a-generation tipping-point moment — if enough of us call for an end to this madness. Politicians say they understand that the war on drugs has failed, but claim the public isn’t ready for an alternative. Let’s show them we not only accept a sane and humane policy — we demand it. Click below to sign the petition and share with everyone –if we reach 1 million voices, it will be personally delivered to world leaders by the global commission: