Local people are furiously trying to stop a fracking company from drilling near a drinking water reservoir serving tens of thousands of homes, after Northern Ireland planners failed to block Infrastrata's claim for 'permitted development' rights.
… Locals battle fracking company drilling near … Protest Northern Ireland UK crane-cut.jpg Local people are furiously trying to stop a … A Freedom of Information request by local anti-fracking group Stop the Drill has …
Lafarge Tarmac has withdrawn its bid to quarry Hopwas Woods following a huge local and national campaign. It's a victory to celebrate - but as the Woodland Trust points out, it also shows that none of our ancient woodland is truly safe from destructive development.
… bid to quarry Hopwas Woods following a huge local and national campaign. It's a victory to … to withdraw Hopwas Woods from the Minerals Local Plan, which is currently under public … for inclusion in the county's Minerals Local Plan as the 'preferred site' to extract …
The government is set to ban local authorities and their £14 billion pension funds divesting from companies they deem unethical, writes J W Bode. The law will specifically forbid divestment from fossil fuels - and that could put the pensions of future public sector retirees at risk.
… The government is set to ban local authorities and their £14 billion … announcements coming from government, with local councils and public bodies being … Bodies covered by the new law will include local councils, quangos, universities, …
The High Court has overturned a 'fatally flawed' decision by Eric Pickles MP to refuse planning permission for a locally popular 24MW solar farm on former WW2 airfield in Suffolk, England, close to an industrial estate and go-kart circuit.
… MP to refuse planning permission for a locally popular 24MW solar farm on former WW2 … Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, to over-rule a planning … to have been made without due regard to the local plan. "It was clear to anyone that read …
New regulations on animal slaughter are in force across Russia, writes Georgy Borodyansky, with devastating effects on small farmers and consumers, who face a three-fold hike in the price of meat. Will the 'health and safety' madness destroy Russia's main producers of wholesome food?
… a quarter of the province's rural areas, local farmers are now presented with a … premises, and have the meat inspected by the local veterinarian, who issued a certificate. … in place" before new rules are introduced. Local government 'completely unprepared' …
After a five year battle against fracking companies, the New York Court of Appeals has ruled that towns and cities can pass zoning laws that forbid fracking and other industrial land uses. The verdict will inspire other communities across the USA to enact similar measures.
… across the USA to enact similar measures. Local communities have triumphed over the … the towns of Dryden and Middlefield can use local zoning laws to ban heavy industry, … town. Dryden argued that their right to make local land use decisions, enshrined in the …
A company bidding to undertake 'underground coal gasification (UGC) - a notoriously hazardous and polluting process - in the UK has threatened a Scottish clean energy campaigner: shut up or get sued. Paul Mobbs reports ...
… destruction pre-emptively sue leading local campaigners in order to quash the local opposition . The SLAPP lawsuits often … after a Parliamentary debate in 1955 when a local MP asked , "is my honourable Friend …
Extreme energy in the UK is arousing extreme reactions, write Jess Elliot & Damien Short. On the one side stand citizens committed to preserving the quality of the local and global environment. And against them, a government determined to let fracking rip, and police forces prepared to ignore legal norms to suppress the growing popular resistance.
… committed to preserving the quality of the local and global environment. And against … online surveys and correspondence with local campaigners have returned a wealth of … movement in the UK with currently over 180 local groups, up from around 30 in 2013. This …
Mexico's tourist resort of Cancún has just lost one of its greatest natural riches, writes Miguel Rivas: 57 hectares of species rich mangrove forest, bulldozed in a massive overnight attack by property developers in league with local officials. But people power can still win the battle and see the Tajamar mangroves restored.
… attack by property developers in league with local officials. But people power can still … of darkness, they tore down the mangroves. Local authorities allowed this destruction … these profit-driven developers and the local community came down to one question: …
An array of solar panels on a Chiswick side street, facing a brewery wall, constitute a threat to the quality of life of future generations, according to the council and a planning inspector. Paula Owen begs to differ, and wonders - exactly what kind of mushroom have they been smoking?
… of the mad Queen has be replaced by a local council and the logic emerging is as … passing, mentioned a current tussle with his local council, in which the council was … to enquire into what possible objections a local council could have to perfectly …
The apparent conspiracy by the UK government and its agencies to conceal the real cause of death of 7-year old Zane Gbangbola may go right up to Prime Minister David Cameron, writes Paul Mobbs. He was chair of the COBRA emergency committee at the time when it appears to have held back the truth that he was killed by cyanide from the toxic landfill site his home was built over.
… disclosing its existence . Whether it be the local authorities, who might have to pay for … took place at this site. According to local householders the local authority, Spelthorne Borough Council, …
After eleven years of campaigning by local people suffering from water shortages, state authorities have closed Coca-Cola's bottling plant at Mehdiganj, Uttar Pradesh - inspiring campaigners at another three Coca Cola sites in India.
… After eleven years of campaigning by local people suffering from water shortages, … great victory and a welcome confirmation that local communities can successfully take on … Master of Lok Samiti, who has spearheaded the local campaign against the factory. "We knew …
The anti-fracking movement scored a great victory when Lancashire councillors refused planning permission for two fracking wells, writes Damien Short. But dig deeper and the triumph was all the greater, as it overcame not just Cuadrilla, but a morass of pro-fracking bias and legal and scientific misrepresentation from those meant to be providing impartial advice.
… Initiative , earlier this year I was asked by local residents' groups to provide expert … the views of, and evidence presented, by the local objectors and their expert witnesses. … most notorious issues - the health impacts on local populations - the Planning Officer's …
After an apparent cave-in to Europe's pesticide industry, the European Food Safety Authority's latest guidance on pesticides conflicts with European law, writes Georgina Downs - by ignoring the real-life agrochemical exposure of rural residents. Commission President Juncker must step in and demand the withdrawal of this disgraceful document.
… operators, workers, residents living in the locality of sprayed fields, as well as other … of the exposure of residents living in the locality of pesticide sprayed fields. This … effects, from crop spraying on fields in the locality of their homes and children's …
A leaked text from the 'Trade In Services Agreement' negotiations shows that TISA is set to unleash a massive wave of deregulation affecting social, environmental and financial standards, and force the privatisation of state-run enterprises, writes Pete Dolack. So it's not just TTIP, CETA and TPP we have to fight - TISA could be the biggest corporate power grab of them all.
… Further, any rule that in any way mandates local content or provides any advantage to a local technology would also be illegal, … (annex Article 3). A prohibition on 'buy local' rules for government agencies (Article …
A radical new Seed Law drafted by Venezuelan people, farmers and NGOs was signed into law in the closing days of 2015, write William Camacaro, Frederick B. Mills & Christina M. Schiavoni. Striking back against the corporate takeover of seeds and peddling of GMOs, the Seed Law bans transgenic seeds, protects the country's germplasm, and establishes the legal foundation for a participatory, agroecological food and farming system.
… bans transgenic (GMO) seed while protecting local seed from privatization. The law is also … seed and possibly allow the privatization of locally shared 'free' seeds. National Assembly … Council for the Storage and Protection of Local, Peasant, Indigenous, and …
On the final day of the trial of Caroline Lucas and other anti-fracking protestors, we ask - what about human rights? Entirely neglected by the government in its desperate drive to frack, they ought to trump all other policy considerations.
… are significant concerns over subsidence and local earthquakes, such as the tremor produced … impact of fracking on the quality of life of local communities who have first-hand … power and the rights of individuals and local communities." Meanwhile the "close …
The Government is struggling to spin its policy to fast track fracking, writes Paul Mobbs. So as it cuts the public out of the regulatory process, exempts exploratory wells from controls, and forces the Environment Agency to issue permits with 1-2 weeks, its spin machine has resorted to outright lies and misinformation to conceal the scale of the attack on our environmental rights.
… before, we have made a commitment to ensure local people have a say about fracking in … and the Departments for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) to change planning … 2014. Its effect is to restrict what issues local planning authorities were allowed …
First the Pepsi-Cola bottling company in south India caused outrage by depleting groundwater. Next it was found to be operating without valid permits.Then as protests grew the company won a High Court order giving it police protection. Now locals are vowing to keep the plant shut for good.
… Court order giving it police protection. Now locals are vowing to keep the plant shut for … campaign to shut down the plant. Local residents and farmers claim there have … council) president on 7th May. On January 29, local authorities responded to the growing …
Lured by promises of aid and investment, African governments are rewriting laws to create lucrative opportunities for corporate agribusiness, writes Chris Walker - while consigning their own farmers to servitude and landlessness. But now farmers are rising up, as in Ghana where a new 'Monsanto law' threatens to end their right to grow, save and share their ancestral seeds.
… seeds and livelihoods, and build resilient local economies. Adongo, speaking in Global … saved, swapped and bred seeds to suit their local conditions over generations. Yet the … over-estimated its financial benefit to the local population. Meanwhile, farmers who have …
After five months of wrongful imprisonment, an environmental activist has finally been set free and reunited with his family, writes Rod Harbinson. His case highlights the way Cambodia's Government subjects eco-defenders to harsh, unjust and arbitrary detention, while illegal logging barons and large-scale timber smugglers lead charmed lives, always above the law.
… timber, and second, because even if he had, local people have special rights to harvest … he did not cut the timber and even if he had, local and indigenous people have special … himself and that it had been purchased from a local supplier. The timber was used to build …
Protesters have now blocked a Monsanto seed factory in Córdoba, Argentina for over two years, writes Ciara Low. Another eviction attempt is now imminent, and campaigners are calling for a big mobilization this Sunday to fortify the blockade and send out a strong message to Monsanto and its acolytes: 'No Pasaran!' - 'They shall not pass!'
… delivered at the request of Monsanto, but local activists mobilized to strengthen the … has driven not only cattle, but also local farmers from the land. GM products are … costs ultimately translate to job loss for local farmers. Much like in the US, 'family …
The British establishment does nothing quite so well as lies, cover-ups and high-level corruption, writes Georgina Downs - whether it's the Hillsborough disaster or permitting polluters to poison us. Georgina won her own High Court legal victory protecting rural residents from pesticide exposure as long ago as 2008 - only to have it snatched away as Court of Appeal judges closed ranks.
… to cocktails of pesticides from living in the locality of sprayed fields - is not protected. … exposure of rural residents who live in the locality of sprayed fields (however much DEFRA … allowed to be approved at all for use in the locality of residents' homes, as well as …
Since Poland's new government was elected last October it has moved to protect the country's 1.3 million small farmers, writes Julian Rose. First it freed those arrested for protesting corporate land grabs, now it is seeking to lighten oppressive hygiene regulations, and next it may support a new Food Act that would ban GMOs, and legislate for national food security and food sovereignty.
… regulations, and to sell their produce locally. Now the government is responding … to choose to buy such foods from within their local communities. That, following on from this, small shops, schools, local restaurants and markets are not …