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media release
Everyone - Scotland's environment
groups campaigning together (500,000 supporters, 25 organisations,
ONE voice)
SCOTTISH POLITICAL PARTIES GIVEN WAKE
UP CALL ON ENVIRONMENT
51% say environmental
issues are likely to affect how they vote
The environment will become a decisive issue for the majority of
voters during this May's Scottish elections, according to a new
opinion poll
published today (Wednesday 26 February). The NFO System Three findings
were unveiled at the launch of a joint campaign by ScotlandÕs
environmental organisations under the banner 'everyone' [1] The poll
reveals that 86% of Scots voters consider the environment an important
political issue. More importantly, 51% said the way political parties
commit to tackling environmental problems was likely to affect how
they finally decide to vote. [2]
The 'everyone' campaign is an initiative
from Scottish Environment LINK, the umbrella body for Scotland's
environmental organisations. Some 25
organisations with nearly half a million supporters are combining
forces for the first time ever to push the environment up the political
agenda
in the run up to the Scottish Parliamentary elections on May 1st.
The
groups unveiled a series of key election demands they wish political
parties to address this election.Each demand would also
bring positive
benefits to Scotland's health and economy [3]
Speaking on behalf
of the 'everyone' campaign, WWF Scotland's Simon Pepper said:
"
The campaign is encouraging voters to send a clear message to candidates
of all parties - we care about the environment, what
are you are going to do if elected? This is not a 'green agenda'
it is
an agenda for a better, healthier Scotland. The value of the
environment to
the economy, the health of the nation and the quality
of all our lives
has been neglected for far too long. Politicians have
got away with saying
the right words and not matching them with specific actions."
NOTES
TO EDITORS:
[1] About the everyone campaign. For
more information go to www.everyonecan.org
The everyone campaign is an initiative from Scottish Environment
LINK.
The everyone campaign "Manifesto
for a Sustainable Scotland" promotes six 'key tests' of political commitment
to the
environment. The six demands for a better environment are:
clean air, healthy
seas, safe food, less landfill, protection for wildlife
and wild places,
reduction in climate changing gases. The full text and
background briefings on
the six demands are available on request or at www.everyonecan.org
For more information:
FoE Scotland: Lang Banks 0131 554 9977 or (pager) 07654
200937
WWF Scotland: George Baxter 01887 820449 or (mobile) 07771
818677
• The campaign is providing user-friendly information packs and has launched
a campaigning website: www.everyonecan.org with briefing
materials and how to contact candidates in all constituencies in Scotland.
• Campaign
postcards and an e-mail advert will be circulated widely to encourage people
to get involved.
•LINK groups are organising
a programme of election hustings meetings across Scotland.
[2] The poll, involving 1009 adults
in Scotland, was conducted by NFO System Three between 30 January and
6 February 2003.
The key findings
were:
Q1. How important do you think the
environment is as
a political issue?
86% of Scots said either "very important" or "quite important" political
issue.
By party - Labour: 88% Lib Dem: 89% SNP: 88% Conservative:
79% Others: 88%
Q2. How is the extent to which political
parties make commitments to address environmental problems
likely
to affect your
vote?
51% of Scots said "very likely" or "quite likely" to
affect their vote.
By party - Labour: 53% Lib Dem: 64% SNP: 51%
Conservative: 47% Others: 61%
Q3. How would you
rate the performance of the Scottish Parliament on environmental issues
in
its first
four years?
Only 25% considered the performance in first
four years as "very
good" or "quite good".
By party - Labour: 37% Lib Dem: 21% SNP: 23%
Conservative: 20% Others: 30%
[3] The 'Everyone'
campaign was launched today at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Edinburgh.
The
campaign is supported by: Association of Regional and Island Archaeologists,
Badenoch
and Strathspey Conservation Group,
Biological Recording in
Scotland, Butterfly Conservation Scotland,
Cairngorms Campaign,
Friends of the
Earth Scotland, Hebridean Whale & Dolphin
Trust, John Muir Trust, Marine Conservation
Society, Mountaineering
Council of Scotland,
The National Trust for Scotland, North
East Mountain Trust, Plantlife, Ramblers'
Association
Scotland,
Reforesting Scotland, RSPB Scotland, ruralScotland
(formerly known as the Association for
the Protection of Rural Scotland), Soil
Association
Scotland, Scottish
Countryside Activities Council,
Scottish Countryside Rangers' Association,
Scottish Wild Land Group, Scottish
Wildlife Trust, Sustrans Scotland , TRANSform
Scotland, Woodland Trust
Scotland, WWF Scotland.
************PHOTO OPPORTUNITY************
A
hard hitting advert, created for the 'everyone' campaign by the Leith
Agency, will also be unveiled today.
The advert highlights the sobering
fact that air pollution, mainly from vehicle
emissions, kills more people every year
in Scotland than road accidents.
Estimates put the number of deaths
a year resulting from air pollution at
2000 - five times more than on our
roads.
************PHOTO OPPORTUNITY************
For more information:
FoE Scotland: Lang Banks 0131 554 9977 or (pager) 07654 200937
WWF Scotland: George Baxter 01887 820449 or (mobile) 07771 818677
Friends
of the Earth Scotland's Head of Research, Dr Dan Barlow, said:
" This election, Scotland's political parties ignore
the environment at their peril. The public understands that environmental
protection
goes hand in hand with improved public health and the creation
of sustainable jobs. There are fears that turnout at this election may dip
below 50%
and this will happen if parties fail to address issues that really
matter to voters."
Ramblers' Scotland Director, Dave Morris, said:
" The present Parliament, through its land reform legislation,
has created the legislative framework for a healthier, more active Scotland.
Tomorrow's
politicians must build on this and deliver real change on the
ground through real resources for developing path networks around all our
communities and work places. The Ministerial Mondeo must give
way
to the Ministerial Walk About A Bit."
Woodland Trust Scotland Operations
Director, Angela Douglas:
" We all depend on a healthy environment for the best
quality of life. It is essential to look after our green spaces and countryside.
This
not only gives health benefits but also provides job opportunities.
We know this is an important issue for the public and we would
like them to help us ensure that all election candidates take it seriously."
RSPB
Scotland's Director Stuart Housden said:
" The Scottish Parliament has already delivered some
steps forward for our environment. It has improved wildlife protection law,
created
a
framework for the sustainable management of water resources and
supported the development of renewable energy. But there's a lot more to
do.
This campaign will help our supporters to contact candidates
and demand action - for example to make farming less environmentally damaging."
Robin
Pellew, Chief Executive for the National Trust for Scotland:
"
As the largest Scottish conservation charity, the National Trust for
Scotland is 100% behind the everyone campaign. The environment
is Scotland's key tourism asset. Over 80% of visitors to Scotland
rate scenery, wilderness,
nature and wildlife as the features they like the most. The everyone
campaign, by protecting our natural environment, also supports
the Scottish tourist industry, which contributes £2.5 billion
each year to our economy. Tourism is Scotland's fourth largest
employer, employing 193,000 or 8% of the workforceI encourage everyone
who
depends
on the continued success of the Scottish tourism industry to
take action now."
Steve Sankey, Chief Executive of the Scottish Wildlife
Trust said:
"
SWT is pleased to support the everyone campaign. ScotlandÕs
wildlife and environment are major assets. A wildlife-rich environment
is not only good for nature, but for jobs, our prosperity and health.
ScotlandÕs Parliament has already made some important
progress and produced many fine words on this subject. However,
SWT now
encourages everyone to take and demand positive actions for Scotland's
wildlife,
our environment and its people. "
Anna Ashmole, Head of Soil
Association Scotland said:
" Soil Association Scotland campaigns for healthy soil,
healthy plants, healthy animals and healthy people. Through the everyone
campaign we
are asking our members to let politicians know that consumers
want food which is safe to eat, grown by methods which are safe for
the environment. The Scottish Executive's recently-published Organic Action
Plan is full of good intentions, but it will take political
willpower to implement. Everyone should challenge those seeking their vote
to
state their support for implementing the Organic Action Plan."
Colin
Howden, TRANSform Scotland Campaign Manager said:
" It is about time Scottish politicians produced clean
air rather than hot air. The transport debate has dragged on for years
yet all the
Scottish Parliament has so far delivered has been a massive
road-building programme that will worsen air pollution and undermine attempts
to tackle climate change. If politicians are genuine about wanting better
transport and a cleaner environment then they must start by
switching
the funds reserved for road-building to delivering better public
transport and much-improved conditions for walking and cycling."
Calum
Duncan of the Marine Conservation Society said:
" Everyone has the right to a healthy life in a healthy
environment. This campaign is the perfect opportunity for everyone to ask
what actions
potential Scottish Parliamentary candidates are planning
to take to secure these rights for the Scottish people."
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