Newsletter Spring 2005

If economic growth continues unsustainably, the South East will face increasing problems: congestion, poor air quality, and water shortages.
The South East Plan, soon to be in public consultation, will set out changes needed to improve the quality of life in the South East. It will cover key topics such as economic growth, housing and environmental issues. SEFS is calling out to member groups and individuals to contribute to the public consultation.

At the moment, British consumers can buy food from all corners of the globe, all year round. This is unsustainable. It is not economically viable or energy-efficient for most countries to depend heavily on a global food chain. Long distance transportation depletes oil resources and aggravates climate change. Widespread use of chemicals, and waste created by wrapping materials, harms the environment. Health may suffer from food's decreased nutritional value after long transport, and from the impact of chemicals on the body.

Whether you're a misty-eyed romantic, or a cynic who thinks that Valentine's Day is based upon commercial exploitation, sometimes it’s nice to show that special person in your life how much they mean to you. So here are a few tips for the green at heart, to help make your Valentine's Day more environmentally friendly.

Lurid stories of bizarre animal hybrids tend to capture the media's attention, eclipsing the environmental implications of genetically modified foodstuffs. Raising awareness about the issues formed an important part of BPEC’s perma-culture open-day in December.