Sarah Breton, nearest the camera, launches the orange ribbon campaign with Katherine and Stephen Paine. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0880683)
OPPOSITION to the States’ decision to build a £93.5m. incinerator is becoming more visible.
Islanders are being urged to wear orange ribbons to show that they are unhappy that the Suez Environnement plant got the go-ahead.
The Rethink campaign is not about whether people support any alternative proposal, organisers said.
It is purely a chance for islanders to give deputies a clear message that they want them to do a U-turn on plans to build the facility at Longue Hougue and entering into a 25-year contract with Suez.
‘This is an easy way for people to show the States that they are not happy with the decision that has been made,’ Sarah Breton, one of the organisers, said.
‘It is the politicians’ job to sort this one out. It’s not for us, the people, to come up with solutions or alternatives. We just need to show that we are not happy with the decision.’
Since the States decision in July there have been a number of vocal campaigners against the plans. There has been support from some deputies, and rumours of a planned requete to try to overturn the decision.
Mrs Breton said people opposed to the Suez plant should wear an orange ribbon, or put one on their car or home, whether their objection was on the grounds of health, cost, length of contract or environmental.
‘It is like a referendum. This is everyone’s opportunity to make their feelings known and have their say.’
Mrs Breton said they chose orange as it is the colour which represents child leukaemia and, in her opinion, there were links between dioxins – which are produced in mass-burn incinerators – and the disease.
Article posted on 2nd December, 2009 - 11.30am
29 Article Comments
Great idea – where can I get one????? Car, house, clothes. Bathe myself in orange. Let’s get the message across!!
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So… what we just go out and buy some orange ribbon? From Creasys or something? Or are they providing them? Do we pay for them or are they giving them out? if so where and who from?
This is just typical, why even bother with an article like this when there’s no actually information about what to do if you want to participate!
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hmmm what colour do i wear if i support the incinerator plans, perhaps a chargrill-black number? will have to set up my own press release!
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Hi Frosty!
I would suggest Malignant Mauve. Try creaseys as Dr Feel God (only on a sunday mind) suggests in the bordage they might be able to sort you out, failing that give golly flouquet or his side kick Benign Bisson a buzz, I’m sure they have already started manufacturing their own garments for next season.
Just kidding Frostie, I know you dont really support the big burnie do you. Talking of which, where’s Roy? he should be here by now.
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My beak is yellow and I have I have a red spot on it.
Look at me with a blurry tear stained aspect. Do I count as a supporter?
Especially if I have a rib(bed one)on.
God bless Flouquet. Fluke, eh?
You betcha.
Can I fit any more current references in?
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The campaign organiser proudly states that it isn’t the peoples job to tell the Government what to do, just to disagree with them…how is this constructive?
These same people who proudly claim not to have the answers are quite happy to throw out a fully considered waste management plan, developed over a decade, tried and tested in USA and Europe and contracted to a world leading provider. Meanwhile crackpots of every description are emerging from the shadows suggesting we just find another quarry and stick to good old fashioned landfill or give it all to the garden centre guy and his industrial kettle.
Guernsey’s future Waste management choice is a serious issue and, whichever way we go, it will be environmental sensitive and costly. We don’t want half baked, cheap solutions, we need a thorough tender process resulting in world class, best practice and for the population to trust those that do know (and hold them to account) not to blindly follow those that don’t know but prefer inertia over progress.
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Carts
Actually the principal is quite constructive. You proved it in your own comments.
The public want a world class best practice as you say, but thats not what we are getting. This is the peoples way of saying we are not happy with your solution, find something better.
Politicians are there to do whats best for the people, its obvious even to the dimmest person that the current chosen option is not right.
I suggest you take a read through the following thread, particularly look at the very last post from “Total Waste” on November 29 at 5.43
http://www.thisisguernsey.com/2009/11/14/waste-petition-has-3500-signatures/
When you’ve taken a read then maybe you’ll agree that this whole process has been rotten from the start and maybe you will go and get yourself a ribbon.
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The Man. If you really want to educate me why not post some links to websites that prove viable alternatives rather than pointing me at more of the Steam powered spin? What qualifies you, or any other ribbon warrior, to claim that the current proposal isn’t up to the job? I can’t see how a transparent tender process, widely advertised and regualrly reported on can have got this far if it isn’t up to specification…just where is the motivation within government to get this wrong?
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Carts
What qualifies you to rubbish the alternative?
or are you so up to speed with everything that is what qualifies you to call others “crackpots”
Maybe it is you swallowing all the hybe of mass burn that makes you a “crackpot”. Maybe there is another reason?
some have business interests in this, makes one wonder.
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Carts
Try this link
http://www.re3group.com/index.php
Are these the Kind of crackpots with their industrial kettle you were talking about?
Is this not a viable alternetive?
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Carts
Wow I at least expected you to read the thread before replying.
“Total Waste” is nothing to do with the steam powered solution, so the “spin” I was pointing you towards is blatently not.
Try going back and reading his comments, you will see that the states were offered this solution prior the original tendering process.
By pointing that out I was actually trying to show you that there was an inherent problem with the tendering process.
It was widely commented on at the time that the tendering conditions were extremely limited, and practically excluded all but one solution.
Also FYI, I’m not a ribbon warrior thank you, I have nothing to do with this campaign, I just agree with the cause.
My interest in this is that I dont want my taxes to go towards a 93M project of which the same result could be obtained in a variety of proven ways for a fraction of the cost.
Also do you really need your last question answering?? Are you really that blinkered on political motivations that you dont see the potential for some back scratching and pocket lining going on here.
And carts, you really really didnt read that thread did you?? There were links on there to viable alternatives!
Or alternatively, you could just beleive that everything our politicians say and do is in your best interests!
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carts,
Like the man said. Try reading up a litle.
“Open and fair tender process”??? Its the way you tell em.
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Would be good if they would put where to get this ribbon, if not looks like I’ll have to find/buy some :)
@carts, the incineration technology is outdated, should we not have something which is actually up to date?
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Just on a slight tangent but still with the waste debate…isn’t it amazing how much common sense people can have living in a parish so well away from the one that currently does have a landfill site (see todays Press re Waste Solution.
What clarity of thought and foresight they possess. What better way to promote what dwindling tourist industry we have left than to instate a brand new landfill site at Les Vardes. ‘Come to Cobo, Grandes Rocques and Port Soif’ the beaches most publicised and recommended in our guide books and leaflets etc. to sit in what would be the stench of all our rubbish.
Don’t believe me? I don’t live exactly that close to Chouet (far end of L’Islet) but have to live with the vile odours that emanate from the tip on a regular basis. Not just in the height of our pitiful summer but at any time of year where the air is fairly still and heavy. Lovely. It manages to permeate into the house even without any windows open. Literally makes you retch.
This is not the answer for a supposedly civilised community and how on earth burying toxic substances into the ground to be released as leachate to the land and water table around can be seen as satisfactory is quite incredible.
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Orange Ribbon – I have just bought 1100 metres of it and I am happy to give it to anyone who wants it.
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Frosty
Wear black should be a good colour, and promote how much the incinerator will cost us.
Dr. Feel Good
Just look and try if you are interested, if not wear black.
Alicja.
It is not possible to please everybody, sorry.
I have just look at some of the enquiry on the Isle of Mann incinerator. It has a 70 metre high chimney which is shaped, like a boat mast, only problem for the Manx people, is that it does not sail away.
About the enquiry. The incinerator keeps having fires put out by emergency services, it does not produce electric, it emits a lot of Dioxin (which causes cancer).
They had to put gas into it to keep it going, as they are recycling to much and now they are importing rubbish from Britain, since that is cheaper to keep it going.
The levels of Dioxin is being checked in the ground and milk. This would be good for Guernsey milk, especially when the Guernsey Business Plan and Gsy. Tomorrow is promoting more sustainability of local produce as well.
As for the alternatives.
1.Facts on shipping to Jersey, which we have not had honest answers about yet.
2. Les Vardes Quarry ( sorry Alicja as a boy l spend all my time on the beach ), which would give at least 40 years for the problem to be solved.
3. To actually do recycling, and do the job properly, instead of this hotch potch and get it up to at least 70% or higher.
This incinerator is going to cost us more than we can afford, and we as an Island people should have the choice if we have it.
1.I believe those states members opposed should take a Requete to the States.
2.All the districts should have an open meeting with the attendance of their Deputies and a vote taken, to show a Yes or No.
3.If there is a vote against the incinerator, each parish should then have an independent referendum, so as people can give their votes.
If they are going to bankrupt this Island, at least give us the freedom of choice for the sake of our childrens, children.
The States have over the last 12 years, had a good record on spending on capital projects, this could be the real killer one.
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The last sentence was meant as a subtle joke.
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Will be sporting my Dads orange sash over the Xmas period against the poisoning incinerator.
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Maybe I am being naive but can someone please point out to me the motivation for the States of Guernsey to saddle us with something that is being cited (by the detractors) as being out of date, inefficient, over priced and dangerous to our health…I still don’t see why they would push ahead if everything you say is proven and true? I understand that the States often fail to act when they should (sewage is a prime example) but they aren’t renowned for doing something when they don’t need to?
I find it hard to believe in any conspiracy where all the politicians that voted, all civil servants that worked on it and all contractors involved in tendering have arrived at an agreement to fool the population?
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I am totally, totally against the incinerator. I have a friend who lives in the IOM and as the previous thread mentions they have to import rubbish to feed their incinerator. Also it must be noted that the whole of the Island would be affected with the omissions and not just the immediate vicinity.
It would be so refreshing for Guernsey to lead the way with an alternative waste management strategy. I am in favour of Stan Brouard’s proposal.
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Carts
I take your points but, why dont the states not take the time to really look into RB proposal and save a fortune?.
I think there were quite a few members who just voted for it to have the whole thing over and done with. Some would have just taken Flouquets (spin) and others word on what was said without looking at just how truthful they were being.
Just listen to how many deputies keep coming out with the same old rubbish which the average layman knows to be wrong,
1. i.e. why didn`t they tender?
answer, because they were excluded, why?
2.where is the alternaive?
answer, there are if you look,
there are many more that give me good reason to think some of them don`t actually know very much at all about the situation.
And yes there are some people with a financial interest in this and you dont have to look far to find who they are.
Why is one skip company suddenley buying up the smaller ones?.
I know that one company was in the process of buying out another before the states past the incinerator, he seemed to know it WOULD go through,( i was told he knew actually) where did he get this info from and why was it given? Did certain politicians already know what the outcome was going to be?
Aotoclave or as some would say “crackpots with an industrial kettle” does work and is in use.
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Carts.
It is for sure that is a subtle joke by you and you have more faith than me, in our states.
The simple fact is we can not afford it or the pollution that goes with it, when there are cheaper options.
If you want to look on the IOM site , and see for yourself.
I have a spare orange sash if you want.
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Well said Carts.
There is an awful lot of complete drivel being talked about the States’ decision on the Suez Incinerator. If we force the States to re-tender based on a load of misinformation and ignorance, how much in compensation will be due to Suez? The contract has already been entered into, hasn’t it?
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Before any firm steps were taken to build an incinerator ways of reducing “burnable” waste should have been explored.I feel that composting,recycling etc are not being used enough,Oh I know the problems in Guernsey of collection etc,particularly in the Town.But an Incinerator in Guernsey,with its massive chimneys,and dependant on weather conditions this will cause polloution of the air and land by poisons generated by burning.And this is not just something you breathe,but it settles on the grass and crops,and finds its way into our bodies.So I feel that,despite the difficulties(and expense)more must be done by composting,recycling,and the hopefully smaller ammount of refuse to be burnt could be exported to more suitable locations for burning by high temperature burning plants.Waste and energy are going to be our two most expensive issues in the future!
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William James.
You have it mixed up. The mis information and ignorance is comming from the PSD.
The incinerator is just that. It dose not even come close to being able to be called an energy from waste plant. The cost of cancelling the contract with Suez would be £3 000 000. as disclosed by Rhoderic Matthews on the BBC phone in on Sun.
Don’t even get me started on PSD definition of residual waste, or indeed waste.
Have a read of the latest environmental legislation. Be prepared for recycling figures to plummet to ensure the incinerator can even be self sustaining.
At start up recycling will be reduced by 10% from current levels.
If you were not so happy to remain blissfully ignorant of what the PSD/Suez deal will actually mean for the island, you would be afraid for its future.
If the plan goes ahead and the states sign up to future emissions reductions, the only way they will be able to meet the targets is to reduce either road traffic or domestic heating.
You may be happy to move into the incinerator to survive.
I am not.
Please research a little before making such ill informed sweeping statements.
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Donald – I agree with the point that more could be done in terms of recycling and composting, however that relies on individual households and surely if the population was that averse to the incinerator, these actions would have already increased. It would appear that many of the people protesting dont wish to have the problem but are not willing to help solve it either!
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William James
Exactly which bits are drivel??
Because it strikes me that as someone who admits to not even knowing the current status of the suez proposal, you would not be able to differentiate between facts and drivel anyway.
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I’ve got a good idea… reduce, reuse, recycle! Basically there will be pros and cons to every option and there is no perfect solution but it doesn’t matter what we think cos the States will do what they want anyway. I personally think step 1 would be to cut the waste in the first place… whatever happened to that idea of recycling being picked up from home?! They got bored of that i take it?
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…and I hope these orange ribbons are biodegradable or recyclable! What’s gonna happen to them when you’re finished with them… not going to burn them I hope! ;)
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