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DECC should invest in renewables rather than appeals, says
CLA
THE Country Land and
Business Association (CLA) on 25 January 2012, said that the
Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) must end the
uncertainty in the renewable industry rather than continuing to
appeal against the High Court’s ruling that its plans to cut solar
FIT payments on projects completed after 12 December 2011 were
unlawful. As the Court of Appeal has unanimously rejected attempts
to overturn the ruling but the Government is seeking permission to
appeal to the Supreme Court, many other groups are also asking the
same question, "Why?"
CLA North Regional Director Dorothy Fairburn said:- "Many CLA
members lost out on the higher rate FIT payments when the Government
illegally rushed through sudden payment cuts to the solar Feed-in
Tariff. We regret the Government still intends to appeal even though
two courts have now ruled it behaved unlawfully. We urge Ministers
to stop wasting time and money on further appeals and stick to their
own contingency plan. This will reduce the solar tariff for
installations completed after 3 March 2011 and is the only way to
end the uncertainty that is damaging investment."
So what do you are readers think about this? With the US pressing to
go ever green and invest in US based 'Green Tec', do
you think the DECC is going the correct way? Email us your views
to:-
news24@southportreporter.com and
let us know what you think about this issue!
More waste to be recycled
THE recycling of TVs,
mobile phones, computers and other electrical equipment is to be
increased and yet, did you know that Electrical and electronic
materials are Britain's fastest growing waste stream? It is reported
that than 1 million tonnes of equipment waste is generated annually
in the UK. MEPs in the European Parliament have voted to set new
targets, with governments across Europe expected to ensure that 2
thirds of the total waste are collected for recycling within 8
years. Liberal Democrat MEP Chris Davies, who negotiated the
original EU legislation on waste electrical and electronic equipment
(WEEE), said:- "When recycled properly our old electrical
equipment can become a valuable raw material. MEPs fought hard to
achieve a much higher target for its collection, and the new rules
will help to prevent its illegal export by closing some of the
existing loopholes. Our waste must not become another person's
poison." According to the Environmental Investigation
Agency, the UK has a persistent problem with e-waste trafficking
with up to half of all discarded computers in the UK turning up
elsewhere as illegal waste. It is shocking to think that it has
taken this long as most products contain valuable metals, and almost
all can be recycled!
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Ban Chinese
(sky) lanterns to stop damage to environment and harm to wildlife
THE Marine Conservation
Society (MCS), the UK’s leading marine charity, says it’s delighted
that Spain has become the latest in a number of countries banning
the sale and use of Chinese (sky) lanterns, and wants to see a ban
on the manufacture, sale and release of the lanterns in the UK.
There are already bans or restrictions in Germany, Austria,
Australia and Malta and Vietnam, where they have been blamed for a
number of serious forest fires. MCS is supported in its call for
action on lanterns in Britain by the RNLI and the NFU.
The lanterns, increasingly used in place of balloons, can be made of
various materials including bamboo, oiled rice paper and wire. They
contribute to rising litter levels, and pose a threat to farm
animals when ingested. They also potentially harmful to marine
species from turtles to whales, and become a floating fire risk on
land. Emma Snowden, MCS Litter Campaigns Officer, says the
problem is that people have no idea of the damage the lanterns can
do as once they’ve disappeared over the horizon and then it’s out of
sight, out of mind. "The turn of the year saw increasing
numbers of lanterns released in celebration and the forthcoming
Diamond Jubilee and Olympics, could see unprecedented numbers lit
and let go. These mobile fireballs have to come down somewhere, and
it’s often on farmland or out at sea. We have received reports of
numerous false alarms for the Coastguard and RNLI after people have
seen them over the sea and mistaken them for flares."
RNLI’s Head of Fleet Operations Hugh Fogarty said that:- "2010
saw a significant increase in the number of lifeboat callouts to
false alarms caused by Chinese lanterns and the RNLI asks anyone
planning to release them anywhere near the sea to contact the
Coastguard and let them know beforehand."
NFU rural surveyor Louise Staples add:- "We applaud the Marine
Conservation Society’s drive to highlight the dangers that Chinese
lanterns can cause to wildlife. Our members have already seen
first-hand how they can harm; or even kill; farm animals not to
mention the fire risks to standing straw, thatch roofs and bales of
hay and straw. It is vital that people throughout the UK realise
this."
Emma Snowden says:- "We don’t want to dampen Chinese New Year
celebrations, but the original Chinese lanterns were not designed to
be air borne, they were created to hang on poles and decorate houses
rather than fly off into the sky."
She’s confident that the public would back a ban if they were fully
aware of the serious damage lanterns could do:- "When we
reported the recent Spanish ban on our Facebook page we were amazed
at the strength of feeling out of there, all of which backed a ban
of both balloon and lantern releases. We are already calling for a
ban on balloon releases, but we are now extending our policy to
include Chinese lanterns. Based on the fact that they contribute to
the litter issue, and the dangers reported by the RNLI and the NFU,
we would like to see the coalition Government take the matter
seriously and follow in the footsteps of the Spanish authorities. We
want the Olympic and Diamond Jubilee year to be remembered as one of
great celebrations, not tragic accidents and a legacy of littering."
Yet many other people are saying that this is an over reaction and
just another way to get more PR in as they can't get rid of
fireworks, but this could be a way to do that! So what are your
views? Please email us to:-
news24@southportreporter.com and let us know what you
think about this! |
