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Talk on transition towns by Ben Hughes
Written by Thomas Jackson   
Wednesday, 27 February 2008

INSPIRING RCCG TALK ON THE LOCAL ECONOMY

 

Rossendale Climate Change Group’s monthly series of lectures and events throughout 2008 round the theme of what we can actually do about the changing climate kicked off to a brilliant start with a talk by Ben Hughes about transition towns.  The first transition town was Totnes and there are now over 200 in the UK, the biggest being Nottingham.

The idea is that according to geologists we are going to hit peak oil some time between 2008 and 2014.  After that oil will become more difficult to extract and more expensive.   Add huge growing demand from India and China and the price of oil is going to rise steeply.  The knock-on effect will be land turned over from growing food to growing bio-fuels.  Add the effects of climate change and the price of food is also going to soar.  It’s started already in fact.

We are at the beginning of the great price rises of the twenty first century and will soon find ourselves in a very different economic landscape.  Supermarkets with their immense transport and energy costs will be priced out.  Small businesses will again flourish and local communities will be forced to grow as much of their own food as they can.

Totnes, already far down the road, is close to being carbon-neutral, as self-sufficient in energy as possible, grows most of its own food, and even has its own relatively inflation-proof currency.  The beneficial side effects of transition towns in terms of community spirit and improved health are also immense.

There is a great opportunity for Rossendale here.  If we can only get most of the population thinking in terms of buying local, much of what we need can be produced at prices that undercut the global giants under a Rossendale brand. At last something really exciting and optimistic coming out of the climate issue.

RCCG are hoping that many of the public will come to hear the next two talks at Alder Grange that will be closely interlinked with this one, ‘Food Prices, Nutrition and Health’ on March 18th, and ‘How I Grow My Vegetables’ on April 22nd.

Last Updated ( Thursday, 28 February 2008 )
 
What Can We Do? Talks and Events 2008
Written by Thomas Jackson   
Wednesday, 06 February 2008

A MONTHLY SERIES OF LECTURES AND EVENTS TO DO WITH CLIMATE CHANGE IN ROSSENDALE DURING 2008

 

During 2005 Rossendale Climate Change Group organized a series of monthly lectures on the science of climate change. This year we are doing the same, only this time the emphasis will not be on the science but on what we can do about it.

PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME

  

Febuary:  Climate Change and the Local Economy

March:  Climate Change, Food and Nutrition

April:  Growing Your Own Vegetables

May:   What Can The Individual Actually Do when the Chinese Are Opening Two New Coal-Fired Power Stations Every Week?

June:   Cultural and Spiritual Aspects: Interactive Forum

July:  Film :  Who Killed the Electric Car?

August:   Are the Politicians Doing Enough? How Important Is It To Get Politically Engaged?

September:  Aviation and Motor Transport

October:  Are Bio-fuels the Answer?

November:  Waste and Re-cycling + Visit to a Re-cycling Plant

December:  Effects of Climate Change on Lancashire Wild Life

Usually, though not always, talks will be at Alder Grange Technology and Community School at 7.00 pm on the last Tuesday of each month.

Last Updated ( Thursday, 07 February 2008 )
 
Meeting Minutes January 29th 2008
Written by Thomas Jackson   
Wednesday, 06 February 2008

RCCG Meeting 29th January 2008.

 

Present:  Nuala Middlehurst, Linda Hemsley, Olive Ellis, Ben Hughes, Lesley Banks, Will Lewis.

Apologies:  Thomas Jackson, Tom Middlehurst, Steve Haigh, Pat Myers, Dorothy McCarthy.

 

Linda will attend the two meetings concerned with redevelopment of The Valley Centre on Feb 6th at 13.00 and later at 18.30.If she is allowed to address the meeting(s) she will put the case for renewable technology and energy to be incorporated into the design of the building of the centre. This will cut costs for residents and provide an incentive for businesses to trade there.   Thanks to Linda who has had to use several days of her holiday entitlement to attend this meeting and previous cancelled meetings.

We read letters written by Linda and Dorothy which addressed this issue. Figures for recouping costs seem inaccurate and energy costs will rise over the years.

 

Tom Jackson has set up a series of talks at Alder Grange Community School. February to August, provisionally will include the following subjects

1)      Transition Towns

2)      Food and Nutrition

3)      Horticulture: Growing your own food

4)      What Individuals can do to combat Climate Change

5)      Aspects of coping with Climate Change

6)      Aviation and Motor Transport

7)      Who killed the Electric Car?

Ben Hughes will give the first talk on Transition Towns at Alder Grange on Tues 26th Feb. at 7.30pm.

The group discussed leaflets and information to be made available at the venue for anyone who may be interested

Linda pointed out that Totnes had the advantage of locally produced food and no nearby Supermarkets.  However the concept that ordinary people can improve their own town is encouraging and interesting.

Will had information about the grants available from Rossendale Borough Council.  They can be applied for by Community Groups engaged in awareness raising about action on Climate Change.  The first date for application is 31st January.  May 31st and October 30th are the two dates remaining this year.  RCCG could apply for funding and match this funding (a requirement of the grant) with time and money spent on meetings, leaflets, awareness raising, advertising etc.

Ben spoke about the complex nature of the forms and requested that more than one member help in this task.

Ben also undertook to update the RCCG news on the Evening telegraph website.

Members agreed to distribute information about forthcoming talks to local libraries, businesses etc.

It was suggested that information about Warm Front Grants for new boilers, insulation etc. could be given out at the talks as these have a low up take, also giving out low energy light bulbs is a possibility, Will will contact the supplier.

Any Other Business.

The Whitworth Community venture was mentioned as a project that could be supported by RCCG.

  The possibility of some members attending a debate organized by Friends of the Earth and scheduled to take place in Manchester in the summer was also discussed.

Will told the group that the Nissan Company has bought second hand turbines from Demark which are 80% efficient; obviously there are opportunities to make green technology work with the right knowledge rather than dismissing it as impractical.

The subject of the disposal of old computers was raised.  They must be disposed of by proper disposal companies (the hard drive must be removed and smashed to avoid improper/criminal use of stored information).

 

Linda mentioned a book ‘Apocalypse Now’ by Vernon Cole which forecasts an energy crisis by 2012 – 2014.

 

 Information on the use of Powerdowns to save energy costs is available on www.energysavingstrust.org.uk.  Powerdowns switch off electrical equipment left on standby.

 

Olive raised the serious problem of the damage to the moorland at the Scout Moor windfarm site..  This is not only caused by the actual construction teams but by the use of the area by the use of motorcycles.  Off roaders take advantage of the accessibility now provided by the Development and use the area with no regard for walkers or cyclists or the natural habitat.  Protests and police are ignored.

 

Next Meeting  Tues 26th February at 7pm prior to talk at 7.30pm

 

Last Updated ( Thursday, 07 February 2008 )
 
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