News
Sunday, March 9th, 2008
It does seem that many ordinary people see the inevitability of switching to less energy intensive living, but the Government seems to think that nobody would accept the slightest ‘sacrifice’ (so do we sacrifice our future instead?) Everyone can demonstrate their seriousness by limiting their energy use on March 21. If enough people do it this will make an impact on the national grid, so this is far from being an empty gesture. For more info see Blackout Britain.
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Wednesday, March 5th, 2008
Redland’s own local tree campaigner Vasilli Papastavrou has written an excellent article the BBC News ‘Green Room’ page – Take Cover by Saving Urban Trees. This has already attracted masses of comments from around the UK but also further afield. Do read it and have a think about the implications for your local area and for the dialogue you have (or don’t have) with your local council. Visit the Bristol Street Tree website.
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Thursday, February 28th, 2008
Rob Hopkins has written a new handbook, which no doubt will be practical, informative, inspiring and down-to-earth, all about how to switch to a less (or no) fossil-fuel dependent way of living. If you would like to learn more about the Transition Towns movement, and no doubt get a signed copy of the book, then do come along to the book launch in Bristol on March 6 1.45 to 3pm at Armada House. Details, and how to RSVP are here book launch 6 mar
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Wednesday, February 13th, 2008
Investment in wind, solar and hydroelectric has brought mains electricity to the 87 inhabitants of the Hebridian island of Eigg. The investment of £1.6 million – equivalent to £18,391 capital outlay per person – means that residents no longer have to run diesel generators when they need power. You can read the BBC article here, and you can look at the comments at the bottom to see how naive people are about the capital investment in public infrastructure that gives mainland residents their power, sewage, water, communications, and roads. And isn’t £18,000 about the price that many households pay for a car – or even a second car? And that doesn’t give you a lifetime of clean energy.
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Wednesday, February 13th, 2008
The Bristol Cycling Campaign has posted some useful information about the proposed rapid transit bus and the impact this would have on the railway cycle/walking path. There still seems to be no explanation from the West of England Partnership as to why the previous options of running the bus along major roads have been dropped. Anyone who regularly uses the path will recognise that two-way concrete track for a 40 mph bus, and clearing of all vegetation, will effectively destroy what is at present a buzzing highway for cyclists and walkers of all ages, and for wildlife. With the health damage from physical inactivity and obesity reaching an all time high, and with biodiversity threatened on all fronts, it is hard to see how £49million to bus an estimated 300 commuters an hour (probably only transferring from other buses anyway) is worth the price of losing the busiest cycle route and green corridor in England.
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Thursday, January 31st, 2008
Watch Monty Don’s wonderful filming of Cuba’s market gardens on BBC 1 play again (it starts at minute 39) but be quick, it’ll only be there for a few more days. Many of you may know the details – Cuba lost its oil with fall of USSR, then had the Special Period – bit of a euphemism for everyone was very hungry for two years and all got a lot thinner, then they started to use every bit of space to grow food. The costs and practicalities of setting up these organoponicos has been studied by agricultural experts from around the world, and yes it’s really a success, and is sustainable. Redland’s edible gardens are already starting, and Sustainable Redland and the RCAS provide ideal networks for joining up to share knowledge and expertise.
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Thursday, January 24th, 2008
The Evening Post reported on proposals to put a guided bus along the cycle route. Transport research and planning is a complex business. The planners say there is room to put the guided bus whilst still keeping the cycling and walking. Sustrans, who built the cyclepath and have masses of experience in engineering these types of projects, say they have looked at the plans and disagree. They say that a rapid transit is the right idea but that this is not the right route, and they are happy to work with the planners to identify a better proposal. Evidence suggests that if the aim of the proposed bus is to reduce congestion from cars on the roads, then it needs to be on the roads from which the journeys will switch – not on the main cycle and walking commuting route thus displacing even less fossil fuel intensive modes of travel. There is an epetition on Ask Bristol (Bristol’s e-democracy website) if you would like to add your voice to those who feel that the cycle path is an important part of our Bristol transport system, as well as being a resource for keeping us fit and sane through recreational walking and cycling.
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Thursday, January 24th, 2008
A few years ago on Radio 4 you may have heard a fascinating interview with a designer who was working on computer controlled sails for cargo ships. Already the design is now being put into practice, with the maiden voyage of the ship Beluga which set sail from Germany for Venezuela on 22 January. This ship has a relatively small sail, but the long term plan is to develop large sails for huge tankers, with the possibility of cutting fuel consumption by 20 percent. The sail flies like a kite hundreds of meters above the ship.
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Thursday, January 17th, 2008
Transition Bristol is masterminding a virtual orchard for 2008 - thousands of fruit trees planted in gardens across Bristol. You can order your tree through the Transition Bristol online shop (use Redland if we are your nearest pick up point) and then your tree can be collected on Saturday 16 Feb at the Farmers Market. when you pick it up there will be people to explain how to plant it and care for it.
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Thursday, January 17th, 2008
Transition Bristol is masterminding a plan to make it dead easy to plant a fruit tree in your garden. Order your tree now (through the Redland bit from this link) and it will be ready for you to collect on 16 February from the Farmers Market. We will explain how to plant it and care for it when you pick it up. You will then have a fruit tree that is one tiny part of a huge orchard across Bristol planted in 2008.
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