ESG Press Release 170812

Shocking levels of pollution by OESCO

The major pollution occurrence from the Oesco power station on Thursday morning, although significant because it was particularly dense and encompassing, was just another example of something that is happening very frequently, from Oesco and from the ex-MoD power station. The usual excuse being that it occurs at start-up after the correction of a minor fault. Well, the reality is that these faults – minor or otherwise – will continue with increasing regularity because these stations are well past their replacement date and 9 months after this Government has come into office, we are still waiting for notification and implementation of their replacement programme. How much longer are residents, some of them living very close to these emission outlets, expected to tolerate this degraded and harmful environment?

The GoG is concerned about making the right assessment for the next power generation programme but the community has waited long enough for this, both from the GSLP and from the GSD offices. The ESG therefore urges this government to make up its mind and to announce and implement the power station replacement programme now.

ESG Radio Newsletter

We missed our last radio newsletter due to it coinciding with the Olympics so it’s been a while since we shared news with you.

It’s always important for us to relay updates on preparations for CUTW as these also serve as reminders to those listening who wish to participate. During these past few weeks we have had workshops taking place in different parts of Gibraltar, by youngsters, creating artworks from rubbish which will be displayed at this year’s Clean Up exhibition and Parade. We are very excited as plans start taking shape to highlight serious environmental problems of a local and global nature. Make a note of the date for the Cleanup which is the 22nd September. Teams are welcome to sign up until end of August but we shall be running an open list for individuals for some time yet. Next important date is the 29th August for the clean up workshop at Plater Youth Club at 7pm, and the final and critical planning mtg on the 11th Sept at the Charles Hunt Room in the John Mack Hall at 7.30pm. Contact us at esg@gibtelecom.net or call us on 200-48996 and 54960000 for more information.

News that will resonate with some of you is the growing number of sightings of dead dolphins on our coastline these past few weeks. In early August the ESG with some of our clean up partners, reccied some of the harder to access areas we tackle each year. Seven Sisters was one such site and among copious amounts of rubbish brought in by the tide lay not one but three dead dolphins. With subsequent tragic sightings reported, this highlights a very serious problem. The ESG is following this up with local and regional NGO’s. Important please for reports to be made to the relevant NGO’s like the Museum and the GONHS.

We remain concerned about the various sources of avoidable pollution affecting people’s quality of life on a day to day basis in Gibraltar. News of eco building projects by Govt announced today at DPC is greatly welcomed of course but against a backdrop of postponed decision making on the urgent replacement of obsolete power stations is rec’d with mixed feelings. As an NGO that has fought for over a decade on this issue we have to repeatedly draw attention to the intolerable impact of all three stations as our members and many of the public expect us to do. Only last week, at OESCO, a technical problem, resulted in excessive smoke which to those in near proximity, raised great concern and fearing for their health –thankfully this was short-lived. We therefore urge Govt to please release its decision as soon as possible.

Another matter which concerns many and has great environmental impact is our traffic and we understand that Government is planning to launch a programme to limit unnecessary idling of engines as exhaust fumes are harmful to health. This happens at the frontier which affects customs employees severely and those sitting in queues extensively. But there are many other examples. Another is the coaches at the coach park, idling for hours on end, waiting for returning tourists, keeping coaches cooled in these searing temperatures. The result of this practice is choking up residents in the nearby estate who are breathing in fumes produced by the coaches.

Surely a facility can be set up for drivers to sit in relative cool while waiting for tourists to return. Doesn’t take too long for coaches to be cooled when the A/C is turned on so a little discomfort can surely be tolerated?? Car, coach and bus idling happens throughout Gibraltar and cause unnecessary harmful pollution – we urge Govt to start do something about this and for drivers listening to avoid idling whenever possible.

Thanks for listening- plse contact us if you need info or advice on anything you have heard today –also visit our website at: esg-gib.net

Shocking levels of pollution by OESCO

Dead Dolphin in Bay

FOLLOWING LINK DESCRIBES A HEAVILY POLLUTING INCIDENT IN PUENTE MAYORGA -A SMALL RESIDENTIAL AREA NEXT TO CEPSA OIL REFINERY AND OTHER ASSOCIATED PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY. RESIDENTS CALLED EMERGENCY NUMBERS WHEN EYES AND THROAT WERE BURNING DURING INCIDENT BUT WERE TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY TAKING PLACE. CITIZENS WILL BE PLACING A COMPLAINT WITH AUTHORITIES AS IT IS ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGEOUS THAT THEY SHOULD SUFFER IN THIS WAY WITH NO COMEBACK WHATSOEVER ON THE POLLUTING INDUSTRY.ITS IMPORTANT THAT CITIZENS DO SPEAK OUT AND INDUSTRY CALLED TO ACCOUNT IN THIS WAY. READ FOLLOWING LINK FOR INFO.

http://www.apuntanoticias.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1271:un-fuerte-olor-a-cloro-que-provoca-escozor-en-ojos-y-garganta-alerta-al-vecindario-de-puente-mayorga&catid=39:san-roque&Itemid=87

Over the weekend a protest was held by several hundred citizens angered by the prospect of hotels going up in an area known as “Valdevaqueros”. People will know this area as the large sand dunes at the northern end of the Tarifa beach. This strip of coastline is much admired and valued by many, including Gibraltarians. However, and possibly because of the high temperatures and time of year, the protest did not see the level of support it deserves.

Representatives of the ESG supported the protest organised by Ecologistas en Accion and other social and civic groups. The message given out by numerous speakers was that destroying pristine environments like the Tarifa coastline, itself an area of high recreational and ecological value, with the false promise of jobs – was nothing but deceit and lies; merely profit making for one or two and that this must be stopped at all costs.

The ESG understands that further actions are being planned and calls upon all those in Gibraltar who have enjoyed this magnificent area and wants to ensure its survival, intact, for future generations, to lend support.

This beautiful part of Spain is a gleaming example of what the entire southern coastline of Andalucía used to look like – Join the fight! Help stop this from happening.