ClimateXchange newsletter

The latest news and upcoming events from ClimateXchange. Also available on www.climatex.org

It’s ‘on yer bike’ season – with Bike week about to start, and a host of communities events happening in the upcoming weeks. Enjoy, and do feed us with info, snippets, upcoming events, resources, reflections on what climate event has made you laugh or cry recently. Next newsletter out in early July, keep up the good work!

1. IN THE NEWS

1.1 Guardian – Observer Ethical Awards: http://www.guardian.co.uk/observer-ethical-awards honours Caroline Lucas (Green MEP for the South East) and Rob Hopkins from Transition Towns.

1.2 Indian farmers to insure themselves against climate change crop failure UN negotiators at Bonn consider micro-insurance schemes among adaptation measures for Africa, Asia and Latin America

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jun/08/farming-india

1.3 Chinadialogue

This week on chinadialogue, Tim Lenton explains climate-change tipping points to Tan Copsey; Lorenzo Cotula and James Mayers ponder the effects that deforestation-reduction programmes could have on forest communities; Ed Grumbine and Xu Jianchu ask how to assess the risks presented by climate change across the Himalayas . All this and more in your weekly chinadialogue update...

1.4 We win a prize - We’ve been writing up and analysing some of the results of the eco-homes open days in Oxfordshire, submitted a poster and paper to the recent European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy summer study, and won a prize for the ‘most innovative method or result’.

1.5 Ebico and Groundwork roll-out 'Green Doctor' scheme for low income households

OK stretching the definition of ‘new’, but we saw this and thought it was great:

http://www.ebico.co.uk:80/html/x_news_self.php?subaction=showfull&id=1239187318&archive=&start_from=&ucat=2,3

1.6 Check out the switch on of Europe's largest wind farm in
Scotland - the wind turbines together will provide power for 250,000
homes (imagine this could be more if energy conservation measures are
done).http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8057198.stm

1.7 The Bonn Climate Change Talks take place June 1st-12th. Tiempo Climate Newswatch lists current news reports and Earth Negotiations Bulletin is publishing daily summaries.

http://www.tiempocyberclimate.org:80/newswatch/

2. RECENT EVENTS

2.1 The Age of Stupid-o-meter is now recording at least 20 screenings in Oxfordshire – Including 2 screenings on 22^nd May (Wolvercote and Canalside Environment Group), 12 screenings in University colleges on 2^nd June, and a screening at SS Mary and Johns School on 5^th June.

Independent screenings are positively encouraged – the website http://www.indiescreenings.net/ says ‘Anyone is now able to buy a licence to screen The Age of Stupid whenever and wherever they like - keeping the profits for themselves or their climate campaign’.

2.2 Stern words - Professor Lord Nicholas Stern’s lecture on "Blueprint for a Safer Planet". is now available as a podcast or video:

http://www.21school.ox.ac.uk/video/200905_stern.cfm

3. RESOURCES

3.1 The national campaign for Greener Healthcare, based here in Oxford , has just released it’s first newsletter. Check the campaign out at http://www.greenerhealthcare.org:80/ and do pass the link to colleagues in the health professions.

3.2 Feeling the Pressure:

An anthology of poems and scientific texts concerned with climate change - edited by Paul Munden. http://www.britishcouncil.org/switzerland-climate-change-anthology

4. COMMUNITIES UPDATE

It’s summer fete season – with two this coming weekend:

4.1 Challenge North Leigh – the community energy efficiency project, will be holding a green fair on Cuckamus Green on 13th June in North Leigh. http://www.challengenorthleigh.org/

4.2 Kidlington Sustainability Fair 1-4pm on Sat 13^th June, at Exeter Hall in Kidlington.

Bringing the community together to share the many ideas we each have
to live happier, healthier, less financially strained lives. Exhibitors
will be showing eco-friendly products, and ways to reduce your energy
costs. There will be a fun quiz for children with clues to find the
answers in all parts of the Fair. FREE admission.
More details as they emerge will be at www.climatex.org/kidlington, or
contact KvCC at kidlingtonvsclimatechange@yahoo.co.uk.

4.3 Sustainable Blewbury have two events coming up - a talk by Mark Lynas on the 22^nd June, and on Saturday 27^th June Exhibition and Demonstrations

4.4 Bike Week is 13-21^st June – and a fine array of events there are. Check some of them in the events section below, or search for events near you on

http://www.bikeweek.org.uk/ - from easy introductory rides for adults, to the Oxford to Paris ride, from free breakfasts to cultural tours and maintenance workshops, saddle up and enjoy the week (good weather has been requested!)

4.5 Sustainable Wallingford have launched their ‘Where to Buy Local in and around Wallingford ’ booklet and their new ‘Cycle Rides into the Chiltern Hills . See all this and more on http://www.sustainablewallingford.org/

4.6 Community Action for Energy programme will be evolving into Green Communities.

The new Green Communities programme will look to create a step change in our service to communities by offering an integrated package of advice, support and funding. It will build on the advice and information service offered by CAfE, local outreach provided by the Energy Saving Trust advice centres and new community related services. More info: www.energysavingtrust.org/cafe

4.7 See the Difference and it is new charity website that will have short videos made by charities about themselves. The aim is to really change the way people donate and get involved in charities by using a visual, personal and effective medium. It is a refreshing way for people to donate to the charities and then to see how their donations have been used. The videos and web content will hopefully encourage more people to get involved with the charities and have a much more hands on approach. Take a look for more info: http://www.stdifference.com/

To find out more go to the briefings at BBC Oxford on Tuesday 16th and Wednesday 17th of June at 14.00 or contact Anna.Jackson@bbc.co.uk

4.8 Banbury Ideas for a Future recently hosted a screening of ‘A Farm for the Future’ and on Sunday 14th June have an afternoon walk and food forage between Banbury and Hanwell. (precise time and meeting point to be announced soon – contact sue_jaiteh@hotmail.com for further info

A country walk and food forage, looking at the influence of the environment and agriculture on the wild foods that are available in the fields and woodlands just outside the town.

5. ECO-RENOVATION

5.1 Eco-Renovation: How I did it Thursday 11 June | 18.00- 19.30

Oxford Brookes University: Main Lecture Hall, Gipsy Lane Site

You are invited to a free public workshop detailing selected refurbishments from the Oxford area and beyond as part of the AECB Annual Conference on Building for Sustainable Future.

RENOVATIONS AND SPEAKERS

An 18th century cottage extensively renovated to achieve 90% carbon savings, using innovative ecological materials and breathable design,

Sally Harper and Tony Williams, SEED Group

A terraced Edwardian house refurbished for warmth, comfort and a 65% reduction in CO2 emissions, Gavin Killip, Environmental Change Institute, Oxford University

An 19th century solid walled townhouse extended and extensively renovated to achieve an c.80% reduction in CO2 emissions, Andy Simmonds, Simmonds.Mills Architects

A small exhibition area is also open to the public during this session and throughout the conference. Full conference and programme information is available at www.aecb.net

RSVP Space is limited so please confirm your attendance directly to the conference office: conference@aecb.net

5.2 Kitchens workshops – more dates added:

COIN and SEED-Group -have two upcoming kitchens workshops: Thurs 18th, Fri 19th and Sat 20th of June 2009

The sessions are open to already eco aware or recently inspired people interested in making major or minor sustainable adaptations to the most carbon intensive room in our homes - the kitchen. To reserve a ticket, go to: http://www.ecoworkshops.co.uk/

Further info and booking: http://ecovation.org.uk/htmldesigns/kitchenws.html

5.3 Oxfordshire Eco-buildings Open Days this year – 10-13^th September. Mark it in your diary now, or get involved! See http://ecovation.org.uk/

6. JOBS

6.1 Oxfordshire County Council, in conjunction with the Oxfordshire Waste Partnership, is hiring a materials reuse officer. Details can be found here http://jobs.oxfordshire.gov.uk/jobdetails.asp?jobid=16392.

6.2 COIN Manager of Operations
£24, 475 pro rata (2.5 days per week), 25 days holiday per year pro rata,
Oxford based

COIN is recruiting for an experienced Manager of Operations to take
overall responsibility for managing the organisation’s finance, office and
project administration systems. The ideal candidate will have sound
experience of staff, financial and systems management. S/he will have
strong motivational, team-working and interpersonal skills together with a
keen interest in climate change.

Applications to be returned by email to the Executive Director, Tim Baster
tim@coinet.org.uk by Monday 22nd June 2009. Interviews will be held at the
COIN office in Oxford on Thursday 25 June 2009. For further information
including a job description and application form, see: www.coinet.org.uk

7. UPCOMING EVENTS

also available on www.climateX.org/events

‘Oxfordshire from the Ground’ - Oxfordshire Schools’ Sustainability Exhibition Science Oxford . 1-15th June 2009

Students from six independent and state schools, inspired by last year’s “Earth from the Air at Oxford Castle ” exhibition, have produced their own photographs exploring environmental issues in their own localities.

Using the images and work cards from the exhibition as a stimulus, each school focused on a different area of sustainability and a local environmental issue, in the context of international concerns identified in the Castle exhibition.

With the guidance of photographer John Cairns, small groups of Year 9 pupils created digital photographs depicting sustainability issues and researched possible scientific solutions. This project is culminating in OISSP’s own version of ‘Earth from the Air’. This free exhibition, open to all, will be on display at Science Oxford, 1-5 London Place, during normal opening times, Mon-Sat 10.00am-5.00pm

Eco-Renovation: How I did it Thursday 11 June | 18.00- 19.30

Oxford Brookes University: Main Lecture Hall, Gipsy Lane Site, see info above.

***

Friday 12 June: OXFORD ENERGY FUTURES- A DAY OF TALKS AND DISCUSSIONS ON CUTTING-EDGE ENERGY
Cost £70 including lunch, discount for students:
The Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Centre in collaboration with
the University of Oxford's Energy Group are holding a one day workshop to
highlight the University's work in the energy field and to demonstrate
cutting-edge developments from outside the University.
In the Martin Woods Lecture Theatre, Oxford . For more details and to register see www.conted.ox.ac.uk/env

***

Sat June 13^th

North Leigh Fair and Kidlington Sustainability Fair – see info in ‘Communities’ above.

***

Bike Week – a host of events, including:

Active Breakfasts – Free breakfasts for employees / students who’ve taken ‘active transport’, contact your employer / university.

Monday 15 June GO Active Adults Social Cycle - 6pm, Oxford Cycle

Workshop Training Centre, Glanville Rd , Cowley Marsh

Wednesday 17 June Fitter Travel Show – 12 - 2 pm, Oxford Town Hall .

Stalls and information on healthier, greener and safer ways to travel

Saturday 20 June GO Active Families Social Cycle– 11am, Oxford Cycle

Workshop Training Centre, Glanville Road

For details contact: aclare@oxford.gov.uk / 01865 467 252

www.oxford.gov.uk/bikeweek or www.bikeweek.org.uk

***

Sunday 14th June afternoon walk and food forage between Banbury and Hanwell – see 4.8 above.

**

18^th – 20^th June – More eco-kitchen workshops – spaces still available!

See info above or http://www.ecoworkshops.co.uk/

***

Sat 20th June - ReachAbility Sustain Course
Oxford-based social enterprise ReachAbility is offering a half day taster
Sat 20 June 10 – 2 p.m.
Introducing some of the skills, attitudes and practices useful for
activists to sustain themselves. How to keep going, help make the changes
happen and avoid burn out.
Venue: The Old Music Hall , 106-108 Cowley Road
Cost: £10 including lunch.
Bookings: Places need to be confirmed in advance as numbers are limited.
To find out more see the ReachAbility site:
http://reachability.co.uk/userfiles/File//SUSTAINtaster.pdf

**

Monday 22nd June. As part of the Sustainable Blewbury launch we having a talk entitled 'News From A Warming World' by Mark Lynas at 7:30 on

Mark Lynas lives in Oxfordshire, is a journalist and environmental activist (www.marklynas.org). Most recently his book Six Degrees: 'Our Future on a Hotter Planet' won the prestigious Royal Society Prize for science books in 2008. Numbers are limited, please reserve a place with Allan Ridgeley (allanr53@btinternet.com) asap.

**

Saturday 27th June, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sustainable Blewbury - Exhibition and Demonstrations

http://www.blewbury.co.uk/energy/contacts.htm

Venue: Manor Barn Blewbury

Sustainable Blewbury - Exhibition and demonstrations

In recent years the Blewbury Village Society Environment Group has worked closely with other organisations on issues concerning the environment. In the newly constructed barn at The Manor (by kind permission of the owners) the Environment Group has organised exhibitions, demonstrations of, and detailed information about: Energy saving (solar PV, ground source heat pumps, etc.) Reducing and recycling waste (including advice on composting), Fair Trade Food, saving resources and much more on sustainable living initiatives. The exhibition also highlights the Group's activities (past and present) with a display of records and photographs of our own natural environment.

27-28^th June Children’s Food Festival, Northmoor Trust

http://www.northmoortrust.co.uk/home/childrensfoodfestival

his year’s Festival celebrates the colourful world of food, help at the Northmoor Trust's estate and farm in beautiful countryside. Get on down!

***

For further info and to get involved, contact info@climatex.org

Email upcoming events to info@climatex.org or upload them yourself: http://climatex.org/whats-new/

Subscribe to this update by sending a blank email to: climatex-subscribe@climatex.org