Economists – why don’t we invest in trees?
This picture illustrates clearly how trees are the lungs of the planet.
If we cut down trees and do not replace them – we destroy our own lives.
Its pointless to continue the battle against the destruction of our precious rainforest.
Isn’t it time to look at this differently?
Its time for economists and analysts to say .
Hey – we’re missing something here. Why don’t we invest in the trees?
Reforestation on a grand scale could pay dividends for Africa and the Americas – with a positive knock on effect for Europe.
Operation OASIS, proposes transportation of treated waste water by sea to coastal forests and vegetation in arid coastal zones, to restore soils and increase rainfall.
Our project OASIS was originated in Britain by a former sewage engineer, Andrew K Fletcher.
FIND OUT MORE
The FREdome Visionary Trust is convening a second All Party Parliamentary Meeting at the Houses of Parliament on the 7th of March 2012 at 4pm, in the Jubilee Room, House of Commons, Palace of Westminster, LONDON SW1A 0AA UK, on the economic and environmental merits of Operation OASIS.
Contact: Greg Peachey to reserve your seat with CEO’s and business leaders from Leading Companies and hear what they have to say about our plan to lead us out of recession with sustainable growth.
Tel: +441727823131
Email:Greg (AT) fredome.org
Let’s do something incredible – Together for Trees
“Rainforests help keep the world’s climate in balance. Protecting them is vital for our children’s future and for the future of the planet.”
Tesco and RSPB have launched Together for Trees – a campaign which you can support if you are a TESCO club card holder. http://www.togetherfortrees.com/
We support all efforts to preserve the rainforest. But we look forward to the day when organisations like Together for Trees no longer need to exist, because the world will have woken up to the huge economic, environmental and social benefits of investing in re-forestation on a grand scale.
The question is – when will the tipping point be?
The OASIS Solution proposes transportation of treated waste water by sea to coastal forests and vegetation in arid coastal zones, to restore soils and increase rainfall.
FREdome delivers positive message to SME businesses
Greg Peachey, Chair and Founder of FREdome has Visionary Trust has been “on tour” delivering a presentation called “Prophet of Boom!” to business people on the 4Networking circuit.
The talk was advertised as: “Genuine reasons to be optimistic about the future – news of a credible, combined solution to the economic, employment, natural resource and environmental crises. Something to inspire and cheer you up!”
Greg’s presentation on the OASIS project Carbon Cycling solution is going down a storm. This is what a business owner emailed :
‘When I saw the title of the presentation online, I thought “Great, we could do with some good news….but it’s a tough one to deliver on!” Just to say that for me you delivered on it 100%. It made fantastic sense and gave a massively positive message.’
Damion Viney – Director, Crunchers South London Ltd.
Want to know what businesses are excited about?
Itinerary
| Wednesday 21 Dec 2011
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Olney (The Bull Inn) | |
| Friday 13 Jan 2012
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London Liverpool Street (The Sho… | |
| Tuesday 17 Jan 2012
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Bedford (The White Horse) | |
| Wednesday 25 Jan 2012
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London Angel Islington (Jurys In… | |
| Friday 27 Jan 2012
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London Liverpool Street (The Sho… | |
| Tuesday 31 Jan 2012
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London Canary Wharf (Henry’s Bar… | |
| Thursday 02 Feb 2012
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Aylesbury (Hardings Restaurant (… | |
| Friday 03 Feb 2012 | London Bridge (Cote Brasserie) | |
| Tuesday 07 Feb 2012 | Elstree and Borehamwood (The Edg… | |
| Friday 10 Feb 2012
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Hemel Hempstead (Ramada Jarvis H… | |
| Tuesday 14 Feb 2012
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Enfield (Willow Restaurant) | |
| Friday 17 Feb 2012
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London Harrow (Travellers Rest B… | |
| Tuesday 21 Feb 2012
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Ware (The Roebuck Hotel) | |
| Wednesday 22 Feb 2012
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Witney (Hacketts Coffee Bar) |
Download Greg’s paper Realistic Optimism about the Future Economy
OASIS: A new voice in the ‘resources revolution’ of 2012?
Here’s an update on the FREdome Visionary Trust’s flagship project Operation OASIS.
This project aims to support countries affected by drought and famine by raising awareness of how desert coastal soil can be transformed into a viable and sustainable habitat for trees and plants.
We propose transporting biodigested, organic-rich wastewater by sea to nourish and irrigate tree belts on desert coastlines, creating moist microclimates that will enable agroforestry to extend inland.
Operation OASIS will help restore the carbon, water and nutrient cycles. We believe this restoration needs to be elevated to at least the same level as the mantras of cutting carbon emissions, carbon sequestration and solar/wind/wave power.
Funding status at January 2012
We urgently need to secure international funding to drive forward this crucial programme.
At this moment we look forward with hope to March 2012 and hearing the result of our bid to the EU Life + programme for our joint reforestation and soil communications project in Southern Spain, OASIS MEDia. Read more
Southern Spain will be a future target area for an Operation OASIS demonstration in Europe
We are honoured that academics such as Dr. Emilio Ramírez Juidías from the University of Seville have chosen to partner with us, and hope that this project will give our partners in Spain a world-leading role in community reforestation soil improvement and water resource stabilisation.
Our leading UK Partner Liverpool John Moores University Department of Natural Science and Psychology, has offered their commitment to carry on looking for new opportunities. We are grateful to them for their encouragement, and in return commit to promoting Dr David Wilkinson’s work on Ascension Island* – an experiment by Darwin which confirmed the feasibility of transforming desert into rainforest. Read more.
Operation OASIS is a FREdome Visionary Trust-sponsored project initiated by Andrew K Fletcher – the originator of the OASIS concept. Find out more at his website.
* Wilkinson, D.M. (2009) Ascension. In: Gillespie R.G., Clague, D.A. (Eds.) Encyclopaedia of Islands. University of California Press, pp 61-63.
Eye witness account from London: UN Global Compact and International Business Leaders Forum
Image via Wikipedia
UNGC UK Network Annual Outreach Event 2011: Expectations for Rio +20
Date 5 December 2011:
Hosted: Royal Bank of Scotland
FREdome Visionary Trust founder Greg Peachey made a positive splash at this the latest UN Global Compact ¹ meeting, organised by the International Business Leaders Forum IBLF².
(Our flagship project, Operation OASIS³, led by Andrew K Fletcher, is a participant in the UN Global Compact)
FREdome Visionary Trust chair, Greg Peachey, always aiming to influence, inform and expose those at the top, persisted in bombarding the panel with a series of pointed questions about why people in power consistently ignore the potential benefits of Carbon Cycling through reforestation – ie natural biosequestration - the only credible solution to reversing the catastrophic effects of our consume and dump economy.
Renewable Energy Consultant Robin Buller, a FREdome Visionary Trust representative and co- sponsor of our international OASIS MEDia bid accompanied Greg to the meeting and provided a lively eye witness account recorded here:
The first speaker Paul Collier of Oxford University essentially pointed out that Africa will be affected by global warming more than most places, and also is least able to cope with it. Also that the comparative advantage Africa has in solar energy generation (its hot, a lot) and hydro (big fast flowing rivers that drop from a high altitude) makes it ideal to develop these two technologies, if only it had access to International Capital and had a better Regulatory environment (i.e. had laws that could be enforced and less corruption), then all would be good. So from an academics point of view, Africa would be fine if everything were different, but……..
So to Greg, who was the first questioner on the block, and did a superb job at presenting the carbon cycle / Oasis concept and asked the question of Professor Collier, whose answer, I have to say, did not register.
Following this, there were four speakers, from: BP, Aviva, ARM and Marshalls.
Again following the brief talking heads, which all presented the respective company’s position – Marshalls probably the best – then Greg is again on his feet and again, second wicket, presents the Carbon Cycling so clearly to BP, that not only did they get it but all in the audience did too!
Elodie Grant Goodey, Head of Societal Issues and Relationships, BP plc. replied to Greg’s question (which after his really powerful and succinct introduction) by saying,” Yes to partnerships”, (BP are open to them), “Interested in Alternative Energy” and that BP are interested in emerging business investments (well, of course they are) and they have £150m invested already in alternative energy (wind, biofuels, oh, they sold their solar unit), and they are also interested in biosequestration.
So Greg talked to Elodie afterwards, and gave her our paper on Carbon Cycling and another quick pitch, and now it’s a question of next steps.
The Marshalls guy, Chris Harrop, was also good and made the point that a lot of their work on sustainability resulted in enhanced margins as much as a reduced carbon footprint.
Anyway, access to BP is a great achievement.
Finally, Stephen O’Brien, who had just come back from Africa, made a snappy speech, apparently he is the only MP who has a high level commercial background, which is rather strange – anyway, he did emphasise that to present to Government is very different to presenting to Industry (Greg knows this…….). To be successful with Government one needs to identify its ‘objectives’ and fufill them with the project. Easier said then done. However, Greg did ask the question (his third) and Stephen was fairly straightforward, “Apply to DEFRA and Caroline Spellman’s team there”.
Afterwards, a fellow from DEFRA approached Greg and was very interested in the project, though whether he will actually be able to help with access, to the right people etc., remains to be seen.
I said to Greg that I would have a look at the DEFRA site, see the projects that are going to be presented at Rio+20 by DEFRA and see if Oasis can be introduced.
All in all, I was very impressed with Greg’s introduction and question, each time, succinct and clear (I wish I’d recorded it). Everyone understood, and several people came up afterwards to quiz him about the project including representatives of University of Middlesex, Bloomberg, DEFRA (as above), so he really impressed everyone.
As you know, I have often said to Greg he overestimates the ability of people to understand what he is saying but this time, he got it spot on and everyone ‘got it’ immediately. We need to bottle it.
I did not need to speak, and was very proud to see how well Greg did.
Note
Following the meeting, Greg was approached by a number of people ranging from a representative from DEFRA to a member of IBLF personnel who took him down to the Occupy workshops in St Pauls.
More exciting news to follow ….!
Web Sources
²International Business Leaders Forum IBLF :
UNGC UK Network Annual Outreach Event 2011: Expectations for Rio +20:
Operation OASIS wins Herts Green Award
Great news. Our carbon cycling project Operation OASIS has won the 2011 Herts Green Award for a communications project. 
Our founder Greg Peachey accepted the award on behalf of the FREdome volunteer team at the ceremony at the Hertfordshire Green Exhibition, Knebworth Barns on October 25th.
Greg writes:
Just to let you know, FREdome &
Operation OASIS was a finalist in two categories of the Hertfordshire Green
Awards (Green Project & Green Communications) and we won the Green
Communications category!
Thank you, Suzanne, for writing our successful application! And, of course, thank you Andrew for the
brilliant project!”
Greg collects glittering prize from Communications Award sponsors, Building Research Establishment
Carbon Cycling – the time to act is NOW!
Our Operation OASIS solution, which was presented to a UK government representative this week, proposes the birth of a new industry which converts carbon emissions and waste into carbon resources, such as food, fuel and eco-friendly materials.
We ask the government to listen to us!
Here are our credentials:
1. At the European Congress of the Cradle to 2 Cradle Network for industrial waste minimisation co-founder – Professor Dr Michael Braungart, Scientific Director of EPEA International Umweltforschung GmbH endorsed the Carbon Cycling Operation OASIS project manifesto.
2. We convened a meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Climate Change Group on 18th Nov 2010, to which we invited an independent group of senior academics and industry figures in relevant fields agreed to act as the Scientific and Technical Advisory Board to the Carbon Cycling Operation OASIS project. The Board includes: Professors Achterberg, Chambers, Nortcliff & Wainwright; Drs Bowe, Wilkinson, Lawson, Smith & Kleidon and industry figures Hewett, Morey, Aitken & Bunyard. (see our board in full)
- The LIFE Programme of the European Commission
3. Following this, board participant Liverpool John Moores University partnered the FREdome Visionary Trust to co-ordinate a bid to communicate the need for the project to the European Commission (Life+ funding call). In July 2011 the joint bid was submitted by Liverpool John Moores University Department of Environment and Psychology, involving Cranfield University, University of Seville, Green Europe and the City of Santa Pola. They jointly committed to contributing half a million euro, if successful, to be matched by the European Commission.
Help us on our way forward…!
FREdome is in now in dialogue with Ca’Foscari University, based in the City of Venice, over a joint bid to research the practicalities of shipping away the organic waste that floats past its residents’ front doors. We aim to work in partnership with the relevant industries to trial the shipping of wastewater as ballast in returning tankers to nurture agroforestry on poor soils. However EU bids for relevant grant programmes (e.g. Life+, FP7…) are for matched funding (typically 50% or 75%). We need backing to continue our venture!
Why now?
Carbon Cycling offers a new hope and a natural, cost effective and healthy alternative to carbon burial and sequestration.
On 28 Jan 2011 UN Secretary-General , Ban Ki-moon, at World Economic Forum (DAVOS), warned the whole world is currently in a “global suicide pact”.
In recent days UK Chancellor George Osborne has said, “We will do everything, work with anyone, overcome every obstacle in our path to jobs and prosperity. So that together we will ride out the storm.”
It is time for the UK to consider the economic social and growth benefits of carbon cycling – nature’s method of carbon reuse?
Operation OASIS: Our environmental communications project listed for Herts Green Award
Operation OASIS, the unique carbon cycling project supported by the FREdome Visionary Trust has been shortlisted as a finalist in this year’s Herts Green Awards in two categories – Best Environmental Project and Best Green Communications Project.
The Awards final will take place at Knebworth Barns on Wednesday 25th October at 7.30 pm.
Read a short version of our awards submission below.
Project Title: Operation
OASIS
Project aim : ‘Using our skills to build hopes for global recovery’
The FREdome Visionary Trust is a grass roots organisation
offering volunteering opportunities to everyone, especially unemployed and
young people in Hertfordshire. We are a group of united individuals,
communities and businesses with one goal: to make a better world for our
children to inherit.
The aim of the FREdome Visionary Trust’s ‘Operation OASIS’ project is to communicate the benefits of Carbon Cycling – put simply, growing forests and crops to improve soil and absorb excess atmospheric carbon.
The idea behind Operation OASIS was researched and developed by inventor and former sewerage engineer Andrew K Fletcher. We are inspired by his vision – a world growing enough desperately- needed food, fuel, safe materials and employment. An alternative for people in Africa to living in conflict and urban slums.
Summary of our achievements
November 2010: During Global Entrepreneurship Week we organised a parliamentary debate on Carbon Cycling.
January 2011: Our project was endorsed by the Cradle to Cradle industrial waste minimisation network of the EU.
March: We convened scientists at UCL for a risk analysis of our project. Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) agreed to help us seek funding for a demonstration project for Operation OASIS.
April: We raised public awareness of Operation OASIS through participation in the ‘Coop Revolutions’ funding competition. Our Facebook campaign attracted comments from around the globe.
May: With help from Hertfordshire County Council we identified a suitable fund: the EU LIFE + Information and Communications programme.
June: Led by Andrew K Fletcher and LJMU, our volunteers found partners in Spain and UK. The team joined the University of Seville, the City of Santa Pola and Green Europe SL in a collaborative bid with help from Cranfield University’s Soil Science department.
July 2011: Our joint bid: ‘OASIS MEDia Orchestrating Arid Soil Innovative Solutions for integrated EU soil policies in Mediterranean Coastal Zones’ passed the first milestone of the European Commission assessment process.
Outcomes
Our bid for the OASIS MEDia environmental improvement project in Southern Spain is worth 500,000 Euros – to be match funded by the EU. (The bid result is expected in March 2012).
Our next target is to launch a demonstration project of the next step for Operation OASIS – involving municipal waste water transportation for forest irrigation in Spain & UK, and systems analysis of tankering wastewater from Italy to arid African shores in order to establish coastal tree belts.
Lessons
We have been successful in forging international links but getting attention from UK Government is hard. We need to develop our message with help from expert advisers. We have learned a huge amount can be achieved with very little money when people’s resourcefulness and personal commitment
opens access to networks of contacts.
Find out more about the awards http://www.hertsgreenawards.co.uk/herts/greenawards/hertfordshire/
Find out more about Operation OASIS
Operation OASIS: Carbon Cycling in the news
“One thing that is abundantly clear as our forests teeter over the line dividing life and death, our planet’s future teeters with them. We must do whatever we can to protect them…..”
A robust defence of the role of forest in climate stabilisation by RP Siegel is published today on Triple Pundit.
Read it to find out why trees are so vitally important to our future and why deforestation must be reversed; http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/10/scientists-find-reasons-forests-be-preserved/
Published on the same day : why biofuels are posing a condundrum in the energy and climate change debate by Jeremy Woods, Seyed Ali Hosseini and Nilay Shah, published in Chemistry World.
http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/Issues/2011/October/FacingUpToChallenges.asp
Our Operation OASIS Carbon Cycling project provides a solution to all these dilemmas. Find out more about Operation OASIS , a project supported by Liverpool John Moores University, University of Seville, The Cradle to Cradle Network, the Energy Institute of UCL et al.
Trees can make it rain!
Project OASIS: Making something happen!
We have been very quiet whilst completing an EU funding application to communicate the need to preserve and restore the world’s soils, using Andrew K Fletcher’s OASIS concept as an example.
Our application is led by Liverpool John Moores University Department of Natural Sciences and Psychology , with Cranfield University, University of Seville, Green Europe and Santa Pola on the Coast of Southern Spain.
Our bid – to the EC Environment LIFE + Programme – proposes to pave the way to use nutrient-rich wastewater to sustain agroforestry from desert coasts, absorbing CO2, restoring moist microclimates and creating renewable supplies of food, fuel and biodegradable materials.
Reforestation
The first practical response sought from the communications will be for whole communities to collect acorns, nuts & other tree seeds and nurture saplings in plastic bags, ready to be transplanted as permitted by authorities under the guidance of scientists. The ultimate goal is to convert carbon emissions naturally and cyclically into threatened carbon resources.
Why OASIS?
Our project represents a credible advance, pushing forward the frontiers of the body of knowledge and best practice. That’s why we had positive responses from the universities who conduct research in the relevant spheres when we invited them as partners in the application.
Should our bid be successful our partners have committed to contribute half-a-million euros between them, demonstrating their faith in the project.
We await the result of the bid later this year.
Greg Peachey and the FREdome volunteer team would like to offer a special thanks to Penélope Laó Ramos, the Executive Forum Alumni of St. Albans, Hertfordshire County Council, Beta Technology, Rotary Club of St Albans Priory, Suffolk County Council, Friends of the Earth in Hemel Hempstead, Watts Hassan Associates and Sandford Arts.
For further information please read our press release:
