Open Letter to the Scottish Government regarding unconventional gas extraction industry.

We, an alliance of groups from Scottish communities directly or indirectly at risk from the unconventional gas extraction industry, have come together to call on the Scottish Government to follow the example of other countries by implementing a moratorium on all forms of unconventional gas development in Scotland. The Scottish Government has the power to insist on a moratorium and can demonstrate its commitment by taking the responsible decision on the Falkirk public inquiry, to refuse permission to Dart Energy for commercial coalbed methane extraction.

We are supported in our call by increasing numbers of groups concerned about unconventional gas developments, by trades unions representing workers at risk of the health and safety impacts of the industry, and by organisations, scientists and public health researchers opposed to the negative environmental, health and economic impacts of unconventional gas extraction. 

A responsible decision is one truly in line with the precautionary, community-led approach to unconventional gas assessment set out in the new Scottish Planning Policy, and which sends a clear message to Westminster that its gung-ho, undemocratic approach on this issue is unacceptable in Scotland. 

The UK government has just closed the licensing round for exclusive rights to exploit Scotland's onshore oil and gas resources. 20,000 square km of our heartland are on offer in what is home to 70% of the Scottish population and much of our most productive farmland and economic activity.   

Every week, evidence is mounting that risks to public health, workers and the environment associated with this necessarily intensive industry are inherent and impossible to regulate away. Our experiences to date strongly indicate SEPA and the HSE are overstretched, under-resourced, and therefore ill-equipped to regulate exploratory drilling properly, let alone larger developments. The population density of the central belt, and its highly faulted and mined geological context, further exacerbate potential impacts. The idea that financial incentives can remedy genuine public and environmental health concerns is morally insupportable.  

Every week more evidence calls into doubt the economic promises of the unconventional gas industry. Industry and banking whistle-blowers in the USA indicate that the onshore gas-drilling boom of recent years is little more than a financial bubble – less about energy production than quick-win gains for a few multinationals before the bubble bursts. It is diverting investment away from renewables, sending profits overseas. The industry’s promises regarding employment, cheap gas, energy security and climate impacts, are disingenuous and ill-founded. The collateral risks far outweigh any local economic benefit, and threaten over-arching local and national policy aspirations.

Every week it becomes clearer the UK Government will steam-roller ahead in its support of the unconventional gas industry, irrespective of counter-evidence and the democratically-expressed opinion of its electorate. In the month since the referendum, Westminster has sought to overrule Scots’ rights to be notified about and to object to shale gas drilling under our homes, has rushed through an amendment allowing operators to use any substance and leave it in their wake, has held an auction of Scotland’s heartland for fracking, and in July underwrote INEOS’s plans to make Grangemouth the ‘European hub of fracking’ with £230m of tax-payers money. 

Thus we welcome Holyrood’s defence of Scottish citizens where it has made a vocal opposition to the Westminster approach and by taking direct responsibility for deciding the Dart public inquiry. We welcome the recognition enshrined in the new Scottish Planning Policy that a proper risk assessment of unconventional gas applications must involve the meaningful participation of Scottish communities who bear the burden of risk, and this must involve the operators’ full disclosure of all necessary information. But this does not go far enough.

Unconventional gas isn’t some far off prospect. Our communities, and others across Scotland, are facing the very real prospect of extraction on their doorstep now or in the immediate future.  There is a genuine risk that hundreds of wells will be drilled across Scotland only to demonstrate there is no economically viable resource, profiting the few at the expense of the public, environment, and economic health of the many, and derail our world-leading programme for long-term sustainable development.

We therefore call on the Scottish Government to take the responsible decision on the Dart application. Until such time as full and open public health impact and lifecycle environmental impact assessments have been conducted with effective consultation and conclusions satisfactory to all concerned parties, we call on the Scottish Government to implement a moratorium on all unconventional gas activity.

Yours sincerely

• Canonbie and District Residents Association

• Clacks Against Unconventional Gas

• Concerned Communities of Falkirk

• Don't Frack The Briggs (Bishopsbriggs)

• Dunbar Anti Fracking Team

• East Lothian Against Fracking, Pencaitland

• Halt Unconventional Gas Extraction, Cumbernauld

• Highlands and Islands Against Fracking

• Iona Community Mull and Iona Family Group

• No Fracking North Berwick

• Our Forth (Portobello)

Supported by:

• Eco Drama

• Friends of the Earth Falkirk

• Friends of the Earth Scotland

• Friends of the Earth Stirling

• A Greener Melrose

• Hands Off Our Scotland

• Professor Andrew Watterson, Occupational and Environmental Health Research Group, Stirling University

• Professor Rory O’Neill, Occupational and Environmental Health Research Group, Stirling University

• Markinch Environmental Action Group

• Scottish Hazards Campaign

• Stirling University

• Transition Town Linlithgow

• Transition Black Isle

• Transition Stirling

• Unison Scotland

Sandra Burt's report on the Peoples Climate March

People’s Climate March, Edinburgh

Sunday 21st September 2014

I arranged to take part in the People’s Climate March with some friends I’d made whilst volunteering as a Zero Waste Scotland Recycling Ambassador at the Commonwealth Games earlier in the year.  It’s good to unexpectedly find like-minded people and share information about events, and I found out about this march through these new friends.  It was ironic that the weather was glorious – a warm and sunny day in late September.  The sunshine helped bring out the crowds but underlined the reason we were there.  It’s difficult to estimate numbers but there were possibly around 5000 people in Edinburgh at the march.

The crowds assembled at Mound and we met this man who told us about the shofar - a ram’s horn blown at Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year festival at the end of September which precedes Yom Kippur.  The shofar is also sounded as a call to action and so was fitting to be heard at the People’s Climate March. 

The homemade banners were impressive and an area had been set aside at the rallying point to create personal climate change messages.  Posters from events at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival had been recycled into banners and flags.  I liked the fact that this activity had been incorporated into the festivity of the day.

There were a few speakers before we set off, and we were told that because so many more people than expected had turned up, the police had been asked to help steward the march.  Some lanes on the roads also had to be closed.  We walked along Princes Street, over North Bridge, up the High Street and back down to the Mound.

I bumped into some friends on North Bridge - John Fitzgerald and Mary Church from Friends of the Earth Scotland.

Back at the Mound there were more speakers and some community singing to finish off the rally.

Falkirk Screening of Unearthed

Unearthed

Saturday, 1 November 2014 from 18:30 to 21:30      get ticket here

Falkirk Screening of the incredible new fracking film Unearthed by South African director - Jolynn Minnaar.

The Karoo in South Africa is a stunningly beautiful agricultural area , which is threatened with the same dangers Scotland faces right now. The threat of the big gas companies setting up gas well sites and the process of  hydraulic fracturing or fracking our lands!!

We all face the potential risks to health, from the effects of possible contamination of our water, decimation of the enviroment and the huge impact on climate change from pollution of land and air. This film highlights the devastating effects.

There will be a Q & A after the film with the director Jolynn, producer Stacey and respected panel guests

Falkirk Stadiums

4 Stadium Way

FK2 9EE Grangemouth

United Kingdom

View Map

Demand the Scottish Government block fracking now!

Before the end of October, fracking companies will have submitted their bids to the UK Government for exclusive rights to exploit shale gas and coalbed methane across vast swathes of the country.

At the same time, the UK Government is going ahead with plans to remove the right to object to – or even be notified about – fracking underneath your home!Over 20,000 square km is up for grabs in some of the most populous and beautiful parts of central and southern Scotland. Not only is fracking linked to serious public health risks, impacts on water resources and the local environment, but opening up a new frontier of fossil fuels as we face climate catastrophe is the last thing we should be doing.

This threat is very real - you will have seen in the news that petro-chemicals giant INEOS plans to bribe communities to allow fracking in their area.

The Scottish Government has taken a more cautious approach to fracking and drilling for unconventional gas than its Whitehall counterpart. Yet it still talks about shale gas as an opportunity when in reality it is nothing but a threat to our health and our climate.

Scottish Ministers say they need more powers at Holyrood to properly regulate the fracking industry. But while greater devolution to the Scottish Parliament would likely be a good thing, the Scottish Government could choose to use existing powers to block fracking in Scotland.

Please email your MSP now to call on the Scottish Government to stop the advance of unconventional gas and fracking in Scotland whether or not Holyrood gets more powers.

http://act.foe-scotland.org.uk/lobby/blockfracking

Mary Church

Head of Campaigns
Friends of the Earth Scotland

Join the frackdown!

Wednesday 8th October sees Mr Frackhead - a giant, fracking puppet monster blinded by the lure of cheap gas - visit the Scottish Parliament on his UK tour. Keep up-to-date with his progress on Twitter (@MrFrackhead) or through the Friends of the Earth Scotland Facebook event. Come and join us to tell him to frack off, and ask your MSPs to take action on fracking!

Nourish Conference 2014

Representatives from Friends of the Earth Falkirk are going to the Nourish Conference- Our Common Wealth of Food. October 16th &17th October at the Royal Concert Hall and Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow. For details of the event follow this link:

Meat Free Mondays

Meet free Mondays- take action once a week

On Tuesday 23 September world leaders are gathering in New York to discuss climate change. The first time the UN has tackled the subject since 2009.

Friends of the Earth EWNI are working with other organisations to get as many people as possible to pledge to go meat free for one day a week. This simple step will show world leaders that we’re serious about reducing global emissions.

Please pledge to go meat free for just one day a week 

Did you know?

• Livestock production is responsible for over 14.5% of global greenhouse gases

• 75% of agricultural land is used to raise animals for food

• Every hour an area of rainforest the size of 100 football pitches is cut down to create room for grazing cattle

Eating less meat is an easy way to reduce our climate impact and anyone can do it. Already vegetarian, vegan or flexitarian? You can still sign the pledge to show your support. 

Worried about what to eat? Download our Eat Smart Pack full of handy tips and advice or invest in a delicious vegetarian cook book.

There was an agreement at our September meeting to produce a FoE Falkirk leaflet to promote Meat Free Monday, or vegan Monday for vegetarians to promote this initiative in Falkirk.

Summer Plant Stalls

Friends of the Earth Falkirk had two plant stalls this year. It was decided that we would replace the reuse book stall with the plants to compliment our Community Gardens and to promote local food and address litter issues. The plants included wild strawberries form or Arnot Street Garden as well as a number of donated plant from the group members. Specific thanks go to Maria for a large donation of plants. The stall was held at an event at Forth Valley Hospital in Larbert and at the Steeple on Falkirk High Street on Charities day on 6th September. Fiona took the opportunity on the stall to raise concerns about litter, specifically cigarette litter, and handed out butt boxes to smokers.

Community Power Films from Friends of the Earth Scotland

Dingwall Wind Co-operative: http://foes.do/DingwallCoop 

Kingussie Hydro Scheme: http://foes.do/Kingussie 

They will also be hosting the videos on website at http://www.foe-scotland.org.uk/community-power-stories  

Broad Bean Humous Recipe

One of the successes of the Soup and Stovies day was the Broad Bean Humous that Simon made with of the broad beans from the garden.

INGREDIENTS

400g shelled broad beans (if you can’t get fresh broad beans frozen are fine)

1 clove of garlic, crushed

3 tablespoons olive oil

Juice of 1 lemon

Salt and pepper to season

Put the broad beans into a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to the boil and then reduce the heat and allow to simmer for about 15 minutes until the beans are tender. Remove from the heat and drain. Once cooled slip the beans out of their rubbery skins.

Put the beans along with the rest of the ingredients into a food processor and whizz to produce a thick puree like consistency. If you find it a little too thick at this stage add a little more oil or lemon juice to thin out slightly.

For a slight twist add some freshly torn up mint leaves to the food processor with the rest of the ingredients.

Then transfer to a serving dish and enjoy with crudités, flat breads and crackers.

This will keep in the fridge for a couple of days and after making a very large batch of this recently I also successfully froze smaller portions in sandwich bags.

Soup and Stovies a great success

Soup and Stovies Day Saturday 9th August 2014

The annual Soup and Stovies day, a celebration of our community gardening, local food and volunteering will be held at our Bean Row Garden, just off Falkirk High Street, between 12noon and 1pm. All welcome.

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.

Video Footage from Camp Frack 2013

Frack Camp Protest Sunday 12 May 2013 click on the link to see footage of the march at the end of Camp Frack which had two people from Falkirk in attendance. The other Scots who travelled to the camp were from Stirling, Fife and Aberdeen

 

Community Screening

Thursday 2nd May

The Plough Hotel, Stenhousemuir

7.30- 9.30pm Free admission 

Four Corners – Investigative Journalism
Transmitted in Australia on ABC1 on Monday 1st April 2013. Gas Leak raises concerns about the Coal Bed Methane industry (known as coal seam gas industry in Australia) on prime time television.
This community screening is an opportunity to hear the evidence from Australia and discuss the lessons for the Scottish context with other local residents.

 

CBM awareness stall on Falkirk High Street Saturday 13th April 2013

CBM Community Mandate available online

Just click Community Mandate Form fill in and send into Falkirk Planning Office.

A plague o' both your houses

In March 2013 two community meetings were held to address concerns about the Dart Energy planning application for 14 Coal Bed Methane well sites within Falkirk and Stirling Council area. Local residents – most of whom will be directly impacted if the wells go ahead – discussed ‘visions’, positive and negative, of their communities’ future.

During the discussions two stories summed up the social, as well as the environmental, injustice of the proposed wells. Both stories relate to the importance of people's homes and how a threat to your home is a direct threat to your family, your standard of living and your well being.

"Who is going to buy a house on a well line?" - a local man voiced concern about future house prices.

One resident described living in his dream home which, "ticked all the boxes" for everything he had aspired to in a family home. But he had been keeping up to date with the planning concerns and believed that, despite community efforts, the wells would be given permission. He was going to cut his losses and try and sell his house before the final planning decision, believing he would lose more money if he waited until the wells are up and running and the communities’ fears are realised: "Me and the wife are putting our house on the market and will take our chances".

Seated not far away, a young woman spoke about being brought up in Grangemouth, an industrial town on the fenceline of the petrochemical industry, 4 miles from where she lives now. She chose her current home because she wanted to bring up her family in a healthier environment. Having moved to Larbert very recently, she believed she was moving to a desirable, up and coming area, and her new house had a view of fields and hills. But within 2 weeks of moving into this new home she received a 20 metre neighbourhood notice for the DART planning application. It turns out she lives very close indeed to an intended drilling site she know nothing about. The more she hears about the planned development the more she feels she has made a mistake in her choice of area. Having just moved, she is not in a financial position to move again. Instead of being able to settle into her new home, she already feels a sense of being trapped and misled.

This is an insight into the considerations of just two families within the local community awaiting the outcome of the DART application. There are many more such stories. A final decision has been delayed to allow Falkirk council to commission its own research into aspects of the planning application, and the Community awaits the date of a Planning Hearing. It is hoped this Hearing will allow local people’s concerns to be heard alongside the planning and scientific evidence. The outcome of the community’s ‘visioning exercise’ was a well-thought-through objection to the DART application from which it is hoped the wider community can learn. If others sign up, this may provide a mandate for an alternative future without CBM wells on the near horizon.

Norman Philip

co-ordinator Friends of the Earth Falkirk
www.foefalkirk.blogspot.com

Follow to local residents facebook page for updates on the situation at:www.facebook.com/FAUG.PEDL133

Tinsel Show- Grangemouth Flaring

Music by Karine Palwart, Tinsel Show "In the East the fires are burning, spires of stone and steel, smokestack engine turning, wheel upon wheel." Written about her memories of seeing Grangemouth from her bedroom window in Banknock, the other side of Falkirk.

The Big Dig Falkirk

THE BIG DIG- Saturday 16th March

Friends of the Earth Falkirk invite you to join them working on their town centre gardens from 11am this Saturday 16 March. Please meet at the Bean Row urban allotment off Cow Wynd, dress appropriately and bring any tools you may have.

Friends of the Earth Falkirk has “Big” plans for its gardens this year

Following the huge success of its town centre gardens last year, Friends of the Earth Falkirk are delighted to announce that they are the only group in Scotland to register with the UK-wide Big Dig campaign. On Saturday 16 March 2013, people all over Britain will work in urban community gardens with the aim of involving local people in creating vibrant community food gardens, which can reduce anti-social behaviour, provide fresh, healthy food and put pride into communities

Norman Philip, the coordinator of the group said, “We would invite people to join us from 11 am at our urban allotment on Bean Row. We will be tidying the allotment as well as working on our herb patch outside Asda and our wildflower border on Arnot Street, outside the Polish club. No experience is needed and people of any age will be made welcome.”

Friends of the Earth Falkirk maintain four gardens in the town centre through the council’s orphan land project. The urban allotment on Bean Row (off Cow Wynd) was particularly successful last year and culminated in the group organising a soup and stovies day for everyone involved – the main ingredients having been grown on site.

The Big Dig is coordinated nationally by Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming.

Friends of the Earth Stirling Public Meeting

To discuss Dart Energy's

proposals to extract Coal Bed Methane

in Stirling, Clackmannan and Falkirk

7.30 p.m. Monday 28^th January 2013 

Methodist Church, Queen Street

Stirling FK8 1HL

The Story of Stuff Short Film Night

"Talking Rubbish"

An evening of short

films and discussion

Wednesday 30^th January 2013

7.30-9.30 FREE EVENT

The Princess Royal Trust Carer Centre,

1a Bank Street, FALKIRK FK1 1NB

Community Garden Film

Please have a look at the Friends of the Earth Falkirk Community Garden Film. If you haven't seen our four gardens in Falkirk this will hopefully give you an idea of what a handful of enthusiastic people can do when they put ther minds to it. As well as creating gardens it has created a community.

Soup and Stovie Day

Friends of the Earth Falkirk celebrated the harvest of our Bean Row Urban Vegetable Community Garden with a Soup and Stovies lunch at the garden on Saturday 1st September. 

The event was an opportunity to share the stories of the transformation of the Bean Row garden form a disused piece of land to a productive vegetable garden in the centre of Falkirk. 

The soup and stovies were very tasty and all the better for having the produce grown on the very place they were being eaten- Local Food at it's purest. The day was a big thank you to everyone who has worked in the garden, be it planting or weeding, to those who donated plants and for those who have just shown an interest in the garden as it has been transformed in less than a year.

One of the funniest stories of the day was the men from the shop across the lane commenting on the bitterness of our peas over the summer. It was only when they pointed to the plants they had been picking from were we able to inform them that they were eating our beans. The beans were the first seeds we planted in the Bean Row Garden.

The plan is to fill the gaps created with the harvest to plan some winter crops.

We have already taken orders for next years event so we will just have to start all over again in Spring to get the ingredients for the soup and stovies.

Thanks for all the support we have received in regards to all four of our community gardens in Falkirk.

Norman Philip
Friends of the Earth Falkirk

Charities Day Book Stall

Friends of the Earth Falkirk had its annual book stall on the High Street. Although we made £42.50 the main aim of the day is to remind the shoppers that there is a local group in Falkirk who cares for the environment both locally and wider afield. We were able to promote our community gardens and invite a few people to out soup and stovies day. Thanks for volunteers who helped it it was good for everyone to have a chat and spend some time together.

Community Garden Workparty

The weather wasn’t promising as we embarked on a tidy-up of our town centre gardens but we’re well used to the drizzle this summer.  Norman and I started on the Newmarket Street site, planting some lobelia which was kindly donated by Falkirk Council, and removing the cigarette ends which are still unfortunately blighting the garden.  The herbs are coming along beautifully – the lemon mint smells wonderful.

We did a quick litter pick in Bean Row and admired the veg – looking forward to the Soup & Stovies Day at our AGM on 1^st September!  Norman took some great photos of the beans and other greens.

Kings Court looked fine so we headed for Arnot Street where we were joined by Jean.  We planted more of the Council bedding plants and I was surprised at how good the yellow marigolds looked in between the lavender.

As usual, we were encouraged by appreciative glances and nods from passers-by, and we had a more in-depth chat with a woman who has adopted a neglected piece of ground near her home and turned it into a beautiful garden which everyone can enjoy.
 

Sandra Burt, Community Gardening team

  

Beans means Falkirk Community Garden

Beans, potatoes, onions and carrots etc are all taking shape at our Bean Row Urban Vegetable Plot in central Falkirk

Spring Clean at Community Gardens

Before the April meeting, on the last Monday of the month, local group members gave all four of our community gardens a spring clean. At Bean Row the potatoes were earthed up, or hidden under earth to the surprise of Norman and Des, and more veg seeds were planted. The Arnot Street garden was giving a mow by the group's mower man- Des (see above) and a bit of a weed. We appear to be sharing the Kings Court garden with a number of groups of youths but we still gave it a clear up and planted some of our new plants bought with our Litter Strategy prize voucher for Jupiter. The ASDA herb garden wasn't left out and the herbs have spung into life with the latest spring sun.

All in all the gardens are blooming, including a range of wildlife friendly plants- which Corrie refers to as weeds. There has been a number of offers to keep the gardens clear of litter and weeds and to continue the voluntary effort which has achieved so much from so little so far.

45 miles Pedal Against Pollution ends at Grangemouth

Eurig Scandrett undertook a 45 mile sponsored cycle tour of central Scotland on the 28th April, for and on behalf of The Bhopal Medical Appeal. Eurig is Convenor of Scottish friends of Bhopal, a project of The Bhopal Medical Appeal.

“Amongst raising funds and awareness for The BMA, we aim to highlight that the issues Bhopal raises are not unique to this community alone. Bhopalis represents environmental injustice everywhere. All the places listed on the tour that Eurig is cycling to in Scotland have a history of resistance to pollution and by cycling between them, Eurig hopes to emphasise the connection between these communities and to highlight the common issue of how pollution from industry and its toxic emissions effect us all” says Ingrid Neil, also from Scottish friends of Bhopal.

Norman Philip, from FoE Falkirk, meet up with Eurig at the end of his cycle and provided a Carbon Cycle Tour of Grangemouth. During this final stage of the tour there was an opportunity to discuss the storied behind the corporate signs within the town. Dow and BP are using the London Olympics to try and present a green image despite the reality of their polution in Scotland and across the globe. Dow was even flying their Olympic flag at their factory gate.

Read more about the cycle and the the work of BMA by following this link
:http://www.bhopal.org/2012/05/pedal-agianst-pollution-central-scotland-cycle-ride-for-bhopal/

There is still an opportunity to make a contribute to support the cause.