Current activities and campaigns
Please note - this section is currently being updated
NATIONAL
Climate change
This past year we joined FoE Scotland in their national campaigns against climate change. Our planet, including our patch of it in Scotland, is being polluted, poisoned and misused. Here in Scotland, air pollution kills 2,000 people a year; most of our waste is dumped, not recycled; and one in twelve homes is at risk of flooding.
In the wider world, large corporations are working with little regard for our planet's or people's environmental needs. Massive tracts of rainforest are still being cut down and industrial development has contaminated every environment from the Arctic ice fields to the deepest oceans.
No to Nuclear
In 2006 we focussed on the government’s intentions to build more nuclear power stations. Nuclear power is dangerous, expensive and too late to solve the problems of carbon emissions from fossil fuels. It is also unnecessary, given Scotland’s huge potential for wind, solar and water generated renewable power. We were active in bringing FoES's "White Elephant" campaign to Dundee. This year we are continuing that campaign and continuing to press for more renewable energy generation locally.
No to Nuclear – FoET members campaigning in Dundee
Nuclear power may be carbon-free, but construction of the power stations and processing fuel both produce enormous amounts of greenhouse gases. We cannot dispose of nuclear waste, and we have as yet found no means of safe storage.
Also, it is the waste products of nuclear power production that fuel nuclear weapons.
LOCAL
Local and Regional Plans
We try to bring a greener dimension to planning decisions, including local and structure plans, and would like to do more. Last year we addressed the Angus Local Plan Hearing to campaign for a stronger wind energy policy, and are awaiting the outcome. Angus Council has just published its response to the reporter's recommendations so we are into the final consultation period now before the finalised plan is published.
Climate Change
Our local councils are making commendable efforts in some ways but could do more. We are always trying to campaign for an environmentally friendly agenda where we can. Last year we held a briefing for Dundee City Councillors to put the case for renewable instead of nuclear energy generation. We are also very interested in the "green" credentials of Dundee House, the replacement for Tayside House (see events listing)
Wind Turbines
We have campaigned in favour of well-sited local wind farms, recently at Ark Hill, Angus and Drumderg, Perth. Both of these now have planning permission to go ahead.
Waste recycling
We have worked with Dundee City Council in the preparation of waste recycling booklets for householders – ‘Reduce, Re-use, Recycle’. We are currently campigning for more widely available recycling facilities for the widely used tetrapacks
No to Nuclear / Yes to Renewables
FoES’s "White elephant " visited Dundee last year and aroused considerable interest. A further visit is planned for March/April this year just before the election as part of Friends of the Earth Scotland's campaign against new nuclear development. See Events & Diary Dates for future campaigns
Committee involvement
We are currently represented on the Dundee Partnership for the Environment, and the Angus Transport Forum. See ‘Links’ for contact details We support and work with other local organisations campaigning for a greener and a fairer world – see links page for contact details. We are members of Solar Cities Scotland (locally Dundee Sun City), Sustainable Communities Initiatives and Dundee Voluntary Action.
BeachWatch
We survey and clean local beaches once a year as part of the Marine Conservation Society’s Beachwatch Campaign – gloves and bags provided! Weather not guaranteed!
Beachwatch – FoET in Action in Angus
Other activities
We organise trips for members – e.g. recently to the Kinghorn Earthship and Jamesfield organic restaurant and shop.
From time to time we allocate part of the regular meeting to a speaker or to a film presentation.