Put the spotlight on the environment this election

Protecting the countryside and green spaces, supporting local communities, addressing our future energy needs and tackling climate change, just some of the issues likely to be debated at a special environmental ‘Question Time’ meeting in East Lothian this week (21st April), organised by RSPB Scotland and Sustainable Haddington.

Voters are being offered the chance to put their concerns directly to politicians campaigning to be their MP at the event on Wednesday 21 April at Haddington Townhouse.

Candidates from the five leading parties will be asked to outline their climate commitments, as well as debate the environmental issues affecting the region today and in the future.

East Lothian is renowned for its strong passion for wildlife and its concern about global warming. Last month the local authority claimed the top spot in Earth Hour, an eco-friendly competition where participants had to switch off their lights for an hour on Saturday 27th March. Some of UK’s biggest cities and regions were involved, but it was residents in East Lothian that were crowned the UK’s first unofficial ‘lights-out’ champions, by organisers WWF Scotland.

RSPB Scotland’s Lloyd Austin, Head of Conservation Policy, said: We want to invite all voters to this exciting event and get some clear and straight answers from the party candidates about just exactly how they will tackle the environmental issues on their doorsteps.

We know that people here are concerned for their local environment and this event offers a great opportunity to show the huge level of feeling for urgent action to tackle climate change. We would urge voters to come along and show candidates that environment is an issue that residents in East Lothian really care about.”

Sustainable Haddington’s Abbie Marland added: “This UK election appears to be focused on a narrow vision of the economy. Little attention is being paid to the environment and resources on which our communities rely, and even less on how to move away from the conditions driving the twin damage of “boom” and “bust”.

So let’s ask the East Lothian Question: How do the Westminster candidates propose to support us as a “One Planet” region, fit for a resilient and prosperous future.”

The ‘One Planet’ Question Time in East Lothian will be held 7pm-9pm Wednesday 21 April in Haddington Townhouse and will be chaired by journalist and broadcaster Louise Batchelor.

Just turn up on the night, or for further details please call Julia at RSPB on 0131 311 6538 or julia.harrison@rspb.org.uk

For more information/interviews/images, please contact RSPB Scotland’s National Media Officer Louise Smith on 0131 311 6536 or 07540 121 457

Notes

The parliamentary candidates standing in East Lothian are:
(in alphabetical order by surname)

• James MacKenzie for the Scottish Green Party
• Fiona O’Donnell for the Scottish Labour Party
• Stuart Ritchie for the Scottish Liberal Democrats
• Andrew Sharp for the Scottish National Party
• Michael Veitch for the Scottish Conservative Party

The ‘One Planet’ Question Time is organized by RSPB Scotland, Sustainable Haddington, with support from the East Lothian Transition Towns Network, including Transition North Berwick and Sustaining Dunbar.

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