Radio Newsletter 12th May 2016
Recent activity has been focusing on noise nuisances from harbour area, clean up issues and cross border vigilance and meetings.
With noise pollution emanating from shipping activity we followed up with all parties concerned regarding the need for onshore power connection and conversion technology and continue to wait for a substantive response. Fortunately the primary cause, the RFA, was remediated with the relocation of the vessel to the South Mole. Should this vessel come in to dry dock for works it is hoped that it will be able to secure onshore power supply to avoid the worst of its impact affecting south district residents, especially at night-time.
ESG hopes for a long-term solution to this matter which happens all too often at the dockyard and can be remedied with the right investment in available technology.
In assessing areas for Clean up the World, it is very sad to say that we continue to have littering issues in Gibraltar. The Campaign is working throughout the year by promoting the need for more education; enforcement and improved facilities and maintenance to raise our standards as well as display true civic pride in our hometown.
Our coastal environment means we have “quite some responsibility” in containing our waste, and we need to improve on this at a holistic level.
Globally, plastics, the main non-biodegradable offender, is being considered for redefining as “hazardous waste”, such is its impact on the natural world. It is also headlining as carrying increasing threat with projected volumes to be found in our oceans by 2050 to be equal that of fish. Whether this is an accurate prediction or not, we cannot argue the reality facing us today when a fishing fleet publish their recent catch in the Med showing 20kgs of plastic waste for every 80kgs of fish!! This is disturbing and shocking fact but not surprising…a lot more needs to be done by modern communities everywhere to stop this.
Just take a walk along our coastline, especially on the western part of our coast and you will see what washes up on a regular basis. Of course late night trashing and littering at our beaches compounds this problem, which results in rubbish blown into the sea. More action needs to be taken here and attitudes need to change.
We hope to join other NGOs around the Med this year carry out a joint coastal clean up, information and awareness campaign under the Clean up Banner and ensure it has year round objectives.
With the Refinery and associated industry in the campo area polluting steadily we are working hard behind the scenes once more to use the EC to address this blot on our landscape and threat to populations health throughout the bay. One has to ask where we can take our complaints to should Britain pulls out of the EC?
Re DPC and next mtg – please note this will take place on the 24th May at 9.30am at the John Mackintosh Hall, with the agenda published a week beforehand. Remember meetings are held in public.
