"Environmental concerns are a personal priority for me" - Ed Fordham

1.26.48am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 28th Apr 2005

Ed will take climate change and third world battle to parliament

Speaking tonight at a hustings meeting at Hampstead Old Town Hall Ed Fordham spoke of his personal commitment to the environment and issues around climate change and world development.

Ed said "I find it difficult and puzzling that the issues around climate change are not at the top of the political agenda. Glaciers are melting, the top of previously snow capped mountains are visible after the snow has melted and yet these events barely make the news.

"The scale of what is happening and needs to happen in the third world, and specifically in Africa, is so huge that it should install fear and panic into the hearts of all of us. Yet to date it has not. I make a personal commitment tonight to place these issues at the top of my personal agenda - if elected as your MP I will take up these concerns and I will lead the campaigns for action.

"Help and assistance on issues such as aviation pollution and carbon emissions, rail investment and support for more educational investment programmes for developing nations. What I don't want is the creation of a whole series of western style economies that simply engender a culture of consumerism and waste - we have to learn from the last century and develop real sustainable communities - that is the challenge, that will be my priority."

The meeting was organised and hosted by Friends of the Earth and the World Development Movement.