Friends of the Earth
Action Briefing Oct 99/Nov 99
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Birmingham Friends of the Earth Action Briefing Oct 99/Nov 99 |
On September 19th, over 200 campaigners joined together to voice their support for the continued campaign against this unnecessary scheme. The weather was awful, and that so many people turned up shows how strong feelings from the communities along the route of the proposed road are. There were people cycling the route, walking it, riding horses along it, and even canal boats in the nearby wharf showing their disgust at this Labour government's first U-turn. A marching band Chase Royals entertained and led a procession at Chasewater Heath, one of the SSSI's which will be destroyed if this disastrous project goes any further to becoming a reality. Speeches were made by Charles Smith and Barbara Langford of the Alliance against the BNRR. The message was of how the campaign goes on. There were also messages of support from two MP's Mike O'Brien and Brian Jenkins. There is still a long way to go and the campaign needs everyone who care about our environment to do their bit.
The main way in which you can help is to write to all the financial institutions you deal with asking them if they are considering investing in the BNRR. If they are, tell us, so that we can build a portfolio of institutions which are prepared to fund this scheme. We need to make them fully aware of the environmental and economic madness of the BNRR. This we believe to be MEL's Achilles heel. So get writing to your bank, insurance agent, mortgage provider, pension fund, any financial institution you have dealings with, and seek out their intentions re the BNRR.
The BNRR is certainly part of the global market, currently residing in Australia after Kvaerner's sale of KCD to the Infrastructure Trust of Australia during the summer. Most of the projects they have bought are already built, such as the QE2 bridge at Dartford. These are as such cash cows, there for the milking, but the BNRR is far from a being cash cow in that it has yet to be built. Costs will probably overrun and the economics of the toll road don't make it a very good investment. Similarly, Autostrada have also been put up for sale by the Italian government. Interest has been shown by Benneton, McDonalds and the Macquarie Bank. So we know what sort of burgers the service station will be selling.
Please continue to support this campaign.