PRACTICAL PROJECTS

Gardens

Local food growing reduces greenhouse gas emissions by reducing ‘food miles’. Gardens can also be useful habitats for wildlife. Many of our members have individual allotments and gardens and can give you advice on growing your own food or making your garden better for wildlife.

Gardening is also a good way of connecting communities back to the land around them. AFoE has been involved in the Powis Local Biodiversity Action Plan, the Dunbar Street Nursery School garden and the  Middlefield Community Gardens Project. Members also work on the Kincorth Hill Nature Reserve).

Organic farm work

On the last Sunday of the month we go out to work on an organic farm near Newmachar. The work ends with a big meal together. To go by bike, call Jonathan on (01224) 574800; to go by bus, call Helen on (01224) 640389.

PRESS

We give regular comment to local papers, radio and TV on environmental issues. (Contacts)

Waste Problems - ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE  FOR COMMUNITIES

The issues:
¥ In addition to foul smells, communities living near landfill sites often report having their homes plagued by flies every summer.
¥ Studies have found that babies born within 2km of a landfill site are more likely to have birth defects than babies born elsewhere.
¥ Dumping waste in Scotland is so cheap that waste is currently being shipped by ferry from Northern Ireland and dumped in Scotland.

Action required:
¥ Develop a 'zero waste' strategy to end the need to construct landfills and incinerators
¥ Ensure the 'proximity principle' is embraced within the waste plan and provide support for more community-led recycling initiatives. (more)

REPRESENTING THE ENVIRONMENT

Sitting on committees and reading policy and planning documents are nobody’s favourite tasks, but getting environmental commitments written into basic policy at all levels of government is essential work. Aberdeen Friends of the Earth is represented on the Council’s ‘Community Planning Core Group’ and others and writes responses to planning documents like the Local Plan, Area Waste Plan and so on. We also contribute to the Aberdeen City Environmental Forum, a Council-linked forum for environmental groups, community groups and statutory agencies to get together and discuss green issues.

Guest Documents