Now, Lucas brings you his thoughts on Neena and explains how he obtained the interview and came to his journalistic conclusions. View the videocast here.

Voters will go to the polls on June 4 and elect regional MEP candidates from all major political parties and smaller movements.

But nearly all of the residents that Birmingham Recycled spoke to, the vast majority said the main issue to win their vote was trust, not the environment.

In fact, out of the fifteen people that aired their views, thirteen said they were disgraced by the MPs’ expenses scandal and the most trustworthy politicians would gain their support.

Katy Gregory, 20, of Smethwick, said:

‘To be honest it’s not the environment at the forefront of my mind when it comes to voting for a political party, recent events with those disgusting expense claims have made me think about basic ethics, like trust and honesty.’

These views were share by Kamir Azek, 24, of Bearwood, who expressed that the environment and climate change just doesn’t matter as much as the economic downturn:

‘Normal people don’t think about the environment in the same way as pressure groups and all these scientists do. When you ask people to change their way of life, they ain’t gonna do it, especially now with the credit crunch and everyone is struggling with money.’

Ironically, smaller political parties such as the Green Party and Respect Party are predicted to fair better in the elections because of MPs’ expenses, which in turn may lead to a stronger environmental agenda in Europe, if the latest polls are to be believed.

One voter suggested that many people care passionately about the environment but with corrupt politicians in power, it is impossible to get the public’s voice heard.

Jean Hampden, 52, Smethwick:

‘Most of my neighbours and friends do care about the environment, the problem is the people we’ve got running the country never listen and the people lose heart.’

To view the opinions of the fifteen people questioned, click this map.

Visit www.europarl.europa.eu to view the standing candidates.

Gill, a Member of European Parliament since 1999, was reluctant to explain her party’s manifesto for the environment and climate change without a day’s preparation.

However, when explained that a member of the public would not wait a whole day for an explanation on a matter of such high importance such as the environment, Gill agreed to speak on camera.

Watch the video of the interview here.

But when pressed on specific policy and the impact it would have upon Smethwick and Birmingham, Gill was vague:

‘I’m extremely proud of the lead that Labour MEPs have taken in addressing the issue of climate change, in getting clear commitments from the environmental and emissions trading.’

Without explaining what those commitments were, she continued to highlight achievements and priorities, without drawing on specific details and explaining the local impact.

‘Main policy has been about recycling and waste, it’s about recycling of used goods, electrical goods, it’s also about looking at renewable energy.’

In fact, when Labour’s achievements concerning the environment is looked at in the European Parliament, Gill, touched upon five of nineteen achievements, which are listed upon Labour Scottish MEP, Catherine Stihler’s website.

Gill failed to mention important policy that will benefit the public and environment in and around Birmingham:

• A new European register on environmental pollution will be set up to give the public and decision makers easier access to information about pollution caused by local companies.

• New rules on the eco-design of products which will ensure that washing machines, computers, and other energy using products are designed to be more energy efficient.

• Considerably improved bathing water standards in the UK thanks to the high standards set by European legislation.

• Enabled shoppers to choose green products by introducing the “eco label” awarded to products that meet strict criteria minimising the damage done to the environment.

 Neena Gill is standing for re-election to the European Parliament on Thursday 4 June 2009.

The West Midlands with the rest of the country will have the opportunity to vote for Members of European Parliament on June 4 – with all the main parties battling for green voters.

Labour, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have all placed preventing climate change and protecting the environment at the front of their European manifestos.

 But, Phil Bennion, has made his plans clear to see on his website:

‘My first priority as an MEP will be to ensure that all EU nation states move forward together in reducing emissions. I will fully engage with the international community in bringing forward a successor to Kyoto, which must include emerging economies such as India and China, as well as the United States.’

The Liberal Democrats believe that the European Union has done a lot of good work together on measures it has produced to prevent climate change, but insist the entire EU need to be on board for the measures to make a difference.

Bennion adds:

‘The EU has set out its targets in a number of new policies and directives, but they will have no effect if they are not implemented across the entire EU.’

Meanwhile the Conservatives’ MEP candidates will adhere to the policy outline in the Conservative’s online audio manifesto, where the priorities are explained as protecting the environment, supporting British farmers and fisherman, and raising animal welfare standards:

‘Conservatives have always supported and strengthened the European package on climate change, and resisted the argument that climate change should be watered in light of the economic downturn.’

Focus has also placed upon creating new environment based jobs during the recession, to make Britain more self-sustaining, which may be good news for the struggling manufacturing industry in the West Midlands.

The Labour MEP candidates, Michael Cashman and Neena Gill, have not been delegated to work directly on the environment in the European parliament, but their colleagues are covering similar areas described by the Conservatives, increasing green jobs and pushing for ambitious targets on reducing carbon emissions.

The event is organised the Corporate Finance Faculty at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and will be held at Cobbett’s offices in Colmore Square, Birmingham, on Thursday 28 May.

It will explain how the renewable energy industry is developing and how best to invest in the growing technology.

Racheal Evans of the ICAEW, told The Birmingham Post:

‘The West Midlands’ large and highly competent manufacturing base can take full advantage of new opportunities in clean tech and renewable technology.’

However, The Birmingham Post failed to question Evans on the difficult financial climate manufacturing companies have been working in, causing many reputable companies with strong green policies to struggle, such as LDV Vans.

The Birmingham based company was due to enter administration, despite being one of the leading environmentally friendly van makers in the industry, before Malaysian company, Weststar, agreed to buy the company.

However, this has not guaranteed the 850 jobs in Birmingham, with LDV marketing director Guy Jones saying many will lose their jobs.

The Engineers Employment Federation (EEF) has predicted the toughest trading climate in two decades for manufacturing companies, causing the potential loss of 140,000 jobs this year, which raises doubts over investing in expensive green technology.

Bob Dale, Head of Grant Thornton’s Manufacturing Group, told the EEF:

‘The quarterly survey indicates that the positive progress made by the sector over the last few years has been destroyed almost overnight by the catastrophic effect of the recent turmoil in the financial markets.’

But financial and business experts believe investing in new technology is the only way to spark a struggling industry.

Business Development Director at Catalyst Corporate Finance LLP, Clive Bawden, told The Birmingham Post:

‘The renewables sector holds massive opportunities for businesses and entrepreneurs in the region, as we are already seeing with our own clients.’

This is in coherence with a Learning and Skills Council report published in 2007, which stated there is need for investment in new technologies for manufacturing to prosper:

‘It is forecasted that over the next ten years the (manufacturing) sector will not only shed a significant number of its current workforce, but will need to address a wider range of skill needs.’

For more information contact Richard Steele on 020 7920 8557.

The unit, which is part of Lord Mandelson’s Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR), appears to be in direct conflict with Ed Miliband’s Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC).

It has sparked a joint response from the UK’s six biggest energy suppliers (British Gas, Npower, Scottish Power, E.ON, EDF, Scottish and Southern Energy):

‘The establishment of an energy department should have made life much simpler. But because of who the business minister (Mandelson) is, BERR is still involved at lots of different levels in the decision-making. It’s hard to say that if you’re an outsider this is anything more than a mess.’

In recent weeks, the BERR unit has had a consultation with the EU over cyber-junk in efforts to try and reduce electronic waste being sent to child labourers.

Corporate companies from Western Europe and the US have been sending old computers to regions of West Africa for children to dismantle and sell components for cash, which is burned and smashed, forming poisonous toxins and sharp debris.

View cyber junk hotspots here.

During talks with the EU, the BERR only consulted with companies within the electronic industry, without approaching environmental agencies or trade unions for their views on how to reduce e-waste.

This has left Mandelson and his department open to further accusations of acting on businesses’ behalf, while ignoring the needs of the environment and UK workers.

The BERR’s explanation of the unit’s formation on their website has done nothing to cool the situation, declaring it influences the DECC:

‘The Energy and Climate Change Unit, in BERR’s Enterprise and Business Group, is working to help create the conditions for UK business success through key energy and climate change policies by working closely with and influencing the Department for Energy and Climate Change.’

It seems this another example of this Labour government struggling for power within ranks, while potentially neglecting the environment at the same time.

The criticism includes IKEA’s West Midlands’ store, located on the outskirts of Wednesbury via the M6:

‘When we are planning a new IKEA store, the issue of good public transport links is an important consideration. And we are working to improve access to our existing stores by bus or train.’

This is the commitment IKEA have published on their website.

However, for the vast majority of customers who visit IKEA Wednesbury, driving is something of a necessity.

Not only is the store’s location away from heavily populated areas but transporting large furniture back home is very impractical on public transport – perhaps something that IKEA forgets to mention.

In addition, IKEA’s involvement in WWF’s and the Earth Hour campaign has come under scrutiny.  

Both IKEA and WWF have shown support for each other on their respective websites, with IKEA pledging to support Earth Hour.

In theory, this would mean all IKEA stores across the world should have turned off their lights on Saturday 28^th March, at 8pm.

However, all UK stores reduced in store lighting to the absolute minimum, without compromising customer and staff safety.

As pointed out on a Guardian blog, using energy efficiently is an action that arguably should be done everyday in IKEA stores, if their commitment to the environment statement is to be believed:

‘Climate change is happening now, which is why we at the IKEA Group are determined to play a part in preventing it by improving our overall energy efficiency and reducing our emissions of greenhouse gases.’

IKEA’s criticism does not stop there.

The Environment Investigation Agency published a report on illegal timber logging.

Wall-Mart, Armstrong and IKEA were accused of using huge proportions of timber product imports and logs in Russia and China.

This led to the Russian Natural Resource Minister commenting in 2007:

‘The impression you get there is that illegal logging has become an everyday economic affair and common practice, everybody sees it and nobody does anything.’

The Rural Regeneration Zone has backed the project named Sharenergy, which encourages the development of community owned renewable energy systems.

Sharenergy is unique because participating co-operative communities are responsible for creating their own energy programmes, using wind, hydro, solar, biomass and biogas technology.

Advantage West Midlands provide funding for these co-operative communities, who have to pitch their energy ideas/programmes to industry experts.

Sharenergy state on their website: “Sharenergy is a new and innovative way to use community energy to make renewable energy, it’s been called local power for local people!”

The Birmingham Post failed to question the effectiveness of Sharenergy and the potential of renewable energy for the West Midlands in their news coverage.

According to the 2006 report by West Midlands Regional Oservatory: “In terms of resource availability it was estimated that the region (West Midlands) has the potential for 2993 GWh of generation from renewable energy sources by 2010, with 45% of this coming from wind, 26% from waste, 21% from landfill gas, 4% from biomass, 2% from sewerage gas and 1% from photovoltaics and hydro-electricity.”

It would seem from the conclusions of this report, that the West Midlands has huge potential for wind energy projects – a tip for those thinking of pitching ideas to Sharenergy.

It remains to be seen what projects Sharenergy will fund and support in the coming months, but Sharenergy project manager John Halle believes people and businesses will embrace the initiative: “Energy costs and environmental concerns are particularly significant for householders and businesses at the moment.

Many solutions to the twin challenges of high energy costs and climate change can actually be found within communities themselves.”

For more information visit  Sharenergy.

Greenpeace have opposed government plans for a high speed electric rail line linking London, Heathrow and Birmingham.

This is latest fall out concerning Heathrow’s controversial third runway.

The idea behind the proposal is to reduce the volume of cars, buses and taxis that drive into Heathrow from all areas of the country – in an effort to reduce vehicle carbon emissions and create the ‘green Heathrow’.

However, this ‘sweetener’ proposal by the government has not stopped firm opposition from the Conservative party and Greenpeace.

The Conservatives claim they would scrap plans for the third runway and build a high speed line between London, Birmingham and Leeds.

Greenpeace have actually bought surrounding areas of Heathrow to prevent aviation and rail expansion.

The organisation claim on their website: “If expansion goes ahead Heathrow will become the largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions in the whole country. And the government’s plans to expand airports across the UK will make it impossible for us to meet our commitment to reduce emissions and stop runaway climate change.”

A new 200mph train line would reduce heavy rail congestion around Birmingham and reduce journey times to the capital to forty minutes.

Green Gauge 21 completed a report on the idea of a high speed rail line to and from Heathrow and stated that the idea could actually remove the need for a third runway: “If high speed rail is developed fully to serve Heathrow, it could remove a large part of the demand that would be met by the provision of the third runway.”

But proposals are expected to be completed for the third runway and high speed railway this month.

Up to five public parks could be transformed to include outdoor gym equipment, pedestrian walkways and cycle routes.

The initiative has been introduced to encourage people into exercise.

However, fears over the parks environment and traditional heritage being effected have risen, along with the government’s incoherent policy on local leisure facilities.

John Martin, a Labour councilor, told the Express and Star: “This is external Government funding being invested in the area so from that aspect, it is a positive thing. But the plans do sit rather incongruously alongside the recent closure of other leisure facilities like Cradley High School and Brierley Hill.”

A final decision on the proposals are to be made this Friday.

More to follow.