Newsletter20120206

Hi Everyone

The film showing of "The Economics of Happiness" tomorrow, with a question-and-answer session by Sir Partha Dasgupta, sold out within less than a week of tickets going on sale and we are delighted that the Arts Picturehouse agreed today to move to a bigger screen, which means there are 70 more tickets! Move fast if you want to get one! (Available from the regular box-office or online.) (We apologise to people who booked seats and now find that seats are unreserved - the upside is that more people can come!)

CONTENT

Transition News and Events

  • Monday 06 February: Energy Group Meeting
  • Tuesday 07 February: The Economics of Happiness (film) + talk by Sir Partha Dasgupta
  • Thursday 09 February: Cafe evening - Why does politics matter to Transition?
  • Friday 10 February: Organic Jam – of the musical variety!
  • Saturday 11 February: Hedge laying and building a living willow screen.
  • Sunday 12 February: Romsey Community Garden work and planning session
  • Monday 13 February: Food Group meeting
  • Wednesday 15 February: Advice on Wood Stoves
  • Thursday 23 February: Cafe evening - All about seeds + seed sharing
  • Saturday 25 February: Grow Your Own Session in Trumpington
  • Saturday 28 April - Sunday 29: Permaculture Gardening course
  • Towards an EDAP for Transition Cambridge

Other News and Events

  • Monday 06 February: Growing, selling, buying food in your local community
  • Monday 06 February: Film screening: Blood of the Amazon
  • Monday 06 February: Film: Living without money
  • Tuesday 07 February: deadline for voting for Close the Door! campaign
  • Wednesday 08 February: Talk: How high should climate change taxes be?
  • Wednesday 08 February: The power of markets to protect nature
  • Wednesday 08 February: Occupy Cambridge planning meeting
  • Wednesday 08 February: Winter Cookery Demo
  • Thursday 09 February: Ecology and Economics in the 21st Century
  • Friday 10 February: Energise Cambridge - a rally for renewables
  • Saturday 11 February: "Green roofs" talk in Shelford
  • Saturday 11 February: Swap shop in Darwin College
  • Mondays 4-5pm: lecture series: Sustainable Urban Design
  • Wednesday 15 February: Making Progress Toward Sustainable Societies in the Context of Global Climate Change
  • Saturday 18 February: Permaculture Design Course 2012
  • Saturday 18 February: Alternatives to Economic Growth
  • Wednesday 22 February: Behind-the-Scenes on Building an Eco-Home
  • Tuesday 28 February: author Robert MacFarlane in Fulbourn
  • FoodShare is looking for regional co-ordinators
  • Internship Vacancy with V3 Power
  • Can you lend us your house for an evening?!
  • Call for Showcase of CCF's inaugural "Open Eco-Gardens"

Transition News and Events

Monday 06 February: Energy Group Meeting

20:00-21:30, Judith's house on Leys Road

We will be making final plans for our forum on Wood Burning Stoves on 15th Feb, and discussing more blue sky initiatives. Contact Nicola for details of venue.

Tuesday 07 February: The Economics of Happiness (film) + talk by Sir Partha Dasgupta

18:45-20:45, Cambridge Arts Picturehouse (St Andrews Street)

Transition Cambridge and Cambridge Carbon Footprint invite you to a showing of "The Economics of Happiness" at the Arts Picturehouse. The film will be followed by a talk and Q&A session with renowned economist Professor Sir Partha Dasgupta. “The Economics of Happiness” questions whether our current economic model is damaging our well-being. It explores the many negative consequences of economic globalisation – climate change, fundamentalism, economic insecurity and species extinction as well as the personal costs such as stress and depression. It then suggests a solution to these problems – economic localisation. Rob Hopkins (co-founder of the Transition Network) writes: "This passionate film presents a clear and articulate vision of what a shift in the scale at which we do things would look like... Very timely and powerful." The film will be followed by a question and answer session with Professor Sir Partha Dasgupta, who is the Frank Ramsey Professor Emeritus of Economics and has written several books including "Human Well-being and the Natural Environment". Tickets will be available through the Arts Picturehouse box office. You can view the film trailer and learn more about the movie here. BECAUSE TICKETS SOLD OUT FOR THIS EVENT, THE FILM HAS BEEN MOVED TO A LARGER SCREEN AND YOU CAN NOW GET TICKETS FROM THE BOX OFFICE OR ONLINE. IT DOES MEAN, HOWEVER, THAT PEOPLE WHO PREBOOKED TICKETS IN NUMBERED SEATS WILL NOW FIND THEIR SEATS ARE UNRESERVED, SO GO EARLY TO FIND A SEAT! WE APOLOGISE FOR THIS, BUT IT WAS THE ONLY WAY TO ALLOW MORE PEOPLE TO COME.

Thursday 09 February: Cafe evening - Why does politics matter to Transition?

19:30-21:00, CB1 cafe, Mill Road

What political context is Transition currently operating in? How do sustainability policies get made? and how can we influence them? What about local, national, EU and international policy-making? Leading this evening will be Phil Callaghan, OU lecturer and former senior government official working on sustainability and environment issues. Join us for a talk on sustainability policy making, followed by what we hope will be a lively discussion. Bring your questions - the gnarlier the better! Cafe opens at 7.00, the talk will start at 7.30.

Friday 10 February: Organic Jam – of the musical variety!

20:00, CB2 basement, Norfolk Street, Cambridge

Come join us on 10th February anytime from 8pm onwards for an evening of music making – no musical skills necessary! (but those with skills very welcome too!) This will be an experimental gathering to jam and make music together organically for expression and fun! You are invited to bring instruments to play and/or share - songbooks are also very welcome. (Acoustic instruments only, i.e. nothing that needs plugging in, and CB2 have asked us not to bring drums as they're a bit too noisy.) Primarily bring yourself and a willingness to get involved and have some fun… This event is free of charge and open to all, and is the first in a new series of Transition socials. Even if you have never been to a Transition Cambridge event before you can be sure of a warm welcome – hope to see you there!

Saturday 11 February: Hedge laying and building a living willow screen.

10:00-16:00, Trumpington Allotments.

We will be planting a living willow hedge to make the bees fly upwards when leaving the hives on the site. We will also be laying some more of the hedge which will improve biodiversity.

Sunday 12 February: Romsey Community Garden work and planing session

13:00-15:00, Junction of Madras and Marmora Road

Help to prepare the garden for sowing in the Spring and give your ideas for what you would like to see in the garden this year! Wear wellies and bring gloves/forks/spades if you have them (we also have some you can borrow). Refreshments provided, and all ages welcome!

Monday 13 February: Food Group meeting

18:30-20:30, The Emperor pub, 21 Hills Road, CB2 1NW

Note change of day!! We'll be at the Emperor pub - downstairs. This is the food group's regular fortnightly meeting. We'll be talking about our current projects and plans for the future.

Wednesday 15 February: Advice on Wood Stoves

19:30-21:30, Emmanuel United Reform Church, Cherry Hinton Road, Cambridge

The next Transition Cambridge Energy Group forum will be on wood stoves - how to be warm, cosy and economical from local resources. We will let you have more details when we have them. Here is a fact sheet we have prepared on wood-burning stoves. More details here.

Thursday 23 February: Cafe evening - All about seeds + seed sharing

19:30-21:00, CB1 cafe, Mill Road

Join us for a cafe evening all about seeds - and bring any seeds you'd like to share. Local seed-saver Ceri Galloway says: "Saving seed was once a mystery to me but over the last 7 years I've been collecting seed from my allotment and garden to replant the following year. I'll bring some of the seeds I've collected, and talk about which plants have easy-to-save seeds. I'll also talk about how to chit seeds - a way to check if they're still viable. If there's time, we can talk about how to set up a seed circle (a way to develop your skills and confidence with seeds in a supportive group setting). There will be an opportunity to share seeds - bring any you'd like to share. I'll bring some seeds from the Heritage Seed Library." The cafe opens at 7.00, the talk starts at 7.30.

Saturday 25 February: Grow Your Own Session in Trumpington

10:00-13:00, Trumpington allotments

Join experienced allotmenteer Dave Fox on his plot in Trumpington. Get stuck in as we plant, nurture and harvest veg and fruit. These sessions are ideal for novices and people with any amount of practical growing experience - it's more of a mutual sharing than a lesson! If you'd like to join in, see our web-page here, and book soon as spaces are limited.

Saturday 28 April - Sunday 29: Permaculture Gardening course

09:30-17:30, The Pavilion, Paget Road, Trumpington

Join us for a weekend course in permaculture principles and how to use them in your garden, allotment or community growing project. The starting point is observing natural systems, and developing good design principles. As well as classroom sessions, we'll be getting hands-on with mulching and planting polyculture veg. Cost £85 (£65 unwaged) More info here.

Towards an EDAP for Transition Cambridge

Transition Cambridge is nearly 4 years old and has accomplished so much already. To keep us moving forward and working effectively, it would be beneficial to develop a long-term vision and strategy for our role in building local resiliency and sustainability in Cambridge. I am therefore looking for other members of Transition Cambridge who would be interested in leading this initative. Generally it would involve organising backcasting sessions, gathering visions and ideas for a future Cambridge into a document, and working with TC groups and projects to develop their strategies for contributing to and achieving this vision. What would eventually result would be an Energy Descent Action Plan for Transition Cambridge, hopefully to be approved by the next AGM this September. If this sounds like something you would passionate about and able to commit to for the next 8 months or so, please get in touch with Stephanie so we can get started.

Calendar of events

Related News and Events

Monday 06 February: Growing, selling, buying food in your local community

10:00-16:00, Sproughton Tithe Barn, Ipswich, IP8 3AA

The Making Local Food Work Food Co-ops and Buying Groups project presents it's 2nd East Anglian conference. This event is for you if you grow food on an allotment, community garden, or smallholding; or buy produce through a food co-op or buying group; or even forage wild food or scrump urban fruit! The theme this year is how we can link up the supply chain between our community-scale producers and our community-owned buying groups - in what novel & innovative ways have groups across the UK managed to get community-grown fresh produce into local residents' hungry mouths? Market stalls outside social centres selling allotment surplus, peddler's carts giving scrumped apples away for free, looking after a flock of chickens one day a week, specialising in one particular product, supplying a restaurant with all their salad leaves... Full info about the conference here. The event is free but you need to book: contact Gemma or ring 07971 863586.

Monday 06 February: Film screening: Blood of the Amazon

18:30, The Riley Auditorium, Clare College Memorial Court (on Queens Road)

This film documents the impacts of the oil industry on the environment and indigenous people. The film maker, Nicola Peel, will give a talk about her work after the screening. Cost: voluntary donation of £1.

Monday 06 February: Film: Living without money

19:00-22:00, The Graduate Union, 17 Mill Lane, Cambridge

Is it possible to feel rich without possessions? Can you live happily without money? In the documentary “Living Without Money”, we meet the German woman Heidemarie Schwermer (68) who made a deliberate choice to live without money 14 years ago. One day she gave up her flat, donated all of her belongings and started a new life based on exchanging favors – without the use of money. Her experiences totally changed her outlook on life. Today she is living an interesting and adventurous life, which is very much related to living in the moment without worrying about the future. She is constantly on the move and always trying to help others find their path towards a more simple and harmonious life. She gets a variety of reactions to her way of life: while some get angry and call her a parasite, others think she is a visionary and a great source of inspiration. The film considers the themes of materialism and over-consumption - how money influences our way of thinking, living and acting – and the consequences this has on our life, health and the environment. The film is 52 minutes long, and was directed by Line Halvorsen. This film showing is a Free Reels Cambridge Screening. Full info here, and more info about the film here. Other interesting links include the "Life is a gift (Cambridge)" facebook page here, the Cambridge Freecycle group and the CamLets group (a local exchange trading scheme).

Tuesday 07 February: deadline for voting for Close the Door! campaign

 

Please vote for the Close the Door campa*in. This local campaign has reached the four finalists out of 600 for a 10K funding prize. The last and crucial phase is an online vote and it would be so much appreciated if you and as many others as you can encourage could vote for Close the Door. The campaign encourages retailers to save energy by closing the door when using heating or air conditioning. It is business friendly, tightly targeted and backed by hard scientific data, successfully bringing about very significant energy and money savings, and greatly improving working conditions within shops. The funding is badly needed as this Cambridge based voluntary campaign is now operating across the UK and at retail Head Office level so costs have risen dramatically. *

Wednesday 08 February: Talk: How high should climate change taxes be?

17:00-18:00, Large Lecture Theatre, Department of Geography, Downing Site

No further information available.

Wednesday 08 February: The power of markets to protect nature

18:00-19:30, Engineering Department, Trumpington Street

Ian Cheshire is Group Chief Executive of Kingfisher Group. He is lead non-executive member on the Department for Work and Pensions Board. He is also a member of the Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change and a Member of the Employers’ Forum on Disability President’s Group. Part of the 10th Annual Sustainable Development Lecture Series. More details here.

Wednesday 08 February: Occupy Cambridge planning meeting

19:30, The Bath House Pub, 3 Bene't Street, Cambridge CB2 3QN

Initial planning meeting for Occupy Cambridge. We're hoping to get a wide range of local activist groups discussing what they'd like to see from an Occupy movement in Cambridge, sharing plans for future events, and hopefully organising a major event to coincide with the international Mayday call-out. More details here.

Wednesday 08 February: Winter Cookery Demo

19:30-21:30, Cambridge Cookery School at Unit 9D, The Imre Building, The Michael Young Centre, Purbeck Road

Tine Roche, founder of the Cambridge Cookery School, will give a demonstration of how to cook gourmet food with local, seasonal ingredients in the middle of winter. Don't eat too much beforehand so that you have room to sample the results. The recipes will be mostly vegetarian. There are only 30 places so booking is essential. Entrance is free but donations towards costs (about £5/head) would be gratefully received. More details here.

Wednesday 08 February: evening with Lizzie Gillett ("The Age Of Stupid")

Downham Market Town Hall (near train station) 7pm

Lizzie Gillett is the producer of film The Age of Stupid. For more details contact Carol Hunter.

Thursday 09 February: Ecology and Economics in the 21st Century

19:00-20:00, Queen's Building Lecture Theatre, Emmanuel College

From greenhouse gases to green public space: what are the opportunities and risks in creating new markets in the natural environment? A panel event with: Professor Samuel Fankhauser, Economist and Co-director Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, LSE and Chief Economist of Globe, the international legislators organisation; Professor Alan Holland, Philosopher, Emeritus Professor of Applied Philosophy, University of Lancaster and founding editor of the journal “Environmental Values”; Professor Molly Scott-Cato, Economist and activist, Professor of Strategy and Sustainability University of Roehampton and Green Party Economic Spokesperson; and Professor Sir Robert Watson, Scientist and policy adviser, Chief Scientific Advisor to the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Chair of Environmental Sciences University of East Anglia. Chaired by Dr Ivan Scales, McGrath Lecturer in Human Geography, University of Cambridge. Free Entry. Organised by Cambridge University International Development Society.

Friday 10 February: Energise Cambridge - a rally for renewables

12:00-13:30, Parker's Piece

Energise Cambridge is a student campaign to persuade the University to take more action on climate change including more renewable energy and increased funding for carbon reduction measures. We also aim to find meaningful ways for students to engage with climate change and reduce their personal impact. We believe that the University of Cambridge should commit to stronger, science-based carbon reduction targets and recognise that greater investment is needed immediately if we are to avoid irreversible social, economic and environmental impacts caused by climate change in the future. To mark the end of Green Week, Energise Cambridge are holding a rally on Parker's Piece on Friday, February 10th at 12pm, to call for greater use of renewable energy at Cambridge. Find out more about the event at energisecambridge.org and the facebook page. Please also fill out this short survey. If anyone would like to get involved further, please e-mail us.

Saturday 11 February: Swap Shop in Darwin College

3-5pm in the Darwin Common Room

Bring clothes, shoes, books, any items that you no longer need, and swap them for something else! To attend as a non-Darwinian, you must email the Darwin Green Officer, Charlotte Rae, so she can let the porters know you are coming. Free!

Saturday 11 February: "Green Roofs" talk in Shelford

2.30pm, Sunflower Room, Scotsdales Garden Centre, Great Shelford, Cambridge

Plant Heritage are delighted to welcome professional green roofer and author John Little to explain the science and art of green roofing.

Mondays 4-5pm: lecture series: Sustainable Urban Design

Department of Architecture 4-5 pm

Professor John Ellis MA Dipl Arch AIA RIBA, The Sir Arthur Marshall Visiting Professor of Sustainable Urban Design, is giving a lecture series.

Lecture 4, Monday 13 February: European Examples

Lecture 5, Monday 20 February: The evolution of British urbanism, theory and practice (1)

Lecture 6, Monday 27 February: The evolution of British urbanism, theory and practice (2)

Lecture 7, Monday 5 March: Planning for the future: The next generation of cities

Lecture 8, Monday 12 March: China: The emergence of mega cities

Wednesday 15 February: Making Progress Toward Sustainable Societies in the Context of Global Climate Change

18:00-19:30, Engineering Department, Trumpington Street

A talk by Don Huisingh, regarded by many people as the father of the Cleaner Production concept. He is dedicated to interdisciplinary education and integrated approaches to defining and solving society’s problems. He has addressed topics ranging from toxic substances and hazardous waste in industry and the home to the philosophical, ethical, and political implications of improper land-use management, human population growth and control, and energy use. Part of the 10th Annual Sustainable Development Lecture Series. More details here.

Saturday 18 February: Permaculture Design Course 2012

09:00, West Norfolk

This practical course is for anyone who believes that we need to find ways to care for ourselves, for each other and for the Earth. Permaculture offers a perspective on all aspects of building a sustainable future. It encourages us to use our individual skills, knowledge and interests, whilst drawing on traditional wisdom, science and our innate ability to observe and learn from the world around us. Hannah Thoroughgood will be teaching this Permaculture Design Course in West Norfolk - full details here. The cost will be £60 for the introductory weekend (two possible dates) and £250 for the following 5 weekends (non-residential, pleas ask if you need accommodation). For booking information, contact Rachel Bodle or phone 01366 381507. Organised by Downham & Villages in Transition.

Saturday 18 February: Alternatives to Economic Growth

10:00, St Paul's Centre Hills Road

Chaired by Tony Juniper and featuring, in the morning session, prominent speakers Molly Scott-Cato, Rupert Read, Miriam Kennett and a voice from the New Economics Foundation. How can we escape the dependency of a system based on continuous economic growth? What alternatives are there? The afternoon session will turn to grass roots initiatives (contributions invited) and an inspirational Open Space workshop to stimulate thought and action. More details here.

Wednesday 22 February: Behind-the-Scenes on Building an Eco-Home

19:30-21:30, Home on Madingley Road (address provided upon booking)

An exciting chance to go behind the scenes on a newly constructed Eco House. Join the owner in his new home for the complete story of the building of a house in the back garden of his former home (dating from 1930), complete with comparison energy bills, graphs showing savings, thermal imaging photos. A tour and refreshements will also be included. The house can’t accommodate more than 25 people, so please contact info@cambridgecarbonfootprint.org to reserve your spot! More details here.

Tuesday 28 February: author Robert MacFarlane in Fulbourn

7.30pm in The Swifts Meeting Room, Haggis Gap.  Free entry.

Put on in conjunction with Fulbourn Forum for community action, this is a presentation by the author of The Wild Places (2007) and Mountains of the Mind(2003), both award winners.  In The Wild Places, Robert embarks on a series of beautifully described journeys in search of the wildness that remains in these islands, commencing and finishing with a surprising connection to an area of landscape right on Fulbourn's parish boundary. 'A beautiful and inspiring book ...when Macfarlane moves in to the realities of the landscape, he makes them sing ... a deeply stirring book' (Independent)

 

 Dr Macfarlane lives in Cambridge and is an English fellow of Emmanuel College.  He knows our local environment well.  If you would like to read The Wild Places in advance, the Fulbourn library has three copies to lend.

FoodShare is looking for regional co-ordinators

Are you passionate about growing food locally and does food waste make you go tomato-red? Are you passionate about ensuring all children learn this life skill for the future? Do you believe in the power of local community and sharing? Do you want to make a difference in creating a more sustainable world? Do you want to help nurture a new generation of Food Philanthropists? Do you have a big heart? You do?! Read on! Foodshare (foodshare.org.uk) is looking to build it’s core team of superheros! Foodshare HQ is a small team of enthusiastic volunteers dealing with a rapidly growing charity that is capturing the nation’s imagination. We are currently are looking for dedicated individuals who have lots of time to spare and bags of enthusiasm and passion to become one of our Regional Co-ordinator as Foodshare roles out nationally. If this role is what you are looking for, and you can dedicate a minimum of 15 hours a week for at least 12 months, please email us!

Internship Vacancy with V3 Power

V3 Power run courses on renewable energy - they helped us to run the wind turbine making course in Cambridge last year. They are looking for someone to come and work with them for two months from the middle-end of February to the end of April with the possibility of staying longer-term. The initial two months work will be unpaid but there will be heavily subsidised accommodation and food in a nice shared house. They are based in Nottingham. Please get in touch if you are interested to discuss further! Email them or call 07969783353.

Can you lend us your house for an evening?!

Following CCF’s hugely successful (and oversubscribed) Eco-renovation in Progress event last month, they are looking for other people who are willing to let their houses be used for an expert survey, with other people present. They are looking for a house which is:

  • pre-1996 and fairly typical of Cambridge (e.g. an inter-war semi or one built in the 60s/70s, or another Victorian one would do, if it was a bit bigger this time - say a good-sized semi-detached with an extension)
  • big enough to fit 16-20 people into (last time the group was split into two, one starting at the top of the house and one at bottom and 10 people in a group worked fine!)
  • has not yet been completely retrofitted (it's fine to have done some things already, but there still need to be things left to do) Preferably weekday evening between March 26 and April 5 . See the info about the January event

 

 Interested? Contact Stephanie. If you want to find out more about what it was like to host this event last time, email Bev.

Call for Showcase of CCF's inaugural "Open Eco-gardens"

Are you involved in a great home or community food garden in or around Cambridge? Would you like to share your garden's story with the public? If so read on.

 

The idea of Open Eco Gardens is based on the popular annual Open Eco Homes event already run by CCF, and the date planned is Saturday 14 July 2012.The aim of the day is to inspire the public with garden ideas and methods, as well as to build a stronger network of local food growers.

 

By 'Eco Gardens' we mean gardens that do all or any of the following: grow food, save water, encourage biodiversity, use organic or permaculture methods and energy saving.

We are identifying 10-15 gardens in and around Cambridge. This includes community gardens, orchards, allotments, container gardens, home gardens and anything in between. Taking part would involve opening up the gardens by running several public tours on 14 July. The tours would be run free of charge with a suggested donation of £3 which would go towards the CCF to cover running costs and publicity.

  If you have a garden that you would like to show case on 14th July as an Open Eco Garden please contact Patrick at CCF.

That was certainly a mammoth e-bulletin! I hope you enjoyed it and found something there you want to go to! Have a great week!

Bev

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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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