The Planet & People Friendly Perspective on Making Change Happen

Hi Everyone,

A varied and packed fortnight of inspirational and thought provoking events awaits! Our film season is off to a great start: covering many topics from accessible cycling and food waste to nature, there really is something for everyone. Grab a slice of fresh February air this Sunday with the next Empty Common Community Garden session - remember to keep an eye open for snowdrops, catkins and other signs of nature awakening!  Next Thursday you can join the Growing Spaces team to help organise the calendar of events for 2018 and discuss plans for making a short film.

Also next week, the Energy Group will be exploring car share ideas, including a very new project idea for a community owned electric and hybrid vehicle club... 

Repair beats recycling on lower energy costs so give your broken gear a new lease of life or swap unwanted stuff for something you like at the first ever Arbury Swap, Collect and Fix Fest.  If you get caught by the fix-it bug, take a look at forthcoming events in early March that will help you get started on your own Repair Cafe project. 

There's just space to mention the interactive art project  The Prediction Machine at Cambridge Central Library until 18th February and on 21st, a talk called Saving our Bumblebees with campaigner, author and founder of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Prof. Dave Goulson. 

And really finally, Data Protection legislation is coming soon: please click through to this important news item.. 

CONTENTS

Transition News and Events

  • Saturday 3rd to Sunday 18th Feb: Be a Part of 'Films for our Future': Tell us what you thought!
  • Monday 05 February: Discussion event: Being Part of the Solution - Community Approaches to Sustainability
  • Tuesday 06 February: Beauty and the Bike
  • Thursday 08 February: Dance of Light
  • Friday 09 February: Just Eat It - Food waste documentary and introduction to local initiatives
  • Saturday 10 February: Demain (Tomorrow)
  • Sunday 11 February: Empty Common Community Garden
  • Monday 12 February: Carnage
  • Tuesday 13 February: Energy Group Meeting
  • Thursday 15 February: The Age of Stupid
  • Thursday 15 February: Growing Spaces Committee Meeting
  • Friday 16 February: wetheuncivilised:A Life Story
  • Saturday 17 February: Arbury Swap, Collect and Fix-fest
  • Saturday 17 February: The Story of Stuff and The Story of Change
  • Saturday 17 February: Before the Flood
  • Monday 19 February: Transition Hub Meeting: your catch-up, intros and networking space!
  • Thursday 01 March: How to organise a Repair Cafe
  • Wednesday 07 March: An evening for Repair Cafe organisers and repairers
  • Please confirm your newsletter subscription

Latest on our blog

What we do at Christmas

Community News

  • Camcycle: Communications and Community Officer

Other News and Events

  • Saturday 03 February - Sunday 18: 'The Prediction Machine'
  • Thursday 08 February: Talk: 'How to Design a 21st Century Economy' Kate Raworth
  • Friday 09 February: Climate Change, Uncertainty and Predicting the Future
  • Saturday 10 February: Cambridge Climate and Sustainability Forum
  • Saturday 17 February: Orchards East Launch in Cambridgeshire
  • Wednesday 21 February: Talk: 'Saving our Bumblebees'
  • Saturday 24 February: Cottenham Repair Cafe
  • Wednesday 28 February: The Climate Buzz

Transition News and Events

Saturday 3rd to Sunday 18th Feb: Be a Part of 'Films for our Future': Tell us what you thought!

The first Films for our Future Festival is underway across Cambridge and the villages. We have an almost daily selection of films and conversation opportunities, some events are already booked up. The films are just the start point, we want to continue the conversations about how we can create a better future, so please tell us about your experience. What did you see that impressed or inspired you, what would you like to see happen in your part of the city or your village? Is there something you plan to do differently after seeing a film? Please email Jacky if you'd like to play a part in this exciting initiative! You can also post your thoughts directly on the Facebook group, Films for our Future or join the Twitter conversation using #FFOFMore details here.

Monday 05 February: Discussion event: Being Part of the Solution - Community Approaches to Sustainability

19:00-21:00, LAB027, Lord Ashcroft Building, Anglia Ruskin University, East Road

Part of the Films for our Future Festival, this event is hosted by the Global Sustainability Institute, Anglia Ruskin University. The discussion, chaired by Dr Alison Greig, Director of Education for Sustainability at ARU's Global Sustainability Institute, introduces a panel of local movers and shakers, people who have decided not to wait for political action, but to make change happen in their communities for themselves. More details here.

Tuesday 06 February: Beauty and the Bike

19:30-22:00, Jesus Lane Friends Meeting House

Girls in cycling friendly countries continue to cycle into adulthood, whilst in many other countries they tend to give up during the teenage years. Why? This film, hosted by Camcycle is part of the Films for our Future Festival. More details here.

Thursday 08 February: Dance of Light

20:00-22:00, Jesus Lane Friends Meeting House

Artist Rhea Quien's two short Dance of Light films link nature, art and science in an invitation to an interactive journey of imagination with the artist. Rhea uses a self-developed technique which combines technology with physical processes. The resulting images are not the products of digital invention, but are captured in a plane of inner reality that we normally cannot see. The films will be introduced by Iain Webb from Cambridgeshire Wildlife Trust. Proceeds from this event will be donated to the Wildlife Trust. More details here.

Friday 09 February: Just Eat It - An evening of short films and talks

19:00-21:00, The Edge Cafe

UPDATE: we are excited to be showing 'Just Eat It!' This is a 74-minute documentary film following two filmmakers who pledge to quit grocery shopping and survive only on foods that would otherwise be thrown away. Just Eat It explores our systemic obsession with expiry dates, perfect appearance and portion sizes and the effect that this is having around the globe. This event is part of the Films for our Future Festival. More details here.

Saturday 10 February: Demain (Tomorrow)

19:30-22:00, Saint Andrew's Centre, Histon

Demain - or Tomorrow in English - is a feel-good story about the ways people are working to solve the ecological, economic and social crises that are afflicting the entire planet. This event is part of the Films for our Future festival, hosted by Histon and Impington Sustainability Group. More details here.

Sunday 11 February: Empty Common Community Garden

10:30-12:30, Empty Common Community Garden

There is generally a group of us in the garden on Sunday mornings from 10.30 am to 12.30 or later, and people are also coming and going during the week - you don't even have to garden just come and enjoy the space! More details here.

Monday 12 February: Carnage

19:30-22:00, Johnson Hall, Stapleford

Join the members of 2G3S (Green Groups in the Shelfords, Stapleford and Sawston) to enjoy Simon Anstell's mockumentary about meat. It's fun, but it also packs a punch. This event is part of the Films for our Future festival. More details here.

Tuesday 13 February: Energy Group Meeting

20:00-22:00, Margaret's place on Oxford Road

At this meeting the main topic will be car share, car clubs and other ways to reduce car ownership. (This also relates to a nascent Transition Cambridge project to promote a car club with electric and hybrid vehicles, possibly community owned. ) More details here.

Thursday 15 February: The Age of Stupid

18:00-20:30, The Guildhall

Pete Postlethwaite stars in this mockumentary from multi-award winning director Franny Armstrong. An archivist living in the devastated future world of 2055 looks back at old footage from our time and asks: why didn't we stop climate change when we had the chance? This film, part of the Films for our Future festival, is hosted by Cambridge City Council. Booking required. More details here.

Thursday 15 February: Growing Spaces Committee Meeting

18:30-20:00, Metail, Janus House, 50 St Andrews St, Cambridge CB2 3AH

Would you like to see more fruit and vegetables growing in Cambridge's public spaces? Join the Growing Spaces project meeting as we plan planting for 2018 and discuss potential projects. All welcome - gardening knowledge welcome but not required. We are also looking for volunteers to help checking our growing spaces. Why not have a look at our map, there might be one of our growing spaces close to you! Click here for the map This meeting's agenda will also specifically address the topics and format of the planned short film to be produced about the group. More details here.

Friday 16 February: wetheuncivilised:A Life Story

19:00-22:00, Haslingfield Methodist Church

We join first time filmmakers Pete and Lily on their intimate and life-changing journey, as they confront the stark reality of our times, and discover a hidden culture of connection and belonging. Screening followed by Q&A/discussion/food tasting from Haslingfield Country Kitchen and more, eco products to buy. This event, part of the Films for our Future festival is hosted by Pivotal. More details here.

Saturday 17 February: Arbury Swap, Collect and Fix-fest

11:00-16:30, Arbury Community Centre, Campkin Road,CB4 2LD

The Arbury Swap, Collect and Fix Fest is all about promoting repair and reuse, offering people several ways to deal with their unwanted items - household items that may be destined for the tip might instead go on the give-and-take shelf, pre-loved clothes might be swapped for 'new-to-you' ones, and malfunctioning appliances could be fixed by a local engineer or sewing-whizz who's donating their time to the Repair Cafe. 11am - 12:30pm Children's and women's clothes swap 1:30pm - 4:30pm Arbury Repair Cafe 1:30pm and 3pm Screenings of short films in the 'Story of Stuff' series as part of the 'Films for Our Future' festival All day: The City Rangers will be collecting bulky items from people's homes. Veolia will supply skips, bins and cages for unwanted items. There'll be a give-and-take shelf and stalls from local organisations. More details here.

Saturday 17 February: The Story of Stuff and The Story of Change

13:30-15:00, Arbury Community Centre

These two films examine the impacts of stuff we buy and who is responsible - not just us shoppers but also businesses and bad policies. What needs to happen? This event is part of the Films for our Future Festival. More details here.

Saturday 17 February: Before the Flood

16:00-20:00, Jesus Lane Friends Meeting House

Leonardo DiCaprio, United Nations Messenger of Peace, journeys across five continents and the Arctic to witness climate change firsthand. He goes on expeditions with scientists uncovering the reality of climate change and meets with political leaders fighting against inaction. He also discovers a calculated disinformation campaign orchestrated by powerful special interests working to confuse the public about the urgency of the growing climate crisis. This event is part of the Films for our Future Festival -

Monday 19 February: Transition Hub Meeting: your catch-up, intros and networking space!

19:00-21:00, Nicola's place on Chesterton Road

Please join us for our next Hub gathering, to catch up with projects and friends, meet new members and end with a bit of juicy networking over a drink! Come along for 7pm to meet other members, 7.30 -8.30pm: items for discussion:, 8.30pm onwards: Networking and chat. All welcome, new TC members and familiar faces alike! Contact Nicola for the address .

Thursday 01 March: How to organise a Repair Cafe

19:30-21:00, Confirmed when booking

An evening for anyone who has ever considered (either fleetingly or seriously!) running a Repair Cafe in their community. Cambridgeshire is recognised as a UK hub for Repair Cafes and we have a strong team that supports new groups and individuals who'd like to have a go. This evening will introduce you to how they are organised and answer any questions you may have. We cover venue, publicity, safety, recruiting volunteers and repairers etc. Repair Cafes not only keep resources out of landfill but are brilliant community building events too. The feedback from visitors is almost 100% positive and the organisers tend to find it really rewarding too. This evening is for information only, there's no commitment to running a Repair Cafe at all. If you'd like to join us on 1st March, please email Nicole by Fri 23rd Feb giving your name, contact details and area in which you are thinking of organising a Cafe. You can also call Nicole on 01223 301842. The event will be held in the Cambridge city centre, more details will be provided closer to the time. More details here.

Wednesday 07 March: An evening for Repair Cafe organisers and repairers

19:00-21:00, Barclay's Eagle Labs, 7-8 Clifton Court, Cherry Hinton Rd, CB1 7BN

Repair Cafes have been phenomenally successful in our region. The Cambridgeshire Repair Café Network would like to invite all existing repairers and Repair Café organisers to come together in this exciting Cambridge Maker Space. We'll be celebrating what we've achieved together, sharing interesting repair news and updates and working with you to consider how we continue to thrive and make a difference. Topics we'll be considering when thinking about our evolution include: promoting skillsharing between repairers, which (if any) related campaigns might we support and how we increase the learning experiences of visitors to Repair Cafes. We'd love to see you. There'll be time to share a drink with people throughout the area and a there'll be a tour of the Maker Space and its gear! Please let us know if you are coming by emailing Nicole or use the booking form on the Circular Cambridge website. More details here.

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If you get our regular email newsletter, you will soon get another email from us asking you to confirm that you wish to receive it. This is because of recent changes in data protection laws that come into effect in April. They require us to be able to show that each of you has given us permission to use your email. Some of you subscribed for yourselves and some of you requested we add you to the list - but unfortunately we have not kept records. So when you get an email from us asking you to click on the link to confirm your subscription, please don't ignore it! It only takes two seconds and we won't be asking you for any more information. Otherwise, from April we will have to remove you from our list. We do hope you find the newsletter useful. If you have suggestions please let us know.

Community News

Camcycle: Communications and Community Officer

Camcycle (Cambridge Cycling Campaign) are looking for a Communications and Community Officer. Are you passionate about cycling as a means of sustainable transport and skilled in social media, digital and print communications, event management and volunteer coordination? Then this might just be the perfect career opportunity for you. Salary £24 - £27 K. Flexible hours. Applications close 23 Feb. More details here.

Other News and Events

Saturday 03 February - Sunday 18: 'The Prediction Machine'

09:00-09:00, Central Library, 7 Lion Yard, Cambridge

The Prediction Machine is an interactive artwork that marks moments of climate change in our everyday lives. It's based on end of the pier fortune telling machines, and was created by Rachel Jacobs in collaboration with local people, engineers, programmers and climate scientists. The Prediction Machine tracks local weather live at a weather station in Cambridge that is then combined with projected temperatures for the year 2045, it then prints out predictions based on this data yet written by local people. Next to it stands the Promises Machine inviting you to write your own promise or wish for the future, find out more about the science behind the predictions and take part in the new addition, the Future Machine where you can sign up to receive messages from the future as your prediction unfolds. More details here.

Thursday 08 February: Talk: 'How to Design a 21st Century Economy' Kate Raworth

17:15, Buckingham House Lecture Theatre, Murray Edwards College, Huntingdon Road, CB3 0DF

Humanity's challenge this century is simple but radical: to meet the needs of all within the means of the planet. Can it be done? Last century's economic theories give us little chance of getting us there, and yet are still taught in university departments worldwide. Kate Raworth argues that it is time for a new compass for charting human wellbeing - one that compels us to replace the 20th century fixation on endless GDP growth with a 21st century focus on regenerative and distributive economic design. Info about Kate's book 'Doughnut Economics' here. Part of the 'Just on the Edge' series of talks. Free - book tickets here.

Friday 09 February: Climate Change, Uncertainty and Predicting the Future

11:00-12:00, Central Library, 7 Lion Yard, Cambridge

This talk is an accompaniment to The Prediction Machine's visit to Central Library. The machine is an interactive artwork based on end of the pier fortune telling machines. It tracks moments of climate change, prints out a climate fortune for 30 years time and asks you to make a promise in response. It is currently touring the UK and is in Cambridge Saturday 3rd - Sunday 18th February. On Fri 9th Feb, the artist Rachel Jacobs and Dr John King, Senior Scientist at the British Antarctic Survey will be hosting a discussion about the future, uncertainty, climate change and the polar regions. Chaired by Cambridge Carbon Footprint. This event is free to attend but please book in advance at CCF's website. Project support from the Arts Council of England, Mixed Reality Lab and Horizon (University of Nottingham) and LU Arts. More details here.

Saturday 10 February: Cambridge Climate and Sustainability Forum

10:00-16:00, Cambridge Union, 9A Bridge Street, Cambridge CB2 1UB

This annual student-organised conference has built a reputation for attracting good speakers. The theme this year is 'Living on the Edge', and speakers include professor David Vaughan, director of science at the British Antarctic Survey, and Craig Bennett, CEO of Friends of the Earth. More info including programme of talks and debates here. Tickets (including a vegan lunch) are £4 for Union members, £7 for students and £10 for the general public, available here.

Saturday 17 February: Orchards East Launch in Cambridgeshire

10:00-15:30, Girton College and Orchard, Cambridge

Orchards East is an exciting environmental and cultural project covering six counties in the eastern region of England - Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. Funded by the Heritage Lottery fund and based at the University of East Anglia (UEA),the project is devoted to the past, present and future of orchards in eastern England, and will last until spring 2020. A collaborative project working closely Cambridgeshire Orchard Group, Orchards East hopes to stimulate interest and engage a wide range of new volunteers in all things orchard! The Cambridgeshire Launch will be on Sat 17th Feb at Girton College and orchard - it's FREE and everyone is welcome, although you do need to reserve a place as numbers are limited. To find out more and book a place email us More details here.

Wednesday 21 February: Talk: 'Saving our Bumblebees'

17:00-18:00, Large Seminar Room, Level 1, The David Attenborough Building

Professor Dave Goulson is Professor of Biology at the University of Sussex, specialising in bumblebee ecology and conservation. He's also a campaigner and founded The Bumblebee Conservation Trust - more info. As well as 200+ scientific articles, he writes popular books - his latest is 'Bumblebees', which follows 'A Sting in the Tale' and 'A Buzz in the Meadow'. More details here.

Saturday 24 February: Cottenham Repair Cafe

10:00-14:00, Cottenham Community Centre, Coffee Shop, High St, Cottenham, CB24 8RZ

Repair Cafes match experienced repairers with people who need stuff fixing. You can bring along the following to be repaired and to pick up repair skills: small household appliances and electrical items, computers, mobile phones, bicycles, clothes (clean clothes only please) and general bits and bobs. Booking is optional, or you can just turn up on the day. Check back soon for details on how to book. The repairers are experienced and can fix most things but there are no guarantees. This is a free event. However, donations to cover venue hire and other costs are very welcome. Enquiries: 01954 253903 or by email More details here.

Wednesday 28 February: The Climate Buzz

19:00-21:30, No 30 (Cafe) Chesterton Road, CB4 3AX

Welcome to The Climate Buzz - a get together on the last Wednesday of each month for CCF volunteers and others interested in climate change. Held in the the cosy setting of Cambridge's No 30 cafe, The Buzz is an opportunity to learn and practice new skills, keep on top of environmental news and meet like-minded people. This month Peter Gilheany, Director at Forster Communications, a renowned social change communications agency, will run a workshop on how to communicate confidently and effectively on climate change, giving participants the confidence to convey the issues in public and with friends and family. Free. No booking required. more details here

Our Mission

Transition Cambridge aims to help Cambridge make the transition to ways of life that are more resilient in the face of rising energy prices and a changing climate.

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