Young People and Climate Change

I’ve just got back from running a workshop at the CPRW Youth Conference (Campaign to Protect Rural Wales). The annual conference brings young people together for 3 / 4 days to discuss current issues. This year’s theme was Peak Oil.

The participants were a group of very articulate and interested young people and had lots of questions about the science and impacts of climate change. They had spent the day listening to talks about biofuels, rural sustainable development and the need for energy conservation from  the Energy Saving Trust.

Lucky I’d taken some Fairtrade chocolate with me – by the time they got to me they were more than ready for a break- climate change and peak oil are two very tricky issues to debate and the need for everyone to consider how to mitigate and adapt to the consequences of climate change  is a huge area to cover in such a short time – all the more reason to fortify them with a feel good sugar rush!

Oh – and thanks to the staff at Ffynon Wen Youth Hostel for a huge plate of spag bol to fortify me on my journey back to Chester.

Thanks everyone for a great day.

Fairtrade and Climate Change

Today marks the start of Faitrade Fortnight. Many of us are now buying food in season from local producers and this is seen as a positive way of reducing the impact on the climate, but where does this leave us when we try to reduce our food miles? I’ve been buying fairtrade tea and coffee for over 10 years and have welcomed the growing availability of a wider range of products carrying the Fairtrade Mark.

I did a bit of research to try to find out if buying Fairtrade can help tackle climate change. I discovered that transportation is still only a small part of the carbon footprint of a product, growing and production as well as packaging all contribute in significant ways. I discovered that Fairtrade is helping to reduce the environmental impact of farming practices in countries across the globe and supporting sustainable farming practices in the UK too.

Current research from the Fairtrade Foundation indicates that fresh flowers are the only Fairtrade product routinely transported by air. According to the Fairtrade Foundation Report “Fairtrade, Climate Change and Sustainable Production”, which you can find here http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/includes/documents/cm_docs/2008/q/q.pdf

“Buying products from developing countries is vital for their economic and social development. It provides a livelihood for millions of workers and farmers. With premiums from Fairtrade, farmers can implement environmental protection programmes that will benefit all of us”.

In India, tea farmers have invested part of the fairtrade premium in a solar panelled heating system for the local health centre. On another estate, tea workers have created a communal composting heap which all the families help to maintain. The compost is sold back to the estate as organic fertiliser for the tea bushes.

I’m convinced that buying food with the Fairtrade mark promotes sustainable food production . By purchasing Fairtrade products, shoppers in the UK are ensuring that disadvantaged producers and workers receive a Fairtrade premium for investment in economic, social and environmental products. These premiums can enable farmers to implement a range of environmental protection programmes which will contribute to the range of solutions needed to address climate change and ultimately benefit all of us.

So, if you’re not already buying Fairtrade take advantage of the special offers and tasting events taking place over the next 2 weeks and do your bit for the environment. Even my daughter’s cookery teacher has asked that every child include at least one Fairtrade ingredient in this week’s cookery lesson. We found Fairtrade sugar and jam in our local Co-op. Well done Helsby High School for raising awareness in such a practical way.

Sustainable Youlgrave

This blog is meant to be about community action to fight climate change, but we’ve gone off track over the last few days. I thought you might like to hear about Sustainable Youlgrave in Derbyshire which was formed in early 2006. They have achieved a lot in a short time by working on a range of locally based activities  to combat climate change and make their community more sustainable. I met John and Andrew who are active members of the committee in September 2007.  They impressed me with their levels of enthusiasm and commitment. I was really astounded  with the range of initiatives they have taken on and the speed with which they get things done. This is a small, rural community that has already: established a regular newsletter to keep the community up to date with plans, carried out study on the feasability of  capturing wind energy, persuaded a local farmer to take part in a study of anaerobic digestion and launched a website which gives advice and information to the community.  These are rational men with a clear idea of what they want and have successfully formed an effective group of like minded individuals determined to achieve their aims to reduce carbon emissions.  They write in their annual report  that they

“have 3 main areas of activity: energy saving, energy generation and the socio/economic self sufficiency of the community”.  John Youatt concludes

“We can realistically expect to go “beyond carbon neutral”, without relying on external offsetting. If so, we would be unique, as far as I know. If we can’t do it…who can”.

Take a look at their website, and be inspired – and  – if you think your community is doing more, let me know.

Community news

Today was so lovely, very cold but the sun shone. Tuesdays means Eco Club at Ashton Hayes Primary School and this term we are gardening in earnest. Our new raised beds are almost completed and our free seeds from the Duchy Originals School Gardening Scheme have arrived (the children are very intrigued to know what Mangels will be like). Also new this term, the children will have the choice of gardening during Friday afternoon “Golden Time” sessions. We are lucky enough to have some wonderful gardeners in Ashton Hayes and some of our Timebank members will be joining us for a weekly gardening drop in on Friday afternoons – great for the community – great for the children. I’m looking forward to the chance to get some seeds in the soil and share the children’s delight as our crops grow. I may have to insist on first taste of our strawberries though…

Rural Women get things done

I thought everyone should see this link – it came from my friend Sven Cahling’s blog – watch the film and be inspired: He writes

p.s. I think you´ll like my post of today. You don´t have to understand the Swedish (except “Wow!”) just click on the film:
http://jordnara.typepad.com/jordnra/2008/02/vrldens-frsta-k.html

Good Energy

One of the simplest ways you can reduce your domestic carbon emissions is to switch to a renewable  energy supplier. There are a few in the UK (such as Ecotricity and Good Energy). I’ve been a customer of Good Energy for some time and when I told them about the Brownies Light Bulb Library  they were more than happy to sign us up to their affiliate scheme. So, if you haven’t made the switch to renewable  energy yet click on the link to Good Energy and do it today (and 1st Ashton Brownies will earn £20.00 towards their  energy savers fund). Good Energy have also launched a service that offers individuals lots of ways to cut their carbon footprint. You can find more details on their website.

Thanks Good Energy

Mapping for Climate Change?

There are several online maps where you can post your community’s actions to reduce carbon emissions. My favourite is the Rural Community Carbon Network (click on the link). Looking at the icount map today it lists over 12,000 individuals in the UK , I’m on it – the Brownies are on it -  you find it at icount.org.uk

There is a Transition Towns map too – and their Transition Primer makes very interesting reading.

http://transitiontowns.org/TransitionNetwork/Mulling

So, go put yourself on the map.

 

A Low Carbon Day

Up at 6.30, feed dog make coffee, eat breakfast.

8.00 Hang out washing, walk dog, feed pony, groom and muck out. Walk home, enjoy the sunshine and have a well earned day off.

A Snapshot of Rural Britain

Last year I attended the ruralnet|uk  annual conference at the Belfry. They are now the proud publishers of a unique book which captures the collective anecdotes of over 100 people, offering a distinct insight into rural Britain. Entitled ‘A Snapshot of Rural Britain – 100 memories, 100 visions’  it was written by delegates in just 8 minutes. The plenary session on the first day of the conference was facilitated by poet Brian Lewis, who created the concept for ‘A Book in 8 Minutes’. Delegates were first introduced to the significance of an anecdote or ‘gob bite’. Anecdotes can not only provide an individual and personal account of an experience or memory; they can also indicate something about the attitudes, social circumstances, and technological progress embedded within somebody’s tale, providing an historical importance. My contribution was included in the final publication, together with many other unique and fascinating reflections on life in Rural Britain. If you want to know more (or maybe get a sneaky peek of the contents) click on the Book in 8 Minutes link.

Communities

2 phone calls and one email today from other communities wanting to reduce their carbon footprint.  There are plenty of inspirational community projects out there. next month I’m organizing a regional event for towns and villages  in Cheshire that want to know more about lower carbon living. if you live in Cheshire and would like to be involved please get in touch – we are looking for inspiring stories to share and communities to support. Here’s what’s happening in Staffordshire: Click on the link to Whittington and Fisherwick Environment Group to read about their visit from Penney Poyzer and Mark Lynas.

LAUNCH EVENTS

Our launch events were a huge success! Our speaker evening had something for everyone, and at our Big Green Fair we signed up over 125 new WFEG members. Plus, nearly 60 more villagers will benefit from our free energy health check in the next few weeks…