Something Fishy Going On

Photo by IvanWalsh

Yesterday's Sunday Herald carried a rather disturbing report about a fish farm near Ullapool in the Highlands. Disturbing for the fact that, despite the farm apparently being riddled with sea lice (they've exceeded the industry's own recommended levels six times this year alone) and the local environment around the farm being damaged, they somehow managed to be awarded a prize by the Crown Estate for "sustainability of the business in it's environment".

The Herald report comes hot on the heels of the BBC Scotland expose of the fish farming industry a couple of weeks ago, which showed that there's no one really watching over fish farms and they effectively self-regulate. The current Scottish Government do have plans to change that somewhat, and hopefully that will open the fish farm industry up to greater scrutiny.

But I do despair over those words in the Crown Estate award to the Ullapool fishery, "Sustainability of the business". The fish farming model is far from sustainable in the long term. One of the reasons for the depletion of fish in the North Sea is that we need more and more of them, not to feed ourselves, but to feed the fish that we keep in cages in our sea lochs.

And it's not just our own environment we're screwing over to produce farmed fish. 28% of the UK's fishmeal comes from Peru, where the local area is being devastated by lax environmental standards. The fishmeal is used to feed farmed fish here, but the locals claim that the factories in Peru cause asthma and skin problems, not to mention the damage to the marine environment caused by the effluent that is just pumped straight back out to sea.

I believe that in 20 years time we'll look back on fish farming as madness, and wonder what the hell we were thinking.

The Isle of Eigg off Scotland's west coast is currently fighting plans for a fish farm next to their island. Please take two minutes to read why they oppose this farm, and sign their petition.

Green In The Media 31st October - 6th November

Haven't had a week this bad for a while!

Monday 31st October


One Planet
On: BBC World Service Radio
Time: 12:32 to 12:50 (Also Fri 1930, Sat 0430, 2030, Sun 0630, 2030)
One Planet looks at how we use our planet.



Excerpts taken from DigiGuide - the world's best TV guide available from 
http://www.getdigiguide.tv/?p=1&r=20818
Copyright (c) GipsyMedia Limited.

The Week In Green Numbers

60

- number of Javan Rhinos left living in the wild #

100 tonnes

- waste plutonium stored at Sellafield #

£50 milliion

- estimated gold and silver to be extracted from a mine in the Trossachs National Park #

9%

- increase in bat numbers in the UK since last year #

44 billion tonnes

- what emissions need to be by 2020 to keep climate change to 2°C #

56 billion tonnes

- what experts reckon global emissions will actually be by 2020 #

Green In The Media 24th - 30th October

Monday 24th October


One Planet
On: BBC World Service Radio
Time: 11:32 to 11:50 (Also 1630, Fri 1930, Sat 0030, Sun 1930)
One Planet looks at how we use our planet.


Unreported World
On: more4
Time: 23:40 to 00:05
Peru: Blood And Oil.
In this edition from 2009, Unreported World travels deep into the Peruvian jungle to investigate how the government's auctioning off vast tracts of the Amazon rainforest to global oil, gas and mining corporations led to violent clashes with thousands of indigenous tribal people.

Wednesday 26th October


Costing the Earth
On: BBC Radio 4
Time: 21:00 to 21:30 (Also Thu 1330)
Planes grounded, airports shut, chaos on the roads: Tom Heap investigates ways to keep Britain moving if there is another harsh winter, and asks if future winters will be as bad.

Thursday 27th October


Open Book
On: BBC Radio 4
Time: 16:00 to 16:30
Mariella Frostrup talks to Margaret Atwood about her new book In Other Worlds, and discusses with Helen Simpson the challenges of writing fiction about climate change.



Excerpts taken from DigiGuide - the world's best TV guide available from 
http://www.getdigiguide.tv/?p=1&r=20818
Copyright (c) GipsyMedia Limited.

The Week In Green Numbers

740 million

- people who moved within their own borders in 2009 #

106

- the woeful number of electric cars bought in the UK in the third quarter of 2011 #

£1 billion

- proposed subsidy withdrawn from the Longannet carbon capture trial #

5,000

- estimated number of tigers in captivity in the US #

3,200

- estimated number of tigers in the wild worldwide #

How Green Is Your Laptop?

When I bought a new laptop back in May, it didn't take me long to zero in on what specs I needed. Well, "needed" is perhaps not the best phrase. "Wanted" is more like it. I wanted a gaming machine. And I duly bought a gaming machine.

That didn't stop the sharp intake of breath I had when I unboxed it and saw the size of the power pack and battery. The laptop is now affectionately known as "The Beast".

But if it wasn't high-powered games I was wanting to use, then this new guide from Ethical Consumer would have been handy. They've updated their website, and have decided to make this shopping guide to laptops free for everyone to peruse. You can see how each computer fared in a number of categories. Do you care more about human rights abuses than you do genetic engineering? Then you can move the plethora of sliders to change the scores depending on which subjects you do care about.

And what of The Beast? Well, the manufacturer has a high Greenpeace ranking and the best rating for environmental reporting. Unfortunately it also avoids tax and one of it's Chinese suppliers has "sweatshop conditions" in a factory, labourers working 80 hours a week for 52 cents an hour.

The Beast now has a double meaning to it's nickname.

Longannet In The Long Grass

Photo by _gee_

It can come as no surprise to anyone following the story that the Carbon Capture And Storage project at Longannet power station in Fife has been cancelled. In fact, it shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone since the government leaked details last week that it was in trouble.

We're constantly being told that new coal plants will be "CCS-ready", and therefore will be clean. They should be allowed to be built, based on the politician's great-white-hope that some day in the not-too-distant future they will not be polluting at all.

Unfortunately that political dream has come up against reality. The technical challenges have proven too great for a UK government that won't give you much of a hearing if you're not in the financial services industry, so they have stopped throwing money at it.

With a bit of luck, we can now banish the phrase "clean coal" to the dustbin of history, and the money that would have been used to study CCS should now be ploughed into renewables.

I Name This Ship...

Photo by WireLizard

There's a certain kind of person who seems to revel in the amount of pollution they can personally emit. Jeremy Clarkson springs to mind immediately, but you know the type - they make a point of telling you that they don't recycle, that they drive across the road to the shop and that they always take as many plastic bags as they possibly can.

They think they're being big, clever and funny. Increasingly, people don't laugh.

Last night, I had the TV on in the background while I did other things. Tuned to ESPN, it was showing a programme called "Planet Speed". Not my normal fare, but like I said I was doing something else and wasn't paying much attention to the powerboat racing that they were showing.

Until I caught the name of one of the boats.

Owner and driver Dan Davies has called his 40 foot, 1050 horsepower speedboat "Global Warmer".

Jeremy Clarkson would be pissing himself laughing, no doubt.

Don't Touch That Dial

Photo by FeatheredTar

It's been a couple of years since I mentioned Dalgety Bay on here, but the story of their radioactive beach has just hit the headlines big-time over the last few days.

To recap, during World War II there was an airbase there, to protect the good people of Edinburgh from the Luftwaffe. At the end of the war, the site was used to dismantle the now-surplus-to-requirements aircraft. There was a slight problem, though - the aircraft dials were painted with radioactive radium to make them glow in the dark. The Ministry of Defence decided to ignore the problem by just burning all the material, then using it as landfill to reclaim some of the foreshore at Dalgety Bay. Problem solved, job done.

Until 1990, when radioactive particles started washing up on the beach. In fact, 1,800 different particles have been found on the foreshore since then, with over 100 in the last week alone.

There have been plans to deal with this before, but not to actually stop the "leak". One that sticks in my mind was the plan to concrete over not just the beach, but the gardens of everyone who lives in the area. That solves the problem of people accidentally picking up radioactive material in the soles of their shoes, or their kids shoving their fingers in their mouths after making a sandcastle. But it doesn't actually deal with where the contamination is coming from.

That would require the MoD actually investigating. Which, according to yesterday's Sunday Herald, they're reluctant to do. They don't want to investigate where the radioactive material is coming from in case they come in to contact with radioactive material.

Yeah, I know.

Much easier just to concrete over everything, ensuring there's a handy hole left on the sandy beach for us to stick our heads into.

Green In The Media 17th - 23rd October

Monday 17th October


One Planet
On: BBC World Service Radio
Time: 11:32 to 11:50 (Also 1630, Fri 1930, Sat 0030, Sun 1930)
One Planet looks at how we use our planet.

Tuesday 18th October


Scotland's Fishy Secrets
On: BBC 1 Scotland
Time: 22:35 to 23:05 (Also Sat 1815 BBC2 Scotland)
Kenneth Macdonald investigates claims that fish farms may be responsible for a possible environmental disaster threatening Scotland's iconic wild salmon. The industry, a major contributor to the Scottish economy, is being accused by some of destroying valuable stocks of wild salmon and sea trout in Scottish lochs and rivers.

Wednesday 19th October


Costing the Earth
On: BBC Radio 4
Time: 21:00 to 21:30 (Also Thu 1330)
Britain's electricity grid needs replacing. Does that mean an army of pylons marching across our green and pleasant land? Tom Heap reports.

Thursday 20th October


Live Energy and Climate Change Questions
On: BBC Parliament
Time: 10:30 to 11:30 (Also 0100, 0330)
Live coverage of questions in the House of Commons to Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne and his ministerial team.

Sunday 23rd October


Countryfile
On: BBC 1
Time: 18:25 to 19:25
Matt Baker and Ellie Harrison go behind-the-scenes at Slindon in Sussex to reveal how two very different traditions are helping keep the picturesque village alive after it lost its pub, post office and local shop. John Craven investigates what impact plans to build hundreds of miles of new power lines will have on Britain's countryside. And Adam looks into an initiative to encourage more wildlife on his farm.



Excerpts taken from DigiGuide - the world's best TV guide available from 
http://www.getdigiguide.tv/?p=1&r=20818
Copyright (c) GipsyMedia Limited.

The Week In Green Numbers

£125

- profit margin per customer for energy firms, up from just £15 in June #

£470 billion

- subsidies to fossil fuel producers worldwide #

225 billion tonnes per year

- ice loss in Greenland #

$10,000

- maximum fine facing the captain of the ship leaking oil in New Zealand #

17

- radioactive particles found on Dalgety Bay beach on Friday #

Scotland In Transition

I recognised a couple of faces in this great short film from Transition Scotland that shows what communities up and down the country are doing to help their parts of the country prepare for a world that has to transition away from oil dependency.

Greenest Greenwash Ever

Photo by Tuftronic10000

The Prime Minister was in Aberdeen this morning, fawning over BP and telling them how great they are. I'm sure the people of the Gulf of Mexico disagree.

BP have been given the go ahead for a new oil project to the west of Shetland, which prompted a speech to their workers by David Cameron that was so sycophantic that it made me nauseous. Were you aware that he defended BP to President Obama last year during the Gulf oil spill? Me neither. I recall the UK government being completely silent on the issue.

The speech comes hot on the heels of Chancellor George Osbourne telling the Conservative Party conference that the government was no longer going to strive to be a leader on green issues. Instead, it would be, at best, 'meh'. Newsnight debated the issue the other night, which you can see here. If it's not cued up to run, then you'll find the debate starting at the 22minute mark.

The Tragedy Of Tuvalu

Photo by mrlins

As dawn breaks over the Pacific today, the small island state of Tuvalu has just two days' worth of fresh water left. Most of the world is ignoring them.

Near neighbours New Zealand and Australia have noticed the State of Emergency. Australia offered a desalination unit. For 12,000 people, that doesn't seem like much. New Zealand gave them two desalination units, and some plastic bottles. The US, meanwhile, has given the Red Cross $50,000.

Wow, $50,000. From one of the richest countries on the planet.

The tragedy is, Tuvalu is on the front line of the fight against Climate Change. Rising sea levels mean that it is sinking beneath the waves, with some estimates saying that it only has 50 years left before it is lost completely. That figure of 50 years misleads us. It gives us an image of islanders only evacuating when the water reaches their armpits, or of them building their homes on higher and higher stilts.

The reality, of course, is that long before those 50 years are up they will have run out of fresh water. They will have run out of food because their crops are continually inundated with sea water. The younger members of society will have gone to seek a future somewhere else, leaving behind those that are less able to help themselves when everything is "ok", never mind when the sea is encroaching every further into their paradise.

And, of course, they need somewhere to evacuate to. Australia has told them they're not wanted. New Zealand has agreed to take just 75 of them per year. Their closer island neighbours aren't big enough to cope with an influx of 12,000 people. Britain, meanwhile, is pretending it has nothing to do with them, despite that rather obvious Union Jack in the top left hand corner of the Tuvalu flag, and a rather familiar national anthem that begins "God Save Our Gracious Queen...".

If the people of Tuvalu weren't knee-deep in the Pacific, I'd say they were being hung out to dry.

Nuclear Inspector Sticks Fingers In Ears, Shuts Eyes

Turkey's don't vote for Christmas. And in other shocking news, the UK nuclear inspector says it's ok to build new nuclear power stations.

The Chief Inspector has issued a report in the wake of the Fukushima meltdown which says that there is no reason to place any restrictions on UK nuclear power plants. Indeed, it's fine to go ahead and build new ones.

This, to me, seems highly complacent, along the same lines as Salmond's declaration last year that there couldn't possibly be an oil leak in Scottish waters because we're so good at the oil thingy. Now the UK Nuclear Inspector reckons that the UK nuclear industry is absolutely fine and dandy.

I beg to differ.

Green In The Media 10th - 16th October

Monday 10th October


One Planet
On: BBC World Service Radio
Time: 11:32 to 11:50 (Also 1630, Fri 1930, Sat 0030, Sun 1930)
One Planet looks at how we use our planet.


Dispatches
On: Channel 4
Time: 20:00 to 21:00
Britain's Rubbish.
Dispatches lifts the lid on Britain's bins and asks what the plan is to tackle the country's growing rubbish problem. Reporter Morland Sanders travels the UK in the wake of the government's Waste Policy Review to find out about bin collections, litter, excessive packaging and Britons' secret bin habits. He finds householders angry about their bins not being collected every week and fly-tipping setting resident against resident. He asks whether we can do more to help reduce the rubbish problem ourselves and sets a family the challenge of living without a bin for a fortnight. I've heard a rumour that there will be an appearance from The Rubbish Diet blogger Karen Cannard.

Tuesday 11th October


Britain's Best Drives
On: BBC 4
Time: 20:00 to 20:30
Lake District.
Actor Richard Wilson takes a journey into the past, following routes raved about in motoring guides of 50 years ago. Richard drives a sporty, convertible Triumph TR3A around some of the Lake District's most famous roads. He gets the lowdown on the area from author and resident Hunter Davies, takes on a notorious road, celebrates his birthday at one of Britain's highest pubs and learns how climate change is affecting this delicate landscape.


Scotland's Great Tram Robbery
On: BBC 1 Scotland
Time: 22:35 to 23:05
Reporter David Miller investigates the disaster of Edinburgh's Tram project, which has overrun by three years and more than 400 million pounds. He hears from those who have worked at the heart of the project and discovers what went wrong, revealing the legal battles and dramas that have contributed to the delays. Featuring exclusive interviews with major figures in the project.

Wednesday 12th October


Costing the Earth
On: BBC Radio 4
Time: 21:00 to 21:30 (Also Thu 1330)
Tom Heap reports on a boom in mining for precious metals in South America, which is making some people very rich but placing a huge stress on the environment of the Andes.

Thursday 13th October


Live Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Questions
On: BBC Parliament
Time: 10:30 to 11:30 (Also 0100, 0330)
Live coverage of questions in the House of Commons to Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary Caroline Spelman and her ministerial team.

Sunday 16th October


The Political Slot
On: Channel 4
Time: 17:50 to 17:55
Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne argues that the Liberal Democrats will help people to save money, stay warm and go green this winter.


Countryfile
On: BBC 1
Time: 18:25 to 19:25
John Craven investigates the impact of a massive growth in wind farms across the UK. 



Excerpts taken from DigiGuide - the world's best TV guide available from 
http://www.getdigiguide.tv/?p=1&r=20818
Copyright (c) GipsyMedia Limited.

The Week In Green Numbers

15%

- drop in petrol use in the UK since the start of he recession #

590 million

- plastic bags used in Scotland each year #

68%

- Europeans who rate climate change a "very serious problem" #

2.4%

- increase in European greenhouse gas emissions in 2010 #

2 million km²

- hole in the ozone layer above the Arctic #

Pilot Light Lit On New Gas Plant

Two stories in quick succession have me wondering why the Scottish Government bothered with setting targets to reduce emissions to combat climate change.

Firstly, from the west of the country, a judge has thrown out objections to the proposed new Hunterston Coal Power Station. The government apparently "welcomes" the judgement.

Secondly, in the east of the country, permission has been granted for Scottish Power to knock down Cockenzie Coal Power Station and build a new Gas Power Station in it's place. Again, the government thinks this is wonderful. So too, incidentally, does the current leader of Scottish Labour.

We're sold this new gas plant with the promise that it will halve emissions from the old plant. That completely misses the point. We should be getting rid of the emissions from fossil fuel power station entirely, not settling for halving them.

And, god help us, Energy Minister Fergus Ewing gets in a bit of a muddle by claiming fossil fuel is clean:

"Scotland will still need conventional, clean fossil fuel power to provide a steady supply of electricity."

He means, of course, the Holy Grail for the dirty coal industry, Carbon Capture And Storage, a technology that does not yet work (if it ever will). New Gassy Cockenzie will apparently be "carbon capture ready". That's a meaningless phrase. Technically, my backside is "methane-capture ready".

So, one new fossil fuel plant and one that has cleared another hurdle. I believe this now entitles us all to shout "Bollocks!" every time Alex Salmond mentions what the government are doing to work towards our legally-binding climate change targets.

Peter And Jane: A Short Film About Biofuels

Green In The Media 3rd - 9th October

Monday 3rd October


One Planet
On: BBC World Service Radio
Time: 11:32 to 11:50 (Also 1630, Fri 1930, Sat 0030, Sun 1930)
One Planet looks at how we use our planet.

Tuesday 4th October


One Lucky Elephant
On: more4
Time: 22:00 to 23:20 (Also 0200)
Where does an elephant go after a life in the circus? Sixteen years have passed since circus producer David Balding adopted Flora, the orphaned baby African elephant he lovingly raised as part of his family and made the star of his show. But as Flora approaches adulthood, he realises that she is not happy performing. David must face the difficult truth that the circus is no place for Flora. She needs to be with other elephants. The road to Flora's retirement is difficult and emotional, and tests their bond in unexpected ways. Ten years in the making, One Lucky Elephant explores the consequences of keeping wild animals in captivity, and the relationship between David and Flora. True Stories commissions and showcases the best international feature documentaries.


Wednesday 5th October


Costing the Earth
On: BBC Radio 4
Time: 21:00 to 21:30 (Also Thu 1330)
The new high speed rail line from London to Birmingham is provoking fierce resistance. But how much noise and smell does a line like this really cause? Tom Heap investigates.



Excerpts taken from DigiGuide - the world's best TV guide available from 
http://www.getdigiguide.tv/?p=1&r=20818
Copyright (c) GipsyMedia Limited.

The Week In Green Numbers

9.6%

- proportion of UK power generated by renewables in Q2 2011 #

320,000

- seabirds killed by fishing boats each year #

5 pence

- cost of a one-use plastic bag in Wales from today #

13 million

- regular cyclists in Britain #

80 mph

- proposed new speed limit on Britain's motorways #