Beyond the Pale

21st June 2010

BP CEO Tony Hayward has faced fresh criticism for taking time off to go sailing with his son instead of dealing with the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

The White House said the move was one of a "long line of PR gaffes and mistakes" by Mr Hayward.

Environmental groups said the Isle of Wight outing was "insulting" to those affected by the environmental disaster.

BP defended Mr Hayward, saying it was his first day off since the spill began after a deadly rig blast on 20 April.

Mr Hayward spent the day with his son at the JP Morgan Asset Management Round The Island Race, where boats race around the Isle of Wight, off the coast of southern England.

He was later spotted by photographers on his $270,000 (£182,000) Farr 52 racing yacht, "Bob", at the event.

White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel said the boating incident has "just been part of a long line of PR gaffes and mistakes".

"To quote Tony Hayward, he's got his life back," added Mr Emanuel, referring to an earlier comment by Mr Hayward.

"I think we can all conclude that Tony Hayward is not going to have a second career in PR consulting," he told ABC's This Week programme, in an interview to be broadcast later on Sunday.

Greenpeace campaigner Charlie Kronick described the boating trip as "insulting... rubbing salt into the wounds" of those who had been affected by the spill.

Residents in coastal states affected by the spill also rebuked the oil executive.

"Man, that ain't right," said Bobby Pitre, 33, who runs a tattoo shop in Larose in Louisiana. "None of us can even go out fishing, and he's at the yacht races.

"I wish we could get a day off from the oil, too," Mr Pitre told AP news agency.

And 59-year old Raymond Canevari, an artist from Florida, said Mr Hayward did not "have the right to have free time at all" until the crisis was resolved.

But BP spokesman Robert Wine defended Mr Hayward's move, and said it was the first break that Mr Hayward has had since the spill began.

"He's spending a few hours with his family at the weekend," he said.

"I'm sure that everyone would understand that."

Meanwhile, BP announced that it has already paid out $104 million (£70m) to residents along the Gulf Coast for claims filed as a result of the disaster.

"Our focus has been on getting money into the hands of fishermen, shrimpers, condo owners and others who have not been able to earn income due to the spill," said Darryl Willis, from the BP claims team.

BP has agreed to put aside $20bn to compensate victims of the oil spill.

Earlier this week, the company said that Mr Hayward was handing over day-to-day management of the response to BP managing director Bob Dudley.

Thousands of barrels of oil are still leaking into the Gulf in what many are calling the worst environmental disaster in US history.

A containment cap and another device are capturing some 25,000 barrels of oil a day, but the latest estimates suggest 35,000-60,000 barrels a day are spewing out.

Garden Grabbing

13th June 2010

There have been mixed responses to this week's announcement that the Government is to act to prevent the practice of garden grabbing, under which developers have been buying up large gardens for new high density developments. The move has been welcomed by many including the RSPB and the Royal Horticultural Society.

However Shaun Spiers, CPRE Chief Executive, told Eco:

“One of the biggest yet unsung environmental successes of recent years has been the regeneration of many of our urban areas, which has also saved vast swathes of countryside from unnecessary development.  Brownfield targets and density standards have been instrumental in protecting valuable countryside, preventing urban sprawl and regenerating inner cities.

To make these changes now could undermine the sustainable use of land and leave the English countryside under the threat of sprawling new development.”

“We support powers being returned to local people and many of the new Governments proposals for planning. But it is essential to have a robust national policy framework which gives a clear steer that development should be focused on brownfield land and that this should be used efficiently. By stripping out this guidance Ministers risk a policy vacuum that puts our countryside at risk.”

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New Green MEP

New Green MEP takes up South East seat in European Parliament

6th June 2010

The South East of England acquires a new political voice in Brussels today, as one of the region's most popular Greens is formally received as a Member of the European Parliament.

Under EU rules, Keith Taylor - the Green Party's next candidate on its European List for the South-East region - takes Caroline Lucas's place in the European Parliament following her historic election to Westminster.

A former businessman from Sussex, Keith was a leading Green Party councillor for 11 years - and a Principal Speaker for the party between 2004 and 2006. Well known for his work on workers' rights, environmental justice and regional economic strategy, Keith also worked for Caroline Lucas for five years as a Regional Liaison Officer.

In his new role serving the South East, Keith will sit on the Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN), the Committee on International Trade (INTA) and the Committee on Petitions (PETI). He will also become a full member of the Parliamentary delegation to Afghanistan, and a substitute member of the Iran and Palestine delegations.

Keith Taylor MEP told Eco:

"I've spent the last 11 happy and fulfilling years as a city councillor in Brighton & Hove, striving for improvements in the everyday quality of life for local people. Now I'm taking all I've learnt to Europe in order to serve the whole of the South East - and I'll work tirelessly to achieve the best results.

"It is my aim to deliver inclusive politics based on hope, around a positive vision of building a just and sustainable world. I want to bring the work of the European Parliament closer to my constituents, and listen carefully to their concerns about the future of our region.

"I'm looking forward to building on the fantastic work done by my predecessor, Caroline Lucas - and would like to wish her the very best of luck as she begins her historic term as the first Green MP at Westminster."

Caroline Lucas MP, who served in the European Parliament for over ten years, said:

"Keith is an outstanding politician, a highly respected party member, and a good friend. He has served the people of Brighton & Hove with passion and commitment for many years and will bring a wealth of experience to his new role in the European Parliament.

"I have no doubt that Keith will prove to be an excellent MEP for the South East region, and I wish him every success for the future."

The European Parliament took note of Caroline Lucas' election as MP on 18 May 2010. Caroline was a list candidate for the Green Party, and in view of this, her seat is filled in accordance with regulations 82-85 of the European Parliamentary Elections Regulations 2004 by Keith Taylor.

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CONTENTS - INSIDE ECO

The Green Network

Comment Section Features: Good to be back - Comment - Page 1

Measure your ecological footprint - Comment - Page 1

The failure of democracy Comment - page 2

When less means more - Comment -page 3

Copenhagen Climate Change Conference editorial- Comment - page 4

Things they said - words of wisdom - Comment page 5

Time for a low Carb diet - Comment - page 6

Chew Magna - Britain's Greenest Village?- Comment - page 7

Time Management for Downshifters - Sally Lever- Comment - page 7

A Fresh Start for The Green Party  -Comment page 8

Science Section Features

12 ways to reduce your carbon footprint -

A car that runs on air- Science - page 1

What is the Gaia Hypothesis? - Science page 2

What is a meme, and how can it save the world? - Science - page 3

The science of global warming and the greenhouse effect - Science - page 4

Beavers back in Britain - Science page 5

Record heat raises climate fears/Web 2.0 - Science section 6

Smart direction for green ideas - Science page 7

Renewable energy - Science page 8

Business Section Features

The New Man - Business page 1

Cut your fuel bill and save the planet - Business page 2

Ethical matters - A Guide to Green Investment - Business page 3

Oil and trouble - Business page 4

Green mobile phone company launched; Body Shop news - Business page 5

M&S leads the way; The Bankruptcy Boom- Business page 6

Do your food shopping and bank online- Business page 6

New Year, New Job - Business page 7

Job Vacancies - Business page 7

Green turns gold - Business - page 8

Society Section Features

Health - Society page 1

Transport - Society page 2

Education - Society page 3

Sustainable development - Society page 4

Housing and regeneration - Society page 5

Parents - Society page 6

Young people - Society page 7

Campaign news & Life Coaching- Society page 8

Recreation Features

Places to Visit - Recreation page 1

Events - Recreation page 2

Gardening - Recreation page 3

"How green are you?" quiz. Recreation page 3

Food, Gardening, and Hot Websites -Recreation page 3

Green Shopping Guide - Recreation page 4

Book Reviews - Recreation page 5

Film Reviews - Recreation page 6

Music - Recreation page 7

General Entertainment - Recreation page 8

Talk Features

Your feedback about Eco - Talk page 1

Talking point: Nuclear Power - Talk page 2

Letters archive- Talk page 3

Current Letters Talk page 4

Get it right! - More feedback - Talk page 5

A Day in the Life of a Sea Shepherd Volunteer - Talk page 6

News from the Blogosphere - Talk page 7

In the papers -Talk page 8