Petitions are worth signing.
Sometimes, as I have found out by direct personal experience, it is very difficult to wake many people up and get them to do anything. Others will happily sit on the side lines and let the few do all the work. In such circumstances petitions may seem pointless, but they are essential. For publicity they are a key tool. For policy change they are crucial and so are the numbers where politicians know that votes carry weight.
These three petitions are important and inextricably linked to Rattlechain and protecting nature and wildlife around it, as well as human health. I would like to point out that the author has no financial links or membership of the charities mentioned below.
ZANE’S LAW.
Make toxic landfills safe – Support ‘Zane’s Law’! | 38 Degrees
“In 2014, 7-year-old Zane Gbangbola died and his father was paralysed with a diagnosis of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) poisoning, during catastrophic flooding in the first UK floods acknowledged to be caused by climate change. Flood water passing through a historic landfill site carried HCN into Zane’s home, detected there at high levels by the Fire and Rescue Services on the night of the tragedy.
‘Zane’s Law’ seeks to address the crisis of contaminated land in the UK, reinstating legislative provisions removed by successive governments from the 1990 Environment Protection Act, and recognising the Human Right to a Healthy Environment, endorsed by the UN General Assembly, in July 2022.”
We of course know about issues at Rattechain lagoon and the associated issues of attempting to build houses across the adjacent former landfill site. Landfill sites should not become sites for new housing. THE POLLUTER MUST PAY! I fully support the longstanding campaign by Zane’s parents and the articulate and obviously painful efforts from his father Kye in doing this. I am aware of knockbacks and authority copping a deaf one when it seems as though they would have to put things right, which they are not prepared to do, He speaks for many across the country who have landfill sites in their back yard.
WOODLAND TRUST- LOCAL AUTHORITY DECLARE A NATURE EMERGENCY”
“The UK stands as one of the world’s most nature-depleted nations, evidenced by the fact that nearly one in six species in Great Britain are at risk of extinction, 151 species have already gone, and the average abundance of UK species has declined by 19% since 1970. Many of us have seen the telltale signs of this biodiversity crisis: fewer insects, songbirds, and small mammals, like hedgehogs. But there is hope. Turn your concern into action and be part of the solution. Together, we can create a healthier future for people and nature. “
Obviously this mainly applies to Sandwell council, who have yet to sign this. We have of course seen the complicit destruction of urban forest in our area as well as tokenism in the ludicrous Sandwell Local Plan. The council have failed to protect nature and have not spent resources on LNR sites, instead favouring touristy green flag parks.
Nature is not in Sandwell’s plan
GREENPEACE- PROTECT OUR POLLINATORS
Petition – Protect Our Pollinators
“Pesticides are everywhere, they’re in playgrounds, parks and in our local areas – and it’s killing our pollinators and insects. In the past 20 years there’s been a 60% decline in the UK’s flying insect population and their decline affects all of us – it’s putting our food supply and the UK’s nature and biodiversity at risk.
In 2024 a butterfly emergency was called because of record low numbers, while experts have also warned of a worrying drop in moths and bees. But we can stop the decline and help our pollinators thrive.”
Of course Albright and Wilson made a killing out of Monsanto and their cancer causing “round up”. The indiscriminate poisoning of these bastards by the agricultural lobby is blighting nature and must be stopped.