1. Waste Provide every household with quality doorstep recycling ensuring no new incinerators are needed and half our waste is recycled by 2010.
2. Transport Treble investment in buses and traffic-calming by 2005 so that everyone has access to regular public transport and can live in a safe street.
3. Food Make biotech companies responsible for any harm caused by GM crops and food by introducing strict liability legislation.
4. Climate Protect the world's climate by cutting CO2 emissions by 20% and generating 20% of electricity from renewables by 2010.
5. Business Make businesses accountable to society by requiring Directors to report on, and take into account, their environmental and social impacts.
The Green X Code is built on the success of previous campaigns directed at MPs and PPCs in order to secure their support for various social and environmental initiatives. Such campaigning has resulted in the adoption of new social and environmental laws, which include the Road Traffic Reduction Act and the Home Energy Conservation Act. Therefore, it is critical that at such a crucial time for politicians, the opportunity is seized upon to raise their awareness of our concerns and demonstrate the sensitivity of the wider public to them.
Local campaign groups will be of particular importance in this effort, for the success of such a campaign requires a demonstration of support from the local constituency which only local groups can hope to amass.
With this newsletter you will find enclosed a leaflet on the campaign and a set of postcards to be sent to the PPCs in your constituency asking them to sign up for these targets. Please send them off to your PPCs. If you cannot find out their contact details, phone or email us and we will let you know (and see page 2 regarding sending us your email address!)
In Birmingham we are hoping to hold a public meeting in the city centre (inviting PPCs or senior party representatives) to raise awareness of, and secure commitment to, these targets and other issues of sustainability. We aim to forge alliances and cooperate with other groups and organisations who profess their support or general agreement with these Key Targets. The meeting is likely to be held at St Martin's in the Bull Ring on Tuesday 20th March, 6pm - but this is yet to be confirmed.
If you would like to attend this meeting or get involved in any way, please get in touch - it would be great to have your help.
Vic Milinkovic