MY PLANET

MY LIFE

MY PLANET CO-EDITOR LIBBY DAWSON

On the 3rd September, My Life were invited to East Suffolk Council’s Headquarters in Melton to meet with representatives on East Suffolk Council’s Environmental Task group. We took with us young people with a particular interest in environmental issues, politics as well as journalism. We met with:

CLLR RACHEL SMITH-LYTE

An East Suffolk native, I attended Farlingaye High school and have since worked in London and the Far East teaching street kids for free and for an environmental conservation charity in Norwich and Ipswich as well as the RSPB and in HR for a local authority. A long-time green activist with Greenpeace and later Extinction Rebellion, I realised that with the looming climate and biodiversity crisis I needed to get involved politically also and there has only ever been one party who takes these issues seriously. I joined the Green Party in 2011 and have stood three times in local elections including in the 2015 General Election gaining 6% of the vote share. This May I secured my first seat on the new East Suffolk Council – the first Green to be elected in the old Suffolk Coastal district. I am passionate about protecting the area’s natural environment from inappropriate development and the links between sustainable transport and improved air quality. My other interests include localism and ‘passiv haus’ affordable housing as part of a post-growth society. CLLR JAMES MALLINDER

After relocating from London a number of years ago, a change in lifestyle included a greater commitment to volunteering in the local community. As an active Parish Councillor in Hollesley, volunteer for Meet up Mondays and treasurer of a local Good Neighbour Scheme I know first hand the importance of volunteering and community improvements. 2019 saw me enter local politics as local councillor for the Deben ward and with my enthusiasm for the Environment I now hold the Environment portfolio and vice chair of the local AONB steering committee. Relaxation involves running and bell ringing at the local church.

CLLR LOUISE GOOCH

I’m an East Suffolk Councillor for the Lowestoft south Ward of Kirkley and Pakefield. I am also the Labour Party Shadow Cllr for the Environment. Elected originally to the former Waveney District Council in 2015, and then the new East Suffolk Council in 2019, I have a strong background in environmental activism. A member of Greenpeace for more than 25 years, a vegetarian from childhood, and a vegan for a decade, I’m delighted to serve on the Environment Task Group. Also serving on the ESC Scrutiny Committee, I initiated a twopart review of waste management (including fly-tipping, litter and recycling). In addition, as a sixth form college teacher of Film Studies, I’m working on suggestions for environmental policies at East Norfolk Sixth Form College. My priorities are tackling litter and fly-tipping, working to educate on plant-based diets, promoting public transport, and ensuring that housing stock is carbon neutral and fuel efficient. I’m a campaigner against Sizewell C and all nuclear power. I enjoy working collaboratively to build a cleaner, greener, kinder, and fairer society for all.

ESC Environmental Task Group INTERVIEW

BY THOMAS HEATHWAITE

On the September 3rd, I was given the opportunity to interview three councillors from East Suffolk Council (ESC) who are part of the ESC’s Environmental Task Group at the ESC’S HQ in Melton.

This interview involved James Mallinder, Louise Gooch and Rachel Smith-Lyte. These are the questions I asked during the interview and the answers given.

Q: Bus routes in Suffolk are alright at best if you are in a more urban location but almost non-existent in rural areas/ for villages. Therefore, what are the barriers to there being more bus services in Suffolk, to more rural locations?

James: “Rural isolation is definitely a problem and one that ESC are aware of. However, it is also a really difficult problem to stop, principally because of privatisation. Privatisation has not helped us combat climate change or rural isolation as privatisation often leads to fragmented and expensive bus and train networks.”

However, a 12-month pilot scheme has been launched by KATCH to combat climate change and rural isolation and provides an electric bus taxi service between Framlingham, Wickham Market, and Campsea Ashe. If successful, there is scope to increase this”.

Rachel: “Like James has stated, privatisation is a massive hurdle which

is compounding our ability to tackle the issue, and enable more bus services to rural locations.

I would love to see more electric minibuses (and whilst electric is not the total answer) they are better than diesel double-deckers and a model like London where bus services are frequent and inexpensive. If we used this model, maybe more people would use buses?”

James: “The other point about privatisation is that nature is not valued in that system. Only if nature is valued, will you have an environmentally friendly bus network. But how do you break that system?”

Social Cllr: “It should be stated that there are currently 8 community partnerships running trying to get young people’s opinions about bus networks. Therefore, readers, if interested contribute to your local community partnership and provide your opinion. Further, write to MP’s, and push and nag for change. Only then, will change come”.

Q: I see the council has declared a climate emergency. However, what will the council now do as a result of the latest IPCC report findings (published 9/8/21)? James: “There is always hope.

However, it is important to understand that a) the actions we take now will have an impact in 10 years and b) inequalities within society mean the poorest will suffer worst.

From ESC’s perspective, we are really trying. Some actions we have taken are:

1. Converted fuel on most vehicles in the fleet from diesel to certified palm oil-free Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil, reducing ESC’s 2. Introduced 10 new electric vehicles to our fleet, reducing ESC’s carbon emission by 10,000 tons/ year.

3. Encouraged more meetings via zoom, thus reducing car usage. However, this causes the problem of isolation going forward”.

Rachel: “You are absolutely right. Currently, we have 1.2°C of warming. Fires in Greece; flooding of the London Underground and more recently in New York and Hurricane Ida in Louisiana are evidence that climate change is happening right now!

At this point, big change has to happen and fast to tackle climate change! However, the government is not doing remotely enough and is not leading the way on this.

To tackle this, my advice is to write to your MP, badger your MP and council. Demand change, and make change!”

James: “Going forwards, I believe that more people should grow their own food and consume much, much less as overconsumption is what got us in this mess”.

To conclude, I would just like to highlight a couple of things that the councillors said that I found were particularly interesting. Firstly, the idea that everything is interconnected: climate change was the principal topic discussed, but many other issues are also related to climate change. However, perhaps the most important takeaway was the idea we all have a voice and a role to play to solve this crisis. It is so easy to think that we don’t have a voice, and can’t make change, but time and time again, the councillors kept saying we do. After all, it is up to our generation to sort out this mess!

OUR PLANET BY LIBBY DAWSON AND SOPHIE DEBENHAM Photo Album

If you read our last issue, you would have seen that we started a new Our Planet Photo Album series, featuring your photos of our gorgeous planet, nature and animals. It’s important to be reminded of the many natural beauties that surround us so if you think you’ve got any images that you’d like to be featured in our new series, please email them to me: libby@student-life.co

Orford, Suffolk

Felixstowe Gardens Suffolk