19 years after the Guernsey branch of Friends of the Earth provided a focus for the great untapped uprising of environmental concern among islanders, the local branch is bowing out. Here Michelle Levrier reflects on the achievements of the group, while noting that many of the burning environmental issues of 1989 are still being fought over in 2008.
19 June 1989 nearly 300 people crammed into St Martin's school, lining the corridors for the launch of the Guernsey branch of Friends of the Earth (FoEG). FoEG sprouted in the fertile soil of the late 1980s, when 'Green' politics appeared to have come of age and out of the cold. Gary Vaudin, Anne Sandwith and David Sangan had been actively campaigning on environmental issues, and tired of being lone and unheeded voices decided to set up FoEG as a means of focusing and amplifying the rays of environmental sunshine on the island. Greenpeace's methods were considered too radical for the island, and besides, Greenpeace did not actively support local groups in the way that FoE does. And so, FoEG was born, a relatively mild-mannered but determined child.
The objectives of the group were:
" To disseminate clear, accurate information on environmental issues,
both global and those of particular concern to the Channel Islands
" To campaign for and encourage the people of Guernsey to make changes,
however small, to their own lifestyles, to improve Guernsey's environment and
to contribute towards global changes
" To encourage local politicians, decision-makers and businesses to consider,
as a priority, the long and short term environmental effects of every decision
they make.
In 1989 many islanders were increasingly concerned over the lack of States action on waste and sewage disposal, recycling, marine pollution, traffic, energy and air pollution, over population, overdevelopment and the threats of the nuclear power industry. In response to these concerns, FoEG was envisioned as a new breed of environmental group which was authoritative, non-political, organised and well informed on global ecological issues. We wanted to negotiate a fundamental change of attitude from one of being content to use up and pollute the world's finite resources to one of sustainable growth and development.
Hundreds of islanders signed up to support the new group, and sub-groups on all the main issues were formed with dozens of people putting their time and effort into lobbying, fundraising, publicity and awareness raising activities. Surveys were drawn up, speakers and public meetings organised, newsletters distributed, local shows and regattas attended, competitions and quizzes held, radio and television interviews given and press releases composed overnight (mostly) and delivered by bicycle.
Traffic was the overriding concern of the day, with unleaded petrol only just starting to become available, and we highlighted the air pollution issues by placing diffusion tubes in Fountain Street to measure nitrogen dioxide levels, which were sent away for independent analysis. The levels of NO2 were shown to be higher than in central London, and the Board of Health were persuaded to start monitoring air pollution in 9 sites throughout the island. The group campaigned strongly for legislation requiring catalytic converters to be fitted to all cars. We had a robust presence at the Trades Fair in 1989 at Beau Sejour, where our display focussed on the effects of air pollution from vehicles. We brought John Grimshaw of Sustrans to the Island for a talk and cycle ride, and kick-started the Guernsey Bicycle Group, sponsoring their very successful 'Not for Motorists Map'. FoEG had members elected to the Traffic Committee and was instrumental in the introduction of Residents Parking schemes, moving motor tax onto fuel, and the formulation of both the 2003 Integrated Road Transport Strategy, and the 2006 Road Transport Strategy, for which the means of funding all the positive proposals is not yet resolved. Everyone agrees that the volume of traffic in Guernsey spoils our otherwise beautiful island, but regrettably few politicians, even now, have the vision to follow through with the decisions that will make a difference.
Four years of monthly Sunday afternoon strolls through leafy green lanes contributed to the joint publication with the Tourist Board of the Green Lanes booklet, a guide book of circular walks which each take in at least three green lanes, which has helped so many people appreciate the value of these unassuming little areas of unspoilt Guernsey. FoEG also helped to set up the local branch of Living Streets, Stop Traffic Endangering Pedestrian Safety, or STEPS.
Reports, prepared entirely by volunteers, have flowed steadily from the presses. For example, Less Traffic for a Better Island (93), Revitalising Guernsey's Bus Services (93), Renewing the Old Quarter (95), and Air Quality - monitoring and traffic (95). But traffic has not been the only issue, major reports have also been published on Sustainable Planning Practice (94), Strategic Energy Policy (91), Ecological Tax Reform (2005) Sewage Disposal (94) and Waste Management (94), with briefing sheets produced on traffic management, the unsustainable use of tropical hardwoods, sewage treatment and waste management alternatives, incineration and paper recycling.
FoEG was instrumental in getting in place the first of the highly successful recycling bins (which several members of our government thought would never work in Guernsey). Through continuous lobbying on as many fronts a possible, including the Policy Planning process, producing briefing sheets and reports, bringing over authoritative experts to talk at public meetings and workshops, and representation on States bodies such as the Composting Working Party, the Environment Department, and the Public Services Waste Forum, the Public Services Department have now introduced separation at source trials, a civic amenity site, and recycling is firmly on everyone's agenda.
With funding from Greenpeace, FoE UK and delegate's fees, FoEG organised the Channel Islands International Conference on Safety Issues in the Production and Transport of High-level Nuclear Waste in 1995, held in Jersey, helping to raise the profile of the nuclear shipments from Cap de la Hague to Japan through Channel Island waters. FoEG also brought John Large, one of the foremost consultants on nuclear reprocessing, over to speak at a public meeting.
Members were determined to tackle Green Consumerism from the start - stalls in town over Christmas promoted recycled, fairly traded and environmentally friendly items as alternative presents. We persuaded the Board of Administration to start the Christmas tree shredding and composting initiative, undertook supermarket audits to find out how true their 'green' claims were, and had a stall outside Safeways to highlight over-packaging issues. We surveyed all the electrical retail shops to audit the energy efficiency and correct labelling of their products and highlighted the lack of choice for the most efficient goods. We surveyed all the takeaway food outlets in the Island and tried to encourage them to use biodegradable packaging. We sent questionnaires to all the building contractors querying their waste disposal methods. We set up stalls at garden centres highlighting the damage that peat extraction causes, and encouraging organic growing and composting. We lobbied all the horticultural businesses to persuade them to use compost and reduce their pesticide and fertiliser use. We wrote to architects, surveyors and building suppliers on their use of mahogany and tropical hardwoods, and we brought environmentally conscious architects Plinke, Leamen & Browning to the island to talk to local professionals on energy efficient building.
Organic growing has also been a focus of the group, we brought Mark Purdy to the island to speak to a public meeting on organophosphates, campaigned for organic milk and against the use of peat, pesticides and artificial fertilisers, and helped to promote Permaculture locally. Anne Sandwith combined FoEG campaigning with running her business Guernsey Organic Growers and setting up the Island's first box delivery scheme. Other members have also brought together their passion for environmental issues with earning a living: Dave Sangan and Ian Rose both work with sustainably sourced wood, Paul Fletcher is going from strength to strength with his renewable energy business Energy Services (ESi), Gary Vaudin founded Argent, the greenest funeral service on the island, and Mike Johnson left the island to become a radio operator on the Greenpeace ships.
FoEG's most far reaching achievement has been the respect and authority with which it has been regarded by both the media and the States. FoEG has been invited to make representations on all the major policy and legislative changes over the last two decades, including but not limited to the annual Policy Planning reports, Environmental Pollution legislation, Environmental Impact Assessment legislation, Tourism and its impacts on the island, Commerce and Employment's Building Confidence report, the Waste Review Board, the Waste, Water, Stone report, the Cable Link report, and the Tax Strategy review. The group has also made representations to all the Planning Enquiries, including Rural and Urban Areas, La Grande Mare, Leales Yard and the Royal Hotel MURA.
Mike Johnson was invited to join the Strategic Policy Forum in 1995, a think tank of non-political business leaders brought together to consider matters of strategic economic policy. He presented a paper on Indicators of Sustainable Development to the group (2002), which was later incorporated into Sustainable Guernsey, retaining many of the indicators of sustainability that he proposed. Mike also prepared the group's response to the review of Tax on Rateable Value, proposing instead a Land Value Tax. In response to the tax strategy review FoEG proposed an incremental movement towards Ecological Tax Reform (2005), a fairer, resource-based way of raising taxes than our current, regressive income-based system. For Guernsey, the time has not yet come for these last two reforms, but I am confident that eventually this, too, will be seen to be the only relevant way forward, just as eventually the solutions FoEG has consistently promoted over the last 19 years have come to be recognised as common sense: sewage treatment, alternatives to incineration, cycle lanes, renewable energy, energy efficiency, organic and fairly traded food, sustainable architecture, reduced packaging, polluter pays principles, composting, and recycling.
Of the three aims FoEG set for itself, the last one has not yet been achieved, but environmental issues have moved closer to the middle ground of Guernsey politics, and although the imminence of anthropogenic climate change has a lot to do with this, it cannot be denied that Friends of the Earth Guernsey has played a significant part in changing the shape of Guernsey politics and islanders' concerns.
From my involvement with the Housing Department I am pleased to applaud the commitment to improving the energy efficiency of social housing, and the development through the Guernsey Housing Association of low carbon homes. I represented FoEG on the Policy Council's Energy Policy Working Group, the culmination of which is the proposed Energy Strategy due to be debated by the States in June 2008, which recognises the need for action on energy efficiency and low-carbon energy, including generation from local renewables.
So many committed people have given their time and energy to this island through their contribution to the work of Friends of the Earth Guernsey, far too many for me to be able to name you all. Every one of us is still passionate about environmental issues, and is following that through in our everyday lives. On behalf of every islander I would like to thank FoEG members and supporters throughout the years for all those achievements towards protecting the quality of life in Guernsey.
The island and the planet now face the greatest challenge in the history of humankind, the threat of uncontrolled climate change, which will affect every aspect of our lives including our very survival. It may seem an inopportune time to close one of Guernsey's leading environmental groups, when we are on the brink of potential environmental disaster. Other hands are prepared to take up the reins, however, not least the Climate Action Network group, G-CAN. FoEG has divided up its funds by making donations to G-CAN, to Planet Guernsey, to the renewable energy project on Lihou Island, and to Friends of the Earth UK. And finally, by sponsoring 1,500 low-energy light bulbs that the Social Security Department are giving out to benefit claimants, so that we can, with our last action as Friends of the Earth Guernsey, make a contribution towards both fuel poverty and energy efficiency at the one time.