AGM - Annual General Meeting

Coordinator's Report
At the 2017-2018 Annual General Meeting (AGM), Shaun highlighted our activities and successes over the past year. See below for the report.

Election of Officers
The election of officers for 2018-2019 are:

• Coordinator – Shaun re-elected.
• Website and Facebook - Shaun re-elected.
• Treasurer – Liddy re-elected.
• Richard was elected as Local Group Chair.
• National FoE had asked who was managing the Twitter account and Miriam offered to take on social media activity until a more local lead could be identified.  

Accounts
Liddy presented the accounts. If you would like a copy then please get in touch. see the contacts page.

Campaign priorities for 2018-2019
Air pollution has been less a priority with less steer from FoE nationally but there will be a national Day of Action later in the year we could support with a “one-off” event.

Plastics campaigning could be done in collaboration with Plastics Free Project which has 1000+ members and in developing a positive and focused campaign. Next steps would include supporting businesses to reduce plastics use and Charlotte’s group have many ideas for specifically targeting local cafes to help them to reduce their use of plastic e.g. straws or takeaway containers. There is for the local group potential to support strategy development and look for whether FoE nationally will have useful resources.

2017 - 2018 Yearly Review

April 2017 - April 2018 has been a busy year for the group. Here is a list of the highlights from the year. 

Roles

• John stepped down as the coordinator and Shaun took on the role. Shaun continued with the roles of updating the website and facebook.
• Liddy agreed to continue as our treasurer.

Air Pollution

• Had articles published in The Star (front page) and the Yorkshire Post.
• Contacted by Sky News for an interview.
• Pollution monitoring with the University of Sheffield.
• Contacted MPs and councillors about air pollution.
• Organised the Festival of Debate Air pollution: The Silent Killer Debate.
• Took part in the Midland Mainline electrification stunt.

Fracking

• Organised an anti-fracking rally in city centre (October).
• Worked with national Friends of the Earth to put on the “Robin Hood vs The Frackers” street theatre.
• Worked with other local and regional anti-fracking groups.
• Anti-fracking articles were published in The Star.
• Organised a Skip Fossil Fuel stunt outside Weston Park Museum.
• Looked into the issues with treating fracking water at the Ecclesfield water treatment plan.
• Organised an anti-fracking benefit Burns Night which raised nearly £1,000.
• Had a networking lunch with Jessica Ernst who has been responsible for a long running legal campaign in Canada.
• Organised two training workshops regarding legal issues at fracking protests.
• Richard gave a presentation on fracking to Fulwood Labour Party.

Food

• Took part in a stall at the Sheffield Food Festival in the Winter Gardens.

Other Campaigns

• Worked with Museums Sheffield for a history of activism project.

Events

• Took part in Zero Carbon Yorkshire – CAT.
• Ran a stall at the Peace and Craft Fair.
• Attended Base Camp Conference.
• Advertised free films on-line.
• Organised a stall at the Light Cinema on the Moor
• Held our AGM.
• Beatrice - talked to scouts about environmental issues.
• Tamara attended the Sheffield Renewables AGM.

Media

• Air pollution and fracking articles in the local media.
• Media training.

Social

• Watched the Al Gore film "An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power".
• Christmas meal and social.

Other Things

• Created an on-line shop selling eco-friendly clothes.
• Updated Facebook and our website.
• Respond to letters and requests from the public.
• Group development work.

2018 - 2019

Hopefully the new year of campaigning will see many more people getting involved and we’ll achieve many more success stories. Our success is 100% a result of the volunteers giving up a bit of their time to make a difference.

Anti-Fracking Campaign - April 2018 Update

Robin Hood event – this generated good media coverage and some useful conversations despite relatively low numbers at some of the street theatre.

Richard gave an update on the Ecclesfield water treatment inquiry.

Other activities include:

• Meeting at start of inquiry on 24 April Riverside House, Main St, Rotherham at 9am; 
• The Marsh Lane Public Enquiry will be 19-29 June and a “peaceful show of strength” planned on first day at Market Hall, Assembly Rooms, Soresby St, Chesterfield, S40 1AR; 
• Regional Anti-Fracking Strategy meeting of anti-fracking groups at Weslyn Centre in Maltby on 12 May

Other News - April 2018

Green City Strategy
The strategy adopted by Council now online. See the link here. On first reading, seems fairly conservative and there may be missed opportunities. It is also difficult to read on-line so we will try and get some paper copies from Council.

Basecamp
This is on 1-3 June this year and members can book through national FoE website – Focus this year is around  hat is needed to avert temperatures rising to the “1.5 degrees” threshold.

Stalls 
The Sharrow Festival takes place on 7 July – volunteers are needed to set up and man the stall from 10:30am to 6pm. Please sign up up to one or more time slots here.

We are also running a stall at the Stannington Carnival on Saturday 14 July. Again, if you can help out from 10.30 to 5pm then please sign up to one or more time slots here

Request for speaker
The Life-Style Movement are holding their annual Conference at the Bamford Quaker Community from Friday 21st September to Sunday 23rd and have asked for someone from Sheffield FoE to speak at the Conference on the theme 'Making our Consumption more Sustainable' – Charlotte has agreed to speak..

Robin Hood vs The Frackers - Save Sherwood Forest

Countryside around Sheffield is at risk from chemicals giant INEOS who even want to carry out fracking surveys inside ancient Sherwood Forest, home to the legend of Robin Hood. If Sherwood is not safe from fracking, nowhere is safe.

Friends of the Earth, working alongside local communities and actors portraying Robin Hood and his merry band of outlaws, put on a series of family-friendly events in Sheffield from 19 - 24 March to tell people more about the threats to our countryside from fracking. Beside street theatre there were also kids' activities, music, speeches and performances. 

Robin Hood and his merry band protecting Sherwood Forest from Fracking. Picture: Shaun Rumbelow

We were expecting Saturday to be the busiest day so many local campaign groups ran stalls to distribute information leaflets and get post cards signed opposing fracking. If you haven't yet signed the petition then you can do so here. 

The Sheffield Friends of the Earth stall handing out information and collecting
signatures for the Save Sherwood Forest petition. Picture: Shaun Rumbelow

The week of events finished with a stunning lantern lit giant puppet show where Robin Hood defeated the frackers and saved Sherwood Forest.

The giant puppet show - Robin Hood taking on the frackers.  Picture: Shaun Rumbelow

Evening street theatre. Picture: Shaun Rumbelow

The week of events were widely publicised in the local media. The article/video from The Star is here. The video from Sheffield Live is here. The Shef News article is here.

March 2018 General Meeting

Most of the March meeting was dedicated to planning the "Robin Hood vs The Frackers" event. Other fracking events were covered and you'll hear more about these in the coming weeks.

Sheffield Friends of the Earth has shares in Sheffield Renewables so Tamara went to their AGM to represent our group. Tamara gave positive feedback about Sheffield Renewables and explained their future plans for solar power in Sheffield.

Base Camp takes place from 1-3 June. To find out more and book tickets see link here. 

We are booking a stall at Sharrow Festival on Saturday 7th July. Please get in touch if you can help out for an hour or two (contact admin@sheffielfoe.co.uk)

Robin Hood Sheffield Lantern Show and Street Theatre

Countryside around Sheffield is at risk from chemicals giant INEOS who even want to carry out fracking surveys inside ancient Sherwood Forest, home to the legend of Robin Hood. If Sherwood is not safe from fracking, nowhere is safe.

Friends of the Earth, working alongside local communities and actors portraying Robin Hood and his merry band of outlaws, are putting on family-friendly events in Sheffield to tell people more about the threats to our countryside from fracking – it’s a great show!

Join us on Saturday 24th March 12-4pm in the Peace Gardens for street fair with Robin Hood v Fracking street theatre, kids' activities, music, speeches and performance. Culminating in a stunning lantern lit giant puppet show 7-8pm

Come and bring friends and family, and encourage kids to dress up! If you can’t make it, please spread the word.

Join us on Saturday to say “No to fracking in Sherwood Forest, no to fracking anywhere”. !!

LATEST SCHEDULE
Friday
If you happen to be near the University of Sheffield Students' Union on Friday then look out for the Robin Hood troupe highlighting the dangers of fracking. Starts around 12.30 until mid afternoon.

Don't forget that there is a workshop at Victoria Hall Methodist Church from 6pm on Friday for those who want to join in and make a big lantern for Saturday's main event. Come anytime before 8pm if you just want to make your own.

Saturday
12-4 pm in the Peace Gardens for street fair with Robin Hood v Fracking street theatre, kids' activities, music, speeches and performance. Help is required running stalls during this time. Just turn up.

The week of Robin Hood vs The Frackers events come to an end with the stunning lantern lit giant puppet show 7-8 pm


For more details see links below:
https://friendsoftheearth.uk/climate-change/robin-hood-vs-fracking-events-sheffield
https://friendsoftheearth.uk/climatechange/fracking

Anti-Fracking Training

Anti-Fracking training - "Know your Rights" on Saturday 3rd March from 10.00 am to 2.00pm at The Wesley Centre, Blyth Road, Maltby, Rotherham S66 8JD

Green and Black Cross will be running a ‘Know Your Rights’ workshop which aims to give anti-fracking campaigners the knowledge to combat repressive police tactics commonly used against protesters.

Topics covered:

1. Our Key Messages: The most important thing you can take with you on a protest.
2. Police Tactics and Private Security: Who are these police liaison teams and what is their role
3. Stop and Search: Understand the limits of what the police can search for and learn how to resist information gathering techniques used by officers.
4. What happens when I’m arrested?: Your first arrest is always going to be difficult experience. We take you through the process and your rights in custody, to prepare you for the experience should it arise.
5. Laws commonly used against protesters: We’ll put you in the shoes of a police officer on the hunt to make some arrests.

There are 30 free places which are open to anti-fracking campaigners. Please contact Richard Souter by email souter_r@hotmail.com with the 4 key pieces of information specified below:

1. Your name.
2. Contact phone number for last minute updates/changes.
3. The anti-fracking group you belong to.
4. The name of the course: "Know your Rights".

Refreshments will be available but participants should bring their own lunch.

https://www.facebook.com/events/203992193672044/ 
https://www.wesleycentremaltby.co.uk/
https://www.sheffieldfoe.co.uk
https://greenandblackcross.org

Anti-Fracking training “Legal Observer” on Saturday 10th March training from 10.00 am to 5.00pm at St Andrew's United Reformed Church, Upper Hanover Street, Sheffield S3 7RQ

Green and Black Cross will be running a “Legal Observers” workshop which is an essential part of the support provided at protests. Whether handing out key advice on bust cards, or finding witnesses for arrests, legal observers help to ensure that people protesting against fracking don’t face the legal system alone.

Topics covered:

1. Police tactics
2. Stop & Search law & procedure
3. Arrestee support
4. Police ranks & command structure
5. How to provide good witnesses and nail inappropriate policing
6. How to get more involved with GBC

There are 30 free places which are open to anti-fracking campaigners. Please contact Richard Souter by email souter_r@hotmail.com with the 4 key pieces of information specified below:

1. Your name.
2. Contact phone number for last minute updates/changes.
3. The anti-fracking group you belong to.
4. The name of the course: "Legal Observers".

Refreshments will be available but participants should bring their own lunch.

https://www.facebook.com/events/150470025650546/
http://standrewsurcsheffield.org.uk/
https://www.sheffieldfoe.co.uk
https://greenandblackcross.org

Air Pollution Update February 2018

Shaun mentioned that the future Friends of the Earth campaign is likely to focus on idling cars but we are awaiting strategy from Friends of the Earth.

Richard shared materials from Healthy Air Leeds campaign.

The big solutions to tackle air pollution in Sheffield at the moment are:
Bueses
£1.9m will be invested to retrofit 117 buses across the Sheffield network with emission reduction technology. Once upgraded, the buses will produce less NOx emissions per kilometre than many types of modern car. The retrofit will reduce NOx emissions of buses to Euro VI standard, complying with standards set out in the council’s Clean Air Strategy. Upgrade work will be prioritised on the bus routes that travel through the worst pollution corridors – particularly First’s routes 51, 52a, 75/76, 81/82, 95 and 97/98, plus the Stagecoach routes 7 and 25. These buses travel around 7.8 million kilometres each year (4.8m miles) and so this prioritisation will significantly improve air quality across the city. For more details see: http://www.sheffieldnewsroom.co.uk/bus-investment/

Hydrogen Vans
Amey has two hydrogen powered vans at its depot at Olive Grove. It is gearing up to run another 15 electric vehicles to replace the current diesel vehicles. Hydrogen for the vehicles will be provided by ITM Power from their hydrogen station based at Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) in Sheffield – one of only a handful of hydrogen refueling stations outside of London. The hydrogen used is produced on site using renewable energy from a wind turbine. For more details see http://www.sheffieldnewsroom.co.uk/streetsaheadhydrogenvehicles/

Ofo Bikes
The Ofo bikes have been a huge success in Sheffield and hundrens more bikes are due soon. For more details see https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/sheffield-set-to-get-hundreds-more-yellow-scan-and-ride-ofo-bikes-as-scheme-proves-big-hit-in-city-1-9017047

Anti-Fracking Update - February 2018

Burns Night
Our Burns night anti-fracking fund raising event was very successful with approx. £1000 raised from sales and donations.

Anti-Fracking Legal Training
Green and Black Cross training – training for fracking activists is being hosted in two different venues on different dates, “Know Your Rights” on 3 March in Maltby and “Legal Observer” training on 10 March in Sheffield. Training is provided free so Sheffield Friends of the Earth only need to pay for venues. If training well attended or oversubscribed it may be possible to organise further sessions.

For more details see
https://www.facebook.com/events/203992193672044/
https://www.facebook.com/events/150470025650546/
https://www.sheffieldfoe.co.uk/2018/02/anti-fracking-training.html

Ecclesfield
We had an update from Richard on the planned meeting with council and local environmental groups and two independent experts who can explain the evidence on the issue of water contamination from the fracking process and associated hazards.

Labour Party
Richard is giving a presentation on fracking campaigning to Fulwood Labour Party on 20 March.

Fracking Update from Frack Free South Yorkshire  

Misson Springs and Tinker Lane well sites

IGas has begun work on well pad constructions. IGas says Misson Springs will be their first well. A protection camp has been set up. Postcode DN10 6ES.

Marsh Lane

Derbyshire County Council planning committee voted 9 to 1 to oppose the planning application.  Ineos’ appeal will be heard from Tuesday 19th to Friday 22nd June, and from Tuesday 26th to 29th June 2018.

Harthill

On 25th January the Rotherham Council Planning Board councillors unanimously backed their planning officers recommendation to oppose the application on traffic and ecology grounds.

Ineos’ appeal will be heard from 24th to 27th April, and from 1st to 4th May at Rotherham Town Hall, The Crofts, Moorgate Street, Rotherham S60 2TH

Woodsetts

The Planning Board meeting is expected to be held on 8th March. There is still time to get objection letters in. A pro-forma is attached.

Kirby Misperton, North Yorkshire

Third Energy’s contractors have pulled out most of the equipment from the well site. There are restrictions on the work Third Energy can do during nearby Flamingoland’s season from Easter to September so it unlikely they will return until September at the earliest.

Mineral Strategies

The Communities and Local Government Committee has opened an inquiry to examine (1) whether guidance for local authorities taking planning decisions on fracking applications needs to be updated or improved, (2) whether there needs to be a comprehensive document bringing all existing guidance together, for all those involved in the planning process, and (3) whether applications for fracking should be determined by the national planning regime rather than at a local level.

The third part gives us the most concern. In its 2017 General Election manifesto, the Conservative Party said, “where necessary, major shale planning decisions will be made the responsibility of the National Planning Regime.” This is an attack on localism. The deadline for submissions is 14 March.

https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/communities-and-local-government-committee/inquiries/parliament-2017/planning-fracking-17-19/

Events

• Saturday 24 February, 11.00am: NOT FOR SHALE AWARENESS MARCH.

• Saturday 24 February, 5.30pm to 2am: FRACKING SHAMBLES AT HAGGLERS. Hagglers Corner, 586 Queens Road, Sheffield S2 4DU. Anti-fracking fundraiser. Food, live music, DJs and speakers including Eddie Thornton, Helen Chuntso, David Kestevens and Frack Free South Yorkshire.

• Tuesday 27 February, 7pm: MEETING RE HARTHILL PUBLIC ENQUIRY. Harthill Village Hall, Winney Hill, Harthill S26 7YL

• Tuesday 27 February, 7.30pm: FRACK FREE PENISTONE & STOCKSBRIDGE meeting. Travellers Inn, 286 The Common, Stocksbridge S35 9WP

• Wednesday 28 February, 7pm: WOODSETTS AGAINST FRACKING public meeting. Village Hall, Gildingwells Road, Woodsetts S81 8QB

• Saturday 3 March, 10am-2pm: KNOW YOUR RIGHTS TRAINING. The Wesley Centre, 14 Blyth Road, Maltby, Rotherham S66 8JD. Two miles East from Junction 1 of the M18 motorway.

• Saturday 10 March, 10am-5pm: LEGAL OBSERVER TRAINING. Saint Andrew's URC Church, Upper Hanover Street, Sheffield S3 7RQ

• Wednesday 14 March, 7.30-10.00pm: PROTEST LAW - Helen White of Howells LLP. The Queen, 135 High Street, Mosborough S20 5AF.

• Thursday 19 April, 7pm: THE BENTLEY EFFECT FILM SCREENING. The Venue, 650 Manchester Road, Stocksbridge S36 1DY

• And, of course, the ROBIN HOOD vs. FRACKING lantern-making workshops, street theatre and lantern parade.

History of Protest

Museums Sheffield’s free exhibition called "Changing Lives: 200 Years of People and Protest in Sheffield" opened on Tuesday 6 February 2018 and runs until Sunday 1 July 2018. Four members from our group were at the official launch to see our fossil fuel dinosaurs on display. Our anti-fracking and anti-fossil fuel banner was too large for display so we'll retrieve that to use at protests.

See:
http://www.museums-sheffield.org.uk/museums/weston-park/exhibitions/current/changing-lives-200-years-of-people-and-protest-in-sheffield

https://www.thestar.co.uk/our-towns-and-cities/sheffield/new-exhibition-1-9020165

Fracking - Please write an objection letter

A planning application (Ref CM4/1217/72) has been submitted by Ineos Upstream Ltd for planning permission to drill a vertical hydrocarbon exploratory core well on land adjacent to Bramleymoor Lane, near Marsh Lane, Eckington.

If you wish to object to this development then please write a letter to the address below explaining why you object. You can use the example letters attached. If you haven't got the time to write your own letter then please print one of the example letters and send that to.

Development Management,
Derbyshire County Council
County Hall
Matlock
Derbyshire
DE4 3AG

Click here for the short version or the long version of the objection letters (word format)

Anti-Fracking Campaign Update - January 2018

Burns Night Anti Fracking Fundraising Event – 72 have booked with 8 places left and Eventbrite booking will close on 16 Jan 2018. There will be an opportunity to get people to sign objection forms for Marsh Lane on the night.

Know your Rights Training – Green & Black Cross are an anti-fracking organisation who provide training for legal observers for protest events and general advice about legal rights of protesters. They will provide training if we can find a venue.
ACTION: Shaun will be in touch to let them know we are interested and that Richard will liaise over finding a venue for up to two events for local anti-fracking groups.

Ecclesfield Water Treatment Plant – The injunction to suppress any potential protest in the area has been extended despite challenges from local campaigners. The plan is to try and organise a meeting to bring in experts to highlight the environmental problems that will arise from the waste water that is contaminated with radiation which is likely to end up in the River Don.

“Robin Hood v. the Frackers” will take place on Saturday 24 March. We will need stewards for street theatre and lantern procession.
ACTION: Dates for diaries – will need volunteers nearer the time for stewarding and for lantern-making during the week

Air Pollution Campaign - January 2018

The National Clean Air Day will be on Thursday 21 June, but we should try to arrange a stunt on the Saturday before so we have time to get the media work completed ready for the actual day.
ACTION: We will create a plan nearer the time, but please put Saturday 16 June in your diary and let us know if you have any ideas or would like to get involved.

Sheffield City Council Strategy – Richard provided an update from meetings with Jack Scott on plans including current transport strategy for buses and trains. Green City Action Plan should in principle go to Cabinet soon.

There is an opportunity to run a workshop on air pollution for a Healthy Planet group who are holding a three day meeting in Hathersage
ACTION: Richard to put them in contact with Lauren

History of Activism Project - January 2018

Louisa Briggs came to talk about her project which includes an exhibition at Weston Park museum which will run from 6 Feb to 1 July 2018 and which will include some of our FoE materials and the anti-fracking dinosaurs. She is also involved in ongoing collection of materials related to past and current activism.

As well as donating past and current materials (including news letters etc), there is potential to contribute a “Meet the activists” session whilst the exhibition is on. Louisa also clarified that it should still be possible to access things that are safely archived/stored by the museum if we wanted to use for our own event.

Other News - January 2018

Regional FoE Meeting in Leeds takes place on 17 Feb 2018 from 10:30 am - 5 pm. If you not in the local group then you will be able to attend the second part of the day. See links below for more details:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1023802024437690/
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/friends-of-the-earth-yorkshire-gathering-2018-tickets-41240251703
ACTION: Shaun to re-circulate invitation

Sheffield Renewables AGM – Richard previously represents us as investors and they now have three solar installations.
ACTION: Tamara to represent us and report back

Developing our group – Shaun summarised the learning from the book on developing activists and discussed the need to build up the group’s capacity.
ACTION: A separate meeting will be planned to develop our strategy.

FoE Christmas card – Shaun reported this was sent to our active members

Peace in the Park - 9 June – there is an opportunity to have a stall if any volunteers to organise – ACTION: for discussion at the Feb meeting.

New members – Tamara introduced herself. She is from Manchester, now based in Sheffield and interested in divestment and climate change campaigns.