Promise the earth to save the earth

To support World Environment Day (05.06.06) Mid Sussex Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman Serena Tierney is encouraging her constituents to join her in making a small promise which will make a big difference to the planet.

The Environment Agency is asking everyone to "promise the earth" by making one of ten pledges to save our environment. Serena said:

"Here in Mid Sussex we are seeing the effects of climate change at close quarters. The hosepipe ban has been in place for two years and we are now faced with the possibility of emergency drought measures.

"I invite you to join the Liberal Democrat 'pledge pyramid' by visiting http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/wed/campaign/?user=72863 and joining me in signing up to one of the Environment Agency's pledges, and then encourage all your friends and colleagues to do the same.

"I've promised put a free Hippo bag in my loo. While this may seem like a pretty small thing, if enough people do it we can save tremendous amounts of water. If just the 2000 people in the UK who've made the same promise so far keep it up for a year, we can save over 3.5 million litres of water!"

Mid Sussex Councillor Lesley Wilkins has joined the scheme and she added:

"Also this week the EU this week launched a new website to encourage people to take responsibility for the carbon emissions they create, after statistics showed that ordinary households are responsible for 16% of the EU's greenhouse gases. Lesley added:

"In showing us how we can take control of our actions so to minimize our damage to the earth through climate change, the EU demonstrates once again that it is leading the fight against global warming."

NOTES:

1. Monday 5th June 2006 is World Environment Day. See: http://www.unep.org/wed/2006/english/

You are invited to join the Liberal Democrats' Green Pledge Tree, hosted by through the Environment Agency, to make one or more promise to the earth for World Environment Day

You can make a small promise like turning off the tap when you brush your teeth or using a 'bag for life', or you could go further and promise to organise a green project in your community, or to offset your carbon emissions when you take a flight.

To make your promise to carry out any of the ten pledges listed below and please visit:

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/wed/campaign/?user=72863 and you will automatically be added to the Lib Dem pledge tree.

1. I promise I will take a shower instead of a bath.

2. I promise I will put a water saving device in my toilet.

3. I promise I will turn the tap off when I brush my teeth

4. I promise to use rechargeable batteries instead of disposable ones.

5. I promise to use a reusable bag when I shop, rather than plastic carriers.

6. I promise to air my washing in public - not in the tumble dryer

7. I promise I will boil only the water I need, rather than filling the kettle every time.

8. I promise I will share my car journeys to work with a colleague, cycle or replace those car journeys with public transport at least once a week.

9. I promise that I will pay back the environmental impact of any air travel I take

10. I promise I will organise or volunteer for an environmental project in my local community.

For details of what the Liberal Democrat promise tree has achieved so far, when you have registered your pledge click the following link: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/common/visitor/?view=Summary or the "Promise Pyramid" link onscreen.

2. You can get a free Hippo bag from South East Water by emailing contactcentre@southeastwater.co.uk.

3. To find out about the EU's new "take control" campaign, go to: www.climatechange.eu.com