Posts filed under 'Environment'
Peace day
Did you know it was Peace Day yesterday? Well, we did, and we, err, still forgot, despite the Thin White Duke’s best efforts. Just so you don’t forget again (etch it into your Blueberry now), here are a few Peace Day facts.
Founded in 1999 by do-gooder filmmaker Jeremy Gilley, Peace One Day is an annual day of global ceasefire and non-violence with a fixed calendar date.
In 2001, POD achieved its primary objective – a United Nations General Assembly resolution was unanimously adopted by UN member states, formally establishing an annual day of global ceasefire and non-violence on the UN International Day of Peace, fixed in the global calendar on September 21.
POD is a non-profit organisation, impartial and independent of any government, political persuasion, corporation or religious creed.
Last year, 27.6 million people from 200 countries did something for Peace Day.
Hannah Goode, a Peace Day organiser told the People’s Republic of South Devon: ‘I know we can’t solve peace with just a peace day but we can make acts of peace which makes things around us, far and away more peaceful. and even if you only do a small act of peace, thats still good because you can’t travel a long distance without travelling little distances.’
So now you know why it was unnaturally tranquil yesterday.
Posted by Cptn
September 22nd, 2007
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The Convenient Solution
The Greenpeace short film on climate change and energy, The Convenient Solution, will be shown on Friday (September 21) at the Devonport Lecture Theatre, Plymouth University. Get there 6.30pm for 7pm.
‘We all know that, to stop climate change, we need to stop burning fossil fuels.
The government says we need nuclear power to do this. Our new film explains why nuclear power can’t stop climate change – and lays down a better, cheaper, more convenient solution,’ Greenpeace UK told the PRSD.
The performance will be followed by a chin wag on what the bally-hell is going on, what you can do about it and where’s most happening for eco-warriros on a Friday night in Plymouth - maybe.
It’s free, there are no dress restrictions, and it’s organised by those down at the Plymouth Environment Centre and the University of Plymouth’s Centre for Sustainable Futures - who better to spend a Friday evening with?
Have a gander at Greenpeace’s Irresistible campaign from Glastonbury.
Posted by Cptn
September 18th, 2007
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Climate Chaos debate
Plan for a late lunch in Plymouth tomorrow so you can get to the debate Climate Chaos: What are the solutions? in the Robins Lecture Theatre, off Gibbon Street, Plymouth, at 2.30pm.
There will be speakers from Campaign Against Climate Change, Rising Tide Cornwall and maybe even a representative from Westminster (that’s ‘MP’).
The meeting is intended to work towards the National Climate March in London on December 8 - Global Action Day.
Organiser Alison Smith told the PRSD: ‘There will be a number of groups and individuals represented at the debate, and it will be a great opportunity to put forward arguments and build up local networks for action on climate change.’
Posted by Cptn
September 17th, 2007
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Ben’s about
Ben Bradshaw (Exeter MP, Minister for the South West) was in Exeter yesterday (shocker!). He trundled along to EDF energy to have a gander at its operations. Just what you’d expect really - major company in the constituency an’ all, and international energy producer.
The visit included meeting the EDF Energy ‘green team’ which deals with inquiries from those with micro-generation technology who want to sell back their excess energy, the EDF Energy’s Green Fund, which gives awards to renewable energy projects, the Green Tariff, Climate Balance and Greenwise advice, and other of the company’s initiatives with the word ‘green’ in them. (There is no truth in the rumour that it was formed after the restructuring of the yellow and blue teams.)
At Exeter Racecourse for the same day Forest Fuels planned the launch the Woodfuel Support activities at the South West Woodland Show. The South West Bioheat Programme is funded by the South West RDA and the Forestry Commission and creates renewable energy, maintains habitats and a few jobs. Don’t know if young Benjamin popped there too. Would have been nice though.
Posted by Cptn
September 15th, 2007
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Benefit gig
Looking for guilt-free fun this Friday night and don’t feel able to commit to the weekend AEON festival?
The Plymouth Environment Centre is having a benefit gig tomorrow (Friday, August 24) at the Voodoo Lounge in Plymouth. The musical joy runs from 8pm to 2am, cost £4 on the door and features , , and . It should be good and the crowd at the PEC, as we affectionately don’t call them, are lovely.
Posted by Cptn
August 23rd, 2007
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Rump us
It’s good to know that at least some farmers can succeed in the current climate - and the strength of the high-quality food market in Devon was shown by the amount of awards county suppliers and producers picked up in the Taste of the West awards.
One of those winners who’s been quick off the mark in getting in touch has been Eversfield Organic - a Devon-based supplier of organic meat boxes to destinations throughout the UK. Organic meat boxes, ehh?
They picked up a gold award for their organic lamb rump and a sliver award for their organic rib eye steak.
Their philosophy, they say, is simple - happy animals. And who wouldn’t be happy roaming their rich organic fields and woodlands, they say. Who indeed?
Posted by Cptn
August 22nd, 2007
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Green awards
Regen SW - the wind beneath the wings of renewable energy in the region - have today launched two new green categories for their green awards.
Best Sustainable Energy Community and South West Renewable Energy Champion, are the new categories, and us here at the PRSD can think of a couple of nominees for each, so it shouldn’t be difficult for you lot to put some names down on a piece of paper and send them in (the closing date is September 28).
The categories are pretty self explanatory and also include Best Business Innovation, Most Proactive Local Authority, Best New Renewable Energy Scheme and Best Housing Scheme. More details, as ever, on the Regen SW site.
Last year there was no winner from the whole of the Republic, or even Devon, which is pretty shocking considering the sterling work that’s going on around here. So get those nominations in, and while your at it, drop us a line so we too can bang your drum, metaphorically speaking.
Posted by Cptn
August 13th, 2007
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Join the club
Devon County Council has asked Carplus to look into the viability of car clubs for the Barnstaple and Newton Abbot areas. To us here in the People’s Republic who spend their spare time hanging around bus stops, it sounds like a spiffing idea (as long as there’s no errant Chicago CD left in the stereo) - and would be just the ticket for old Blue Badge A Steen MP if he didn’t fancy parking in disabled bays. How about extending those principles, and doing the same with bikes now that everyone’s riding. We await the findings with interest.
Posted by Cptn
August 9th, 2007
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Book club
We all know that to change the world you need to read books, but now it doesn’t matter which books.
In a nifty little move that makes us all accountable at an affordable price, the kind people at Eco Libris will plant a tree for every book you read for just a dollar (and at today’s exchange rate, that’s cheap at half the price).
It works out at roughly a book a tree - so it evens out the thick volumes of post-Nazi-Waffen-SS ramblings of Gunter Grass’s Tin Drum with post goal-keeping shenanigans of Camus‘ The Stranger (we are definitely a high-brow lot here at the People’s Republic of South Devon). And then again, Das Kapital is slim, but The Ragged Trousered Philanthropist is quite hefty - ahh, the list goes on. But can enough trees be planted for the guilty pleasure that is Being Jordan?
Go on, it’s a virtuous cycle - read a book, plant a tree, then read a book under said tree.
Posted by Cptn
August 8th, 2007
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Flagging up parks
Get on down to the park. More of them are better than ever before. That’s according to the Green Flag Award scheme, which has had to acquire more flagpoles for the rise in ensigns it’s been giving out.
But before you get cynical and compare the standard or parks to the standard of A-leves, take a walk around them, they really are rather good, with trails, information, sculptures and events.
Here’s a list of the winners within our South Devon aegis.
- Stover Country Park, Newton Abbot (Devon County Council)
- Connaught Gardens and Peak Hill Slope,
- Sidmouth (East Devon District Council)
- Manor Gardens, Exmouth (East Devon District Council) Seaton Marshes Local
- Nature Reserve, Seaton (East Devon District Council)
- Hoe Park, Plymouth (Plymouth City Council)
- Decoy Country Park, Newton Abbot (Teignbridge District Council)
- Cockington Country Park, Torquay (Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust)
- Sherwell Park (Torbay Council)
- Tessier Gardens (Torbay Council)
Posted by Cptn
August 6th, 2007
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