Friday, 8 April 2016

SLM Digest 27-2-16




Save Lea Marshes is an open group of  local people concerned to keep the marshes and green spaces of the Lea Valley open and green for wildlife and local people.  For further information go to
www.saveleamarshes.org.uk

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SLM Weekly Digest

Keep Our Marshes Open and Green!


Yet more vehicle damage on Hackney Marshes - please write to the Council to complain whenever you see this!

SOMETHING IN THE AIR – as we receive slightly improved news of the fate of the Heathrow 13 sentencing (see below) comes the shocking report of the Royal College of Physicians that there is an annual toll of 40,000 deaths attributable to outdoor air pollution.  As Wednesday’s Guardian comment points out:  “That’s 8 per cent of all of the half million or so deaths recorded in the Uk every year, a far higher proportion than is usually blamed on alcohol”.  The report also highlights how toxic our homes can be with air-freshners and cleaning products having a negative effect on asthma sufferers.  The Guardian, p.28. 24 February 2016.

ZIKA OR..?  -  After watching the anti-mosquito spraying going on in “Olympic” Brazil and other parts of Central and South America, I started to think about Monsanto and earlier reports and documentaries that were linking ill health and development diseases to pesticides in these areas, so I Googled and found www.sciencealert.com/argentinian-report-says-monsanto-linked-pesticide-is-to-blame-for-microcephaly-outbreak-not-zika  It concerns a particular product Pyriproxyfen which is used to combat the very mosquito that is said to be causing the problem and it has got into the water supply.  Of course the World Health Organisation and other scientists haven’t proved this, but neither have they categorically proved that there is a Zika connection to this birth defect.

UPDATE ON SLM ACTIONS –
  • East Marsh – meetings and correspondence with Hackney Parks over the access “gates” have resulted thus far in Hackney Council looking into bollards/electric bollards (we’ll keep you “posted”)...
  • Ice Rink – we’ve had puffs of smoke from the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority that they are about to organise their consultation process over Easter.  “Over the Easter holidays when a lot of people are on holiday or busy with their families, we hear you say?”  “Eggsactly!”  So SLM are corresponding on how to improve the situation.
  • 97 Lea Bridge Road – we’re not taking the lead on this but we are supporting local residents of the Markhouse Corner and Lea Bridge Residents Association (see their Facebook page Lea Bridge Development Information) and putting in an objection.
IN THE PRESS – Nationally, the Healthrow (sorry just spotted a typo there but I’ll leave it in) protesters given suspended sentences The Guardian, p.5 25 February and there is also coverage in the Waltham Forest Guardian and the Waltham Forest Echo on local people involved in the campaign. The WF Guardian also has a story on a conservation group who have gained political support in a bid for a £5m grant to protect the historic parks of Wanstead. Over in Hackney, the Council’s Hackney Today, 22 February, has a feature on new schools plans including the Tiger Way proposals p.2; tackling climate change through ethical pension fund investments, p.13 and on page 24 two London Legacy Development Corporation notices for planning permission, one concerning the Olympic stadium and the other concerning development on Fish Island, which includes the possibility of 4-6 storey buildings. www.hackney.gov.uk

The Hackney Gazette, 25 February, has news of Mabley Green’s transformation p.7 (you can already see earth mounds); “Cyclists targeted by Balaclava gang on Hackney Marshes river path between Hackney Wick and the Princess of Wales pub, p.9, more coverage of Heathrow protesters from Hackney p.18  www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news 

Also the Letter of the Week on p.14 comes from Kathryn Johnson of the Hackney People’s Assembly on a town hall protest against the cuts and a “say no to Trident” march (see events below) www.hackneygazette.co.uk/letters

NEW FORAGING FILM -  SLM has received the regular monthly update from Forage London with news of a new film http://foragelondon.co.uk/a-film-about-foraging-in-february   There are also some upcoming events on the site.

EVENTS

Join Hackney People’s Assembly at 6.00 p.m. on 2 March outside Hackney Town Hall to protest about the Government’s cuts and the impact on local services (this could total some £188m million by 2020).

Divest Waltham Forest Film Screening- THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING
On Thursday 10th March, join FoE for a FREE screening of 'THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING' as part of the Divest Waltham Forest campaign. Based on the critically acclaimed non-fiction best-seller by the award-winning journalist and author Naomi Klein, 'THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING' is a documentary film shot in 9 countries over the course of 4 years, presenting seven powerful portraits of communities on the front lines of both fossil fuel extraction and the climate crisis it is driving 8-10pm, Thur 10th March, upstairs at The Rose and Crown pub on Hoe Street, Walthamstow. More details here

On p.3 of Hackney Today  Also on the subject of Housing, don’t forget the March from Lincoln’s Inn Fields on Sunday 13 March about the Housing Bill.  Whatever your housing situation, no-one is safe from our Government’s grabbing mitts.

Hedge Herbs are collaborating with Grow Heathrow’s 6 Birthday Party on Saturday 5 March and Sunday 6th March at Vinenes Close, Sipson, West Dray UB7 OJM with the Wild Brew Crew (herbal collective) and there are six weeks of walks ahead starting on Walthamstow Marsh.  Fees are £40/25 concessions for all six walks from March to September or £7.50/£5 payable on the day.  For full and further details contact Rasheeqa.

Next SLM meeting is on Monday 29 February at 7.30pm, Princess of Wales pub on Lea Bridge Road – new people always welcome.

BREAKING NEWS – Mini-Holland, Lea Bridge Road - an intrepid SLM member reports more work putting down paths (apparently not in the consultation document), evidence of LBWF’s knowledge of contamination, posters and graffiti on the new bridge ....

AND FINALLY THE P.M.’S ADVICE/BILE OF THE WEEK... Keep your shirts tucked in, wear a proper suit and adjust your tie..
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