Heather Webber25 November 2008
Heather Webber has been co-ordinator of Cardiff Friends of the Earth since January 2008.
Friends of the Earth Cymru lifts the lid on what it's like to run a local group.
Being a local group co-ordinator must be lots of hard work?
Not really. The variety of tasks and challenges means it's always interesting.
All I mostly do is act as a point of contact, disseminate information to the group and help coordinate our various activities.
What's the greatest challenge?
Trying not to spread ourselves too thinly.
There are so many issues we'd like to cover, but I've been wisely advised that it's better to stick to a few campaigns and do them well than tackle too much and not make a success of any.
And the greatest rewards?
When you feel you've made a difference, however small - through a successful campaign, a letter in the paper, lobbying an MP or just talking to people at a stall and knowing they've engaged with your message.
And what are you doing in that boat?
Persuading the Government that the climate change bill must include international shipping and aviation - by dressing up as sailors and chasing 'Gordon Brown' around in a boat.
And learning the valuable lesson that the mixture of boats, dubious rowing and wind make for a very tricky photo stunt!
This interview originally appeared in the launch issue of Friends of the Earth Cymru's new magazine - Green Action/Gweithredu Gwrydd.
Download Green Action from their site.
You can also find out more about local groups.
