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Wednesday 11 December 2013

Sustainable Ottery: December 2013 Newsletter


The latest from our neighbouring Transition Town, Ottery St Mary:



Sustainable Ottery: Save Energy, Save Money, Live Sustainably.

Involving local people in the response to climate change
and shrinking supplies of cheap energy.

 

NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2013

 

REVIEW OF THE YEAR
Well once again we have had quite a year with lots going on, home insulation surveys with a thermal imaging camera, the orchard project, a complete redesign and update of our website http://sustainableottery.co.uk/  joining letter writing on behalf of Fresh and Green Vegetables’ appeal against refusal to allow the development of their site (which they won), an Open Homes event where we were invited into the homes of people in various stages of eco-fitting, a visit to see renewable technologies at Bicton Earth, Ottery Environment Week with poster competition, school cooking workshops and Exhibition (in conjunction with the Parish church) as well as monthly meetings and newsletter. We are a small group so a huge thank you to the people involved: from organising large events to reading this newsletter. Every small action makes a difference.      

PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
It’s looking like our efforts will be going into energy projects next year, whether that’s providing information and support for people wanting to insulate their homes and implement energy saving measures or thinking bigger as a community and working out how we can generate some power ourselves- for example by leasing the roof of a commercial or public building and installing solar PV panels. We don’t need to wait for government permission to sort out some of our pressing energy problems at a local level –but we do need to come together to make it happen. If you would be interested in a project like that or know someone who has either technical or management skills (legal, financial etc) and would like to put them to green community use –please let us know! Imagine some of our commercial and public buildings generating energy and money for the benefit of the people of Ottery and local area. Look out for more information in the coming months.

FROM OUR FRIENDS AT THE TRANSITION NETWORK
Well know author and speaker Jeremy Leggett’s new book doesn’t pull its punches telling us: "Make No Mistake, This is An Energy Civil War." 'The Energy of Nations: risk blindness and the road to renaissance' is an inspirational, page-turning telling of the evolving tale of peak oil, climate change, and economic crisis, and how the three issues intertwine and interweave. Find out more at Rob Hopkins blog: Rob Hopkins's blog | Transition Network


LEARN MORE ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE
A free e-learning course run by Exeter University 
FREE 8-week online course ‘Climate Change: Challenges and Solutions’
Enrol now or let your friends know!
The University of Exeter has launched a free online course ‘Climate change: Challenges and Solutions’, which explains the science of climate change, the risks it poses, and the solutions available to reduce those risks.
Open for anyone to enrol, the course is presented by an interdisciplinary team of leading academics – from mathematicians to marine biologists – from the University of Exeter and the UK Met Office.
Enrol today!
Course details:
The course is a part of a new nationwide initiative called ‘massive open online courses’ (MOOCs) which are delivered by FutureLearn – a multi-institution provider owned by the Open University, which includes 23 university partners, the British Library, British Museum and British Council.
Climate change: challenges and solutions will set contemporary human-caused climate change within the context of past nature climate variability. Then it will take a risk communication approach, balancing the ‘bad news’ about climate change impacts on natural and human systems with the ‘good news’ about potential solutions.
The course starts on 13 January 2014 and is delivered over 8 weeks. Study is self-directed, requiring an estimated 3 hours per week.

GOOD NEWS
10:10 is an organisation dedicated to cutting carbon 10% at a time. Here’s an excerpt from an e-mail sent to a supporter recently:
Next time someone says we can't solve climate change, tell them this...
·        In Bangladesh, a new solar panel is plugged in every 90 seconds
·        In 2012, the average American drove 960 miles less than in 2004
·        In Holland, a crowd-funded wind turbine raised €1.3m in 13 hours
With so much bad news out there, stuff like this often gets overlooked. People forget what we're capable of. Cynicism sets in. So it’s great to see some good news!
See
http://www.1010global.org/uk and http://www.1010global.org/itshappening?utm_campaign=&utm_source=emailCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=%7b~mailVariationId


DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
- SO monthly meeting followed by Xmas celebration: this will take place at 28 Longdogs’ Lane Ottery St Mary Thursday 19th December, 7.30pm.
- Transition Exeter January open meeting featuring Simon Tytherleigh of Bradninch Climate Action on "Fracking". Thursday 30th January, 7:30pm at the Exeter Community Centre on St David's Hill, just north of the Iron Bridge.

SUSTAINABLE OTTERY’S NEXT MEETING/XMAS DRINKS IS
7.30 P.M. THURSDAY 19th DECEMBER 2013
AT 28 LONGDOGS LANE, OTTERY ST MARY
WE’D LOVE TO WELCOME YOU ALONG!


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