Bean Row Flourishing

The Bean Row Vegetable Plot is looking at its best at the moment. We hope we have a better crop this year for our annual Soup and Stovies event.

Pedal on Parliament 2014

Gather at the Meadows in Edinburgh for a 12 noon start on Saturday the 26th April 2014

Friends of the Earth Falkirk will be represented again.

Last year 4000 of us pedalled on the Scottish Parliament to tell our politicians we want a cycle-friendly Scotland. Since then, although there have been some changes, Scotland is a long way away from achieving that – so we’re doing it again

2014 is the year Scotland decides its future, but whatever the outcome of September’s vote, we already know what kind of Scotland we want to see. We want to see a place where everyone – young or old, male or female, able-bodied or not – has the freedom to get about by bike if they want to. And by doing so we believe that we will make Scotland a healthier, wealthier, and above all happier place.

We need you to join us to add your voice in support of our manifesto for a cycle-friendly Scotland

What we want

1. Proper funding for cycling.
2. Design cycling into Scotland’s roads.
3. Slower speeds where people live, work and play
4. Integrate cycling into local transport strategies
5. Improved road traffic law and enforcement
6. Reduce the risk of HGVs to cyclists and pedestrians
7. A strategic and joined-up programme of road user training
8. Improved statistics supporting decision-making and policy

Week two at the Coal Bed Methane Public Local Inquiry

Dr Mariann Lloyd-Smith on Skype

At the start of the second week of the Local Public Inquiry there was an early start to allow witnesses to Skype in from Australia. The first witness was, Dr Mariann Lloyd-Smith, who is no stranger to Falkirk having spoken at a public meeting in Falkirk in June 2013. Dart’s QC line of questioning asked why she had not made clear at her public meeting that she was giving an overview of unconventional gas in Australia and not addressing Darts application specifically. Mariann explained she had given her talk all across Europe and if her intention was to specifically address the Dart application she would have titled her presentation accordingly. Dart essentially accused her of coming to Scotland to scaremonger and stir up the communities concerns, after the initial planning application closing date and after the Concerned Communities of Falkirk Mandate was drawn up. The following day when community representatives were being cross examined each person was asked if they had attended the public meeting accusingly. Dart's witness on Public Health accused the public meeting of causing unnecessary stress to those in attendance. 

                       

 A video of this public meeting is available on the right hand panel of this blog. 

The second witness from Australia Dr Geralyn McCarron gave evidence on the health symptoms of communities living in close proximity to Coal Seam Gas wells. She spoke of a community who “thought they were living in paradise and found they were living in a gas field.” She spoke about the mental health impact of residents feeling trapped by their circumstances. These themes was taken up the next day when Alison Doyle from Concerned Communities of Falkirk shared her heartfelt evidence of her sense of threat to her “secure sense of home.”

“They thought they were living in paradise and found they were living in a gas field.”   Dr Geralyn McCarron 

Both witnesses from Australia emphasised their belief that the community require to be consulted and given all the relevant information.  The Dart QC suggested that Dr McCarron was not aware of the public process involved in a Local Public Inquiry in Scotland. He tried to explain that this is a Public inquiry. The community are represented by their elected members. “What can be more public than that!” The question I had at that point was were Dart not aware that the elected representatives at both Falkirk and Stirling Council had rejected their planning application. When I got home I had a letter through my letterbox from Michael Matheson , my constituency MSP and Public Health Minister, in regards to the ongoing debate on the National Planning Framework. The letter included the following paragraph:

‘You will be aware that I remain opposed to the planned development within the Falkirk area for unconventional gas extraction.”  Michael Matheson MSP

Having attended two Local Public Enquiry’s in Grangemouth I would challenge the concept of Public in the title of the process. The Inquiry and Hearing process of a LPI is difficult for the public to follow due to the hundreds of documents that are referred to and the legal processes within cross-examination. Held when the majority of the public are working over a period of weeks it is virtually impossible for the public to follow. 

BIG DIG 2014

BIG DIG Saturday 22nd March

Big Dig at our Bean Row Veg Plots (just off Falkirk High Street) Saturday 22nd March  11am to 1pm. All welcome to come and plant up the veg plot at Bean Row. There will be opportunities to get involved in all four of our gardens. Tea and Coffee will also be available for all the hard workers. Donations of plants and seeds are also welcome.

Fairtrade Fortnight Litter Pick either side of Kincardine Bridge

Sandra from the group organised a Fairtrade litter pick at either side of the Kincardine Bridge. Les and Norman tidied up the hedges on the Falkirk side of the bridge, the first or last impression drivers have of Falkirk.

Gastonbury @ North Star Falkirk

The GAStonbury Benefit Night was a great night of music in support of the CCoF Public Inquiry Legal Fund. Well Done to to all involved.

February Garden Tidy

Simon and Norman spent a morning tidying up all four of our Community Gardens. The main job at all four gardens was to pick up the litter which had gathered after the winter storms. At Bean Row we turned over the earth to let some spring air in to heat up the soil. At Kings Court we picked up glass and cigarettes which had collected over the winter. The ASDA Herb garden had become an ashtray again and it is hoped the spiny growth of the herbs will remind smokers that there is a garden there. Just incase they don't notice we will add some of our signs to remind them.  Work has carried out othe winter at out Arnot Street garden over the winter by a number of volunteers. This has stopped the litter building up.

Barton Moss Solidarity Sunday

A bus left from Falkirk to support the community near the Barton Moss Frack Site in Manchester. We added a Scottish voice to the nationwide rejection of Fracking Shale Gas and Coal Bed Methane from impacted communities across the United Kingdom

Seasonal Greetings from Friends of the Earth Falkirk

Don't waste Christmas  Seasonal Greetings from all at Friends of the Earth Falkirk

Don't waste Christmas

Don't Waste Christmas!

Reduce and reuse wrapping paper.

Why don't you be creative and make some

personalised gifts for friends and family.

Avoid food waste-don't buy too much food.

Visit Love Food Hate Waste website

www.scotland.lovefoodhatewaste.com

Buy locally grown, organic or fairtrade produce

for your Christmas meal.

Take your own shopping bag when Christmas

• refuse plastic bags

Exchange recycled, home-made or charity

Christmas cards

Be safe and save energy by switching off Christmas Tree Lights overnight.

Our Community Gardens recieved the highest level- OUTSTANDING from the It's Your Neighbourhood Award 2014. Jean went along to the presentation to collect the award on behalf of all the volunteers who have made all four of our gardens a success. Thanks again to everyone who made this happen.

Global Frack Free Day

The Mariann Lloyd-Smith Falkirk Talk

The Mariann Lloyd-Smith video taken during the meeting in Falkirk is available online.  To view, follow this link:

http://foes.do/1dSXX50 

Watch "If You See A Piece of Litter Pick It Up!" on YouTube

 Litter message from Falkirk kids video click this link to watch the video. Jessica shared the story of this little video at out September meeting. Hope it lights up your day.

Doune the Rabbit Hole August 2013

Friends of the Earth Scotland took two important campaigns to the Doune the Rabbit Hole music festival. There was a campaign FOR community owned power generation and AGAINST unconventional gas- coal bed methane and fracking. As part of the weekend stall there was a workshop on the issue of unconventional gas extraction with updates from across the UK including the DART planning developments in Falkirk and feedback from the Balcome protest in England. There was a solidarity photograph taken and sent to the campaign down south.

September Meeting and AGM dates

The next meeting of Friends of the Earth Falkirk is on Monday 9th September.  Meet at our Bean Row garden at 7pm and or 7.30ish at the Wheatsheaf Inn, Baxters Wynd, Falkirk. We will planning out our local food celebration and AGM on Saturday 21st September and getting updates on all our Gardens, the CBM developments, local environmental justice concerns and planning for our winter programme.

Latest Mosiac at Arnot Street Community Garden

If you haven't passed our Arnot Street Garden, here is the latest mosiac to be added to the bollards. The next opportunity to get involved in a mosiac workshop is Wednesday 12th June at 6.30 at Arnot Street. All welcome!

Pedal on Parliament

Friends of the Earth Falkirk were represented at the well attended Pedal on Parliament event on Sunday 19^th May. Watch our video which we recorded the event at the link below.

PEDAL ON PARLIAMENT MANIFESTO

• Proper funding for cycling
• Design cycling into Scotland's roads
• Slower speeds where people live, work and play
• Integrate cycling into local transport strategies
• Improved road traffic law and enforcement
• Reduce the risk of HGVs to cyclists and pedestrians
• A strategic and joined-up programme of road user training
• Improved statistics supporting decision-making and policy

watch our video of the event at Video

Coal-Bed Methane: What it Means for Falkirk and Stirling

Talk and discussion with toxics expert Dr. Mariann Lloyd-Smith
Wednesday 22nd May 2013, arrive 7.15pm for 7.30 start
Falkirk Old and St. Modan’s Parish Church
Manse Place, Falkirk, FK1 1JN.
 Watch video footage from our Coal Bed Methane event here
Plans for 22 new coal-bed methane wells and an extensive gas pipeline network have been submitted for planning consent to Stirling and Falkirk Councils. As well as having a considerable impact on site at Airth, the Australian company, Dart Energy, has elsewhere made plans to frack for shale gas.

With many documented risks to the environment and human health there is considerable concern about the impact of new gas drilling and fracking in Scotland. Senior advisor to the Australian Government Dr. Mariann Lloyd-Smith is visiting Scotland to share her work on the impacts of coal-bed methane on communities in Australia. Advisor to the National Toxics Network and IPEN, Dr. Lloyd-Smith has also served on the Technical Advisory Group of the Australia's industrial chemical regulator and the UN Expert Group on Climate Change and Chemicals. She will be outlining potential risks to Scotland and taking part in a chaired discussion.

If you're interested in taking part it would greatly assist the organisers if you could let us know by filling in the form on our website, www.foe-scotland.org.uk/events .

• Find out more about new gas drilling and fracking in Scotland here http://www.foescotland.
org.uk/fracking.
• To read more about Dr. Lloyd-Smith visit http://www.ntn.org.au/contributor-posts/meet-mariann.
Press enquiries about Dr. Lloyd-Smith's visit should be directed to Per Fischer, 0131 243 2715.