Press Releases for 2004
BLAIR LETS KENT DOWN ON POLLUTION
29th April 2004Tony Blair has cut official targets on Carbon Dioxide reduction. This appears to be due to the Government's failure to meet its own targets in 3 out of the last 4 years. Since research done by Green MEP Caroline Lucas shows the South East will be affected most by climate change in the UK(1), this is bad news for Kent. Rising population in Kent, coupled with high house prices, is creating more two car households in the County. Britain has an appalling record on lung disease resulting from air pollution, which is primarily from traffic(see below). The Government is therefore damaging health and shrugging off climate change problems in Kent. Hazel Dawe comments:
"The UK lung-related death rate is twice the European average (2). More people die from respiratory diseases, such as asthma and pneumonia, in the UK than in any other EU country apart from Ireland, according the European Respiratory Society. Their report shows illnesses such as lung cancer, asthma, pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are now killing more people in the UK than heart disease.
"People in the UK have more from asthma than anywhere else in Europe - 5.1 million people or around 13% of the adult population. The UK has the highest mortality rate from pneumonia in Europe. It also has the second highest death rate from lung cancer - 66 per 100,000 people compared to a European average of 45.9.
"In failing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Kent, with rapidly rising traffic levels as population increases, Tony Blair is quite dramatically damaging public health. Traffic reduction and reduction of emissions are essential on environmental and health grounds. Voting Green in the European Elections will be a wake-up call."
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FURTHER INFORMATION: Hazel Dawe, Campaigns Officer, East Kent Green Party on 01233 645167 or 07960 956272. Contact address: 10 Hillbrow Road, Ashford, Kent TN23 4QH. Notes: 1. See research at http://www.carolinelucasmep.org.uk/framesets/latest_news.html 2. Press Association, 27.4.04, European Respiratory Society report 105 deaths per 1000 deaths are lung related which is twice the European average.
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