In this weeks digest: Actions 1. Last chance to make the Bee Action Plan brilliant! (FOE) 2. Take the Meat Free May challenge (FOE) 3. Ban divestment? No way! (350) Events Tue 29 Apr: Carbon Literacy workshop, Rusholme Wed 30 Apr: The Future of the Global Trading System, University of Manchester Wed 30 Apr: MFOE climate campaign meeting, Green Fish Wed 30 Apr: FOE teleconference on fracking Thu 1 - Sat 3 May: Hunger for Trade, Royal Exchange Sat 3 May: Treestation Open Day, West Gorton Wed 7 May: FOE solar schools teleconference Sat 10 May: MFOE Bee friendly family day, Ashton on Mersey Sat 10 May: FOE wellbeing training & discussion day, London Sat 10 May: Fracking & climate change public meeting & hustings, Mechanics Institute BOOK NOW: Fri 13 - Sat 15 Jun: FOE Basecamp, Castleton News 1. Census shows more people in Manchester are cycling to work (MEN) 2. Tories would scrap windfarm subsidies (Guardian) 3. Eight major UK renewable energy projects receive government backing (Guardian) 4. Friends of the Earth: Meat Free May (Metro) 5. Energy storage: The key to a smarter power grid (BBC) 6. Big food (Vox) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ACTIONS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Last chance to make the Bee Action Plan brilliant! (FOE) Almost 20,000 people have added their name in support of a strong Bee Action Plan - can you help us reach 25,000 signatures before 2 May when the consultation closes? Please sign the petition and share it with your friends and family: bit.ly/270414a1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Take the Meat Free May challenge (FOE) Meat Free May is all about giving up meat and fish (or dairy if youre already a vegetarian) for one month and raising money for Friends of the Earth at the same time. Eating less meat, fish & dairy not only benefits you but its better for the planet too. And taking part will show just how easy it is. Well provide an information pack to help you, full of meat-free recipes and top tips for raising sponsorship money. Sign up to take part in Meat Free May: bit.ly/270414a2 Or sponsor Kate & Ali if you dont fancy taking part yourself: bit.ly/270414a3 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Ban divestment? No way! (350.org) Coal companies in Australia are pushing the government to make our fossil fuel divestment campaign and other boycotts illegal. We need your help to push back: bit.ly/270414a4 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- EVENTS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tue 29 Apr: Carbon Literacy workshop, Rusholme In their unique eco dwelle.ing in Manchester, Dwelle run interactive workshops reminding groups about energy, carbon and greenhouse gases, then explaining how we can all reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions and help to prevent Climate Change from getting worse. It should save everyone money, and help to protect our planet!! Many professionals are starting to use this certification in bid/tender documents, for funding applications and in their marketing. The project is being supported by Manchester City Council; more information here: carbonliteracy Each place costs £95 or it’s £480 for a group booking (6 places). This includes Certification and a carbon light lunch. When: 10am - 3pm, Tuesday 29th April Where: 265 Wilmslow Rd, Manchester, M14 5LN More info & booking: carbon-literacy-at-dwelle.eventbrite.co.uk ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wed 30 Apr: After the Crisis, What? - The Future of the Global Trading System, University of Manchester A roundtable supported by the University of Manchester Politics Discipline Area, featuring: - Professor Tony Heron (University of York) - Dr Ben Richardson (University of Warwick) - Jodie Keane (Overseas Development Institute) Chaired by Dr Gabriel Siles-Brügge (University of Manchester). When: 11am - 12.50pm, Wednesday 30th April Where: Simon Lecture Theatre E, University of Manchester, Oxford Road ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wed 30 Apr: MFOE climate campaign meeting, Green Fish Join us to find out the latest on fracking, our local campaign on greening rented homes, and FOEs new national campaign on community energy. All welcome. When: 7pm - 9pm, Wednesday 30th April Where: Green Fish Resource Centre, 46-50 Oldham Street, Manchester, M4 1LE More info: Email [email protected] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wed 30 Apr: FOE teleconference on fracking Your opportunity to find out more about fracking - dial in to a teleconference with Friends of the Earths legal and planning experts for an overview of the planning process and legal opportunities related to fracking. Your chance to ask questions and discuss ideas with other campaigners. When: 7.30pm - 8.45pm, Wednesday 30th April Where: Email [email protected] to register and get details of how to join the call (or join us at the climate campaign meeting) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thu 1 - Sat 3 May: Hunger for Trade, Royal Exchange Across the UK food bills are rising; we are eating less but paying more. Global food supplies are facing crisis conditions as climate change, population growth and diminishing resources contribute to catastrophic global outcomes - yet we still throw away a third of the food that we buy. Multi-award-winning and internationally renowned playwright Simon Stephens worked with four of the most exciting emerging playwrights from the UK - Miriam Battye, Brad Birch, Alistair McDowall and Kellie Smith - to produce four 30 minute plays which explore our relationship with food. THIS LAND by Alistair McDowall: In court, on farms and in the dirt, big business is laying claim to everything nature has to offer. BALANCE by Miriam Battye: Around the dinner table, a family’s relationship buckles under the strain of a mother’s international career. BLACK GOLD by Kellie Smith: On the Ivory Coast a British trader clashes with a cocoa farmer on the eve of a civil war. TENDER BOLUS by Brad Birch: A desperate couple on the brink of bankruptcy clamber for a lifeline during one last gorge. Visit the Hunger for Trade website for more information on the project: hunger-for-trade.net/en/media/ When: 7.30pm, Thursday 1st & Friday 2nd May, 8pm, Saturday 3rd May Where: Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester More info & booking: royalexchange.co.uk/event.aspx?id=789 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sat 3 May: Treestation Open Day, West Gorton Come and find out what’s going on at the TreeStation – a social enterprise in arboriculture, wood fuels and sawn timber - featuring: guided tours; firewood processing demonstration; growing edible mushrooms on wood; pizzas from a wood-fired pizza oven; coppice crafts and chainsaw-carving demonstrations; find out about wood-burning stoves, biomass boilers and the Renewable Heat Incentive; showcasing some of TreeStations customers – Start in Salford, Urban Coppice, and various joiners; refreshments and playlogs for the kids to climb on; presentation about TreeStations new community share issue. When: 12pm - 4pm, Saturday 3rd May (also on Saturday 7th June and Saturday 12th July) Where: The Yard, Vaughan St, West Gorton, Manchester, M12 5FQ More info: Telephone: 0161 231 3333. Email: [email protected] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wed 7 May: FOE solar schools teleconference Join Parliamentary Campaigner Ollie Hayes to hear the latest from Westminster following our petition to Michael Gove on solar schools and where we go next. Plus join other local campaigners to discuss plans for a campaign action on Summer Solstice (June 21st) to get the campaign underway in your community. When: 7.30pm - 8.30pm, Wednesday 7th May RSVP: Email [email protected] to register and get details of how to join the call ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sat 10 May: MFOE Bee friendly family day, Ashton on Mersey The group is hosting a bee-themed day on Saturday 10th May in Ashton Village near Sale. We will be talking to people about what they can do to support bee populations and planting a bee- friendly wild flower mini-meadow. There will be childrens activites, including a picture competition, and we will be joined by Cheshire Wildlife Trust and local beekeepers. Volunteer opportunties! We would love help with preparing the area for planting the week before on Monday 5th May and help on the day with our stalls, kids activites and planting. If you can make it down, please get in touch! When: 11am - 4pm, Saturday 10th May Where: Green Lane, Ashton on Mersey (goo.gl/maps/MUk8P) Contact: Cat - [email protected], 07956 577206 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sat 10 May: FOE wellbeing training & discussion day, London How can we make a better future for all? Economic growth is increasingly recognised as a flawed way of measuring society’s progress. We need a shift of focus so that the economy delivers wellbeing – without trashing the planet. FOE is holding a training and discussion day in London which: - Introduces our work on wellbeing - Explores how this work fits within our work on resources and environmental limits - Includes a session on facilitation skills - Provides an opportunity to take part in a trial wellbeing discussion session - Will explore how local wellbeing discussion sessions could be used to influence and improve public policy at a local level When: 11am - 5pm, Saturday 10th May Where: The Printworks, 139 Clapham Road, London, SW9 0HP More info & booking: Please e-mail [email protected] by Wednesday 7th May. There is a small budget that may be able to help with travel costs. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sat 10 May: Fracking & climate change public meeting & hustings, Mechanics Institute This meeting is being organised by Frack Free Greater Manchester as part of an all day event. Speakers include: Jonathan Neale of the Campaign against Climate Change, author of the book Stop Global Warming, Change the World, and a climate change scientist, to be confirmed. There will be plenty of time for questions and discussion. In the afternoon, at around 2pm, there will be a hustings at the same venue. In the run up to the local and European elections, representatives of the main parties will be invited to explain their policies on fracking, and the audience will be able to question them on local environmental effects, the impact on CO2 emissions, alternative renewable energy sources (such as onshore wind - the Tories now want to cap it and even tear down existing turbines!) and other issues. When: Public meeting 11am - 1pm / Hustings from 2pm, Saturday 10th May Where: Mechanics Institute, 103 Princess St, Manchester M1 6DD ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- BOOK NOW: Fri 13 - Sat 15 Jun: FOE Basecamp, Castleton BASECAMP is the annual gathering for our fantastic network of local groups. In fact, its for everyone - whether youre new to Friends of the Earth or not. Join us at Basecamp to: Skill up – share expertise and develop skills. Meet up – with loads of other like-minded people. Have your say – on how we can campaign. Rejuvenate – in some of the most beautiful scenery in Britain. Bookings for BASECAMP 2014 are now open. When: Friday 13 - Sunday 15 June Where: Losehill Hall, Castleton More info & booking: foe.co.uk/basecamp ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- NEWS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Census shows more people in Manchester are cycling to work (MEN) Figures show the number of commuters using their bikes to get to work has increased by 83 per cent in the last 10 years: bit.ly/270414n1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Tories would scrap windfarm subsidies (Guardian) Minister says Conservatives will end projects funded by energy bills and hand planning power to local councils: bit.ly/270414n2 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Eight major UK renewable energy projects receive government backing (Guardian) Five offshore windfarms and three biomass projects will provide millions of homes with clean power: bit.ly/270414n3 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Friends of the Earth: Meat Free May (Metro) The next time you’re feeling bikini-related anxiety after chowing down on a cheeseburger, here’s something to make you feel even worse – the knowledge that the international meat and dairy industry is responsible for up to half the climate-changing gases produced by humankind. That’s more than every plane, train, lorry and car combined: bit.ly/270414n4 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. Energy storage: The key to a smarter power grid (BBC) Energy grids across the world are struggling to cope with a surge in demand for electricity and increasingly volatile supply from renewable power sources: bit.ly/270414n5 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. Big food (Vox) Michael Pollan thinks Wall Street has way too much influence over what we eat: bit.ly/270414n6
Posted on: Sun, 27 Apr 2014 23:37:13 +0000
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