Your views and ideas for activities are very important and we welcome your input!

Environmental issues are diverse. National FoE are currently undertaking a consultation for their five year strategy. We have responded to this consultation with a number of amendments. The two aims that we supported strongly are 'Climate' and 'Biodiversity'; these aims will include aspects of climate change, pollution, intensification of agriculture and the impact of GM technology in food crops. We also proposed that integrated transport and sustainable communities as additional aims.

What is very important to us is that we engage all our local group members in our activities and that we are inclusive to everyone's views, comments and ideas. To this end we have introduced 'Members' Evenings' which aim to be informal events where we can all join in discussion of environmental issues. The Romans would call this a 'Forum'. perhaps this would be a good model to follow! A 'Forum' rather than a 'Focus Group'! The aim is a friendly, social occasion where members can air their views.

Our first such event took place on Wednesday 15th November 2006 at the 'Ship Inn' at Alveston. We propose quarterly events in 2007 on 21st March, 6th June and 19th September together with our Christmas social on 5th December. The details of times and locations will be included with our newsletters and on our website. We hope to use locations throughout the South Gloucestershire are and would welcome any ideas for venues!

We want these to be informal events for everyone to join in. Hopefully we will be able to arrange one or more speakers to give a topical presentation (any ideas you have for a speaker would be gratefully received … why not volunteer yourself?!).

Stuart Shales

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