13 Nov 2000
Friends of the Earth today called on the Peoples' Fuel Lobby to end their campaign for lower fuel taxes and allow the debate to move on to look at other ways of tackling the crisis in farming and rural communities.
Tony Bosworth, Friends of the Earth's Transport Campaigner, said:
The campaign for lower fuel tax has come to the end of the road. We share the concerns of many of the protestors about the crisis in farming and rural communities, and want to see urgent solutions to these problems. But cutting fuel tax for everyone is not the right idea. It's time for the debate to move on so that we can look at other ways forward.
A FOE spokesperson will be available for interview at tomorrow's rally in Hyde Park.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
[1] FOE has called for help for farmers through increased funding for organic conversion;
increased payments to encourage sustainable land-use and the restoration and enhancement of biodiversity and landscape; support for strong local and regional food economies; and legislation to ensure supermarkets pay a fair price for farm products.
Rural communities could be helped through large increases in funding for rural buses and investigation of a Council Tax rebate for rural areas that would be targeted to specifically help poorer families in the most rural areas.
Further details are available in FOE's briefing 'Green
Fuel Tax'
Contact details:
Friends of the Earth
26-28 Underwood St.
LONDON
N1 7JQ
Tel: 020 7490 1555
Fax: 020 7490 0881
Web: www.foe.co.uk/feedback.html
Media team