Thursday, April 17th, 2008
During May there is an amazing programme of films, talks and panel discussions happening in Bristol, organised by The Festival of Ideas. Topics cover war, planet, food, peak oil, religion, and more. Check out the programme here, and details of a few highlights are on our events list below.
Tuesday, April 15th, 2008
Everyone is welcome to the launch of Sustainable Westbury on Trym (SusWot), at Westbury Primary School Channells Hill BS9. Find out about the local eco team at the school, hear energy saving tips from the Energy Saving Trust, and join in a brainstorm. Entry free but donations to cover room hire are welcome. Visit the suswot website for a downloadable poster or to contact the team.
Friday, April 11th, 2008
Bristol’s Energy Efficiency Advice Centre is holding ‘The Big Bulb Swap’ at St Nicholas Market in the Old City Quarter in Bristol City Centre (between St Nicholas Street and Corn Street). Just bring along an old incandescent light bulb and exchange it free for a new energy saving version. Advisors will be on hand to give tips about where to get efficient light bulbs and how to dispose of old light bulbs safely and responsibly. And you can do your shopping at the Corn Street Farmers’ Market at the same time.
Thursday, April 10th, 2008
We are told repeatedly that the only problem with oil is a lack of investment in exploration, and that tar sands and arctic reserves will keep us going indefinitely. But the economic facts of the matter tell a different story. This current rise is called a ‘peak’, but with demand growing inexorably and the supply of cheap easy oil leveled off it seems likely that the price will go on rising. So the sooner we learn how to manage with less fossil fuels the better.
Thursday, April 10th, 2008
You can, if you are quick, comment on Bristol City Council’s proposals for two large wind turbines at Avonmouth, which we think are a very good idea. It takes five minutes, but they need comments by 11 April.
Friday, April 4th, 2008
Sustainable Bishopston and Sustainable Redland met with our local MP Stephen Williams on College Green today for the signing of the i count pledge. This is a nationwide campaign to make sure the House of Commons strengthens the Climate Change Bill. Were our local newspapers interested? Not really. As the Climate Change News Digest says, you have to do some rooting around in the science pages and on the internet to discover stuff that ought to be front page headlines.
Thursday, April 3rd, 2008
Charlie Bolton, Green Party Bristol City Councillor, proposed that the railway path should be protected for non-motorised transport, thus securing its use for walking and cycling now and for future generations. This was debated at a full Council meeting on tuesday evening 1 April. The Lib Dems supported and strengthened the proposal, but the Labour and Conservative groups voted an amendment which just ‘recognises’ the need to not undermine walking and cycling. You can see how the whole debate went here.
Sunday, March 30th, 2008
Over a thousand people, sunny skies, music, and fancy dress, a fantastic celebration of what the twenty-year old railway path means to people who use it for walking, cycling and recreation – this was the scene witnessed on the path on Sunday 30 March and at College Green. The gathered crowds, and the Ambling Band, were addressed by John Grimshaw of Sustrans, local Councillor Charlie Bolton, local MP Stephen Williams, and others. The message was clear. Bristol people want to be able to travel in a healthy and sustainable way. Public transport does need to improve, but it needs to improve in ways that preserve walking, cycling, biodiversity and green space. On tuesday evening 1 April the full council meeting will debate a motion about the railway path, and the Evening Post has already indicated that transport planners are having second thoughts about the railway path as the proposed route for the rapid transit bus.
Saturday, March 15th, 2008
A positive, informative, inspiring guidebook about how we merge the massive energy and diverse actions already taking place, to build systems and ways of living that will mean we are prepared for the inevitable changes that lie ahead. Read Robert Morgan’s review here.
Saturday, March 15th, 2008
Sunday 30 March is a day of celebration of the wonderful green corridor, bustling with cyclists and walkers, that is the Sustrans path linking Bristol with Bath. Full details of the event are on the Sustrans website. The procession starts from Fishponds at 2.30 (remember the clocks go back the night before). Bring musical instruments, fancy dress or just yourself. cyclists will be wheeling their bikes for the procession and times may well slip. Join at Devon Road at roughly 2.45 then procession from the path to College Green between 3pm and 4.30. At College Green there will be a rally with speakers. Do come and join the event to show your support for saving the path from the plan to turn it into a 40mph route for a bus on rails, which would mean stripping all the greenery, laying concrete and rails, leaving only a narrow edge for cycling and walking and with only a few points many miles apart where the path could be crossed.