Here’s 2 of the wake up calls that Lock Down has reminded us of… 1. Our local areas could be MASSIVELY improved so that we can all live within our optimal environment for our health & well being. 2. Our local UK wildlife are desperate for a bit more space (we already knew this but they have proved it even more). As soon as we were all tucked away, UK mammals, birds & insects were breaking out into the suddenly quieter spaces. There’s urban land to spare - all around us - and we can decide to transform it into lush colourful spaces... With 100,000s of these patches of grass land being available, 'wildscaping' them will improve the quality of human life for those in all regenerated areas (having a positive socio-economic impact too) AND have an immense environmental impact across our United Kingdom.

As a community we should be objecting to this proposal due to several factors which include - the safety of the children who play in this area with the increase in vehicular movement - noise and pollution next to the 3g sports facilities and skate park - the loss of green space used for public events such as the shows, circus and fireworks etc all which bring the community together. - increase in traffic flow over the Victoria bridge causing more congestion - potential of traffic self diverting causing a rat race through the residential area - adding to the surface water run off in an area already susceptible to flooding - loss of green space which is beneficial to mental health and well being - potential damage to the surrounding trees and wildlife So please as a community help us fight against this proposal and save the green space at whittinghame drive used by many, from children to families and dog walkers.

As a nation we consume approximately 6 billion crisp packets every year with the vast majority of those being made from plastic. They don’t rot. That's an awful lot of landfill and poison for the environment. Crisp packets have been found on beaches intact more than 33 years later. Imagine during that time the effect on wildlife and the environment. While Walkers committed to the UK’s first crisp packet recycling scheme back in 2018 following a huge campaign by 38 Degrees, it’s simply not good enough with only 0.38% of all Walkers crisp packets being recycled in that time. It’s time they looked towards a better solution. Ideally Walkers should stop producing waste plastic, but until they change their production methods, Walkers should introduce thousands more recycling points in more convenient places such as supermarkets and train stations.

Why allow schools to destroy the environment to save a little bit of money? Disposable plastic cups, cutlery and plates are used in schools for the mere fact that they reduce costs by less than 20%. None of these are recyclable. Single-use plastics are used only once before they are thrown away or recycled. Schools use so many of these - mostly not for educational purposes either such plastic drinks bottles and disposable cutlery. Why is the use of plastic bottles so prevalent in UK schools? The world is currently producing nearly 300 million tons of plastic each year - a significant amount of which will end up in the oceans killing innocent animals and destroying our planet. We only have one Earth. Unfortunately, although plastic is a useful product, many of these products are created for single-use - with an estimated 50 per cent of plastic used once and thrown away. Laminating documents is unnecessary and only used to improve the look of displays but display boards are replaced, on average, every 3 months. Why allow schools to destroy the environment to save a little bit of money? Disposable plastic cups, cutlery and plates are used in schools for the mere fact that they reduce costs by less than 20%. There are many ways school can find alternatives. Schools should be educating the youth into caring for the environment instead of destroying it with preventable overuse of single use plastics. So why aren't they?

Southwark have proposed to fell up to 34 mature trees, in Dulwich Upper Wood along Farquhar Road, in order to repair the retaining wall next to the footpath. At the same time Southwark are proposing felling more trees in Sydenham Wood in order to repair the Cox's Walk Footbridge. In this climate emergency we should be protecting our habitat and this is another project where Southwark are proposing cutting down mature trees. There are better engineering solutions that Southwark and their consultants can come up with that provide the retaining structure for Farquhar Road or repair the bridge whilst keeping the trees. Cutting down the 34 (or so) mature trees in order to repair the retaining wall is not acceptable and an unnecessary destruction of this habitat. We want you to consider stepping the wall out in to the footpath, to provide the retaining structure, whilst protecting the trees and reducing the width of the footpath to 1.5m or locally to 1m if needed. Alternatively reduce the width of the road locally to provide a traffic calming measure on Farquhar Road whilst rebuilding the retaining structure. Engineers can find a cost effective solution if given the opportunity (and brief) to do so. Southwark need to have the policy of protecting our local habitat, and give consideration to use all available and viable space, if needed, to provide a solution. Work was aborted to repair the wall for nearly a year and trees roots are being exposed due to the extended and prolonged delays from Southwark. We are asking Southwark to positively design, cost up and inform the public of solutions that can retain our green habitat. By building out you provide the opportunity to plant further habitat that supports our pollinators and the biodiversity. Local groups such as the TCV who do a fantastic job of managing the woods can help. The local scouts group (1st Crystal Palace) can help plant a new space and other groups like The Friends of Gipsy Hill can also help. If Southwark want the local community to be involved then we can crowdfund to help pay for the solutions that protect our environment. It should be noted that we have discussed this with our local councillors but we haven't seen any proposals that protect most of the trees now at risk. The tree felling order for Cox's Walk oak trees was halted, after a petition, but again no firm commitment as yet with Southwark to save the trees they have put have risk. We are concerned that Southwark will fell many unnecessary trees both the Sydenham Wood trees then come for the Dulwich Wood trees. We want positively engage with the Southwark Highways team to find the best engineering solution. Southwark confirmed the trees in Dulwich Upper Wood are sound and that they will (or have) undertaken some work to reduce the mass of them. We now want the retaining wall replaced and the trees protected Sign this petition and then please sign the Cox's Walk Trees petition https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-the-cox-s-walk-footbridge-oak-trees UPDATE 20/12/19: Following the intervention of Helen Hayes and Andy Simmons the council have confirmed that no decisions have been made on the scheme to be taken forward. We met Councillor Andy Simmons on 20/12/19 who has promised to make further representations to the council officers. We have asked for a meeting with the project team to discuss how we can help find the right solution that repairs the wall and keeps the trees.

Bristol Airport currently has 8.6 million passengers a year. It has made an application to North Somerset Council to expand to 12 million and has a published strategy of expanding to 20 million. By signing this petition you will be registering a formal objection to the expansion plans applied for by the airport in North Somerset Council planning application number 18/P/5118/OUT. We also call on Bristol City Council, as a major stakeholder, to debate this issue and formally oppose the application. Bristol, North Somerset and other surrounding areas have declared Climate Emergencies so they have agreed that we cannot carry on with business-as-usual. The Committee on Climate Change recently produced a report where they calculated that by 2050 aviation is going to be the largest carbon emitting sector in the UK. The expansion of Bristol Airport will mean: - up to 10,000 extra cars entering the Bristol and North Somerset region every day causing massive amounts of extra pollution in the already toxic air; -more than 623,000 tonnes of carbon entering the atmosphere at high levels where its warming impact on the atmosphere is at least doubled; -huge new car parks on the beautiful North Somerset Green Belt solely to make lots of money for the airport; -an enormous increase in night flights during the summer months and the noise and mental health consequences that this causes. The airport have claimed enormous benefits in jobs and economic growth but a devastating report by the New Economics Foundation has said that their claims have been vastly overstated because of the incorrect methods they have used to calculate their figures. As for jobs; the airport themselves state that there will be only 97 jobs in South Bristol for example and many of these will be low paid zero-hours contract jobs. This expansion must be stopped; the vast majority of the communities around the airport have formally stated their objections (as have Bath and North East Somerset), 3,600 individuals have objected on the planning website and this petition is intended to boost that number by many more. This campaign is not trying to stop families taking their annual holidays, but 70% of all flights are taken by the most wealthy 15% of the population and we must now have a cultural change around frequent flying. We are in a climate emergency and we must stop this reckless expansion!

Green Belt land fulfils important functions. Its fundamental aim is to prevent urban sprawl by keeping land permanently open - and Spelthorne’s Green Belt boundaries have remained largely unchanged since WW2. Nonetheless, as part of its proposed Draft Local Plan, Spelthorne Borough Council is putting forward 15 Green Belt sites across the whole of Spelthorne for building/housing and commercial purposes (see list below). This would mean a loss of 24.8 ha of Green Belt (which is equivalent to over 46 football fields) with a risk of further erosion of our Green Belt in the future. It will result in smaller remaining Green Belt sites which will be weakened as a result and – in turn – become vulnerable to development. Even though, by law, Green Belt boundaries should only be altered where “exceptional circumstances” are fully evidenced and justified and where strictly necessary, the Council still decided to release Green Belt sites which are strongly preferred by developers and Green Belt owners as these greatly maximise profit margins. Once stripped off Green Belt status, the value of land can raise 2500 fold (250,000%) and more. The release of the Green Belt will lead to significant changes to the character of the areas where they are located and will have a significant impact on local residents as these plots of land have a biodiversity value, a visual benefit, carbon capture value and mitigate flood risks and high temperatures during heat waves – which is now more important than ever during a time of Climate Emergency when more (not fewer) green spaces and rewooded areas are required to counteract carbon emissions. The 15 Green Belt sites at risk are: 1. AS1/011 Land at former Bulldog Nurseries, London Road, Ashford (0.3 ha) 2. AS2/006 Land East of Desford Way, Ashford (3.33 ha) 3. AT1/002 Land east of Ashford Sports Club, Woodthorpe Road, Ashford (1.15 ha) 4. AT1/012 Ashford Community Centre, Woodthorpe Road, Ashford (0.47 ha) 5. HS1/002 Land at Croysdale Avenue/ Hazelwood Drive, Sunbury (1.68 ha) 6. HS1/009 Bugle Nurseries, 171 Upper Halliford Road, Shepperton (2.28 ha) 7. HS1/012 Land East of Upper Halliford Road, Nursery Road, Sunbury (1.61 ha) 8. HS1/012b Land East of Upper Halliford Road (site B) (2.34 ha) 9. HS2/004 Land South of Nursery Road, Sunbury (0.66 ha) 10. LS1/024 Land at Staines Road West and Cedar Way, Sunbury (1.63 ha) 11. RL1/011 Land at Staines & Laleham Sports Club, Worple Road, Staines (1.59 ha) 12. SN1/005 Land at Northumberland Close, Stanwell (1.75 ha) 13. SN1/006 Land to west of Long Lane and south of Blackburn Trading Estate, Stanwell (4.83 ha) 14. ST1/043 Land East of 355 London Road, Staines (0.27 ha) 15. ST4/025 Land at Coppermill Road, Coppermill Road, Wraysbury (0.92 ha) For more information, see: https://www.spelthorne.gov.uk/article/17619/Emerging-Local-Plan-2022-2037 To get involved or for further information, contact [email protected].

Living near a quarry brings increased risk to the health of people in the nearby communities. At the moment there are no standards laid down by government, relating to how far away quarries have to be from settlements, so each regional authority views the situation differently and each community has to argue their own case for a “buffer zone”. Some authorities try to get away with no buffer, whereas others are more considerate. We believe that there needs to be a standard buffer zone nationwide, of at least 1,000 metres, in order to protect the health of people who live near quarries, especially older people and children. A national standard is required so that all communities are treated fairly. Dust generated by quarrying can contain silica. Silica is naturally found in certain types of stone, rock, sand and clay. Working with these materials can create a very fine dust that can be easily inhaled. Once inside the lungs, the dust particles are attacked by the immune system. This causes silicosis, a disease that can take years to develop. It causes swelling and scarring in the lungs. The NHS website states that people with silicosis may become bed-bound and, in rare instances, may die. Silicosis can also lead to other serious lung diseases such as COPD and lung cancer. Companies who operate quarries where silica is likely to be present are required by law to provide their employees with protective equipment. There is no such protection for people who live near quarries. Older people, those with existing respiratory conditions such as asthma, and young children are particularly vulnerable to airborne silica entering their lungs. The risk of harm to health is higher where the prevailing winds carry dust from quarries towards residential settlements and schools. We are therefore calling upon the Government to establish a common national standard that would keep quarrying activities at least 1000 metres away from areas where people live, work and study. This standard would then have to be adopted by local authorities when preparing their minerals policies and plans (which include quarrying activities), and making planning decisions. This standard would reduce the risk of serious long term health problems caused by silicosis and other lung diseases. Please sign our petition today. Thank you.

We’re in the middle of a climate emergency. A record 85% of us are now concerned about climate change, and for the first time ever, more than half of us say it will affect how we vote. Our next Prime Minister could lead the urgent action we need to save our planet, or take us even closer to a climate and nature catastrophe. We deserve to know exactly what each UK party leader will do to tackle this enormous challenge. A televised debate on climate and nature would put the defining issue of our generation in the spotlight. But leaders will only sign up if they know hundreds of thousands of us are demanding it. Add your name now - it takes just 30 seconds. Together we can make this happen. This petition is being run and organised by Possible and school-strike organisers the UK Student Climate Network (UKSCN). 38 Degrees is acting as a service provider, but is not involved in campaign strategy.

Universities have an obligation to play a greater role in the Climate Strike movement, showing solidarity with students who will be most affected by the climate crisis. This petition will show that this is an issue that virtually all staff and students feel very strongly about, making it impossible for the University to ignore our demands.

Following storm damage in 2014, Network Rail are currently working on a resilience programme to upgrade the London to Penzance railway between Exeter and Newton Abbot. In 2018 they hosted public forums and presented plans to build a new line 30 -40 metres (or more) out to sea at from Teignmouth's East Cliff Cafe to the Dawlish tunnel - a scheme which would destroy 1.7km of the beach. In November last year they then announced that revised plans were now being considered. Subsequent Freedom of Information requests for details have been denied, "in the public interest". In February 2019, Network Rail advised that their current proposal between Parson's Tunnel and Teignmouth is, "to deliver a new railway alignment involving a new sea wall beyond the footprint of the existing." Teignmouth Beach, with it's open sea aspect framed by the towering red Devon cliffs, is possibly the most visually outstanding part of any journey on the iconic train route, and has been a cherished destination for both local's and visitors for many generations. Whilst it is agreed that the railway must be maintained and updated, we enjoin that this must not be to the detriment of a special and unique location. Network Rail must use their best endeavours to ensure that any development they undertake specifically maintains or enhances the visual and environmental merits of Holcombe and Teignmouth Beach.

Climate change is the most urgent issue of our generation and those to come. The IPCC warns that we must limiting warming levels to 1.5C if we are to avoid catastrophic impacts from climate change. These impacts include more severe and frequent droughts, heat waves, coastal flooding and disease. Although impacts in the UK will be severe, this is an ethical issue as effects are being disproportionately felt by poorer countries. To avoid disastrous levels of warming, action has to be taken immediately at all levels of society. The City of Nottingham has a target of going carbon neutral by 2028, as well as many other universities.