The ESG is concerned about air quality in the South District last week, notably between Wednesday and Saturday. Fumes from the GibDock area, together with heavy pumping of noxious smoke from both power stations were also compounded by bunkering fumes blown ashore due to prevailing winds.

All together made for a cocktail of pollution which affected a large section of our population for often unbearable stretches of time.

It is true that much of the time our air space is flushed clean because of our constant wind flow. The downside of this is when the winds drop or turn inland as this results in pollution from certain fixed points in Gibraltar to directly impact on the community. Several recommendations on these matters have been made in various papers submitted to previous and present Governments over the years by the group.

This key issue affects our quality of life and our health and the ESG calls upon Government to do what is necessary to bring these polluting sources under control.

ESG Radio Newsletter 12th October 2012

Hi- today’s’ newsletter will highlight some of the action during this year’s CUTW campaign that saw widespread community support.

The energy and physical activity unleashed over a few hours throughout Gibraltar was astounding, with many areas visibly transformed. Large quantities of waste were removed from new or existing hotspots with sheer hard work from volunteers and other partners who provided specialised equipment and resources to shift this in a short space of time – The results and recommendations of the Clean up on a site by site basis are contained in a report to be submitted to Govt and the Litter Committee for consideration.
If your team took part you may want to visit our website which carries an article and photographs of volunteers: go to esg-gib.net and news for info and click on the flickr link for pictures.

Because so many of our community leaders support CUTW they in turn influence their peer groups and is why awareness under this campaign spreads so effectively. Ultimately, however, we believe that awareness and facilities must be supported by fines carried out by dedicated Litter Wardens. .

The energy and glee from the young and not so young on the colourful Parade was a resounding success and messages on respecting and cleaning up our environment and calls for recycling were made loud and clear. With a government actively responding to our campaign there is hope that progress will be maintained.

Immediately after the clean up the ESG organised a weeklong Exhibition rich in a variety of displays from various associations and schools. A mini cinema screened environmental films and workshops were held on organic food and sustainability and creating art from waste. Feedback from pupils and teachers was very positive encouraging us to plan more workshops in future.
Thanks again to everyone whose efforts ensured a CUTW success in 2012.

As Gibraltar prepares for Al Gore’s visit and the Thinking Green Conference it cannot have escaped anyone’s notice that the ex vice president of the USA commands both attention and controversy.

It will be interesting to hear what he and his colleague have to say that can help bring about positive environmental benefits for Gibraltar. As a long established environmental NGO, we know how important these issues are and see the visit in an optimistic light. The appeal, this time, is made to businesses to take on responsibility for converting their companies to greener performance and choices. This is a valid goal. The surrounding noise about the visit, costs, structure of conference and more rushing through social and other media will no doubt continue until Mr Gore has been and gone. We have spoken out against Nature Company sponsoring part of the costs and have made the specific reasons for this known. You can read about this also on our news section on our website.

Debates and discussion should certainly follow the conference to discuss the substance of what we can do here in Gibraltar to make important environmental changes and the ESG, for one, intends to continue working hard for these measures.

========================================================================

ESG PRESS RELEASE RE NATURE SPONSORSHIP OF THINKING GREEN CONFERENCE
4th October 2012

The ESG believes that the Thinking Green Conference is a positive step in Gibraltar’s evolution towards a greener and more sustainable environment. Nevertheless a Chronicle article published on the 28th September announcing that sponsorship of this Conference was to be partly covered by Nature Group is not seen as either positive or acceptable by the group.

Given the circumstances surrounding Nature, the ESG is dismayed at the regrettable decision by Government, as hosts, of allowing such sponsorship to go ahead. Nature locally holds the record for the worst environmental accident in Gibraltar in recent times. The fact that said company is still embroiled locally in court proceedings makes their sponsorship of a major environmental event completely inappropriate.

The ESG recognises that companies like Nature Group sponsor all manner of events, charities and good causes throughout the world but we cannot accept that its operations in Gibraltar, to date, provide the credentials to be linked to such a high profile environmental event as the Thinking Green Conference.

The ESG has publicly lobbied against the chronic pollution from this sullage plant for many years leading up to the explosion, because of the widely felt impact from its operations. With Nature investment coming just before the explosion, the plant was set to expand capacity. As would be expected, this chronic and deeply impacting air pollution has disappeared from the area since the explosion and cessation of the treatment of waste oil.

We are aware of the company’s intentions to resume treatment of waste products in Gibraltar and this is something we shall campaign against as we believe that our homeland is too small and densely populated for this process to be carried out safely, and without adversely affecting the population.

The sponsorship of the conference is a serious investment by Nature and looks like an attempt to whitewash its sullied reputation. The Government, as hosts of the event, should not have accepted such sponsorship.

ESG – Gibraltar Report on CUTW CLEAN UP 2012

GO TO FLICKR LINK ON HOME PAGE ESG WEBSITE FOR PICS ON CUTW TEAMS -WILL ALSO BE ADDING PARADE AND EXHIBITION/SQUARE PICS SOON!

With a vibrant Parade and Square Event widely supported by the community and the Gibraltar Government the clean up kicked off with over fifty teams tackling 31 sites throughout Gibraltar.
Hotspots and difficult areas saw teams double up and work together this year. The traditional “mountain of waste” created for the past seven years looked quite different this time as our waste was divided and sent to appropriate destinations that are now open on a seven day basis – a measure long called for under the CUTW campaign.
This resulted in large items such as furniture, timber, metal, electronic goods etc. being diverted away from our usual mountain of waste.

Some examples of the worst sites tackled include: Seven Sisters, Northern Defences, Prison Car Park environs, Cat Sanctuary and Witham’s Cemetery. These all require follow up.

This year Master Services Abseiling Team worked on a treacherous and filthy site on a cliff face throughout the entire day. Gibraltar’s first religious leader, the Imam, took part in the CUTW event and the Gibraltar Museum embarked on cleaning up two caves during the annual event. Centres such as the Gibraltar Clubhouse, Wildlife Park and Botanic Gardens also received some welcome muscle from our volunteers.

Feedback from team leaders will be included in a report published online and presented to the Litter Committee for information and action.

The majority of our sites are now maintained throughout the year ensuring that many teams did not face a huge amount of accumulated rubbish. This is positive but frustrating that volunteers still managed to fill 30 to 40 bags in a couple of hours showing the ongoing litter problem we continue to have in Gibraltar. Contractor’s materials, emptied premises, private lands provided rich pickings for our volunteers signaling the need for a targeted effort by the Litter Committee to address these chronic problems.

Prevention is therefore important and the CUTW campaign calls for increased:

Education/awareness – Continued improvement on Facilities and – active Enforcement/fines

Organisers wish to thank EVERYONE involved this year participating and supporting the action in clearing rubbish and raising awareness and helping meet the challenge of cleaning up Gibraltar

CUTW 2012 TEAMS

CONVENT, BAYSIDE, SCOUTS, GUIDES 1, GUIDES 2, HERITAGE TRUST, GONHS, BOTANIC GARDENS, ESG, 101 LTD, ECO ART, DUKES, WESTSIDE, MOD-GDP BOAT SUPPORT, RGP OFFICERS, ROTARY, BETFAIR, GIBRALTAR SUB AQUA, SIMPLY DIVING, ROUND TABLE, DELOITTE, ST MARY’S, ST ANNE’S, ALAMEDA TENANTS ASS. ,BROWNIES, BEAVERS, WAKE UP GIBRALTAR, SHINE, GIBRALTAR MUSEUM CAVE SECTION, BISHOP FITZGERALD, MASTER SERVICES ABSEILERS, ROUND TABLE, RECYCLE.GI, FOEGIB, GSLPYOUTH, YGSD, TARIKIBNZIYAD YOUTH ASSOCIATION, SACCONE & SPEED, NATWEST, LLOYDS, GIB COLLEGE, GIBRALTAR CLUBHOUSE, YOUTH CENTRE, WILDLIFE GIBRALTAR, 101 LTD, WILDLIFE PARK, WILDLIFE GIBRALTAR, INTERBUILD, COMMUNITY SERVICES, WILLIAM HILL, INDIVIDUALS

CUTW PARADE/STALLS

Several CUTW Teams, ESG, Bishop Fitzgerald, St Josephs Middle, St Anne’s, Sacred Heart, Bayside, Loreto, Brownies, Beavers, Eco Art, Local Organics, Susan Edwards, Michele Stagnetto Globe, FOEGib, St. Mary’s Parent’s Association, Recycle.gi, Gibraltar Heritage Trust, Art through Movement Nathan Conroy and team, families and friends. Parade also enjoyed strong Government support with Minister Cortes joined by Ministers Garcia, Sacramento and Costa with Mayor Lima and his wife present at the Square to support the event.

TRANSPORT/TEAMS/EQUIPMENT/MATERIALS/GENERAL SUPPORT

BASSADONE, 101 LTD, SACCONE AND SPEED, MORRISON’S, ST JOSEPH’S MIDDLE SCHOOL, ECO ART, SUSAN EDWARDS, KAREN LUCAS, DEAN ALSOP, PEDRO MESQUITA, MASTER SERVICES, GIBRALTAR CLEANSING SUPPORT SERVICES, GIBDOCK, GDP, MOD, RECYCLE.GI, ST JOHN AMBULANCE, CONTINENT 8, LITTER COMMITTEE, YOUTH SERVICE, ITWMC picnics for teams, JOHN MACKINTOSH HALL, WILDLIFE GIBRALTAR, LIZZIE SAVIGNON, CHELSEA EDWARDS, CAT MC NIVEN

EXHIBITION

WORKSHOPS BY LOCAL ORGANICS, ECO ART AND FILMS SCREENED BY ESG. ARTWORK BY BAYSIDE AND WESTSIDE, BISHOP FITZGERALD, ST JOSEPHS MIDDLE, ST ANNE’S, SACRED HEART SCHOOLS AND NATURE ECO ART CLASSES; CUTW DISPLAYS, RECYCLE.GI, HERITAGE TRUST, FOEGIB, LOCAL ORGANICS, GIANT PLASTIC MONSTER PRODUCT OF SUMMER LONG CUTW WORKSHOPS SUPPORTED BY VOLUNTEERS AND YOUTH SERVICE

CUTW SPONSORS

OPEN DAY TRUST AND THE BONITA TRUST

===============================================================

CUTW PARADE
The CUTW Parade launching the clean-up was marvellous! Colourful, loud, and heaving along Main Street, by far our most impactive yet. Thanks to everyone who contributed towards its success and to those whose summer long efforts in the workshops supporting Anna of EcoArt ensured a great impact and message was delivered. With plastic waste as menace, a key 2012 theme, the giant plastic monster evoked a lot of reaction, even applause from onlookers. A beautifully crafted globe also drew much admiration from the crowds. With not one but four cruise liners in Gibraltar that morning it was a challenge to move our several hundred strong parade up Main Street but with efficient RGP support it all went according to plan (with a few surprises along the way!)
Strong Government endorsement for this Campaign was evident with the presence on the march of four Government ministers. Gibraltar’s Imam also marched with his team along Main Street and Mayor Tony Lima and his wife were present at the Square lending their support. Several stalls, also joining our exhibition this week were set up to welcome the marchers.
The event kicked off with Nathan Conroy and his team delivering an energetic and brief rendition of Art in Movement – using rubbish as his instruments, a most fitting opening.

Minister for the Environment, Dr. John Cortes, also uplifted the gathering with the positive news that very shortly, Gibraltar will see the start of recycling of paper, cardboard, tetra bricks and plastic – long overdue and strongly welcomed by the ESG. The crowd received this news with delight. Delivering this service will be challenging and shall need community support to work effectively so clearly a good moment to make the announcement.

The ESG then asked the Minister to present specially mounted posters to teachers from the schools present at the square that, every year, support the CUTW Campaign. The poster provides a map with Recycling Points in Gibraltar and was produced by the group with information supplied by Government departments.

CUTW also thanks ITWMC for this year making available much welcomed picnics to help volunteers face the main task of the day, of cleaning up Gibraltar’s green, coastal and underwater areas.

EXHIBITION

Our CUTW Exhibition at the John Mackintosh Hall was a big hit with participating schools. While six schools had signed up to attend a three part workshop including Eco Art, Local Organics and the ESG and CUTW, some of these could not attend due to torrential rainfall. However the schools that did come thoroughly enjoyed the experience and organisers received great feedback from the teachers too! Photos and info on the workshops and exhibition will soon be posted on our website: www.esg-gib.net