By Paul Homewood
h/t various!!
The BBC are now campaigning openly for their green political agenda:
Boris Johnson needs to prioritise a green UK economic recovery following the coronavirus crisis, say bosses from leading firms.
They called for polluting industries "without a proper climate plan" to be excluded from government help.
Government advisors recently warned that the UK must not fall into a deeper climate crisis.
Mr Johnson is expected to make a speech on Sunday which may lead to a limited relaxation of lockdown rules.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the government "remains committed to being a world leader in tackling the great global challenges we face in climate change and biodiversity loss."
As the UK eases restrictions and tries to repair damage to the economy from the crisis, the chief executives of more than 60 British organisations called on the government to:
- Invest in infrastructure, technology and skills to create jobs that help sustainability
- Exclude companies in "polluting industries" that do not have a proper climate plan
- Restore ecosystems on land and in our oceans by incentivising walking and cycling
- Support sustainable food, farming and fishing
- Swiftly pass environmental laws and bring in targets in law to restore ecosystems
- Bring global leaders together to plan for a sustainable economic recovery
The signatories to an open letter to Boris Johnson included Iceland Foods, Barratt Developments, The Body Shop, Ben and Jerry’s, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), the National Trust and Greenpeace UK.
Richard Walker, the managing director of Iceland Foods, said: "The economic recovery from this global health crisis must put the restoration of nature at its heart – because that is the only way we can continue to power our human endeavour sustainably. If nature is protected, we are protected."
Beccy Speight, the chief executive of the RSPB, said: "Humanity’s future is inextricably bound to the health of our planet. No part of the world is untouched by human activity, and as we continue our destruction of nature, we make our own planet less habitable for people as well."
Hilary McGrady, director-general at the National Trust, said: "Right now, the nation’s attention is rightly focused on dealing with the immediate and profound impact of coronavirus on health, social fabric and livelihoods.
"But as governments around the world turn their thoughts to economic recovery, their plans must respond to what the lockdown has clearly shown; that people want and need access to nature-rich green spaces near where they live."
The letter comes after government advisors warned that the UK must avoid falling from the coronavirus crisis into a deeper environmental crisis.
They said on Wednesday that ministers should ensure funds earmarked for a post-coronavirus economic recovery go to firms that will reduce carbon emissions.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52580291
Bosses from leading firms, they say, but that is a grotesque travesty of the truth. You might think they were titans of industry and commerce, but you would be wrong.
Unusually where open letters are concerned, the BBC don’t give any link to the letter or name its signatories. When you see the list, you will realise why.
Fortunately one of our readers has tracked it down, and this is the full list:
Business:
Iceland Foods – Richard Walker, Managing Director
Barratt Developments plc – David Thomas, Group Chief Executive
The Body Shop – David P. Boynton, Chief Executive
Ben and Jerry’s – Anuradha Chugh, Managing Director
Social Enterprise UK – Peter Holbrook CBE, Chief Executive Officer
Triodos Bank UK – Bevis Watts, Chief Executive Officer
KeepCup – Abigail Forsyth, Executive Director
Bates Wells – Martin Bunch, Managing Partner
Good Energy – Juliet Davenport, Co-founder and CEO
Bioregional – Sue Riddlestone, CEO
Natracare – Susie Hewson, Founder and CEO
Toast Ale – Louisa Ziane, Chief Operating Officer
Olio – Ben Cullen, Managing Director
SunFresh Produce – Matt Godfroy, Founder and CEO
Too Good To Go – Jamie Crummie, Co-founder
LEAP – Matt Hocking FRSA, Co-founder
Circular Economy Club – Dr. David Greenfield, Director
Nature Friendly Farming Network – Martin Lines, Chair
Charities:
RSPB – Beccy Speight, Chief Executive
National Trust – Hilary McGrady, Director General
Wildlife Trusts – Craig Bennett, Chief Executive
Woodland Trust – Darren Moorcroft, Chief Executive
Greenpeace UK – John Sauven, Executive Director
Green Alliance – Shaun Spiers, Executive Director
Surfers Against Sewage – Hugo Tagholm, Chief Executive
Wildlife and Countryside Link – Richard Benwell, Director
Ramblers UK – Tanya Curry, Director
Keep Britain Tidy – Richard McIlwain, Deputy Chief Executive
Slow Food UK – Shane Holland, Chief Executive Officer
Marine Conservation Society – Chris Tuckett, Director of Programmes
Plantlife – Ian Dunn, Chief Executive
Buglife – Matt Shardlow, Chief Executive Officer
Institute of Fisheries Management – David Bunt, Chairman
Campaign for National Parks – Corinne Pluchino, Chief Executive
Wildfowl and Wetland Trust – Dr. James Robinson, Director
Sustrans – Xavier Brice, Chief Executive
Butterfly Conservation Trust – Julie Williams, CEO
Faith for the Climate – Canon Giles Goddard, Co-founder
CPRE The countryside charity – Crispin Truman OBE, Chief Executive
Open Spaces Society – Kate Ashbrook, General Secretary
Women’s Environmental Network – Kate Metcalf, Co-Director
The Badger Trust – Dominic Dyer, Chief Executive Officer
Rewilding Britain – Prof. Alastair Driver FCIEEM, CEO
Whale and Dolphin Conservation – Chris Butler-Stroud, CEO
Earth Watch – Steve Andrews, CEO
Bat Conservation Trust – Kit Stoner, Chief Executive
CHEM Trust – Dr. Michael Warhurt, Executive Director
Freshwater Habitats Trust – Jeremy Biggs, Co-founder and Director
Humane Society International – Claire Bass, Executive Director
Salmon and Trout Conservation – Paul Knight, Chief Executive
Shark Trust – Paul Cox, MD
Angling Trust – Jamie Cook, Chief Executive
Operation Noah – Nicky Bull, Chair
People’s Trust for Endangered Species – Jill Nelson, Chief Executive
Peterborough Environment City Trust – Stuart Dawks, CEO
One World Voice – Jaqueline Bourne, Chair
Climate Friendly Bradford and Avon – Rachel Burger, Chair
Sheffield Climate Alliance – Roscoe Blevins
Youth networks and individuals:
UK Youth 4 Nature
Bella Lack (nature writer and campaigner)
Dara McAnulty (nature writer and campaigner)
Holly Gillibrand (climate campaigner and writer)
Individuals:
Chris Packham (BBC wildlife presenter)
Deborah Meaden (business leader)
Kevin McCloud MBE (journalist and presenter)
Jerome Flynn (actor and campaigner)
https://butterfly-conservation.org/news-and-blog/green-recovery-letter-to-boris-johnson
So where are all of these leading firms the BBC is crowing about?
Well, there’s Iceland, though you would hardly call them “leading”. Their MD, Richard Walker, has signed, but he is a member of Greenpeace, so his decision is doubtlessly a personal, political one. Iceland, by the way, is one of the few companies which are making money during the current crisis, as sales are booming.
The only really big company though is Barratts, and they have a vested interest in burdensome regulations, which act to squeeze out smaller competitors.
And the other “leading firms”? Well, that’s about it.
Ever heard of the Triodos Bank? No, thought not. Or Bates Wells, Olio or Toast Ale? No, me neither.
The letter is nothing more than a Greenpeace inspired publicity stunt, representing a tiny, but vociferous, clique.
The BBC article is grossly deceptive, giving the idea that UK firms are wholeheartedly behind this push to prioritise a green UK economic recovery.
And, of course, it follows articles this week from Harrabin and McGrath promoting the same agenda.
But where is the balance? Where are the interviews with captains of big business, who would prefer a recovery package which focussed on the wider economy and protected jobs and standards of living?
On the BBC? No chance!
I will be making a formal complaint to the BBC about this. It would help if they received a few more, so if you could help, follow this link:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/contact/complaints
via NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT
May 9, 2020 at 08:39AM
Iowa Climate Science Education 
Reblogged this on uwerolandgross.
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