Transition Penwith

A two-day course by Brighton Permaculture Trust introducing the basics of Permaculture and show how this approach can be applied. These courses are run regularly. For full details & online reservation please visit: www.brightonpermaculture.co.uk.

The 2008 Inaugural Transition Cities Conference, exploring the practicalities of powering down our cities, takes place on Thu 27 and Fri 28 November, in Nottingham Arena, Nottingham NG1 1LA. This event is a gathering of those who have been testing the Transition model in the cities, an Open Space conference to draw together and share ideas and insights, tools and techniques, exploring what works and what doesn’t in urban Transition. For more info and a booking form, see here.

The next food group meeting is on Tue 18 November from 7:30-9:30pm at Ann’s house – Flat 3, 11 Powis Grove (map). Food group meetings always take place on the 3rd Tuesday of each month, 7:30-9:30pm. All welcome.

As ever, please bring a dish to share (veggie and vegan only please – cakes welcome!).

For more information, email Ann at food*at*transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk

What is the change you wish to see in the world, and what can you do about it? The Be The Change Symposium gathers a community to address these and the following questions: where are we? how did we get here? what's emerging? where do we go from here? 10am–5pm at Pelham House, St Andrew's Lane, Lewes BN7 1UW (map). £25/15 including lunch.

For more information and booking form, download PDF, or contact Oliver van Heel on 07803 207100 or oliver.vanheel*at*livingvalues.co.uk.

6.30-8.00pm at Brighton Media Centre, Suite 4, 68 Middle St, Brighton (opp Hop Poles pub), followed by drinks after nearby.
With global turmoil leaving ordinary people wondering what will happen to their savings and pensions, whether they will still have a roof over their head in a year's time, food for the family, or money left to pay soaring heating bills, this group is trying to work with others to help us all get through this...and to imagine what life might be like in coming years beyond fossil fuels.

To see what this group stands for, see our introduction here

Do you think you could help make this inclusive, educational and successful, while putting the fun into fundamental change? Please come along, whatever your background, or if you can't make the meetings then add your suggestions to our forum page or by contacting Martin - 07891 571739 / business*AT*transitionbrightonandhove*DOT*org*DOTuk (join our mailing list). A diverse range of opinions is welcomed.

To see general discussion (please join in) see our forum pages here

Click here for notes from last meeting, suggestions for our agenda or direction and
general project suggestions and ideas

We will now be meeting on the second Wednesday of every month (10 Dec, 14 Jan).

What do you think?

Finding your way around all the green options for your home can be difficult and confusing.What would work for you? How cost-effective might ‘greening' be? Who can supply, or advise you? How much money could you save? Whatever type of house you live in, come along to a FREE evening. You will be able to get the help you need from local professionals, manufacturers and suppliers. Presented by the Low Carbon Trust. 6–8pm at the Thistle Hotel, Kings Road, Brighton (map)

• Chaired by Sarah Lewis, The Argus
• Reuse, renew, recycle Duncan Baker-Brown, BBM Sustainable Design
• ‘No, you don't want that!' George Marshall, Climate Outreach Information Network
• Living green Dusty Gedge, The Green Roof Consultancy
• Question Time panel as above, plus Mischa Hewitt, Low Carbon Trust and Brian Murphy, National Green Specification

Exhibition 6.00-8.00pm
Speakers and question time 6.30-8.00pm
The evening event is FREE entry - all are welcome. More info here.

Marie Harder, Professor of Sustainable Waste Management at the University of Brighton, delievers her inaugural lecture: 'Recycling the World One Heart at a Time: Science and technology involving the community'. 6.30pm on Tue 11 November at Lecture Theatre 1, Cockcroft Building, University of Brighton BN2 4GL (map).

For more information, see here, and if you would like to attend, please RSVP to events*at*brighton.ac.uk

The Brighton and Hove Farmer's Market (map) takes place from 9am-2pm on the first Sunday of every month, at Ralli Hall, Denmark Villas, round the corner from Hove station.

Organic seasonal fruit & veg, chilli peppers, flavoured vinegars, cakes, authentic curries made from local produce, freshly baked breads, fruit smoothies, sauces, mustards and relishes, honey and preserves, goats and sheep cheeses and locally made Parmesan etc. Enjoy sitting on the benches eating hot bajis drinking fair trade latte and taking in the unique atmosphere of one of the biggest markets in the South. Inside the Health Zone you will find free nutritional advice, hemp products, natural skin products plus head and back massages. More info here.

The next allotment work day will be Sat 1 November from 11-3 – allotment workdays are now on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month. If you have some spare time please do come up and help! No experience needed, and it’s a good opportunity to learn a little bit more about growing. The plot is right next to the Whitehawk Community Food Project (map). For more information contact Ann at food*at*transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk

The next meeting of the Energy Descent and Resilience Action Plan will be on Saturday 1st November, in The Werks, 45 Church Street, Hove. It will be a morning meeting, starting at 10:00 and ending at 1:00

The agenda for the meeting will be:
1. Introductions
2. Review of the output of the One Planet Living workshops (can be seen in
http://www.bioregional.com/programme_projects/opl_prog/uk/brightonopl/oplbrighton.htm) and of the comments of our interest groups about them
3. Review of the structure of the Plan. How does this input fit into the current skeleton, or do we need to change it?
4. Review of the current available data on Brighton & Hove's situation, and discussion of where we need to be by 2020.
5. How do we move forward?

Brighton & Hove – the first ‘Urban Biosphere City’?

Thursday 30 – Friday 31 October 2008
at Bellerbys Brighton Study Centre, Brighton
Return to LLG Home Page


This year's Sustainability Conference will look at how biodiversity might shape Brighton & Hove. The aim of the conference is to contribute to international debate about the greening of cities as well as to help local decision makers take biodiversity into account in city planning.

Brighton & Hove’s Sustainable Community Strategy includes a commitment to work towards designation of the city ‘as the first UK Urban Biosphere Reserve’.

Urban Biosphere Reserve



Biosphere Reserves, designated by UNESCO in partnership with national governments, could be described as ‘centres of excellence’ where conserving ecosystems and biodiversity is actively prioritised, alongside economic and social development.

Currently, all Biosphere Reserves are rural, but UNESCO has recognised the need to establish the same ecological principles in urban areas and there has been much debate internationally about what a ‘biosphere city’ might look like.

Typically cities consume food, water and other ‘ecological services’, sometimes from vast distances away, and produce pollutants and waste which must be ‘processed’ by their surrounding natural environment. Most cities owe a huge ‘ecological debt’ to their rural hinterlands which can only be sustained because cities cover a relatively small proportion of the globe. But cities are growing – and fast. In 2007 over half the world’s population became city dwellers. More than ever before, we need to find ways for cities to be more ecologically sustainable.

Sustainability Conference 2008



This year the Sustainability Conference is over two days and is jointly organised by the University of Brighton and Brighton & Hove City Council, and will be supported by the Environment Agency.

The conference will aim to address the following questions as well as contribute to the international debate about the future role of ecology in cities:

• What would designation as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve mean for Brighton & Hove?
  
• How might the wider Brighton & Hove community be engaged in helping to achieve Biosphere Reserve status?


• How might being a ‘biosphere city’ affect the day-to-day lives of people living in and visiting Brighton & Hove?


• How might it help to guide policy and shape new development, transport, education and housing?

Day One, chaired by Stuart Laing, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the university, and Alan McCarthy, Chief Executive of the council, will look at how being a biosphere city might affect strategic issues such as economic and social development, housing, education, health and food production.

Day Two, chaired by Dr Niall Burnside, of Brighton University will take a local perspective, looking at how local communities might benefit. Day Two will also include a series of workshops where delegates will have the opportunity to engage in exploring key issues in more depth.



A full conference schedule will be available soon but confirmed speakers include:

1. Sir John Harman, until recently Chair of the Environment Agency


2. Professor Thomas Elmqvist, Stockholm University, Sweden, a key contributor to the international debate on Urban Biosphere Reserves and to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment


3. Tim Jackson, Professor of Sustainable Development at the Centre for Environmental Strategy in the University of Surrey


4. Mathew Frith, urban ecologist from the Peabody Trust

Delegate and stall-holder registration

If you would like to register for the conference as a delegate and/or as a stall-holder please complete the conference registration form. Once we have received your completed form we will send you confirmation of your place.
If you have any further queries please email:
sustainability@brighton-hove.gov.uk.

Go to Brighton and Hove City Council's website for further information and details on how to take part.

The next TBH Forum meeting is at 7.30pm on Wed 29 October at The Werks, 45 Church Street, Hove (map). Forum meetings are the main general meetings for all TBH members, and are always held on the last Wednesday of each month. All transition interest groups should send a representative to report on progress on the group's mission and current milestones. Everyone old and new is welcome to attend.

CHARLESTOWN, Nevis, October 20, 2008 - Officials of West Indies Power (WIP) have confirmed that at least two geothermal drill sites on Nevis have the capacity to produce hundreds of megawatts of geothermal energy.

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, Sept 04, 2008. PeakOilParagigm Shift -– Listin Diario reports that Radhames Suero Milano, executive vice president of the Empresa de Generacion Hidroelectrica Dominicana (Egeih), the government entity that groups hydroelectric power producers, has announced that this year three dams will begin to produce 54.1 megawatts, bringing low cost energy to the power network.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, August 20, 2008 Alfred Cavallo in this article insightfully describes OPEC's role in managing the current plateau in global oil production through higher prices to provide the background for shift in the world's energy mix while simultaneously making provision for the futire of those countries exporting this vital depleting resource. He also points out the inevitable link between oil and natural gas prices and policies.Bilaal Abdullah Author PEAK OIL PARADIGM SHIFT.Read the full article at:http://www.energybulletin.net/node/46297

KINGSTON, Jamaica, August 8, 2008 - Prime Minister Bruce Golding says that from next month, it will be mandatory for motor vehicle fuel to include 10 per cent ethanol, as Jamaica enters an agreement with a Brazilian company to use more of the country's sugar cane for ethanol production.

(July 23, 2008, Sebastopol, CA, USA) Post Carbon Institute today announced a comprehensive 10-point plan to achieve Vice President Al Gore’s goal of 100% renewable energy in 10 years: