One Year in Transition – Opportunities

Fed up with the high cost of university, bored at the thought of an office job and not convinced the economy is really going to get that much better anyway? Here’s an alternative… One Year in Transition is a year-long, part time, low-cost programme for 20-35 year olds that challenges the assumptions of the status quo, and supports young people in creating livelihoods based on things they’re passionate about. They are still open for applications for the September start. Please share. . . .

To find out more click here

Transition Network Newsletter

The Transition Network Newsletter for May is out now:

Keep in touch with what is going on –

To read it follow this link: Here

GM-Free Dorset Campaign

Copy of an open letter to David Cameron from Jane O`Meara of the GM-Free Dorset Campaign

Dear Prime Minister Cameron,

I am writing on behalf of GM-Free Dorset Campaign supporters to urge the UK not to accept the current proposal for national opt-outs on GM cultivation because it is legally flawed.

The UK should not support the current proposal for so-called re-nationalisation of decision making on GM cultivation unless it is radically amended to provide meaningful legal assurances for countries wishing to ban GM cultivation in their territories, including under international trade agreements.

I would also like to highlight that in 2003 Dorset County Council adopted a strong precautionary position regarding GM food and crops, and informed the Government of “it’s concerns about the potential implications for GM technology and asks that commercial implementation should not be approved until such a time as scientific evidence has shown that there are no harmful effects on human or animal health or the environment” . There is no such evidence to date. Councils within the County have since gone one step further and adopted Article 19 of Directive 2001/18/EU http://www.foe.co.uk/sites/default/files/downloads/gmfree_local_areas.pdf … as have our neighbouring County Councils Devon and Somerset.

GM-Free Dorset supporters reject the basis for the current proposal that attempts to place GM company applicants on a political footing with sovereign, democratically elected Governments with responsibility and legitimacy to legislate and regulate in the public interest. No proposal can possibly be acceptable if it forces Governments to ask the permission of GM companies to restrict GM cultivation, not least because this is a basic conflict of interest for the companies involved.

I therefore urge you in the strongest possible terms to ensure that the entirely reasonable requests made by the Council in 2008 are acted upon as swiftly as possible.

Yours sincerely,

Jane O’Meara

Spokesperson for the GM-Free Dorset Campaign.
GM Free Dorset
info@gmfreedorset.org

Transition Free Press

The latest edition of the Transition Free Press newspaper is out now –

If you can`t find a copy of the hands on, paper version, it will be available to read online tomorrow, 1st of May.

Read about what`s going on in the world of Transition:

More information here – Transition Free Press

Growing Vegetables with Charles Dowding

Charles Dowding is guest speaker for Grow it Yourself Dorset

Renowned local organic vegetable gardener, teacher and author, Charles Dowding will be the guest speaker at Grow it Yourself Dorset on 7 May. He is an inspiring speaker and immensely knowledgeable vegetable grower, and entry is only £3, so it’s an evening not to be missed if you grow your own food or would like to start. It is also an opportunity to pick up a signed copy of his latest books.

The evening will be at the Woodhouse Gardens Pavilion in Blandford (inside the walled garden by the Post Office), from 7.30-9. For more information see http://www.giyinternational.org/

GIY comes to Dorset!

Grow it Yourself International is a global movement of food growers that started in Ireland and aims to create a healthier, happier, world by encouraging everyone to grow some of their own food. There are now over 50,000 GIYers worldwide and over 800 food growing projects involved in the movement. The latest GIY group has started up in Dorset.

GIY Dorset will meet on the first Wednesday of each month starting from 5 February 2014. The meetings are free and are at the Woodhouse Gardens Pavilion at Blandford Forum. Group organizer, Wendy Pillar, says ‘GIY Dorset is a social group where everyone interested in growing food can get together, learn from each other, and swap seeds, tips, recipes and plants. We will be putting on regular expert guest speakers and visits to kitchen gardens. The idea is not ‘gardening nightschool’, but to have fun!’

For more information see http://www.giyinternational.org/giy_groups/group/9701/

or contact Wendy at jwpillar@aol.com or 01258 817883.

PlanLoCaL workshops in July

Have booked your space at the next PlanLoCaL community energy event?

Are you involved with a community group through work or in a voluntary capacity which would benefit from resources and guidance on low carbon projects?

The four events in Birmingham, Manchester, London and Bristol will explore community approaches to energy efficiency and the Green Deal, showcasing the brand new PlanLoCaL toolkit and featuring some excellent guest speakers. You can sign up via the links below.

The different events will feature speakers from DECC, Green Deal Advice Midlands Ltd, Carbon Co-op, Energise Barnet, Bristol Green Doors, Birmingham Social Enterprise Energy Network, Co-operatives UK Community Shares Unit, as well as more to be confirmed!

And workshop sessions will include: Exploring roles in Green Deal; Understanding your area; Identifying funding; Managing Risk; Writing a community engagement strategy; Planning permissions; Housing Assessment Tool; Energy efficiency game.

We are able to offer travel bursaries to community group volunteers, and all attendees will get a free copy of the new PlanLoCaL pack. But sign up soon as places are filling up quickly!

Friday 5 July | The Priory Rooms, Birmingham | http://planlocalbirmingham.eventbrite.co.uk

Saturday 6 July | Bridge 5 Mill, Manchester | http://planlocalmanchester.eventbrite.co.uk

Friday 12 July | Roots and Shoots, London | http://planlocallondon.eventbrite.co.uk

Saturday 13 July | Create Centre, Bristol | http://planlocalbristol.eventbrite.co.uk

Please feel free to pass these details on to your contacts. There’s more information in the attached flyer.

Best wishes

CSE Communities team

Public meeting in Dorchester this Friday on this with Brian May in attendance!

Event: 24 May 2013 – 7:00pm – 9:00pm in Dorchester, Dorset

The meeting is open to the public and is organised by the Team Badger Coalition which includes the RSPCA, Humane Society and the League against cruel sports. Speakers include Dr Brian May, Gavin Grant – Chief Executive of the RSPCA, Mark Jones – Managing Director of the Humane Society, and Steven Jones, a retired dairy farmer.  

http://www.sustainabledorset.org.uk/events/2013-05-24/public-meeting-badger-culling-dorchester

Take a Stand for Badgers on June 1st

Response from Julie 18th May 2013:

Obviously this is close to my heart having lost two pet cows as inconclusive and being told my cows will contract Tb from wildlife at some point although we try to keep badgers out of winter areas it is not easy from fields (we are a closed herd) .there seems to be loads of contradictory evidence from both sides. I believe the badgers are getting Fair amount of publicity but saving cows is getting none although thousands are already slaughtered.

Most farmers i know want a Vaccination for their cows to protect them and I believe this is what should be pushed. The government will not push Europe to accept Diva test following vaccination animal rights have got it wrong by just concentrating on the cull the situation is so much worse farmers are losing livelihood in southwest but also are really struggling emotionally losing their livestock, cows often killed unnecessarily. I really hope transition think about the many people effected by the loss they already experience in this area not just wildlife which we know is important but at what cost

Solar

Following a visit to NGPS’s first exhibition in the Purbecks a chance conversation has resulted in us having a brand new solar display unit installed.

I was happily content to have solar installed 8 years ago and even when the Government only offerred me 3p FITT pleased to be producing solar energy and gaining some small returns frrom SSE.

It came as quite a surprise when I was advised to take down the old and have a new array put in.

Our new system is far more efficient, we have a new tiled roof and lots of the latest technology added as a standard feature.

For example checkout ( http://enphase.com/uk/products/enlighten/ )

The speed, efficiency and the way the project was completed fills me with admiration for the NGPS team and from a relatively small investment I can expect a payback within 5/6 years at the current Fitts level and even more importantly help in using the energy we create for my own purposes.

Checkout http://www.immersun.co.uk/

This new innovation will reduce our energy bills overtime and already we can tell the difference in the amount of hot water we now have.

Why not also take a look in at their next Exhibition Roadshow at Ringwood on the 30th May 10am until 8pm

Full details about other venues at www.dorsetenergized.co.uk

Vince Adams