Category Archives: Environment

Jan 13′ Open Meeting

Posted on January 17, 2013 by | 1 Comment

Thanks to everyone who made it out on a cold dark night to come to our open meeting last night, especially the new members.  We watched two thought-provoking TED talks:

And then Jack took us through some key points about Peak Oil.

Each workgroup then outlined what it does and how people can get involved

  • the Home Grown Food Group
  • the Energy Group
  • Transition Streets
  • the Awareness-Raising Group

The open discussion at the end was wide-ranging and interesting (how TSA could  engage local businesses more, whether fracking changes anything, and ideas for starting a community garden).

To find out more about fracking, check out this illuminating and engaging website that illustrates the whole fracking process: http://www.dangersoffracking.com

At our February meeting, all about planning what we want to achieve next year, these ideas and more will be fed in, including all the ideas that were raised at our November film screening.

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Awareness raising, Climate change, Energy, Environment, Food, News, Peak Oil

Consumerism and the importance of values

Posted on November 2, 2011 by | 1 Comment

October’s Open Meeting was about “Consumerism”: Why do we consume so much? And is it really all that bad?

We started with a Think-and-Listen exercise to reflect on how we each see the consumerist society we live in. At the end, everybody was asked to write down on a post-it something negative and something positive we associate with consumerism. The word cloud below shows what was written (positives have a plus sign in front).

The answers seem to reveal our dilemma: we know well what’s not good about consumerism but the problem is big and we are worried about our economy (mentioned equally as positive an negative) and, most of all, about employment. Continue reading →

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Air quality, Climate change, Consumption, Economy, Energy, Environment, Food, Health, Waste

The Story of Stuff

Posted on October 16, 2011 by | Leave a comment

The theme for our Open Meeting on Weds 19th Oct is “Consumerism“.

We will be showing the film “The Story of Stuff” by Annie Leonard.

The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled, humorous look at the underside of production and consumption. It explores the connections between a vast array of environmental and social issues, and points the way toward a more sustainable and just world.

Afterwards we’ll have a friendly discussion, thinking about how we can transform our culture of consumption and waste into a culture that prioritizes social and ecological well-being.

You’ll learn something, you’ll laugh, and you just may never look at stuff the same way again. [UPDATE: you can read how it went here]

As usual, there will also be updates on projects ongoing and planned.

Everybody welcome! Suggested voluntary donation of £2 to cover costs.

Time and place: Weds 19 Oct, 7.30pm at Fleetville Community Centre on Royal Road, off Hatfield Road, near Morrisons [map].

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Air quality, Consumption, Economy, Environment, Health, Waste

Vote to support the Watercress Wildlife Association!

Posted on October 6, 2011 by | Leave a comment

The Watercress Wildlife Association, a local nature reserve in Sopwell in St Albans, has entered the 2011 NatWest Community Force Award competition.

NatWest CommunityForce is an initiative which sees NatWest working with local communities to support the people, projects and charities who are making a real difference where they live.

Communities are important to all of us. At the heart of each and every one you’ll find great people doing great things to make them better places.

Up to £6000 is available for individual projects with awards dependent on the demonstration of support from the community for each project.

You can vote for the Watercress Wildlife Association here. You have to register to vote but it only takes a minute.  Voting closes midday on 24th October.

If you can, please also ask your friends, family and colleagues as every vote counts!

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Community, Environment, News

‘Down with energy bills’ – Meeting Report

Posted on September 26, 2011 by | Leave a comment

We were swamped (pleasantly I hasten to add) with ideas by everyone present at our Energy meeting this week on Wednesday 21st September. The topic was Open Energy Houses (known also as Eco Open Houses) and the meeting started with the following questions:

  • What would you like to learn about energy in the home?
  • What would you expect to find out when you visit a house?
  • In what form would you like this information?

Three groups were formed and a brainstorming session began. There was then a talk by Andrew Allen on his experience of Brighton Eco Open Houses 2011. A great deal of ideas were generated which have all been recorded and will contribute to a follow up session at the next Energy meeting on the 17th October.

If you did not attend this meeting or for those present who would like a recap on the issues raised in the presentation on Brighton, a copy can be downloaded here: TSA Open House Brighton Talk (PDF – 6.9MB).

Results from the brainstorming session will follow. If you would like to know more about this exiting new project, email energy at transitionstalbans.org or for further information on what we are trying to achieve at Transition St Albans go to the contacts page or tap on this link http://transitionstalbans.org/contact/.

We look forward to seeing you at the next Open Energy Meeting or at Green Drinks if you can make it. See events for more information or tap on this link http://transitionstalbans.org/events/.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Community, Energy, Environment, News

Environment Matters on Radio Verulam

Posted on May 14, 2011 by | Leave a comment

“Environment Matters” is a new programme on Radio Verulam, St Albans’ local radio station.

It’s on the air on the second Thursday of each month, from 9pm till 9.30pm.

If you live in St Albans, tune your radio to 92.6 FM. Alternatively, you can  listen live on the internet on www.radioverulam.com.

Jack Easton, Claire Sherman and Amanda Yorwerth will be covering all sorts of environment-related issues:  from cycling to solar power, from Green Ambassadors to Green holidays, from what’s in your bin to what’s on your plate.

Both the wider issues and the local perspective will investigated, with plenty of information and advice relevant to everyone.

And listeners will also be kept up to date with local environment-related events.

If you want to propose an item or even a theme for one of the programmes, have an environment-related event to be advertised, or want to give feedback, then you can contact them by email to  environmentonrv@gmail.com or by telephone on  01727 839 926.

The first episode aired on Thursday 12 May 2011 and was devoted to cycling, including an update on the government’s Cycling Demonstration Towns project with a report from nearby Aylesbury, and an interview with Stephen Wragg of the St Albans Cycle Campaign (STACC).  You can listen to it here.

The next programme in the series will be aired on Thursday 9 June, at 9pm.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Environment, News, Transport

How to green your Christmas

Posted on January 14, 2011 by | 1 Comment

 

In December we organised a special Christmas Event together with St Albans Friends of the Earth, and supported by the St Albans Local Strategic Partnership.

The theme was “How to green your Christmas“ and the event took place on Wednesday, 15th December, 7.30pm, at Fleetville Community Centre.

Over a mince pie, we discussed how to make Christmas a little more sustainable … how to buy a little less, waste a little less, use a bit less meat and buy more locally.

Continue reading →

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Community, Consumption, Economy, Environment, Food, Waste