Liana said:

Hi Jonny,

There are two really good reasons why people in the UK should do their bit to help the enviroment.

The first is to look after our own back yard, the second is because what we do here in the UK can have a big impact on the rest of the world. As one of the richest countries that consumes the most resources you could say we should do more than others to keep the world on track.

So, what can we do? I'd say that dangerous climate change is the biggest environmental problem the world faces.

We can do something about that by watching the energy that we use (turning your tv off standby, can save heaps of energy and prevent climate change polution) but if you wanted to do more, you could join with campaigners from all around the world who take action to change the minds of big decision makers like politicians and business leaders.

For example, "Stop ESSO" is a campaign aimed at getting the worlds largest oil company to stop "dissing" an international agreement to halt climate change. www.stopesso.com

Liana said:

Hi Annabelle.

A really important thing is to stop the import of illegally logged timber. Up to 60% of timber imported to the UK could come from illegal sources. We are lobbying the government to make sure this doesn't happen.

After all an area of forest the size of England and Wales is being lost every year.

Liana said:

Hi Jannie,

Boy, you know how to ask the toughies. How long have you got? I'd have to say the top threat is climate change. This will not only be very bad news for habitats and wildlife but it could literally spell death for people in vunerable areas around the world.

When you think about it climate change will change the kind of food we can grow, the spread of disease, the frequency of storms and floods and in some cases whole island states will disappear.

Does that do?

Liana said:

Although we would like politicians to think about issues beyond the next election, they keep disappionting us, don't they.

Just today Tony Blair was speaking at the earth summit in Johannesburg saying that the solutions to global problems are already out there, we just need the political will to put them in place.

He's right but his actions don't always match these words.

Reason to be cheerful number one; twelve years of campaigning has taught me that there is nothing more powerful than a bunch of pesky committed empassionate ordinary people to make politicians listen.

For example we wouldn't have an international agreement to combat climate change unless politicians had got a clear message from people that they should act.

Liana said:

Hi Adam,

"Green Wash" - where corporates use the environment to boost their own image really gets up my nose.

This is because we need big business to change to save the world, but all too often they are all talk and no action.

Some companies are genuinely trying to green themselves but they are let down by the majority of companies that just don't get it. I think in a globalised world where corporations have more and more power we need a set of global rules to make clear bottom lines for company behaviour.

For example, even though Tony Blair has challenged top UK companies to voluntarily do something as simple as publish an evironment report, most of them haven't got around to it.

We don't have voluntary speed limits so why should we let the activities of companies which can be equally dangerous get off scott free.

Liana said:

Hi Mandy,

Our latest count is that around 30,000 people have supported our 'make a noise' action. Yesterday we launched our art installation at the summit with thousands of biodegradable figures symbolising you and me facing off a huge corporate giant made of waste.

Already all the government negotiators that walked by are getting our message. The latest word from our inside lobbyist is that most countries have accepted the need to move towards a global set of corporate rules.

That's not the same as a deadline and the real thing but I can honestly say that wouldn't have been on the earth summit agenda unless 30,000 people had helped put it there.

Liana said:

Hi Dan,

Technically this is the first world summit on sustainable development (Rio wasn't actually called a sustainable development summit). So, who knows what will happen next.

It looks like the results of this summit won't be enough to address the problems that we face.

So I think we are going to need a few more, even if we need to sort out some of the tortuous negotiating systems. And of course we have to convince world leaders to hear the voice of people not big business.

Liana said:

Hi Vince,

Good question. The future is already happening. For example, last June a ground breaking alliance of environment, poverty, etc. groups called The Trade Justice Movement held the largest mass lobby of parliament ever. Thirteen thousand people peacefully lobbied their MP about a really radical set of issues.

At the Earth Summit it seems some of the most powerful outcomes will be about alliances formed between people's movements in the north and the south. And predictions that Saturday's marches were going to be violent proved unfounded.

At Friends of the Earth we think we can be the most influencial through peaceful protest. There is still everything to play for.

Liana said:

Hi Matt,

• Climbing mountains
• Watching movies
• Playing with my daughter...

...but actually, this could go on for a long time. And probably I'll never be able to stop campaigning for green issues.

Liana said:

Hi Joanne,

Why not start with what you know. When you're out shopping, you could ask some cheeky questions about where the things you buy come from and whether anybody thought about the environment when they were made.

There is a case where you can have your cake and eat it too, so to speak. If you like chocolate think about buying organic and fair trade chocolate because it is better for the environment and for the people that make it.

Some shops even have it at the same price as the bog standard stuff.

Liana said:

Dear sUnSnInE,

Completely untypically I applied for a job advert not really believing I'd get it. My careers advisor at school had forgotten to tell me that "campaigner" was an option.

Many people working for Friends of the Earth start out as volunteers or a member of a local group before they become paid staff.

Liana said:

Hi Greenie,

There will be a formal UN process to follow up from the summit. One problem will be that many of the agreements lack measurable targets or timetables so this will be tough work.

Of course Friends of the Earth will be tracking progress. And we will also be taking our demands to the other big global events over the next year. In particular in September next year there will be a meeting of the World Trade Organisation.

Since at the Earth Summit many countries seemed intent on putting free trade above concern for people and the environment, we think it's particularly important to track what happens at the WTO.

Liana said:

Hi Diane,

Short answer 'yes'. Look out for our follow-on from the earth summit, call for UK rules for business - the government have decided they want to change company law this gives us a once in a generation chance to make sure the change is for the better.

Another one to watch for is our campaign to make the UK a GMO free zone. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are set to be released in the UK on a commercial scale unless we remind the government that nobody wants to eat them.

And, probably we need to point out, yet again, that if companies like Monsanto that would profit from GMOs were so sure about their safety they would accept legal liability for them.

So far Monsanto and its friends have actively campaigned against regulation to require them to pay if it all goes horribly wrong.