Home > Press releases > 2002
14 Aug 2002
In an article in today's Guardian, John Prescott writes "it's only now that
we have shrugged off the title of 'dirty man of Europe'. But
Britain still loiters at the bottom of the European recycling league table, the
number of cars on the roads is still rising; air pollution targets have
been reduced and the Government is committed to increasing air traffic, despite the
impacts on climate change.
On the international stage, the Deputy Prime Minister says the UK has shown
leadership, but in the run up to the Earth Summit in Johannesburg, which
starts later this month, Britain and other EU states have not done nearly
enough. Indeed Britain could be accused of acting as a Trojan horse
for US interests - particularly through the promotion of the free trade agenda
agreed in Doha, which promotes the interests of business ahead of the developing
world.
Charles Secrett, Director of Friends of the Earth, said:
"This Government should not be proud of its record on the environment, either
at home or abroad. Green policies, far from being at the heart
of government lurk around the edge, to be called upon when the Prime
Minister and Mr Prescott feel their record is under attack. If Britain
is so committed to taking a lead at the Earth Summit, why is
Tony Blair spending so little time there?"
Notes:
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
