30th April 2008

Christian Assembly Members will Encourage Radical Lifestyles for a Sustainable London

On the eve of London's GLA elections, campaigners for the Christian Peoples alliance and Christian Party - standing as The Christian Choice - say they will use their voice on the London Assembly to press for more sustainable ways of living. The Christian Choice has a manifesto with commitments to turn self-centred priorities into those that benefit London and also the planet. Assembly candidate and founding chairman of the Christian Peoples Alliance, David Campanale says,

"The whole approach of the Christian Choice is to judge spending by the GLA and its policy commitments by the criteria of sustainability. We believe strongly that our covenant relationship with God means there's an obligation on the part of all citizens to manage our Earth wisely. This means that we must all respect our inter-relatedness
with the environment. In the 21st Century, sustainability is an issue of justice and must therefore be central to all the actions taken by the GLA, as well as London's citizens. "

Speaking to supporters, David Campanale summarised the campaign commitments:

• Reducing traffic pollution

• Cutting energy consumption
• Greening our towns and cities
• Helping the developing world.

He also pledged the following action if members of the CPA and CP were elected to the London Assembly on Thursday:

Reducing traffic

Large volumes of traffic cause pollution, noise, dust and fumes. They damage the physical and emotional health and well-being of Londoners.
We will:

• Improve links between communities and public transport to reduce reliance on cars
• Offer concessionary fares on public transport to increase accessibility

•Encourage pedestrianisation of central urban areas and shopping precincts
• Promote “home zones” where pedestrians and vehicles hold equal priority
• Encourage home working to reduce commuting

• Ensure that planning policies allow for the safe design of new residential neighbourhoods
• Create walkway and cycleway links to reduce reliance on vehicles and increase health and access to open space.

Cutting energy consumption

The Christian Choice will seek to introduce radical cuts in energy consumption in order
to reduce pollution and to conserve non-renewable sources.
We will do this by:

• Economising on unnecessary traveling and through backing public transport
• Requiring new building to conform to ambitious targets for energy reduction by reducing heat loss and using materials produced with low levels of energy
• Generating energy at a local level to reduce reliance on the National Grid with its huge losses of energy in transmission. This will be by using renewable sources such as ground source heat pumps, combined heat and power units “bio burners,” wind turbines and solar thermal and photovoltaic (PV) panels.
• Encouraging self-funding measures to introduce energy saving measures such as cavity and loft insulation and low-energy light bulbs, with costs contained by developing bulk purchase by local authorities.
• Seeking tax incentives for companies to donate computers and other technology to schools, charities and voluntary groups in order to find them a second life and reduce demand for unnecessary new goods
• Developing large recycling centres in conjunction with local authorities where recyclable materials could be collected and utilised by manufacturers
• Introducing a wide-ranging advertising campaign to encourage the use of green waste (such as kitchen waste), cardboard and other materials for recycling.

Greening our towns and cities

We are inter-dependant with the physical world. The Christian Choice believes that there is duty on Londoners to conserve resources for future generations and to provide an environment which will improve our spiritual and physical well-being. To this end we will:

• Encourage the introduction of “greenways” through our towns and cities which will link neighbourhoods and provide routes for walking and cycling, to reduce reliance on vehicles
• Ensure that more trees are planted to reduce average temperatures and to provide shade in urban areas affected by future climate change
• Build the greening of local neighbourhoods into future local planning requirements to provide attractive neighbourhoods, especially for recreation, play and sport
• Make sure that the planning process is used to ensure that all types of open space are provided. We want communities to be better places to live and work in and also to see greater inward investment and retained property values
• Encourage local authorities to manage land naturally, with more trees, floral meadows and natural species to increase biodiversity
• Preserve allotment gardens so that people can grow their own healthy produce, particularly in areas where people do not have access to large gardens.

Helping the developing world

The Christian Choice believes that as a matter of justice, London must act in ways which help the developing world.
We are concerned about global suffering from poverty, disease and high mortality rates. It is the two-thirds world which will suffer most from the effects of selfish London-living, through climate change and its impact on flooding and crop failure. We are also concerned about the depletion of resources through the greed of the developed world.
We will:

• Lobby the Government to write off third world debt and to encourage assistance by funding of well controlled self-help projects
• Encourage “fair trade” purchasing initiatives to ensure better trade opportunities for economically disadvantaged or marginalised workers and producers
• “Clean up our act” at home by reducing our carbon footprint, and providing support for those in the developing world to grow their economies sustainably, through reduced energy consumption and tackling pollution of the environment.
• Cut back on wasteful consumerism. A return to 52 shopping free days a year, by ending Sunday trading, will cut CO2 emissions, help small traders and defy Mammon.