Matthew Boulton, Tony Hancock and Thomas Attwood are just some of the Great Brummies to have been decorated with an alternative ‘CBE’ medal today [Thursday 14 June 2012]. The awards mark a new link-up between Friends of the Earth and the UK’s only specialist green energy providers, Good Energy and Ecotricity, aimed at boosting clean British power.
Morning commuters and passers-by were surprised to see the oversized red, white and blue ‘CBE’ medals around the necks of statues of iconic Brits across England. The statues were carefully selected to represent the ‘Best of British’ and include pioneering industrialists, giants of science, political heavyweights, sporting legends, cultural icons and folk heroes.
Members of the public are being urged to back the campaign – and show their support for renewable power by switching their energy supply to one of the two suppliers – at the campaign website www.cleanbritishenergy.co.uk.
The Clean British Energy campaign calls on the Prime Minister to cut carbon emissions and create new jobs and industries by supporting home-grown energy from the wind, sun and water. Recent polling by Friends of the Earth shows 85 per cent of people in the UK want Cameron to ditch dirty, imported fossil fuels in favour of renewable power sourced in the UK.
Birmingham Friends of the Earth’s Lead Campaigner on Energy and Climate Change, Robert Pass, said:
“The people who have received medals today played a part in making Britain great and David Cameron has a chance to do the same – his Energy Bill should switch the country to clean British energy and put our country at the forefront of this new industrial revolution.
“Our research shows that most people want more of their electricity to come from renewable energy – not dirty and expensive imported fossil fuels.
“That’s why we’re asking people to seize back power from the Big Six energy firms by switching to a clean electricity supplier like Good Energy or Ecotricity.”
Dale Vince, founder of the world’s first green electricity company, Ecotricity, said:
“The Big Six energy companies focus on short term profits at the expense of long term thinking and what Britain actually needs – which is a massive investment in home-grown sources of energy – clean, green energy made in Britain.
“This campaign is about giving voice to the vast majority of Britons who want our energy companies and our government to take the long term view and do what’s right for Britain.”
Juliet Davenport, founder and CEO of 100% renewable electricity supplier Good Energy, said:
“Renewable energy sourced in the UK is better for our energy security and will lead to lower and more stable prices in the long run.
“People need to send a strong message to the government that they’ve got a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get this right; if they blow it we’ll be tied into gas and expensive nuclear and prices will continue to spiral higher.”
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Friends of the Earth has awarded ‘CBE’ medals to statues of Great Britons in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Bristol, Ipswich, and Nottingham. For photographs of all the statues please visit [http://www.flickr.com/photos/wwwfoecouk/sets/72157630063001033/].
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In April this year a poll for Friends of the Earth found that 85% of people back the introduction of legislation to stop energy companies relying on fossil fuels like gas and instead develop renewable energy: http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/press_releases/clean_british_energy_23042012.html.
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Friends of the Earth’s Clean British Energy campaign is urging the Government to listen to the public and transform our broken energy system by developing clean and affordable power from our wind, sun and water. For too long the Big Six energy companies have locked Britain into importing costly gas and coal – causing our fuel bills to rocket. Backing renewable power and cutting energy waste will stabilise fuel bills and create new jobs. To back the campaign and simple steps on how to switch your electricity supplier visit www.cleanbritishenergy.co.uk.
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For more than 40 years we’ve seen that the wellbeing of people and planet go hand in hand – and it’s been the inspiration for our campaigns. Together with thousands of people like you we’ve secured safer food and water, defended wildlife and natural habitats, championed the move to clean energy and acted to keep our climate stable. Be a Friend of the Earth – see things differently. To find out more visit our website at www.foe.co.uk.
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Good Energy is the UK’s only 100% renewable electricity supplier. Its standard electricity tariff is certified under the independent Green Energy Supply Scheme. More than 30,000 homes and businesses across the UK have switched to Good Energy and it supports a pioneering community of 35,000 independent renewable generators that use wind, small-scale hydro, solar power and sustainable biogeneration to generate homegrown energy . Good Energy has not changed its domestic electricity prices since April 2009 and is usually cheaper than the Big Six’s standard tariffs.
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Britain’s first and foremost green energy supplier – Ecotricity was founded in 1996, starting the UK’s green electricity market. It now powers over 64,000 homes and businesses in the UK from its fleet of 53 windmills and is the only company in Britain to supply green gas. Ecotricity is a ‘not for dividend’ company with no outside shareholders to answer to, so can invest more per customer in building new sources of clean, green energy than any other UK electricity company – a unique business model called “turning bills into windmills”. Ecotricity has an Ethical Pricing Policy where all customers always get their best price – no matter when they joined, regardless of how they pay and are free to leave if they wish, at any time, with no penalties.
