Transition Wolverton News, February 2009
Hello everyone,
The members of the steering group have been sending each other links to articles of interest. We thought it would be good to extend this circulation to include you, that is, everyone signed up to our transition email list - there are over 100 of you already!
Each month we'll send you an email containing links to current articles of interest with relevance to Transition and the central issues of peak oil and climate change, plus any events which we hear of.
And so – to the news for February…
Transition Wolverton events
TW Talk: Mark Lynas, Controversial eco-myth buster
Monday 23rd February, 6.30pm. Wolverton Scout Hall, Furze Way/Cambridge Street. (changed venue - previously advertised at: Wyvern School, Aylesbury Street).
Author of Six Degrees: Our Future on a Hotter Planet, Mark paints the most convincing picture yet of why we must reduce global carbon emissions drastically and immediately. Not to be missed! Suggested donation £2.
TW Open Space Workshop: 'Powering Wolverton beyond cheap and abundant fossil fuels – rethinking our energy supply'.
Sunday 1st March 12-4pm. Madcap Theatre, Creed Street. Free admission.
Following on from Mark's talk, this is a community think tank event powered by YOU! Food, drink and great conversations. Bring your ideas & enthusiasm (and cake too!)
All Transition Wolverton's events can be seen online here: http://transitiontowns.org/Wolverton/Events
Other things coming up
In Milton Keynes...
Technology Showcase Exhibition
Generate your own energy and save money on household bills. Christ the Cornerstone Church, 21st February 2009 between 10.30am and 3.30pm.
The Energy Saving Trust advice centre is working with MK Council to deliver a Technology Showcase Exhibition where people can learn about generating their own energy in the home and save money on household bills.
This unique event will bring a vast range of different technologies under one roof. The general public will be able to see and ask questions on specific energy saving and renewable technologies demonstrated by industry representatives. Advice will be available so that people feel better informed about the various technologies and solutions appropriate for their homes as well as grants and special offers available.
The event will hold a number of exhibitors demonstrating a big cross section of technologies including: Solar thermal for hot water heating, Photovoltaic for electricity, Ground Source Heat Pumps for central heating, Energy Savings, Insulation, Lighting and Local authority energy saving initiatives.
On broadcast TV...
A Farm for the Future
Friday February 20th on BBC 2 at 8pm (Repeated Sunday 22nd Feb).
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00hs8zp
Permaculture Magazine's website says: "Rebecca Hosking finds out how she can make her family's wildlife friendly farm in Devon a low energy farm for the future. With her father near to retirement Rebecca Hosking returns home, to become the next generation to farm their land. But last year's high fuel prices were a wake up call for Rebecca.
Realizing that all farming and food production in the UK is completely dependent on abundant cheap fossil fuel - particularly oil - Rebecca sets out to discover just how secure is this oil supply. She is met with some alarming answers, which drive her to find ways of farming without using fossil fuel.
By seeking advice from experts, pioneer farmers and growers, Rebecca learns that it is actually nature which holds the key to farming in a low energy future."
Stand-up comedy...
"It's the economy stupid!" New show from Mark Thomas
http://neftriplecrunch.wordpress.com/2009/01/23/nefs-sargon-nissan-meets-mark-thomas/
Mark Thomas manages to be both hilarious and scathing, don't miss his new show which features: "stand up comedy and interviews with economists, thinkers and other clever folk, with questions and suggestions taken from the audience." - including The New Economics Foundation's community finance expert.
Interesting reading/viewing...
Transition on TV-online
The BBC's 'Inside Out' programmme from 29th Jan features Transition West Bridgford, the St. Anns allotments, Rob Hopkins, the Transition Cities conference and more. See how you do in the short quiz on the webpage. (See also - http://www.transitionnottingham.org.uk/)
National accounts of wellbeing
http://www.nationalaccountsofwellbeing.org
Robert Kennedy said about GNP: "...it measures everything, in short, except that which makes life worthwhile." NEF's new website presents an alternative measure – you can even measure your own wellbeing.
Forum for the future's projects:
http://www.forumforthefuture.org/projects
"A charity committed to sustainable development. This means developing an enriching and enjoyable way of life that does not threaten the global environment or rob future generations of resources."
One man's attempt to throw nothing "away" for a year
http://365daysoftrash.blogspot.com/2007/12/365-days-of-trash.html
Andrew Purvis follows his own recycling box to see where it goes:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/jan/25/recycling-local
Does anyone know where the Milton Keynes recycling contents go? Let us know and we'll put it into the next newsletter.
Here ends our newsletter for February, if anyone would like to circulate any information in our March newsletter please send it along. If anyone does not want to receive this newsletter please reply to this email with 'Remove me from the Newsletter' in the subject line.
All the best and look forward to seeing you at the next TW event.